#also i met the framing department manager and the tension between me and any 6’ heavy set bald man with a beard is insane

[autoneurotic]

started my new job yesterday and i am maybe one of the older cashiers. spent my break w an 18 year old who dropped sage pearls of wisdom like, ‘yeah you can just call off like, any time. they don’t care’ and ‘you can hide in the bathroom on your phone a lot’ and the craziest ‘i just need 12 hours of sleep a night you know?’ NO babygirl i don’t know, i take 100mg of tranquilizer nightly and still wake up/get maybe 6 hours of sleep. i’m not even old fuck this earth

[myhahnestopinion]

THE AARONS 2018 - Best Film

I watched 102 films from 2018, which met my personal goal, broke my personal record, and won another competition between myself and my good friend. 102 seems like a proper purview to declare these entries my favorite films of the year, the crème de la crème, the top 10% of the top 100%. Here are the Aarons for Best Film:

#10. Roma

“Intimate” is a good word to describe Roma. A passion project for director Alfonso Cuarón, Roma was inspired by his own childhood nanny and his mother, and filmed in his native Mexico. The film depicts the tumultuous breakdown of social relationships within the country’s history, but keeps the focus on the dissolution and reformation of familial bonds. “Intimate” is indeed a good word to describe Cuarón’s deeply moving film, but “intricate” just might be better. Roma is never short of gorgeous for every single shot in the movie, every bit of staging and every camera-pan planned down to the tiniest background detail, making each the breath-taking black-and-white painting of a true auteur. It perhaps would be best experienced on the big screen, but credit to Netflix for funding such a personal, profound film, which means, if you’re looking to watch one of the best films of last year, you don’t have to roam very far.

#9. Isle of Dogs

Wes Anderson should stop filming movies. To clarify, Wes Anderson should stop filming movies in live-action, as the stop-motion medium is where his visual panache, off-beat humor, and oddball characters most brightly shine. Isle of Dogs, like a best friend for man, puts a smile on one’s face that never departs throughout its stylish adventure, even in the most unexpectedly dark moments of its animated dog-eat-dog world. While concerns over its depiction of Japanese culture are worth discussing, its impeccable voice cast, including Bryan Cranston, Edward Norton, Jeff Goldblum, and Bill Murry, deadpanning their way through its gorgeously hand-crafted sequences makes for a doggone good time at the movies. 

#8. Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom

Certainly the most unconventional choice for me this year, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom’s placement on this list is not the product of some nihilistic capitulation to chaos theory; in fact, it is thoughtfulness that made the movie stand out to me so much. An encouragement for empathy, a validation of the value of all living creatures, and a condemnation of cupidity, wrapped up in big-budget special effect sequences and culminating in a Gothic-Horror influenced haunted house set piece, the latest sequel in the series hit all the right sensibilities for me with a combination I never thought possible and a blockbuster boldness that recalls why The Last Jedi became my favorite Star Wars. While others may look upon this movie and see a fallen franchise, I see a king’s ransom of cinematic riches that means the world to me.

#7. Mission: Impossible – Fallout

The Mission: Impossible franchise was last seen on this list in the very first Aarons for Rogue Nation, an action film so masterfully crafted that one can’t help but be ecstatic at the series’ decision to shift from a rotating set of action directors to the singular efforts of director Christopher McQuarrie. Indeed, McQuarrie just may have outdone his prior masterpiece with the jaw-dropping Fallout, whose spectacular set pieces, shot with confidence and flourish and bolstered by the crazed energy of star Tom Cruise, blows every other blockbuster this year, and perhaps since Rogue Nation, out of the water. Fallout not only manages the impressive feat of making a sixth franchise entry feel tense and unpredictable, but also finds new emotional heights to strengthen its thrills through Ethan Hunt’s uncompromising drive to save everyone. It’s an explosive experience, whose only potential fallout is the impossible task McQuarrie has set for himself for surpassing it in his next two confirmed installments.

#6. Black Panther

Black Panther was nothing short of a phenomenon, even among the movie-going domination of its larger cinematic universe, and rightfully so. The worldbuilding, taking inspiration from real-life African cultures and heightened by fun futuristic technology, is so elaborate, and its supporting cast (including Letitia Wright, Daniel Kaluuya, Winston Duke, and Danai Gurira) so well-defined that Black Panther feels like a universe in its own right, even as it deftly weaves through the larger Marvel world. The film’s true power comes from how it breaks the mold, from its unforgettable villain who is not just a physical, but philosophical, foe to the hero, through its nuanced tackling of socio-political stances, to, of course, the impact of its increased representation. In vision, in stature, and, yes, in box office, Black Panther is king.

#5. First Reformed

First Reformed’s methodical pacing and meticulous framing, both evocative of its reflection on faith, slowly melt away to reveal a film that’s darker and more disruptive than one is initially led to believe. Similar to director Paul Schrader’s other written work Taxi Driver, First Reformed’s examination of existential questions and the descent into extremism is harrowing; unlike that other work, it is perhaps also hopeful. Ethan Hawke’s soulful performance gives extra gravitas to the film’s contention of hope and despair and its interweaving of contemporary issues with long-standing questions, thematic material that lingers in the mind long after its stunning final moments. Shot in awe-inspiring Academy ratio, First Reformed’s masterfulness cannot be improved upon, even as one cannot wait for the team of Paul Schrader and Ethan Hawke to re-form for their next collaborative effort.

#4. Love, Simon

Love, Simon’s placement on this list perhaps cannot be properly explained in prose, only in the unintelligible garble of the uncontrollable emotions that it elicits. It’s a flooring of feelings, of sadness, of fear, of nervousness, of hope, of happiness, that no movie has produced in me since The Perks of Being a Wallflower, one of my top 5 favorite films. The soundtrack is lively and the characters’ charming, but Love, Simon becomes a peak coming-of-age movie by perfectly capturing the uncertainty of a young crush and the joy of young love. It’s calming comfort food in all the right ways, sure to be rewatched nearly as often as the aforementioned Perks, which is why Love, Simon is a film loved by Aaron.

#3. A Quiet Place

A Quiet Place was a silent surprise, both in the way it slowly built up curiosity and critical acclaim, and in the way its stillness stands in sharp contrast to any other movie-going experience of recent memory. It’s sublime in its simplicity as a lean and mean horror thrill ride tied to the beating heart of a tender family drama, and stylish in its scares as an unexpectedly impressive directorial debut for John Krasinski. The film’s risks, including its harsh opening, its reliance on non-verbal dialogue, and its fist-pumping (and shotgun-pumping) closing moments, come with great reward that elevate it to an instant horror classic. A Quiet Place’s tension and tenderhearted moments may stun the audience into silence, but I will not be quiet about its placement near the top of this list!

#2. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

Sony’s incessant need to exploit their Spider-Man franchise is chock full of bad ideas. Phil Lord and Chris Miller, as illustrated by the Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs adaptation, the 21 Jump Street film franchise, and The Lego Movie, are very good at turning bad ideas into masterpieces. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse takes that Lego Movie enthusiasm and spins it into another irreverent and self-referential screenplay, crammed full of jokes that draw from all the oddities of its venerable franchise, while also never losing sight of the hero’s journey of Miles Morales at its core. Credit, of course, is also due to directors Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsay, and Rodney Rothman, who brought that screenplay to life with amazing animation that combines stunning hand-drawn and CGI work to mimic the film’s comic book origins. It’s beautiful, boisterous, and features John Mulaney as a talking cartoon pig. Amped up by a killer soundtrack, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is such a crowning creative achievement that one can’t wait for Sony to get back into the franchise for a second verse.

AND THE BEST FILM OF 2018 IS...

#1. Eighth Grade

Eighth Grade is horrible. No, not the movie Eighth Grade; that should be evident by its place as my favorite film of the year. Eighth grade, the year in school, is horrible and we all know it. Bo Burnham, the musical comedian who makes his screenwriting and directing debut with this movie, especially knows it. It’s a time of anxiety, insecurity, uncertainty, a time of pursuing increased agency but still being constrained by the limitations of youth. A time where it feels like no one understands what you’re going through. Except when you find a movie like Eighth Grade, that channels all that mess into an disconcertingly perfect bout of pity and insight that exposes the comical and affirming nature of all of it. And yet, while Eighth Grade deftly portrays those universal experiences, it remains uniquely and powerfully tied to its particular era, understanding the ways in which mass communication, the endless information of the internet, and the failings of modern society have provoked the latest cycle of those anxieties in unprecedented ways. Eighth Grade’s empathy and its hilarity will likely make it a mainstay for the modern generation, and puts it at the top of its class for the year 2018.

NEXT UP: THE 2018 AARONS FOR WORST FILM!

[deadmanslocke-blog]

Dynamics

Crimson Demon Crew in terms of Hierarchy

Elected positions:

♢    Captain: Carlos Vicente Miranda de Zaragoza ♢    Quarter Master: Adrien “Ghost” Moreau (steps up to Captain in dire situations)

Skilled positions:

♢     Boatswain: William ‘deadshot’ Locke (steps up to QM in dire situations) ♢     Sailing Master: Venus Darya Lajani  ♢     Carpenter & Surgeon: Sybil Beck  ♢     Master Gunner: 0/1

General positions:

♢     Mate: 0/4 (Steps up to the position they shadow i.e. gunner/C&S/Sailing Master/Boatswain) ♢     A.B.S: 0/5 ♢     Rigger:  Ragnar Lawson ♢     Swabbie: Rowland “Six” Flint

Stepping up tends to only be temporary until the individual in full possession of the rank can either return to their duties (unless they’re killed) or should they be in an elected role there be an election held for the crew to pick their next individual to hold an elected role (Captain/QM).

Relationship to crew in terms of position:

Due to William’s position on the Crimson Demon as its boatswain he is considered third mate and thus should anything happen to Ghost, William would be the individual to immediately step up and take his position as QM (albeit temporarily) until an election can be called to replace the position.

For his position William is highly skilled in all matters of marlinespike seamanship required for working on deck of a seagoing vessel. He is distinguished from other able seamen by the supervisory roles: planning, scheduling, and assigning work. As deck crew foreman, the boatswain plans the day’s work and assigns tasks to the deck crew. As work is completed, he will check on completed work for compliance with approved operating procedures. 

Outside the supervisory role, the boatswain regularly inspects the vessel and performs a variety of routine, skilled, and semi-skilled duties to maintain all areas of the ship not maintained by the engineering department. These duties can include cleaning, painting, and maintaining the vessel’s hull, superstructure and deck equipment as well as executing a formal preventive maintenance program.

A boatswain’s skills may include cargo rigging, winch operations, deck maintenance, working aloft, and other duties required during deck operations. The boatswain is well versed in the care and handling of lines, and has knowledge of knots, hitches, bends, whipping, and splices as needed to perform tasks such as mooring a vessel. The boatswain typically operates the ship’s windlasses when letting go and heaving up anchors. Moreover, a boatswain may be called upon to lead fire-fighting efforts or other emergency procedures encountered on board.

William has held the position for almost 13 years now, and has managed to do so because of his ability to integrate his seafaring skills into supervisory and easy communication with members of the deck crew who often have a very diverse set of backgrounds. William is a fair and just individual that has led to a decent amount of respect being earned towards him from the crew and even those above him-- only further reason why he’s been so successful in holding this position for as long as he has (not always easy with crews that can easily become dis-quietened with their leadership). 

Occasionally there has been mention that he would make a decent QM or Captain in his own right, but Will has never seemed to show much interest in the role and responsibility. He’s tough on the crew when needs be but never harshly so and would never ask them to do something that he himself wouldn’t do first. Brave, loyal and adaptive it’s rather easy to understand why he’s successful in this particular role aboard the ship. His patience is also part of the reason why when the Captain or QM for some reason cannot deal with another set of pirates William is the one who tends to be sent over to discuss negotiations especially with the crew of the Blooming Rose with whom he has a decent level of camaraderie.

With that in mind I’m going to write some general dynamic summaries and ones I’d like to fill under the cut, because this is me and it’s obviously going to get long. This obviously isn’t everything but it’s an idea for some background for relationships I could see William having. If you have other things in mind for how your muse might know him then 100000% hit me up and let me know. 

Crimson Demon:

Captain - TBA

Ghost - Will and Ghost have a healthy level of respect for one another, where Ghost’s brash attitude and lack of social skills tend to cause trouble Will is usually the one there to balance him out and smooth out some of the disturbances he causes. Ghost routinely tests Will to see whether he’s still suitable for his role considering both are aware that should anything happen to him Will shall be the one to step up.

Venus - TBA

Sybil - Will figured out a fair while back what Sybil’s secret was and decided to keep it, he had no particular interest in blackmail or utilising the fact that she was a woman aboard the vessel to his own vantage like some might. After all, she was good at her job and so long as she kept that up Will saw no real reason as to question her presence. He isn’t superstitious and the Demon hasn’t sunk yet so he sees nothing wrong with her being aboard.

Ragnar - As part of what would be considered the deck crew Will oversees and checks the work of Ragnar and others in these positions. As mentioned above, he’s fair in the amount of work he deals out and so long as it’s done to correct standards sees no point in being abusive of the position he has above these crewmen. 

Rowland “Six” Flint - TBA

Blooming Rose:

Wren Scarborough  - Will and Wren’s dealings go back for several years, it isn’t easy to successfully launch a pirating operation with an all female/non-binary crew and he like most at the time was rather surprised by the success they had. He holds a high level of respect for Wren and though they could be considered friends, Will tries to maintain a decent level of respectful boundary between them considering he needs to keep his crew satisfied that his interests and loyalties lie entirely with them after all more oft than not these two ships go after the same prizes which can lead to tensions between crews. On operations where the Demon and Rose have operated together Will tends to be the one sent over to assist in negotiations considering his acquaintanceship with Wren.

Ruth Sheftall - TBA

Marie-Louise “Louise” Tobin - TBA

Marisol Jones - TBA

Pirates:

Best friends

Close friends

Friendly rivals

Actual rivals

Perhaps a jealous lower crewman of how much William is apparently liked by everyone

Crushes (Will’s oblivious but plenty of people find him attractive perhaps your muse from the Blooming Rose or even Crimson Demon have come to take a shine towards William’s patient and good-hearted nature)

Hook ups / Friends with benefits

Civilians:

Family - Will has 4 elder sisters and 1 younger half-sister, he once had an elder brother but he passed away during childhood. He was always close to his sisters and I’m 10000% willing to discuss if people want to take up an elder sibling to Will or even his half-sister which I’ve requested anyway here.

Molly O'Brian - Molly and Will met a fair few years ago now, he’s always been one of the few individuals around who hasn’t shown an initial interest in her work but rather her as a person. He likes her a lot, considers her a good friend and can sometimes be a little overprotective in regards to her well-being not in the jealous sort of way that he would stop her working but simply takes an interest in making sure she’s looked after and stays as safe as she can considering her line of work brings her into contact with some unsavoury sorts. Will finds that Molly is someone he can let his guard drop around which isn’t always an easy thing to manage, she’s fun and enjoyable company that he’s happy to pass time with when she isn’t working.

Siren Song / Brothel Workers - Due to his friendship with Molly Will is known to hang around the Siren’s Song and various other brothels not for business interests but to see her and other friends he’s come to make with the workers. Will’s a kind and patient man but also tends to go to keep an eye on his crew along with the general populus, should things get a bit too rowdy or kick off his 6 ft 5 frame makes for an impressive deterrent for patrons getting too possessive on the women and other individuals working there. Will isn’t above stepping in to help settle matters as cordially as possible and is known to pay decently for drinks he receives which is part of the reason owners let him stay even if he doesn’t seem to be present for anything more than a chat and a drink.

Tavern workers / patrons - Again, similar concept as above. Will enjoys a game of cards over a tankard of ale, he’s known to frequent pubs and taverns across the city to relax with his crew and other friends. Perhaps these people know Will from his frequent visits to the tavern, though he seems imposing he tends to keep to himself a lot of the time but will happily chat to staff whilst they’re bustling about keeping tankards full.

Religious Connections - Though Will no longer tends to subscribe to any sort of faith or practise, he isn’t above going to visit church occasionally. He likes to sometimes go to these places to sit, think and reminisce on his life before he went away to join the Navy where he was raised in an Abbey down on the Southern coast. Perhaps these characters know Will from his visits to church, have seen him there various times and one day decided to approach him.

Muscle - Will isn’t above settling his skills and strength in exchange for coin, most who hire him for odd jobs presume him to be a mindless idiot when it couldn’t be further from the truth. Perhaps your muse hired Will to act as a guard on some expedition or job in London and for a fee he agreed.

Exes - Will has some history taking partners although he’s rather selective about that in London, perhaps these characters were together for a little time during his last time in London before he took to the seas once more to go pirating. They would have had to have known each other a fair while and Will would need to feel comfortable with them before anything serious ever came about.

Military:

Bounty Hunter - Will’s been in the career of piracy for 15 years, which in itself is almost unheard of. His reputation precedes him and there are whispers amongst the highest levels of aristocracy about pirates and the remarkable skill ‘Deadshot’ possesses. Some say he bargained with the devil and sold his soul for his remarkable shooting skills others that he consorts with witches and magic to gain his abilities. None have managed to put a name to a face and though plenty of hunters have been sent after him none have ever returned successfully (some haven’t even returned at all). Perhaps your muse has been assigned the case and is trying to track him down to put him in irons but due to Will’s meticulously careful attitude with his skills has come to a frustrating roadblock.

Past connection - Will used to sail aboard a privateering vessel about 20-15 years ago. Perhaps your muse was in the navy and knew young William in those days of suffrage. Perhaps they sailed aboard the vessel with him or were one of the other officers aboard the ship. They might have a clue about what happened to William during those days with the sadistic Lieutenant David Porter but they also might not.

Below is a plot that involves some revenge and the eventual murder of a sadistic Naval lieutenant that made Will’s life hell. Warning just before you read.

Lieutenant David Porter - a plot that will be ongoing with Will is him coming to terms with what this monster of a man did to him when he was 18/19. Will is currently under the impression that Porter died the day the HMS St Andrew went down but little does he know that this man has been alive and well and has continued terrorising those under his command with brutal and sadistic torture yet remains untouchable himself due to the fear that confronting him would result in their demise. None have come forward and it’s unlikely any will. (For an example of a character like this think Captain John Randall from Outlander and you get an idea of what he’s like). 

Perhaps your muse is a military officer/official who has run into this smarmy git who acts like a true gentlemen but as soon as he’s out of sight of official lines of sight turns into the true monster he is. Perhaps your muse is a prostitute or civilian that has been attacked and not been able to do anything about it because the man is wealthy and privileged and to accuse him would more than likely result in your death rather than his. 

Eventually, Will is going to find out that Porter is still alive and that is going to have some major ramifications for him. He will want to find a way to bring this man down and it will likely bring him into contact with authorities and officials in an attempt to find any sort of way to bring this man tumbling down from his pedestal. Will will eventually be looking to discredit, humiliate and potentially even kill this man. There are plenty of avenues that this could go down in lead up to that. But this is something I’m 10000% willing to throw open to anyone who wants to get involved.