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postguiltypleasures · 1 year ago

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My peak TV Journey: *Girls5Eva*

I am generally pretty strict with myself about trying to finish tv series before starting new ones, but I made an exception for Girls5Eva. I had been meaning to try since it debuted. It was exactly as delightful as I hoped it would be. I immediately loved all four leads in the show. It is sort of n the trend of revisiting female celebrities treatment in the early 2000s. But the show’s story is also about now. It’s about the revisiting of the 2000s that we’re doing now, and it is also about how the streaming boom is one of many things that destroyed the mainstream as it existed then, creating new niches and making it harder to gain momentum. Given that, it is appropriate that it was created for Peacock, cancelled after two seasons, then renewed by Netflix before the strikes delayed it indefinitely. Will there be more? I have no idea, but, I’m glad that the two seasons of it do exist.

Watching this reigniting my enthusiasm for Sara Bareilles, which had waned after being disappointed by her 2013 album, The Blessed Unrest. (I have since re-listened, it’s too long but mostly fine. Also between that album and watching this show I saw her on Broadway as The Baker’s Wife in Into the Woods and she was great.) She’s hilarious here, as Dawn, the aspiring song writer who has been doing odd jobs in family businesses since the group’s original end. The groups aspiring song writer, some of he best moments come with singing songs that will never work. Dawn is also the only happily married member of the group and the relationship with her husband and son is delightful. Her husband, Scott, played by Daniel Breaker, is a middle school guidance counsellor. Far out enough from show business to be grounding, but also crazy in his own way. The second season ends with Dawn realizing that she’s pregnant with her second child and trying to figure out how to balance that and her firstborn with the band’s attempt at touring. There are jokes about her being a female Ted Lasso, leaving her child at home while she’s away for her career. (The final season of Ted Lasso proved to be very conscious of this aspect of the set up.) The end with an attempt at a mini tour was a good way next steps for her.

Busy Phillips played Summer, the member of the band who was also a member of Christian purity cult who starts the series with a learned passivity, and a lot of enthusiasm. This feels like semi-subverting her character type in other shows from Freaks and Geeks to Cougar Town where she is the more sexually experienced than significant characters she’s paired up with and generally pretty aggressive, where she's the opposite here. But these type’s have to exist together. The types also are bonded through loud taste in fashion and very limited experience, making them ignorant of a lot of common knowledge, but experts on some esoterica. At the start of the series she is unhappily married to Kev, who is the same cult and as she, and is a deeply closeted homosexual. He’s played by Andrew Rannells in a way that you can understand why their marriage only worked as long as it did because they lived apart most of the time. It’s sad and funny. Summer does get to grow. Her excitement about learning how to make a salad was adorable. Her pain on realizing that her parents didn’t live up to the celibacy standards they had for her was poignant and funny. I still smile thinking of the time she explains that since separating from Kev she’s joined “Christian Kringle” a dating app for Christians who love Santa.

I feel new to Paula Pell as a performer. Looking at her IMDB page I can see that she has had small roles in things I have seen, but I don’t really remember her. She plays Gloria, the only member of the group who has successfully pursued an alternate career since the band’s end. There are some good jokes about her continuing to work as a dentist while the group tries the relaunch. Pell is the oldest of the actors and in the flashbacks and archive footage her character is played by Erika Henningsen. Henningsen’s role is mostly to show how repressed Gloria was then, as an in the closet lesbian. She doesn’t really stand on her own, which does work towards Gloria’s present day neurosis. In the time between Girls5Eva’s first go round and the present Gloria’s been married and divorced to a woman named Caroline. Caroline is both the only woman she has been with and not good for her. (She’s also played by Paula Pell’s real life wife Janine Brito.) This puts Gloria in more or less the same boat as Summer and they have a great rapport. I also want to say that at the beginning of the second season Gloria has a fantasy musical number about being on Percocet while delaying knee surgery. It was hilarious and I can’t find it online.

The supposed break-out star from the band Girls5Eva is Wickie, played by Renée Elise Goldsberry. Between the original run and the relaunch she creates the impression that she has an international star powered brand business. She doesn’t. But the show makes clear she’s the one who’s been pursuing a career in music the longest, including a stint on Star Search, and is the most enthusiastic about fame. She left the band first to pursue attempt at a solo career, which is best dramatized by a scene from an episode of Cribs. Despite not being in any high profile projects for decades, she in intensely aware of the possibility of fan interest, including with foot fetishists. Early on she moves in with Dawn and her family. She brings with her a see through piano, the last remaining thing from her failed shot at the A-List. She is a wonderfully awful houseguest, barely learning Dawn’s husband and son’s names. But she’s hilarious in her oblivious behavior and her passion for fame and music has an interesting frisson that is great for comedy. The diva faking it after her failed career wouldn’t be funny without these qualities.

The fifth member of Girls5Eva is Ashley played by Ashley Park. At one point Wiki says Ashley was the only other member of the band she respected as a singer. Between iterations of the band she mysteriously died while taking part in a magic act involving an infinity pool. Or did she? At the end of the first season Gloria announces that she thinks Ashley faked her death. This leads her to suspecting a mysterious singer who always wears a bee keeping mask might be Ashley. While that turned out to be wrong, I hope it turns out Ashley’s not dead.

The first season included some songs Girls5eva and their fictional contemporaries. They are wonderfully awful. Filled with poorly aged reference and regrettable world philosophies. The fact that we only hear a couple of bars from them is even funnier. But as Dawn and her bandmates take over the song writing, the songs get better. They still include some really goofy lyrics, but they work. It makes sense that they find an audience amongst their contemporaries.

#peak tv #my peak tv journey #Girls5Eva #sara bareilles #Dawn Solano #Daniel Breaker #busy philipps #Busy Philipps #Summer Dutkowsky #andrew rannells #Paula Pell #Gloria McManus #Janine Brito #Wickie Roy #renee elise goldsberry #Ashley Park #Ashley Gold #Fake songs

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scarofthewind · 4 years ago

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Slashers on Mother’s Day

A/N: Here is the first part of the mini, multi-fandom series I am doing in honor of mother’s day! I hope you all enjoy this pure fluff!

Mother’s Day master post

Warnings: None, pure fluff and joy, reader is a mother obviously

word count: 2.6k Tip Jar (every bit helps!)

Spoils you too much:

Charles Lee Ray: “I think she’ll like this one, what do you think?” Charles asks his daughter who stood next to him, looking up at the overpriced jewelry in her father’s hands. “Too big,” she shakes her head and Charles agrees after looking it over once again. He already had a whole basket on his arm full of stuff for you ranging from stuffed animals your daughter had picked out to flowers, jewelry and even some pieces of clothing. Just as the two thought they were done shopping and walked over to the check out, Charles pauses by the perfume stand and looks them over, picking up a few and smelling them before bending over and letting his daughter smell. “Smells like grandma, Dad,” she scrunched her nose as he quickly put it back. They spend more time shopping than they need to but the smile on your face when they bring out the loads of gifts is enough to make everyone happy.

Brahms Heelshire: Brahms did all his shopping days before Mother’s day, but the amount of items he’d purchased made you question his sanity. “Don’t look at me, she picked that out,” Brahms shrugged, pointing to your daughter who was giggling next to you. “Mommy will look like a princess,” her contagious laugh made Brahms crack a smile as you put the simple tiara on your head. “Uh oh, the Queen needs to watch out,” he joked, resting his head on his palm as he watched you continue to open the countless gifts scattered in the living room. “You know this was too much right? Flowers and a card are usually what’s expected.” You told him with a smile. Brahms nodded over to the coffee table where a giant bouquet of flowers and a few cards sat, a shit-eating grin on his face. “I think you got this one for yourself,” you said to your daughter who was playing with the stuffed animal she had picked out as well. Another giggle erupted from her as you tickled her sides, Brahms watching from his spot, his heart flooding with a warmth he wanted to keep forever.

Jason Voorhees: Since he doesn’t come from money, or have it for that matter, he likes to spoil you in other ways like physical touch or by waiting on you hand and foot. “I can get to the bathroom by myself you dork,” you told your lover as he carried you from the couch to the bathroom, only letting you down when you were inside. When you shut the door, Jason turned around to look at his daughter who was coloring a picture for you for Mother’s Day. “Look! Look!” She squealed in joy, waving her father over before pointing at the messy shaped people. “There’s you, me, and Momma!” Her eyes looked up to Jason with excitement and happiness that made him smile. “Should I draw her another one?” She asked, reaching across the table to grab another piece of paper before aggressively scribbling on it. The bathroom door opening made Jason move towards you, picking you up and walking you over to the kitchen table, not wanting you do any moving on your own today. With a soft kiss to your head once he sat you in a chair, he moved to sit next to you, watching as your daughter gave her artwork to her mother and wondering how he got so lucky.

Bubba Sawyer: He woke up with the sun and so did his kid; both of them ready to spoil you as soon as you woke up with small gifts and lots of love. “I think we should make chocolate chip pancakes!” Bubba’s son said with a lopsided grin as they both stood in the kitchen. Looking at the stove, Bubba scratched his head, unsure of the recipe or how you even make them, his child doing the same thing. “Maybe we just make coffee?” The little boy suggested and Bubba nodded, moving over to the coffee machine and getting it started. “Flowers,” Bubba said suddenly, remembering what it was he thought he was forgetting. With a determined nod, his son took off to the garden to pick some of the wildflowers before bringing them inside to help his dad make them look pretty. Carefully taking the vase over to the table where a card and some homemade candy sat, Bubba set the flowers down and nodded in approval. “Boys?” You asked from upstairs, tiredly waking up and running your hands over your face before hearing two sets of footsteps come barreling up the stairs. “Happy Mother’s Day, Momma!” Your son shouted as he leapt across the bed, tackling you in a hug before Bubba did the same, nearly knocking the air from your lungs. The faint smell of coffee in the air and the spoils of a father and son with more than enough love to give, made your day the best.

Wakes you up with a kiss and breakfast:

Michael Myers: “I made this at school for her,” Michael’s daughter said to him, holding up a poem about mother’s day she’d written for you. “I’m sure she’ll love it. Can you do me a favor and set the table?” He said gently, watching his daughter nod and walk over to the silverware drawer while he continued working on the bacon and eggs that were hot on the stove. It was quiet between the two like usual until his daughter spoke once more, “I’m hungry, when’s she waking up?” Turning the stove off and putting the pans on the opposite side of the appliance, Michael wiped his hands off on the kitchen towel before looking over at his child. The vase full of flowers almost blocked her tiny body from his view but when he stepped around the table, he could see her eyes that matched his, glimmering with excitement. “You stay here and I’ll go get her okay? Get your poem ready that you made for her,” Michael watched as she grabbed the paper and held on to it as he walked upstairs to the bedroom where you were sleeping peacefully. Looking around to make sure his daughter didn’t follow, Michael walked over to the side of the bed where you slept and began peppering kisses all over your face, watching you twitch and let out a low groan at being woken up. With a small smirk, Michael began kissing lower, his mouth attaching itself to your neck before you shot up, pushing him off you. “Happy Mother’s Day,” he chuckled, watching you smile and shake your head at him before moving to press a kiss to his lips.

Pelle: All you felt were the feather-light kisses of your husband as he pressed his lips against your cheek, waking you from your sleep. As your eyes opened, Pelle pulled back and grinned down at you, letting you sit up before pressing his lips to yours, “Happy Mother’s Day to the best one in the world,” he said softly, your heart warming at his words as you hear the bedroom door open and your kids come walking in, the eldest holding a tray of food and the youngest carrying a cup carefully towards you. “We made breakfast- well- technically Dad did,” your oldest said with a smile, setting the tray down on your lap and letting his sibling set the cup down on your nightstand. “You didn’t have to do all this,” you said with a small smile, letting your kids hug you tightly, the youngest one crawling into bed next to you. “How else would we show our appreciation for you?” Pelle hummed, the corner’s of his eyes crinkling as he smiled. “We also have flowers and a few cards for you but I left them in the living room,” your eldest told you before he turned and went to get them. “Love you Momma,” the younger sibling said, yawning at your side with a tired smile on their face. “I love you too,” you replied, pressing a kiss to their head before looking down at the food on your lap and digging in.

Thomas Hewitt: “A little to the left- just a bit more- perfect!” Thomas taped up the Mother’s Day banner in the place his daughter instructed before moving back and looking at it with a nod. “What flowers should I get?” His son asked as he came through the front door, hands covered in dirt. “Anything that’s bloomed and that’s not brown already,” Thomas told him before the boy took off outside. The daughter walked to the kitchen, fixing up the rest of the food before setting the table and getting the coffee ready. “You should go wake her up, Dad, I can get the rest of the stuff set up since there’s not much left.” With a nod, Thomas moved towards the stairs, making his way to the bedroom and opening the door only to find you sitting up in bed. “Did we wake you?” Thomas asked as he walked over, leaned down, and pressed a chaste kiss to your lips. You shook your head after he pulled away before moving to your knees to chase after his lips, kissing him once more. A low chuckle left him once you had your fill, a lazy smile resting on your face. “Happy Mother’s Day to the best woman in the world.” He said gently, watching you smile before following him downstairs where your kids waited with a wonderful meal and decorations.

Vincent Sinclair: “What are you doing?” You laughed tiredly as Vincent proceeded to press kisses all along your face and neck, tickling you lightly. “Happy Mother’s Day,” he cooed, helping you sit up before he practically dragged you to the kitchen, showing you all of the food that he may or may not had Bo help him make for you. “Momma!” You heard your twins shout as they ran over from the living room, nearly taking you out as they hugged your legs. “Happy Mother’s Day! You’re the bestest Mom ever!” “We made you some stuff come look!” They both were such high energy that it made your face hurt from smiling as they pulled you over to the living room where they had little crafts all over the place for you. A painting of their handprints as well as Vincent’s that formed a tree made your heart flutter and you knew you’d be hanging that on the wall soon. The front door opened and Bo walked in carrying flowers for you and some candy for the twins, making them turn their attention towards him for the time being. “Happy Mother’s Day to the mother of my nieces,” he smiled at you, giving you a hug before being tackled by the twins as they searched him for the candy. Walking back into the kitchen, you put the flowers in a vase and moved to wrap your arms around Vincent, pressing your lips to his for a second, “Thank you for all this.” With a small laugh and his arms tightening around you, Vincent replied, “Anything for the love of my life and the mother of my two amazing daughters.”

Almost forgets but his kid reminds them:

Billy Loomis: “You’re lucky I told you,” Billy’s daughter laughed from her spot on the couch, a children’s show playing in the background as he struggled to get everything in place before you woke up. Billy cursed under his breath as he nearly knocked the vase that had a beautiful set of flowers, over. “That’s a bad word,” his daughter chimed and he gave her a look that made her face the T.V. quickly. Running his hands through his hair, Billy cleared his throat and poured you a cup of coffee just as you were walking down the stairs, tightening your robe around you and coming into the kitchen. “What’s all this?” You asked, looking down at the cards on the table and the bag of gifts that sat in your chair. “Happy Mother’s Day!” Your daughter shouted, leaping off the couch and running towards you with open arms and a wide smile. “Did you two do all this for me? You didn’t have to.” You said, looking over to Billy who smiled at you in return. “Of course we did, you’re the best mother anyone could ask for.” He pressed a kiss to your lips before his daughter gave him a look, knowing damn well if it wasn’t for her, he would’ve forgotten. However, at least now she had something to blackmail him with.

Bo Sinclair: “Which one?” Bo asked his daughter as he held up two bouquet’s of flowers. “You’re probably going to need both since you forgot,” she sassed back, going back to texting her friends on her phone. “You think she’ll know?” He panicked, taking both anyways and walking over to the card section. Bo managed to sneak out of the house before you woke up to get you Mother’s Day stuff and he prayed that you would stay asleep until he came home. “It’s Mom, she knows everything.” With a glare, Bo ignored his teenaged child’s response before checking out and practically speeding home, making it just in time before you came sauntering to the living room, sleep still on your mind. “Happy Mother’s Day mom,” your daughter said with a smile, giving you a hug and distracting you from her dad’s struggle with putting the flowers in a vase. “He forgot didn’t he?” You whispered to her and she nodded with a small snort of laughter, “Yeah but don’t worry, I put him through the ringer for it,” she replied and you laughed in response before letting her go and making your way over to Bo who was trying to play it cool.

Bughuul: He didn’t mean to forget; the time he spent between the human realm and the realm of the dead had his senses all backwards. So when his son came up to him and asked him what he got you for Mother’s Day, Bughuul panicked. “What do you think she’d like?” He asked his son who thought about it for a second before responding, “Something simple like flowers or something else she likes.” Bughuul sighed, trying to think of what to get you before settling on black roses and a few books and candles he thought you would enjoy. “Thank you for reminding me, I would’ve forgotten without you,” the deity told his son as they set the gifts up nicely in the living room before you came walking in with a cup of coffee in your hands. “Happy Mother’s Day, my love.” Bughuul said gently, watching his son bound over to you and give you a tight hug. “He forgot but don’t worry, I reminded him!” Your son shouted happily, much to Bughuul’s shock and he promptly apologized for the rest of the day.

Norman Bates: With how fast Norman was running around the house trying to set up decorations and get the gifts ready for you, his daughter truly thought he’d end up breaking something. “Calm down, she’s not going to notice,” she told her panicked father as he quickly ran into the kitchen to get breakfast finished and add the finishing touches on your gifts before he remotely began to calm. “I can’t believe I forgot, I feel horrible.” He said, a disappointed look on his face that made his daughter pat him on the back. “It happens to the best of us, no need to worry. Mom loves you and she’ll love all this stuff you set up for her no matter what.” Norman smiled gently at his daughters words before your figure caught his attention ad he made his way over to you. “Happy Mother’s Day,” he grinned, bending down and pressing his lips against yours before he lead you into the kitchen to eat.

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from-the-dark-past · 3 years ago

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Interview with Anders Ohlin in The Black Metal Murders: English translation

Translator’s note: Black metal-morden (English: The Black Metal Murders) is a radio documentary from 2017 produced by Radio Sweden (download). It’s about Mayhem and the Norwegian black metal scene in the ‘90s and contains interviews with Jørn “Necrobutcher” Stubberud, Kjetil Manheim, Eirik “Messiah” Norheim and Anders Ohlin (Pelle Ohlin’s younger brother).

Here, I’ve translated the parts where Anders Ohlin speaks into English (from Swedish). I’ve added time-stamps and short descriptions for the different sections of the interview.

I am working on translating the interviews with Necrobutcher, Manheim and Messiah and will post them soon.

1:51 - 6:35 [Talking about him and Pelle getting into extreme metal]

Anders: We’d started listening to hard rock and it was… We’d, like, worked through all of those… Judas Priest and Iron Maiden.

Narrator: It’s the mid-1980s in Västerhaninge, a suburb of Stockholm. Pelle Ohlin lives here. He plays in the extreme metal band Morbid and his stage name is Dead. Pelle has introduced his five-years-younger brother to hard rock. Together, they’ve worked through all of the main bands.

Anders: And you, like, hungered for this… This Other.

Narrator: The ‘Other’ that younger brother Anders is talking about is extreme metal; music that is faster, darker and harder. A progression of hard rock. Music that isn’t easy to get your hands on at this time. Anders is in his early teens and has gotten his first girlfriend.

Anders: It was my first relationship and it was super-exciting, and I was at her house, she lived in Jordbro, which is, like, the neighbouring suburb.

Narrator: Anders’ girlfriend’s older sister has an LP that Anders simply must show his older brother Pelle.

Anders: It was, like, you knew it was good music, and it was that Destruction record.

Narrator: Anders sees the German death metal band Destruction’s cover and it’s enough for him to understand that this must be good music. [...]

Anders: This. This here isn’t Judas Priest and it isn’t Iron Maiden; it’s something else. I’ve got show this fucking record to Pelle.

Narrator: Anders nags [his girlfriend’s older sister] to borrow the LP. He’s allowed to, but only for the day, so he bikes home in the rain from Jordbro to Västerhaninge as quickly as he can.

Anders: And it was like [excited noise], like a cartoon; the evil wolf, their eyes bulge out and we both ran -- because we hadn’t heard the LP, only seen the cover -- ran to the record player och then Mom walks up and is like: ‘Stop! You’re forbidden from using the gramophone.’ And it was like, fucking hell, is it going to die here and then we explained to Mom -- ‘This is an extreme record and we’ve borrowed it for the day and it’s going back tomorrow,’ -- and Mom was super-harsh and was like: ‘It doesn’t matter. [...]’ And then we started negotiating and agreed that we could record the LP onto cassette [because you don’t need volume for that]. So, it was on full-blast the entire night and we recorded it and stood bent over the record scratches and were like,‘Shit, this is good stuff’.

Narrator: Pelles hard rock style stands out against the usual sweatpant-Bagheera-jacket [style], not least the music.

Anders: The ideals that existed at that time were that you were supposed to look like Arnold Schwarzenegger, which neither he nor I did [laughs]. You were supposed to be handsome and cool and have some fucking helipad on your head.

Translator’s note: Anders is talking about a flat-top haircut commonly referred to as a ‘helikopterplattafrisyr’ -- helipad haircut -- in Sweden. Think H.R. Haldeman. I’m not sure what the English term for this haircut is.

Narrator: Anders and Pelle are apart of a small subculture; extreme metal, with subgenres such as trash metal, death metal and black metal, which provokes with its satanic and morbid symbols. Pelle’s band Morbid pushes the limits of what music can sound like. With his stage-name Dead, Pelle sings on the demo December Moon. The new subculture is not embraced by the adult world.

Anders: Like, we faced this fucking cultural oppression as hardrockers. It was that time-period… And especially if you wanted to do something that was worse than hard rock; it was completely judged.

14:52 - 15:53 [Talking about Pelle being bullied]

Anders: He was beaten at school and to such an extent that he actually died for a while, or however you put it.

Narrator: There’s an explanation to Pelle’s obsession with death. At 13, he was bullied at school and once, he was beaten so badly that his spleen burst. Pelle’s brother Anders Ohlin tells the story.

Anders: He was beaten to death and had some near-death experience as he was laying in the hospital and he kept coming back to that all the time, and I think you can see that as some sort of theme in his songs too. Like, it’s always about the fact that he was actually there and touched something that he doesn’t know what it is, and that was the engine in all that. He was definitely [at the bottom of the pecking order] at school, precisely because he was a bit… He had his special... his special style and was, like, uncompromising, and that was what singled him out, I’d say, markedly from other teenagers.

18:07 - 18:30 [Talking about Pelle’s depression]

Anders: He would neglect to eat, just to get a cassette tape out or arrange a gig somewhere.

Narrator: Anders Ohlin, Pelle’s brother.

Anders: To be a bit harsh, I think that the others gave up at some point. And that’s my personal interpretation. That he suddenly turns around and notices that he hasn’t got the gang with him. And I think that destroyed him.

21:50 - 22:30 [Talking about Pelle’s suicide]

Anders: At first, I was actually really pissed at him… Or, like, angry, enraged. I thought that he’d abandoned us -- which he has. That it was so shitty of him; to just take off and leave this big fucking abscess to the rest of us that just kept growing and growing as the years passed.

Narrator: Christmases become especially painful for the Ohlin family, because that was the time Pelle usually came home.

Anders: No one felt good on Christmas Eve. It was like a fucking ghost all Christmas. Brutal. So, I remember that I couldn’t celebrate Christmas at all for a very long time.

1:06:39 - 1:09:31 [Talking about how he and Pelle’s Swedish friends remember him and his life today]

Anders: All of his Swedish friends see him as this exuberantly happy guy that spews ideas and is funny and has a sense of humor and stuff. Then, it’s like a line is drawn when he goes to Norway and they see him as introverted and mysterious and, like, difficult. And that’s two opposite images.

Narrator: The Pelle Myth is associated with a lot of darkness and death but that’s not how his brother Anders and Pelle’s Swedish friends remember him.

Anders: I think that’s been the devastating part, but it, like, helped him build… strengthen that myth. It’s hard being that funny dude and saying that you’re, like, Satan. It’s hard, it becomes, like, silly.

Narrator: Anders is often reminded of Pelle. Usually because of happy memories but also because of that image that he is fighting to remove; the image that Øystein took of Pelle’s corpse which spread because it became the album cover of a Mayhem bootleg, Dawn of the Black Hearts. The image lives its own life on the internet.

Anders: It’s difficult. It’s very difficult.

Narrator: Pelle’s fans often want to become Facebook friends with Anders; he receives 3-5 friend requests per day. Sometimes, the people sending the friend requests have themselves shared the image on their social channels.

Anders: You say you want to be my friend yet you have an image of my brother from when he’s just killed himself and like… body parts all over the wall. Would you think it was okay if I had an image of your brother like that? ‘What,’ they excuse themselves. ‘Oh, fuck, I’d forgotten that I had that image, that’s… Of course, I’ll remove it and I’m ashamed.’

Narrator: When Anders asks people to remove the image, most do.

Anders: I’m terrified for when my children will start to Google those images… Øystein’s parents inherited the rights after Øystein died and [Øystein’s dad] has destroyed the images and I’ve received the rights, gotten to take over the rights from Øystein’s dad, so if anyone uses them in any form is printed media, I can sue the shit out of them.

Narrator: It’s a small comfort every time one of Pelle’s fans tells Anders how much Pelle means.

Anders: Most often, they have some story. They tell me how they’ve had a tough period in life and how they’ve, like, really been at a crossroads or something and feel that they received guidance from Pelle’s music. That warms -- That makes you happy. That really warms your heart.

Narrator: Pelle’s grave is well-visited and every now and then, there’s a handwritten letter or a box of snus by it.

#mayhem #the true mayhem #per ohlin #pelle ohlin #per yngve ohlin #jorn stubberud #necrobutcher #kjetil manheim #eirik norheim #manheim #messiah #black metal #black metal history #true norwegian black metal #lords of chaos #my translation

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arsonwithgojo · 2 years ago

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snippet sunday

I was tagged by @cwahsont to do a snippet sunday, so I think I’ll (belatedly because that’s how I am) share a piece that never made it into Wolves ^-^ I wasn’t sure anyone would care about Fox chatting up a random guard that I had no plans for other than to show her starting to sway the guards of Whiterun in her favor. So anyways, I cut the following, but it would have fit in Chapter 22, right after Lucien calls Kaidan a teddy bear. (team dragonborn arriving in Riverwood right after BleakFalls)

I tag @tastelessforestdragon and whoever else would like to share stuff!

~~~~~

Late afternoon finds us in the guards' training yard, somehow looking like a respectable team of adventurers. The damaged plates of Kaidan’s armor have been replaced with fresh steel and Lucien looks almost battle ready in his new leather armor, complete with a shield strapped to his back - or at least he would look battle ready if it wasn’t for his giggling as he haphazardly swings his new sword back and forth at a pell under Kaidan’s direction.

“Well look what the cat dragged in! If it isn’t my favorite dragon hunter,” says a familiar voice as a guard emerges from the stable next to the yard. “Glad to see you’re still in one piece!”

“And if it isn’t my favorite blue eyed guard,” I grin, recognizing him from the inn and more than a little pleased that he seems to remember me so fondly. “Glad to see your town’s still in one piece.”

“Barely. I’ve never had charge of such a drunken, disorderly lot. If someone isn’t brawling in the streets, there’s a drunkard drawing his name in piss on our door. Even had to break up Camilla and the smith’s wife yesterday.”

I laugh at that, “I do remember Camilla being a little excitable. She’s certainly a girl who knows what she wants.”

“Yeah and what she wants is the attention of every man within a five mile radius, married or not. I think you might have been the only woman I’ve ever seen calm her down.”

“I’m pretty good with that kind of thing.”

“Pretty good with flirting, you mean,” he counters, giving me a playful grin and a nudge as we stand side by side and watch the training together. “I saw. Felt a little left out though.”

“Well, maybe you need to get better at flirting yourself,” I laugh again, enjoying the banter. “Your pickup line was to buy me a drink when I already had one in hand.”

“Not all of us have a honeyed tongue like yours. Maybe you could show me a few tricks,” he fires back.

“You know what, I take it back,” I smirk, looking him up and down. He’s in uniform, a rugged and well fitted light armor of leather and chainmail, with the dark yellow sash signifying a guard of Whiterun Hold. His helmet is held under his arm, showing off his short, messy hair, much darker than the average Nord, almost a dusky chestnut. He’s, well, there’s no denying he’s attractive with his impish smile and laughing eyes and I’m very certain he knows it. “I'm starting to think you are actually extremely good with flirting. Did you use a bad line just so I'd think you were harmless? Good lord, your marks probably don't even know what hit them until you’ve already got them wrapped around your finger.”

“Normally, but my latest mark is giving me a bit of trouble,” he laughs, easing back into friendliness. He nods at Kaidan and Lucien, now working on how to hold the shield properly. “Your boss looks like he picked up a new protégé. Wouldn’t mind having someone like you joining up with us then if you’re interested. I’ve got fighters aplenty, but the job is mostly deescalating confrontations. Something a lot of our recruits don’t understand - but a skill you seem to have in spades.”

“Tempting, but we’re already on a job.”

“I heard. Some mission up to Bleak Falls to get a fancy rock. I had half a mind to send a guard or two with you, or even go myself. No offense, but you’re built like a bird.”

“A hawk?”

“A sparrow.”

“Thanks a lot,” I laugh. “If you’re done hitting on me or making fun of me, maybe you could bring out our horses.”

“I didn’t mean anything by it,” he grins again, motioning for me to follow him inside the stable, “you’re just enjoyable to talk with. And I admit I’ve been worried my indecision might have led to something bad happening to you up at the barrow. I’m not usually one to question the Jarl, but I couldn’t believe he sent just the two of you up there on your own. Either your boss is every bit the warrior he looks or you’re a lot tougher than you look.”

“She is.”

We both turn around and find Kaidan has followed us into the stable. And looking past him, I can see Lucien on the ground outside struggling to do a push up.

The guard, for his part, seems eager to finally have a chance to talk to Kaidan, “I’m sure she is or she wouldn’t be here. How was it in there?”

“About what you’d expect. Every nasty manner of man and monster, but she held her own. Even saved my life in fact.”

“Saved your life?” the guard looks back at me, surprised.

Our conversation is cut short by the sudden kicking of hooves against a stall door and a loud snorting. Following the guard leads us to a massive, black warhorse, looking absurdly oversized in the standard size stall.

“That’s…” Kaidan starts, his voice softer and more gentle than I think I've ever heard it. “How much for that horse?”

“More than you can afford. It’s meant as a stud for the Jarl’s horses. I’m just holding it till they take it to the stables outside the city. Besides, it’s a nasty piece of work,” he adds as another kick shakes the wooden stall door. “One of ours is laid up in bed with some broken ribs from a kick this morning. Lucky he wasn’t killed.”

“How much?” I ask, echoing Kaidan’s question and noticing the stillness in his features and the clenched fist betraying that stillness. He did say he had a horse before the prison…

“I bought it off the Thalmor for two thousand, but it’s worth twice that.”

We don’t have anything near that amount. We might be able to scrape together eight hundred if we sell off a few things… “How much for me to buy it?”

The guard laughs, “You think I should give you a special rate?”

“I thought I was your favorite dragon hunter.”

“Well, yes, but I can’t just write off a loss of two thousand gold to make a pretty woman smile,” he says, oddly looking almost frustrated that he can’t just let me have my way.

That’s good. He’s loyal to his duty, but it seems like the challenge of finding my favor might come in a close second. Again, it seems extremely strange that he’s so eager and that I made such an impression on him, but I’m not going to question my luck. Now I just need to figure out what he responds to… he said he enjoys my conversation and he’s very quick witted… maybe he’s just bored and enjoys the dance my conversation provides. …I think I’ll just throw everything at him at once then and see who dances better.

“You wouldn’t need to. The Jarl will cover all two thousand,” I begin.

“The Jarl is just going to give you two thousand gold? I find that highly unlikely. If I take your word and it ends up coming back to bite me in the arse, it'll be a demotion if not worse.”

“He’ll pay if he wants his rock. And I’m sure he does because it’s needed to help fight the dragons. It’s up to you though. I can ask by courier and we can sit here for a few days and wait for an answer while the dragons burn down another village, possibly this one. Or, I can finish our quest and ride into Whiterun tonight on the back of that stallion.”

“You’d let Riverwood burn to have this horse?”

“No, but it sounds like you would.”

“Fucking hell. Look I can’t just…”

Another kick splinters the door of the stall as the horse continues to snort and toss its head. And the next moment, Kaidan’s inside the stall, whispering something too low to catch. Slowly, the horse quiets enough that Kaidan can get in closer, stroking its neck as he continues to talk to it. And… it wickers, nuzzling into his neck and blowing at his hair.

I’m almost positive now. “Look, this was his horse. It was stolen and we’d like it back."

"That's not my problem."

“The destruction it's wreaking on that door is. How much will it be to fix that? And once Kaidan’s gone, who knows how that horse will react? Maybe you’ll need to rebuild the entire stable.”

“It wasn’t kicking down the door till he got in here. The stallion’s wild, but I’m very good at gentling wild animals.”

“I hope so, because I imagine you’ll be out a lot more than two thousand if you’re not. Or… we’re borrowing the Jarl’s horses anyway. Let us borrow this one. Your stable remains intact, and we either drop the horse at Pelagia Farm ourselves or we return in a few days with the money."

"And suppose you run off with it?"

"Do I look like a bandit? If my word is so worthless to you, I’ve got collateral. We’ve got an original Nordic dragon claw, silver and sapphire, worth at least five hundred gold on its own, and it supposedly unlocks a small fortune in a barrow over in Ivarstead.”

He answers slower this time, "Maybe… give me a moment to think."

Nope, I want to keep the momentum. "Please? Anything else you want too, just name it." I'm well aware of how to tilt my head, the seemingly worried little bite of my lower lip that just happens to draw attention to my mouth, just how much of a subtle pout and batting of eyes I can get away with before it's obvious what I'm doing.

“Fucking hell,” he repeats again, definitely eyeing my lips as he runs a hand back through his hair, “did you actually fight monsters in that barrow or did you just ask them to keel over and they listened? I know exactly what you’re doing.”

“Is it working?” I ask, my pout now something a little more mischievous with the hint of a grin and a raised eyebrow.

“You can borrow the damn horse.”

“Just like that?”

“Just like that, though you might get more if you keep making that face," he smirks, looking me up and down. "It seems I completely misjudged who the leader of your group is."

“Thank you,” I smile, not a flirting one or some lighthearted grin, but a real smile. “I don’t think I caught your name?”

“Lieutenant Erich Emberson, Ma’am.”

“Alexandria.”

He smiles, “Alexandria. I’ll watch for your return then.”

“Kaidan?” I ask.

“Aye?” he answers, still focused on looking over the horse… no, his horse.

“Can you ready the horses for us? I’ll just be a few minutes.”

“Sure thing,” his voice is gruff, a little more husky than normal.

“Erich, how do you feel about magic?”

“Depends why you’re asking.”

“I’m a healer. If you want, I can see to your man.”

“You’re just one surprise after another, aren’t you?” Erich says, suddenly looking desperate and leading the way. “Follow me. We’d be glad to have any help you can lend. There’s no alchemist in the village, so potions have been impossible to come by. And priests don’t travel much anymore with the war. Truth be told I’m not sure he would’ve lasted the night. He’s been coughing up blood and wheezing something awful. If you can help him, you can forget about the money.”

“I’m not helping to get something in return. And I certainly don't want my debt relieved by holding a man’s life over your head,” I frown, trying to keep pace with his long strides. “I was bluffing earlier about the village thing too. I wouldn't use people's lives and livelihoods to blackmail you and the Jarl.”

“You sounded damn convincing.”

“I was trying too. But honestly, I was kind of expecting you to turn me down. My real plan was to just flirt, get you drunk, and come back and steal the horse later.”

Erich bursts into laughter, “Gods help the man or woman that stands in your way, eh? Well, if there’s nothing else you’ll accept for payment just know you have my gratitude and respect then.”

#alexandria lachance #kaidan skyrim #skyrim fanfiction #my fic #horse girl kaidan #alexandria lachance aka Fox #The Wolves That Hunt Us

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storiesforallfandoms · 5 years ago

Text

may queen ~ mark;midsommar

word count: 2738

request?: yes!

“What about a Midsommar imagine about Mark. Maybe one where instead of Danni winning May Queen the reader does, and her and Mark stay there at the end together?“

description: winning the may queen crown is a huge honor, until you find out what winning the title comes with an impossible decision

pairing: mark x female!reader

warnings: swearing, also not following the original ending because idk i kinda don’t want this to be as dark as the original ending so no death or sacrifice

masterlist

“I shouldn’t have come,” Dani sighed as the two of you followed the other women of Hårga to some celebration. “They keep giving us drugs and I keep seeing Terri and our parents, and when I’m sober it’s like Christian doesn’t want to be anywhere near me. Him and his asshole friends have been spending more time together than I think I’ve spent with him since the whole thing happened. No offense to Mark.”

You shook your head. “None taken, trust me. Mark can be quite the asshole sometimes, and this trip has been no exception. It feels like when he gets with Josh, Christian, and Pelle he becomes a different person.”

“I wish Christian was like that,” Dani said. “He’s just a constant asshole.”

“At least with Christian being a constant asshole you know that’s who he really is, with Mark I can’t tell if the kind Mark I know when we’re alone is the real one or the asshole.”

“Maybe we should break up with our boyfriends,” Dani suggested. “Just be two young girls living our best lives.”

The suggestion made you cringe slightly, but you tried not to let Dani see. You knew that it was probably the best solution, you loved Mark so much, but his switch in personality when he was out in public made it hard to be with him, especially when his attitude didn’t stop with just his friends. There were times even with your own family that he wasn’t the nicest person, and that had put a major strain between you and them.

But you and Mark had been together for so long. You couldn’t imagine your life without him, even with the way he acted. But maybe Dani was right, maybe it was for the best if you ended your relationship and you spent some time single, living life to the fullest before you graduated college and had to really become an adult.

Before you could respond, a couple of the Hårga girls approached the two of you and took your hands, dragging you towards the group excitedly.

“What’s going on?” you asked one of them, although part of you didn’t expect them to tell you. Ever since you had come, there were very few answers about anything that was happening.

To your shock, one of the girls turned around and said, “The maypole dance! It’s how we pick a May Queen!”

“And we’re allowed to participate?” Dani asked as the two girls passed you a crown of flowers, much like the ones they were wearing.

“Of course! That’s why we ask to bring outsiders inside during this time,” the other woman explained. “We can’t tell you too much, you’ll understand at the end of the competition.”

You and Dani exchanged looks, but put your flower crowns on and joined the group of women. Already standing there, wearing a white dress and her own flower crown, was the only other woman visiting, Connie. She spotted you two and raced up to you, excitedly.

“Doesn’t this seem like fun?” she asked. “We look so pretty! Oh my God, we have to get a picture afterwards, if we’re allowed that is. I’m not sure how the ritual works and such.”

You and Dani awkwardly smiled as you said, “Yeah, sure. We’ll get a picture.”

The woman got into formation in a circle around a pole of flowers, holding each other’s hands. You and Dani stood next to one another, with Connie excitedly on your other side. Some of the other Hårga people were waiting with instruments, and when they began to play, the women bowed to one another, leaving the you three outsider woman looking around in confusion.

When the music began to pick up, the woman stood and began to dance around in the circle, holding each other’s hands tightly as they did so. They moved to the beat of the drums, so it was easy to keep up. The girls around you were smiling and their excitement was so infectious you couldn’t help but smile as well.

They all seemed so happy, and no one noticed if you were struggling with the dance. Instead, they were just smiling and laughing, and you didn’t feel so bad if you messed up a little. It was a competition, but everyone was having so much fun that it just felt like a dance. You caught a glimpse of Dani as you danced, noticing the wide smile on her face, and you felt a warmness inside of you upon seeing it. It was the first time since the incident with her family that she seemed truly happy.

The group of dancers became smaller and smaller, although you didn’t notice until it came down to just yourself, a few of the Hårga, and Dani. You could see the sweat starting to form on Dani’s forehead, and you yourself were starting to feel tired. The girl to your right fell, and although you came to realize this meant she lost, she still looked happy and excited.

The remaining Hårga women fell, leaving you and Dani. The two of you made eye contact, and a knowing smile came across Dani’s face before she fell to the group and breathing heavily. The elder Hårga woman who had been calling commands the whole dance called for you to stop, so you did, feeling grateful to not be moving your legs anymore.

The girls quickly rushed towards you in excitement, all of them chattering together in a way that was making it nearly impossible to understand any of them.

“You’ve won!” one was saying. “You’re our May Queen!”

“I am?” you questioned. “Really?!”

The elder woman approached with a warm smile on her face and a beautiful crown of flower in her hand. One of the other girls took your crown from your head and the elder replaced it with hers, announcing, “You are our new May Queen!”

The girls cheered excitedly, Dani and Connie included. Others of the Hårga had been sat watching then, you realized, and they were all now joining the celebration of your win.

After posing for a picture (both an official one for winning the May Queen, and one with Connie and Dani), you were picked up by a group of Hårga and brought to the dinner table, where you took the seat at the head of the table, the “Royal Seat” apparently.

The leader of the Hårga, Siv, was stood at the other end, smiling just as warmly to you as everyone else sat around you. It was at that moment that you noticed Mark was there as well, beaming proudly at you. Despite the conversation you had with Dani just moments earlier, you couldn’t help but smile back at him.

“Congratulations to our new May Queen!” Siv began once everyone was seated. “I am delighted to see that the winner this year is an outsider, as we hope for this outcome every year. My Queen, may I ask your name.”

“It’s (Y/N), sir,” you replied, shocked that you could hear him, or vice versa, with how far away he was sitting.”

“(Y/N),” he said, “the title of May Queen is more than just a title given during a festival, it’s a very important title to us. See, the original intent of the May Queen was to bring outsiders into our village, to start the repopulation process after losing so many of our elders.”

Bring outsider? Repopulate? you thought to yourself. Fuck, I really don’t like where this is going.

“When an outsider such as yourself wins the title of the May Queen, she is automatically becomes a member of our village, and she is given the choice to let one other person stay with her. If she wishes not to let anyone stay, she is welcome to send all the other outsiders home once the celebration ends, and to continue her life within our village.”

You felt your blood run cold and your heart was pounding. You locked eyes with Mark first, who looked just as shocked and worried as you. However, you knew the reason he looked worried was because he thought it was obvious that you were to choose him to stay. Little did he know, your eyes drifted to Dani, who was sat a few seats down, your second choice to stay with you.

“You will have the night to decide,” Siv finished. “And we shall ask for an answer from you tomorrow during breakfast.”

Siv sat and dinner started as it normally did. However, with this burden on your shoulders you felt less than hungry and could barley eat any of the food in front of you. When dinner ended, you were allowed to return to the hut where the group of outsiders was staying to think over the choice you had just been given.

Dani and Connie followed you to the hut first, making it there before any of the boys could. You could barley breathe and your vision was blurry. Dani guided you to the nearest bed and sat you down.

“Breathe, (Y/N), you’ll be okay,” Dani said in a soothing voice.

“I won’t be okay!” you snapped. “I have to stay in this fucking village for the rest of my life! I can’t go home and see my family, or any of my friends. I can’t go finish college, go get a real job and have a real life! I’m stuck here, expected to fuck one of their cult members until I start popping out cult babies!”

“Wait,” Connie said. “You’re not going to choose your boyfriend to stay with you?”

You sighed and dug your palms into your eyes, trying to rub away the stressed headache you were starting to feel forming behind your eyes. “I don’t know. I mean, before the dance competition started I didn’t even know if we’d be together after this trip.”

Connie winced. “Oof, that’s cold girl.”

Dani shot her a glare and Connie just shrugged.

“I wanted to choose you,” you told Dani, turning to face her. “To get you away from everything back home - your parents, your sister, Christian. I know it’s not ideal to stay here, but it’d be better than going back home and having to deal with everything you’d rather leave behind.”

Dani opened her mouth as if to respond, but stopped short when something at the door distracted her. Both you and Connie looked up to see Mark standing there, looking down at the three of you in shock. Connie took it upon herself to stand first.

“I’m gonna go find Simon,” she decided. “Good luck with your choice.”

She gave you a strained smile that you wished you could just slap off of her bitchy face, before turning and walked out of the hut. Dani stood next, offering you a much more genuine smile before following Connie’s exit. That left just you and Mark.

“How much of that did you hear?” you asked him, your head hanging to look at your hands.

“I walked in just in time to hear you talking about some rando cult guy fucking you,” he responded, crossing his arms and looking down at you. “And to hear you say you’d rather have Dani stay with you than your own boyfriend, although really I don't know if I currently hold that title anymore anyways.

You didn’t know how to respond. You began to pick at the hem of your white dress, wishing you could just disappear into it.

The bed dipped next to you as Mark sat down. You still didn’t want to look at him, but he took hold of your face and gentle raised it to look into your eyes.

“What’s going on?” he asked. “Baby, are you unhappy with this relationship? Is it something I did? Whatever it is, I’m sorry. I just want to know so I can work on it, especially if working on it means not losing you forever to this weird ass cult.”

“I can’t tell who the real you is,” you said, surprised by your own honesty. “When we’re together you’re this nice, sweet guy that I love more than anything, but then you’re out with your friends and you suddenly become an asshole. Not even just with your friends, you become an asshole in front of my friends and family, too. Haven’t you ever wondered why I don’t see any of my old friends anymore? Or why my family stopped inviting the two of us to family gatherings and just asked for me to come? It’s because they all think you’re an arrogant asshole, and they’re unhappy with me for staying with you.”

Mark was speechless. You stood from the bed, pulling away from his arms, and paced the room. You had to talk through all of this, you knew that. If it didn’t happen now, you’d be left with the impossible decision the next morning, one that you’d probably regret one way or another.

“I guess...I just didn’t want anyone to think I was soft or anything,” Mark explained. “Throughout my entire life I’ve had this reputation as the cool, sarcastic guy, even when I was a kid, and I loved that because it felt like no one would mess with me because of it. But then I met you and I was the complete opposite because I just felt so strongly for you. I wanted to be with you more than anything, and I still do. But when the boys started treating me differently, I started to realize it was because I wasn’t the cool, sarcastic Mark I once was, I was the in love, cutesy Mark that I became when I met you. And I knew the only way to have the guys stop bugging me was to just pretend like I was the Mark I once was. I didn’t realize it was affecting you the way it was...I’m so sorry (Y/N).”

You sighed and ran your hands through your hair, realizing you were still wearing the flower crown. You took it off and threw it to the floor.

“I should’ve brought it up sooner,” you told him. “But part of me didn’t want to because I didn’t want to cause a fight or to lose you.”

Mark stood and walked over to you, taking you in his arms. You relaxed into the embrace, wrapping your arms around him and burying your head in his chest.

“You wouldn’t have lost me, baby,” he told you. “I’d rather know how you’re feeling than to have you suffering in silence because of me.”

You didn’t say anything to this. Instead, you let the silence fall upon you both as you stood in the embrace for some time.

~~~~~~

The next morning, you were sat at the head of the dinner table yet again, with everyone looking at you in anticipation. Siv was standing at the other end of the table, a soft smile on his face.

“Have you made your decision, our May Queen?” he asked.

You looked around the table at your group of friends, you eyes lingering on Mark and Dani specifically. Both of them gave you small smiles of encouragement, knowing that whoever you picked they’d understand.

You turned back to face Siv and stood as well. “I have, sir.”

“What is your decision, our May Queen? Will you be selecting an outsider to stay here with you, or will you be staying on your own?”

You took a deep breath before deciding, “I choose to pick someone to stay with us, and that person is my boyfriend, Mark.”

Mark stood suddenly, drawing the attention of everyone as he did so. He looked shocked at his own actions, and like he didn’t know what his next course of action would be. When he finally seemingly regained the control of his body, he quickly raced up to you and wrapped his arms around you, kissing your deeply and passionately in front of everyone.

The people of Hårga cheered, and although you knew it was for the choice you made, it almost felt like they were cheering for you and Mark. Mark pulled away from the kiss first, resting his forehead against yours and smiling down at you.

Although you weren’t exactly happy with the placement, it was the beginning of your forever, and neither of you could be happier about it.

#mark imagine #will poulter #will poulter imagine #will poulter x reader #midsommar #midsommar imagine #one shot #imagine #request

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jimmythejiver · 3 years ago

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For the first time in a long time I went to the movies in forever and then to Target. At Target I see some Godiva bars on discount yellow tags and I was ecstatic until I read 70% Cacao, Dark, Salted Caramel and was deflated.

Anyway that's how I felt about seeing The Green Knight. What you thought this was about chocolate?

No see since the pandemic I've been back on my perennial King Arthur kick. I've for a long time since I was a young preteen thought, someday I too will write my own King Arthur epic and it'll be gay, magical, gangster and culty too, but for now I'll make up my own stories for practice and then with every story I got attached too, it got too involved and convoluted to the point that when it came down to actually writing a novel, I threw it all away and made a space opera I only planned in two weeks and wrote in a month. Anyway...so now I've been writing this very gay, magical, gangster and culty take on Final Fantasy XV with my boyfriend and just fell in love with Somnus Lucis Caelum who nobody has any insight about him than to make him the Mordred to Ardyn's Arthur, which is a strange flex, but okay, I thought about what if I wrote a Dark Age prequel about Ardyn and Somnus, but Ardyn becomes king and Somnus his shogun and they play games of seduction and power because I'm twisted like that. Anyway...I was like I'm never going to write this and I have to keep making up characters based on FFXV characters and King Arthur tropes because there's not a lot of stories that take place during the Dark Ages, it's always some Roman Empire story, or High Middle Ages and FFXV gave no room for either society to happen after the fall of Solheim and the rise of King Somnus...so we left with Dark Ages, y'all, the King Arthur comparisons are obvious, but Ardyn is no Arthur and Somnus is no Mordred, Aera is only Guenevere if you make up an affair with Somnus, Gilgamesh is no Bedwyr/Bedivere, but uh...they both amputees and the oldest companions to their respective kings so...I guess. Anyway making an ancestor of Cor Leonis and deciding well he's Owain/Yvain, or am Ignis type as idk Sir Cai/Kay I guess, they both cook, but Cai's more like Seifer Almasy than any FF character... Anyway I'm losing people.

My plan was to just scrap the FFXV prequel, leave my Somnus ideas into Overtime (a gangster and gods story) and just plan an actual King Arthur adaptation. I'd have King Arthur the treasure hunter, leader of a warband turned founder of Camelot who fights giants, giant cats and dogheads, but also fights King Claudas of the Franks and King Aelle of the Saxons and Cerdic a Briton who puts in his lot with the Saxons, etc. It'd been a a glorified turf war, meanwhile Arthur's gotta make alliances with King Pelles, The Fisher King and his strange cult he's founded because, why yes I find the ends justifies the means prophecy of the Holy Grail Quest very culty because Christianity then does not resemble it now. Meanwhile you got the secondary plots of Mordred, Gawain, Lancelot, Percival, Tristam and other's going on because they matter and too many modern King Arthur stories sideline the knights.

So many have always sidelined Mordred as a final boss eldritch abomination in mortal flesh conceived of sin and give him no personality, or complex motives, or even just a relationship with Arthur. I also have noticed the general sidelining of Lancelot, or give him a chad villain upgrade if you must include him at all, and the villainizing of Gawain to the point that you don't even have to have Mordred, or Agravain as a catalyst shit stirrer in court, just slap Gawain's name on Liam Neeson in a top knot and you're good. Mordred can just be a child offscreen until last act...fuck that, while Morgan Le Fay can either be a villainess plotting her cabal through men, or a well-intentioned, ineffectual idiot. Fuck that.

Now Hollywood just be doing King Arthur first acts that suck ass, only for said director to get rewarded failing upwards by giving this same jerk the Aladdin remake. The tonally shitty, crammed in blockbuster mess of a cliche heroe's journey that sucks.

With that background I was excited for The Green Knight. I read an illustrative version as a kid, I read Tolkien's translation as a teenager, I read Simon Armitage's superior, but with liberties taken translation. I was prepped to go knowing that indie, or not they were going to make changes to weave the disjointed poem together. I'm excited that because this movie exists Project Guternberg's finally thrown Jessie Weston's prose rendition up on their website. I'll be reading that at some point when this blows over.

The movie adaptation makes a lot of...choices, many I wouldn't love, but would forgive had their been a payoff. There was none.

The journey was fine, the cinematography was a breath of fresh air after crappy slo mo, glossy action scenes ruined another. Guys, I don't think I want to see a Zack Snyder Excalibur, it'll marginally be better than Guy Ritchie, but that ain't saying anything. Leave Excalibur to the post-Star Wars 80s where it is impeccable for it's time. I liked Green Knight's breathable pacing, it's color palette's in the forests and mountains made up for the muddy grey of every Ridley Scott send up in the castles and villages in every other Dark Ages/Medieval story in the last I don’t know since the shitty 00′s. For all the dark tones when there was blues, greens, yellows or reds, they were vibrant in this movie to contrast the gloom of Britain. The soundtrack was good. This isn't all what makes a movie, but it enhances it so let's get to the story and what I did and didn't like.

Things I Liked: Gawain is still a novice in his career The Costume Dressing Everyone pronounces Gawain's name different. I pronounce it like Gwayne, or Guh Wayne, but here you got Gowen (like Owen), Gowan (like Rowan), or even Garlon who I'm pretty sure is the Fisher King's heir in some versions of that Arthurian story, so uh... The reference to Arthur slaying 960 men with his bare hands (Nennius for the win!) The Waste Land that is implied to be a site of a battle (an important aspect of the Arthurian landscape) The Fox companion No long grisly, drawn out hunting scenes. The Fox lives! No misogynist speeches

Things I'm Mixed: This being a dream, is the magic real? Are the giants? Is the Green Knight a figment of Gawain's imagination from a spell Morgan casted in him to hallucinate? Is Lord and Lady also figments? It's...a way to interpret the poem, but lazy and I don't see why it's got to all fantasy, or all dream...this movie makes it too vague you're stuck picking one camp than to accept it's a fantasy with dream and hallucinatory sequences.

Things I'm Meh: Morgan Le Fay as Gawain's mom. Look I fucking hate Morgause as a character and these two get merged and steal each other's aspects so much at this point the difference is who did they marry, King Urien or King Lot? Both are attributed to being Mordred's mom, Mordred is Gawain's brother...both practice magic depending on certain incarnations, both love and hate Arthur their brother and are in conflict with him. Saint Winifred. I actually liked this sequence, but I don't appreciate her as the tacked on wife in the later dream sequence as like...a contrast between the wife you should marry than the whore next door you don't respect anyway? I don't even know what lesson I'm supposed to get out of the damn dream sequence, or any of it? That Gawain should've married his girlfriend and then he'd be a just ruler? That he shouldn't be king? That he'd never have to make the same heartless, impartial choices? I don't know, he seemed like a king doing king shit because guess what? It never gets easier. Wars will be waged. The world didn't become better because he married the right woman, respected her and lived in obscurity. The world didn't become better because he made her his queen. We certainly don't know the world would be better Gawain had his head chopped off and dead XP They never reveal the Lord and the Green Knight as one and the same because of this shit.

Things I Hated: Arthur withdraws from the challenge because he's old. In poem he takes it on and Gawain takes it so he don't have to and he finds himself more disposable than the king. Gawain only takes the challenge because of arrogance. Arthur and Gawain had no prior personal relationship. I'd not have hated this so much if it wasn't compounded by it cancelling out the first two things. Gawain is portrayed as having no respect for his woman, or any woman, maybe his mother? He has to be pushed by Winifred to regain her head. Gawain is portrayed as arrogant, covetous and ready to pass the buck, or the bare minimum than have any honor or decency. It didn't matter the kid in the wasteland was shithead bandit, the way Gawain acted towards him, when he gets robbed, it almost feels like he deserved it and Gawain doesn't learn a damn lesson. I'll admit him taking the sword to cut his ropes and cutting his hands was a neat sequence, it shows him go from stupid, to almost clever and having will to survive...you know traits he had in the poem, but he stops showing these traits or growing. Basically Gawain has to be dragged kicking and screaming to help people and shows no fortitude when facing temptation, or when showing respect towards others, it's exhausting. You don't make this kind of journey story without character growth. Why are you skipping this? Also is it just me, or is this like when you take Frank Miller Batman and transport him onto a Bill Finger story? This is at best Thomas Malory Gawain (and this is charitable) transported on the earlier Pearl Poet's story. Stop it. It's not tonally correct and goes at odds with the story and the set up characterization you'd need to tell it. Speaking of which, you know how I get through the oof... of Liam Neeson Gawain in Excalibur? By pretending he Agravain instead. Here...I don't even think Gawain could pass as Mordred in spite of his covetous nature, lust and entitlement. Why? because I don't think even Mordred is this dumb to warrant this hubris. Essel being invented as a tacked on love interest just to be shit on utterly and for what? I don't think I have much commentary here as there is no Essel I'm aware of to compare, or stack up. I just notice this trope of like...usually if you include a sex worker in Hollywood she often has a heart of gold, she often has her own sense of values that goes at odds with society, but is more true and less hypocritical than a privileged lady’s. I thought that's what they would've done with the added trope of back at home sweetheart to contrast and pit her against the despicable femme fatale of Lady Bertilak and her adultery and her ladyship...and I'm glad they didn't...but you did nothing with Essel than to shit on her for existing when you made her exist, you know. Lady Bertilak being portrayed as the seductress devil incarnate. Look I know adultery is a touchy taboo, but uh her and Gawain hit it off in the poem, dammit! Her values and his values come to clash, but here it's played off as Gawain is stupid and covetous and Lady Bertilak wants to prove something because...? If my brother's theory that she's a figment of Morgan Le Fay's magic, then I'll take this as a lesson of Gawain is impulsive and covetous and his mom knows it, but he don't want to fuck his mom, but he wants her power, and Morgan wants to teach him a lesson... I guess. Hey we don't have misogynist speeches in this movie, but we'll make sure to have the movie drip with it with no point, or commentary. Pass. Lord guilting, extracting and initiating the same sex kiss and only once. Poem automatically better that Gawain don't have to keep being reminded to keep his part of the bargain and he does it willingly more than once. What he doesn't do is give up his belt...gods how did we get more homophobic as a society that the homoeroticism here is worse? Catholics of the middle ages officially had no issue doing same sex, passionate kissing until it lead to sex. The Ending: The gods damn ending. In the movie as is, Gawain waits to uphold his end of the bargain and get his head chopped off. He imagines, even though we don't get any fuzzy or distortion to indicate this is a dream, but I already knew this was coming, he runs away and comes home, is regarded a hero, he sees his lady, takes her from behind and if you saw Brokeback Mountain (I didn't, but DJ has) you know this is a sign of disrespect to women. He gets her knocked up, pays her off for the kid she wants to keep, he is crowned king, marries the ghostly saint lady he helped retrieve her head earlier from a lake in the movie (this right here is the damn tip off). There's no more dialogue by this point and everything is montaging, so you know by now it's a dream, though nothing is out of focus. He rules as a heartless king, his whore son dies from war he waged, he has a daughter, his wife dies. Gawain then takes off the belt that would've saved his life and his head falls off. This would've been the one good twist, except... In this sequence of events he never had his head cut off so uh... now we back in present day. He decides not to bitch out, Green Knight in a sexy way is like "now off with your head," movie cuts to credits with no resolve...uh what the fuck? What the fuck? This is not good. You wasted the one twist in your dream when idk, you could've...

How I'd fix it: No dream sequence at all. No Incident At Owl Creek twist. Gawain comes home a hero and survivor of this game and ordeal. He wears this belt of shame. He becomes a well-renowned knight, but he bears a shame. One day he goes to take off his belt and his head falls off because he cheated to get this belt and to survive this encounter. There. Done. Improved your high concept movie that couldn't play any of the lessons straight from the damn poem without making everyone an asshole for no reason! Ugh! But nope you had to end it on we don’t know if Gawain lives or dies...because...it's dream magic made from his momma's witchcraft...?

Last Thoughts So then post-credits scene because Marvel because Pirates Of The Caribbean existed. A white girl who looks nothing like Gawain's daughter we see who didn’t pay off, or any child I can remember through this whole movie picks up King Arthur's crown that dream Gawain inherited and puts it on her head. Who is this girl? Are we gonna have an indie equivalent of of the Marvel Movie Universe/Universal Horror Monsters thing with ancient British legends? We gonna get a Life Of Saint Patrick next that crosses over? I don't know. What is this?

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ladyshandioftheendless · 4 years ago

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~Budding Blossoms~

While talking with @misslivvie I was telling her that I hadn’t written anything for Nicholas and Michael in a hot minute. I absolutely don’t want them to fade into obscurity! So I had an idea to make additions to their little family~ (More information about them later I promise~) Enjoy!

~Shandi

“How are they?”

Nicholas turned towards Michael walking into the room. “Doing well all things considered, luv.” he replied. “They’re damn lucky though. If they hadn’t found the palace when they had they would’ve died of exhaustion..or dehydration. Whatever decided to do ‘em in first.” Michael shook his head, looking over the three unconscious young men laying in their beds. They still hadn’t moved since they had been brought in, but at least they were breathing. He leaned close to one and brushed a gentle hand through his hair..revealing a pointed ear. “Well, my love..it seems we have a trio of elves here~”

It’s another week before the elven boys finally woke up. Michael stood at the foot of their beds, sending his guards away so they wouldn’t be frightened. The boy in the middle sat up first, rubbing his head and groaning. “Where..are we..?” His voice was dry and scratchy. He rubbed at his throat as if it hurt to speak. “You poor thing..” Michael poured him a glass of water and handed it to him. “..don’t worry. You and your companions are safe here in my palace.”

“..my brothers..!” He looked around frantically, relived at the sight of the other two boy lying on either side of him. “..you..saved us..?”

“My guards did. They found you unconscious outside my doors and brought you inside so we could help you.” The boy sighed and drank his water..and didn’t stop drinking until the glass was empty. Michael picked up the pitcher and refilled the glass. “You must have been out there for a long time.”

“Months..but we..knew we had to make it to the palace. It was our only goal..”

“Here? For what purpose?”

“To find you..”

Michael was taken aback. They had journeyed so far..just to see him? “In that case..the least I can do is offer you sanctuary. What is your name?”

“I am Calle. These are my brothers Pelle and Nisse. We are great admirers of yours. We have come to learn the art of music from you. Will you teach us?”

“Little elfy if it’s music you wanna learn then you’ve come to the right place!” Nicholas said cheerfully as he entered, draping his arms over Michael’s shoulders. “What do ya say, luv..shall we take on the role of the good little mentors~?” Michael smiled. When his lover put it that way, how could he say no? “That sounds like a wonderful idea~”

~*~

It isn’t long before the elven boys were back to full health. It didn’t surprise Michael in the slightest. Elves were amazingly resilient. He’d always admired that about them. They were also dutiful and eager to learn. He would teach them about the wonders of music. He would help them train their voices and learn the intricacies of playing instruments. Soon they would be ready to become full apprentices in the musical arts.

While Nicholas helped them to settle into their new bedroom he took a look at the raggedy clothes they were wearing and shook his head. “Since you’re staying here now I think some new clothes are in order, eh?. Little makeover for ya?”

“W-we..would like to resemble the King..if possible..” Pelle said rather timidly. Nicholas smiled and patted his head. “Don’t you boys worry I got ya covered~”

The brothers greatly enjoyed their new wardrobe. They were elegant. More fitting to those close to Hanoi’s beautiful King. With some cleverly weaved magic the color of their hair was changed from a drab, mousy brown to a brilliant, shining blond very similar to Michael’s. It actually surprised Nicholas how much they resembled his lover after he had changed their hair, and he was overcome with emotion. The young elves then looked at him in confusion, making him laugh. “It’s nothin’, promise. C’mon..it’s time to show you off~”

Nicholas was giddy with excitement when he opened the doors to the throne room. “Sorry if I’m interruptin’ anything, luv but I got a little surprise for ya~”

“Of course you’re not, darling~” Michael said, turning away from the portrait he was painting. “What do you have to..show..me..?” He blinked a few times as his new guests slowly entered. He stood up and stared, the paint brush his was holding falling from his hand. “Th-they look..”

“I know! Look like a spitting image of you, they do!”

“Yes..they do. It’s..positively uncanny..”

Nisse rubbed his arm nervously. “Forgive us..we wanted to look more like you. We are grateful to you for saving us..for allowing us to be here. We wanted to pay tribute..”

“Luv..” Nicholas approached his lover with a wide smile. “..what do y’think about takin’ em in?”

“Isn’t that what we’ve done?”

“Yeah but..I mean..givin’ em a real for life home. I’d hate to send em off. Doesn’t seem like they’ve got anybody where they’re from.” Michael’s eyes widened. “You mean..make them family..?”

“Yeah..our own little family~ I think it’ll be a great way to give our lives some purpose again. And they do admire ya..I’m sure they’d love to make ya proud..as their father~” Michael glanced at the young elves before looking back at his lover with tears in his eyes. “You..did this for me~”

“Course I did..always for you~”

“My darling..I would love to have a family with you~ It’s what I’ve always wanted~”

“Then let’s tell the little elfies the good news~”

~END~

#Shandi's drabbles #Shandi's KISSteriaverse #I'm sure nobody remembers these bois #but if you do I hope you enjoy this!#more to come~#~FaerieWood~

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mostlymovieswithmax · 5 years ago

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Midsommar [spoiler review]

Ari Aster has released his second feature film, Midsommar for which he writes and directs and it is a vast, expansive experience that threw me through a kaleidoscope of emotions, which amazingly is something I can’t say for a large number of horror movies coming out these days. That being said however, I’m not entirely sure that I could confidently class Midsommar as a horror. I don’t know if I’d really class it as any specific genre at all. It is certainly its own beast and for that, I would commend it highly. As something that is so dense with detail I will probably be jumping back and forth to moments in the story, giving this review a somewhat non-chronological structure. I can’t possibly touch on everything, especially as I’ve only seen it once. I believe it is something that needs multiple experiences to fully appreciate and is a movie I’d love to experience again.

The talent on display in regards to basically every technical aspect of the film is to be praised tremendously. I loved the cinematography and the look of the movie; the colours and the sets were all gorgeous. Mostly set in broad daylight, this stylistic choice is not something I’d immediately associate with a movie that was going for this type of vibe. Mixed with the set designs, the look of the movie made for a visual feast I couldn’t keep my eyes off of. What made the aesthetic qualities of the movie pop that little bit extra for me was the camera work and how it moved; I think of shots like when Dani goes into the bathroom in the first act and the camera pans over the door frame and twists to show her standing in the toilet of the plane. Or when they’re driving across Sweden and the camera flies over the car and turns to end up in an upside down position, perhaps foreshadowing what the characters are in for on this journey. It’s details like this that cracked a huge smile from me as I was watching, not to mention it separates Midsommar from so many other movies that try to depict suspense and terror. Furthermore, a feature that I found to be intensely thoughtful to accompany the fantastic visual display was the editing, or more specifically the cutting of shots. Often I see movies follow a certain formula when it comes to this facet; conversations cut together with a shot of one character and then a reverse shot to show another character; wide angles to establish locations or buildings, then cutting to the inside of the buildings themselves. There’s seldom ever much of a flare to the editing of a movie but I saw Midsommar capture that charmingly to add tension or even to highlight a joke. Accompanied by the score, a lot of these shots gave off an eerie tone that made me feel pleasantly uncomfortable. I loved the low, stretched out notes of the music that went that extra step further in order to make me feel slightly distressed. The sound design was incredible and generally it isn’t a facet I’d pick up on unless it was either done very well or very poorly. There were sections where even items like cutlery or people walking would catch my ear in a noticeably pleasing way. It shouldn’t be undervalued at all; great sound design can elevate a movie so much and I’m both glad and impressed at how well it was executed here.

Midsommar’s first act may have unfortunately contained a lot of my favourite moments. It introduced the main characters and worked to convey the relationships between Dani and Christian, as well as with Christian and his friends and how they all felt about Dani. I appreciated the time put into the dynamic between Christian and his friends and how they viewed Dani, although this was sort of thrown away once they got to Sweden; I never saw any sort of resentment from them towards Dani after that. Pelle obviously felt a lot differently about Dani, going as far as to kiss her during the latter stages of the movie. I’m not sure why it was necessary to have Pelle feel this way and I don’t understand what it added to the story besides forcing some conflict into Dani’s relationship with Christian, which was being achieved on his end regardless. Along with this, we are also shown the unfortunate and upsetting demise of Dani’s family which acts as a plot point in helping Dani to decide upon accompanying Christian and his friends to Europe. Seeing what happens to Dani’s family may have been the most affecting part of the movie for me. To top it off, her reaction was absolutely chilling; I love how Aster gets such raw and believable performances in his films. Dani’s loud, pained cries made me feel for her so much and forced a deep discomfort into me that carried through as the credits and title came on screen. Something that intrigued me quite a bit during this first act is how conversations were filmed through mirrors. We would see a couple of instances of characters talking to other characters that were reflected in a mirror. These static shots that carried on for a short while added to the tense atmosphere and the conversations or arguments that were taking place, imposing a kind of separation between those we could see outside the mirror and those we see inside the mirror. The main cast we’re introduced to in America are all good and give believable and compelling performances. Florence Pugh was fantastic as Dani; William Jackson Harper was decent; Will Poulter was great and one of the stand-outs from my experience. Vilhelm Blomgren portrayed quite an interesting character in Pelle. Christian seemed to be the only one that rubbed me the wrong way because he was such a massive dick the entire time and he was never redeemed. Not to say Jack Reynor’s acting was bad (quite the opposite in fact), I just didn’t sympathise with the character. There are aspects to the characters and the decisions they make that wound me up a bit but in terms of the acting, they were more or less solid.

The secondary characters, or mainly the Swedish locals didn’t stand out as individuals to me, possibly because they were portrayed more as a collective, which is fine but I would’ve liked to have seen some character development from at least a couple of them. Now, I say it’s unfortunate that I derived the most entertainment out of this first act because after that, Midsommar suffers quite a bit from some pacing issues. This movie is almost two and a half hours long and it didn’t feel like it needed to be, especially with a plot that only allows for so much exploration. The plot itself is quite basic, but it is displayed as something so grandiose in scope that it comes across as being eminently pretentious. Could it be the insanely short production time that went into making Midsommar that makes it feel fairly lacking in a few areas? Or is this genuinely the cut that Aster wanted? Results from a quick search of the movie told me that around half an hour of its running time was cut due to the content it presented. Consequently, this will make the home video release different to some degree than the cinema release as it may come to our TV screens as a director’s cut. If this is in fact the case (and I do intend to buy the blu-ray upon its release) then could it be that we’ve not even seen the movie that Ari Aster wanted us to see? Will a director’s cut make it better, worse, or simply just longer? I for one am assuredly excited to see what the end result is.

A big problem I had with Midsommar is how early it peaked in regards to the horror. One of the first things the main characters are presented with upon arriving at this rural community is the idea of people being separated into groups depending on their age: the concept that they didn’t consider themselves adults until a certain age; that they didn’t work until they were old enough to; that they died when they reached a specific year of their life. They’re then told that a ceremony will be held the next day and while our main characters ask what it is, we see William Jackson Harper’s character, Josh smiling in a sly “I know what it is” kind of way. His friends try to ask what he knows, to which he does not divulge anything. What follows this is a scene wherein two elderly people sacrifice themselves by falling off of a cliff in front of the other members of the community. To me, this scene was beautifully unsettling for a number of reasons. Despite expecting them to jump initially, I was still shocked at how well it was executed both in relation to the story and in a technical sense. At first, the woman jumps off of the cliff, dying instantly with a bloodcurdling crunch. Of course the characters from America and the characters we are introduced to earlier from England are understandably shocked. Even Josh reels back in surprise which I found to be a little strange considering how he acted as though he knew what was going on beforehand. What did he think was going to happen if not that? We’re never told. As the old man approaches the edge of the cliff and the English and Americans clue in to what is happening, they react as I’m sure we all would to what happens as he prepares to jump. He lands in a much more awkward fashion with a smaller sound that is no less distressing. Only this time, he doesn’t die... The scene is then racked up a notch as he screams out in pain at having his leg torn off and his body broken on impact. The rest of the Swedish onlookers scream in pain with him and it is terrifying to hear. I imagine this painted a picture to most viewers that the locals we are presented with in this rural Swedish village are all somewhat spiritually connected; are able to empathise with one another's emotions in a way that makes them able to feel the sensations of those they’re close to. Undoubtedly the torment doesn’t stop there and Aster has to quite literally hammer home what this ceremony is all about. In order to put the old man out of his misery, a group of people take it in turns to smash his head in with a large mallet, causing further stress to the main characters, but stopping all of the Swedish inhabitants from screaming in agony. That whole scene… was awesome! I loved it and it stands to be maybe my favourite sequence from the movie. The unfortunate part is that after this happens, I expected everything to amp up a bit and start showing me more uncomfortable and fucked up things but sadly this wasn’t the case. In a sense, it was as if the movie blew its load on this earlier scene and didn’t focus on too many other stand-out plot beats which was pretty disappointing. For some reason, Will Poulter’s character ‘Mark’ had slept through this ceremony and as a result, hadn’t experienced what his friends had. Whether this was done for a specific reason I’m not picking up on or simply so that he could continue to crack jokes is beyond me. I will give credit where credit is due: this movie made me laugh when it wanted me to. The inclusion of comedy in Midsommar was expertly handled and never made it come across as a lame horror-comedy.

Prior to this and upon arriving in the green fields of rural Sweden, the protagonists all get high and lie around in the grass. While the comedy kicks in here, it is also notable for the reaction of Dani as she starts to feel the grief of losing her family once more and urgently tries to get rid of it. I liked this scene and how it played slightly with the visuals which foreshadowed the inclusion of drugs and their effects later on in the movie. Sadly with what happens to Dani’s family in the first act, I’m not sure it was that purposeful overall, despite liking how it was depicted. Yes, this event does explain how Dani acts for sections of the film and yes I did like seeing it act as a catalyst for why she goes to Sweden in the first place, but I’m not sure it was hugely purposeful when referring to the movie as a whole. It never came back in a way that affected the narrative or the story that was being told. It was just something that happened to the protagonist that caused her a great deal of upset. Almost as if they could have died in any number of terrible circumstances and it wouldn’t have made a difference. While I really liked the characters’ first drug trip sequence, I got worried early on that Midsommar was going to take an approach that put the trips and the drugs at the forefront of the movie, akin to something like Shrooms (which was just awful) and sure, they played a big part but it did more to enhance what was actually happening rather than fabricate a story that didn’t really take place, just to have them wake up in a field exclaiming how crazy their collective trip was.

As the characters start to become more and more under the influence through the drugs that they’re given, we see the world warp around them. Trees ripple and form faces; the food would shift; flowers would pulse in accordance to Dani’s breathing; characters’ facial features would distort. Dani starts seeing grass sprouting from her hands and feet, or vines mimicking her movements to show how she’s progressively becoming part of this society. Characters like Christian however start experiencing the drugs in a negative and more aggressive way, as if they’re being attacked by senses! There is unease and terror in how Christian experiences the festival, whereas Dani’s experience is comparatively happier. The contrast of how Dani was being accepted and Christian was being rejected was thrilling to see, markedly in how Dani’s demeanour changed as she found herself integrating with everyone else. Although I must say I’m not sure why they kept drinking that drugged water that looked like muddy urine. Christian almost refuses to drink it until he’s told “it’s spring water with special properties” which was all the information he needed apparently! What properties were they? Doesn’t matter; he drank it anyway. The moronic decisions manage to manifest more throughout the movie, however. Regrettably we don’t get to see much of Mark and Josh’s experience with the hallucinogens or even much of the festival because their time is cut short in a manner I didn’t find all too entertaining. Mark is the first to go from the original team. Due to urinating on a sacred tree, he is murdered off-screen and has his face cut off. This could’ve made for a superb scene if it were done right but the way it was handled came across as hollow. Elements akin to this could have worked to convey unease and terror, but they are implied rather than shown which can work in some circumstances but I would’ve liked to have seen something more memorable and haunting instead of seeing an after-product and thinking “okay well I guess that happened”. Show him being mutilated, you cowards! You don’t even have to show it; just possibly what happens in the lead up! It would’ve made for a far more compelling story beat! All that happens is a girl comes up to him as he’s eating with everyone and asks to show him something. His response is just “she’s gonna show me” and leaves. He doesn’t question what he’s about to be shown; he just gets up and wanders off with a girl he doesn’t know in a foreign country, going purely off of Pelle’s word that everyone there is great! What a way to force that in! Josh is next on the kill list because he took some pictures of a sacred book when he knew he wasn’t supposed to because either he’s just insensitive to other peoples’ cultures, or he thinks it’s okay as long as it’s for his thesis. After this happened I kind of dropped off. With most of my favourite characters gone and the remaining characters questioning everything less and less, not only was there not much left to ground the film in a world that would consider the things that were happening to be deeply disturbing, but also from the protagonists’ perspectives as well.

I’ll acknowledge I’ve been railing on this film a considerable amount... with good reason. But despite being heavy on the criticisms, I still consider Midsommar to be a good, even great movie! I adore films that beg me to revisit them and learn more about them with each watch. Sprinkled throughout Midsommar are a tonne of small details and I’m sure I didn’t pick up on everything; in fact I hope I didn’t. Along with strange “what the hell?” moments like putting scissors under the baby’s pillow (I think that’s what it was anyway) that I still don’t understand, there also exists things that maybe don’t need to be thought about but are still nice to see included, such as goats and cows that took the immersion into this countryside village a notch higher. Or to draw from more obvious details that add depth to the people: going back to how they would all scream in unison, for instance to empathise with another’s emotions; when Dani sees Christian cheating on her, all the girls she is with cry and scream with her, possibly to experience what she’s feeling and/or to show her that they consider her to be part of their people, which also manages to contrast with earlier in the movie wherein she’s with Christian in her apartment but she’s the only one experiencing the intense pain as Christian tries to comfort her.

Upon entering the third act I started to wonder what the actual point in Midsommar was. Could it possibly be one big metaphor for grief and how we can choose to deal with it? There didn’t seem to be that grand of a point being made, either in the relationship between Dani and Christian, the relationship between America and Europe, or just the presence or influence of cults and religion in different parts of the world; those ideas seemed somewhat surface level. So I can’t help but think it was trying to convey a more metaphorical meaning. Either that or its meaning was just “Europe’s weird, man”. In this way, the finale didn’t leave much of an impact besides leaving me feeling quite hollow and disappointed, wondering what all that had been in service to. I can’t say Midsommar blew me away with much of what it showed me. There were a few decisions made which weren’t all that original in how they were executed and there were some dumb moments that had me questioning why they were included at all. Yet I would never say it isn’t unique in what it achieves; I can’t disregard all of the jaw-dropping technical showmanship and the interesting, creepy ideas that managed to meld horror and suspense and mystery and comedy into something I simply don’t know how to categorise. I could talk for ages about this film and still not touch on absolutely everything about it. Ari Aster is clearly a talented guy and I can’t wait to pick up the blu-ray and watch it a million more times. Along with that, I am for sure going to see whatever he puts out next. These are the kind of movies I love seeing and supporting and I honestly can’t recommend Midsommar enough because it’s something I feel will resonate with different people in different ways, evoking more than a few interpretations of it. It is so worth the watch.

★★★½

#midsommar #midsommar spoilers #dir: ari aster #movie #review

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magicmanias · 6 years ago

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A Night To Remember

Pairing: Loki x Reader

Summary: One night. One magical, thrilling, romantic night. She promised him one night to remember—but nothing more. No commitments, no strings attached, no names are given; just a night of excitement and adventure. But what will Loki do when he can’t stop thinking about that girl he had a midnight adventure with?

Post The Avengers

Warnings: Fluff, Angst

Word Count: 2.4k

A/N: God, I love Loki...

Also, eventually, there’s a link to a song in this, and I tried to find a piano version, but they were all... kind of crappy, so I just put the original song in.

Being stranded on Midgard, stuck on the Avengers wasn’t the most glamorous thing Loki had experienced. In fact, not only did he have to live in that meagre palace in a small, plain room, he had to go on what the Captain called “missions.”

So now, here he was, back in Germany, with the rest of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. Except for this time, working with them. Their mission was to blend in with guests at a masquerade gala and gather intel about an illegal weapons sale.

“Ok Avengers, let’s get this done, so we can go home and celebrate,” Tony said, tying his bowtie. As he slipped on his mask, he said, “God, it sucks we gotta wear these things. People love my face.”

Everyone rolled their eyes. The masks were actually quite convenient as Stark was well... internationally famous and people were beginning to recognize several members of the Avengers as well.

“Everyone ready? We’re here,” Natasha said as she landed the Quinjet. They slipped on their masks and entered the gala. Loki placed his scarf around his neck and his mask on his face.

The team spread out and assumed their own roles. Loki, however, grabbed a drink and decided to explore the building and if he could get away with it, cause a little chaos.

Eventually, he made his way to a hallway behind the stairs. There were several rooms along it. As he wandered down, he heard something. It was soft and sweet. Music. From a piano in one of the rooms. The door was cracked open. Loki was curious and decided to peek inside to see who was playing.

There was a woman playing the piano and singing. She looked like he was a guest from the gala. She wore an emerald ball gown and with a matching mask with dark green lace. Her hair was pinned up in an updo with pearls. Her cheeks her rosy and were lips were painted ruby red. Her Y/E/C eyes were sparkling behind her mask. And her voice was just as sweet as her.

“We’ll meet again.

Don’t know where;

don’t know when.

But I know we’ll meet again

some sunny day...”

“I hope I’m not intruding, Miss,” Loki walked into the room and closed the door behind him.

You jumped from the seat in surprise and slightly in embarrassment. You turned to see a man with a mask on. Just another guest at this God awful party, you thought.

“Well, you are,” you responded. “But I don’t mind.”

The man laughed, “What brings you away from the fun?”

“I wouldn’t call it fun,” you answered. “Have you tried to converse with the other guests? They’re all so... dull.”

“I actually got out of there as soon as I could,” Loki admitted. Maybe he could have some fun tonight...

“You’re a smart man,” you laughed.

After a moment of silence, Loki asked you, “What’s your name, love?”

Suddenly, an idea lit up in your head. “Are you bored?” An innocent smile laid on your face.

“Always,” Loki smiled mischievously. “Do you have something in mind?”

“One night. You and me. We’ll leave this poor excuse of a fun time and make some magic of our own.”

“And how am I to spend the night with a woman whose name I do not know?”

“That’s the fun part. No names are given. Nothing personal will be exchanged. No commitment, no strings attached—just one night to remember. And that will be it. Just a memory to think about in the future. The memory of the woman you knew for one night in Germany.”

The man chuckled. “When do we start?”

***

You and the man ran out of the gala and took your masks off. “So, we begin by telling each other our names.”

“I thought we weren’t giving names?” Loki asked.

“We aren’t,” you replied. “Not our real names anyway. We’ll give each other fake names—nicknames. Just to call each other something.”

“So what am I to call you, Miss?”

After thinking for a moment you answered, “Hero. From Shakespeare?”

“Alright, Hero. Much Ado About Nothing. So then I suppose you can call me... Claudio.”

“Oh? Very forward assuming the name of her fianceé,” you teased.

“Well, I only have a night. I should make the most of it,” Loki shrugged.

“The fun starts now.” You grabbed Loki’s hand and strolled down the stone-paved street dimly lighted by old street lights.

Eventually, you arrived at an old run-down bar. A sign hung above the door that read, ‘Wähle Dein Gift [Pick Your Poison].’ “I’m afraid I’ve overestimated your company, Hero,” Loki teased.

“You judge too quickly, love. I’m starting to think you can relate to Claudio,” you quipped. Loki raised his hands in surrender before you dragged him into the bar.

You sat down on a bar stool and faced “Claudio.” “This place happens to have the best whiskey in all of Germany.” You then directed your focus to the bartender. “Bitte zwei Whiskys [Two whiskeys, please].”

“You speak German?” Loki asked you.

“Genug [Enough],” you shrugged, taking a sip of your drink.

“You are full of surprises, Hero.” Loki copied your actions and sipped the whiskey, “You’re right. This is amazing.”

“Well it’s a good thing I can do this,” you smiled wickedly and you reached over the counter. You grabbed a bottle of the whiskey and hid it under your skirt.

“You’re wicked, pet.”

“It’s ok. The owner knows me,” you assured and ran out of the bar.

***

Eventually, the two of you ended up on the beach. You carried your heels in one hand and the bottle of whiskey in the other as you walked along the beach.

“It’s so peaceful here, Claudio.” You hummed along with the crashing waves and spun around in your dress.

“Do you dance, Claudio?”

“I’m afraid it’s been a while since I have, dear Hero,” Loki replied. He thought about the balls his family used to host all those years ago back on Asgard. He looked at you dancing in the sand. You looked ethereal in the ocean moonlight. Your once pinned up hair, now cascading down your shoulders, free and wild.

“Dance with me.” You took hold of his hands and placed one on your hips and kept hold of the other. You placed your spare hand on his shoulder.

“We don’t have music, love,” Loki said softly.

“Sing,” you suggested enthusiastically.

“I don’t sing, my dear,” Loki shook his head. “You have a lovely voice though, Hero.”

“Yes, you’ve heard me sing. It’s your turn,” you looked at him pleadingly. “And if you’re worried about humiliating yourself, it’s ok. I mean, it’s only one night we’ll be together.”

Loki spun you around. “You never did tell me. Why only one night? Well, yes it is exciting, but there’s other exciting things to do. So why this?”

You hesitated before telling him quietly, “Because if I end things before they start, you can’t.” Loki frowned at that. Why would you quit before trying?

“I don’t understand,” Loki murmured.

“You don’t have to,” you purred. “Just sing for me?”

“Fine. But only this once,” Loki caved at the sound of your voice. You leaned closer to him, closing the space between the two of you.

“Drøymde mik ein draum i nótt

um silki ok ærlig pell,

um hægindi svá djupt ok mjott,

um rosemd með engan skell.Ok i drauminom ek leit

sem gegnom ein groman glugg

þá helo feigo mennsko sveit,

hver sjon ol sin eiginn ugg.Talit þeira otta jok

ok leysingar joko enn —

en oft er svar eit þyngra ok,

þó spurning at bera brenn.Ek fekk sofa lika vel,

ek truða þat væri best —

at hvila mik á goðu þel´

ok gløyma svá folki flest´.Friðinn, ef hann finzt, er hvar

ein firrest þann mennska skell,

fær veggja sik um, drøma þar

um silki ok ærlig pell”

You rested your head against the man and closed your eyes, listening to him sing softly into your ear.

Loki dug his nose into your hair, taking in your scent. I wish I could do this every night with you... Loki backed up slightly and used his hand to lift your chin to meet his gaze. He stared into your beautiful eyes. He couldn’t help himself. He leaned in slowly. You were tempted to kiss him and you almost did, but right before you were about to connect lips, you moved your head at the last moment.

“We shouldn’t...” you warned.

“But I—“

“What language was that in?” you asked him, quickly changing the subject.

“Old Norse. My mother used to sing to me when I was little,” he said in a hushed tone. Why didn’t you want to kiss him?

“Oh, are you from Norway?” you asked with sparkling eyes.

“I thought we weren’t revealing things about ourselves, Hero,” Loki mimicked you sarcastically. You giggled and said, “Ok I’ll make a deal with you.”

“I’m listening,” Loki’s interest piqued.

“We’ll play a game. Whoever can throw a stone the farthest, can ask the other anything and they have to answer honestly with detail.”

“Deal. Prepare to spill your secrets, my dear.”

“Don’t get cocky yet, Sweetheart. I have an arm,” you retorted and picked up a stone.

“May the best man win.”

You threw the stone as hard as you could, reaching a solid one hundred feet.

“Impressive,” Loki noted, nodding slowly. “But prepare to lose.”

Loki took his turn, throwing his stone over twice as far as yours. To the point where you couldn’t even see it.

“Wow, you could kill with that arm,” you acknowledged. You began to walk away from the beach and back on the road. “So, what do you ask of me, Claudio?”

You walked along the pier when Loki finally asked, “Do you want to see me after this?”

You didn’t say anything at first. Finally you replied, “We said we weren’t going to see each other after this...”

“My name is Loki,” he blurted out. “Hero, darling, I want to see you after this."

“You weren’t supposed to tell me your name,” you cried. That name sounds familiar.

“I-I know, but... I love you,” Loki confessed. His heart ached at the sight of you and he was determined to keep you in his life.

“Loki, you don’t know me,” you told him. “You don’t know my name, where I live, my baggage...”

“Which means I love you for who you are,” Loki asserted. “You’re beautiful, kind, exciting, adventurous... Please, tell me your name.”

“I—“

“Loki! Where the hell have you been?” Thor roared. “We’ve been looking all over for you!”

“Brother, I was asking this woman for information. She was a guest,” Loki told the man who was apparently Loki’s brother. He was very muscular and carried a hammer.

“Wait,” your eyes widened in shock. “Oh God, you’re Thor. So that means... Loki? You’re the same Loki that attacked New York...”

“Loki, we have to go now. The others are waiting,” Thor urged.

“Just give me a moment. I’ll be right with you,” Loki told Thor. He turned to you.

“Please, just tell me your name...” he pleaded and grasped onto your hands.

“I can’t...” you sputtered. “You wouldn’t be happy with me anyways...”

“Hero, please. I want to see you again. Didn’t you have fun?” Loki sounded desperate. His eyes watered.

“Loki, we have to go now,” Thor said lowly. “I’m sorry.”

“Please,” Loki’s voice cracked. “I love you.” He placed his forehead on yours.

You sighed at the feeling of him being so close to you. “Y/N. My name is Y/N L/N.”

You looked up at the sky to see a jet flying away from Germany. A tear rolled down your face. “Bye, Loki.”

***

[Two Months Later]

Loki had been an absolute wreck ever since he left you in Germany. He missed you so much and he tried his hardest to find you but to no avail. The Avengers only avoided more due to his even worse attitude. He snapped at everyone, was reckless on missions, and locked himself away in his room whenever he could. The Avengers had no clue as to why Loki had a drastic change in behaviour except Thor, who kept quiet about it because he knew Loki wouldn’t want the other to know.

Eventually, the team realized that they needed to cheer Loki up because he wasn’t going to do it on his own.

“We’ve got to do something about frowny face,” Clint said.

“Maybe we can take him out,” Steve suggested.

“What do Gods even like? Orgies?” Stark asked.

“Stark, first of all, no. Just no,” Thor cringed. “And second, Loki likes theatre. Classic stuff mostly.”

“Shakespeare in the park it is!” Stark announced.

***

“I don’t wish to partake in your pathetic Midgardian events, brother,” Loki growled.

“Loki, please. Just have some fun. We’re doing this for you. We want to cheer you up.”

Loki thought for a moment. He did like theatre. And it was a Shakespeare play.

“Which one is it?” Loki asked sharply.

“Much Ado About Something? I don’t know. Something like that,” Thor answered.

“Much Ado About Nothing,” Loki corrected. He thought for a bit, “Fine. I’ll go.”

“Great.”

Loki took his seat and the lights dimmed. The actress playing Hero came onto the stage. Y/N? It’s Y/N!

Loki couldn’t believe his eyes. It was you. He found you. He could hardly focus on the play at all. All he could think about was you. When the play was over, he rushed backstage in search of you.

“Loki?” Loki turned around at the sound of your voice. There you stood in front of him.

“Y/N...”

“Oh my God, you’re here,” you were shocked. “How did you find me?”

“I-I... My brother made me go out,” Loki trailed off. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you. Why didn’t you come find me? You knew where I’ve been for two months!”

“I-I couldn’t bring myself to go. I missed you so much, but I’m not worthy of being loved by you. You’re a God,” you looked down.

Loki grabbed your face and lifted it and pressed his lips to yours. He kissed you with all the love he’d harboered over the past months he’d been without you.

After breaking off the kiss, he huffed, “Don’t ever leave me again.”

“You left me,” you laughed. “I remember being the one not leaving on the ship.”

“God, I missed you. And you’re more than worthy of my love. I love you more than anything,” Loki smiled against your lips before kissing you again.

“I love you, Loki.”

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sounddrive · 6 years ago

Text

Reflections

Warning: Contains major spoilers for The Arcana: A Mystic Romance within. You’ve been warned.

They should’ve noticed that something was wrong.

They should’ve noticed when Death had disappeared.

They should’ve noticed when Justice disappeared.

They should’ve noticed when Temperance disappeared.

Fool didn’t know what to expect when Devil said he wanted to visit. Granted, Devil had also said he had something, in his words, ‘interesting’, to chat with them about.

For the occasion, Fool had taken most of several weeks to rearrange their realm for their guest. Settled on the edge of a cliff was a pergola, accented in their preferred floral patterns and green trim. Down below, far, far down the cliff was a sea of slow moving lava. Granted, it wasn’t hot at all. An illusion, truly, but Fool figured Devil would’ve liked something reminiscent of his own realm while he visited.

The Fool paused when a little white dog on two legs approached them, tail wagging and tongue sticking out of their mouth.

“Scout?” Fool inquired.

“It’s him!” Scout responded in kind, panting with excitement. “Can I go get him?”

Fool smiled. With their nod, the dog-headed guide raced off down the path to retrieve Fool’s guest.

***

Once Devil had started up the final bend toward the pergola, Scout dashed elsewhere, chasing some birds into the treeline behind them.

Despite the fact Fool themself had granted the Devil entry into their realm, in all the eons of both their existences, Fool couldn’t help but feel cold dread ripple through them as their friend approached.

There was a glint in his bloody pupils.

“There you are,” Devil cooed.

“Where else would I be?” Fool replied in kind. “I’m not going on another journey for another few weeks. I need my rest!”

They grabbed one of the chalices settled on a three-legged table just off to their right, using the drink to mask their expression, their rapid kaleidoscopical interchange of emotions.

There was that dangerous glint in his bloody pupils. They hadn’t seen that glint in-!

Fool picked up the remaining chalice, offering it to their companion. “Water?”

“I don’t touch the stuff, but thank you for the offer my dear,” Devil nodded. His smile was amused. Friendly, even.

Fool knew better.

With a wave of their hand, Fool summoned a pile of pillows to appear on the polished stone floor of the small pergola. They picked a few cushions and lied back on them, looking to the ceiling. A menagerie of vines and stems of flowers cross-crossed over the support of net trellises. The mess of multitudes of flowers seemed to be looking down upon the both of them.

“What flowers have you got there?” Devil approached, still standing. His gaze was centered at the messy array of flora overhead.

“I don’t remember,” Fool admitted, sparing a glance to him. “I just picked a random assortment and threw them up there."

“Evidently,” Devil teased, pulling a laugh out of the other.

For the next while, they sat together in silence. It was comfortable too, but...

“Devil, what was the something...‘interesting’ you wanted to talk to me about?” Fool finally inquired. They set down their now-empty chalice on the floor, it’s golden visage mirrored in the polished stone beneath.

For a moment, there was that cool smile on his face. His gaze turned down to the path leading away from their spot. Fool traced where his gaze went from there: towards one of the ever changing, meandering paths Fool’s realm tended to twist and turn into.

They were going to discuss this whilst on a walk, apparently.

Devil held out one of his clawed hands, pulling Fool to their feet. The latter reached over to the table, where their walking stick rested. The Devil took a few steps out from under the pergola, pausing to allow Fool to make their way toward the other Major Arcana.

Devil shorted his paces, allowing Fool to walk side by side with him. As much as Fool would rather lead in their trek with no destination, they needed to know what the Devil was up to.

***

“You can’t be serious.”

“You know I am persistent.”

“I thought you hated persistence.”

“Only when it’s not by my own accord or when mortals ceaselessly make deals with me; you know this, Fool.”

“How many times is it now?”

“Were you keeping track?”

“Should I start?”

“Tch.”

“...Devil, what makes you think it’ll work this time?”

“...”

“...fine. Keep your secrets.”

“There’s another question I need to ask.”

“Oh?”

“Two, actually.”

“...yeah?”

“Are you going to stop me?”

“...I don’t have a stake in your games, Devil. I’m not so sure about the others, though.”

“Do not worry yourself over me, Fool.”

“Who said I was?”

“May I ask the next question?”

“...Go ahead.”

“Whose face are you wearing?”

***

S h i t.

“?!” Fool’s expression was enough to draw a cruel laugh from their companion.

“I beg your pardon, Devil, but that’s fucking rude,” Fool replied, curt. They brought their walking stick closer to their person, only to firmly plant it into the ground between them.

“Temper, temper, Fool,” the Devil dared to chide, “I know you like to copy humans but...I have never seen you wear one face for long.”

Fuck you and your observant ass, you goat.

“Are you stuck on this human’s face, Fool? That would be a first; whyever for? It is not in any of our natures to get... attached .”

Fool didn’t offer him a reply, but that apparently was answer enough.

“I shall see myself out, then,” he stated with finality, that smug smile still on his face.

Fool could only nod at him, watching as the Devil turned his back to them. Smoke dispersed from the deep tracks he left in the ground. The metallic tang of blood arose with the smoke as it curled in on itself, surrounding the departing major Arcana in a great whirlwind before completely disappearing.

In the mock lava sea a ways away from Fool, it stilled.

All was quiet.

Nothing stirred.

As fast as it had stilled, great portions of it immediately exploded into jets of steam and spouts water. The glowing embers of black and red gave way to the blackest-blue of seas, trimmed in sickly white foam. The cacophony of the environment shifting violently in the realm barely covered the string of expletives Fool chose to scream at their now-absent guest.

Eventually the realm had settled back down, albeit everything was pell-mell and thrown everywhere it shouldn’t be. The pergola was destroyed, leaving only the now cracked, polished stone foundation the only thing somewhat intact.

Fool found themself sitting on their cliff. With their walking stick off to the side, and feet dangling over the edge, their gaze was off toward the hazy horizon.

A hooded figure head butted into their side, gaining Fool’s attention.

“Hi Scout,” they greeted the guide tiredly. The sight of Scout’s wagging tail peeking out from under their coat drew forth a small smile.

Fool opened up their arms, sighing in contentment when Scout softly settled into a hug with them.

“Better?” Scout inquired, eyes directed at Fool’s dour expression.

“...a little, but yeah,” Fool nodded. “Can you stay a bit, Scout?”

The other's answer was in the form of Scout bodily flattening themself over Fool’s lap, tail wagging blindingly fast as Fool petted the other’s furry head.

What to do, what to do...?

Days.

Weeks.

Months? Almost a human’s year?

Fool had found themself unable to shift out of the form they had taken on. It was disturbing; changing shapes was the easiest sort of magic! Why were they stuck!?

Fool removed the mirror from their storage locker. Removing the thin fabric of their hood that veiled their head, Fool frowned at the face that frowned back.

“You’re dead,” Fool spoke, their voice soft. “I wish it wasn't the case, but you are. You...you humans have the shortest little drops of lives. And then there’s you and so many others in Vesuvia. You all threw yourselves into that mess, wanting to find a cure. Why would you take such the risk? I could’ve kept you safe. You could’ve stayed with me; your magic would’ve been strong enough to pull that teacher of yours into here too, fear of magic be damned...”

A sigh escaped the Major Arcana. Pulling the hood over the face that wasn’t theirs again, Fool returned the mirror to it’s spot before locking it away.

***

Sometime later...

When Scout barked up a storm, far down the path from Fool’s seated spot on their cliff, the Major Arcana didn’t know who to expect. The one human that had been able to visit in any recent stretch of time was dead, after all.

Fool remained seated, but nonetheless twisted themself around to look behind them. They watched as Scout ran circles around the stranger that approached. There was a colorful feather tucked into a ribbon band around the base of the hat’s crown. The fabric of the red scarf circled around the human’s neck and over their mouth and nose was mottled and blotted. The damage on the fabric was from use and age, but evidently, it was well loved and cared for. Slung over the stranger's shoulder was a heavy leather bag, it’s contents clinking together.

The aura that exuded from this magician was powerful for one their age. Even if the magician was over 200 paces away, it was then that Fool realized exactly who the magician was.

The Fool thought it wise to pull the hood of their attire over their face, casting their visage in the darkest shadow. He had suffered enough, in their opinion.

There was no need to have the face of a ghost greet him.

Sometime much later...

I should have noticed that something was amiss.

I should have noticed when I was not the only one of us to be in attendance during the ritual.

I should’ve noticed that the magician, Asra, the very desperate, the very mortal Magician Asra would have done something as unprecedented as this. Humans’ emotions were easy to exploit, but...

Fool...

Fool, did you know what would have happened to you, after?

For what? The cost of what you have done, what you have sacrificed, just to circumvent my plans? Did you not realize the extent of what you had done? What you’ll never get back...?

No matter. No matter, in the least.

Entities of our kind are a patient sort, after all.

It’s only a matter of time.

It’s only a matter of time...

A/N: The fic was a labor of love and determination in 5 hours to get all this down (not including the editing). I've been wanting to work on something like this, especially with the big reveal about MC's nature during Nadia's route at the end of The Star and the beginning of the Moon chapter.

I hope you guys enjoyed reading it as much as I had writing it.

#The Arcana #The Arcana spoilers #The Devil #The Fool #Asra #Scout #my fic #my work

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golvio · 5 years ago

Text

So, some thoughts about Midsommar:

The beginning was probably the scariest part of the movie, if only because of how little actual sympathy Christian and his douchebag friends gave Dani.

“That’s abuse.” Fuck off, dude. Dani has done nothing but consider your buddy’s feelings to the point where she’s beating herself up about considering asking him for emotional support through her sister’s repeated suicide threats.

Christian was the one who was emotionally abusing her by sticking onto her like a leech. He wanted a woman to play Sexy Mommy for him, with her always sexually available while also doing all his chores for him and encouraging his lazy, passive ass while took his sweet time figuring out what he wanted to do with his life.

If they’d ended up married, he’d have expected her to put her dreams eternally on hold for him while he halfheartedly chased whatever whim fluttered into his head before he inevitably lost interest and moved on to the next thing. Now he’s being a whiny dipshit because he was the one who’d have to take care of her because she was dealing with emotional neglect from her parents and a painful, codependent relationship with her sister as she nosedived into her own downward spiral.

The problem with Christian was that he wanted to enjoy the power and agency of being “in charge” even though he didn’t actually want the responsibility that came with actually making a decision and committing to it, much less deal with the consequences. It showed in how he argued with both Dani and Josh; he’d never actually verbally commit to anything even if he’d made up his mind so that he always had an out. He could always “change his mind” if someone got angry at him, or worse, turn it around so he could play the victim. Ooh, he didn’t actually say yes or no. Why do you have to attack him for no reason? You must be craaaaaaazy! Poor widdle him!

He was only scared to end the relationship because then he’d have nobody to mollycoddle him for a few months. Boo-hoo. That annoying passiveness showed up in how he could never commit to one woman, too. He was always chasing after the next shiny new toy that would make him feel special for a while. I bet he would’ve cut and run with the waitress if they’d gotten together, or Maja if she’d given him the choice instead of throwing him away when she no longer needed him.

He was a manipulative little shit. The worst thing was that he wasn’t even that good at being manipulative, unlike Pelle and his brother. Josh himself said that Christian used the same tactics over and over again to try to weasel people into doing what he wanted, and was so blunderingly obvious about it that anyone who’d known him for long enough could see it coming. The only reason why the people in his life stuck around was because they decided to let him stay for their own reasons.

The only reason Dani put up with his horseshit for so long was because she had literally nobody else to lean on. It also seems like her parents frequently ignored her because they had to take care of her sister, so I’m pretty doubtful she ever had that sense of “home” or “family” even before her whole family died. Pelle must have been so excited about her coming because he knew her isolation made her an easy mark for brainwashing. All the cult had to do was love-bomb her while feeding her shrooms and she was like putty in their hands.

As for Josh, he at least had a sense that he deserved to be treated with basic respect, if only because he was a man and not one of the “crazy bitches” they always made fun of when they thought nobody was listening. Still, despite actually calling out Christian, he ended up going along with his stupid “collaboration” idea. I assume this was because the boys all had some kind of dudebro drinking buddy suicide pact like they always do in buddy comedies, and putting his foot down would’ve broken the Bro Code.

Am I necessarily glad that Christian got slipped a mickey and was raped by Maja while the community’s mothers watched? No. Nobody deserves to be raped. But, thematically, it was fitting. He wanted the blamelessness of being passive while reaping the rewards of being active, riding the coattails of his more decisive friends and benefiting from their hard work. In the end, he got exactly what he wanted. He was blameless at that point because he literally had no say in the matter; Maja and the elders made the decision for him, and he was helplessly dragged along. He was totally blameless. He just didn’t count on the people with agency actually taking charge and making decisions that went against his wishes.

He was used to the more active partners in his passive-aggressive little dance either rolling over and playing dead because they felt they had no other options (Dani), or protesting a bit but then eventually going along with what he wanted because it was easier to let him hang around than deal with the drama of getting rid of him (Josh). He didn’t count on the next woman he chased leaving him to rot after she had the pregnancy she wanted. He didn’t count on Dani finally giving up on him, detaching herself from him and attaching herself to the Harga instead. Unfortunately for him, by that point his more decisive friends who’d have stuck up for him were already out of the picture, leaving him alone and helpless. For once, he was the one cut off from the group, not Dani. His isolation rendered him more and more passive until he couldn’t even protest being shoved in a bearskin and dragged along to his death. All he could do was sit there and stare out the door at Dani as he burned alive.

This brings me to the chief complaint I’ve heard from others about this movie: that the other characters weren’t as well developed as they could have been. That they didn’t dwell on Dani’s family after her sister committed murder-suicide. But that’s the thing. The movie wasn’t about them. It was about Dani. It was always about Dani. The whole movie revolved around Dani and her connections to other people.

Her parents were more connected to her sister than they were to her because her sister needed so much time and attention. Dani seemed like the “good girl” who pretended she didn’t have needs or feelings in the hopes that this would please her parents and they would love her, even if all that ended up doing was isolating her. Under the laws of sympathy the Harga functioned under, when Dani’s sister died, it was only natural that she’d take her parents with her. They were connected, so they felt what she felt, experienced what she experienced. We didn’t dwell on them after their deaths because there was no point. They were out of Dani’s reach (and perhaps always had been).

The other characters don’t tell us much about themselves because they’re not connected to Dani, either. They were more connected to Christian than Dani, and they didn’t even really want her there because she wasn’t really part of the group, just an annoying appendage to Christian that had stupid girly stuff like “needs” and “feelings” unlike the random girls they saw on the street that they could safely fantasize about because they were strangers. Pelle was the only one who had some sort of past in the audience’s eyes because he was the only one who ever reached out to Dani, even if he had his own designs on her.

The cult drew her in because they mirrored each other, shared every emotion together, no matter how loud or ugly. They didn’t feel the need to hide themselves from the others just because their emotions might inconvenience them. They comforted their dying by experiencing their death-throes right along with them. There was something so strangely reassuring to Dani about seeing her grief reflected back at her by tens of screaming faces. Even if she was still suffering, at least she wasn’t suffering alone. As Dani went further down the rabbit hole, she experienced that same sense of transcendent connection until she didn’t even need to understand what the others were saying to her, she just knew. She went along with whatever the elders and the other women told her, because she was no longer Dani, but part of a greater whole. Even as the May Queen, she simply became an avatar of nature that the others, in turn, followed. She went along with the ritual even though the Dani from the early movie would have broken it off. That’s why she was buried under the flowers. She was no longer Dani, but a vessel of the will of the natural forces that demanded the sacrifice. She was in too deep to resurface, consumed by forces that connected the whole community together. Even if she grieved for Christian, for her lost life, for her innocence, at least she wasn’t grieving alone.

That’s why she smiled at the end. She felt held.

#midsommar #midsommar spoilers #long post #no seriously this is a long-ass post so buckle up #rape tw #suicide tw #abuse tw #essays

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a-woman-apart · 6 years ago

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Old Obsessions

In the spirit of trying to write at least one post a month- and out of a genuine desire to get a few things off my chest- here I am, writing a post.

I will begin with the life update portion of the post. My health has been somewhat imperiled. I won’t go into details on here (yet), but I’m getting some tests done because I’ve been dealing with some pain. I already have trouble getting out of the house because of depression and anxiety, and these problems are being exacerbated by issues of pain and fatigue. Whatever it is, I’m hoping for a diagnosis that A) shows that it’s an actual thing and I’m not just crazy, and B) is an actual thing that is easily treatable. In the coming weeks to one month I should find out what I need to know.

The second thing of note is that at the end of the month I will be returning to the community college where I graduated from to take some CORE classes. Since most of my courses were in music, and I only took a few COREs, I have two semesters worth of classes to take. I am doing this to save money, and to ensure that when I go on to the university in the fall of next year, I will be jumping immediately into undergraduate-level courses. I am in fact taking so many COREs that by the time I am done I will have an Associate of the Arts degree in addition to my Associate in music- all before I even make it to the university. I do have to take physical education to make that happen- a course that wasn’t required by the university- but that is just one extra thing.

I have “mixed feelings” about returning to school this fall. It is true that I got the whole summer off, for the first time in years, but it still feels so soon to be returning. The thought of being piled on with classwork all over again has brought out feelings of depression and sadness in me. I know that I am following the path that I have set out for myself. My goal is to be college-ready in the fall, but it all feels so overwhelming. I feel excited about the thought of getting another degree in the process of taking all these COREs, but I’ve been in school for 4 years already and I really feel it.

Another discouraging aspect about going to school again is the fact that I probably won’t have the time or energy to get a second job to help pay for my living expenses, unless it’s a side hustle that I can do from home. When I got on SSDI, it meant losing my Medicaid, so I now have $134 taken out of my monthly check to go towards Medicare. In addition to that, I am required to pay $38 a month as a copay for the insurance I get for my mental health visits. That doesn’t sound like a lot of money, but my total income from my job and SSDI is not very much (S/N: I will probably talk to my clinic and see if I still need their insurance now that my Medicare part B has kicked in). Adding almost $200 to my monthly expenses is no joke.

I want to be able to take care of myself. I have always known that I needed to find more hours or better employment. In a way, going to classes again (full-time) is in fact a help to me, because I usually get a Pell Grant refund after my books and classes are paid for. That extra money helps me to put a little in savings and to pay pressing expenses. I’ve always known, though, that I can’t go on depending on those refunds forever. Before I got SSDI, I had SSI, and I was caught between a rock and a hard place where I worked too much to get any meaningful help from them, but too little for the help they did give to cover my expenses. That was the summer that I had to get a second- and for a while a third job- and literally almost killed myself in the process. Later SSI too gave me a huge refund (probably because they had withheld too much from my check) and I used that money for all sorts of things, like paying off my credit card, paying a big portion towards my car note, saving for emergencies and travel, and even giving a bit to charity.

Like I said, though, I want to be able to take care of myself. Whether it’s depending on the Pell Grant or my SSDI, I am still dependent on the government in a huge way. I know the way that my mental health deteriorated when I had my summer jobs was a sign that maybe I’ve been declared disabled for a reason, but I still sometimes feel like I am “not disabled enough” to deserve to still receive services. Without government help, though, I wouldn’t even have insurance for things like my medicine, therapy, and doctor visits, let alone just having enough money to keep my car and stay in my apartment.

When it was just a choice between working and not working, 35-40 hours a week was not a big deal. I worked that plenty of times when I worked in the food industry. I would put in the hours and SSI would give me my check- that had been reduced by around 75%- and together with that and sometimes having food stamps I had a comfortable life. Now that I am a student- and have even more expenses- I just can’t do that anymore. During the summer last year I worked 15 extra hours on the weekend in addition to my 20-hr-a-week library job. I was taking very condensed summer classes as well that took up a huge chunk of my time. My dad was also starting to get sicker that summer and later in the fall someone did a hit-and-run on my vehicle. It is true that today the circumstances would be different. I’ll be doing full-time, but it’s a regular semester. Maybe I could work weekends if I really needed to and if I really tried. The truth is though, that I don’t know if my mental health can withstand that.

Maybe some people can say, “Well, you don’t have to be a student” and that is very true. What is also true is that I may never be able to rise above the poverty line and become self-sufficient if I don’t go to school. Just like working, going to school is an effort to improve my well-being and my contribution to society. The government investing in me now will definitely pay off for them in the future. Even though I now believe that capitalism is bonkers, there is some part of me that takes satisfaction in being able to say that I help feed the economy. Until we have something better and everyone living below the poverty line- not just disabled people like me- gets a basic income from the government, this is the best that we have.

Now I am going to make a total 180 and talk about something that had been the main purpose of this blog when this first started- my religious journey. I think the last time that I wrote a post about where I was with my religion was a couple months ago, when I visited a couple of Universalist Unitarian churches. I haven’t been back since my initial visits, for various reasons, but maybe one is that I am starting to agree with my boyfriend- what I am looking for probably can’t be found inside a church organization.

When my dad passed away in January, I wasn’t angry at God. I had already decided that if there was a Higher Power, it was very possible that said Power didn’t have complete authority to intervene in earthly matters. What it demonstrated to me instead was the failure of the Christian Word of Faith movement and how it sometimes hurts and disappoints its adherents. It didn’t prove to me that miracles never happened, just that they were far less commonplace than evangelists led us to believe and probably explainable using natural terms. It also demonstrated something that is obvious to me but not to many, that people who try to “sell” miracles are misguided at best, or are all liars and charlatans at worst.

I guess that the main reason that I haven’t been writing about it as much is that I’ve just stopped caring. In one post, I mentioned the quote that states that the opposite of love isn’t hate, but apathy. When you hate, you are still giving energy to a person, object, or idea. When you are apathetic, that energy simply isn’t there. This is destructive in its own unique way. Somehow, the ideas of Christianity have lost their place in my life. My family members are all still Christians, but we don’t talk about it. I’ll hear about Girl Defined and shake my head ruefully, but I haven’t put a lot of energy into dismantling their ideas. I’ll skim through my recommendations from Patheos, but no articles jump out at me that I really want to read. I can hear a sermon or see a person preaching on a street corner and feel nothing. I used to want to be able to answer every argument, and I would take aggressive or passionate people stating their beliefs as a personal attack. Now it’s all so blasé to me. “What’s new?” or “Who cares?” are all that I can manage to ask myself in those moments.

In a way, getting here is a personal victory for me. I know that when topics of religion come up, I will always have a point of view to contribute. Crafting that point of view, however, isn’t central to my life anymore. Right now, I am concerned with getting to the next stage in my life. I am about to go to a big university for the first time, and I’m scared. My boyfriend and I have gotten really serious; we want to move in together and share our lives, but we are more than 2000 miles apart and we barely have any money. My youngest brother is preparing to go to college, and my other younger brother is a supervisor at his job. My older brother and my sister-in-law want to build a house on my mom’s property. My little sisters are learning to drive and they want to start working. My mom wants to travel but needs to find some way to get the farm taken care of. We’re all growing older.

Maybe, in saying that, I’m proving the point that it’s important to start thinking about things like “eternity.” To me, it proves the opposite. It takes so much energy just to be focused on the here and now, why waste time planning for an eternity that might not exist? I do know that my dad held on to the hope of eternity until the very end. He burdened himself by worrying that his loved ones might not be able to share it with him. I could never give him the assurance that he needed, but I think he believed that God would make everything right in the end, and I’m happy for him for that. Sometimes it saddens me to think of his way of life dying with him, but ultimately that way of life was not the one that was best for me.

I am turning 28 at the end of next month. Maybe getting older is finally starting to afford me some perspective about the things that really matter. Maybe I will have that zero-fucks-left-to-give attitude that everyone says that you get when you hit 30. All I know is that right now things are looking much clearer to me now. I still feel inadequate as hell, but maybe that never goes away. All I can do is keep moving forward.

#life update #core classes #going to university #degree plans #mental health #mental illness #schizoaffective disorder #living with mental illness #living with depression #studyblr #old obsessions #faith #ex-christian #ex-evangelical #eternity #universal basic income #ssdi

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storiesforallfandoms · 5 years ago

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get out of here ~ mark;midsommar

word count: 2669

request?: yes!

“Hey! I love your imagines so much (epsecially the machine gun kelly one 😍) and I was wondering if you could write a will poulter (preferably in midsommar 🥵) imagine? Thank u 💖”

description: when one of the Hårga girls finds herself gaining feelings for one of their sacrifices, she urges him to leave as soon as possible

pairing: mark x female!reader

warnings: swearing, mentions of death, mentions of sacrifice

masterlist

fair warning, i haven’t watched midsommar yet so if anything is incorrect i’m very sorry

He approached her so suddenly, and was so forward, that at first (Y/N) wasn’t sure how to react.

“Hey,” he said.

She stared at him for far too long before realizing he had addressed her and she should respond. “Hello.”

“My name’s Mark,” he said, extending his hand to her. She look at his hand for a long time, unsure as to whether to shake it or not. When she didn’t, Mark dropped his hand. “Alright then, do you have a name?”

“Oh, yes, I’m (Y/N),” she finally responded. “It’s nice to meet you, Mark.”

“You too. Listen, I was just wondering if there were any snacks around here.”

“Oh, no. We only have our three square meals a day. Siv says it’s healthier for the body to eat at the same time every day the same amount of food instead of stuffing yourself every day until you’re full.”

Mark nodded, although (Y/N) could see he had tuned out early into her speech. “Right, yeah, so there’s nothing at all? You can’t even slip me anything from the kitchen or anything?”

(Y/N) shook her head. “Unfortunately not. It’s against the rules. I could get in serious trouble.”

“Right, wouldn’t want to get in trouble or anything.” Mark winked at her and (Y/N) couldn’t stop the blush that crept up her face. “Well, if I can’t eat, can I help you with what you’re doing to get my mind off of my hunger?”

(Y/N) smiled brightly at him. “Of course! I’m picking the flowers for the May Queen’s coronation outfit. We usually collect bright coloured flowers for it, so whatever bright flowers you see feel free to pick!”

Mark smiled back at her and knelt down next to her to help her start picking flowers.

The two got to talking while they picked the flowers together. (Y/N) got to know a little more about Mark, like where he was from, how old he was, his relations to the group he arrived with. He asked (Y/N) about herself, but there wasn’t really much (Y/N) could say. She didn’t remember much about her past life before joining the Hårga. She wasn’t even sure if she had a past life. She was sure she had been born within the Hårga.

By the time they finished, the basket she had taken with her was filled to the brim with bright flowers and Mark had so many that he could barley hold them with two hands. (Y/N) watched and giggled as Mark tried to pick them all up but continued to drop them.

“Here, pass them to me,” she told him, extending her hands to him.

Mark passed his flowers to her, his hand lightly brushing hers as he did. (Y/N) jumped at the contact, a weird feeling coursing up her arm and spreading through her body. Mark looked down at her, a ghost of a smile on his face. She tried to smile back, but she felt as though she couldn’t.

“I can’t wait to see what this May Queen outfit looks like if it’s made of all flowers,” Mark finally said as he pulled his hand away. “And I hope you win it. You deserve it.”

(Y/N) looked down at the ground and pushed a stray strand of hair back behind her ear. “I don’t think I deserve it, but I appreciate your hopefulness. We’ll see how it goes.”

An awkward silence fell upon them as (Y/N) held her basket so tightly her knuckles were turning white. Mark awkwardly rubbed the back of his head before asking, “Save me a seat at dinner tonight? We can continue our conversation then.”

(Y/N) smiled. “Okay, I would like that a lot.”

~~~~~~

She was helping her Hårga sisters to make the May Queen coronation outfit when the men entered the small room, being led by their leader, Siv. Nearly all the women came to attention at his presence, (Y/N) included.

“My lovely daughters,” Siv started, addressing the women first. “The May Queen dress looks absolutely beautiful. (Y/N), you did a fantastic job at picking out the flowers for the dress.”

“Thank you, sir,” (Y/N) responded with a proud smile.

Siv smiled back and addressed the entire room. “My children, tomorrow we take action on our third sacrifice, the American tourist brought to us by Pelle known as Mark.”

The room was buzzing with excitement at the reveal, except for (Y/N). Her face fell in shock and horror upon hearing Mark’s name from Siv’s mouth.

“He has disrespected our beautiful family by desecrating our ancestral tree, therefore he has made himself our next sacrifice,” Siv continued to explain. “Tomorrow, one of our sister’s will bring this man somewhere private, and we shall commence our third sacrifice of the midsummer.”

“It was an accident.”

The words were out of (Y/N)’s mouth before she could stop herself. The entire room turned to look at her in shock, including Siv. (Y/N) tried to shrink back into the crowd of women, but was shoved forward by her sisters behind her.

“What was that, (Y/N)?” Siv asked, his voice dangerously calm.

(Y/N) didn’t want to look at him, but she knew looking away would be the worst decision to make. “It’s just...he was unaware that that was a sacred tree. I think maybe it’s just...wrong to punish him when he didn’t know.”

Siv looked at her for a moment before approaching her slowly. (Y/N) tried not to back away from her leader in fear as he got so close he was mere inches away from her face. He still looked calm, but in his eyes (Y/N) could see the anger.

(Y/N)’s cheek stung as Siv slapped her across the face. She stumbled back again, exclaiming in shock. Her sisters mimicked her cry as they caught her, one of them hugging her close as she tried to keep her tears back.

“I will not be questioned,” Siv snapped. “He disrespected us, (Y/N). Whether he meant to or not, he did, and thus he will be our third sacrifice. And if you question me again, you will be forced to be one of the Hårga sacrifices. Do you understand?”

“Yes sir,” (Y/N) squeaked, holding her stinging cheek.

Siv nodded and turned away from her, leaving the room. Everyone else followed as dinner time was called. (Y/N) stood by herself, still holding her cheek. She tried to keep back the tears that were starting to form in her eyes. She took a deep breath and followed everyone outside to the dinner table.

She made sure to sit close to where the visitors would be sitting, leaving an empty chair next to her where Mark could sit.

The visitors all showed up at the same time. Mark’s eyes scanned the table briefly before they settled on (Y/N). Despite the shock and the sting she was still feeling, (Y/N) couldn’t help but smile a little when she saw him approaching her. However, her heart fell to her stomach when he sat next to her as she realized that this may be the last time she saw him.

No, she thought to herself. No, he will live. Both of us will. We will escape this place and we’ll never look back. I’ll make sure of it.

“Hello,” Mark said as he sat next to her. “Thank you for saving me the best seat in the house.”

(Y/N) looked around to see if any of her brothers or sisters were looking her way. When she was sure they weren’t, she leaned towards Mark to whisper, “I will meet you in your room tonight past curfew. Have your bag packed and be ready to leave.”

Mark looked at her in confusion, but the look she sent him told him to keep quiet. Instead of asking questions, he just nodded and gladly welcomed the plate of food set in front of him.

~~~~~~

He was waiting when she showed up, his bag in one hand like she asked. His friends were fast asleep, so deep in sleep that they didn’t even hear her enter.

“What’s this about?” Mark asked. “Why did I need to pack my bag? Where am I going?”

“We’re getting out of here,” (Y/N) responded.

“What? Why? Why are you coming with me? What’s happening?”

(Y/N) sighed. “If I tell you, you won’t believe me. I can explain everything when we’re safely away from here, but we need to go now while everyone is asleep, especially Siv.”

She reached for Mark’s arm to pull him along, but he pulled away from her before she could do so. “No, tell me what’s going on! Everyone has been so weird since I got here, and now you’re suddenly telling me to take my bags and to leave here without my friends? Why do I have to leave? Why can’t they? Tell me!”

“They’re going to kill you tomorrow!” (Y/N) snapped. She looked over her shoulder to make sure there was no one coming through the door suddenly to take her and Mark. When she looked back she saw Mark’s bewildered face.

“They...what?”

“I told you that you wouldn’t believe me,” (Y/N) muttered. “This midsummer ceremony isn’t as innocent as you think it is. During every ceremony, they bring in visitors and at least four of them are used as sacrifices. They’ve already sacrificed two, the English couple, Simon and Connie, and because you took a piss on the ancestral tree they decided you’re going to be the next one because of it.”

Mark ran his fingers through his hair as he started to pace in a circle. “I didn’t know that stupid tree was sacred! No one told me!”

(Y/N) grabbed his wrist, finally managing to get him to look at her. “That’s not important right now, okay? We have to go, we have to get out of here before anyone notices that I’m here trying to get you to go or else they’ll sacrifice us both.”

Mark nodded. He took his bag and hoisted it onto his shoulder. Finally, (Y/N) was able to take him out of the room towards the door.

(Y/N) poked her head out to look around to make sure no one was awake. All the lights everywhere were off, there wasn’t a single sound anywhere. There was miles of trees they’d have to run through to get anywhere, and even then she had no idea where they’d come out to. But she knew they had to leave and this was their only hope.

“Run for the trees,” she whispered to Mark. “Don’t stop going until you find civilization. Even if we’re separated, do not stop. Don’t turn back to look for me, just go. Okay?”

Mark nodded. (Y/N) could see the concern in his eyes as she said it, but she couldn’t worry about him now. She checked the perimeter one more time before stating, “Go!”

She and Mark took off running, their hands clasped so tightly together. (Y/N) pulled her dress up enough that she was able to run without getting caught up or without Mark tripping over it.

The minute she began to run (Y/N)’s legs started to burn. She had never done so much physical activity like this before, and now she was running as though her life depended on it, because it did.

Mark was already passing her as they ran. He was running with all his might to try and get out of there. He was nearly pulling (Y/N)’s arm off at one point. Realizing she was much slower than him, he stopped long enough to allow (Y/N) to jump on his back before taking off again.

They were running for so long that by the time they found themselves coming to a clearing the sun was starting to rise. (Y/N)’s heart was pounding out of her chest as she looked over her shoulder for the millionth time. Any minute now everyone would be waking up in the Hårga and realizing that she and Mark were gone. It was only a matter of time before Siv went looking, and she wasn’t sure if he would be faster than she thought or not.

Finally they came to the clearing, a wide road surrounded by the trees. (Y/N) was starting to feel so nervous her stomach was churning. If they couldn’t find a car or anything soon they were so screwed, and all of this would’ve been for nothing. She and Mark would be dead before they could even try to escape again.

And then, as if answering her prayers right away, a large truck was speeding towards them. (Y/N) hopped off Mark’s back and stood in the middle of the road, waving her hands and screaming at the truck. The driver jammed on the breaks just in time not to run her over.

“Can you give us a ride to the nearest town?” Mark asked the driver. “We don’t have a car or anything, we just need to get somewhere that we can either rent one or get to an airport or something.”

The driver looked between (Y/N) and Mark, hesitant to help. (Y/N) couldn’t blame him, they hadn’t slept in nearly 24 hours and they spent nearly the whole night running through the woods. They definitely looked terrifying, especially (Y/N) in her all white dress.

“We were attacked,” (Y/N) responded, coming up with an easy lie. “These...crazy people threw us into the trunk of our own car and brought us to the middle of nowhere. We’ve been trying to get away for hours, we only just found a road.”

The truck driver still seemed skeptical, but he agreed anyways. “I have a bed for long drives in the back, feel free to sleep until we get there. We could be driving for a while.”

(Y/N) and Mark thanked him as they climbed into the truck. They both immediately headed to the bed in the back. (Y/N) nearly sighed in relief as she laid back on the bed.

“I’m free,” she mumbled, mainly to herself. “I can’t believe it, I’m actually free. I’m seeing the outside world for the first time. Holy fuck.”

“Why did you warn me?” Mark asked her as he settled into the bed next to her. “Why didn’t you let them fulfil the sacrifice for the ceremony? I thought that place was your home.”

(Y/N) rolled onto her side and looked at him. “I...I just...I really like you. More than I think I’ve ever liked anyone in that place. When they told me you were the next sacrifice, I nearly cried. I knew I couldn’t let them hurt you. I knew I had to get you out of here, whether it was with me or without me.”

Mark reached forward to tuck her hair behind her ear, letting his hand linger on her cheek for some time. “I wouldn’t have left there without you. I like you, too. And since you took me away from there, I’d like to take you away from here. I’d like to take you back to America so that you don’t have to worry about those people anymore.”

(Y/N) hadn’t thought about having to worry about the Hårga anymore, but she knew Mark was right. She’d be looking over her shoulder for the rest of her life if she stayed in Sweden, worried that the Hårga would somehow find her.

She smiled and said, “Yes please, I would love that.”

Mark smiled back at her and settled down on the bed. (Y/N) laid next to him and he pulled her close to him. She felt peaceful and at relaxed, and she drifted off into a peaceful sleep.

This was so bad I’m so sorry.

#midsommar #will poulter #will poulter imagine #will poulter x reader #imagine #request #one shot #mark

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