#and yet dr cox knows. love it. live for it

[panevanbuckley]

absolutely obsessed with the way dr cox just has this uncanny way of knowing whenever jd is nearby. it's like he has some sort of jd radar 😭

[hobartsaglet]

Let’s talk about Foggy Nelson

TL;DR- if you’re gonna kill him off, make it more compelling.

Chase ranting under the cut:

TW: mentions of g-ns, bl00d, getting sh@t, c@ncer, gr!ef and l@ss

God, the news about cutting Foggy’s role in Born Again short makes me and so many other fans devastated.

I was shocked by these set picture, because Deborah’s face is bloody and it looks like Elden on the ground. And why does it have to happen in front of Josie’s, of all places! That’s so so fucking heartbreaking if what I think happens will happen.

Fuuuck.

I first watched the series just over a year ago, and I instantly connected with Foggy. He’s not one of the big beefy guys beating the snot out of each other on screen. He doesn’t have any radioactive superpowers, he doesn’t know how to fight (unless he has a softball bat), and he could use some work with his Spanish.

But god, I’ve never felt so warm around another character.

He’s kind, he’s a servant heart, he loves unconditionally, and dammit, he loves food! I’ll never forget how hard I cried over the scene of him and Matt in college- sure, it’s a rarity to see Matthew so happy, but it’s even more meaningful that Foggy is there. He’s been by Matt’s side since the day they met. And god, if that isn’t some rugged loyalty, I don’t know what is. Matt treated him like garbage, especially in season 2, season 3, and Defenders, and yet Foggy stays because he just loves his best friend. He wants the best for him.

And so this choice by the Born Again writers, to just throw it all away, seems so cheap.

For people who know me and how I write, I know I’m no better when it comes to killing off characters. I’m not opposed to Major Character Death. But this choice, this way of killing him off seems careless, given the impact he has on the show (and not just his emotional influence. Foggy is part of the reason why Matt does all he does).

Foggy can still be killed off and given a dignified death. I don’t care if the writers killed him off for shock value. Dardevil was never a shock value type show.

Fine, we kill him off.

It makes no damn sense to shoot him on the side of the street, getting it over with in a 2-minute scene.

(Let’s assume that this is what they plan to do, for the sake of what I’m trying to say.)

It’s called Daredevil: Born Again, right?

Rebirth is fucking painful. Sure, so is a gunshot wound to the chest. But so is knowing your best friend is dying and you can do Jack. Shit. about it.

A huge struggle for Matthew is the way he’s constantly fighting tooth and nail for control. Knowing your best friend is dying of cancer (as he suffered in the comics), slowly waning away and there is not a thing you can do about it would hit him so hard and make him lose himself (His metaphorical Death). And he’s trying to hide it all.

Throughout the show, Foggy is there, playing his usual part, but we all have this sense of loss, knowing he won’t be here for much longer. Around the climax of the show, maybe even the finale, it’s time.

For fans of the OG show, we all remember Foggy’s way with words. We remember how he talked down the gang members in the hospital and saved lives. We remember how he had the guts to stand up to Reyes on multiple occasions. We remember his prowess in the courtroom, just as equally matched as his best friend.

So I think Foggy should be the catalyst for Matthew to be Born Again. I think some of his final words are going to make him remember himself.

(And this is not to romanticize cancer in the slightest, and if I were to write this out in full, Foggy’s struggles would be real as they could get. Sending love and empathy to those battling with cancer and those who have lost loved ones. My heart is with you.)

That’s how to make Foggy’s death significant and impactful to his place in Matthew’s life and the narrative.

As Charlie Cox once famously said,

“Foggy Nelson is the beating heart of Daredevil.”

And it would be a damn shame to stop it so soon.

———

(Thanks to @kutpot who helped kickstart this whole rant)

[lustfillollipop]

This is my last time

Hear n said that a million times

Stole touching me and my heart

Emotions fucked from start

Get outta my life

Demonics n undertake my life

Go for it cuz I'm no good

I'll cloak too face covered w hood

Wild n smoked

Dark eyes meet bright

Feel forever revoked

Take me down w you

Cuz this level defeats me and you

What the fuck did I deserve

To get the deep end treading water hardly stayin above it

The man I once had

The one married to n ended bad

I hope he can forgive me

But hard for me to see the things clearly

But forever been a day

I cry instead of let laughter out anyway

I give my front n haven't got one

I need for much these days

N now my palms are sore

I don't wanna forgive and forget

Can we just act different n oretend we never met

Im rotting inside out

He's spelled every word in the spell perfectly out

Im tricked n hypnotized by all the words going through my ears n passed my eyes

Csnt seem to get Shit done

Stuck surfing n uncomfortable w people I thought used to be fun

Now dreary n dab n dull

I'm needing to move quick n now down from the addict

I'll slow my intake

I've met some huge big mistake

Im left dry n cold n sad

Shiverred under the blanket of memories of then

I want for u need

Help too much n out myself high uo to jump off the balcony

Flat I land 9 lives bullshit

Now im intro t if god faced w all the shit I forhot to repent n forgive

So my judgement times here

How'd thos stupid bitch slut whore do this time screw it bad or is she in the clear

Bitch is into clear alright but I think I need to see more n it'll be scary esoecially at night

I'm leah dumbass Cox who listens too much to people who don't talk

In my mind I met you

Now I'm ford Dr been searching to never let you

Go n slip away

But seems to be the ladder n im outta it all inckudibg you ..keft swiftly

I'm understood not at all

But im still trying to work throughmy mgk downfall

I cant n won't but ebd up

Doing exactly what i said it give up

Im emotional but have it less

With bkocked Shit out n I get all undressed

Bare naked n kinda a lady

Nothi g but bones skin n a beating heart maybe

That ticjs but not too much longer

I know times up me to pick or him on the side im not a kion mainly a cancer ctabby n swimming thirsty all the time

I wanted n got

Then I got unwanted Shit then skiooed up outta brain n forgot

Im easily forgotten

No impression left except the words I hit down...ventin

This is a call from the judge

Big guy hey u gimme some love

But then im kicking it out bubble surounded

Sad to say im me

Dry n not be yet founded

Divirced single n yet to g bigger

Shaved head growing little day by day unsealed mouth

No kissing sexual or any more coming out my mouth

Im sexually defiant

In the mood swing n rising up n down slowly

Between a rock but wanna be on

Now I feel some good stuff bouts to come on

He it or whatever tries to make me Help us someway anyway n it's doing its job now I know u can just me outta my funk come with me let's go not faking it mister for a the big trunk

I know that I'm smirking cuz im opposite of defiant u know I love u between n in me

Its not the first time for u

U seen this stupid type before n u hardly come thru

I'll find u n want u more but I know you're girl has demons w me n wants to even the score.

I don't wish that I didn't know

Imunfavored n not easy on the eyes like I maybe used to

Heavy u push in I feel your weight

Hips dig deep n within me u lay

I'm just trying to stay forever pull u in even more

Barley breathing n can see anyone around us anymore

My favorite thing n I gotta let u go

Cuz I put me in last n I like the front row

So when I are real ready singly tangible

U come back to me or just wait don't go

[imaybeabear]

Ok so I just saw No Way Home and I have some Thoughts:

- MATTHEW FUCKING MURDOCK MY ABSOLUTE BELOVED

- NO SERIOUSLY YOU DONT UNDERSTAND HOW BIG I WAS SMILING AND I ALMOST SCREAMED AND I JUST LOVE HIM SO MUCH OK

-the charges won't stick??? SIR was that a Pun?? "I'm a really good lawyer"??? MATTHEW I LOVE YOU CHARLIE COX I ADORE YOU

- why are mcu Peter, MJ, and Ned so stinking adorable?? I love them so much

-freaking Dr Strange, man. I love that he comes across as this mystical wise man type but really he doesn't have even 2 braincells to rub together

- 💛💛💛💛Alfred Molina💛💛💛💛

- WILLEM. MOTHER. FUCKIN. DAFOE.

- the mirror dimension fight was so cool!?!

- the most Spiderman-esque thing mcu Spidey has ever done is try to save the villains and I Adore him for it

- the Look on Doc Ock's face when they fixed his chip, oh my God. OH MY GOD. I just- its all he ever wanted?? I am Crying

- WILLEM DAFOE I LOVE YOU, SIR

- oh no. Oh no, May. Nonononononono the "great power, great responsibility" speech was perfect I am Sobbing and his Face I cannot handle it aaaaaaahhhhhhhhh

- Ned and MJ are just Peak Friend Goals I love them

- ok. Now, please believe me when I say that I do Not live in a place where making any noise in a theatre is at all ok. In that I mean I have been threatened with actual violence for laughing too loud before. And the Entire. Theatre. Burst. Into. Applause. And Cheering when Andrew Garfield came through that portal and then AGAIN for Tobey Maguire!! I have NEVER in MY LIFE heard ANYTHING like that in ANY MOVIE THEATRE EVER INCLUDING ANY STAR WARS OR MARVEL MOVIE I AM BLOWN AWAY

- Every interaction between the spidermen was Pure Fuckin Gold I love them all so so so much and I am Crying

- so it turns out my childhood crush on Tobey Maguire and my adolescent crush on Andrew Garfield weren't as gone as I thought they were

- this movie was so funny I am still laughing at the whole Avengers bit

- Andrew!Spidey catching MJ legitimately made me burst into tears and his face when he asked if she was ok and his little nod and I'm so glad he finally got to give his character a good send off I'm still crying

- STEVE ROGERS WOULD HAVE ~H A T E D~ THAT SHIELD BEING ON THE STATUE OF LIBERTY AND I WILL FISTFIGHT EVERYONE INVOLVED IN THE MCU MOVIES EVEN IF IT MEANS DYING ON THIS HILL. I AM GLAD THAT IT GOT BROKEN. IT NEVER SHOULD HAVE BEEN UP THERE IM SO MAD

- have I mentioned how much I adore Willem Dafoe yet??

- the amazing fact that the shield wasn't even mentioned in the end, that the memories of Steve and Tony weren't held over his head or used to influence his decision, it was just another Spiderman who Knows, who Understands what he's going through, who wants him to be better because he wanted himself to be better, and because he knows that revenge won't help, will only hurt this kid who he knows because he knows himself I just ridhehwkwodhrbjfuf and the fucking look on Tobey!Spidey's face killed me dead I love him so so much

- the Hug. THE HUG!!!!

- I am so sad about the ending but it also makes sense which makes it even more sad. They pushed mcu!Spidey into the Avengers before his own character development could really handle it and then couldn't down scale him because he was too involved, so I'm really glad that he's getting a chance to be the small time hero he always has been again and to become his own character away from the universe ending threats but fuck! I'm so sad!

- Eddie! Venom! EddieandVenom!!

- kinda excited about that hint of a dark Dr Strange??

In conclusion:

This is the only marvel movie I actually want to go see again since Thor Ragnarok and I hate that I am being sucked back into the mcu. But I love this movie, and I love Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield so I guess it's ok

[papers4me]

Fruits Basket,Se03, Ep 9 (part 1)

“ppl & feelings can’t be bound down”~

What an ep for my girl tohru! She completed her growth thanks to kyo’s rejection. really, It was so hard, cruel, understandable but above all so necessary for her to reach a logical realistic conclusion that “I can love/want things from the bottom of my heart, but at the end I can’t force or bound them to me, I won’t regret loving/wanting them, but I’ll move forward regardless, no more standing still”.

-The fear of being alone:

Aren’t we all? We’re scared to face the word after breaking bonds, changing, not getting what we want, having to start over. Such feelings run deeper into us all. Both tohru & akito were scared to face the word without the old comfortable bond that they got used to:

Tohru realized today, that she cant keep talking to a cold photo, can’t live according to her mom’s expectations, to fulfill her mom’s wishes, can’t narrate her daily life to her mom & fill her life with other ppl’s own issues to distract her self from facing her own loneliness & from looking deeper into what should she do with her life. As she fell in love with kyo, tohru started talking to him! forgetting to inform her mom abt her life’s details, thinking abt what will she do “after graduation?”. As kyo asked in se02, ep2. Graduating highschool is ur mom’s wish, What would u wanna do after?” Tohru didnt have a response of “an after”cuz her mom wasnt there to tell her! Tohru has to choose “the after” herself!!!! “The after” was being with kyo & starting life together! figuring what to do next together! She no longer alone! she found her most precious person!

Except: he cant be with her. Again tohru is scared. What to do now! she wanted a bond but is forced to leave it. Loving kyo was stage 1 to be free from her grief. Moving forward without kyo is stage 2 to learn not to repeat the painful journey again! She didnt let go of her mom & kyo easily. It was hard, scary but she must do it. You must respect their wishes & move on. As scared as she is, there will be sadness & happiness ahead.

Akito realized she cant keep an empty box, cant keep fulfilling her dad’s wishes to “be loved & special” cant bound the zodiacs to her for good. They may love her or not, it doesn't matter, if they wish to leave for whatever reason, she cant force them to stay.

Except now that the zodiacs are leaving, what does she have to live for? who will be with her? she isnt good with strangers? she never met anyone who wasnt forced to obey her & be grateful for her. Strangers cant be forced to love her! what will she do now? stretch you hand for a greeting. Tohru told her, make a friend, they might refuse you, but hey might accept u too, I’ll make it easy, Hi, I;m tohru, whats ur name?

The power of true love: ( reality vs fiction)

In fairy tales, the princess fix the prince. the prince save the princess. The prince kiss the princess, she wakes up & they be happy ever after. Except real life has no prince & princess, You cant always be saved, you cant always save others, pure intense true love cant always be the answer!

Yuki was first when tohru needed physical saving. he saved her twice! Yuki’s nickname in school ”the prince”. Yuki is always cool, thoughtful & kind. Yuki always knew what to say & do! he deserves tohru’s romantic love more than kyo, right? But “ppl & feelings can’t be bound down”~ . Yuki didn't feel this way towards tohru, granted no one (excepts kakeru) knows the reason why he loves her fondly (she’s his mom figure). The official” prince isnt the one for her. Real life isn’t a fairy tale. Yuki has someone who sees he isn’t cool, perfect or a prince “ granted no one knows abt machi, yet! ) XD

In tohru monologue: she didnt think abt saving, that's not why she loves kyo. She stated normal, silly, mundane things! a shy smile, awkward kindness & the likes. Stuff ppl love abt each other in real life. You dont say, I love my husband cuz he saved me from a burning building in the 7th floor! lol. But fiction is so full of this. Princes saving princesses.

Tohru didnt fix kyo, too! as much as her love helped him greatly to find hope, the best writing choice is that tohru’s love also brought despair to kyo! To him, she’s the symbol of hope, peace & comfort! she’s also, the symbol of despair, torment & unease! EPIC! The kyo who’s stuck in the past cant be with her, the kyo who will move beyond trauma, abuse & broken soul will be with her. The duality is all on kyo’s shoulder: what will he choose? Can he choose in his state now?

In fairy tales the princess wakes up after the kiss. In real life, we don't. Tohru didn’t. Regardless if she fainted during or after the kiss. The kiss fixed nothing. Kyo’s despair in seeing near-dead tohru in a not-so-subtle mimic to his nightmare, has manifested itself into the sweetest kiss upon seeing her conscious & talking. Kyo isnt good with words, his actions are his words. When he’s scared, sad, in trauma: running away. when he’s  fond of her, grateful for her existence: head knock, head pats, hand holding & a kiss. Still the kiss fixed nothing. Kyo is still traumatized more than ever now. Tohru still feels rejected “even if I’m not with you, plz live”.

Talking fixes everything. It didn’t here, kyo & tohru talked & showed their most vulnerable side to the other, but still didn’t meet half ways, regardless of all the love. That’s cuz they keep missing each other’s best timing. Kyo is stuck in the past while tohru has moved forward. even if in her mind she’s the one who stood & he moved. this shows they aren’t on the same wave yet. Before meeting each other again, kyo must learn from his mistake like tohru did. He must face his ultimate demon: his dad. The one who created the current broken kyo.

Rebelling against parents: ( sign of growth & freedom of choice):

Rebelling against parents  is a sign of a desire to choose one’s path, decide one’s own future. Away to express an oppressed desire.

Yuki rebelled against his mom in se02. he told her I’m not going to the college you chose. I’ll chose my path. I’m not staying away from Ayame. My bro is good in my book. I chose who I want to be with. He told her what he needed, turned his back & moved forward.

Tohru rebelled against her mom today. told her I’m not wasting myself doing only what you I think you’ll approve off. You might bot forhet kyo, thats ur choice, But I DO. I love him even if you might not approve of him, Even if he rejected me, my feelings wont change, but I’ll move forward from the grief & pain. mother. She told her what he needed, turned his back & moved forward.

Kyo WILL rebelled against his disgusting dad. He MUST. It is his turn now. He’ll tell him I’m not wasting myself being locked in a cage. I have a future! I’m not a monster. I am LOVED! I might not 100% sure why I’m loved, but the truth cant be hidden. I have ppl who love me! cheer for me! I want to live! enough of death! mom & kyoko died, tohru nearly did, but I’m not gonna die! I’m not killing ME! I’‘ll do what MOM didnt do! I’ll do what YOU couldn't do! I’ll live! He’ll tell him what he needed, turned his back & moved forward.  I cant wait! I’m in tears just thinking abt it! Kyo was punished enough! time for happiness!

Side Notes:

While I’m impressed with tohru’s growth, as they did her justice in this ep, this doesn’t erase that the buildup for tohru’s own journey & trauma was mediocre. There is a reason ppl commented ” omg tohru, you can love your mom AND kyo!. ” Grief is illogical, long process & it sucks that we weren’t allowed to experience tohru’s grief & her mom’s role in tohru’s abandonment issues. Huge lost opportunity that a good conclusion ep cant erase! but like tohru, I’m moving on ~

The path of growth for kyo will start by rejecting the demon: his dad. No. other. option. Hold abusers accountable for their crimes. Stop their madness. Tell them off.

We know kyo is baka! that’s his trade mark, the endearing baka! a lot of characters in the show think so! I love it, but I’m craving baka-yuki! XD! really, yuki is cool, level-headed & smart, but let him be baka too! this only shows up in tiny microscopic doses, but they’re my fave doses of yuki! it humanizes the “perfect prince”, the “gifted high status rat”! Thus him not seeing kyo running the other side, is my fave look on him! XD.

I appreciate that kyo & yuki put their differences aside when they’re with tohru. You cant tell yuki is hella pissed off with kyo, but he restrained himself. His gaze while full of anger is also full of sympathy as he heard/saw kyo’s panic upon the thought of loosing tohru. He understand they both only mean the best for each other, but also tried they both keep missing each other & not meeting half way! Also, yuki being the only one in the hospital is realistic & endearing. No need for them all to be there & yuki lives with her & is so close to her.

kyo not being the hospital is fantastic! thank you writer-San! why would kyo go to the hospital after thinking his nightmare came true? kyoko /his mom warned him, you’ll hurt another person.. he did.. he didn't cause her fall... but caused her sadness & hurt.

Momiji’s reprimanding gaze is my fave look on him! Also, the best response to what akito did. Akito isnt used to such judgemental gaze. Kureno grabbed her cheeks, gently told her you shouldn't do that, the old maid told her you are right, Dr. Hatori erased her mistakes from ppl heads & bodies, shigure being either cold or kissing her ass, coxing her to yet torment another zodiac in his grand scheme to break the curse as happened in the beach arc.

You bet hana & arisa will be there next ep! Arisa will meet kureno & akito for sure. To path the way for their romance as seen in the ED.

Shigure’s “remorse” is a whole can of worms. Playing with ppl’s hearts & feelings to gain someone’s affection is no laughing matter. Each time blood is shed, he contributed somehow. he didnt force anyone to hurt the other, but he played with matches & never got hurt.

Shigure must be glad akito stabbed kureno. Not cuz he’s sadistic or bad person. He isn’t, but cuz akito stabbing kureno is akito cutting her bond with him. Go shigure, your girl removed her lover with blood. Kureno is punished for sleeping with ur girl by blood! so, when is ur punishment for sleeping with ur lover’s mom? none? ok.

The animation is good. They didnt villinize akito by drawing extra manic features like se02. Kyo’s broken & tormented face once again epicly drawn. However, akito’s slaps on tohru’s face were comedic, unnecessary & such bad taste! Stop using violence for extra drama, furuba!

Also, tohru, I love you, I understand you are broken but charging at a person, who has a history of violence & physical abuse & holding a knife, is stupid. No other description. I’m glad she didnt accidentally kill you in her initial rage.

Everything akito’s redemption, kureno & shigure are part 2 in my review.

[aion-rsa]

Upcoming Marvel Movies Release Dates: MCU Phase 4 Schedule, Cast, and Story Details

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

A bold new era for the Marvel Cinematic Universe began in 2021 on Disney+ with the wildly successful WandaVision and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, but Marvel Studios certainly hasn’t been resting on its laurels in terms of upcoming cinematic blockbusters. Not only does it have Black Widow (finally) ready for theatrical release, but we’ve also got Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Eternals, Thor: Love and Thunder, and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness all in various stages of production, there are also TV series on the way for the likes of Hawkeye, Ms. Marvel, Moon Knight, She-Hulk, and more!

Well, if you’ve been a little confused by Marvel’s shifting dates and streaming priorities, never fear! We’ve got a comprehensive release calendar for you here detailing all the forthcoming MCU projects, so you’ll always be able to find the latest updates when you need them.

Let’s take a look at everything Marvel has in store over the next few years…

Loki

Release Date: June 9, 2021

Tom Hiddleston will reprise his most famous role, as Loki finds himself on a heist through time and space “as he steps out of his brother’s shadow” after the events of Avengers: Endgame! Oh, and based on this trailer, there’s all kinds of time-travelling weirdness awaiting, including the return of Heimdall, some other Asgardian hijinks, DB Cooper (yes!), Owen Wilson playing an obscure character based on a beloved Marvel Comics writer, and…Loki possibly running for President!

Tom Hiddleston stars, of course, and the cast also includes Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Sophia Di Martino, Wunmi Mosaku, and Richard E. Grant. Michael Waldron is head writer and Kate Herron is directing.

Black Widow 

Release Date: In theaters and on Disney+ with Premier Access Friday, July 9, 2021

The Black Widow movie was heading for a May 1, 2020 release before the pandemic, but Disney and Marvel decided to delay it until the industry’s infrastructure was back to some semblance of normal. They seemed absolutely committed to keeping Natasha on a theatrical release rather than sending her to Disney+, but eventually semi-caved in March as it was confirmed that Black Widow would hit both streaming and theaters simultaneously in July.

Here’s the official synopsis:

“Natasha Romanoff aka Black Widow confronts the darker parts of her ledger when a dangerous conspiracy with ties to her past arises. Pursued by a force that will stop at nothing to bring her down, Natasha must deal with her history as a spy and the broken relationships left in her wake long before she became an Avenger.”

Cate Shortland directed the film, and Scarlett Johansson stars, with Florence Pugh and David Harbour alongside her. One of the movie’s villains is Taskmaster, and we wrote a little bit more about him right here.

Natasha Romanoff will get a prequel movie of sorts here, as we catch up with Widow right around the events of Captain America: Civil War. Will the plot affect her character’s ultimate fate in Endgame? Do not count on it.

What If…?

Release Date: Summer 2021

The beloved comic book series that tells tales of how things might have turned out differently in the Marvel Universe is becoming an animated series on Disney+!

Here’s the official synopsis:

“What If…? flips the script on the MCU, reimagining famous events from the films in unexpected ways…Marvel Studios’ first animated series focuses on different heroes from the MCU, featuring a voice cast that includes a host of stars who reprise their roles.”

We know that at least a couple of these roles include Chadwick Boseman’s final performance as T’Challa as well as the return of Hayley Atwell as Agent Peggy Carter!

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

Release Date: September 3, 2021

Simu Liu has been cast as the titular Shang-Chi and Tony Leung as The Mandarin (hey, that name sounds familiar! But this time, we’re getting the real Mandarin on screen). Destin Daniel Cretton is directing from a script by Dave Callaham. Given its “Ten Rings” title, Shang-Chi should be steeped in Marvel lore, going all the way back to the first Iron Man film!

Hopefully this will be Marvel’s most action-packed movie yet. The trailer sure makes us think so.

Venom: Let There Be Carnage

Release Date: September 17, 2021

Andy Serkis (Mowgli) steps behind the camera for Venom 2, which now boasts the catchy title of Venom: Let There Be Carnage. The first film, buoyed by a terrific showing at the Chinese box office, made an absolute ton of money, despite being released to mostly scathing reviews.

Venom: Let There be Carnage will follow up Sony’s 2018 Spider-Man-less spinoff film, but will likely be more connected to the MCU this time around, thanks to a renewed deal between the company and its Marvel Studios partners. Tom Hardy will return as Eddie Brock, of course, and as you can probably guess from that title, he’ll be facing off against Woody Harrelson’s villain, Cletus Kasady aka Carnage!

We wrote about all the cool Marvel stuff happening in the above trailer right here.

The Eternals 

Release Date: Nov. 5, 2021

Acclaimed Nomadland helmer (and Oscar winner!) Chloe Zhao is directing Marvel’s Eternals from a script by Matthew and Ryan Firpo. Marvel described the film as an “epic story, spanning thousands of years” that features “a group of immortal heroes forced out of the shadows to reunite against mankind’s oldest enemy, The Deviants.”

The cast features Richard Madden as Ikaris, Kumail Nanjiani as Kingo, Lauren Ridloff as Makkari, Brian Tyree Henry as Phastos, Salma Hayek as Ajak, Lia McHugh as Sprite, Don Lee as Gilgamesh, Angelina Jolie as Thena, Gemma Chan as Sersi, and Kit Harrington as Dane Whitman, the Black Knight. We meet all these characters in the trailer, which we wrote more about here.

This one was another victim of the release date shuffle, but we’ll finally get to see Jack Kirby‘s wildest creations soon enough!

Spider-Man: No Way Home

Release Date: Dec. 17, 2021

The next Spider-Man movie looks like a big one! Spider-Man: No Way Home will once again take place in the MCU since Marvel and Sony solved their differences, good sense prevailed, and Tom Holland’s Peter Parker will remain a vital part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

This one, well…this might be a live action Spider-Verse movie from the sound of it. Jamie Foxx will reprise his role as Electro from the maligned Amazing Spider-Man films and Alfred Molina will return from the Raimi era as Doctor Octopus.

Wait. Are they trying to make this a multiversal Sinister Six movie? Because…we could be down for that.

Hawkeye

Release Date: Late 2021

Jeremy Renner returns as Clint Barton to train his replacement as Hawkeye, Hailee Steinfeld’s Kate Bishop! Apparently based on the brilliant run of comics by Matt Fraction and David Aja, Hawkeye will also prominently feature Lucky the Pizza Dog, one of the great canines in Marvel Comics history.

The cast also includes Vera Farmiga as Eleanor Bishop, Fra Fee as Kazimerz Kazimierczak, Tony Dalton as Jack “Swordsman” Duquesne, Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova, Alaqua Cox as Maya ���Echo” Lopez, and Zahn McClarnon as Willie Lincoln. We wrote more about all these new characters here.

Ms. Marvel

Release Date: Late 2021

Ms. Marvel is finally coming to live action! Here’s the official synopsis for the series…

“Ms. Marvel introduces Kamala Khan—a 16-year-old Pakistani-American growing up in Jersey City. “A great student, an avid gamer and a voracious fan-fiction scribe, she has a special affinity for superheroes, particularly Captain Marvel. But Kamala struggles to fit in at home and at school—that is, until she gets super powers like the heroes she’s always looked up to. Life is easier with super powers, right?”

The cast includes Iman Vellani as Kamala Khan aka Ms. Marvel, Aramis Knight, Saagar Shaikh, Rish Shah, Zenobia Shroff, Mohan Kapur, Matt Lintz, Yasmeen Fletcher, Laith Naki, Azher Usman, Travina Springer, and Nimra Bucha. Episodes are directed by Adil El Arbi & Bilall Fallah, Meera Menon, and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy.

This is going to be a big one, folks, because Kamala is going to be a significant player in Captain Marvel 2. How significant? The title of the movie is now The Marvels!

Morbius

Release Date: January 21, 2022

Spider-Man spinoff Morbius is Sony’s next big Marvel wild card, and it’ll officially be the first spinoff to properly connect to the MCU (even if Marvel Studios still isn’t officially acknowledging it in their own promotional materials the way they are with Spider-Man: No Way Home). Here’s the official synopsis for the film…

“Dangerously ill with a rare blood disorder, and determined to save others suffering his same fate, Dr. Morbius attempts a desperate gamble. What at first appears to be a radical success, a darkness inside him is unleashed and transforms this healer into a hunter.”

Safe House‘s Daniel Espinosa directs from a script by Matt Sazama, Burk Sharpless, Art Marcum, and Matt Holloway. Jared Leto stars as the vampiric title character, and the cast also includes Matt Smith, Adria Arjona, Jared Harris, Al Madrigal, and Tyrese Gibson.

Read more about the character of Michael Morbius here.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

Release Date: March 25, 2022

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness looks like it will open up the storytelling possibilities in the MCU like never before. And that’s just based on the name alone. Scott Derrickson was scheduled to direct, but bowed out because of “creative differences” with Marvel. But the good news is that Marvel found a suitable replacement in none other than Sam Raimi, who of course has plenty of superhero experience thanks to his Spider-Man trilogy in the early 2000s!

This one has loads of connections to the wider MCU. Elizabeth Olsen will be here as Wanda Maximoff post-WandaVision, and the film will also connect to Spider-Man: No Way Home and its own multiversal ambitions. There are also a few rumors doing the rounds that Jericho Drumm aka Brother Voodoo could be introduced in this sequel. We’ll keep an eye on that and update this if there’s any substance to them.

Thor: Love and Thunder

Release Date: May 6, 2022

Taika Waititi, who gave us the delightful Thor: Ragnarok, will return to write and direct. Chris Hemsworth will be back. Natalie Portman is your new Thor (yes, you read that right, Jane Foster will wield the hammer…just as she did in the comics!). Christian Bale has also joined the cast as the terrifying Gorr the God Butcher. Not only that, this movie will finally put Olympians in the MCU with Russell Crowe as Zeus. Can Hercules be far behind?

Oh, and did we mention that the Guardians of the Galaxy will be along for the ride, too?

Black Panther 2: Wakanda Forever 

Release Date: July 8, 2022

Black Panther 2 is now called Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Marvel has made it official that after the tragic, untimely death of Chadwick Boseman they have no intention of recasting the role of T’Challa, which is absolutely the right move.

Ryan Coogler will return as director, but there are no other details currently available. Interestingly, Coogler is also bringing a Wakanda TV series to Disney+ at some point in the future, too, and something tells us this Wakanda-centric title for the sequel is a sign of things to come.

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse Sequel

Release Date: October 7, 2022

Is it technically an MCU movie? Nope. But with all the legal weirdness going on between Marvel and Sony, and this franchise’s very multiversal concept, who’s really to say that it ISN’T an MCU movie either, right? In any case, the sequel to the best Spider-Man movie of all time is coming in 2022 with Avatar: The Last Airbender mastermind Joaquim Dos Santos directing and David Callaham writing.

There’s also an “untitled Marvel movie” still technically scheduled for this date but…that is almost certainly not gonna happen now. Expect whatever that project was to move to one of these below dates or to some other currently unspecified date on the calendar.

Captain Marvel 2: The Marvels

Release Date: November 11, 2022

WandaVision writer Megan McDonnell has been tapped to write the screenplay for Captain Marvel 2, which now boasts the title of The Marvels. You know what else is really cool? Candyman‘s Nia DaCosta will direct!

We have no idea where we’ll find Carol Danvers (Brie Larson) in the sequel to her hugely successful first standalone MCU entry. Will she be fighting to loosen her former Kree pals’ iron grip on a pre-Avengers galaxy? Or will the follow up film see her fighting for justice in the present?

In any case, we know that she’ll be facing off with Zawe Ashton as a currently-unnamed antagonist, and WandaVision‘s Monica Lambeau (Teyonah Parris) will also return in her superpowered state after the events of that game-changing show. Considering that Monica was once known as “Captain Marvel” in the comics, that title of The Marvels becomes more appropriate. And even MORE appropriate when you realize that Kamala Khan, Ms. Marvel, will also be making her big screen debut.

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania

Release date: Feb. 17, 2023

Peyton Reed will return to direct the third installment of the Ant-Man saga, making him the first director in MCU history to complete a trilogy…perhaps the most unlikely trilogy in Marvel’s entire arsenal. Paul Rudd will return as Scott Lang, and you can certainly expect Evangeline Lilly to return as The Wasp and Michael Douglas as Hank Pym.

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The villain of the film? That will be Kang the Conqueror, who will be played by Lovecraft Country‘s Jonathan Majors. The inclusion of Kang opens up all kinds of interesting possibilities for the MCU, and may even tease the arrival of the Fantastic Four down the line! We wrote more about those possibilities right here.

We’re also going to need fast confirmation on Michael Pena’s return as Luis, though. Luis is key…

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 

Release date: May 5, 2023

After a tumultuous period which saw James Gunn fired and then rehired as Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 director, he will finally return to complete his spacefaring trilogy for the studio. However, Gunn can’t even begin filming Guardians 3 until he finishes production on The Suicide Squad for DC, as well as an HBO Max Peacemaker prequel. Once those projects are finished, he’s free to return to the MCU.

Avengers: Endgame left the team in an interesting place. We broke down some of the story possibilities right here.

And then there are still some dates that Marvel has announced that they have yet to match projects to. Those dates are…

July 28, 2023

Oct 7, 2023

Nov. 10, 2023

Some of those dates could very well be good fits for the following films…

Fantastic Four

The MCU Fantastic Four movie is finally happening! Marvel seems to be hinting that Fantastic Four will be their next priority after Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. So is it possible that we’ll see it on July 28, 2023? That sure would be a great piece of summer blockbuster real estate to launch what might be the most important piece of the MCU going forward!

Marvel’s first family will join the Marvel Cinematic Universe in a film directed by Jon Watts, who did such a wonderful job with the first two MCU Spider-Man movies. That’s all the information that’s out there at the moment, but as soon as we have more, we’ll update this. It also appears that WandaVision started to set up the Fantastic Four, so stay tuned. We have our own theories on why Marvel went with the Fantastic Four before the X-Men, but that’s another story.

Blade

In 2019, Marvel announced that they will be rebooting the Blade franchise with Mahershala Ali playing the titular daywalker. Ali’s True Detective co-star – and former Blade villain – Stephen Dorff is excited to see what he can do with the character, and so are we.

Could Marvel decide to drop this in that Oct. 7, 2023 release date? Considering that’s the Halloween season and Blade is, y’know, a vampire hunter, they’d have to be foolish not to, right?

Captain America 4

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier showrunner Malcolm Spellman is co-writing a currently-untitled Captain America 4 with another FWS alum, Dalan Musson. Those are pretty much all the details that are currently available on this one at this time, but at least we know that Anthony Mackie will return as Sam Wilson in that incredibly badass Captain America costume they gave him for that show. We wrote some more about the potential story possibilities for this one right here.

There’s no date or director for this one yet, so even 2023 seems like it might be a longshot.

Deadpool 3

Wendy Molyneux and Lizzie Molyneux-Loeglin will be the writing team tasked with bringing the Merc with a Mouth to the MCU. What a Deadpool 3 could look like in the interconnected Marvel Cinematic Universe is, of course, anybody’s guess, but if anyone can crack wise about the follies of this kind of corporate synergy, it’s Ryan Reynolds.

And then there’s the lingering TV stuff, at least two of which will arrive in 2022, with the balance likely to arrive in 2023…

She-Hulk

Tatiana Maslany will play Jennifer Walters, a lawyer who ends up with her cousin Bruce’s gamma-irradiated blood. Hilarity certainly ensues. Kevin Feige has promised that since this will be a courtroom show, you never know who else from the MCU could show up.

It’s possible we’ll get She-Hulk on Disney+ in 2022, but nothing is confirmed at this stage.

Moon Knight

Oscar Isaac will play Marc Spector, a disturbed fortune hunter who also happens to be the avenging avatar of an Egyptian moon god. Oscar Isaac is already training hard for the role, and the series is now officially in production, so we wouldn’t be surprised if we see this one on Disney+ in 2022.

Ironheart

The first of two series that will explore the legacy of Iron Man and Tony Stark in the MCU, Ironheart stars Dominique Thorne as Riri Williams, a teenager at M.I.T. who creates her own suit of armor to right the wrongs of the world.

Armor Wars

Don Cheadle will reprise his role as Rhodey and will have the solo spotlight in the War Machine armor in a series that deals with a nightmare scenario for the MCU: what if Tony Stark’s Iron Man technology fell into the wrong hands and was getting duplicated by villains? Based on a classic comics run, Armor Wars promises big action and lots of obscure bad guys. We can’t wait.

Secret Invasion

Samuel L. Jackson will return as Nick Fury alongside Ben Mendelsohn as Talos for a series about the shape-shifting Skrull infiltration of Earth. Kingsley Ben-Adir is apparently playing the villain of the series. Olivia Colman, Emilia Clarke, and Killian Scott also star.

On directing duties are Thomas Bezucha (Let Him Go) and Ali Selim (The Looming Tower) while Mr. Robot vet Kyle Bradstreet is the head writer.

Secret Invasion could be the biggest thing to happen to the MCU since Endgame.

Wakanda

Very few details are available on this one at the moment, but Ryan Coogler will develop at least one Wakanda-set TV series for Disney+. Could this have anything to do with that Wakanda Forever title for Black Panther 2? We wrote more about some of the implications of this here.

We’ll keep updating this with new information as it becomes available!

The post Upcoming Marvel Movies Release Dates: MCU Phase 4 Schedule, Cast, and Story Details appeared first on Den of Geek.

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[revlyncox]

Democracy Is Not a State

Delivered to the Washington Ethical Society on January 10, 2021, by Lyn Cox

Congressman John Lewis reminds us what is possible when we join together, combining our collective action and sense of purpose to keep our country grounded in our best and highest ideals. His final instructions to us were to “walk with the wind,” to stay together and respond to the movement of our time in the spirit of peace and with the power of love. 

That is what is happening in Georgia. This past week, we learned that Georgia will have two new Senators. The Rev. Raphael Warnock will be the first Black Senator from the state, of which about a third of the population is Black. The congregation Rev. Warnock leads, Ebenezer Baptist Church, is the former pulpit of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It is also a congregation that Rep. Lewis attended. Jon Ossoff will be the first Jewish Senator from Georgia. Ossoff interned for Rep. John Lewis as a young man, after having written him a fan letter when Ossoff was 16 years old. Relationships built over years make a difference.

Regardless of political party, we can agree that democracy depends on the ability of citizens to exercise their right to vote. True democracy rests on free and fair elections, in which obstacles to the right to vote are not placed unfairly and disproportionately in front of voters from marginalized communities. The runoff election in Georgia was historic, not only because of the outcome, but because of the momentous turnout. Overcoming voter suppression was a major task, and one that grassroots organizations in Georgia have been working on for years. Multiracial democracy is a threat to white supremacy, and white supremacy has been trying to prevent the full flowering of multiracial democracy from the beginning.

Yet there is progress. Between 2018 and the November election, 800,000 new people registered to vote in Georgia. Registering and mobilizing new voters is the big story of this election, and that was achieved one conversation at a time, one knocked-on door at a time, one phone call at a time, one relationship at a time. Stacey Abrams is a strategic genius and a focused advocate, having started the New Georgia Project seven years ago and Fair Fight two years ago.

Abrams will be the first to tell you that a wide variety of leaders and grassroots organizations share the credit for voter turnout in this election. For instance, LaTosha Brown has been fighting voter suppression since 1998, and her Black Voters Matter project helped mobilize voters across the South. In a series of tweets on Friday, Abrams named 30 different grassroots organizations that coordinated their efforts to help Georgians exercise their right to vote, noting that the runoff election was a demonstration of “decades of strategy, grit, + building.”

Between Rep. Lewis’ reminder about clasping hands and moving together, and the turnout in Georgia’s runoff election, our takeaway should not be limited to admiration for the most visible leaders, candidates, and public officials. We can and should admire their good character traits and their dedication to service. We can and should thank the movement leaders who made this possible, especially Black women. But we should not elevate these officials and movement leaders to the point where we regard them as something other than human, an example too rarified for us to follow.

The lesson here is that organizing is happening all around us. Coordinated solidarity to enact structural change for liberation is part of how we help bring the full promise of multiracial democracy into being. There may well be someone like Stacey Abrams in the movements you are part of at your workplace or in your neighborhood. Let’s listen. There are definitely organizations in our own communities being led by the people who are most impacted by marginalization. We can follow the example that has been set out for us by supporting power-building and relationship-building that is already happening locally. Grassroots organizing takes a long time. It requires a lot of one-on-one conversations, very little in the way of immediate results, and broad participation. That path is available to any of us, nobody has to be a superstar to participate in repairing the soul of our nation.

We contrast the progress in building multiracial democracy in Georgia with the violent attempt to destroy multiracial democracy that happened on January 6. Because this Platform is being recorded for posterity, I feel that I have to be very clear about the events of this week; please take care of yourself if a reminder of these events is overwhelming for you. On Wednesday, at the urging of their demagogue, white supremacist insurrectionists invaded the Capitol building, threatened the safety of elected leaders and staff, looted the building, and left chaos in their wake for others to clean up, primarily janitors and facilities staff who are People of Color. They were not merely rascals ignoring the rules of orderly protest, they were an armed mob seeking to disrupt the practice of democracy. Computers were stolen, putting our national security at risk. Five people died, including an officer from the Capitol Police.

In our community, I know we are holding intense emotions about this incident. I am particularly mindful of the impact that this has on those who work for the Federal government, for whom the area around the Capitol is an everyday environment, a place full of memories and colleagues. My heart also goes out to those who live near the Capitol, who had to deal with armed white supremacists wandering the neighborhood unimpeded. To anyone who has ever been treated roughly by the Capitol Police for non-violently exercising their first amendment rights, the lack of resistance to the mob may not have been surprising, but it was yet another insult, a reminder that the level of force with which police respond to protestors is a choice. For People of Color, Queer people, Muslim people, Jewish people, immigrants, or anyone who holds an identity targeted for violence by these insurrectionists, Wednesday’s events were a chilling show of power that was precisely intended to make us feel afraid for existing as our whole selves. We cannot let that fear stop us from living fully, nor prevent us from persevering in the work of liberation.

On Wednesday night, I invited the WES community to gather by Zoom to process the day’s events, to overcome the numbness of trauma by feeling our feelings, and to lift up our shared values in a way that only a community like ours can do. It was short notice, and I apologize if you didn’t hear about it in time. Please reach out if you would like to talk to me or to a member of the Pastoral Care Associates about how you are feeling. More than twenty of you were able to attend. Just from that sample, I know that there are feelings of rage, worry, disgust, helplessness, disappointment, and confusion. There are also feelings of readiness, of curiosity about what to do next, relief about the Georgia election, and even optimism that there are long-deferred actions for repair that can take place with the new Congress. Emotions are what they are, and they will be affected by your previous experiences with oppression, trauma, and violence. Feel your feelings. Please know you don’t have to be in those feelings alone.

The violence on January 6 was designed to reinforce white supremacy. It was a reaction to the expansion of multiracial democracy, fed by the shock of racist white people that the votes of people who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color were allowed to have an impact. White people have been told since the moment Europeans arrived on this continent that the land and its abundance and the benefits of government are for ourselves, that white people own this country, and that this is unassailable no matter what happens to the bodies, voices, and lives of those who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. This worldview is gravely harmful and wrong.

The incredulity with which the insurrectionists faced the results of the 2020 election, urged on by politicians who capitalize on their racism, is rooted in the belief that only white votes are legitimate. Their invasion of the People’s House was meant to mark their territory, to show that their ownership remains primary, and that they can and will use violence to maintain that ownership. White supremacist violence as an attempt to derail multiracial democracy is not new, and it has worked before. We all have choices ahead of us to reduce the chances that this tactic will continue to work.

One avenue is to confront and dismantle white supremacy in all of the ways it shows up around us. For those who have been the targets of racism their whole lives, simply living and thriving is an act of resistance. For those of us who were socialized as white, the construction of a wall of ignorance around the machinations of white supremacy is part of how the system operates. For those of us who were raised with barriers to perceiving racism, let’s not wait another moment before removing those barriers and taking action to uproot racism.

We saw again this week how deadly white supremacy can be. It shows up in the minds and hearts of well-meaning people and in the institutional practices of well-meaning communities. It shows up in the decisions of governments from the level of homeowners associations to the U.S. Congress. It shows up in art and music and literature. We don’t have to look far to find a place to begin uprooting racism. For all of us, the outpouring of voter empowerment in Georgia reminds us that there is room for everyone in expanding multiracial democracy.

Another thing we can do is to insist that the threat of violent white supremacy is real, and that we should take it seriously. Perhaps that seems obvious after this week, but we’re already seeing efforts to humanize, sanitize, and excuse the perpetrators of destruction. News articles about insurrectionists who died emphasize their good qualities or accomplishments instead of their criminal records; an obvious departure from the media treatment of racial justice activists and those who have been murdered by police. Jokes about the perpetrators seem to imply that they are too stupid to be held responsible. Calls to understand their pain and excuse their racism rely on stereotypes that are demonstrably untrue. Exhortations to “move on” without practicing accountability reinforce the idea that harm caused by white people should be consequence-free. White supremacy is and always has been a threat to our national security and our national wellbeing, and the sooner we recognize and address that, the better.

Failing to take white supremacy seriously contributed to our vulnerability to Wednesday’s events. Racist militia groups have been allowed to grow and thrive for years when anti-racist groups have been infiltrated, sabotaged, and undermined with outrageous punishments and mysterious deaths. After the Charlottesville event where Heather Heyer was murdered, nothing happened to reduce the potential for future right-wing violence. The Capitol Police knew that the crowds planned for Wednesday were likely to be dangerous. Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal said:

We all were aware of the danger. Ten days ago, Maxine Waters had raised the issue of our security on a caucus call to the Speaker and asked what the plans would be. And 48 hours before, we had gotten instructions from Capitol police about all the threats: that we had to be on high alert, that we had to get to the Capitol by 9 a.m. before the protesters, that we couldn’t plan on going out, that we should have overnight bags. It was very clear, and everyone understood what the threats were.

Rep. Jayapal points out the discrepancy between what the Members of Congress were told about impending events and how the Capitol Police were prepared on the outside of the building. Whether failing to have adequate staff or backup or hard barriers was a result of underestimating the threat or of deliberate collusion or both, the lack of preparedness is a product of white supremacy.

When we recognize the enormity of the problem, we are led to work on systemic solutions. That means examining laws and policies, and the uneven application of those laws and policies. At a Symposium yesterday, award-winning peacemaker and spiritual care activist Najeeba Syeed spoke about the “myth of interpersonal peacemaking,” and how it can be a distraction and derailment of the systemic justice-making that provides the foundation for authentic, lasting peace. Trying to understand and relate to Nazis does not yield systemic change. Attempting to de-radicalize loved ones is another project, not the same thing as building multiracial democracy or expanding liberation. Professor Syeed reminded us that “Peace is not the absence of violence … Peace is the absence of injustice.”

In a week with so many low points, even as we notice the high points, it is understandable to feel disoriented. I have said before that hope is doing the next right thing, working toward a better world even when the outcome is not assured or even clear. Yet if your sense of reality was turned upside down this week, or you were overwhelmed with an experience or a reminder of trauma, maybe the next right thing is especially elusive right now. In that case, the next right thing is to take care of yourself. Drink water. Eat nourishing food. Maybe go outside at some point during the day. Talk to people who care about you. The movement will still be there when you have regained a sense of the ground underneath you. You are a precious being of worth.

Another next right thing is to check up on each other. Remember your federal employee friends. Follow up on a Caring News email. If you’re reaching out to someone who might be having a hard time, you might ask, “Is it OK if I ask how you are?” Let’s try not to make people feel obligated to re-live negative experiences if they aren’t ready. Just being present is often helpful. Even if we can’t fix anything, we can give people the option not to be alone in their grief.

If you have a little more energy and want to channel your feelings into positive actions, consider something that will have a material impact on your local community. R was telling me about Mutual Aid in Washington, DC, especially in Ward 5. For information about Mutual Aid throughout the District, check the website for Bread for the City or find them on Facebook. I also checked in with D, who is involved with Silver Spring/Takoma Park Mutual Aid. You can find them on their Wordpress site or on Facebook. If you’re involved in Mutual Aid, feel free to mention it during Community Sharing or post in the Facebook group later.

R tells me: “Mutual Aid is a non-hierarchical way for neighbors to help neighbors. Anyone can ask for any kind of assistance, and anyone can offer to help. Some roles require some training and learning codes of ethics/responsible service. It's not a particularly ‘formal’ or ‘organized’ thing - it's all hands on deck, and everyone is just doing their best.” R went on to say that there are short-term and long term roles, and those who are able can donate any time.

If you’re wondering what this has to do with dismantling white supremacy, building relationships with your neighbors both is and is not about a larger goal. Building relationships with neighbors is a primary good; it’s something that is valuable and satisfying to do for its own sake. Similarly, offering care when you can and giving people a chance to practice care when you need it are both good, full stop. Neighbors helping neighbors is a form of resistance to oppressive structures. 

In addition, neighbors who have strong bonds with each other are in a better position to advocate for their communities. If you and your neighbors are working to overcome environmental racism where you live, or redirect funding to basic human services, or update policies in the local school that have a negative impact on students of color, you will have a head start if you already know each other. This could be its whole own Platform, so I’ll pause there and just say that strong, connected, diverse local communities can be a manifestation of multiracial democracy and a home base for even more positive change.

Forming authentic relationships with our neighbors, community organizing, building power, paying attention to local issues, caring for ourselves and each other: these are some of the tools with which we will resist white supremacy and build multiracial democracy. This way is slow, and it is often hard, and it works. Growing multiracial democracy is a constant practice; Rep. Lewis reminded us that “democracy is not a state.”

When white supremacy attempts to use violence to enforce a warped and harmful vision of who we should be and how we should be together, one of our avenues for resistance is renewing our commitments to communities living into a vision of wholeness. That can mean your local mutual aid society, it can mean a project like the Food Justice Initiative, it can mean a coalition like the Washington Interfaith Network or the Congregation Action Network, it can mean a voting rights organization like Fair Fight, it can mean a community like WES. A better world is possible. There are pockets of it already living and moving among us and around us and within us. Clasping hands (figuratively, for now), traveling together with the winds of our time, let us gather our collective strength to stay grounded in a vision of the world that is possible.

May it be so.

[rennyforpresident]

Renny’s BBSim: First Boots Week 2

Welcome back to Biiiiiiig Brother!

@ashleaevans @bathroom-sand @kaysarswhore @kayysarridha @kelleekim @lahallucinations @maxdoesbb @misshoh @music-obsessednerd @nerdphobic @nomwastaken @pawn2393 @phylisisley @remember-caltoru @rennyforpresident @shaolinbynature

Previously, the house flipped on the plan @music-obsessednerd had put in place to take out @kaysarswhore and sent @maxdoesbb home in an 11-2 vote. @nomwastaken and @misshoh are running the house in terms of alliances, and @kaysarswhore isn’t far behind.

Speaking of alliances, let’s see if there are any changes this week

We still have a TON of people working together. But at the most recent Fearsome Five Meeting, @rennyforpresident suggests they gun for the next HOH.

@rennyforpresident: “we need to win this! We need to make sure we’re safe, so we should gun for it, especially if it’s endurance.”

This idea was immediately shot down by all four other alliance members, saying that there’s no reason to go so hard so early.

@rennyforpresident in the DR: “I just don’t feel supported like I thought I would with this alliance. They can be the Fearsome Four for all I care”

(WHy do i always do this why do i always abandon my alliances lmao)

It is endurance, just like @rennyforpresident predicted! Who has the (disco) balls to hold on long enough?

@nomwastaken is the first to fall. He knows he’s not gonna last, and doesn’t try to pretend he will. Shortly after though, surprisingly, @rennyforpresident falls. The balls were swinging too fast, and @rennyforpresident underestimated how tightly he needed to hold on.

Three more people drop after that, almost simultaneously. This comp is rough, and they’ve only been up there for 20 minutes!

After 45 minutes up there

@kaysarswhore in the DR: “I’m mad because I really wanted to win! I wanted to tell @music-obsessednerd to shove it, so I’m a little pissed that I can’t do that this week.”

@misshoh in the DR: “I jut couldn’t do it anymore. The chain was hurting my hands and my feet were killing me. Call me a flop, I don’t care. I just hope @remember-caltoru wins and doesn’t chicken out by taking a deal.”

But, just as @misshoh feared, @remember-caltoru turned to the other two secretly and made a deal: safety for himself in exchange for hopping off.

The final two already have a final2 deal! No matter who wins, both of them know they’re safe for the week. @phylisisley, knowing she wants to compete again next week, eventually makes the call. The winner is...

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@shaolinbynature! You have secured your safety for the week and earned the right to nominate two of your fellow houseguests for eviction!

After careful deliberation...

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@shaolinbynature: “I have decided to nominate @bathroom-sand and @kayysarridha. @kayysarridha, you’ve already hit the block once and proven that you can win the veto, so I challenge you to do it again. @bathroom-sand, let’s just be honest here: I don’t like you. You walk around this house like you own it, you have no real concept of gameplay, and you grind my gears like no one else. I put you up because I want you gone. This nomination ceremony is adjourned”

@bathroom-sand in the DR: “Oh, @shaolinbynature doesn’t like me? Well guess what? I can’t STAND her. He’s a mess of a person, and he thinks he’s better than everyone else. I hope I stay this week so I can kick his ass.”

@kayysarridha: “Am I the eternal pawn this season? Shit.”

The veto could be crucial for our nominees, so let’s get to it!

@nomwastaken and @misshoh were both drawn to play! Will the dynamic duo take the veto this week? @ashleaevans also is getting the chance to prove himself. Will he shake up the house by winning veto and saving one of the nominees? Or will he not risk his floater status just yet?

The competition is STIFF. Mud is flying. Truffles are thrown. No pigs were harmed in the making of this veto competition.

But the scores were revealed:

@shaolinbynature had a score of 21

@kayysarridha had a score of 23

@ashleaevans had a score of 26

In third place, with a score of 29...

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Will @nomwastaken pull out his first win? Or will @bathroom-sand save herself from the block with the veto?

With a winning score of 35, beating out the second place score of 33...

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At the ceremony, @nomwastaken stands and makes her decision

@nomwastaken: “I know how hard this game is, and I know it’s not always easy to make friends in here. I’m sorry to both of you for how rough of a week it’s been, but I have to do what’s best for my game. That being said...

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The week was tense after veto, both @bathroom-sand and @kayysarridha in bad moods being on the block.

Later that night, @nerdphobic, @lahallucinations, and @kelleekim were all in the backyard. @nerdphobic was laying on the hammock, and @lahallucinations and @kelleekim were in the pool. Suddenly

The hammock string snaps and @nerdphobic is laying flat on his ass. 

@kelleekim: “Come on dude! You broke the hammock! What’s wrong with you!”

@lahallucinations could only sit there and laugh.

Eventually, the hammock got fixed, but @nerdphobic‘s pride can never be restored.

Later on in the week, @remember-caltoru had locked themselves in the bathroom

@remember-caltoru to themselves in the bathroom: “I hate this game!! My alliance is falling apart, my hair is losing it’s color, I haven’t been able to get some goddamn Taco Bell since being locked in this shithole, I just want OUT!”

@nomwastaken and @rennyforpresident both sit outside the bathroom door and try to calm him down. After about 30 minutes, the tantrum is over, and @remember-caltoru goes back to being their regular selves.

Eviction Night!

Arisa: “Hello houseguests! @pawn2393, what has been the weirdest thing about living in the BB house for the second time?”

@pawn2393: “Seeing all these other people play for the first time too! It’s kind of obvious why some of them were voted off first last time *awkward laughter from the house*”

Arisa: “Wow! Bold words! @shaolinbynature, congrats on the HOH win! What was the best part of your room?”

@shaolinbynature: “The BED! It was a mattress I was sure was safe from being flipped. I know that happened A LOT last season, so I was a little worried coming in”

Arisa: “Well, it looks like the mattresses are safe for now! But our two nominees are NOT. Before we vote, you have one last chance to sway your houseguests”

@bathroom-sand: “This week, I want to stand up to a bully. Playing this game personally is never a good look, and @shaolinbynature, that’s exactly what you did. We don’t get along, that’s fine, but karma will have it’s kiss for you. I just hope I get to be the one to deliver your final blow. Love the rest of you, and I hope I stay!”

@kayysarridha: “Second time on the block, I hope this isn’t a recurring theme! *laughter*! Anyway, I’ve talked to you all, you know what I offer you in this game, and I hope it’s enough to keep me!”

Arisa: “Time to vote!”

The vote starts off with a 2-2 split. Of course, @phylisisley is voting the way her ride or die wants, and evicting @bathroom-sand. It also looks like the former Fearsome Five members are voting together. Will the rest of them follow suit?

So far, so good! The Fearsome Five is sticking together on this vote, but it seems like the members of the Block Destroyers are voting the other way. This could lead to some fallout among the alliances next week. The vote is currently 4-3 in favor of voting to evict @kayysarridha.

And just like that, @bathroom-sand has taken the lead! @kaysarswhore sides with the Block Destroyers. The best @bathroom-sand can hope for is a tie. Will @misshoh side with her number 1 @nomwastaken? Or will she put the final nail in @bathroom-sand‘s coffin?

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In a shocking twist, @nomwastaken and @misshoh split their votes! Is this strategy, or is their bond falling apart?

Arisa: “When I reveal the name of the evicted houseguest, they will have 1 minute to gather their belongings, say their goodbyes, and exit the Big Brother house.”

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@bathroom-sand, come on out!

(it was so hard finding any kind of reaction image of Sheryl this is the best I could do asdlkfj;al)

Arisa: “You put up a DAMN good fight @bathroom-sand! What do you think you were missing?”

@bathroom-sand: “I honestly don’t know! There were a ton of alliances and it was impossible to keep track of. I think I just didn’t get in with them soon enough!”

Arisa: “That’s the question! Play hard and play fast, but not too hard and not too fast! Who do you think is playing the best game in there?”

@bathroom-sand: “I ADORE @kelleekim​. I hope he takes it ALL the way to the end, and I think a lot of you are gonna be shocked by how well he plays this game.”

Arisa: “Well, we’re so glad we could get you back here with us! 

Now that the house is divided by the first split vote of the season, how will people react? How will the alliance structure react? Find out next time. From outside the Big Brother house, I’m Arisa Cox, and remember, someone is aaaaaaaaaalways watching!”

@bathroom-sand​ you’re an icon for playing as Sheryl and I stanned you before this sim and I still do!! And as for the rest of you, keep being MESSY!!!!

[artificialqueens]

You're the Best Part (Heidi x Jaida) - Frankenvenus

a/n i wrote for this pairing cause of the way heidi and jaida talk about how close they got on the show which is so cute. i thought fuck it! let’s write a pregnancy au. the title is a lyric from best part by daniel caeser & h.e.r - 2 very talented black artists.

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Jaida didn’t plan it. She had been with her deadbeat boyfriend for seven months before realising she didn’t swing his way. She ended up coming out to him over a very uncomfortable dinner date, and before she could even register what was going on, he had packed everything of his from her small Wisconsin home and left.

It was difficult at first. When your life revolves around this one person, it’s hard to find meaning when things are just over. Heidi helped - of course. Heidi from across the street - Jaida’s ride or die. There wasn’t a dull moment around the younger woman. Although the break up was rough and sudden, Heidi was by Jaida’s side to ease the pain.

Then, out of nowhere, Jaida fell sick. She would just be sitting, minding her own business when she would suddenly feel nauseated. She would have to rush to the bathroom and throw up, then she’d sit there for hours afterwards, head pounding painfully at the mere thought of food. It wasn’t until Heidi came over did Jaida move from her position. The young blonde rushed towards where she lay on the bathroom floor, placing a hand on her forehead.

“Jesus, girl. You are burning up. Let me get you some Tylenol or something I-” she yanked open Jaida’s medicine cabinet above her sink, rummaging through it for any kind of pain killer. “Are you food poisoned? It wasn’t my soup, was it? Fuck, I knew it smelt funny.”

Jaida groaned, wisps of her brown hair clinging to her forehead with sweat. She felt disgusting. She felt even worse having to tell Heidi that she hadn’t touched her soup. She just wasn’t feeling it. She had started to have strong cravings for peanut butter over the previous few days, so she had only really been eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for meals.

Upon telling Heidi this, the young blonde’s face dropped.

“Cravings?”

“Mhm.”

“Bitchhh,” the girl bit her lip and she looked at Jaida with a strange expression, “When was the last time you, you know… did it?”

“Did what?”

Heidi thought over how to say what she wanted to respectfully, without crossing the line. After dodging the big word with many synonyms to no avail, she just said it straight up. “When did you last get fucked?”

The older woman’s jaw went slack, suddenly feeling like passing out. She gripped the bottom of the sink to steady herself. She and her ex-boyfriend had had sex at least twice in the month prior to their break-up, and although she had been taking her birth control, he had consistently refused to wear a condom. Jaida remembered from her college reproductive biology class that 1 in 100 women would get pregnant on the pill annually. She really hoped she had food poisoning instead of being part of the unlucky 1%. She directed Heidi to the emergency pregnancy test in her cabinet, and the blonde promptly waited outside whilst Jaida followed the instructions printed on the box.

“Can you please talk to me whilst I wait? Distract me with your dumbass stories or somethin’,” Jaida joked, but her voice was shaky.

“Did I ever mention I’m a dom top?” Heidi began, and Jaida almost choked. “Yeah, I like tied a gal to the bed once. She said I was really good at it, but I wouldn’t know. She sounded super bored so I wanted to impress her. Her name was like… Dahlia, I think… and when I was fucking her I couldn’t stop thinking about the Black Dahlia and how when they found her body her mouth had been cut into a smile-”

“Preferably not about murder, Heidi. Chile…” Jaida tried to sound angry, but god it was hard. The fact that she was sitting here, possibly pregnant, after throwing up non-stop and Heidi could still elicit a laugh from her blew her mind.

Five minutes passed, Heidi continued to lie about being a dom-top, and then it was time to check the test.

“Heidi? Can you come in and look for me? I don’t think I can do it myself,” breathed Jaida, and her friend nodded without a word. The brunette clenched her fists subconsciously, looking at the floor whilst Heidi picked up the small stick.

“What do the two red lines mean again?” asked the blonde.

Fuck.

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Jaida had made the decision not to tell her ex-boyfriend, the father of her soon-to-be child, that she was pregnant. She had heard from mutual friends that he had left the state and moved to Illinois, but quite frankly, she didn’t care.

Her mom had been overjoyed upon finding out, for she had always wanted to be a grandmother. She promised to support Jaida as a single mother throughout her pregnancy and her child’s life.

However, the most supportive person in the brunette’s life at that moment in time was Heidi. Heidi would always knock on the door and bring round a dish that matched Jaida’s daily cravings, she would buy her non-alcoholic wine so they could still drink and watch movies together, she would tend to Jaida when her mourning sickness got back and she would attend every single one of her friend’s check-ups. Jaida was starting to believe Heidi was her guardian angel - because she sure looked like it.

They sat together in the waiting room for Jaida’s second ultrasound. She was nearing her second trimester, and although it was small, there was a visible bump on her stomach. Heidi couldn’t take her hands off it. The blonde held a cheap magazine in one hand and kept her other hand on Jaida’s tummy, awaiting the feeling of a kick (although Jaida had told her it was likely too early for that.) Heidi mocked the trashy magazine headlines while they waited, causing the brunette to laugh so hard she almost cried.

“Girl, one day you’re gonna make this fuckin’ baby shoot out of me five months early cause I’ve been laughing too hard,” Jaida wheezed, gripping the side of the uncomfortable waiting room chair. People around them stared, but they didn’t pay attention.

Heidi gasped, “Oh my goodness Jaida, you can’t curse! What if your baby hears? You don’t want it to pop out of your coochie trash talking like its mommy…”

“Shut up bitch!”

Before they could disturb their surroundings anymore, a nurse entered and called them in. Jaida sat herself down on the chair and the nurse reclined it back slightly. Heidi sat on a small stool to the left of Jaida, watching Jaida with a shit-eating grin on her face. The sonographer, Dr Cox, entered the room, pulling gloves onto her slender hands.

“Well, I can see you have developed a small bump since your last check-up with me,” Dr cox smiled, applying lubricating jelly to Jaida’s stomach to prevent friction from the ultrasound transducer. The gel sent shivers through the brunette, but Heidi reached for her hand and warmed her up. “How are you feeling?” asked the sonographer.

“I’m feeling great. The sickness and nausea have kinda gone away. I’ve been having lots of cravings though,” Jaida sighed, “But it’s all good. Heidi over here got me a Build-a-Bear as a baby shower gift, but it’s more so for me than the baby.”

Dr Cox chuckled as Heidi flipped her hair like the proud best-friend she was.

“Isn’t it early for baby gifts? You don’t even know the gender yet!” Dr Cox said as she hovered the transducer over Jaida’s stomach.

Heidi cut in, “I think she’s plannin’ to raise the baby neutral. She’s gonna let it decide what it wants as it gets older. Until then, we are dressing it rainbow.”

Dr Cox couldn’t help but grin as she stared into the ultrasound, and Jaida felt her face heat up, hoping that the doctor wouldn’t notice. There was just something about the way Heidi spoke with such confidence and conviction that made Jaida’s heart swell in ways she didn’t know it could. What also caused the brunette’s head to spin was the way Heidi said we. They were going to raise this child together.

“Well, of course you can raise the baby gender-neutral. That’s a great idea,” Dr Cox chuckled, moving the transducer across, “But, I can tell you the sex. I can see it right here!”

Jaida’s eyes widened, “You can?”

“Mhm. Do you wanna know?”

“Uh, yes please. Duh.”

Dr Cox pointed at the screen as Jaida and Heidi watched curiously, “Thatis a little girl!”

Jaida tipped her head back in pure bliss. Although she hadn’t spoken it out loud, she had desperately wanted a girl.

“I am so happy. No loud ass boys in this house!” Heidi clapped with glee.

“You don’t even live with me,” Jaida laughed.

“I may as well!”

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“Do you have a name for it?” Heidi asked whilst Jaida was biting into a hot pickle - the eight one she had eaten that day.

“Yeah, but it’s a surprise,” Jaida winked with a mouthful of food, “You’re just gonna have to wait and see.”

The blonde slammed her dainty hands on the table, “Bitch! Tell me.”

“Girl, I said surprise. You only have about a month to wait.”

Jaida was right. Her bump was ginormous, to the point that she couldn’t see her toes anymore, and it was clear that the baby was well on its way. Her back hurt constantly, her boobs had swollen their way out of most of her bras, and her hormones were going nuts. She was horny all the time, and incredibly touch starved. Despite having no love for her boyfriend, she missed the feeling of nuzzling her nose into his neck or having filthy words whispered in her ear whilst she was showering.

Every time the brunette looked at Heidi - plump lips, button nose and all - she tried to suppress the need to intertwine their fingers, rub her thigh or gently kiss her forehead. Jaida blamed the thoughts about her friend on the hormones, but deep down she knew there was more to it.

She still hadn’t grown tired of Heidi, even though they had spent practically every minute of the past eight months together. Heidi would still make her warm soup, brew her cups of tea and come over with bags of chips for Jaida, and she would never hesitate. The brunette felt like she owed her life to the younger woman.

It was Heidi’s idea to get the baby’s heartbeat tattooed. They had been given a picture by Dr Cox, and as a birthday gift for Jaida, Heidi had taken her to her friends Widow and Crystal’s tattoo parlour just out of town. The two girls were very well known for their minimalistic yet stylish tattoo designs, and they worked on dark skin flawlessly, unlike many other tattooists in the state. Heidi handed the picture to Widow and the latter was more than excited to execute the idea.

Jaida, being the overly cautious mother-to-be that she was, forced Crystal to thoroughly clean the needle right in front of her out of fear of hurting the child with infection. Crystal assured her that everything was fine and perfectly hygienic, but the brunette didn’t believe it until Heidi told her so. She finally relaxed as Widow pressed the needle against the soft skin of her upper arm.

“How does it look so far?” Jaida asked Heidi through gritted teeth.

“It’s gorgeous.”

“I wish my mom got tattoos done when she was pregnant with me,” Crystal chuckled, preparing the petroleum ointment that she would gently apply on Jaida’s skin once Widow had finished. “That’s so badass.”

“It was all Heidi’s idea,” Jaida smiled, nearly fainting when the apple’s of Heidi’s cheeks reddened slightly.

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They were in line at Wendy’s when it happened. Jaida had been craving a spicy chicken sandwich, so Heidi drove her there without debate. The place was busy, so they were waiting for quite a while. Jaida earned a few stares, which was understandable considering she was heavily pregnant. And then she felt it.

“Oh my God, why does it feel like I’m fucking peeing?” Jaida gulped, her heartbeat quickening with distress. “Am I peeing? I didn’t need the bathroom? I feel like my bladder bopped…”

Heidi gasped and grabbed Jaida’s hand, “Holy fuck Jaida, I read about this. Your water just broke!”

It made sense. Jaida’s due date was set for the next week, but for some reason, the brunette hadn’t considered the child being anything but on time. She found it really cute that Heidi had done her research, though she hardly had time to register it because she was being rushed back to the car.

“What about my chicken sandwich?” she frowned as Heidi pressed her foot down on the pedal.

“Fuck your chicken sandwich! We gotta go!”

Thankfully, the hospital wasn’t far. Within ten minutes, they had reached the large building and were being attended to by multiple nurses.

“Oh fuck!” Jaida whimpered as she felt a heavy pressure press against her pelvis, not unlike a period cramp. The nurses told her not to worry, as she was just experiencing contractions, but she was worrying a lot.

Quicker than she could express her feelings, Heidi sensed them. She reached for Jaida’s shaky hand and gripped it, bringing her lips to it and kissing it gently multiple times.

The action was friendly, but it for sure eased Jaida’s pain.

“Heidi can you… can you call my mom?”

“Sure, hon.”

Hon. It seemed like such a domesticated pet name. Jaida felt like crying.

Ten minutes later, Jaida’s mom burst into the hospital room, looking glamorous as ever. Jaida was the spitting image of her, and Heidi found herself wondering if Jaida’s child would be the same.

“Are you okay, sweetie pie?” her mom asked, pushing past Heidi and grabbing her daughter’s hand comfortingly.

“I’m fine. Slightly uncomfortable, though.”

Jaida was still yet to go into labour, but the doctors and nurses had advised that she stay put at the hospital because it was likely that she would start soon. She was extremely nervous. Growing up, she had always found the prospect of birth disgusting and painful. Now that she was experiencing it - she was right. Her head was sticky with sweat, her lips were dry and the milk that had started coming in two days prior had caused her to feel constantly uncomfortable. To her surprise, Heidi had shown her how to use the breast pump, so now she had many cups of milk sitting in the fridge, waiting for baby Hall to arrive.

It wasn’t long before Jaida went into labour, and Heidi stayed by her the entire time (after having to argue with a nurse to try and convince her that she was practically family.) Their hands stayed connected through the entire process, and Heidi whispered Jaida comforting promises whilst the latter screamed in pain and agony.

Jaida didn’t cry often, but in the four hours that it took to deliver her baby, she must’ve cried her entire body mass. She cried harder after Heidi softly whispered in her ear, ‘We can do this together.’ She knew she couldn’t cope simply being Heidi’s best friend and next-door neighbour anymore. She wanted Heidi. Even more so, she wanted Heidi to be her child’s second parent. It was a huge thing to ask, and she told herself that she would never seriously ask it, but she knew that Heidi would make an incredible mom.

After hours of sobbing, the only cries that filled the room were the cries of Jaida’s beautiful little baby. The baby’s small head was already covered with little black curls upon delivery, and Jaida couldn’t help but stroke them softly whilst the newborn fell asleep in her arms. The baby’s nose was small and cute and Heidi had already gently booped it about fifteen times.

“It’s so tiny,” Jaida’s mom gaped.

“Look at its little hands,” Heidi added.

“Y’all wanna know what I decided to call it?” questioned Jaida, and both women nodded profusely, “I decided to call it Willow cause it’s kinda unisex and the willow tree on our street started growing right when I found out I was pregnant. It cannot be a coincidence.”

For the first time that day, Jaida watched as Heidi’s eyes became glassy. They quickly became filled with tears that spilt over after she said, “I love it.”

Jaida looked into Heidi’s eyes and saw something there that she hadn’t seen before. Both their eyes were dark and stared deeply into one another, further past what each of them saw.

“Momma, can you take Willow for a second? I need a moment with Heidi here,” the brunette asked and her mom nodded, carefully scooping the sleeping baby from her daughter’s arms. She stepped out of the room and into the hallway, leaving Jaida and Heidi there alone.

“Thank you for being here,” Jaida sniffled, reaching forward to take her friend’s soft hands, “I really don’t know how I would’ve coped without you. You have helped me more these past nine months than anyone has ever had. I owe you everything.”

“Girl, you’re gonna make me so emotional,” Heidi giggled through her tears, “I am so proud of you. You really said fuck this baby daddy I’m gonna birth this child all alone and raise it alone cause I’m the baddest bitch alive.”

The brunette bit her lip before placing her hand on the side of Heidi’s face nervously, causing the blonde’s lips to part subconsciously, “But I didn’t do it alone. I did it with you.”

Before either of them could say another word, Heidi pulled Jaida in by the back of her neck and tipped their lips up to meet one another in the softest, gentlest kiss either of them had ever experienced. It was nothing like the ones Jaida shared with her ex-boyfriend - those had no meanings - but this meant the world. Nine months of pent up emotions spilt out into the intimate embrace. Heidi’s lips explored Jaida’s hesitantly, like she was made of glass, but the brunette assured her not to be afraid by gently dragging her tongue across the blonde’s lower lip.

After another minute, they pulled away, breathless. They kept staring into one another’s eyes, looking for answers, until Jaida was the first to say it.

“I love you,” she muttered, “I have loved you this whole damn time.”

“I love you too,” Heidi wept, pressing her lips against Jaida’s flushed cheek briefly.

“Heidi I- I don’t know how to tell you this but I… I want you to be Willow’s mom, along with me. I want us to parent this kid together. I can’t do it alone.”

Heidi gasped, “Oh my lord I was waiting for you to ask that.”

“Chile… Are you serious?”

“Yes, bitch! I’ve always wanted to raise a child and teach it my ways and Willow… Willow is so beautiful. Just like their momma. Of course I wanna raise this baby with you.”

“I love you so, so much.”

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11 months later

Jaida and Heidi had made an agreement that Jaida was to be called mom and Heidi was momma, to avoid any confusion, however, Willow was still yet to form a real word. Willow was a fantastic babbler and had perfected the art of incoherent sounds and blowing raspberries, but nothing that had escaped their lips was actually in the dictionary.

“Oh lord, what if Willow never speaks… What if they grow up mute?” Jaida panicked, her head in her hands against the kitchen counter.

“Calm down, baby,” Heidi sighed, placing her hand on the small of her girlfriend’s back, “If they’ve got even a fragment of your brain, I just know they’re gonna be a smartass.”

“Smartass!”

A voice echoed across the room. Heidi shoved Jaida gently for mocking her, but Jaida defended herself, promising that it wasn’t her who said it. They were confused for a second before the realisation dawned on them. They rushed towards Willow’s crib where the child sat, sucking on the floppy ear of a stuffed toy.

“What did you just call me, Willow Essence Anthonie-Hall?” Jaida squinted, leaning over the crib to watch her baby’s lips curl up into a smile.

“Smartass,” Willow grinned, causing Heidi nearly to pass out with laughter.

Jaida scooped Willow up and held them over her head, “You can’t say that! Heidi, tell Willow that they can’t say that!”

Heidi was wheezing too hard to respond, but after a minute of bellowing laughter, she managed to say, “Willow ain’t wrong!”

“Not only am I being bullied by my girlfriend, but also my almost 1-year-old kid,” she faux-gasped, “I’m leaving!” she joked, before bursting into laughter. Things couldn’t have been better.

[tabloidtoc]

Us, July 20

You can buy a copy of this issue for your very own at my eBay store: https://www.ebay.com/str/bradentonbooks 

Cover: Jennifer Aniston in her own words 

Page 1: First Look -- Gabrielle Union in an outfit from her summer collection with New York & Company 

Page 2: Red Carpet -- Zoey Deutch 

Page 4: Who Wore It Best? Isabeli Fontana ✅ vs. Storm Reid, Chloe Bennet vs. Emily Ratajkowski ✅

Page 6: Loose Talk -- Adele explaining to a fan why she’s not releasing new music just yet, Laura Prepon on how her daughter Ella peed on everything after meeting her new baby brother, Lizzo’s inspirational message to women, Reese Witherspoon revealing via Twitter about a flattering incident, Carrie Underwood responding to Reese’s tweet 

Page 8: Contents 

Page 10: Hot Pics -- in honor of the National Health Services’ 72nd birthday Prince William and Duchess Kate Middleton pay a visit to Queen Elizabeth Hospital (full page)

Page 11: A very pregnant Sophie Turner and husband Joe Jonas take their dogs for a walk in Encino, Scott Disick and Sofia Richie are snapped reuniting for the first time since their split, The Chainsmokers’ Alex Pall and Drew Taggart take over Modern Luxury’s cover 

Page 12: Star-Spangled Weekend -- celebs get in the spirit on Independence Day -- Kendall Jenner admires fireworks, Elizabeth Banks, Peter Weber and girlfriend Kelley Flanagan in the pool, Chrissy Teigen out in the sun, Salma Hayek buying fireworks 

Page 13: Miranda Lambert and husband Brendan McLoughlin and dog Delta in the pool, Vanessa Bryant and daughters Natalia and Bianka and Capri, Ryan Seacrest 

Page 14: Haylie Duff makes a salad, Prince Charles at Cotswold Farm Park, Nicole Scherzinger and boyfriend Thom Evans celebrating her birthday, Lauren Scruggs Kennedy celebrates the launch of FaithSocial 

Page 17: Mini Makeup Mavens -- why fingerpaint when you can draw on Mom? -- Hilary Duff and son Luca, Padma Lakshmi and daughter Krishna, Eva Mendes, Courteney Cox and daughter Coco 

Page 18: Family Fun -- Nothing makes stars smile as much as their kids -- Bruce Willis celebrates Father’s Day with ex Demi Moore and wife Emma Heming and his adult daughters Rumer and Scott and Tallulah and younger ones Mabel and Evelyn, Ayesha and Stephen Curry and kids Riley and Ryan and Canon camping in the backyard, Alec Baldwin and kids Carmen and Rafael and Leonardo and Romeo 

Page 20: Hot Fun in the Summertime -- Cristiano Ronaldo sailing around Italy, Vanessa Hudgens, Jennifer Lopez takes a seaside stroll, Cindy Crawford in the Jacuzzi, Bella Hadid and Hailey Bieber on a yacht in the Mediterranean 

Page 21: Shakira rides the waves in Spain, Shay Mitchell feeds daughter Atlas, pregnant Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom at the beach 

Page 22: Stars They’re Just Like Us -- Ben Affleck and Ana de Armas walk their dogs, Tamera Mowry cooks, Brooke Shields works out 

Page 23: Martha Stewart gardens, Harry Styles drinks coffee, Ariel Winter runs errands

Page 24: Hollywood Dads -- Victor Cruz is already talking to his 8-year-old daughter Kennedy about racism 

Page 25: Ray J is loving life with his little ones Melody and Epik, Cory Wharton’s daughter Ryder is new to being a big sister to Mila and loving every minute 

Page 26: Love Lives -- Saweetie cooks Quavo’s favorites for him 

Page 27: Jimmy Fallon’s wife Nancy Juvonen has been running The Tonight Show’s cameras during the pandemic but the producer hasn’t found many of his jokes funny, things are heating up between Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly, Justin and Hailey Bieber have babies on the brain 

Page 28: Hot Hollywood -- Meghan Markle just made her feelings about Prince Harry’s family crystal clear -- according to new court documents that were released as a part of her privacy claim against a U.K. tabloid Meghan felt unprotected by the monarchy while pregnant with son Archie 

Page 29: Prince Andrew is incredibly nervous now that Ghislaine Maxwell was arrested and she will reportedly do almost anything to avoid jail time which could spell trouble for Andrew, Zayn Malik and Gigi Hadid who are expecting a baby girl this fall are closer than ever and have been living on her mom Yolanda Hadid’s Pennsylvania farm while they await the birth of their baby, Nick Cordero’s months-long health battle has come to a heartbreaking end 

Page 30: A Day in the Life -- Bethenny Frankel 

Page 31: These celebrity couples recently called it quits -- Ryan Seacrest and Shayna Taylor, Christina Ricci and James Heerdegen, Kacey Musgraves and Ruston Kelly, Dr. Dre and Nicole Young, Steve Howey and Sarah Shahi, Clark Gregg and Jennifer Grey 

Page 32: Cover Story -- Quarantine has motivated Jennifer Aniston to think about her future projects and she’s realized she wants to put pen to paper in multiple ways -- she’s been writing a ton with a focus on screenwriting and even a memoir 

Page 36: Introducing President Kanye West -- with just four months until the election Kanye announces his bid for POTUS and Kim Kardashian is ready to be first lady 

Page 38: Stone Cold Sober -- these straight-edge stars are high on life -- Jada Pinkett Smith, Miley Cyrus 

Page 39: Bradley Cooper, Daniel Radcliffe, Lucy Hale, Brad Pitt, Joe Manganiello 

Page 40: Style -- engagement rings -- Emma Stone and Dave McCary, Evan Ross and Ashlee Simpson 

Page 42: Beauty -- complexion confidence -- Amber Heard, Ciara, Salma Hayek 

Page 44: Us Musts -- director Liz Garbus on I’ll Be Gone in the Dark 

Page 46: Fashion Police -- rainbow edition -- Heather Graham, Kathryn Newton, Erin Lam 

Page 47: Maria Sharapova, Shailene Woodley, Kat Graham 

Page 48: 25 Things You Don’t Know About Me -- Peter Gallagher 

[viinylspins]

◊ ♫ ◊— look what the cat dragged in! that’s ROONEY RUIZ and SHE is an around 25-year-old NEWCOMER to the store, but she’s been in the neighborhood for 6 YEARS. I think they are a LAW STUDENT and I overheard her listening to WIN by NASTY CHERRY, and, I dunno man, it seemed pretty fitting. Like, call me shallow but I look at them and think of CAMILA QUEIROZ and CLICKS OF RED-BOTTOM HEELS, DEBATING FOR SPORT, and GLOWING WITH SELF-SATISFACTION. (ooc info: garnet, she/her, est, 22)

hello, hello, garnet is BACK! with one intro post to go now. believe it or not, this is longer than Zoe’s. I really couldn’t stop writing, so if you just skim and go to the misc and wanted connections sections...I’ll understand. name: rooney constaça ruiz birthday: april 20th (aries-taurus cusp) distinguishing features: beauty mark on her cheek, highlighted hair sexuality: pansexual positive traits: decisive, loyal, straightforward negative traits: intolerant, critical, materialistic jung type: INTJ enneagram: 8w9 temperament: choleric

trigger warning(s): deportation

Rooney was born shouldering high expectations, placed both by her parents and by herself. This can only partially be blamed on her accomplished Manhattan family. Herman and Pippa Ruiz exemplified achieving the “American Dream.” After a childhood of growing up in the Spanish Harlem a few houses down from each other, they officially started dating after finding each other at Columbia University. Pippa dreamed of becoming a doctor, while Herman majored in business to prepare for a career on Wall Street. Fast forward ten years after the conferral of their Ivy League degrees, and the two were happily married and thriving in their respective chosen career fields.

If her parents could make something of themselves, their children could, too. So, Rooney, along with her sister Reed and brother Rory, were instilled with the need to become something groundbreaking in life. Unlike her siblings, though, Rooney knew exactly what she wanted to do from a young age: make a lot of money so that she wouldn’t have to compromise on the lifestyle that she had growing up. By age eleven, her career goals solidified and had taken shape. She knew that she was going to become a lawyer.

Nothing if not ambitious and dedicated, Rooney began reading about prominent court cases and state laws for fun. 

When she told her parents about this, they were thrilled. Reed more or less followed the path paved for her, but Rory was a wayward child. As a result, the parents worried about not only how Rooney would end up, but if they were as good parents as they thought they were ( which slight electric chair ). If you asked Rooney, she would have asked that they spent more time with her instead of having so many nannies in rotation, but otherwise, objectively, they were perfectly adequate at this and only slightly out of their depth.

Her opinion of her parents changed drastically when she was about fifteen. Learning about genetics in biology class piqued her curiosity about why she appeared physically different from her parents and her siblings. She first suspected that she just received all of the recessive genes, but once she presented this to her parents, they told her the truth: Rooney was adopted when she was just an infant. She was the only one adopted out of the three Ruiz children.

The news hit Rooney hard. She was furious and from that day forward, Rooney vowed that she would never forgive them. Although she does remain in contact with her family since moving out, she has firm boundaries with her parents. They don’t push it, for the most part, but I digress.

In the years leading up to her graduation from high school, Rooney became obsessed with finding her birth parents. Her father supposedly disappeared, but public records of her mother were last updated in 2000. This kept Rooney filled with hopeful butterflies, which she was very unlike her. The girl was filled with questions: who was she, exactly? Was she like the mothers she saw on TV? Did she have another family? How many siblings did she have, that she never knew about? Her parents helped out in her search to the best of their ability, but it seemed that they were searching for a woman who didn’t want to be found.

If this were a movie, Rooney would have met her birth mother at her high school graduation. But this isn’t a movie, so Rooney did not.

However, a little before she graduated Magna Cum Laude from Columbia University, on track to enter Columbia Law for Corporate Law immediately after, Rooney received a Facebook message from a Brazilian woman living in New Jersey. Despite the impulse to block and report the profile for spam, Rooney couldn’t resist opening the notification. Good thing she did; the woman claimed to be the birth mother.

Over the next year, Rooney sporadically messaged the woman over Facebook. The more they spoke, the more Rooney searched for cracks, but everything matched the information she’d collected prior. Slowly, brick by brick, her walls diminished and she accepted that, maybe, this was the person she was so desperate to find.

Eventually, the woman asked Rooney to meet her for coffee, and Rooney accepted the invitation, albeit with strict guidelines on how this was going to go. They’d meet in public, during the day time, and Rooney had no qualms walking out at any time if she felt that the woman had any sort of malicious intent.

Her “birth mother” was smaller than Rooney expected, and in person, she could see their physical resemblance. Rooney wanted to believe that this woman was her mother, more than she wanted to believe anything in her life.

[TW: Deportation] That is, until the woman needed her help. She tearfully explained that she needed an immigration lawyer, because, without one, she might be deported back to Brazil by the end of the week. Any hope that this woman would be her birth mother, Rooney very deliberately crushed. She didn’t want to potentially meet her birth child, no, she only wanted someone who would be willing to help her.

Once the older woman finished, looking at Rooney hopefully, Rooney had taken out a business card, scribbled the contact information to one immigration lawyer she networked with, and got out of her seat after handing it to her. The woman called out after her, but Rooney didn’t look back. [/END TW]

As someone not only adopted, but who studied law as long as she has, Rooney knew that the system wasn’t going to change. The best thing that she could do was make the best out of her present circumstances, even if the best thing was never reaching out to that woman again.

tl;dr: she’s a hard-ass law student who is very decisive and knows what she wants, and who also learned she was adopted when she was fifteen. and met her birth mom when she was 21, but walked away and she’s definitely not coping with that!

MISCELLANEOUS:

Rooney and her siblings were purposely given gender neutral names in order to increase their job prospects in the future. Constaça is her birth name, which her parents kept as her middle name.

She’s 5′10″ without heels. She loves being so tall.

Her favorite fragrance is Mon Paris Eau de Parfum by Yves Saint Laurent. Of natural fragrances, her favorite scent is vanilla.

Her confidence in herself is unshakeable to its core, so she is able to adapt to her current company without doubting or losing herself. She is sociable to acquaintances, but she only has a few friends who she considers being on par with her standards.

She is VERY competitive. One of the reasons that she wanted to be a corporate lawyer is because she wanted to be more successful than her siblings. Now she has to be even more successful than her parents. We love being motivated by spite.

I didn’t mention it here, but Rooney did a lot of equestrian sports (rich people am I right?) when she was younger. It dwindled around the time she entered high school but she stayed active through being on the swim team at her high school and playing water polo for fun at Columbia. 

Rooney is a family person, and one of her strengths is her loyalty. She knows this about herself but thinks she’s been dealt a very shitty hand. If you can’t tell, growing up as privileged as she has feeds into her high expectations of herself and others.

She isn’t very romantic, never has been, and as of right now, she’s not really looking for a romantic relationship.

WANTED CONNECTIONS!

OTHER LAW STUDENTS! She hasn’t graduated from law school just yet – she’s in her final year. As aforementioned she is very sociable and she’d appreciate having people who understand what it’s like to be under the demands of going to an Ivy League law school.

CHILDHOOD FRIENDS! Rooney hasn’t left New York state, so there’s a lot of potential for her to have long-term connections with people.

COLLEAGUES HER INTERNSHIP! Currently, Rooney is being mentored by Maddie Breckenridge, so she’d know a few people connected to Maddie! She’s also all about networking and, if she does say so herself, she’s a good person to know if you need to be bailed out of something. She can argue herself, and other people, out of any situation.

COLLEAGUES THROUGH SPORTS! Can’t believe I’m writing someone more or less jock adjacent, but Rooney is very active. And she knows herself well enough to know she performs better when she’s trying to outdo someone, so she’d definitely be on the lookout for a workout buddy or two.

BRUNCH SQUAD! This one sees the more light-hearted Rooney. Is it because of the mimosas? Maybe so!

AN EX! Rooney is pansexual, so gender is irrelevant. I imagine that Rooney has had only a few relationships because she’s very committed in both her relationships and she’s kind of married to her schooling. She has one ex position filled by Alexa Cox, but she can have one more. As a treat.

ANYTHING! Like this and I’ll hit you up! Or feel free to come at me with anything and we can make it work!

[granada-brett-crumbs]

Do you know the filming order of the Granada series (vs the broadcast order) or where I can find information about it? In The Navel Treaty, especially in the opening scene, Watson acts like he's visiting 221B rather than living there. It makes sense because in canon it takes place after his marriage, so maybe it was filmed first when they hadn't yet decided to make him (thankfully) a confirmed bachelor? I know Granada doesn't adhere to the chronology of the stories, but it's just so random!

Hi! there are several things to talk about here, so there’s going to be a lot of information but I’ll try to go in order and be as brief and clear as possible :)

1. There are answers to most of your questions in the book Bending the Willow by David Stuart Davies, if you can get the ebook I highly recommend it but you can find in my blog (and in tumblr in general) tons of excerpts and quotes from it.

2. The writers of the series decided from the beginning that Watson was to remain unmarried, this is what Bending the Willow says about it:

It was decided, for example, that Watson would not have a wife or a Mary Morstan romance and that any chronologies which attempted to place the stories in certain years or a articular period of Holmes’s life would be ignored. To the serious Sherlockian scholar this may have seemed radical or even drastic; but one must remember that what Michael Cox [the series producer] and the team were dealing with was a popular drama series dedicated to bringing the essence of Sherlock Holmes to the television screen for millions of viewers, not a slavish, scholarly, and pedestrian re-telling of the tales.

and in Jeremy’s own words 🔥🔥🔥:

The character of Mary Morstan was removed from the stories in which she originally features: nothing ought to get in between Holmes and Watson. She would have got in the way. Watson was more in love with Holmes - in a pure sense - than he could have been with a woman.

3. Regarding the way Watson acts in the opening scene of The Naval Treaty: I think it is because he’s excited to show Holmes the letter from Percy, and more importantly when he tries to enter the sitting room the doors are locked and he knows Holmes is in the middle of an important experiment so he has to call him several times to get his attention. (they know each other so well :>)

4. The granada series has its own chronology and for the most part it can be explained very easily: they did first the most famous and tv friendly stories because the didn’t know if the series was going be well received, so that’s what they did for the first two seasons (The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes) and then they end it with The Final Problem to give it a good (and terribly tragic oh god) ending in case that was all and to provide a good cliffhanger in case they could keep producing it. You can find more info about it here.

5. And now, the answer to your main question: The filming order of the series. So, they started with The Solitary Cyclist (more about it here) as a “kind of warm up”, which makes sense, that case is the quintessential detective story. You can notice it how it was the first episode they filmed, for example in Holmes’s and Watson’s (and I think Mrs. H’s too) hair, is not as sleek and neat as in A Scandal in Bohemia, the Baker Street set looks super clean, and also in the entrance to their sitting room, the little wall next to the door is empty: there are no frames hanging there as in (again) A Scandal in Bohemia. Also, in The Naval Treaty and The Speckled Band episodes the wall is empty again, so I suppose those episodes were filmed, too, before the first aired episode.

Now, in The Return of Sherlock Holmes, The Abbey Grange episode was the first one the filmed now with Edward Hardwicke as Dr. Watson. Jeremy told this lovely anecdote in a 1991 interview:

Well, Edward’s a very, very remarkable man. One – probably the nicest – one of the nicest people I’ve ever met in my life. And … he wanted to fit in. So he watched the previous thirteen films … Decided to try and look a little like David Burke, as much as he could, bless him. So he put on a rug, I mean a toupee, and, umm - and put lifts in his heels. And the first film we shot together was The Abbey Grange. And we were running across a field, (chuckles) and he (laughs as he continues) he, course he – these heels were too high so he was slipping and sliding. And I said, ‘Oh, Edward, take them out! I’ll bend my knees for the rest of the film!’ (x)(x)

[headoverhiddles]

How To Save A Life - Dr. Perry Cox x Reader [Angst/Smut]

Synopsis: You and the doctor on your friend’s case share the hardest day you’ve both had yet. 

Notes: Sad quickie :( I had feels from this episode. This would never happen with an actual doctor, buuuut fanfiction! Takes place during 5x20, “My Lunch.” 

Warning: Mention of illness/an accident/death. 

You sit in the hospital chair, looking forward, looking through the wall in front of you. It had been 6 hours, and still no news of your friend. They had been put on life support after the car accident, and the wait was killing you.

You let out a bitter laugh at the irony of that statement. You weren't the one who ended up through the windshield; that was your friend. You had just been the one driving.

You pick your nails into the cracked cushion of the seat, discomfort racking your body. You feel sick to your stomach with worry, your body is buzzing with anxiety, and you don't know what to do with yourself. Just as you're about to walk out and ask just what the hell is going on, the door handle turns.

Why did the damn pager have to beep on this too? Cox thinks to himself as he grips the file a little tighter. Can’t I have one second to mourn? Fucking job. 

In walks a man in a white doctor's coat. He's a little bit older than you and handsome, you can't help but notice-- you're only human. He has red curly hair, and a tiring in his step. He looks at you, eyes red and weary. This is not the first bad news he's had to deliver today.

She’s pretty. Fuck. Don’t think that, Perry, you asshole. Think about what you have to tell her.

"I'm Dr. Cox," he says slowly, as if he doesn’t really know anymore, and closes the door. You wipe your eyes, and nod.

"(y/n). How is she?"

Cox sits there, and almost spaces out. You already know what he's going to say, and he knows you know.

"I'm sorry, sweetheart," he concedes, voice cracking. You get the sense he doesn't say that a lot, but he's reached a breaking point.

A few tears roll down his cheek, when you get the urge to join on the small sofa, and comfort him, to comfort yourself. You act on it, walking over and taking a seat next to him. The tears fight to come out, but you just can't make them. You sit there in silence as Dr Cox dries his eyes.

"Shit," he says. "I've been doing this for 20 years and I've never lost it like this." 

You get the sense you’re seeing a side of him not many others get to, and watch him closely. You inquire about his own day.

"What happened?" 

He rubs his face. "I'm not about to tell you."

"After those waterworks, I think it's a requirement." You offer a good humored smile, and despite himself, he laughs. It’s a painful laugh, but one nonetheless. 

"Three people lost their lives because of me today. They needed transplants... but I didn't test for something I should have. I made mistakes. And when I make mistakes, people die."

You finally feel your tears stream down.

"I made a mistake too. And, someone died."

He looks up, and wipes his eyes again. You breathe through the crying, and lean forward, kissing him. He's surprised, but you both know he wants it just the same as you. Your kissing gets deeper, becomes more passionate, urgent, and you push his coat off, rubbing a hand down his chest.

He looks at you, assessing what he's about to do, and almost backs out. His hand catches your wrist, but you hold to him.

We both need it, you seem to say. 

Without having to confirm, he does so by wrapping you up with a hushed moan in his arms, turning you over on the couch so he's on top. He cups your cheeks and groans as he finds your panties under your pushed down jeans, and buries himself inside of you, breathing hard.

"Please," you whimper, eyes welling up, "I need you."

"It's okay," he whispers, feeling it himself, "I’m here, sweetheart.” The two of you kiss, and kiss, and kiss, forgetting the day, forgetting life, everything. You weren't a doctor and a survivor anymore. You just ended up here, together.

He holds you down as you arch your back, and with a few more thrusts, you come hard. He holds you, rocking you through it, and when he pulls out, you finish him off in your hand. 

You both sit there, staring into each other's eyes, and he blinks, dazed. An understanding passes between you, a clearing in the sea of ‘what the fuck did we just do?’. He swallows, evening out his breath. "...Thank you."

You nod. "I'm pretty sure that's how normal people fall in love... right?"

He glances over at you, and starts laughing. “I re-heeally doubt you and I are normal people.” 

 You laugh too, and sit there together. Just together.

[brian-may-likes-dust]

What a damn jolly good idea

(BrianxReader)

A/N: This was somehow requested, well, it was more of a prompt. I hope you enjoy this! I had to incorporate some songs (guess, which ones? but I also wrote which ones they were in the end). And thank you @smittyjaws for helping me with my language 💛  Feedback would be very much welcome!

It was early in the evening but the sky already went dark. The air was still warm and and you could see the stars glistening in the far distance. Your friends convinced you to accompany them to the pier, there were some new rides they wanted to try. You weren’t a big fan of them you but the prospect of getting candy floss was too tempting to resist. So there you were standing in front of the roller coaster, two of your friends were enjoying the ride, while two others went off to buy drinks. You looked around. It gently started raining causing the air to be full of mist and your glasses to barely be of any use.

While you were standing there a group of boys standing close to the other end of the roller coaster caught your attention. It seemed as if they were cracking jokes, their laughter could hardly be ignored. You tried to get a closer look of them without being to obvious. You decided to clean your glasses (which was incredibly unnecessary because it was still raining) and look up at them every now and then to be as inconspicuous as possible. There were four of them, all quite lanky with long hair. They all seemed so different, but yet they fit together and judging by how well they got along it didn’t matter anyway if they weren’t the same.

One of them especially caught your attention, he was by far the tallest and lankiest of them. He had dark curls and wore a long colorful scarf. It seemed that you already stared for a bit too long, because he suddenly looked up and met your gaze. You quickly looked away and put on your glasses again. You saw your friends coming your way again and had a quick last look at the boys, the tall one was still looking at you and responded to your glance with a shy smile.

Your group of friends were wandering around the pier. The rain grew heavier and it somehow felt like a relief after all those hot summer days you had in the past few weeks. Your friends and you already were joking around the whole evening, so you felt on a high. Before you could really think about it you could hear yourself shout to your friends.

“I feel like dancing in the rain, can I have a volunteer?“

They laughed while you were doing some waltz steps and waved your arms, you abruptly turned around when you heard a male voice behind you.

“I wouldn’t say no to a dance“

Oh god, it was the tall boy again. He stood in front of you, reached out his hand and smiled at you. You were totally perplexed and stood there for what felt like an eternity before you chuckled and muttered a quiet yes. He took your hand and put his arm around you and you two started spinning around the pier. You instantly had to start laughing because it was such a joyful moment. You could hear his friends cheering and your friends laughing. It was over much too soon, but when he let go of you he comically bowed down, to which you reacted with a curtsy.

“So, now I know that you’re a decent dancer, but what’s your name?“

“Brian, it’s nice to get to meet you“, he took you by the hand and with a soft smile placed a gentle kiss on top.

________________________________________________

“Basically the lyrics are about this fantasy world, you know? He was inspired by “The Pied Piper of Hamelin“, I think. He calls it Rhye, it’s pretty cool. Fred once told us that he and his sister came up with it. Oh, I could go on for hours probably, but I guess I’ve bored you to death right now?“

You and Brian were sitting at the promenade, cups of sweet fizzy drinks next to you and candy floss in your hands. After you danced the two of you excused yourself from your friends. Because the rain stopped you decided to take a walk to get to know each other better. You told him about your studies and the travels you planned after your graduation. He told you that he was in a band and spoke about how they would release their first album soon.

“Oh no, you could never bore me. It’s pretty interesting! Tell me more about it, or about yourself if you wish, what was it that you study again?“

“I’m studying to get my PhD in astrophysics right now. I actually just was on Tenerife to research zodiacal dust, it maybe doesn't sound like the most ground-breaking topic, but it really is interesting enough, you can take my word on that!“

“What is it that fascinates you about astronomy so much?“

“Everything! The fact that we barely know anything compared to the age and size of our universe. There are places out there, billions of places, that we know nothing about. And the fact that we know nothing about them excites me, and I want to go out and find out about them. It’s all part of the big miracle that is our earth, our everyday lives, our universe. And somehow I want to know what’s out there“

While he said those words he looked up to the sky, he was completely mesmerized and his passion became obvious. You couldn’t stop yourself from staring at him, with what could only be described as heart-eyes. And you were very sure, that you wanted to spend much more time with him and you certainly didn’t want this evening to end.

_______________________________________________

A/N: I loved this! Thank you so much for this idea/prompt! I only used references to Brighton Rock, The Miracle, Seaside Rendezvous & My Fairy King; I somehow had the feeling that I wouldn’t be able to incorporate the other songs (which were Save Me, Fat Bottomed Girls and Dragon Attack) in good fashion. 
Also, because I’m a nerd I used a direct quote by Prof. Dr. Brian Cox. I also made the mood board even if it doesn’t fit a 100%. I hope you enjoy this, and feedback would be very much appreciated!

[ryssachrysalis]

By Dr. Ferial Pearson, Muslim Queer Professor at University of Nebraska, Omaha

Some words about the fallout from Mullen:

1. The sheriff saying I was never in any danger is gaslighting me. Saying I have put a black mark on the town is victim-blaming behavior and reprehensible. I didn't cause this controversy or this drama; Deb Cox and the 95-100 other folks from in and around Mullen did. If the folks in the town were as kind as he said, they would unequivocally and loudly denounce her behavior and that of her friends, and demand that they apologize to me. I have yet to hear any apology from her or the folks commenting on her thread. Victim-blaming and gaslighting are abusive behaviors. Any psych expert will tell you that.

2. If I was never in any danger, why would the superintendent say in his email to me (screenshot of that in my Medium essay) that he understood if I was too scared to speak the next day? If I wasn't in any danger, why would he have been asked to be there and why did the superintendent assure me of his presence? He doesn't live in Mullen; he services two other areas.

3. The sheriff was one of 380 to sign a letter supporting Trump's wall. You can find his name on the official letter here: https://www.sheriffs.org/sites/default/files/ImmLtr.pdf

It's a little unsettling to know that a xenophobe was being asked to protect me from xenophobes.

4. The man who suggested someone be Chris Kyle was not in Mullen, but he was suggesting to a MULLEN PARENT who was IN MULLEN and who had my name and whereabouts the next day (thanks to Deb Cox posting that publicly) that he go be Chris Kyle, so the argument that the poster was out of state is not comforting in the least. The ChristChurch Mosque shooter was encouraged by people outside of New Zealand. That didn't make him any less dangerous to the people he murdered IN New Zealand.

5. The man suggesting the Chris Kyle solution to my presence is also a sheriff and was involved in the shooting of an indigenous man in Oklahoma. https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdok/pr/no-charges-be-filed-against-officers-involved-shooting

6. It was not "just a few" people being vitriolic and perpetuating dangerous rhetoric. It was over 90 people. Again, receipts in my Medium essay. That being said, I have referenced over and over again that the students and staff in Mullen were so kind and supportive and warm to me. I have received messages from them in the days since that have been wonderful. I believe I have friends in Mullen and would probably go back if invited. However, I would not go alone.

7. The World Herald reporter was biased on the phone while interviewing me, saying things like, "Don't you think you're being over dramatic?" and "Did you write the title of the Medium blog all by yourself? Don't you think Islamophobia is a powerful word nowadays?" "You said you were afraid on the drive home. Are you taking poetic license by writing that?" He made me explain what queer meant, he had no idea what Medium was and spent quite a bit of time asking me about that. He never quoted anything I said on the phone to him in his article, didn't name me until the 4th paragraph, didn't use anything from my bio or the information about The Secret Kindness Agents that I sent him, and spent a great deal of time trying to discredit everything I wrote in my Medium piece. The Channel 3 news reporter didn't tell me he had interviewed the sheriff and so I never had a chance in that interview to respond to what the sheriff said; that was unfair and not good practice. Both men gave all the folks in Mullen a chance to respond to what I wrote and said, but never gave me the same courtesy.

8. Yes, you can be queer, AND a Muslim, AND be monogamously married to a straight man. If you're not sure how these things can go together, Professor Google is very helpful, or you can pay me and I'll teach you. I'm through doing free labor for people who don't value my time and my expertise and my three degrees.

9. This was a racist incident in addition to being xenophobic and Islamophobic. Deb Cox spent three hours digging into my background, and had to have spent a lot of energy to find out my faith. Would she have dug into a white person coming just as hard? Sure, this is my speculation, but I suspect not. I was the only brown adult I had seen in my two days there. If you think all of this doesn't exist in this "Nebraska Nice" state, just read the comments on all three news stories about this.

10. I'm the luckiest person in the world to have the friends and family that I do. Your overwhelming support, kindness, love, and concern help me feel strong enough to continue this work. I won't stop, I promise. THANK YOU.

[aion-rsa]

Upcoming Marvel Movies Release Dates: MCU Phase 4 Schedule, Cast, and Story Details

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

A bold new era for the Marvel Cinematic Universe began in 2021 on Disney+ with the wildly successful WandaVision and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, but Marvel Studios certainly hasn’t been resting on its laurels in terms of upcoming cinematic blockbusters. Not only does it have Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Eternals, Thor: Love and Thunder, and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness all in various stages of production, there are also TV series on the way for the likes of Hawkeye, Ms. Marvel, Moon Knight and She-Hulk!

Oh, but there’s more. Marvel Studios just revealed a teaser reel celebrating everything they’ve built so far, with teases of NEW projects including a newly-named Captain Marvel 2 (The Marvels) and Black Panther 2: Wakanda Forever. Check it out, and try not to get chills while you watch it. We dare you.

There’s a LOT there, right? That’s why the rest of this article is going to help you sort it all out.

Well, if you’ve been a little confused by Marvel’s shifting dates and streaming priorities, never fear! We’ve got a comprehensive release calendar for you here detailing all the forthcoming MCU projects, so you’ll always be able to find the latest updates when you need them.

Let’s take a look at everything Marvel has in store over the next few years…

Loki

Release Date: June 11, 2021

Tom Hiddleston will reprise his most famous role, as Loki finds himself on a heist through time and space “as he steps out of his brother’s shadow” after the events of Avengers: Endgame! Oh, and based on this trailer, there’s all kinds of time-travelling weirdness awaiting, including the return of Heimdall, some other Asgardian hijinks, DB Cooper (yes!), Owen Wilson playing an obscure character based on a beloved Marvel Comics writer, and…Loki possibly running for President!

Tom Hiddleston stars, of course, and the cast also includes Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Sophia Di Martino, Wunmi Mosaku, and Richard E. Grant. Michael Waldron is head writer.

Black Widow 

Release Date: In theaters and on Disney+ with Premier Access Friday, July 9, 2021

The Black Widow movie was heading for a May 1, 2020 release before the pandemic, but Disney and Marvel decided to delay it until the industry’s infrastructure was back to some semblance of normal. They seemed absolutely committed to keeping Natasha on a theatrical release rather than sending her to Disney+, but eventually semi-caved in March as it was confirmed that Black Widow would hit both streaming and theaters simultaneously in July.

Here’s the official synopsis:

“Natasha Romanoff aka Black Widow confronts the darker parts of her ledger when a dangerous conspiracy with ties to her past arises. Pursued by a force that will stop at nothing to bring her down, Natasha must deal with her history as a spy and the broken relationships left in her wake long before she became an Avenger.”

Cate Shortland directed the film, and Scarlett Johansson stars, with Florence Pugh and David Harbour alongside her. One of the movie’s villains is Taskmaster, and we wrote a little bit more about him right here.

Natasha Romanoff will get a prequel movie of sorts here, as we catch up with Widow right around the events of Captain America: Civil War. Will the plot affect her character’s ultimate fate in Endgame? Do not count on it.

What If…?

Release Date: Summer 2021

The beloved comic book series that tells tales of how things might have turned out differently in the Marvel Universe is becoming an animated series on Disney+!

Here’s the official synopsis:

“What If…? flips the script on the MCU, reimagining famous events from the films in unexpected ways…Marvel Studios’ first animated series focuses on different heroes from the MCU, featuring a voice cast that includes a host of stars who reprise their roles.”

We know that at least a couple of these roles include Chadwick Boseman’s final performance as T’Challa as well as the return of Hayley Atwell as Agent Peggy Carter!

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

Release Date: September 3, 2021

Simu Liu has been cast as the titular Shang-Chi and Tony Leung as The Mandarin (hey, that name sounds familiar! But this time, we’re getting the real Mandarin on screen). Destin Daniel Cretton is directing from a script by Dave Callaham. Given its “Ten Rings” title, Shang-Chi should be steeped in Marvel lore, going all the way back to the first Iron Man film!

Hopefully this will be Marvel’s most action-packed movie yet. The trailer sure makes us think so.

Venom: Let There Be Carnage

Release Date: September 17, 2021

Andy Serkis (Mowgli) steps behind the camera for Venom 2, which now boasts the catchy title of Venom: Let There Be Carnage. The first film, buoyed by a terrific showing at the Chinese box office, made an absolute ton of money, despite being released to mostly scathing reviews.

Venom: Let There be Carnage will follow up Sony’s 2018 Spider-Man-less spinoff film, but will likely be more connected to the MCU this time around, thanks to a renewed deal between the company and its Marvel Studios partners. Tom Hardy will return as Eddie Brock, of course, and as you can probably guess from that title, he’ll be facing off against Woody Harrelson’s villain, Cletus Kasady aka Carnage!

The Eternals 

Release Date: Nov. 5, 2021

Acclaimed Nomadland helmer (and Oscar winner!) Chloe Zhao is directing Marvel’s Eternals from a script by Matthew and Ryan Firpo. Marvel described the film as an “epic story, spanning thousands of years” that features “a group of immortal heroes forced out of the shadows to reunite against mankind’s oldest enemy, The Deviants.”

The cast features Richard Madden as Ikaris, Kumail Nanjiani as Kingo, Lauren Ridloff as Makkari, Brian Tyree Henry as Phastos, Salma Hayek as Ajak, Lia McHugh as Sprite, Don Lee as Gilgamesh, Angelina Jolie as Thena, Gemma Chan as Sersi, and Kit Harrington as Dane Whitman, the Black Knight.

This one was another victim of the release date shuffle, but we’ll finally get to see Jack Kirby‘s wildest creations soon enough!

Spider-Man: No Way Home

Release Date: Dec. 17, 2021

The next Spider-Man movie looks like a big one! Spider-Man: No Way Home will once again take place in the MCU since Marvel and Sony solved their differences, good sense prevailed, and Tom Holland’s Peter Parker will remain a vital part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

This one, well…this might be a live action Spider-Verse movie from the sound of it. Jamie Foxx will reprise his role as Electro from the maligned Amazing Spider-Man films and Alfred Molina will return from the Raimi era as Doctor Octopus.

Wait. Are they trying to make this a multiversal Sinister Six movie? Because…we could be down for that.

Hawkeye

Release Date: Late 2021

Jeremy Renner returns as Clint Barton to train his replacement as Hawkeye, Hailee Steinfeld’s Kate Bishop! Apparently based on the brilliant run of comics by Matt Fraction and David Aja, Hawkeye will also prominently feature Lucky the Pizza Dog, one of the great canines in Marvel Comics history.

The cast also includes Vera Farmiga as Eleanor Bishop, Fra Fee as Kazimerz Kazimierczak, Tony Dalton as Jack “Swordsman” Duquesne, Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova, Alaqua Cox as Maya “Echo” Lopez, and Zahn McClarnon as Willie Lincoln. We wrote more about all these new characters here.

Ms. Marvel

Release Date: Late 2021

Ms. Marvel is finally coming to live action! Here’s the official synopsis for the series…

“Ms. Marvel introduces Kamala Khan—a 16-year-old Pakistani-American growing up in Jersey City. “A great student, an avid gamer and a voracious fan-fiction scribe, she has a special affinity for superheroes, particularly Captain Marvel. But Kamala struggles to fit in at home and at school—that is, until she gets super powers like the heroes she’s always looked up to. Life is easier with super powers, right?”

The cast includes Iman Vellani as Kamala Khan aka Ms. Marvel, Aramis Knight, Saagar Shaikh, Rish Shah, Zenobia Shroff, Mohan Kapur, Matt Lintz, Yasmeen Fletcher, Laith Naki, Azher Usman, Travina Springer, and Nimra Bucha. Episodes are directed by Adil El Arbi & Bilall Fallah, Meera Menon, and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy.

This is going to be a big one, folks, because Kamala is going to be a significant player in Captain Marvel 2. How significant? The title of the movie is now The Marvels!

Morbius

Release Date: January 21, 2022

Spider-Man spinoff Morbius is Sony’s next big Marvel wild card, and it’ll officially be the first spinoff to properly connect to the MCU (even if Marvel Studios still isn’t officially acknowledging it in their own promotional materials the way they are with Spider-Man: No Way Home). Here’s the official synopsis for the film…

“Dangerously ill with a rare blood disorder, and determined to save others suffering his same fate, Dr. Morbius attempts a desperate gamble. What at first appears to be a radical success, a darkness inside him is unleashed and transforms this healer into a hunter.”

Safe House‘s Daniel Espinosa directs from a script by Matt Sazama, Burk Sharpless, Art Marcum, and Matt Holloway. Jared Leto stars as the vampiric title character, and the cast also includes Matt Smith, Adria Arjona, Jared Harris, Al Madrigal, and Tyrese Gibson.

Read more about the character of Michael Morbius here.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

Release Date: March 25, 2022

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness looks like it will open up the storytelling possibilities in the MCU like never before. And that’s just based on the name alone. Scott Derrickson was scheduled to direct, but bowed out because of “creative differences” with Marvel. But the good news is that Marvel found a suitable replacement in none other than Sam Raimi, who of course has plenty of superhero experience thanks to his Spider-Man trilogy in the early 2000s!

This one has loads of connections to the wider MCU. Elizabeth Olsen will be here as Wanda Maximoff post-WandaVision, and the film will also connect to Spider-Man: No Way Home and its own multiversal ambitions. There are also a few rumors doing the rounds that Jericho Drumm aka Brother Voodoo could be introduced in this sequel. We’ll keep an eye on that and update this if there’s any substance to them.

Thor: Love and Thunder

Release Date: May 6, 2022

Taika Waititi, who gave us the delightful Thor: Ragnarok, will return to write and direct. Chris Hemsworth will be back. Natalie Portman is your new Thor (yes, you read that right, Jane Foster will wield the hammer…just as she did in the comics!). Christian Bale has also joined the cast as the terrifying Gorr the God Butcher. Not only that, this movie will finally put Olympians in the MCU with Russell Crowe as Zeus. Can Hercules be far behind?

Oh, and did we mention that the Guardians of the Galaxy will be along for the ride, too?

Black Panther 2: Wakanda Forever 

Release Date: July 8, 2022

Black Panther 2 is now called Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Marvel has made it official that after the tragic, untimely death of Chadwick Boseman they have no intention of recasting the role of T’Challa, which is absolutely the right move.

Ryan Coogler will return as director, but there are no other details currently available. Interestingly, Coogler is also bringing a Wakanda TV series to Disney+ at some point in the future, too, and something tells us this Wakanda-centric title for the sequel is a sign of things to come.

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse Sequel

Release Date: October 7, 2022

Is it technically an MCU movie? Nope. But with all the legal weirdness going on between Marvel and Sony, and this franchise’s very multiversal concept, who’s really to say that it ISN’T an MCU movie either, right? In any case, the sequel to the best Spider-Man movie of all time is coming in 2022 with Avatar: The Last Airbender mastermind Joaquim Dos Santos directing and David Callaham writing.

There’s also an “untitled Marvel movie” still technically scheduled for this date but…that is almost certainly not gonna happen now. Expect whatever that project was to move to one of these below dates or to some other currently unspecified date on the calendar.

Captain Marvel 2: The Marvels

Release Date: November 11, 2022

WandaVision writer Megan McDonnell has been tapped to write the screenplay for Captain Marvel 2, which now boasts the title of The Marvels. You know what else is really cool? Candyman‘s Nia DaCosta will direct!

We have no idea where we’ll find Carol Danvers (Brie Larson) in the sequel to her hugely successful first standalone MCU entry. Will she be fighting to loosen her former Kree pals’ iron grip on a pre-Avengers galaxy? Or will the follow up film see her fighting for justice in the present?

In any case, we know that she’ll be facing off with Zawe Ashton as a currently-unnamed antagonist, and WandaVision‘s Monica Lambeau (Teyonah Parris) will also return in her superpowered state after the events of that game-changing show. Considering that Monica was once known as “Captain Marvel” in the comics, that title of The Marvels becomes more appropriate. And even MORE appropriate when you realize that Kamala Khan, Ms. Marvel, will also be making her big screen debut.

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania

Release date: Feb. 17, 2023

Peyton Reed will return to direct the third installment of the Ant-Man saga, perhaps the most unlikely trilogy in Marvel’s entire arsenal. Paul Rudd will return as Scott Lang, and you can certainly expect Evangeline Lilly to return as The Wasp and Michael Douglas as Hank Pym.

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The villain of the film? That will be Kang the Conqueror, who will be played by Lovecraft Country‘s Jonathan Majors. The inclusion of Kang opens up all kinds of interesting possibilities for the MCU, and may even tease the arrival of the Fantastic Four down the line! We wrote more about those possibilities right here.

We’re also going to need fast confirmation on Michael Pena’s return as Luis, though. Luis is key…

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 

Release date: May 5, 2023

After a tumultuous period which saw James Gunn fired and then rehired as Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 director, he will become the first Marvel director to ever complete a trilogy for the studio. However, Gunn can’t even begin filming Guardians 3 until he finishes production on The Suicide Squad for DC, as well as an HBO Max Peacemaker prequel. Once those projects are finished, he’s free to return to the MCU.

Avengers: Endgame left the team in an interesting place. We broke down some of the story possibilities right here.

And then there are still some dates that Marvel has announced that they have yet to match projects to. Those dates are…

July 28, 2023

Nov. 3, 2023

Some of those dates could very well be good fits for the following films…

Fantastic Four

The MCU Fantastic Four movie is finally happening! Marvel’s first family will join the Marvel Cinematic Universe in a film directed by Jon Watts, who did such a wonderful job with the first two MCU Spider-Man movies. That’s all the information that’s out there at the moment, but as soon as we have more, we’ll update this. It also appears that WandaVision started to set up the Fantastic Four, so stay tuned. We have our own theories on why Marvel went with the Fantastic Four before the X-Men, but that’s another story.

Based on that sizzle reel we showed at the top of this article, Marvel seems to be hinting that Fantastic Four will be their next priority after Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. So is it possible that we’ll see it on July 28, 2023? That sure would be a great piece of summer blockbuster real estate to launch what might be the most important piece of the MCU going forward! Nov. 3 would be fine, but that one could be a better fit for…

Blade

Well this one was a surprise. In 2019, Marvel announced that they will be rebooting the Blade franchise with Mahershala Ali playing the titular daywalker. Ali’s True Detective co-star – and former Blade villain – Stephen Dorff is excited to see what he can do with the character, and so are we.

Could Marvel decide to drop this in that Nov. 3, 2023 release date? Maybe with some Halloween-season previews to hype it up? We don’t know, nor do we know how far along this one is.

And now we’re into the stuff that’s even further in the future.

Deadpool 3

Wendy Molyneux and Lizzie Molyneux-Loeglin will be the writing team tasked with bringing the Merc with a Mouth to the MCU. What a Deadpool 3 could look like in the interconnected Marvel Cinematic Universe is, of course, anybody’s guess, but if anyone can crack wise about the follies of this kind of corporate synergy, it’s Ryan Reynolds.

She-Hulk

Tatiana Maslany will play Jennifer Walters, a lawyer who ends up with her cousin Bruce’s gamma-irradiated blood. Hilarity certainly ensues. Kevin Feige has promised that since this will be a courtroom show, you never know who else from the MCU could show up.

It’s possible we’ll get She-Hulk on Disney+ in 2022, but nothing is confirmed at this stage.

Moon Knight

Oscar Isaac will play Marc Spector, a disturbed fortune hunter who also happens to be the avenging avatar of an Egyptian moon god. Oscar Isaac is already training hard for the role, so we wouldn’t be surprised if we see this one on Disney+ in 2022.

Ironheart

The first of two series that will explore the legacy of Iron Man and Tony Stark in the MCU, Ironheart stars Dominique Thorne as Riri Williams, a teenager at M.I.T. who creates her own suit of armor to right the wrongs of the world.

Armor Wars

Don Cheadle will reprise his role as Rhodey and will have the solo spotlight in the War Machine armor in a series that deals with a nightmare scenario for the MCU: what if Tony Stark’s Iron Man technology fell into the wrong hands and was getting duplicated by villains? Based on a classic comics run, Armor Wars promises big action and lots of obscure bad guys. We can’t wait.

Secret Invasion

Samuel L. Jackson will return as Nick Fury alongside Ben Mendelsohn as Talos for a series about the shape-shifting Skrull infiltration of Earth. Kingsley Ben-Adir is apparently playing the villain of the series. Olivia Colman, Emilia Clarke, and Killian Scott also star.

Secret Invasion could be the biggest thing to happen to the MCU since Endgame.

Wakanda

Very few details are available on this one at the moment, but Ryan Coogler will develop at least one Wakanda-set TV series for Disney+. Could this have anything to do with that Wakanda Forever title for Black Panther 2? We wrote more about some of the implications of this here.

We’ll keep updating this with new information as it becomes available!

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