#but he’s in a cosmopolitan shelter

[terrainofheartfelt]

Beetle Boy: a photo compilation

[steddieas-shegoes]

Putting under a read more because there’s some canon-typical violence and blood mentioned in this one. It’s still soft and cute though!

Eddie does his first tattoo by himself in his bedroom while his mama and Wayne are working night shift. He’s 15 and has no reason for etching a tornado into his thigh.

Except he does.

His mama’s always called him her little tornado. Wayne’s favorite story to tell him is the time he had to take Eddie into the trailer park’s communal underground shelter one week after he moved in because someone swore up and down there was a tornado a mile away. There wasn’t, but they stayed underground for nearly an hour anyway.

No one knows about it for years.

His second one is when he’s 17 and lies about his age in Indy, someone from the queer bar he’d found himself in offered to give him the bats for free and he couldn’t refuse. He probably should have. No one should get tattoos in the back of a truck at one in the morning.

The only one who knows about that is Jeff because he’s the one who had to help him clean it when it got infected.

At least until he’s 18 and his mama offers to take him to get his first one and he’s so bad at lying to her, she figures it out on her own.

She’s not mad. She got her first one done at 16, after all. But she warns him about how dangerous it is and says he needs to be safer.

“It ain’t just unprotected sex that’s causin’ the epidemic, baby.”

So he gets the chest piece done for his birthday, his mama bringing him to a shop with “real artists.”

Days before he plays the song to save the world, and more specifically, the guy he shouldn’t have a crush on, he gets a master of puppets tattoo.

He thinks maybe the fact that half of it gets eaten by bats makes it more badass.

Steve thinks it’s metal.

And then Steve sees all of his tattoos while he’s trying to stop the bleeding from…everywhere. He’s cutting him out of his pants and trying to fashion a tourniquet out of a thick denim that’s so drenched in blood, it’s impossible to see what color it was originally.

He sees the tornado tattoo, somehow still intact, but bloody, as is most of him.

“Hey. Talk to me.” Eddie’s losing consciousness, but he can focus on Steve’s voice. “Tell me about this one.”

“Mama’s tornado.” Eddie smiled to himself. Used up all the energy he had to do it. “Makin’ messes.”

He can hear Steve yelling at someone, something that sounds like “call his mom!” but he can’t be sure. The world turns to black.

When he wakes up, his Mama is sitting next to his hospital bed with a Cosmopolitan magazine in her hands. She’s chewing gum.

He smiles.

“Hey mama.”

“Hey my little tornado. Sure did cause a ruckus this time, didn’t ya?”

He falls asleep to her reading aloud, some article about getting a man to bring you flowers.

The next time he wakes up, there’s a bouquet of flowers by his bed, something that looks like it came from the side of the road, not a shop.

And there’s Steve.

Reading the same magazine.

“You know they suggest guilting your boyfriend or husband into buying you flowers? Was this why you almost died? To make me feel guilty enough to bring flowers?”

Eddie smirked.

“That was my plan all along.”

“It worked. I’ll give you that.”

Steve stayed, even when his mama showed up and gave them both a look that Eddie couldn’t quite distinguish.

He stayed when she left, giving her a hug on her way out the door.

And he stayed when he got to go to their new home, even bringing flowers along to add some color to Eddie’s new room.

[kafkaoftherubble]

Ok so the idea for dear emperor is that in schools (elementary school, not higher education) kids are treated like crap and are taught nationalist propaganda. They're at an era where people are vaguely aware it's propaganda so everyone dislikes the royal family a little. Basically, the school system is just absolute trash because the royal family keeps trying to change it to turn kids into hardcore monarchists.

Ira never attended elementary school because he lived out on a farm. He attended a military school and later a college, but those were both in adulthood so he didn't get the horrible treatment and abuse of elementary school.

Because of this, Ira cannot understand Edith's desire to change the school system either. All he attended was college and he's best friends with Volker, so he doesn't understand how Volker's family could've created such a horrible school system when they seem to be such nice people.

Because Ira missed out on this universal experience of going to school, he's alienated from part of Edith's views and refuses to see it her way because he's too stubborn in his belief that Volker is perfect

Sorry for my tardiness!

Ah, so an elementary school that keeps having to revise the syllabi to prop up the national narratives du jour? And yet everyone knows that it's just propagandist rewrites. It's historical revisionism based entirely on which narrative helps the royal family (instead of new evidence and interpretations uncovered by continuous historical studies and findings; these are two kinds of historical revisionism)!

Very interesting! I can totally imagine that. In fact, I don't have to imagine. Such a thing is happening in (some states in) the U.S., India [1] [2] [3], Japan, and even my own country. China has its own whole thing. And the Philippines has its own thing, and... really, I kinda wonder which country isn't guilty of this, haha. (I suppose the more pressing issue is the severity of it.)

But this makes me wonder about the degree of freedom in Volker's country. How free are the people to criticize the government?

Have they been free before, but are now less free? My anecdotal impression is that losing a right you used to have often generates way more resentment and urgency to act than never possessing that right, to begin with. The latter is usually a lot more slow-burning than the first as social movements.

Are there other countries around Volker's Country by which information, knowledge, and ideas trade? And I do mean free trading of ideas/the freedom of ideas. While social movements can be homebrew for sure, seeds of ideas have to come somewhere, and across history, these ideas are often cosmopolitan in nature. They are not "grown out of one person or a few in a local and never escaping it to other areas." Instead, ideas are traded across regions, cities, and countries, and they altogether build something grander that can then also be spread to other parts of the world—before assimilating and adapting for local needs. I ask, because Brandi specifically touts democracy. Whence did it come? The best and most viable ideas are built by many instead of one, so I kinda wanna know how an idea like democracy comes to thrive in Volker's Country. (Is it via some books? Some manifestos from far-away land? Some salons within the country?)

There are probably other questions that can flesh out this particular aspect. Why I thought about it is this: the target of these nationalist ideas is children first and foremost, right?

When nationalist revisions happen in education, the ones who shout the loudest are the adults who know what's up. Because these adults can read the curricula, compare it to their own realities/experience/history, and realize it's crap. Kids, however, are statistically less predisposed to do so. They are young and less experienced about the world than an adult. They may also be sheltered from reality—not a fault, because children are supposed to be sheltered in some ways for their development anyway (ex: who the fuck thinks it's good to expose children to war or backbreaking labor?). Their own history is also just starting to grow, being young and all.

However, since you mentioned "everyone knows the education system is trying to make kids hardcore nationalists," I assume that "everyone" does indeed include the kids themselves.

And how would these kids know that their education is shit? The most plausible way I can imagine is "because most of the adults around them tell 'em about it." But for most adults to be able to talk about these things would imply a certain degree of freedom of speech. After all, if only a few kids knew that their education is crap—because their parents told them behind closed doors or because they saw some events with their own eyes—then it wouldn't be "everyone," innit?

Hence my question above!

So yea, just some asides I couldn't help but pursue for a bit hahaha. I hope it's useful for your worldbuilding or plot planning somewhat!

-----

Back to Ira and Edith!

Yes! I think the backstory you give makes a ton of causal sense!!!

Of course Edith would think of education reform! She was once its recipient, and therefore easily projects her lived experience under the system to the the kids of today. She knows the stakes of education because she's been through it. That awards her the necessary sensitivity—or at least, it gives her the potential to be sensitive.

I also like how Ira's personal relationship with Volker while studying influences much of his reluctance to "demonize" Volker.

There is a bit more stuff in your lore that can also add to why Ira doesn't want to see Volker as bad! You might have already known that while conceiving Ira's backstory (he's your baby after all! Hahahhaha), but just in case you missed it:

First, the military school. If I had to imagine a place where the most cynical anti-establishment people and the most diehard patriots will be spawned, I'd think a military school too. Patriotism directed either to the ideal of "the motherland" or to the ideal of "the ruler/royal family" is kinda required to be drilled into all soldiers because it will be important for their job.

Second, Ira's transformation from an illiterate kid to a literate soon-to-be governor. I can imagine how someone will see this transformation as a second wind worthy of gratitude. Imagine never knowing you could be good at art until someone gives you the chance, tutors you, supports you... and then finally awards you a position to do this secret talent you never knew existed in you. I imagine that is how Ira could feel, and it's only logical that he would then feel grateful and a sense of "I owe you." And why wouldn't it be directed to Volker?

Coupled that with Ira's own relationship with Volker's nephew: I assume, for now, that the young prince is a lot more noble and open-minded than his uncle despite also being a recipient of the current education system. Ira could then justify that there is no need for extreme/large-scale/sweeping education reform if the same system could produce someone like This Young Prince. "If the system is so bad, then why is This Young Prince coming out of it pretty good? Clearly, the problem is just Volker losing his touch with reality. The fault is a few individuals and not the system."

This will oppose Edith and Brandi's foundational stance, right? "The fault is in the system, beyond just a few individuals."

----

Honestly, I really wanna know how are you gonna resolve this tension between Ira and Edith now! Will either one of them have to be sacrificed for the other person's cause? Will Edith have to remove Ira for her goal? Will Ira have to remove Edith for his goal? Will they cause a civil war? Will there be a compromise?

Such exciting scenarios!!!

What an exciting story you have there,  π!!! GAH

I gleefully await more Dear Emperor lore from you, brutha!!!

KEEP 'EM COMING!

[tallulah-caseys-misadventures]

Peppermint Mocha and Charlotte Brontë

646 words, oneshot, read below cut

It was a cold, foggy day as I made my way to the café on high street, cold enough that I'd pulled my legwarmers out of my suitcase where I'd pre-packed them for school next week. I'd gotten the matching bolero too, though it was more like a pair of arm warmers that were attached across your back, and with my thumbs through the thumb-holes its sleeves peeked out from underneath my jumper. I think it made me look a little more put-together than just having the legwarmers on their own.

The café was doing a special on their festive drinks, probably to try and get rid of leftover stock, so I got myself a peppermint mocha. I settled in to the corner furthest from the door with my drink and my croissant, and cracked open my copy of The Life of Charlotte Brontë. It wasn't the most exciting read, but it was recommended for the course, so I gave it my best shot.

…If this woman's description of the Brontë sisters' hometown is accurate, no wonder they were like that. Maybe Heckmondwhite was cold, and not as cosmopolitan as advertised, but at least it had colour. When it wasn’t foggy, anyway.

The bell above the door chimed and I looked up on instinct as the local goth couple walked in. Aoife, the redhead, runs her father's music store when she wasn't off at college, and I think her girlfriend Roisin works at the animal shelter a town over. I didn't want to be caught staring, so I went back to reading about how sad and grey the landscape surrounding Haworth was.

I didn’t mean to eavesdrop on Aoife and Roisin, it just sort of accidentally happened when I heard them say Liverpool and College in the same sentence. There can’t be that many colleges in Liverpool, can there? Especially if I heard correctly and they’re doing music, you wouldn’t have a performing arts college and then a separate music college in the same city, I think. Not unless it was a really big city. What if they know Alex? Would it be weird if I went up and asked them what college is like as an adult? If I befriend them and he knows them, I can be his cool college friends’ friend from back home instead of just his little sister’s mate.

Okay, Tallulah, it’s time to display some Northern Grit and ask them, very casually, about life as a higher-ed arts student.

“Um, hi, I couldn’t help but hear that you two are doing a music course in Liverpool?” I said, trying not to sound as nervous as I felt. “Yeah, why? Are you thinking of signing up once you’ve done your A-levels?” replied Roisin. “Maybe, but I want to know a little more about what it’s like first,” I said, “I’ve been going to a performing arts school in Yorkshire and we do some classes on music there,” “We can’t speak for the more theatrical courses, but the music course has been really engaging and I’ve learned a lot about how music is produced, not just performed,” said Roisin, “Aoife grew up around music though, so she had a bit of a head start,” “Not as much as you’d think, I can play almost anything you hand me but figuring out the best way to record is a whole different beast,” said Aoife, before launching in to a detailed explanation of how mixing desks worked. I nodded along like I understood, even though the closest I’d gotten to learning about how music was recorded was a quick session with Bob that got derailed by some disaster or other. Maybe I’ll try to learn more next term. I asked Aoife to write down some things for me to look up before I went back to my own table and packed up to leave.

A/N:

I wrote all 600+ words of this last night, which is quite the change of pace from my usual three-sentences-if-I'm-lucky writing habits, so I thought I would post it before I had too many second thoughts. It was an exercise in prompted writing, you can find the journalling game I played for inspiration here - note that you'll need a deck of cards to pull for the prompts, or you can use this generator I just put together for it. I might add more to this at a later date and post it to AO3, but I can't guarantee that so I'm posting what I have now.

[oraclekleo]

Hello! Thank you so much for this game. I choose kpop idol Sunghoon from group Enhypen. I love his photoshoot cover he did for Cosmopolitan!~The mv I like most of him in is the "Pass The Mic" official MV.

The fashion I am most comfortable wearing most of the time is just jeans and good ole t shirt. When I do dress up its 90% the time cowboy boots, flare jeans, and a nice top.

-Maria♑ 21+

Oh and you can choose whichever deck hehe:)

Hello Maria!

I’m happy you want to participate in my little game.

As usual, I attach the cards I pulled, just in case they hold a special meaning meant only for you.

Let’s start with your reading!

At First Sight = The first impression or vibe you would give when meeting chosen celebrity

(10 of Cups, XIII The Death - Tarot in Wonderland, Sacred / Starfish - Wild Mystic Oracle)

You give an impression of a person who leaves nothing unfinished or incomplete to Sunghoon. You like a certain symmetry and order in your life, maybe you like to use organisers for your things, maybe you have an agenda notebook where you keep important meetings noted. You know that when you start something, you should also bring it to an end. It doesn’t have to be the one you planned initially but you find the end. You don’t take life as a playground, it’s a sacred thing for you, you know there will be an end to it at one point in future and you try your best to manage as much as you can. You love life and you really don’t want to waste it. You are likely to have very strong bonds with those you love. Once you successfully implement a person as a piece of your life jigsaw, you are not likely to let them go after the first row. Your approach might be something Sunghoon would truly admire and notice first.

Action! = How would your first date with chosen celebrity most likely look like

(III The Empress, 2 of Wands - Tarot in Wonderland, Rest / Bear - Wild Mystic Oracle)

In your busy schedules, both of you might forget to rest properly. Your dates might therefore become self-care events where you go for couple massages, or spend the date relaxing in a jacuzzi. You might also just stay home, apply sheet masks on your faces and watch a movie or show. You pamper and spoil each other on your dates with Sunghoon. You make sure your physical needs are met, that your muscles relax, your body has the time to rest and rejuvenile properly. Because you know that life will speed up once you part again.

Seduced by the Moonlight = How could you seduce your chosen celebrity

(I The Magician, II The High Priestess - Tarot in Wonderland, Secrets / Raven - Wild Mystic Oracle)

You have two major arcana cards and a Secret card here. You truly know how to completely twist Sunghoon’s head, don’t you. :-) All the cards depict a mirroring and reflection of some sort, while also speaking of secrets. It’s possible and you and Sunghoon would withhold some secrets (as any person always does) and the moment of mutual revelation is the one where Sunghoon falls completely for you. You might find out that you have much more in common than you previously thought. That your lives mirrored to a certain degree in some aspects. This long-term and mostly hidden connection between you that was there even before you met, is what seduces Sunghoon.

Thank you so much for requesting the reading!

I'm always grateful for any feedback.

CLICK AND FEED SHELTER DOGS

Improve your karma by helping others and make your dreams come true!

Thank you for reading!

Hit the Like 💖

Comment! 💬

Reblog! 🔁

Follow for more! 💌

Any Feedback is Welcomed ✅

Consider supporting me on ko-fi 💖

[shallowrambles]

Alt John/Mary and a The Very Real, Very Good conversation in 1x12

John & Mary have a wonderful fight in SPNwin 1x12 Tears of a Clown. It was my favorite one. I'm not even being facetious.

I know there is a crowd lying in wait, like Fate, rooting actively again alt!Mary/John, because we *think* we know who they are. See this post for more of my thoughts on that. But basically, with The Winchesters, the audience divides itself thus:

Team free will - Hope is the whole point. Go, Monster Club!

Team who cares - There's no point. (Nihilism)

Team fun and games - They can enjoy themselves so long as the future stays.

Team Fate - I've decided who John and Mary are; they cannot change or triumph.

However... Regardless of the challenges they face, this fight in Tears of a Clown is an incredibly, incredibly honest one.

Because this is the tough stuff. Because it's not the FATE part of coming together and falling in love that's the interesting part. It's the staying together part, the growing together (or apart) part. The struggling together and choosing part.

//// So, anyway, the episode opens with a literal rearview mirror:

JOHN: All right? Once my mom and Betty find evidence to clear my name, uh... be able to put all this in the rearview. MARY: Rearview? It's like you're pretending nothing ever happened.

That sets up John's struggle, as well as the bones of the fight. I think the coolest part about their fight is that they're both right. It's like an issue of Cosmopolitan. This is not a sign of weakness in a relationship. It's a sign of deepening strength.

These are the fights family is made of. Tell them what you’re expecting and where your needs aren't being met; then, negotiate if they can healthily be met. Talk about the problems that you both are facing and how you can solve them. Constructive criticism once in a while is healthy.

/////

Furthermore, Mary does a huge, incredibly vulnerable thing here. She reveals her doubts.

To reveal your own anxieties is Really Something. To reveal your anxieties about a relationships is The Crucial Step beyond the you-can-never-hurt-me, you-would-never-let-me-down phase of the relationship.

"One of the most marvelous aspects of (the early) stage is not only the idealized way we see our partner but the new, more laudable way we see ourselves. Listening closely comes easily to us, as does giving the ideal response. Our patience seems eternal, our interest in the other boundless. Who knew that we possessed such generosity, such largeness of spirit? How delightful it feels to live with an open heart, bountiful compassion, and unconditional care. In the shelter of our love bubble, it’s easy to think we can float in such pure happiness forever." - Carroll, Linda. Love Cycles (p. 8). New World Library. Kindle Edition.

Mary and John, at this snapshot in time, are moving beyond the specter of the frozen-in-time-idealized-love. This is perfectly illustrated by Harper Sayles in SPN Prime 14x08's Optimism.

SPN Prime 14x08 (Optimism):

HARPER SAYLES: Jack, it's the best kind of love. Without baggage or compromise. And all the other guys, none of them are like Vance. Strong and courageous and..

He never let me down. So what if I had to kill him in the end? Every relationship has its stuff, right? (Oh, Harper...)

SPNwin 1x12 (Tears of a Clown) + alt Mary/John + a relationship moving beyond limerence?

MARY: What if our relationship is the problem? JOHN: Wanna tell me how hunting an evil clown suddenly makes you think we have issues? MARY: Not hunting Limbo. Talking to Clarence about what happened to his brother. JOHN: Mary, that doesn't make any sense. Clarence used the carnival as an escape so his brother wouldn't have to face his problems.

And here it is. The mirror is making Mary think, making her worry, making her see things in a new light. This conflict is the actual stuff souls are made of. ("Souls are messy, all confusion. Conflict." -Asmodeus, SPN Prime 13x07)

Notably, Mary is not doing a one-to-one comparison theorem here: To suggest that these two brothers, Roger and Clarence, "have similar problems to us, ergo they must be romantically entangled," would be a strange conclusion indeed.

She is simply witnessing this incredible challenge to a loving relationship, and it's making her think. Making her examine herself. (I'm generally in agreement that all family and relationship stories are love stories. Yes, I think Save the Cat even gets that right about buddy comedies.)

MARY: Don't you think it's possible that you've been using our relationship in the same way? JOHN: Okay, so our relationship is a circus carnival in this metaphor. MARY: No. It's something happy to distract you from your issues. And it's been working, because ever since we left Lawrence, you've been pretending that we've been on vacation together instead of on the run for Kyle's murder. Either that, or you're flying off the handle because it's like you're totally ignoring reality. JOHN: I'm ignoring reality? You're honestly gonna stand here and act like you're not avoiding your issues, too? OK, what about life after Hunting or us? MARY: Well, I applied to college, and I got in. JOHN: Great. And then what have you done since? Have you accepted the offer? Have you enrolled for any classes? Have you taken a second to think about how any of this works if I'm still Hunting? MARY: Sorry I'm too busy trying to save the world. JOHN: There it is, Mary, the eternal excuse. I mean, admit it... the second your future got real, you did what you always do. You buried your head in the Hunting sand so you wouldn't have to think about college or our relationship. MARY: You know what? Think what you want. I don't have time for this. JOHN: And there you go, proving my point.

Right after this, Mary stumbles onto a clue to Limbo, because Mary is quite literally running from making difficult decisions. (BUT she's voicing her grievances, which is a great first step.)

They fact that they vent their frustrations to each other shows vulnerability, trust, and growing strength.

The disillusionment stage can be completely healthy and a necessary component of an evolving partnership:

"It takes most of us a long time to look candidly at ourselves, partly because we become so obsessed with the faults of our partner and the generally distressed state of our relationship. Back in the first stage (how long ago that now seems!) we exaggerated the depth and breadth of the best qualities of our partner. Now, in the third stage, we flip-flop between attachment and disillusionment. How unremittingly annoying he is! How outrageously self-centered she is! Both extremes of viewpoint — my partner is fabulous in all ways and my partner is worthless — are gross distortions. Our challenge is to understand our seesawing hearts, and then to act from a more balanced place. That’s the goal. Until we reach it, though, we may endure some trying times. - Carroll, Linda. Love Cycles (p. 59). New World Library. Kindle Edition.

So, in her vulnerable state, Mary gets trapped. SPNwin 1x12:

MARY: We can be together where there aren't any problems. And we never have to fight again, about my future or your anger. We can be happy in Limbo's tent forever. JOHN: But none of it would be real...Mary. There's a world out there we have to save. MARY: Limbo can protect us from all of that here. All you have to do is look in the mirror behind me. JOHN: No. We're leaving. Come on.

(Because it's not The Dream. It's A Dream.)

Interestingly, John makes the right choice here. He resolves not to look in the rearview mirror. He makes the choice to leave...and the villain intervenes, like it's chiding, "You're not allowed to heal, John. I won't allow you to heal."

And because Mary refuses to leave stasis, she's invertedly dragged John into stasis with her. Because although she is not responsible for John's happiness, they affect each other's happiness. John is waiting for her.

CLOWN: A bit of misdirection. I'm sorry to have to trick you, John. Now, put a smile on that face.

///

And so, they emerge, with new perspectives, but it's not a magic fix:

LATA: Do the two of you remember it, when you were clowns? MARY: Yeah, all of it. LATA: How terrifying. MARY: Actually, it was kind of nice. /// JOHN: So, do you really mean that? MARY: Didn't it feel good to you, not having to worry about our problems for a second, not to have to worry about us? JOHN: Maybe. But it also made me realize that you were right. I have been ignoring things because it's easier than facing the truth. I'm sorry for that. I am also sorry for being so angry with you. MARY: I guess I got kind of angry myself, you calling me a hypocrite and all. But you were right too. Thinking about the future is scary. JOHN: So, we good?

Maybe they're not "good," but they're trying to be. And that's the part that's real.

So, there we have it. Mirrors are ruminations, meditations, wishes, reflections. They are not Truth with a capital T, so much as they are questions. You can get trapped in them if you're not careful.

SPN Prime 1x05:

Sam: Right. I mean there’s a lot of folklore about mirrors-that they reveal all your lies, all your secrets, that they’re a true reflection of your soul, which is why it’s bad luck to break them. Dean: Right, right. So maybe if you’ve got a secret, I mean like a really nasty one where someone died, then Mary sees it, and punishes you for it.

But Sam is WRONG. Mirrors are NOT necessarily true. They can be misdirection. They can even trick you into seeing the worst outcome, the worst self.

But ultimately, you make your own Fate. You can reject the falsity you see and break that fucking mirror to smithereens. (You see, you gotta know yourself pretty deeply and courageously in order to determine if the mirror's got any truth to it.)

[shallowstories]

Sticky + navigation for @shallowstories

Requests: Yes, I'll do 100 to 300-word snippets or loglines, or prompt you what to write next if you ask.

Credit policy: You 100% can take any idea and run with it. Rewrite my fic ideas, my snippets, stories, polls -> whatever you feel like; NO CREDIT is necessary.

What I like / write: I'm pro-Dean and Cas, I love Mary, I adore Jack, and my personality is a glorious merge of Sam, Donatello, and Metatron (thoughts and prayers appreciated).

Ao3: shallowseeker

Other blogs: main @shallowseeker / images @shallowimages / venting and not-as-nice things @shallowrambles /

Tagging system:

Relationships with &

Romantic relationships with a /

Some tags I have here: #dean/cas, #dean & rowena, #fic ideas

///

Specific stories:

==TIMEY WIMEY STUFF==

Feelings of excitement and infatuation (Ao3) - old Tumblr remnants here - Jack-centric, religious horror, Dean/Castiel, Jack & Sam & Dean & Cas & Mary, light Jack/Harper(?) - After the events of Byzantium (14x08), Jack seeks out Harper Sayles (14x06) to gather intel about necromancy and divination to find a way to save the angel Castiel from his fatal deal with The Empty. Unfortunately, the extended Sayles family is a giant nexus of power, and Jack finds himself lured into a plot to harness the power of The Empty to rip into the very fabric of the future.

==HIGH BIBLICAL FANTASY==

For your crimes against the most high (Ao3) - Dean/Castiel, Chuck's sexual fixations, Adam & Michael (with some implications), Jack & Lucifer & Michael, Jack & Sam & Dean - Chuck ramps up his existential torture by taunting Dean about Castiel's role in the story, and Sam realizes that Chuck’s focus on familial sacrifice is more than an obsession—it’s where he gets his power. (The one where Chuck insists Cas was just a self-insert. Team Free Will resists.) Warnings: desecration of religion, iconoclasm, Judeo-Christian polytheism, temporary character deaths, graphic sex, detailed violence

==GRIEVING & OTHER COMPLEX FAMILY TOPICS==

The body of real things, events, and facts (Ao3) - Grieving fic, Dean/Castiel, Sam & Cas, Dean & Sam - In an attempt to tackle his own grief over losing Castiel, Sam rifles through the bunker footage to witness Cas’s last moments. The footage leaves him with more questions than answers. (The one where Dean's memory and the actual footage...don't match.) Warnings: Post-finale continuation, temporary character deaths, alcohol, and Chuck is a dick

Something alien and terrible (Ao3) - Grieving fic, Dean/(Castiel), Dean & Donna - Dean has a panic attack at Donna’s while watching a midnight movie. Warnings: Major character death (Cas), grieving, media triggers (The Last of the Mohicans), suicide in media (The Last of the Mohicans)

It's a free bunker (Ao3) - Sam POV - Dean/Castiel - Drabble snapshots from the Bunker from Season 9 onward, exploring the meaning of home & family. Warnings: Wally

I'm just not a Cosmopolitan gal (Ao3) - Dean/Castiel, Dean & Mary & Jack - After the brutal slaughter of the Apocalypse World hunters, Dean's doing everything he can to maintain a sense of normalcy around the bunker. Mary shows up to help. There's grocery shopping, mother-son passive-aggressiveness, and a pansy-ass Cosmopolitan magazine that Dean definitely isn't going to take relationship advice from.

==FLUFFY TFW==

Rain falling on a tent (Ao3) - Family fluff, Dean/Castiel, Jack & Sam & Dean & Cas - After a hunt, Team Free Will 2.0 takes shelter in a (temporarily) abandoned campsite.

One good dance move (Ao3) - Family fluff, Dean/Castiel, strong!Cas, light AU Bobby/Mary - Post-Apocalypse World rescue, on a rare quiet evening, Jack and Dean try out some moves from Dirty Dancing and Grease.

At the edge of routine (Ao3) - Family fluff, Dean/Castiel - Team Free Will 2.0 fall into grocery squabbling routines, and Cas starts bringing home gifts every time he gets home from a case.

==INDULGENT DEAN/CAS==

Danger: Escalating fantasy (Ao3) - Indulgent fluff, slightly bittersweet, Dean/Castiel - Giddy about the possibility of retirement, Dean decides to sneak out for a three-hour road trip to his favorite parts of Lawrence. When Cas comes along for the ride, they go embarrassingly overboard shopping for beach supplies.

==HOLIDAY==

The twelve days' game (Ao3) - Christmas-centric, bittersweet fluff, Dean/Castiel, Jack & Sam & Dean & Cas - On the first day of December, Dean finds a postcard of a partridge in friggin’ pear tree taped to the screen of his laptop. There’s no note—no writing. It’s just there. Warnings: Mentions of Michael possession trauma, attempted smiting, and a guest appearance by Arthur Ketch

///

Tumblr things (working on this!):

==DRABBLES / half-baked ideas==

#drabbles

#brainstorming

#half baked ideas

==PROMPTS & LOGLINES / dislogue, scenarios, voice ideas, themes, etc

#unbaked ideas

#fic ideas

#dialogue ideas

#theme ideas

[roachlifescapes]

RBD Shelters is now Roach Lifescapes -Transforming land into people-centric lifespaces

Introduction

In the ever-evolving world of architecture and real estate, companies strive to stay relevant and meet the changing needs of their customers. One such company that has recently undergone a major transformation is RBD Shelters, a leading boutique realty brand in India. With a history spanning several decades, RBD Shelters has always been synonymous with quality and luxury in the Bangalore real estate market. However, in a bold move to better align with their vision for the future, the company has rebranded itself as Roach Lifescapes. This blog explores the reasons behind this rebranding initiative, the architectural philosophy that drove RBD Shelters’ success, and the exciting future that lies ahead for Roach Lifescapes as a Land Developers Bangalore

Overview of RBD Shelters’ Legacy in Architecture

The Roach family as Real Estate Builder In Bangalore has seen Bangalore city evolve and left an indelible mark on the real estate map of Bengaluru. As the city grew from being a small cosmopolitan hub into the burgeoning metropolis that it is today, Roach Lifescapes has contributed to its growth story in the last two and half decades – by bringing people, communities and businesses closer than ever.

Founded in the early 1994s, RBD Shelters quickly established itself as a pioneer in the Bangalore real estate market. With a strong focus on innovation and quality, RBD Shelters developed a reputation for creating luxurious residential, commercial, and hospitality spaces that exceeded expectations.

Design Philosophy: Thoughtful designs with a People-Centric Approach

At the heart of all ventures by Roach is a thoughtful design. Whether it’s private apartments, Private Residences, commercial office spaces or hospitality properties, their aesthetic spaces are designed keeping the needs of people in mind, are functionally adept and crafted around sustainable practices that bring consumers true value for their money and the right return for their investment.

From the early days, the company set out to create spaces that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also functional and sustainable. Their signature design elements, such as the use of natural light, open spaces, and incorporating greenery into their designs, have become synonymous with Roach. These principles have guided the company’s approach to architecture, enabling them to create spaces that truly resonate with the lifestyle needs of their customers.

The Vision Behind Roach Lifescapes

With a strong foundation in place, the decision to rebrand as Roach Lifescapes was driven by a vision for the future. The company aimed to evolve their design philosophy, ensuring that every project they undertake reflects the changing needs and desires of modern-day customers. Roach Lifescapes sought to transform land into people-centric lifespaces that go beyond just providing shelter or a commercial space but they aimed to create environments that enhance the quality of life, promote well-being, and foster a sense of community. Inspired by a vision to transform land into people-centric life spaces, at the heart of Roach Lifescapes is a passion for creating spaces that are more than just buildings; they are places that build and strengthen communities and businesses.

Austin Roach: The Visionary Behind Roach Lifescapes

Every successful venture has a visionary behind it, and Roach Lifescapes is no exception. Meet Austin Roach, the driving force behind the brand.

Mr. Austin Roach is a real estate veteran, a visionary entrepreneur with over three and half decades of experience in the real estate industry. His first foray into the real estate space was back in the year 1994 and he has since been instrumental in giving the city of Bengaluru some of its finest residential and commercial landmarks. His first venture was United Builders (later renamed as Ferns Builders & Developers) developed residential spaces for 2,500 residents as well as commercial spaces such as Ferns Icon Software Technology Park.

As the real estate space grew and Bengaluru became a global metropolis, Mr. Austin Roach turned an independent developer with RBD Shelters with the objective of bringing “real” into the real estate space. Mr. Roach was a catalyst in the creation and development of Greater Bangalore.

Today, as the visionary of Roach Lifescapes, Mr. Austin Roach is ably backed by the Roach family to deliver lifestyle experiences with their personalized signature Roach touch.

“Our goal at Roach Lifescapes is simple: to create spaces that inspire, connect, and empower people to live their best lives.” – Austin Roach.

The Rebranding of RBD Shelters

In every project, the Roach touch is seen in their design and hospitality. The company embraces the Roach family values of being hospitable, caring, welcoming, warm, uncompromising and being involved.

In order to capture the essence, it was only fitting that the brand embraced the family name into their identity to truly reflect who they are today and the values they live by. And so began the transformation from RBD Shelters to Roach Lifescapes.

The rebranding process was a carefully thought-out and collaborative effort, involving a team of strategic brand design and marketing experts at Origami Creative. Roach Lifescapes recognized the need to stay relevant in a dynamic market and appeal to a new generation of property owners. They worked closely with experts at Origami Creative to develop a brand identity that reflects their vision and values. From change of name to brand identity design to the visual elements used in their marketing materials and experience touch points, every aspect of the rebranding process was meticulously crafted to mirror the brand ethos.RBD to Roach Lifescapes – Brand New Identity

[skyeheron]

Subcultures in Bournemouth

Looking for further design inspiration I wanted to look into subcultures within the youth of Bournemouth. Initially I looked at the surfing culture as the pier is one of the best spots here to surf at and is a key part of Bournemouth.

Bournemouth pier has long been a well-known surf spot, "first being surfed early in the 60’s by quite a few ‘radical dudes,’ the whole of the Dorset coast was then explored for new waves (which there were plenty of)."

Whilst many non-locals may not see Bournemouth as a surf spot, the pier offers sheltered along with a consistent break, attracting many local surfers.

Looking at how visual communication has been influenced by surf culture is a good starting point for how I can draw inspiration from this and put it into my own work.

A good point of inspiration is surfer David Carson. "He is the world’s most imitated graphic designer, at least among magazines that do “hip” and “edge” and who like to break every typographic rule there is while straight-jacketing themselves to another set of strictures".

Taking inspiration from surf and the ocean being wild and unexpected "six years ago, Carson designed, at BeachGrit‘s behest, 151 new logos for the WSL.

The existing logo, he said, “has no soul. The logo just doesn’t represent the sport very well. It’s pedestrian, unoriginal, forgettable,  safe, gentrified and corporate. All things surfing is NOT, at least to me.”

His creative style is clear in his designs and reflects his views on surfing culture and is something that could provide inspiration for my own designs and the way Bournemouth should be viewed.

Another notable subculture within Bournemouth is the "healthy growing skate scene with multiple cliques made of older OG's and a load of young rippers that can usually be found in any of the relatively okay skateparks surrounding our small seaside town".

"In the early days of skateboarding, skateboarders had to be resourceful and creative. They used DIY techniques to create their own custom boards and designs, which often involved repurposing old skateboards or other materials. This DIY ethos also extended to skateboard graphics, which were often hand-drawn or spray-painted onto the bottom of the boards. These early skateboard graphics were heavily influenced by surf culture, featuring waves, palm trees, and other beach motifs.

As skateboarding gained popularity in the 70s and 80s, it began to influence art movements like punk, street art, and graffiti. Skateboarders and artists began to collaborate, with skateboard companies commissioning artists to create graphics for their boards. The skateboarding industry also began to attract artists who were drawn to its rebellious spirit and DIY aesthetic. Skateboard graphics became more sophisticated, featuring intricate designs and bold colors that reflected the energy and attitude of skateboarding culture."

"One of the most influential skateboard artists of this era was Jim Phillips, who designed graphics for Santa Cruz Skateboards. Phillips' bold and colorful designs featured skeletons, monsters, and other irreverent imagery that became synonymous with the skateboarding subculture. Other prominent skateboard artists of this era included Vernon Courtlandt Johnson, who designed graphics for Powell-Peralta Skateboards, and Pushead, who worked with Zorlac Skateboards."

[scentedchildnacho]

Uhm I guess the situation with the white truck that ran a red light and almost hit me....had to be left to cosmopolitan renewal justice.....to them the population doesn't have the extremist capabilities a German would have to be able to take on the housing wars....so they didn't mean it to me they are just drunk drivers and they were told we were all put in shelters and clinics to be put down peaceably and they could live the espionage without guilt

They just didn't know the road wouldn't be clear for their liquor is water life

Anyway they tried to go at me again at grand and mission but this time population was present to make them feel their driving habits are incorrect wrong and annoying....

So he tried to go at me on the sidewalk and was almost hit in the passenger side door by a black vehicle that honked at him that he was horizontal in the exit lane....

Then different cars tried to make left turns without lights and traffick showed it if it has autonomic problems they do and kept on schedule to almost smashing into its passenger side....so my karma is still correct if you scare me that way people will scare you that way...

[aaraikeoldagehome]

Old Age Home in Bangalore

Bangalore, also known as Bengaluru, is the capital city of Karnataka and one of the most populous and cosmopolitan cities in India. It is known for its IT industry, pleasant climate, and vibrant culture. It is also home to many senior citizens who have retired from their professional and personal lives and are looking for a comfortable and dignified place to spend their golden years.

Paid old age home in Bangalore that cater to the needs and preferences of the elderly. Some of them are run by charitable organizations, while others are paid facilities that offer various amenities and services. Depending on the budget, lifestyle, and health condition of the senior citizen, there are different options to choose from.

To Visit Our Old Age Home Feel free to contact - 098867 89314

In this article, we will review some of the Best old age homes in Bangalore based on the following criteria:

Facilities and amenities: The old age home should provide a safe, hygienic, and comfortable living environment for the residents. It should also have recreational and social activities, medical facilities, and 24-hour security.

Services and care levels: The old age home should offer assistance with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and medication management. It should also provide specialized care for those who have chronic or terminal illnesses, dementia, or Alzheimer’s.

To Visit Our Old Age Home Feel free to contact - 098867 89314

Location and accessibility: The old age home should be located in a convenient and pleasant area, close to services and medical facilities. It should also be easily accessible by public or private transport.

Staff and resident ratio: The old age home should have a sufficient number of qualified and compassionate staff who can provide timely and personalized care to the residents. It should also have a friendly and supportive community of fellow residents.

To Visit Our Old Age Home Feel free to contact - 098867 89314

Additional services and customization: The old age home should offer additional services and customization options to suit the individual needs and preferences of the residents. These may include on-site doctors, physiotherapy sessions, specialized diets, and cultural or religious practices.

Aaraike Old Age Home: This is a well-organized retirement home in Bengaluru. It is owned by Mallikarjun Ambigar was engaged in service from a very young age. Having watched his father strive to provide less fortunate souls with the basic comforts of food and shelter for around 25 years of his life, he learned what it means to spend one’s life engaged in doing good without expecting anything in return.

To Visit Our Old Age Home Feel free to contact - 098867 89314

Upon reflecting on ways to carry on his father’s legacy in a sustainable way, he landed upon the idea of running a home for the elderly—a place where they would never want for anything. A place they could truly call a home away from home. And so Aaraike Old Age Home was born. To this day a fundamental service-mindedness governs every project that Mallikarjun Ambigar undertakes.

It is located in a serene and green area. It has spacious and airy rooms with attached bathrooms, balconies, and wardrobes. It also has a common dining hall, kitchen, living room, and garden. It provides 24-hour care, security, and medical assistance. It also organizes yoga, meditation, music, games, and outings for the residents. It serves nutritious and tasty vegetarian food, prepared by trained cooks.

To Visit Our Old Age Home Feel free to contact - 098867 89314

[apalestar]

Trust was not something he gave out freely. But what choice did he have in this situation? A tadpole in his head and a death sentence that came along with it. That was if his master didn’t find him first. Frankly, his experience in survival was limited to the walls of a large, cosmopolitan city. Not the back woods countryside they found themselves in. No, his best chances were with Alucard. Loathe as he was to admit it. Trusting others always came at a price. He wondered what this one would be.

Being in the presence of another true vampire hadn’t filled him with a great amount of thrill either. But how could the infamous sire of many be worse than godsdamn Cazador. “Weakened, but you and I both have no bloody idea on when it will decide to cease being so docile.” Potions or not, it still unnerved him to think about.

Dawn was approaching Astarion felt it. A strict schedule imposed by the nature of what he was. Likely that would stop him before much else including the snow. “Regardless, let’s hope the locals don’t stake either of us on the spot.” Not that many expected a dhampir and vampire to stroll up casually into town during the daylight hours.

The longer they trekked through the pass the longer Astarion had to his own thoughts. Why was Alucard helping him for one thing? What had he to gain out of this arrangement? It vexed him even if he didn’t want to voice the question aloud. Just as the snow started to accumulate on the ground in earnest he felt that unmistakeable tug.

The sun had risen and every instinct he had screamed for him to seek shelter. Even if the rays posed him no danger at the moment. More urgently, he was urged to rest by it. He halted taking a detour off the path where they might be more hidden, safe. “I suppose there will be no harm in camping until this blasted storm has passed.”

He regarded his companion with a tilt of his head. “And how is it you never seem to tire?”

@bloodxstarved

Alucard took his bag back and pouted as he was scolded for wasting time and risking them for some strangers. "I would feel guilty if they died when I could've helped but chose not to out of convenience..." The dhampir was very soft hearted and selfless. He had immense power in his blood and had great knowledge, wisdom beyond his years but growing up so fast his maturity was still catching up.

"You wont turn into a mindflayer any time soon. My potions for parasites is keeping the tadpole weakened for the time." They trekked onward, Alucard staying two steps behind the elf so he could watch his back and had a better vantage to snatch him up if a quick escape was needed. "Cursed I'm sure isn't used in a literal sense, probably more like superstition spread because of the terrible events that happened to this town. The goblin said that this place had been infected with mindflayers and something wiped everything out, it's our best place to find out how to kill them."

His skills in alchemy were medicine based for illness and diseases and the book he had on him only had a recipe for a potion meant for intestinal parasites. Nothing strong enough to rid someone of a creature like a mindflayer tadpole and Alucard wasn't going to risk the chance on killing Astarion by experimenting and guessing. "Once we solve this problem it'll be safe to bring you back to the castle. Father would kill you on the spot otherwise, the danger of you changing into a mindflayer and attacking mother is too great." Astarion would be safe at Dracula's castle, they have taken in other vampires and those seeking refuge but the tadpole was more of a danger than it was useful. Alucard knew he couldn't bring him home until the threat within was dealt with. Only then would they wouldn't have to be on the run and could finally plot against Cazador.

"I'm not sure how far up the mountain this Cursed Town of Featherwood is, could be an hour or it could be another day. Let me know when you grow tired and we can make camp." Alucard told the elf as he looked to the cloudy night sky as snow began to softly fall. Even though both of them could withstand sunlight, traveling at night was still prefered and though clouds blocked the sky Alucard could feel dawn was soon approaching.

[kradogsrats]

Lissa comes from Serpentongue, Del Bar’s cosmopolitan trade hub deep in its river valley. A melting pot of cultures where arts and scholarship flourish, seeded by travelers from the surrounding kingdoms and nurtured in the richness of Del Barian tales and honor for the great deeds of the past.

She herself is a historian, chasing stories to find where the shape of poetry nestles around a kernel of truth. Stories are beautiful, and truth is often ugly. She still takes refuge in one from the other.

She knows every fairy tale of lost Elarion by heart.

Relations between the human kingdoms are tentatively warming--but a period of unknown transition is ahead. Katolis will have a new king in a double-fistful of years, sooner if it is unlucky, and few in the surrounding kingdoms know the temperament of the Crown Prince Harrow. King Florian arranges an envoy--a celebration of friendship and cultural exchange with their closest neighbor--to test the balance of Katolis and demonstrate Del Bar’s own stability and strength.

There are the strongest warriors and the finest hunters, ready to compete in tests of might--and also artists, poets, scholars, to show the more refined side of the rough nation.

Lissa jumps at the chance. The royal library in Katolis is the finest in the human world--the oldest surviving city shelters texts beyond anything that can be dreamed of in all of Del Bar. 

She meets the Crown Prince at the royal reception. She can see at a glance that Harrow is a soldier, bred from soldiers--the line that stretches back to the Orphan Queen--but his eyes are thoughtful, and he greets every delegate warmly without regard to station.

His gray-eyed friend is more interesting.

He has the slow grace eventually afforded a man as reward for years trapped as a terminally gawky teenager, slender and tall. Men and women of Del Barian stock run taller still, so Lissa stands nearly a palm’s-breadth above him--but when his eyes catch and hold hers, they show not a trace of intimidation. Her face grows warm, no doubt from the strong, sweet wine and the crowded hall.

Viren, the Crown Prince introduces him.

She has never met a dark mage. Del Bar shares no border with the Breach, and magic is hard to come by. The only mages she knows are preserved in ink and vellum--the ones who raised the first kingdoms on the strength of their spells, and brutally cut each other down with the same.

Viren escorts her on her first trip to the library, introduces her to the librarian and instructs him to grant her all possible assistance. She can tell he is not, himself, well-versed in history and finds herself mildly disappointed. But a mage no doubt has other, more important studies.

The next day, there are dark circles under his eyes, but he questions her about her scholarship with genuine interest, intelligent and sharp as the blade that cuts a quill. He was up all night reading her work, she realizes.

Viren woos her with the library, with his mentor’s private collection of Elarion-era relics, with his own charm and wit and intensity, and with his eyes shining like pools of quicksilver. He worships her ink-stained fingers, the lines that crease around her eyes from too many hours reading by candlelight--loosens her hair from her braid with fingers callused in the same places as her own. Kisses her far too gently at first, but he’s a quick study.

The envoy returns to Del Bar. And Lissa stays.

[blueiscoool]

2,000-Year-Old Mosaics Uncovered In Zeugma Turkey Before Being Lost To Flooding

It wasn’t good policy that saved ancient Zeugma. It was a good story. In 2000, the construction of the massive Birecik Dam on the Euphrates River, less than a mile from the site, began to flood the entire area in southern Turkey. 

Immediately, a ticking time-bomb narrative of the waters, which were rising an average of four inches per day for six months, brought Zeugma and its plight global fame. The water, which soon would engulf the archaeological remains, also brought increasing urgency to salvage efforts and emergency excavations that had already been taking place at the site, located about 500 miles from Istanbul, for almost a year. The media attention Zeugma received attracted generous aid from both private and government sources. Of particular concern was the removal of Zeugma’s mosaics, some of the most extraordinary examples to survive from the ancient world. Soon the world’s top restorers arrived from Italy to rescue them from the floodwaters. The focus on Zeugma also brought great numbers of international tourists—and even more money—a trend that continues today with the opening in September 2011 of the ultramodern $30 million Zeugma Mosaic Museum in the nearby city of Gaziantep.

But Zeugma’s story begins millennia before the dam was constructed. In the third century B.C., Seleucus I Nicator (“the Victor”), one of Alexander the Great’s commanders, established a settlement he called Seleucia, probably a katoikia, or military colony, on the western side of the river. On its eastern bank, he founded another town he called Apamea after his Persian-born wife. The two cities were physically connected by a pontoon bridge, but it is not known whether they were administered by separate municipal governments, and nothing of ancient Apamea, nor the bridge, survives. In 64 B.C., the Romans conquered Seleucia, renaming the town Zeugma, which means “bridge” or “crossing” in ancient Greek. After the collapse of the Seleucid Empire, the Romans added Zeugma to the lands of Antiochus I Theos of Commagene as a reward for his support of General Pompey during the conquest.

Throughout the imperial period, two Roman legions were based at Zeugma, increasing its strategic value and adding to its cosmopolitan culture. Due to the high volume of road traffic and its geographic position, Zeugma became a collection point for road tolls. Political and trade routes converged here and the city was the last stop in the Greco-Roman world before crossing over to the Persian Empire. For hundreds of years Zeugma prospered as a major commercial city as well as a military and religious center, eventually reaching its peak population of about 20,000–30,000 inhabitants. During the imperial period, Zeugma became the empire’s largest, and most strategically and economically important, eastern border city.

However, the good times in Zeugma declined along with the fortunes of the Roman Empire. After the Sassanids from Persia attacked the city in A.D. 253, its luxurious villas were reduced to ruins and used as shelters for animals. The city’s new inhabitants were mainly rural people who employed only simple building materials that did not survive. Zeugma’s grandeur and importance would remain forgotten for more than 1,700 years.

By Matthew Brunwasser.

[araiz-zaria]

Goncharov: Where Is Home (1999) — Review

(a Post-Soviet sequel/spinoff of Martin Scorsese's 1973 Goncharov)

It all started when Oleg Dudakov, just a teenager then, watched a bootleg copy of this mafia flick with his fellow self-proclaimed movie enthusiasts in a secluded screening room at a local art academy in his hometown of Chelyabinsk in the early 80s. Ever since, his head was filled by nothing but obsession with this Scorsese's cult classic, hoping that one day he could also make a movie about Russian mafias getting it on at the other side of the iron curtain.

Or even a sequel of it? Who knows, but one could dream of it all the same…

Which is why right around the fall of the Soviet Union (and the crumbling of the iron curtain in general) Dudakov then decided for once on starting to make the movie he has been wanting to create for all his life. Having seen mixed success in his previous cinematic attempts (critically intriguing yet commercially struggling), he was undeterred, and confident that this time not only that his movie would be critically successful, but also a runaway success at the box office as well.

The movie brings us to the son of the titular Goncharov and his spouse Katya — Vyacheslav Goncharov (Pyotr I. Bagration), who grew up sheltered from the world his parents was deeply involved in. Fostered by his distant relatives and neighbor, first in Tbilisi, then in Naples, Vyacheslav grew up to be a cosmopolitan, if unmoored, young man about the world. After he was fired from his last courier driver job, he got curious about his childhood life while in Tbilisi, and so he decided to arrange a trip there on his own. Finding this out, his foster parents were vehemently against his plan, begging him to cancel it. This only fueled his resolve. Vyacheslav convinced his foster parents that it would only be a brief, usual trip, and while he was currently unemployed he had collected enough money for his trip. His foster parents again insisted he cancel his trip, and all their insistence hinted on a bigger motive than just financial concern for his trip.

"Well, what are you two worried about my own trip? I could take care of myself??"

"Vyasochka, it's not about the money…we promise you, you shouldn't be there anymore… it's no longer safe for you to be there…"

Vyacheslav knew as much, that his parents "worked" a dangerous job, and given that his foster parents occasionally told him stories about them working in Naples in the 70s, he surmised sooner or later that his parents might have been involved with the mafia in one way or another. However he naively assumed that since he had never been involved in such a world so far, he wouldn't be tainted by such a burden. To the dismay of his foster parents, his neighbor (who also came from the same neighborhood back in Tbilisi) offered Vyacheslav a temporary "job" as a messenger between Naples and Tbilisi, which he took in delight. In the end, at the start of his trip, both his neighbor and his foster parents could only warn him to guard his cargo (and himself) with all his life, a warning that Vyacheslav only cheerily heeded on.

His first message delivery went without a hitch, except for the times when some people skulked him out while he was at the seedier part of the city. Not one usually prone to nostalgia, Vyacheslav felt happiness that had escaped him for so long when he wandered around familiar spots in the city, in between his courier business. Back in Naples, he was sipping his coffee peacefully when an unknown man sat right next to him at the espresso bar.

"…you think you are safe kid…"

(Vyacheslav only frowned at him)

"…think again. You don't know what you're going to get from this business…"

"…what are you talking about?"

"Keep your head low and your eyes peeled open from now on, just saying."

"And who the hell are you to just come up to me and say anything…"

"And if they ask you anything about me, just tell them that you already met Antonio!"

"Hey! …what??"

The stranger now left the bar, waved slightly at him and left the place. Vyacheslav only frowned at his direction, before he looked down again at his cup of coffee, paid for it and left. Antonio Marchetti (David Farragut), the strange man, only shook his head gently as he walked along the street, noting that the Goncharov son had (seemingly) taken on his parents' job as well.

Thinking that he had done his temporary "job", Vyacheslav then thought of looking for a new job again in town. This turned out to be a great hassle, as he was harassed by street thugs in every turn. It slowly dawned on him that he was not the same anymore since taking the job, but initially at least he shrugged it off, thinking that he could still get a new (more permanent) job that he wanted.

He almost got a new job before he was trapped in a sudden mafia confrontation at his new job place. Barely making it out unscathed from the shootout, Vyacheslav ran as fast as he could, first to a hiding place, then to his home, as quickly and stealthily as he could manage.

Back at his home he was met by his neighbor's son.

"Who said you're done with your job??"

"Alyosha?? Since when you're here?"

"Since I have to make sure you're alright today!"

His neighbor's son, Alexei Kuragin (Alexei P. Ermolov) reminded Vyacheslav that his messenger job was not quite done yet — he had to await for the next instruction. Vyacheslav was baffled to figure out that he had to shuttle back and forth a few times more (a one time job≠one round trip he just took). He also asked Alexei about all the thugs harassing him during his new job search. Alexei only scolded him and told him not to fool around by searching for a new job. Vyacheslav asked again about the thugs, but Alexei still didn't say anything about it, other than shutting him down and advising him to lay low until he received his new instruction. After Alexei left, Vyacheslav was left on his own in his house, perplexed by the recent happenings in his life.

•

The new instruction came up and once again Vyacheslav headed out to Tbilisi. As he waited, noting the absence of his foster parents, he asked Alexei about their whereabouts. Telling that they needed to travel for a certain ordeal for an extended period. Given that they often did such kind of trips in his childhood, Vyacheslav only nodded at that and went back to his home, thinking nothing more of it.

As he set out for his trip to Tbilisi again he couldn't help but feel a certain fondness towards his childhood town.

Back in Tbilisi, when he was still searching for the person appointed to him, he met up with his childhood sweetheart Katya Kurakova (Ekaterina Skavronskaya). They were both initially happy to met each other again, and they met up for a few times more as Vyacheslav waited for his person. But then, when she found out the kind of person Slava met in Tbilisi, Katya changed her view on him. She told him about this when they met at a bistro.

"Slava, you changed…"

"…what do you mean? I am still the same old me, you know?"

"You mingle with those kind of people…"

"What do you mean?"

"Surely you know what I mean! Don't play dumb…"

"Katya, it's just a temporary job…before you know it I'll be done with it and we'd be free to meet again whenever we-"

"Be serious Slava! You know how dangerous these people could be…"

"Katya I…"

"…and how could I know for sure that you aren't as dangerous as the people you are mingling with now??"

(Vyacheslav only stayed silent at that)

(Katya whispered "Sorry" and left him alone at the table)

Vyacheslav was heartbroken but not long after that meeting he met with the appointed person and finished this part of the messenger job rather smoothly. Trying not to dwell in his heartbroken feeling, after receiving his instruction from the people in Tbilisi he decided to leave as soon as possible, much as lingering in Tbilisi satisfied a certain part of himself longing for the childhood idyll.

In Naples, he now knew for sure that his life had definitely changed for the worse since taking the messenger job. Now he only hoped that his job was truly temporary, and he could leave it completely. His train of thought however was interrupted when he was chased by a few men in a black sedan. He ran away until he got trapped in a narrow alley. He found himself in a shootout again, this time more intense than the previous one. The leader of this group, Giovanni Batista (Joachim Murat), who happened to be there on the chase in person, started shooting at Vyacheslav. The rest of his group followed his lead. Vyacheslav managed to avoid the shots (though a few bullets grazed him…), he even managed to wrestle a gun from one of the thugs and shot back at Giovanni. Believing it to be a fatal shot, Vyacheslav ran away and tried to find a hiding place.

He didn't stay hidden for long — after finding out what happened to her husband, the "lioness of Caserta" Caterina Batista (Caroline Murat) led another party searching for Vyacheslav. They found him shortly, and started raining bullets on the steel door of the storeroom where Vyacheslav hid out. They too tried to break the key, but luckily for Vyacheslav, they didn't manage to do this, and frustratedly they cursed on him before they left.

The following days in Naples were filled by general frustration on just trying to survive daily life, now that Vyacheslav is a messenger for the mafia (albeit unknowingly at first). Sure the pay was better than when he did his old regular job, but now that he had to deal with such type of haranguing in his "job" he could barely wait to finish it and find a new (normal!) job. Other than strictly necessary things like buying grocery, Vyacheslav barely went out of his home.

That was until he finally got another instruction to go to Tbilisi.

On the eve of his third trip to Tbilisi, after he and Alexei had a chat at his home, he heard a knock on the door, and Vyacheslav opened it. Turned out it was his foster parents. They both fell on their knees, held him and wept openly. They were lamenting about how they failed to protect him, how they broke their promise to his parents, and how they had to leave their house for their own safety, perhaps indefinitely. Vyacheslav could only feel faint remorse, as he held both of his foster parents' shoulder back. After a while, he said his parting to his foster parents and Alexei, and left for the airport.

On the way to the airport he crossed paths with Antonio again, who only jovially remarked, "Departing again for Tbilisi, my boy? Pay extra attention there this time!". Vyacheslav only nodded and smiled slightly at that, waving quickly at him before going on his own way.

•

On his third trip to Tbilisi, Vyacheslav felt more optimistic than before, not only from the sheer fondness he felt whenever he was in Tbilisi, but also from the prospect of him finishing his job soon. Once he met his appointed person, he wrapped up his messenger job. He felt like he could jump of joy in his heart.

There was one more instruction for him however.

Not long after his latest contact, he met with a group of Russian mafia in their lair. They deemed him worthy and wanted to take him in as their new member. Yet Vyacheslav refused, and a shootout ensued.

Vyacheslav fought and shot back as fiercely as possible, but with his gun slowly running out of ammo he ran out from the building and out into the snowy field. When he tried to shot back at his enemies again, they shot at him repeatedly.

Vyacheslav laid on a snowy field, bleeding from gunshot wounds. The mafia boss (Mikhail I. Kutuzov) mildly admonished him for refusing to join the mafia.

Review

Throughout the viewing of this movie it is evident that Dudakov's admiration and enthusiasm for the original movie abounds abundantly. True to the genre convention, it is filled with action sequences to the brim. The dialogues among the characters, rather sparse though it might seem when compared to the original, punctuates the whole movie with poignancy. Compared to other movies with the same convention, Goncharov: Where Is Home seems to lack mature undertones, yet this may be excused by some viewers considering the focus on Vyacheslav's coming of age. Regardless, a story of a son of mafiosi parents treading the waters of mafia world for the first time (albeit unknowingly) makes for a compelling movie, especially one within this particular genre and convention.

While abundance of action sequences would satisfy many viewers of this movie, the clunky, disjointed sequences might dampen the enjoyment for other viewers, especially those who are driven to a movie for its story. Nevertheless, the editing on the first two acts of this movie made it still cohesive narratively. The same couldn't be said towards the end of this movie — while it runs longer than its inspiration (ostensibly allowing for more narrative exploration in the movie), it somehow failed to do so, as evidenced by the plodding pace once Vyacheslav reached the mafia lair just outside Tbilisi. The only thing that solved this issue was the fact that it chose to wrap things up after the final shooting scene. It might seem a small matter to some, but to others, considering how the pace goes near the end, one might surmise that it would go on even after that shooting scene (and thankfully it didn't!).

Overall Goncharov: Where Is Home is such a well-crafted movie, excitingly showcasing the intriguing quality said to be found in Oleg Dudakov's movies. It was a worthy homage to its inspiration, if it may be deemed so, and we invite you to go have a watch at it.

[khorneschosen]

Bro says "ideas change over time" but refuses to look at their history.

Fascism started and still is a variant of socialism, even if it's not your specific variant of socialism that totally has never been tried before and will totally work this time.

Also, "it has no political capital" can only be said by someone who literally has no concept of history or even really power.

"we aren't in power currently and dont have an official socialist party in an non parliamentary system therefore we have zero power"

Like bro 🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡 you fr? You may not read alot of history but you could atleast read your own theory before bringing it up.

Also do we count canada and mexico in north America or just the usa? Because you scream "I'm a sheltered American who somehow thinks hes cultured and cosmopolitan because I'll swallow anything"

Reads sign - I am a Liberal and view the world through an Atheistic and Colour Blind Mindset

Looks inside - *Bigotry and Nazi rhetoric*

Bigotry and Nazi rhetoric, I already know you view the principles, ideals, goals, values etc etc of Liberalism as bigotry, but I had no idea you ideologues were so far gone as to mistake Liberalism for National Socialism.

But hey, if you want me to switch sides and join you as a Democrat let's do it;