#and DENZEL WAS SERVING

[naneki-maid]

my favorite thing about gladiator (2000) is that no matter what scene is playing, throughout the entirety of the film, you never forget why Maximus is doing what he’s doing. it’s a story about tyranny and corruption, and even while we focus on the emperor and the horrors of the ring, Maximus’ fight for justice cannot be erased. Behind every scene is the ghost of his murdered wife and son and they are truly the heart of the story. and that’s something that I couldn’t help but feel was absent from the second film.

something just felt so off. maybe im just being too critical because of my love for the first film but I felt there was no heart in the sequel. the first battle introducing Lucius and his loss was beautiful but not even the cgi of the ships/sea could make up for how rushed it felt. there were times where I forgot about Lucius altogether. the emperor twins didn’t fill me with dread as Joaquin Phoenix still does! but i get it, they’re not the same. im just bitter because I know they’re both great actors and I feel like they could have done more if given the opportunity. there was just so much going on everywhere—feels like they purposely crammed so much into the movie and just went with it. even shots like where Maximus is walking through the fields and touching the wheat, it felt so out of place there. it was just a reminder of how the second film refused to allow such easy/intimate pacing. that final scene cutting back to the first movie was a clear reminder of this difference between the two.

I also feel like by making Lucius the son of Maximus, it really ruined his character, his memory. Maximus is many things, but ultimately he signifies loyalty, justice and hope for an honest Rome. now we learn that he was having an affair behind his wife’s back? it was truly awful to take in. Idk I think the worst crime a sequel can commit is to blatantly dishonor the first film and I feel like they did just that.

[hawtlineblingz]

☁️ CLOUD'S MOODBOARD ☁️

I was never the same person after FFVII Rebirth, i need to get rid of my Cloud brainrots. So here is some BF Cloud headcanons (god help me i need him in my life) ...

As we all know, deepdown Cloud is a goofball by heart. Friendly banter, silly inner jokes that only you two could understand is not new.

Prefer to have dates with less people.

Surprisingly not shy with PDA, just normal ones like handholdings, would rest his hand on your shoulder or back, etc.

Took you out with Fenrir; Nicely polished. His back seat served only for you.

Babysitting dates! Amusement park / arcade, the four of you; You, Cloud, Denzel, and Marlene. Would give them everything he got in trade for Marlene and Denzel's smile, something he wishes to have when he was younger.

Denies so hard when you tell him he's actually good at tending kids. The pink hue on his cheeks and ears can't lie tho.

Quiet bold in private, isn't afraid to initiate things once he's comfortable enough with you, pulling you on his lap when he's feeling a bit touch starved; only SOMETIMES he can malfunctioned after he make a move on you.

Easily worried type of BF.

OBSERVANT.

Loves tiny matching items.

Bro is a slow kisser.

Comfy silence is common with him around, just you doing your own thing and him doing his own thing. In the same room at the same time, aka PARALLEL PLAY is his type of quality time.

Would let you yap about your hyperfixations no matter what it is.

Try his best to love you correctly. His past doesn't allow him to feel things, often felt numb before he met you. When actually he has so much love to give to the people around him. Secretly teared up when he thinks about how many chances you gave him trough out the relationship, despite he is in the process of healing himself.

"You're not funny." he lied. He loves how corny your jokes is sometimes, brings smile to his face when he's alone.

The way he calms you down when things aren't going your way. Cloud does not talk alot but he has his ways to make sure you know he would always be there for you even when the world isn't on your side.

HIS. DATE. FITS. ACTUALLY. ATE. "Where did you learned to style your fits like this Cloud?", "dunno, magazines? I think? i hope i don't look wierd."

smitten eyes.

Hates it when you "bro" him (lykyk).

"I AIN'T YOUR BRO".

His phone gallery is most likely filled pics of your candids, Marlene, Denzel, baby chocobos, Fenrir, and the most random stuff ever. "Cloud, why'd you kept a pic of our electric fan?", "honestly...i don't remember."

Cloud cosplay pictures are from @_allixter_ on TikTok. Go check out his account!

[ptseti]

The Hurricane’ (1999) is Much more than your typical boxing film. The film follows the true story of Rubin Carter, a boxer who was falsely convicted of murder and imprisoned for over twenty years. It’s a weighty and introspective film carried by a severely underrated performance by Denzel. Tragically, to this day many black men and women find themselves wrongfully convicted and imprisoned all over the nation by a legal system that’s designed to confuse and take advantage of the populace it claims to serve. Know the law. Know your rights. Educate yourself every day. You don’t need to be a lawyer. Just a cognitive citizen.

[theghostavocadoe]

Your post about Sephiroth having a good relationship with the remnants reminded me of the other night when I laid in bed for a good hour or so just thinking about Sephiroth as a dad (through more traditional means then lifestream spawning) and the remnants as the chaotic yet protective uncles. I can just see a very vivid image of the three of them in plastic tiaras and fluffy pink boas, sat around a tiny table with wildly varying levels of enthusiasm at being served imaginary tea by Lucrecia II. All else be damned, family comes first so they will endure the tea party. If they get bored Kadaj can just declare that the brew is poisoned!! and the game goes from princesses to detectives. Yazoo is typically the one to fake die from the poison so he can take a nap while the other three investigate his murder.

(I also like them being crazy big siblings to Denzel/Marlene but dad Sephiroth is smth I think about a lot so two birds one stone)

Kadaj: the tea is poisoned!!

Yazoo:

[mr-yuugo]

Consider Me Family

-Reno [FF7] X Reader [Gender Neutral]-

Words: 882

Summary: You regret past words. With Reno, you can't help but feel as if you keep drifting apart.

Quick note! This takes place during Advent Children!

You couldn't think of anything more unbearable. The whole situation with the children or the simple fact of sitting next to Reno. You had barely come downstairs to rest on one of the high chairs after checking up on Tifa and Cloud. That Reno sat next to you. Rude outside, seemingly calling Rufus.

The duo of Turks were able to contact you when they brought Tifa and Cloud back safely. You were never really home anymore, just like Cloud.

You hated it really, Tifa would sometimes call you handing the phone over to Denzel as he would cry to you that it was his fault that the both of you were always away.

In truth, you were in the same boat as Cloud. When you had arrived at the bar you checked on them for any injuries and found out that Cloud had also contracted the disease you were so hopelessly looking to end.

Your head rested on the bar top as you used your arms to cover your face. Not wanting to deal with Reno next to you on your left. Even after so long you still couldn't face him.

Back in that piller where Jessie had lost her life you had encountered and fought Reno and Rude with the help of the others. Reno had told you to come back to him and to join and be part of Shinra again. Your life when you were a Turk was something you weren't proud of. "Join me, we'll be able to be together again. Wouldn't you like that?" He had asked you. "I thought we were friends."

Friends

You remember looking back at Cloud, Tifa, and Barret as if you were really considering betraying them. You had turned again to look at Reno. A disgusted expression on your face.

"Friends? You're nothing to me." You told him as you held your weapon tight in your hand. "It was you who betrayed me. You, the other Turks, and that damn bastard Rufus. Even if you were something, my family always comes first!"

You always frowned at the memory. The way his face morphed into sadness always broke your heart. You were so angry back then. So angry that when you stood in front of Jessie's unmoving body you didn't cry.

You were angry at Shinra, angry at yourself. When Jessie told you it was her fault that she was dying only to later find out it really wasn't you could only hold back your tears of frustration.

You heard him get up his footsteps moving to where the drinks were. "Reno..." Your voice came out muffled as you let out a sigh. He halted his movements and you heard him chuckle. "What? I promise to pay for it! I'm just gonna serve myself!" He said as he continued on.

You only let out a grumble as you didn't stop him. "You want one too?" He asked as he had finished pouring himself a glass. "No," You told him simply. He hummed as he came back to sit next to you again.

There was silence for a bit. There was an uncertainty in your chest. Your mouth daring to speak to him more. You swore he was staring holes at you. Small beads of sweat formed on your forehead as you slowly sat up properly on your seat. From the corner of your eye, you saw him quickly turn his head forward as if he wasn't even looking at you.

Your lips quivered as your foot tapped anxiously on the floor. "Hey, are you alright?" Reno asked as he hesitantly brought up his hand and rested it on your shoulder.

Your eyes landed on his as you nodded your head. You brought up your left hand to get a hold of his. You moved in your seat to face him. His hand was still in yours as you brought them to rest on your lap.

"Reno..." You mumbled as you diverted your eyes away from him. He gulped as he waited for you to continue. "I just wanted to-" The door to the bar opened.

Reno cursed under his breath as you quickly took your hands away from his. Turning to sit correctly in your chair you let out a shaky sigh. "Come on you two." Rude said as he walked to the stairs. "They must be awake by now."

You nodded your head. "Alright..." You quickly walked passed Rude and walked up the stairs. Heading towards Denzel's and Marlene's room. Reno still in his seat grumbled and glared at Rude.

"What?" Rude said as he stared at him in confusion. Reno rolled his eyes as he also walked up the stairs but not before pushing Rude in annoyance. "Maybe next time." He whispered to himself.

He hoped that maybe the next time it was just you two, you might tell him that he is finally someone that you consider to be family.

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Allie Weintraub and Caitlin Yilek at CBS News:

Washington — President Biden is awarding the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, to Hillary Clinton and 18 others "who have made America a better place," the White House announced Saturday. Clinton, who served as first lady, senator, secretary of state, and was the first woman to be nominated for president by a major political party, "made history many times over decades in public service," the announcement said.

Other recipients include actors Michael J. Fox and Denzel Washington, U2 frontman Bono, Inter Miami soccer star Lionel Messi and billionaire philanthropist George Soros. Those receiving the award posthumously are former Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, civil rights leader Fannie Lou Hamer, former Defense Secretary Ash Carter and former Michigan Gov. George W. Romney.

Mr. Biden is also honoring ethologist and conservationist Dr. Jane Goodall, retired Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson, chef and World Central Kitchen founder José Andrés, fashion designer Ralph Lauren, Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, science educator Bill Nye "The Science Guy," LGBTQ activist and entrepreneur Tim Gill, billionaire philanthropist David Rubenstein and American Film Institute founder George Stevens Jr. Several of the recipients are longtime donors to Biden and the Democratic Party.

President Biden handed out Presidential Medal of Freedom honors to Hillary Clinton, George Soros, Bill Nye, Lionel Messi, Magic Johnson, Fannie Lou Hamer, Michael J. Fox, and Bono, just to name some.

[football-and-fanfics]

The Photographer - Wout Weghorst

Who: Wout Weghorst, Denzel Dumfries Summary: As sports photographer for the Dutch NT you take photos of all the players during training and all around their Euro 2024 basecamp. One day you leave one of your cameras lying around, and the team notices how there are one player seems to feature a lot in your camera roll... (This request was made in Dutch. This summary is a short translation of that). Requested by: @unleashthelion Word count: 958 Warnings: none

For several years now, you were the photographer of the Dutch national team. Wherever they went, you went, too. You were with them for matches and trainings, spent free time with them, ate with them and stayed at the same hotels. You had a good relationship with all of the staff and the players, some of whom had been part of the national team even longer than you.

Today started off as any other day. The Dutch national team was gearing up for their first match at the Euro 2024, and as you did every day, you'd been snapping photos around the basecamp, in the gym and of that morning's training.

As training was over, you walked back to the hotel for lunch. Chatting and laughing cheerily with Nathan and Virgil, you completely overlooked the fact that you forgot one of your cameras by the side of the pitch.

You never knew that such a small thing would turn out to have such an impact on your day...

---

"Wout!" Denzel stormed into the team's rec room, where he found their striker slouched down in an armchair with his legs stretched out on a low table in front of him.

Wout looked up from his phone. The grin he saw playing on Denzel's lips already promised mischief. "What's going on?" Wout asked a little apprehensively. "Dude, you have to see this!" Denzel grinned like a maniac now, and pushed the photo camera into Wout's hands. "You need to check out what is on there! The photographer lady forgot one of her cameras by the pitch. Me and the boys were having some fun with it before we would return it, but... well, you should check out the photos on it."

Wout took the the camera from Denzel with a deep frown on his face. "First of all, she has a name. And, secondly, what does this have to do with me?" Denzel rolled his eyes. "Just flip through the photos, please."

Wout hesitated for a few seconds more. It didn't feel completely right to go through someone else's stuff, but his curiosity got the better of him. He switched the camera on and flipped through the photos. He quickly knew what Denzel meant. Of course there were photos of everyone in the team, but Wout couldn't deny that there was an abnormally high amount of photos of him on there.

"I..." Wout wasn't often lost for words, but right now he didn't know what to say. "She likes you," Denzel smirked teasingly. Wout had to admit it sure looked that way, although he wasn't ready to accept that conclusion just yet

Without another word, Wout briskly got to his feet. "Where are you going?" Denzel asked. "To talk to her." Wout called back over his shoulder as he walked out of the room. "That's my boy!" Denzel called after him. "Let me know when your first date is!"

---

You were working on editing photos in one of the hotel's business rooms, which served as your workspace during your stay here. You startled slightly when there came a soft knock on the door and you found Wout standing there.

"I believe you forgot this." Wout held up the camera. You quickly looked around at the cameras you had been using today, and indeed found one missing. "Oh, shit, yeah!" You gasped. "Thanks for returning it." "Thank Denzel," Wout chuckled, "he found it. And don't get startled by the photos he and some of the boys took." You laughed. "Typical."

Wout hesitated, allowing a short silence before he spoke again. "Can we talk for a moment?" You immediately noticed the change in him. All of a sudden his voice sounded a bit shaky, and he nervously wrung his hands together. "What's wrong?" You asked. Wout meant to speak, but thought better of it. Instead he turned around to close the door behind him, and leaned back against it. He looked ill at ease, more than you had ever seen in him before.

"Do you have a thing for me?" He finally spoke. It came out much more bluntly than he meant to. "I'm sorry," Wout recollected himself, "that wasn't right of me. What I meant to say... I've seen the photos in the camera roll, and I couldn't help but notice that the majority of photos... is of me." His voice trailed off as he looked down at his shoes.

You sat frozen behind the desk. Every ounce of your willpower went into keeping yourself from running away, crying, or both. You slowly looked up at Wout, somewhere a little afraid of his reaction. Wout glanced up at you, too. Despite his towering presence, he looked so small and vulnerable in this moment.

"So... I... I'm not wrong?" He stammered softly. The expression on your face was all he needed to see. "No." You finally admitted. "You're not wrong." "For how long?" He mumbled. You hesitated to answer, because you were slightly embarrassed by it. "Since the World Championship in Qatar, I guess," you admitted.

To your surprise, a big smile spread across Wout's face. The confident, slightly cocky attitude was immediately back in all his features. "I like that." He smirked. "Because that's around the same time you caught my eye, too."

You immediately blushed furiously red. "Really?" "Yeah." Wout confirmed happily. "So..." You chuckled softly. "We have unknowingly liked each other for at least two years, and never acted upon it?" "Apparently." Wout nodded, smirking. "And you know what? Once this tournament is over, we are going to change that. Maybe you and I should go out for drinks or dinner?" "Or both." You winked, feeling your confidence grow again. Wout grinned broadly, nodding his head. "That's a deal."

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Request an imagine | Writing masterlist

[brian-in-finance]

Inside A Hundred Thousand Angels • Part 1 of 4

🧵 Outlander_Starz: WHAT A FINALE! It's time for your last Inside Outlander from this unforgettable season. Buckle up and dive into behind-the-scenes details from "A Hundred Thousand Angels" in the thread below.

Denzell has always been an angel but this just confirms it.

Said Director Joss Agnew, "Denzell as the Angel Gabriel was Production Designer Mike Gunn's idea. The church shutters are deliberately placed to represent wings.... He has a very angelic quality." Read more about how production paid off this arc below.

I knew where Denzell was going to go in the end, that he was going to rescue Claire from her death. In my head, I'd always seen him as Arch Angel Gabriel. He was going to become a massively significant figure and I wanted to play it throughout the whole season.

Whenever we see him, we see him in a white environment. White became his color. The white Quaker house was the starting point, and I've tried to add white whenever we see him (like at Mercy Woodcock's house), concluding at the Tennent Church, which is white inside and out, a perfect ending for Denzell's journey. — MIKE GUNN, PRODUCTION DESIGNER

🧵 Outlander_Starz: Denzell's angelic arc served as the basis for the few tweaks the Art Department made to the Tennent Church from its real life appearance, with the windows moving to allow that angelic light to flood over Claire's savior.

Both Production Designer Mike Gunn and Set Decorator Stuart Bryce cited the Tennent Church as their favorite set from Season 7, Part 2. Said Bryce, "I love what we did in there. The love and possible loss... It's Jamie and Claire's story in a nutshell."

At first, the interior space became a MASH station. We wanted to feel the desperation of war in there, through the journey of Claire almost dying, then the joy of Claire recovering, when the church becomes a quite peaceful, serene place.

By the time they leave, it's been transformed into its peaceful, angelic state with the pews reinstated, back to its spiritual feeling. What a lovely journey in that little set. — MIKE GUNN, PRODUCTION DESIGNER

🧵 Outlander_Starz: Who else was bowled over by the mysterious return of Master Raymond (played by the incredible Dominique Pinon)? In this episode, Master Raymond is wearing a version of what he was wearing when Faith died in Episode 207. What does it all mean?! 👀

🧵 Outlander_Starz: Jamie and William's relationship hurts my heart but seeing them on screen together is such a treat. Director Joss Agnew thought so too.

"The opportunity to put William and Jamie on the screen together is something we've all been waiting to see. In Episode 708, the handing over of the hats was a really special moment. So now when William comes to ask for Jamie's help, it was really special... There's a certain chemistry that Sam and Charles share which is just electric."

🧵 Outlander_Starz: William has been through so much this season and the finale was no kinder to him when his covert mission came to a tragic end at the abandoned meeting house.

Take a look at the Art Department sketches and renderings for this set below vs. the final set.

Inside A Hundred Thousand Angels • Part 1

Threads 🧵

Remember… Denzell has always been an angel but this just confirms it.

[tinyreviews]

Tiny Review: Gladiator II 2024. Twice the epic, twice the disappoint.

I remember reading that Ridley Scott originally wanted to have a navy battle in the colosseum and an epic battle between rebel and Rome armies at the end of Gladiator.

But ran out of budget or something.

Well, he managed to make the epic he wanted with this part 2, but still left out the epic Roman army battle at the climax... 😂

Gladiator II is a 2024 historical epic film directed and produced by Ridley Scott that serves as a sequel to Gladiator (2000). It stars Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger, Lior Raz, Derek Jacobi, Connie Nielsen, and Denzel Washington.

[lboogie1906]

James Leonard Farmer Jr. (January 12, 1920 – July 9, 1999) was a civil rights activist and leader in the Civil Rights Movement “who pushed for the nonviolent protest to dismantle segregation, and served alongside Martin Luther King Jr.” He was the initiator and organizer of the first Freedom Ride in 1961, which led to the desegregation of interstate transportation in the US.

He was born in Marshall, Texas to James L. Farmer Sr. and Pearl Houston, who were both educators. His father was a professor at Wiley College and a Methodist minister with a Ph.D. in theology from Boston University. His mother, a homemaker, was a graduate of Florida’s Bethune-Cookman Institute. He married Winnie Christie (1945-46). He married Lula A. Peterson (1949-77) and they had two daughters.

He earned a BS at Wiley College and a B. Div from Howard University. During WWll, he had official status as a conscientious objector.

He co-founded the Committee of Racial Equality in Chicago along with George Houser, James R. Robinson, Samuel E. Riley, Bernice Fisher, Homer Jack, and Joe Guinn. The name changed to Congress of Racial Equality and was dedicated to ending racial segregation in the US through nonviolence. He served as the national chairman (1942-44).

He was known as “one of the Big Four civil rights leaders in the 1960s, together with King, NAACP chief Roy Wilkins and Urban League head Whitney Young.”

He was a child prodigy; as a freshman in 1934 at the age of 14, he enrolled at Wiley College. He was selected as part of the debate team. Melvin B. Tolson, a professor of English, became his mentor. The Great Debaters is a biographical drama film directed by and starring Denzel Washington. It is based on an article written about the Wiley College debate team by Tony Scherman for the spring 1997 issue of American Legacy. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence #omegapsiphi

[libraryleopard]

gladiator ii is a stale sequel with nothing interesting to say about roman history (how was the fratricide BORING) but denzel washington as macrinus was (and i do not say this lightly) absolutely serving cunt every moment he was onscreen

[toxicanonymity]

I know your name is literally anonymity but I sometimes wonder what you look like or what you like or hate etc. I just would love to learn something personal about you 😭🫶🏼 but I respect you being absolutely anonymous here. It's actually a very big privilege!

And: do you have anything planned in writing/posting, something we can be excited for? I'm such a big fan of your work

Tysm nonnie! 🖤🖤 I'm happy to share some things about myself (below). Sometimes I wanna be less anonymous, but sadly it's served me well with how obsessive haters can get. You can always ask stuff though, I'd answer what i can and ignore what I'm hesitant about.

Thinking of posting some Narcos next ... Perhaps in the raid AU, perhaps not, I have nearly finished fics or drabbles in both. But i also started a kinda unhinged thighs out Joel scenario lol.

Likes & Dislikes without being a perfectionist...

Beverages

Like: water, grape juice, apple juice, chocolate milk, hot chocolate, matcha, ginger tea, caffeine free diet coke (fountain only) with cherry syrup

Dislike: alcohol, regular coffee, orange juice

Breakfast

Like: biscuits and gravy, egg white veggie omelets, green smoothies, croissants, waffles, yogurt parfait

Dislike: pancakes, jelly and jam, donuts

Comfort foods: egg in a hole, coconut soup

Fave condiments/spices/sauce/toppings: vinegar, mayo, mustard, sour cream, steak seasoning (like it on potatoes), apple pie spice, alabama white & North Carolina BBQ sauces, pesto, goat cheese, pizza sauce (w/ a spoon if good enough lol), Parmesan, sundried tomatos

Pasta: angel hair, capellini, tortellini, linguini

Crayola crayons (idk if they're all current). Colors go by the crayon when you draw with it.

Like: pacific blue, cerulean blue, brick red, burnt sienna, dandelion, hot magenta, earthworm scented

Dislike: cornflower blue, green-yellow

Smells/scents

Currently wearing: Nette La Forêt. I'm in an exploration phase and trying a variety but this is my fave rn.

Like: Woody, clean, fresh, eucalyptus, lavender, rose, burning wax / snuffed out candle, new shoes, leather, new tires, new car, tennis balls. Notes: amber, sandalwood, cetalox, vanilla

Dislike: Heavy citrus, anise/liquoriche

Sweets

Like: ice cream, froyo, brownies (no nuts), paletas (🥥 is a fave), lucky charms marshmallows

Dislike: Cake, cupcakes, caramel, oatmeal raisin cookies, anything with nuts or raisins really. I will pick them out of arroz con leche...

Actors

Make me more likely to watch something: Boyd Holbrook, Pedro Pascal, Kyle gallner, Bill and Alexander Skarsgård, Denzel Washington, Kate Winslet, Nicholas Cage, Adam Driver

Dislike: John krasinski, Adam Sandler, Meg Ryan

Appearance - heart shaped face, eyes on the larger side, dark circles, upturned nose, smaller lips. Sometimes glasses (favoring larger lenses)

I'm up for answering other categories or Qs if you're curious about random stuff. No-gos are work, family/partner, location, zodiac.

If I skip a tag game I prob overthought it or drew a blank.

[fistl]

DENZEL YAMMAMOTO

The Father.

Despite being in The House most of the time, He somehow knows all the comings and goings of his sons.

Cold and Intimidating, no matter the boys opinions on him he is the strongest and has the most authority in the family.

He says he serves as a protector to the Family but whether that is true or not is seemingly nor hard to tell.

Views The Forest as a sentient being and speaks to it constantly.

[xdevilrushx]

https://archiveofourown.org/works/61560016/chapters/158662117

Mistlefoe - Part 3: "The Kunoichi and the Green-eyed Monster"

"'kay, dinner should be ready in about thirty minutes," Tifa announced, eyeing the roast slowly cooking in the oven.

She picked up two mugs of steaming hot chocolate from the counter and walked over to the nearby couch, ducking just in time to avoid an excited Denzel and Marlene zipping past her, followed by an even more hyperactive Yuffie. The two kids were practically about to burst from anticipation, and Yuffie's provocations weren't helping matters in the slightest. They continued to hound each other throughout the entire house, eventually locking into a tug-of-war over a giant candy cane. The kids, sensing that they were no match for the feisty ninja in that department, wisely decided to let Yuffie "win" by releasing their end of the Christmas confection, sending her tumbling into the pile of presents behind her. "Sorry!" she shouted, a sheepish grin on her face as she scrambled to put everything back in its place. Her frantic efforts only served to get her further tangled up in the decorations, nearly bringing the Christmas tree crashing down in the process.

"Isn't she going to become an empress one day?" Zack inquired as Tifa joined him on the couch.

"Some day, sure," Tifa replied, giggling. "A long time from now, I hope."

Even though she had celebrated her twenty-second birthday last month, Yuffie still possessed the same gremlin energy she'd displayed when they first met. Sure, she had her bursts of maturity every now and then, but there was something irrepressible about her playful nature. It was reassuring, in a way, Tifa thought, how some things remained the same regardless of the passage of time.

#

Cloud watched as Zack and Tifa draped themselves in a warm blanket, enjoying their hot chocolate by the roaring fire. A hint of a smile surfaced on his features. After Zack's return from the Lifestream, it hadn't taken long for them to slide into a cozy, comfortable relationship, and now, only a year later, they both wore matching engagement rings. He couldn't be happier for the two of them, but the sight of the two lovebirds still served as a reminder of his dilemma. He frowned again, thinking about his own upcoming proposal. He knew he didn't possess Zack's confidence and easy-going charm, and worried that he was going to screw things up somehow.

Aerith walked over, interrupting his thoughts again as she hugged him from behind. She leaned over his shoulder, pressing a kiss against his cheek. "I'm gonna go get changed real quick."

"All right," Cloud replied, giving her hand a gentle squeeze as she departed, heading upstairs. He took the ring out of his pocket again, scrutinized it intently, sighed, got up from his seat, and started pacing the floor, agonizing over the exact timing of his proposal.

#

Barret had finally put a stop to the children's reign of destruction and gotten them to settle down long enough to read them a Christmas story. Yuffie sat at the far end of the bar, her head resting on the counter as she listlessly rolled a pair of materia back and forth in a mindless, repetitive motion, playing with the colorful orbs like marbles.

She looked up briefly as Denzel and Marlene laughed out loud at some part of the story Barret was reading for them. The big man truly gave his all where story time was concerned, doing all the silly voices and whatnot. Yuffie couldn't help but smile at that image. "He's such a dad…" she thought. "… Unlike mine," her brain quickly added, as if to cancel out any pleasant thoughts she might be having.

She returned to her sulking, without even knowing exactly what it was that was bothering her. She felt strangely isolated, even while surrounded by her friends. Her newfound Avalanche family was everything to her, and yet…

"Ugh, gross… Zack and Tifa are making out again," she thought.

Then she blinked. Was that it? Loneliness? Maybe. It was hard not to feel that way, surrounded as she was by lovey-dovey couples everywhere. Zack and Tifa, Cid and Sierra, Aerith and Cloud… Hell, even Vincent was tentatively flirting with his fellow ex-Turk, Cissnei, at the bar.

Vincent Valentine.

Flirting.

Not to mention Denzel and Marlene on their eternal play-date. She couldn't believe she was feeling jealous of those two rascals.

All in all, it was no exaggeration to say that she was feeling left out. It was Christmas, dammit. Supposedly the happiest time of year. Didn't she deserve some physical affection, too?

She spotted Cloud pacing the floor, fretting over something or other by the look of it. More importantly, she noticed that he was hovering just underneath the mistletoe dangling from the ceiling. Feeling emboldened as she slammed down her half-finished glass of hard cider, she got up and started to approach her prey…

[fountainpenguin]

Thinking about Club Redheads Adjacent to Fantastic Creatures again:

- Happy Peppy Gary, who was once teleported from California to Florida and then back again within like an hour and who called Sanderson on a phone labeled Pixies

- Vicky, who knows she's dating an alien, who lived through Fish Head Disease, and who tormented Foop to the point that he accepted severe pain in return for the right to attack her

- Elmer who has a singing boil that likes opera and wants to take over his body if not the world

Bonus shout-out to the Burger World employee who served Foop food in Season 7, was subsequently blown up, was brought to Earth, and continues to live on Earth through Season 10 where he's seen running a booth in "Dimmsdale Daze." He has blond or strawberry blond hair; I can't tell.

Actually, shout-out to this assortment of black-haired fellas who've had a brush with the magical world, such as:

- Timmy's Dad, former ghost hunter who befriended an elf from the North Pole (not to mention had Santa stay in his house for a while), who attended Poof's school play, who once met Cosmo and thought he was a genie, who had his skin pulled off for a wash once, and many more

- Denzel Crocker, former godkid who had his mind repeatedly erased up until Season 7 when Jorgen gave up on him, who babysat Poof and found out he was a baby fairy, and who Fairy World takes advantage of so they can use him as a power source

- Kevin Crocker, who captured Cosmo and Wanda, stood there while Chloe screamed in his face, then turned and launched himself out her window without elaborating (Iconic)

- Chip Skylark, who was summoned to Fairy World to perform a concert with no clear indication of whether or not he had his mind altered

- Trixie, who went to outer space and almost got eaten by an alien plant (Unrelated occurrences)

- Ed Leadly, whom Cosmo harasses on purpose in fairy form so he can use his hot tub

[notchainedtotrauma]

I cant't be sorry enough. I have learned everything is urgent. Roads closing, animal lungs. I am working hard to be as many people as possible before I can't. I know my long, dark movie is fistfuls of gravel in a brown bottle. My storyboards fill me with calculated sorrow. A full plate and burnt sage. Dollar sign, breaking news. I work two or three jobs. I am honorable and brave. The ensemble cast whittles down. Octavia Spencer cooks in a small apartment. She serves joyfully and doesn't eat. She wipes her palm on her apron, forehead. Angela Bassett is sick and tired of being. Denzel Washington reminds us how often we are afraid. We get arrested. Someone narrates. What you look like is sheer fabric and ivory shells. Alec Baldwin is smoking a joint in the bathroom of a CEO's birthday party. Steve Martin tastes the goat cheese and considers nothing. You never get arrested. There is no question that god waits at the end of your staircase curling softly like wood-finished ribbon. Anne Hathaway hires a decorator. Dianne Keaton makes midnight pancakes, tops them with lavender ice cream. What is beautiful does not need to be called beautiful. No one talks about money. None of us find unlikely love. I do not revel in my luxury. I would rather serve than eat. If it seems like I desire you, you're right. I want my whole mouth around your safety. I want to be buried side by side.

Nancy Meyers and My Dream of Whiteness by Morgan Parker