#also I just watched the hunger games prequel and it was exactly how I thought it would be (bad)

[artificial-condition]

I’ve been hit with The Gloom

[b3st-sunday-dr3ss]

new and improved introduction!

hi my names kayle (pronounced kale) but you can just call me kay!

☆ i use she/they pronouns but im fine with he/him too

☆ my username comes from the hole song "i think that i would die"! (softer softest and asking for it were taken)

☆ the username im planning to change to (if its not taken) comes from the hole song "best sunday dress"

☆ im a minor + more on the younger side of being a teenager, creepy adults dni

☆ i like to write fanfics and original works! my favorite fandom to write for is the outsiders and my favorite genres of original works are dystopian and whatever genre torturing my ocs is (almost none of them have happy plotlines lol)

☆ ao3 acc: kaycherry

☆ pinterest acc: kaycherry (hole's version)

☆ discord: kayled.chope

☆ squidgeworld: kaycherry

☆ PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE FLOOD MY AO3 INBOX AND MY ASKS, IT MAKES ME SO HAPPY AND I BARELY GET ANY SILLY ASKS ON TUMBLR PLEASE

fic request info (if you for some reason wanna request something)

☆ i usually write anything for fics, however please be advised that some requests may be ignored if i believe i cannot accurately/respectfully portray the subject matter, or if it's something i'm genuinely terrible at writing, as i'd rather you get no fic at all rather than a terrible one

requests i won't take:

smut fics

incest fics

rape fics

pedophilia fics

☆ i also won't accept requests if i do not write for that fandom, or if i have not viewed/cannot view the original content

the fandoms i will write for:

every novel/webcomic in the osemanverse (it's called the osemanverse right?) [WITH THE EXCEPTION OF: loveless, i was born for this, and potentially nick and charlie {idk how different it is from heartstopper, so that's why i won't write for it}, as i have not read them yet] (happy somewhat-belated birthday, alice oseman :)

a good girl's guide to murder - holly jackson

divergent - veronica roth

the hunger games - suzanne collins (SUNRISE ON THE REAPING COMES OUT ABOUT TWO WEEKS BEFORE MY BIRTHDAY I'M SO EXCITED!!!)

the selection - kiera cass (NOTE: as of writing this new intro post, i am not done reading the first novel, nor the rest of the series, so please refrain from requesting for this fandom quite yet [or do request fics for it, i can't stop you])

the outsiders - s.e. hinton

the lunar chronicles - marissa meyer (NOTE: as of writing this new intro post, i am only on cress, so please be aware that any fic written for this fandom might be inaccurate to the end of cress and inaccurate to the events of winter)

out of my mind - sharon m. draper (NOTE: yap yap yap i haven't read out of my heart yet, you get the point by now)

fish in a tree - lynda mullaly hunt

counting by 7s - holly goldberg sloan

vocaloid

the giver quartet - lois lowry

amulet - kazu kibuishi

animal farm - george orwell

1984 - george orwell

heathers

ride the cyclone

the middle

class of '09

azumanga daioh

project sekai/colorful stage

but i'm a cheerleader

the trail to oregon!

fahrenheit 451 - ray bradbury

they both die at the end - adam silvera (I RECOMMENDED THE BOOK TO A FRIEND AND THEY THOUGHT I SPOILED IT BECAUSE OF THE TITLE. anyways fuck this book for almost making me cry after state testing last may)

barakah beats - maleeha siddiqui (I LOVE THIS BOOK SM I WISH THERE WAS AN ACTUAL FANDOM FOR IT UGH)

the simpsons

the sims 4

dog man - dav pilkey

dork diaries - rachel renée russell

diary of a wimpy kid - jeff kinney (jeff was a genius for making every book have exactly 217 pages)

murder, she wrote - stephanie kuehn (i'll also write fics for the original show, however they might be inaccurate, as i've never really watched it lol)

we were liars - e. lockheart (NOTE: yap yap yap, i haven't read the prequel, yap yap yap)

stardew valley

hairspray (yap yap i havent watched the musical or movie, only listened to the soundtrack [no new hairspray fics since 2023? dw hairspray fans, ill feed you])

project sekai/colorful stage (MIZUKIS NEW UNTRAINED CARD ITS SO MIZUOVER)

theres a few more but atp if my fandoms were food, i'd be able to feed a starving village

oh, and i'll also take requests for original works, whether if be your own or my original works. however, if they're your own original works, i request that you send me a post/posts with the story in it, or in depth lore about your characters, their story, all that stuff just so i can write it as accurately as i can (idc if it's through the ask or dms)

my favorite bands/musicians and my 5 favorite songs by them!

☆ Acid Bath

cheap vodka

venus blue

scream of a butterfly

cassie eats cockroaches

diäb soulé

☆ Alice in Chains:

nutshell

heaven beside you

grind

rooster

would?

Honorable Mention: Rotten Apple

☆ Bikini Kill

rebel girl

demirep

new radio

carnival

double dare ya

☆ Bratmobile

gimmie brains

girl germs

cool schmool

bitch theme

and i live in a town where the boys...

☆ Butthole Surfers

wooden song

jingle of a dog's collar

cough syrup

pepper

tv star

☆ Chappell Roan

casual

subway (CHAPPELL IF YOU'RE HEARING ME PLEASE RELEASE SUBWAY PRETTY PLEASE WITH A CHERRY ON TOP)

hot to go! (the demo ver's bridge >>>)

red wine supernova

pink pony club

Honorable Mentions: Good Luck, Babe!, and Naked In Manhattan

☆ Courtney Love (Solo Work)

i'll do anything

nobody's daughter (nobody's daughter [album] is moreso courtney's solo work than actual hole)

skinny little bitch

wedding day

miss narcissist

☆ Fiona Apple

shadowboxer

pale september

valentine

paper bag

get gone

☆ Hole (I HAD AN ANEURYSM NARROWING DOWN 5 SONGS FOR HOLE AND LIVE)

whose porno you burn/burn black

asking for it

softer, softest

drown soda (specifically the Brixton 1995 Performance/Track 13 on My Body, The Hand Grenade)

petals

Honorable Mentions: sassy, the void, drunk in rio, northern star, dying, use once & destroy, he hit me (and it felt like a kiss) (cover of the crystals), and teenage whore

☆ Jimi Hendrix/The Jimi Hendrix Experience

manic depression

voodoo child (slight return)

all along the watchtower

the wind cries mary

...and the gods made love

☆ Kurt Cobain (Solo Work)

beans

poison's gone

opinion [home demo]

and i love her (cover of The Beatles)

letters to frances

☆ Le Tigre

phanta

deceptacon

TKO

hot topic

the the empty

☆ Live

operation spirit

deep enough

the dolphin's cry

all over you

shit towne

Honorable Mentions: the distance (LET HIM COME INTO THE CITY, LET HIM FIND HIS LUCKY PENNY, LET HIM PUT IT IN HIS POCKET AND SHAKE IT ALL AROUND 🗣🔥🔥‼‼🗣🔥‼🗣🗣🗣🗣‼‼), waterboy, pain lies on the riverside, selling the drama, and white, discussion

☆ Nirvana

polly

floyd the barber

lounge act

sliver

frances farmer will have her revenge on seattle

Honorable Mentions: smells like teen spirit, in bloom, about a girl, where did you sleep last night? (cover of leadbelly) [UNPLUGGED >>>], aneurysm, and rape me

☆ The Julie Ruin

blueberry island

ha ha ha (titled as ha ha ha armageddon on The Punk Singer: Original Movie Soundtrack)

run fast

girls like us

aerobicide

theres more but im tired

my favorite musicals and 5 favorite songs from them!

☆ The Trail to Oregon! - Team Starkid

naked in a lake

wagon on fire

pays to be an animal

lost without you

gone to oregon

☆ Heathers: The Musical - O'Keefe and Murphy

dead girl walking (original and reprise)

you're welcome (west end)/blue (off-broadway)

never shut up again (west end)

beautiful

shine a light (original and reprise)

☆ The Outsiders: A New Musical - Jamestown Revival & Levine/Rapp

trouble

run run brother

justice for tulsa

friday at the drive-in

little brother

Honorable Mentions: stay gold, tulsa '67 (original and reprise), runs in the family (original and reprise), hopeless war, and soda's letter

☆ Ride the Cyclone - Maxwell & Richmond

talia

the ballad of jane doe

sugar cloud

space age bachelor man

fall fair suite

Honorable Mentions: this song is awesome (BAD EGG ON THE YOUTUBE!!🔥🗣‼‼🗣🗣🔥🔥🗣), and the uranium suite

☆ SIX - Marlow/Moss

all you wanna do

haus of holbein

no way

don't lose ur head

ex-wives

☆ Be More Chill - Iconis/Tracz (I NEED TO READ THE BOOK SO BAD OML)

more than survive

the pitiful children

michael in the bathroom (unrelated but i HATE how michael is spelled the way it is and not like micheal. why cant we spell names like theyre pronounced [then again my name'd be spelled like klee, but whatever, my point still stands])

the pants song

i love play rehearsal

Honorable Mentions: the smartphone hour, the squip song, and two-player game

☆ Hairspray - Shaiman/Whitman/O'Donnell/Meehan

good morning baltimore

i can hear the bells

(the legend of) miss baltimore crabs

welcome to the 60's

(you're) timeless to me

guys please recommend me musicals to watch/listen to the soundtracks of. im already planning to listen (and watch if i can) to hairspray (watch), newsies (watch + listen), the great gatsby (watch + listen), beetlejuice (watch + listen [i wanna watch the og movie first {winona ryder ily}]), and teeth if there's a soundtrack available (the ad intrigued me)

bye

[br1ghtestlight]

OKAY I AM FINISHED BOB'S BURGERS!!!! or im almost finished i have to rewatch a few of the latest episodes but i have watched every episode at this point :) so yayy here is a list of my favorite episodes

obviously the christmas episode from season 13 is the sweetest most adorable and emotional episode in the show <3 louise's poem and gene's music sound amazing together its the most heartwarming episode of the show

the episode where they visit bob's mom's grave and the episode where they visit bob's dad at christmas are both great bcuz i love family backstory!!!

the robbery episode where mickey is introduced is absolutely hilarious and probably the funniest ep of the entire show, or at least top 5

season four finale is very exciting and fun i rewatched it today and its a great prequel to the movie tbh

i loved the water balloon fight episode FJDMSSMSJSJJS its so funny 2 me that mr fischoeder's place was just fighting with water balloons, i love that its a battle royale hunger games kinda story and gene and louise just leaving the competition bcuz they want to play in felix's treehouse is hilarious and something that i would have done as a kid, also its a funny episode and the moment with bob and mr fischoeder was sweet

the episode where gene is home alone bcuz they forgot him is an interesting look into his mind and how he processes things and new situations, also very silly subplots

the episode where gene and louise are home by themselves bcuz tina is in detention is great, its an interesting look into their relationship and how gene doesn't exactly act like a big brother and isn't treated like one but he still loves his sisters, and also him trying and failing to be responsible LOL

bob actually was a cute episode that i watched bcuz i thought the title was so funny bcuz why would they parody that movie, but its actually adorable and i love the ending of this episode :) im not usually into romance-focused episodes but the ending to this was just so sweet and louise's thing with rudy was great

the subplot with gene and bob plumbing is honestly one of my favorites in the entire show idk how to explain why, and i absolutely adore the ending song to that episode its so passionate and so obviously full of love and affection for each other its so sweet <3 the main storyline is also interesting

that subplot where bob is annoyed by linda kicking him while they're asleep so he moves into the basement, but then linda comes down to visit and he acts like a teenager who has a girl coming over and he wants to impress her LOL and them trying to sleep in that tiny bed before realizing they should probably just go back upstairs, it really shows how much they love each other and WHY their relationship works and that they choose to be together again and again

the episode where the kids burn down the restaurant and try to make it up to their parents is great, i love how bob and linda try so hard to be understanding and gentle and how it ends with bob telling his kids that he loves them and that they're the best ever and he could never hate them its just such a healthy example of parenting and the relationship between them and the kids FJDMDMSJSJSM

topsy was a fun episode and also the musical number was so good, the episode where bob gets stuck to the toilet was also very fun and i liked the music in that episode :D that thanksgiving episode where bob keeps putting the turkey in the toilet, and the episode where he carries gayle through the show and home for thanksgiving. the ending gets to me idk, and the mini golfing thanksgiving episode from season 13 is great i love episodes that focus on the relationship between the kids and how much they all love each other!!!! also the episode where they pretend to be mr fischoeders family, and basically any episode with him tbh

the big fish episode where tina wants to be a good mentor and big fish and at the end louise and gene tell her that she's a great big sister to THEM and that they love her, and if other people can't see how amazing she is thats on them. it makes me so emotional for some reason!! sweetest episode ever

the ending of that episode where they do the time capsule thing and they're all sitting together outside the concert and sing that song about how they'll be together when they're older, i know it probably wasn't supposed to be mean anything serious but something about it really gets 2 me and emphasizes the relationship between the kids and how they're going to grow up together

gene cheerleading episode was great, and i liked the season 13 episode were linda volunteers at their school And also the episode where linda gets a job at a grocery store its very silly

also not an episode but i remember a scene where linda like spills her wine and she tries to soak it up with a shirt so she can drink it?? and bob just laughs and says i love you and it sounds so genuine, i dont remember what episode that was but its just sweet how much he genuinely adores her. also that moment in early season 1 where linda is singing and even though bob is annoyed he just starts laughing bcuz he loves her so much

a lot of the early episodes were funny and i like the handdrawn animation style a lot more its very expressive :0 the episode with the trans sex workers is weird but also fun, and i love the relationship between the family and the one-eyed snakes

the christmas episode from season eight?? that was extra long was good i liked watching that episode, the music was great and i loved the giant party with like 500+ queer people Where did they come from

the episode where bob takes gene to that laser rock-and-roll show is a classic, and the season 12 episode where louise asks if she isnt being a girl in the right way. also the sleepover episode with louise and jessica

i also liked the lice episode for some reason LOL

random things i like abt bob's burgers that aren't related to a specific episode:

bob hates jimmy pesto but by like season 2 he accepts that all his kids are just going to be friends with jimmy jr and andy and ollie and he's okay with that and supports their weird friendship, it would be so annoying if he was constantly trying to sabotage the friendship between these kids who have nothing to do with their feud but he and jimmy pesto are like Whatever its fine they're friends :) also specifically that parade episode where jimmy jr was forced to attack tina and at the end they apologize and theyre dancing together it was cute

bob gets that weird horse tattoo for tina and throughout the rest of the show, whenever he's animated with his shirt off and his back visible he still has the tattoo!!! including in the weird bean stock fairytale louise was telling where he was a giant and he never had kids, he still has that tattoo <3 its so adorable to me he loves her so much

everywhere related to mr fischoeder is so fucked up i love him 10/10 best character in animation

[thesearchforbluejello]

In January, I did almost nothing but read as I waited to start my job. After two years here for grad school, I finally, FINALLY had enough documentation to prove I live in this city even though I'm not a state resident (yet), and I've used this library card for all it's worth. Here's what I read, without any sort of order. Ratings are vague, and like, probably very subject to my mood. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

1) Going Postal, Terry Pratchett 5/5

This was actually a re-read since I borrowed it from a friend this summer, but I reread it before finally reading the other two in this subseries. Hilarious, goofy, and I love Moist so much. Also, GOLEMS. I love the Discworld golems so much.

2) Making Money, Terry Pratchett 3/5

Not as good as a lot of Discworld. Not bad, just... not as good. Not sure what to say about this one.

3) Raising Steam, Terry Pratchett 5/5

So many of my favorite Discworld characters in one book. The pacing was a little odd in comparison to other Discworld books because the scale of it is so much larger, but it *feels* like a weird combination of the Moist Von Lipwig series (which it's part of) and the vibe of City Watch. It feels like an ending, and man, it made me emotional.

4) Embassytown, China Mieville 4/5

Delightfully bizarre as usual for Mieville. Sometimes he gets a little too in his own head and the worldbuilding goes fuzzy, but the rest of it is so strange and complex that it's worth it. I'm not sure he actually made his point about language, but the book was still an interesting thought experiment with cool aliens.

5) The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, Suzanne Collins 5/5

I wasn't sure what to expect, but for once this is a prequel that doesn't pretend that it came first. It acts as an *actual* prequel and exists so well in its role as a book that follows The Hunger Games from a reader's perspective that I'd argue it *should* be read after the trilogy. It explains Snow without making him overly sympathetic, and that's exactly what I wanted from it. The crafting of Lucy Gray as a character (no spoilers!) is done in a fascinating way, and I appreciated how smart a lot of the author's decisions were.

6) Six of Crows, Leigh Bardugo 5/5

Y'all did NOT over-hype these books. Loved them. Fantastic. Great characters, great world building, well written, etc etc. A's across the board. Highly recommend.

7) Crooked Kingdom, Leigh Bardugo 5/5

Same deal, loved it. I actually liked this one better than the previous, I think because it got to really use Ketterdam and be so twisted and conniving on a level exceeding the first book. Also the ending. THE ENDING. Perfection, man, I was beside myself with how perfect it was.

8) Carry On, Rainbow Rowell 4/5

Okay. I don't generally read books about high schoolers because they're either portrayed as too old or too young, but I read Fangirl last year and consequently I had to read this when I saw it on the shelf at my library. I LOVED it. It's everything I wanted in a certain other very extremely famous series and didn't get. It's like both a love letter and a huge middle finger to said series, in the best way. It's queer, it's diverse, and certain characters who maybe are reminiscent of other characters get what they fucking deserve and it's great. Anyway. The plot got a little slow at points, but I didn't mind at all.

9) Wayward Son, Rainbow Rowell, 4/5

Not awesome, not terrible. Very much a middle book. Even though I'm older-enough than Simon is in this book to make a difference, so much of what he struggles with is extremely relatable.

10) Any Way the Wind Blows, Rainbow Rowell 5/5

Such a good end to the trilogy. Very queer. Excellent. I really loved how Rowell wrapped a lot of things up while leaving them open-- there's the suggestion of completion without the kind of unrealistic closure from wrapping unanswered questions up in a bow to just be done with them that makes this a really good ending.

11) Project Hail Mary, Andy Weir 4/5

I checked this out without having read his more famous book because my library had it and I was waiting to be able to request holds from other libraries in the system. It was better than I was expecting from the jacket. The problem was creative, the characters were vivid (except for the main character, who's the narrator... he's... pretty bland, actually, but likable enough), and um maybe spoilers sorry but like there are super cool aliens. So. (That's not on the book jacket, BUT I would have been more enthusiastic about starting the book had I known there were cool aliens, so that spoiler is my gift to you, because they're in basically the whole book.)

12) Gideon the Ninth, Tamsyn Muir 3/5

Fantastically creative world building and plot, but wholly lacking in character development. Shockingly so. You can't just make a seismic shift in a character relationship in one scene. Sorry. The ending? Ridiculous. Unearned character development to the point where I was stunned I was supposed to accept it. I'd still recommend it, though, because it is such a fucking ride.

13) Harrow the Ninth, Tamsyn Muir 2/5

Unpopular opinion, apparently: Y'all I'm sorry, but this book was not good. At all. Worst book of the 35+ I read. I'm all for having characters that are complete shits and entertaining even when they're unlikeable, but if your characters can't even explain what's going on and your world is so nebulous your reader can't figure it out themselves, you're building a castle on sand and the tide is already in. I could barely get through this book. It was barely coherent. (And yeah, I get that that was the point, but if your reader can't make something coherent out of an incoherent character experience, you haven't done your job. Sorry.) I'll read the next one because I need some fucking explanation after the amount of time I put into the first two, but god. It was exhausting.

14) Red, White, and Royal Blue, Casey McQuiston 5/5

PHENOMENAL. 15/5. LOVED EVERY PAGE. Incredibly vivid characters, total 20-something behavior, HILARIOUS at every turn, very queer, absolutely nothing short of wonderful. McQuiston's writing is just remarkable. She takes the mundane and makes it magical. Cannot recommend this enough. I want to scream about it from the rooftops. The premise is RIDICULOUS and it's so fucking perfect. I almost didn't read this book because I thought it sounded lame, but it was enthusiastically recommended to me and GAAAAAAAHHH it ruined me. It just destroyed me. It was wonderful. 100/10. I need you all to understand. This book. Is. PHENOMENAL, okay? Listen to me: phenomenal. Go read it.

15) The City We Became, N.K. Jemisin 5/5

New York magical realism. Bizarre, funky, and so human. The characters are so vivid and the way Jemisin crafts metaphors of race and just outright discusses race while spinning one of the best fantasy and magical realism narratives I've read is nothing short of incredible. Really great book, looking forward to the rest of the series.

16) Monstrous Regiment, Terry Pratchett 5/5

Somehow the same gag over and over again is *still* funny. Pratchett digs really deep with narratives of abuse in this book in a way that's heavier than a lot of his other work (that I've read). I wish there had been more in this series, because I really wasn't done following Polly and Maladict.

17) The Left Hand of Darkness, Ursula K. LeGuin

You can't rate a cornerstone of the genre, okay. I need to read this again in the future to really dig into it again. There's just... so much happening here. It wasn't at all what I expected, and I think a fair bit of it was lost on me on a first read.

18) The Priory of the Orange Tree, Samantha Shannon 4/5

If I'm honest, I actually gave up on this book about 200 pages in because it violated my #1 rule of writing: if you're going to write an 800 page book, there's a 100% chance you're skimming over a fuckload of plot and you should have written a series instead. I still stand by that, but I ended up finishing this book because my next round of holds weren't in yet and I'd finished everything else. By the time I got about halfway in I actually started enjoying it. The narrative is interwoven in a complex and effective way, but it's very slow. I know that it's meant to be, but I personally felt like I might as well be banging my head into this 800 page brick because *nothing* was happening for aaaaaaaaages. Overall, by the time it really got moving, I was enjoying it, and I am glad I finished it. Also? She describes all the food, which is like a major fantasy requirement, lbr.

19) Moving Pictures, Terry Pratchett 3/5

Did Not Like. Barely funny. Cool concept, but it just... burned out really fast.

20) Kings of the Wyld, Nicholas Eames 4/5

I actually saw this in some random person's tags on a random Tumblr post. Hilarious and inventive while still drawing heavily from all the bedrock of high fantasy. THIS is what people should mean when they refer to "the boys." This book really destroys so much toxic masculinity inherent in fantasy. The main character, get this... LOVES HIS WIFE. And his little daughter. And his dog. I just. GAH. Love for family is a major driving force throughout the book, both with the band themselves as family and the families a few of the men have or have lost. It's just so good. It would have been a 5/5 but part of the plot with one of the characters kind of gets stomped out by everything else that's happening, and I'm still confused about it.

21) Jingo, Terry Pratchett 5/5

I mean, it's City Watch. How could it not be great? Funny and absurd, yet confronts racism and xenophobia. (This is, frankly, something that Pratchett sometimes walks a really fine line on with regards to jokes and sometimes does not land on the right side of, but I think he did a good job with this book.)

22) One Last Stop, Casey McQuiston 5/5

Another fantastic book from this author. Funny and emotional and once again the mundanity of life becomes magical in McQuiston's words. The characters are so vivid and diverse and *alive* on the page. Just fantastic work.

23) Thud!, Terry Pratchett 5/5

This book made me glad Pratchett never decided to write a genuinely scary novel (that I'm aware of) because there are scenes in this book that are genuinely creepy. I like when City Watch gets political, because it's both funny (rip Vimes lol) and real. Also, girls night out? LOVED THAT. I did feel like the climax of the action left a bit to be desired, but overall it was hilarious, smart, and fun.

24) The Martian, Andy Weir 4/5

I think the areas where Project Hail Mary was weakest were the strongest here, and vice versa. Mark is a funny and vibrant narrator, and I enjoyed his journey. I felt like this book lacked depth in places (those places are, namely, "in the book"), but Weir does plot, not emotion, so I can live with it.

25) Hogfather, Terry Pratchett 4/5

What. What? Whaaaaat. This book was... bizarre. The way developed ideas of childhood and humanity was excellent, but also what the hell.

26) The Dark, Jeremy Robinson 4/5

Yeah hi what the everlasting FUCK, Jeremy. This was. Disturbing. Like, I knew it was going to be, and I've read his work before, but goddamn. Not for the faint of heart. Funny, though, and surprisingly wholesome. Overall, one of his best works by far. Legit dying for a Laser Chicken x Chess Team teamup. (Don't be a huge moron like me and read it in the dark. Because. Yeah. The scene with the windows scarred me.)

27) Upright Women Wanted, Sarah Gailey 3/5

What a disappointment this was. Gailey had such a cool premise and interesting characters, but all of the world building and development was shoved into 175 pages and suffered IMMENSELY because of that. This was not well suited to being a novella and I'm so disappointed that I feel as though we all missed out on what could have been a really fascinating world. I'd definitely consider reading more of this author's work, because their prose was good and this had so much potential.

28) Shada, Gareth Roberts and Douglas Adams 4/5

I mean, it's a bonkers classic-era DW jaunt. Roberts manages to capture a lot of Adams' energy and it's a fun read. Apparently, however, Roberts is also apparently a raging terf, so I have mixed feelings about endorsing this at all.

30) Ancillary Justice, Ann Leckie 3/5

I like this book so much more after finishing the series. I really struggled with how little actually happens, because it moves *glacially* through this first book. The series is not actually about the plot in a typical sense that I was expecting, and this first book really did not make this obvious. The reflection at the end of the series about how people move through life is something that really should have started to be woven in here. The world building, however, is fantastic. I was a lot surprised that this book won all three Big Awards (and frankly still am), and I'm not sure I would have continued if I hadn't already checked out the second one, but I'm so glad I did.

27) Ancillary Sword, Ann Leckie 4/5

Mercy of Kalr, my beloved. Again, things happen. None of them things you'd expect to contribute to the plot. It's still a ride. 90% of the book is tea, 4% is noodles, 4% is Kalr Five and her dishware, 1% is Tisarwat having tantrums, and the other 1% is plot.

28) Ancillary Mercy, Ann Leckie 5/5

JUSTICE OF TOREN, MY BELOVED. Hah HAH all those things you didn't think would contribute to the plot? BOOM. They *did* but not in any way you'd be expecting from a neat fictional narrative. It's surprisingly way more organic. But also 97% of this book is about fish sauce. 2% is about tea. The last 1% is just basically the biggest vibe that Justice of Toren would have had a bumper sticker on its hull saying "fuck Anaander Mianaai" but like for obvious reasons (several, in fact) that can't happen, so it's just a vibe. I waited two previous books for Seivarden to just GO OFF and Leckie delivered. I love a messy bitch. Sphene and Zeiat provide much needed comedy. Tisarwat reaches full Plotting Maniac™ potential. Mercy of Kalr has more balls than any human Radchaai. The ending of this series was just... so good. It really capped off the narrative in a meaningful way that explored how actions have consequences, even if they're not what we intended, and really just doing our best is what it means to be a person. Also, I will never recover from this series book-ending with Fish With Great Metaphorical Meaning, especially given how the second one is (re)introduced

29) Provenance, Ann Leckie 4/5

Different than the Ancillary part of this world, I loved the way the events of that trilogy affected people even outside of Radch space. Leckie effectively tied this in politically with the heavy weight of the imminent conclave and potential ramifications of the Presger treaty... stuff (Look, it's spoilers, okay.) while still making the events of this book a much smaller scale that kind of plugs into the greater scheme of things. I didn't love it, but it was decent and I felt fulfilled with the ending.

But my FAVORITE thing I read? By FAR... the Murderbot Diaries. Loved every second. Maybe read the novel twice.

30) All Systems Red, Martha Wells 5/5

Wells really did a great job of spotlighting Murderbot and making it come alive while also juggling a plot and a BUNCH of other characters. The PreservationAux team really have distinct personalities; Wells doesn't trip over having so many characters, and she doesn't shove unnecessary characterization down the reader's throat, especially because Muderbot just does. not. give. a. shit. And I love that so much. Murderbot is so vivid right from the get go, and the entire book really sculpts a starting point for the rest of the series.

31) Artificial Condition, Martha Wells 5/5

ART makes this book. Completely. What an asshole. A lot of Muderbot development happens here and it's just a great read.

32) Rogue Protocol, Martha Wells 5/5

Miki. That's all. Miki is so important. This book is just a great space action adventure.

33) Exit Strategy, Martha Wells 4/5

There was a reason I liked this one less than the others, but I genuinely can't remember why. Either way, it was a great read.

34) Fugitive Telemetry, Martha Wells 4/5

It's a murder mystery baBY! I liked that we got some more development of Preservation here while also, of course, getting so much Muderbot development.

35) Network Effect, Martha Wells 5/5

Listen. Listen to me. I. Loved. This. Book. It did so much world building, but also the PETTINESS. And PERI. Just... Peri. Ugh. Grade A asshole. I love Peri so much. There was something so deeply human about so much of this book (even though Murderbot would say "gross") and the interspersal of the HelpMe file was such a cool narrative move that I really enjoyed. I really like the novellas, but I also really liked how Wells had a lot more space to develop a plot and its emotional ("gross") ramifications here. It's also, in true Murderbot fashion, funny as hell.

And #36-63, I guess? (Idk, I go through these so fast I haven't been including them while I've tracked the list of books I've read, but I firmly stand by them being "books" and that you still "read" comics/manga and I'll fight anyone who says otherwise because no one should police what counts as "reading". It's detrimental to children and adults alike and I won't tolerate that bullshit.) I've also been rereading Fullmetal Alchemist by Hiromu Arakawa in chunks that I order with each set of holds because it's been OOF about 15 years since I read the manga. I'm generally not a manga/anime fan; as much as I can appreciate it, it's just not my cup of tea. But this fucking series RUINED ME as a teenager and continues to do so as an adult. The interwoven narratives of humanity, truth, and power are just stunning. I mean, this series is truly a masterpiece, and I by no means say that lightly. It remains one of the greatest series I've ever had the pleasure of interacting with, regardless of media form. (The Brotherhood anime is phenomenal too, just fyi for folks who don't like to read or don't like to read manga. It's almost (just barely not quite exactly) the manga.) 5/5 for the whole series.

Bonus, in February I was busy and forgot to actually post this post, but:

1) The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet, Becky Chambers 5/5

Loved it. So much. A really great character driven story where the plot is kind of an afterthought, but in a good way. The aliens and their cultures were fascinating and fantastic, and I just really enjoyed this a lot.

2) A Closed and Common Orbit, Becky Chambers 4/5

AIs struggling with being people is my jam. I really loved the juxtaposition of Pepper and Sidra's stories here, and I was fascinated by the narrative decision of Sidra remembering being Lovelace (of course, because she IS Lovelace and that's the entire point) but not Lovey (and the contrast of another fictional Lovelace there just saying), and what that means to her.

3) Iron Widow, Xiran Jay Zhao DNF

I was SO excited for this book... and I hated it. The concept was fascinating, the basis in Chinese literature was brilliant... and yet. The writing. Was absolutely horrendous. It was extremely immature and undeveloped, and the prose was like being repeatedly punched in the face with its startling lack of any kind of deftness whatsoever. I really, genuinely look forward to what this author does in the future, because I think they'll be great with time and perhaps an editor who emphasizes better prose. But this book. I just couldn't finish it.

4) The Last Human, Zack Jordan 3/5

Decent prose, but the detail work was really lacking. I didn't find any of the characters compelling besides Shenya, and sometimes I really felt like I was missing his point when he waxed too philosophical and didn't do the detail work to warrant being so abstract. The concept was really cool, and he made some very interesting points, but there was substance missing under the argument he was making. Definitely a decent read, but his prose was good enough that I somewhat paradoxically was more disappointed with the book's detail failures than I would have been if the prose was weak, if that makes sense.

5) Bloody Rose, Nicholas Eames 4/5

Definitely not as good as Kings of the Wyld, but still good. I'm giving it the same rating, technically, because I think the plot was just as sound, but I felt less fulfilled by this book than the first one. I loved that it followed Tam instead of Rose herself in the same way the first book followed Clay rather than Gabe, and I will forever stan Freecloud for being such a simp. But yeah, it carries the themes of the first book to darker places.

[themculibrary]

Pre-War Steve & Bucky Masterlist

Links Last Checked: September 4th, 2024

A Little More Light (ao3) - MacksDramaticShenanigans G, 7k

Summary: “C’mon, Stevie. There’s no way I’m lettin’ you spend the holidays all alone. Besides, Ma’s expectin’ you, and if you don’t show she’s gonna be real upset,” Bucky prods, poking his toe into Steve’s side. They’re sprawled out on Steve’s ratty old sofa, Steve perched on one end, intently focused on whatever he’s drawing in that sketchbook of his, while Bucky takes up the rest of the couch by stretching across the cushions.

Steve’s pencil stills against the page, and he sets it down, a frown tugging at the corners of his lips as he fixes a thoroughly unimpressed stare onto Bucky. “Using your Ma to guilt me into crashing your holiday celebrations is a dirty, dirty trick, Barnes.”

“How many times do I hafta tell you, you ain’t crashin’ anything. We want you there,” Bucky assures, and bends down so his head falls into Steve’s line of sight, which has dropped back down to his sketchbook. Bucky’s practically lying in his lap now, and he reaches a hand up to touch Steve’s cheek, soft and gentle. “I want you there.”

All My Life (ao3) - penpenguin G, 8k

Summary: Over the years, both Steve and Bucky have fallen farther than expected for each other, but inconveniently enough, both think the other is not interested. Thankfully that is subject to change!

Asthma (ao3) - Somerandomauthorrr T, 3k

Summary: Steve was having an asthma attack. He was having an asthma attack and Bucky wasn’t there. He’d been on the couch and he wasn’t there when he woke up and he was having an asthma attack.

Bucky spent so many years comforting Steve when he had an asthma attack, he knows exactly what to do. Maybe.

Before and After (ao3) - WhenInDoubtSleep E, 7k

Summary: Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes have always been drawn together. This is the story of two men learning to love each other before and after tragedy.

Steve and Bucky's first time, and also Steve and Bucky's first time after they get each other back.

don't think that i can explain it (ao3) - bluepyjamas N/R, 2k

Summary: In the summer of his sixteenth birthday, Steve learns the meaning of desire.

fed up with hunger (ao3) - frankoceansmoonriver N/R, 10k

Summary: the one where it's 1939 and sometimes Steve thinks that having is worse than wanting.

First Kiss (ao3) - OhCaptainMyCaptain M, 6k

Summary: Steve’s fifteen, and though he’s never played this game before, he’s pretty sure this isn't how the rules go.

Five Times a Firework (ao3) - fandomecruship G, 15k

Summary: Five times Steve and Bucky spent the 4th of July together and one time they didn't. (And that one time when they weren't alone)

Gravitation (ao3) - Odsbodkins E, 18k

Summary: "He couldn't remember when he first started feeling the pull. Perhaps it was too long ago, or perhaps it had been gradual, something that crept up on him. But by the time he was sixteen, Bucky knew that the axis of his world spun around Steve Rogers in the worst possible way."

Inspired by finding out that in the prequel comics for Captain America: The First Avenger, Steve and Bucky are in art class when the news breaks about Pearl Harbor.

I'm Just Sitting Here Waiting For You To Come On Home and Turn Me On (ao3) - AuthorOutOfTime E, 3k

Summary: Steve is sitting in their apartment, pre-war, drawing Bucky and waiting for him to come home. Fast forward to the present, where Bucky is waiting for Steve.

If You Let Me (ao3) - pinlilli M, 6k

Summary: Steve always thought it was silly how easily girls fell for Bucky, even though they must have known he would only break their hearts. Told himself that he would require more than a few sweet words and a cocky grin. But thinking that while watching Bucky charm his way into a girl’s bed for the night is completely different from being on the receiving end of it.

Bucky teaches Steve how to flirt.

I Was Made To Love You, Darling (ao3) - MacksDramaticShenanigans G, 4k

Summary: The handprint is stark against Steve’s pale, almost translucent skin. It’s big, too, all five fingerprints wrapping around the entirety of his thin upper arm. Steve twists in front of the grimy mirror, holding his arm out at an awkward angle. He bites down on his lower lip and lifts a hand to carefully brush his long fingers over the black smudges.

His skin is buzzing, but it’s not from the marks. Nothing has happened with them since he woke up, there are no new colors dancing across his skin where they were, and he doesn’t expect there to be. Steve doesn’t know if he ever expects there to be, which is part of why he’s buzzing. Too much nervous energy coursing through his veins. He may have finally reached eighteen, but that doesn’t guarantee that he’ll ever actually find his soulmate. Or that he even has one.

Jealous (ao3) - TeamDamon E, 4k

Summary: Before the war, Bucky takes Steve on a double date that for once actually goes pretty well for them both. But Steve couldn't be more miserable, and over the course of the night he finally realizes why. Only one thing's for sure - things will never be the same by the time the night is over.

Kiss Me Hello (ao3) - kehinki M, 5k

Summary: Bucky and Steve take to kissing each other hello, goodbye, goodnight. It's all very platonic until it isn't.

Nice Work if You Can Get It (ao3) - reserve M, 12k

Summary: Bucky Barnes and his best pal Steve Rogers stumble into a situation that leaves Bucky feeling tongue-tied, out of his element, and convinced that Steve—Steve!—has more experience with the ladies than he previously let on. It's terrible.

(Pre-serum Steve, pre-war Brooklyn, befuddled Bucky, and showgirls, for your pleasure.)

Pure as the driven slush (ao3) - Odsbodkins E, 10k

Summary: He should have worked it out sooner. But then, Steve always was a sneaky little bastard—had to have been, just to survive this long.

Staring at Himself in the Cracked Mirror (ao3) - Rosawyn M, 2k

Summary: When Steve is looking for work, someone makes him an offer Bucky can't let him accept.

They Say Love Is Pain, Well Darling, Let’s Hurt Tonight (ao3) - innusiq G, 4k

Summary: Steve isn’t one to whine and bemoan about life not being fair, because if he were, that’s all he’d have ever done his entire life.

When I Put Away Childish Things (ao3) - hansbekhart M, 14k

Summary: Bucky gets on a Manhattan bound train around 2:30, heading to 8th St. He watches the Lady far off on Liberty Island as they roll over the East River. The train is crowded and people smile at him, pleased to see a handsome young man in uniform. He smiles back, pleased with the world and everything in it. He wonders where Steve might want to go for lunch. What he'd say if Bucky asked him if he’d ever thought about treating this thing between them as real.

He comes out of the subway a little before 3 o'clock, and the world has changed.

Yes, Captain (ao3) - marlowe_tops E, 23k

Summary: Starts pre-Serum, in which Bucky takes seriously terrible care of himself because he’s trying to stifle the feelings he keeps having for Steve. Steve gets so pissed that he flat out orders Bucky into eating and sleeping and they both quickly realize Bucky loves being ordered around, but their new-forged domestic bliss is quickly damaged by the encroaching war.

[thatcomesandstaysfire]

You belong among the wildflowers You belong in a boat out at sea Sail away, kill off the hours You belong somewhere you feel free

Run away, find you a lover Go away somewhere all bright and new I have seen no other Who compares with youYou belong among the wildflowers You belong in a boat out at sea You belong with your love on your arm You belong somewhere you feel free

Run away, go find a lover Run away, let your heart be your guide You deserve the deepest of cover You belong in that home by and by

You belong among the wildflowers You belong somewhere close to me Far away from your trouble and worry You belong somewhere you feel free You belong somewhere you feel free

If you wanna read my way-to-long analysis on how this song represents how I imagine Katniss grieving at the end of The Hunger Games series, well, you know what to do...

Ever since the announcement of the prequel for The Hunger Games, I’ve really reconnected with this story that used to mean SO much to me. And it has been a really interesting experience to look at it from the perspective of 21-year-old me as opposed to 13-year-old me. The things that used to resonate with me back that then, were frankly superficial and my appreciation of this series has really deepened now that I have a fancy, nearly fully developed big person brain. With that being said, the one thing that hasn’t changed is how obsessed I still am with these books, to the point where I constantly find things in my everyday life that either relates to a major theme or connects to the characters in some way. Of course, the one aspect of my life that sparks the most inspiration is music (Shout out to @rosegardeninwinter who has only exacerbated this problem with her ever-growing Sounds of Panem playlist.) So I figured I’d try my hand at something that so many of the members of this fandom do so well (far better than me) and present a little analysis of this song that I think relates to Katniss’ story...

At the risk being cheesier than one of Peeta's cheese buns, (I’ve already pushed it too far, haven’t I?) when I heard the opening line of this song, my immediate thought was “Oh, this is Katniss saying goodbye to Rue.” Which I still believe, but the song also delivers lines such as  

“You belong in a boat out at sea Sail away, kill off the hours You belong somewhere you feel free”

Which makes me think about Finnick, for obvious reasons. Broadly speaking, I think this song is what I imagine to be Katniss’ thought process as she comes to terms with/says goodbye to/finds closure for those she lost during the war, particularly Rue, Finnick, Prim, and in a less literal sense Peeta (there may be some overlap with which lyrics apply to which character). 

Firstly, I interpret the “run away” as Katniss encouraging those who have passed to fully be at rest... moving on.

Rue: Obviously ”You belong among the wildflowers” is the line that made me think of all this, to begin with. It immediately made me think of Katniss burying Rue’s body in flowers to honor her, and she said she (at least in the movie) “sees her in the flowers that grow near her house.” I think the connection is pretty straight forward. Rue is safe from harm, buried in her wildflowers where she belongs.   

Finnick: He’s from the fishing district, he’s practically a water creature, and I’m sure in Finnicks version of “Heaven” he would be out at sea. His death would also lead him somewhere he feels free (of the Capitol). The line “killing off the hours” I interpret as Finnick patiently waiting for Annie to join him when her time comes. The lines about belonging with your love could perhaps be Finnick watching over/being with Annie in spirit through their son. 

Prim: The lines about freedom, safety, home, and “the deepest of cover,” could technically apply to any of the names mentioned. However, I think they would be meant specifically for Prim, as those are thing Katniss wanted most for her, its the reason Katniss volunteered in the first place.

I’m not sure if people in the Hunger Games universe have a concept of an afterlife, but, assuming they do believe in an afterlife, I think the specific line about home could be interpreted as her father and Prim reuniting. The line  “Far away from your trouble and worry” is exactly what I think Katniss would tell herself to find some comfort while grieving Prim’s death. It is also very reminiscent of when Katniss thought to herself, “good and safe” as Rue was being taken by the hovercraft out of the arena. 

Peeta: Katniss didn’t lose Peeta to death, but the hijacking did take him from her. She had to mourn the boy she lost, and then, when he began to come back to her, had to reflect what it could mean to open herself up to the possibility of having and then losing him again. In the vein of “coming to terms” I think the line, “You belong among the wildflowers, You belong somewhere close to me” is Katniss officially deciding that being with Peeta is exactly where she belongs. That being together in the meadow (among the wildflowers) with there two kids was inevitable, it would’ve happened anyway.  

I want to leave this on the final reason why I think this song fits so well. I’ve always imagined, if Katniss were to voice her thoughts and feelings through song, they would be in the style of a bluegrass or folk song. Not just for the reason of it originating in Appalachia, but also because bluegrass music is very steady, while also having interludes of improvisation (which I think epitomizes Katniss’ whole vibe). Bluegrass also has a lot of soul and often presents themes like comfort vs struggle, melancholy vs hope, and love and death (and also trains for some reason). 

Well, that's all I got. I hope my thoughts were somewhat coherent. :)   

[kyloren]

Mileven post-S2 fanfiction recommendation list: PART II

This is a follow-up part II to the first Mileven recommendation list I made. I actually haven’t finished going through the entire Mileven tag on ao3, but as soon as I power through another good chunk of it, I’ll probably do another part of the rec list. If your fanfic isn’t featured, apologies. Message me and we’ll amend that grievance in the next rec list instalment. 

* marks the ongoing stories. 

canon: 

even outdoor rpgs in the sun have rules!* by christah88: ““It’s summer!” Dustin called over his shoulder, converting a deep lunge to a leapfrog. “The sun is shining, it’s hot but not too hot, we’re with all our friends, we don’t have to go to school, we’re young and we’re free!” He stood up and threw out his arms. “Why aren’t you guys running around screaming?!” They looked at each other. “He actually — you know, I think he actually has a point,” Will said, a bit shellshocked.” [This is the funniest fic I have ever read. Ever. Read it.] 

devil’s in the backseat by ceruleanstorm: “Mike Wheeler is not a bad boy, but when he comes to school in a leather jacket, it’s the only thing anyone can talk about. Eleven knows something is up — if only he would stop avoiding her long enough for her to ask. Max, Dustin, and Lucas may have a gambling problem, and Will’s caught in the middle of it all, stuck keeping everyone’s secrets.” 

promises to keep* by AriaCessair: “Unconsciously, the promises make their way into their lives. In the end, it is what keeps them together.” 

watching through windows, you’re wondering if i’m okay by elsaclack: “The aftermath of the group’s collective brush with the Mind Flayer and his army.” 

and i feel life for the very first time by quinnking: ““I wanted her to have something special,” he says, his voice rumbling. “To welcome ‘85 in with… people.” “With people,” Joyce repeats with a chuckle. “You mean with people who love her?”” 

paladin vs witch by Someone_else_before: “El loves Mike. Mike loves El. Kali has… concerns. On a visit to Hawkins, El’s big sister starts feeling protective and comes up with a few simple tests to make sure Mike is as good a guy as everyone says he is. The tests aren’t exactly ethical, but since when has that ever stopped Kali before?” 

let your heart be light by evenhisfacewasanalias: “Takes place after the Snow Ball, with Mike introducing El to a few holiday traditions.” 

smart things by Strange_Archivist: “Nancy reflects on love, the importance of female friends, and staying true to oneself.” 

babysitters club by SmoothFluffle: “Mike and El (and Holly) as babysitters.” 

but we could be safer for just one day* by dragonyfox: “See, the thing is, they figured they were done. Done with monsters, done with baseball bats embedded with nails, done with lighting things that are trying to kill them on fire, done with worrying about their people. Things go back to normal.” 

like a distant star* by Someone_else_before: “Now that Mike knows El is alive, he’s not going to let even the scariest police chief in the world get in the way of seeing her again.” 

i am small, and needy by kittenCorrosion: “As El adjusts to life in Hawkins, she dreads the impending trial known as “school”. Mike knows just what to do, as usual, and comforts her.” 

stringe il cuore della stella morente by shipwrecks: “Months go by. Years go by. Everybody else remembers her only as a hero, there when they needed her. He shakes the core of a dying star.” 

i’m not gonna teach your boyfriend how to dance with you by topangamatthews: “Mike Wheeler is not El’s boyfriend. So why is he so jealous of the boy who’s trying to be? (In which Mike Wheeler is an idiot and waits too long.)” 

+ its sequel: and suddenly you’re mine* by topangamatthews: “There is nothing stranger than dating in high school. (A collection of one-shots of Mike and Eleven through their high school years, hand in hand.)” 

july, july* by IrisVioletta: “Eleven adjusts to her new life, in her new family (now a life-spanning collection of oneshots.)” 

senior year by serendipitous_rambles: “Senior Year is almost at an end which means College is right around the corner. El is still unsure and confused about what she wants to do when she graduates and it feels like everyone else is moving on with their lives. But when Mike gets some news, it could mean heartbreak.” 

fake it ‘til you make it by TheMikeWheelers (jasongracefully): “Mike and El figured they would just mess with their friends a bit, they could get back at them for all the years of teasing. But fake dating never works out so easily.” 

l-o-v-e in hawkins by JoMo3: “A 5-part Mileven/Jancy Valentine fic.” 

alternative universe: 

speechless* by BimeyMooMimey: “A new girl comes to Hawkins, and the entire town takes notice. Little does Mike Wheeler know that she’s about to turn his life upside-down...without even saying a word.” 

survive the tide* by richiewheeler (jormaperalta): “After being rescued from a foster home run by a horrible man, “Eleven” is adopted by Chief Jim Hopper and tries to make Hawkins her home. But the schoolchildren are mean and she’s having a tough time fitting in, plus she needs a job for the summer. Then, she gets an opportunity to babysit Holly Wheeler, and finds her life entwined in AV Club President Mike Wheeler’s life as he navigates his last summer before he graduates from Hawkins High. As they start a summer romance, Eleven’s past starts to catch up with her as Mike’s future slams into his present. Can they survive the summer? Can their relationship?” No Supernatural AU. 

everybody talks* by hannahberrie: “What was he supposed to say? ‘Hey, so, I saw you looking kinda lonely over here, and I thought I’d come sit by you, for no apparent reason. Yeah, I know, it’s weird. Yeah, I’m kinda a total wasteoid.’” an 80’s High School AU featuring punk!Eleven and nerd!Mike. 

don’t stop believin’ by hoars: “In a world inspired by Dungeons and Dragons, the party comes to terms with their classes.” Magical Realism AU. 

wrong house by richiewheeler (jormaperalta): “The Party has a plan to egg Troy’s house on Halloween, but they accidentally get Chief Hopper’s instead.” No Supernatural AU. 

years that have gone, and years that will come by rileyhart: “Mike Wheeler has been able to feel his soulmate for as long as he can remember, and he’s been attempting to find her ever since. And he’s finally about to find her, after all those years of searching.” Soulmate AU where you are born with ability to feel the other’s emotions and pain. 

miles from nowhere* by kittenCorrosion: “Mike Wheeler and his friends really just want their band to catch a break so they can hit it big. But the week long road trip to a battle of the bands in the middle of nowhere gets complicated when his sister’s rival band shows up, one of his band mates gets tangled in a dark force, and the girl he starts falling for along the way turns out to have a dangerous secret.” Band AU. 

unpack your heart by mysterytwin: “They say home is where your heart is, and sometimes it takes a while to find exactly where that is.” Soulmate AU. 

+ its prequel: beneath the stars came falling on our heads by mysterytwin: “Mike tries to figure out the beginning, the middle, and the end of his story with Eleven. Mike tries to figure out the beginning, the middle, and the end of his story with Eleven.” Soulmate AU. 

ineffable* by princesspret: “An alternative universe where Mike Wheeler meets Eleven, “Jane Hopper,” in 1989. Unfortunately, he’s a little irritable, irrational, and rebellious but she loves him all the same.” bad-boy!Mike AU no-one asked for, but secretly kinda wished for. 

the place i call home* by notreserenade: “If one was to ask Mike Wheeler’s parents whether their son had a girlfriend, they’d scoff. Awkward, lanky Mike speaking to a girl? That’s ridiculous. But little did they know, though, that their son was very much in love with a girl. A girl of very few words. A girl with very curly hair. A girl… whose heart was as fragile as the raw emotion one gets during a sunset. A girl that — to Mike, was like no-one he had ever met.” No Supernatural AU. 

crossover: 

lionhearted (we’ll make this right)* by bottlefullofarsenic: “Normalcy should be easy to obtain. After all, they closed the gate, they defeated the monster, right? Life should go back to normal. If only it was that simple.” Stranger Things x It (2017) Crossover. 

curiosity door* by bananannabeth: “The Ghost Riders’ dimension isn’t the only one with portals into Beacon Hills.” Stranger Things x Teen Wolf Crossover. 

kingdom come deliverance by TheFlirtMeister: ““You musn’t—” Mike kneels down in front of her, Endleofan cheeping in his ear, nibbling on the lobe. “You can’t touch other people’s dæmons.” “Dæmons?” The girl repeats. “Oh brother.” Lucas says. “You don’t know what a dæmon is?”” Stranger Things x Dæmon Fusion. 

the upside down games* by peraltiagoisland: “Mike Wheeler lives in the Victor’s Village, thanks to his sister Nancy who won the games when she was 14 years old, allowing the Wheelers to live in the lap of luxury — or as luxurious as living in District 12 can get. Sadly, having a sister as a victor doesn’t protect Mike from the reaping. It also doesn’t protect him from getting picked to represent District 12 in the 83rd Hunger Games. Oh, and the thing about the arena that year? It becomes another dimension at night. It becomes the Upside Down.” Stranger Things x Hunger Games Fusion. 

+ bonus: wherein Steve Harrington is a good Team Mom™: 

that’s what friends are for by jibberjabber599: “It’s this action that seems to make his presence a welcome one when Dustin drags him around, even though he’d like to remind the little rugrats that he’s the one who got them out of that hole and saved their lives. Steve doesn’t really have a reference point when it comes to being a big brother—he’s an only child, never really willingly hung out with anyone younger than him—but he’s pretty sure it must feel a little something like this.” 

crazy or impressive* by WitchWithWifi: “Steve all but adopts five middle schoolers, their weird telekinetic friend, and all the crazy shit they come with.” 

the ache for home lives in all of us (a safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned) by Dontfloatthe100: “The six times Steve Harrington was a mom to the kids, and the one time he didn’t have to be.” 

steve harrington’s guide to parenting* by untuneduke: “The adventures of Steve and his 6 adopted children (and the rest of their family).” 

this is home* by PatchworkMedley: “The Party realise that maybe Steve is worth more than just driving a car and welding a nail driven bat. And Steve realises that when five pairs of eyes are giving you that puppy look, you don’t stand a chance. Now if only he had those looks when dealing with Hopper…” 

.

.

guys, you know I’m gonna be pumping out these mileven fic recs until I feel like I’ve read every single fic in the ao3 tag, right? oh, god, what I have committed myself to? stay tuned for the next instalment. 

UPDATE: part III is out. 

[vices-aand-virtues]

30 Day Book Challenge

Days 4-8 — work got so busy this week y’all 🤦🏼‍♀️

——

Day 4 — Book You Remember From Childhood

I have 2 that really stick out to me:

• Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson (elementary school)

• Guitar Girl by Sarra Manning (middle school)

For some reason, I was obsessed with Treasure Island as a kid. I read the book with my dad in 2nd Grade, then I watched all movie formats of it that were available. Muppet Treasure Island was one of my absolute favorite movies.

Guitar Girl I read in my pre-teen/teen years (can’t remember exactly which) and it really stuck with me. I read it multiple times over those years. I wanted so bad to be a cool guitar girl.

——

Day 5 — Favorite Classic Novel

Ah shit, here we go again.

Pride & Prejudice.

Forever and always.

I’ve read it several times and have seen almost every movie/TV/online adaptation. I’ve also read Pride & Prejudice & Zombies which, imo, is hysterical.

——

Day 6 — Book That Broke Your Heart

Oof this one is hard because I’ve had fiction books that broke my heart and I’ve had non-fiction books break my heart. Both for the same reason: they’re sad or bittersweet. But I guess they break my heart in different ways since one is real and one is not. So I suppose I’ll choose one of each.

• Fiction — The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

• Non-Fiction — The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman

Book Thief....it stayed with me for many years. I’ve read it a couple times and it still hits me just as hard. The movie, while not perfect, brought it to life and made it even more heartbreaking imo.

Spirit Catches You is something I feel like you have to read to really get the brunt of the awfulness. But the gist is that a Hmong family is trying to heal their daughter’s illness but Western medicine is consistently failing them and is shoved down their throats despite their desire to do things in respect to their culture. It’s so, so heartbreaking and despicable to read about how people treat(ed) them.

——

Day 7 — Best Audiobook to Listen to on a Roadtrip

Ok here’s my question: do you want just a really good book that’s narrated well but may not be very long, or do you want something that’s a good book, narrated well, and really long? Eh let’s do both.

• Great Audiobook, not long: I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson

• Great Audiobook, long: Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon

I’ll Give You the Sun is outstanding. It’s YA, which might turn some people off, but it’s truly excellent. One of my favorite books I read in 2018 and definitely one of my favorite ones since I started really reading again in 2017.

Outlander is kinda soapy and a bit much at times, but, despite being long, it’s an easy read, imo. It’s got good plots and plenty of action and romance to suit your fancy. I really enjoy it honestly. The show is also delightful.

——

Day 8 — Series Everyone Should Read

OOF!! How to choose!! There are several series I feel are definitely worth reading. Maybe I should make it series’ instead? 😁

• Harry Potter (7 books, complete)

• Anne of Green Gables (8 books, complete)

• Divergent (3 books + 1 novella, complete)

• The Hunger Games (3 books + prequel in the works, complete?)

• A Series of Unfortunate Events (13 books, complete)

• Cormoran Strike Series (4 books, incomplete)

• Game of Thrones (5 books, incomplete)

All of these series’ I have thoroughly enjoyed as books and in their film/TV adaptations. There are a few other series I really like as well, but I thought 7 was enough. But I’m happy to recommend them if anyone is curious :)

[justanothercinemaniac]

Epic Movie (Re)Watch #171 - X-Men: First Class

Spoilers Below

Have I seen it before: Yes

Did I like it then: Yes.

Do I remember it: Yes.

Did I see it in theaters: Yes.

Was it a movie I saw since August 22nd, 2009: Yes. #104

Format: Blu-ray

1) Poland, 1944

This film hemmed so close to the opening scene of the original X-Men film that producer Bryan Singer thought he was actually looking at the old footage. It is a smart and effective opening to the prequel, as it not only re-establishes a character who has been absent from the series for five years but also sets up his key conflict with the film. Erik is still dealing with the pain from this event in a much more key way than he is during Ian McKellen’s tenure; what he went through in the concentration camp is the driving motivation behind his actions in the film. Making this first scene all the better.

2) Young Charles & Raven.

Raven [upon first meeting Charles]: “You’re not scared of me?”

The adoptive brother/sister relationship between Charles and Raven might be totally invented for this film (as in: has no source in comic book canon which I am aware of) but I freaking love it. I’m a sucker for platonic male/female relationships and the connection these two have is in a lot of ways the beating heart of this film. Which makes it all the more tragic that they drift apart in the future (something I’m hoping will be remedied in X-Men: Dark Phoenix). The key to their relationship is that they feel safe around each other. This is the first time that either of them has realized they’re not truly alone in the world. That someone hasn’t pushed Raven away for her natural form and that Charles realizes his ability to read minds does not make him a freak. There’s a sense of ease, comfort, and community they have with each other that was totally foreign to them up until that moment. A strong foundation to a strong relationship.

3) Kevin Bacon as Sebastian Shaw.

Bacon’s Shaw was all but glossed over in most promotional materials, making his presence in the film a pleasant surprise for first time viewers. And pleasant it is because Shaw is an absolutely wonderful villain. Bacon brings a refreshing and engaging amount of charisma/fun to the part. He’s the bad guy you love to hate with a little bit of Bond villain in him. The first thing he does when we meet him in murder Erik’s mother in front of her 12ish year old son. And then he reacts with unadulterated GLEE when that murder allows Erik to tap into his mutant powers. He’s downright giddy! In a series filled with classic bad guys like Magneto and William Stryker, Shaw is able to hold up with the best of them.

Shaw [after murdering Erik’s mom]: “We’re going to have a lot of fun together.”

4) James McAvoy as Charles Xavier.

McAvoy’s Xavier is delightfully more flawed than Stewart’s. He is much more of a cad. He is more arrogant, a bit more green, a bit more cocky, and a lot more naive. BUT he’s not just that. He’s not some douche bag who learns to be a great man. You see the greatness in him still. He is still Charles Xavier after all. When things get serious, he gets serious. He lets Moira know how important this is to him, he has hope for the future of his people and he is able to put away the womanizer we meet early on when it comes to helping people. There’s still that naivety a little but, the belief that everything will be alright after they save the world. That fear will just stop. But it’s mixed in with Xavier’s trademark hope. McAvoy is great as the character and a joy to watch.

5) Jennifer Lawrence as Raven/Mystique.

Raven is in a much different place than Rebecca Romijn’s Mystique was in the original X-Men trilogy and it’s a lot of fun to watch. There is this humor and warmth to the character that we don’t often get to see. A smile, a playfulness with Charles, but we see her develop into the more jaded warrior of Magneto’s crew. Watching that transformation is great and heartbreaking, especially as it shakes up her relationship with adopted brother Xavier. And Lawrence is great in the part. A pre Hunger Games role, I think it’s one of my favorites that she has under her belt. Many of her characters are so serious and dower these days when the actress has a wonderful heart/sense of humor she gets to show off her. It’s lost in the future installments, but that makes sense considering the path the character goes down. It’s a tragedy, but one that’s good to watch.

6) Oh Charles...

Raven: “Would you date me?”

Charles: “Of course I would. Any man would be lucky to have you, you are stunning.”

Raven: “Looking like this?”

[Charles stutters for a second then looks at Raven.]

Charles: “Blue? [Beat.] You’re my oldest friend...I’m incapable of thinking of you that way. I feel responsible for you.”

He changes from, “oh absolutely,” to, “I could never think of you like that,” REALLY fast when he realizes she’s talking about her natural form. And that’s where his naivety comes into play. He doesn’t understand what it’s like hiding who you really are in such a basic and obvious way. Not telling someone you can read their minds is fundamentally harder than having to wear a skin that isn’t your’s because you think people will reject your natural form. And that’s the key to her conflict in this film. Being mutant and proud.

7) McAvoy and Lawrence have such a wonderful natural chemistry as adopted brother & sister, must obvious in the scene above when Raven asks Charles if he’d date her. Her snuggling up to her brother while he reads her his thesis makes my heart melt.

8) Michael Fassbender as Erik/Magneto.

Honestly the casting of Erik & Charles could have been royally screwed up. This film does it perfectly. Fassbender brings a single determination and focus to his character. He is ruthless, brutal, violent, intimidating, but you still sympathize with him. Hell, you are ROOTING for him. In a lot of ways he’s even more sympathetic than Charles is. Fassbender is able to play the pain Erik has been though with much more relevance than McKellen ever got the chance to because the story allows it. He is in anger mode, with a bit of self loathing (he is what he is because a man murdered his mother, in his mind) but more with a taste for vengeance.  Fassbender is absolutely beautiful in the part and I wouldn’t ask for a different actor to play him.

9) Of course within one minute of meeting Rose Byrne’s character she is strips into her underwear because, hey, sexy women get objectified in film!

(GIF originally posted by @chirrutimwae)

Yes, I understand that the Hellfire club is like a sexy lingerie strip club thing. Yes I understand that Moira is a determined CIA agent who will do her job no matter what. And yes this is the only time Moira does this and she’s actually a pretty great character. But you know what? The Hellfire club did not NEED to be a sexy lingerie strip club. It could’ve been some elegant hoity-toity how do you do thing. And Moira didn’t need to strip down to her lingerie at all in the film. It was not needed. It does not tell us anything about her character or the story.

Ugh, living in a post Wonder Woman world is going to be a lot harder than I thought. I mean, I wasn’t exactly blind before. But I definitely needed glasses to see through the haze which is the male gaze and now I do with Wonder Woman. And now it’s just...oh boy.

10) Rose Byrne as Moira is a solidly written character that the actress plays well. The filmmakers don’t spend much time focusing on the, “Moira in her underwear,” stuff and she turns into pretty much the best government agent in the film. She is intelligent, more focused on the job than any of her coworkers (who are dogged down by fear, bigotry, and male ego), and she forms this nice relationship with Charles which yes ends up romantic but is also more based on mutual respect. I love couples with mutual respect for each other. Rose Byrne plays the part wonderfully. I love the actress now BECAUSE I was introduced to her in this film. She is capable, strong, but not pigheaded or egotistical. She’s good at her job and she knows it so she continues to be good at her job.

11) January Jones as Emma Frost.

So I know there is a lot of hate out there for January Jones as Frost, but I don’t really mind her. But I’m not going to like strongly defend her either. I put more blame on the writing than her as she works with what she is given. Emma Frost is this badass in the comics who - yes - dresses in a VERY sexual manor (because she likes to, I believe) but she is also wonderfully complex. She usually has an intense rivalry with Jean Grey, is often romantically linked to Scott Summers, is an extremely powerful telepath, reformed bad guy who is often not so reformed, and over all fascinating read. But the filmmakers sorta just latched onto the, “sexy female bad guy with diamond skin and telepathic powers.” Which would’ve been fine is Emma had been developed a bit more but she never really goes beyond that/Shaw’s hench woman.

And again, the power of Wonder Woman has me asking: why is she dressing so sexually? I mean if there’s like a legitimate reason, like the character is more comfortable with that or confident in her body, than go for it! But a reason is never given she just does that and it seems to be for the sake of the male gaze. Which is disappointing to say the least.

12) The scene which I (and Henry Jackman’s score) refers to as Frankenstein’s Monster.

This is Erik at his most brutal. He finds those two “former” Nazis (can you ever really be a former Nazi if you’re not repenting for your sins?) in a bar and engages in conversation with them. It’s incredible tense in the most wonderful sense, because Erik is enjoying screwing with these Nazis. And then he cuts them down in the most brutal and badass way possible in a wonderful (and wonderfully simple) moment of action supported by Henry Jackman’s incredible score. I am very much enjoying any and all forms of media where Nazis are absolutely wrecked so this has is even more enjoyable now than it was in 2011.

13) The blonde Charles with looked familiar to me...

Then I realized she’s Annabelle Wallis, who is in The Mummy with Tom Cruise.

As of writing I have yet to see the new Mummy film so I don’t like or dislike this actress. Just noticed it.

14) When I first saw this it took a second to sink in.

Charles [to the CIA agent who accused him of doing a magic trick]: “No agent Stryker. Although I could tell you about your son William...”

15) Oliver Platt as the Man in Black.

I enjoy Platt’s performance in this film. He’s not your typical government stooge to keep the heroes in line. He’s like a kid at Christmas. All these years he thought the impossible wasn’t so impossible and now he has proof. And he’s super excited about that and helpful because of it. He’s just a wonderful addition to the film.

16) According to IMDb:

A telepathic battle between Professor X and Emma Frost was going to be in the film, but upon the release of Inception (2010) the concept was scrapped. This was then used in X-Men: Apocalypse (2016), between Professor X and Apocalypse.

17) So let’s consider Charles and Erik’s first encounter, shall we:

Charles jumps in to save the life of a man he doesn’t know.

Charles helps Erik to calm down and find peace because he doesn’t like him to be upset.

And of course, this:

Erik: “I thought I was alone!”

Charles: “You’re not alone, Erik. You’re not alone.”

Yes this is a strong first interaction between what will be the bromantic frenemy relationship of the century, but more so than that it plays into some strong conscious gay subtext feature in the film. Like in X2 when Bobby came out to his family as a mutant, there are small but important lines between being a mutant and being gay. Two lines stand out in particular: the one above and then...

Hank [when he’s outed as a mutant]: “You didn’t ask so I didn’t tell.”

X-Men have traditional been used as a parable for those fighting for their rights in those world (specifically America). When they were first being published there was a strong line between Professor X & Martin Luther King Jr. as well as Magneto & Malcolm X. But as times have evolved, so have the X-Men. With a number of LGBTQIA actors and characters in the franchise, in the 21st century X-Men has at times strongly paralleled the issues gay people face in this world. Particularly through Hank’s, “don’t ask don’t tell,” line and Erik’s, “I thought I was alone.” Gay visibility was not as much of a thing in the 50s as it is in 2017, and it was in the 60s when things like the Stonewall Riots occurred giving gay people much more visibility. This film is set in the 60s.

18) Nicholas Hoult as Hank McCoy/Beast.

Hoult brings a lot of heart to the character originated brilliantly by Kelsey Grammer in The Last Stand (Hoult even watched early episodes of “Frasier” to see if he couldn’t emulate Grammer in any way). He features the same intellect as Grammers’ Beast but is a lot more soft spoken. He has not made peace with the animal side of himself yet or who he really is. Like Raven, he needs to learn to take pride in his status as a mutant. He just gets there in a different way than she does. This was the first film I saw with Hoult and I have to say I’m glad for it. Because I think he’s a talented actor who was able to make the role of Hank McCoy remarkably memorable.

19) There is also a notably strong chemistry between Nicholas Hoult and Jennifer Lawrence. It isn’t like Emma Stone & Andrew Garfield in Amazing Spider-Man where you can see them getting hot just by being near each other, but it’s incredibly cute and adorable. There’s a natural back and forth between the pair, a natural trust which means we as the audience are invested in their blossoming relationship as well.

20) While I personally think the relationship between Charles and Raven gives the life its heart, that is not to undersell the intense importance Charles/Erik’s relationship is.

Erik: “What do you know about me?”

Charles: “Everything.”

There is this immediate vulnerability Erik has with Charles which he is NOT comfortable with (since in the past he’s been vulnerable under the worst possible of situations), but Charles doesn’t manipulate Erik with the knowledge he has. There’s an immediate depth of feeling the future Professor X has for his new ally. He wants to make sure he’s okay and the fact that he doesn’t take advantage of Erik’s vulnerability is something Erik is not used to. Meaning Erik trusts Charles more than he has trusted anyone ever before and Charles is able to help Erik reach his full potential as Magneto.

21) I laughed SO hard at this line the first time I saw the film.

Hank [when he hooks up Charles to Cerebro]: “Are you sure we can’t shave your head?”

(GIF source is unknown [if this is your GIF please let me know].)

22) The montage where Erik and Charles find all the mutants to make up the first X-Men team is a slick way of covering a sequence which could have easily dogged down the pacing of the film. Instead, “okay, we need to find Angel and Havok and Darwin and Banshee...” they just cover it in about five minutes with upbeat music and clever pacing/editing.

23) The gay subtext in this film COULD have been much more obvious if they had kept this deleted (where Charles shows off his powers to angel):

24) This is beautiful.

(GIF originally posted by @littlerebelrabbit)

According to IMDb:

Hugh Jackman accepted the opportunity to cameo as Wolverine, when he learned he would be the only character in the film to use the word 'fuck'. He improvised the line, "Go fuck yourself," after using seven other takes to say, "Fuck off". The reaction from James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender to the different line was authentic.

My entire process while watching this scene the first time was, “Hey, that guy looks familiar. Huh, he kinda looks like Hugh Jackman. Hey wait, that IS Hugh Jackman!” This is by far one of my favorite cameos in a film EVER and his appearance makes Hugh Jackman the only actor (to date) to appear in every film with the words X-Men in the title (he didn’t appear in Deadpool so he hasn’t appeared in every X-Men universe ever).

25) I mentioned in my recap for The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen that Jason Flemyng is one of my favorite character actors because of that film. Well he fills out Azazel’s red skin quite nicely.

26) Charles and Erik’s scene at the Lincoln Memorial is very telling of their future rivalry.

Erik: “Identification: that’s how it starts.”

This is where Erik’s naivety truly shines through. He actually believes he can convince humans to not be afraid of what they don’t understand, collectively. While Erik’s output might be a little more dower it’s also a little more realistic.

27) The bonding scene between the young X-Men is great.

I’m a sucker for superheroes screwing around with their powers as a way to bond with each other (see: the party seen in Age of Ultron). There is strong humor throughout, each character is developed in simple yet unique ways and we begin to understand their relationships with each other. And it’s just a lot of fun to watch!

Note: I really like Zoe Kravitz in this film, but I think that speaks to her natural charisma more than anything else.

28) Professor Xavier is a jerk.

Charles [after he finds his new mutants comfortable with their powers, screwing around like the young people they are]: “I expected more from you.”

29) The way Erik tears through the Russian guard to get to Frost (and, by extension, Shaw eventually) shows how determined he is. He is ruthless and if anyone actively stands in his way he will tear them apart. It’s simple but powerful. The way he handles Emma also shows off this dedication, as well as the dissonance between how far he’ll go versus how far Charles WON’T go.

30) The “Children of the Atom” scene which showcases Shaw’s plan is nicely effective. It has a unique and impactful visual style and its simple enough that the audience isn’t dogged down by unnecessary exposition.

31) Shaw’s attack on the CIA is an incredibly strong turning point for the film. Outside of what’s been going on with Erik, the darkness of previous X-Men films has pretty much taken a backseat in this film. Until this moment. It’s when everything turns to shit, giving an unfortunate end to Oliver Platt’s character and showcasing Shaw’s powers in a unique and threatening way. The few issues I have with this scene are:

I wish we got more in Angel’s head about her decision to join up with Shaw; she does so then her character kind of disappears. It’s like she’s his new Emma.

Even in 2011, the black guy dies first.

32) My brother and I both made this joke the first time we saw this film, so thanks to @jakegyllenhaal for putting it in GIF form.

33) Okay, I might be about to get philosophical here.

Stryker: “In times like this, SECURITY is more important than liberty.”

(GIF source unknown [if this is your GIF please let me know].)

This is an issue in today’s modern age, but here’s the thing: liberty is more important than safety. Above all. “Give me liberty or give me death,” is a famous line that is basically one of the things this country is built on. So no, Security is NOT more important than liberty. Liberty and freedom above all. And if you have to compromise on security to do so than you should. At least, in my opinion.

34) X-Training.

This is - in a lot of ways - what I’ve missed from the X-Men series. Charles actually being a teacher. Actually seeing the X-School in work and seeing students learn to master their powers. You know why Harry Potter is so cool? In part, it’s because we like to imagine taking all the classes. And now we’ve finally get that. It shows Charles being more of a teacher and growing into his role of Professor X more which is wonderful. Also - like the recruitment scene - the montage format is great. The editing and music keep it from dragging down the film. We could easily have spent like, “okay, two minutes on Beast now two minutes on Havok now two minutes on Banshee,” etc. But the montage makes it like a music video. Easily digestible, supported by Henry Jackman’s score, and just a lot of fun. Each character’s development is also continued, making them unique individuals who’s relationships with each other and personalities we understand. It’s just really great.

35) Glad to see they’re trying to maintain SOME continuity with the series.

Hank [about Raven]: “When you’re 40 you’ll still have the looks and sights of a teenager.”

36) Rage and serenity.

This is the moment of greatest trust and vulnerability Erik has with Charles. Erik trusts Charles enough to let him go through his mind and find his most intimate memory with his mother. It’s a holiday I assume (that’s a menorah so I’m thinking Hanukkah as Erik IS Jewish) and it’s this beautiful memory of someone he misses more than anything else. And it shows Charles who Erik is. It is the strongest moment in their entire relationship and defines it’s better qualities in a lot of ways. It’s pure character and I love it for that.

37) Hank and the cure.

(GIF source unknown [if this is your GIF please let me know].)

There’s a strong juxtaposition between where Hank is with his self worth and Raven. Magneto has convinced Raven that she should be mutant and proud, that she should embrace her natural form. And she tries to do the same. It doesn’t exactly work though.

Hank: “My feet and your natural blue form will never be deemed beautiful. [Raven changes her skin back.] You’re beautiful now.”

Dude, you just said the girl you like will never be beautiful unless she looks like someone else. And I get that you’re projecting your own issues onto her, but also you’re words hurt her so much that she instinctively goes back into hiding.

Aka: the moment Hank and Raven would not get together (as of now).

38) Charles and Erik playing one last chess game before going to stop Shaw.

It is widely foreshadowing of the conflict to come between the pair and an unfortunate piece of dramatic irony for us as the audience. It is the showcase of the dissonance in their relationship at its most basic.

Charles: “Killing Shaw will not bring you peace.”

Erik: “Peace was never an option.”

That is just not applicable to Shaw for Erik, but humans as well. He’s not interested in peace with humanity, he’s interested in supremacy. As we saw in 2000′s X-Men.

39) Mystique seducing Erik always felt a little off to me. I know she’s mad at Hank and that Erik is the only guy in her life right now to make her feel totally comfortable with who she is (along with helping her be mutant and proud) but it feels a little unearned. I don’t get any sexual chemistry between them. I see a nice relationship but not a sexual one. Maybe it’s just me. But the Rebecca Romijn cameo is appreciated!

40) Hank’s gone into Beast mode.

The practical makeup to get Hoult looking like the blue beast is incredible, because it IS largely practical with a bit of CGI to help enhance some areas. You begin to see a bit more of Kelsey Grammer in Beast now which is fun, but Hoult still makes the role his own. This is what helps him accept the animalistic instincts in him and reach the status of mutant and proud. It’s a great part of the film.

41) Now I’m just thinking about the first X-Men...

42) The climax of the film not only shows the team working well together but has some nice surprises in it (mainly when the Russians blow up their own ship). It’s best seen when the team find Shaw’s submarine and Erik says he’s going in. Charles does not question or second guess his teammate’s decision but works with it and sends him back up. It’s a lot of fun to watch this team in action.

43) Erik and Shaw’s final encounter.

For most of this scene Erik is silent, just letting Shaw rail on him because it allows Erik’s telepathy to feed through. He says nothing until he’s about to be in control which takes a lot of self discipline.

Erik: “Everything you did made me stronger...That’s the truth. I’ve known it all along.”

And then what Erik says right before he kills Shaw is INCREDIBLY powerful especially when you think of the path Magneto goes down.

Erik: “I agree with every word you’ve said. We are the future. But unfortunately, you killed my mother.”

The way Erik ends up killing Shaw is so cruel and dramatic then, with the mirrored cinematography on Charles’ head (as he’s in Shaw’s mind) just driving the point home. He’s not just killing Shaw. He’s killing any kind of platonic relationship he could have with Charles too.

44) And so Erik’s transformation to Magneto is complete.

He is now the mutant leader we know from the first film, with his powers under full control. Now that he’s done with revenge he can move on to freeing his mutant brothers and sisters. He’s embraced not just his powers but his role as a leader of mutants and an enemy of mankind. And he’s tired of being vulnerable.

Charles [about the US and Russians Erik is about to kill]: “They’re just following orders!”

Erik: “I’ve been at the mercy of men just following orders.”

(GIF source unknown [if this is your GIF please let me know].)

45) The ensuing fist fight between Charles and Erik could have easily been based around powers. Charles could have used his telepathy to control Azazel or Angel or someone and send them in to fight Erik with him using his metal manipulation to throw them off. But you know what? Seeing this too just get in a freaking fist fight is much more realistic for their relationship, a lot more raw, and a lot more entertaining.

46) Well, if this isn’t a declaration of platonic (???) love I don’t know what is.

(GIF originally posted by @marveladdicts)

47) It’s nice to see Mystique not go straight for Erik to join him but to make sure that the person who is practically her brother is alright. And then Charles encourages her to go with Erik! It’s still a strong relationship even if it is in tatters.

48) Charles likes to fuck with people’s minds without consent. What he did to Jean in The Last Stand and now getting rid of Moira’s memories without even asking.

49) Oh man.

Moira [talking about things she half remembers]: “A kiss.”

[Room full of male CIA agents groan.]

CIA Agent: “Gentlemen, this is why the CIA is no place for a woman.”

(GIF originally posted by @manofsteel)

50) The ending to this film is very solid, with Erik not only embracing his role as Magneto but also the fashion choice.

(GIF originally posted by @wonho-kihyun)

X-Men: First Class is an incredible amount of fun. Matthew Vaughn’s directing style gives the series a boost of adrenaline it desperately needed. Supported by memorable characters, a strong story with strong themes, and absolutely amazing performances almost across the board, this is the reason we still have X-Men films today. An absolute treat for first time viewers and old fans alike, you all should watch it.

[arepii]

!!!WARNING FOR LOTS OF SPOILERS FOR LITTLE NIGHTMARES 2!!

Unpopular opinion, but I absolutely love the ending. 

AND I absolutely hate it too. 

Let me explain. 

There´s multiple instances in which Six catches Mono, there´s always a scene in which they´re crossing a very two sided, monumentally composed environment with a hole in the middle. It´s incredible how Tarsier managed to make such a strong visual foreshadowing of the ending. 

It is meant to break you exactly like those paths. A jarring separation that can´t be crossed without one another. 

The first meeting is all a very strong metaphor and foreshadowing of the end. Mono extends his hand for Six to take and she pushes him aside to get to her own safety. If you notice too, when Mono is almost swallowed by the transmission and bumps back into her, Six reaches to him, looking worried. She calls for him as well, before she seems to think he can´t make it and abandons him to his own luck. Which is a very frightened flight response. 

When the Thin Man catches Six, Mono is so scared on his hiding spot, he doesn´t know how to save her. They look at each other´s eyes before she´s taken. 

Looks like I´m rambling right now, but hear me out. Six was captured three times during the game and saved by Mono, but she was captured in the first place, exactly because she was with Mono and Mono couldn´t do anything to avoid it. So, in my own conclusions, when Six is in her monster form trying to defend the only thing that had given her that sense of safety not even Mono could, she was mad. She was furious and swallowed completely by rage. 

I think, despite Six being able to be kind, she´s also incredibly selfish. She´s a kid, and she´s frightened and angry and feels herself betrayed to the marrow one last time when she´s captured by the Thin man in front of Mono and then, he destroys the only thing that gave her comfort. 

It´s an absolutely childish thing! 

NOTE: When she lets him go I think it´s a response to a feeling close to: “you won´t save me anyways. You destroy everything that feels safe. I´ll never be safe with you. After all, you´re the Thin Man” (because its the first time she sees his face and I like that theory of her recognizing him, mixing up with this)

But even I know that´s one way to see it. 

So this is why I loved the ending.  

The ending was impossibly well done because not only was foreshadowed with the separation, but also with the subtle motif of the chair of the dummies on the school. Idk if you noticed, but there´s always secret rooms with chairs in the middle. And at least for me, it looks like the chair you put the donkey kid in because they were dumb. To be watched and mocked for their mistakes. (The final scene rings a bell to this?)

Six is a selfish person. That´s the truth. She will look for herself and herself only and use people for her own advantage. So when Mono, this compassionate helper meets her, it´s obvious her “hunger” will “consume” him. Which are both of the themes of the games. 

It´s the trust Mono blindly put on her what destroyed him. 

The theory that this is a time loop is something I love, but also, if Mono is the Thin Man, then could it be Six becomes the Lady? The woman who´s afraid of her own reflection, who wears a mask just like him, almost as if she was trying to hide from herself to not remember what she did, to shy away from the eyes that know she will always fail, be a consequence of all the events on this game?

I had this feeling from the very start this was a prequel instead of a sequel. Although, I thought the kid that gave Six bread back in the Maw, when the shadow Six appears the first time, was Mono all along. And while nothing can be confirmed, the guy who hung himself is almost certainly the Thin man. WHICH IS AMAZING. because you remember there was a letter? I´m sure it was for Six.

I think, breaking each other´s trust is an interesting way of finishing up this game, despite how hurtful it was as the viewers. The friendship they formed along the way was a precious thing inside the nightmare, but it wouldn´t be a nightmare if that safety was conserved. 

This is just assumptions and my own theories and comments. But I would have loved to see the ending where Mono isn´t let go and both cross the TV. But I don´t have an objection if Six, trying to run from Mono´s trasnmission, creates the Maw and becomes the Lady. In various attempts of Mono and Six trying to reunite again, Six gains the powers she had at the end of the first game and saves Mono, hence, that´s how the Thin Man appears at the Maw. But she took too long. Maybe as he was out of the transmission, swallowed up by the cholera of being betrayed, too far gone in his own sadness, he couldn´t continue. 

Six has her powers and Mono does too, but one doesn´t have them without sacrifizing the other. So neither of them can, or will be able to save each other. 

They will continue to betray the other forever. 

And that´s the real nightmare. 

However!!! If in the secret ending we see dark Six. While, at the Maw, we see Six getting the Lady´s powers, maybe, if there´s another game, it will be about how Six and Mono reunite again. This time, Six making up for the way she let him go. This time, her turn to save him when he´s still young. 

The ending hurts, because its meant to hurt. It subtly tells you what will happen but you don´t realize until it´s too late. It´s a nightmare world and the message that there´s no safety is wrong. There´s always people that will try to help. However, there will always be a brawl of taking or being taken advantage of. 

That´s why I wish that if there´s another game, it settles on the balance between this, and why I absolutely loved this game despite the bitter sweet feelings towards the ending. 

IM GLAD YOU HATED THE ENDING BECAUSE I DID TOO 😡 ok but serious talk? I think that after all that buildup just to have six "betray" mono at the end is just such a waste and made no sense. Because multiple times throughout the game six had many MANY chances to lose Mono and she still didn't because I believe they genuinely built up a friendship. I mean just take the very last scene itself, if Six had always wanted to get rid of Mono she wouldn't have gone put of her way to catch him at the end?

LITTLE NIGHTMARES 2 SPOILERS

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YEP YEP YEP. Those are my thoughts exactly. They didn't show these moments of bonding for them to have been fake. Those were VERY much real. And very much important. And so much went into developing this. Trust aspect. And then it's just thrown away with little to no explanation or with vague implications. I respect the devs and I know they had this in mind and whatnot but god I can't help but feel that it's just. Why? What's the point in destroying that? You could've had Six like. Miss him accidentally or he doesn't jump far enough or something and that STILL would've been heartbreaking but at least you wouldve known that that trust and friendship was still very much there. I think the problem is that I'm. Uncomfortable with the concept of Six's intentions being up to interpretation. You want to believe that she didn't mean to be mean at all, but you can never fully 100% defend it, not entirely, and it just bugs me. I don't like thinking badly of herSJEHDJDB

But you're right. Some people have been saying things like, "Oh, she couldn't kill Mono initially because he HAD to be in the signal tower" but why? What motivation would Six have for Mono specifically to get dropped there? If you're going by the time loop theory, Mono already destroyed the thin man. If six had saved Mono, he wouldn't have become the next thin man. They would have gotten out, essentially breaking the loop. There's no motivation for her to let him fall to avoid him becoming the thin man, because he only becomes that WHEN SHE DROPS HIM. That would be the exact opposite of what she wants: the thin man coming back. So I think that pushes out the possibility that she was waiting until the signal tower to kill/betray mono or something. That doesn't make sense at all. With that in mind, this leaves the option for her to have literally let Mono die anywhere else at any opportunity if that truly was her goal (which I don't think it is). Like, yeah, she needs him to progress, but she doesn't know when and where she'll be able to progress alone or not. She's been on her own before and knows how to go about things. She wouldn't just be keeping him around for no reason, and she certainly wouldn't stay with him if she didn't care about him considering her independence. There's MULTIPLE times where she's shown to have empathy, caring, etc. Reacting when he dies or falls, taking his hand, offering her hand, etc.

Something terribly wrong happens when she gets taken by the thin man, especially when that glitched/shadow form of her appears. She tries escaping back to Mono, but she gets pulled back and taken. She gets distorted into a monster. But EVEN THEN she doesn't react with hostility at first. She's cautious of mono, but recognizes his voice at least, following him when he calls to her. She will swat at him warningly if he gets too close, but it's not enough to hurt him, and it seems more wary becuase she's so focused on that music box. This form of hers just screams her true feelings to me. She's a scared kid clinging onto something that gives her comfort, and of course she reacts badly to mono hitting it, even if he had the best intentions. So...monster Six's actions really genuinely make me feel that six does care about mono, that she isn't just. This sadistic mean person.

Something is very, very wrong with that glitched shadow form of her, and I feel like that form is 100% responsible for six dropping mono. It's not a coincidence at all the shadow form shows up immediately after six escapes. Those events have to be linked, and not just to Six's hunger. That occurs after the shadow disappears.

I'm kinda rambling at this point and I should be asleep but. Point is. There's a LOT of nuance to this and I don't think it's as easy as "six did it on purpose becuase she's sadistic" or whatever. There's. A lot going on here. And it's confusingFKFHDJ

Anyway. six and mono you both deserved better than this </3