#and i get daniel being held captive

[m0nst3rf3n]

no because what is armand's excuse for staying in the same clothes for six days

[the-breath-in-air]

I know some folks are upset the show painted Armand as a one-note villain in the finale but...like...actually the show didn't. Daniel painted Armand's actions as being a one-note villain. Daniel is the one who declared that Armand wanted Louis to die in the trial.

Daniel...the "bright young reporter with a point of view."

Daniel...who's "good at getting angles."

Daniel...who 2 sessions earlier discovered that in the 1970s Armand had held him captive and tortured him for a week and nearly drained him. And then fucked with his memory to make him forget all of it.

There are certain aspects of that reveal that the show is telling you are objectively true. Armand directed the trial. Lestat forced the audience to shout "Banishment" and saved Louis. But pretty much everything else that Daniel says is just his assumption...him drawing conclusions. And his conclusions are based on truths...but also influenced by his own perspective, which is "fuck Armand."

I dunno...it just seems clear this show is having characters unfold and reveal themselves slowly...and that these big reveals aren't really retconning everything we've seen before, they're more about re-contextualizing everything.

[lizardkingeliot]

I took a ton of notes during my rewatch of 2x07 just now but the thing I kept coming back to again and again was Armand's framing of the entire narrative and how it plays with truth vs lies in such an insidious way it's honestly brilliant in its cruelty. Truth being used as a cudgel not only against Louis, but against Lestat as well. And against, us, the viewers at home.

We obviously all know Armand is a very powerful 500 year old vampire who is not going to be held back by an infant of a vampire like Santiago. Like… Armand. Babe. Let’s get real. But that’s the narrative set-up. The coven, now being led by Santiago, has Armand captive behind his little rickety baby gate with Sam and his prop weapon not letting the puppy come out to play. He cannot prevent it! Poor baby. Someone get him a juice box and a snack.

Enter Lestat. The vengeful lover come to make Louis and Claudia pay for what they did to him. What's interesting here is that everyone—Daniel, Louis, Armand—acknowledges in Dubai that the trial IS a sham from the beginning. A tool to allow Lestat his revenge. But the truth of why it's actually a sham is being hidden behind a thousand layers of gaslighting and deceit by Armand. Lestat is merely another prop on the stage. Being forced to use the TRUTH of his love story with Louis—and to twist essential elements of their beginning as a couple—as a weapon to drive the final wedge between them so that Armand might have Louis all to himself. That's what this is about. A farce so that Armand might have what he wants more than anything in the world. Someone who will be with him always. Without Claudia, without Lestat... who else is there for Louis to run to?

The trial as we see it is told mostly through Louis' POV. It seems to be a true picture of how it all happened but the cognitive dissonance watching him try to reconcile what Lestat was doing on the stage with the framing provided by Armand (who cuts in frequently to assure us that Lestat shapes things to suit HIS narrative) is painful. Louis sees and feels and hears the sincerity of Lestat. A Lestat who is defiant from the jump and refuses to paint the story as butchery. It's about LOVE. It is always always always about the love. An entire sham trial about vengeance and murder framed around... love.

Everyone who's familiar with the books already knows Lestat didn't want to be there. I won't go into that too much but the show did a good job of showing us just how unwell Lestat was during the entire process. But there are also some really interesting moments where we are TOLD explicitly through Louis' recounting of the events that Lestat was not actually there for revenge. Namely, the moment when Lestat says HE deserves to be punished alongside them. These are not the words of someone who is seeking vengeance. These are the words of someone desperately rattling the bars of his own cage trying everything he can to prevent what's happening. Because unlike a certain someone, in that moment Lestat is quite literally unable to prevent it!

The entire episode is Louis trying to reconcile the conflicting truths that exist inside him: that Lestat was there for revenge, that Armand couldn't prevent the coven from exacting their cruelty, and that the Lestat who was on stage WAS sincere and emotional and fighting with everything he had to let the truth ring as true as it was when he was able. He refused to refer to Louis as the accused every time Santiago insisted on it. He would only refer to Louis by name. He would NOT allow the narrative to frame him as someone who didn't also do monstrous things to his lover. He was weeping and flooded with shame. Sincerely, genuinely remorseful for the awful thing he had done to Louis.

There's also something else here about Lestat acknowledging he tried to crush what he could not own vs Armand deceiving Louis into the false sense of control that is the entire basis for their relationship. Owning something he does not crush, merely confines. He's not crushing Louis with insanity, he's locking him inside his prison of empathy. He quite literally has Louis locked in a cage while allowing him to believe he's truly free. Free from the insanity of Lestat. Evil, vengeful, gaslighting Lestat who only uses the truth to shape the narrative for himself.

There's a lot more going on here. I can't possibly get it all out of my brain right now and I imagine I'm going to be picking apart the nuances for a while. There are so many layers. The truth vs lies vs intentional reshaping of the truth of it all. But if you rewatch, pay attention to Armand's face, the score that accompanies his recounting of events, the passive way in which he holds his body in both Paris and Dubai. He's locking Louis in a dream world where the truth is present in such a way it only serves to amplify its own distortion. I don't even think he's fucking with Louis' memory all that much, just framing it in such a way that Louis cannot see past what is right there in front of him. What he already knows. If only he had just a few more tiny pieces of the puzzle...

But he's trying to get there. He is getting there. The truth of Lestat is breaking though. Lestat is still present there with him in Dubai, as real as if he were really in the room. After 74 years, Louis can still recall every detail of his face, still smile at him recalling the truth of his memories. The truth he wouldn't allow himself to look at all the way. The truth he himself had to distort for his own sake because it hurt too much. He's allowing himself to see not only the truth of himself and his own actions, but the truth of Lestat. All the complicated, sincere truth of him. The truth of the one who truly could not prevent it.

[teecupangel]

Hi this Jasmine Miles from AO3! I was wondering how you might interpret this following setting:

Its 2020 and Desmond Miles has awoken held captive by a really minor front of Templars, here he meets Leonardo Da vinci and they not only become friends but because of already seeing him in Ezio's memories, they become lovers. In time Desmond learns Leo was an assassin and they meet up with Altaïr and Ezio who are also here. They eventually escape and they form a new group of loyalists with Desmond as mentor, gaining confidence as he goes.

You say minor front of Templars and my brain immediately goes for the Templar team that kidnapped Noa Kim in the Black Flag webtoon but that happened around 2023 XD

2020 is the year Valhalla’s plot starts so we can set this up to be a case of “While Layla and team were checking the mysterious message that led to Eivor’s remains, Desmond wakes up in an unknown Abstergo facility”.

The plot would be less like the webtoon’s Templars but more like the movie’s Templars.

Hell, we can even put Sofia Rikkin as the leader of the Templars that have ‘taken’ Desmond.

This sounds like Leonardo Da Vinci is an Assassin in this one which he wasn’t in canon so this could be a case of the Leonardo Da Vinci Desmond is introduced to is said to be a descendant of Leonardo Da Vinci who came from an Assassin family.

He’s a fellow captive who is being forced to watch the past Leonardo Da Vinci’s memories.

To be more exact…

How Leonardo Da Vinci was forcibly made to use the Apple by Cesare Borgia.

Desmond was in the same boat. They’re not looking for certain POEs or anything.

They want to see the memories of Altaïr using the Apple.

It didn’t take long before Desmond realized that they were looking for those memories because they have an Apple in their possession (kept in a different location because Sofia Rikkin is not an idiot, Desmond Miles is the most dangerous Assassin to ever wield an Apple easily after Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad) and they’re using data they gathered from the Animus sessions to try and create a ‘device’ that would control the Apple while they control the device because…

The Apple has a corrupting influence on everyone that wields it. Sooner or later, the user starts changing mentally and emotionally.

The only exception they could find to this rule were…

Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad and…

Desmond Miles.

Leonardo was being used as a ‘control’ subject, to give a more accurate reading to compare to Desmond.

Because reliving the times Leonardo Da Vinci used the Apple aggravate Leonardo’s Bleeding Effect.

But Desmond hasn’t had any negative effect at all.

That’s when Sofia Rikkins orders from two other test subjects to be brought in and to be given the same setup.

To see if Desmond Miles is the exception or…

If it’s his bloodline.

Now, this is where the plot separates into two routes you can take:

Route 1: This is really a case of historical AC characters being reborn in modern day

This is the less sci-fi and untwist-y plot. Ezio and Altaïr are reborn into the modern day. If you want to hammer in the ‘history repeats itself’, they are both from Assassin families that got hit by the Great Purge and are related to Desmond in some way. Ezio actually calls Bill ‘Uncle Bill’ and the Great Purge killed his father and brothers and Ezio only learned about his Assassin heritage after their deaths. He had been on the run with his mother and sister and he got captured because he stood his ground to buy them some time. He doesn’t know if they’re safe or they’ve been captured. Altaïr, on the other hand, was raised to be an Assassin from the get go in a facility very similar to the Farm. He’s related to Desmond’s mother (his late father is Desmond’s mother’s distant thrice removed cousin or something) and perhaps is even the grandson of the previous mentor (or so it’s hinted because Daniel Cross describes him as looking like his grandfather). If you really want to hammer some kind of past that will create conflict between him and Desmond, they’re both from the Farm and Altaïr is actually the only one who survived the failed rescue attempt back in AC1 so Desmond feels guilty and Altaïr is too awkward to clear any misunderstanding Desmond might have.

Because, technically, Desmond has more experienced among them (as Altaïr’s experience is more akin to an elite foot soldier), Desmond takes on a leadership role and that’s the start of the ‘let’s plan how to escape this place’ arc.

Route 2: This is a cloning plot that gives a ‘reborn AC characters’ red herring

Leonardo would note early on that “they say I’m Leonardo Da Vinci’s descendant and an Assassin. I don’t feel like either of them” which Desmond (and the narration) would mistake as Leonardo saying he feels like a failure.

No.

Leonardo has no memories of his life before waking up in the Abstergo facility.

That’s because he is one of the clones made from Leonardo Da Vinci’s remains using the technology left behind by the Phoenix Project.

Desmond has all his memories and believes he’s Desmond Miles but he actually isn’t and he finds this out when Altaïr and Ezio are placed in the same facility.

Altaïr only has memories up to that fateful night he spent with Maria.

Ezio only has memories of a night of passion with Sofia.

If they were reborn, why would they only have memories up to the ‘time’ of conception of Desmond Miles’ ‘next’ ancestor?

Sofia Rikkins didn’t bother to lie to Desmond when he confronts her and he learns the bitter truth.

Leonardo, Altaïr and Ezio are all clones.

As well as Desmond.

Altaïr, Ezio and Desmond were cloned after Sample 17 because Desmond Miles’ actual corpse went missing for some reason.

Cue existential crisis here, a callback to the whole ‘what makes us who we are but our memories?’ and hurt/comfort all over.

Because Altaïr and Ezio are pretty much ‘newborn’, Desmond takes on a leadership role and that’s the start of the ‘let’s plan how to escape this place’ arc.

Unorganized Notes:

I picked the movie’s type of Abstergo facility because (1 if this is reborn route) this gives you the choice of doing other possible reborn characters to include to the new group of loyalists Desmond’s gonna lead or (2 if this is cloning route) to keep the audience from fully guessing that this is actually a cloning facility by making them remember the movie’s setup

Altaïr calls Desmond ‘Al Mualim’ once and Desmond felt so disturbed everyone laughs. ‘Al Mualim’ now becomes their pet name for Desmond whenever they want to tease him or when they think he’s planning to do something stupid

Leonardo and Desmond’s relationship is slowly blooming when Ezio enters the fray and, well, with Ezio there, there’s now this awkward love triangle thing going on with Desmond believing that Leonardo would fall in love with Ezio again, Leonardo being torn by his feelings for Desmond and the Bleeding Effect’s feelings for Ezio and Ezio not actually realizing he’s part of a love triangle because he just sees Leonardo as his BFF.

Altaïr in the background, suffering through these three idiots’ drama and wishing he could just kill every last security personnel around… just to get away from all of these.

Sofia Rikkins is colder and more professional in this one. Cal killing her father after she and he got sorta close really fucked her up.

Up to you if you want Cal and his team to show up. I placed Sofia as the ‘main Templar’ because she’s one of the few Templars high enough in Abstergo to be able to do commandeer an entire facility, she has knowledge of the Animus, and is part of the Templar inner circle in some capacity.

[lookismaddict]

Lookism Chapter 440 Memes/Thoughts I Have:

(SPOILERS !!! I don’t own any of the Lookism panels and the translations. Only the memes that I made.)

Wooooo weeeeee, another chapter this week! LET'S GOOOOOOOO!!! Also, I'm so sorry for worrying y'all for my absence these past few days but after this review is posted, Imma disappear again. 😭 At this point, my chapter reviews might not be posted on time and will be late to post frequently now. Also, don't mind me changing the color of the title every 10 chapters... *Ahem* Anyways-

RIGHT OFF THE BAT, THESE HOTTIES:

Ughhh... God, the fan service here. Thanks PTJ, you the man. 😩✋🏽 Also, the way Jibeom just acted like nothing happened by saying, "SORRY!" UH HA HA HA HA HA HA... 🧍🏽‍♀️💢 Nah, we allies now. Gotta forgive, right? And Jihan too... 🧍🏽‍♀️💢💢 Man, y'all just got your asses beat for no reason. This reminds me of those anime with the MC's fighting the enemies, and then they end up becoming allies with the "power of friendship". Behold, the power of friendship everyone.

Ok, but Imma be honest. Every time I see Hudson now, I squeal like a fangirl at a BTS concert. And suddenly seeing him... NAKED? RIGHT OFF THE BAT? My loyalty for Gun is REALLY being tested. Wtf man. Also, the snakes though? That's wild. 😭

Yeah, that panel really wrecked me. Physically and emotionally.

Oh, of course. Also, debt? Huh? 🤔

Yeah man, we need to know!!! WE'VE BEEN DYING TO KNOWWWWWWWW. Whenever I hear "Young Master", it reminds me of a butler saying that. As if Daniel is being treated by a butler. 💀

YESSSSSS FINALLY DANIEL GOT A LEAD TO JINYOUNG!!! 💪🏽

"At least eat before you go." That's so nice of them. Also, "At this rate he'll live here." KSSLDJLFSDHFSLFHDSFH JIHAN PLSSSSS- 💀💀💀💀💀

Oh? Daniel coming up with a big brain plan...? 👀

LET'S GOOOOOOOO DANIEL!! BIG BRAIN MOVE!!! 🤭

Daniel being acknowledged by, not only the man who ended the era of the First Generation, but also, the STRONGEST FIRST GENERATION KING???? Oh god, I love his growth and character development so much. He'll always have my heart forever. 💖 ALSO, THIS WHOLESOME MOMENT WITH JICHANG??? THIS IS TOO CUTE. MY HEART- 😩💗 I WAS SOBBING AT THIS BECAUSE THIS WAS TOO CUTE TO WITNESS. LIKE, LOOK AT HIM PETTING DANIEL'S HEAD, LOOKING LIKE A PROUD UNCLE.

Literally, one of the cutest things I've ever seen in a long time in Lookism.

YUUUSSSSSS, JICHANG IS GONNA HELP HIM EVENTUALLY. 😭😭👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 I hope they actually do make it to the First Affiliate though. But, if the Elder knew where he was, then does that mean that he knows that Jinyoung is not in his right mind? And does he know that he has people held captive in his little basement? 👀 *coughs* Daniel *coughs* Johan *coughs* Samuel... Sorry guys, I might be getting a cold. Idk what's going on with me.

Ohhhhhh shiiiii... Pls tell me we gonna see Jake here...

AHHHHHHHH I KNEW IT, JAKE!!! BABY BOY IS BACK!!!! 😭💙 Oh shit, I wOnDeR who THAT could be...

Tbh I'm not surprised that he said it was James Lee lol. It has been emphasized by Eugene before when he said in Ch. 432, that he was aware of the murder case that caught the attention of a lot of people. And he also mentioned how Charles Choi had been using blackmail on James Lee to control him in exchange of covering James's part of the murder. Also, earlier in that chapter, I was wondering why Charles would even bother to help in covering up a murder for James if that person that James murdered wasn't so important in the first place. If it was just a "nobody", then he would've just thrown that person somewhere, buried him, or burnt his body and converted it into ashes. Clearly, it all makes sense now. (Also, the red picture gave it away. lmao) AND JAKE, WITH THE TYPICAL "death stare" EXPRESSION WHEN HE FOUND OUT WHO THE MURDERER FOR HIS FATHER'S DEATH WAS??? Is he going to get revenge or something? 😭

But oh boy, James is really gonna get it eventually. Both him and Charles Choi. Actually, DEFINITELY Charles Choi. The guy is literally walking scum in the first place.

You see, Charles Choi is a clown... 😀 *end of argument*

I hope he does. Because if Charles Choi intercepts their operation, I'm going to sue. 😡

Ughhhh, bro... Don't make me cry again, please. 💀💀💀💀

Oh great, speak of the Devil. 👿 FUCK OFF CHARLES, AND STOP RUNNING AWAY FROM YOUR CRIMES, YOU ASSHOLE! 😤

NOOOOOOOOOO FUCK YOUUUUU CHARLES!!! GET AWAY FROM THE ELDER!!!! AGGHHHHHDSFHSDFHASDJDSHFLSD JICHANG!!!! BEAT HIS ASS!!!! TAKE HIS LIMBS OFF!!!! 😤😤😤😤😤

IT'S NOW OR NEVER, MF. I WANT THIS MAN TO SUFFER.

Wait, an "unknown car"? He MUST have a driver with him. Please tell me that his driver is none other than Gun/Goo... Ik this is wishful thinking, but I want to see them again. 😳

YEEEEEEESSSSSS JICHANG, SLAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYY. SLAY KING, SLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY. 😩👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 HERE'S YOUR CROWN, KING OF CHUNGCHEONG'S KING OF SEOUL'S WHITE SNAKE!! 👑

By choking...? 💀 I mean, I've seen a big ass snake devour a huge animal before, so it's possible Charles. Don't doubt Jichang's abilities, because you might be surprised at how he could MURDER YOU ON SIGHT. 😡😡😡 (And oh god, looking at Elite's face still reminds me of my professor. 😭 *sobbing* But also, with a twist of Manager Kim too.)

I just want his ass to be wiped off the face of the Earth. Both him, and Eugene. But, wait... If Eugene and James Lee are conspiring AGAINST Charles Choi, and everyone else are conspiring against Charles Choi too, then... WHY CAN'T EVERYONE JUST UNITE AND BEAT CHARLES??? They all have a similar goal, yet they decided to do things their own way? Well, I get that they have ulterior motives/goals for them to take down Charles Choi, but at least make it easier for yourselves instead of just handling the crap on your own, right? Fight later, unite now. 🧍🏽‍♀️

Man, idk anymore. Just do whatever tf you guys want at this point. 😭

[anonymousbardd]

꒰ ☕ ꒱ ┊: 30 days and 30 nights

↳ Jay Hong x reader

- In a shop filled with blooming flowers, one stood out near the windowsill. The soft fragrance of the plant brings sweet comfort to a young man, the warmth it gives brings back familiarity. The bright pink tulip captivated the sight of a man, a man who longs for something sweet, something nice, and something to love.

♯001 - When I first saw you

I was scared, afraid even... I didn't know why I felt like that, it felt like as if I was being drowned.

But the way your eyes looked at mine, it made me feel some sort of comfort, warmth... You gave me warmth.

The first time I saw you, you were minding your own business, caring for some seeds which were planted in a pot.

I still remember it vividly, you looked stunning in your light pink sundress as you watered the soil.

You looked up and catched me staring, instead of feeling creeped out, you smiled, and that's when I first felt it.

At first, I didn't know what it meant, nor did I know why I felt that way.

At that moment I felt something tug on my stomach, I was aware that I'm fully well rested but I couldn't seem to catch my breath.

My heart raced, it raced so fast that I thought I might die, but I didn't.

Then you waved, it wasn't meaningful, but it felt like it was.

I waved back, looking back on it now, I probably looked like an idiot awkwardly waving back to someone so stunning as you.

♯008 - Your Fragrance

I found myself lurking around inside the flower shop you owned, though winter was approaching, it still felt warm.

It felt like summer took over and tucked the place with a blanket of beautiful fragrance of the blooming flowes under the sun.

The shop played a music that just suited the atmosphere, it felt like I was walking in a feild of flowers where everything shone in their own unique way.

As I wondered around the small space, a faint scent tickled my nose, it smelled fresh, dainty and soft.

The smell of tulips caught my attention, I whipped my head, expecting to see a display of tulips, but instead I saw you.

You were standing near the counter with a smile on your face, you held a pot that had a sprouting plant.

My heart raced as I kept my eye on you, you looked just as stunning as the last time I saw you.

Something about you made me feel in awe, and I could wrap my finger to why.

Your eyes were as bright as the flowes that surrounded you, you then placed the pot on the counter and turned to me.

You gave a small nod and your eyes lingered away, I followed to where you were looking at, and there I saw a small field of tulips, carefully aligned next to each other.

I took a closee look and gently sniffed the flowers, but it smelled different, it wasn't the same scent earlier.

Then you stood next to me, admiring the flowers as I did, and that's when I realised.

The faint scent of tulips that I had smelled earlier was you, I felt my cheeks heat up as you stood beside me.

Though it was faint, I could smell it clearly, it may sound concerning but it the smell of you stuck with me, that night, I found myself craving your fragrance.

♯010 - Your Name

I was just walking around with my friend, Daniel, he wanted to get a gift for his mom, as an excuse to see you, I told him that he could get her flowers.

When we got to your flower shop, you were standing there watering the daffodils.

My heart rate sped up as I looked at your beautiful eyes, Daniel was in awe admiring the beautiful flowers.

But only flower I admired was you, you were more beautiful than the plants that surrounded you.

As I kept looking at you, a young girl ran in with a smile on her face, and that's when I first heard your name.

A name so lovely that it should be written on a gold plate.

That night, I kept thinking about you, I kept repeating your name in my mind, it sounded so you, it suited you.

As I laid down and thought about you, a small sentence that formed in my head made me fantasize about the possibility of us ever being a thing.

"My (F/n)"

"Your Jay"

Doesn't it just sound so nice to hear?

♯015 - The Night We Walked Together

I was on my way home after having a walk, the silence was loud, the passing breeze was cold, it seemed dark, empty.

I was walking, I kept on moving, the path to my home seemed endless.

It felt like I was walking in a trance, like I was walking in the abyss.

But then I heard a faint noise, the faint scent of fresh tulips.

That's when I already knew.

I rushed towards where my instincts told me to run to, I ran and ran untill I finally had you in my sight.

You were using yourself as a sheild, protecting a young boy with flowers in his hands.

You were protecting him against bad men, the moment they lifted their hands, I couldn't just stand there.

My legs felt so light when I made my way to save you.

The way you looked at me as I held one of the men's hand, it made me feel something inside, the way you looked like you were thankful that I was there, I understand.

I didn't want you to witness me fighting, so I made you cover your eyes, you turned to the boy and held him in your arms.

I then turned to the bad men and taught them a lesson one by one.

I helped you find the mother of the boy, and when they were finally reunited, I offered to walk you home.

It was a quiet walk, but it felt nice.

I noticed the wind felt different, it was warm, comforting.

Every once in a while I'd look at you, you had a smile on your face.

I don't know why but it also made me smile, just to know you're safe.

When we got to your home, you turned to me with a smile on your face, my heart skipped a beat just by seeing your lips curve up.

You still didn't speak, but I understood, you gave me a nod and then you headed inside your home.

When I got home I spent the rest of the night thinking about the way you looked at me with your beautiful eyes.

You got me damned... That's when I acknowledged that I fell for you.

♯023 - Being Your Secret Admirer

As I passed by your flower shop, I heard you talking to your friend, you were talking about a gift that's been left on your shop's counter.

I felt a smile curve on my face, your sweet voice made my heart flutter, of course it was from me, I heard how much you liked brownies the other day.

I wanted to give you a batch of brownies, but the ones that bakeries sold didn't seem good enough, so I baked them myself.

I heard you laughing as your friends asked if they could have some, I wouldn't have mind if you had given them some but you said no, you said it was given to you, and it was only right for you to be the one to enjoy them.

I felt my cheeks flush as I heard those words from your mouth, once again, it was another sleepless night.

♯027 - Your Favourite Flower

Tulips, I realised how much you liked them, I always wondered why you smelled like fresh tulips, and now I know.

You're always taking care of those tulips near the windowsill, everytime I pass by I'd see you quietly singing.

Your voice sounded so sweet, I couldn't get enough...

I came up to you one day, and my hands were trembling, but I managed to give you a box of chocolates.

It was valentine's day, I remember it.

Your cheeks were flushed with red as you looked at me, you didn't say a word, but I didn't mind, I was about to leave but then you stopped me.

You reached for my hand, and I felt my heart stop, your soft touch gave shivers down my spine.

You gave me a piece of paper, and I could sense a hint of your scent on it.

You then smiled and gave me a small bouquet of tulips.

That day when I went home, I made sure the tulips had a proper vase, the paper you gave was a sketch of me, and I can't help but feel butterflies everytime I look at it.

I had it framed and hung in my room, and the vase of tulips decorated my desk.

Now everytime I woke up, I had something to remind me of you.

♯030 - Admitting my feelings

This is it, this is the day, I stood under a cherry tree that blossomed that day.

My heart was pounding, and I could feel my cheeks heat up as I waited for you, I had your favourite flowers on hand, and a letter I wrote just for you.

When I saw you approaching from the distance, my heart skipped a beat.

Your eyes looked at mine, and you had a bright smile.

You walked up to me, with something behind your back, I couldn't open my mouth, you looked so stunning, I was dumbfounded.

You giggled and whipped out some brownies that you made, along with a letter and a flower you grew.

That day was the day when I first heard your voice clearly, you spoke so sweetly, I could barely keep steady.

You handed me the dandelions, and you told me it reminded you of me.

I gave you the tulips and the lwtter I wrote, you chuckled and shook your head, "It seems like we had the same idea," you spoke.

You opened my letter, and you asked if you could read it out loud, I said yes, and watched as you opened your mouth.

"Hey there, (F/n), I know that we really aren't too close, but I've been admiring you from afar now... You're the sweetest, loveliest and most beautiful person that I know.

I know it's kinda weird for someone like me to say it, but I really can't help it.

You're always so gentle and I can't help but feel so warm with you around.

I'm asking if you can give me a chance, be my man and I'll be yours too."

You then smiled and jumped into my arms, I felt you laugh and I held you close.

I couldn't say a word, but I looked at your eyes and you knew what I had to say.

"I'm willing to do anything for you."

༝༚༝༚𝚊𝚗𝚘𝚗𝚢𝚖𝚘𝚞𝚜𝚋𝚊𝚛𝚍𝚍

[jellyfishoreo1206]

Snippets of life with the BUBO characters (Nostre, Aku punk, Daniel, Gavril)

Gender-Neutral Reader

Gavril

It was a boring summer night, nothing to do and falling into the same routine, or so you thought. It was very quiet, other than the constant chirping of the crickets, and the quiet rustling coming from the wind. But Gavril decided to surprise you by visiting! Though he scared the shit out of you when he literally snuck in through your bedroom window without a sound and surprised you, almost got a bat to the head if he didn't duck fast enough. He's fine, you gave him a whole block of cheese as an apology, he's very happy.

Limbs tangled together on the bed as you both hold each other, your head against his chest, listening to his calm heartbeat as your hands played with his hair. His hands were around your waist gently rubbing circles into your lower back, or just leaving them there as he enjoys the warmth you radiate. His hair was very soft and felt nice to the touch. Surprisingly, there was no knots or matted hair, so it was easy for you to comb your fingers through it without struggle. And the curliness of that one strand of his, is so fun. Just to gently pull it, and seeing it bounce back into it's original shape was just so strangely funny to you, causing a quiet giggle to escape your mouth whenever you do so. You continue to repeat the action for several minutes more, cheeks starting to hurt from smiling to much.

"What's got you so giggly tonight, Darling~?" Your constant giggling seemed to have peaked Gavril's interest, as he lifted your chin so he could see your smiling face, a soft grin on his own. "It's—it's just your hair," Twirling the strand around a finger, you let it go, watching as it quickly goes back to it's original state, another giggle being torn from your lips. "My hair? What about it?" Amusement was swirling in his eyes, his hands traveling up your back until they were softly placed on your face, gently stroking your cheek in a slow circular motion. "Honestly, it's just funny seeing your hair spring back..." He huffs out a small laugh, placing a soft kiss on your forehead as he pulls you closer to his person. Putting his face in the crook of your neck, Gavril places soft kisses along the skin, hands traveling back down to where they were originally at the start. The kisses made you squirm from the ticklish feeling as small giggles fill the room, not being able to get away as he had you caged in his arms.

That's how the night continued on, with you and your Gavril, talking back and forth between topics that don't even relate to one another, small silly banters, or just cuddling with each other. You're not sure if Gavril will be there in the morning, but that doesn't really matter, ear against his chest as the soft drumming of his heart lulls you to sleep. "Goodnight Darling~"

°°°°

Daniel

You wished you didn't have to get up. You wished you didn't even have to leave the arms of the literal cuddle bear that's holding you captive, and currently keeping you warm from the cold of LA, despite it being 46⁰. But that damn alarm kept screaming, and it was starting to tick you off. You forgot to turn it off the other day, as it was the beginning of winter break, and now you're facing the consequences of your own forgetfulness. How Daniel sleeps through the blaring of the alarm, you are not sure, how the hell does he even get up on time to get ready to teach?

As a last attempt, and a lot of squirming, you were finally able to get out of muscular arms that held you captive, finally turning off the alarm and powering it off so you wouldn't have anymore interruptions to your sleep. Groggy and absolutely tired, you pushed your way back into Daniel's arms, snuggling into his chest as your hands wrapped around his waist.

Though that seemed to have woke him up, "..Y/N? Wha..are you doing up..?" Yawning, he snuggles closer to your person, tangling his legs with yours as he does so. "Shit, sorry Danny I forgot to turn my alarm off the other day." He didn't respond for a good minute, you can't tell if he fell asleep or not because his eyes were still closed. You assumed he was asleep, his body hasn't moved an inch, other than the slow rise and fall of his breathing. Leaning closer towards his face, you kissed the tip of his nose before settling back into his chest, going back to sleep.

A couple more hours doesn't sound to bad..

Though Daniel wasn't really asleep, he was trying to wake himself up that he forgot to respond to you. But that kiss certainly woke him up, a red blush making itself known on his cheeks and the tips of his ears.

God, he was truly lucky to have you.

°°°°

Aku Punk

"GET UP WE GOTTA GO GO, NOW!!"

What a wonderful start to your morning, groaning as you peaked at your personal alarm clock from underneath your arm, glaring at him as you turned over on your side. But that only seemed to make him more annoyingly persistent, as he jabbed your back repeatedly.

"what, whaT WHAT!? IT'S FUCKING SIX IN THE MORNING??" Though the redhead didn't respond to your shout, instead yanking the blanket from your person and grabbing onto your leg. "AKU.. DON'T YOU DARE DO WHAT YOU'RE ABOUT TO FUCKING DO." All you get in return is a mischievous smile, as he yanks your person off the bed with surprising strength, a yelp leaving your mouth. He throws you a pair of shoes and some sweats that were lying around in your room, turning to leave. "C'mon! Today's the day we get that game!" It took you a bit for your brain to remember what he was talking about, before it clicked. "Oh shit! How much time do we have?"

"30 minutes if you don't hurry the fuck up!"

Now with a time limit, you fumbled with your pajama pants as you rushed to put on the sweats, looking for a pair of socks while you do so too. The both of you were planning to buy the new Legend of Zelda game for a few weeks now, and today was finally that day! The reason why you guys didn't get it earlier was because you were both busy. And the fact that Aku always slept in much later than you before he had to go to his job.

Stumbling out the room as you tied your laces, you grabbed your keys and wallet from your dresser, heading towards the kitchen where Aku is most likely at. Probably drinking an energy drink or that green crap that he brought home once. He let you try it once, you were out sick for a whole entire week, stuck in bed with the worst headache you have ever experienced and nearly throwing up anything you ate.

You still question to this day how he's able to stomach the disgusting drink, mulling it over in your mind. When you asked, he said he was simply built different with a shrug as he adds it to his Monster.

"C'mon let's go!" Grabbing an apple sauce pack from the fridge for the road, it's better not to be hangry while on the road, "After we get that game we can buy some snacks on the way back."

"Ah hell yeah! I call dibs on driving!"

"No way, you got a ticket last time!"

"Not my fault that wearing headphones while driving was apparently illegal."

"Whatever let's just go already."

°°°°

Nostre

Sleep couldn't come to you tonight, no matter how much you positioned yourself or how still you stayed, so here you are in the kitchen. Though 7 minutes into prepping a meal for yourself, Nostre sluggishly came out of the bedroom, wondering where his large teddy went. Most nights, he is only able to sleep with you besides him, it brings him a warming comfort whenever he feels your body next to him, cuddling him close as he feels your calm heartbeat against his skin.

It was very well past midnight, with you cooking a small meal for the both of you. Nostre's arms were around your midsection securely with his head on your shoulder, watching you with tired eyes. His eyes would flutter close every now and then, leaning more into you as he dozes off. Though he usually jolt awake in the end due to some jumping oil on his skin, grumbling as he softly glares at nothing in particular.

He reminded you of a cat of sorts with his behavior. There have been a time where you called him Kitty as a joke, though it didn't seem to upset him in any way, more like fluster him to the point he looked like a cherry and couldn't hold any sorts of eye contact. A fond memory that you like bringing up whenever you two are alone. It embarrass him every time.

Smiling, you kiss his forehead as you turn your focus back to the stove, moving the food around so they would cook evenly, "Sorry for waking you, Hun. I promise we'll go to bed after we're done eating." All you get in return was a hum of acknowledgment, with a small kiss being placed on your cheek. "..it's fine... I don't mind."

This happened on many occasions. Whenever one or both of you couldn't sleep, you both end up doing something with the other until the familiar drowsiness comes so you can both call it a night.

Though you both would be paying for the consequences of staying up late as you both head to your jobs in the morning, but that doesn't stop you two from doing so.

You also find that whenever he's tired enough, he'll usually blurt out a thought he was thinking about earlier in day or come up with something on the spot, which are usually out-of-context.

Most of which are usually just him going on about some cat he had been feeding on campus, naming them after you as he goes on about what the cat brang him when he went to go feed them again, or how the cat brought another friend around.

----

I am desperate for requests

[simslegacy5083]

Not So Berry (Straud Descendants) Gen 9

Today's (8/13/2024) Episode: Making The Pitch

When Luigi put his mind to something it usually wasn’t long before he’d achieved his goal, and his proposal for Noemi’s boss was no exception.

Working late into the night he outlined his idea for a new life sim. He’d played Sims Forever since he was young and had been programming mods to enhance his gameplay almost as long. The popularity of those mods made him confident that he understood what would appeal to other gamers.

Noemi had been right that Luigi’s name being attached to the project would get her bosses attention.

Her supervisor had looked skeptical when she’d dropped a proposal from her fiancée off that morning, but by lunchtime Patricia caught her in the breakroom with quite a different attitude. “I looked into your boy’s plan.” She said, wolfing down a quick sandwich between meetings.

“A respected Sims Forever modder with a couple other claims to fame developing a competitor to the classic game?” She rapped her knuckles on the table for emphasis and pointed. “Get him here ASAP for a meeting with me and Daniel from investment! I’m positive the community will eat this up.”

A couple days later Luigi found himself in the conference room of Rainy Day’s downtown headquarters. He and Noemi worked for different branches of the same parent company, and he’d met her boss a couple times in passing, but the investment guy was new to him.

Used to public performances he was at ease, smiling brightly as he shook hands and settled down across from the other two sims.

“So…” Patrica began “I read your proposal and I’m intrigued. I want to hear more about what you think you can bring to the table to set your game apart from Sims Forever. We’ll want to attract its audience and bring in new players – how do you intend to do that”?

As he’d gotten older Luigi had learned how to use his cheerful nature to his advantage. To that end he didn’t attempt to hide his enthusiasm, letting his excitement shine through and captivating his audience as he launched into an explanation.

"Sims Forever has been my favorite videogame for as long as I can remember. I love it, but I’m also very aware of what it lacks, the things I got into modding to fix. I want to develop a game that has options for more control, and more chaos. One with randomly generated NPCs that didn’t dress themselves in the dark, who have skills and backstories to match their traits and preferences.” 

Luigi paused to take a breath, but before he could continue Daniel held up a hand to stop him. "I've heard enough. Your project writeup outlined this quite nicely. It’s clear you have the passion to execute your vision; and I’ll be counting on Noemi here to manage the team needed to back you up."

Luigi gave Daniel a sincerely thankful smile as they discussed the contractual details, but Patricia didn’t let him escape on a high note.

"Before you go, there is one issue we need to talk about. You got yourself into quite the pickle the other night with that little mouse fiasco. I trust the PR department is helping you clean up that mess?“ She looked at him expectantly as he did his best to suppress a flash of irritation and shame. 

"Of course," he lied "they're all over it.“ In reality, the “damage control” team were all over him to address it publicly, but he’d been stonewalling them. He’d hoped the whole thing would just blow over in time without requiring him to take an active and risky role in repairing his reputation.

 As he and Noemi walked out to grab lunch, Luigi’s excitement at his win was dampened by worrying about what he was going to say to the team’s publicist later that evening. It looked like he was going to need to cooperate with them after all.

View The Full Story of My Not So Berry Challenge Here

[aceofwhump]

Favourite SG1 whump for each character?

Ooh good question!

Jack O'Neill: I'm going to go with Message in a Bottle I think. Jack has a lot of good whump but him being pinned against the wall by a sharp long indestructible spike that then slowly infects him. It's amazing.

Daniel Jackson: oh my god how do I pick just ONE whump to be my favorite?!?!?! Talk about impossible!!! Oh man I think for right now I'm going to go with either Need or Legacy. Those are the two I watch over and over again. But god he's got so many great whumps. Other favs are definitely the First Ones when he's kidnapped by the Unas, Lifeboat when his mind is taken over by a bunch of different consciousness, The Light when his addiction turns in to depression and becomes suicidal and then nearly dies because of it all, Evolution part 2 when he's held captive shot in the leg and tortured. Sorry I can't pick just one lol

Samantha Carter: Hard to pick a Sam whump too. I'm going to say In The Line of Duty when she first gets possessed by Jolinar and it nearly kills her. Grace is also a really great Sam whump episode.

Teal'c: Oh this one is hard too. Avatar is a favorite. When he's trapped in the simulation that won't let him leave and he keeps dying and is exhausted and gives up. So good.

Jonas Quinn: When he nearly dies in Prophecy because he has a brain tumor giving him visions. That's good whump.

Vala Mal Doran: My favorite Vala whump moment is in Origin when she is burned alive. Vala doesn't have a lot of whump that I remember tbh.

Cameron Mitchell: A tie between Babylon and Collateral Damage. Babylon is great when he gets shot in the side. And i like the emotional whump in Collateral Damage when he has to relive those painful memories.

[maryhadalittlehobby]

Interview with the Vampire S2E7- Liveblog

I could not prevent it

Why are Claudia and Louis not communicating telepathically. He is screaming out to her not even knowing if she is around. He even says he he didnt know if she was alive but surely telepathically would be better but I guess he is panicking

I love the mutual respect Daniel and Louis have built. Louis says I am talking now and Daniel shuts the hell up. AND APOLOGIZES

God Santiago and his blue eyes shadow are SERVING (looks and injustice!)

Louis says the vampires 'used their collective powers to disorient their minds, their hearing(jaws compressing the skull)' him and Claudia when they tried to speak out. The shaky camera was cool this first time

Claudia looks ok after coming out the rat box is lol, Louis looked more f-ed up

God Madeline is out of it! Sis is on a different planet. What did Santiago do to her?

When I saw their tendons cut in the trailer I started crying, I just knew we were in for it but the trail as a whole wasn't as bloody as I thought it would be

This swelling music introducing Lestat was beautiful. Can't lie it had me smiling

Walk walk fashion baby

Claudia's withering look and Louis look of pain. My heart

That first look that Lestat gives its almost like a marionette very unnatural

He is looking SNATCHED in that pinstripe suit. But also lets talk about the pinstripe because we know LAST season the costume designer said they used stripes when the characters felt imprisoned

Louis face when Lestat says its a story of LOVE. Lestats wet eyes god these two

The Vampire Sam blocking Armands exit. Armands?! Sam?!? If it were Celeste or any of the others we have seen more ferocious or active in the coven anyone might have bought it but SAM lol

Armand told Louis he was held captive and his punishment was to watch ok Jan

I LOVE the animations. Lestat doing a entrechat six into the dirt (that ballet knowledge coming in handy!)

He slept for 100 years saying his only sustenance the ancient blood already inside him. AKASHA??

ugh the look of disdain Lestat gives Santiago for being forced to play long/recite these lines

Be precise in your declarations advocate🤝🏾 we should get ever y detail right

Louis favorite cuss is definitely Fuck lol

I love the irrdecent glint they have added to vampires eyes this season

Eglee scouting her next boyfriend like-oh you put your fist through a skull. Thats hot

Lestat putting bigots in their place. oh no when the worst person alive says something you agree with meme

Claudia standing up for Louis during the trail<3. Yelling at Santiago earlier to stop hurting him, yelling at the crowd for laughing at him. This girl loved her dad ok.

'Louis was deceptively agile with words" AND?! I support him. I said you start it, Louis is gonna end it. Someone on here said you go low and Louis goes straight to hell and its true! Don't play with him and you wont get your feeling hurt. PERIOD

I loved the vampoire lonliness bit but I hated that CGI tear

Not Santiago doing Claudias accent rearding from her diary. lol BITCH

"You do not know this girl!."She is a stranger and Louis knows how turning a stranger feels like now

The over acting! "THE GREAT LAWS FORBID IT" So clear he was trying to paint himself in a great light but we can be relatively certain that lestat did not say this since both Claudia and Louis repeat that Lestat didn't tell them anything regarding laws or even other vampires existence. There would have been more questions if he did

I DO believed he warned him but not to the extent we see and I'm sure Louis didn't bargin himself like that. How could be?

She asked if I was an Angel.Me? oh my poor Saint Louis

Look at her our beautiful little daughter as he drags her half dead body on the floor. ugh??

What is this look that Armand is giving Louis when he says thats how it happened but I didn't think it at the time. I don't trust him at all. IS THAT HOW IT HAPPENED OR IS IT HOW ARMAND WANTS YOU TO THINK IT HAPPENED TO COMPOUND YOUR GUILT ABOUT HER TURNING?

I hate this?! is it all lies??

Holy crap DREAMSTAT!?

Louis slightly shakes his head in agreement when Lestat at first we just slammed each other around the town house. Seven years of compromise, denail it all gave way...The reached a tipping point they drove each other crazy. I can see it happening like Lestat decribes maybe not over the top villain vibes but definitely getting ugly like that. And like someone mentioned in the short chat I was in earlier- Louis is capable of making good on those threats. Look what happened with the alderman, the guy in the cruising park.

I can't believe the fall was not explained away or a mistaken memory like i thought and was absolutely not worthy of forgiveness...but i guess maybe in a fucked up way Louis thought it was penance for withholding admittance of his love even as Lestat begged him in the sky

The apolgy was a little melodramatic and had me thinking it might be in the script but Daniel said it was not on the page, Maybe Sam couldn't rein it in at that moment lol

How fucking sad Claudia's trail isn't even about her. The talks to both Louis and Lestat at multiple points and they don't or barely acknowledge her. Truly a pawn in their fucked up romance

Lestat looked physically sick when Claudia and Louis were pleading to him. You gonna accept my apology. Is this your big revenge. If he could I think he would have stopped it but I think the vamps were controlling him in a way( like they were doing with Claudia and Louis OR its the Sophies choice everyone is quoting. Its Louis or Claudia and he is choosing Louis

Mr I could not prevent it looking around the trail crowd pleased curiosity

I am so happy to proven wrong and Madeline choose Claudia.I was thinking that it might be another bombshell it would be revealed that she was only interested in vampirism. Finally she is 1st

Madeline flipping off the jury. Good girl

Claudia cursing the audience in her final moments on earth. yes girl!

I feel like the look shared between Claudia and Lestat right after was you liked that and his response look was that was quite good.

Oh how I hoped Lestat would at least try to save her..break script again but he almost looks immobilzed-again the vamps?

Claudia's death was horrid with better effects that Louis burn away earlier in the season.Ugh

How fuckin disrespectful they leave their ashes on stage like that. THEY HAVE TO SCATTER THEM!

Wow I can't believe I survived episode 7 with out crying. Definitely some close calls but I didn't.It was unexpectedly funny and Claudia going out like a G! helped a lot. Amazing episode.

[argaman01]

This picture is by the Israeli artist Shoshke (Ze'ev) Engelmayer, whose art has been devoted to the Israeli-Hamas war since Hamas attacked on October 7, 2023. He has painted many of the hostages, and prints and posters of his paintings have been taken to the Israeli demonstrations to free the hostages and to oppose the current government. They've also been displayed around the world. He is one of the Israeli artists I started following on Facebook after the war began.

This is Omer Neutra, an Israeli-American who was thought to have been taken hostage by Hamas on October 7, but it was just discovered that he died fighting Hamas on that day or the day after, and that his body was taken to Gaza and is still being held by Hamas. His family has been hoping for over a year that he was still alive, as did his friends (including some of my students at my college).

Omer was apparently a great lover of cats, and the caption for this painting read: "Omer will not return to the cats."

This is a translation of what Shoshke wrote on his Facebook page about Omer:

Omer Nautra, a lone soldier who came from New York to Kibbutz Afikim, has been declared to have fallen in the war. Morit wrote to me about him: Hello Shoshka, I want to tell you about our Omer, Omer Neutra, who was kidnapped by Hamas and we haven't heard from him since he was kidnapped. When Omer, a lone soldier, arrived from New York to Kibbutz Afikim, I brought him a cat. He and the guys called her Cactus. When he came to visit from the army, he liked to sleep with her on the couch. ✨ Omer really likes cats. In New York he had a cat, which is still waiting there for Omer. Every cat he met on the kibbutz would approach him, and Omar would hug and talk to him. Yes, talking. Omer told us that he knows the language of cats, and can talk to them. Could you draw a postcard of Omer, returning from captivity, to the cats he loves so much, and they love him?" ✨ I drew Omar with the cats and met with his parents, Orna and Ronan, and his brother Daniel. I felt sadness and pain from them that is hard to describe, and concern for the son in captivity. Since he was kidnapped, they have done everything to remind and act, for Omer's return. Orna showed me pictures and videos of him with cats, happy with them and cuddling, and also with Cactus, the cat brought to him by Nurit Gat, in Kibbutz Afikim. Charming, soft people with inner strength, whose world was destroyed one day, and their loved one was taken away, and did everything to get him back. We talked in the living room and the eyes got wet on their own. And before we parted I gave them the drawing of Omar and the cats. And today it was learned that Omar will not return to them, nor to the cats.

[ankilona]

Fanfiction prompt

A Harry Potter x Interview with a vampire (series) crossover. Louis/Lestat, Draco Malfoy/Armand

What would happen if Voldemort captured our favourite vampires (Lestat, Louis, Armand and Daniel), and held them captive in The Malfoy dungeons. In a desperate attempt to save his mother and himself from being branded Draco makes a deal with them. If they help him get out of the manor, over the apparition wards, he'll help them escape. The vampires agree, and they escape together to an earlier prepared safe house...

This whole thing would happen after the interview and after Louis gets back together with Lestat because of Daniel's revelation about the trial, and Armand and Lestat part in that. At least in my head, but you know just go with the flow if you got inspired. 🤷🏻‍♀️

(I played with the idea, that if Draco gets turned he would still have his magic, with an ancient ritual, but it was just an idea.)

I hope I sparkes someone's interested, and if you decide to write something along these lines I would be super happy to read it.

🥰

[sundaypenacony]

HSR LEAKS SUNDAY

OKAY WE'RE SO BACKKK SO BACK OH MY GODDD

They put his old halo design as a pattern on the back of his coat :D

Also he now officially has 6 wings , 2 on his head and 4 on his back ;; I am so happy

Also on his clothes he has 12 eyes + 2 of his actual eyes (There might also be eyes on his rings but I cannot tell due the quality of the picture sadly ;;

Once again I am Atheist, I get this knowledge from things I was taught but this may not be completely correct so feel free to correct me :)

When drawing biblically accurate angels they usually give them a lot of eyes. But, it isn't specifically mentioned for Seraphims:

Isaiah 6:1-8 MSG

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Master sitting on a throne—high, exalted!—and the train of his robes filled the Temple. Angel-seraphs hovered above him, each with six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two their feet, and with two they flew. And they called back and forth one to the other, Holy, Holy, Holy is GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies. His bright glory fills the whole earth. The foundations trembled at the sound of the angel voices, and then the whole house filled with smoke. I said, “Doom! It’s Doomsday! I’m as good as dead! Every word I’ve ever spoken is tainted— blasphemous even! And the people I live with talk the same way, using words that corrupt and desecrate. And here I’ve looked God in the face! The King! GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies!” Then one of the angel-seraphs flew to me. He held a live coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. He touched my mouth with the coal and said, “Look. This coal has touched your lips. Gone your guilt, your sins wiped out.” And then I heard the voice of the Master: “Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?” I spoke up, “I’ll go. Send me!”

I think, when people refer to the angel with a lot of eyes they refer to Ezekiel 1. Ezekiel 1 is the first chapter of the Book of Ezekiel in the Old Testament of the Bible. The Book of Ezekiel is a prophetic book, and it contains visions and prophecies from the prophet Ezekiel, who was a priest and a captive in Babylon. In here he described something called the Ophanim (AKA auphanim, ofanim or galgalim). The ophanim refer to the wheels seen in Ezekiel's vision of the chariot in Ezekiel 1:15-21. One of the Dead Sea scrolls construes them as angels but in the Book of Enoch they are a class of celestial beings who along with the Cherubim and Serpahim never sleep and guard the throne of God. In Christian angelology, they are one of the choirs of angels, and are also called Thrones (Wikipedia contributors, 2023).

These "wheels" have been associated with Daniel 7:9 (mentioned as galgal, traditionally "the wheels of galgallin", in "fiery flame" and "burning fire") of the four, eye-covered wheels (each composed of two nested wheels), that move next to the winged Cherubim, beneath the throne of God. The four wheels move with the Cherubim because the spirit of the Cherubim is in them. The late Second Book of Enoch (20:1, 21:1) also referred to them as the "many-eyed ones". - Wikipedia

Nowadays the many eyes also get put into many other designs that have anything celestial / angel-like which is honestly so cool :') I love it.

Sources:

Wikipedia contributors. (2023, 28 november). Ophanim. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ophanim

[whovianwatchingstartrek]

A Whovian Watches Star Trek for the First Time: Part 025 - A Strong Cold Open, and A Strong Cliff-hanger

Star Trek: Enterprise - Season 1 Episode 26 - Shockwave Part 1

So, I'm finally at the end of season 1. This season has been a nice little introduction to the Star Trek universe, and it's been really nice learning about the wider key elements of the universe alongside the characters, which I don't think is something I would have experienced if I start with the Original Series.

On the advice in the replies, I am gonna tackle Shockwave as two separate posts because of the season break between the parts. I'm also partially motivated by the fact that by sheer coincidence there are two separate Doctor Who Universe stories called Shockwave, so covering the parts separately means I get to do a comparison segment for both of those. But, onto the episode: The Episode starts with the Enterprise sending the shuttlepod down to a colony planet, everything seems calm, but then suddenly as they descend, the planet is suddenly engulfed in fire and explosions. Which is a hell of a way to cold open an episode.

It immediately seems pressing to figure what the fuck just happened. The Colony is just gone. Dead. The crew immediately notice things aren't adding up. It's looking like the shuttlepod's plasma exhausts ignited the explosion, but all logs indicate the plasmaducts were closed with no leaks.

The writing on Archer in this episode was great. He really felt like he carried the weight of just accidentally killing 3 and half thousand people.

Starfleet and the Vulcans shut down the Enterprise's mission. It's looking like the End of the Road. Seeing everyone's reactions to that news is interesting. Phlox's never ending optimism that new adventuring opportunities will present themselves, Trip taking the combative "The Vulcans will use this to hold us back" stance, Travis not really knowing if anything will live up to being aboard Enterprise. And, the highlight, T'Pol trying to convince Archer to fight back against the decision. She masks that as "It is your duty as captain to present your case", but really she's grown attached to the crew, she just isn't ready to admit it.

After that attempt at being convinced, Archer hits the bed, and is instantly sent back in time by Daniels, the Temporal Cold War future guy from Cold Front. Which means, whatever happened to the colony: It's related to the Temporal Cold War. The Explosion wasn't supposed to happen. This is finally what kicks Archer into action. With help from Daniels, and some previous readings from Malcolm, evidence of sabotage was found, and the crew start moving to take down the Suliban ship that sabotaged the shuttle

This was a great Season Finale. Seeing everyone working on top form with the future of the whole mission at stake was excellent, and the action sequence of T'Pol, Archer and Trip moving to get proof of sabotage from the Suliban Stealth Ship held me captive.

Shadowy Future Guy showed up again. There still isn't much on his specific motives, but now plans to kidnap Archer. I really want to know more about our main villain's motivation. Being an elusive mystery is fine early on, but an elusive mystery with no answers or even clues gets old quick.

Our cliff-hanger leading into Season 2 is Archer sacrificing himself over the Suliban to save Enterprise. He gives command over to T'Pol. This scene was honestly kind of sad. It genuinely brought a tear to my eye. Then to find as he left the bridge, Daniels throws him into the future, to find an apocalyptic wasteland, leaving the Suliban to attack enterprise. This is a heavy cliff-hanger. I genuinly can't even begin to predict how Archer is gonna get back to his own time. Daniels' time equipment is gone, he's stuck in the dead future. And the Enterprise itself is about to be shot down with no chance of escape.

I am really looking forward to seeing how this is resolved. I can't wait, and I only have to wait a day, I can't begin to imagine how it must have felt to wait a whole season gap for the conclusion.

Comparing my Enjoyment of this Episode with a Doctor Who Universe Story of the Same Title

Doctor Who: Destiny of the Doctor - Part 7: Shockwave

So, the Destiny of the Doctor anthology was a set of 11 short hour long audiobooks, one with each doctor, released in 2013 in the lead up to the show's 50th Anniversary. I don't know how seriously Trekkies take their show's anniversaries, but in the Doctor Who fandom we go wild with anniversary fever, especially back when the 50th rolled around. There was so much content released 2013 celebrating the shows history. I could talk about Destiny of the Doctor as a whole for a while, but really I'm only here to talk about one of it's stories.

Shockwave, the 7th story in DoD was in theory supposed to be sort of a quintessential celebration of the 7th doctor era and all of it's elements. In a lot of ways, it is very much is a very Season 26 7 and Ace Story. The Doctor takes Ace to a planet which's star is set to explode due to a spatial anomaly and is throwing out a lethal shockwave of Artron energy (In Doctor Who, that means Time Travel radiation). To Quote the Doctor, "We can't help them. It's already too late."

I'm gonna skip most of the plot summary stuff here, because this is already a long post.

To those of you who aren't familiar with Who, the Seventh Doctor is an interesting character. He often keeps his companions in the dark about his actual plans, sometimes to the point of being a manipulator, and that is definitely what happens here. The story is narrated from Ace's perspective, separated from the Doctor who is working away in the Shadows. Shockwave is a good example of a 7 and Ace story. Enjoyable, but because of the nature of what it is, it doesn't try to do anything new with the characters. I like 7 and Ace's character dynamic, but stories like this really make you long for the more emotionally charged stories where Ace finally snaps over the 7th Doctor's bullshit. That said, even without that kind of occasional plot beat from Ace that I love, this story still writes her really well. Her personal character arc in this one is really really well done.

As with all of the DoD stories, The Eleventh Doctor briefly steps in for a cameo that only begins to make sense when you get to the final story in DoD. It's one of the better DoD 11th Doctor cameos, certainly less intrusive than the one in the 4th Story.

Both Enterprise's Shockwave (Part 1) and Destiny of Doctor's Shockwave are enjoyable, but on the whole I would give the edge to Enterprise here for being more of a standout within it's on series. Enterprise's Shockwave was higher stakes than normal, it was. DoD Shockwave was just another "7 doesn't clue Ace in on his plans" story in a sea of other "7 doesn't clue Ace in on his plans" stories. A very good one of those, but with nothing that would make me recommend it over the other good examples of the 7 and Ace dynamic.

[martinacollenderplaywrightblog]

The day Leonard Cohen died even the sky wept for him. I woke to texts from my friends at the time trying to protect my broken heart from grieving but as much as we want to protect our loved one's hearts from grieving it's a form of magic not accessible to us mere mortals. I died a thousand times missing Leonard and I know some people will call me silly for grieving for someone I didn't know but what you must understand, I spent so many lonely nights comforted by his words and his words alone, so how could I not know him?

I went to see the Elvis film with my sister, and as I walked into the cinema, I KNEW he died at 42, I know he suffered drug and alcohol abuse, I KNEW this but still the knowledge didn't protect me from breaking down in the cinema when they showed his last performance singing "Unchained Melody" and when he sang "I'll be coming home, wait for me" I disvoled into a grief of such intensity I was sure I was simply going to die. There's a moment in the film where his ex wife is telling him I can get you help, I can bring you to Rehab and there's a deep sadness in him and he just says no. That's all he says is no. Two letters. But those two tiny letters held this pain that he was beyond help.

I'm poor and a nobody. Somedays I fantasise about being famous and rich but most days I'm grateful for being a nobody. I think it's a terrible infliction to be famous. Your worst days, the times your on your knees are splashed across the front pages of newspapers and people talk about you as if your absent of feelings. The world watched Amy Whinehouse, Elvis, Whitney Houston, Leonard Cohen and many many more being really sick and suffering. There pain was splashed across newspapers and people on radio and TV debated there sickness and addictions as if it was entertainment.

I'm a huge fan of Harry Potter; it was my childhood and I'm grieving because JK Rowling has come out with such hate for trans people who I adore, I'm heartbroken that my childhood hero has turned to hate against the very people she gave hope to. Daniel Radcliffe suffered an alcohol problem, he said he turned 18 and was handed millions of pounds and was surrounded by people who never said no to him and he began drinking a lot. I don't judge him for a second as I often to turned to seeking answers at an end of a bottle but it upset that pictures of him drunk and in an awful state where splashed across the papers, imagine being on your knees in pain and photos of your agony being so public, it's horrible and cruel. Emma Watson said in a interview the day the she turned 18 she went for dinner with her family and when she can out of the restaurant, the photographers were lying on the ground trying to get photos of her underwear up her dressed because she was now 18. To be victimised at such a young and venerable age was deeply distressing to me particularly Emma who is a fierce warrior for equality for women. These are just two examples of how vicious the media can be with no regard for human emotions and feelings.

I'm from Waterford, Ireland and I joined Waterford Youth Arts when I was 15 years old because I was interested in theatre. I hated it. There was far too much hugging and screaming from the other members and I found the games stupid and embrassing. I was all set to leave the world behind me after a month or two when I made my way to Garter Lane Theatre to see a production of To Leap From Paradise by the late, great Jim Daly. I was captivated and fell in love with the words and life's on stage I recognised as my own. I found out about Red Kettle Theatre Company and fell in love with the idea that a group of people from my home, from Waterford, got together and created magic. I loved that they put on plays with a beginning, a middle and an end with sets and costumes. I was far more interested in this than playing silly games. In my investigation of this group of people I discovered Ben Hennessy, a wonderful artist and set designer, my now favourite ever Playwright Jim Nolan and an extraordinary actress Jenni Ledwell. They were so talented, nationally known and famous artists, and they were from my hometown. I adored them and they became my hero's, by absolute stroke of luck they became my friends I'm so grateful to be able to say. I remember seeing Jenni Ledwell in Eden in The Theatre Royal and I fell head over heels in love with her. She was amazing and stole my heart. I waited for her afterwards with the intention of asking for her autograph, but when she came out from backstage in whirl of energy and light with a radiant smile I was too shy to go up to her, this was THE Jenni Ledwell like. I told her years later when we became friends and she laughed and said "Yea fecking eejit Teeny!" We lost Jenni recently and I've never been as affected by death as I was by hers, the grieve of losing someone famous, someone I adored and someone who is my friend is unbearable on the worst days, heartwrenching on the somewhat better days.

I find it very distressing to watch these famous people suffering because in my mind I simply can't separate the fact that they have feelings and are in pain with that there famous.

When I told my pyschratist I was grieving them, a look of utter confusion came across his face and he said "I'm sorry Martina we don't have a tablet for that" he simply didn't know what to do with such an intense grief on a daily bases.

I'm a mess, I cry when I'm sad, I cry when I'm happy, I'm always crying. I can't separate loving someone and being in pain for their pain, I'm constantly and forever more overcome with emotions on a daily bases, either overcome with love and drowned in grief. I'm mental and I don't know if it's because I'm mental or if it's just the way I am but everything is very intense. It's a price I pay for being able to love and if that's the cost I don't mind paying it.

I'm obsessed with famous people, the talented who rise to the top, sometimes I feel like I have no right to know these initmate details of their lives but I only want to know to understand their lives and hearts.

I was going through a really hard time, was hidden in lies and secrets. Jim Nolan, my favourite Playwright knew me briefly at the time, he could see I was in pain and reached out to meet me for a coffee. I couldn't tell him what was troubling me. The coffee was brief because I didn't have the words to explain my pain but at the end Jim peered at me with concerned eyes and said "Martina someone told me on my dark days, no matter how bad things seem, it WILL pass, try and remember that" I didn't believe him at the time, I couldn't ever imagine that pain leaving but I'm grateful to say Jim WAS right. It passed. It was such a gift to know my hero, someone famous, had dark days too and survived. It gave me hope that not only could I survive but I might be able to be talented too despite my faults.

Right now, I'm exhausted with emotion, nothing bad happened! In fact quiet the opposite I had a great week but I'm just drained for feeling so happy and love for my friends and family. I do become so overwhelmed with love for the people in my life I have to cry to release the emotions. Its funny and I'm used to it and I know I need to rest for a time now. I wonder if their is a heaven, and I highly doubt I'd be allowed in for my sins but if I am I wonder will I get to meet these famous people and thank them for the profound impact they've had in my life. Because really amongst the love is a deep gratitude to them. What can I say, I love the bones off them!

[lass-us-slay]

Lois feels her throat close up, feeling a growing lump she cant force down. And can’t help but stare at the boy. And her body feels like it’s unable to even move, frozen in place because-

God that’s a child, just a little boy tied up like he… he’s some experimental animal, like he’s not even human.

And for a moment she just stands there, until the boy opens his eyes. And oh god those eyes, those eyes look so tired, and scared. Like he’s seen some horrible monsters that plan on eating him, and to be fair… maybe it’s not so far from the truth.

Those piercing icy blue eyes that hold so much fear (fear a child- a boy no less- should not be holding) is what makes her come to her senses.

And distantly she can see more resemblance between this boy in this… cell… and her baby boys best friend.

Like being snapped from a trance Lois comes back to reality. And further steps into the room, closing the door behind her (because so god help her she’s not going to get caught, not when there’s a CHILD (whose mind you, maybe not much older Jon) is being help captive).

She can tell the boy is staring intently at her movements, trying to discern if she’s like the rest of the people here.

And before she even starts talking, she clicks on her recorder. After what feels like forever she swallows the lump in her throat that thought it could get comfortable her throat.

Not today, or any day lump!

“..Hello, I’m- I’m Lois Lane with… god kid what…” Fair to say Lois lost her voice as quickly as she got it.

Ugh this isn’t you Lois! Focus, this kid needs you. She internally scolded herself, as the kid continued to stare at her. God did he even have enough strength to speak back from how thin and brittle he looks..?

With a deep breath Lois shoved away her own problems, she could work on it without the kids life in danger at this very moment.

“Can you speak..?” She asked walking over to the cell that held him like an animal unworthy of human care.

As she was about to touch the cell keypad she fell short. Unable to continue with the action as she heard a small, weak and hoarse voice. It made her heart break a little at how weak it sounded.

“Don’t… to-ch-…” The boy sounded out, taking a moment to clear his throat.

“Is’ not… go-na end well..” he continued, moving to sit up from his laying down position on the floor.

Lois could see his hair stick to his face and neck from how sweaty he looked. He looked so tired from the simple action of sitting up. More than how he looked before.

“Why not- I’m not leaving you here.” She stated with a ‘no argument tone’ that Jon always commented on.

“They’r not gonna.. give me’ up so easy…” He spoke back, Lois wanted to retort that. Say that she could get him out but…

She knew she couldn’t, this is a government funded facility. And she broke into it. She may be stubborn, but she she’s not foolish.

“I’ll find you a way out, I promise. So just tell me anything and everything you can think of about this- GIW. Their purpose, who they are, anything”

She almost pleaded as she stepped away from the cell with clenched fists. Barely being able to not look away from his icy winter eyes, which reminded her of Bruce’s eyes.

The boy, for his part just nodded weakly. Having moved to lean against the calls glass wall.

“M’ names Danny… Daniel Fen…Fenton..” he stared, Lois for her part. Started taking pictures of the room, and… Danny himself.

“M’ from… Amity, Amity Pa-k-“ he took a moment to clear his throat.

“Amity… park.. Illinois.. uh.. GIW is’- .. means, Ghost. Inves-tigation- Ward.”

“Ghost? Aren’t those superstitions?” She instinctively asked.

As the boy explained roughly about how ghosts were technically ecto beings. Lois opened up a drawer with, which lucky for her held some important information.

Taking pictures of those documents which were mostly about the boy -Danny, who looked so much like her Jon’s best friend but with Bruce’s eyes- it made her heart stutter.

They’d already had his internal workings down on paper… they had- god it made her wanna puke and feel nauseous… it’s wasn’t until she heard the next words from Danny that made her freeze

“They uh- … the last I remember of th- the outside.. was… March..?” Danny, the poor boy got out from his sore, haggard throat.

It had to hold onto the drawer for support… it’s July.

The GIW had had him for 5 months.

Her breath shuddered as she forcibly got her composure back, she couldn’t waver now. The boy will freak if he finds out.

“…Ho-w.. long..?” The poor boy asked. It made Lois purse her lips to stop herself from indicating just how much time had passed. Good thing her back was turned on him.

“Not.. not too long.” She had a feeling she didn’t convince him from his silence.

Straightening herself she put the files back. She got her evidence. With the files back in place she looked back at the boy, so similar to Jon. Her precious baby boy.

Only to find Danny back on the floor, no longer leaning on the glass wall of the cell. There was green sorta gas’s filling it now, shit did she trigger it-

“Kid—“

“S’ kay’ ma’am… their’ cmin’ back…” He managed, looking up much more tiredly at Lois now.

“Kid you with me?!” She scurried to his side, the solid thick glass separating the two of them. If only she had Clark’s strength, just this once.

“Go… their’ cmin’ back… please’ just-.. don’t get caught…” Danny looked straight into Loises eyes. As drowsy as he was, he made sure not to slur his last 3 words together.

All Lois could do was nod, and silently promise herself, and the kid that she was going to do everything she could to get him out. And destroy the GIW.

Looking around quickly she found a little body hole behind a the large mass of drawers and crates towards the back.

Luckily was still able to somewhat see the kids cell from her position. And hastily pull up her phone to record. With the brightness all the way down of course, she doesn’t want to get caught.

Not after find out out what they’d been doing with a fucking child.

Several men in white came in, all of them holding either guns or what looks to be tasers, with two of them having a pole on hand. Lois couldn’t help but think is those were even necessary… he’s a child

And seeing them talk to him like he’s an animal, even going so far as to calling ‘him’ and ‘it’. It made her blood boil.

But not as much as when they tased and beat him when he tried to move away from, or fight back at them. She couldn’t help the small flinch at his muffled grunts and slight whimpers in pain as he took the beating.

She caught the one of them saying why he was acting up now… god Danny was doing that on purpose… for her. To add more to what she has.

And as much as she appreciates it, she wishes he didn’t do that… he’s a child, he shouldn’t have had to do that.

After a 1 minute and 24 seconds (according to the recording) Danny finally gave out. She couldn’t properly see him but she could tell he was heaving hard, trying to catch his breath. The guards with the poles moved and-

And she felt pure rage at how they forcibly moved him with the poles attached to his collar. Keeping him a distance from themselves as they moved him, like a feral dog on the streets.

But it was the fact that Danny was barely making an effort to fight back, and being dragged around carelessly and cruelly by his neck was what got to her.

But she forced down the drive to go up to them and fight them herself. Because again, they’re the government. The only good that’ll do is just for her anger. It’s not gonna help Danny.

It’s not gonna help the poor boy that looks so much like her boy, Jon’s best friend.

It’s not gonna help Danny whose being treated like a feral animal by these people (Can she even consider them people from how they are treating a child?).

So she bites her tongue, waits until they leave.

And begins her search of the facility.

With her phone recording and her recorder having been turned on since she fist spoke with the boy.

Lois Lane, the best reporter and investigator of the Daily Planet. Makes her way around the facility, fitting into the white clad sorry excuse of people, with a uniform she found in one of the boxes.

———

Much later, as the morning rays of dawn shed light upon Metropolis’s waking buildings.

A certain woman with black shoulder length hair, and clad in a white suit exits a building near the outskirts of Metroplis.

Her hands are clenched in tight fists as she walks out of the facility’s grounds. As she walks towards the City to where she last parked her car, she brings up her phone once more.

Having recorded all she needed within it, she calls a certain man of steel.

“Hey Lois, where are you?” A man’s voice spoke after not even the second ring.

“I’m coming come right now, but I need you to get ready. This may need a certain man of steel.” She responded back, not even acknowledging his question. For realistically he already hears where she is right now.

“Understood-“ as Clark was about to continued Lois cut him off.

“We need all hands on deck, especially Batman.” Lois could feel Clark tense from this far away as she continued her way back to the street she left her car at.

“I see, I’ll let him know. Your safe thought right?” He asked, that lovable goose, oh how he brought a small, painful smile to her face.

“Yes I’m safe, is Jon okay..?” She suppressed a wince at how her voice cracked towards the end. The image of the broken and beaten boy coming it the forefront of her mind.

“Yes of course… is he somehow involved?” Lois almost lost her footing at the idea. And the tense voice of Clark just amplified the fact that- the kid.

Danny had no one… she saw the little note on the files, on how they’ve been ‘brainwashed’ and were forced to be ‘put down’.

Danny had no one to care, and it broke her heart to think of something like that happening to her boy, to her little Jon.

“Never.” She answered firmly. No way, over her dead body.

“We’ll talk move when I get back.” And with that she ended the call. Having neared her car she reaffirmed her resolve to absolutely crush the GIW for what they had done to Danny.

She’ll make sure they are sorry for doing all they did to him. She has all the evidence.

All she needs now is time to shut them down.

Time that she doesn’t have.

Time that Danny, doesn’t have.

"This better get on the front page" Lois mutters under her breath. She's currently hiding in a crate that's being transported into a secretive "government" facility that calls themselves the GIW. No official data has been released as to what that acronym stands for. A new facility of theirs opened up in Metropolis and Lois is determined to find out what this organization is doing behind closed doors. From the rumors she's heard it sounds like it's Project Stargate level of crazy. This might get her another Pulitzer Prize.

Lois feels the truck holding her, and many many pallets of lead lined crates, pull to a stop. After that it's a blur of muffled words spoken by GIW employees as they unload the truck. Her crate gets picked up by a forklift and moved somewhere deep into the facility. Perfect.

After ten agonizing minutes, the forklift stops and lowers the crate into an unknown room and drives away.

Lois waits.

She has a thermal reader to detect if anyone is inside the room with her that (thank you Bruce) works through two inches of steel and lead.

The only thing she saw that was noticeable was an oddly large cold spot in an adjacent room.

Well it's now or never.

Lois moves cautiously, slowly opening the lid of the crate from underneath just enough to crawl herself through and then slowly put the lid back, careful to not make a sound.

She turns away from the crate and goes to investigate that cold spot.

Past a door, through a short hallway, and inside a high security cell, Lois saw the source of the temperature anomaly.

It's a boy. A boy no older than her son… A boy who was emaciated, collared, handcuffed, and covered in gauze.

A boy who looked near identical to her son's best friend, Damian.