#but this is off me seeing so many reviews for both movies now

[nico-the-overlord]

I just find it so funny when people shit on Lin Manuel Miranda, then beg for him to come back after seeing movies trying to replicate his music style and miserably failing

[impactrueno]

after seeing so many people bring up Drop Dead Fred in the comments of my bj & lyds comic, i decided to finally watch it last night and oh my god. i get it now. that's literally them, it's crazy???? i mean not 100% but i'm still shocked at how much they reminded me of both beej and lydia in looks, personality and dynamic (i gotta say though, i'm surprised that fred is more chaotic and infuriating than beej lol. fred makes him look tame in comparison)

it's interesting that tim burton was offered to direct this movie. i can definitely see how that would've turned out. the dark humor, the aesthetic of the imaginary friends and the inside of elizabeth's head already felt pretty burtonesque as they were in the movie, so i don't doubt he was a source of inspiration regardless.

fred and elizabeth though...it's crazy how much this feels like a spiritual successor to the beetlejuice cartoon. obviously it has its own identity so it's not like it's a beetlejuice ripoff or anything, especially since elizabeth is an adult dealing with adult problems and fred's existence is kinda vague in the sense that you don't know how much of him is actually imaginary/part of elizabeth's mind, and how much of him is an actual entity separate from elizabeth. i think by the end he struck me as some type of fucked up guardian angel that only manifests to those who need him. his purpose and reason of existence are directly tied to elizabeth (or whoever needs an imaginary friend) due to her needing some sort of coping mechanism to deal with abuse from her mother and her ex-husband. so like...part of her brain (her taking special pills weakens him until he disappears) but also not. he just exists with the sole purpose of helping her get back on her feet.

which is why i'm baffled at this letterboxd review i saw when i logged the movie:

girl what the FUCK are you talking about.

(spoilers: there is one kiss. one very non-sexual non-romantic goodbye kiss between elizabeth and her living coping mechanism/figment of her imagination/guardian angel of sorts after she managed to heal her inner child thanks to him. i am straight up stupefied that someone would interpret this whole thing as grooming. what movie were you watching)

i'm surprised in general at how so many people completely missed the point of the movie. people taking the gross out immature humor at face value as if that's what the movie is about has me worried about people's media literacy for real lol. this perception of the movie made it flop in the US and even had david letterman condescend to rik mayall when he interviewed him back when the movie came out in 1991. man.........don't piss me off lol

anyway. weird but ultimately lovely movie, it makes so much sense that this is a comfort movie for many and now i totally get why my comic reminded people of it. i understood what they were going for and it's tragic that general audiences did not. it's a movie that's hard to market for sure, because it looks like a kids movie at first glance but the themes and humor are very adult; but then an adult might look at this movie and go "why am i watching a movie where an imaginary manchild calls this girl snotface and makes all these crude gross out jokes" so i'm just. pinching the bridge of my nose in frustration at how misunderstood this movie ended up being

so yeah if you like beetlejuice and lydia's friendship in the cartoon, definitely watch this movie. just know what you're in for lol

[thenightling]

Dead boy Detectives review

I've watched all eight episodes of Dead Boy Detectives and it was a decent show. It's not something I may obsess over like The Sandman, or The Witcher, but it was decent.

Dead Boy Detectives is the story of Edwin Payne and Charles Rowland. Edwin was killed during a Satanic ritual in 1916. Charles died from hypothermia and internal bleeding after some bullies drove him into an ice-cold lake while throwing rocks at him.

(Note: That was not how Charles actually died in the source material. In the comics, Lucifer had quit and shut down Hell (the basis for the TV show Lucifer) so many evil souls returned to Earth, including the boys that sacrificed poor Edwin. They badly burnt Charles' back on a hot stove and Charles died from his injuries.)

The two ghosts decided to dedicate their afterlife solving mysteries to help other ghosts find peace. They are aided by psychic, Crystal Palace, who is haunted by her abusive ex-boyfriend who happens to be a demon.

Both Edwin Payne and Charles Rowland originated in Neil Gaiman's The Sandman: Season of Mists, The Sandman: Volume 4. Issue 25 of The Sandman comics, and within Act 2 of The Sandman audio drama.

The Dead Boy Detectives made their TV first appearance in Doom Patrol for HBO Max (now Max). During a shakeup at Max the show was moved over to Netflix as to better connect it with The Sandman since that is where they originated.

The show features different actors from the ones that played Charles and Edwin on Doom Patrol.

The Dead Boy Detectives is a decent show but ...it feels a bit like a CW teen drama. I had been told that some of the show's writers were originally writers for the CW... and it shows.

There are some deliberately surreal elements of the show that I think are a callback to their appearance in Doom Patrol.

I love the variety of supernatural entities in the show, including the appearance of two of Morpheus's siblings. Death and Despair. The things I don't like about the show can be considered CW tropes or cliches. The angsty romances and unrequited love. The ham-fisted abusive ex metaphor between Crystal and David The Demon.

And of course the most tedious of CW tropes, the end of the episode pining and angst while a sad pop song plays in the background.

If you look past the CW-ness of it, the show is enjoyable.

The only other things I can complain about is the "connecting thread" subplot of The Afterlife: Lost and Found feels like unnecessary filler. And I wish they would openly establish that Edwin, being an innocent, would NOT return to Hell if collected by Death now. I don't think that should be left hanging over his head. Especially since we're supposed to see Death as a kind entity. Also I think Charles says "Aces" a little too much. It's very distracting and makes me feel like the writers didn't know much late 80s English slang. It would be like if he was an American and they had him say "Radical" all the time. I get that it's kind of his catchphrase but it also got a bit annoying.

The parts I don't like are CW tropes and what I'd consider to be late 90s Vertigo edginess.

The thing I liked were plentiful though. The protagonists were and are likable. The ending is satisfying enough so that if there is only one season this was still good. I liked that it appears that one can ascend out of Hell after some self-reflection as is indicated by the boy Edwin confronted in Hell. The blue light was established to mean ascension, a good afterlife.

I also LOVE the opening credits theme music and animated sequence. It reminds me of the intro to Showtime's Creature Feature movies. (See the trailer for 2001's She Creature, not the 50s version. Watch the trailer at thirteen seconds in, on Youtube, and you'll see what I mean).

That's two Gothic themed shows from Netflix in the last two years with great opening credits sequences. The first being Wednesday. That one won Danny Elfman an Emmy.

It's funny, Wednesday and Dead Boy Detectives (which is a spin-off of The Sandman) have great opening credit intro sequences but The Sandman does not. Apparently Neil Gaiman was told people don't watch the opening credits anymore so The Sandman doesn't have them.

I feel we were cheated out of what could have been a great opening sequence for The Sandman.

Episodes 7 and 8 of Dead Boy Detectives were probably the best of the series. I liked it well enough that if Dead Boy Detectives gets renewed I'll happily watch season 2.

[fuckyeahisawthat]

Re-skimmed through a bunch of Dune Messiah last night because why not and now I am having thoughts:

The thing that sticks with me most is the tone. It's melancholy, it's eerie, it's unsettled and weird. Cannot think of a more pitch-perfect director for it than Denis Villeneuve. He's gonna nail it.

There is...not that much...actual story? Denis has referred to it in interviews as "a small book" and I'm like my guy it is 350 pages. But there are actually not that many plot beats. It's just that every. single. scene. is WILDLY overwritten. The real challenge of adapting Dune is not the giant worms or the dense complicated worldbuilding or the fact that actors have to say the name "Duncan Idaho" repeatedly with a straight face. It's that there are pages and pages and PAGES of internal monologue that have to be externalized somehow for film.

After a re-skim my gut instinct for "how much story goes in a feature film" is that if you just wrote out the dialogue and action that happens in every scene in the book in screenplay format you'd end up with...maybe about an hour of material? Which is great, actually, because it means there is room to add stuff. Like a whole new independent plotline for Chani if they decide to do that.

It may seem insane to add things to an adaptation of what's notoriously one of the wordiest series in classic sci-fi but it's worth remembering that they added quite a bit to Dune Part Two. Most of the first hour of the movie--almost everything before the worm ride except for Jessica drinking the Water of Life--is stuff that isn't in the book. And it's the best part of the movie essential to making the movie work as well as it does. Yes, they also cut elements from both parts (the dinner scene, the whole plotline where Gurney thinks Jessica is a Harkonnen spy, Thufir Hawat's fate, Leto II the Elder, murder toddler Alia) but I understand why each of those elements was cut or changed in the service of cinematic storytelling.

There's an interview (can't remember which one) with Jon Spaihts, the other co-writer of the scripts along with Denis, where he talks about how Dune is like a stage play, with so many of what would be the big action set pieces happening off-page. I kept thinking about that comparison while reviewing Dune Messiah because in addition to the scenes that do exist being wordy and internal as fuck, an absolutely insane list of major events/reveals/emotionally significant moments happen off-page. The list of things that we don't actually see in the main action of the story, that we're only told about after they happen, includes:

Chani finding out Irulan has been secretly dosing her with birth control for YEARS

People trying to capture a sandworm and take it off planet

Chani and Paul finding out Chani is pregnant after 12 years of trying to conceive

Paul flying an ornithopter carrying his extremely-about-to-go-into-labor partner while blind

CHANI DYING (first time reading I did NOT know this was coming and damn near threw my Kindle across the room at the way the information was delivered)

Alia executing a bunch of people including a Bene Gesserit Reverend Mother

Paul walking into the desert at the end

You could add all these moments into a scene-for-scene film adaptation of the book and probably still have room to add more material.

The other thing that jumps out is that Paul doesn't really...govern...much. Like there's this whole subgenre of post-Dune/Dune Messiah-era fic that's just some combination of Paul, Chani, Irulan and sometimes Feyd traipsing around the palace having feelings while vague politics happens in the background, but I forgot that Dune Messiah is actually kinda like that??

There is a whole thread of Paul feeling kind of abstractly bad about being Space Hitler but he does not, in fact, actually do anything about it. And like yes both bureaucracies and religious movements can grow to have a life of their own that seems beyond the control of any one person. But also my dude you are the Emperor of the Known Universe. Someone is signing those space checks for the Endless War budget. You are not powerless here.

The one thing that really, clearly drives Paul to actively do things in the plot is not feeling guilty about having unleashed catastrophic religious war on the universe. It is protecting his family. Chani, Alia, his unborn children, and you could probably throw in Duncan by the end. That is what motivates him to act at key moments, and to want to hold on to power. And hey, y'know, if I'd experienced almost everyone I'd ever known getting murdered in a single night, I would probably get a bit intense about that too! It makes sense from a character point of view!

I'm very curious to see how these threads interweave with each other in the film, because the Villeneuve films put a lot of emphasis on Paul's agency and the fact that he may be constrained by shitty circumstances thousands of years in the making, but he still makes choices within that context. I can't see the narrative allowing film!Paul to get away with the same Poor Little Dictator routine as in the book. There are a few ways they could play this but I think the most interesting one is kinda the way they started going at the end of Part Two. Which is that as soon as you start reaching for that kind of power, then power becomes its own end and you will end up doing increasingly horrific things to maintain it. I think it would be quite interesting if the film shows us Paul not just being like "woe is me" but actively choosing to make the world worse because his trauma-driven fear of losing the people he loves makes him cling ever more desperately to power for its own sake.

If they went this route I think it would make Paul's decision at the end hit even harder. FWIW I actually really like Paul walking off into the desert at the end of the book. I think it brings things full circle with his relationship to the Fremen and creates this beautiful arc going back to the duel with Jamis. He first won a place among the Fremen through respecting their customs even though he really did not want to fight and kill someone he had no beef with. And by respecting the Fremen custom of the blind walking off into the desert, he proves himself to be fully Fremen and protects his children not by making them heirs to the throne but by making them Fremen.

And yeah, to a modern audience here on Earth it can look like "Paul conveniently fucks off and doesn't have to raise his newly-motherless children." And we can have a whole discussion about the unexamined ableism of the idea of someone who's gone blind voluntarily choosing death so as to "not be a burden" on their community. But neither of those readings is really the point here. Within the logic of Fremen cultural values, where the survival of the group as a whole is more important than the life of any one individual ("your water belongs to the tribe" etc.) Paul's choice is a willing and intentional self-sacrifice (see also: fedaykin) that wins him huge respect. There's a line in the book about Paul that's like "He would be one of them forever now" and damn if that didn't give me shivers. Like!! The political-symbolic implications!!! Which maybe I'm particularly attuned to because I just wrote a whole fic about what does it mean for an outsider to become Fremen but hmm something something Paul's final* act not being an exercise of Imperial power but an expression of kinship with an oppressed group and that being the thing that's needed to keep his family safe even if he is not physically present with them...IT IS RICH SYMBOLIC TERRITORY.

(*Yes yes I know about events in the next book. Shush.)

This kind of stuff is why I tend to think Chani may start out in a very different place in the story but the end will still be pretty close to what's in the book. It's too thematically powerful and tragic to go any other way.

But also...if they change things around enough that she is still alive at the end of the movie...I won't be sad about it.

[aimless-imagines-for-fun]

Tutor Rewards

Pairing :: Chad Radwell x Fem!Reader

Warnings :: 18+ Content, NSFW/SMUT, dub-con?(sex is the only thing that motivates this man), oral(m), implied cheating(never addresses that he's dating Channel at the time)

Word Count ::  1,945

Summary :: As Chad's tutor, you quickly figured out only one thing that motivates him to study: sex. He did well on a practice exam and you give him a reward.

A/N :: I KNOW GLEN POWELL HAS SO MANY OTHER CHARACTERS THAT ARE MORALLY BETTER THAN CHAD BUT he's an idiot and my first introduction to Glen and now whenever I see him in any movie I go "Look at Chad go."

The tapping of Chad's foot and the scribbling of your pen were the only noises in your dorm room. The star jock of the campus sat nervously a good three feet away from your desk, waiting for you to finish reviewing the practice exam he had taken. God, he was hoping he got every question right that way he could get his reward: fucking you.

-

You were his private– and secret– tutor. An arrangement was created by your biological anthropology professor who promised you extra credit in this class and another class of his you were taking. Your professor told you that Chad needed to raise his D+ to a C- and you'd be golden. The assignment felt easy enough until you started studying with the broad-shouldered stud. After one review, you were honestly surprised he even managed to pass his high school biology classes.

At first, you noticed he was less than enthusiastic about studying, something he rarely did apparently. He even offered to pay you to do all his homework– a suggestion you seriously considered before realizing that no matter how well you did on the assignments he'd flunk the exams, thus tanking his grade again. You tried various studying techniques: crash course videos, flashcards, jeopardy-style quizzes, hell, you even put on a paper puppet show(which surprisingly was the most successful at retaining his attention).

You were damn near ready to give up until you noticed some odd behavior from him one session.

It was a particularly warm day and the library's AC was busted, so you were wearing a spaghetti strap sundress that was a bit tight around the chest. While trying to explain the difference between various hominid skulls, you noticed he was carefully observing the photos you had, like he was paying attention. Which was odd because he never paid attention.

When you asked him to point out which skill was which species based on the teeth, you were surprised he guessed all of them correctly. Naturally, you asked him what was so different about today's session than all the others.

His answer both surprised you and grew your resentment towards him.

“Probably because when you held the pictures up you looked topless, so I was imagining what you looked like behind the photos.”

You felt your brain short-circuit for a moment before throwing all the materials you had at him in a fit of frustration before storming off. Of course, his sexualizing you is what made him pay attention to what you were saying.

God, he's such a pig it's not fair he's so damn handsome, you thought 

Naturally, not wanting to fail the class, he chased after you and begged you to continue tutoring him.

“(Y/N), I need your help passing this class. If I fail I- I don't know what I'm going to do!”

“I'm not some object you can ogle at, Chad!’

“Come on! I can't help it! I had no clue you were kinda hot under all those baggy librarian cardigans.”

“‘Kinda hot’?!” Your anger was rising, and he could tell. Not only was he objectifying you, but now he had just insulted your sense of fashion.

“My bad- I shouldn't have chosen those words to say! I'm sorry!” He grabbed your hand in desperation. “Please… I need your help…”

He gave you a puppy dog pout, one that was nearly impossible to refuse. You groaned, tanking your hand away.

“You're paying me if I do this because extra credit is NOT enough.”

“Of course! Whatever you want, just name your price!”

“And we're going to have to start having study sessions at my dorm instead now.”

He cocked his head. “How come?”

You turn away, embarrassed about the reason you were going to give. “That way I can get you to pay attention.”

Chad was dumb, but he wasn't that dumb. He knew what you meant and his dick twitched. He was so sure he had seen a porn that went like this before.

Sadly for him, you genuinely meant to help him learn and had him work. Granted, you were always in a tight-fitted shirt without a bra and a short skirt, but you never let him touch you. You made it very clear, you wouldn't be fucking him– which he did try to negotiate for after getting his first B- on a pop quiz.

Eventually, his attention started to slip nearing the end of the semester. Apparently, he was losing interest in just having to imagine what you'd look like naked all the time. He needed more stimulus to pay attention.

After a lengthy debate– one he was oddly well prepared for– you both agreed you would touch him to get him to focus. You wouldn't touch him underneath his clothes, only over, and he was still not allowed to touch you. You were also getting a boost in what he was paying you.

First, it started with some gentle circling of your hands around his shoulders. Then, some rubbing of his biceps or chest, eventually moving down to his thigh. You could see a small mound forming in his crotch, though refused to touch it.

It was only when one particularly frustrating study session did you put your hand there. He was tired from practice, which would've been fine except for the fact you had a quiz the next day.

You meant to grab and squeeze his thigh to wake him up, instead of grabbing his dick. It worked though, the drowsiness immediately exiting his body and his focus all on you. You didn't want to show him how embarrassed you were, so you looked away in shame with your hand still holding his growing erection and had him memorize the key terms for the chapter you were in. With each word he correctly told you the definition of, you stroked him through his pants.

You refused to make eye contact the entire time, but he was a-okay with that since your shyness made it all the more hot for him.

This method was very useful when it came to getting Chad to memorize key terms, though it always left him wanting more. So much so, that he memorized all the key terms in the textbook in hopes of getting enough strokes he'd be able to cum. You had to admit, watching how desperate he was to cum just from some hand action over the clothes turned you on. Plus, you were majorly impressed with how much getting laid seemed to motivate the guy.

So, knowing how much of a fiend he was for sex, you promised him that if he managed to get every question right on the final exam you’d sleep with him.

-

Currently, you were grading the test exam the professor handed out. Chad was getting about every eight questions wrong, worrying you slightly that you might have to sleep with him. You only made the deal partly because you didn’t think it would happen. With a score of 83/100, you almost debated sabotaging him a bit. You put down your red

“Nice, does this mean we’re finally fucking?”

“I told you I’d only do that if you got a perfect score on the final exam. Now shut up, or else I'm not rewarding you by sucking your dick anymore, Chad.”

“Understood,” He said with a shit-eating grin.

He got comfortable fast, spreading his legs wide open to give you plenty of room. You sink between his legs, a heat rising to your cheeks and between your thighs. You pulled out his rock-hard erection, not surprised in the slightest that even his penis looked good– of course, Chad Radwell didn't have any physical flaws. He was slightly longer than average(or at least what you were used to), a good girth, and a few veins already popped though.

You opened your mouth up wide and took in his tip, earning a pleased hum when you swirl your tongue around, going down further as you did.

“Shit, did you practice before?” He teased.

You glared, taking in more but still unable to get his full length in your mouth. You began bobbing your head quickly, wanting to get this over with as quickly as possible. As the droll started to spill out from the sides of your mouth, you noticed the veins on his forearms begin to flex.

“Shit, wait-!” He nearly shouted, hands jumping to your hair and yanking you still.

You whined, wanting to pull away and yell at him for pulling your hair, but his grip remained firm, keeping you in place. You stared up at him, waiting for him to explain himself.

“I wanna enjoy this, not get rushed to cum. This is a reward isn't it?”

He began to guide your head at a much slower pace. When he brought you down, his hips inched up, pushing more of his length down your throat. Unused to taking more down your throat, your eyes started to water as you had to fight your gag reflex. He repeated this until he managed to get his dick down your throat and your face was practically against his pelvis.

Instinctively, your body grew hot. You cursed the wetness that was forming on your panties right now.

“Fuck yes,” He groaned out. He grinned down at you, admiring your crying eyes and full mouth. “You know (Y/N),  you might even be hotter than Channel when you're not saying anything and just sucking dick.”

Unable to reply verbally, you lifted your middle finger. A part of you wanted to bite down on him and wipe the smug grin off his face, but another part of you had to admit it felt so good having him borderline face fuck you right now.

He picked up the speed a bit, though he didn't go as far down when he did. He was enjoying the view, yet he desperately wanted to cum. He just wasn't sure if he wanted to finish in your mouth or on your face. With the tension growing in his lower abdomen, he knew he had to make a choice and soon.

You were also aware of his readiness to cum. His guiding was getting sloppy and his hands were gripping your hair tighter. 

Realizing you'd be upset if you had to get semen out of your hair, he decided to finish in your mouth. So, he pulled your mouth off, only giving you a brief moment to gasp before standing and ramming his cock back in. He held your head in place as he thrusted into your mouth repeatedly. Your hands reached up, grabbing onto his forearms as you moaned around him.

With a few long strokes, his dick began to twitch, and hit spurts of cum poured down your throat. He held you close, making sure you swallowed every drop. You could feel him throbbing in your mouth until he eventually stopped and pulled himself out. You coughed a bit, and when he released your hair you slumped forward, your hands helping you remain up.

“I can’t…believe…you just…throat fucked me…asshole,” You said between pants.

“Like I said, it was a reward. I deserved to enjoy it.”

Begrudgingly, you took his hand when he offered to help you up. He was still beaming with joy, and your heart sank at his next sentence:

“Don’t make any plans for the 15th. I plan on making the most of my reward again,” and with a wink he left.

The 15th was the day your professor would release the scores for the final exam and possibly the day you had to have sex with that handsome idiot.

[ohmytyong]

[21:18]

PAIRING: boyfriend!mark x female!reader

GENRE: fluff, established relationship au

WARNINGS: food, pet names (mark says "my girl" once)

WC: 0,8k

A/N: just some random late night thoughts i had, enjoy♡

・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

"seriously though, that movie was terrible" mark said, dipping his plastic pink spoon into his watermelon-flavored gelato, his hair falling onto his eyes due to the soft summer breeze.

"no it wasn't! you just have terrible taste. like, didn't you see the character development? okay - scratch that - all the beautiful shots? it was a really good movie" you clapped back at him and he smirked at your defensive tone.

"okay, okay, alright, i get that. i'm not saying you're right, but we had a great time and i'm not in the mood to argue. i have to admit though," mark brought the spoon to his lips to taste the gelato, "you are so cute when you get all defensive like that" he said with a half smile, which earned a soft giggle from you.

you and mark liked going to the movies together; one of you would pick a random movie that you had no clue what was about and then you would give reviews that usually ended in such trivial arguments.

but now that it was summertime, you finally got to watch movies in your favorite place; the drive-in theater. mark would pick you up with his car and, in order to compensate for him paying for gas, you offered to buy snacks.

this time, you followed your typical routine of all your movie dates, but with one exception. the warm summer breeze and the lively night were practically inviting you to stay out for a little bit longer, so you and mark decided to treat yourselfs with some cool delicious gelato.

now both of you were outside the gelateria, sitting on top of the hood of mark's car, enjoying your gelato and each other's company.

for the next few minutes, the two of you remained silent, too focused on eating the gelato that nothing could make you speak. mark finished with his gelato first, and you followed shortly after him. he noticed that your cup was empty, so he gently grabbed the cup from your hands and tossed both of yours and his into the garbage bin behind the car.

mark licked his lips to taste the remaining gelato stains on them. he turned to look at you and noticed that you had one remaining stain in the corner of your lip. "oops, wait you've got-" he lifted his hand to your face and wiped the stain off your face with his thumb. "there we go, now you're good" mark said and you smiled at him, mumbling a small thanks.

mark didn't take his eyes off you. he couldn't. he sat there still, his eyes roaming into your bright ones. he could swear that he saw sparkles in your eyes, but he couldn't tell whether it was the stars and the moon reflecting on them or if he was just deeply in love with you.

you noticed that his lips parted slightly, the corners turning in an upward angle, as if he wanted to say something. "is there something you want to tell me?" you nudged him and his lips formed a full smile in an instant.

without breaking eye contact, he licked his lips again and spoke quietly, but his words were as clear as the night sky. "you are so beautiful" he simply said.

no matter how many times your boyfriend complimented you, you couldn't help but get shy around him. you lowered your eyes to your lap, pressing your lips together to prevent the massive smile that was threatening to appear on your face.

you felt mark's index finger lift your chin up, and before you could even say anything, he tilted his head to capture your lips in a soft yet heated kiss. your body immediately reacted to his touch, your arms flying over his shoulders as his hand caressed the side of your neck.

you were kissing mark for a few seconds when you pulled back abruptly, looking at him with wide eyes. "wait, we're in a public place. let's not go too overboard with this" you said.

mark playfully rolled his eyes at your statement and placed both his hands on your cheeks. "are you serious right now, y/n? we're literally all alone out here. besides, can't i kiss my girl whenever i want? what's the problem with that?" he said and you nodded in agreement.

"i just love you too much," mark continued, "and i want you to know it, i want to show it to you all the time. is that too much?" he asked you in a softer tone, searching into your glimmering eyes for an answer.

you moved your head closer to his face, your lips ghosting over his as your eyes never left his loving ones, giving him the answer he wanted to hear, the only answer that was real. "i love you too much mark. please show me how much you love me too."

* .♡ *:･ﾟ✧ ⋆ ࣪.* ࣪.⋆

TAGS: @peachjaem00 @hyuckieslove @bbyyhyuck @vdollys @positionslab @matchahyuck @renjun-fairy @back2jisung @doieslefttoe @uwuheeseungie

[marleyybluu]

Truth or Drink

Pedro Pascal x fem!reader

WC: 1k

A lil quick one

Warnings: alcohol (drink responsibly), age gap (reader is like 30 we’ll say), fluff and flirting.

Look at this cutie

You sat across from him, nothing but smiles on both faces as you stared into each other's souls intensely. His sweet brown eyes wandered your face, fresh out of the makeup chair and looking stunning as always. You let out a small giggle, you looked down to shuffle your cards of questions. Today was going to be interesting.

The two of you had starred in a romantic comedy that had come out last week and the reviews it was getting had been great so far. The real buzz was the chemistry you two had, tabloids often twisting your innocent hangouts as something more. Pedro wasn't a difficult person to get along with, the vibes had been there since day one. You two clicked almost instantly, it was almost impossible to shoot one scene without one of you breaking character.

You had to admit though, the feelings you had were no longer just platonic. The movie felt all too real and whenever the director yelled cut you were sucked back into reality. Oh, that man could kiss. Lips soft and sweet, gentle and careful with yours as if he was scared to hurt you. There'd been a few times it felt a bit too real, but you didn't mind.

He made your heart race, even now, as he watched you across the table.

Today was another promo video for your movie. You two were doing Truth or Drink for Cut's YouTube channel. They wouldn't normally have well-known actors on their channel but they loved how you two interacted and insisted on a piece of the action. You had seen many of these videos and a lot of them were enjoyable so you were excited to do this, and also happy to get a few shots in. Though you two had some shots the night before.

"Alright, you guys ready?"

The both of you nodded and looked back at each other. The cameraman gave you two the thumbs up, and it didn't take long for you to let out a nervous giggle and quickly apologize for it. Pedro shook his head. "Hi, I'm Pedro Pascal, and this is my unprofessional co-star YN YLN." You sucked your teeth reaching over the small table to hit him in the arm with your cards.

"You can actually start with a shot if you guys would like." One of the producers informed. "Oh really?" Pedro asked, he looked back at you to see that you had already popped the top off of the bottle with tequila and poured it into his shot glass before pouring it into your own. There was juice in a slightly bigger glass as a chaser but you often didn't need it. "Salud." He winked. "Salud." You smiled before clinking and drinking. You sucked in your cheeks and squeezed your eyes as the drink burned your esophagus.

Pedro tapped his cards against the table catching your attention. "You want to go first?"

"Nah, you go." You leaned back in your chair interested to hear what he had written down. He looked down at his cards, a bit nervous about how this was going to go, he would try not to take too many shots for fear he might confess his true feelings on camera. "When they told you would be working with me, were you excited?"

You playfully rolled your eyes, a simple question but that shit-eating grin he had on his face meant it was a cocky question. "I already told you how I felt."

"Yeah but now you have to tell them."

"Yes, Pedro I was excited when they told me that I'd be working with you." You admitted on camera begrudgingly. Pedro's eyes disappeared as he smiled at the camera, your heart fluttered as his contagious emotion spread over to you. You quickly looked down at your cards. "Hm, who's a better acting partner? Me or Oscar Isaac?"

He shook his head repeating the word 'nope.' He was not about to get in trouble with his two friends, he reached over for the bottle and took a shot while you sat there dumbfounded with your mouth agape in amusement and utter shock. "You know what," You looked into the lens. "He only took that shot because he didn't want to hurt your feelings, Oscar."

Pedro snorted before throwing his head back, he quietly hissed as the alcohol burned his throat. You bounced your leg up and down as your eyes focused on the slender of his neck, the way his Adam's apple bobbed when he swallowed. You groaned internally. "Alright," He started. "Do we have to do boring questions?"

"You can ask anything you want." They reassured. He slowly nodded.

The back and forth continued, and a few more rounds of liquor entered both your systems— the both of you giggly and probably annoying the rest of the crew but you no longer cared. "Do you watch the TikTok edits that people make about you? And does it boost your ego?"

He closed his eyes in defeat. "Yes, I do watch them." He cringed. "Some of them are a little... you know..." Pedro wiggled his brows alluding to the fact that some videos were a little too thirsty. "But I love them all anyway. So thanks, guys."

It was his turn to ask, he cleared his throat and shuffled in his seat. You knew him like the back of your hand, he was nervous but what could he be nervous about? You were just asking each other goofy questions, nothing too weird. Right?

"Okay, am I the best kisser out of all your co-stars?" He asked. You tilted your head, eyes passing between him and the shot glass, wondering if you should say the truth or leave it to the imagination. You nodded your head keeping your lips sealed. "Am I really?"

He sounded almost shocked.

"Yeah, you are."

"No bullshit?"

"No bullshit Pascal."

He made a proud face. "How about out of all your little boyfriends?" Your eyes popped out of your head, he was getting a little too hasty. He watched as you slowly reached over to the bottles, it was quiet as you poured your drink of choice. You looked up at the ceiling and sighed. "Yes." You still took your shot pursing your lips and shaking your head as it went down.

He was taken aback, sure he asked the question but he expected you to take a shot instead of actually answering it. You shrugged putting your cards flat on the table. "Same question for you."

At this point the crew let them do what they want, the more natural it looked the better. Pedro shrugged. "Yeah, I'd say you're at the top of the list."

"Oooh, there's a list."

"Of course." He smugged. He tugged on his bottom lip, eyes scanning the entirety of your face. "Have you ever had a crush on a co-star?"

You covered your face, you were really laying everything on the table, in front of these strangers and soon for hundreds of thousands of people to see. "What are you getting at Pascal?"

"I'm just playing the game." He said with that not-so-innocent face. "Yes, I have a crush on a co-star?"

"I said had."

You smirked. "I know."

Now it was his turn to blush, he giggled nervously. "I have a crush on one of my co-stars too."

You turned your head away, you were nothing but a bundle of nerves. Pedro gently kicked you under the table and you returned the favour. Neither of you had any more questions... that could be asked on camera at least. "Well if you'll excuse us..." Pedro proceeded to stand up, he hooked his arm inviting you to wrap yours around it and you did not hesitate.

"We have some things to discuss. Make sure you guys check out our new movie. Byeeeee."

The producers stood there stunned at what just happened while you two skipped off. You could only imagine the response and chaos that this would cause.

I have to get these Pedro fics out of my system yall. I'm off tomorrow so hopefully ill post another one and then after that I'll update based on the poll (go vote if you'd like) if you liked this fic, feel free to like this fic. Comments and reblogs are appreciated. Peace and love

[tokiwarcube]

This is gonna be so random, but can we get dethklok headcanons of how they'd react to their s/o being a ghoul/ghoulette in Ghost, please? 😶

Less random than you'd think, actually! This prompt in particular was actually written with a ghoul/ette reader in mind, although it wasn't explicitly stated. I'm actually a huge Ghost fan, myself! Bonus points to anyone who can ID me in the movie, LMAO

I do encourage reading This one for a bit more instrument/element specifics, but regardless, do enjoy!

Nathan Explosion

Despite his fame, Nathan keeps his personal life a secret from the media — or well, as best as he can as one of the most famous men in the world. So in that sense, he kind of admires the anonymity you maintain. Or at least used to maintain, anyways.

He’s gotten sucked into the metal vs. not metal debate, and before seeing you perform, he absolutely lies on the latter half of the debate. But holy shit, talk about stage presence. He’s very proud of where Dethklok stands in a concert sense — seeing Dethklok is truly, a completely unforgettable experience — but Ghost is just… Brutal.

Performance-wise, he likes Year Zero the most — the first time he saw flames erupting over the stage, bathing you in hues of orange and white absolutely took his breath away. Any song where you get to shine is a favorite of his as well.

His favorite song overall is a toss up between Year Zero and Elizabeth, though. He likes the lyrical imagery of both, and really, what metal performer doesn’t have a soft spot for an song about Elizabeth Bathory?

He gets a bit jealous if you’re a little flirty on stage, especially because he can’t just swoop in to make his place clear, but he works through it.

He’s a little obsessed with the Era V outfits — don’t be too surprised if he gets a bit handsy when the mask comes off. Or before.

He fucking hates Plushia with a passion — he is convinced that its cursed, and will not allow him in the house.

Pickles the Drummer

Pickles LOVES Ghost once you introduce him, and not just because you’re in it. The very fun, in-your-face sexuality that comes with rituals is right up his alley, and the musical niche they fall into with regards to genre is just… Listen, he loves the heavy shit, but rock will always have a place in his heart.

Impera enjoyer till the end of his days. His favorite live song is Watcher in the Sky, both for the vibes and for how crazy you’re allowed to be on stage; however, he’s also rather partial to Mary on a Cross, for obvious reasons. It’s not his favorite musically, but he does think that the bit Papa does live is funny as fuck.

Assuming you’re a ghoul with a bit of movement, he likes to hang out with security so he can hit his vape and shotgun you from below. There are MANY videos of this circulating online, and you’ve gotta admit — it’s pretty hot. Sometimes he’ll indulge the rest of the ghouls if they try to jump on the train — he’s not greedy. Also, its funny.

He likes to suggest silly little bits to incorporate into future shows — whether or not they actually get through review is another thing, but he’s got some good ideas. He doesn’t mind if you get a bit flirty on stage either — hell, he thinks it’s hot as fuck, truth be told.

He always steals mummy bucks out of the cannons before they go off. Puts it in a money clip and everything, the bastard.

He thinks the military outfit is hot as hell, but also. You do look like a bug. And he won’t hesitate to rib you about it every now and then.

Misses Cowbell Ghoul every day of his life.

Skwisgaar Skwigelf

He loves how camp Ghost is — all of the bits really make the show fun, and he loves that humor is incorporated so well. After catching enough of your Rituals, he starts bugging Nathan to incorporate some sort of spin off the “go fuck yourself” bit, and let me tell you, he’s CLOSE to getting his way.

He absolutely made fun of you when the Era V outfits got revealed… and never stopped. He loves the Era III and IV outfits so much more all around, and will never let them go. (I’m so sure that he’d like it more if he could see past the mask, but he just can’t. Quit staring at him with them big ole eyes!!!)

He still insists on tightening the bolo for you before you go on stage, though. And he secretly saves all of the gifs and videos of you on stage to watch when he misses you. So… maybe the mask does grow on him a little bit, loathe as he is to admit it.

I don’t know how to tell you this, but he 100% develops this weird, pretty one-sided rivalry with Dew. Is it because of the man beneath the mask? Is it some weird lead guitarist thing? Is it because he gets to work with you on stage, and Skwisgaar doesn’t? He’ll never tell you, but either way, he shoots some vile glares his way whenever you two interact on-stage.

There’s one particular video of Dew flashing the “you suck” sticker at him, and Skwis just glaring up a storm in response.

His favorite songs to hear live are either Mummy Dust or Cirice, and he always tries to coax you over to flirt with him a bit… and he’s usually successful He might be in the crowd at barrier, but he’s managed to cement himself as a staple of every ritual. Go figure.

(People online always complain about the giant at barrier though, please convince him to hang with security under the guise of sneaking kisses or something. People are So Sick of his tall ass, even if he does add to the show.)

Toki Wartooth

Ghost ticks so many boxes for Toki, so needless to say, he is ecstatic that you get to work with such a cool act!

His favorite album is a hard tie between Opus Eponymous and Prequelle, funnily enough. The former reminds him of his early days in metal, but he loves the overall vibes of Prequelle — very hard to choose between the two, for him.

After you introduced him to Ghost through your work, he actually delved a bit deeper, and got obsessed with Repugnant. He 100% prods you into prodding Mr. Toblerone Frog into doing more death metal stuff.

He absolutely makes bracelets to trade with fans — getting a bracelet made by Toki quickly becomes as legendary as getting a ghoul pick. Although there’s always exactly one bracelet per show that he makes with one of your spare picks that he hands out to one special person.

He has your ringtone set to If You Have Ghosts :’) He also very much loves the Ghesties bit, and there’s a nonzero chance that he’s changed your contact to be a gh- prefix of some sweet little petname he has for you.

His favorite song is easily Dance Macabre — both live and off the stage! This only doubles after the events of LA.

He saves mummy dust and confetti from every show that you do, and keeps it in his scrapbook.

He thinks the Era V outfit is really cute. You DO look like a bug… but you’re his bug :)

He has been begging for ghoul plushies since he started dating you; although, he is very happy to own a little Plushia. He thinks he’s cute.

William Murderface

Like Nathan, he has also gotten into online debates about whether or not Ghost is metal — except he takes the opposite position of Nathan. Ghost is metal as fuck to him. Listen, you don’t go on stage in front of that many people, make fun of God and everyone who worships him, and come out not being metal. Like the Satanism bit is whatever, but having the balls to go and make fun of that many people on stage? Metal.

He thought the old outfits were really boring, but he is nothing short of obsessed with Era V — for both you and Papa alike. He desperately wants a replica of Papa’s military jacket.

His favorite album overall is probably Infestissumam, but he’s also partial to Opus Eponymous. He’s been begging you to get talk Trickery Feet into getting Idolatrine on the setlist since you got him into Ghost — hell, if he ever gets the motivation to actually record Planet Piss, he’d love to do a cover of it.

Although his favorite songs to see live are probably either Mummy Dust or — after the LA show — Twenties. Twenties slides in very quick as his number one after the LA show.

He gets into arguments online about your characterization in fandom spaces, I’m sorry. He does indeed read fanfic, and he will be leaving “they would not fucking say that” comments.

He likes to banter back and forth at night about what your role would be in the clergy if you know, the whole bit was real. For someone who doesn’t give a fuck about religion, he actually puts a lot of thought into this.

[lemonadecandy103]

Psycho Pass Providence — The Re-introduction of Kougami Shinya

Still working on a general review on Psycho Pass: Providence and also a Shinkane/KouAka post. But I had so many thoughts on Kougami after watching the movie twice that I had to document them while they were still fresh. This is a follow-up to a post I made about Kougami prior to watching PPP: some of my impressions did change while others stayed the same. It’s a lot so keep reading if you’re interested in what I thought about Kougami’s character in Providence. WARNING: Spoilers!!!

I’ll begin with the scene in Dejima where Kougami and Saiga are drinking together. There’s one particular line that I felt could’ve been made smoother: Saiga says “the girl is neither a saint nor a bodhisattva, screw around too much and you’ll end up getting enforced. Apologize while you still have the chance Kougami. Take it from an old timer like me.” and he raises his glass with a smile. I watched both the subbed and the dubbed version and the line is very similar across both. I can’t help but think that line could’ve been improved slightly. Maybe it flows more naturally in Japanese so I can’t speak on that matter. But if I had the liberty of tweaking it even just a little, it would go as follows: “the girl in neither a saint nor a bodhisattva, screw around too much and you’ll end up losing her forever.”

And I don’t mean to necessarily press for him losing her as a love interest, but even just a trusted friend or at least a colleague who always had his best interest in mind.

Ultimately, not exploring the more emotional (and by extension—the romantic) aspects of Kougami’s character was a missed opportunity for Providence in my opinion. He’s the second main character in this installment and we got very little inward reflection from him this time around. The last 15 or so minutes of the film is what really impressed me with respect to his character. Seeing him exit the isolation facility, looking back, and then looking ahead, declaring “I swear, I’ll come back for you,”  with such ardor reminded me that he’s still a hero in this story, however unconventional he may be.

It was clear that Akane and Kougami’s relationship had to change in this installment. After 6 long years, they are both different people now and cannot go back to the same relationship dynamics as in Season 1. More on that in a different post. Consequently, the portrayal of these individual characters had to evolve in order to match this change. Initially, when I watched the promotional clips, I was put off by his bluntness—especially towards Akane. But there were instances where we saw the caring Kougami seep through. He smiles once in the film. And this is when Saiga tells him: “I don’t work with the PSB, I work with Akane Tsunemori.”  I don’t know if he smiles because he still finds it funny that Saiga is cooperating with the government or if he smiles at the mention of Akane’s name or even some matter of pride at how much Akane is respected by Professor Saiga. Either way, it was nice to see this moment.

The other less noticeable moments from Kougami were two times when he showed what I can interpret as a combination of grief and frustration. From my observations, his eyes were animated to have this glistening/“quivering” motion, similar to this gif, minus the actual tears — there were no tears in Kougami’s case:

It’s very subtle but please let me know if anyone else also noticed this. The first time his eyes did this was when after Saiga died and he called Shion to consult Saiga’s psychological profile of Tonami along wirh Akira’s poem. Shion mentions how horrible it was �� what happened to the professor. Kougami pauses and adds “Yeah”  but the tone is almost as if he had to force it out of himself. I couldn’t help but feel like he was holding it together for the investigation, but deep down was grieving the loss of his dear professor. After all, he told Akane to keep it bottled up until the end of the case. The second time I saw this effect of his eyes was while he was reading Akane’s letter in his isolation cell. He gets to the part where she writes about being glad to have seen him again and that he helped her find the answer. He calls her a bakayaro, and his hands grab the letter so fiercely that it kind-of crumples while he throws his whole body into a defeated hunch — since he’s stuck in his cell and can’t even do anything to stop her.

I had read some early accounts by Japanese viewers that he was crying while reading her letter: this effect in the eyes may have been what was mistaken as crying.

Although it was nice to see Kougami go through these moments in PPP, I can’t help but feel like there could have been more. However, Providence is a very dense film and I’ll give it the benefit of the doubt that with all the action sequences, Akane’s iconic scenes, and the supporting cast all getting their own memorable segments, Kougami’s development just wasn’t a priority. If Shiotani, Fukami, and Ubukata intend to make an SAD spin-off as they’ve expressed in interviews, I would hope that they explore possible romantic or other intimate human feelings on Kougami’s part — similar to how he learned to be a father figure to Tenzing. In fact, I would argue that after Providence, it’s likely that they’ve backed themselves into a corner with regards to Kougami’s interpersonal relationships. The tension between Kougami and Akane was essentially the secondary conflict of the film and it ended with some resolution midway but also a shift in Kougami’s disposition once he read Akane’s letter, realizing the impact he had on her life. If there’s further content on Kougami as a person, we almost certainly need to at least confront his relationship with Akane and even Ginoza (was somewhat addressed on the boat scene and we see them on good terms in Season 3/PPFI). The other route is just watching a 007-Misson Impossible Kougami getting into knife fights and performing crazy stunts, but I think the PP fandom in general agrees that this option would be dull and a waste of a character who had such an artful inception. Now I know that PP wants to go for a more shōnen look and are cautious of depicting romance between the main characters. It was pretty obvious with Arata being introduced as the new main character and the fact that Yuki Kaji was brought on board to voice him (he’s done fantastic work on many popular shōnen characters including Eren Jaeger). But, showing how love could affect Kougami and how him giving love could present new angles of his character would undoubtedly be exciting to see. We know he wants to protect people. We know that he’s decided to work outside of the law in order to do that. He’s made peace with his revenge and he’s learned that he wants to protect people without any reserve or obligation. Saiga warned him about potentially becoming a killing machine like Tonami if he keeps letting people use him as a hunting dog, and he agreed that he doesn’t want that. I expect that he could follow the same thought process as Ginoza did in SS Case 1 where he ultimately just wants to help people with his detective work, without much care for who’s judged to be good or evil. On this note, it would be beneficial for Kougami to understand his heart a bit more. Maybe visit his mother too? Maybe actually value his own life instead of running into a fight like he has nothing to lose? He’d already prepared Akane for his death way back between S1 and S2. Would he fight differently if Akane were expecting him to come back home alive?

Hope you enjoyed reading my thoughts on Kougami’s character. Still love our chaotic spikey-haired gun-slinging emo cowboy. And I’m looking forward to what the creators might do with his character next.

[aihoshiino]

chapter 142 thoughts!

HEADS UP: In this review I discuss fictional depictions of sibling incest as well as a brief reference to both fictional and a real life suicide. As usual, feel free to skip if you're not in the right zone and I'll see you next time.

thank you for the kind words from everyone when i was still in the Slime Era of feeling sick lol. i'm like 80% back to full power now!

I'm gonna be totally up front and say I really think this is one of the worst chapters we've gotten in a while but here's the twist: it's not for the reasons you probably think!

We're following up basically right off the back of last chapter and immediately I am kind of mad at how shitty the series is continuing to do Miyako with regards to the movie arc. She was a total non-factor in the RBKN conflict and now that Aqua and Ruby are being pressured into doing something they have both verbalized that they don't want to do she's just like well gosh i feel complicated but what can i do :(. Having the setup almost 20 full chapters ago of Miyako expressing that she wants to step up and do more for Aqua and Ruby as their mother and then having her completely failing to intervene on their behalf here is just wild.

In general, the way everything is being set up to force this kiss feels so… well, forced. Even if Kaburagi (as the story says) insisted there be a kiss scene, there are a million ways to fake a kiss that doesn't involve actors actually kissing. Body doubles! Camera angles! Putting your thumbs in the way! Unless Kaburagi said "I want 20 full seconds of Kamiki sticking his tongue down Ai's throat center frame", there is absolutely no reason "a kiss scene" needs to mean "these two blood related twin sibling actors actually kiss". The whole thing is just so incredibly contrived.

And honestly? The fact that both Ruby and Aqua have expressed a 'no' and are being forced to do this anyway is the part of this chapter making me the most actively insane. It is absolutely mind boggling to have spent half of last chapter on a Miyako monologue about how immoral and unethical it is when people's ability to give informed and sincere consent is compromised by the entertainment industry and to then follow it with a whole chapter of basically every character we're supposed to like flaunting a total lack of respect for Aqua's comfort and consent in this regard, up to and including the completely insane scene of two adult women lecturing Aqua about how he isn't allowed to have boundaries. What the fuck is going on here!!!

This is especially frustrating because I actually really like a lot of things about the scene with Yoriko and Abiko… even if there's some stuff that really kind of broke me lol. Like uh, wasn't it a really huge plot point in Tokyo Blade that a mangaka couldn't be expected to turn out an entertaining theater script because those are two entirely different kinds of storytelling…??? But whatever.

Off the bat, I have really mixed-leaning-negative feelings about the reveal that the KamiAi romance scenes we'd gotten were entirely fictional. On the one hand, I actually feel pretty validated - I had guessed that the full-immersion-flashback presentation was a hint that we were being presented with a falsehood and it implicitly confirms something I've been saying from the start that 15 Year Lie's version of events has to be taken with a grain of salt, both because it contradicts known events and facts and because so many other people have interfered with it. Having that made textual and being able to confidently say it helps a lot in discussing what this means for the story.

But like… that means we wasted a whole bunch of time on shit that was made up and didn't matter! Like, thematically speaking, I think this is potentially interesting but I just keep getting stuck on the fact that we were given a super interesting scene finally fleshing out and giving us info about both a character and a relationship we've been absolutely starved for details about, only for the story to turn around not two chapters later and go "and my source? i made it the fuck up". It just totally dashes all the enthusiasm I was feeling and it also makes it way less rewarding to try and dig into what 15YL is doing when at any time, all of this potentially interesting character work could be revealed to be total piss in the wind.

Stepping back from that… in total isolation from everything else, I do think this talk with Abiko and Yoriko about what it means to write stories is interesting from a lot of angles. While I don't think these two are the 1-to-1 author avatars for Aka and Mengo fandom treats them as, they nevertheless clearly serve as reflections of the two's experiences and viewpoints about the manga industry and specific and the art of storytelling in general, allowing the story to play around in the quasi-metafictional space it does sometimes, where it uses in-universe fiction as a method of commenting on itself.

In that sense, I think Yoriko can be understood as speaking for Akasaka here and discussing some of his feelings as a storyteller of Oshi no Ko specifically. OnK has never made a secret of the fact that it's drawing on Akasaka's real experiences in the entertainment industry but perhaps less obvious to overseas fans is the inspiration it takes from real life issues in contemporary Japanese pop culture, too. Infamously, Akane's arc very transparent drew inspiration - if it wasn't reconstructed entirely - from the suicide of Hana Kimura, not even six full months after Kimura's death. When the anime aired, Kimura's surviving mother (imo, rightfully and deservedly) lambasted the series for using her daughter's death as the fodder for entertainment without consulting her surviving family. It wasn't even that she disagreed with what the series was saying - she just wanted someone to have some consideration.

This is what Yoriko means when she talks about the responsibility a writer has to their stories. When you write a piece of fiction as highly visible as Oshi no Ko currently is, it is your responsibility to consider the impact your words will have on the world. No, fiction does not directly impact the real world in a physical, tangible way but if we are careless with our stories, we can regurgitate and perpetuate dominant cultural narratives that very much do cause real, tangible harm to marginalized people. Hikaru Kamiki isn't a real person, but there are undoubtedly people in OnK's readerbase who see their experiences mirrored in him. Airi Himekawa isn't real, but people like her exist. Akane Kurokawa isn't real but Hana Kimura was.

This discussion also serves as an interesting warning to Aqua himself, though maybe not quite in the sense Yoriko intended. Aqua's revenge has always been something treated, in-universe, as a sort of fiction in of itself; Aqua calls it his 'revenge play' and his primary method of pursuing it is to become an actor. It's a retribution narrative about real people and Aqua is its author. But as Yoriko reminds him… stories can kill. Especially ones featuring real people. Aqua has been telling himself a comfortable lie for years that only he will be hurt by his own inevitable self destruction but Yoriko reminds him that he isn't the only person involved here and that he is inevitably going to cause great pain to the people he loves if her continues down this path.

That's why this chapter is so frustrating. This is all good, meaty character work with some great thematic overtones… and it's all in service of contriving this scenario where Aqua has no choice but to tongue his sister on camera and for some reason, nobody is pointing out the million and one alternatives to this deranged scenario.

But anyway. Enough beating around the bush: let's talk about That Scene. And despite what everything I've said this post might lead you to believe… I actually really like it.

I don't know exactly what activated to make her go sicko mode but Mengo has been really on fucking fire with her art on the series lately. It really jumped out to me in 137 but she's honestly been cooking since the very start of the movie arc. It stands out especially strongly in Aqua and Ruby's talk on the balcony in ways I really vibed with. The whole scene feels like Ruby's shoujo brainrot and the cold reality of what she's tiptoeing around suggesting to Aqua are battling out for dominance over the framing. Ruby's stubbornness is such a force to be reckoned with that it almost wins entirely but there are moments where the lens cracks and we see things as they are. Aqua's discomfort practically radiates off the page this entire conversation.

Not only that but… jesus christ, Ruby. Just look at how she's framed when she first enters the scene.

That oppressive silhouette, her shaded eyes and that sinister smile… I probably don't need to tell you that's NOT how you typically frame a romantic heroine. She honestly almost looks more like a villain.

But Ruby quickly reasserts control over the framing. Or rather, what she's suggesting is such a sugary shoujo fantasy, the framing has no other option but to comply. At last, Ruby steps out of the shallow channel of plausible deniability and puts into concrete words what she has been thinking and longing for these last twenty chapters: for her to retake her role as Sarina Tendoji and for Aqua, in turn, to play Gorou for her once again. More than that - she pushes him for a concrete response to her love at last, not as Ruby but as Sarina; not only does the paneling repeatedly cover the eye with her star but in the final panel where she unambiguously propositions Aqua, the star is completely gone. This is what Ruby is offering: to completely sever her connection to Ai and the new life she has built on that foundation and to return to being Sarina, if that is what the doctor she loves wants.

This is SUCH an incredibly effective scene. It's excellently done and the art is fantastic. It finally draws out and makes explicit the underlying disconcerting subtext that has been swimming under the twins' relationship since 123. It works fantastically well… in isolation. But when taken into the context of the rest of the story it just feels so… unearned.

For the last 20 chapters, we have had absolutely no serious insight into Ruby's feelings re: the reveal of Gorou's new identity as Aqua. We didn't see her grapple with it or have to adjust to it at all. It was like a switch flipped in her brain and she was suddenly a 2010s fanservice imouto splooging about her oniichan. Her interiority in this regard is completely absent. Whenever the subject is addressed at all, it is made into a joke with Ruby as the punchline. There has been no serious build up to this moment or any meaningful time spent on Ruby's feelings about Aqua and as such, being asked to take it seriously now feels so incredibly jarring.

I've said this over and over in other places but I'll make this clear here: the handling of Ruby's feelings is not bad because Incest Is Morally Bad or whatever. At the end of the day, OnK is fiction and fiction is a space that allows us to explore ideas and scenarios that would be unpleasant, dangerous or even downright immoral to try and interrogate in real life with real people. Not only that, but AQRB's situation is so far removed from anything any real person could experience there's very little risk of it acting as a harmful reflection of a real person's life. But because OnK had the space to do just about anything with this idea, I'm so incredibly baffled that it chose to do all of nothing. This is a plot point that has been cooking since the literal first chapter of the entire series and now, just under four years and over 140 chapters past our starting point… and this is the best Akasaka can do? Dated brocon humor that reduces Ruby to a shallow gag character, denying her the opportunity to have deeper, more complex and ugly feelings and denying her the respect of examining those feelings with honesty?

It sucks. This whole thing really sucks. As someone who loves Ruby so, so much… this really just feels like an insulting way to have handled what should have been one of the most interesting and engaging parts of her series long arc.

I do think this chapter is the beginning of the end of AquRuby's time in the endgame couple race, if it was ever seriously in the running to begin with. Ruby embracing Aqua with a proposition in those final two panels echoes Akane doing the same in chapter 72 and the fact that this cliffhanger ends on the proposition and not a kiss implies to me, structurally speaking, that we are heading for a rejection. On top of that, we're pretty far away from the manga's ending still and Kana's romantic resolution with Aqua hasn't gotten its time to shine. All those factors together makes me feel pretty certain that this is the final nail in the coffin and we're just waiting to see how Aka sticks the landing.

After all - Ruby is asking for his response as Sarina. And if this is Sarina asking for his love one last time… we already know how Gorou's going to respond.

[yonderghostshistories]

HAPPY 13TH ANNIVERSARY TO “HOLY FLYING CIRCUS” (2011) 🥳🎉🎊🎂🎈

(Aka the best Monty Python biopic imho)

It’s been 13 BLOODY years since HFC aired on this day (19th October) at 9:00pm on BBC 4 in the year of our lord 2011, but it’s only been a few months since I (and many other of my mutuals) watched and rewatched it this year, and I will always treasure the times that I have seen this wonderful movie!

I remember when I was a newly fresh faced MP fan in 2023 and was slowly and gradually getting into them, and that I was wondering if there was ever a biopic made about Monty Python? I mean, it would be kinda weird that there wasn’t a biopic made about Monty Python, ya’know considering that they were very much influential in the world of comedy and beyond, that it would obviously be a missed opportunity to NOT make a biopic about them.

I then went and logged on into one of the school computers at my secondary school to look up if there was a Monty Python Biopic, in which I googled smth along the lines of “Monty Python Biopic”, and LO and behold, HFC was (iirc) the first result that came up!

I was IMMEDIATELY intrigued to see what HFC was all about, and so I looked at and read the plot synopsis for HFC on IMDb. At the time, it was honestly really cool and interesting fr! Then I looked at the cast and…well. I wasn’t immediately put off by the fact that the cast for the HFC Pythons weren’t exactly 100% identical to the irl Pythons, like they were similar to them but JUST different enough to have a sorta distinct, uncanny feeling to them. But ngl, at the time when I saw photos of the cast, I did have a feeling that was like “ughh….this is soooo obviously cheap, why couldn’t they have gotten a bigger budget for this?”, and now looking back, I do recognise that HFC was, well, made on a BBC 4 budget (aka a low budget, at least for BBC 4) and that the cast and crew had to work with what they had (both in terms costumes and hair) and tbh I was kinda a bit mean on them at that time and that do I regret it. I mean, I still don’t forgive some of the HFC Pythons’ hair cuz OMG Steve Punt/Eric and Phil Nichol/Terry G’s hair is still kinda not good lol 😂 but I do understand why it is what it is.

Anyway, I digress!

It was because of this (plus looking at some rather quite negative reviews of HFC) that I STILL wanted to check out HFC and see what it’s about, but I had INCREDIBLY low expectations for it. At best thinking that HFC would be at least kinda decent, but at worst thinking that it would be kinda mediocre and not the worst but definitely not the best. So, for Christmas 2023, I asked my Dad (iirc) to buy me the DVD for HFC (as well as some other DVDs, those being “A Liar’s Autobiography” the book, the animated film adaptation “A Liar’s Autobiography” (2012), “Remember Me” (2014) starring Michael Palin, “A Field in England” (2013) and “In the Earth” (2021), the latter 2 cuz I was really into the League of Gentlemen/Inside No. 9/Reece Shearsmith at the time and also cuz I love me a bit of horror!). Then came January/February 2024, and I got my DVDs by that time!

(Here’s a crappy looking (affectionate) picture I took of them back in February when I still used my Android phone to take pictures of stuff)

Then I…..didn’t watch them (and in this case HFC) for a couple months after I got them (mostly due to school and exams and shit which made me kinda exhausted and so I didn’t watch much stuff during that time cuz of it), BUT! BUT BUT BUT!!

It was on a somewhat regular day on the 20th of May 2024, when I finally, FINALLY AFTER ALL THIS TIME OF LAYING IT OFF AGAIN AND AGAIN (again due to the exams and studying for said exams and shit) that I decided to finally get the courage to watch HFC in its entirety!! Also cuz I needed to give myself a bit of stress relief and also a lil reward for studying too much lol.

I got the HFC DVD from my living room shelf, I took the HFC DVD out from the plastic cover, I then got my DVD player and carefully inserted the HFC DVD into the DVD player so as to NOT potentially break it, and then…..I finally watched it.

It was…..quite the experience (and I mean this in the most positive way ever!)

Watching the film for the first time genuinely, like GENUINELY, floored my previously low expectations of it. Like, fr IT WAS CRAZY. AND AMAZING. AND WONDERFUL. AND SURREAL. AND FUNNY. Like, it was honestly the best thing I ever watched at that time!!

The HFC Python cast, who I thought was not gonna be the best, was actually fr incredible! Not only did they all get their respective irl Pythons’ mannerisms and expressions on point, but their unique take on each Python was genuinely charming and interesting fr! Especially Charles Edwards/Michael and Darren Boyd/John and their relationship between each other in the film was indeed very captivating to watch (and a lil gay and fan service-y, to which I also love it for that <33).

Speaking of which, Charles Edwards as Michael Palin was unironically the best thing about this film, not only for his voice and mannerisms but his character as well!! Like fr CHARLIE EDWARDS FR LOOKS LIKE ACTUAL MICHAEL PALIN LIKE WHAT?!!?!!

Darren Boyd as John Cleese was also quite great too, like, even if he portrayed him as the “Basil Fawlty Persona” version of John, I felt like it was still pretty much like John’s character, and Darren Boyd/John does show little moments of genuine vulnerability, which make it really more profound imo!

Rufus Jones as Terry Jones, Phil Nichol as Terry Gilliam, Steve Punt as Eric Idle and Tom Fisher as Graham Chapman were also pretty great in this as well! But ESPECIALLY Tom Fisher/Gray as HE ABSOLUTELY STOLE THE SHOW IN THIS MOVIE FR, AND THAT HE ABSOLUTELY SLAYED AS GRAY AND I LOVE HIS JACKETS, HIS SEXINESS, HIS QUOTES, HIS GAYNESS, HIS WISENESS, HIS EVERYTHING AGHHHHH (also he’s really beautiful imo). Like with Charles Edwards/Michael and Darren Boyd/John, their performances as their each respective Python was really amazing, such as Phil Nichol exhibiting Terry G’s childlike craziness and goblin-like energy, to Rufus Jones/Jonesy also acting/double role-ing as Michael’s Wife (in a loving homage to Jonesy playing most of the female characters in MPFC and the films with absolute PERFECTION) to Steve Punt/Eric being very much onto the business side of Python (in which he’s referred to as a “money grabbing bastard”, which I almost quote all the time haha).

Also shoutout to the supporting cast of HFC, they also carried the movie too! My personal favourites being Jason Thorpe as the rude and annoying and obnoxious boss (and very funny) Alan Dick and the LoB obsessed but with good intentions Christian with a stutter Desmond Lovely, Simon Greenall as the Pythons’ Manager/Film Distributor Barry, Paul Chahidi as the meek and trying to make things go well Harry Balls, and Stephen Fry as God (cuz Stephen Fry is an absolute ⚡️✨ ICON ✨⚡️fr)!

Oh yeah, also, I LOVE THE ANIMATIONS AHHHH THEYRE SO AMAZEBALLS FRRR!!!! AND I ABSOLUTELY LOVE LOVE LOVE THE MUSIC TOOO!!!! SHOUTOUT TO THE ANIMATION TEAM AND MUSIC COMPOSER FOR HFC, THEY DESERVE IT FR AND DESERVE ALOT OF APPRECIATION!!!

Also, this movie is fr so funny frfr, have I mentioned that it’s really funny? Cuz it’s really funny! It’s also (like Holy Grail) very quotable indeed, and there’s a lot like ALOT of quotes from HFC that live in my head rent free! My personal favourites among them are:

-“It’s Half Logical, Half Silly!”

-“Eric is a Money Grabbing Bastard!”

-“Glass of Cordial? S P O T O F S O U P ?”

-“Are you Willy waving at Jesus?”

-“Well, I am Gay, I like Neeews, it’s very good for film reviieeewwws 😌😏”

The ways this movie have changed my life for the better (and for the sillier) is that I’ve gone through the rabbit hole and have discovered many, MANY amazing shows and films starring each of the HFC Python actors, for example; “Treacle Jr” (2010) and “The Nine Lives of Tomas Katz” (2000) (both films starring Tom Fisher) are genuinely pretty great and I do recommend you watch them if you can! Plus I bought them and other projects starring each HFC Python on DVD cuz it shows how much I’m THAT dedicated to this movie (HFC) fr, and that I’m fr grateful for discovering this little BBC 4 Pythonesque comedy drama from 2011, cuz if i hadn’t, I’d have missed out on some real great stuff!

I will always love “Holy Flying Circus” (2011) for the rest of my life, and I will always appreciate and treasure it with my entire heart 🫶❤️, and I will continue watching and rewatching it and continue fanning about it into the future! I’m very lucky that HFC came into my life and that I watched it, and that I don’t think I’d be quite the same if I hadn’t the courage to watch the film on the 20th May 2024.

It’ll soon be almost 1 hour to the time (that being 9:00pm) when HFC aired on the 19th of October in 2011 by the time I’m writing this, so I’d like to quickly wrap up by saying:

Thank you “Holy Flying Circus” (2011). Just, thank you ☺️🫶❤️…..

And remember:

“Eric is a Money Grabbing Bastard”.

[ltwharfy]

"Movie Review: A Roudise Drabble"

I first came up with this idea as part of a longer story about Rudy wanting to get better at kickball that I kind of lost interest in after writing my basketball story. But I still loved the idea of this conversation and James Earl Jones’ passing today made me think about “Field of Dreams” so I figured I’d just write it and put it out there as a drabble. Hope you enjoy!

"Movie Review"

“Oh my god, Rudy!” Louise Belcher groaned, rolling her eyes. “Don’t tell me you like that movie!”

“Yeah, it’s one of my favorite movies, actually,” her best friend replied, apparently not swayed by her dramatics.

 “How can you like it?!” Louise protested. “It’s basically the least scary ghost movie ever! Like all the ghosts do is play baseball! And that lame disembodied voice: ‘If you build it, he will come.’ What a boring thing for a disembodied voice to say! They should say cool, spooky things like…” Louise made her voice as deep and raspy as she could, “’Beware!’ or “Get out!” or ‘You will pay in blood!’ Y’know, something cool like that.”

“Well, ‘Field of Dreams’ isn’t really trying to be a scary movie, Louise. I mean, yeah, it has ghosts and a disembodied voice in it. But it’s not really about that…”

“I know! It’s about baseball!” Louise repeated her groan and eyeroll. It’s a non-scary ghost movie about one of the most boring sports out there! Louise thought. If she was going to have to watch a sports movie, it should at least be about a cool, violent sport like hockey or rugby.   

“Sure,” Rudy agreed. “But it’s not just about baseball, either. It’s about fathers and sons, and second chances, and following your dreams…” Louise could hear her friend’s voice getting kind of choked up and could see his eyes watering. It might be one of his many allergies, but she kind of doubted it. That boring, non-scary baseball ghost movie apparently meant a lot to her friend.

His sappy description of it reminded her of someone else. The person who had made her watch the stupid thing in the first place.

“Geez, Rudes! You sound just like my Dad!”, Louise said with a laugh.

“Oh,” Rudy paused for a second. “Well, that’s not a bad thing, is it?”

Rudy’s words knocked Louise’s train of thought off its tracks. She couldn’t remember the rest of her planned rant about ‘Field of Dreams’. Her cheeks felt a little hot all of the sudden and she had no idea why. Must be the sun.. she thought, as she looked away from Rudy and found herself pulling the strings of her bunny ears hat tighter for some reason.

She mumbled. “I still think it’s a boring movie.”

She did not want to think about that movie, or what it meant that her Dad and Rudy both loved it so much, for one second more. Time to change the topic, quick.

“Now ‘Poltergeist’, that’s a good ghost movie! Ever see that one, Ruderick?”

[yuzurujenn]

[2023.11.11] AERA Special Edition - Yuzuru Hanyu x Keiichi Yano

Sound Designer: Keiichi Yano I finally met an athlete who could perform ‘their own story’

Accompanying Creator Vol. 3 Keiichi Yano has been supporting Yuzuru Hanyu’s skating, which combines both precision and grandeur. A “request” from Hanyu marked the beginning of a journey together with this one-of-a-kind performer. The soundscapes created by Yano further solidify Hanyu's worldview.

-Hanyu is a skater with a strong passion for sound, but in what ways do you feel his dedication?

The first time I received a request from Hanyu was the year before the Sochi Olympics. He expressed concern about a small noise heard at the transitions of the ‘Romeo & Juliet’ piece and asked if it could be eliminated. It was such a tiny noise that one wouldn’t notice during a performance at the venue, but it seemed to disrupt his focus when listening with earphones.

-From there, your collaboration began, and you also produced 'SEIMEI' which Hanyu performed at the PyeongChang Olympics.

The final form of 'SEIMEI' exists because of Hanyu. He had two specific requests: to include the sound of the flute and the final main theme, and then he said, 'The rest, I’m sorry, but I’ll leave it to you.'

At first, I had no idea about his preferences, but I selected sounds, tempos, and atmospheric pieces that would fit his skating from about 50 tracks in the movie 'Onmyoji.' Sometimes, along the process, he would send me a version that he had put together himself, saying, “The tempo of the piano doesn't really match, so I'll go with this tempo.'

Hanyu has a very strict approach to the movements and breathing in his programs. Not all athletes are like this, but when I watch their choreography, I often feel that many skaters aren't fully aware of the music. I feel frustrated and wish that more athletes would be conscious of the music and perform their own stories.

On the other hand, I also heard people saying, 'You shouldn’t be too focused on the music because it will throw you off after a fall.' Since I have never skated, I thought it might actually be difficult.

It was at that time that I met Hanyu. He has the music and choreography so perfectly ingrained in his body that even if he falls, he can quickly get back on track with the next note. I was really happy to see an athlete who could perform the music as if it were his own.

-Meeting Hanyu was also a striking experience for you. After competing in PyeongChang and Beijing, Hanyu announced his turn to professional status in July 2022.

When I heard about his turn to professional, I thought, 'Finally, this moment has come.' I also felt a fear of whether I could keep up with him now that he would be able to perform more freely (laughs).

-You participated as the sound designer for both 'Prologue' and 'GIFT.' Both were of high quality and truly wonderful. I imagined there must have been many hurdles to overcome to reach that point.

For 'GIFT,' the sound was originally handled by a different company, and I wasn’t scheduled to be involved. However, since they had never done an ice show before, I was asked to take a look at the sound plan. In managing competitions and shows, I always aim to create an acoustic space where the skater’s performance, the music, and the audience can all come together as one. When I reviewed the plan, I feared that it would not be possible to “synchronise with the sound,” which is what he is most particular about.

In figure skating, we hang speakers from the ceiling to ensure that the sound resonates evenly. However, this isn’t possible in a dome. To ensure that the music reaches both Hanyu and the audience simultaneously, I proposed placing speakers around the rink and erecting a sound tower on top, even though that would cause some visual obstruction. This led to a complete overhaul of the sound plan.

-Was there difficulty with the live orchestra performance as well? Since it was the first-ever Tokyo Dome performance in figure skating history, everything was exploratory. I wasn't sure if the sound would be as good as I thought it would be until we actually played the sound at the venue.

My other role was to have the musicians recreate the performance at the same tempo as Hanyu's program. Unlike music editing, it is not possible to make much adjustments in a live performance. It was also quite challenging to request renowned musicians to accommodate our needs.

Additionally, there are two types of sound: the live sound and the sound coming from the speakers. When you get close to the orchestra, the live sound comes through faster, creating a slight delay compared to the sound from the speakers. It's a matter of mere milliseconds, but that can blur the sound image. We tried to fine-tune everything until the last minute, but after the performance, Hanyu mentioned, 'Yano-san, that part just didn’t sync no matter what.'

-What kind of exchange did you have with Hanyu when you joined the show midway through?

Actually, we didn’t get into many specific details. I listened to his ideas, and then he entrusted me with the rest, saying, “You understand my program.”

-I’m sure Hanyu felt reassured with you on board.

I hope that’s how he felt. As long as I continue to receive requests, I’d like to create his sound environment as I always have. If there’s ever an issue with the music, I’m always willing to help.

-It’s hard to believe that it’s only been a year since he turned professional, considering all the challenges he’s taken on.

Until now, it was unimaginable to perform solo. While some aspects can be imagined in a typical show, Hanyu’s vision far exceeds that. I feel that moving forward, it will be a struggle between what is physically possible and what is not. How can we respond when Hanyu requests something that differs from what I imagined? I’m prepared for the increase in challenges.

-You will also participate as the sound director for the 'Yuzuru Hanyu ICE STORY 2nd "RE_PRAY" TOUR.'

Just like with 'Prologue' and 'GIFT,' Hanyu’s vision is grand, so there are many challenges to overcome. We are looking for ways to clear each hurdle and move on to the next step. There are still unknowns about what kind of show it will be. But one thing is clear: Hanyu values the audience above all else.

Source: AERA Special Edition 2023.11.11 - Yuzuru Hanyu: The Solitary Driving Force, pg 88-89 Info: https://www.amazon.co.jp/exec/obidos/ASIN/4023323500/

[trapastrology]

Written In The Cosmos

Written by Aris

Cover painted by me as well!

The Sweetest Dream or The Worst Nightmare

To be seen, loved, heard and understood or to be dismissed, confused, and betrayed

Introducing Written In The Cosmos: The Complete Ins and Outs of 12H synastry.

This is my first published book ever which now officially makes me an authoress!

Since my official release, on the 1st of May, I have sold 10 e-books and that is more than I could have imagined! I am filled with an immense amount of gratitude!

The goal of my book was to succor those who are currently in or have been in 12H synastry and got lost in the fog. I greatly desired a body of work that could answer all questions and leave you with a sound mind. In the beginning of my astrology journey, I'd read things about 12H synastry and get one question answered but have 3 more questions arise from what I read. I then decided to write down every 12H synastry question I ever had and interviewed others who have/had 12H synastry and answered every single one of those questions throughout the book. A reader who's a beginner in astrology can also understand my book with ease. Making sure to go through all the lopes such as family, friends, relationships, being the house, planet or both are subject matters you don't see being explained thoroughly in one place! Everything you've thought of and even things you haven't thought of is explained throughout the 14 chapters. As your discovering about 12H synastry questions that may arise such as 'Who's the giver/receiver?", "Why/How did I end up in 12H synastry?", "The pros/cons?", "How does the house vs planet feel?" are just a few of the questions I answered amongst many more. From examples from movies, tv shows to even poetry, the whole lot is dissected! There is a lot more I could say but who likes a spoiler? lol. I will also insert reviews below!

Reviews (as I receive reviews I will update)

For any of those who'd like to purchase my book, and has questions, I make sure to reply and have a conversation with anyone who wants to know more!

The cost of my book is $20! It is 27 pages long and full of great information! After you purchased my book, you are eligible to receive 25% OFF any reading you choose.

How To Purchase?

Message me & send the payment to my Cash App or Apple pay. For any other payment method inquire, ask me!

In the message, make sure to include your email being that that's where the e-book will be sent to.

The book will be sent immediately after payment.

*I am currently working on a site to upload my book on as well as an audiobook so until further notice this will be the go-to way to purchase, Thank you!*

Thank you so much for even reading this and for those of you who decide to purchase! Have a blessed day astro nerds!

[saxandviolins77]

IIRC in your review of TF One you said it was a "good movie" but a lot of what you described made it sound focus-tested into oblivion and generic? And I know I thought the movie was pretty nonsensical and hypocritical and had many issues with how it handled the characters, so I'm really curious about in more detail what led to your ultimate take? I know you described how it was very focused and stuff but like, a movie that has a focus but is focused on something that doesn't make any sense isn't necessarily good, especially if the theme has problems. I'm curious since your review you named a lot of specifics and I feel like my opinion that it was a bad kids' movie seems really rare! -arceespinkgun

Hey! Thanks for the ask! I'll try to make my stance more clear on the TF: ONE topic.

Well, focused on telling a riveting story with the characters and universe it certainly was not.

Focused on making revenue? Definitely, but every movie is like that, I'm more interested in the hows.

You see, this movie was written backward. As in, they already knew where the characters needed to be and who they needed to turn into.

Why was Orion considered worthy of the Matrix? Because he needs to be.

Why did D-16 go from a meek rule-abiding guy to a violent "kill everyone tyrant" in the span of a day? Because he needs to be.

The "high-guard" stuff? Just a very weak excuse for them to shove the already-built Decepticon army into a fight scene.

It's a good movie for two reasons and neither of them really has to do with the story or characters as they appear!

It knows its audience: as in, the general audience of TF fans, the TF fans who go into the cinema expecting the tried and true story of "cherik but robots" will have a grand time! And will go to the cinema 26 times to make sure this movie has revenue (see Twitter, it's embarrassing). AND, it's also great franchise bait! Tell me, how many people have you seen that are new to the franchise BECAUSE of ROTB? Now, TF: ONE? I assume your answer will be a little different. It's a movie that dangles a carrot for the audience, if you already like the carrot, sweet! If you never tasted the carrot, you may enjoy it without thinking.

Focus-tested: great use of the word, I'm stealing it. I would say this movie is a calculated risk, but it isn't a risk at all. I appreciate the motives behind this movie a ton! Because it wasn't just something Hasbro green-lighted to ignite the Bayverse flame back, it's calculated and the time it was left in the oven means this is pure aligned sauce, and it works. This movie sexes so much with core concepts from the Aligned continuity that it was bound to never be its own thing, and even better! All the "new" concepts this movie has to offer are either animated movie jerking off (Comedic-relief character that adds nothing, Girlboss...) or smoothing out Aligned things that would not fly in deeper examination (Op and Megs are both miners, Sentinel, no "alternative mode racism").

It's a good movie, in comparison to what came before (that I felt the need to point out in my review). It's cohesive, unlike ROTB, AND more importantly, it's approachable (not only for newcomers but also for the fandom at large). It's an above-average kids' movie (which aside from a few surprising offers, has been on the slop side of things for YEARS now, ESPECIALLY when it comes to Blockbuster schmuck).

It's a good movie because it was calculated, the only factors that may intervene are Paramount's shitty distribution AND toy sales, but that doesn't change the fact that it is critically acclaimed already.

Now you might be asking:

Do I support this?

Who am I to support anything? Just a small account on a near-dead site. However, I cannot deny I find it quite ingenious of the Hasbro team (who has been wanting to amalgamize TF for YEARS) and the fandom reaction to it has been great to watch.

Does this kill artistic integrity?

LMAO YEAH! I don't thing anyone watching a big studio movie would be really surprised by that, better luck with animated series and/or comics. Tho, I sure the people working on this movie did put their hearts into it, it just happened to be a really strategic place to put it.

Wow, I wasn't expecting this.

Yeah, it is what it is. At the end of the day TF:ONE is a very great marketing scheme, I'd be more worried about it seeping into other things (beware of what's to come after the failure of the GI:JOE/TF movie and after they finish killing off ES).

I didn't really like it, but for reasons I already don't like Aligned. The forced godhood of Orion (which makes the Autobot/Decepticon conflict into a religious war!! Why?), the fact that D-16 is the fucking anti-christ that was dictated by THE ALREADY MENTIONED NARRATIVE into villainy (even though, he was in the right! Orion's only plan towards Sentinel was... 'the people will know'... Then...?), the High-guard was completely fodder for the main four (notice how I never mentioned them in my original review), and Arachnid... LOL MOMENT FOR THAT BLUNDER AMIRITE?!

But that ⬆️ was not the point of this movie's existence.

Sorry if this reads a little too hateful or cynical, I am genuinely neutral about this movie, but I just wanted to make my stance clear. My account is not made to dwell on or endorse parts of the franchise that I do not like, I prefer talking and uplifting what I enjoy... And maybe reblogging a hateful post every once a week.

[bahngray]

Love, Unscripted

This work is for mature audiences.

Chapter 1 : Crossing The Line

Chapter 2 : Fading Confidence

For two days, there was no sign of Chris. He didn’t come to the store like he used to. He didn’t stand in the street and peek through the large windows. It was almost like he didn’t exist—and I was scared.

Scared that what I had experienced that evening was nothing more than my imagination. A hallucination?

And then came that big, sinking feeling.

I was stacking shelves, listening to All Too Well by Taylor Swift, when the familiar scent of vanilla and burnt strawberries filled the air. I froze. I knew it was him.

Almost tripping, I hurried toward the register. And there he was—in a black hoodie, ripped jeans, and a beanie pulled over his soft curls.

Me: “Hey!”

Him: “Sorry, but I’ve got someone I’m interested in, and I can’t give you my number, miss.”

(Taken aback)

Me: “Oh. Okay. I thought you were the same guy who couldn’t take his eyes off me two evenings ago.”

(Smirking)

Him: “Well, I don’t think he fell as hard as the girl who almost kissed him? Ring a bell?”

(Blushes)

Me: “You can never let go of an argument, can you?”

Him: “No. Not when it comes to you. Now, I need some help finding Nothing Like the Movies because the first book was crazyyyyyy, and I can’t handle the anticipation—I need to know what happens next.”

Me: “Well, be ready for the heartbreak, Mr. Intruder.”

Him: “What?! So you intentionally gave me a book that would break my heart? You’re cruel, Serene.”

Me: “Thanks. But why I gave you that book... is for you to figure out. Here you go—the sequel.”

Him: “Alright, I’ll see you soon! And I’ll definitely take you out again—or many more times. Who knows?” (Winks)

(Cheeks turning pink)

Me: “We’ll see about that, Mr. Intruder.”

The rest of the week, I can't stop thinking about him. Chris.

Is he actually reading those books? Is he really putting in the effort—for me... for us? The thought lingers, weaving its way through my mind at random moments.

Jules: [grinning like she already knows the ending to this story] "I knew it! I knew you’d be hooked."

Me: [groaning and flopping onto my bed] "Are guys always this hard?"

Jules: [laughing] "You’re the one to blame, Miss 'I’ll Make Him Earn It.' Who tells a guy to read two of their favorite rom-com books and write full reviews? You basically gave him homework."

Me: [sighs] "Yeah, but I didn’t want to risk it. I didn’t want to give in so easily and end up crumbling just as quickly. You know how my past relationships were."

Jules: [softer now] "I know."

Me: "And I don’t want to risk it—not with Chris. He’s just... amazing. And that’s what scares me."

Jules: [teasing again] "Oooh, looks like someone’s fallen hard." [mocking voice] "Excuse me, ma’am? Aren’t you the same person who said boys were gross and you don’t do dates?"

Me: [grabbing a pillow] "You come here! I’m gonna teach you a lesson!"

Giggles and squeals echo through the room as pillows and tickles fly, but deep down, my thoughts keep circling back to him. To his smile. To the way, he looked at me like I was the only person in the world.

Meanwhile, on the other side of town, Chris is drowning in words and pages.

He’s on his third cup of coffee, the books sprawled open in front of him, highlighters and sticky notes littering the table. His notebook is filled with scribbles—crossed-out sentences and rewritten lines.

He wants it to be perfect—not just because it’s an assignment, but because it’s her. Because Serene deserves the kind of effort most people aren’t willing to give.

And somewhere between the pages, he starts to see pieces of her. The way she lights up when she talks about love, even though she’s scared of it. The way she teases but still leans in, vulnerable, waiting for someone to prove her fears wrong.

He’s already falling.

And if love really is a thing, then it’s definitely in the air—for both of them. Their hearts already bound, held together by invisible strings neither of them can see, but both of them feel.

It’s only time now.

Time until words become actions. Until anticipation becomes reality. Until that invisible string pulls them back into each other’s orbit—and they realize they were never meant to let go.

Finally, Friday comes.

I linger at the bookstore longer than usual, pretending to fix shelves and rearrange books I’ve already touched a dozen times. My eyes keep darting to the door, my heart racing every time it swings open.

But there’s no sign of him.

Where are you, Chris?

I leave the bookstore and walk home slower than I ever have—dragging my feet, hoping, willing him to show up and call out my name or run up to me. But nothing.

I mumble to myself, frustration and nerves mixing in my voice.

Serene: [quietly] "Where are you, Chris?"

And then—honk, honk.

I turn around, and there he is. Sitting behind the wheel, flashing me that dimpled smile that’s way too unfair to exist. He looks so good, and for what?

I freeze for a second, caught between glaring at him for making me wait and completely melting at how ridiculously handsome he looks leaning out of the car window.

Snap out of it, Serene.

He parks right in front of my apartment and steps out. And that’s when I see it—blue roses.

He’s holding a bouquet of blue roses in one hand and two books, plus what looks like a stack of papers, in the other.

OH. MY. GOD.

Did he write an entire biography? What the hell is in that pile? Is he secretly a novelist?

C.H.R.I.S.

Before I can even process, he walks up to me, leans in, and presses the softest kiss on my cheek—casual, like he’s been doing it for years.

And then he hands me the roses.

Chris: [grinning] "Hi there, beautiful."

Beautiful?

My heart skips so hard I think it might actually stop, but I manage to play it cool—or at least I think I do.

Serene: [raising an eyebrow] "Blue roses? What, did regular ones seem too basic for you?"

Chris: [laughing] "Blue means mystery. Thought it suited you."

Serene: [mocking] "Mystery, huh? And what’s all this?" [gestures to the ridiculous stack of papers]

Chris: [smirking] "My reviews. Double spaced, properly cited, and probably the best work I’ve ever written."

Serene: [laughs] "You’re insane."

Chris: [softly] "And you’re worth it."

OH. MY. GOD.

He says it so effortlessly that I nearly forget how to breathe.

Serene: [blushing, trying to recover] "You know, this better be good. Or you might just owe me another book review."

Chris: [leaning closer, voice low] "If it means I get to see you again, I’ll read your entire bookshelf."

And just like that, I know.

I know I’m done for. Completely and utterly done for.

She steps aside, letting him in. Chris drops the papers dramatically on the coffee table.

Chris: "Prepare to be amazed."

Chris: [clears his throat] "First up—Better Than the Movies. Ready?"

Serene: [pretending to yawn] "So ready."

Chris: "This book... surprised me. It’s not just about romance—it’s about expectations. Liz thinks she wants the fairytale ending, but what she really needs is someone who knows how to handle her messy, stubborn side and still sticks around." [grins] "Sound like anyone you know?"

Serene: [narrowing her eyes] "Are you calling me messy?"

Chris: [smirking] "And stubborn. But also completely lovable, so it balances out."

Serene: [blushing slightly] "Uh-huh. Keep going."

Chris: "Wes is... unexpected. He doesn’t sweep her off her feet—he just keeps showing up. And honestly? That hit me. Because sometimes showing up is all it takes."

Serene: [softly] "I liked that part too."

Chris: [teasing] "You liked it? Or did you cry? Be honest."

Serene: [laughs] "Shut up. Next review, please."

---

Chris: "Okay, Nothing Like the Movies. Buckle up."

"This one’s for the people who don’t believe in perfect love—but still hope for something real. The characters are messy, complicated, and stubborn—kinda like us. And yet, they keep choosing each other, even when it’s hard."

Serene: [raising an eyebrow] "Us?"

Chris: [grinning] "Oh, come on. Don’t tell me you didn’t see the similarities."

Serene: [laughs] "You’re ridiculous."

Chris: "Maybe. But if this book taught me anything, it’s that ridiculous works." [leans in slightly] "Especially when it comes to people who make you want to keep turning the page."

Serene bites her lip, pretending not to let that one hit, but the way her cheeks flush gives her away.

---

Chris: [putting the papers aside] "So? Be honest—did I pass?"

Serene: [pretending to think] "Hmm... I don’t know. I might need more convincing."

Chris: [raising an eyebrow] "Oh yeah? And how exactly do I do that?"

Serene: [leaning closer with a smirk] "For starters, I think you need to read another book and write another review."

Chris: [groaning] "You’re impossible."

Serene: [grinning] "And you love it."

Chris: "Yeah, I do. But just so you know, I’m charging interest on all this effort. Dinner. This weekend."

Serene: [pretending to consider] "I might be available."

Chris: [leaning in closer, voice low] "I’ll take that as a yes."

Serene smiles, but before she can say anything, Chris brushes a soft kiss on the corner of her mouth—quick, teasing and leaving her breathless.

Chris: [pulling back slightly] "See? Interest." [grins] "I’ll pick you up at seven."

Serene: [laughing, but blushing hard] "You’re insufferable."

Chris: [winking as he grabs his notebook and heads to the door] "And yet you’re already thinking about that next book for me."

Serene throws a pillow at him as he leaves, but her heart races. And as the door closes behind him, she knows this story isn’t over. Not even close.

The Next Weekend

A trendy restaurant with dim lighting and jazz music humming softly in the background. Chris and Serene sit at a corner table, laughing and sharing appetizers. Serene feels light, like the world has paused just for this moment. Chris leans in, his dimples flashing as he teases her about her obsession with dessert menus.

Chris: [grinning] "So let me get this straight—you judge restaurants based entirely on their chocolate lava cake?"

Serene: [laughing] "Absolutely. If the dessert isn’t good, what’s the point of dinner?"

Chris: [teasing] "You’re impossible."

Serene: [smirking] "And you love it."

Chris starts to respond, but then his expression changes—just slightly. His eyes flicker over Serene’s shoulder, and his posture stiffens. Serene notices immediately.

Serene: [lowering her fork] "What?"

Chris: [hesitating] "Uh... nothing. I just—"

[Before he can finish, a voice cuts in.]

Voice: "Chris? Oh my God, is that really you?"

Serene turns around and sees her—gorgeous, effortlessly elegant, and very much comfortable talking to Chris. The woman’s eyes sparkle with familiarity as she steps closer to the table.

Chris: [standing awkwardly] "Hey, Emma... wow. It’s been a while."

Serene: [immediately uncomfortable] Emma?

Emma: [smiling at Serene] "Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt. I just haven’t seen Chris in forever. We used to—"

Chris: [quickly cutting her off] "Yeah, we dated. But it’s been a long time."

Serene forces a polite smile, but her stomach twists. Ex-girlfriend. And of course, she’s perfect. Of course.

Emma: [laughs lightly] "Anyway, I’ll let you two get back to your date. It was great seeing you, Chris."

Chris: [nodding, visibly uncomfortable] "Yeah, you too."

Emma walks away, and Serene suddenly feels small—like an intruder at her own table. She tries to brush it off, but Chris’s lingering awkwardness gnaws at her.

Serene: [standing abruptly] "I—I think I should go."

Chris: [startled] "Wait, what? What’s wrong?"

Serene: [shaking her head] "Nothing. It’s fine. I just remembered I need to... take care of something."

Chris: [reaching for her hand] "Serene, stop. Talk to me."

Serene: [yanking her hand away, voice rising] "Talk to you? About what? About how perfect your ex-girlfriend looks? About how she clearly still has a hold on you? Or should we talk about how I’ll never be her?"

Chris: [blinking, stunned] "What? That’s not—Serene, you’re overthinking this!"

Serene: [voice cracking] "Maybe I am, but I don’t want to sit here pretending I’m fine when I feel like this. I just—I can’t."

Without waiting for him to respond, she grabs her purse and bolts out of the restaurant, leaving Chris frozen at the table. His voice calls after her, but she doesn’t stop. She can’t.

---

Outside, Serene’s heart pounds as she storms down the sidewalk. The night air stings, but not as much as the ache spreading through her chest.

Serene’s Thoughts: How could I let myself think this was different? That I was different?

Back inside, Chris drops into his chair, running a hand through his hair as he stares at the door Serene just left through. He knows he has to fix this—but he has no idea how.

TO BE CONTINUED...