#brons - cast

[pealeii]

Six Korean Cast Appreciation 💜

[lupinqs]

CHAPTER ONE ━━ Move-in Day

❀ ━ pairing: paige bueckers x oc (jo jacobson)

❀ ━ word count: 5.8K

❀ ━ warnings: none except this shits so dialogue heavy it’s almost sickening

❀ ━ links: my masterlist, nobody gets me masterlist

❀ ━ author’s note: hiii so this is my new series!!! i lowkey hate this chapter SO much i’ve rewritten it three times and can’t get it the way i want so i’m just publishing it as is. this fic is going to be much more light-hearted than take me to church (lol), big big slow burn and if i get it right almost reminiscent of a romcom. i hope you guys enjoy this chapter more than i did LOL

THE EARLY afternoon light filters in through the half-drawn blinds, casting long shadows across the apartment floor. Paige stands in the middle of her new room, surveying the chaos of boxes, bags, and half-assembled furniture. It’s good to be back on campus—she’s been away for a few weeks, visiting her dad and Drew in Maryland and then her mom and siblings in Montana, and while she’s glad to have seen them, she can’t help but feel a pull toward the UConn, being with the team, practicing, basketball, all the above.

Her mind buzzes with excitement, anticipation for the new year, the new faces, the new challenges. She’s already mentally putting together how the season might go, how she’ll keep pushing herself harder, how she’s ready to lead her team. It feels like the first time in a long time that she’s been able to focus purely on basketball without the stress or rehab and recovery and she’s glad.

Her roommate, Josephine Jacobson—Jo—isn’t around yet. She’s a freshman, a sweet girl, the type that bleeds sunshine but can pull the demon out of herself on the court. Paige knows all about her, of course—how she’s a natural point guard, the number one recruit in the nation, will probably be the future of their team—but they’ve never really been close. Haven’t had the chance to be. But, as always, Paige feels optimistic about it. God put them together for a reason. After all, her past roommates have become some of her best friends. Nika and Evina her freshman year, and then Amari and Dorka last year. It just works out that way. Basketball bonds people, and she’s sure this year will be no different.

She moves one of the boxes to the side, careful not to knock over a stack of them as she does so. She arranges a pile of sweatshirts and sweatpants, making sure everything’s folded as neatly as she’s able to before moving on to the next task. This year, she’s determined to keep things organized, less chaos, more control. She wants her space to actually look nice, not like she’s some sort of slob. (She’s not sure how long this goal is going to last for).

Aubrey strolls in, another one of Paige’s boxes tucked into her hip. She’s already unpacked herself, having got here yesterday, and she’d offered to help Paige when she got here a little under an hour ago. Aubrey opens the box, seeing the bright purple comforter inside.

“Okay, P! I see color!” she says, a teasing grin on her face. “You finally given up on making your room look like a prison cell?”

Paige laughs, rolling her eyes. “Aye, my standards have rose this year. No more living in a box.” She gestures to the several LeBron and basketball posters filtering the floor in the corner of the room. “Decorating it nice this time, trust.”

Aubrey shakes her head, clearly amused. “Yep, I’m sure Bron’s face being the first thing you see when you walk in is gon’ make it real cozy.”

Paige just laughs again, stepping back to decide which corner of the room she wants her bed in. She tilts her head, looking back before deciding it’ll go best directly across the mirror-closet. For certain reasons she’d probably rather keep to herself for now.

“Who’re you rooming with again?” Paige asks, looking over at Aubrey, who’s taken the liberty of placing the millions of shoes Paige owns on the top shelf of her closet.

“Carol and Lili. It’s gonna be chill, for sure.” She shrugs before her eyes gleam a little, smirking at Paige. “Azzi’s gonna have it rough this year, though. Putting her with two freshmen is crazy work. They hyper as hell.”

Paige shrugs a little as she moves over to her bed. “Eh, Ines seems more quiet if anything. Ice, though, yeah. Azzi’ll be fine, though. She deals with me enough and I’m prolly just as bad.”

“Worse,” Aubrey corrects.

Paige rolls her eyes, opting to ask, “Can you help?” instead of responding to the jab. Aubrey nods, moving from her spot by the closet to stand next to Paige before the bed. “Where d’you want it?” she asks.

“Just in that corner,” the blonde responds, nodding her head to the other side.

Aubrey nods again and strides to the opposite side of the bed, the one near the wall. It’s a queen, so it’s too wide for just the two of them to carry, meaning they’ll have to just push it. Paige sighs before starting, her muscles straining slightly as she shoves her bed across the floor, the bed frame scraping noisily against it. Aubrey’s beside her, grabbing the other side with a grunt, their movements in sync but still awkward, both of them trying to be careful not to knock anything over or break anything.

“So,” Aubrey starts, breaking the rhythm of their movements, “what d’you think about yours? Jo. She’s a freshie, too.”

Paige doesn’t pause, her hands gripping the bed frame as she shifts it a few more inches. She’s thinking more about the layout of the room—where she wants things. After a few seconds, she shrugs, glancing over at Aubrey. “She’s cute,” Paige says simply, her voice light as she looks for the right angle to fit the bed by the wall.

Aubrey pauses. For a second, Paige doesn’t even notice—she’s too busy pushing the bed into position. But then Aubrey let’s our a low, exaggerated breath and Paige glances up, noticing the way she’s studying her with a raised brow.

Aubrey gives her a behave type of look. “You cannot fuck Jo Jacobson,” she tells Paige, slow and deliberate, like she’s really trying to get the blonde to understand this.

Paige’s head whips toward her, eyes wide, her grip slipping off the bed frame. “What?” she asks, voice higher than she intends. She looks at Aubrey, still not quite sure if she’s hearing her right. “What are you even talking ‘bout?”

Aubrey just stares, the expression on her face unwavering. “I’m saying, you can’t fuck her. Like, seriously, don’t even think about it.”

The words hit Paige like a slap, but it’s not the harshness of them that makes her heart skip. It’s the fact that Aubrey said it with such absolute certainty, like it was a rule she needed to lay down for Paige.

The blonde furrows her brows as she process what Aubrey just said. She opens her mouth, trying to make sense of it. “Aubrey, what? I—” she stops herself, trying to piece things together. The more she thinks about it, the weirder it all sounds. She barely knows Jo—hell, Jo hasn’t even gotten to campus yet. She’s literally just a sweet freshman, one of the new players. Of course, Paige isn’t thinking about anything remotely romantic with her. Not at all.

She can’t even fathom it.

“Aubrey, bro, are you seriously suggesting that I… What?” Paige repeats, still not believing it. “I—I don’t—no, no, that’s not even a thing.”

Aubrey exclaims, “You just said she was cute! You can’t be doing that, P.”

Paige shakes her head, laughing a little in disbelief, clearly thrown by the whole insinuation. “Yeah, like in a I-wanna-pinch-your-cheeks kind of cute,” she says, mimicking the motion with her hands. “Like she’s sweet, not like she’s fine and I wanna hit that. She’s a freshman and our teammate, bro—you know I ain’t do stuff like that.”

Aubrey, unfazed by Paige’s defense, just raises an eyebrow. “Ion know, your hook-ups have been kinda wild lately.”

Paige rolls her eyes as she reaches down, grabbing the corner of the bed and pulling it another inch into place. “That’s different,” Paige tells her. “That was like, months ago—”

“Three weeks ago,” Aubrey interrupts, but Paige doesn’t bother listening.

“—and that wasn’t even serious. I wouldn’t do that shit with Jo. She’s pretty, but—”

She cuts herself off, realizing how that could sound, and immediately backpedals.

“But she’s a teammate,” Paige finishes, nodding as though it’s the most logical conclusion. Which, it is. “I don’t see her like that. She’ll prolly be like a little sister or something. Seriously, you ain’t gotta worry about this.”

Aubrey doesn’t seem entirely convinced but just shrugs it off with a nonchalant wave. “Alright, alright. Just makin’ sure. Senior duties and all,” she says.

Paige rolls her eyes, nudging the girl in her ribs. Aubrey hisses, and nudges the blonde back. And then they return their attention to the bed, giving it one final tug, making sure it’s aligned just right.

Paige pulls away, taking a look with her hands on her hips. The room looks good, feels right. A good place to spend her next year. And even though she doesn’t know what that year might bring—how the team will play, how her body will hold up—it feels like everything’s in its place for now.

(Minus Aubrey’s odd assumptions, that is).

JO’S STOMACH flutters with a mixture of excitement and nerves as the car pulls into the parking lot right in front of what will be her new home. Her gaze drifts over the apartment building, taking in the sprawling complex that will be hers for the next year. The sun is high, casting everything in a golden glow, and it’s one of those perfect, early summer days—the kind that makes everything feel new and fresh. This is it. She’s finally here. UConn; her dream since forever. The place she’s watched on TV for as long as she can remember, watching them win championship after championship. And, now, it’s real. She’s actually here.

Her dad pulls into a parking space, the car humming to a stop, and Jo takes a deep breath, fighting back the lump in her throat. It’s not that she’s scared; it’s more that it feels huge. This is the beginning of everything. Her heart races a little, her palms tingling. She’s excited—so excited—but it’s all a little daunting, too. The whole what if she doesn’t belong here, what if it’s not everything she’s ever dreamed of echoes in her head, but she knows better than to entertain those thoughts. Despite this always being her dream school, she made sure to explore her options before committing. And, after everything, Storrs was somehow her favorite.

But it’s still a little hard to ignore the tiny voice in the back of her mind that whispers doubts. At least she has familiar faces here—her teammates. She can’t imagine coming here alone, without knowing anyone at all, without that built-in support system. It helps, knowing that the people she’s going to spend the next chapter of her life with are familiar faces, not strangers. Still, there’s a big difference between practice and living together, between seeing someone for a few hours on a court and sharing an apartment with them. The whole thing feels a little surreal.

“Ready, sunshine?” her dad asks, giving her a side-eye as he shuts off the car. His voice has a teasing, comforting quality that always makes Jo feel like everything will be okay.

Jo doesn’t answer right away, just smiles nervously, nodding as she unbuckles her seatbelt. “I think so,” she says, trying to sound more confident than she feels.

Her mom grins at her from the front seat, practically glowing with excitement. “Come on, it’s gonna be so great, Joey.”

Jo laughs softly, the sound easy and light, nodding. They get out of the car, opening the trunk, and Jo begins unloading her bags and boxes—the millions of them. She didn’t mean to over-pack, but somehow, her whole life had been crammed into suitcases and boxes. Her parents each grab as much as they can hold, but even the three of them can’t carry everything, so they head toward the building, the weight of it all already starting to feel like more than it should.

The hallway inside the building smells like fresh paint and clean floors, and it has that crisp, cool air of a place that’s seen its fair share of new beginnings. Jo’s parents chat with each other, but Jo can hardly keep her thoughts straight. She’s here, really here, and she’s not sure if it’s excitement or fear that’s making her heart beat so fast.

They trudge up the stairs together—her dad leading, her mom picking up the rear, and Jo in the middle. The stairs creak beneath their weight, and every step takes them closer to her new life. She tries not to think about how much this move means, how much it’s going to mean—because that’s just the kind of thing that could make her go a little crazy.

When they finally reach her apartment, Jo’s the first to pull out her keys. She opens the door, excitement bubbling in her chest, but as she’s about to step inside, someone is trying to step out, bumping right into her.

Paige.

She steadies Jo with a hand on her shoulder, looking down at the girl—she’s only got a couple inches on Jo, but it certainly feels like a lot more right now—saying, with a little bit of surprise in her tone, “Oh, hi, Jo.”

Jo stills for just a split second. She’s met Paige several times—throughout her recruitment, last year when she and Ice and Yanna were here for First Night, all the games she attended in between—but, for Jo, it’s still a little like, wow, okay, hi Paige Bueckers. She’s admired Paige and her game for years, so yeah, maybe she’s a little starstruck every time she sees her. But she realizes just as quickly how that needs to change immediately because they are going to be living together for the next year. She’s here for a reason, not to be starry-eyed over the blonde girl in front of her.

“Hey!” Jo manages, flashing Paige a bright, warm smile that’s always her go-to move, even if her heart is racing.

Paige’s gaze shifts from Jo’s face to her parents, then down to the ridiculous amount of luggage they’re all holding, and her eyebrows raise. “Wow,” she says with a laugh. “Over-packer?”

Jo laughs, too, feeling some of that initial awkwardness beginning to seep away. “This isn’t even all of it,” she admits, shifting her weight a little. She realizes how she’s being a little rude, not introducing her mom and dad, so she gestures to them and says, “These are my parents. And this is Paige.”

Jo’s parents exchange polite hellos, nodding toward the blonde, who’s already stepping aside to let them through.

“Lemme help you with that,” Paige offers before anyone can protest, already lifting a couple of boxes from Jo’s mom. It’s clear she’s used to helping out—comfortable in this setting—and Jo appreciates it, even though she knows she can manage. But Paige’s energy is infectious, and she can’t help but feel comforted by the ease in the older girl’s presence.

“Thanks,” Jo says gratefully. “It’s a lot of stuff.”

Paige shrugs, a casual smile on her face. “It’s all good. We’ve got time. I’ll help you get settled.”

The four of them make their way into the apartment, and Jo’s parents immediately make a beeline for Jo’s bedroom to drop off the bags they’re carrying. They work together, setting everything down in a neat pile before Jo’s mom turns to her with a warm smile.

“We’ll go get the rest of it,” she tells her daughter. “You start unpacking, ‘kay?”

Jo nods, trying to hide the way her heart sinks a little at the idea of being left alone for the first time in a new place.

But then she realizes, she’s not alone. Paige is still here.

Jo takes a deep breath, then steps further into her room, already eyeing the empty bed and the space where she’s going to have to build her new life. The door clicks shut behind her, and suddenly it’s just the two of them. For a moment, neither says anything. It’s a little awkward, that first silence between two almost-strangers who are about to be more than that—roommates, teammates, friends.

Paige rubs the back of her neck, probably feeling it too. Clearly, though, she doesn’t like that, and Jo watches as she lazily plops down into the standard-issue desk chair, making herself at ease. She grins at Jo, saying with a casualness that somehow manages to be both disarming and mildly intimidating, “So, how was the drive?”

Jo shrugs a little, leaning slightly on the bed frame. “Not bad,” she replies. “Boston’s only like an hour and a half away.”

“Oh, yeah,” Paige says, nodding her head in almost mock realization. “New England girl. I knew that.”

Jo grins, bemused and already starting to feel more comfortable. “Born and raised.”

“Nice,” Paige says, dragging the word out a little. “You got the accent and everything?”

“I don’t know, do I sound like I do?” Jo asks, laughing softly.

Paige’s grin widens as she spins in the chair. “Hmm,” she hums, eyes narrowing teasingly. “I dunno, talk more.”

Jo laughs again, looking at the blonde with a mix of amusement and disbelief. “What do you want me to say?” she questions, tilting her head as another small giggle bubbles in her chest.

“Like, something with an R. That’s what a Boston accent is, right?” Paige shrugs, gummy smile on full display and eyebrows raised. She leans forward a little, before saying with a terrible attempt at a Boston accent, “Park the car in Harvard yard?”

Jo can’t help but outright snort at that, stomach constricting as she laughs at the blonde. Paige laughs, too, scrunching her nose as she does so. “Oh my God, you did not,” Jo manages between giggles, eyes crinkling a little.

“I did,” Paige replies. “Now you gotta! Lemme hear the accent!”

“You’re not real,” Jo mumbles, shaking her head, in half disbelief at the pure unseriousness of Paige Bueckers. But it’s nice—that she’s already making her feel so comfortable. Jo sighs, before saying indignantly, “Park the car in Harvard yard.”

Paige claps her hands together, laughing loudly as she exclaims, “You definitely have one!”

Jo’s jaw drops a little, defending, “No one has ever told me I have an accent, you definitely just need your ears checked.”

Paige grins, shaking her head, saying, “Nah, it’s there. I heard it.”

“Fine,” Jo relents, rolling her eyes. “You should hear my dad, though. It’s really thick sometimes.”

Paige leans forward on the chair again, eyes lighting up with a bit of interest. “I gotta hear it. Maybe I’ll ask him to say it, too.”

Jo just shakes her head, rolling her eyes again as the corners of her mouth twitch upward despite herself. There’s something about Paige that makes it hard to stay guarded—not that Jo was trying to. She’s just… larger than life in a way that could definitely be overwhelming, but there’s such an ease to her too, a confidence that feels oddly inviting.

“Are you finished unpacking?” Jo asks, breaking the newfound silence as she gestures vaguely toward the blonde’s room behind the door.

Paige shrugs, her expression somewhere between proud and sheepish. “Mostly. Aubrey and I did it this morning, but I definitely cut corners. If you open any of the drawers in there, so messy. I got lazy.”

Jo raises an eyebrow, her lips quirking up. “Efficient, though.”

“Exactly,” Paige says, pointing at her. “You get it.”

And then the easy rhythm between them is interrupted by the loud, unmistakable growl of Jo’s stomach. Her cheeks flush immediately as Paige’s grin spreads wider, her laugh concerns again breaking the quiet of the room.

“Hungry?” she teases, spinning the chair one last time before stopping to slouch backward against it.

“Ugh, yeah,” Jo groans, pressing a hand to her stomach. “I haven’t eaten since, like, breakfast.”

“Same,” Paige says with a nod, pushing herself up out of the chair and stretching her arms over her head. “I think we’re all gonna get pizza tonight, though. Go up to Nika’s and hang out. She’s with Yanna and Amari. You’re coming, of course.”

Jo grins, raising her eyebrows as she says teasingly, “I don’t have a choice?” It’s just a joke, because, obviously, even if she did, she’d go either way.

Paige gives her a little look, narrowing her eyes jokingly as she leans forward, flicking Jo on the arm and telling her, “Absolutely not.”

Before she can respond, there’s a knock at the doorframe and Jo’s mom’s voice floats in cheerfully, “Look who we found!”

Jo turns to see her parents standing in the doorway, her dad carrying a suitcase while her mom holds the door open for someone else—none other than Ice Brady. Jo knows Ice well, the two of them having gotten easily close during different USA basketball gigs and through their shared commitment process. Ice grins broadly, a laundry basket balanced on her hip—clearly, she’s been put to work.

“Aye, hey guys!” she calls out, stepping into the room with an energy that matches her nickname—cool, but in a warm and easy way.

“Of course they roped you into helping,” Jo says, laughing as Ice sets the basket down with a playful groan.

“I was in the wrong place at the wrong time,” she says, shaking her head playfully as she glances back at Jo’s parents who just smile at her, shrugging.

Ice then leans in, giving Jo a little side-hug as she says, “Hey, JoJo.”

Jo rolls her eyes, swatting at Ice’s arm. “I told you, no calling me that.” While Paige, who’s now leant casually against the desk, exclaims, “Oh my God, like JoJo Siwa.”

Ice laughs saying, “Exactly,” as she leans over and daps Paige up with a grin. Jo gives both of them little glares, saying, “No, I am not JoJo Siwa! Jo or Josephine, nothing else.”

Ice shrugs, sniggering, “JoJo.”

“Isuneh!”

THE AIR in the apartment is warm and filled with the hum of overlapping voices. Paige sits tucked into the corner of the small couch, her legs crossed under her, a half-eaten slice of pizza balanced on a paper plate in her lap. To her right, Dorka’s mid-sentence, recounting some story from her summer that has Aaliyah laughing hard enough to cover her mouth with her hand.

It’s the first real team hangout of the year, the kind where the bonds for the season start to form, where they begin to really get to know the new guys. The absence of last year’s seniors—Christyn, Olivia, E—feels strange but not exactly heavy; just like a space waiting to be filed rather than a void that can’t be. Paige glances across the room at Lou, Azzi, and Ines, sprawled across the other couch. Azzi leans back, her ankles crossed on the coffee table, her focus more on her phone than the conversation, but Paige knows her well enough to see that she’s listening. Lou’s animated hands keep catching Paige’s eye as she gestures through some story, and Ines is nodding along, face lighting up with her adorable freshman-ness.

Paige’s gaze then drifts downward, landing on the scene on the floor. Jo is half-laying across Caroline’s legs, her dark hair spilling against Caroline’s leggings. Caroline, ever the mother, absently runs her fingers through Jo’s hair while chatting with Aubrey. Faintly, Paige is aware that Jo and Caroline know each other well, have been friends for years. Both grew up in Massachusetts, not far from one another, same AAU team if Paige’s memory serves her correctly.

The new guys—the freshmen and Lou—all already fit in well. Lou and Ines have already created easy bonds with each other and Azzi. Ice is playfully bickering with Nika and Amari at the table, the three of them leaning into a conversation that seems half-joking, half-serious. Jo’s a little quiet, looking more thoughtful than anything, but Paige can tell she’s completely comfortable as she lays on Caroline and listens to her steady stream of chatter. Yanna, too, though she’s also on the quiet side, pitches into Aubrey and Caroline’s conversation every now and then.

Paige shifts her focus back to her plate, taking another bite of pizza. It’s bland and overly chewy, a far cry from what she’s been craving. She doesn’t say anything, though. The conversation flows around her, easy and light, punctuated by bursts of laughter and the occasional clink of someone setting a cup down too hard.

“God, this tastes like cardboard,” Ice announces suddenly, holding up her slice with a look of exaggerated disgust.

“Yeah, it’s… not good,” Jo says with a little grimace, Paige watching as she glances at her half-eaten slice that she hasn’t touched in probably ten minutes.

“Tastes like cafeteria food,” Yanna says from her spot on the bar stool, though Paige can see that she’s eaten all of hers.

“Worse than cafeteria food,” Azzi chimes in, eyes still on her phone, tone a little dry. “School pizza pretends to have flavor.”

Nika nods at everyone’s words, looking like the pizza situation might as well be a tragedy. Which, to Nika, Paige knows it kind of is. “Yeah, bro, we gotta go to New Haven if we want any god pizza. It’s my biggest disappointment in life.”

Paige grins at that, leaning back into the couch as she watches the exchange. It’s funny to her how every year, without fail, the new players get hit with the reality of Storrs’ subpar pizza options. “Y’all gotta get used to it.”

Ice groans, and Paige laughs a little as she contradicts herself and takes another big bite of pizza.

Jo glances up from her spot on the floor, dark brows arching in amusement. “Nika, New Haven’s an hour away.”

“Worth it,” Nika insists, hands slicing through the air for emphasis. “Best pizza in the country, hands down.”

“Eh, debatable,” Ice fires back, smirking.

“Debatable?” Nika repeats, looking scandalized. “’Kay, no, see, now you gotta go. I’m takin’ you to Pepe’s or Sally’s, and then we’ll talk.”

The debate spirals from there, the room splitting into factions—those who have been to New Haven and swear by it, and the skeptics like Ice who clearly need convincing. Paige inputs a couple times, but other than that continues eating her cardboard pizza, taking the time to listen, which she doesn’t usually do. The topic quickly starts to feel like it’s been beaten to death, but that doesn’t stop Nika from gesturing wildly as Ice shakes her head, arms crossed like she’s already over it.

Paige’s gaze shifts from them to Jo and Caroline, who are directly in front of her across the room. There’s a mischievous tilt to Jo’s smile as she watches Ice and Nika, and Paige feels a pang of curiosity. Jo looks like she’s got something to say, and sure enough, a beat later, she interrupts with a voice that carries just enough weight to make everyone turn her way.

“Ice,” Jo interrupts, her tone deceptively innocent, her eyes glinting with mischief. “Let’s quit talking about pizza and talk about your new little goal you’ve got.”

The room collectively seems to perk up at that. Paige sits up straighter, interest piqued. She glances at Ice, who immediately shoots Jo a warning glare.

“No,” the Brady girl says firmly, voice clipped.

The refusal only makes Paige more curious. She leans forward, elbows on her knees now, eyes wide with a playful insistence. “Oh, no, you gotta tell us now,” she exclaims, grin wide.

Aaliyah, beside her, says, “Yeah, Ice, don’t leave us hangin’!”

Ice shakes her head, clearly unwilling to budge. But Jo, apparently unfazed by the glare the Brady girl has set on her hard, sits up slightly, her smile turning almost devilish. “Ice said she wants a sneaky link by next week. It’s her number one goal now that she’s on campus!”

The reaction is instant and explosive. Loud laughs and little screams of exclamation erupt from everyone as Ice’s face twists into a mix of betrayal and outrage. Paige finds herself laughing so hard she has to lean back into the couch, her head tipping toward the ceiling as her shoulders shake.

“Jo!” Ice exclaims, her voice a biz of exasperation and disbelief. She grabs a napkin from the table and chucks it at Jo, who barely flinches.

Caroline picks the napkin up and tosses it toward the trash can, her tone scolding and motherly as she says, “Ice.”

But Ice doesn’t listen. Instead, she points an accusing finger at Jo, her eyes narrowing. “JoJo, you’re such a traitor.”

Jo’s grin only widens. She shrugs, looking utterly unbothered as she settled back into Caroline’s lap. “Hey, we’re all willing to help you find a fuck buddy, don’t you worry.”

Ice glares even harder and it makes Jo laugh again. Paige can’t help but let her gaze linger on the brunette, her chest still tight from laughing. Jo’s giggles are unrestrained, her cheeks flushed with amusement. There’s something about it that Paige finds infectious. The way Jo lights up when she’s laughing feels almost magnetic, like she’s carrying her own little pocket of sunshine.

“Oh, Ice,” Nika says, pulling Paige’s gaze away from Jo. There’s a familiar glint in Nika’s eyes. “If you need help finding a sneaky link, Paige is the expert. She’s got you covered.”

Paige’s mouth falls open, eyes widening as she stares at her twin. “Yo!” she exclaims, sitting up.

Amari snorts from her spot at the table, her expression one of barely-constrained amusement. “P, be for real.”

Azzi, who hasn’t looked up from her phone in a while, adds in without missing a beat, “Paige is a man-whore, if that wasn’t obvious.”

Paige gasps dramatically, her hand clutching her chest like she’s been mortally wounded. “I ain’t even a man!”

“You act like one,” Caroline chimes in, voice calm but teasing.

Paige just stares at all of them, her mouth slightly open, as if she can’t believe what she’s hearing. “Man, what’s all this gangin’ up on me for?” she asks, her tone half-offended, half-playful.

Eventually, the room’s energy slowly shifts as the teasing dies down. Laughter fades into soft chuckles, and everyone starts settling back into their spots. Paige stretches her legs out again, her socked feet brushing lightly against the coffee table. The buzz of the conversation has left her grinning, though her cheeks still feel warm from all the ribbing. She’s content to let the chatter flow around her now, her focus drifting as she scrolls on Instagram until Aaliyah leans forward from the couch and throws a spark back into the room.

“Jo,” Aaliyah says, tone playful, “since you were so quick to expose Ice, you got anyone you’ve been wanting?”

Paige perks up at that, curious despite herself. Sue her if she’s nosy. She glances toward Jo, who’s still sprawled on the floor, her head now resting against Caroline’s knee. Jo’s expression doesn’t change much, maybe softens slightly.

“No, she doesn’t,” Ice says quickly, annoyance lacing her voice. Paige can tell it’s because she can’t humiliate Jo like she’s just exposed her. Ice gestures at the Jacobson girl with her pizza crust like she’s making a point. “Girl’s already met her damn husband.”

Paige raises an eyebrow, intrigued by the certainty in Ice’s tone. She watches Jo carefully now, noting the way a faint smile tugs at her lips. It’s not the cheeky grin she’s been wearing most of the night; it’s something softer, quieter, like the thought of this so-called future husband of hers is enough to soothe her, ground her.

Amari leans forward from her chair and tilts her head. “Aw, Jo, you have a boyfriend?”

Jo nods, that same small, telling smile still on her face. Paige notices how her cheeks turn just the slightest shade pinker. It’s… different. Softer, almost vulnerable.

Damn, Paige thinks, watching her. She must really love that boy.

The room seems to erupt again, this time not in laughter but in a cascade of questions and exclamations. Nika asks, “How long you been dating?”

Jo shifts a little, clearly embarrassed, mumbling, “Eighth grade.”

Paige feels her eyes widen, almost so wide they might as well pop out of their sockets. It’s impressive—a middle school relationship lasting that long.

But then Caroline adds with a knowing smile, “Yeah, but you’ve loved him since you were, like, four, Jo.”

Jo’s face flushes deeper, and she buries it briefly against Caroline’s leg before mumbling, “Yeah, we’ve been next-door neighbors our whole lives.”

The whole team seems to aw at that, exclaiming how cute. “Jo, that’s like a movie!” Azzi says softly, a hopeless romantic. Paige has to admit they’re not wrong. It’s that perfect, golden sort of story people write novels about—the girl-next-door falling for the boy-next-door.

Except Paige doesn’t really think it’s all that cute. Maybe it’s because she’s too gay, but she doesn’t get how anyone could be into a boy, especially for that long. It just seems… exhausting. Still, she keeps her mouth shut, letting the conversation roll on without her. It’s uncharacteristic.

Ines, eyes wide with interest asks, “What’s his name?”

“Asher,” Jo answers, voice soft but steady.

Dorka, next to Paige, claps her hands together. “Let me see a picture, Jo!”

Jo hesitates for a second, her blush depending, but then she sits up and pulls her phone out of her pocket. She unlocks it, turning the screen toward Dorka—and toward Paige, who can’t help but sneak a glance.

Paige hates to admit it, but it’s… cute. The way Jo’s looking at him in the picture—it’s soft, unguarded, like the rest of the world could fall away, and she wouldn’t care as long as he’s there.

Paige doesn’t know if she’s jealous that Jo has a love like that and she doesn’t, or if she’s disgusted by the whole prospect.

Dorka coos, smile wide. “So cute!”

Jo laughs, a little bashful now, and Aubrey pipes up from her spot on the barstool by the kitchen. “Where’s he going to school?”

“Penn State,” Jo answers.

Paige catches the the slight shift in Jo’s posture, the way she tenses a little, the way her smile falters ever so slightly. That kind of distance is hard, especially for a young relationship.

Paige leans back into the couch, her gaze still lingering on Jo as the conversation continues. She wonders if they’ll last. Not in a mean way—Jo clearly loves the guy—but Paige has seen it happen before. Everyone has. High school sweethearts falling apart once they hit college, the distance and the changes proving too much.

Still, something about the way Jo smiled at him in that photo makes Paige hesitate. Maybe they’ll be one of the lucky ones.

Or maybe it’s not her place for even thinking about it at all.

[sans-slash-wheatley]

i appreciate how unsexy miles bron is. like rian was like sure, cast chris evans as ransom, what could go wrong. then for glass onion he was like actually what’s NOT sexy? being a ceo.

[georgiapeach30513]

One of the comments my father made while watching knives out was noticing how smart ransom is but what a shame he used his smarts to do bad instead of good. Like you said, it’s like people don’t necessarily realize what he did requires an insane amount of intelligence along with cruelty.

I really don’t think rian johnson expected to create such a fun character as he did with ransom. I think he was writing it with Marta and Benoit in mind and ransom was just supposed to be both a red herring and the culprit with a throwaway ending because he “really did suck as much as his family said he did.”

But I think Chris made the role. I really do. I don’t actually think someone else could have done it. I mean, maybe if they had casted someone else in the role it would have been fine, but I really think having him be ransom right after the world saw him as Steve just turned the expectations upside down.

Ironically, I’m usually an ed Norton fan (I even preferred him as the hulk LOL than mark ruffalo) but miles bron in glass onion didn’t really do it for me. His ending was very anticlimactic and I def don’t think he’s the knives out villain people will be talking about when both movies get rewatched and rediscussed years down the line.

I still wonder sometimes what ransom is doing in jail. If he’s plotting his escape or something else. I also wonder about that house of his. I wonder about how he was like in school. I wonder about his dating life, if he had one, and if he was the one ghosting people or if he was getting ghosted. wonder what he’s like at parties - when they played the mafia game during Fourth of July.

For someone who hates his family he still shows up for family events. Does make you wonder if maybe he does still want to be around these people but everyone else just rejected him. Kind of sad now aw

(lol sorry for the mini tangent. I just love the movie and the character so much!)

I agree with all you said, and I also need to know everything about Ransom. Chris did such an amazing job with Ransom, and he gave him so much, well character. He was the shining part of that movie, with so many great characters. I think had Rian known what he had on his hands, things might be a bit different. I hope eventually we will see Ransom again. And I think Ransom had the potential to be so good. He was Harlan's favorite for a reason.

[edvinception]

Could you recommend some Swedish series to watch? Like stuff that is not on Netflix because I already watched all of them.😅 Just got a VPN and would like to dig into some of the local streaming services. Thank you!

Say no more, anon!

I'm gonna sort them by streaming platform. Some of these might not work for you but I'll list the ones I can think of.

SVT Play (these shows are free)

Händelser vid vatten (1 season, complete)

Creepy af, made me super uncomfortable but not in a bad way. Pernilla August is in it. Good acting. A thriller. Also based on a famous book.

Bron (4 seasons, complete)

BEST SHIT EVER!!! This one is the best of the best. Swedish/Danish crime drama. Soooogood. Must see.

Kalifat (1 season, complete)

Dark AF but sooooooooooo good. It will pucnh you in the gut. It's about a young woman who lives in Raqqa with her radicalised husband that is an IS warrior. This has been on netflix so my appologies if you have watched it already.

Fröken Frimans Krig (4 seasons, complete)

I've not watched this but Edvin is in it. It's mainly about women's fight for their rights in the early 1900's.

Other shows I've not watched but I've heard good stuff about

Springfloden Jordskott Taelgia Vår tid är nu Innan vi dör

TV4 play (former Cmore)

Gåsmamman (6 seasons, complete)

Had to include gåsmamman, of course. Because Edvin is in it and because I love the story. Scandi crime, very dark and violent.

Nattryttarna (1 season, complete)

Also very dark, based on true stories. Takes place at a fancy stable where alot of young horse girls work but get abused sexually by the owner. Frida Argento has a small role in it.

Ondskan (Evil) (1 season, currently airing)

Based on the book by a famous Swedish author. Takes place at a fancy boarding school during the 50s. Also dark and depressing.

Estonia (1 season, complete)

Based on the real Estonia accident. Estonia was a large Swedish/Estonian ship that sunk in a huge accident that killed around 900 people. The story focuses on the aftermath of the accident and mainly the investigation process.

Knutby (1 season, season 2 in the making but they are stand alones)

Knutby is also based on real events that took place in 2024. I dont want to say too much and spoil it but the story takes place in a very religious setting, in a christian church.

Viaplay

Älska mig (2 seasons, complete)

A comedy, with some darkness (but not really). Very funny. Edvin has a role in the second season. I love this series. I highly recommend

Heder (3 seasons, not sure if there will be more)

Heder is about four strong female lawers that work with female victims and has their own law firm. Of course nothing is smooth sailing with them and there is alot of drama. I love the cast of this one.

Thunder in my heart (2 seasons, not sure if there will be more)

A comedy/drama with a mix of comedy and darkness. Not my favourite but critics love it.

Leva life (1 season, I think complete)

I've not seen this but it's about a young woman living her best life when she gets diagnosed with cancer.

[thegremlininyourcloset]

so. I'm writing a fanfic. (series actually) the first chapter isn't out yet. It's a Kouyou-centric canon divergence au

have some songs that fit the major characters of the series.

keep in mind it's an au, so the songs might not fit the characters in canon.

The songs are selected based off vibes, themes and lyrics.

Ozaki Kouyou

King by Florence + The Machine

LABOUR-the cacophony by Paris Paloma

Oh No! by MARINA

Are You Satisfied? by MARINA

Eleanor Rigby by Cody Fry

Numb Little Bug by Em Beihold

Wait for It by Leslie Odom Jr. and the Original Broadway Cast of Hamilton

Everybody Wants To Rule The World by Lorde

Joke's On You by Charlotte Lawrence

Producer Man by Lyn Lapid

Brutus by The Buttress

Girl With One Eye by Florence + The Machine

Shake It Out by Florence + The Machine

Elise

Teacher's Pet by Melanie Martinez

Show & Tell by Melanie Martinez

Control by Halsey

Pure As A Lamb by Baby Bugs

Brave as a Noun by AJJ

idontwannabeyouanymore by Billie Eilish

HUMANS by GEN.KLOUD

Pumped Up Kicks by Foster The People

Just A Girl by No Doubt

Dance To Forget by Tryhardninja and Nina Zeitlin

Losing My Mind by Mystery Skulls

Dollhouse by Melanie Martinez

Yosano Akiko

NYMPHOLOGY by Melanie Martinez

Man's World by MARINA

Show Your Fangs by The Crane Wives

Would've, Could've, Should've by Taylor Swift

All The Things She Said by t.A.T.u.

Dream Girl Evil by Florence + The Machine

Army Dreamers-2018 Remaster by Kate Bush

Eat Your Young by Hozier

I Disagree by Poppy

DEATH OF A PREDATOR by Banshee

the AUDACITY by emlyn

the fruits by Paris Paloma

Yumeno Kyuusaku | Q

Body by Mother Mother

Play Destroy by Poppy and Grimes

Disobedient by Steven Universe and Kate Micucci and Michaela Dietz

Lights Out by Mindless Self Indulgence

Problems by Mother Mother

parents by YUNGBLUD

TRRST by IC3PEAK and ZillaKami

Body Terror Song by AJJ

Exorcism by Creep-P

BLAME IT ON THE KIDS by AViVA

Izumi Kyouka

Free by Mother Mother

I Am Not A Robot by MARINA

Hayloft II by Mother Mother

brutal by Olivia Rodrigo

as good a reason by Paris Paloma

The President Has A Sex Tape by K. Flay

Baby Hotline by Jack Stauber's Micropop

Cool Kids by Echosmith

Nakahara Chuuya

Family Line by Conan Gray

Wrecking Ball by Mother Mother

Brand New City by Mitski

Gasoline by Halsey

Bad At Love by Halsey

To Be Human by MARINA

Cigarette Ahegao by Penelope Scott

Lucy Maud Montgomery

Mad Hatter by Melanie Martinez

all-american bitch by Olivia Rodrigo

Entropy by Awkward Marina

Discord by The Living Tombstone and Eurobeat Bron

pretty little psycho - by Nightcore (the OG Version)

dumb dumb by mazie

all the good girls go to hell by Billie Eilish

Pantsuit Sasquatch by Mollylele

Wonderland by Caravan Palac

Animal by Sir Chloe

Hello Kitty by Jazmin Bean

Edgar Allan Poe

An Unhealthy Obsession by The Blake Robinson Synthetic Orchestra

Rule #21-Momento Mori by Fish in a Birdcage

Soulless Creatures by AURORA

Charlie's Inferno by That Handsome Devil

overwhelmed by Royal & The Serpent

The Consequence Of Imagination Is Fear by Junie & TheHutFriends

Songs for Everyone

The Fine Print by The Stupendium

Rät by Penelope Scott

Ancient Dreams in a Modern Land by MARINA

Bang Bang Bang Bang by Sohodolls

[tkrbthree]

I started playing my first ever TTRPG a year or so ago.

Last week I was kicked off the table because I stormed out after being made to feel unwelcome and stupid and not listened to. It wasn’t cute. It happens.

What I’m most sad about is that my character is just in limbo now. He didn’t get to say goodbye. He won’t be just killed off.

He’s just a shadow.

The host/GM refused to let me send a little goodbye story I wrote, so I’m gonna post it here.

•••••••••••••••••

Tavish opened his eyes and looked around his room in the Otari village. It was very early in the morning. He stayed still for a moment and listened to the breathing of his companions around him. Every now and then Zoro would let out a great snore that made the others stir, but no one moved. It had been an exhausting day as they fought their way deeper into the Gauntlight.

It had been harrowing. The dark corridors; locked door after locked door; not knowing if a being they found was a friend or, more often, a foe. Always going deeper and deeper underground, getting closer and closer to the source, closer and closer to Belcorra’s secret.

He sat up slowly in bed. Those stealth lessons he had been taking from Mitoh had started to pay off. He didn’t think anyone stirred. And if they did, he’d tell them to go back to sleep, that he was just going to the bathroom or some residual terror was coming back from the day.

He didn’t expect the life of a hero or an adventurer to include so much death, so much murder, so much abject destruction. He knew there would be battles, he wasn’t that naive. There were forces of good and creation in the world and there were forces of evil and destruction. He hoped that he had at least been putting some good into the world. But he wasn’t so sure anymore. It was starting to feel more like the influence of Belcorra was taking over the group.

He swung his feet out over the bed and found his boots. These boots had seen so much destruction. So much just murder for murder’s sake. How many times did he cast a spell at something in the dungeons because it was ugly or scary? How many times did he murder someone who just wanted to get home at the end of the day?

He tied up his boots nice and tight and grabbed his pack. He looked around at his companions and he found odd bits and bobs of his. Some of the faces were still strange to him. He had always been friendly but honestly couldn’t remember a conversation with many of them. Did he remember their names? When was the last time he had an actual conversation with Twink? Who even was Argot? Rhymar was the newest to the crew and things hadn’t gone well between them. But there was no time to dwell on that.

Zoro’s quiet but bullish nature was always a comfort. He was a steady rock of the group. Sure he was often distracted by something shiny, but he was always ready to hit back if one of his friends was down.

His favorite little mushroom, Morel, was the heart of this group. Constantly ready to defend and laugh at whatever stupid joke was said.

Bron was the bitchiest, but that worked so well for him. Tavish smiled as they called themselves the Backdoor Queens, always being at the back of a hall because they just did better from that vantage point, reveling in the work and vigor of their companions.

Mitoh was new, but was proving such a worthy ally. Swift and deft, they could move around and surprise you in the best ways … or the worst ways if he was helping you out.

Tavish had reached the door and felt a tiny tug on his pant leg. He readied the dragon claws, afraid that one of the newer companions was actually a spy. He turned around and saw no one there, just the sleeping crew. He looked down and saw that it was Bron’s raccoon familiar. He looked at home with big eyes. Tavish swung his pack around and found a morsel of dried food to give him. The raccoon was grateful and waddled away.

Tavish looked at his companions and pulled his cloak close around his shoulders. He was going to miss them, but they were going to be fine. There were so many of them now. Belcorra should worry.

This is not how he wanted to leave. He thought for sure that he would die, and he nearly had, before he just left, absconded in the middle of the night, but he knew no other way forward.

He closed the door behind him and went out to find a new adventure.

[gremoria411]

I’m currently at Episode 22 of Gundam Iron Blooded Orphans: Urdr Hunt, I’ve got about two episodes left and since it seems to be a two-episode finale kind of deal, I figured I’d take a break and note down some thoughts up till now, then maybe do another post after the finale. Though I haven’t really arranged these, so I’m probably just gonna ramble.

*The following contains spoilers for episodes 1-22 of Gundam Urdr Hunt*

I’m liking a lot of the Mobile Suit Designs, Gundam and Grunt. Plus, it’s nice to see old favourites again, like the Grimgerde and Hyakuren. However, I do feel like some could be better utilised - The Asmodeus is a cool design, and it works as a lancer to the Hajiroboshi, I just feel like it could have been used more.

Similarly, is is odd how a lot of the major threats are lead-from-the-front characters, since obviously they have to function as bosses. I dunno, it’s just strange compared to all the non-action opponents from the original series.

I really enjoyed Range and Katya’s inclusion as characters, since they’re just sitting there providing a good general basis of what the average citizen of Post Disaster knows - Katya knows a lot of insider knowledge of Gjallarhorn for example, which the others remark on regularly. While Range is sceptical of the existence of mobile armours and views the Asmoday as just a particularly strong mobile suit. So they provide different ends of the same spectrum, I suppose.

I like how each of the maids/guides has their own personality, and I like seeing how they interact with each of their charges. But I do wish we saw more of them. Part of its because they feel like they have that potential to shine very well, and it’s also quite a large cast, so not everyone gets an equal share. I also found it interesting that they were all stated to have been “bought”, so they’re all former Human Debris. Unfortunately, Parstai (blue, with Foundling) is the only one it really comes up with, but presumably the others had full and interesting lives beforehand. You get hints of it with Batch and Tagging (the two that go with Cyclase), with Tagging being an excellent mobile suit pilot, and Batch having experience in ship command and a cautious bearing, but we know very little of the others prior lives.

I didn’t expect to vibe with the Zan Brothers as much as I did, that was weird.

Kouzou Mendou’s pretty rad. A genuine Archeologist, hoping to reveal the causes behind the Calamity War, and just generally seems to be a decent fellow. He does admittedly score points because he very clearly understands how dangerous Mobile Armours were/are, and is the first character to really articulate that. I kinda wish he’d told us, the audience, some new information about the Calamity War, but that’s not really a criticism at all.

Cameos from other Ibo Characters - mostly I can take or leave them, but I’d be lying if I didn’t get pumped when Mcgillis (as Montag) showed up in the Grimgerde to fight Londo Bron. I also loved seeing Isurugi going around, being generally competent.

Actually yeah, Londo Bron. For my talk about Cyclase Mayer at the start of this, I found myself really enjoying Londo Bron, surprisingly so even. He’s a good pilot, he has noble intentions, and he feels like a really good example of an Antagonist, but not a villain. He’s only really opposing Wistario because he wants to restore the Issue Family, and Katya is the best way to do that (I might do a proper post on him some other time).

Another character I really like, despite their short screentime would be Major Bradley. He’s essentially the perfect picture of a colonial administration officer - he’s corrupt, he’s unreasonable, he’s pretty solidly classist, and it all just works. He’s not even cartoonishly evil, he’s just the sort of corrupt Gjallarhorn Official that illustrates the failings of the organisation. Obviously he shares a lot of DNA with Coral Conrad, from the original series, but the boredom, the arrogance with which he carries himself just makes him memorable. Plus he just looks obscenely British, furthering the colonial parallels.

I am absolutely loving the fight scenes in this. Yeah, a lot of the fighting is supposed to be for the in-engine graphics, so they could have totally phoned it in. But they didn’t. If only other shows that cut out background, story, plot and characterisation to ostensibly focus on the fights *cough* *cough* Build Divers *cough* could do that.

I do love how absolutely shameless Cyclase is. Just like “Oh boy, how do I get out of this one? I know, Betrayal!” It works into his character and it’s really fun to watch, but it’s just kind of hilarious how he makes at least like five betrayals in the space of the show. Very efficient.

Character Designs’ still top-notch. I don’t really have any specific examples that I haven’t already mentioned but yeah. It’s good.

Ah, I mentioned that I was considering getting the Hajiroboshi kit? The thing is, a lot of the time I can really like a character, and that can end up selling me more on their mobile suit’s model kit. This is the first time that’s ever happened with a mechanic. In brief; I don’t want the Hajiroboshi because it’s the mobile suit Wistario Pilots, I want the Hajiroboshi because it’s the mobile suit Denmer maintained all these years.

I do have two more points - one positive, one negative, but I’m gonna pull those out as separate posts, simply because I want to consider them separate from everything else, and I feel like I’ll want to follow them up separately after the finale.

In a nutshell, I’ve generally liked Iron Blooded Orphans: Urdr Hunt - it gives a good showing of the world of Post Disaster besides what we’ve seen with Tekkadan and Tanto Tempo, and a lot of the side characters are interesting. The only issue is that some characters and mechanics feel somewhat under-utilised.

(Though maybe that’s my own fault for hyping myself up for the Asmodeus).

[fearsmagazine]

MONKEY MAN (Red Band) | Trailer & Poster

Oscar® nominee Dev Patel (Lion, Slumdog Millionaire) achieves an astonishing, tour-de-force feature directing debut with an action thriller about one man’s quest for vengeance against the corrupt leaders who murdered his mother and continue to systemically victimize the poor and powerless.

Inspired by the legend of Hanuman, an icon embodying strength and courage, Monkey Man stars Patel as Kid, an anonymous young man who ekes out a meager living in an underground fight club where, night after night, wearing a gorilla mask, he is beaten bloody by more popular fighters for cash.

After years of suppressed rage, Kid discovers a way to infiltrate the enclave of the city’s sinister elite. As his childhood trauma boils over, his mysteriously scarred hands unleash an explosive campaign of retribution to settle the score with the men who took everything from him.

Packed with thrilling and spectacular fight and chase scenes, Monkey Man is directed by Dev Patel from his original story and his screenplay with Paul Angunawela and John Collee (Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World).

The film’s international cast includes Sharlto Copley (District 9), Sobhita Dhulipala (Made in Heaven), Pitobash (Million Dollar Arm), Vipin Sharma (Hotel Mumbai), Ashwini Kalsekar (Ek Tha Hero), Adithi Kalkunte (Hotel Mumbai), Sikandar Kher (Aarya) and Makarand Deshpande (RRR).

Monkey Man is produced by Dev Patel, Jomon Thomas (Hotel Mumbai, The Man Who Knew Infinity), Oscar® winner Jordan Peele (Nope, Get Out), Win Rosenfeld (Candyman, Hunters series), Ian Cooper (Nope, Us), Basil Iwanyk (John Wick franchise, Sicario films), Erica Lee (John Wick franchise, Silent Night), Christine Haebler (Shut In, Bones of Crows) and Anjay Nagpal (executive producer of Bombshell, Greyhound).

Serving as executive producers are Jonathan Fuhrman, Natalya Pavchinskya, Aaron L. Gilbert, Andria Spring, Alison-Jane Roney and Steven Thibault.

Universal Pictures presents a Bron Studios production, a Thunder Road film, a Monkeypaw production, a Minor Realm/S’Ya Concept production, in association with WME Independent and Creative Wealth Media.

From Universal Pictures, in theaters April 5th, 2024.

[wordsandrobots]

Another episode fansubbed by @trafalgarlog! We're back to Wiz and co for this outing, as Londo Bron closes in, certain heartfelt realisations are arrived at, and Lord Okina's hiring decisions are as plot-relevant as they are ill-advised.

Hajiroboshi  (Part 1, Part 2)

Departure (Part 1, Part 2)

598 (Part 1, Part 2)

Corridor of Betrayal (Part 1, Part 2)

Holder of the Ring (Part 1, Part 2)  

Unexpected Encounter (Part 1, Part 2)

Venus’ Worth (Part 1, Part 2)

Brothers’ Ship (Part 1, Part 2)

Horn and Flower’s Shadow (Part 1, Part 2)

Family Bonds (Part 1, Part 2)

Jumping straight into the action, we find Wistario and Range engaged in battle with a bunch of Gildas. No, it's not the Zan Clan come to make trouble again but rather a mercenary group hired by the Issue Family for the express purpose of tracking Katya down.

Our heroes are able to prevail, of course, however it's rapidly becoming clear that the Issues are pulling out all the stops to get their hands on a potential heir. There's no way to continue the Urdr Hunt under these conditions and the gang is running out of hiding spots. Plus, with their comms most likely being intercepted, they can't even call on their allies for help.

Sinister and Dexter have found another option for lying low: a colony nearby that has been 'undergoing refurbishment' for many decades now. It's basically abandoned and might work as a place to retreat to.

Since they've no way of telling if it really is safe, Range floats an alternative idea: what about taking advantage of the Issues needing Katya? If she was installed as head of the family, they (the Afam gang) could use the power of a Gjallarhorn Seven Star house to get what they want. They could buy Radonitsa without bother with the rest of the Hunt!

Katya point-blank refuses. She'd never take the name of those who abandoned her mother. Her mum only told her about the Issues at all after falling ill -- apparently to protect them as much as Katya. Even after being cast out, she wanted to safeguard the family's name, and even if it's selfish, it seems Katya can't stand the idea of having dealings with people who'd turn their backs on someone so loyal.

Wistario is on her side all the way. They're heading to the abandoned colony and that's final. He even rounds angrily on Range when the older man tries to press the matter. They aren't losing anyone! Wistario decides what happens on this ship and anyone who can't follow orders should get off the bridge!

In a rare (and more effective for it) contradiction of his young charge, Demner tells Wiz he shouldn't talk like that. A captain is not a dictator. Visibly distressed, Wistario agrees he's right, but can't bring himself to change his mind. They are going to keep trying to hide Katya.

Anyway, smash-cut to McGillis ruminating about blood. No, we've not crossed wires with a vampire!AU; he's thinking about how people can be raised in completely different circumstances and yet be fundamentally connected. Out loud, in his office on Glaðsheimr One.

Isurugi -- back to his normal job as 'guy who puts up with this kind of thing on the regular' -- correctly deduces Macky means Katya. Apparently there was something in the girl's eyes that reminded McGillis of Carta, though Isurugi is more concerned with whether it's a good idea to let her roam around free with Wistario.

McGillis states there will be a Seven Stars meeting in two months' time, at which he believes Okina Uroka plans to reveal the new heir to the Issue Family. If they can thwart that, the Fareeds will be able to fold the Issues into their own family and thus gain more power. (Possibly this option is opened up by Iznario being Carta's guardian? It's not made clear how McGillis intends to go about taking over the Issues' remaining assets.)

With this in mind, the situation regarding Wistario and Katya is perfect for wasting Uroka's remaining time.

Ever the voice of the thumpingly obvious, Isurugi posits that Uroka will do everything in his power to get Katya bad. But the General isn't perturbed. He already took steps to ensure Londo Bron's unbending sense of justice will get in the way of that...

Note here -- it's not clear if the meeting referred to here and throughout the episode is *the* meeting we see taking place at the start of Season 2. That could be the intention, I think, given the Urdr Hunt has been eating through the months like nobody's business. We might indeed be nearing the start of PD 325 at this point. But it's not confirmed yet.

Aboard the Issue Family Skipjack-class command ship, the other side of this game of five-dimensional chess is receiving a list of 'potential replacements', including civilians they can call on immediately and those belonging to other organisations. Okina Uroka is short with the officer who brought it in (I think this is the first time we've had a female Gajallarhorn grunt on screen in IBO?): just pick one. They need to have everything ready by the time Katya has been captured.

It's at this point that Londo Bron marches in, in all his statuesque glory. He should be out leading the hunt for Katya, but he's returned on account of an anonymous message informing him that Lord Okina is forming a unit of pirates, mafia and other unsavory types.

And like, number one, real subtle, Macky. But number two, Okina's reaction is basically 'yes and . . . ?'

Bron is incensed. Recruiting criminals would bring shame on the Issues' name! Entirely unmoved, Okina reminds him the Outer Earth Regulatory Joint Fleet was destroyed by Tekkadan. They've lost most of the Issue Family' top officers. Therefore, they need to replenish their strength however they can.

(I find this a bit peculiar if I'm honest: Tekkadan's fight with Carta's fleet was largely restricted to mobile suit combat. None of the Halfbeaks were sunk and even Akihiro putting a few shells through an aircraft carrier didn't appear to lead to any high-ranking fatalities. Surely Carta's elite guard don't account for the entire crop of promising soldiers? Or is it simply a matter of loyalty? Perhaps Tekkadan managed to shank everybody personally loyal to the Issues and the rest have jumped over to McGillis' side already?)

Pride hurt, Bron insists his troops have been training extremely hard to pick up the slack. Is that not enough?

Okina states that once they have Katya, they need to hold a massive ceremony to inaugurate her. It must be glorious, broadcast far and wide. In effect, it would appear this shady unit is intended to make up the numbers, showing the Issues are still strong.

Bron questions moving ahead with such reorganisation without regard for Katya's input as the new family head. A single mistake could lead to the Issues being . . . the sub is 'privatised', which in context I assume refers to what McGillis was talking about earlier? If the Issues screw up, their holdings will be taken over by another family. Okina assumes the good captain he is acting entirely in Katya's interests. But they have to be ready for the meeting in two months. And isn't it Bron's duty to finish tracking the new heir down?

Saying he simply wished to discuss the above points first, Bron strides out. Once he's gone, Okina mutters about being unable to talk to warriors who know nothing of politics. He wonders if Bron means to denounce him and it's clear the man will be an obstacle to the Issue Family's restoration sooner or later.

Welp, time to start looking for a new henchman. Okina consults the list, which features a certain maroon-haired personage we -- and he -- recognise. He never thought he'd see that name here. And he orders his aide to contact this man as soon as possible.

Back on the Erda II, Range asks Demner to confirm Wistario was acting weird earlier. It's clear the pressure is getting to him and he's being overly stubborn about Katya's situation. Even Dexter agrees.

Range is blunt: screw this up and they could all die. Shouldn't an adult be the one in control at this point? Demner insists Wistario isn't just a kid . . . but he must be working through complicated feelings. Range is not impressed with the conclusion that they need to watch and have faith, but is interrupted by Wiz and Korunaru bursting in.

Katya is missing! They've searched all over the ship and can't find her. But Sinister pipes up, saying the young lady told him she was going for some fresh air . . .

Inside the disused colony, we find a landscape of sand and tumble-down buildings. Obviously the refurbishment work stopped at 'clear the ground'. It's rather nicely done, I think, with the structure of the O'Neil cylinder visible through the blue haze of the artificial sky and everything gone a bit Wild West with desertification.

Katya wanders along wrapped in a cloak, until she hears aircraft engines closing in. Hajiroboshi lands before her in a cloud of dust, Korunaru clutched in its hands, and Wistario calls out. He tells Katya she can't go off on her own and she apologises. But is it OK if she stays on the colony?

This is all her fault. If she wasn't with them, they could continue the Hunt without any problems. Korunaru is shocked to think this is why she left the ship. Katya, however, explains that the first time Gjallarhorn came for her, she was at school. She ran away without knowing if she'd see her friends or teachers again. She came to think she'd be running from place to place for the rest of her life. Which is why she was so happy when they said she could stay with them forever. Even Range! It was kind of like family . . . like home.

Korunaru says she's been feeling the same way. Being with everyone feels so warm. Katya agrees. For all that they've not known each other long, it feels like this is where she belongs. But that's exactly why she doesn't want to bother the people she loves with her troubles.

Wistario's brain has gone 'ding' during this conversation and he suddenly gets what he's been feeling all this time. A family! That's what they are! He can't hand her over to the Issues because she's part of his family. He forced himself to believe he had no choice except to be lonely as his old friends left Venus one by one. Only, since the Urdr Hunt began, he's made more and more new friends, and he thinks if he'd thought of his friends on Venus as family, then maybe he wouldn't have lost them. He's not going to give up again!

Which is not necessarily an entirely healthy attitude and certainly Katya is a bit lost. But Wiz says that's fine. He understands and that's because of her.

However, right as they're all about to head back to the ship together, Bron's forces surround everyone, both Hajiroboshi and the Erda II. Once more, the captain says they are here for Katya and asks her to please come with them. Once more, she refuses, in spite of Bron trying to assure her of her importance and even offering to welcome her friends as honoured guests. Katya is furious at being asked to help those who never once helped her or her mother. Even if there are good people among the Issues, she still doesn't want anything to do with them.

Wistario interrupts Bron's continued appeals to say that the Issues aren't the only ones who need Katya so can they just back off already? Bron identifies him by name and thanks him for protecting 'Lady Katya'. However, they cannot leave her with Afam Equipment. The three hundred years of Issue Family history hinges on getting her back. What does Wistario need her for that compares to that?

Katya is Wistario's family. That's it, that's the whole reason.

Losing his temper quite rapidly, Bron insists the Issues are her real family, since the blood of their head is in her veins. Some 'pretend family' is not equal to that. Wistario is equally insistent that it's not pretend, which causes Bron's two brain cells to knock into one another and reach some rather alarming conclusions. Just what exactly does Wistario mean?!

Rolling with it, our protagonist announces he and Katya are going to get married, causing Katya to stare in open-mouthed shock while Korunaru tries very hard to keep from bursting out laughing. Bron's blood-pressure reaches orbit, and back on the ship, everyone on the bridge is equally stunned.

Wistario keeps going, saying Katya will be a member of the Afam family, so the Issues will have to give up. Unfortunately, Korunaru is the only one to twig this as a stalling tactic. Katya continues to be flabbergasted, Dexter worries about her taking it to heart and Range laments over another missed memo. Sinister, meanwhile, has the look of a man already planning place-settings.

Unfortunately, to say Bron takes the news badly would be to understate things drastically. As the gang rallies around Wistario's determination to 'have it all' as Range puts it, the captain loses his rag at the thought of his lady ending up with a commoner. He orders his troops forward, to eliminate the crew of the ship and take Katya by force. Wistario continues to hold firm, refusing to choose between his companions.

And Katya leaps off Hajiroboshi's hand, whips out a knife labelled with the Issue crest and holds it to her throat, demanding that nobody move.

She announces she's going with Bron, thanking Wistario for protecting her to the end. Knowing he cared that much, she could die happy here and now. So it's her turn to protect him and everyone else. Because that's what family does, right?

A little while later, Okina receives the good news. All that's left is for them to leave the area with Katya. He asks his aide if she's gotten word from the candidate? She has, and more besides. Okina is very interested to hear that Cyclase Meyer has abandoned Omden and killed all his subordinates. As usual, the man is unpredictable. Time to put him to work.

And later still, a distraught Wistario and Korunaru watch Londo's Halfbeak sail off. Wistario swears not to give up. They are absolutely going to get Katya back.

So there we have it. A downer ending for this installment, with Katya suffering the fate she has been running from all this time for the sake of her new-found family. But it's not the end and with Lord Okina bringing Cyclase in for reasons-yet-to-be-revealed, things can surely only heat up from here.

I remain on tenterhooks to find out if Okina actually is Carta and Katya's dad or some other relative. I'm not saying it seems out of place for a Gjallarhorn lord to be this cold towards his progeny, but clearly the man is at odds with the likes of Bron, and his overt maneuvering raises the question of where Carta got her fanatical sense of doing things by the book. Hopefully it will all be explained to Katya and therefore us before too long.

Bron himself is evidently trending towards doing what McGillis wants and wrecking everything, especially with his various bouts of loyalty to Katya throughout this episode. However, he might have to be quick about if he doesn't want Cyclase to beat him to the punch. Very, um, bold of Lord Okina to hire someone whose resume is literally 'murdered or attempted to murder everyone he ever worked with and for'. Still, I'm sure the resources of a Seven Stars command ship will come in handy for breaking into the Highly Mysterious Top Secret Zone of Doom.

Over with the protagonists, Korunaru's lack of backstory or character development is really starting to bite. She kind of feels like she's just there to echo what everyone else says, and not in a manner that becomes a character trait in its own right. I sincerely think this would not be the case if the game was fully animated, because I have the impression they're going for someone whose personality is conveyed by what she does, rather than what she says. The bit with her doubled over giggling at the idea of Wistario just proposing to Katya out of the blue works well in contrasting her to the others. But sadly, with so much of this as static game cut-scenes, we lose a bunch of places where we could have more of that.

As a result, I don't feel this declaration of family lands as well as those from IBO proper or even Moon Steel. We're circling back to my general criticism that Wistario is described as being a lot more magnetic than I personally feel he's been portrayed as. Certainly there is a part of me that wants to home in on how self-centric his view of family is, in a way I'm not yet convinced is intentional.

However, as rote as it was, I do appreciate that Katya ended up finally taking control of her situation, to at least a small degree. If she can get Bron on side, and survive whatever havoc Cyclase is bound to unleash, there's even a chance she'll solve the Issue plot entirely on her own, which I'd definitely be here for.

[aspirationalbrand]

eleanor bron when casting calls for the most grating woman on earth

[toast-com]

Olive, Rust and Bronze (3-12-23)

"Oh! I almost forgot," Tamlin motioned to the two trolls chatting with Lucien. One of the trolls was a rust-blood, with horns resembling the antlers of a small deer. The other was a bronze-blood, with cat-like horns. The rust-blood noticed Tamlin's gesturing and made his way over, the bronze-blooded troll following after his companion. "Andras, these are some other friends of mine, Bron and Hart."

Andras turned to the two trolls. The rust-blood stuck his hand out for the olive-blood to shake. "I'm Bron! Nice to meet you!" He grinned, revealing the blunt teeth his caste possessed. He was, like all trolls on the lower end of the hemospectrum, warm to the touch. He elbowed his friend, the bronze-blood. He was slightly shorter than Bron, with a small smile on his face, which contrasted with the rust-blood's wide grin. "This is Hart." The bronze-blood gave Andras' hand a shake. Bron began to excitedly chatter about the time he and Hart had accidentally set fire to something whilst hanging out with Tamlin and Lucien. Andras noticed Hart's grin had widened as Bron recounted the tale.

[gentleoverdrive]

Glass Onion was bad, though. Like yeah, I get it that "lol, let's all point and laugh at the Steve Jobs & Elon Musk's goofy mishmash that is Miles Bron plus the Joe Rogan and Shitty Twitch Streamer™️ #6669's even more ham-fisted patch-job that is Duke Cody, lmao even." and yes, I agree that a bunch of the performances in both released films are fine, but Glass Onion was dull as dirt for long stretches of time. ---- Which is, unfortunately, what happens when you: a) Make Elon Musk a central performer to your thing or write a send-up of Musk as one of your central characters. He's enough of a real-life cartoon as he is. b) It has that whole stink of being steeped in the enshittification of movies due to the many pitfalls that come with the models that streaming services put in place. c) It also doesn't help that a lot of the dialogue for both films has the trappings of the Chuck Wendig, Ernest Cline, Joss Whedon wheelhouse that overstayed its welcome a while ago. d) Probably something else I'm forgetting because I wish to keep this somewhat brief. ---- Anyway, if you want to watch/read the good kind of dumb but fun mystery schlock, please watch/read Moriarty the Patriot instead. It's got pretty boys...

(which is to be expected from either the mangaka that brought us the Psycho-Pass spin-off Inspector Akane Tsunemori or the character designer for the Sengoku Basara anime projects) ---- It's dumb as hell (and I say this in the most complimentary of ways), it has a phenomenal cast in both Japanese and English topped by Soma Saitou/Aaron Dismuke as William James Moriarty & Makoto Furukawa/Theo Devaney as Sherlock Holmes and, underneath the silliness of it all, very competent writing! ---- It also has a good balance when it comes to both episodic and serialized storytelling. Again, cannot recommend Moriarty the Patriot enough if you like your mystery shows/comics fun, you don't mind yet another spin of the Sherlockian canon and don't want to watch Dr. House which, for better or for worse, it's still probably among the better modern takes on the character in the west, just one widely mad that Francis Fukuyama ended up being wrong. ---- Anyway, let's end this dumb write-up on a positive note and give Rian Johnson some flowers: I thought Brick, Brothers Bloom and Looper were all solid films and if you're hankering for more Rian Johnson-helmed goodness, I cannot recommend those enough. Also Daniel Craig's performance as Benoit Blanc, though somewhat shaky (that accent is fucking horrible), is charming enough as is.

I also think that all the "um okay knives out & glass onion were good. Wrap it up now" posts are so funny. You're tripping if you think there's not going to be at least five Benoit Blanc films lol

[biographygen]

Jennifer Lawrence Biography, Net Worth, Early Life, Career, Boyfriend

Jennifer Lawrence Biography, Net Worth, Early Life, Career, Boyfriend explore more details about her early years and relationships. Full NameJennifer Shrader LawrenceNet Worth$160 MillionDate Of Birth15 August 1990Age34 Years GenderFemaleHeight5 feet 9 inches

Jennifer Lawrence Biography

Jennifer Lawrence born into the world on 15 August 1990, age is 33 Years of age starting around 2024. She was brought into the world in brought into the world in Kentucky, Indian Slopes, US. She is an American Nationality. She has done her tutoring from Kammerer center school in Louisville. At the point when she was just nine years of age she made her acting presentation when she was a piece of a play in light of the book called Book of Jonah. Full NameJennifer Shrader LawrenceNicknameThe lady or pickle, Jen & J Law ,NitroPorfessionActress and ModelPhysical Height Eye Colour Hair Colour 5 feet 9 inches Brown Sandy BlondeWeight68 KGDate Of Birth15 August 1990Age34 Years Net Worth$160 MillionNationalityAmericanHometownKentucky, Indian HillsBirthplaceKentucky, Indian Hills, United StatesReligionChristianCurrently Live InNew York City, United StatesSchoolKammerer Middle School, LouisvilleEducational QualificationDropped out of middle school at 14 Famous Role Film X-Men First Class (2011)Zodiac SignLeoFavorite ColorGold, BlueMarital StatusMarriedParents Name: Father Mother Gary Lawrence Karen LawrenceBrother SisterBen Lawrence and Blaine Lawrence Boyfriend’s NameCooke Maroney Nicholas Hoult (Ex) Darin Aronofsky (Ex)

Jennifer Lawrence Net Worth

Jennifer Lawrence otherwise known as Jennifer Shrader Lawrence is an American entertainer and model. Starting around 2024, Jennifer Lawrence's total assets is $160 million. She is perhaps of the most sought-after entertainer in Hollywood. She started her profession in 2006 with a show called Organization Town yet that show won't ever air. She is notable for acting in motion pictures like Craving Games and the X Men series.

Jennifer Lawrence Early Life

Jennifer Lawrence childhood bron into the world in Louisville, Kentucky, on August 15, 1990. The most youthful of three youngsters, Jennifer grew up with two more seasoned siblings who did what most more seasoned siblings do - shifted back and forth between safeguarding her savagely and torturing her. She has portrayed herself as a "peculiar" kid. She experienced difficulty interfacing with her friends and would frequently make up wild stories. She likewise had a propensity for responding to each inquiry she was posed with complete trustworthiness, which didn't necessarily in every case make her the most loved individual in the room.

Jennifer Lawrence Career

Jennifer profession working very quickly visitor featured on Priest and Cold Case and showed up in the pilots for "Organization Town" and "Not Any more highs School Show". Neither of the pilots were gotten, however her work was taken note. She was projected in a repetitive job on "Medium" and afterward joined the cast of "The Bill Engvall Show" as Lauren Pearson, a co-featuring job. She gathered good surveys on "The Bill Engvall Show" and took the jump toward highlight film work in 2008. She showed up in two more modest undertakings, "Nursery Party" and "The Poker House," getting basic awards for both. 2009 saw her showing up in "The Consuming Plain" inverse Charlize Theron.

Jennifer Lawrence Husband

Cooke Maroney

Joyfully ever later Under a year after they got ready for marriage, Lawrence and Maroney fixed their sentiment with a heartfelt wedding function in October 2019. The pair secured the bunch at Belacourt of Newport in Rhode Island before big name visitors including Emma Stone, Adele, Kris Jenner and Cameron Diaz.

Jennifer Lawrence Boyfriend

Nicholas Hoult

Lawrence and The Most loved entertainer began dating in 2010 when they met on set of X-Men: Five star. The previous pair momentarily split in 2013 and later offered their relationship another opportunity in Walk 2014. They eventually threw in the towel on their sentiment in August 2014. Lawrence and Hoult, as well, stay genial exes. We been doing these motion pictures since we were 20 years of age. Darin Aronofsky

Following their relationship of over a year, the pair tapped out in October 2017, however Lawrence kept on complimenting about Aronofsky on many events. I actually love him without question, the Craving Games entertainer spouted during a February 2018 digital recording interview. Notwithstanding, Lawrence likewise uncovered that the chief isn't the main ex she's kept close with. "I'm companions with every one of my exes, in fact.

Also Read:

- Julia Michaels Biography, Net Worth, Early Life, Career, Boyfriend Read the full article

[cavenewstimes]

Drew McIntyre Reveals His Picks for New WWE Faction: Bron Breakker, Oba Femi, and Sheamus

One big thing: Drew McIntyre envisions new Evolution-style faction WWE superstar Drew McIntyre has outlined his vision for a new iteration of the classic Evolution faction, naming three current roster members he’d choose to join him. • McIntyre cast himself in the Triple H role of mentor and leader• He selected NXT stars Bron Breakker and Oba Femi as up-and-coming talents• Longtime friend Sheamus…

[cheeseanonioncrisps]

Mi name is dogge,

Of brons I'm mayde,

Molten, caste

an so displaid.

The hyumanes passe

They think I'm cyute,

They rubbe my nose

Turn golde my snoot.

Via @korvys​ (Twitter)