#also if stanley gets hurt from trying to help the duchess the way he did - that's okay! he made his choice

[the-haunted-office]

Stanley's expression twists from one of grim anxiousness into one of perplexity. We may. Or we may not. What does she mean by that? That they may or may not be looking for their missing coworkers? What else is there to do? Aside from escaping? Stanley can't imagine any other sequence of events. He isn't sure if it's because the Story has been ground into him by the Narrator so many times for so long, or if it's because he really wants to find his coworkers and escape, either way, he firmly believes this is what they must do, and so for the Duchess, his Boss, to give such an obscure response leaves Stanley feeling like he is back at the Room with Two Doors, only with no clear reason to choose one door over the other.

It's clear he is looking to her as his leader, to make the decisions, at this point, not only because he is literally looking up at her, but also because as soon as she starts to move, to walk in a particular direction, Stanley moves with her, follows, right there by her side by half a step behind, like a little animal following behind a person it believes has food.

But he's also sensing something... strange, something off. It takes him a moment to realize it's because the Narrator hasn't said anything. The Narrator has gone strangely quiet, and it's like the Duchess has taken the lead, and now Stanley is wondering where the Narrator has gone, why he's being quiet, and it's in the middle of all this wondering when he's jolted to full awareness by the jarring shout of the Duchess, his Boss.

Stanley flinches back, his hands going to his ears at the sheer magnitude of her voice, at the force behind it. He knew she was a mountain of a being, but somehow he didn't stop to think about the strength that could be contained within her, within her voice. It's enough to rattle him. Enough to get him to react.

"Hey! What- What are you doing? Why are you- Why are you yelling-"

Stanley is cut off by the crack of her fist against the wall and all he can do is stand and watch in horror while she breaks not just the wall, not just her mental status, but her own hands. Surely she's broken her hands, hasn't she? Stanley is sure of it.

He is frozen. For a few moments he is frozen in shock, having never seen anything like this before, and without the Narrator there telling him what to do- It's not until he sees her blood that he finally whirls into motion, flying forward in an effort to- do what? He has no idea, she is easily at least two or three times the size of him, maybe more, she could crush him, and she's in a blind fit, maybe she will, maybe she will, but he has to do something, and maybe it won't matter, but he has to try, he can always restart, he can always come back here and try again, can't he, if this was the wrong choice, he can always come back to this point in the Story and try again-

"Please stop- Please stop-! You- You're hurting yourself!" he says, trying first to grab her around the middle and pull her away from the wall, knowing full well that he wouldn't even begin to get his arms around her. But he has to try something.

Out the corner of his eye he sees something quite strange. An object, like a weapon of some sort he's sure wasn't there a moment before, made all the more strange by the fact that it's sitting inside a yellow circle drawn around it on the floor, like it's meant to draw him there to it. It's a firearm of some sort. Stanley doesn't know much about weapons, much less firearms, but it certainly looks powerful. Powerful enough to stop the Duchess, should he get his hands on it. And, should the Duchess get her hands on it, it would most certainly be powerful enough to stop Stanley. Or maybe put holes in other things.

But Stanley ignores it and continues to focus on getting Duchess to stop hitting the wall. He certainly doesn't want to shoot her...

The Duchess does not know whether Stanley is real. But when her hand lands on his shoulder, he is as solid as any other living being. He is small and anxious, gazing upon her with his dark eyes like a cornered animal, caught in her mighty grasp. Yet, the giantess remains as stiff as her prey. She is frozen in that moment with him, her bold yellow stare clouding behind her spectacles. There is nothing that Stanley can do for her. There is no reason for her to reach out to him, other than that he is there. He is the sole spark of reason within the irrational, which seeks to suffocate her.

It is not until Stanley speaks that the Duchess regains her awareness. Her hand pulls away and she straightens, until she reaches her usual presence. "We may. Or we may not," she speaks. In a landscape as unpredictable as this, she could not promise anything.

"In fact, I may have a… solution…" she mumbles, "A simple one." Her tongue moves wickedly along her misaligned teeth, as she scouts along the wall for the perfect spot. Yes, an unpredictable place, where anything can happen. If she were having an involved nightmare, perhaps all she needed was a bit of movement, enough to jostle her awake. A bit of pain, imagined.

The Duchess squirms out of her jacket, striding toward an empty section of wall across from the fireplace. "Enough!" she shouts, "I've learned my les-shun! You bassht-ard, wake up!" She tosses the fine fabric and her cane into a pile on the floor, squaring herself with one foot behind, her fists at the ready.

"Wake up!" She lands a thunderous blow against the wall. A few decorations tumble to the floor. Her breath quickens, as the pain is enough to spring a few tears to her eyes. Her hand trembles away, leaving a dent in the wallpaper.

"I'm in control!" she cries. Her second fist impacts the wall, "I'm in control!" She hits again and again, until the black blood pools against her white gloves. Tears have begun rolling down her cheeks, drool dribbling down her chin, but so fixated on the point ahead of her, the Duchess does not notice.

Left on her own, she would continue on, until the paper fell away, until the wooden backboards splintered, and all that remained was the hollow.

[minijenn]

Nothing's Changed

In nights like this, Stanley Pines sat alone in the living room as he recounted the events of recent days that have left their mark on him and all associated with him. After 30 long years, he managed to acquire all 3 journals that his estranged twin brother wrote down himself that not only had the info of every paranormal anomaly in Gravity Falls but it also held information about the Crstal Gems and Gemkind. But none of that barely concerned him, he was more focused on the instructions that told him how to restart the portal, the secret device he’s been working on for so long, the very thing he’s lied about this whole time. In one single moment, he felt genuine happiness over the fact that he could bring Stanford back, even if there was a chance that his actions would result in the universe being torn apart, he thought that it would’ve been worth it to see him again…

…But he was wrong.

He wasn’t asking for much really. He didn’t expect the poindexter to just forget everything’s that’s happened between them, it just would’ve been nice for him to express some semblance of gratitude for bringing him back which would be the first step in repairing their broken brotherhood. But nope, instead of a happy reunion, he got socked in the face, Stan didn’t even know Ford could hit that hard since he was never the one known for his brawn, that was more of the former’s thing. Then came Ford completely getting on his case for opening the portal, it was like listening to Rose all over again which fueled his rage. But that rage turned into guilt and regret once he came clean about all the secrets he’s kept from Dipper, Mabel, Steven, and….Amethyst. He could care less about the wild accusations thrown at him by Pearl, it hurt him to see the look of disappointment from the only other person he would call friend, Dipper said that he understood but the old conman could tell his nephew’s trust in him was shaken, and he expected nothing less.

Not even watching The Duchess Approves could ease his soul, all that he’s done in the past; lying to his family, faking his death, taking such risks, all to bring his brother back, and this is all he had to show for it.

The kids were sleeping and Ford was no doubt down in the hidden bunker, doing some nerd thing, not caring about his own flesh and blood’s inner turmoil. Well he wasn’t having any of that, Stan got up and made his way to the gift shop where the vending machine was, where he typed in the code to the hidden passage. It was surreal, he would go down to turn on the portal, but this was a whole different intent. Once he took the elevator down, he made it to what was left of the portal room, there was some tarp hiding that machine, but his main focus was the scientist at work.

“Ford.” he spoke out, getting his twin’s attention.

The six-fingered scholar’s brow furrowed, showing his discomfort at seeing him. “Stanley, what are you doing here?”

His tone was cold and apathetic, but Stan continued. “Came to see what you were doing down here.”

“If you must know, I’m trying to see if there was any ill effects that resulted from you staring up the portal.” Ford replied, getting back to his work.

The conman crossed his arms, skeptically. “Ah, you’re paranoid, Sixer. As far as we know, you are the only thing that came out of that thing.”

“That we know of.” Ford countered. “I’ve seen a lot of things in the other side of the multiverse, dangerous things.” he clarified with a grave tone. “I can tell you right now that if even one of them ever made it to our world, the disastrous effects would be enormous.”

Stan rolled his eyes. “Still think it’s nothing to worry about.”

That little comment made Ford remark with a bitter tone. “Of course you would.”

Stan may be old, but his hearing aid served him well. “What’s that supposed to mean?” he demanded.

“Oh nothing.” Ford shrugged with a faux-relaxed manner. “It’s just no surprise that you wouldn’t be so concerned with the repercussions of your actions, and heaven forbid you trying to fix them.”

“My actions?!” Stan repeated with a scowl. “How long are you gonna keep giving me nothing but crap over doing the one thing that brought you back home?!”

“Maybe when you realize exactly how much you had put our entire universe at risk!” Ford snapped back, standing up. “Why else did you think I included warnings to not activate it in my journals?! Everything around us could’ve been wiped out before we could even blink!”

“But it didn’t!” Stan pointed out, gesturing to himself and the other. “Look at us, we’re still kicking, still acting like when we were 5 abd fighting over the remote with Shermie!”

“But it easily could have, that’s what you refuse to comprehend!” Ford ran a hand through his grey hair. “Did you even think about how much of a danger it posed to Dipper and Mabel, along with Steven and the Gems? They were right there when the portal acted, had things gone differently, their fates would’ve been on your hands! Did you care more about reaching your vain ambition than their safety?!”

Okay, that was a low blow, but he was right. Stan clenched his fists as he thought about what could’ve happened to the kids and the gems, they could’ve gotten sucked in like Ford….or worse….. “Damn.” he whispered.

“Then again, this is you we’re talking about.” Ford threw his arms up. “Besides being a lying cheapskate who scams people out of their hard earned monetary objects, you’re also an impulsive knucklehead who jumps into things without thinking of the consequences, just like-”

“Like what, that damn stuffy college?!” Stan cut him off. “You still gonna whine about that?!”

“Only to prove my point.” Ford retorted. “To give you an example on how your brash attitude makes trouble for everyone else. If only Rose got to you.” he shook his head with a somber expression as remembering his departed friend brought him sadness.

“Oh here we go again with how great Rose was!” Stan bellowed. “You know you say that she was such a great friend to you, but what friend would be okay with not even putting in the effort in saving your life! Here’s a fun little tidbit, ol’ Pinkie tried stopping me from turning that machine of yours back on, even when she knew that it was the only way to save you!”

“Good!”

Stan blinked twice as he tried to process what his brother just said. “Wait, what?”

“It’s good that Rose tried to stop you!” Ford clarified. “It showed that she had more common sense than you ever did, I have no doubt that she wanted to save me but knew that using the portal to do so was out of the question, you should’ve listened, it would’ve saved everyone from the trouble.”

Stan was angry before, now he was furious. “You’re telling me you would’ve liked being trapped in whatever hell you were in than to come home?!”

“If it meant safeguarding the universe, then I was prepared to make that sacrifice.” Ford said with an affirmed look. “Rose made the same choice by deciding not to tell you where the 3rd journal was, even if it meant never seeing me again. You didn’t understand back then and I don’t expect you to do so now, but there are some things that are better left closed off from us.” his mind briefly flashed back to a single eye. “Instead of doing the logical thing, you just went with your instincts which always spelled disaster, like the screw up you’ve always been.”

Stan couldn’t believe it, even when he was informed that even Rose, his so-called close friend wasn’t willing to open the portal, Ford still chose her over his own brother. And that last remark, the thing many people have called him, his father included, that was the last straw. “You know what? Fine!” he turned around and went to the exit. “If I’m such a burden to you, then maybe I should just leave you alone!”

As he watched his brother leave, Ford couldn’t help but think he may have gone a little too far…maybe he should apologize…..no, there were more important things to do.

Stan went back up and stormed into his office where he threw his desk over with a hell, he thrashed things around, breaking many stuff into pieces and once he was finished, the old man sat down and looked at his reflection in the mirror. “Nothing’s changed…..” he whispered as tears threaten to drop. He was expecting things to be different, but no, it’s the same as it was before: he was still the screw up, he and Ford still had issues and people he knew thought little of him….

Nothing’s changed at all.

[enigmatist17]

Remembering The Lost (Ford and Stan Pines)

I just need more old men hugging things out.

Gravity falls --> Owned by Alex Hirsch/Disney XD

Ford couldn’t hope to describe the utter feeling of loss, his gut coiling every time Stan looked right through him. Bill was defeated, he was gone but so was Stanley, so was any chance they could have ever hoped to reconcile. It had been weeks, and while Stanley was regaining memories of the twins, Soos, Wendy, and all the townsfolk, not once did Stan ever look at him without the same question now burned into his mind. ”Who are you?” Even with all the optimism of the children Ford was losing hope, fading more and more into the background as Stan reunited with those he loved and remembered. It was getting to the point Ford was slipping back into his alcoholism, a habit he had picked up after no longer having his twin there to help calm him during school, only growing stronger with his work in Gravity Falls. Once the kids left Stanford thought it best to remain in the basement, trying to distract himself with work and research, unaware of his brother’s curiosity with the man he shared a face with. “Uh…hello?” The room this strange elevator opened in was dark, his voice echoing around the rocky cavern as Stan took a few steps forward. What was once the control room now being a second library, books scattered about a large couch that seemed to double as a bed, sheets crumpled on the ground under even more books and papers. The clatter of a glass bottle against stone caught his attention, Stan slowly walking further in and peering into the large cavern he felt had once contained something great, but now was bare save for a few scattered projects lying about in various states of build. However his eyes landed on the spread out male in one corner of the room, some glasses tossed a few feet away besides some empty whiskey bottles. It was clear he had been drinking for some time, blue eyes unfocused as another bottle was raised to chapped lips, hand slightly trembling when it finally registered he wasn’t alone, a cough escaping him when some of the alcohol went down wrong. “Geeze…you really shouldn’t be drinkin’ that much.” Stan said hesitantly, making his way over to the man who seemed unconcerned, taking another big sip before the bottle was forcibly taken away. “N-Not like you…care.” Ford muttered, lazily watching as Stan picked up his glasses and wiped some dust off of them. “You don’t even know me…” “Well that don’t mean I don’t care.” He grumbled, sitting beside the drunk man who looked away with an angry sigh. “Give me the whiskey Stan…gonna ask only once…” The man slurred, his voice taking on a strong Jersey accent as he reached for the bottle just out of reach. “No, ain’t happenin’.” He shook his head, reacting like lightning when Ford drunkenly tried to launch himself forward, only to end up being pinned to the ground. “Just give up already.” “I have…” Stan blinked at the soft sob that escaped the man below him, leaning forward to see tears staining the ground a darker grey. “Given up on what?” “On getting my brother back.” Ford hiccupped, more tears escaping him as he lay his head on the stone in defeat. “I’m so so sorry…I just want my brother back…” Stan winced as Ford began to full on sob, his cries echoing around the cavern as he pleaded with Stan to remember him. “I just want you back…I’m so sorry for not believing you…I miss you so much Stan…please don’t make me die alone…please…” ”Come on Stan, don’t leave me here alone!” A young Stanford Pines begged, some tears slipping down his cheeks in the dark cave his brother had left him in as a joke, little arms wrapping around him at the strange sounds echoing around him. “I promised I wouldn’t Sixer!” Ford let out a scream as his brother appeared suddenly in front of him, a flashlight in hand and a grin on his face. “I would never do that!” Stan nearly recoiled at the sudden memory that hit him like a punch to the face, shaking his head as he glanced at the man pinned beneath him. “S-Sixer?” The word was more of a question, but went unnoticed as Ford tried to weakly struggle his way free. “W-Wait…” “Stan let me go! You win!” A teenaged Ford begged, having gotten pinned under a cockily grinning Stan during boxing practice, annoyed his brother was more concerned at making eyes at his girlfriend nearby. “You’re choking me…” “Oh geeze, sorry!” Stan laughed, releasing his brother who glared, big glasses slipping down his nose only to make Stan laugh. “Just let me go!” Ford hissed, his voice wavering as he succeeded in being freed from under his temporarily startled brother, grabbing the bottle with a glare at the ground beneath him. “Sixer stop!” Ford paused mid-swig, reddened eyes wide as he looked over at Stanley with disbelief. “W-What did ya say?” He asked, Jersey accent back again as he stumbled in place, the world swirling around him. “I said stop it now.” Stan said more firmly, taking a step close as Ford wavered dangerously in place, bottle crashing into pieces on the floor when it slipped from Ford’s slack fingers. “Stop hurting him!” Stan looked up in shock from the kitchen floor, ten-year old Ford glaring up at his drunken father, arms outstretched protectively. “Don’t hurt Stanley, he didn’t mean it!” “GET OUT OF MY WAY STANFORD!” Their father roared, Stan wincing when a hard slap sent Ford onto the floor beside him, left hand landing on the broken glass from the beer bottle his father had thrown at him. “Sixer just listen to me…” Stan began cautiously, Ford looking confused and elated as it dawned on him when Stan was saying. “Come here, we’ll go on up and I’ll get ya nice and warm.” “St…Stanley? Is that you?” Ford’s voice cracked, tears slipping from his eyes once again as Stanley nodded, slipping an arm around his brother’s waist to steady him as they began to walk/wobble towards the elevator. “Well I’ve always been me...but yea poindexter…I think I’m back for good.” He nodded, grunting slightly when Ford sagged against him in the elevator, Ford looking a bit pale when they entered the shop area of the Mystery Shack. Stan managed to get the drunk male to the nearby bathroom before Ford vomited out most of the liquor in his stomach, the younger twin waiting while other memories began to surface as he tended to Ford. He remembered days they conned their mother into getting sick days, times of exploring the beach that felt more like home when they found their pet project, tense hours of sneaking back home after going to watch a late-night movie their parents would have forbidden them to see. He also remembered the fable science project that had torn them apart, face falling as he helped Ford to the couch and set about removing his shoes, coat and various holsters, his brother seemingly having dozed off as he did so. “Ford?” He called softly, gently shaking his brothers shoulder until bleary reddened eyes looked at him, the man smiling sadly. “I shoulda told you about your project…” “I…shoulda forgiven ya…” Ford slurred back in his accent, the man pausing before weakly tugging Stanley into a hug. “M sorry…” “I know Sixer…I’m sorry too.” He whispered back, releasing Ford only when he felt the other go slack, having fallen asleep in the warmth and comfort from a hug long overdue. Sighing with a slight smile Stan settled into his chair, flipping the TV onto The Duchess Approves as he settled in for the long haul, checking to see if Ford was sleeping peacefully every so often. When morning came, Ford felt as if he had been punched in the head repeatedly, groaning as he came to while rubbing his temples. He really should eat before drinking, Stan wouldn’t be too…Stan… “About time.” Ford blinked tiredly, a plate of food being placed on his lap while a cup of coffee was placed in his outstretched hand. “Now eat, you probably feel like crap right about now.” “Stan?” He rasped, coughing a bit as he took a generous sip of the warm liquid in his hand, the sugar coating his tongue making him sigh appreciatively. “You remember any of last night?” “I…remember drinking…and I remember breaking my whiskey bottle…” He furrowed his brows as he tried to remember more, Stan smirking slightly when his eyes suddenly went wide. “Y…You remember me…” “A bit yea…I’m still gettin’ more stuff, but ya know.” He shrugged, Ford’s heart nearly beating from his ribcage as elation shot through him at the sheer recognition Stan hand while staring at him. Stan raised an eyebrow when Ford placed his plate and cup down on top of the dinosaur head, but his confusion turned to amusement when Ford hugged him tightly, almost toppling them both over had Stan not anchored himself. “Geeze, careful there.” “I apologize, I am just so so so happy right now you cannot even begin to comprehend.” He muttered into Stan’s shoulder, his body slightly shaking as he took in the fact Stan remembered him after so long. “I think I can poindexter…I think I can.” Stan sighed with a bit of a smile, hugging Ford as close as he possibly could. “I missed ya too.”

[tudoraddict]

Finally watching TWP episode 1. SPOILERS

My thoughts, kind of incoherent but that's what I feel (excuse my bad english):

The opening is fantastic and I loved the overlapping roses, very beautiful and well done.

The little scene between RIII and EoY was not as terrible as I thought, despite all the sex with his uncle, and morbid showing him being killed in battle at the same time.

EW is very pretty, and I did not find her wig so bad, she runs to protect Richard, and ignores EoY's question about her and her sisters.

EW only cares about her son apparently (until so far), she mentions that she does not want to lose him as Prince Edward and I just think and RICHARD GREY Elizabeth? And Richard Grey?

Thomas Grey is also nowhere to be found, he will be completely ignored by TWP, right? he was erase for new "timeline".

Cecily protecting her sisters Awww

Thomas Stanley enters, I miss Rupert Graves's Stanley! He was Machiavellian, but so fun, this is just pure evil.

I understood! THEY ARE TUDORS and not the pure and perfect York.

TWP dont dare turn JASPER TUDOR into a horrible monster, he was TWQ's best thing!

Enter Henry VII, I'm still not feeling, but ok.

Stanley demarcating his territory.

Lizzie, EW and her sisters find their family, the same family who always treated the Woodwilles with contempt, and like Duchess Cecily WHO actively worked against his grandchildren interests in TWQ, that did not move a finger to help EW and their children, but hey we're all family now.

Good scene between EW and MB.

But everything is so on the nose! As if the audience was a 5 year old, or maybe I'm very picky, I know they have to present the characters and put the story to the audience.

MB and Henry are so stiff, it's all EVIL, EVIL, EVIL TUDORS

Emma Frost knows no subtlety.

At least in The Tudors it was not this hard and nasty.

Henry and Lizzie measuring themselves with their eyes, I'm starting to feel, or maybe it's just that I'm so anxious for some of them to like anything.

The TIMELINE is so confusing.

How many days after Bosworth? I do not know, and no one from TWP seems to care, just add a caption: a few days later, a few months later it would help.

The scenarios are beautiful though and better than TWQ.

All this contempt and disrespect of EoY for the king, I do not know if it is plausible, but ok we are not talking about logic here.

Cecily is all seductive looks for Henry, but is ignored.

The dance scene is the strangest and stupidest thing until now.

The rape scene, he drags her into the room like she's a bag of potatoes, it looks like rape to me, as bad as the book to me, where can anyone in the sky say it was a feminist? I hope  never see it again.

Henry was pathetic, and the murder of his character was complete in my view, how will he be remotely agreeable in the next few episodes? Nothing here indicates this.

Oh Cecily she is quick but was rejected. I can not help but like Cecily, okay if that makes me a bad person, so far was the least annoying character.

Henry does not trust Margaret in this version, humm

Henry Coronation.

Again a legend showing the passage of time would be great.

EoY tries to abort, and says that all she wanted was to marry for love, which EW readily responds: royalty does not expect to marry for love, but for duty (I am paraphrasing here). Thank you EW! Essie Davies really is good.

Lizzie desires that the baby was Richard's, HER UNCLE, I will vomit.

Powerful scene between Lizzie and EW, finally someone in this show agrees that the spells of EW are a great failure, nothing, NOTHING worked out, this plot is a disgrace.

Sooo, it's announced in a room FULL of people that Lizzie is pregnant, could have been done separately, so it would not look so ridiculous afterwards.

Wedding and bed scene, ok "brilhant" Henry.

Final thoughts:

No wonder a lot of people did not like TWP, people who watched TWQ wanted a romance like Edward IV and EW, not this.

It must have hurt Emma Frost, I believe she does not like the Tudors as much as PG, having to rewrite the script so many times, I really don't know if anyone would handle 8 episodes of this.

I repeat, I don't want to tell you how anyone should feel when watching TWP, whether you like it or not,  each one feels the way they wants.

I found it all very stiff, and so in the noses.

It has been established that everything is Margaret's fault, or at least they try to throw us this every 5 minutes.

Henry is so insecure all the time, I do not think it will get any better when he is commanded by his wife or his mother until the end.

I think the show was clever at letting EW in doubt whether his son is alive or not, and therefore EoY will also be in doubt when "Perkin" shows.

So those were my crazy thoughts in general.

I have little hope for the next few episodes, but who knows we will have some good scenes between Henry and Lizzie.