#celia watches only murders in the building

[jennycalendar]

can’t help but root for a murderously unhinged older woman with emotional issues; not very sorry to say it

[multi-fandom-imagine]

can you explain the Price of Flesh?

Uhhhhh...where to i start.

First and foremost it is a game that is meant for 18+. I do not recommend anyone below that age to play it due to the dark theme.

It is an amazing game, i had a lot of fun playing it

But here is the description from the site.

The Price Of Flesh is an 18+ survival horror visual novel made by Gatobob.

Plot

You begin the game in an auction, and you are what's being sold to one of three bidders. No matter who purchases you and where you are taken, you must rely on your wits and skills in order to survive your new harsh conditions.

If you are bought by Mason, you'll be taken off the grid, deep into the dark Canadian wilderness. Mason's goal is a good hunt, and you are his prize. On this path you'll not only be dealing with Mason, but the mountain itself, and all the danger upon it. You'll need survival skills, and to keep your wits about you. You'll need to manage your health, the freezing temperature, and the onset of insanity to have a chance of surviving.

If Celia buys you, you'll be taken to the basement floors of an abandoned office building. Celia is a bit high strung, and she's looking for a way to relax. Unfortunately, her preferred methods of unwinding are a bit violent. One wrong move and you may lose your life. Her path is more psychological, and you'll need to be smart and stealthy to stay alive. Unfortunately, there's no way to tell time underground- and you'll never know when she's going to come back.

Derek belongs to a sort of 'club'. If he's the one to purchase you, then you'll find out what this club is all about. In the middle of the desert, five killers bring five victims- including you. Not only will you have five murderers to contend with, but you'll have to worry about the searing heat of the desert. There's no food and no water, and the clock is ticking for your own survival- and that of the other four victims. You may need to work together if you want to make it out alive.

In the DLC you are taken in by Ren { a character from B2D and B2D2 }

<Ren is my favorite>

Fox DLC is more focused on survival as opposed to individual endings. The MC needs to appease not only Fox, but his chat as well. Therefore, this is a guide on how to complete the route, as well as any alternate methods

Mason was the hardest for me, not only because of you needing to stay warm but you gotta watch out for him hunting you. It took me a while to get the good ending. { which is finding the bear trap, setting it up and getting him} also the dude does give you shit to survive the wilderness...so theirs that i guess.

Celia's took me a bit to get the best ending since you need to keep your sanity between 20-30. I did like how she is the only one that lets you go in one of her survival endings, Sidenote. I low key find it adorable that she lets you go but you can choose to stay with her and how happy she gets.

Derek....FUCK THIS ASSHOLE AND FUCK THE PEOPLE HES WITH AND FUCK THAT DESERT. God he pissed me off, the satisfaction of offing him and his goons then escaping with the other two survivors was just beautiful.

Annnnnd now my favorite

Ren...first i gotta say that unlocking him is such a pain...well was until i actually found a good walkthrough.

I love him due to the previous games he is in first.

Second, i love his good ending, like i wanna share the screen shots of it so bad { so if ya'll wanna sit or any of the survival endings let me know.}

[deafeningsheeppoetry]

✧HIDDEN VISION✧

HASHIRAMA X READER

Synopsis: A sudden mysterious murder brings a budding romance between a blind model and a private detective

Content warning: mentions of blood, murder, suicide, knife

Genre: romance, 1950/60 (s)

Word count:1k(ish)

Authors note: I'm back! Currently writing for hashirama because I feel like he isn't written enough unlike madara who is clearly more liked, forgive me if i made hashirama way too ooc, we barely have any screen time about him so I'm relying on what the anime gave us,the story is clearly inspired by veil but the turn of events in this story is original and are all made out by me.

October 14 , 1958

Paris

"have you heard? The girl from our agency died" Nancy spoke as she drank her hot chocolate quietly, the girl besides her dazed ,quipped in surprise as she raised a brow

"since when?" She asked, quite curious about the matter,Nancy whispered to her softly in the other girl's ear "just last night,they think it's her husband who killed her. Murdered her with a knife,i heard the husband was furious because he thought the girl was cheating with her photographer" Nancy explained quietly before pulling away

"was it Dorothy?" Celia asked, Nancy muttered a simple 'yes' from her mouth "i heard Dorothy was sleeping with the photographer for months now,William i think is his name" Celia added as she listened to the sounds of cars and people walking around the shop "though I think it's only just a rumor" she added again as she sipped her coffee in silence "Nancy buy me a bouquet of flowers will you? Give it to her mother and send my condolences as well" Nancy muttered a simple 'yes' before standing up

"I'll see you tomorrow,call me when you get back home alright?" Nancy spoke before giving her friend one last hug before leaving the shop

"excuse me" the senju spoke as he stopped the unknown woman from going inside the building "yes?" The woman asked "you're not allowed from going inside unless you're a worker, it is protocol" hashirama explained to the woman In front of him,he saw her raise her eyebrows in confusion "i work here,I am one of the models" she explained to him, hashirama looked at her in surprise before laughing awkwardly "oh forgive me..we weren't given any portfolio on who to let in" he said awkwardly before moving out of the way so she could go inside,he saw her smile slightly at him "it's fine,I'm sure that everyone is stressed right now due to the murder" she assured him "have a pleasant day" she added before going inside

'she's beautiful..' he thought to himself as he watched her walk inside the building "sir? An officer walked over to him "this will be the people who you will be questioning today" the girl handed him a portfolio full of paper "thanks" the girl nodded at him before leaving.

Maybe he'll meet that pretty model again,he thought to himself .

A/N: this has been sitting in my drafts for months now,i seriously forgot about it ,i kinda got stuck at the end lol

[abstractlesbian]

Tagged by @bigenuity

And I'm tagging @beetlemage @tinymush @librarycards and anyone else who wants to do this

Last song: Get in Line by Barenaked Ladies

Shows I'm watching: in the middle of my annual Grey's Anatomy rewatch. Other than that: taskmaster, Kamen Rider den-o, and I'm watching Only Murders In the Building with my parents when I visit them

Books I'm reading: Jackal by Erin E. Adams, The Explorer by James Smythe, Viral Justice by Ruha Benjamin

Currently obsessed with : Gnosia. It's like if among us was a visual novel with a splash of ttrpg mechanics. Randomly generated single player social deduction game with some overarching plot u uncover as you play more rounds. It's super super fun and very specifically catered to me lmao

Also Story of Seasons A Wonderful Life remake for the switch. I loved the original game as a kid but was really bad at it and would just reset after you get married and have a child so I could switch between marrying Celia and Nami. So every new part of the game I unlock is officially the furthest I've made it in this game I've been playing since I was 9.

I also just can't stop listening to this song it's so stupid and fun.

🎶when I get married I won't wear a gown, yeah

I'd rather wear lady gaga MEAT DRESS

Tickle the president for the FREE PRESS

Put him in the bath to get his FEET WET

Take him to Five Guys, that's what SHE SAID

That's amore, yeah, I speak French 🎶

[lisbonsteresa]

Fallout (post 2x12)

The day after the food festival was the busiest day Bess had ever seen at the Claw. Winning the chowder competition had brought in - or maybe brought back - wave after wave of diners, and by the end of the day she was exhausted but happy (and very proud to say that she had not dropped a single dish). She sat at the bar, resting her feet and marrying the ketchups while George took care of the last few stragglers and Ace - 

Well, Ace was staring intently at the closed office door with a sour look on his face. The same door that had shut behind Nancy and Nick five minutes earlier after she’d pulled him aside and quietly asked to talk to him in private.

Bess could hear murmured voices coming from inside, and while she couldn’t deny that part of her was dying to know what they were being so secretive about, she was more than a little surprised to see Ace so interested. “You know,” she began, setting the ketchup bottles back onto the bar and sidling over to lean against it next to Ace, “instead of trying to bore a hole through the door with that glare, you could send me in. I’m very good at ‘accidentally overhearing’ things”.

She’d expected that to get a chuckle out of him, or at least a smile, but if anything his expression only darkened. “No thanks.” He said flatly. “I already know what they’re talking about.”

“And are you planning on bringing the rest of us into the loop?” She could feel her face falling into something dangerously close to a pout. “Platanchors are meant to share things, you know - that’s what I’m here for.” He didn’t respond and his eyes stayed fixed on the door. “Is this about your brother?” she tried instead. “Did he make contact with you again? Is that where you and Nancy went yesterd-”

“Bess, please just drop it.” he interrupted, pushing off from the bar and stalking towards the storeroom. 

She watched him go, caught in shock for a moment at his brush off, before she rushed after him. He was already fiddling with his locker by the time she caught up, jabbing maybe a bit too hard at his hunched shoulder. “No I will not ‘just drop it’! I understand that this is a sore subject for you Ace, and I know you and Nancy have your own….thing going on,” he turned towards her with a pained expression at this, but she was too fired up to wonder why. “but you are my best friend, and if you think I’m just going to let you stand around sulking when I might be able to do something about it -”

“Hey!” George’s voice cut in from across the room as she poked her head through the doorway. “Can we save the dramatics for a closed restaurant? We just started getting people back in the door, and I don’t want whatever’s going on here” - a sudden “What?!” in Nick’s voice came from the direction of the office - “…or there to scare away the night owls.”

Bess turned away from Ace with a huff, perching herself on the bench with her back to him and crossing her arms in annoyance. “I’ll stop being dramatic when Ace stops keeping secrets.”

“Really? We can’t have one day of peace?” George sighed as she crossed the room, stopping in front of the bench and staring expectantly at Ace with her arms folded and an eyebrow raised. “Alright, spill it string bean”

“It’s not a secret” he protested weakly, dropping onto the bench next to Bess and swinging his legs over so they were facing the same way, avoiding eye contact the whole time. “I just don’t want to to talk about it.”

“Then you shouldn’t have let me get involved,” George snorted, “because now you’re not leaving without telling us what’s going on”

Ace looked back and forth between them, his face utterly miserable, before leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees and stare at the floor. “Nancy recanted her testimony.”

“She what?!” It was hard to tell who between George and Bess looked more shocked.

“She went to the DA and told her she no longer believes Everett was responsible for the Bonny Scot sinking.”

“No she did not -” George spun on her heel before even finishing her sentence and marched up the stairs out of the room. A moment later they could hear the office door click open and slam closed, and her voice joined the muffled (but rapidly increasing in volume) conversation happening inside.

Bess looked almost beside herself. “But I don’t understand….why - how could she do that? She has more reason to distrust the Hudsons than almost anyone. With everything she knows about their shady dealings…what they did to that crew…what they did to Lucy?” Ace’s face grew more and more pained with every word. “Nancy doesn’t want anything to do with them; she hates even being in the same sentence as Everett…why would she help him like this?”

“Because of me.” Ace’s voice was dull as he lifted his head to finally look her in the eye.

“What?”

“This guy, Daniel West, he wanted information that Nancy and I helped Grant find. My brother.” He added, answering Bess’s question before it left her mouth, but continuing on before she could even think to form the countless others his bare-bones explanation brought up. “He grabbed me at the festival and used me as a bargaining chip. To save me, Nancy had to give him the information. And to keep the information from getting to the wrong people, she had to call Celia -”

“And Celia didn’t wait to cash in a favor in return.” Bess finished for him, horrified understanding flooding her face. 

Ace nodded sullenly. “And now a murder is probably going to go free and Nancy has to watch her bio-family cheat justice again because of what she did and it’s my fault.”

“Oh Ace no, it’s not your fault.” Bess murmured, wrapping her arm around his shoulders in an attempt to give any kind of reassurance she could. “There’s no way you could have known what that West guy was willing to do. We’ll just have to find another way to beat the Hudsons, but no one is to blame for this, and I know Nancy would say the same thing. I mean she would probably have done what she did for anyo-”

“But she didn’t do it for ‘anyone’, did she?” Ace finally snapped, springing up from the bench and leaving Bess’s arm to drop back to her side with a smack as he paced back and forth, his face contorted with more anger and guilt than she had ever seen him express before. “She did it for me, Bess! And now not only do I have the deaths of everyone on that ship on my conscience; I have the death of Nancy’s integrity too!”

“Don’t worry.” a weak voice called out, and they both looked up suddenly to see Nancy standing in the doorway to the kitchen, hands twisting in the strap of her bag and eyes wet. “I can’t speak for anyone on the Bonny Scot, but I’m pretty sure my integrity died the moment I found out I’m a Hudson.” It almost seemed like she was trying to make the words into a joke, but her mouth kept twisting into a grimace instead of a grin, and tears had started streaming down her face. She waved Bess back when she moved to get up and comfort her, then with a watery “See you tomorrow” she ran down the steps and out of the Claw, the back door slamming behind her with a bang that shook the bulletin board hanging on the wall next to it. 

Ace rocked back and forth on the balls of his feet for a beat, looking like he was having a fierce argument with himself before dragging a hand through his hair with a frustrated groan and following Nancy out of the building. A strained call of “Nancy, wait -” floated into the storeroom before the door closed with another tremendous bang and Bess was left sitting on the bench alone, with her head in her hands, wondering how in the world they were ever going to fix this.

[imherongraystairstrash]

Hello! I read your fics and I absolutely adored them? Can I request a Thomastair with the prompt “You look awful.” Thank you ❤

Aww, thank you so much!! Just a quick note for context: I wrote this fic after the picture CJ drew of Thomas being tied of in COI. Hope you enjoy!!

THOMAS AND ALASTAIR: YOU LOOK AWFUL

TW: Blood

(not you, lovely readers, that’s just the prompt. You look gorgeous ❤️)

Wind crashed into Thomas’ face as he stumbled into the night. It lifted his hair–which was matted with blood–from his forehead providing pure bliss in such a moment of desperation. The cool breeze encircled his wrists, and relieved the burning from where the soft, sensitive skin was torn due to his struggling against the unbearably tight ropes that had bound him to a chair. 

Air. It had never felt so pleasurable as now, when he could finally breathe it clean. Most of all, it felt like freedom. Thomas took a deep breath, so deep his abdomen hurt from where he had been cut. He held it in and was overtaken by the feeling of euphoria that compassed him when he finally released it. 

Then, someone screamed. 

Thomas woke, sitting up and panting heavily. He winced at the flare of pain that shot up from his side. He braced an arm on the tender area. Where am I? He thought, briefly panicking. 

“Thomas,” said a voice he recognized as his cousin’s. “It’s alright.”

Thomas tried to speak, but his throat was screaming for water. He saw a water jug beside Kit, and could have drunk it straight from the pitcher, had the lavender-eyed boy beside him not procured a cup, filled it and handed it to Thomas. 

Thomas drank deeply and didn’t stop until there was no more water. Kit filled it again and once more before Thomas finally spoke.

“Where are we?”

“Don’t you remember? You freed everybody who was abducted by the murderer. We set up a medical bay so that we can tend to the injured while the Clave investigated the you were being kept in. I wanted to stay to see if you were alright.”

Thomas was touched. Christopher had always felt like a brother; their relationship was different from that of other cousins. For the longest time, they had been the two Lightwood boys. Even when Christopher's blood brother had been born, the two were as close to brothers as they could get. 

“Thank you, Kit.” 

“What are cousins for?” Christopher said with a rueful smile.

…

Thomas spoke with his cousin a while longer, before the latter was summoned to observe some specimen found in the building. 

Thomas waved him away saying that he wanted to go for a walk and get some fresh air anyway. He had been strolling in between tents when he heard someone call his name.

No, not someone. Alastair. Thomas could distinguish his voice even if the voices of thousands others were slamming into his ears. He would always know if Alastair was there. 

He turned around and saw Alastair, jogging up to meet him, his brown hair blowing in the wind. Thomas’ heart lurched. 

He was supposed to be bitter towards Alastair. He was supposed to hate him and throw him in Thames for what he did to his family. He was supposed to hurt him, to pick him up and kiss him—

No. He thought quickly. Why does thinking about Alastair always end with Thomas wanting to kiss him?

Alastair was looking at him, as though waiting for something.

“What?” Thomas asked, having missed what Alastair had said during the feud he had had with his subconscious. 

“I said, ‘You look awful.’”

“Well, I did just wake up from having been held hostage by a psycho murderer.”

“Just be quiet and come back here.” Alastair said, rolling his eyes and pulling out a stele. “Your bleeding.”

Thomas hadn’t realized until he looked down at his wrists. He held one out to Alastair’s outstretched hand.

Thomas felt his breath hitch as Alastair’s warm hand wrapped around his forearm, like he had done long ago, one day in Paris. It felt like ages ago. Alastair drew on his skin, which felt delicate like a butterfly’s wings flapping softly against the cupped hands of a child.  

Alastair’s eyebrows furrowed in concentration as he worked. Thomas could help but admire how neat the rune was; how it was being drawn meticulously and with infinite care. 

While he was held hostage, he dreamed a lot. He dreamed of the people he loved. He dreamed of his childhood; his mother rocking him to sleep in a rocking chair; hugging and hiding behind his father’s legs because he made him feel safe; watching his sisters put on a play for him when he was too sick to get up. Then, he dreamed of when he was older: running across London’s rooftops with the Merry Thieves; a midnight kiss in Spain; learning Farsi with Lucie; visiting the Louvre with Alastair. 

Lucie had talked him into pardoning Alastair, right before he had been kidnapped. Thomas was stubborn, but while he was tied to that chair all he could think of was Alastair. Not about kissing him but about how blaming him was foolish. He, of all people, knew that sometimes people changed for the better; his father is proof of that. If Will and Gabriel could forgive each other, if Charlotte could forgive Gideon, why couldn’t he forgive Alastair?

Alastair looked up at him at that moment, as though hearing his name through Thomas’ thoughts. They locked eyes. Thomas felt himself drowning in those beautiful dark eyes. He couldn’t breathe. To be fair, it didn’t look like Alastair was breathing much either. It wasn’t due to lack of oxygen; on the contrary, there was too much oxygen between them, and neither knew how to fix that. 

Take initiative, Thomas thought to himself.

“You have blood on your—” Alastair started.

“Be quiet and come over here.” Thomas said hoarsely.

And just like that, from one moment to another, they were kissing. Gloriously kissing. Alastair had obliged Thomas’ request with alacrity. His lips felt soft against Thomas’, to whom were most likely dry from days of dehydration. In that moment, nothing else mattered. It was like the crescendo played in an orchestra. A climax so grand, it could only be ended by a clashing large enough to leave theater in utter silence.     

Suddenly, Alastair tore his lips away, gasping as he looked up at Thomas. They were shining, but not from happiness. 

“I—I must leave.” 

Thomas reached out, but Alastair shook his arm away. 

“Please, Thomas. I need time.”

Thomas felt like he’d been slapped across the face. “Yes, yes of course. Take as much time as you need.”

Alastair pressed his lips together, nodded curtly, and walked away. Every step he took felt like a dagger in Thomas’ heart.

He walked back to where the makeshift hospital was and sat down on the side of a bed. 

…

After the blood had been washed from his hair and his wounds cleaned, Thomas was rewrapping his hands when he heard a familiar voice. 

“Where is my son?!”

Thomas looked up from his bandages. Sophie Lightwood came into the room in a whirl of blue skirts and tendrils of flyaway hair that had escaped it’s chignon. When she turned and caught his eye, he offered her a small smile before she came rushing to where he was sitting. 

“Oh, Thomas. Don’t you ever scare me like that again.” She said, holding him close to her chest. 

A couple of years ago, Thomas might have been slightly annoyed at this display. He definitely would have been embarrassed. Now, however, he let his mother hold him and comb his hair with her fingers. 

“Oh, look at what they did to you.” She said, pulling away and holding his face in both her hands. She stroked his cheek softly with the pad of her thumb. “They even hurt you from the inside.” Her voice cracked.

That was Alastair, he thought. Only people I love can hurt me from the inside.

“I’m alright, mama.” He said, seeing her eyes pool with tears. “Trust me, I’m fine.”

Sophie responded by hugging him again. He closed his eyes floated in the comfort she provided. It would be alright, he thought. Alastair needed time, and perhaps he did as well. Time to stay with his family, who were still grieving Barbara’s death. Time to drink tea and sleep and just exist. He needed to mend his broken heart and help his family do the same. And Alastair had to fix his relationship with his family as well. They both needed to love themselves, before they could love each other. And no matter how long it took, he was confident that they would wait for the other to be ready.

Tagging: 

@hitheresomeoneusingthus @celias @livvyheronstairs @rinadragomir @autumnangel20 @livia-dovehallow @tsccreatorsnet @youngreckless

DM me if you want to be tagged in the future!

[plus-size-reader]

Brave Girl

Kevin Khatchadourian x Plus size!reader

Word Count: 1596 words

Warnings:

Summary: Reader goes to confront Kevin after he’s arrested...she needs answers about the whole thing. 

———————————————————————————————————

You could have never predicted that you would turn on your television and see Kevin splattered everywhere you turned. It didn't make any sense...at first.

It had been months since your initial meetup with Kevin Khatchadourian and other than that, you had only been texting in that time. You didn't know what he was thinking or what had happened, so you were terrified.

It seemed like everything was moving in slow motion as the reporter gave an on seen replay of what had happened the night before. As best you could tell, Kevin had went into his school building and used that same bow and arrow he'd used to impress you to kill and injure several of his classmates.

You thought you were going to be sick.

As soon as the words left the woman's lips, your heart sank. It was always gut wrenching to think about something so terrible happening when its at the hands of someone you don't know, but it was different when you care about the person.

You were Kevin's confidant and the person who knew the most about him and for whatever reason, you were conflicted about the news you were receiving.

He couldn’t have done something so terrible could he? What reason would he have for doing something like that to them? To hurt, and even kill some of them?

You just didn’t understand.

Kevin wasn’t the kind of person to commit such a terrible act, you were sure of that. There had to be some kind of mix up, something had to have went wrong.

The longer the reporter spoke on the topic, the more confused and mixed up you got.

All the witnesses and bystanders were talking about Kevin as if he was some sort of monster. Nobody that actually knew or cared about him was there to actually give his side of the story, though you wouldn’t know where to start.

He had done it, and that was all you knew right now.

Somehow thought, even through all of this...all you could think about was how Kevin was feeling, and if he was alright.

It was wrong, you knew it but you couldn't help it.

You saw something in him that was different than what was being portrayed and never once did it occur to you that you were being just as easily fooled by Kevin as the rest of the world had been.

He was real with you and cared about you, you knew that. You didn’t know very much right now but that was something you were sure of. Kevin loved you, because he’d told you a million times before.

That being said though, you knew what you had to do.

People were going to ask you questions, they were going to want to know what you knew about it as his girlfriend and as of right now, you had nothing to tell them.

You had no inkling that Kevin was capable or planning something like this and it broke your heart. Maybe if you’d have known, he wouldn’t have done it.

None of that mattered now though, you knew what you had to do. 

...You had to go see Kevin in prison.

~ 

You didn't want to, you really didn't want to but this wasn't about what you wanted anymore. You needed to know why he'd done what he did, you needed to hear him say it, or else you wouldn't be able to sleep. 

The look on his face, as he talked to that reporter, it was enough to sour your stomach. 

Something had happened, but you couldn't be sure what until you stepped foot into the room. 

It was nothing more than cold concrete and old paint, but something about the meeting room seemed eerie as you entered. There was no noise in the whole place, except for your nervous breathe and in the center of the room, was Kevin. 

He was wearing a navy jumpsuit, with his hair slicked back. 

He looked just like he had the last time you saw him, except for the fact that there was no smile on your face as you approached him. Your face stayed stoic and straight as you pulled out the metal chair, letting it scrape on the floor. 

You sat without making eye contact with him, not sure if you were willing to stare into his face. 

Over the television, you'd seen a monster but seeing it in person would be too much for you. That would make it real, and would hurt far too much for you. 

The two of you had gotten very close and you cared about him, so to know that was all a lie, would be hard. 

"How long? How long were you planning it before you killed them?" you asked, desperate to know. If it had been going on since you two had met, you weren't going to continue this conversation. 

You trusted Kevin and to know that was all a lie, was enough to make you see red. How could he be so deceitful?

After everything the two of you had been through together. 

He shrugged at first, reaching up with both hands to run his fingers through his hair. He looked to be fixing any imperfections, but more than anything, he was showing off his handcuffs. 

He wanted you to see what he'd become. 

"I've always thought about it, but I didn't know when it would happen" he explained, as if you could understand where he was coming from. 

As if you could relate.

He was so insufferable. It was so foreign to you that you’d ever felt anythig more than disgust for him.

But you both knew the truth...you both knew that at some point in time, you had been completely devoted to the man in front of you. You knew that there was a time, not long ago at all, that you would have done anything he asked of you.

Perhaps the sickness had always been there, bubbling just beneath the surface and somehow you hadn’t seen it. Maybe you had, and just chose to ignore it because you loved him.

At this point, all you knew for sure was the Kevin was a murderer.

That was the only truth that you could solidify in your mind. It was the cold, hard truth, and you had to accept that, no matter how much it hurt.

“Did you want to hurt me?” you wondered, thinking back to all those days. All those late night conversations in the dark, and archery lessons. During that time, was it possible that he just wanted you dead as well.

You knew what he’d done to his sister, and his father and surely he’d loved them at some point...or did he? Had he ever even loved you?

You wanted to believe that he had but something about it seemed so stupid.

To look at the man in front of you and still want his validation. To want him to tell you that he’d loved you even once, it was insane. Wanting that arguably made you more deluded than Kevin was, but you didn’t care.

You had to know if it was all made up.

“Sometimes...but I could never do it” he allowed, after letting you sit in the silence for a few moments.

It didn’t matter if you believed it or not, it was the truth. There had been times when Kevin wondered what it would be like, to tighten his fists around your throat and never let up.

He wondered what it would look like as your eye widened in fear at the realization that you could no longer breathe. He wanted to feel your vocal cords tighten beneath his fingers as you tried to scream and watch your face start to turn blue.

But he couldn’t do it.

The appeal of it would be short lived because without you, he would be completely alone.

There was no one else in the world that cared about him like you did. No one that actually accepted the person that he was, even if you didn’t know everything.

You were the only person alive who didn’t expect him to be something he wasn’t...and killing you would be a waste.

Who knows, maybe it would even hurt him to do it?

He doubted it would take him long to get over it, but it would leave a mark at least, which was more than he could say about anyone else.

“That doesn’t make any sense...you couldn’t hurt me but killing Celia was easy?” you yelled, feeling your blood boiling at the idea. What had you done that made him actually care about you?

If anything, that little girl was more innocent than you’d ever been and he’d murdered her without a thought.

You wanted to be sick at the thought.

“She was weak, you aren’t” he grinned, drumming his fingers on the table. “She was never going to make it in the real world, but you...you came here to see me, after everything-my brave girl” he teased, clearly getting an rise out of how you were reacting.

He thought this whole thing was funny.

“Fuck you Kevin, you’re insane” you spit, standing from the table quickly. He didn’t even flinch. He’d been expecting you to react like this, you would leave now but eventually, you’d come back.

It was in your nature, and even if you pretended that you weren’t, Kevin knew the truth...

You were in love with him, and you couldn’t stay away for long.

His brave girl.

[alistonjdrake]

TSoC Excerpts: A Friendship Bound By Watching You Tempt Death

“I want to do it again.” 

“Absolutely not.” 

Aubrey looked so frail. His cheeks were sunken in, there were bags under his eyes, lips chapped and bloodless, he couldn’t move without trembling. 

“It was incredible!”

“You almost died.”

Aubrey shook his head. “No...no I only understand it more now.” He moved slowly so he could face her, pinching the ends of his blankets and cocooning himself to the best of his ability. “Hundreds of people die trying bliss but some don’t.”

Ethel nodded. “For a few moments of blowing up trees and starting storms.” 

“Who must these people be? There’s your brother but there has to be others. Anyone who didn’t come back from the war.”

“Yes, and?”

“The Dread’s attacks don’t only last a few moments. They must...build an immunity to the after effects or they have to take more to get used to it. I’m not used to it. It wasn’t me. Magic just hasn’t been in my family’s bones for so long that it was having fun using me, calling the rain and doing what it pleased. If I got used to it, think of what I could do.” 

Ethel would admit the whole incident felt as if it had happened to someone else. As if it wasn’t Aubrey who had crawled along the mud and screamed bloody murder until lightning crackled around him. Maybe it hadn’t been him, but pure magic exercising his body. 

And he was right. The Dread had to be more controlled. Bliss might take some getting used to. Sir Abner Edwards hadn’t died in a chaotic blast of rain and fire. He’d turned to ash. The groundskeeper hadn’t heard screams of unadulterated agony and magic coursing through someone’s flesh, but the singular scream of a dying man. 

Still, Ethel shook her head. “We can’t let you take more. Are you going to be fine for the meeting next week?” 

Aubrey looked halfway to hell. A walking corpse. How was he going to stand in front of Trenton’s council and say anything without looking like a body stolen out of a morgue? 

“Fine.” He seemed disappointed. “But after the meeting, we should continue experimenting. I mean it. Sorcerei are the only ones who can handle this.”

“But how does this get us any closer to Eli?”

“I’m sure he’ll soon learn we’re on his tail.” 

Ethel hoped so. If Silas May was the one who sold him bliss, surely he’d tell Eli that he’d seen his twin sister. Someone would say something. Eli must have unfinished business close by, and they still had to talk to Dr. Keating’s son. 

“Perhaps...you should do it, Miss Baker?”

Ethel scoffed from the shock of the suggestion. “I have no business trying magic.”

No business, but she would be lying if she said there wasn’t a spark of interest. How could there not be? She was Sorcerei. Born, bred, and instilled with the belief that she was a member of a community that had lost something that was owed to them. Magic belonged to them. 

The double doors opened with a groan and moments letter they heard Finn’s damp footsteps slap against the floor. 

“Harvey suggested hot chocolate. What are we going to say about the window?”

“What are we going to say about the tree?”

Finn set down the tray on the small table in front of them. He poured the hot chocolate into three cups and handed them out with a tight, awkward smile on his face.

Aubrey nodded in acknowledgment. “The storm will explain the tree and we don’t have to explain the storm.”

Ethel held out her hands to receive the cup. The wind had stopped but cold air filled the room completely and she was more than grateful for something warm. “We might be able to say the storm blew out the window too.”

Finn slumped in the chair between them. “I suppose you’re satisfied now, Lillian? No more experiments?”

Aubrey took a loud sip of his hot chocolate. “No, Finnegan. I only want to do it more.”

He stuttered, looking back and forth between Ethel and Aubrey. “What more could there be to do? You can survive bliss! Is that not enough?”

“It’s not an experiment until I know the limits. How are we ever going to find the Dread if I don’t know the limits?”

“The Dread? Are you mad?”

“You know the answer to that.” Ethel folded her legs underneath her. Aubrey’s footprints were still present in the grass and mud. She hadn’t noticed until he’d passed out but everywhere he stepped, the grass died and turned brown. 

The Elders. Next to the all-powerful God in their might. 

Could the Sorcerei be mighty again? Or did magic calm down once it got used to being contained within a vessel? 

Finn squeezed his cup between his hands, leaning over so the steam brushed his face. “I don’t know you very well. I’m not prepared to watch you die if this continues.” 

“You two.” Aubrey lowered his voice to a chilling whisper. “Please don’t leave me alone. This is the most fun I’ve had since Celia.” 

Finn released a single sob as he shook his head. “Grief is so fucked.” 

Ethel couldn’t agree more. 

[the-mad-prince-of-denmark]

Shakespeare Characters As Out Of Context MBMBAM Quotes (Part IV)

Hamlet: All I want is booze and to die.

Emilia: This is the way the world ends. Not with a bang, but with lesbians.

Falstaff: No one quite understands the dark magics that hold my potato body together.

Peter Quince: Bottom is so fuckin dumb, and I love it, I love him for it.

Fr Laurence: Premarital sex is only gonna get you one thing- Pleasure. The second thing- Babies. One is great, but the other one, is it worth it? I am here to tell you today, it’s not.

Antonio (MoV): I need 300 million dollars for dog drugs.

Claudius: I’m gonna kick your daddy’s ass!

Banquo: Guns prohibited, rapiers encouraged.

Cordelia: I grew up in a house where I once watched my dad eat a pop-tart with butter on it.

Orsinio: It's amazing I have room for anything on my lap, what with this fat dick.

Laertes: You like to sleep? Coward.

Hotspur: Every dog is free if you’re quick enough.

Antonio (T): It’s 20-brine-teen, build an ark. We command it.

Oberon: I know how to taste the sea, read the wind, and fuck the moon.

The Witches (MB): 20-bloodline-teen, there is power in your ancestry.

Horatio: I’m sort of a meek cupboard child.

Celia: When God closes a door, he throws a fucking sword in your window.

Nick Bottom: Horny Fairy, please send me a boner.

Iago: God, I wish somebody would write plays for white people!

Ghost King Hamlet: I just wanted you to get really excited and then disappointed really fast.

Richard II: I would like to formally request that you start refering to me as King Nuggets; the king of having nuggets.

Lady MacBeth: And then I went to the streets and did a murder most foul.

Gertrude: I know he just died but I don’t think I love him anymore.

Benvolio: You’re all so horny, it’s a little overwhelming.

Richard III: Can I vape and still be a republican?

Ariel: You must solve my bread riddle before I buy a sandwich.

Demetrius: Imagine my surprise when casual sex can cause problems between acquaintances.

Polonius: President Obama is definitely, definitely a Lady and the Tramp murder fetishist.

MacBeth: I love how my tall, haunted wife physically dominates me!

Andrew Augcheck: Is tea just gay coffee?

Snout: I am convinced that [the rude mechanicals] are just looking for a cover to have gay sex in the woods.

Mercutio: I want to be an astronaut but I’m not willing to stop smoking weed.

Prospero: I put on my wizard hat and prepared my body for you.

Lysander: I’m in love with one of you, I’m gonna have to fuck all of you to figure out which one!

Ferdinand: Three barn owls watched me have sex in a tree. It was the most spiritual and erotic experience of my life.

Romeo: Let me Fortnite at that juul real quick, old man.

[magic-multicolored-miracle]

Nancy Drew: The Tale of the Fallen Sea Queen aka Excuse Me While I Fail to Contain My Emotions

So a few weeks ago, I started watching the show in a darkened room to make it easier to see some of the night scenes and things (especially ghost-y moments). This episode there were a few moments that made me Regret that choice.

Also, this episode was a fucking roller coaster and one hell of a cliffhanger to leave us on, especially when we won’t get an episode next week because Thanksgiving.

Lucy looks a lot like Nancy and I doubt that’s going to be a coincidence

New drinking game, watch the whole series and take a shot whenever Nancy calls Lucy “Horseshoe Bay’s Most Infamous Sea Queen”

But why did she go to the cliffs?

Your killer was incompetent if they left behind tire tracks AND the murder weapon. How did they not get caught again?

So they just ignored a Murder of a popular and well-liked (seemingly at least) young woman. Because that’s safe…

Bess asking the right questions                

Phrasing George!

Why do you trust Owen or anyone Owen trusts?

Of course she was conveniently out of town

Told you the coins were super haunted

Oh hello spooky af shadow creatures

That’s not helpful Ace. Possibly important but not helpful. Also what the hell website are you on that so specifically tells you that?!

Notice how Nancy only ever gives Nick that particular look, or anyone really because Owen’s been on the receiving end of it quite a bit too, when she wants something?

Aw, Nancy did learn something from Dear Old Dad

Also yay, Officer Rawley! (I get attached to random background characters okay)

Interesting that the police station is not haunted. Are there not newly built buildings that are less haunted by virtue of lack of opportunity/timing?

Not wrong, but also not helpful or convincing Nancy

Just find an electronic that you don’t care about getting damaged. Lucy hasn’t exactly been gentle on that shit

♪Solving a murder’s not hard when you’ve got a Library Card♫

Is Lucy’s dress white or pink?

That’s not a good thing y’all. That’s just another layer of paint on the target on her back

I like Laura Tandy less and less every time she’s on screen

Lucy has a brother? And they disappeared for a while before she was killed? That seems like an important fact to have missed until now

Why “Ponyboy”?

Also, looks like Ace needs to be added to my list of people who don’t get the concept that confronting someone about their suspicious and potentially dangerous activities is not something to do when you are alone. Especially not in a kitchen with easily accessible Knives!

Does she have a personality besides rich and saying she’s impulsive? (Which every time she does it makes me think that she’s actually very calculating and trying to get people to think otherwise)

More evidence that Carson and Kate murdered, or “murdered” Lucy…

If they’re going to try and make Carson suspicious and unlikeable they should stop giving him quippy oneliners because I love him for them

What the actual fuck?!

No shit she was poisoned. And of course it’s rare and hard to detect. It would be too easy otherwise

Someone stole the Lucy evidence? Or Chemist Friend, like most everyone else, is not to be trusted?

I wish I could use timing of introduction to rule out the Sea Queen Rival, but Laura and Celia make that a tentative assumption. There are too many murder suspects

Of course Lucy’s brother was someone they conveniently already knew

Why stress the “half” part of the relationship?

Developer? Like Owen Marvin maybe? Or a different Marvin depending on how old he’s supposed to be…

What might they say about her that her brother shouldn’t believe? Something more than the rumors that she was sleeping around/“liked to party” I suspect

Poor George looks so hurt saying that and I just want to give her a hug

Fucking finally McGinnis. Glad you’re finally being rational, even if it did take potentially losing your case to the Staties to feel that way

What government computer were you hacking into? And why?

Because he told you the truth when you asked him for it, despite it meaning he risks jail time, and you need every lead you can get. Also no part of his deal with McGinnis required him to lie to you.

That was rather unnecessarily pointed…

What the actual fuck?! x2

Yes and no because they were responsible but didn’t strike the blow themselves obviously

Not the same murderer means it had to be same reason then if the two deaths are connected…right?

Of course this process destroyed the coins and lost Lucy because anything else would have been too clean/wouldn’t have created the desired amount of drama

Everyone else has spilled their dark dramatic trauma, it is only fair (I guess?) that you do too Nancy. Also its really just better for everyone’s health if they have all of the evidence that your father might be a murderer

Ned Nickerson, Don’t. You. Dare! I hated this Mysteries-or-Me ultimatum in CAP and I hate it even more now. Grr…

Why are you driving down the coast? At night.

Recording, smart move.

What did you text Nancy, Ace? It certainly wasn’t the recording because you hadn’t recorded anything valuable yet.

That’s…not how a family data plan or text monitoring work…

Because it was your mother’s hair

That’s not terrifying at all…George’s little sister has a demon friend…that’s fine…

Oh shit…WAIT WHAT?!

The question is what, or who, caused the crash?

Really Nancy? That’s your grand solution to whispers and circumstantial evidence? Just straight ask? Why would he tell you the truth?

I am not prepared to wait 2 weeks on this.

[jennycalendar]

mabel not knowing any asl in s2 and being fluent in s3 is such a deft and adorable little touch :’)

[kseniainneverland]

DESCENDANTS 3 - REVIEW

WARNING! SPOILERS UNDER THE  CUT, DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVEN’T SEEN THE MOVIE!! from this point onwards, reading is on your responsibility. you have been warned.

Alright, Descendants 3, where to begin with this...

First off, thinking that this is Cameron Boyce’s last movie ever, it makes me feel very sentimental and sad and I hope that the movie would’ve done him justice more. But I’m afraid that  while it was a cute and aesthetically pleasing movie, that is about it.

After watching it a couple of times now, I have one word for D3: clusterfuck. I’m not going to lie. D1 was great, D2 was good but D3 wasn’t really the ending this saga deserved. NOW KEEP IN MIND that I haven’t read the books and I personally think that the movie still should take time to explain things. Plus the books came after the first movie anyway so...

In a nutshell, the plot is inconsistent, the movie is rushed and lot of the character development (save from Mal’s and Audrey’s) is pretty much murdered and just ditched away. 

Beginning with a song like (Good to Be Bad) like every Descendant movie, it gives the movie the energy that it lacks towards the end. The VK’s choose Smee’s sons, Celia and Dizzy to come to the Isle and return to Auradon, only to get them after giving them time to pack their things.

Next thing we see, Ben and Mal are getting ready to embark to the Isle with the VK’s. They stop in front of the Beast statue though and Ben sings (short acoustic verse “Did I Mention”) to Mal, then proposing to her. Audrey is not pleased but hey she’s back and damn she’s rocking that hair! 

Now this is where things go a bit off the rails. I understand Audrey still holding resentment to Mal even though at the end of D1 she seemed to be amicable with her so - what’s the dealio Audrey? Of course we can assume that her resentment grew back during D2 - the movie she wasn’t in. Her grandmother is there and basically gives Audrey shit cause she lost Ben to Mal (like wth is it with this hatred from grandma, chill out lady...).

Mal, Ben and VK’s go to the Isle and while they’re leaving back Hades tries to break out and use his ember but Mal fights him (as a dragon) and gets him back inside. In Auradon, Audrey sits in her room and embraces her darkness (”Queen of Mean”, one of the best songs in my opinion, holy shit), stealing the Queen’s crown and Maleficent’s staff turning to Dark!Audrey and suddenly possessing magic and knowing how to use it without any training? Okaaay, shady much? I mean it could be the staff also controlling her so I’ll give the benefit of a doubt here.

Alright so Hades tried to get out, Mal makes the hard decision to shut down the barrier forever with Ben after reasoning with him and feeling guilt for possibly endangering Auradon. Cut to Evie’s little cottage-manor, Audrey pays Mal a visit, cursing her to turn into a hag. That kind of didn’t really serve a purpose in anywhere else than maybe Audrey’s mind if she thought that Ben wouldn’t love her? Idk man. Anyway, Mal can’t reverse the spell because “there’s nothing that can reverse the staff’s spell”. Oh but waaait....

The VK’s decide to get Hades’ ember, going to the Isle and suddenly Mal turns back again because dark magic doesn’t work in the Isle. So... Mal/VK’s just forgot that? I doubt it because they did live there for such a long time. Oh well, moving on. Celia is with them cause she runs errands to Hades. Meanwhile in Auradon, Jane’s having her birthday party and Audrey crashed it, cursing everyone asleep. Except Jane cause she jumps into the Magic Lake - again something that can reverse the staff’s spell that is supposedly non-reversable? Did anyone actually fact-check the script, I wonder... And well - she takes Chad with her. Oh the loyal, dumb puppy.

Alright back to the Isle, Celia gets the key and we meet Dr. Facilier shortly, he’s actually a nice man (oh and btw so was Dizzy’s grandmother aka. Cinderella’s stepmother before too...) which I have kind of hard time imagining BUT nonetheless I kinda like it? They get out and find Harry + Gil and couple other pirates stealing their bikes (same kind Mal took to the Isle in D2) and run after them. Celia and Mal go to Hades’ lair. 

They find Hades napping, but then he wakes up, Celia trying to distract him so Mal can get the ember. But whoops, he grabs Mal’s hand. And then we learn something shocking! (not really) “Hi Dad.” Oh well look at that, Hades is Mal’s dad. Even though I recall that in the first movie it was said to be a human male? But then again, makes sense why Mal has such great magical powers. They argue and get a nice rock’n’roll duet together (”Do What You Gotta Do” and boy I’m fawning over Cheyenne Jackson’s voice!). Celia kinda does background “ooh”s which is... so weird really. Like why?

I’m not gonna lie, I kinda enjoyed the bickering chemistry between Hades and Mal as father and daughter. He clearly cares about her but tells her that her mother was not an easy person to be with and he never stayed in contact with Mal. Now this is about everything that we learn about their relationship. Mal has a certain resenment at him but Celia reveals that Hades being her father explains him asking about her. Mal tells her that Evie is the only one that knows.

Meanwhile in Auradon, Audrey visits Ben making him an offer to make her his queen again but he thinks she’s under a spell and Audrey realises he doesn’t care about her. She uses magic to turn Ben into a Beast and also turns Fairy Godmother running towards the Museum to get her wand into a statue (not shown how she made that happen really... but later on we see that she can apparently see ppl in the staff u know, like a CCTV kinda thing).

VK’s get back to the portal and when they cross over, Harry and Gil do too. They try to stop them and in the midst of it the ember drops to the water (spoiler: if it gets wet, it stops working). Uma catches it and then turns back into human. They strike a deal when Mal makes a promise to let any of the VK’s that want to get out of the Isle, get out. 

So Uma, Harry and Gil are now going to Auradon with the VK’s to help them. Kinda reluctantly. Gil gets all pumped up for fresh food and all which is kinda cute x’D And Harry ofc is trying to steal money from a sleeping student but Jay stops him. Dude is awake though and tells the VK’s what happened. They go to look for Ben and go to his castle, eventually finding the walls clawed and end up in a fight between some armors that Audrey controls (”Night Falls”). 

Eventually they beat Audrey together and almost celebrate. But not quite cause they are enemies. Evie is trying to play the middleman, suggesting an icebreaker game which doesn’t really take off. But props to her for trying. Also I should say that she suggested trying to be friends when they met Uma, Harry and Gil at the entrance to the Isle.

After the fight they split up - the boys go into the woods trying to find Ben while the girls go search Audrey’s room and Uma finds her diary where she mentions the fairie’s cottage. Then the girls go back to Evie’s where they found Smee’s twins and Dizzy sleeping as well as Doug. Evie tries too wake him up but can’t (duh, he’s under a spell). Uma’s all like “he’s under a spell. is she not a fast learner?” and Mal tells her that Evie’s emotionally involved. Which brings us to the ah so sweet - true love’s kiss (”One Kiss”). But Evie is unsure cause they haven’t used the L-word yet. When did Evie become so insecure though? She has been super confident throughout the series even though imho her storyline with Doug has NOT gotten the moment in spotlight it deserves. But wait, she kisses him after the song and he wakes up! Aww so it is true love. Bitches I wanted to see more of them before this bc they’ve been in the background (also can I mention that Doug has turned into like a young Nicholas Cage clone with his long hair and all and dam he’s cute!).

The boys find Ben, now in beast form and trying to kind attack them (and failing adorably) when Carlos calms him down and takes a splinter from his paw (i mean... he has paws now?). Kinda reminds me of Tinkerbell and the Neverbeast when Fawn took a splinter from the Neverbeast’s paw :’D Anyway, back to the story. Then Jane arrives with sort of a hose, getting Ben all wet with the water from the Enchanted Lake and he turns back too human - except he has a little beard/stubble and kind of fangs? Also Carlos and Jane meet again and are all cute together. Harry tries to make a move on Jane but Carlos literally blocks him, lol.

Back to Evie’s. Mal and Uma are talking when suddenly boards start covering the house. Audrey’s magic has gotten stronger cause Mal can’t reverse it alone but when Uma joins in with her shell, they manage to beat it, making Audrey angry. 

They build up a plan and Gil, Doug and Jane go look for the Fairy Godmother while the other’s go to the Fairie’s cottage, finding Chad locked in a closet. They walk out and then comes the moment of truth. Evie tells Ben that Uma + the pirates joined them cause Mal promised that the kids from Isle can come to Auradon. She reveals that she lied to everyone, making her friends mad. Celia takes the Ember, throwing it into a pool of water. Uma and Harry leave. Evie faces Mal, who obviously feels awful and her friends are mad at her. Then poof, they’re turned into stone. Mal sings what is - I assume - the song to build up her confidence/self-searching (”My Once Upon a Time”) and confronts Uma asking for her help to beat Audrey. But Uma turns her down even after she tells her that she saw the good in Uma - that she really cares.

Next we have Celia calling for help cause Audrey has her on top of one of the towers. Mal turns into a dragon, trying to battle Audrey but can’t do it on her own. Uma and Harry happen to come back and Uma’s suddenly like “she can’t do it on her own, i’m here girl, i’m here” forgetting that Mal totally lied to them and kinda screwed them over and helping her igniting the ember again. With the help from the ember, she beats Audrey. Everyone is awakened, except Audrey who’s fading away after being hit back with the magic. Mal can’t wake her up even with the crystal and tells Ben, Beast, Belle and everyone else in the room that Hades could. While they doubt it, Mal tells them that he’d do it - for her, he is her father after all. Ben is a bit shocked but sends guards to get him from the Isle.

He’s brought to the Castle in shackles and he works his magic, waking Audrey up. She apologises to Mal and then Mal apologises to her as well as Ben and then Audrey’s grandma apologises to Mal. It’s an apologyfest, and all is fine again. Yay? Hades is escorted back to the Isle and has a nice little moment with Mal, giving her the ember. Celia, Uma, Harry and Gil also go back to the Isle. Mal and Ben attend their engagement party and she surprisingly declares that she can’t be the Queen of Auradon - she can’t turn her back to the Isle. So in conclusion of a long speech, they open the barrier (even though the Beast is against it but Ben shushes him :D) and Mal becomes the Queen of Auradon and the Isle. (”Break This Down”) The people from the Isle (with Uma’s leading) notice this too and meet some of Auradon’s people halfway and have this big closing number with lost of  dance and singing.

And then people rejoice. Gil and Jay seem to have sparked a friendship. Harry brings comedy to the scene being like “so she’s deeeefinitely taken?” bout Mal, then trying to make a move on Evie and finally Uma who’s not having it. And then Harry ends up dancing with Audrey. Okay, seems legit. Then there’s Hades, being happy for Ben and Mal (and also giving Ben the “i’m watching you eyes”). They dance into  the palace yard (or somewhere) and the scene cuts to the core four, staring at the passageway to the Isle, apparently to go meet their parents (cause they didn’t come to Auradon?) and the end credits roll.

ALRIGHT.

Plotwise yes, it’s a clusterfuck. The whole movie is very rushed, it’s like they tried to include too much things. Like said, at the end of D1, it seemed that Audrey and Mal were somewhat civil, then Audrey was spending some time in the fairies cottage/seven acres woods/something like that in D2 and we didn’t see her at all. Suddenly she’s all hateful and resentful again and her grandmother is being a total jerk to her. Whole turning into evil happened almost right after the movie opened so there was no proper lead to it really. Nothing to explain WHY Audrey went back to resenting Mal and Ben and Auradon.

Then Mal’s father. Alright, pretty much everyone knew by now that Hades was gonna be Mal’s father even though I recall that in the first movie or somewhere else it was said that it was a human male. What happened in their past could’ve and more so SHOULD’VE been dug into a little more cause Mal is resentful at him for not being around - but why wasn’t he around? Why didn’t he call her? After all, he had been asking about her from Celia so obviously he does care for her.

The other VK’s were even more pushed to the side than before. I do get that Mal is kind of the lead here, but they did kind of sideline their character development. The other VK’s were in such minor roles I could easily say that they might as well be taken out altogether. Evie tried to be a peacemaker, she gets a few lines in couple of songs and one song to herself. Her character has also been very confident and craving for love, kind of seducing Doug in the first movie and making him accidentally jealous in D2 and suddenly she’s insecure? Yeah, love can be scary sometimes but of all the characters I just don’t see it characteristic to Evie to suddenly become uncertain of herself in the terms of love. Jay’s more like acting as a guide to good to Gil and Harry for the time being and Carlos is just being his adorable self. Still can’t believe there was no Jarlos kiss! (also he got Jane a pendant saying “Jarlos” as her birthday gift, how adorbs!)

The main problem is that there isn’t really a proper climax in the movie. It starts off god and then falls flat on it’s ass. May I also point out that not ONCE in these movies have Mal and Ben had a duet together - yes they’ve shared songs but also with other people in them - and they are the “true love” couple after all which is a bit disappointing. I mean Ben has been kind of put into thee background in the movies too - and in this last one even more so, whenever the core four have been side to side. But even in the last movie - since they’re engaged after all - I was surprised that when they opened the barrier, Jay was next to Mal (as well as Evie), squishing her hand and her leaning into him. In the end Ben is the king and Mal’s fiancee so in my opinion, he should’ve been next to Mal, not behind her (as much as I do love Mal). And I mean I was also waiting that the other VK’s would’ve met their parents too. But no. Disappointment. 

In a nutshell D3 is a movie about Audrey being a resentful brat and turning dark, introducing Mal’s dad pretty shallowly adding pretty much nothing into her story arc or character development. Except her forgiving her father pretty fast. Too much is trying to be fitted into 1hr45mins. Mal and Hades could’ve had their own movie working it out. Audrey could’ve had a thorough build up to what led her to the dark path.

Aesthetically it’s very pleasing and I enjoyed the music and I do love the cast. The end was kind of bittersweet and the whole movie was a bit unreal once you know that Cameron is no longer with us (rest in peace). So this is and end of and era. Despite this honest and well - unfiltered - review I thank the cast and crew of Descedants  from the bottom of my heart that they have brought these  movies to us.

Long live the VK’s!

[finnofamerica]

Rookie || 2 ||

Summary: Hamish and Finnlyn have a heart to heart, and Hamish earns a new nickname.

Word Count: 1494

|| Masterlist || Chapter One || 

“Rookie, we gotta go,” Hamish grabbed his jacket, jogging out to the cruiser. Detective Alexander slipped into the passenger side, cringing as his radio played yet another song from The Sound Of Music.

“You really need better music, dude,” She snorted. Hamish squinted at her, flicking on the sirens.

“Now is really not the time for that conversation.”

Detective Alexander just shrugged as they took off, cars parting for them.

“Thank god you’re here!” An older woman exclaimed, rushing over to them in her nightgown and fluffy slippers. “I heard banging last night and I just thought they were in a tiff again, but I checked in this morning and well-”

The old woman faltered outside the door, not willing to go in. “Take care of her, Alexander,” Hamish addressed his partner.

“What’s your name miss?” Detective Alexander asked.

“Marge Reynolds,” The old woman replied. “Hi, Marge, I’m Detective Alexander…” Her voice faded as Hamish entered the building, calling it in. He didn’t flinch this time, this certainly was some mess.

“Detective!” Hamish called her in, “Come take a look at this.”

The footfalls behind him alerted him to her presence.

“This look familiar to you?” He asked, raising his brow. Detective Alexander snapped on a pair of gloves, crouching next to the body.

“Exactly the same,” She hummed, “GSW to the neck and chest. Think it’s the same guy?”

“Two in two weeks,” He hissed mostly to himself, “We can’t rule it out. It’s the same MO. A guy who fights with his girlfriend shot in the dead of night.”

“You have to phrase it like that?”

“What?”

“Dead of night.”

“Shut up, Rookie.”

“Marge says the girlfriend’s name is Mary Lee, works at some restaurant.” She told him.

Hamish worked tirelessly that night, pouring over the details of both victims.

“I got the alibi from the girlfriend,” Detective Alexander yawned as she walked in, a couple of to-go boxes in one hand and drinks in the other. “She was working. I even cleared it with the boss.”

She pushed one of the boxes toward him, along with a drink.

“I don’t drink coffee,” Hamish said, eyes flicking from the cup to her to the computer.

“Relax, I got you a London Fog.” Detective Alexander rolled her eyes as he apprehensively took a sip, humming appreciatively.

“Thanks, Rookie.”

“I have a name, Hamish.” She insisted. Hamish just shrugged again, turning back to his work. Finnlyn sighed, pulling her curls up into a hair tie, digging into her greasy burger. He chewed his lip, turning away from her to work again, nibbling on the french fries she’d gotten him.

After four murders in four weeks, Hamish and Finnlyn had no other choice than to submit the case to the Bureau. It was almost like the same murder over and over again. They obviously couldn’t catch this guy themselves, but they’d be the first on the front line helping the unit catch him.

Once again they were sat in the cruiser, keeping a watch on a building that the Bureau thought the guy might live. Hamish gritted his teeth as he took a step back, relinquishing his control over the case. He just wanted to catch the guy already.

“Okay, I’m done.” Finnlyn ran her fingers through her hair and reached over to the console, ejecting the disk from the CD player. “I swear to god if I have to listen to Do-Re-Mi one more time, I will snap the disk in half.”

She reached into the glove box, pulling out the little CD book and slipping the disk in.

“My wife gave that to me,” Hamish reached over, taking the book from her as he glowered.

“I didn’t realize you were married. You never wear a ring. I’m sorry,” She stammered, face flushing red. Hamish sighed.

“Not your fault. Nobody in the precinct likes to talk about what happened.”

“What happened?”

“Ten years ago a job went bad, and I wasn’t prepared for the consequences.” He stared off, not meeting her eyes. “Only, the consequences took my family.”

“I’m sorry for your loss.” She swallowed. “I guess I never thought about what could happen.”

It was silent for a couple of minutes longer. The silence weighed heavily, neither really knowing what to say.

“I lost my father,” Finnlyn spoke suddenly, “I know it’s not the same, but….. I was fifteen. My father was a cop and volunteer firefighter, we were at this movie when the building caught fire. I begged him not to go, but he insisted on trying to get everyone out. Only thing is he never got out. I was told later that it was arson. A disgruntled employee wanted revenge. I wanted to be noble like my dad, save people.”

Hamish nodded but said nothing, reaching over to grab his drink from the cupholder. A London Fog. After a minute, he dug out his wallet, pulling out a polaroid from inside. It was him, a woman and a baby.

“This,” He tapped the picture, “Is my wife, Lillian, and our daughter, Celia.”

Finnlyn gingerly took the picture, running her thumb over the glossy edges.

“They’re beautiful,” she hummed. “They were lucky to have you.”

“And what good did luck do them,” He snorted bitterly, “It was my bust that got them killed. It was my fault.”

“You never could’ve predicted the outcome Hamish, that’s not your fault.”

Hamish looked to her, blue eyes watering under dark brows. He squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head, ridding himself of the tears.

“Look, I got you,” Finnlyn beamed, pulling an adapter tape from her jacket and inserting it into the tape player. She inserted the tape and plugged it into her phone. The familiar melody of Keep Singing played through the speakers. She melted into the seat, her eyes fixed on the building. Hamish couldn’t help but to smile at her attempt to change the subject, rolling his eyes as she hummed along.

“Rick Astley, seriously?”

“Man’s gotta smooth voice, don’t fight it.”

They sat there for hours, watching the building until the next pair of cops relieved them of their duty. Finnlyn yawned, shaking hands with the officers that were replacing them.

“I’m not sure about you, but I’m gonna go get some sleep.” Finnlyn laughed, stepping out of the cruiser back at the station.

“Not yet,” Hamish stopped her. “I’m buying dinner, c’mon Rookie.”

“You’re buying huh?” She rocked on her heels with a smile, hands stuffed in the back pockets of her jeans, “I suppose I could get in on that, as long as you’re not going to play more show tunes.”

“You wound me.” He rolled his eyes.

Finnlyn laughed loudly as Hamish downed yet another beer. He was telling some story about his partner and their first case together. His drunken details were out of order, but it made for an amusing story nonetheless.

“We’re closing in thirty minutes,” The waitress warned them, turning to go back to wiping down the countertops.

“All right, Hammy, it’s time to go.” Finnlyn stretched, pushing her hair over her shoulder. He groaned, stumbling out of his seat. She caught him when he stumbled over.

“Okay, big guy, you’re gonna have to give me a little help, okay?” She grunted as she pulled his arm around her shoulders, taking on the brunt of his weight. He mumbled groggily, leaning on her heavily. She huffed, laying him in the back seat of his car and dug through his jacket for his keys.

“I swear to god if you vomit in here, I will not be the one to clean it.” She swore. She started the car, jumping a little as it roared to life. It wasn’t until she started driving that she realized that she had no idea where Hamish lived.

“Hamish,” She looked in the rearview, “I’m trying to take you home, buddy.”

Her only answer was a snore from the back seat. She cursed, taking a loop around the block to make her way home.

She cursed to herself the entire way up the stairs. Of course, tonight had to be the night the elevator broke down. At least the next time she needed a favor she could hold this over him. Finnlyn shifted, practically carrying him like a backpack while she dug for her keys. Hamish was only half awake as she dragged him inside, flopping him onto the couch as she helped him with his boots, grumbling to herself all the while.

“I’m gonna get you some water just sit tight.” Finnlyn patted his leg and stood the moment he mumbled some form of affirmation. She tugged a blanket around him, setting a glass of water and aspirin on the coffee table.

“Thanks, Lillian,” Hamish hummed, patting her hand. She smiled softly, he wouldn’t remember that in the morning anyway. 

“Night Hamish,” She turned down the lights, finding her own bed, but sleep didn’t find her.

[summerspn]

Malevolent (2018)

Random (horror) movie review...

(Spoilers-ish)

This was a random click on Netflix & I had zero expectations. It was pretty good though!

Starring: Florence Pugh, Ben Lloyd-Hughes, Scott Chambers, Georgina Bevan & Celia Imrie

The characters are scam-artist ‘mediums’. Jackson is in it for the money and his sister Angela seems to be guilted into it. They’re contacted by a woman by the name of Mrs. Green who needs they’re help. Her house is haunted by spirits of dead children who were murdered there.

We learn things aren’t straightforward with Angela and she may actually be gifted. Or, she’s mentally ill.

Mrs. Green is suspicious...things turn bad. There are a couple minor twists...

Things I didn’t like:

What was the motivation to ask for help? It wasn’t actually stated. And why after so many years?

It was a little slow in parts.

I saw no reason for the movie to be set in 1986 except to make ghosts look old fashioned and make the timeline make sense. I would have liked a better reason or just kept it in the present time.

The character of Herman felt a bit useless. Maybe he was there to add drama? I thought it’d be better if he was just an idea & not seen as is the case for the first two thirds of the movie.

Things I liked:

The violence was mostly implied & off screen. Someone was being attacked with a butcher knife & we saw the bloody blade, the victim screaming, & no open wound. A few parts were more graphic but I was glad it wasn’t all like that.

The actors were good. I couldn’t put my finger on it until I looked it up but I have seen a couple of them before in other movies. Florence Pugh was in The Commuter & Ben Lloyd-Hughes was in Divergent. While they had smaller roles in those, they’re skills are highlighted here. It’s not a movie that allows for a lot of range but you do feel like Jackson’s a dick but also feel bad for him. You feel for Angela & some of the surprised moments actually looked genuine. So the actors did a good job.

Pugh is really pretty and I kept thinking she’s like a work of art. I’m glad the movie didn’t throw in a silly sex scene like horror movies often do. But seriously, I kept thinking Pugh is one of those women that should be the sitter for a painting. Naturally beautiful. I also was a little envious of that beauty but hey, good for her!

Much of the movie was suspenseful instead of having people jump out at you. Suspense is scarier in my opinion.

Relies on one’s imagination. It felt scarier that we had to imagine what the kids went through.

The parts that felt more realistic (like that scene with Jackson sitting in that chair...) were just shown rather than a long build up. I like that it wasn’t drawn out as well.

- Overall it was pretty good. Entertaining and a somewhat original ending.

- The rating on the IMDB was only 4.8/10. Just go ahead and ignore that. It’s not that bad.

If you can get through the few slow parts it’s a fun watch.

My rating:

���️⭐️⭐️ 💫

3.5/5 🎥 🍿

[ladyherenya]

Books read in July

Four audiobooks (two fantasy, two historical). Two graphic novels and a Webtoon (fantasy). Five fantasy novels, including an illustrated children’s novel.  A short story collection (also fantasy). One YA  book from my shelves (mostly historical). All library books were borrowed through Overdrive.

(Longer reviews and ratings are on LibraryThing. And also my Dreamwidth blog.)

Lore Olympus by Rachel Symthe: Not a book but a Webtoon released in weekly episodes. I binged 23 episodes of this in July (and have read another 5 since). A modern retelling of Hades and Persephone. Parts of it are super cute! The artwork is gorgeous, bold and vibrant; I particularly like the night-time scenes. Persephone is a utter delight; Hades owns a lot of dogs and his initial kidnapping of Persephone is accidental and short-lived, effectively sidestepping the hugely problematic basis for their relationship in the original myth. This is a story interested in respecting characters’ agency. So far, the darker episodes have been handled sensitively. I want more RIGHT NOW.

Letters from the Lighthouse by Emma Carroll (narrated by Victoria Fox): After 13 year old Olive is injured during an air raid and her older sister goes missing, Olive and her younger brother are evacuated to the Devon coast. This is poignant and eventful, about life during WWII and attempts to help refugees. It twists and ties everything together very neatly -- more than I was expecting, but this is a children’s novel. I’d have thought it perfect when I was Olive’s age! Reading it now, I was struck by how relevant this sort of story is today. I also really liked Olive’s observations, and the vividness of the coastal community.

Clocktaur War by T. Kingfisher (aka Urusla Vernon):

Clockwork Boys: I wasn’t sure if I’d like this -- criminals on a suicidal mission isn’t my thing -- but I finished it and the sequel within 24 hours. A convicted forger with allergies, an assassin, a disgraced paladin and a young scholar are sent to stop an army of clockwork boys. I loved this! It isn’t as grim and cynical as it sounds. There’s banter and teamwork -- and amusing commentary on the physical discomforts of travelling on a quest. (One of Kingfisher’s strengths is taking something typically fantasy and blending it with something prosaic.) And I cared more about the characters than I expected to.

The Wonder Engine: Slate and her companions have reached Anuket City but are still in danger. I really like this. Again, it involves humour and the teamwork and characters I cared about. I appreciate that these are characters who have made mistakes and have have work out how to move on from their failures. I like the way the romance develops. The beginning of the book meanders a bit but then things become tense and fraught, drawing together various aspects of the story in a way which is unexpectedly clever and unexpectedly heartbreaking.

Faro’s Daughter by Georgette Heyer (narrated by Laura Paton): Oh, this was so much fun! It brims with Pride and Prejudice parallels, but that doesn’t bother me because the characters’ personalities, circumstances and motives are different. When Max Ravenscar hears that his young cousin plans to marry “a wench from a gaming-house”, he sets out to intervene. Deborah doesn’t want to marry Mablethorpe, but, insulted by Ravenscar’s attempts to bribe her, she pretends otherwise to annoy him. I was delighted by their interactions. Deborah’s passionate, with a fierce sense of honour, but also sensible and kind. Ravenscar’s level-headed, has a sense of humour and knows when to apologise.

Saga by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples:

Volume Five: This deals with the aftermath of Volume Four. It is full of missions which succeed in some way... only to then fail in another way. I was relieved that nothing worse happened, but I didn’t enjoy it much. There were a couple of deaths which disappointed me -- not because I was sad but because their deaths didn’t feel necessary and they made the story less interesting and less complex. I like seeing characters grow and change, and there’s just less potential for a character to build new relationships or challenge other characters when they are dead...

Volume Six: Hazel starts attending kindergarten in a detention centre, her parents search for a way to reunite their family and their enemies continue to pursue them. I enjoyed this volume a lot more than the previous two, because it has what they lacked: Alana and Marko working together! Their relationship is one of my favourite things about this series. They are delightful -- sometimes impulsive and reckless, but also optimistic and loving. They’re the reason I’m prepared to read a story which is frequently darker than I’d prefer. I also appreciated that there was positive resolution to the Hazel-is-abducted plotline.

Granny was a Buffer Girl by Berlie Doherty: A short coming-of-age story about love and leaving home as experienced by several generations of a working class family. On Jess’s last evening at home, her grandparents and parents tells stories about growing up in the 30s and 50s, and Jess reflects on her own experiences. There are all sorts of interesting details in these stories. Telling them side-by-side shows how times changes and how people take different paths to adulthood, but I wished it had focused more on some stories than others. Some of the prose is lovely, and as a whole this book is… oddly melancholy and memorable.

Discworld books by Terry Pratchett:

Wyrd Sisters (narrated by Celia Imrie): A king is murdered by his cousin, his young son is hidden with a group of travelling thespians and three witches break with custom by meddling in politics. This has some fabulously funny Macbeth references and lots of clever descriptions. I liked the witches, especially Granny Weatherwax and Magrat. However, I found some of the witches’ cattiness and pettiness frustrating. The plot is also more predictable than some of Pratchett’s. I wonder if I’d have been more invested in the story had there been more character growth (or more personal stakes) and less parody… Anyway, I liked this enough.

Making Money (narrated by Stephen Briggs): Reread, originally read 2012. I didn’t have much to say about it at the time: “Clever, witty and satirical, like Going Postal. I enjoyed it, but it failed to impress me (or make me laugh) quite as much. Perhaps it was a bit too much more-of-the-same?” No, the problem was that I didn’t listen to the audiobook! Pratchett is more engaging and much funnier when read aloud. Moist von Lipwig is the sort to get into trouble due to boredom; he’s at his most inspired when he’s flying by the seat of his pants. This is fun to watch. I couldn’t remember much about his adventures in banking, which made this reread even more entertaining. And appearances are made by the Watch… I would very happily gobble up more.

Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik: Compelling and beautifully written, a story about winter, silver and girls who make themselves cold to protect those they love. It most obviously draws upon “Rumpelstiltskin”, but I recognised elements from other fairytales. I liked how the girls’ stories fit together and how they have to work together (and would have liked it even had there been more of that!) They come from different classes and family situations, but they each have to navigate limited choices, unwelcome offers of marriage and unexpected responsibilities. Their most important, most positive relationships, are familial ones -- a source of warmth in this wintry story.

The Halcyon Fairy Book by T. Kingfisher (Ursula Vernon): This has two parts. The Annotated Fairy Tales is a collection of strange fairytales interrupted with amusing commentary from Kingfisher, highlighting the weird bits and speculating about explanations for the characters’ behaviour. Some fairytales are even weirder than I realised. My favourite for its wackiness was “The Golden Apple Tree and the Nine Peahens”. My favourite as a story was “The Deer Prince”. Toad Words and Other Stories is a collection of Kingfisher’s short stories and poems. I love how she blends fairytales with reality, and does so with honesty, hope and humour. I should read everything else she’s written.

Nurk: The Strange, Surprising Adventures of a (Somewhat) Brave Shrew by Ursula Vernon: Nurk the shrew receives a letter intended for his grandmother, whose whereabouts are unknown. Nurk has never left home before but, packing clean socks and his grandmother’s diary (for advice), he sets out to return the letter to sender. Short and illustrated. Cute without being twee.

[martinafrancula]

Second Project: Short Films Research

https://www.lightsfilmschool.com/blog/3-short-films-that-prove-you-dont-always-need-dialogue-acr

The language of film is a visual one.

In fact, for the first stretch of cinema history, there was no sound to accompany the image at all. Although the silent film fell out of favor when “talkies” took off, there’s still something special about moments without dialogue. Whether it’s a knowing look between characters, an intimate Closeup, expressive production design or some other element of mise-en-scène, visuals can speak without words, instilling meaning and packing a powerful punch.

1. Over | Dir. Jörn Threlfall, 2015

During the course of nine Wide Shots told in reverse order, we watch an intriguing story unfold. What has happened in this quiet neighborhood? A murder, a hit-and-run, an accident? The reality is both profound and deeply unexpected.

Over embodies the adage “show, don’t tell”, forcing the audience to play detective as they watch a crime scene unfold in reverse order. Told through a series of static Wide Shots, the film demands patience, affording the audience time to search each frame for clues.

Threlfall’s film challenges the conventions of the mystery genre. Instead of filling us in with chronologically presented dialogue-driven reveals, the film actually deprives us of information such that we’re left to our own devices to piece together the story. By inviting us into the sleuthing process, Over engages us immediately. It sinks its claws into our desire to understand; we wait and watch without knowing quite what we’re seeing until the very end.

Over also makes brilliant use of the camera-as-voyeur. There’s no sense of urgency, no in-your-face editing, only stoic, well-orchestrated shots during which life goes on in the neighborhood while the police work to solve the same mystery as the audience. It’s the sort of beautifully spare storytelling at which the medium of film excels: visually driven, open to the audience, with a payoff that’s as powerful as the shot compositions are restrained.

2. Tierra Y Pan (Land and Bread) | Dir. Carlos Armella, 2008

A quiet journey to a forsaken land where hunger turns the heart into a desert landscape. 

Like Over, Tierra Y Pan (Land and Bread) embraces minimalism. Not only does it have no dialogue or music until the end credits, but it also uses just a single zoom out that suggests the passage of the day. A family’s story of loss unfolds as we’re transported further and further away from the scene by that single, time-spanning shot.

Photographed on film, Tierra Y Pan is visual poetry. The setting externalizes the internal states of the characters: a harsh, forsaken landscape indifferent to its residents’ plight. Again, like Over, Armella’s film shows rather than tells. Most of the plot points happen offscreen so that the audience is trusted to fill in the blanks, building on carefully-placed context clues.

Tierra Y Pan’s artful restraint, breathtaking cinematography, and smart choreography of characters were recognized with several awards, including a Golden Lion at The Venice Film Festival. It’s proof that simplicity can leave a lasting impression.

3. Looking Glass | Dir. Celia Rowlson-Hall, 2016

A break up. A woman stands alone in an empty apartment. She dances with abandon and is reborn in the joy of the moment.

In less than five minutes, director Celia Rowlson-Hall, who also stars in this spin on a music video, expresses the gamut of emotions that accompanies a breakup.

Looking Glass begins at the end of a relationship, with the boyfriend moving out. We don’t need to know the details to empathize with the woman, now alone in her apartment – we’ve all been there. She dances her way through feelings of sorrow, rage, and finally joy, covered in camera movements that sweep us away and editing that intensifies the pacing.

As in Tierra Y Pan, Looking Glass uses its setting to externalize its character’s feelings. The barren apartment becomes a playground for the woman’s dance, manifesting her emotional journey. Fog pumps into the room, the colors change, flower petals swirl around her as she dances with increasing abandon. No dialogue is necessary to communicate what she’s feeling. The visuals, together with the woman’s expressive movements, do so on their own.