#cause tanya wanted her spotlight too

[thegamingcatmom]

Me, looking at all the (unintentional) foreshadowing in the current chapter of my current WIP:

[linghxr]

Playlist Spotlight - My Rock-ish Mandopop Playlist

Not long ago I shared that you can follow me on Spotify! Thanks to everyone who has followed me/one of my playlists. Anyway, I wanted to make a post dedicated to my Rock Out playlist (yes I know the name is lame—I couldn’t think of anything good). This playlist is also my most followed!

Before I got into Mandopop, I mostly listened to indie rock, alt rock, pop rock, etc. I used to listen to heavier music, but my tastes slowly shifted. As a result, I don't really listen to straight-up Chinese rock, but I do love rock-ish music.

Today I’ll be highlighting some songs/artists from Rock Out. I hope you enjoy them. I went through to try and make sure none of these songs have been featured on my blog before (but I may have missed one or two).

周笔畅 / Bibi Zhou Bibi doesn’t have a lot of rock songs, but the few she has are soooo good. And the clips I’ve seen of her performing them live are great as well.

《别装了》 has a slightly-dated sound, but I mean this in a good way. Everyone needs a go-to 2010 pop-rock song.

《沉默的真相》 is from a soundtrack, and it’s so good that I’m planning to watch the show. It starts out more dark and lowkey but really takes off.

《荷米斯》 is one of those songs that makes me feel effortlessly cool (which I am not).

孟慧圆 / Meng Huiyuan 《背比》 is a very bouncy song. It’s also short and snappy—just a lot of fun to listen to all around.

张惠妹 / A-Mei I mean, you already know the legendary A-Mei. I don’t even have to say anything. A-Mei has two great rock albums (AMIT and AMIT2) plus some other rock-leaning songs here and there. But I wanted to feature some of her songs from other albums.

《发生什么事》 is loud and powerful. You can just let go and jam out to this song.

《不要乱说》 gives off strong don’t mess with me vibes. I feel empowered yet intimidated at the same time.

《不顾一切》 would make the most perfect spy or action movie theme song! And I would definitely watch the movie.

徐佳莹 / LaLa Hsu 《拉拉队》 puts me in a instant good mood. It’s very peppy, which is perfect because 拉拉队 means cheerleading squad.

林宥嘉 / Yoga Lin 《热血无赖》 is fast-paced and upbeat. It will definitely jolt you awake if you’re drowsy. I hope that 林宥嘉 makes more rock-infused songs in the future!

林忆莲 / Sandy Lam 《盖亚》 is arguably one of the least rock songs here, but it’s a true masterpiece, so you should listen to it anyway. It will 打动你 for sure. It’s very grand and powerful with a strong message too.

莫文蔚 / Karen Mok About a year ago I was listening to Karen Mok 24/7. And I still listen to her all the time today. She has some great rock songs from throughout her career.

《I Will Be Fine》 would be the perfect song to play while racing through the city at night with the windows down. Yes, that is very specific. But that’s how it makes me feel, and I think the lyrics fit.

《因为所以》 is mellow in a sad, wallowing way. The lyrics are quiet tragic, but they are a good opportunity to practice 因为……所以.

《野》 gets the blood pumping! It makes you want to get moving or maybe even headbang a little.

萧敬腾 / Jam Hsiao I’ve been meaning to explore 萧敬腾’s discography ever since I heard 《皮囊》 on 乘风破浪的姐姐. I think the best way to describe this song is wild and in-your-face. The delivery comes across as the perfect amount of unhinged.

蔡健雅 / Tanya Chua 《多米诺》 is not a style of song Tanya has explored a lot, which is a shame because she’s good at it! It’s not anything groundbreaking, but it’s a solid and catchy pop-rock song.

薛之谦 / Joker Xue 薛之谦 is my latest Mandopop obsession. I’ve been listening to his music nonstop lately. He has quite a few rock-ish songs, but he can truly pull off all styles.

《慢半拍》 has an addictive little bounce to it, but it also has a rather sinister feel. And it’s infectious from the first listen.

《野心》 to me sounds epic in a dark way? It’s hard to describe. It feels like there is a story with many twists and turns behind the lyrics.

《凤毛麟角》 was described as causing goosebumps in the YouTube comments. I find that very fitting. It’s kind of haunting, at least the quieter sections are.

许含光 / Lumi Hsu 《安森girl》 gives me the feeling of cutting loose. It sounds like youth and making mistakes.

路嘉欣 / Jozie Lu 《你不懂》 is a perfect teen angst song. It makes me feel oddly nostalgic. I think I would have liked this song a lot back in high school too.

邓紫棋 / GEM 《不存在的存在》 is the closest to rock I’ve heard from GEM. This song slowly and steadily builds to a crescendo, and then calms down again. It’s very dark and sorrowful.

郭顶 / Guo Ding 《落地之前》 is so smooth and atmospheric. There’s really nothing to dislike. And of course I just had to include a 郭顶 song. The whole album this song is from is perfection.

韦礼安 / WeiBird 《狼》 astonished me upon first listen because I had no idea 韦礼安 had this in him! And wow, he really pulled it off. This song is bombastic!

[bumblesimagines]

Double Trouble

Request: Yes or No

Couldn't think of a better title lmao. This is gonna be real shitty but the intro to series are either amazing or pure shit. Gonna give (Y/N)'s mom and fam a name cause I don't wanna keep writing (M/N) or (L/N). (Y/N) isn't related to any of the characters fyi. Spot the very obvious accidental reference

~

"Why California? Out of all the places in America, California was choice you went with? Not Washington, Oregon, or fuck, I don't know, North Dakota?" (Y/N) rested his head against the window, watching the houses pass by. His mother, Tanya, glanced at him with a small frown.

"Baby, aren't you tired of Alaska? Same old cold weather?" Tanya asked, staring forward at the empty road. (Y/N) scoffed, sitting up and looking at her with a raised brow.

"You can escape the cold. You can't escape the heat." (Y/N) pointed out, leaning back and picking up his phone with a frown. He looked at the texts from his friend, sighing softly.

Yaya

U already in cali??

(Y/N)

Ya

(Y/N)

It sucks

Yaya

New school new u bby

Daniel

Whats the time difference?

(Y/N)

It's 4 here

(Y/N)

Wbu?

Yaya

3

"Baby, could you look at me?" Tanya asked, pulling into the school parking lot and parking the car. (Y/N) turned his head to look at her.

"I'm sorry I suddenly dragged us out of Alaska. I just felt like we could use a change. Alaska feels suffocating as an adult. I want you to have new experiences." Tanya explained softly. (Y/N) nodded, glancing at the students walking into school.

"Listen, if you get anxious or feel sick, text me, okay?" Tanya gave him a comforting smile, running a hand through his hair. (Y/N) nodded, opening the car door. He unbuckled his seatbelt and got out of the car.

"Have a good day, sweetie!"

"You too." (Y/N) closed the door, walking towards the school. He had lived in Seward his whole life. He was used to the cold, the sound of boats, the cold immediately hitting his face the moment he stepped outside. (Y/N) knew it wasn't about experiences. His mom just didn't want him to have the same boring life she did. (Y/N) looked at his phone, opening the group chat again. He looked through the texts, smiling at the pictures his friend sent him. (Y/N) looked at his email, sighing as he searched for his locker. He found it, opening it and glancing at the guy beside him.

"Uh, hey, I'm Ethan. You're new, right?" Ethan gave an awkward smile, clearing his throat. (Y/N) licked his lips, nodding. Ethan seemed like the typical nerdy loner.

"Yeah, I'm (Y/N)."

"Cool, cool. Where are you coming from?" Ethan tilted his head, closing his locker and leaning against it. (Y/N) didn't feel like making friends but Ethan could probably help him get familiar with everyone and everything.

"Alaska." (Y/N) replied, closing his locker and giving him a tight smile. Ethan's brows raised, letting out a small chuckle.

"Really? That's cool, I've never really left California. What's it like?"

"Cold." (Y/N) chuckled softly. Ethan laughed and nodded, licking his lips as he stuck his hands in his pockets. (Y/N) looked him over. He was small, skinny, seemed nervous and awkward. Probably a good guy.

"So, are you a junior?" Ethan asked. (Y/N) nodded, going into his phone gallery and pressing on the saved picture of his schedule. He showed him the screen, watching him lean in and smile.

"We have 1st, 3rd, and 6th together." Ethan said, motioning down the hall. "Come on, I'll show you around."

"Thanks." (Y/N) gave him a small smile, following him. His gaze flickered from student to student. Some glanced at him, knowing he was new. (Y/N) didn't like attention. He didn't like the spotlight. He hated when people stared or payed too much attention to him. He hated the way a pit formed in his stomach and he became nauseous when he was called on and people stared at him in class. (Y/N) entered the class, taking a seat beside Ethan and sighing softly.

"Thanks, by the way. I didn't expect to make a friend until like my second week here."

"No problem. I know it can feel shitty to be the new kid." (Y/N) gave Ethan a small smile, looking forward.

(Y/N) set down his lunch tray, sitting down across from Ethan. He glanced around the courtyard, picking up a french fry. Ethan finished drinking his water, humming softly.

"By the way, whatever you do, don't mess with Maddy Perez." Ethan said, wiping his mouth with his sleeve. (Y/N) furrowed his brows.

"Right, you don't know them." Ethan chuckled, turning his head. He looked around, searching for the girls.

"There, the girl with black hair besides the blonde and the girl in a jeresy." Ethan motioned towards them. Maddy seemed like your typical popular. Makeup done perfectly, perfect body, her hair was done perfectly.

"She's a cheerleader and probably the most popular girl in school. She's been with Nate Jacobs for a while. Nate is a football player and his dad has a lot of power. He's.. Terrifying. The girls beside her are her best friends. Cassie and Barbara." Ethan picked up his burger. "There's Kat too and Kat is.."

"Your crush?" (Y/N) cocked a brow, chuckling. Ethan's tone had changed the moment this 'Kat' girl had been mentioned. His eyes had softened and a smile had appeared on his face.

"U-Uhm, n-no. She's a friend, like, just a friend." Ethan gave a nervous fake smile. (Y/N) hummed, shaking his head as he chuckled softly. He looked down at his tray, poking at the wrapped burger.

"Anyways, Cassie's nudes and some videos of her got leaked by her exes. It was real shitty." Ethan told him, finishing his burger. "There's Rue and Jules. Rue overdosed over the summer and Jules is new here."

"What?" (Y/N) furrowed his brows, staring at Ethan. The biggest thing that ever happened at his school was two teachers fighting. Drugs were an issue everywhere. He just didn't expect a teenger to OD and everyone to know. Ethan looked back at him.

"Do you wanna.. Hang out?"

"I have to unpack." (Y/N) replied, picking up his phone and scrolling through his instagram.

"Oh, shit, that's the new kid." Barbara pointed out, pulling her hair back into a ponytail. Cassie and Maddy turned to look.

"Oh.. Where's he from?" Cassie asked as she twirled a strand of her blonde hair around her finger. She wanted to forget all about McKay after their argument and breakup. The new boy seemed like a good distraction.

"He seems sweet." Cassie said with a small smile. Maddy scoffed, rolling her eyes as she looked at her.

"That's what you say about every guy, Cassie." Maddy opened her backpack, taking out her makeup bag. She took out some gloss, turning when she spotted Nate. She scowled when Nate very obviously flirted with some girl. Maddy took in a deep breath, turning toward her friends.

"Is there a party tonight? I need to fuck with Nate. He's such a dick." Maddy tapped her nails against her phone case. Cassie gave her a comforting smile, shaking her head.

"You can come over and we'll have a photo shoot. You can post it and make him regret everything." Cassie grinned as Maddy's eyes lit up, nodding.

"This is why I love you, Cass." The two giggled as Maddy wrapped her arms around her.

"But, back to that new guy.. If he hangs with Ethan, he's probably a loser." Barbara said, watching the two boys. Cassie gasped softly, shooting her a look.

"BB! Ethan's actually a really sweet guy. We did a project together last year." Cassie said. Maddy nodded, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear.

"Yeah, BB, don't be a bitch. You do got a point though. He gives major school shooter vibes." Maddy said, leaning forward to look around Cassie. She watched as the two stood and threw away their trash.

"Hey, they're staring at you." Ethan said, nudging (Y/N). (Y/N) turned towards the girls, catching their eyes before he shrugged and turned away.

"Let's go to History."

[bisexualshitwholovesshakespeare]

I have an idea how to fix 'Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again!'

Firstly 'Mamma Mia' should be a trilogy. The third movie is called 'Mamma Mia: How Can I Resist You?' but we'll talk about it later.

'Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again!'

Some base points are ok but the rest of the movie is bad, at least in my opinion.

Donna is alive and she's not gonna die any time soon

Grand reopening of the hotel, but there is a storm and some things go to shit can stay

We find out about Sophie's pregnancy in first 10 to 20 minutes

Donna is very supportive but she gets flashbacks from when she told her mother about her pregnancy

Sky is there for Sophie too

They invited the grandma and didn't tell Donna about it cause they thought she wouldn't show up

She shows up and Donna is not very pleased but it's just one night, right?

The grandma (I don't remember her name) wants to help with the preparations but Donna doesn't want it. She's gonna get the redemption arc she deserve.

Sophie and Sky plan to help them get along again

Sophie takes the grandma for outdoors work. The grandma tells her all kinds of stories about little Donna and finally the big question is asked. Why you and mom don't talk to eachother anymore?

At the same time Donna is talking to Tanya and Rosie about why she's mad at her mom and boom! Donna and grandma have a song and it explains what happened, mostly Donna sings. Donna never got along with her mother and she thought she was never enough for her and then a big argument over her pregnancy happened and she was so angry that she stopped talking to her mother. And after that she was just sad, proud and felt stupid to call her or talk to her so she didn't. The grandma sings the argument part with her. Sky listens to it.

Meanwhile we cut to Harry or Bill, doesn't matter who is gonna be first. Their storylines were surprisingly good so they can stay. Don't worry, Harry is gonna get more spotlight in the third movie

Sophie and grandma get back and they meet Sam. After only short conversation grandma is number one of his fans and she's very glad that Donna married him. Both Sam and Sophie are surprised because grandma really changed and wants to make it up to Donna.

Donna is a bit too stubborn to forgive her for now and that's very much understandable she gets some more flashbacks from good times and the bad ones with her mother and how she became a mother herself, how she raised Sophie.

Grandma really helped with preparations and thanks to her help they can start the reopening party on time.

Harry and Bill are a bit late but no one minds.

Sophie and Sky plan to tell everyone about the pregnancy and when they do everyone is happy and congratulates. There is a song about how good it is to be a parent and the dads and Donna are singing and then grandma joins in and that upsets Donna so she runs away. What is surprising, after her runs her mother.

And now, we have the most touching song in the history. Donna doesn't want to talk but grandma is like you want to know why I pushed so hard on you? Because you are capable of great things but you settled for less and wasn't entirely happy and this hotel is your dream that you fulfilled in 100% so I'm proud of you. And she sings how much she loves her, how she was alway proud of her and she shouldn't push her to her limits cause that's what she herself should establish and how much she regrets never reaching out after the argument and how she wishes she could be here for her and Sophie. And then Donna sings how she loves her and how she was too stubborn to forgive her. There is a lot of saying sorry and finally they both cry and forgive eachother and go back to the party.

Then they all dance and are happy and the movie ends. Probably

'Mamma Mia: How Can I Resist You?'

I thought it should be a trilogy. I just like trilogies.

It happens like 14-15 years after the second one and it focused on Sophie and Sky's daughter (of course it's a daughter). She's a teenager now and has her first crush. He asks her out on a date, like cinema date or something similar and she want to know about love and romantic feelings in order to find out what she is feeling and what the guy could feel towards her.

Everyone is thrilled to help her. It's vacation time so everybody is there.

This is the movie where Harry is served justice and gay people get what they want. Harry has found himself a partner a few years back and now he wants to propose to him while they're visiting his family. However, he is not sure, because these past few week he's been acting weird, staying at work late, unexpected plans and a lot of phone calls. We see it throughout the movie. Harry is afraid of the worst scenario and doesn't want to talk about the situation with his partner and the partner doesn't want to talk about it either.

Now, the daughter goes and asks her every relative what is love. And the answer is not 'baby don't hurt me' even though it would be funny, but every one of them tells her about a different aspect of love or at least that it isn't always easy.

Sophie and Sky get a song how they met and what the teenage love is

Donna and Sam get a song about how love never truly dies. And NOW is the time and place for some flashbacks, not in the middle of the movie without any reasonable context.

Bill get a song how cheating is bad and Rosie get a song about forgiveness.

The dads, now granddads, get a song how they loved Donna but the love in some situations takes different paths and now Harry and Bill are her friends because they still care about her.

Tanya sings how nice it is to be single but you don't feel lonely because you have friends and family.

And then she goes to Harry, and she's like 'hey grandpa why are you sad you have found love.' and he's like 'well it's not always all colorful in love, because you think it is love but the other person may not and it's just temporary attraction and you end up with a broken heart.' and she's like 'well I think it's important to speak about your emotions. And even if you get hurt you still have your family to love you.' . He makes his mind and goes to talk to his partner

And Harry say that he's concerned that they're growing apart and enlists the things that changed recently and that he understands if he wants to break up. But the partner is like 'woah what do you mean, I don't plan to break up with you any time soon or even ever, I didn't know that all these things were such a problem, I'm glad that it's not gonna happen again'. The reason for all his strange behaviour was that he was too planning to propose and his sister helped him choose the ring and talked him through everything and wanted to know how it went so she called very often and he called her when he was stressed that Harry is going to say no. So it's a double proposal and to my taste it can be the sweetest and cheesiest of them all. Gay people deserve that.

And we end the movie with a song about family. It can be bad but if you have people that you love on your side it's less bad

Thanks to anyone who got through all of that. I hope you liked it. Feel free to add anything.

[frenchtantan]

[RANT (kinda)] My problem with Chris Chibnall’s writing for Doctor Who (SPOILERS btw)

It pains me to say this, but... Doctor Who, my all time favorite show, is about to lose the first place in my heart(s). Here’s why: I have a major problem with Chibnall’s writing.

And before you all go accusing me of being sexist, a conservative snowflake (because let’s be honest, most of them are snowflakes nowadays), and so on, I’m gonna make things clear: the problem is not Jodie, she’s amazing, it’s not that it’s “become” more progressive, because it always has been, it’s not any of the things some are hating on. Admittedly, the progressive narrative has become more obvious, but it’s a symptom, not a cause.

Since the beginning of series 11, I’ve enjoyed the episodes but... Not as much as I used to. Something felt... Off... More specifically, the payoffs felt rushed. It’s like they wanted to put too much in the episode somehow, and then ran out of time for the intrigue. But the plot isn’t even that complex most of the time... Sure, they try to develop the characters more, but... Ooooh!

That’s when it hit me. Most of the episodes with a weak plot try to advance character development, but... There are too many characters! It’s all well and good to share the spotlight, but even a 50 minutes scene is too small for all of them. Take turns, for Christ’s sake! And at the end of the episode, all the messages and plot resolution are so rushed that they end up being underwhelming at best. How could they be otherwise? There is no time!

Latest episode is a perfect example. The payoff? Turning Tahira’s fear against the two immortals, after the Doctor Force-grabbed her sonic to get out of a trap worthy of a bad James Bond villain, and boom, both bad guys are trapped somehow. During the episode, focused on nightmares, we see all the main characters face their fears... All but payoff tool Tanya, who barely has any screentime. The episode tries to dig into depression and anxiety, but with ALL the characters, leaving little time to relate to any.

There is a solution of course: make Yaz-centric episodes, then Graham-centric, then Ryan-centric, etc. In this episode you could’ve had Yaz alone be taken, develop her past a little bit more, the bullying, the overwhelming sadness and anger she experienced to feel the need to run away, etc. Want to still have the “you’re not alone” part? At the end of it, when Yaz confides, have them all say something about challenges they have yet to overcome. It would’ve been a much more powerful message, and it would show the overwhelming feeling of being alone, crushed at the end by overwhelming support and empathy. You could’ve had more time to make Tahira a more amazing character, showing her fears, why those are as such, showing her facing them. Have her form a bond with Yaz, and at the end she’s either inspired by her, or giving her advice throughout, leading to the moment she has to face her own fear, and she does it to show Yaz she can do it too. 

Anyway, I’m rambling, and I know this little rant could’ve been more structured, but it’s what I’ve got. I’m sure some people loved the episode, and I really want to, but... Please sort this out, Chibnall!

 [End of Rant]

-French Tantan

[torterragarden]

Are there any old MK characters you'd like to see get another shot in future games? Personally, I'd like to see Kai brought back. I liked his moves and he's enough of a blank slate without being hated too much.

Well, Frost for one, but MK11 was her other shot and boy was that squandered. I suppose she could still be salvaged especially if the timeline is being reset again but idk, if they couldn’t be bothered to do it in this game I doubt they would do it in any future games. It’s probably too late for Frost, much as I want to love her

Aside from Frost, I would love for them to bring Sareena back. Her short appearance in MKX was nice but I’d be really interested in what they could do with her in they made her playable and maybe gave her a bigger role in the story. It would be cool if she allied with the Lin Kuei again and if we could see her reaction to what Bi Han has become since she spoke highly of him in MKX. Though again, with the timeline reset who knows what’s gonna happen

Aside from them uuh. Idk honestly there aren’t a whole lot of characters from MK4-Armageddon that I really liked or cared about. Pretty much the only other ones are like, Quan Chi and Tanya and Kenshi and they’ve all already come back and had cool stuff done with them. But it seems like you’re asking about characters that haven’t gotten to shine that I would like to see not just who I want to see in general lol. Which is also why I haven’t mentioned any characters from MK1-3 cause like they pretty much all have had their time... maybe Cyrax and Sektor could use a bit more spotlight, I really like them. It might also be cool to see Nitara again? Her wings are cool and I like vampires so yeah. Can’t think of many others tbh

[evdarcy]

An Unusual Hero C12S1

Please remember, this is unedited and unfinished, but will hopefully fill in the holes that were left and answer some questions without leaving too many others. HOWEVER I will answer all and any questions if you want to leave me a comment.

Next update - Tuesday 13/07/2021

Luc stared at the paper, a massive smile spreading over his face. The knot in his chest loosened as he read the headline over and over again.

Casey McManaman and Reporter Found Alive!

Casey had been found late Friday afternoon and aside from a little dehydration he was fine. His friend wasn’t dead, and if Luc knew him, after two days of recovery he was probably enjoying the attention he was getting from the nurses right about now. God help them all.

But Sarah hadn’t killed him. She wasn’t responsible for one of his friends dying…

Instead, she was responsible for the deaths of eighteen other people in the Meet and Greet room and a few more throughout the building, including Frank, Marc’s bodyguard. Luc had been stunned to read that. Frank had always seemed so invincible, built like stone; unmoving and virtually indestructible. He wondered what Marc would do now? Frank had been at his side for years.

Tanya’s name jumped out at him next, Casey’s bodyguard. He wondered if it was because of her that Casey was alive? Had she pushed him out of the way of falling masonry?

He shook his head and turned over the page. He didn’t want to dwell on the specifics. Frank and Tanya, two people well liked and highly respected were gone, and he was partly responsible.

He could try and pin all the blame on Sarah, but he could have stopped her. Okay, so he hadn’t actually known what she was doing in the trunk of the car, but he’d just taken what she’d given him and ran for it. He hadn’t asked, hadn’t questioned her… And he still didn’t.

He’d let her burn down a cabin in the middle of a forest without telling her how bad an idea it was. While it would have been worse in the height of summer, it had taken two days to get the blaze under control and the diversion it caused was the reason it had taken them so long to get to Utah and finally speak to the British Prime Minister.

He turned the page and decided that things were going to have to change. He needed to start speaking up. She wasn’t in her own country, she didn’t understand how things worked here; the people, the land, they were all so different to the UK, and if he didn’t start helping her, they were going to get caught by someone pretty soon.

He rubbed his hand over his forehead, pushing his cap up slightly. He grabbed at it quickly and pulled it down again, back over his eyes as he turned another page.

And that was another prime example of him just doing what he’d been told. She’d insisted he wear a cap and to not take it off, no matter what. He hadn’t spoken up, hadn’t told her that it was a bad idea, that he’d done a promotion last year for Cap-Locked Caps and every single image of him for the campaign had only focused on his eyes up. It didn’t matter that the beard was gone, that his hair was shorter and back to his natural golden-brown—he had to thank the Heavens he hadn’t started to go grey yet!—if anyone caught his eye, they were going to instantly recognise him.

He glanced around the room, his eyes darting nervously from one table to the next. The place was full, overflowing with people looking for seats and still more queueing for drinks. He saw one couple sighing heavily as they looked at the singles occupying tables. The man gave him a glare from the side of his eyes before turning his annoyance on a young mother, but the woman at his side… her eyes lingered on him.

Luc shifted in his seat, turning his attention back to the paper. He reached up to tug the brim of his cap lower and tried to surreptitiously glance back at the woman to see if she was still staring.

She was.

Except now her face had changed from annoyed to puzzled. Had she recognised him? Shit. What if she had? Would she cause a scene? Start screaming at him?

He looked about him again. He was in the middle of the room, too far from either exit not to be tackled by someone. Shit, he’d fucked up big time. Sarah had told him to remain close to an exit, but he hadn’t listened. Dammit.

He pulled his upper lip between his teeth as he tried to decide what to do. Behind the woman he saw a door open and a guy pop out, the sign for the men’s room caught his eye. Brilliant. Perhaps if he gave up his table, she’d forget all about him?

He folded up his paper and pushed it to one side along with his coffee cup. Pulling down his cap and dropping his gaze to the floor, he stood up and walked the long way to the men’s room.

He stared at himself in the mirror over the sink. His skin was pale and his eyes were decorated by dark circles; his stylist would probably have a heart attack if he spotted the star like this. He ran the cold water and splashed it over his face, trying to calm his nerves and kick start his mind.

Sarah. He’d message Sarah and she’d tell him what to do. His hands shook as he took the old phone from his pocket. He kept it simple and to the point.

Think I’ve been spotted!!

He waited for a response… and waited. When none was forthcoming he took a breath and stepped back into the coffee house again. It was worse than before, people were looking inside the windows and turning away seeing how crowded it was.

The couple he’d watched earlier now sat at his table, sipping their cups and talking idly. The woman fingered his discarded paper but didn’t look his way.

With utter relief flooding him, he sent Sarah another message, telling her it was a false alarm.

He casually strolled towards the counter again, perhaps he could get one to go and just walk the town? Keep his head low and avoid eye-contact altogether. It sounded good in his head and was just about to join the line when a glossy magazine in the racks on the wall caught his attention.

That wasn’t—

It couldn’t be…

He reached up and lifted the magazine from the rack and stared, disbelievingly at his wife’s face.

What the fuck was Linda doing on a magazine?

Her face filled the front page; her deep brown eyes cast slightly downward, her plump lips pouting sadly. It was Hollywood sadness at its finest and Luc saw through it immediately.

The rest of the world wouldn’t.

He flicked through the thick pages until he found the interview the front covered boasted. She was heartbroken. Destroyed. Missing part of herself.

Five million dollars reward…

Five million? Fucking five million? That bitch. He had at the least ten times that sat in his bank account and she was offering five! Hell, Sarah was picking up half of that right now.

He snapped the magazine shut and thrust it back into the rack.

That was it, he was never doing an interview with Cosmopolitan again!

‘Hey, if you’re not going to buy it, treat it with a little respect,’ a woman said next to him. He glanced in her direction, ready to tell her where to go when the couple who’d taken his table caught his eye again. The woman was staring and pointing her finger towards him. She dropped her hand to the table quickly as she caught his gaze and stopped saying whatever it was to her partner. The man turned in his seat and stared at him too.

‘Sorry, ma’am,’ he muttered instead, turning on his heel.

Five million dollars. Was that all he was worth? He’d provided her with so much and got so little in return and without him she was nothing.

Or was she?

Cosmopolitan was probably just the beginning. He’d been on the run for only a week and she was already being snapped up for interviews and photo-shoots. She probably had the pick of the lot of them right now, all of them clamouring to get to her. This would probably go on for months, maybe years if he didn’t come home. For the first time in their Hollywood lives she didn’t need him. There was no way she wanted people to actually find him—or at least not so soon. And anything more than what she’d offered and vigilante groups would probably form.

She hadn’t thought of the fans though. Hell, if he logged into his Twitter account and sent the right message he’d have them all ripping her to shreds… until she stood in the spotlight to tell them the “truth” while he had to stay in hiding.

Luc shook his head—he hated Linda with all his soul—as he pulled the phone back out and fired off another message to Sarah to say he’d left the shop, but just as he was about to put it back in his pocket, his wedding ring caught his eye.

Kidnapped, eh? He’d fucking show her.

Any questions, please drop them in the comments. Next update on Tuesday!

[yassinetop]

20 Best Weight Loss Stories

Kim Kardashian Claims to Drop 70 Pounds

Whether or not you believe it, Kim Kardashian has repeatedly claimed that she dropped a whopping 70 pounds after having her baby last December. "I think dieting is so important to weight loss, whereas, I didn't really ever think that before," she told PEOPLE. "I thought, 'Oh, I can work out, I can just eat whatever I want.' But you have to work out all the time." Kardashian claimed that the low-carb Atkins 40 plan is what helped her shed the pounds, adding that she aimed for 1,800 calories a day, along with intense workouts. Intrigued? Then don't miss these 15 Amazing Weight Loss Tips from Kim Kardashian's Nutritionist!

Mariah Carey Only Eats Two Things

One thing is for sure: Mariah Carey loves attention. So, it's only fitting that her latest weight loss strategy would raise a few eyebrows. The strategy? Consuming only two foods. "It's really hard. My diet, you would hate it," Carey tells E! News. "All you eat is Norwegian salmon and capers every day. That's it."

Britney's Bod Slays

This one's more about an awesome weight loss maintenance and fitness story than a dramatic before-and-after transition. With her resident show in Vegas, it's no secret that Britney Spears has gotten back in killer shape and has been turning heads for well over a year. But she garnered more-than-usual attention earlier in 2016 after a smokin' hot performance at the 2016 Billboard Music Awards in May. (We know you wanna watch it!) And then she recently celebrated her 35th birthday with another sexy performance at the Jingle Ball in LA. How does she do it? It's not exactly a secret, people. As she says: "You wanna hot body? You better work…"

Kayla Itsines Helps Millions

There's no doubt that 2016 was the biggest year yet for Instagram sensation Kayla Itsines, who now has nearly 6 million followers. Known for her online fitness guides, Itsines hosted a massively successful '2016 Sweat Tour,' but it also made her second guess naming her guides "Bikini Body." She noted on Instagram: "I originally called it 'Bikini Body Guides' because when I asked my clients what their goals were, 99 percent said at some stage that they just wanted 'to feel comfortable in a bikini,' so I didn't think twice when I called it that." She told Bloomberg, however, that she now regrets the name since it's not only about looking and feeling good in a bikini, but it's about being strong. Regardless of the name, it's clear that this is only the beginning; just see how many hashtags #bbgprogress #sweatwithkayla there were this year for endless weight loss inspiration.

Khloé Kardashian Sheds Major Pounds

Kim Kardashian called Khloé her "weight loss idol" after the reality star shed a significant amount of weight. Unfortunately, she went from being body shamed for being "the fat Kardashian" to being body shamed for being "too skinny." Whatever your judgment may be, there's no denying her weight loss story has inspired many. She credits her drop in size to small tweaks in lifestyle and her diet, saying that her "biggest tip for starting off strong is to swap out some common foods you eat for healthier versions." Now that's a suggestion we can definitely get behind. Many of these 40 Ways to Lose Weight in 4 Seconds are along the same lines.

Revenge Body With Khloé Kardashian

She wouldn't be a Kardashian if she didn't capitalize on her media attention, so Khloé announced that she would have a new show on E!—Revenge Body with Khloé Kardashian. The show has enlisted a number of A-list trainers including Simone de la Rue, Lacey Stone and Gunnar Peterson to work with the reality star to help contestants overcome traumatic life experiences through fitness.

Bride-To-Be Loses Over 100 Pounds

After seeing her engagement photos, Texas bride Haley J. Smith set off on a weight loss journey that resulted in a 100-plus pound weight loss in 15 months. How did she do it? She enlisted a workout buddy (her husband), tracked her progress, ordered smart at restaurants (and tracked her calories), cooked more, and ate a diet rich in protein (think salmon and chicken). Sounds do-able, right? For more on Haley's incredible transformation, check out The 5 Tricks One Woman Used to Lose 100 Pounds!

Megyn Kelly Swears by the F-Factor Diet

Megyn Kelly was in the spotlight for many things this year, not least of which was her reliance on a fiber-rich diet prescribed by celebrity dietitian Tanya Zuckerbrot to stay trim. In fact, the 40-something Fox News anchor not only praised Zuckerbrot's F-Factor diet and book on her show, she mentions it in her new book, Settle for More. Don't miss these 9 Ways Megyn Kelly Stays Slim at 45 for more insights into this star's slim figure.

Guordan Banks Drops 70 Pounds

Singer-songwriter Guordan Banks started his weight loss journey in 2015 and he's now down 70 pounds. Banks, who is behind the #1 single "Keep You In Mind," says he credits his weight loss with moving more (he's a fan of basketball), cutting out certain foods (like soda, bread, and fried foods), and opting for a diet full of water and lean protein (like fish and vegetables). Check out these 23 Ways to Accidentally Start Your Diet Today to see how you may be on a weight loss track you didn't even realize you were on!

Drew Barrymore Sheds 20 Pounds

As we age, losing those extra few pounds gets all the more challenging since our metabolism slows down. But Barrymore worked with celebrity nutritionist Kimberly Snyder to go from 144 to 124 pounds, and she did it all while filming her Netflix show, Santa Clarita Diet. Snyder, who is the author of several books and a proponent of a daily green smoothie, prescribes vegan or vegetarian with her weight loss plans; Barrymore, a carnivore, followed Snyder's methods but added some protein like fish and chicken. Barrymore kept it real, though, when she admitted that she "dreams of pizza."

Adrienne Bailon Reveals Pre-Wedding Weight Loss

After headlines declared she might be pregnant (she was not), Adrienne Bailon embarked on a 15-pound weight loss, which she revealed on Instagram. "Well folks, I've lost 15lbs & counting! Can't stop. Won't stop. Focused! Ha. It's always tea time in my dressing room! Loving my detox with @fittea! Have you joined me?! Um, it's November 1st! The perfect time to start! Stay classy lol. XO." This post was also captioned "#ad" so we might want to take it with a grain of salt when she credits her Fit Tea with this pre-wedding weight loss.

Gabourey Sidibe Sets Out To Get Healthy

Gabourey Sidibe showed off her weight loss—estimated by some to be as much as 100 pounds—on Instagram in a snap from Watch What Happens Live's red carpet. While the star has been vocal about how much she suffered because of her weight growing up, she has yet to reveal exactly how much she lost and how. For someone who was accustomed to being overweight, we wonder if her motivation was anything that might be on our list of 33 Reasons to Lose Weight Other Than Fitting Into Skinny Jeans.

Oprah Backs Weight Watchers

After buying a stake in Weight Watchers, the superstar influencer and media mogul once again set off on a weight loss journey. By mid-June, she showed off a 30-pound weight loss and wrote on Instagram, "Best Health report card ever! Total cholesterol 180. LDL 82. thanks to #wwsmartpoints #ClevelandClinic #AnnualCheckup."

John Goodman Is Almost Unrecognizable

A 2014 knee surgery caused by his unhealthy lifestyle served as a wake-up call for 10 Cloverfield Lane's John Goodman, who in March 2016 shocked fans when he showed up at LAX looking thinner than ever. It has been an ongoing journey for the actor; Goodman credits the tried and true method of diet and exercise for his newly svelte physique.

Lunch Lady Loses 100 Pounds

In the fall of 2015, 260-pound Tammy McRae, who works at Carver Elementary School, decided she was going to lose weight. Instead of eating donuts for breakfast and frequenting Wendy's and McDonald's, she started eating off her cafeteria menu—and the results were staggering. For breakfast, her diet typically includes fresh fruit and cereal; lunch has a menu of things like broccoli and cheese, a baked potato, and boneless chicken wings. At night, she says she has a little bit of fruit or a little yogurt. By September 2016, McRae weighed in at 160 pounds and garnered some much-deserved attention for her resourceful strategy. Speaking of lunch, get some smart tips with these 18 Lunch Rituals to Help You Lose Weight.

Widow Heals Emotional Wounds Through Weight Loss

After her husband took his life in 2015, Justine McCabe ballooned to 313 pounds. With the support of her friends and family, McCabe began documenting her 124-pound weight loss journey on her Tumblr page, taking daily selfies (she now updates via Instagram @HairStarGetsFit). How did she do it? Motivated by the daily selfies, she got a gym membership, worked out six days a week and ate clean. She also challenged herself and faced her fears by doing things like skydiving, traveling abroad alone, and climbing the Eiffel Tower. What made this story so great is that it's not only about weight loss but about emotional healing, which is why McCabe uses the hashtag "#Ichoosetolive." Now that's a weight loss mantra we love!

Penn Jillette Lost 100 Pounds Eating Potatoes

Comedian and magician Penn Jillette released his book Presto!: How I Made Over 100 Pounds Disappear this year, in which he chronicles his weight loss journey. His efforts kicked off in a very unconventional way, though; he ate nothing except potatoes for two weeks. About five naked potatoes a day to be exact, which resulted in an 18-pound weight loss. After that, he ate nothing besides vegetables for three months. He now follows a diet with no animal products, processed grains, or added sugar or salt—and has kept the weight off. The lesson of story? Do what works for you, as long as you get to a healthy, sustainable place eventually!

Rob Kardashian Begins His Journey

In a recent episode of Rob & Chyna, Kardashian says, "I'm not comfortable in my skin. I'm not comfortable with this weight. So, I feel like I'm not happy with anything I do right now." The reality star was reportedly around 300 pounds at his heaviest, and my how things have changed! He recently posted the above snap on Instagram saying: "Oh yeah we snapping back lol,,, baby will be here in 4 weeks and I'm done with carrying this pregnancy weight me and my baby gonna be righttttttt ,,, MOTIVATION TIME‼️ we almost there Chy FAAAAACK Chy looks so bomb here aghhhh ." Moreover, his type 2 diabetes is in remission, thanks to a low-carb diet and doing cardio at least five times a week.

New Zealand Woman Gets Honest About Weight Loss

New Zealand woman Simone Anderson has been chronicling her weight loss journey on social media—and after some backlash that claimed her images were Photoshopped, she posted a very honest image showing the excess skin gathered around her torso. Then, months later, she shared an unforgettable "before and after" comparison of her dramatic skin removal surgery.

Jonah Hill Gets In Shape

The comedian has seen his weight fluctuate over the years (he lost weight for his roles in Moneyball and The Wolf of Wall Street, but soon gained it back); but this summer, Hill seemed to be thinner than ever. Dr. Philip Goglia, who worked with the star, revealed that Hill would send him pictures of his food to prove that he was on track and eating healthy things like protein-rich salmon and eggs. Speaking of, find out the 26 Things You Need To Know Before Buying A Carton of Eggs now!

[fridaythe13ththeseries]

Master of Disguise

Episode Recap #32: Master of Disguise Original Airdate: November 11, 1988

Starring: John D. LeMay as Ryan Dallion Robey as Micki Foster Chris Wiggins as Jack Marshak

Guest cast: John Bolger as William Pratt Hrant Alianak as Sandy Chapelle Jaffe as Tanya Sloane Jason Blicker as Todd Joyce Gordon as Joanne Lindsay Richardson as Teri Susan Kyle as Louise Aaron Schwartz as Geary George Sperdakos as Sig Mark Saunders as Young Man Candee Jennings as Nightgown Lady

Written by Bruce Martin Directed by Tom McLoughlin

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This week we open on the set of a movie. An actress is perturbed that the leading man, Pratt, has kept her waiting six hours. The director tries to placate her, but she is pissed and storms off, snapping at the crew. A gopher tells the director, Sandy, that he cannot find Pratt anywhere. So, the director calls it a day. Some are upset, some don't care, a buck is a buck. Two actresses chat, unaware someone is watching. They part ways and one is followed.

The young actress is startled by noises and a closing door, but she investigates the darkened set. She is startled by a figure in shadows, then the fan turns on and off. A spotlight turns on and as she runs, her foot is caught in a cable that the figure pulls, knocking her down. Then the light crashes on to her, killing her. The figure collects some of her blood in a jar.

At Curious Goods, our trio is working on antiques, packing them for the William Pratt picture in town. Micki checks her reflection and Ryan and Jack playfully tease her about it. She is excited they are working on the film and, by default, with the handsome actor Pratt. Ryan says every woman in the country feels the same way as her. Micki scoffs, but plays along with them.

At the set the next day, the gopher tells Sandy the director that Pratt is on set, in his motor home. Sandy is snapping at everyone, upset that the actress had to die on his set. He is ready to sue Pratt for all the delays. He is confronted with the leading lady, Tanya,  and again plays peacemaker. Todd the gopher tells Pratt they are ready on set, he says he will be there in a moment, as he opens an old makeup case.

The crew is filming a scene as Micki and Ryan come in with antiques. They watch the action after being snapped at to be quiet. Micki is enthralled by Pratt as he kisses an actress in the scene. Sandy yells cut, he loves it. Todd leads Micki and Ryan off with the props, but Micki manages to catch Pratt's eye, as her red hair glows from the spotlight.

Pratt approaches them, introducing himself, but all his attention is on Micki. He wants to talk later, she is in awe. Todd calls the actor away and Pratt orders him to get Geary, a reporter, off his set. Ryan tells Micki she is drooling.

In his motor home dressing room, Pratt is surprised to find Geary inside, waiting. The reporter wants to know the man's backstory, since he apparently came from nowhere. Pratt wants him out. Geary pushes, threatening to go on air with what he does know. Pratt calls for security, Geary teases the man with his possible real name. Pratt makes him leave, the reporter gives him until tomorrow to give him more information. Alone, Pratt is angry. But he is momentarily soothed when he looks at a photo. But he panics when he notices a change in the appearance of his hand.

Later, Geary calls his producer and tells him he wants a five minute segment on Pratt ready to go for tomorrow. There is a knock at the door, room service. Geary hangs up and opens the door. Not paying any attention to the waiter, since his interview show is on the television. Geary turns up the volume of the set as he enters the tub. His show is a tabloid journalism type show. He enjoys listening to himself, unaware the waiter is coming into his bathroom. He recognizes the man and is shocked, literally, when the man tosses the television into the bathwater, killing him. The waiter leaves with his room service cart, and a goblet filled with blood.

On set, Pratt and Tanya play a scene. He has to threaten and choke the actress, but he takes it too far, really hurting her. She screams and slaps him as the director has to yell cut. Pratt ignores the man and approaches Micki, flirting with her. He then brings her to the director, telling him to replace Tanya with Micki as the leading lady. Pratt pushes, so the director has no choice but to have Todd send Micki to makeup and wardrobe. Ryan comes up as Micki is whisked off.

Being worked on by the makeup artist, Micki is nervous, but the woman tells her she has the bones and the look for it.  And Pratt believes in her, so that is all that counts. She has been on every Pratt film and never saw him so enraptured by one woman. Ryan comes up and is also impressed by how Micki looks. Pratt shows up to take Micki back with him. The woman mentions Pratt needs a touch up himself. He thanks her and heads off. Ryan asks the woman why she didn't touch him up, she says Pratt does his own makeup, has a case he says is his good luck charm, and he keeps it safe. Ryan is intrigued.

Another scene is being shot, this time with Micki in the lead role. Sandy and the crew watch, not hating what they see. But Tonya is less than impressed and goes for the telephone. In character, Pratt and Micki kiss. Sandy yells cut, but it takes them a bit to stop. The crew applauds. Tonya yells at Sandy and stomps off.  Sandy then tells Pratt that while Micki was good, Tonya is threatening to sue, so no go with replacing her. He offers to tell Micki, but Pratt says he will do it himself.

At the store, Ryan is going through the manifest. Micki comes in, dressed for dinner with Pratt. Ryan warns her not to go. He thinks Pratt is dangerous, but Micki thinks he is just being paranoid. Ryan can't convince her, as the car horn beeps and she storms out. Jack comes down after all the commotion. Ryan tells him of his suspicions. He mentions the makeup kit, which Jack finds quickly in the book. Seems it was owned by John Wilkes Booth and Lewis sold it to a Jeff Emory. Jack tells Ryan to go and keep an eye on Micki, he will look into the antique.

In her dressing room, Tonya is talking to herself when there is a knock on the door. It is Pratt, he says he needs her. She tells him to go to Hell. He enters anyway. He tells her only she can make him look good and when he approaches, Tonya is shocked by his appearance. He grabs her and her acting award and kills her with it. Then he collects the blood that is spilled and drips some on the makeup case. It bubbles and dissolves into he wood and the latches pop open. Pratt, horribly disfigured, then uses the makeup inside to change his appearance back to his handsome self. After he leaves the trailer, it explodes and burst into flames.

On their date later, Pratt leads Micki to a dinner set up along the waterfront, with the skyline of the city in view. He tells the waiter to take off and pours them both champagne. He apologizes for Tonya, but Micki says the woman does have a contract. Micki is impressed by the treatment.  Pratt says he was tired of being lonely, but Micki can't imagine him having a hard time finding a date. Pratt tells her he would like to do the story of Beauty and the Beast, since the Beast had beauty inside. They toast as Micki is grown more smitten by the moment.

Jack goes and sees his old friend, an agent who books all kinds of acts, including magicians. He asks the man about Jeff Amory, and the name rings a bell. His friend looks in his file and tells Jack the man was hunchback type, who could only get roles in horror flicks. He tells Jack about an actress who Emory had a crush on, a red-head. When she went away with a different man, Emory followed and killed the man with an axe. The actress ran off and fell off a cliff. The police found them the next day with Emory cradling her body. He was sent to an asylum.  Jack asks to take the file and the two man laugh at old times.

Back at the shop, Jack calls to Ryan and asks about Micki. She left before Ryan woke up. Jack tells Ryan about Emory. Jack says Emory could be Pratt. Ryan tells Jack to wait in case Micki calls and he heads to the movie set.

Pratt and Micki are there, in his convertible. Pratt wants to know why they aren't shooting so he approaches Sandy, who tells him Tonya died when her trailer exploded. Pratt still wants them to film, but Sandy says there have been too many accidents and they are shut down, it's over. He is going back to Europe. Pratt tells him to call the studio and check his contract. This is not over. Ryan, meanwhile, is snooping around Pratt's trailer.

Pratt comes into his trailer and Ryan hides. The actor packs up his stuff and gets the makeup case, as well, as Ryan spies on him. Pratt leaves and heads to his car with Micki waiting. She asks where they are going and he tells her where no one knows they will be. Ryan is too late to stop them.

Alone at night, Pratt and Micki kiss and make love. The next morning, they wake in bed together. Micki kisses him and then spots a horrible boil on his head. He rushes to the bathroom as the boil pulses. Micki bangs on the door to help. When Pratt comes out, he has gotten rid of the disfigurement somehow, laughing it off. He says they should go away, he knows a place by Evergreen Lake. Micki is thrilled with the idea.

Ryan and Jack come back to the store and see that Micki still hasn't come back. Jack checks the answering machine. She left a message about going to the lake. She also says she thinks she is falling in love. Jack tells Ryan Evergreen Lake is where Emory killed the other man. They rush off.

Pratt and Micki, in his convertible, make a stop at a gas station. Micki is worries cause he doesn't appear well. He says it is just allergies and heads to the bathroom. The attendant asks Micki if that is really William Pratt. He'd like his autograph. In the bathroom, Pratt's face is getting worse, but the makeup case isn't helping now. Micki asks the attendant to check on him when he is gone while. Pratt tells him to go away at first, begging the makeup case to not force him. As the attendant steps inside, Pratt grabs him.

More worried, Micki heads to the bathroom herself. Pratt is applying his makeup, blood all over the sink and mirror. Micki knocks and he drops the glass jar, breaking it. He says he is good now. When she asks about the attendant, he says the make took off. They leave as blood seeps out under the door.

They arrive at the lake and Micki wakes up. Pratt is acting weird. Micki goes to check them in under her name. Pratt asks her for room number five and she smiles, but seems concerned. He then writhes in pain as his faces changes. Meanwhile, Ryan and Jack rush to the lake.

Micki comes back out and Pratt is missing. She heads for the cabin and sees the lights inside go out. Inside, Pratt hides. Micki comes in and calls for him, he tells Diana to stay away. She is confused. Pratt goes from shadow to shadow, not making sense to her. He says she doesn't know who he is and keeps calling her Diana. Micki tells him not to be afraid. He says she will leave him when she sees him. She says never. He tells Diana it is him, Jeff Emory. When he turns around, Micki is shocked by his grotesque appearance. Emory/Pratt grabs her saying she promised never to leave him. Jack and Ryan arrive.

Pratt holds Micki confusing her with Diana. He says she never loved him and begins to strangle her. Micki plays along, saying she does love him. He says to prove it by kissing him. Micki does, and Pratt cries, saying she does love him. Ryan and Jack burst in as Micki is cradling the crying, confused man. Ryan picks up the makeup case.

Later, at night, Ryan and Jack go up to Micki's bedroom. She is sitting on her bed, crying. They ask how she's doing. Jack tells her she was brave. Ryan says Pratt is going to be put away. She wants to know why she is crying over a murderer. Jack says she saw more than that in him. She says he was lonely inside, and Ryan says they all have that inside. Jack then tells her about an actor who played monsters but was one of the kindest people he had ever met. The man was Boris Karloff, but his real name was William Pratt. Micki hugs Jack as the show ends on a picture of the disfigured Pratt on her dressing table.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My thoughts:

This is a great show, with an interesting cursed item and a very sympathetic character. Pratt is truly the Beast to Micki's Beauty, and she does see the loneliness inside the man. She doesn't even completely turn away from him after he is revealed in his hideous form. She kisses him, to save her life, but also comforts him as he descends into madness.

Pratt, too, isn't black and white. Sure, he is evil, killing people just so he can stay handsome and popular. But, in the end, he just wanted some to love him for who he is inside. And when Micki does show him that kindness, he doesn't kill her but merely collapses into himself.

Ryan and Jack are more supporting here, but their relationships are played so well. They tease Micki and she teases back. They worry about her and work to see if Pratt truly is dangerous, but they don't outright try and stop her, at first, knowing she is a grown woman who is free to make her own choices.

I like, too, at the end when Pratt is acting hinky, Micki isn't just completely ignoring the signs in her infatuation with the actor. She rolls her eyes and such to show that, handsome or not, he is acting weird.

The makeup case is interesting as a cursed item. We know they are indestructible, so when Pratt drops the glass jar he is using to apply the cursed makeup, we must assume the jar is something he provided to the case and not original to it at the time it was cursed, or it would not have shattered. Also an interesting tie-in to make it having once been owned by maybe the most infamous actor-turned-killer, John Wilkes Booth.

Also like the idea of the shop renting non-cursed items out to movies and such. A good way for them to make some much needed money.

The story is great, although Pratt's rise to fame and fortune is a little far-fetched. But, who knows how far the curse was extending?

A great episode, well directed by the under-appreciated Tom McLoughlin.

Next week: Wax Magic