#but that was never good enough for Jordan and it isn't for the show

[asha-mage]

The thing that's so so brilliant about the Jeaine moment is that it's EXACTLY the kind of shit Jordan pulled all the time. Using a single line to convey truly wild amounts of depth and complexity.

We're expecting something a lot simpler- vengeance and fury and spitting rage. And that would have worked and maybe even created sympathy. Instead her euphoric smile and her little "Oh yes. I can feel it." paint a completely different picture from what we're expecting and begs more questions.

That makes Jeanie something far better than sympathetic.

It makes her interesting.

[slasherscream]

Crazy Ass Girls Gang ft. what type of yandere are they

warnings: yandere behavior - YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED

Tiffany Valentine / clingy, obsessive, manipulative 

You'd better be damn sure you want to be with Tiffany before you ever bring up dating her because there is no escape once you've embarked on the exciting journey of being her romantic partner.

But if we're being honest you never really had a choice. You think you met organically? Became close by fate? No, Tiffany saw you and wanted you and decided to have you.

It was love at first sight on her part.

You'll be friends for a few months as she weaves the inescapable web around you. Best friends, actually. You'll tell her absolutely everything about yourself. Learn everything about her in turn. It's pure bliss to have a friend like Tiffany. Supportive, charming, affectionate.

You can tell she loves you more than anything. Loves you more than anyone else has ever loved you before, and she isn't afraid to show it.

You probably already had a partner when you met Tiffany. She was heartbroken when you first told her. The heartbreak didn't last long. Why cry over spilled milk? She wants to take it slow with you anyways, make sure that this time every aspect of the life you build together will be perfect.

She's come in too heavy before. You can't rush perfection, her mother always told her. For you, the lesson is finally worth learning.

Everything can be a tool. In the right hands. And Tiffany's hands? Why, they're incredibly skilled. She uses your soon-to-be-ex as a diving board for your upcoming relationship with her. Even if you'd been perfectly content with the relationship until you met Tiffany, suddenly everything is awful.

Tiffany points out every mistreatment. Every cancelled date. Every strange tone they used when talking to you. Every shitty, unoriginal gift. Every moment they weren't enthusiastic enough about good news you had to share.

It gets to the point where you can't even look at them half the time. You'll end dates with your partner early just to go spend more time with Tiffany: "What do you think they meant when they said that, Tiff?" / "I think they forgot who they were talking to, sweetheart! They're lucky I wasn't around or I would've cut out their tongue."

Tiffany has you so wrapped around her finger she's not even the one who suggests the break up. She was still going to wait a month or two before she began to truly push.

But when you show up at her doorstep in the middle of the night, holding flowers and her favorite takeout, rambling about how you've been so blind and it's always been Her...

Well, she has to smile as she pulls you in, savoring the last first kiss your lips will ever gift another soul.

She almost forgot how good she is at getting what she wants.

Jordan Li / protective, obsessive, lucid

You're so sweet. It was the first thought Jordan remembers having about you. The beginning of the end. They haven't been able to stop thinking about you since that one fatal moment.

Jordan has plenty of other things to think about. Things that should outclass you in importance easily. Their ranking, Brink's careful mentoring, their grades. They tell themselves that it all still matters more than you but they know they're lying to themselves.

It scares them a little, how much they actually think about you. Not a minute can go by without their thoughts drifting to you.

Did you eat today? / Your next class is in ten minutes, let me walk you, I've got the time. / You were running out of your favorite perfume. Got you a new bottle. / You look upset. Did someone fucking say something to you?

They can't help the way they hover around you during every spare moment they can find.

Jordan knows your schedule by heart to maximize the amount of time you can spend together. It's a balancing act they have to play with their brain for the simplest of tasks: you can spend the rest of the day with Y/N but you have to finish grading these essays first.

They can't function properly when they go too long without you. They swing on their sparring partners too hard. Stare at the clock during lectures instead of listening. They rip textbooks and snap pens by holding them too tight.

Sometimes they have to give up and call you. If they can't go and see you for whatever reason the sound of your voice makes it better. Hearing you talk, the sound of you breathing, laughing. It helps. Calms the buzz beneath Jordan's skin. They dial your contact, glaring into space as they wait for you to pick up. As soon as you do their body relaxes.

They recognize that their behavior isn't normal. Always needing to know where you are, who you're with. Feeling sick when they don't know.

You're like a drug for Jordan. They know you're an addiction, the way you've crawled under their skin. No high on earth compares, and Jordan has fucking compared them all. They pull you into their lap, as close as they can get you and it's never enough. Nothing is ever enough.

"Please don't fucking go anywhere, yeah?" Jordan will mumble into the skin of your neck. Their grip on you is too tight, face twisted at the desperation they feel. It's not pillow talk. They're begging. Genuinely. They'd do anything to keep you this close, always.

"Of course not, Jordie." You coo back. They close their eyes and pretend the words are enough. Nothing ever is.

Nancy Downs / delusional, possessive, obsessive

As soon as Nancy wants you there's no other option for you besides her. You can either choose to go along with it or you can fight it.

Fighting against her is like fighting against the tide, though. You can tread water for awhile. Keep your head afloat, sure. But eventually you'll get tired. Nature wins. Besides, fighting against Nancy becomes unpleasant fast. Being hers is so much nicer. She's gentler that way, kinder.

You're allowed to have friends, she doesn't isolate you completely.

It's just your old friends sucked. They didn't appreciate you. Didn't look out for you. Selfish users just like everyone else. Moths are always drawn to the light, and she'll kill every moth that strays a little too close to you, before it ever gets a chance to singe itself on your warmth. It's a mercy, really. Living a life in the darkness and having one brief moment in the sun is miserable. Nancy should know. It almost drives her crazy when you're not around. If you ever left she'd want to be put out of her misery too.

Her coven, though? They're perfect. Her coven is a family. And you were the last missing piece of it.

Anything about your old life, the life before her, can be viewed as a threat at a moment's notice. Family. Friends. Memories you speak of a little too fondly. Even a hobby could do it. She wants your focus to be her. It's only fair, her only focus is you.

Even when she's not around. Even when you're completely alone you swear you can feel her eyes on you. Her magic drifting against your skin as if she was sitting right beside you.

Nancy's intensity can be scary but she makes anyone else's love seem dull in comparison.

Who else could love you like she does? Who else would die for you? Nancy wouldn't even have to think about it first. All she asks in return is for you to do the same. Live for her. Dedicate every breathe in your lungs to her.

It's not so hard, she'll lead by example.

Jennifer Check / manipulative, possessive, clingy

She couldn't give a shit about anyone else but you. Somehow you managed to sneak your way into her heart and she can't let go of you. Won't let go of you. You're the only thing that's keeping that small, soft, human part of her alive. You dragged that bit of her back from the grave she put it in, actually. So it wouldn't be fair for you to try and leave, after you made her weak again. Human again.

Her world revolves around you. Her priorities are her next meal and you. Of course she gets pissed off if you don't reciprocate her energy. Look at her, how could you ever put anything above her?

Jennifer wants you to be everything to each other, though she won't say it out loud. It shows in her actions.

You belong to her. Every version of yourself that exists in the world should belong to her. The version of you that you are when you're someone's best friend. When you're someone's partner. It's all hers. She won't let anyone else take root in your life in a role that she can fill. She'll do a better job anyways.

The enormity of her ego and the way she clings might seem at odds. She thinks she's a God walking amongst fucking cattle. But she sticks to you like a second skin. A hand always at your waist. Her lips always chasing yours, whining when you don't give in fast enough, when you don't melt like she does. Her grip iron clad when you hold hands. If you pull away too soon from a hug, from a kiss, she bites, she holds on with claws.

She coos at the marks she leaves on your skin and kisses all the scratches and bruises she leaves better. / "I'm sorry baby, you know I hate letting you go."

Carrie White / idolizer, protective, selfless

Not in her wildest dreams did Carrie think anyone could be as kind as you. People are cruel. Their first instinct is to cause hurt before they'll ever reach out a hand to help, to shield, to love.

But you're not like that at all. You're something ripped straight from a fairy-tale. The rare ones that her Mother let her read, that weren't hiding devil worship between their poetic words.

You're so patient with her. So gentle. You treat her like glass. You hold her close, and kiss her soft, and cup her face in your hands that are always so warm.

You say you love her in a breathless way, every time. Like even expressing how much you care makes you dizzy. As if she overwhelms you. She feels dizzy herself as she hangs on your every honeyed word. Clings to you every time you reach out your hands to hold her.

Carrie doesn't know if she believes in God nowadays, but if she did you'd be an angel sent straight from heaven. A gift, maybe, to make up for all the years of torment she endured from everyone she'd ever known.

She'd think you were some kind of God yourself, if you had any sort of abilities like her. But you don't. You walk around doing what's right, being good down to the marrow of your very bones just because it's who you are. You greet the world with your fists raised and you're only human, and it scares Carrie so much.

You're the last decent person alive and you'll throw yourself onto any pyre you see if it means doing what's right. Carrie loves that about you. It terrifies her.

So Carrie throws herself into the ring with you. Your sweet, gentle Carrie who you're always trying to protect. But Carrie doesn't need your protection. She's not the helpless little girl she used to be. She won't let anything hurt either of you, from now on. For the rest of your lives you'll be safe, happy. Together. Carrie would burn the world to ash if it meant not a scratch would befall you.

"You're an angel, Y/N. The most wonderful angel God ever made."

Ginger Fitzgerald / possessive, impulsive, protective,

Sometimes Ginger wishes everyone else in the world would disappear, besides the two of you. They're a hindrance.

She feels insane when she watches you. She feels her claws come out and makes herself bleed as she fights against the instinct to rip out every tongue that speaks to you, and every pair of eyes that's ever looked into yours.

She shivers when you claim her. The only time she enjoys being around other people now is when you're introducing her: "This is Ginger, my girlfriend." "This is Ginger, my partner." "This is Ginger, my best friend." "This is Ginger, my everything."

She loves being yours. Relishes in the way you say the word mine. She wants to lick the words from your mouth, the weight of your total ownership over her sweet and poisonous.

She wonders if you get the same pleasure from belonging to her. She wants you to. She wants to carve her name into your skin with her claws and have you moan at the first sharp sting of the letter G.

It's primal, the way she wants you. Beyond anything humans have words for. She leaves her scent on your skin and wants to growl when you wash it away with artificial soaps and perfumes. She sucks bruises into every inch of you that anyone else could see.

She wants you to do the same. Wants to roll onto her back and expose her neck, and have you bite so hard you draw blood.

Ginger's wanting comes with teeth. What she is demands she sinks her teeth into things, that she draws blood. Even when she loves you. Because she loves you, maybe. She needs to leave a mark on you. She needs to always be there. She needs the same from you.

Needs you to leave scars on her that she can touch when you're not around. Proof that you were there. Proof that you're coming back. You don't carve your name into things and then abandon them. When you own things you keep them.

When you're gone the world goes dim and cold. She couldn't survive in a world without you. She wouldn't even attempt it. What would be the fucking point?

"We're a pair. We belong to each other. Always, yeah?"

[butterflydm]

WoT rewatch thoughts (1x5-1x08)

Still has spoilers through the s3 information that we have so far and book spoilers through a memory of light.

1x05

Both beginning and ending this episode on funeral rituals worked so well. Great structure.

Time skip for traveling! Mark a month off on the calender.

We can really see how Mat has deteriorated in the last month by the way he snaps at the kid who runs into him.

Love the shot of Dragonmount looming behind Tar Valon. They exist always with that reminder of what the Dragon did.

Mat has no appetite. Poor sad wet cat.

The betrayal of there being Two Beds in this inn room, lol. Why are we not respecting the classic fic tropes?

Rand reassuring Mat that he didn't kill that little girl or her family. Rand believing so hard in Mat's goodness maybe partly because he can see that Mat is having a difficult time seeing it in himself.

Even with Nynaeve's coat off, she's still half Green and half Yellow.

Moiraine trying so hard to mentor Nynaeve and she Does Not Want It.

Man, Perrin and Egwene had a much more cheerful journey than either of the other sets. But they get plenty of trauma right now, so they don't need to be jealous.

Once again, the show does such a good job showing us the strength in the Tuatha'an. And this thread will continue into Perrin's storyline in s3, with both Whitecloaks & Tuatha'an. They've done a solid job of tying Perrin to them both.

Loial shows up and immediately calls Rand an Aielman, lol. Poor Rand!

Oh, I see you, Fain!

Oof, people throwing food at Logain and mocking him. Baffled at the people who say the downsides of being a man who can channel weren't shown.

The promise scene between Mat & Rand is so good. Ultimate sad wet cat Mat. I really do love everything about this scene.

I really like our exploration of Stepin's utter and compete grief and emptiness after Kerene's death. How much the other Warders try to help him, how Nynaeve tries to help him but it isn't enough.

Love love what they did with the old rings being melted down (to create new).

Between what happens with the Whitecloaks here and then the Seanchan in s2, Egwene reacting by being as fiercely independent as possible makes all the sense in the world.

The Whitecloaks and Tower novices both wearing all white seems like it might create some emotional dissonance for Egwene, but I understand why the show didn't go there. That's just down to Jordan making too many groups of people wear white.

Oof, the Whitecloak stuff with Egwene & Perrin is hard to watch.

But our first hint of Perrin's golden eyes.

I note how Valda feels about all channelers similarly to how Liandrin feels about male channelers. And then we can get into the Seanchan's dehumanization of channelers as well.

Liandrin trying to bond more with Nynaeve. Has she been having ta'veren dreams? Ishy has had a month to try to figure out at least some of the places where his potential ta'veren have gone.

Our first reunion! It's always such a relief when any of them get to reunite. Man, Mat really does look on the verge of death.

Nynaeve can now join Rand & Mat in the Not Trusting Aes Sedai or Moiraine squad. Oops.

She tells Rand a story about Egwene to reassure him of Egwene's strength, never realizing that it's also the moment when Nynaeve likely channeled for the first time (to heal Egwene).

Perrin shares his deepest shame and secret with Egwene here - that he killed Laila by accident during the battle. So Perrin & Egwene's journey ends up being also very traumatic but the trauma was concentrated into the last day or so of the journey.

And just like was hinted at with the fire, Egwene & Perrin are finding their power at the same time. I wonder if this will happen again with their TAR training in s3? I really hope they run across each other in TAR. Let the characters stay connected!

Liandrin definitely got shot down by Moiraine at some time in the past.

Love the whole "shrine to ward off the Forsaken" thing. Great touch.

Siuan has been off in Caemlyn - was she talking to Elaida about Elayne, or was it about politics?

Moiraine: the White Tower's Woman of Mystery. Everyone wants to know what she's up to!

Alanna got such a glow-up in the show compared to the books. She's great here.

We get another nod to accepted poly relationships (amid the Green Ajah, at least).

Great conversation between Stepin & Lan. And a heartbreaking conclusion to Stepin's little mini-arc of grief and the Warder bond.

1x06

Little baby Siuan! ❤️ ❤️

Our first look at Tear as well.

Such a great way to introduce Siuan, considering they wouldn't have her for more than one episode this season.

And we learn in some places that it's dangerous for a woman to learn to channel - it's not only the Whitecloaks who assume that everyone who can channel is a Darkfriend.

Given that we know now (as of s2) that Moiraine & Siuan are older here than in the books, I wonder if that means her dad has already passed on.

Much like Egwene, Siuan is strongly associated with the water.

(This scene made me tear up too. I've cried three or four times today, I think)

Leane wearing light colors here vs the darker colors she wore in the s3 sneak peek to bash a Darkfriend's head in.

Another scene that gains so much depth on rewatch- knowing about Moiraine & Siuan's relationship & knowing about Liandrin being Black Ajah.

We just saw Stepin choose death in the previous emptiness of losing his bond, now Logain seeks and is refused death while suffering the emptiness of losing his connection to the One Power.

Everyone does still look good here, but the costumes definitely got a glow-up in s2 & again in s3.

The only main player in this scene not playing an elaborate game is Alanna. Siuan and Moiraine are pretending not to be in cahoots, Liandrin is pretending not to be Black Ajah - Liandrin trying to fracture the divides between the Ajahs, and also throwing Moiraine under the bus. A lot of Daes Dae'mar going on.

I also feel obligated to note that around this time frame is the jumping off point of my (now over 500k!) fic series: voice in the back of my head (archiveofourown.org/series/2688649). It is Cauthor-focused (Mat & Rand romance), though it does bring in the canon romances for Rand later on and we have some fun poly relationships going on, and it is currently spoiling through the twelfth book, but each fic in the series says how far that particular fic goes with regards to spoilers. The fic premise is: Liandrin found Rand & co instead of Moiraine finding them, and Rand is motivated enough to instinctively Travel himself, Mat, and Nynaeve to Tear because he wants to escape her.

This fic has been a lot of work and I am pretty proud of it so if you feel at all inclined to read an AU of the series that starts with the idea of "what if we gently slid Mat into Rand's romance situation?" and is a mix of show and book canon... give it a try. If you like it, please let me know your thoughts. <3

Anyway, Moiraine be spying on Rand & co., waiting for Nynaeve & Loial to leave to go talk to Rand & Mat.

Rand's protectiveness over Mat on this scene is really what threw my shipping switches on for them. He pulls a sword on Lan, despite knowing he had no chance against him!

"The world doesn't need a Dragon like me."

But Moiraine has figured out this is something else, not going mad from saidin, and Mat gets healed of the dagger's sickness.

So... was Rand using the One Power to help keep Mat from succumbing to the dagger's pull? Moiraine thinks that Mat shouldn't have been able to resist as long as he did.

We get some Tower politics, and we get the first hints of the Seanchan.

Moiraine is just encountering so much weirdness with these kids. Now there are wolves, she must be thinking to herself. Wolves!

The romance reveal scene! I like this change for several reasons- it's better romance than either gets in the books, it follows naturally from the NS relationship setup, and it adds drama for Moiraine, who did get a bump from mentor figure to being a protagonist.

It also gives the show a chance to show softer and warmer sides to both Moiraine & Siuan. Plus the nice play between duty & love bodes well for other romances.

I love how they reunite and only afterwards does Moiraine let Siuan know about the Dragon. Priorities!

And it makes so much sense that Moiraine has been doubting their prophecies after all this time on the road, while Siuan hasn't been out there with disappointment after disappointment.

This conversation also (unintentionally, given that it was a last-minute change) sets up Moiraine deciding she'd rather have the Reds potentially gentle the Dragon than risk Mat choosing to join the Shadow, because she thinks he's not strong enough to resist.

Ishy deliberately sent Siuan that dream. 😭

Liandrin knows too much. She definitely has been getting Ishy dreams.

Another reunion!

And the convo with Siuan is great. Nynaeve not bowing still cracks me up. Egwene going "wtf, nynaeve can channel? and she's stronger than I am?" with just her face is also hilarious.

Egwene & Nynaeve get a much kinder pep talk from Siuan than poor Rand gets in s2.

Moiraine's exiling is another great, emotional scene. And it also teaches us more about how the Oath Rod works, and sets some reasons in place for the Hall to be wary of Siuan. And sets up some precedents for the future.

And Moiraine trusting and giving more to Siuan than she was asked to give in the Oath - not just exile but obedience. That's gonna hurt a lot when we get to s2.

Even though she literally asked for it, it's obvious how hard it is on Moiraine to see her Sisters turn their backs on her.

But now we do (briefly) get our full Two Rivers reunion, and that is lovely. Hugs all around! Fond teasing! They love each other!

So we know that it wasn't actually the Dark One who was trapped at the Eye, so... it sounds like the knowledge of the location of the Dark One's prison is lost to time. It does make sense that Darkfriends would target that info specifically.

Moiraine not able to tell them that she trusts them, due to her Oaths, is a. so funny and b. makes it mean so much in s2 when she is willing and able to say that she trusts Rand (this is the real reason why it's difficult for me to get on board with The Ruse (TM) theory - because it feels like it would retroactively ruin that 2x07 moment between Moiraine & Rand).

Now that he's pretty sure Mat can't channel and isn't the Dragon, Rand knows deep down who it really is.

But then we lose Barney-Mat at the Waygate and I'm sad!

You can tell this very last scene was shot after the post-covid shutdown, because Maddy (Egwene) lost some roundness in her cheeks during those in-between months and it makes her eyes look a lot bigger.

I adore Donál's Mat but also miss Barney's. The feelings are both very present.

1x07

The Blood Snow! So epic. I love everything about this scene.

I will say, given that we have a stabbed pregnant Tigraine in the side here and it looks like we're getting a flashback to pregnant Morgase in s3, it does feel fairly likely that we will get pregnant Elayne as well, later on in the series. Tigraine gets stabbed the same way that Elayne is described as being stabbed in one of the super-late books (can't remember which, so I'll tag through AMoL) iirc.

Tigraine really did give every ounce of herself to her destiny, and I'm so glad the show version of her got a moment of kindness and compassion at the end.

Moiraine's cynicism about Mat vs Rand's rose-colored glasses about Mat: fight!

Nynaeve doing her job as Wisdom to keep all the kiddos together and make a promise to find Mat later.

"The one thing that we cannot afford is for the Dragon to turn to the Shadow."

Lan trying to cheer Nynaeve up is very sweet.

Egwene wants to sleep near Rand and he lets her this time (contrast to 1x02, when he pushed her away).

I like negging Machin Shin better than the version in the books, I admit it. It's more personal! Just relentlessly dunking on everyone's deepest fears.

Everyone looks so haunted. Poor kiddos.

I don't understand the people who don't understand the big fight. Everyone is so on edge from what they just went through! They are all overly emotional and vulnerable right now. The fight could have been MUCH uglier and still been valid tbh.

Uno! Congrats on your s2 upgrade to Hero of the Horn!

Another confession: I find this Lord Agelmar & Lady Amalisa much more interesting and memorable than the ones in the books. And I was kinda relieved that the show took the whole Five Great Captains thing off the table right away.

I also love their outfits.

Oh, hi, Fain! I suspect we'll get to see more of him in s3.

Min is so much better in the show than the books, omg. Just... on every level. She actually is jaded and world-weary.

"There is a man they must find. A boy, really."

Given that we saw Mat visibly recoil at hearing the Red Ajah mentioned in that s3 clip, I wonder if we're going to see him & Moiraine actually talk about it. I mean, it's in character for both of them to avoid that particular convo, so we will see!

Egwene's little quip at Rand's cooking is cute but I bet contributes to that feeling of Rand's that she doesn't see him as a man but as a boy.

I like how Min's visions were used here. And that she does what Moiraine blackmailed her into but holds back enough to protect what she knows would be the biggest secret (that Rand is the Dragon) because she doesn't feel like it's hers to reveal.

I really love how the shot with the three kids is framed to show the empty chair at the back to emphasis Mat's absence.

Anyway, I like the fight. Characters should be allowed to be messy and argue. Each of them has a perspective and is stubborn about that PoV.

Egwene is right that Moiraine can't lie, but the others are right that she can mislead or withhold.

And I love that the tipping point for the actual fight is Mat & his absence.

And then Nynaeve lobbing a bomb into the conversation as soon as it gets heated enough that she's getting uncomfortable. I mean, they aren't arguing about Mat anymore, at least?

Perrin's super-close "the only woman I've ever loved is my wife" and the hot five seconds that I shipped Perrin & Rand (but then Mat was mentioned in Rand's 1x08 fantasy world and I was right back to Cauthor lol).

I like that Lan had Malkieri friends alive in Fal Dara & I'm pretty stoked about the s3 Melindhra spoilers as well. Very cool to dive more into those relationships than we did in the books. Nynaeve getting an introduction to Lan's people & culture! After he got to know hers in 1x01! Very nice.

Jump-scare Lan does crack me up.

Anyway, good for Nynaeve and Lan for hooking up when they think there's a chance they might die in the morning.

Rand struggles with coming to terms with being the Dragon but Egwene thinks this is all about the big fight earlier. So they are having two different conversations right now.

Hey, in light of this convo- Rand is going to go to, well, Tar Valon anyway. Maybe not the White Tower itself. We'll see if he gets a doorway visit or not.

But this is Rand's big final burst of denial before he goes and talks to Min, confirming to himself that he's the Dragon, as he's tried not to believe that he is. So we've now had two instances of Randgwene sex used to delay or avoid an important conversation.

I am... very curious if the pattern continues in s3. Pretty sure they'll sleep together again, from what we've gotten in the trailers & such, but I am curious about the framing & context.

This montage of Rand accepting the truth about himself gives me chills.

Min's exhaustion here makes her so relatable.

I am so glad Tigraine had someone to hold her hand at the end. That she saw that her son would be taken care of.

"Rainbows and carnivals and three beautiful women." 😍

Elayne only three episodes away (2x02, right?), and Aviendha a little bit after that, but they are on their way! And this is our first hint about them.

1x08

3000 years ago, whoo!

Love their outfits.

Love the choice to have the AoL scenes in the Old Tongue.

LTT is perfect. Genuinely so good.

And the gut punch of seeing how technologically advanced the world used to be. It was a magitek utopia (or at least seemed that way to them).

I do wish that Rafe & co could have brought their original vision of this episode to life, because it is so devastating to go over all the things they lost (a principal actor! Their original Blight location! Their stunt team! Even more that I can't recall at the moment too I bet) but they did so much with what they had. I am so fucking impressed.

"I love him, Perrin." And then she thinks he died to save all of them. Yeah they do need to finish things off properly in the show.

Lan 100% thinks that going after Moiraine right now means his death, hence the sweet but flowery speech to Nynaeve here.

Ishy and Rand come face to face. I wonder who Ishy thought the Dragon was (he says he didn't expect it to be Rand). I love the reveal of Ishy's true face. And trying to touch Rand's face right away lol.

"Stubborn as ever, Lews."

The convo between Moiraine & Rand is interesting (all of them are) but partly because Moiraine doesn't actually say that she believed it was Egwene. I think she hoped it was Egwene but that's not quite the same. And Rand doesn't ever really think it was Egwene either, except maybe at the start, because we know he was worried it was Mat during that month of them journeying together.

Hey, the horrible bully from Moiraine's story! We're gonna meet her in s3. Because that story is about Elaida. She beat a novice with the One Power to force her to channel.

Min is very amusing in the show. I like her a lot. I really like that we get to go on an emotional journey along with Min about the downsides of having her viewings in s2, instead of it all happening before we show up in her life.

Again, really like the relationship between the siblings here - Lord Agelmar & Lady Amalisa. It's sweet.

"Let us hope we will buy the women and men of this world enough time to stand a fighting chance."

Rand recognizes the place where he locked Ishy up years ago. Love that we get to see that moment in s2.

Moiraine talking about the Tower's histories getting destroyed by Darkfriends. Very important note, I feel.

And Ishy springs his win-win trap. There was no actual way for Rand to win here, because he didn't know who he was fighting.

I've mentioned this before but I love that the show split up the battle into philosophical (Rand) vs physical (everyone else) because that's the Last Battle too. Rand's fight is a philosophical one and it always was. The Power is there to get him to where he needs to be to make that choice.

Our mention of Mat in Rand's temptation world, where Egwene is clearly being fondly exasperated but not truly annoyed. So, you know, like how Rand feels about Mat.

Ishy plays with his food, taunting and shielding Moiraine.

Perrin and Loial's friendship being a throughline for all three seasons, getting to know each other here, spending more time together in s2, and Loial going home with him in s3.

Rand struggling against a hollow perfect reality. Major, major foreshadowing for the endgame so I'm glad I already listed amol spoilers.

And Rand also needs to forcibly let go of Egwene and his dream of their life together in order to wake up from his encounter with Ishamael, something that Egwene doesn't get the opportunity to do, because the boyfriend she recently reunited with heroically died in order to save the world (to her understanding). So Rand and Egwene go into s2 (and presumably s3) with very different contexts about where their relationship left off.

You know, in retrospect, it's so appropriate that the Horn was being guarded by one of the Heroes.

Ishy is so smug here because he really does win no matter what. Tbh I feel like waking up Lanfear was his big mistake in s2. Because her agenda is different enough from his that they ended up conflicting, even though they share an LTT obsession.

That being said, even though this is a win-win for Ishy, what Rand learns here can/will help him win the Last Battle. So it works out in the long run.

Rand & Moiraine believe that the Last Battle is won, so she's willing to let him wander off to die in the wilderness if he wants... and then she kicks herself forever when she realizes how wrong she was. Like, it's Moiraine & Siuan's plan that fully releases Ishy. They thought they could do an endrun around the prophecies (which Moiraine has to be fully aware that Rand has not accomplished!).

As Moiraine might say "the arrogance".

Love the setup here at the end by Fain.

"Rand may be the Dragon but all five of you have a part to play."

And Moiraine. "This wasn't the Last Battle. I fear it was the first."

And our great intro to the Seanchan and how wildly different they are to anything we've already seen.

Tomorrow, I'll start rewatching s2 and see how far I get!

[tavolgisvist]

Michael Lindsay-Hogg

about Let It Be and our lads

I showed the final cut to them and we all had dinner afterwards. Then we went down to a discotheque underneath the restaurant. Ringo was jiving 'til two in the morning, Paul said he liked the movie…It was all a very good experience until they broke up, which was only two months after they'd seen the picture ready to go.

And then, of course, there was so much going on to do with the breakup. First it was legal issues, but then legal issues became personal issues. By that point, Let It Be was kind of a little character in the corner saying, "Oh, remember me? Remember me?" They were not interested in it anymore, which they had been up until that point. There was just so much going on. … I didn't want the Beatles to lose their momentum. So when Paul came to me after the concert idea was off and said, “Should we stop filming?” And I said, “Well, no.” I thought, “Well, here's a chance to maybe do the documentary of the Beatles, which nobody has done before." Nobody had ever filmed them rehearsing. I didn't want to lose the chance, or risk the chance of their attention span going on to something else. So I was glad we stayed with them. … The Beatles were psychologically so interesting, having been together for such a long time. When they stopped touring in 1966, I think that had a very big effect on them because the other big bands kept touring. It makes bands more cohesive because they're stuck with each other. They're in a hotel room in Minneapolis and they can't leave the hotel because the crowd outside won't let them. So what are they going to do? They go down to the coffee shop, go get some breakfast and go back to their room. Nowadays they probably play video games, but back then they’d write a song. That's partly what changed for the Beatles, because they stopped touring and then they stopped living so closely and intimately with each other as they had in Liverpool, or performing in the Red Light District in Hamburg. Back then they were in the same hotel room, And then they stopped and they had to start to think, “What is my life?” I was always kind of aware in Let It Be that that's the point I got them at. I'd worked with them in ‘66, but by the time we were doing ‘69 they were asking the question that often people do ask: “What is my life and where am I? “ Even though they were so successful and so talented — they kind of had taken over the world — it still was the same questions: “Who am I, where am I, what am I doing?” … To get them on the roof was hard enough with the eleven cameras and the [camera crew] in the road and the two way mirror [with a camera] in the foyer [to film the police arrival]. But they got up there. And it was not a slam dunk even five minutes before we were supposed to be on the roof. There was still a sense of, “Well, do we want to do this…” I expected them to play the songs, but I didn't expect them to have so much joy in doing the songs. When I saw it the other night again, it's just so sweet. The way they look at each other, the way John looks over at Paul, and Paul and John. You know, they went to school together. They started writing songs when they were 16. And George embraced his part as the lead guitar player. You look at them and you go, “That's good, isn't it?” And that's the thing which is so miraculous about the picture: I didn't do it, they did it. The connection between them is so potent at the end that it almost breaks your heart to see…

(Michael Lindsay-Hogg, May 2024, interview with Jordan Runtagh for People)

Q: There’s the infamous “argument,” between Paul and George, which now looks really tame. А: Well, that’s very interesting you say that, because whenever they saw it, they never mentioned the argument. They never said, ‘Boy, what are people going to think?” Once we turned it into a documentary, Paul said, “If you find there are things that we say to each other that show, ‘This is who we are now, it’s not the way it was a few years ago,’ let’s put them in.’ So that went in. But that’s really what you could look at as an artistic discussion between musicians. It’s the same in the theater, the same kind of things the actors say when they talk about a scene. “Are you really going to say the line that way? You can’t say it like that.’ ‘But if you say it like this, I can’t have my reply the way I want to do it.” And so that’s exactly like that. So for them it was business as usual. Q: Why did it look so shocking to people? А: It was shocking because they still thought of the Beatles as the mop-tops. People still saw them as the Ed Sullivan Beatles, the way they were when they started. People thought they were so cute and adorable. Well, they weren’t cute and adorable. They were four tough kids from Liverpool who’d learned their craft playing in hotel-cum-brothels in Hamburg. I mean, they were tough. They grew up in Liverpool, which was a tough city. It’s like growing up in Detroit or somewhere. Somewhere, that toughness always comes out. But when people went to see Let It Be, the Beatles had just broken up, and so people were watching the movie trying to discover the reasons why they’d broken up, looking for things that weren’t there, because it was such a big issue for a lot of people. Especially in America, because the Beatles represented so much here: President Kennedy in November ’63, all that grief, then the Beatles on Ed Sullivan, February ’64, and all the grief is overcome by joy. Everyone in America thought they were so cute, wearing badges that said “I love Paul” or “I love Ringo.” This is when they were 22, 23, 24 years old. But then they did change. That’s what you see in Let It Be—the boys we have known are becoming men. People hadn’t seen the men yet. They didn’t know the men. And that’s what I think Let It Be does show.

(Michael Lindsay-Hogg, May 2024, interview with Rob Sheffield for Rolling Stones)

"Because the Beatles had been portrayed as the moptops, that they were just f***ing adorable. In real life, they were tough. This just goes back to where they came from. Liverpool is a tough town. I wouldn't particularly want to run into Paul McCartney in a dark alley, if he didn't like me."

(Michael Lindsay-Hogg, May 2024, interview with Brian Hiatt for Rolling Stones)

As the TV concert had been cancelled, Michael felt he needed a new ending. ‘So I said, “Why don’t we do a concert on the roof?” Since then everyone has claimed credit for it*, including the ladies who cooked lunch!’ Before the event, he installed a two-way mirror in the lobby downstairs. ‘I did it in case the police showed up. I knew some people would complain about the noise and as an American who didn’t really have a work permit, I was afraid of being deported,’ he admits. As it turned out, he had bigger problems. In the anteroom underneath the roof, Paul was raring to go. ‘Ringo said, “It’s really cold up there” [he ended up wearing his wife Maureen’s coat while drumming] and George said, “What’s the point?” John hadn’t said anything yet and there was a pause where the whole thing was in the balance,’ says Michael. ‘Finally, John said, “F*** it, let’s do it” and they all walked up the ladder, onto the roof and into history.’

(Michael Lindsay-Hogg, June 2020, Lina Das for The Weekend Magazine)

Q: You’ve said the rough cut had more of John and Yoko but that the other three members “didn’t want to have a lot of the dirty laundry” in there… A: I would not now call it ‘dirty laundry’. I would say that The Beatles didn’t want distraction. <…> Q: There’s one scene where Paul and George are arguing about what George is going to play… A: They never asked for that to be taken out of the movie… I think that, for them, that was a normal exchange between two musical artists who are thinking what’s best for the song. <…> Q: Who do you think was most invested in keeping the band together? A: Paul had the idea that they should maybe do a concert and the others more or less agreed. I mean, he’s a very strong personality. He’s incredibly smart… And I could completely see how that would focus them all. It seemed like a really good idea. So I would say Paul was the one who wanted that and it made a lot of sense. So that’s my answer to that question. Q: When George quit and then came back, he suggested moving to The Beatles’ Apple HQ to finish the album… A: Yes, he said, ‘let’s not worry about performing [the planned concert] and let’s just get out of Twickenham.’

(Michael Lindsay-Hogg, May 2024, interview with Alex Flood for NME)

“There are moments of great sweetness,” he said. “No matter where you put the camera, no matter how you edited it, they loved each other. Anybody who sees ‘Let It Be’ again will find that.” … The film was a victim of bad timing, in his view. By the time of its May 1970 premiere, the Beatles had broken up. Traumatized fans saw it as “a breakup movie: ‘Mom and Dad are getting divorced!’” he said. … He has preserved much of what he went through with the Beatles in diaries, which he has kept since the “Ready Steady Go!” years. … He thumbed through the pages and landed on January 30, the blustery day in London when the Beatles played in public for the last time. As captured by Mr. Lindsay-Hogg and his team, their swan-song performance was the climax of both “Let It Be” and “Get Back.” The diary page was blank, except for one word scribbled in black ballpoint pen. Roof. “The busier you are,” Mr. Lindsay-Hogg said, “the less you write down.”

(Michael Lindsay-Hogg, July 2022, interview with Alex Williams for The New York Times)

*Jan 7th

gif by @sgt-paul

Also Jan 7th Paul's 'colossal' idea about ideal end of their show

@crepesuzette2023, your tag 'Michael Lindsay Hogg would not like to run into him in a dark alley when he was in a bad mood!' reminds me I forgot to publish this :)

[kill4luvina]

"Mami, only me okay?"

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Gangster!Luffy x Plug!Reader

Summary : Luffy is a Loyal costumer and only smokes what you give him and during ya'll smoking sesh you just happen to get a little touchy.

Warning : SMUT, Luffy's hispanic idc, high & tired/sleepy sex, luffy calls reader "mami", not proofread, lazy writing but it kinda ate hear me out.

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꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦

"I'm obsessed with you in a way I can't believe—But I'm not a random guy, I'm different"

Luffy isn't the type of guy to really care where he's getting food as long as it's good, and he use to be like that with his weed too until he met you. Thru a friend of a friend, and ever since then he's been obsessed with you and your products. Always complimenting you whenever he'd come over to get pick up his order, sometimes spending extra time with you smoking & always making you die laughing.

"Hey Y/n" Luffy would smile standing at your door, it was bout 11:30 pm, and you had asked him if he wanted to smoke about 5 minutes ago and just happened to be already on his way. For the first time in the few months you've known luffy he calmly entered your house. "You okay?" You'd ask him and he'd nod his head yes sitting heading up to your room as you just followed behind him.

You'd watch luffy take off his red bape jacket off tossing it on your dresser leaving him in just a black T, sweat pants and his black and red jordan 4's. Now sitting on your bed he'd pull out his vape hitting it a few times pulling out his phone to open tiktok. Rolling your eyes because this nigga just walked up in here like he owned it. You pick of the blunt you had just rolled lighting it as you hit it once passing it to him before laying on your bed also watching tiktok.

The both of you kept the rotation going smootly, a silly thought going through your mind as you start laughing. Luffy, already so far gone starts laughing too. "Mami, I'm hungry.." He'd say after his laugher died down. "aight, lemme doordash something whatchu want?" you'd ask noticing his red braces as he smiled starting to list everything he wanted from the restaurant you deiced to order from. "Nigga you fat as shit.." You looked at the price of 135, and back at him as he pulled his shirt up showing up you a straight 6 pack.

"how tf--" You'd question shocked subconsciously reaching to touch his abs, as your hands slowly roll down until they reach his waistband make you pull away quickly when you realized. You quickly turn away continuing to finish up your order trying to pretend that never happened as luffy's eyes stayed on you. Poor boy got completely hard just from that thinking you were teasing him as he just ended up taking off his shirt. You'd look over noticing as your eyes wandering down the chest admiring the tattoo's he had holding yourself back from trying to feel up on him.

"Mami? touch me again.." He'd say noticing you hesitate to even look, giving you a goofy smile making you feel comfortable as you moved closed to him resting your hand on his chest. You'd bring your face close to his and he quickly kissed you catching you completely off guard. Eye's softening as you allowed yourself to melt into the kiss feeling as if you two were one. As if for a moment both your souls were connected, or maybe it was just the weed hitting you harder then you expected.

Feeling yourself becoming more emotionally venerable wanting to become apart of him, not even feeling close enough as he pulled you into his lap kissing you deeper. "Luffy!" You'd moan randomly feeling his fingers rub against your cunt through your pink skims shorts. "Yes mami?" he'd huff resting his head in the crook of your neck, eye low as if he was about to fall asleep. "Can we fuck?" He'd mumble bluntly as you were also not fully their nodding your head yes.

Not even waiting he was shifting his hips into you dry humping and whimpering into your neck, slowly just enjoying the small moment. For once you felt present in the moment as if there was no future or past and it was only now. Wanting to stay here forever with him, in this position knowing it wasn't just the weed speaking or acting. Luffy would finally slip your shorts off and panties off in on go before laying you down on the bed and eating you out, and god he ate you out I'm talking he gave you the sloppiest head ever and even with braces that you totally forgot existed.

Your head would fall back as your toes curled cumming all over his tongue and face, as he licked it all up bring his head up kissing your neck as you tried to catch your breath. "So pretty.." He'd whisper into your neck leaving hickeys as he position himself taking his sweet time to enter, tears welling up in your eyes as you felt yourself get stretched. "S-So, Big-" You'd moan holding onto him as he kissed your tears away.

Noticing that you were ready he's slowly start moving giving you long deep strokes giving you kisses on the cheek as he whispered sweet nothing in your ear, telling you how pretty you are, and how much he loved you. Making you feel butterflies wanting to just stay like this forever with him as he started to pick up his pace. "l-love you too!" you'd moan feeling him hit your g-spot making you cream just at the way he looked down at you. Feeling him slow down, pulling about to finish on his own feeling your hands on him.

"So good for me" He'd say making you smile at him getting down on your knees starting to jerk him off with your tongue out, eye contact making him weak as he came as soon as you kissed his tip. "Love u so much, only want you okay?" Luffy would say come down giving you a kiss as you nodded. The door bell would ring, and in seconds luffy was dressed and down the stairs to get his food almost completely forgetting about you.

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(YALL GIVE ME IDEAS SO I CAN PRACTICE WRITING MOREE)

[hughiecampbelle]

Dating Jordan And Having The Power Of Perfection Would Include:

Requested: Hey❤️!! Since your request are open I wanted to request something w/ Jordan Li. Jordan and Reader are dating & reader’s power of being perfect. Sorry if it’s too complicated and I do absolutely love your writing! - anon

A/N: I had this book as a kid where this family had powers and the mums was perfection and idk, it's so nostalgic 💕 I did make it a little darker so it's more in line with the universe. Thank you for requesting my love! I hope you like it! Feedback is always appreciated 💜💜💜

At first, Jordan hated you

The two of you were in constant fight to secure the second place/third place spots

Because of your abilities, you had perfect grades, perfect essays, perfect technique in fighting and training

You weren't exceptionally strong or indestructible, but you always knew the perfect way to take down your opponent

At events, your clothes and hair and jokes and words, everything was perfect.

You were the perfect face of God U besides Golden Boy

Your powers were non-threatening and would probably win you several jobs after graduation that others could only dream of - many of them for Vought

They could always use someone like you

You and Jordan met through Luke. When he said you were perfect, they thought he was kidding. When they met you, they realized who you were, and it instantly clicked: you weren't just good at what you did, it was impeccable

Because you were in constant fight for second place, because it was almost daily that your places changed and swapped, they thought of you as competition

It isn't until a gala do they see you as a person instead of a set of statistics and characteristics they have to be better than

You're all smiles talking to a group of older men, laughing when you should, making fun of them just enough so that they don't feel threatened. When they leave, you drop the facade, taking a drink off a silver platter and sitting beside them. Jordan notices this change, scooting closer to you, trying to sound nonchalant

"I didn't know you could have rough nights." They joke

You try to play it off, coming up with the perfect excuse, but they say you, they knew better than to believe you

You and Jordan bond over your equally terrible night: they open up about their parents wanting them to be one way when they're much happier as they are. You tell them about the growing pressures of your perfection

In elementary school it was a bit of a joke: you were a straight A student, you were good at whatever you tried no matter the experience level, you made friends easily. Your parents joked you were the best child they could ask for

When middle school hit, things started to change. The powers had been there since you were a baby (you rarely cried, you ate everything and never spit up, you were happy and easy and bubbly) but now you were old enough to realize you were different from everyone else. You picked up instruments you'd never touched before and was able to play them perfectly. Sports you had zero interest or experience in came easy to you. You tried to fail tests and mess up speeches and start fights, but something in you took over, something controlled you and made you do and say the right thing

By high school you weren't studying for tests or doing any of your course readings. You joined every club and extracurricular, showing up only when necessary. You slept through classes and tried to party as much as possible, but your body rejected every bad choice you put it through: you aced tests, you were exceptional in all your activities, even the alcohol you drank wouldn't touch you. You were always perfectly sober

You wanted so badly to fail, but it went against your nature

You weren't surprised when you got into God U. You had the best GPA, you wore so many chords at your graduation you lost count, you were exhausted from perfection. You needed a change and you hoped college would be that change

Jordan hadn't realized how confining perfection could be

You couldn't help but answer questions in class, your arm shot up, the words came out compulsively. There was no controlling it

After this, they see you so much more different than they initially thought

Jordan seeks you out after that, losing their typically cold exterior for a nicer, softer one

They used to blame you for their shortcomings, but now they realize it's quite literally out of your control

Hanging out more with Jordan

They kind of insert themselves into your life more, finding you between classes, switching seats to be near you, offering to help you with your physical combat. It's kind of a silly excuse, but they'd do anything to get to know you better

Despite not needing their help in combat, you say yes anyways

You love watching them switch between their powers

That is kind of your first unofficial date and, afterwards, they ask you out on a real one

You are, of course, perfect and they can't help but fall for you

Luke is the first to ask if you're dating or not

When you didn't have classes with Jordan, you had them with Luke, who couldn't help but notice the change in Jordan

They used to get so annoyed when he brought you up. Now? Now they were all smiles

Andre definitely made fun of the both of you (nicknaming you The Perfect Couple)

It earned him a punch in the arm, but there was no denying your perfection

Cate was glad to have another couple in the friend group

Eventually meeting Jordan's parents who love you instantly

"Y/n is pretty perfect." They say, only half-joking

Studying together all the time, your dates are pretty academia focused. When you're not worrying about grades and still fighting for the second place slot, Jordan is showing you off at the clubs in your teeny tiny, skin tight outfits

Despite being perfectly sober, you can still have a good time

They can't keep their hands off you when you dance together

Jordan isn't big on PDA, but they get jealous sooo easily and that's when they become handsy

Because you're perfect in every way, you find that a lot of people develop crushes on you. You make sure Jordan knows they're the only one for you

You love how driven they are, how passionate they are

You've never minded their powers and always want them in whatever form they take

To you, they are perfect. Yours might be compulsive, but they're all natural

Jordan comes to you with almost anything

When they see what Brink does to Luke, they keep it a secret, not wanting your perspective of them change because they'd rather stick with their mentor than their friend

You know nothing about what's going on the school. To you, everything is perfectly normal

[dramioneasks]

HP FESTS: Pumpkin Spice Fic Fest (Part 3)

Pumpkin Spice Fic Fest 2023:

daybreak, nightfall, & the moments that happen in between by gemgirl28 - E, one-shot - Hermione and Draco’s relationship is too new to tell any of their friends, but that hasn’t stopped him from finding a place in her life. She finds she quite enjoys starting and ending her days with him at her side. The thought should scare her, but staying away sounds worse.

on-again, off-again by sodamnrad - E, one-shot - Granger, Why does everyone think we’re dating? - Draco I’m handling it. –Hermione That doesn’t answer my question. Hermione starts a rumour, and Draco winds up with a pretend girlfriend. And when they break up, they can't help but get back together again, and again, and again.

Rivers of Whiskey and Honey by charingfae - E, one-shot - Draco has been pretending to date Hermione for two months and four days. Which, in his mind, is two months and four days too long, and one eternity short of long enough. He isn't prepared to run into her on his solo morning walk after their latest 'date'. Or for her to trail her fingers down his arm and lean in to kiss him... Cozy, fluffy, smut.

The Professor and the Librarian by So_scarlett_maroon - E, one-shot - The first time Draco saw her, she was sitting in a reading nook, flipping through a children's book. The sun was shining through the windows behind her, lighting up her brown curls to show off their golden highlights. He felt drawn to her. He wanted to walk right up and say hello that second, but Scorpius pulled him down an aisle. “I need a bunny book Dad!” he said, as he tugged Draco’s hand. --- Draco is back in the UK after years spent in France at Beauxbatons. He sees a woman at the Rowena Ravenclaw Public Wizarding library and is desperate to know more about her.

Natural As A Dream by simplifiedemotions - M, one-shot - She knows, she knows, she knows, and still she falls asleep in the comfort of his warm body, only waking up briefly so that he can take her home. She knows, she knows, she knows, that as he tucks her into bed and takes off her heels that he’s only being a good friend, so much as Draco Malfoy can be a friend to anyone. She closes her eyes and lets sleep take her, wishing that the hand that softly strokes her cheek is real. Or: Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy yearn for each other over the course of ten-plus years and several weddings.

Mayhem in a Maelstrom by Emma Jordan Hart (Wailzy) - E, one-shot - Near Halloween, the trio get stranded in an empty barn during a thunderstorm. Dreomione PWP, muggle!AU [Draco Hermione x Theo]

behind the façade of friendship by riddikulus_puff - E, one-shot - Hermione Granger was pretty sure that the deal settled between herself and her previously named "sworn enemy", Draco Malfoy, was a good idea. Friends with benefits always went one hundred per cent the way you wanted to and always worked out for the couple, right? The movies were proof that feelings would never develop and yet, of course, Hermione was stupid for thinking that things would be fine if Draco and Hermione just slept together. No strings attached. Yet, feelings were bubbling, the beginnings of everything that could destroy everything Hermione and Draco had tried hiding from each other.

Castle of glass by pinkhairandbooks - E, one-shot - His eyes stayed glued to the sky for less than two minutes before they slid back to the witch who had been ruling all his thoughts for years. He couldn’t stop himself: no matter how hard he tried his eyes always found her, even among a crowd of her doppelgangers his gaze would land on her, as if attracted by a magnet. The witch was curled up on her side, her right shoulder rising and lowering due to her regular breaths and, watching her so helpless and relaxed while sleeping, suddenly the urge to give in to his worst impulses became too strong. He drank three more long sips of Firewhisky and then stood up, checking to make sure that all the other participants in that sort of bonfire were asleep before stealthily approaching Granger’s sleeping bag

Catch and Release by WillowingScribe1709 - M, one-shot - Hermione and Draco meet at a farmer's market on a cold, rainy November morning. Coincidence? Surely not. Once he catches her, he has her. Let the chase begin!

Pulling Leaves Off Trees by hauntedde (excitedde) - M, one-shot - Hermione and Draco find each other across four Autumns. A scent obsessed little love story.

Home Sweet Hogsmeade by flowerfem - E, one-shot - Hermione didn't hesitate to return to Hogwarts for Eighth Year but when Draco Malfoy became her roommate, things became interesting. A short story focused on the immaculate vibes of first term at Hogwarts. Prompts: rain soaked, lingerie, roommates

Lovely Plan by VineHawthorn - E, one-shot - Jealous Hermione encounters a very smug Draco and smut ensues.

Pumpkin Spice Fic Fest 2024:

when we kissed the professor by riddikulus_puff - E, one-shot - It had been a long week. And it was only about to get longer for Professor Hermione Granger. [Draco x Hermione x Theo]

Strike A Match, Let Him Burn by sodamnrad - E, one-shot - When Draco returns home from Durmstrang, he falls into a hard and fast sexual relationship with the beautiful witch he meets at the bar. The only issue is that she’s a Mudblood, and he’s a Malfoy.

atonement by takenbytheview - E, one-shot - “You weren’t supposed to see that.” “I know.” “It’s— it’s the wrong version. It was never meant to be read.” “Well. I read it.” Another pause. He finally meets her eyes, resigned. “I know.”

Some Kind of Magic by Dizzle00 - E, one-shot - “Nice jumper, Granger,” Blaise commented, wiggling his eyebrows once at Malfoy, who responded with a two-finger salute and kept walking. “Oi Draco. Didn’t realize you and Granger shared a favorite Quidditch team,” called Theo, his tone sly and teasing. Hermione brushed off their comments, assuming they were just giving Malfoy a hard time as Slytherins were wont to do. “It’s Ron’s,” she sing-songed back to the irritating Slytherins with whom she’d actually become rather friendly, granting them an eye roll, missing the sudden expression of distressed understanding cross over Malfoy’s face. Or Hermione borrows Ron’s jumper with surprising results. The Falmouth Falcons are his favorite team, right?

Tea Shop Date by LunaP999, Wanderingfair - E, one-shot - Draco convinces Hermione to go on a fake date for his Witch Weekly column. There is nothing fake about their chemistry.

Fall(ing) in love by gemgirl28 - E, one-shot - Overwhelmed and tired, Hermione slips away during a dinner party to collect her thoughts. Unfortunately, she isn't left alone for long. Then again, maybe it isn't so unfortunate after all.

Rose-Coloured Glasses by its_nott_me - E, one-shot - Draco couldn’t see. And that was a problem because normally he could see just fine—at least with the aid of his eyeglasses—but at that moment, all he could see was white. Draco flapped his hands in front of his face as he gasped for a breath of fresh air, and when that wasn’t returning his sight, he reached up to clear away the layer of condensation that had accumulated on his lenses. “Ack!” Draco fumbled his fingers wildly over his face and his thumb caught the corner of his eyeglasses near his temple. They clattered pitifully to the stone floor. He squeezed his eyes shut for good measure. Granger wasn't wearing clothes.

closing walls and ticking clocks by thisisdd (thisisnotdd) - E, one-shot - He stood up to investigate, pivoting on his heel, and forward-marched to the general direction of where the sound came from when, from the corner of his eye, Draco noticed something odd. A framed special edition of the Prophet, dated 01 January 2010, hung on one of the walls nearest the pedestal. Golden Girl Gone Bad? Hermione Granger seen cosied up with Former Death Eater Draco Malfoy at Ministry New Year’s Gala This had to have been a sick, elaborate prank. ; or, Draco touches a time turner and deals with the consequences.

This fest is ongoing.

[aneveningsword]

𝐁𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐋𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐒

pairing: Jordan Li x gn!reader (band au) warnings: not proofread words: 727 summary: a couple of rival guitarists that love hate each other? very cool

masterlist

☆ got this idea when writing my other headcannon! But imagine a rival guitarist reader from an up-and-coming band. Like you and is good but what makes them stand out is you on lead guitar.

☆ Your band enters a battle of the bands in your city and that's how you met Jordan. An uptight, 'im better than you', guitarist from a band that has been in a scene for a while. They are super popular, have a large following, and entered the competition for something to do.

☆ Ugh, they hear you playing and have the audacity to comment on your playing. Mentioning something about the riff you played or how you transition from bridge to chorus. They say it in such a condescending tone to just get a rise out of you. Smirking as you huff at them stating you don't need their input.

☆ "Your playing needs some work, your chords sounded out of tune." "Thanks, but I didn't ask." "I thought your guitar's cry for help was enough."

☆ They stand in the wings during your practices, watching you play, getting ready to pick apart your technique.

☆ Out of frustration you begin to do the same, watching them practice with a disinterested face. Commenting on how boring their playing was. Openly wondered if they were meant to play a key because it sounded so out of place.

☆ It turns into who is going to crack first, and who's going to crumble under the comments and pressure. You each watching each other just waiting for the pressure to be too much.

☆ You begin to see them outside of just practices and your performances. You've gone drinking with your band? Jordan's band happens to be there too getting drinks. You've gone to the coffee shop down the street? Jordan's already sitting there drinking an expresso

☆ It gets infuriating, your mind is just consumed with thoughts of Jordan. Not because you like them, no of course not. But because they are so infuriating with their stupid tips, their disinterest expressions, the stupid way they play the guitar and their stupid gorgeous face.

☆ What you don't know is Jordan's on the same boat. Every waking moment is thinking about you. How you play. Your music. Your body. But they do not like you! Don't get it twisted.

☆ It gets to the point your bandmates beg you to just fuck them to get this over with. They are getting sick of seeing Jordan show up to practices, stare at you the whole time and then for you two to go back and forth for 10 minutes.

☆ You are adamant that you don't like them in the slightest, that you would never ever fuck them. But your words only received a shared look from your bandmates before they just hummed.

☆ The weeks of tension explode before the night of the competition. Most bands head to a club to rid themselves of their anxieties about their performance the next day. Of course, you go to drink the night and your feelings away with your friends.

☆ It should've been obvious that Jordan would be there, dressed in an outfit that you just want to rip off. A mixture of booze and frustration has you approaching them, stalking over to them with a mission.

☆ What starts off as an argument is quick to turn into a steamy make-out session. You can't remember what the tipping point was, but you do remember simply grabbing their shirt and pulling them into a kiss to get them to shut up.

☆ In between kisses you express how much you hate them, how they have been on your mind nonstop for weeks. Your words only pull a laugh from Jordan as they squeeze your ass and bring you into another kiss.

☆ At some point you end up in their hotel room, angrily fucking on any surface until you are both too tired to continue. Lying in bed panting slightly, you tell them this means nothing. But you both know it is a lie, that a single night isn't going to stop the pure want you have for each other

☆ But for the night you pretend this is a one-off thing and in the morning you are going to kick their ass in the competition.

[bokettochild]

Hi! First off, I sent some ramblings before, and I feel safe here to share my thoughts! Your blog is amazing, to start.

Okay, so I can't read your opera house AU, though I bet it is amazing. I just don't have AO3, and when I look it up, I can't find it, so that's fine! I read your thing where it described who each LU character was in your opera house AU, and I love how Legend is a jack of all trades.

(I think it's a jack of all trades. It might be a jock of all trades.🤷‍♀️)

I feel legend, is kinda of self-conscious about his voice and thinks he isn't good enough to be on stage. That's why he mostly stays backstage and fixes things for last minute, and lets Fable take the stage.

I feel like even though Legend has been there for...like all of his life, when he saw Dusk, Artemis, and Warriors, he kind of shrunk in on his talent, seeing how they were literally crowd-pleasers. Everyone loves them; the crowds go wild when they see them on stage.

I feel like this happened once when everyone went out to get something for the play they were doing. He went on stage and just sang a hard song that not even Artemis or Warriors could do, but he nailed it.

I also feel like he would act like Jeremy Jordan. Jeremy Jordan.

Jeremy Jordan Did Bonnie and Clyde the musical and the scene raise a little hell The song, the first one he does, this great acting where he acts like he got beaten horribly, he is terrified. I describe it badly, but if you look it up if you want, I feel like that's how legend would act. He would put his heart and soul into his acting.

I feel like the warriors accidentally bullied the legend once because of something that made him shrink in on himself more when it came to stage time.

Anyways I love your blog!

I'm sorry to hear that! I have most of my fics blocked so non-users can't see them, mostly due to the rise in bots on Ao3 scraping for works and stealing our creations. If you'd like though, I can post them here as well! I used to cross-post a lot of stuff, but I stopped when I realized I could never find the fics again after LOL

And yes! Legend is the jack-of-all-trades at the Crown City opera! He grew up in the opera house (Twilight, his uncle, has been a stage-hand there since he was a baby) so he's been able to learn first hand from masters of the trade how to do basically everything there is to know! He's not as good with paperwork and the advertising aspect, as most of that sort of thing is done by Lullaby and Dot, but he's got the bare-bones knowledge (there's a rumor that Lullaby made sure he knew because she intends to leave the opera to him one day, but it's just a rumor).

I don't know if Legend is so self-conscious about his voice, but he's definitely not aware of how good he is. Like I said; he grew up learning from the best, and a lot of the crew and cast found it fun to show him how to do stuff in their down time, so he's probably got a better education in music than anyone else in the building. However, because he doesn't take acting as his main role and mostly helps in the back, he's sort of fallen into the belief that he's only maybe slightly better than average. Is he? Heck no! He could probably give the divas a nice run for their money if he was trying hard enough! However, while he most certainly has given his all to every role (he really does love acting) he still maintains that he's an "average nobody" who fills in on occasion when someone calls out sick, or plays the lesser roles when they're short on cast.

The opera knows he's good, Lullaby knows he's good, and gosh do their audiences know he's good! but because Legend is under the impression that he's average, he doesn't seek more time in the spotlight. Additionally, since Lullaby knows he loves what he is doing (he very much enjoys his prop work and set creation and costuming opportunities, don't let the grumbling fool you), she doesn't see a reason to call on him excessively if that's not what he wants. After all, he wasn't hired to be part of the cast (although whether he was actually officially hired at all is unknown, although he's paid very well).

I will say he does compare his skill to the divas, but sort of in a casual way when he's talking to Hyrule and the rest of his team. Sort of in the whole manner of: "I'm not like Dusk or anything, there's a reason you don't see my face on the billboards". I will say he's probably compared himself a lot to them in this manner though and convinced himself that he's not that great in comparison, but he's chill with it because obviously he can't be good at everything, and he's good at his job, so that's what matters.

His biggest point when people bring up his skill is always that there's a reason the divas' names are well known and he's just crew. What he doesn't know is that he very much has a near cult following and there are theories online. He's not very present on social media or anything, but their audiences know there is this one actor/actress who appears sometimes to fill roles or to cover when the headliners can't be there. Nobody knows what said actor/actress's name is, and they actually aren't even sure what gender he is, they just know said person has a lot of skill and they wish he'd show up more!

Lullaby is aware of this, but again, she respects Legend's choice to do his job, and also has no interest in throwing him to the dogs by releasing his name if he doesn't want her too. She wants him to have a normal life, thank you, not get hounded by media and fans like some of her staff are.

His skill is totally comparable to Jeremy Jordan though! Absolutely love that idea (and the idea that maybe he sounds like him too!)

As for the whole Warriors suggestion, I think they both tease each other back and forth a lot. Warriors is a good few years older, so he isn't mean with it, but considering their dynamic, it's not too far out there to suppose that maybe he once teasingly commented on Legend's singing skill with the intent of implying it was good, but Legend (pessimist that he is) assumed it was negative. In which case, he probably is a bit self-conscious about it sometimes, although it's less noticeable. It'd be more like he doesn't sing as loudly while working if he hears Wars nearby, and gets touchy when the diva talks about his skills. Wars isn't a jerk though, so he probably is clueless about the mix-up.

With all this in mind though, I can totally see the main story (when I do actually write it, LOL) featuring Legend as that sidelined, super-star-level nobody who teaches our lead (Hyrule) how to absolutely wow the crowds. Would he know why Hyrule asked him? No. He probably assumes Rule just asked the guy he actually knows, that and the divas are unapproachable or smth, or maybe because Legend's been here a while. Man has no clue, but he will help Hyrule to the best of his abilities!

[thecoffeelorian]

The Anomaly Series, Chapter 5: The Mothers' Touch (Jod Na Nawood x Reader)

A/N: If you’re looking for this show’s “Justice Ending” where the folks in Wim’s neighborhood mace the eff out of the invading pirate horde, knock them out to death like a scene from Jordan Peele’s “Us”, and then let their respective pet dogs and cats feast upon the remains…I’m afraid that this is not the fanfic you’re looking for.

Rather, this is all about the AU that I’ve unofficially dubbed “The Anomalyverse”, one in which a certain Captain has something a bit closer to a kriffing conscience; another thing a bit further away from a (self-) destructive love of riches; and a whole shipload of connecting the dots/having fun with headcanons in between.

Specifically, headcanons such as a distant link to Qui-Gonn Jinn; a destroyed planet; a dead mother; an absent father; and possibly even an ancestral tie to Tak Rennod, for example...so, if there's anybody left out there who also wants to follow these clues to a drastically different conclusion, I would certainly be glad to have you.

As for anybody wondering just where the heck Jod is during the last few chapters...well, he’ll certainly return in Chapter 6. For now, however, I have to build up everything else in order to reach the good parts...so please, stay tuned if you're able! ;)

Chapter Title: The Mothers' Touch

Genre: Drama/Romance.

Extra Tags: Slow Burn; Obvious Canon Divergence; This Is Just An Experiment; Don't Try This At Home; Into The Anomalyverse.

Word Count: 1,514 words.

AO3: Click Here!

Master List: Click Here!

CW: There will be mentions of trespassing, traveling without documents, a character vomiting, references to violence and child endangerment, a second character losing an arm, and a secondary plotline of interviewing child witnesses to a crime...so from this moment forward, reader discretion is advised.

Special Notes: As I have no clue how to even begin to breach the topic of child abuse...let's just do the safe thing and label this as 'Spoilers up to Episode 4'.

As for the planet of Argann, I deliberately recycled it from an old Bad Batch story series rather than using Lanupa as a location. Ya know...because this is my turn in the creativity sandbox, or whatever. ;D

No Pressure Tags:

@racheldon @trinsghost @tealsage7 @sorryximlame @scarfsss

@kazthedestroyer @ahcedf @lokisnapemalfoy @pottershelby @inastarlesssky

@shirley-girly @amawu23 @lokigirlszendaya @kazunish @gun-roswell

@braveincafleet @brookeandherfandoms @bridge-always @yellowbubblewrap @xbeyondthegatex

@hey-x-jude @papa-poutine @lulalovez @robin-hyperfixates @badbatchposts and anybody else who ISN'T ready to stop asking questions about what little we know of this character.

Midday, At Attin.

It’s almost been one rotation since the landing, and the Intensive Care Ward is the next stop on your list so that you can get a little bit more work done before lunchtime arrives. On this same day, however, no thanks to a somewhat unwelcome push for information from the local press...you’ve got to wade your way through them before you can travel anywhere.

Best. Day. EVER.

Of course, they don’t think twice about pelting you with questions as their blasted flashbulbs go off. What is the current condition of the children, where are they now, did they bring any illnesses in with them. Who was the man traveling with them, where is he now, did he bring in any illegal weapons, was he holding them for ransom. In fact, they get so kriffing loud that it’s almost enough to make you want to bend forward and release what’s left of your breakfast all over their fine leather shoes.

Maybe you should do just that, if only to teach the nerfherders a lesson that they will NEVER forget.

Luckily for you, though—if not also for the shoes—Madam Undersecretary’s helping you duck into a waiting hovercar a few minutes later, thus providing you a moment of peace from those pesky reporters. They’ll just have to listen to the sounds of their own voices for a time, and see if they can guess anything by hearsay alone.

As for you and your boss, it should be a relatively short trip as the worst of the morning traffic cleared up about an hour ago, thus significantly lowering the chances of any traffic jams as well as speeder accidents.

A welcome occurrence, to be sure…especially when you remember exactly who it is you’re off to question.

Nevertheless, even if it’s just for a few minutes, your thoughts also shift back to him and how, if at all, he might be adjusting to this new planet. Is he dealing with a harsh difference of time zones right now, for example? What about weather, or gravity, or for all that you know, staying in a place where not everyone’s so eager to cut his throat? You can only imagine what thoughts he might be wrestling with at this moment, even if it’s just because you can’t read his mind and figure it out for yourself.

You can’t exactly fret too much about this, though, because the next thing you know, the doors of At Attin General are rolling into view and you’ve got to put your Work Face back on. Remember, you’re here to get some definitive answers, not lose yourself in a fit of T-Drama sentimentality.

This is how you find yourself standing in the borders of No-Man’s-Land, the two Queens of this territory having accepted the Undersecretary’s request for a meeting hours ahead of time. Both Maree and Garree rise to meet you with the usual offers fitting local hospitality, some tea from the hospital kitchen, a few sweets, and did you have trouble getting here? As the two official guests in this room, it’s almost a rite of protection, and for this, you’re quick to accept the tea but decline the food.

Business practices, after all, were always meant to be conducted on a somewhat fast track.

As for the Princess of this realm, it’s not long at all before the focus is on her again, as both herself and her life monitor are well within reach, and she won’t be going on any more surprise adventures for a while. Today, K.B. has the look of someone who’s been startled one time too many, the lasting anxiety of whatever took place far away from here evident in her body language, even if you can’t see it in her eyes.

Perhaps it’s just as well, though, because if she’s actually one of four witnesses to a crime rather than a mere runaway ship…somebody has to get her to speak up.

“Hey, kiddo…how are you feeling?”

Fara breaks the ice with a check upon the girl’s welfare, a surefire way to loosen up whatever tension there might have been in this room before your arrival.

“Shaky,” K.B. confesses in a whisper, and wastes no time leaning into Maree for some extra comfort. She’ll definitely get everything she needs as of yesterday, though it’s not yet clear when she’ll be discharged.

“I know. You’re going to be okay, though, we’re all here now.”

“Fern’s not…”

In the meantime, she's glancing over your shoulder like any other worried girl, no doubt hoping to get a glimpse of her bestie. You'd most likely do the same if it were you sitting in that bed, though certainly for a few familiar faces of your own.

“...Is she safe? Is she all right?”

“She's in my office, catching up on some schoolwork—”

“—They tried to take her away!”

The admission goes off like a firecracker in this otherwise quiet chamber, and it doesn't fail in making all four of you jolt at once.

“ 'They'? Who's they?”

“The weirdos who tried to take our ship!”

Weirdos. A childish term, but a plural one at that—and a sign that you might soon be getting somewhere.

“What weirdos, K.B.?”

Your datapad is out and primed a short while afterward as well, all the better to record all of the juicy details that Fern may have forgotten to mention—and, given that this witness already has a talent for recalling things a bit better than most folks her age, you’ve got a feeling that you’re on the edge of a breakthrough.

“I counted six of them at the time—I think they were part of Jodwick's old crew—and then they took Fern as a hostage.”

'Jodwick'...? You didn't expect that as a possible name for your stranger, but you also suppose that almost anything is a possibility for a case like this. Just to keep yourself from getting too distracted, though, you've still got to focus better on your notes.

“I see...that must have been very scary for you.”

There's still a bit of corroboration to pursue here, after all, and for that you've got to start hearing a similar story from K.B. in order to better believe Fern's...or if not, to start sniffing after what really took place.

“It was. All we wanted to do was get some coordinates and then take off, and—and they barged in.”

Maree’s stealing a look with Fara now, something you can’t exactly decipher because it’s so quick that you almost miss it. You’ll just have to ask her about this later, though, because you’re far from being finished here.

“Understandable, understandable...now, where exactly was this?”

“Just above Tak Rennod's vault. I—I think the planet was called Argann.”

A potentially dangerous treasure vault and an unfamiliar planet? Oh, but how this poor girl must have gone through it—

“—And you said that these other...people took Fern hostage?”

“They did.”

“How did she escape them?”

K.B. has to stop and think for a moment, a small pause for everyone else in this room during which the arrival of the tea becomes a welcome distraction—yet when she speaks up again, all four of you are certainly paying attention until the end.

“I think—no, I know—that the shadow of a lady appeared.”

“A shadow?”

“I think so. She was dark, dark all over with no eyes or mouth, none of that. Almost like she was made out of it, or something."

“ ‘Made out of shadows, no facial features’...okay. Keep going.”

“Okay, so then—so the lady put her hands together like she was holding something, or gripping it, I don't know—and then she spins around real fast, brings her hands down, and then—”

All four of you give a collective jump.

“The guy holding Fern loses his arm, he falls to the ground and starts howling, she runs back to us, and the next thing we know—”

You jolt in your seat a second time as there's a small, shrill beeping sound letting itself be heard somewhere in the center of the room. Your first instinct, if not also the only real one, is to go straight to K.B.'s side and make good use of that emergency call button. Her augs could easily be acting up again, after all, and for that reason alone, you're sure that no time should be wasted here.

To everyone's surprise, though? K.B.'s waving you off in seconds, her focus landing on the Undersecretary instead.

“It's not me, I’m fine,” she insists, pointing to something around Fara's wrist. “That’s what’s making all the noise.”

Sure enough, before any one of you can start asking questions or else look just as confused as you feel...the beeping is followed by an automated message, and only then do you find yourself feeling as though you're the one going cold.

“Attention. Attention. Security breach at the holding cells; please send back-up immediately.

I repeat, security breach at the holding cells; please send back-up immediately...”

[ellestra]

Going in circles

There has been a lot of talk about how Gen V is about social media and stage parents but the underlying theme of this season is the cycle of violence that leads to abuse and revenge cycles. It's a positive feedback loop that makes .

Since Gen V is inspired by The Boys comic arc that was a parody of X-Men this is something that was, of course, always staple of X-Men comics/movies/shows. But X-Men stories in their core tend to be optimistic/aspirational. The Boys universe is much more cynical than that. In the end bad guys win or they at least spin their loses their way so they can hold on to power.

Marie, Jordan, Andre and Emma really believed in the ideas sold to them by the marketing team. But the humans they were trying to save were exactly the ones who never treated them to people. Ones who perpetuated the cycles f abuse - from the moment they were given Compound V to all the stages of deciding who is and isn't valuable. They aren't the ones who lead Vought when it all started but they do the same thing again and again because it's profitable. And when it comes to bite them they try to weasel their way out of any responsibility by appealing to the better nature of those who they abused. And so, so many real life abuses seem to use this to escape culpability. Using the "be better than those who wrong you" as the most cynical way to save their own asses.

It doesn't mean that the rest of the non-powered humans don't have a reason to blame supes. Both the Boys and Shetty are not wrong in the assessment that supes always will a leave a trail of blood behind them - both intentional and accidental. From powers manifesting in the disastrous way, through accidents while using them to abuses of power to avoid consequences and finally malice. Supes are human and do exactly the same things but their impact is so much greater and so is their body count. It's gets horrifying because she's not blaming Vought who created this whole problem. Instead she's uses Vought's own torture factory to try her hand at genocide. It's hard to really feel bad about Cardosa and Shetty's death when we just saw them killing some kids in even more horrible way.

Cate was betrayed by every human she trusted. And the worst was that even though Shetty loved her she still drugged her to dampen her powers (those blue pills reference even more clear after latest Matrix movie) and then used her to help with genocide of her own kind. So she gathers all other abused supes and they all go on a rampage because how you can ever trust any one of them if they even corrupt love like that. Being one of "the good ones" didn't really work out. And because this is the time where the ultimate power of Vought propaganda machine lies with a supe it's all swept under the rug by Homelander.

He's done appealing to mudnon-powered people . The one place X-Men doesn't really go in stories like that is the people who go against their own interests because the ideology allows them to feel superior to another group. And they think they'd be spared. It's the voting for Leopards Eating People's Faces Party all over again. Homelander knows now that there are humans who still will follow him (steeped in American exceptionalism and dreams of ubermensch as he is - BTW I don't think it's a coincidence that both Cate and Sam are the kind of Guardians of Godolkin Stormfront would approve of unlike original versions). He just needs supes who think the same as him instead of believing things like non-powered humans are human too. Someone who is not going to bulk at thing he wants to do.

And the boys would do anything to stop him. I'm pretty sure the virus is not out of the picture yet. Between Neumann container and Butcher finding the infected bodies there still might be attempt to use it. After all it's still in pre fully genocidal form. And Marie surviving Homelander's blast may have taught Neumann she might have enough time to pop Homelander's head - especially if he's a bit sick.

In this cycle people who try to stop it are also part of the problem. It too often leads to letting those in power stay in power so the injustices can carry on. Marie uses the system that was designed against her to stop the massacre and it hurts her too. Andre risks brain damage saving helicopter coming to rescue Vought Board. Jordan almost gets overwhelmed and mind controlled protecting them. And Vought will continue doing what they did to babies and any supe they deem faulty product. Believing the heroes will come and save them gets them locked in a doorless room.

We see how appealing to their opponents better nature doesn't work. Maverick cannot break mind control. Sam chose it over conscience. All Emma gets for trying is being made to feel small.

In the end all trying to be heroic got them is being labelled as traitor and scapegoated. And I don't think it's an accident that of this group only Emma is white (although it's nice that the only couple that survived this in neither includes white people nor is straight).

And so the cycle goes. Non-powered humans abuse supes and supes abuse those humans and each sides has a list of atrocities perpetrated on them they use to justify to atrocities they commit. While the people who caused and profit from it this stay in power.

This is even made even more relevant by real life events reminding us about the real, horrible human toll of such cycles hatred. The real excuses that are used to justify violence against innocents by feeding populations a revenge fantasy dressed as justice aren't all that different. And so isn't using it to keep power and gather more assets. But in stories we can hope good guys will eventually win. History teaches us that, in real life, it always ends with those having power behind them getting all the spoils. Everyone can count themselves lucky if they get a half-assed apology too late to count for anything.

[greenjacketwhitehatdocmui]

Superman and Lois Got It Right

Well, I've met my 50k word goal for Nanowrimo.  The story isn't done, but it's a good add-on to what I had already.

But that's not what I wanted to talk about.  I wanted to say something about Superman and Lois.

The CW used Superman as, for the most part, a comparison to Supergirl.  Most times, circumstances would go in favor of Kara, rather than Clark.  And you know what?  That's fair.  It's her show and she's the main character.

When "Superman and Lois" was announced, I decided to give it a try.  I'm a big fan.  Even though I didn't care for some of the things they did with the character on Supergirl, I wanted to be open-minded and fair.

I'm glad I did.  These last four years have been some of the best--if not the best--times for Superman on any medium.  The plot was tight, the action was gripping, and the chemistry between the characters felt incredibly real.

Folks, these aren't your two-dimensional, plug and play, cardboard cut-out characters.  These aren't just names and faces, but people.  The care isn't just on Lois and Clark, or their twin sons.  Everyone gets their fair share, their moment in the spotlight, enough to feel like you really know them.

Do you know how hard that is?  Do you know how easy it would be to cheap out and do the classic "family is my weakness" tripe?  (And yes, I do mean tripe.)

I'm going to call out some names here, if only to compare how they could improve.  It's not meant to be a smackdown.

First of all, I'm calling out Brian Michael Bendis and his run.  Superman and Lois didn't do the family dirty.  Was there an identity reveal?  Yeah.  Was it done better than Bendis?  Oh, yeah.  It wasn't a one-off decision of a few issues.  It was a progression of four years, when they showed the strain of keeping the status quo.  And the twins, Jon and Jordan?  Well, they've got more personality and received more character development than his ill-conceived age-up of Jon ever would get.

I'm calling out Tom "The Deconstuctionist" King.  Superman and Lois embraces Clark's humanity, the strength of his family, and their perseverance through times that would shatter most.  Like an amateur clockmaker, he takes apart the pieces to see what makes things tick, but he just can't stop fiddling with one piece to see the chain reaction of when it goes wrong.  Superman and Lois shows you the whole of the characters through the pieces, not just the pieces themselves.

I'm calling out Tom "My Superman Doesn't Punch" Taylor.  In Superman and Lois, Jon and Jordan have interactions with their peers in high school.  It's what makes them relatable, even though Jordan receives his powers earlier than Jon.  We see them struggle and overcome trials, often together.  This is unlike the aged-up Jon Kent of Taylor's design, whose constant ruminating and angsting have drained the vitality from the young Jon that people could relate to and cheer for.  Taylor's Jon is perpetually surrounded by his super-peers, never dealing with the ordinary person like his Dad--or, at least, we're not privy to such moments. 

(Oh, and don't get me started about Taylor's clumsy attempt at passing the torch with the infamous "why don't you do more" question.  That shows that Taylor can be remarkably tone-deaf to the immigrant metaphor that is essential to Superman.)

The writers on Superman and Lois get it.  They have taken an 80+ year-old character, and made their own, relatable version that will stand the test of time.  They sprinkle in bits of lore, but they make their own twist on it.  They don't have cheap, sudden swerves; everything is planned out.  And when the plot twists are revealed, they feel logical and natural--as they should.

Tyler Hoechlin's Superman isn't a Reeve clone, a Cain clone, or anyone else's clone.  This is 100% Tyler's interpretation--a family man who can be dorky, loves his family, and can punch two worlds apart to save both.  And we are all the better for this interpretation

Bitsie Tulloch's Lois Lane isn't a helpless damsel in distress.  Gone are the days when Lois was obsessed with Superman's identity.  She and Clark are partners in every way, propping each other up when needed.  She is his strength.

Anyone who says that a superhero marriage would be boring just isn't trying.  One can only wonder at the state of their own relationship if they trivialize and project such a viewpoint onto the great love between Lois and Clark.

Jon and Jordan?  Yes, they can be annoying at times.  Yes, they make mistakes.  But they also have truly awesome moments.  To see them grow and mature was a great pleasure.

And the other characters?  This show had the best version of Sam Lane, period.  Instead of a stock military xenophobe/bigot, we see a staunch ally who doesn't always agree with Clark--but we know his heart is in the right place.  John Henry Irons?  He was once a man on a mission of vengeance, but now he's better off for giving it up.  There are so, so many other characters I could gush over, but I won't.  this has been going long already.

It's been quite a ride.  I wish it wasn't over, but they're going out with a bang.  And if there's one thing you can take from this long ramble, it's this:

Superman and Lois Got It Right.

--Doc

[rubykgrant]

This little jerk. He took forever to finally draw, but that makes sense, because this is Jordan, and he is the most stubborn, ornery, antagonistic little punk in the group of super power kids. Not surprisingly, he's on the villain team at first (the villain kids aren't literally "evil", they just have some angst to work through, and also like to cause a ruckus. sometimes the real bad guys are hiding behind a false persona of being good, or they have a lot of money/power as a shield against repercussions, so the only way to even the odds is by breaking the "rules"). Jordan had a rough time when he was little; his dad ditched the family, and then his mom also abandoned him. He's got an older half-brother out there, but the guy is NOT responsible enough to take care of a kid. So, little 8-year-old Jordan started going to different foster homes. He got labeled a "problem child" pretty fast, and not many people wanted to deal with him... but then, when he was 10, he met Corbin. This was a guy who knows about problem kids because he WAS a problem kid, and his own son WAS a problem kid. Corbin took in Jordan, and it didn't matter how rebellious and rude the kid was, Corbin never gave up. Jordan found somebody who could put up with the yelling, even yell back, argue back and forth, and eventually give him the chance to calm down, talk things out, and apologize. When Corbin found out his son needed help in another state, he asked how Jordan would feel about moving, and so they both came to California, Jordan got to know his older foster brother Travis (and they quickly feel like they've been brothers their whole lives), and started a new school... where he got a reputation as a trouble-maker again, but that's just who he is! Jordan isn't ALL bad, he's very loyal and protective, and while he's risk-taker on his own, he's concerned for other people staying safe. At his best, when he's comfortable just being himself, Jordan encourages other people to have fun and not be afraid to make mistakes. Also, being a little bit of a jerk who is secretly considerate means he has is VERY aware when somebody else is crossing a line (being too cruel or hurtful). Jordan is 15, and is starting to think about stuff in life, how he wants to do better, but not just conform to some fake idea of being "perfect". When he starts to develop super powers, Jordan gains the ability to transform into a large, canine-like creature... but he's not a werewolf! He's like an anthro Cerberus, and so that's the name he goes with (he's actually more of chimera monster; his "middle" head is the most human, but he can have two extra canine heads above his shoulders. these are mostly for intimidation, but for more practical transformations, he can divide his arms, so he has 4 on each side, or keep his arms as 2 but the ends change into snake heads, capable of biting/stretching out for more reach! the monster body is mostly like a combination of human/canine, but he's got some scales and claws for a bit of a dragon vibe). This is his regular kid look here; a slightly chunky body-type, standing in a very intentional slouch, with his arms just hanging at his sides, and a sarcastic smirk on his face. His hair is black, in an undercut, swept over to one side. He has an angular face, pierced ears, and while the simple pixel-style doesn't show it, he also has heterochromia (one green eye, one blue). He has a plain whit shirt, with the sleeves cut off (looking a little shredded on purpose). His pants are a dark-magenta, styled with lighter patches, he has dark brown boots with the laces loose, and studded wristbands

[jackabbot]

Do you have any fic recs for jdox? 🥹

I have just joined the party like 2 decades late and I don't know how to use fanfiction.net

awww i don't think anyone's ever asked me this! unfortunately the list isn't all that long because, well, it's an old fandom and most of the fics are on ff.net rather than ao3 and though i know how to use it, wading through those is a greater task than i could ever embark on (again), and unfortunately one of my faves has been deleted off of ao3 too 💔

(it was about Cox moving in temporarily with JD after breaking up with Jordan, then ending up living there and basically doing everything backwards by dating before their first kiss even — if anyone has that fic downloaded by any chance pls pls pls hit me up)

Second Opinions by dashwood

A collection of unrelated bits and scenes; mostly inspired by moments from the show.

[okay, so, this is my absolute favourite jdox fic ever and it's actually a collection of oneshots and outtakes, and without exception anytime i rewatch the show i read through them because i've never read anyone get these characters so perfectly before. highly, highly recommend]

Heart on your sleeve by dashwood

He feared that he was in for another variation on one of their greatest hits: The soulmark on his arm and why the hell he had decided to shack up with Jordan when he could have gone for the doe-eyed disaster whose thoughts kept flickering across his skin in a never-ending stream of consciousness instead.

[i'm not usually one for soulmate AUs but this one warms me all over every time, what can i say, i'm a sucker for these two idiots dancing around each other]

the hardest thing i'll ever have to lie by lunarqueens

“Look, Newbie,” he said, not even trying to hide the panic seeping into his voice this time as he started to back away. “Just go to bed. I’m leaving now, just -” “I’m in love with you.” He froze. (or; JD gets drunk and Perry takes him home. JD makes a confession that has the potential to change, well, everything.)

[summary says it all pretty much. it's angsty, it's soft and just my kinda painful with a happy ending <3]

Bad Days & Not-So-Bad Days by lunarqueens

Perry Cox isn't used to feeling jealous. In fact, as a rule, he doesn't get jealous, period. (Until he does.) (And, as usual, it's Newbie's fault.)

[this is more of a silly one, but it's fun and if you're into the jealousy trope this is definitely a good pick]

hope you'll enjoy reading these and if you do, show some love to the authors, no kudos or comment is ever too late, mwuah <33

(also, anyone feel free to tack on your own recs if you have them, if i get crazy enough i might go back and shuffle through ff.net and come back to you guys with my findings, no promises though)

[chungledown-bimothy]

48 and 62 for the songs on your wrapped playlist :)

48- The Beauty Underneath- Love Never Dies

Eyy you got one that's not in any way associated with Jeremy Jordan! That's a very difficult thing to do, statistically speaking.

It does come at the cost of me having to admit that I genuinely really love this song. If Love Never Dies wasn't supposed to be a Phantom of the Opera sequel, it could have been passable, I guess, but it is, so it isn't.

Yes I am aware that some of the lyrics are, uh. questionable. when you know that it's a song between a grown ass man and his 10 year old son. But I think "vaguely problematic but damn if it's not a good song" is a pretty decent summary of Andrew Lloyd Webber's works as a whole.

62- One Way Road- The Great Gatsby

This one is probably on here because I've listened to it a bunch trying to decide how I feel about it. Spoilers for the book and musical ahead, if you care.

Conceptually, I like Myrtle realizing that she'd probably end up just like Daisy and deciding to turn around and go back to George but still dying. She realizes the truth of her situation, she tries to escape, but it gets her anyway. There's good social criticism meat there, which the show otherwise did a lot of cutting away. I think it's an angle very much in keeping with the spirit of the book.

But god I hate that they made her pregnant. I hate it so fucking much that it taints the whole song. It adds absolutely nothing and to me kind of feels like they're saying that Myrtle dying wasn't tragic enough on its own. Like if it's just her, it's sad but also just the consequences of her own actions, but if there's a baby, then there's an innocent life taken in the mess and that makes it a Tragedy. I'm not explaining my thoughts on it well, I know that, it just pisses me the fuck off too much.

Also in the song's favor though is the fact that Sarah Chase absolutely fuckign crushes it.

[droughtofapathy]

"Welcome to the Theatre": Diary of a Broadway Baby

Urinetown

February 8, 2025 | NYCC | Encores! Series | Evening | Musical | Concert | 2H 30M

Once again another weird pick for Encores! that goes against its core mission given how often this show gets produced at the regional and amateur level. I've seen this musical three times now, and this is the first professional production. It's middling in every way. Aimless in direction and tone, it fails to lean into the bonkers nature of the show. Most of the principal cast just don't rise to the occasion. The most successful at the story's tone is the actress playing Hope Cladwell, who balances her wide-eyed naivety with that undercurrent of manic madness needed for the piece. Lockstock serves the narration admirably and Barrel is as amusing as you'd expect in the capable hands of Christopher Fitzgerald, Broadway's best weird little guy. The ensemble of character actors do well in their parts. But as for the rest of it? Tiresome. And that's not a description you want with this show.

The material still holds up, and it's timely. Capitalist overlords. Oh joy. But Cladwell just isn't cartoonishly villainous enough to carry the lead antagonistic role. He's too tentative and never throws himself into the kooky nature of the world. And Jordan Fisher as Bobby Strong is too earnest and bland to really stir up any revolution. He gets there in "Run, Freedom Run," but that's about it. He doesn't have the comedy chops to go for broke. Filling in for Keala Settle, Tiffany Mann does the best with the time she had to prepare, but eh. She sings the part in an operettic style instead of the brassy belt, and that's fine, I suppose. She's a great singer, but she's not the strongest actor, and her Pennywise is too soft and sympathetic right from the jump. The character needs to be brash and brazen enough to carry the secondary antagonist role throughout most of the show. She needs to have total authority and inspire major fear, but here she's played as exhausted and almost a shrinking violet among the hammy chorus. Why is she not unhinged here? It's the sort of show where overacting is encouraged. Just let it all hang out.

But the weakest link is unfortunately the child actor. Casting Little Sally as an actual child is a big mistake if the child cannot do the immense comedic work needed to bring the whole story home. And she doesn't have the acting experience or skills needed here. She's quiet and recites her lines as if she's reading them off a script for the first time. Nowhere does she embody the scrappy kid who can survive on the streets with her own wit. Cut the kid and bring back a madcap adult on roller skates. Where's Celia Keenan-Bolger when you need her?

And through it all, the whole thing is brought down by the poor sound mixing. The last few productions have been better at sound design and balance, but here it's right back to the absolute trashfire that was Pal Joey's inaudible vocals. Even from the front mezzanine, the actors were getting drowned out by the orchestra. The material made it funny enough not to be a total slog, but it just was not good. Still not the worst thing I've seen at Encores! though, so at least there's that.

Verdict: Enjoyable, But Left No Lasting Impression

A Note on Ratings