#an honour to serve

[forensicated]

Goodnight, Ma'am ❤️💔

[nataliescatorccio]

CHAPPELL ROAN Attends the Los Angeles Premiere of Netflix's "Olivia Rodrigo: GUTS World Tour"

[letsplaythermalnuclearwar]

Homer!Odysseus and Epic!Odysseus would try to kill each other if they ever met

[fascinationstreetmp3]

maybe it doesn't entirely track with the way louis kept them in after redecorating the penthouse, but sometimes i wonder if those high bookshelves that louis can reach with a ladder, but that armand can reach much easier by floating, were a decision rooted in something like that first "arun/maitre" exchange: armand holding the umbrella for louis, and louis throwing his lighter away when armand lights his cigarette for him. it's like, "i could do this myself, but i'm staying with you, so i don't need to." an affirmation sorta thing, it symbolises "we're sticking together." louis can reach the books himself with a ladder, but if he wants one he can just tell armand to get it for him, and he will.

[maximura]

[currymanganese]

GUYS, I CAN'T ACTUALLY BELIEVE I'M SAYING THIS, BUT WHAT IF THEY ACTUALLY HAD A GOOD REASON FOR JOHN CENA BEING CAST AS SAMMY FAK?

please bear with me (pun intended) and let me know what you think of my speculation under the cut~

In a mind-boggling case of a seemingly big-lipped alligator moment in season 3 - John Cena appears in a bizarrely over the top (even by the tonal comedic standards set previously by The Bear e.g. Ecto Cooler punch at a kid's birthday party getting spiked with Xanax in Season One) and jarring scene that stretches on and on as he obnoxiously squabbles, blathers and exchanges nonsensical rapid-fire quips with his brothers Neil and Ted Fak as they buff polish The Bear's dining area before a food photographer from The Chicago Tribune arrives to take a photo for a review of The Bear.

In this scene, he also intimidates and threatens to 'haunt' (in a Fak family tradition ( that even the Faks find annoying) - that involves pranking and being an unrestrained nuisance to their loved ones especially when they least expect it) his brother Ted for, "stealing his SD cards"......

This scene and the increased screen presence of the seemingly plot-irrelevant Faks this season is currently being eviscerated by plenty of fans and critics alike.

Edit:

I now strongly suspect that John Cena's role was always in the works ever since S1

..................................

But what if there's a (debatable, but) really good reason for this scene and the increased involvement in Seasons 2 and 3 of the massive numbered siblings family of Carmy's pseudo cousins, the Faks?

See Exhibit A:

In season 2, episode 3, Sundae - after Carmy has already asked Sydney out to Kasama, a husband and wife owned restaurant run by Tim Flores, and Genie Kwon*, ostensibly just to brainstorm and gain inspiration for planning for the new menu, and after Sydney has already gone home and freshened up and changed her clothes, then arrived to Kasama early, despite the meeting only being scheduled for an hour after she last spoke to Carmy at his apartment, Claire calls and interrupts the whole hypothetical shebang with Syd and Carmy at Kasama (the Tagalog WORD FOR TOGETHER) with the words,

"Did you mean to give me a fake number? You do know that I know your entire family [translation: she must know Donna too and Claire assumes that Carmy's folks approve of her - and she's proven to be technically right throughout Seasons 2 and 3 ], right? And I know ALL the Faks! [translation: tee hee! they're bigger than you - to quote Neil and Ted with their Uncle, "We Faks do have a particular shape, don't we?😇" - and they outnumber you, you scrawny punk, slay!😉✨]"

Claire then proceeds to playfully threaten to have said "massive numbered siblings" Faks, which includes Sammy Fak, played by John Cena (a professional wrestler, from an industry that is mixes both bawdy over the top theatre, a performance art that values Kayfabe (legerdemain/slight of hand anyone?) and comedy, and an athletic discipline) that is TALL. BUILT. HENCH. AND BUFF AF.....Claire 'playfully' threatens to have THESE FAKS, beat up Carmy, who is short in stature and cannot fight well from all the previous physical confrontations we've seen him be involved in, despite supposedly being a former high-school wrestler, and who has already been seriously physically abused thrice in the series run thus far (not counting him play fighting or trying to fight with Richie) after being JUMPED by a GROUP of assailants, not once, but TWICE in season one, by the Ballbreaker nerds in the pilot, and the Bachelor Party attendees in the season finale (the first season started and ended with Carmy being beaten tf up, Holy Shit! 🤯); AND AFTER BEING SLAPPED IN THE FACE IN SEASON 2 BY HIS OWN MOTHER, DONNA.

Notice the way Carmy goes from being lost in his thoughts but being completely relaxed after his menu planning session with Sydney, and in anticipation of seeing her on their would be inspiration seeking meet-up (definitely not a date, no Sir! 👀) at Kasama, to being tense and jittery and apprehensive when Claire calls him (after going behind his back and getting his number from Fak).

Notice the way Carmy's voice shakes when he asks Claire if she really knows all of the Faks.....

Notice Carmy's defeated and annoyed reaction after he hangs up the phone.

No wonder Carmy is being so avoidant and conflict averse in his handling of Claire in both Season Two and Three, he has absolutely no faith in himself or his loved ones at present to defend himself should he assert the type of boundaries he may have been desiring to have with them for these past two seasons, after all - who can he count on to fully have his back even to the point of physically intervening for him if he gets into a scrape or is genuinely attacked, by the Faks on account of Claire taking offense at or misrepresenting his words and actions to them, e.g. Claire apparently twisting Carmy's self loathing stream of consciousness confession (that she eavesdropped on) and telling Tiff that they broke up because Carmy said that "Claire will ruin everything good for him?" while he was trapped in the fridge?

What if Carmy knows he has to rip the band-aid and call Claire and apologize for his part in the superficiality and disintegration of their dalliance, but is afraid to do so because he knows in so doing, if he is being fully honest with himself and with Claire, he never truly wanted to be with her in the first place?

And who knows how Claire will take that revelation - it probably won't be pretty will it?

And.....

to quote Neil Fak,

"Claire's the best."

"We love Claire."

"I did that." [setting Carmy and Claire up in Pop)

And.....

Claire. knows. all. the. Faks.....

TL;DR

They cast John Cena as Sammy Fak, and the Faks had a lot of screen-time this season because they are the physical manifestation of being haunted in their family's sense of the word:

and a satirical visualization of Carmy's desire for Syd being cock-blocked ; plus Claire is a Love-able Alpha Bitch, and Carmy is ambivalent towards her, and even a little scared to face her, because her henchmen are the Faks!

If you enjoyed this post, then thank you for reading and I'd recommend that you check out the following meta on the way Christopher Storer and Company have seemingly (and controversially) committed to sticking to the bit of lying to the audience and breaking the fourth wall throughout this entire season:

Richie and the viewer - by @whenmemorydies with my add-on in the reblogs about Richie, not Carmy, potentially being Christopher Storer's author avatar in this series (from a post originally written before season 3 premiered.

Fourth Wall being broken - by @brokenwinebox and @thoughtfulchaos773

Claire being a possible representation of addiction, being a habit that is hard to kick - by @thoughtfulchaos773 and my and @devisrina 's add-on speculating that Claire may also be meant to be interpreted or revealed as a bit of a mean girl, to reference TVTropes, she (and by extension Season 3) may be a deconstruction/ mashup /send-up / subversion of the: Girl Next Door, the Cute Bookworm, Nerds Are Sexy, MPDG, Yandere, Alpha Bitch, Loveable Apha Bitch, Childhood Friend Romance, High-School Sweethearts, Sickeningly Sweethearts, Getting Crap Past The Radar, Freeze Frame Bonus, Parental Bonus, Viewers Are Geniuses, Give Geeks A Chance, Even Nerds Have Standards, Beauty Equals Goodness, Face-Heel Turn, Cerebus Syndrome tropes etc.....and a subtler mirror version of Donna Berzatto.

Edit: See my reblog add on to @espumado 's thread on the recurrent 'haunting' theme this season and the possibility of the Claire x Carmy x Sydney love triangle being a Lilith x Adam x Eve allegory, and my webweaving about Syd x Carmy's Adam and Eve parallels. sidenote: Lilith is Adam's first wife apocryphally and in Jewish mysticism that left him, and became a she-demon / mother of demons after being impregnated by the archangel Samael - wait is 'Sammy' Fak a Samael allegory?!!

and another reblog add-on of mine to the thread linked above - on The Faks as the living embodiment of all that is fake in Carmy's life, C Storer's handy dandy tools for slight of hand,

you can't spell fake without FAK.

and please see

Clairecarmy as Ann Veal x GOB from Arrested Development

and with Richie's frustrated refrain of, "Who cares?!" whenever Claire and Claire and Carmy's breakup is brought up in 3 -

see the running gag of George Michael Bluth's (from Arrested Development) family's disdain for Ann and his relationship with her.

5. The parallels between The Bear and Burnt by @ambeauty - a post Season 2 post which was proven to be prescient and insightful given the Easter Egg inclusion of Bradley Cooper's character from Burnt on the photo wall of chefs at Ever in the Funeral dinner in the finale.

6. The parallels between The Bear and Boiling Point - a gritty film and mini-series set in a restaurant which features several plot elements and characters reminiscent of certain character archetypes and subplots present in The Bear - seriously think of this IP as The Bear's cynical, dramatic, older British cousin.

Decision to leave by @anderwater

This anon that recommended Boiling Point to me and wrote about its connections to The Bear.

The difference between The Bear and Boiling Point by @theblvckvenus

The similarities between The Bear and Boiling Point in this reblog add-on to @happylikeasadsong et. al's thread.

7. Claire/Carmy and the Walk In - my old post on the parallels between Strange Days (1995), Can't Hardly Wait (1998, and The Bear.

and @ambeauty 's meta on Claire as a representation of the fridge

8. My post on the possible connection between The Bear Season 3 and Andrei Tarkovsky's experimental, semi-autobiographical, psychological Oedipal drama film The Mirror (1975) - a film which was incredibly divisive upon its initial release, but has since gained wide acclaim and re-evaluation as a masterpiece, and that has had a legacy of subsequently inspiring multiple renowned filmmakers.

9. The Bear series' lead actress, and the director of Napkins, one of the only episodes of The Bear Season 3 to receive almost universal acclaim - Ayo Edebiri's trollish sense of humour and assertion that lying is the pinnacle of comedy.

10. And last but certainly not least with the inclusion of a Genie Kwon*'s, of Kasama fame, cameo in the season finale and the prominence of Kasama being key to Syd and Carmy's stymied relationship progression, courtesy Claire, see

The Kasama of it all by @gingerylangylang1979

@mod-doodles @lunasink @vacationship @chansoooo1-blog

@bioloyg @msmoiraine @nerdyblerd @ripley-stark @uncriticalbunny @prowitchazel @msmoiraine @mswyrr @anxietycroissant @turbulenthandholding @tvfantic87 @laryssamedeirss @tejidaepoque @angelica4equity @inalltheirgorgeouscolors @houseofevangelista @glitterslag

@uncriticalbunny @imliterallyjustablackgirl

@bioloyg and @ambeauty please don't say I told you so or welcome back, I'm flabbergasted that I wrote this, but I want to believe! 😭

P.S. If you're still reading this, do yourself a favour and read @brokenwinebox 's post

New Paradigm

and this follow up

Mocktail is a dirty word

and check out her #the magic trick tag!

and also check out these Sydcarmy and Rosalind x Orlando from Shakespeare's As You Like It parallels:

The Bear as a pastoral comedy

First Meetings

Fumbling with your crush

Separation, keepsakes and lovesickness

and also C Storer really did tell us in the music that this season would inspire

Mixed Emotions 🥴

[timblrdrake]

if batman ever gets arrested HMU i’d make an incredible lawyer

“your honour my client pleads vengeance,”

“i direct the jury to disregard the statement that the defendant struck the prosecution with his car, it’s called the batmobile,”

“your honour, if it pleases the court, my client is the night.”

[sunny1927]

✨🔎Spy Mickey 🔍✨

Out of no where an idea occurred to me, since Mickey is already a detective in the comic series. What if he is a spy aswell…👀 (him basically having an alter ego of himself as a spy in the night time, but at day he’s a detective. Hope that makes sense!)

So for a plot idea? I suppose, is that Mickey becomes an undercover agent/spy who goes by the name “Agent Mouse” or “Agent 28” (I don’t know which one to choose so-) to track down the villains and stopping them for good with their no good evil plan, without blowing his cover as a detective in the day. Not only Mickey has to stop the villains but also protecting his love ones from danger as well and other people (as he figures out some villains out there is trying to harm them…👀)

Anyway that’s all I got! Let me know if you wanna see more of this! (Sorry if it doesn’t makes sense I didn’t really plan out a plot 😅)

Also I wanted to draw Paperinik as well�� or is it Duck Avenger? I don’t know aha-

[immult]

ugh. imogen could've summoned a reilora when they were appealing to the masses you know. even under the zone of truth imogen wouldn't be lying if she had twisted it to say that the "terrors" can be bent under her will and power. do you know how hopeful that display would've been for the room's- exandria's morale? do you know the amount of positive votes that alone would get bells hells?

but it will send the wrong message. it is never about reining or annihilating the ruidians. it's about imogen arriving at kreviris and saying how wonderful it would be if she's allowed to share the taloned highlands, her birthland, with them.

Exaltant Hope as in her hope was so enduring that it saves. Red Storm as in her bloodright, curse, and blessing. but the title was always meant to be read together: Exaltant Hope of the Red Storm. she is the red storm's hope. ruidus' and ruidians' and ruidusborns' and all the exandrian dreams dreamt on that ruddy surface.

it is imogen in whitestone, leaning against the door that shuts her out, saying things that look scary can be so beautiful if you give them a chance.

[orchid-n-petals]

So I've already shared parts of this on a discord server, but I have to scream about Ketheric Thorm on here as well. Obviously spoilers about the character under the cut! It's a long one.

The entirety of act 2 is about him, right? Jaheira, Shadowheart and numerous other NPCs shit on him for his fickle faith. First Selune, then Shar, then, as we meet him, Myrkul. You hear about his changes of faith on a whim, you hear that he's the person responsible for the shadow curse, he is painted as a villain, plain and simple.

You can figure it out pretty early on that Isobel was resurrected and that she is his daughter; the detail as well that he wants Isobel alive is so on the nose, it gives him away completely but there are still a few questions that remain unanswered, mainly about his faith.

And then you get to the mausoleum and the picture assembles; this entire tragedy, the death of hundreds if not thousands and the complete ruination of a landscape was all, ALL because you had this absolutely wrenched, heartbroken father who had lost everything and nobody answered his grief. He was left woefully alone, the Goddess whose daughter his daughter was involved with did nothing to save Isobel.

Imagine outliving your wife and your daughter. Imagine dedicating your life to fight the Lady of Loss, your Lady of Silver's enemy, and then be left so completely alone and in silence with your grief, with your loss. It's so, so poetic how and why he turned from Selune, and it's so understandable as well; he broke. His spirit completely broke. He couldn't deal with that void of having lost the only two important people in his life, seemingly undeservedly so. He was going mad with this and a lot of his ire was likely targeted at Aylin who, in his eye, represented Selune; she's literally her daughter, after all, and it was implied that even before the deaths of his family, he sort of saw Aylin courting Isobel as Selune taking his daughter from him, despite his service. This relationship was clearly not seen by him as a boon of "giving his daughter to the Moon-maiden".

His ways in the past clearly didn't spare him from tragedy and having to cope with it (which he clearly didn't, he snapped under the weight of his grief). He was clearly angry and unable to do anything, furious and helpless, which is a dangerous combination. A good part of his first change of heart must have been fuelled by a sense of revenge.

But then Shar didn't provide any balm to his aching heart either. If you read his letters in Grymforge and in act 2, he is so focused on enacting the will of Shar because he believes that healing lies in oblivion. Everything would be easier if he could just forget, if the damn world could just forget, if nothing was remembered because without Melodia and Isobel, nothing was worth remembering.

Then came Myrkul. Literally the only god who was not only able, but WILLING to give back his daughter to him. Imagine spending your all, EVERYTHING you have to serve two gods who would not give a single shit about the greatest suffering in your life. You were basically nothing, your loyalty didn't matter for shit, everything that was taken from you amounted to no recognition whatsoever: you should simply cope and seethe. Your grief will not simply go unanswered (which is not inherently antagonising) but ignored.

And then comes this supposedly evil entity who can alleviate your pain just like that, snap of a finger and it's a done deal.

I am so serious when I say that I believe Ketheric's main incentive was to extend Aylin's immortality to Isobel as well. You can read in her diary that she feels a taint after having came back, and there are things not even Selune can cleanse, but at this point, Ketheric doesn't care about Selune, vengeance is secondary if not tertiary, he's done that war during his Shar years and what did it give him? Literally nothing.

He doesn't even care about the fact that Isobel is still her cleric. He cares about the single most important fact: Isobel is back. Life is worth living again, there is something for him, and it was not Selune or Shar who gave it to him but Myrkul, and for this singular gift, he would raze the world for the Lord of Bones. Like people can clown on him for being disloyal but the man has the loyalty of a dog bonded to its owner.

He is powerful and is willing to go to insane lengths for crumbs. What is raising a single life for a god? Nothing. It has happened and it will happen again. But Ketheric will go to the ends of the earth to serve the single god who actually listened to him. The one god who didn't ignore him.

He knows that what he does is not the morally upright thing! He is so insanely self-aware that allying with Orin and Gortash and doing this entire plot with them only to then betray them is morally reprehensible at the best of times, he knows that people hate him, etc-etc. He was a Selunite at one point and he's not stupid. He just doesn't care; it could be literal Asmodeus and he wouldn't care as long as he got what he wanted, no matter the price.

He is probably the only one from the three of the chosen who has complete clarity over his situation, he almost sways (if you pass the check during his confrontation), he is not an inherently evil man blinded by power.

But he is inherently loyal to those deserving, and as of the story's standing, completely broken by his grief. In his eyes, at this point, the only one deserving loyalty is the one who actually listened to him. Isobel lives. It doesn't matter that she hates him, that his entire life has fallen apart, that literally nothing else that is good has come of it, because Isobel lives.

I don't think he regrets a single thing. His consciousness might tear at him at the end, but I believe he would do everything over again, exactly as he did, because in the end, his daughter was brought back. Because what would a grieving, broken parent give to bring back their child? Everything. Absolutely everything. And it's such a simply given answer, no second thoughts, no doubts.

Nobody can tell me that this man is fickle. Nobody. This man was willing to burn the world to the ground, create a Boudica destruction layer all by himself for the one single thing he wanted. For any God that would listen.

I don't know, I just have a lot of thoughts about his character.

[forensicated]

[Off the top of my head, this is the 7th time Smithy has been held at gunpoint in this year/series alone (and the year/series is not over yet as if I think I'm currently around October.) There's several Gun Runner at-gunpoints by various characters over the episodes, this one and Killer On The Run. If you include CO19 holding him at gunpoint and telling him to put his arms up after dropping the weapon etc in the final Gun Runner before Gina shouts he's a copper it's his 8th! 9th if you include the random gunshot at Carly's funeral but that's a stretch as it wasn't aimed at him (for once)]

Smiffina Episodes: An Honour To Serve - Part 2

This is the final Smiffina episode recap. There is a bonus mention that they met up for a drink down the line but that's it. As a massive aside there is a holby ep that Roberta guests in from 2014 whilst Alex is there as Fletch but they don't get any time onscreen together really 😞)

Part 1 finished with the camera focused on the officers outside whilst Smithy tried to free the hostages and arrest Quinn. The gun went off in a struggle and the last thing Gina heard was Quinn saying "You've got a man down".

Part 2 starts showing what happened inside when it all kicked off. I have issues with this because it's Really. Fucking. Stupid. Particularly for a sergeant and a former officer of CO19 with roughly 13/14 years policing experience at that time. (Who was a squaddie before that!)

Instead of securing Quinn after knocking him down, Smithy hurries round the room and urges the kids and teacher out. He doesn't pin Quinn to the floor and shout at them to go, he doesn't even secure the gun. Quinn struggles to his feet and punches Smithy, knocking him to the ground. He then aims the gun at his head to shoot him at point blank range. Thankfully Sophie hits Quinn with a mug which forces the trajectory of the gun up to the ceiling instead of into Smithy.

This scene just does not make sense because Smithy has the skills, knowledge, common sense, experience and intelligence to know you don't let a dangerous, damaged and mentally ill man with nothing to lose keep free use of his firearm. ESPECIALLY when you have open access to pin him down, get backup and scoot the gun away from him after wrestling him down to the ground in the first place. I am 100 percent biased towards Smithy and can generally forgive him anything (Andrea. Kerry. Kezia.) but this shit is fruit loops.

I know that wouldn't have made for a very long part 2 though but it makes a mockery of the man's training and experience (and is the final push for Gina to resign😪) I've slowed the gif right down to show how stupid it is. He had the opportunity to get on top of him, pin him down and call for backup or scoot the gun across the room and then pin him down at the very least! But no, he runs around and shouts for people to run when he could have done that sat on top of the Very Bad Man.

When Quinn staggers forward and grabs the radio to send the 'man down' message, Sophie pockets Smithy's phone. Gina's expression is devestating.

They play with a little with the sound after and have Heaton call Gina "Ma'am?" twice before he says her name. It's a way of having Gina hear what sounds like Smithy saying 'Ma'am' in a muffled way but given their closeness it would have worked even better if it'd been "Gina?" and made more sense for that to have been said by Heaton given he'd not call her Ma'am as he's her superior. Or as @everythingisdragons says - Callum would have been a much better substitute vocally and subordinate wise and it'd make sense! He asks her if she's ok, WTF mate? Of course she isn't, she thinks Smithy's been shot and potentially killed.

The attention is broken by the children running out of the door. Gina asks the teacher what happened to the policeman and she tells her she thinks he's been shot. Everyone other than Smithy, Polly and Sophie have gotten out. The relief are worried for their Sergeant, especially had noone knows for sure. Gina asks Sgt Hooper if he can go in to end it now and his advice is to wait until they get more idea of the action inside. Gina urges them to go in and take him by surprise so they can get to Smithy but Heaton says they don't have the element of surprise as he knows they're there.

Tony and Ben are sent to the nearby church hall where the children and teachers have been evacuated to see if anyone saw or heard anything of relevance and if not they can go home.

A poorly Rachel arrives having heard what was going and pours over the school blueprints with the other ranking officers and the headteacher. The nearest negotiators are 45 minutes away which is too long. Gina offers her services but Heaton doesn't think it's a good idea given her closeness to Smithy. "I can do my job sir." Heaton tells her he doesn't doubt it but he'd rather it be someone who's not as close to one of the hostages. Callum has done the course but hasn't any practical experience. He asks Gina to remain with him and she agrees. Smithy's radio is cut out of the transmission loop, Quinn's mobile is deactivated and the only people he can contact - and who can contact him - are the police. Rachel is tasked as the link between Heaton and the SO19 Sgt, Callum is going to negotiate with Gina as backup and Heaton is going to control everything from the yard.

Armed officers are placed on the roof opposite and a team of CO19 officers are placed on the staircase leading to the floor Smithy and the others are on. Rachel adds 2 officers to the CO19 team. Gina advises Callum to build a rapport with Quinn and to try and get him to release the girls and give them an update on Smithy, especially if they can get medical help in to him. Sally is set to make notes on the whiteboard of important facts as well as a timeline.

They fear Quinn has a history of dangerous behaviour and is a risk to himself as well as the two teenage girls [and Smithy!!!!!]. He has a history of harassing behaviour in Australia and has used the gun at least twice - once in Aus and once here. It's inferred to be the same gun (how did he get it to and from Australia - especially as he was deported (so you'd think more security when packing/leaving) and both were post 9/11?) Gina points out the only thing Quinn seems to want is Nicola and he won't stop until he gets her.

CO19 sweep the staircases looking for Quinn. They spot him pacing one of the classrooms, freaked by the amount of guns he can see in the yard. Ben reports back to Heaton that they're in position and that Quinn has been seen but Smithy hasn't. Heaton gives Gina and Callum the go ahead to contact Quinn.He refuses to answer at first and drops his phone onto the table giving the viewers the first sighting of a dazed but very alive Smithy! Quinn screams at the phone to shut up.

Finally Quinn answers the phone and Callum introduces himself. He asks to speak to Nicola and Callum says he will see what he can do but asks if they're all ok and if they need anything. He threatens to do 'the same to anyone who comes near as I did to the cop!' Callum asks if Smithy is ok and Quinn says he got what was coming. Callum asks what that means. "It means I shot him." he growls back. Gina instantly turns away from them and looks out the window.

Callum asks if they can send a paramedic in. He claims it's too late for that and to only ring when he can talk to Nicola. Gina blanches and weakly says she has to go speak to the Super, hurrying out the room looking very wobbly.

"He said he shot him." "And we have no reason to believe anything that Quinn says!" Heaton insists, gesturing to the pile of witness statements, telling her none of them mention Smithy getting shot. "It might have happened once they'd left the room so that is meaningless. If Smithy is alive and well why hasn't he got in touch?!" Heaton gives Callum permission to speak to Nicola to see if she's up to speaking to Jake but he has to be adamant that she is 100% prepared and knows what to say. He warns Gina to keep the husband out of the way and tells her to keep positive about Smithy.

Quinn rants to himself that all Nicola had to do was listen to him as Polly is having an asthma attack behind him. "Polly's not well!" Sophie tells him. Quinn doesn't care and answers the phone as Callum rings back, telling him they don't want food/drink or similar, he just wants to speak to Nicola. Smithy and Sophie lock eyes during this and he reassures her but presses his finger to his lips to remind her to keep quiet and not draw attention to him. She shows him that she has his phone when Quinn is distracted ranting down the phone. Smithy gives her a thumbs up and gestures to keep calm and wait and it'll be ok. All Quinn keeps saying is that he wants to talk to Nicola and he knows she's there. Rachel brings Nicola to speak to Gina and Callum. She tells them she'll do anything it takes and say whatever he wants to hear to get Sophie safe. Gina warns her that Quinn is unstable and if they make a mistake they'll never get another chance. Nicola insists she'll tell him any number of lies and promise him anything to get her daughter out.

Sophie asks him why he wants to talk to her mum and Quinn tells her it's because he wants to tell her he loves her and always has/always will. Sophie sobs that he doesn't even know her and Quinn snaps that he does and that he's sorry he hit her and that it's not her fault but it's too late now and Nicola will have the rest of her life to regret what she did to him.

Callum briefs Nicola to not promise him anything unless he okays it or tells her to and that she must do exactly as he says. She promises to and they ring Quinn back and Gina updates Heaton.

Sophie slides Smithy's phone to him when Quinn runs over to the other side of the room after spotting CO19 on the roof opposite. He crosses to another room with the girls and barricades the door, leaving Smithy in the classroom.

Nicola initially freezes on hearing Quinn's voice before asking him not to hurt Sophie and Polly. Callum writes things for her to ask - she asks if they need anything and he says he doesn't want to talk about them and that it's his time for answers. He asks why he rejected her and she says she didn't mean to. She asks him to give himself up. Quinn mocks this "If... when... they put me in prison, you'll be there waiting for me?" "Of course!" "For how long?" "As long as it takes. Let the girls out and we can be together." "Put the cop on...Why are you making her lie?" Callum starts to say that he wasn't making her lie but Quinn hangs up.

Gina receives a call and takes a shocked breath in, gripping Heaton's arm in her relief. "It's Smithy!"

Smithy tells her that Quinn was spooked by CO19 being on the roof opposite and that he's moved the girls into another classroom. He tells Heaton he's fine and Sophie's alright but Polly is struggling to breathe. Quinn is refusing to answer the phone and so Callum keeps ringing back. Heaton says they can't pass Smithy's info on to anyone in the negotiating room because if Nicola lets it slip it's obvious that it's Smithy who told them. Quinn believes he's in control and they have to let him keep believing that. Quinn answers the phone and threatens to kill Sophie if Nicola lies to him again. He asks again why she rejected him and she was afraid of how he made her feel because she's married. She understands that he now loves her more than her husband and that she now knows how it feels to be loved so much and that she'd forgotten what it feels like to truly care for someone else. Sophie runs across the room and removes the barricade, shouting "MUM!" Quinn drops the phone and drags her away, starting to rebuild the barricade which in turn enables Smithy to open the door and unfortunately come face to face with him.

"Long time now see!" He snaps, pointing the gun at Smithy.

When the next part starts, Smithy is being secured to a chair with an extension wire. He reassures Sophie that everything is going to be ok and to try keep Polly calm.

He tells Quinn to give himself up whilst he still can and Quinn points the gun in his face and orders him to shut up whilst he thinks. Smithy tries to reassure the girls as Quinn checks the windows. Quinn answers the phone again and tells Callum the girls are fine but Smithy's 'a bit tied up right now'. Callum asks for proof because an hour ago he'd told him he'd shot him. Quinn says he's tired of game playing and wants Nicola. He says face to face but they refuse it so he says "This might change your mind." And cocks his gun as he puts the phone to Smithy's ear. "Do whatever you need to do." Smithy tells Callum. Quinn is angry it's backfired on him and snatches the phone away, saying "That's enough! Are you satisfied? If I don't get her in here right now I will shoot him and then I'll shoot the lot of us."

Callum asks what to do. Heaton tells him to make contact with him 'Find out how serious he is'. HES JUST FUCKING TOLD YOU! Surely Heaton realises that will just anger him further and make him more likely to do it? The CO19 Sgt thinks going in now would be a risky move as they can't see him now he's moved and he could be anywhere or have chance to shoot them all by the time they get to him. He says if they go in now there'll definitely be casualties, possibly amongst CO19 and almost certainly amongst the casualties. "That's a risk we might have to take." Heaton sighs.

Gina stresses that they have to get paramedics in or Polly out to receive help. Quinn asks Nicola when she's coming in and without approval she says she'll come in as soon as he lets the paramedics in to see Polly. Quinn is surprised but agrees. She tells Callum she'll go in if she has to. Quinn tells Sophie that her mum is coming in to see her!

Rachel offers herself to go in in the place of a paramedic to get Polly so she can tell CO19 and the others where Smithy and the hostages are and the layout of everything. She's a fully trained first aider and Quinn hasn't seen her yet. Rachel changes and goes through, following the directions Quinn gave to allow them access. She and Smithy lock eyes but don't acknowledge each other with Quinn pointing the gun at them. She tries to check Smithy over but Quinn refuses to let her. The actual paramedic insists Polly can't remain in the room and will die if he doesn't let her leave. "Okay... take her."

Smithy squeezes Sophie a small reassuring smile as they wait for Quinn to make his next move. As an officer Smithy knows that Nicola can't/won't be allowed in and can only watch as Quinn rings back and asks for Nicola to arrive. Callum tells him it's not that easy and reassures him that he has to get permission from the borough commander and that he has to promise that he won't try and hurt her. "Hurt her? I love her. Why would I hurt her?"

He gives them 10 minutes and says he'll shoot Smithy if she doesn't appear and if they don't believe him he shot the last man who became him and the woman he loved - Mr Australia.

Rachel tells them that the gun looks like an old army revolver and that he's lost a lot of blood from his side. She tells them where the hostages are and that there's lots of furniture around whilst Callum tells Gina what Quinn said and that he has boasted about shooting a man before so he doesn't doubt he'd do it. Gina tells Heaton that Quinn has called their bluff and given them 10 minutes to bring him Nicola or he'll shoot the hostages and himself. She tells them that she fears he'll kill or die to feed his obsession.

Heaton realises the negotiations are over and asks Gina to tell Callum that CO19 are going in in 4 minutes. He wants Callum to ring Jake when given the signal so that CO19 get a few valuable seconds of distraction. They have to pray he will answer. Callum rings when given the signal and CO19 are given the standby order. Quinn is told that Nicola is on her way and that they rushed through the authorisation needed. Heaton gives the CO19 order to go and they move up as quietly as they can whilst Callum keeps Quinn talking. In the mean time Smithy has managed to untie his arms and leaps to his feet when the door lock is shot out and CO19 rush in, standing in front of Sophie and ordering Quinn to put the gun down. CO19 circle him and order him to put the gun down. He puts it to his head and faces off for a few seconds before complying and dropping the gun and doing as the officers order so he can be arrested.

At the station, Sophie gives her statement and Heaton arranges a briefing. Arun reckons his school was 'like that every day!'. Tony hated school - or -"maybe it was the other way round."

Smithy says he tried the direct approach... but it didn't get him very far. Gina tells him he did very well and sinks into her chair with a very heavy sigh. Smithy asks her if she's alright. She tunes back in as he moves directly into her eyeline and asks again with obvious concern in his tone. She promises him she's fine but there's something she's got to do and she'll meet him in the interview room.

She composes herself after he leaves, moves to her doorway and smartens her uniform before taking a deep breath and leaving her office. She knocks on Heaton's door and asks him for a minute. She tells him she doesn't think it's going to come as a surprise to him as it's been building for some time but she's made her decision and she's going. She doesn't want to wake up and realise she's stayed too long and she's too old for anything else as both have seen happen to others. Heaton doesn't believe she wants to go as she's the one person they'd have to drag out kicking and screaming. "This job is your life." "WAS..." she corrects. She tells him it's not just about the loss of Emma and how that affected the station but everything, reminding him of her reaction when Sally and Callum jumped into water without a second thought to save a woman whilst Gina panicked on the Dock. Something she never ever thought she'd do. "And today when I thought I'd lost Smithy... Honestly Sir, my nerves can't take it anymore." She's so proud of uniform everytime they go out but it gets more terrifying everytime something happens. He accepts. ".. If you're sure. " "Thanks. Thanks very much, John."

Callum tells Sophie that Polly will be in hospital for a few days but she should be proud of herself for getting her help. Gerard is furious when he hears that Quinn needs to be assessed by a psych. He's even less happy when he hears that Sophie and her mum are not going home but to her parents house for a few weeks whilst they come to terms with everything and make a start on a proper separation for the couple.

Heaton tells Gina he knows she's not one for long goodbyes but they still have her for a month... Gina points out she has almost 6 weeks of leave owing and wants to go today without anyone knowing and without a goodbye party. She tells him he's spoilt for choice with three great Sgt's. She doesn't think Smithy will want the job as he didn't enjoy being acting Inspector and she thinks Callum would rather be out on the front line if given a choice. Rachel is the only one left... [ugh!]

Tony overhears that Gina is leaving despite her asking John to keep it private and he goes straight over to Smithy to ask to talk to him after the debrief.

Heaton takes Rachel through to his office to offer her the job. He tells her he was impressed with how she came in when sick and handled the team. He tells her Gina is leaving and he offers her the job with immediate affect. He brought her to Sun Hill because he had heard nothing but good things about her and that he wants someone fresh with energy and vision to move forward. Bulllshiiiiiit. *cough*. She asks to sleep on it and they'll talk tomorrow. Tony tells Gina that she played a blinder today. She says he did too but he tells her it's only because he has the best boss. "Always a pleasure to serve with you." he smiles.

Smithy hurries through to Gina's office to find her packing. He looks utterly gutted. "So it's true then." "Lots of things are true, like I should be at home with my feet up and a stiff drink." Smithy asks her if it's because of what he said and that he knows things have been difficult with everything including 'the Stone thing'. Gina tells him he might not like it but Callum is a good officer. "Look. you know that I've always admired the way you've done the job and that you've always given 100% but you've been a really good friend to me and that's what I'm going to miss the most." "I'm leaving the job, not my friends." Tony has told everyone as it spreads like wildfire round the station. "Not a lot to show for 25 years is it?" she smiles, showing him the head girl badge." "There's plenty to show." Smithy replies, choked. He asks her why now and she said she's done her bit, the jobs changed and it's her time to go. She wants to walk the length of England and Scotland. "and stop at every pub?" Smithy smirks. She asks if they can talk another time, like a drink the next night because she's exhausted and she knows Smithy is "I don't know how you're still standing!" Smithy tells her that the relief are organising a whip-round for a last minute leaving do and she asks him to tell them that she's already gone because she doesn't like long goodbyes and she'll never escape and besides, she'll see them all again soon. "I'll just not be shouting orders, well not in uniform anyway." Smithy smiles sadly and leans in and kisses her cheek.

[sixcalibur]

LORD OF THE LOST feat. BLÜMCHEN - The Look

[autisticlancemcclain]

happy birthday to the boy with the biggest bleeding heart in the universe. keith kogane i love you

[diazsdimples]

Why no I’m not here to encourage a ballet au… why do you ask???

Hippo you absolute menace, why do I put up with you?? Having said that...

When Buck walks into the rehearsal room for the New York City Ballet for the first time, he can’t quite believe he’s made it.

Here he is, standing among some of the best dancers North America has to offer, and they’re treating him like an equal, rather than the usual upturned noses or judgemental looks ballet dancers have often perfected. A group of women stand by the barre, doing some warm-up stretches before rehearsal starts, and at the other end of the mirror stands two of the most beautiful men Buck has ever seen.

They’re fairly evenly matched in height and size, both lean and strong, their muscles not huge like some of the bodybuilders Buck is used to seeing at the gym, but sculpted, with rippling muscles that convey a subtle power, used for performing complicated lifts but looking effortless and graceful as they do so.

The shorter of the two looks up as he enters the room, and Buck’s mouth goes dry as a pair of warm, brown eyes, like two pools of molten chocolate, meet his. This man is gorgeous. His hair is silky and brown, with a few strands that flop carelessly into his face, and he’s got a light shadow of stubble over his jaw. He’s wearing a tight, black tank top that clings to his body like a second skin and shows every ounce of muscle in his arms. There’s a small, circular tattoo, with what looks like some loopy writing on his forearm, almost mirroring the delicate lines on Buck’s own.

Buck is still drinking in the first man when he leans forward and whispers something in the second man’s ear, and he turns around too.

Holy fuck. Does the New York City Ballet hire on looks first and dancing skills second?

This man is taller, probably by a good few inches, and while the first man is soft and gentle looking, this man is sharper, more defined, and radiating raw power in the way his muscles flex beneath his white tank. He’s a little curlier than the other man, with icy blue eyes that pierce into Buck’s own. He smiles at Buck, his nose crinkling in a way that’s nothing short of adorable, and beckons Buck over.

Buck allows his legs to carry himself towards the two men, his brain not coming online enough to even rehearse his opening line, before he’s standing in front of them.

“Uh, hi,” he says eloquently, his mouth feeling drier than the Sahara. “I’m Evan Buckley, new principal. But – uh – everyone calls me Buck,”

“Hey Evan,” Blue Eyes says at the same time Brown Eyes says “Nice to meet you, Buck.”

“I’m Eddie Diaz,” Brown Eyes says, holding his hand out for Buck to shake. “Playing the Nutcracker.”

Buck tries not to make it super obvious how star-struck he is right now. “H-hey Eddie, nice to meet you,” he replies, taking the man’s hand. It’s warm and Eddie squeezes Buck’s hand lightly as he shakes it, his long fingers pressing against Buck’s knuckles.

“Tommy Kinard,” says Blue Eyes, extending his own hand when Eddie releases his. “Rat King.”

Buck can’t entirely believe that here he is, on his first day as a Principal Dancer for the New York City Ballet, and he’s meeting the two male leads. He might need to pinch himself, if it weren’t for the fact that Tommy’s squeezing his hand a little harder than necessary, the slight pain enough to convince Buck that yes, this is really happening.

“You’re new here, aren’t you? Which part have you got?” Eddie asks kindly, leaning against the barre. His arm crosses over with Tommy’s making it look like their arms are almost linked. The way they’re standing, and the familiarity Buck could see in their expressions earlier, he can’t help but wonder if they’re in a relationship. Or good friends, at the very least.

He licks his lips before talking and wills himself not to sound like a total dork.

“I’m playing Cavalier,” he said threading his fingers together as he stands in a bastardisation of 4th position that his old tutor always used to yell at him for. “First time as a lead.”

Tommy smiles softly, his eyes raking over Buck’s body as though sizing him up.

“It’s not so scary once you get to know everyone,” he reassures Buck, placing a hand just above Buck’s elbow.

“Yeah,” Eddie adds, flashing a dazzling grin in Buck’s direction that have his joints turning a little gelatinous. “We’ll show you the ropes.”

Now sit there and think about what you've done

(Gonna cheekily tag a few friends to alert them that I've been bullied into starting a new wip) @theotherbuckley @daffi-990 @bidisasterevankinard @steadfastsaturnsrings @spotsandsocks

[justhavinfunnn]

I was not prepared for this

[hopeinthebox]

tagged by my beloved no.1 chappell roan stan @cordiallyfuturedwight thanks my darling <33 i can only apologise for the lack of ms roan here... i swear good luck babe has been on repeat i don't know what happened

tagging the usual suspects, apologies if i've already missed yours: @aprylynn @jiminsproof @thvinyl @cosmicdreamgrl @visionsofgideontheninth @hoseeok @kimchokejin @jihopesjoint @monismochi <333 and you dear reader

oh and see here for more of my self-proclaimed songs of the summer if you're interested in that kind of thing