#brodies doing his best ok

[sicc-nasti]

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[rebouks]

Previous // Next

Alex: It’s been forever, dad.. how long do we have to stay here? Brodie: I don’t know, Fabian’s taking the piss now-.. I think we’ll go home soon; he can find someone else. Alex: Can I go to school? Brodie: There’re only a few months left before summer-.. no point! I’m not sure how long we’ll be there either. Alex: We won’t be staying? Brodie: Who knows.. depends on work, I suppose. We’ll get you another tutor, don’t worry. Alex: It’s not the same. Brodie: I thought you didn’t like being the new kid. Alex: I don’t. Brodie: Well, then. Alex: I oughta get a huge ice cream sundae every time we move. Brodie: That can be arrange-.. ohh, looks like I win again! Alex: Wait-.. wait! Brodie: I’ve lost count, how many victories is that now..? [Alex waggled her fishing rod in a fit of frustration, how dare these idiotic fish choose her father’s lure over hers] Alex: I could’ve sworn-.. ough! I don’t wanna fish anymore, it’s the lamest! Brodie: You’re a sore loser, Alexandra. Alex: Yeah, well.. at least my butt doesn’t smell as bad as yours.

[mrs-stans]

The Actors Roundtable: The fear factor behind great art

By Elena Nelson Howe

Photography by Christina House

Once an actor finds his name popping up in Oscar conversations, he’s pretty much arrived in the industry, right? Actually, no, not necessarily, says Jeremy Strong, who plays unscrupulous lawyer and Donald Trump mentor Roy Cohn to much acclaim in “The Apprentice.”

“There’s a thing called ‘arrival fallacy,’ which is that the horizon is just always receding. You don’t arrive. I mean, I’ve never felt like I’ve arrived. It’s just a search, and you’re on the frontier of uncertainty and doubt, and taking risks.”

“And then the bottom falls out, and you keep looking,” adds Adrien Brody, who plays the Holocaust survivor and visionary architect at the heart of Brady Corbet’s “The Brutalist.”

“That frontier just keeps moving,” Strong agrees.

Even now, with this season’s breakout performances and glowing reviews, a conversation among several actors shows they share the same fears and doubts as the rest of us.

Tune in to Spectrum News 1, where this conversation will air on Dec. 13 at 8 p.m. and will repeat throughout the month.

“I don’t think I ever looked at the next job and went, ‘All right, it’s coming and here we go.’ I think it’s always just the terror of, ‘OK, I got the job. Am I going to ruin it?’ The fear of, ‘I’m wrong for it,’” says Kieran Culkin, who stars in the affecting “A Real Pain” with the film’s writer-director, Jesse Eisenberg.

These three actors — along with Peter Sarsgaard, who stars in “September 5,” about the terrorist attack at the 1972 Munich Olympics; Colman Domingo, who plays an incarcerated man who discovers the transformative power of art in “Sing Sing”; and Sebastian Stan, who not only plays the future president in “The Apprentice” with Strong but also stars in “A Different Man,” a cautionary story of inner discovery — got together last month for The Envelope Actors Roundtable moderated by Spectrum News 1 host Kelvin Washington. They shared their thoughts on auditioning, responding to fear and the hard truths of the world around us.

Actors Colman Domingo, from left, Peter Sarsgaard, Adrien Brody, seated, Kieran Culkin, Sebastian Stan, Jeremy Strong.

These excerpts from that conversation have been edited for length and clarity.

It’s a journey. It’s a process. So how do you approach auditions?

Sebastian Stan: The best advice I ever got was from Israel Hicks, who was the theater head at Rutgers, where I went to school. And he always said, “You’ve got to just bring the day with you to the audition.” Whatever’s happening up to walking in that door just ... like maybe you spilled coffee on you, or you got a bad phone call, or whatever. You just bring in the truth of that day.

Peter Sarsgaard: But for me, every day that I had an audition that I cared about was a day of high anxiety. And so I only did well in the auditions where it was extremely high stakes. I couldn’t deny what I was feeling. I would’ve looked like a psychopath. I had to let it out. And so the jobs ... I remember doing auditions sometimes where I would be bizarrely emotional in a scene that was not emotional. Because I f— wanted it.

Jeremy Strong: I had a manager once who told me, “You know, you seem desperate. That’s why you’re not getting it: You seem desperate.” And I said, “I am desperate.” This is like we’re fighting for our lives trying to do this thing.

Sarsgaard: It feels like that sometimes.

Strong: ... and you really want to work. It does feel miraculous when you get the chance to work.

Adrien Brody: I booked a movie when I was 14, which was one of the first things I went out for. And my dad took me to the audition, and he told me, “Go in there like you already have it. You’re just showing them how you’re going to do it. Don’t go in there asking for the job.”

Kieran Culkin: I think I was told in my first audition almost the opposite, which was like —

Brody: Go and beg them.

Culkin: — It was like, “You’re going into something that’s not yours so you don’t have to feel, so [acts stressed].” You said your first audition was something you booked?

Brody: And then it was 17 years of not getting work.

I knew I had to invite in tenderness and a grace that he maintained while he was on the inside.

— Colman Domingo

From auditions to current performances, Colman, you play John “Divine G” Whitfield, a man who was wrongfully incarcerated in “Sing Sing,” and the real guy is also executive producer. What’s that experience like, trying to showcase his journey while he’s there and a part of this film?

Colman Domingo: You have to honor the spirit of the person but also liberate yourself from a portrayal of them. I feel like even when I met him, I downloaded information. I didn’t ask him anything, because I’m not that person who wants to pry into someone’s life or say, “How was it for you in the inside?,” all that stuff. We just got to know each other like we get to know anyone, you know what I mean? The most banal, simple things.

And there were two things about him: when I found out that he considered himself sort of a jailhouse lawyer and how he was always in the law library, and he was advocating for others for good food, for his own liberation eventually, but also even — when he founded this theater company there — Rehabilitation Through the Arts. And all these inmates were finding that thing that was so sorely needed in this dangerous place: a place to unpack, to be tender, to put yourself in someone else’s shoes. Grown men going to places that they may have never been allowed to experience or be, especially Black and brown men in particular. I knew I had to invite in tenderness and a grace that he maintained while he was on the inside.

“I can see how past suffering informs insight and informs a kind of creative fervor and the need to leave something indelible behind,” Adrien Brody says of “The Brutalist” and his own family history.

Kieran, you were working with Jesse Eisenberg, who’s also the screenwriter and director. Which version was easier to work with, Jesse the actor or Jesse the director?

Culkin: He was great at all of those things. I mean, going into it, he wrote a beautiful script. And I knew him to be a great actor. I didn’t know what he was going to be like as a director. But that was the first time I’ve worked with an actor that also directed. Have you guys done that yet? It’s tough. That is like, Day 1, him doing a scene with you as your partner, and then they go, “Cut,” and then go, “Here’s how you can do it better.” And I’m sitting here going like, “Oh, you’re going to judge me? Because I got f— notes for you too. I know how you can do it better too.” And then the defenses go up and all that. But he was fantastic. And it was only his second film [as writer-director].

“I felt like I understood him right away and understood this dynamic right away,” Kieran Culkin says of his “A Real Pain” character’s relationship to his cousin, played by Jesse Eisenberg. (Searchlight Pictures)

I think we can all relate to your character, Benji. It’s almost one of those, “I love him because he’s crazy. But he also drives me crazy because he’s crazy.” What part of that resonated with you?

Culkin: When I read it, I found the guy to be really surprising and really just ... I felt like I understood him right away and understood this dynamic right away. But then 20 pages in, he would say something completely surprising. And I went, “Oh, this guy, almost in spite of you, if you asked him a question, he’s going to give you something you’re not going to expect.”

And I loved it. So I just went, “I’m not going to prepare at all.” I didn’t read it again for a year. And then right before we did it, I read it once. I would not want to know what the scene we were doing was until I was walking to set that day, which would give Jesse a lot of anxiety. I’d be like, “What are we shooting today?” And he’s like, “You’re kidding. You have a whole speech.”

Brody: You should work with Ken Loach. I did a movie with him, and he would give us half the scene. And so you wouldn’t know what the end of that scene was because he was working with predominantly nonactors. And then so whoever the catalyst was in the scene got that section. And this person would fall down, and you didn’t know if that person just —

Culkin: Tripped or that was the scene? I want to do that. I want to work with that person.

Sarsgaard: I auditioned for him, and it was like, “All right, let’s just improvise.” And I’m like, “Well, give me a ... Where do I begin?” “Just do something.” And I found it incredibly difficult. For me, the reason I do it is the story. So I don’t need to know what I’m going to do in the scene, but I’m driving the story?

“It’s like game day. They’re just in it. They just went 22 straight hours of just doing it,” Peter Sarsgaard says of the team covering the terrorist attack at the Munich Olympics, the story of his film, “September 5.”

Strong: Peter and I had to do a thing yesterday called Fearless Performances. And we didn’t have time to say it, but I woke up this morning thinking it’s such a misnomer because there’s so much fear involved, at least for me. [To Culkin] I was thinking about a conversation we had when you were thinking about doing Jesse’s movie. You were on the precipice of it. It felt like a big risk and something you hadn’t done. And what I love about what we all get to do is attempt to do something that you don’t know that you can do. I’m working in sort of Bruce Springsteen world right now, and he said something in his autobiography, that “the experience that you have, the exhilaration of it and the depth of it is directly proportional to the void that you’re dancing over.” And so I find that that equation works.

Stan: I think all of it is fear now. For me, literally, if I’m thinking I can’t do it, [it] is maybe the biggest sign that I should be trying to do something. It’s so easy to fall into these little tricks, what’s worked before, and you just do it again. So, especially with these last two for me, it was so paralyzing at times that I was almost driven by it.

I think all of it is fear now. For me, literally, if I’m thinking I can’t do it, [it] is maybe the biggest sign that I should be trying to do something.

— Sebastian Stan

Playing Donald Trump, was that fear? He’s been the president, he’s going to be the president again. What were the challenges or your mind-set going into that?

Stan: Well, I mean, this is such a collaboration. It’s the director, it’s who are your partners. It’s this whole thing about trust and being able to go there with somebody. But then, there’s something about when you get older and you want to feel like you’re part of a meaningful work. You’re adding to a conversation, reflecting these times that we’re in no matter how uncomfortable they are.

“The movie is sort of about this relationship in a sense, a love story,” Jeremy Strong says of Roy Cohn and Donald Trump in “The Apprentice.” (Pief Weyman/Apprentice Productions)

Strong: The movie is sort of about this relationship in a sense, a love story. This sort of dark chrysalis that created the Donald Trump that we know today. What joined them together, I think, were kind of dark affinities. They were both these outsiders from the boroughs with tremendous life force and ambition with a shared, I think, lack of scruple or ethical core, for whom winning was the only moral measure.

It’s been strange to talk about this movie as a movie right now, because it’s about a very living danger, and I look at what’s happening in this country right now, and I think you can trace so much of it back to the influence of Roy Cohn and his ideology, and his nihilism, and his sort of gospel of hatred and divisiveness. That’s the political side. The creative side was really fulfilling. Roles like this are kind of a holy grail for an actor, where there’s a degree of difficulty, and you want to try to transform, and you want it also to be alive and not just mimetic and all those things.

“You have to honor the spirit of the person but also liberate yourself from a portrayal of them,” Colman Domingo says of playing a real person in “Sing Sing.”

Some of these films, there is a historical gravity to them. Adrien, with “The Brutalist,” your character comes to America after the genocide but then realizes it’s difficult to succeed here. Where did you go to channel this character?

Brody: Well, my mother is a Hungarian immigrant and an artist, a New York photographer. And she’s also someone who has kind of guided me in my understanding of art and the yearning to leave behind something that is meaningful and brings more light than darkness to this world. She and her parents fled war-torn Budapest in 1956 on the back of a truck, under a bed of corn, as they were shooting flares and trying to basically shoot down people fleeing the Soviet occupation.

I witnessed how hard it was for [my grandfather], because his English-language skills were not up to par, it prevented him from getting work. And so that’s a layer of connection, a feeling of knowing the journey and very different from [character László Tóth’s] journey, but there are very many parallels. And his journey of fleeing Nazi-occupied Europe and surviving concentration camps. I can see how past suffering informs insight and informs a kind of creative fervor and the need to leave something indelible behind.

Strong: There’s an intersectionality with these films as stories with real things in our world. I feel like the world is on fire. And there’s a role for storytelling that is so essential in our world right now. And I don’t think there’s another art form that has that connective power, arguably.

Stan: And the idea that in a system like Sing Sing, there’s a level of acceptance of self that’s happening on such a deeper, more profound level than it’s actually happening in the real world. Because I feel like “The Apprentice” and “A Different Man” are so much about identity and self-truth, and the loss of self, and the denial of reality, which is a very real thing that’s happening now. I don’t know if people are interested in the truth or confronting themselves, or wanting to accept themselves. People are more interested in inventing their own version of things.

Peter, talking about the gravity of world events: “September 5” does this in such detail, what was happening there in Munich. What it’s like having to deal with something of that magnitude?

Sarsgaard: Just by talking to the guys involved, I mean, they don’t think about the fact they’re involved in something of that magnitude, because it’s like game day. They’re just in it. They just went 22 straight hours of just doing it, and doing it, and doing it. They pointed a live camera at a balcony, and 700 million people watched that image. It’s a balcony, but it is the potential for violence that is really keeping them there. For some of them, their hearts are pounding because they’re hoping for the survival of the people that are in there. And I think that’s a good many people. But we have to acknowledge this other part of humanity that’s a kind of schadenfreude where we’re lusting for some violence.

The way that at any given moment in our lives, right now, we could pick up our phone, and the most horrendous thing imaginable is going on in the world, and then we can sit and joke with each other, and eat popcorn, and go watch a comedy. I mean, I don’t really have the answer. I think one of the lovely things that my movie does is ask a lot of questions about the way that we consume media, about, “Does a camera tell the truth anymore?” This idea that these guys had new technology, which was a live camera, and the minute the hostage crisis happened, they pointed it.

Well, now why do we have to watch a live crisis situation? Is that news? Is that going to help us understand our society better? Could we learn about it tomorrow? Is it going to help the hostages get freed? Now, obviously with police brutality, stuff like that, I would say wonderful. But to get our daily news, when everyone has a camera in their pocket — first of all, there’s point of view. This frame is not the

truth. The truth is all of it, right? And there’s also AI. There’s a million different reasons why we can’t trust an image anymore.

“It was a very powerless experience ... a terrifying experience. How people pretend you’re totally nonexistent,” Sebastian Stan says of walking in New York City wearing the makeup for the disfigured man he plays in “A Different Man.”

Sebastian, in “A Different Man,” there’s a self-reflection in your character, who has an opportunity to present himself differently. What did you learn about how we view ourselves versus how others view us? And talk about working with Adam Pearson, who has some of these same physical challenges in the film.

Stan: Adam Pearson, who’s a great actor from “Under the Skin,” and he’s got neurofibromatosis, which are these tumors that develop at around 3 or 4 years old. And the biggest gift I was able to receive working on that movie was his mother coming up to me and saying afterward, “I’ve always wished for someone to walk in his shoes. And you were able to do that.” And I was lucky. We had a great prosthetics artist, Mike Marino. And I was able to walk around the city in that, and no one recognized me. And it was a very powerless experience ... a terrifying experience. How people pretend you’re totally nonexistent.

Well, part of why the movie’s special, and I wanted so deeply to be involved with it, is that it talks about this curiosity that we all have. But we haven’t learned about the regular person out there. The regular person has to fight against these narratives that we’ve grown up with in terms of not knowing how to handle that moment. So two things happen: ignorance or judgment. And the filmmaker, who’s disfigured himself, really wanted to bring it out in the open. And for us to go on this journey and get more in touch with how can we approach that in a different way. But on a more relatable basis, it really is about lying to yourself. And once the lie happens, what you have to keep doing to maintain the lie and suppress the truth.

Brody: And they’re so hard to undo.

Stan: And how far we can go to not face that painful moment with ourselves. And that’s what the character endures. By the time [he sees it] it’s too late, his life’s been taken away from him.

Thanks for being here, gentlemen ...

Brody: This has been kind of special. I didn’t know what to anticipate. We’re all kind of really and thematically talking about what’s propelling each of us. And with the exception of you needing f— panic and —

Culkin: I was going to say, we’re all a little bit different.

Brody: But I love that too though. You know what it is? You’re super honest. You are honest with your work.

Culkin: Yeah, thanks.

Brody: Your comedic sensibilities.

Culkin: [To camera] You still rolling on this? Let’s get a nice sound bite.

[jrueships]

I JUST ZOOMED IN ON ANOTHER PICTURE AND IT IS HAIR OMG I THOT IT WAS LIKE. A NARUTO HEADBAND OR SMTHIN 😭😭

twitter(.)com/DaveMyersBIB/status/1648403060845322240

' stefs gonna stef ' aka ' brats gonna brat '

[broadway-heere-i-come]

“This opening night was a long time coming,” says Sky Lakota-Lynch, who stars as Johnny Cade in the new Broadway musical The Outsiders. “I’ve been with this show for six years, I began working on it in 2018, and it’s been such a long journey to get to this point—it’s unreal that it just finally happened!”

Six years isn’t such a long time, however, in the lifespan of the story. S.E. Hinton’s novel The Outsiders, about rival gangs of greasers (including Johnny) and rich kids in Tulsa, Oklahoma, was first published in 1967, and it was 16 years later that it was adapted to make a beloved film. Still, after years of working on the show, the cast was ready to share it with the world.

“It was a total celebration” Lakota-Lynch says of opening night. “There’s something blissful about seeing the show come to life and having audiences embrace it in such an amazing way. What more can you ask for?”

Here, Lakota-Lynch shares his opening night diary—with photos by Jenny Anderson—with T&C.

"I do have an opening night ritual: I meditate before every single show. For this character, I have to act with my energy, so it helps me to ground myself and not be worried about the outside world. Just having a moment of complete silence is so important for me."

"Shockingly, I'm not that nervous in The Outsiders. I was really nervous in Dear Evan Hansen because it was new to me and I was stepping into the role someone I was replacing. With The Outsiders, our director, Danya Taymor, builds such a comfort zone for people that cast feels like brothers and like we aren't necessarily acting every night. So, the nerves don't really come for me in The Outsiders. Honestly, I get more nervous after the show having to say hi to people than for the show itself."

"Before every show, we do circle up and one person makes a little speech, and then we all break to think about the theme of that speech, which could be freedom, peace, or love. Every single show we do this, no matter what."

"My friend and cast mate Tilly Evans-Krueger got this amazing thing called the Legacy Robe, which is a tradition in the theater. She puts it on and runs around us three times clockwise, and we all touch it for good luck, and then she visits our rooms in the robe and it blesses the show."

"I've known Brody [Grant, who plays Ponyboy] for five years. I knew Brody before he was even in the show because my understudy at Dear Evan Hansen was Brody's roommate in college. Lo and behold, here we are and Brody's one of my best friends. It's so rare that you get to work with people who you actually love, and there's not a singe person in my cast who I dread seeing."

"I got to be close with Angelina Jolie, who's our producer, because we went to Tulsa, Oklahoma together, and she asked to design my opening-night outfit. She and this amazing tattoo artist named Mark Mahoney designed the jacket and all the little patches. Next week I'm going to get a tattoo from Mark."

"This is our fight call, which lasts an hour every single day. Because the show is so physical, we have to make sure that no one gets hurt. So we get called an hour before curtain and we run through the physical numbers just to make sure that everything is set and that everyone's body is OK before we actually run it full speed during the show."

"Our stage door has been really crazy. People love The Outsiders, and the response has been wild. Every single night a crowd gathers and is screaming outside of our dressing room windows. This lady has been there every single night, and though I've been skipping the stage door because I've been so tired leading up to opening, I finally got her picture with me, which was awesome."

"Right before the curtain, before I got into my wig and makeup, Jenny was like, 'let me get one last picture of you before you go inside.' The Jacobs Theatre has this really cool indoor-outdoor alley and it connects to the Majestic and the Golden. It's historic, so we just took pictures there and it was awesome."

"After we did the show, we had an after party. There were a lot of cool people there: Queen Latifah, Alicia Keys, Jeremy O. Harris. It was very overwhelming, and I didn't stay too long. I had gotten a hotel room with my family and I was just like, you know what, I'm going to enjoy it for as long as I can and then I'm going to go home."

[jellyjollycreature]

this is so stupid oh my g

HIIII,,, SO UHH!!! me and my brother are writing a FIDDLESTAN fanfiction and in another fic after the one we r writing there is gonna be MASSIVE tate conent and i wanna INFODUMP ABOUT IT!!!

OK SO the sequal fanfiction persay is revolved around tate and his life because i'm hyperfixated on him and i LOVE HIM OK SO in this universe, stanley never breaks Fords project, Ford ends up going to his dream college, and Stan goes to backupsmore and meets FIDDLEFORD!!!!!! They make a computer company and a bunch of other shit will happen (NO SPOILERS, WINK WINK!!) and after all of that they adopt Tate:333!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! so yeah basic rundown and whatnot ANYWAYS MOVING ON

the sequal will bascially be Tate in his sophmore year in highschool (1997) and he meets a kid named BRODY BACKLE!!!! (a lot of people have a oc named/based on "backle" but i found that out AFTER me and my brother made him.) Brody is kind of a reckless guy, he gets close with Tate and they become best "freinds" (there is A LOT of homoerotic tension with them) they do normal teenage stuff persay Brody makes Tate do reblalous things aganist his dad's rules, and genuinely becoming KIND OF AN ASS.

I WANNA DESCRIBE HOW THEY LOOK IN THIS OSHJSS

So for context Tate is 15 and Backle is 16

OKOK

Tate used to wear; sweaters, (Knitted by Fiddleford) cargo shorts, big bulky sneakers, HATS. and very soft kind of look (me and my brother joke all his outfits are picked out by Fiddleford) BUT AFTER he meets Broody he dresses in oversized band shirts, baggy pants, beanies, backwards hats, and of course his hair covering his eyes because by god in my au his eyes are BLINDING like the bluest eyes you have ever SEEN.

Brody/Backle wears; bascially the same thing Tate would wear minus the hats, His head is shaved with blonde hair, his ears STRECHED TO THE MAX, pircings EVERYWHERE and genually like ur averge alt guy, he chills out when he gets older tho

They never OFFICALLY GET TOGETHER (as if rn) but they do kiss, hold hands, get matching stuff, cuddle, hug, all that mushy couple stuff they do (When they get older i might get them together who knows,,) when they get older they created the bait shop together, they spend a shit ton of time together they are INSPERABLE, they own a house together near the bait shop, (no homo, Brody says whenever someone asks about it)

Tate (when he gets older) would wear ; what he wears in the cannon gravity falls universe but looser because dear god holy shit. when he isn't working he would wear button ups, with hand knitten sweaters made by Fiddleford, cargo pants, and very beat up shoes with of course, a hat. So bascially what he wore before he met Brody kind of thing

Brody would lowkey dress the same as he did when he was youger, when he's older, he usally wears band tee's with a flaneel drapped over it (all of his flanels were owned by Tate at one point, he would have blonde wavy longish hair and is a genually chill guy.

in they older years, Tate and Brody spend most of their time (when they aren't working) fishing, talking about endless stuff never ending coversations, Brody never really opens up to anyone that isn't Tate (Broody lore coming soon). ALSO, Brody is VERY affectionate to Tate like thats his number one thing in the entire UNIVERSE right there, Tate has a hard time giving love out to Brody, he doesn't understand how to do it or how it works, Brody understands and he knows Tate loves him back.

When they were teenagers, Brody always stayed at Tate's house, never really going to his own. Stan and Fiddleford see him as another member of them family at that point, Brody would spend weeks at the pine's house, Brodys parents lowkey stopped gaf about Brody after 5th grade so his parents did not care he was spending most of his time at this random kids house

Tate's first kiss was Brody, they usally got affectionate when they were high or something along those lines, they kissed mulitple times, whenever Tate would ask what they were, Brody would ignore the subject leaving Tate confused and upset. When they got older they eventually sorted everything out leaving all the tension behind them.

ok i'm getting sleepy sorry if this is shitty my autistic brain needs to rant to someone and the someone is tumblr so, yay

[magicspace114]

Antidote

Inspired by this post

Steve had some very troubled friends. That he knew. They said some weird stuff, some of it sounding like they didn't believe they were even human. He used to question it, now he doesn't.

He knew the routine. Sandy liked to invite him to barbeques on full moons with her huge family. They made the best ribs he'd ever tasted. He knew her family were hunters and he always got extra to take home with him. As a poor college student, these were a godsend and the family always fawned over his skinny frame like he was a neglected puppy that they'd taken in.

He also befriended a bunch of goths who just loved Italian food and would pay for his dinner just for him to go out with them. For being goths, they really were so excited for Italian food. He could see the drool off one for garlic bread.

"I loved this stuff when I was alive," Gregory muttered to himself, eyes half-lidded in ecstasy.

"I know what you mean," Sheila said, "my mother's favourite recipe is just not the same without garlic."

"Then why not include it?" Steve asked.

"Steve, I'm deathly allergic," Sheila grinned, showing off all her teeth, "well, only under certain circumstances."

"What does that mean?"

"Don't worry about it." She waved it off. Steve didn't care enough to argue. He got hot meals out of it and a support group that he wouldn't otherwise have.

One day, while heating up a plate of leftovers from Sheila's house, there was a frantic knock on the door. Steve sighed, putting down his plate and slowly heading to the door, dragging his feet. He just wanted to eat in peace.

"Ok, I'm coming," Steve said, making the frantic knocking pause. He opened the door and froze.

Sandy was standing there, tears in her eyes, giving him the biggest puppy dog eyes. Her brother, Brody, was beside her, helping another family member to stand. Steve inhaled as he saw blood dripping down their shoulder.

"Please," Sandy squeaked, "we didn't know where else to go."

"The hospital? The cops? Someone with medical training?!"

"We can't, they'll find us," she whispered, her breath hitching and dangerously close to turning into a sob.

Steve sighed and opened the door wider, letting them in. Brody rushed in, bringing the injured member into the bathroom, trailing blood on his floors.

Steve cringed at the roundabout way Brody got them there, trailing around the living room and into the kitchen before getting there like he was struggling to figure out where to put them. He then noticed that Brody had stuck to the hard floors and completely avoided the carpeted areas.

Steve closed the door and Sandy just grabbed Steve, pulling him after them and standing him close to the bathroom door. "Stay here," she said before heading to the nearest windows and looking out them, closing the blinds then grabbing cleaning supplies to start cleaning his front step.

Steve grew uncomfortable in all the silence around him. "Sandy," he said but she was too focused cleaning up their trail. "Sandy," he said louder, pulling her away from her task.

"Steve, stay here." She pulled him back to the bathroom.

"Why? What's going on? Why are you bringing your family here? Why not to the hospital? And why are you acting like you've been followed?" He continued asking questions.

"I- look, I don't know if- I don't know if it's because you don't believe us."

"What that you're wolves?" Steve rolled his eyes, "look, I get people are really into the whole spirit animal stuff, I just don't personally believe in that. That's fine, I don't judge that you do. But this is serious. Why are they not in the hospital?"

"B-because they'll find us easily if we take them there."

"Who will find you? Are you in danger?"

"Th-there's hunters." Sandy rubbed up her arms. "I know it sounds crazy to you but... there are people who hunt people like our family and try to kill us."

"Why don't you call the police?"

"The police won't help. These people make hunting us a profession. They go their whole lives heading from place to place, killing then moving on." Sandy ducked her head, "and now they're here."

"They just some nutcases? What? Do they use silver bullets and wolfsbane too? Or is wolfsbane good for you? I don't know the lore of you guys."

Sandy chuckled but it was choked with tears as they threatened to spill. "No, it's not. And yes, they try to poison us." She looked into the bathroom, "but... we think... does it work?" She called into the bathroom.

Brody popped his head out, holding a blob of blood with just a hint of shiny metal underneath, "got it. It's working. But they don't have their healing factor here."

Sandy pulled Steve away from the bathroom towards the opposite end of the apartment, "is this enough?"

"No. You need him out of the apartment."

"Can we step outside?" Sandy asked, "please? I'll try to explain everything."

Steve crossed his arms and gave her a disapproving look. Sandy just licked her lips nervously, eyes darting to the bathroom and she looked ready to cry.

"Please," she begged, "I promise, I'll try. It won't- it- I just-"

Steve grimaced, "ok, ok," he let up his stare, leading Sandy out of the apartment. "Just clean up after you," he called into the apartment before shutting the door.

Sandy led Steve away from the apartment, walking them down the street to the nearby park. As they did, Sandy pulled out a chocolate bar, ripping the wrapper open and chomping down with the fervour of an alcoholic sipping from a small flask.

"Is it safe to be out here if there's people after you?" Steve asked.

"They like to work in secret. They won't attack in broad daylight with people nearby. Plus," she held up her chocolate bar, swallowing her mouthful, "wolves aren't supposed to eat chocolate."

Steve smirked, "now now, you'll be sick with all that chocolate." He teased, the teasing feeling familiar enough that it let Sandy relax a little as they found a seat to sit in.

"Sandy!" A voice called out and it was one of the goths, Laurence, "are you guys alright? We heard the howls."

"Uh," Sandy looked down at her bar of chocolate. While a lot of her family liked chocolate, she only seemed to eat them when she was particularly stressed. "No. They- they're here."

"Well, yeah, we know that. Our elder issued a warning to the others and we're spreading the news but I'm talking about if any of you were got. You guys stopped howling suddenly."

"They came to me with Jack," Steve said, "they were shot."

Laurence froze then looked at Sandy, "are they...?"

"It worked, we were able to remove the bullet," she said, "but I had to take Steve away so they could use their healing factor." She looked down at her chocolate bar, "I want to tell him."

Laurence grimaced, "that's not a good idea. Especially right now. In fact, for you is a bad idea too." He gestured to the chocolate she was eating.

She froze and looked down at it. "Oh, yeah. I- I didn't think of that."

Steve sighed, looking around him as the conversation veered off into something he had no idea what to make of. He was used to it and he hated it. They were usually good at hiding a lot of those knowing looks.

"It's up to you." Laurence said, "the elders aren't gonna be happy, nor your pack if his magic stops working on us."

"Magic?" Steve chuckled mirthlessly.

Sandy pulled a thick book out of her bag, "I know you don't believe in this stuff but you're familiar with the whole vampires and werewolves and witches thing, right?"

"Yeah, are you going to tell me there's witches too?" Steve raised an eyebrow.

"And ghosts, and selkies and other creatures."

"Really," he scoffed, "how come I've never seen them?"

"We don't know why," Sandy opened up her book, scrolling the pages for something, "but whatever makes us like this just seems to neutralise when you're around. The vampire elders believe it's because you're a powerful witch with the ability to neutralise curses whenever you're around."

"Ah yes, the ol' magic answer," Steve rolled his eyes.

"We wolves have a different theory," Sandy said, stopping at one page and showing the picture to Steve.

It featured a tall shadow standing under a full moon. It was entirely featureless, not even a gender could be discerned thanks to the long robes it wore, hiding its proper shape. A glowing circlet on its head did not illuminate its face in the slightest. It looked kinda spooky.

"And that iiiis...?" Steve asked.

"W-well, a lot of our religions revolve around the moon. Witches do their rituals, animal transformation happens in the full moon, vampires seek asylum in the light of the moon, spirits can manifest at night. All that stuff." Sandy placed the book on her lap, "so naturally, we all have our deities revolving around the moon. It has many names but us wolves believe that it's all the same god."

"What do you call it?" Steve asked.

"Well, it's more of a title than a name. We call it the Guardian. It protects us from the horrors of our curses."

"And you believe... I'm related to this thing?"

"Well, our theory was that you were a creature with the ability to warp reality but you didn't know so you just warp reality to your belief of what the world is so, every time we're around you, we become 'normal humans' with no access to our usual curse. It's a personal theory of mine that you're a deity without memory."

"Your theory doesn't hold up, I have memory of my life and family right down to childhood."

"But you could have warped reality to make that family," Sandy said, "so it kinda does work."

"You're starting to sound crazy now, Sandy. Like, do you need help?"

Sandy sighed, "I guess I shouldn't be surprised you don't believe me. It is a crazy theory."

"Heh," Laurence picked the book out of Sandy's hands, "that's cute. The Guardian, makes it sound so cushy. Definitely no fearful god of the night like it's supposed to be."

"We don't typically need the fear of god to make sure we behave ourselves." Sandy muttered angrily.

"Of course not, you're known for your obedience now aren't you," Laurence smirked.

"Give me that," Sandy hissed, reaching for her book only for Laurence to hold it over his head where she couldn't reach it.

"Oh, what happened to that tall wolf height?" He jeered, "just shift and grab it."

Steve sighed, standing up and pulling the book out of Laurence's hand, the goth not even fighting him. "This isn't Twilight," Steve said, "you wolves and vampires can get along without all the name calling." He handed the book back to Sandy.

Laurence hissed, like a cat hiss. "Do not ever bring up that dreadful series to me or my clan ever."

"Or you'll what? Bite me?"

"I don't need fangs to draw blood," Laurence narrowed his eyes threateningly.

"You bite him and you'll have to answer to my pack."

"Ok, quit fighting, both of you. Look, as much as I don't believe in your religions and lifestyles, there's still a maniac coming after you and there's someone bleeding out on my bathroom floor right now."

"Brody will take care of them," Sandy said, "they'll need a lot of rest though and we might have to move a little closer to town."

"We're probably going to go underground until the coast is clear." Laurence said.

"Is that really safe?" Sandy asked, "I mean, if they find you, you'll be unprotected."

"We'll keep at least a couple of us up to guard but we have a good hiding spot. We can hide long enough to outlive them."

"Outlive?" Steve raised an eyebrow.

"You know what I mean," Laurence huffed.

"Ok, it's settled. I'll have a talk with the witch sisters to see what they'll be doing. They're going to be the most at risk." Sandy said.

Laurence nodded.

"So what do I do?" Steve asked.

"He shouldn't be after you," Sandy said, "but if you ever feel like you're being watched or someone's following you, call us."

"Just to clarify, we're not getting the cops involved?" Steve asked.

"As if they'd listen," Sandy rolled her eyes, "hell, it's a wonder you even take us seriously at all."

"It's hard not to when you show up at my front door bleeding!"

Sandy chuckled and hugged Steve.

"What's this for?" Steve asked.

"She's scent marking again, girl, you know you can't do that without your wolf musk." Laurence said, pulling the two apart.

"I'm not scent marking, I'm hugging," Sandy yelped in offence, "as a thank you for letting us in. And I know you don't believe you're doing anything but you're the reason we were able to stop the silver from hurting Jack and Brody while it was being removed so thank you." She hugged again.

Steve just chuckled and shook his head. "Whatever you say."

[malakaie]

the House's treatment of Julia is what got me so invested in them. like yes,she is the youngest and they do mentor her in that way (esp brody and malakai) but she's not automatically bottom of the totem pole or a toy like yuta is. malakai recognized the evil in her, but also the power, and he brought her into a position of power accordingly.

buddy is so the masochist. couldn't stop following falling in love with cult leaders if he tried, and would take any amount of punishment because he feels he deserves it. the fact that he's the only one mal never misted is endlessly fascinating to me that way, because he's the most volatile.

brody just wants to be a good boy. buddy does too, but it doesn't come so naturally, thus the timeouts. brody will be whatever the house needs him to be, will dominate or submit as needed (with the teesy tiny caveat of when he's been left idle. that dog needs a job, needs violence, and he needs someone to take every once in a while).

i can tell you've thought about this a lot. (also if the nsfw headcanons/topics are uncomfortable, please let me know)

putting this under a cut 'cause it got a little long but pls continue as you like!

julia fitting into the house is such a compelling interaction of shoot and kayfabe to me - i don't have it on hand (but can dig it up) but there's an interview she gave fairly early on about her decision to move away from the varsity blondes/cheerleader gimmick and it's so fun and interesting to watch her come into her own both as an athlete and as a character and i love that the house was there to support her in both aspects. you sum that up really well - malakai doesn't really seem interested in having pawns that he can just move around at will. he built a tightly-knit group of powerful people with intention and building julia up as the princess of the black throne is definitely part of that... and i love the bait-and-switch of malakai making it look like he's attacking and terrorising her in the beginning to "just kidding we've unlocked your true self you don't need that cheerleader stuff anymore"

i don't know if you're familiar with buddy and malakai's history in wwe but yes, absolutely - there's definitely continuity between buddy getting pulled in and manipulated by seth rollins, and the way he is with malakai now. mal choosing not to/not needing to mist buddy fascinates me. like... the trust that implies. brody's a good boy, but only after he was converted. buddy didn't need to be because malakai's hooks are already in him. they have this dynamic of love and hate and fear and resentment that makes them inseparable - but malakai is also someone who recognised that buddy needs a leader, performs best when he has someone to follow, so why not give him one?

(that also applies in the bedroom i'll be real)

absolutely agree re: brody. i think that's a big part of why malakai is quite happy to let him go play with darby and others, too - he knows his dog needs an outlet, needs a chewtoy, and also knows brody will always come home. brody is also a big mean sadist when the circumstances call for it, and what kind of leader and caretaker would malakai be if he didn't let brody feed that part of himself?

(i am definitely ok to talk about the nsfw stuff but i'l let you know! if i ever get hesitant it's only because a Certain Someone coughs malakai coughs has a tumblr blog lmao)

[karimwillia]

Our Little Secret 🤫

“See baby you're my little secret If you don't tell, I won't tell And that's how we gotta keep it”

Warnings: Teen Content AU

“Sooooo what about him!” Viv points at one of the guys from the school newspaper. “Mmmm no I’m good he is not my type. Besides his name is Peter I think there is no way I’m going out with a Peter.” Viv rolls her eyes and scoffs. “MJ you are too picky there is no way you are going solo to homecoming for Senior Year!” Viv continues to scan the room until.

Eww she’s back?” Viv looks toward the cafeteria doors. “Who are you talking about Viv?” MJ follows her line of sight seeing Shuri Ukadu for the first time in months. “Ooop what a difference time makes. She looks good.” MJ looks down at the last girl in the group. Ri was not paying her any mind.

“No she does not. Are you blind? She’s still that ugly weirdo from freshman year.” Viv gives a disgusted growl. “Viv grow up…” MJ was cut off by Riri sighing.

“Why are you two even talking? I have a headache. It’s childish that you are people watching for dates anyway.” Rihanna Williams finally has had enough of her friends bickering. Pulling her head up from the table she is stunned. MJ was not lying, Shuri looked better than good. “Mmm ok” Ri tries her best to keep a neutral expression as she watches Shuri’s movements from the cheer table.

“See MJ Ri agrees.” Viv whines trying to prove her point. “Shut up Viv no she does not you just mad cause that’s Bae and you’re not.” Riri tunes them out, in all honestly Viv is being petty because of Ri and Shuri’s “friendship”. It’s been months since Shuri, who everyone calls AZ but only Rihanna knows why, has been seen on campus.

Despite that fact the pair spoke almost everyday in some form. Laying eyes on her, that was…different. Ri continued to watch her carefully.

“Shuri it is so good to have you back. I can only imagine how hard it’s been after losing your brother. I want to let you know your school community is here for you.” Shuri and the principal walk the corridor to the cafeteria. “Thank you Mr. Dunn my family and I have had to do so much to get to this point. Everything happened so fast. We miss him, but his final wish was I finish my senior year here.”

During Junior year AZ found her older brother T’Challa in the restroom throwing up. After rushing him to the hospital they found stage 5 cancer in his stomach. The battle was short but fought hard. He passed peacefully once his cancer became untreatable. He was laid to rest in their home land of Wakanda about 6 months ago. Shuri and Romanda stayed home to grieve. In that time life has changed dramatically for the Udaku family and Ri for that matter.

Walking through the door of the cafeteria she spots her homeboys Miles and Xavier. “Now Shuri we know your love of art and science are…” “Mr Dunn thank you again I will meet up with some friends now if that is ok.” Shuri cuts her principle off, wanting desperately to just see her boys. “Oh…ok well enjoy your lunch.” With a pat to the shoulder Mr Dunn walks off.

Greeting her boys she could not believe she was back. “Yo AZ! Wassup.” Miles greets her first with a hug. “AZ when did you touchdown?” Xavi shoots her a question as she settles down to chat. That’s when it happens she turns and their gazes lock. It takes her breath away.

There she was Rihanna Williams looking amazing. AZ has to play cool but she continues to glance over. How is it possible for Ri to look that different in 6 months? Or is it just her missing Ri?

Dapping up Xavi attempting to act normal she will deal with saying hello to Ri later. “AZ what is up yo! How have you been? How was it back home? The food, the places, the girls give us the rundown.” Xavi’s expression was priceless.

“Home was just what I needed. The food was bussin, the places were all exciting and you know I can’t answer that last one, Xavi.” Miles pops Xavi in the arm. “Right Brodie you know AZ’s girl is here.” He points behind him with his thumb at the cheer table. With a laugh Shuri calms the table.“Both of you need to chill. I loved home but it was time to get back. This is my year.”

Shuri and Riri’s eyes have met several times across the room and each time it’s like time stops. Soon a text comes in on her phone.

*buzz*The Princess❣️✨:Come Here.

“AZ we gone have a ball this year it’s senior homecom…” Xavi was talking so fast when Shuri tapped his shoulder he almost dropped his words. “Yo I am ready for it all but, I have to check y’all later.” Confused, Xavi looks at her defeated, but Miles was hip. “Alright AZ we see you. We all know Dr. Clement is ready to catch up with you.” Shuri shoots Miles a thanks and she heads for the door.

Shuri glances back one last time and Rihanna is already at the far end doors. Swiftly making an exit she text’s back.

*text*The Kween 🖤⚡️:Be there in 5.

Swiftly she heads for the older unused part of the building. Shuri grins ear to ear.

Their relationship is complicated to say the least. Rihanna Robin Williams head cheerleader and everyone’s sweetheart is not only popular but smart. Genius level smart that she tends to hide it. She only shows some of her talent to keep her grades up but not to it’s full so she keeps popularity. A shallow reality of high school. Freshman year was so great for her she made the cheer squad and gained so many “friends”. But one in particular stood out. What she didn’t bank on was falling in love with that one who stood out.

Shuri Azari Udaku the social outkast genius who if it was not high school she would be considered cool. She was a transfer from Africa, Wakanda to be more specific. As a freshman she was teased relentlessly. It was for her looks mostly but when the school sweetheart came into her life nothing else mattered. They bonded right away. The only thing is she never anticipated falling in love with her. She also never thought it would have to be a secretive relationship.

Opening the door to the dark art room no longer being used, Shuri drops her bag on the floor and locks the door behind her.

“Azari, this is a pleasant surprise. When was I going to be told you are back?”

“It was late Robin and you know it’s not like I can just call you up, after 10pm it’s a rule. Plus you sleep so light I didn’t want to wake you.”

Riri rolls her eyes at the silly rule. This town is a little “conservative” , to put it mildly. Ri’s step Pops plays right into the hype to a degree.

“You look good.” Riri moves closer, racking her eyes over the taller’s appearance up close. Her hair was now cut to a low fade, ears are pierced with studs and cuffs of gold. She has a gold grill on her bottom teeth. She’s in a blazer with slim cut trousers. It’s the school uniform with a flare.

“You look better.” Ri has her hair braided in a shorter style with two buns on the end. She has on a fitted uniform that follows her curves just enough. Her ears are pierced with small heart hoops and one cuff of gold. Her makeup is a natural beat that brings out her eyes in a way that they sparkle.

Shuri wraps her in a close hug with both hands around the small of her back. She is held there as they talk.

“Did you miss me or are frontin’ with one of your fans again?”

“I would never they are too needy. What about you was I missed?”

“So the Princess was able to avoid questions about her love life for 6 months. I’m impressed.”

“Gary just guessed I was focusing on studies. I told him losing a classmate was hard for me.”

“You and my brother were close so I am thankful that worked. Also I was away to grieve no one came to mind but you. So yes you were more than missed.

Ri places her hand on Shuri’s face.

“I wore white the day you told me to.” With a kiss to the inside of her palm Ri closed her eyes.

“Thank you nkosazana. That means a lot to me and Mother.” The girls have craved this intimate touch for months.

“How is she doing AZ?”

Riri rarely calls Shuri by the nickname she helped to spread during their Sophomore year. It was a part of Ri’s plan to stop the teasing. It worked but the root of the name comes from Azari. So Ri normally calls her by her full middle name not AZ. Shuri peaks her eyes at her before she speaks.

“Mother is doing better than expected. But I’ll be glad to tell her that you are doing ok. It will ease her mind. With her being home she wonders about you.”

Shuri’s family is forever grateful to Riri for befriending Shuri and for making their girl so happy. In fact it was T’Challa who pointed out that the relationship between Ri and AZ may grow to be more to his Mother. During the early times the girls genuinely didn’t know what was in store for them.

When it inevitably turned from friends, to best friends, to lovebirds they embraced the girls with open arms. They had boundaries but Riri would spend almost all her free time at Shuri’s over the years. This made her relationship with Romanda strong. As far as Ri was concerned Romanda is her Mother more so then her own.

Riri and Shuri have moved to the old couch that is stored in the art room. Comfortably lounging in Shuri’s lap the two continue to catch up. “Send her my love. Let her know I miss her. Also thank her for all the recipes. My sister loves her stewed chicken and plantain.” Riri laces her fingers in Shuri’s smiling small reminiscing about times she would be over to the Udaku home cooking and laughing. They would even cuddle family style to watch movies. The memory warms her heart.

“Is she the only one you have love for?” Riri turns over to face Shuri laying on her chest. Snapping her out of her thoughts.

“What kind of statement is that to make?” AZ is smirking as she lowers her hands to Riri’s behind. Ri’s blood is runner hotter under the familiar touch.

“I mean it has been months since you’ve said it. We all know I need reassurance. One can get bored in that time.” Ri leans placing kisses to Shuri’s neck causing her pulse to quicken under Ri’s lips. Ri also bites there ever so softly to not leave a mark. The taller girl hums out a moan.

“Don’t you ever question me on that again. Azari. I love you more than you even know.” With a smile Shuri felt proud having gotten the reaction she wanted. She bends her neck some to steal a kiss on the waiting lips below her. Riri smiles as their lips are pressed against one another. Thinking of how to make this moment last, Ri mumbles.

“Come to my place tonight. I sleep much better with you there.” Moving a few inches away to speak more clearly, Shuri is confused. “Umntwana I never will question you on loving me, but may I pose this question. How do you suggest that happens? Your parents would not prefer me to be at their home.”

The reality is that’s true. Sneaking around is a necessary evil. Not only is the school uptight about “same sex” relationships. Rihanna’s parents have this thing about her image. So while they claim they are not homophobic, they think Shuri may not be the right “type” to hang with too long. Someone may get the “wrong impression.” This is why over the months they could only speak on the phone seldomly and their text conversations had to be neutral. They have some encrypted apps but it was too much of a hassle.

It is honestly backwards how her parents think. They had no problems until Shuri cut her hair. That was close to a year ago when T’Challa first got sick. AZ wanted to wear an undercut with a curly top similar to that of her brother. This started them making small comments here and there which Riri resented. She would stand up for Shuri. So they took certain privileges away because of her “attitude.” No phone calls after 10pm with anyone. No house guests unless it was a group and the most outrageous one is no going to dances with another girl. Not even a friend date. That rule came after she went with AZ to Junior homecoming and the rumor was all a buzz.

Little did Riri know her parents had a “conversation” with Romanda around that same time about keeping Shuri away from Rihanna. They didn’t want folks to think that Riri is gay. If only they knew they had been girlfriends close to 8 months by that point.

Riri pouts knowing Shuri will do whatever she wants because of it. “Not that house, the new one.” With a chuckle Shuri nods “You mean my place with my Oomakazi.” Ri smirks, “Yep.” She grins, kissing Shuri again but a little deeper. Sitting up she straddles AZ wanting to be closer and runs her fingers over the low cut. AZ has a firm grip on Ri’s body; her strong hands seem to be all over the place at once. After kissing until the need of air is required they pull back.

“Anywhere I am is yours too is what you’re saying?” AZ says smoothly. “Duh Baby. With you is the only place that feels like home.” Opening her eyes, Shuri looks at the sincerity in Riri’s face. She means it. “We just need a story for your folks.” Shuri smiles small soaking in the image of the girl in front of her. “I’ll make MJ cover me. She knows how miserable I have been without you.” “Ok well I have your location, leave your car there I can pick you up and I’ll drop you back in the am.”

Lunch is now over but they both don’t have any afternoon classes so they stay cuddled on the couch for an hour longer.

*text* Big Ri ❣️:MJ do me a favor and come to art.

*text* Mich the Donn❄️: 🤔 Art huh? I’ll be there in 10min.

*text* Big Ri❣️:😇 thank you.

In less than 10 min MJ knocks before she reaches for the key above the door. Letting herself in she locks it back and walks to the couch. Plopping down on the other end she is not phased by the couple cuddled up.

“Well aren’t you two just as sweet. Wassup AZ?” MJ greets the pair in a nonchalant manner. “MJ it’s good to see you and nothing much just here with your best friend.” MJ has a faint smile when looking at them. “Yea the Princess missed you, something awful. Been moody and all.” They poke fun at Riri’s expense but it’s true.

Ri was a mess those first few weeks. Crying non stop, never wanting to come out of her room. She had to put up a front for her parents so she would go to cheer and school “happy.” But everyday was hard. Ri’s Aunt Sharon even got concerned. She would text Riri everyday checking on her. Even pulled her out of school for “lunch breaks” and made the principal vow to not tell.

MJ was also right by her side at school and over the summer. She helped her navigate everything. Ri’s parents would not have taken kindly to what was really wrong. So more hiding had to happen.

MJ is cool with AZ so they would talk during that time. AZ wanted updates on how Riri REALLY was. Eventually Ri would just be honest with AZ but it took a few times of being called out.

“How many days is she staying at my place this time?” MJ finds humor in being aware of what is going on. “That is up to the Princess. But the normal I’ll get her tonight and drop her in the am.” Ri rolls her eyes as they talk like she is not even there. “You two love this don’t you? I am in the room you know.” This causes them to erupt into laughter. Riri is now pouting again. AZ kisses the poked out lip.

“Mm siyaxolisa Baby. But me and MJ could not help it.” MJ interjects “Right I’m sorry girl that’s just how our convos would sound. So old habits.” MJ grinned playfully. Ri kept a straight face.

“Ok ok I know that face. Question? Did you two sell your app yet?” The subject change was drastic but it made sense. The only people in the school who are this close to the couple are MJ, Miles and sometimes Xavi. They are true friends and think it’s so dope these two love each other and relate the way they do. They help them keep things low.

The last convo MJ had with them was about an app idea they were coding together. It is a new AI code that could be placed on different communication devices. Functions of the AI include but are not limited to monitoring the users vitals, being able to do advanced commands per request and actively learn the users habits. Back home in Shuri’s country they use these bracelets instead of cellphones called kimoyo beads. They programmed the AI into the bracelet and the test was a success.

When she went home Shuri held a meeting with the government’s design group and pitched the idea. The group immediately accepted the concept and allowed both Rihanna and Shuri to stay on as consultants for all upgrades to the AI. The contract is worth Millions.

“In a way, my government has retained the AI code to be used on all communication devices and Kimoyo Beads.” Shuri answers. “Wait so you mean that thing now has y’all’s app on it.” MJ points to Shuri's set of beads on her wrist. Riri shakes her head yes and commands Griot to wake up. “Griot please play on speaker AZ’s top played song of the week.” “At once Princess.” Cupid by 112 starts playing in the room. It’s kind of their song. “Y’all are sick.” MJ quips. “Griot please pause music.” “At once AZ.”

“That’s amazing I can’t believe you pulled it off the super genesises.” Looking at the time on her beads AZ got up. Riri whined as she was moved off of AZ’s lap. “Thanks MJ but it’s dismissal soon. I am going to cut out to not make it obvious. Go home and pack. I'll see you later on.” AZ is cupping Ri’s face and kisses her pouting lips one more time. Making it to the exit.

Ri throws her body over and lays on MJ’s leg. “Friend you are down bad. You are going to have to marry her soon as you turn 18.” Ri blushes and laughs at the statement but sometimes the thought crosses her mind. To be honest all kinds of thoughts cross her mind of what the future holds for them.

“That’s 6 months away MJ and this sneaking is getting old. It was fun at first but I don’t know. I want to have her walk me to first period and all the corny high school sweetheart stuff. Is that too much to ask.” Ri holds her hands on her face. MJ listens to her friend rant. “It’s only too much to ask for HERE. Otherwise no it’s not I’m sorry friend.” MJ holds her head.

“This place is so trash. Everyone is the same narrow minded hippocrates. The adults and the students. Like did you see Viv today? She was pissing me off. What is her issue?” MJ instantly gets mad.

“Same I get that she likes you and all but today was too much.” Riri looks then sits up frustrated. She laughs right after.

“MJ you are a fool. That girl does not like me like that, at least I hope not. She’s not my type and she’s way too “it girlish” . She has one more time to say something about my Baby or I’m putting her in her place.”

“Woah woah don’t hurt nobody killa. You know I’m just talking mess. But she does have an odd obsession like she wants to be you or something.” MJ looks at Riri with a pointed look. “Idk I just need her to know how overprotective I am of that one.” MJ hops up and pulls Ri up next. “Most people know how overprotective you are. Just keep doing what you've been doing. Keep the enemy closest.” MJ throws her arm over Riri’s shoulders and walks them out the art room.

The bell is ringing as they head out of the school. Almost like bad magic Viv is close behind them. “Oh my god! Where were you guys? The weirdo came into free gym and you all left me hanging.” Ri and MJ both roll their eyes at the dramatic tone.

Viv is an interesting person. She and Riri have been frenemies for years. So naturally that makes her loathe Shuri because of how close they are and she was one of the many who took the teasing too far. Ri literally lets her be around to keep an eye on her but today she’s working her patience.

Ri narrows her eyes and tenses up. As they continue to walk. “She came in looking more like a little boy than normal. So cocky like she’s not the same nerd from freshman year.” It was almost like Viv could not help herself. “Viv need I remind you to stop talking down on AZ. She just lost her brother and you are just being a shitty child about her being back at school.” MJ joins in on the read.

“It’s almost like you are obsessed with the girl. The way you are watching her and just trying to convince us how bad she is. Something is not right with that.” Viv looks as if she is going to throw up. “I am not being a child!” A smug smile plays on Riri’s face. Viv deserves this. “Well then what do you call the insulting and petty comments for no reason. It’s not like she has done anything to you. So what is the problem you have with her Viviannn?” Viv scoffs and storms off. She didn’t want to admit out loud her issue.

High-fiving the girls are now by the cars and Riri gives MJ a ride to her house. As she is driving, Shuri gives her a call. “Hey Baby you’re on speaker.” Riri is such a sucker her smile is almost permanent now that Shuri is back.

“Ok that's fine. Yo MJ. I just need to know why my wifey’s skin always glows in the sun.” “That’s because of the melanin and Daddy is home so there is that.”

Riri feels a rush, this is what she wants. To love her girlfriend out loud for whoever to hear and see. Within reason of course but the sneaking around is old and tired. “Do you two have any manners?” Miles’ voice boomed on the car phone speaker. Pulling Ri out of her bliss.

“No we do not Miles we can’t help how we show love.” AZ is feeling the same way. She hides only because of the threat by Riri’s parents. Romanda informed her of their “meeting” almost as soon as it happened. But if it were up to her AZ she would shout how much she loves Ri everyday. Shuri loves public displays of affection. Her family is that way. Hugs, kisses, gestures, gifts, holding hands she wants it all. But she finds balance in knowing Riri will not be cut off from her family. While they are not super supportive they are her blood.

“Right brother you know I have been away for months I got to make sure wifey is taken care of in every way.” Shuri smirks devilish as the words ooze from her mouth. They have some talking to do about some MAJOR things considering she will be 18 in 6 months but for now they just want to flirt over the phone. “Ugh you know what I was gone ask could I come chill tonight but I may pass.” MJ huffs playing sick at the couple’s antics. “I was gone say the same MJ but I feel you.” Miles seconds the motion.

“You two hush.” Ri is laughing and so is Shuri. “Daddy, what do you think?” “They can come, my Aunts will be glad to see you all. As a matter of fact. Griot.” “Yes AZ?” “Please add Okoye to this call.” “At once AZ”

The line chimes as they wait on her answer. Okoye is Shuri’s Aunt but is like her oldest sister. Romanda raised Okoye as if she was her own child rather than as a sibling, so their family bond has always been so unique. When word about T’Challa got to Okoye she was in Chicago in less than 24 hours. She dotes on Shuri like no other because of her being so smart and being teased. She is just committed to her family. When it came time for Shuri to make the choice to return to Baxter, Okoye proposed that she be Shuri’s guardian. Romanda agreed with no hesitation.

“Shuriiiii what is it now Usisi.” Okoye's warm tone fills the speakers. “Sista you love me don’t just assume I want something.” Everyone stays quiet but snicker at AZ poking fun at Okoye. “You are correct but I know who you are. Also hello Rihanna it has been too long.” Okoye clocks Ri on the phone.

“Hey Auntie” Riri shouts once her cover is blown. “Ri I hope this means you are coming by the house tonight. We can have your favorite.” Okoye knows Riri well and she smiles being able to hear her voice. The Williams family are one of Okoye’s many enemies. She does not understand how one can place a child as bright and beautiful as Ri in a situation like they have. She has to be miserable all because they don’t see loving another woman as “right”.

Okoye combats that by being in her corner 100% and spoils her a bit. “Ayeee! Yes Auntie I will see you soon. And thank you. I’m thankful someone loves me.” “Yes we will have to catch up nkosazana. You know I love you the most.” AZ huffs. “Ahhh no no we are not doing this tonight. My Princess knows I love her and Auntie I know you love her more but please do not throw it in my face.” The conversation is cut short when Riri pulls up to her family house.

“I will speak with you all soon thanks for the cheer advice.” Sandra Rihanna’s Mother comes to the car as the line hangs up. With a sickeningly pleasant smile like the Stepford wives her Mother greets her. “Daughter, how was your day? Michelle, it's so wonderful to see you.” Ri steps out of her car with MJ not far behind and they enter into the kitchen.

“It was nice Mom. I got a surprise visit from a coach today. She seemed very interested in me joining their team at Brown.” MJ says hi and just listens. This was not a lie but it was not the highlight of her day. “Brown is a good option! But Harvard is our place isn’t it?” Ri shines a coy smile. She honestly could go anywhere, which she wants to go to Howard an HBCU. “Harvard is on the table but I just want to keep my options open. You know that Mother. Is Gary home?” Moving into the home some more, all three ladies are in sync. “He is at a church meeting. He won't be home until the morning. It is a lock in.”

That is perfect. Gary can’t veto her going to “MJ’s”. Ri is now holding a water bottle and MJ is silently observing. “Oh that’s so nice. So I have a question to ask, can I go to MJ’s for the long weekend? The Brown coach wanted to see some clean highlight footage. Since it’s Friday of fall break, I would love to be able to go over there and get some polished footage.” Riri’s poker face was solid. This weekend could NOT be derailed. Her Mother gives a calculated look. “Michelle who will be with you all?” MJ perks up. She didn’t want to have to talk at all. Riri’s Mom gives her the heebie geebies. “My Mom and Brother will be home. He is home from college so he will be in his room the full time.”

Sandra’s ears perk up. She has pushed the idea of MJ’s brother and Riri for about 2 years now. This was going to be a great motivator. Riri was so happy she pinched MJ excitedly. “Oooh ok so Micheal is home?” Ri played things up knowing full well even if he was home Mike is going to be with his girlfriend. Adding a mischievous smile her actual thoughts are of AZ. “Well yes you may go Rihanna and stay all fall break. Don’t worry about your Father, I will make sure he does not get bent out of shape. This is for your future.”

Grinning, Ri hugs her Mom “EEEE thank you thank you. I will be working on the footage most of the week so I’ll show you when I’m home. You are the best.” Riri’s Mom beams. “And tell Mike I said hello.” The comment goes unanswered as the girls sprint upstairs to pack. They lock the door and turn on music to cover the sounds of their conversation. “Michelle Jordan Jones! You genius, adding your brother into the mix. That was the icing on the cake. How did you think of that?” MJ laughed. “Honestly he is home I just told the truth but I did know she loves the idea of y’all making babies. I don’t think I have seen parents more obsessed with having their teenage daughter pregnant than yours.” Riri is looking in the closet for an array of things. She mostly wants to have nice clothes so they can go on dates. She will steal any and everything to lounge in from Shuri. She loves to wear her clothes. Her parents have no idea who they belong to so it’s the one win she has.

“MJ honestly if they could do that or have me marry a guy tomorrow they would so that I don’t “give the wrong impression.” It’s very sad to see how far she will go. I want to bet you something.” MJ looks up as she hears Ri. She takes a glance at the little black dress she has in her hand. “What’s the bet? Side note what is this dress it’s 2ins.” A smirk plays on the short one's face. “I bet she gives me condoms. 20 bucks. And shhh don’t worry about it it goes with this.” Holding up a matching Savage Fenty set. “Oooh girl ok then what are you trying to do? Have you and AZ ever?” A flush comes across her face. “No she wants to wait. We get close and she just holds back. I’m ok with it but sometimes, I have take that cold shower.” MJ smiles and shakes her head. “AZ is a good one yo like it’s no pressure huh? Or are you trying to be a demon?” This make them both giggle

*text* The Kween 🖤⚡️:Two things. One it’s been 2 hours I miss you come on home already!❣️Two Auntie says y’all are doing a spa night tomorrow so bring your robe. (Also bring that other thing I like 😏)

A text comes in from AZ before Ri can answer. Riri stares at her phone. This is new. The convos have to stay tame on the phone because of random checks.

*text* The Princess❣️✨:Hold your horses Please. I’m going to have all your faves. 😈 We’ll be there in 45 mins.

“Ok I definitely can’t be single the rest of this school year.” MJ huffs. “My bad girl, she texted and look at this. I don’t want to be a demon because it would be both our first times but she tests me. I think she wants it to be as special as it can be. So we decided on my 18th.” Once she packs the last thing Riri flops on the bed. MJ looks at her form above. “That sounds so romantic Yo. It’s on brand for who AZ actually is. The soft sweetheart that sings you to sleep on recordings.” Ri breathes out recalling all the sweet gestures she gets from AZ in seacret. AZ also never compromises on being thoughtful. Like the recording of Ri's favorite lullabies/soft songs which help her sleep at night. Or the hand crafted jewelry that AZ makes for her which she wears everyday like her ear cuff and necklace.

“MJ, all of it is great but I wish it could be seen. Like do you know how annoying it is to have boys drooling over me and I can’t even say I’m dating anyone let alone say I have a girlfriend.” Ri is a little saddened now. “Ri you have to just have hold on a little longer. You will be 18 soon and you can do a full photoshoot with Shuri and post it in the school if you want. Now let’s go. I'm trying to have stew chicken and sweet plantain please.” They cut the music and get up to go

*text* The Princess❣️✨:New location from Kimoyo Necklace.

Shuri opens her text alert. It's a bit primitive but for now until the official launch of Griot in 6 months this will have to due. She is going to upgrade Riri to a full set of beads and update her necklace. “Miles let’s go get the girls.”

Miles looks up from the big screen in the small sitting area of AZ’s new room. The house she and Okoye are in is a mansion so they both have master suites. When they came in she cleaned and cleaned the room to be spotless. She changed the bedding to a black and purple cotton silk blend and she went to the target to get all her Love’s fave toiletries, snacks and some random matching pjs. Shuri is a gift giver and likes displays of affection. So their relationship is torture. It burns her to not be able to shower Riri with everything her heart desires even if it's just holding hands as they walk to class. Rihanna never asks for much, but the hiding kills them both. But Shuri CAN NOT allow her to be disowned by her family not before 18. 6 months and counting.

“AZ! Yo where do you drift off too? I said what is your deal for homecoming you riding solo as normal?” Shuri frowned; she knew that Ri would HAVE to have some chucklehead date in order to even leave the house. She may just do like last year and pay a dude off to dress completely mismatched from Ri and take photos. Then hand her off at the school. “I don’t know man it’s in a few weeks I am more set on the end of the year stuff you know.” Miles nods. “I hate that our school is so lame I bet they would not even trip so much if it was not for close minded parents.” Shuri tilted the wheel some to make a turn focused on her GPS. “Man I don’t know but I want to get Riri to 18 and we can do what we want.” AZ points a finger gun in the direction of the sky.

“I hear you man I do cause y’all never even you know have you.” AZ looks over for a brief second as she stops at a rare red light. “Nope not yet I hold back cause I want it to be more special then fumbling around at home. Idk what I envision but it’s not that.” The sincerity in her voice is so sweet. “You are a good one Azari.” They pull up to MJ’s but Shuri screeches to a stop. “Don’t call me that Yo!” Miles laughs as he is hit. “Yo yo I wanted to see if I could pronounce it sheesh. Stop.” Just as they stop horse playing Riri and Michelle come out of the house. Mike, her brother, is with them.

Hopping out of her Lexus truck AZ hugs her Baby with a small kiss to her cheek and then takes her bag. Dapping up Mike they all exchange some hellos. Mike was always a good dude. He was in the class with T’Challa so he looked out for them all as a big bro. “AZ can’t believe they let you back through customs.” With a grin. “You know what, I almost didn’t make it. They flagged me for having too much phone activity from your girl.” The joke made Mike chuckle. Looking down at Riri who is tucked under Shuri’s left arm, Mike clocks her look. “Naw that can’t be true cause if it was you’d be dead.” Tipping his head to Ri AZ kisses her face whispering in her ear. “You never got to worry she white not my thing.” Riri does not stop her and just soaks in the kisses.

“Get a room you two sheesh.” MJ walks past to get in the car. AZ says goodbye to Mike with a promise to link up. Miles hops in the back because the seat literally has Princess embroidered on the headrest in Xhosa. So her seat is secure. They lace their fingers together as the drive commences. “Ok so my Mom knows I’m out and won’t be back she likes you AZ so we good.” AZ nods glancing in the rear view. “Cool at least someone likes me. One is a start.”

Ri is stoic but thinking. Her family being against anything LGBTQ is a huge hurdle for her but young love makes you feel invincible. She could care less if they approved what was the worst they would do. Kick her out? Disown her? That’s all things she does not care about if she can be with Shuri. “Baby Sharon likes you, she thinks you are adorable.” AZ takes Ri’s hand and kisses the back. “I know she likes me and she is so wonderful to you. I know I will meet her soon yes?” “That you do.” The short drive is over and all 4 young people pile out of the car. Like magnets AZ and Ri are holding hands as she walks her into the house.

“The new place is huge Baby what in the world!” AZ smiles. “Yea it’s a lot of square feet to fill. But me and Auntie won’t be here alone. Her besties Ayo and Aneka are coming to stay with us for a while after the hard launch of Griot. Mother will remain home with Nakia. Of course you can be here whenever, however long you want.” Riri loves the sound of that she blushes looking into Shuri’s eyes. Wrapping her arms around the taller girl loosely. “So when I move here in 6 months the invitation is still open?” AZ looks at her and raises her eyebrows. “A closet is already clear for you my Love.” Ri smiles as AZ falls back onto the couch in the living room joining Miles and MJ.

“Ri your Mother and Father would die if you did that.” “Let them I would no longer be in need of them. I will have my own money and a place to be. The countdown is on.” Okoye comes into the room with snacks smiling. “Still so brave, I like it. How are you Princes?” Riri jumps up to hug Okoye, pulling her into a very warm embrace. Riri feels so much love. This is truly her family. “Ahhh I have missed you, the only person I want to see now is Mother.” “Well when you have your passport you will be able to come to Wakanda with us to see her. You will love Wakanda, the landscape and technology will blow your mind. You may even find your wedding destination.” Okoye winks and smiles, letting Riri go and heads back to the kitchen.

This is the second wedding/marriage hint today, if it happens a third time there may be a need for a discussion. Ri sits back down cuddling into AZ’s lap. She wants to stay like this forever. “Princess, you coming to Wakanda will be at the top of our list of things to do. I think Mother would hold you hostage for the first 3 whole days.” Laughter erupts from everyone. “AZ could we come along?” Miles chimes in. “After the launch of our company we could set something up which would allow you and MJ access to travel vias. Wakanda is very strict about who is allowed into the country. Borders were completely closed for all foreign travel until about 15 years ago.” MJ looks and listens with intent. “Our culture is to be very reserved and guarded. Wakanda is a very advanced nation with great resources. Our country never wants for any of them to be exploited.” Okoye adds the reasons for the country's precautions.

“Azari, so how do I have a visa already?” AZ smiles. “Mother petitioned on your behalf for a research visa two years ago. It was granted and now that you are a partner on the Griot you will be able to have full citizenship.” AZ says with pride, Ri blushes in response. “Wait a minute! So the Princess is not only the head cheerleader and super genius she is going to be Wakandan too!? Miles chimed in jokenly. The night went on well and AZ took MJ and Miles home just before 10pm. Ri was alone in the bathroom when her girlfriend returned.

“Baby is that you?” Ri calls out with a smile as she tied her hair up with the silk scarf Shuri left for her in the mirror. “Yes my love I see you found all your items. I got all your favorites.” AZ hugs Ri from behind, kissing her on the neck. Their height difference is so adorable. “I am going to need them because I am staying all week.” AZ’s face lights up, picking Ri up to kiss her on the lips. “You are kidding! How did you get a full week away from the house?” Ri is loving the attention. She answers with a smile. “Well MJ mentioned her brother was home and Mom offered for me to stay the entire week. I jumped at the suggestion. You have no idea how much I have missed you.” Kissing Shuri again Rihanna made the kiss longer with more passion. AZ walked with Riri in her arms to the bed and laid her down as they kept kissing. AZ moved to bite gently at her loved neck being careful to not leave any crazy marks. Ri moans out as she grips onto AZ not wanting to let her go. *kiss* “Ndiyakuthanda nkosazana. ugqibelele” *kiss* The two made out for sometime before AZ needed to take a shower. “Baby you are taking so long.” Shouting from the other room AZ laughed. “Yes but I need to smell good.” Coming out of the bathroom in the matching pjs AZ got into bed on her side and Ri instantly cuddles up into her arms.

“Can I tell you something? I don’t mind your smell unshowered, even a little sweat is fine.” Laughing both girls can’t believe Ri just admitted that. “That is true love sheesh. How did I get so lucky?” Ri traces invisible lines on AZ’s chest as they cuddle. “To be honest I’m the lucky one Azari. I have you and a second family who love me for me not some image. You all are my real life.” AZ was quite a moment Ri sometimes knew exactly how to take her breath away. (It was all the time.) Placing her hand on Ri’s cheek AZ looked her in her eyes and smiled. “This is the life we will live forever with love and freedom. I promise you that Rihanna Robin.” They kiss and soon drift to sleep. Both had not had a peaceful sleep in so long because they needed each other.

@somethingcleaverandwhitty @mal-urameshi @pantherheart @shurixriri @shuriris-stuff

[thealmightyemprex]

Universal Month :Jaws 2

So this is my first official review of Universal month ,where I look at one of my favorite film studios ,Universal

Now where to start with universal,Well I am already working on a big project for the Universal Monsters so cant do that yet .I was gonna look at the silent classic Man Who Laughs ,but while thats still on the table ,Im gonna wait to do it

Of course there is a property very unimous with Universal and Summer ,the big blockbuster hit JAWS .....But I've talked about Jaws already ......But I havent talked about the sequels

In this 1978 film Police Chief Brody (Roy Schieder ) fears another shark is attacking Amity Island ,and things get tense when his own sons get involved in the danger

So before I go into the film I might as well share my thoughts on the franchise....A franchise that kind of is surprising it is one .The first film I actually recently revisited on the big screen and it is a perfect thriller ,great characters ,great suspense ,good scares ,and a nice mix of horror and adventure .While I had never seen Jaws 2 till today ,I had seen Jaws 3D which to my memory is shlocky fun and Jaws the Revenge which is...Bad....Just bad .I also wanna mention I rode the Jaws Ride at Universal Studios Florida THREE times,and I miss that ride cause it was cool

As for my thoughts on this film...There are things that work,,,,,,,But its more interested in being a greatest hits album

OK so sequels are a tricky thing to do .Basically a sequel is supposed to be like"Hey gang you like these characters and this world,are you curious what happens next " ......But often the reason for a sequel is less "We have a story to tell" as much as "Hey this made money ,I want more money ",and honestly its hard to think of a movie that lends itself least to a sequel then JAWS cause its pretty one and done ,its a very simple story :Big fish is eating people,three guys go to stop it ,the stop it .Thats it,and having ANORTHER shark attack with these same characters in this same location feels stale.Also for a seque to feel necesarry ,t must care about what happens to the character after the story is done.......And while I like Martin Brody,I just dont like him like that .To use another sequel others find unnecesary but I like ,Psycho II,where I totally care about what happens to Norman Bates after the first film and see potential in taking him in new directions.MArtin Brody however to me is a one and done character ,he beat the shark ,thats it

IRonically while I dont think Brodycoming back is that necesarry ......He is the best peart of the film,Roy Scheider is a damn great actor so he sells his paranois ,love for his family and the best scne in the movie is him after he is fired realizing he hsa no clue what to do next .Honestly the film does hit on a neat idea for a sequel ,as it couldve explored Brody's PTSD .He is clearly traumatised,and that is something I do wonder about after thrillers and monster movies,once the monster is slain how do you pick up the pieces after that .....But the trick is to do that well,the shark shouldve either all just be in Brodys head (Which as cool as the Shark just being a metaphor for Brody's trauma would be,theyd never do ,you need a real threat or else audiences will feel ripped off ) or make it ambiguious at first and reveal the Shark in the third act ......Which leads me to the movies big problem

So in the original film the Shark is not seen a lot,but it is built up like crazy,you FEEL its presence and when it does show up it is super scary ...Here it shows up too much ,it shows up early with little fanfare and frankly it doesnt look as good to me .It lacks presance and menace.Yeah it eats a helicopter and I think giving it burn scars to distinguish it from the first shark is neat ,but I dunno I didnt find this Shark that scary.Also the final fight with the Shark was a bit of a "Thats it ? " for me (Though I like how they kill it )

Cast is good,but I have nothing to say,as I really dont care for anyone except for Martin and Ellen.We have some teens in trouble who I didnt want them to get eaten ,but stil cant remember their names .The douchey Mayor is back,and while I love seeing Muarry Hamilton ,I struggle to believe this guy didnt learn his lesson after the first film...Then again,politician

Also I loathe South Park and the whole Member Berries thing that was popular for a few things.Call backs and nostalgia for a previous film arent bad things.....But maannnnn I was getting annoyed by the refrences to the first film"Oh remember the Orca ? Remember Hooper? Well they arent in this movie but we will bring them up"

I dunno.....Its not BAD ,its well made,and like I said I like seeing Schieder again but,,,,OK maybe this will make sense.This feels like a movie MADE to be shown on TV .Like your flipping channels ,spot Jaws 2,and are like"Eh Id rather watch the first one ,but this'll do " and just mindlessly watch it.

My final thoughtsa re it is a mediocre OK movie ,with a good performance.....That is overshadowed by a much better movie.I guess watch if your curious,but honestly just watch the first film

@ariel-seagull-wings @countesspetofi @piterelizabethdevries @the-blue-fairie @@themousefromfantasyland @princesssarisa @barbossas-wench @professorlehnsherr-almashy @amalthea9

[thelovelysimz]

Brodie: what’s wrong honey?

Amy: It’s just it’s been a year since we lost our baby and I am just having a lot of feelings.

Brodie: Honey it’s ok to feel sad but this is our new home where we can make so many new memories!

Amy: You’re right, it’s just I never thought we’d get to where we are right now. You me & Red with our own home! It’s feels like a dream!

Brodie: We worked hard. Imagine when we do have little ones running around out here. Amy you know you’ll be the best mother. God has his plans honey. Don’t worry.

Amy: maybe, hmm.

[every-single-day]

ok my list of brody things i love

His voice omg genuinely calming should come with warnings of addiction

he's so cute uh what nothing

the lil tongue thing when hes happy/excited/whatever (EXCEPT THE ONE CLIP THAT SHALL NOT BE NAMED)

even with his limited like social media presence he feels very real, like hes just a guy in his midtwenties whos extremely goofy and the epitome of a golden retriever who just happens to be starring in a musical on broadway that won best musical and the role he was nominated for best actor in a musical for

in interviews his just like honesty and vunerability of just being like yeah i've struggled with xyz, and just hes so funny in interviews

again him just being goofy and very much so seems like hes being himself and not changing who he is to fit in with others

that he decided to post the pic of him with cats that one of his teachers made for him thats so ahh i love it

the video of him saying "i'm ponyboy curtis with that sodapop swagger" which yes yes he is

i've been lucky enough to see the show (i got to see him AT A MATINEE)(yes im gonna brag about that for a sec) (sadly he didnt do stagedoor but its ok bc yeah he had another show to do) but he was INCREDIBLE like i've seen a decent amount of shows whether professional or not but a performance has never affected me as much as this did before

his hands that one pic from one of the photo shoots he's done with the rings omg

how well his voice sounds with emma's and with sky's

just him

ok yes that completes my list, i have loved reading everyone elses

You ate with every single point I fear

The matinee flex???? You must be one of God’s favorites 😔✊

The hands pic is still my lockscreen he’s too powerful

[totalfknloser]

hii i noticed u mentioned you were ok with headcanons surrounding sh and other addictions..

if you don't mind could you do zakk x reader who self harms head canon?? i feel like he really wouldn't be understanding at all at first (judging by the scene where brodie asks him if he's ever felt like symptoms of a panic attack or whatever and zakk was just clueless like ...no) but he really loves you despite not being the best at showing it and wants to try to understand just for you

sorry i rambled so much 😭😭 thank you anyways i love your hcs

no it’s okay! i love rambles!! yes ofc! and thank yewwww!!!!!

tw: abuse and self harm

.-⛧ 𓄃 ⛧-.

⛧ Zakk wouldn’t really understand why you’re doing it? like he would be like “Why do you care so much?” because of his mindset.

⛧ he wouldn’t get how you can’t just brush off emotions, that’d you’d have to do that in order to feel better. but he would try to understand and even if he can’t understand entirely, he would still help your through addiction.

⛧ i feel like when you tell him he’d be all chill n shit but maybe like late at night when you’re both in bed together, he would look at wherever you did it if visible, then hold you tight and tell you “you’re never gonna do that shit again, you hear me?” in a stern voice.

⛧ he would help you care for yourself. i headcanon Zakk is like Brodie in the sense that he can care for himself because of basically absent parents. (i headcanon Zakk has trauma with abuse and learnt to care for himself in other ways than Brodie. like Brodie can cook n stuff, but Zakk can take care of wounds, bruises, etc cause yk, abuse. absent parent twinsies!) so he would be able to care for your cuts/burns/however you do it properly.

⛧ Zakk would think your scars if you have any are like super badass and super metal. it’s like battle scars, but without yourself.

⛧ he would always be there for you. as everyone knows, Zakk isn’t the best at understanding, but he loves you a whole lot. at your lowest or highest he’ll be there.

.-⛧ 𓄃 ⛧-.

thank yewwww!!!!!! these r my headcanons! i’ve struggled with this topic for about 4 years now so i understand it very well. i think that i really like this idea a lot. i love zakk so much lmao

[twdg-and-stuff]

Hello! This is a bit of an angsty and longer request so feel free to ignore! But I was wondering if I could a platonic Louis x Reader, where the reader had stood up for Clem against Marlon right before Aj had shot him, and because of that blames themselves for what happened next, and them venting it out to Louis.

A/N: Hi! This idea is sooo good, I hope you enjoy! Btw, idk what timeline to do so I just did a few days after Clem and AJ left:)

Warnings: Mentions of Marlon’s death, Blood/Gore, Usual TWDG stuff

I listened to Everything I Wanted by Billie Eilish while writing this, thought I’d include it:) It inspired me a bit

Louis + Reader

Louis had just woken up, walking to the hallways. He was still a bit shook up about the night a few days ago, but was glad AJ was out of there.

He passed his friends rooms, assuming everybody was still asleep. It was only early morning.

As he was passing by, he heard faint sobs coming from behind a door.

It was Y/N’s door. His best-friends room.

He turned his head, staring at their door.

The sobs continued.

“Y/N?” He called out.

The sobs stopped abruptly.

“Are you…ok?”

He walked towards their door.

He knocked, hoping his friend would open up. He didn’t want them to be sad.

When they didn’t open up, he thought they might be asleep. That he was just hearing things.

Until he heard faint whimpers from inside their room.

“I’m coming in. Don’t worry, it’s me. It’s Louis.”

When he saw them huddled up on their bed, his heart sunk.

He quickly ran over to them, kneeling in front of the bed.

“Hey, What’s wrong?”

“N-nothing. I’m ok.”

He hugged them tightly.

“Tell me What’s wrong. I’m not going anywhere.”

He let them go, looking them in the eye reassuringly.

“Well-when Clem was arguing with Marlon the other night…and I was defending her, and then AJ…”

They tried not to cry, they didn’t want to break down in-front of Louis.

“It’s ok. I’m listening.”

Y/N sighed.

“I feel like I’m responsible. That it’s my fault. If I hadn’t defended her, maybe Marlon would be here. And so would Clem, and so would AJ. Everything would be ok, and maybe even Brody would be here still.”

Louis was a bit surprised.

“It’s not your fault. You defending her didn’t change anything, and it was the right thing to do. Marlon sold the twins. You were in the right.”

Y/N looked at Louis, and he slightly smiled.

They both shared a smile, and Y/N hugged him tightly, not wanting to let go.

“Thank you, Lou.”

“Anything for my best friend.”

[doctorcollege]

Brody I'm so morbidly fascinated by your sona. I need to know more. My ears are open.

been attempting 2 think of more info about him for a lil bit but i don't have all that much 2 say..... here's some lil fun facts though

well of course there is the general information of him being eaten away at by a parasite. i don't think he knows how he came into contact with it or if he even knows he HAS a parasite i think all he really knows is that he is in constant agony

i think the parasite's somewhat sentient. like a possession sort of deal. not great

was gonna put 'horny' here but at this point do i even have to specify that. not only is this character supposed to be my self insert but every irisona seems to constantly have gay sex on the brain. this is not news

i don't think he's ever interacted with any of the egos besides like. henrik. and maybe MAYBE anti. i think he thinks henrik is hot

if he did know any of the others egos though he'd probably get along with chase the best

PARASITE HUNGRY feed it raw meat. if u see him tearing into a raw steak with his teeth don't worry about its fine its chill

despite jasmine's clear discomfort with interacting with him for more than a minute i think he is completely clueless to this. no brain in that head of his

he probably thinks jasmine's cool though. he likes its hair

he's really quiet and not very talkative but it's mostly just because he has the worst anxiety known to man

half the shit he DOES say is incomprehensible though i think there's something wrong with him

uncomfortably chill about everything's going on with him. like 'ok mr scientist i know u said my bones are goop but can i go back home now please. there's this show i've been watching and i would really like to finish it'

i think because of the parasite melting his bones and organs it is incredibly easy for him to dislocate parts of his body. i imagine this freaks everybody in sight of him the fuck out but he just kinda sits there like 'whuh'

do NOT kiss this man his breath probably tastes like death itself

so tired all of the damn time. every day. if he sleeps for over 24 hours do not be surprised

ok that's all i can think of for now. maybe i will think of more later

[squeakyfir]

Stow-Away (Jaws 1975) (X Child! Reader)

Description:

Stuck on a populated island with an abusive father with only one way out but hard to reach.

A boat.

Born on Amity island and losing your mother at the age of two, it left you with your father who was caring at first but then became abusive. You had too escape. You thought about sneaking onboard to a boat but now that a massive man eating shark was threatening the waters, the town stopped the flow of boats leaving the harbors out of fear.

You were stuck.

Until…

You see a boat preparing to leave the island. That was your only option, jump aboard and hide until gets to another port.

But… Oh boy… What these men were doing was not what you expected.

They were out on the water… To catch the man eater themselves…

I do not own the cover image. All rights of that image, characters and story belong to Universal Studios™. I will be adding my own twists but the main things belong to Universal Studios™

Chapter 7

Previous ~ Next

The hospital didn't give a clear word for how long you would be staying for because of your wounds and the fact that you were underweight. It was a comforting feeling to know that Brody would stay with you but Hooper wasn't sure how much longer he would be here for and because of his plans of going on the Aurora. Brody decided to do Quint a solid and told the mayor that it was Quint who killed the shark. Quint was delighted but wasted no time in going after the mayor to let him and the others know that the shark was dead and that they needed to pony up the dough.

For now, while Quint went to go speak to the mayor, Hooper and Brody were in your hospital room. Hoopers clothes were still a bit wet from the water but he still changed back into his other clothes and had put his wet suit back into the damp bag. Hooper was sitting in a chair by your bedside reading a magazine and Brody was only paying half of his attention to the small television in the room. He was a little bit more focused on you. You were sleeping peacefully with only the sounds of light snoring coming from your lips. As Brody watched you sleep, he couldn't help but wonder to himself "how long has this been happening for"? He had only been here since the fall and knew what to expect when it came to Amity Island. It's a summer town.

Tourists are what helps keep the island afloat in an economic way. But in 25 years, there has never been a shooting or a murder in this town. Realizing it was the best and safest place for him and his family, he and his wife agreed to move here and get out of the cold blooded and dangerous New York City. "You ok, Martin"? Brody looked up and saw Hooper giving him the worry eyes. Brody sighed heavily and leaned back into his chair. Hooper was still waiting for an answer and only waited for what would be said next. "25 years. I told you that for 25 years, there hasn't been one murder or shooting in this town. How long has this been happening for"?

"I wouldn't ask her that. It would definitely upset her".

"I know". Hooper could see that this whole situation was really bothering him. "She'll be ok now, Martin-"

"Will she" he dejected. "You see her scars? I can't let anything else happen to her".

"I get it" Hooper said. "I don't want anything else happening to her either but I can't think of anything else to do for her. I'm gonna try to stay as long as possible just to make sure she'll be ok for her sake".

"I know, and I know she'll appreciate it" Brody said. He took a drink from his water bottle he retrieved awhile ago. "You know" he started getting Hoopers attention once again, "I'm gonna miss you when you leave". Hooper smiled and nodded with the remark, "I'll miss you too". The sound of sobbing was heard which alerted them to see your face bunched up in distress and clutching the blanket. Your sobs were getting more distressed, very quickly, and both men stood up. "(Y/n)! (Y/n), wake up"!

A sudden jolt of energy bursted through you and you snapped your eyes open to meet the concerned faces of your friends. But one was missing. But that didn't matter for right now. Realizing you were safe, you relaxed but you started to cry. Brody quickly sat down beside you and embraced you quickly. "Shhhh shh shh shh shh, it's ok. Its ok". You only continued to cry into his shoulder and could feel your fears fade away slowly for the time being. "(Y/n)"?

The three of you looked over and saw a nurse enter the room. The nurse was very quick to acknowledge the young patient with tear stained cheeks and red eyes. "Did something happen"?

"She had a nightmare" Brody said. The nurse understood and made it clear that she was there to check your vitals. Brodys comforting warmth was replaced with cold emptiness and with a woman in white. She checked everything and it all came back normal. "Mr. Hooper"?

The two men looked over and saw a different nurse at the door. "There's a call for you at our front desk". Feeling uneasy and already figuring out who it was, Hooper stood up and left the room, leaving you and Brody in the room and the nurse checking your vitals left too after everything came back normal. "How're you feeling"?

"Sore".

"I know". Brody still sat by you and once again got a glimpse of your injuries. Your arm had bandages and you still had your IV in your other arm. You took a glimpse at it and cringed. It felt uncomfortable to have it in your arm but you then feel Brody gently rub your back but not near your infection. "You're gonna be fine".

"How long am I staying here for"?

"I don't know, but when you do leave here, you're gonna stay at my house until something gets sorted out, ok"? You understood and started to pay attention to the TV in the room but after three minutes going by, Hooper came back. "Martin? Can I talk to you for a second"?

"Sure". Brody then looked at you. "I'll be right back, ok"? You nodded and Brody left the room with a very uneasy and upset looking Hooper. Both men stepped outside your room and stayed put by your door in the relatively busy hospital. "That call I just got, it was the director for the Aurora... My passage leaves tomorrow. I tried to explain the situation to him but that didn't concern him". Silence filled Brody and only looked upset but understood his situation. "I get it" was all he could muster up to say.

"It's (Y/n) I'm worried about. Martin, I don't want to leave her so soon-"

"I get it, Matt. I get it. I'm sure she'll understand too". Both men knew you would be very upset and they didn't want to be the ones to bring any more news to your attention that would upset you after everything that just happened. You've been through enough as is. "How do we tell her"?

"I'll have to tell her, I guess" Hooper said and also dreading the idea. "What time do you leave" Brody said to try and change the subject and for his own curiosity. "I'll have to leave tonight if it means getting there on time" he said sadly. Brody understood but knew you wouldn't be happy about him leaving. In the short amount of time that you've come to know these three men was the best thing to happen to you in a long time. Escaping from a dangerous and toxic person to meeting three literal life savers made you want to hold on to their caring nature for dear life. They could tell. And there was no way they would try to break that. They knew they could never do that.

The two men finally came back into the room to see you still watching the TV but that was short lived when you directed your attention back to them. You could tell they were nervous by their facial expressions and only hoped that something bad didn't happen. "(Y/n)" Hooper said with a worried expression. "I'm very sorry to say this" he had to take a breath to prepare himself to say the following words. "But, I have to leave... Tonight. I uh... Have to go on this research cruise for 18 months and I-"

His words were nullified when they heard you sigh sadly and seeing your head slowly drop in sadness. Hooper quickly made his way to your bedside and sat down on the ledge. "Hey hey, (y/n), look at me". Not obeying to his words, Hooper slowly lifted your chin up for him and Brody seeing the tears form in your eyes already. "Please don't cry, come on. Come on, (y/n), please"?

"What're you doing, college boy"?

The two men looked at the door to see that Quint returned to the hospital. Quint couldn't ignore the obvious scene of your tear stained cheeks and the tension in the room. "He uhm-". Brody sighed and pulled Quint aside to whisper what was happening. After being told, Quint just sighed and said, just loud enough for you and Hooper to hear, "God damn city people will jump at any opportunity for more money-"

"Hey"! Hooper stood up defensively and started to raise his voice. "I don't get paid for going on this thing, just so you know".

"Ah, makes sense" said Quint as he walked to the other side of your bed. "You've got more than enough money but your greedy little city hands will jump at any opportunity to avoid real work. Either that, or your the worst liar ever".

"Quint, lay off him" Brody said trying to calm them down, "There's a more pressing matter at hand here".

"And this is coming from a man who would rob a whole town-- excuse me, a whole island and make the claim that he would kill this shark? You extortionist"!

"Watch yourself Hooper-"

"Or what!? You'll make me walk the plank on your sunken ship" Hooper said feeling brave and leaning towards Quint from the right side of the hospital bed and Quint leaning closer to Hooper on the left side of the bed, both of them intimidating each other and giving deathstares to one another. Both you and Brody felt very uneasy and just remained silent. It goes without saying, if you weren't in the room, Quint would've knocked Hoopers lights out but all he did was take a step back and looked at you to say, "Remember this, squirt. When you become successful-" Quint then looked at Hooper, "never forget who your friends are".

Quint gave you a gentle pat on the back and walked out of the room to leave the hospital. The tension was now unbearable and Hooper took a deep breath. Neither of them went after Quint and mentally agreed to let him cool down for awhile. After all of this happened, the two remaining men stayed by you for the rest of the day until night came.

After a very long goodbye filled with tears and heartbreak, Hooper said his goodbyes to you and Brody. Brody would've offered a ride to the docks for Hooper but he declined. Another goodbye was said and off he went. Walking down the dead streets of Amity was quiet and peaceful. The street lamps provided the necessary light source to guide Hoopers way to the docks. Making his way, he noticed Quints boat house and couldn't help but stare at it. He remembered what the inside was like and how amazing Quints collection of shark teeth and jaws was. Some were arranged from smallest to biggest and more impressive ones were isolated on their own wall.

Hooper also took the time to notice the lack of furniture in his home. There was no bed, only a hammock. There was no dresser, his clothes were put aside on a table. The more concerning part was that there was no toilet by the looks of it but it still concerned him. His food wasn't stored properly and he didn't have much privacy since there was a bathtub and no door. Now that Hooper thought about it, Quint was a hard worker and really needed to fix these things. Some of the things he asked for in exchange for killing the shark made sense now. $10,000 was more than enough to provide adequate furniture and some for him to keep himself afloat economically.

But his boat was gone now. That's what he used for his work. No boat, no work. Hooper wanted to go to the boat house to apologize but he then noticed that the person responsible for taking him back to the mainland to catch his plane was still waiting for him. His feet were planted firmly on the ground and his decision was really weighing him down. He looked back and could see the hospital from the distance and looked back at the docks. His breathing was becoming heavy with stress. He didn't know what to do.

Until, he remembered something.

"Remember this squirt, when you become successful, never forget who your friends are"

Hooper then felt the weight of decision-making being lifted off of him. He quickly made his way to the dock and got on the awaiting boat. He had a smile appear on his face as the engine started up and started to head out to sea, back to the mainland. He knew what he was going to do. He knew.