#del toro would be proud

[looseinthecatroom]

Thinking about that interview Tom Sturridge did on playing Morpheus

Always made me laugh a bit, because... like...

Like, fuck yeah boy... That is a creature. And that creature CAN (ethereal alien beautiful arresting gorgeous aesthetic erotic who among us does not enjoy a bit of creature with out thirst?) sexy. X_X

[maybe-boys-do-love]

Peaceful Property will be high-camp Scooby-Doo-ing with abandon for most of its runtime and then execute a bone-chillingly heart-wrending ghost story that Henry James, O. Henry, or Guillermo del Toro would be proud to have written.

This is the duality of the horror genre at its finest.

[yuurivoice]

Say you had unlimited resources; budget, time, energy, etc. What would be your dream project(s)? It could be audio rp related or not. :)

Shit, that's hard to say.

Like really hard.

I think I am incapable of conceiving projects beyond a certain scale with any certainty that it would bring me joy. I've managed to find the right steps through trial and error, and I think developing my creative muscles has been a real thing.

What I mean by that is, if I had not made BS 1-3 first, I could not make anything nearly as cool as what I'm cooking today. If I would have had unlimited resources a few years ago, I couldn't conceptualize anything worth those resources because I didn't understand what I could do or how to do it.

So with that in mind, my ceiling right now might be a visual novel. There are a few projects I really fuck with and enjoy, and I look at those and go...yeah, this is a language I can speak. If I surrounded myself with the right team, I could make something I'd be proud of.

Other mediums like graphic novels or novels in general I think I could do alright with as well.

Going much broader in scope makes me feel a bit too ambitious, also I still have fears about working in a team or being a boss. I'm more capable than I used to be, but it would be daunting.

In another life, I wanted to go to film school and get into directing, but I think my heart really was into scriptwriting. Shocker, I know. I think for my own fulfilment, working on something with Del Toro would have been a delight. Even if all I could swing is getting him to consult in the way that GRRM did with Elden Ring, I think that would be real dope.

But yeah. Hard to really say! Which I think, and this might just be cope, I think means I'm right where I need to be today. I'm putting together stories and performances I'm really proud of. I think I've cleared a couple of plateaus in recent years and need to figure out what I'm capable of before dreaming much bigger.

I made the statement recently that I'd be making these projects of mine even if they were destined to flop. I meant that. I've gotta see what I can make, and if it excites people, awesome, but it excites me. That's what brought me to the dance in the first place. Making shit that excited me.

I think as a creative of any sort, you have to trust yourself enough to risk failure. Make bold choices you have some conviction behind making. Otherwise you'll never figure out how to top that. You'll just sit in a comfortable lane, and eventually get bored and stale.

I ended up here by accident. Where we go next is on purpose.

Can you tell I've been in my writing bag recently? 😂

[shithowdy]

if you want a perfect example of what guillermo del toro meant when he said that animation is afflicted with "emoji-style behavior" akin to "emotional pornography" then look no further than this clip Disney posted from their Proud Family reboot

everyone has said enough about the dangerous and abusive parenting depicted for laughs in this so i'm not going to post about that; i'm going to instead dwell on the lazy shorthand body language that leaves no room for interpretation. the character is never allowed to turn away from the camera, have a moment of silence, or show subtlety in their facial expression-- every movement tells, not shows, exactly what the character feels.

(as an aside, wow-- taking these shots i realized the mom's lineart clips real bad into the phone hand at multiple points)

look at these expressions and movements. this doesn't convey a relatable childhood frustration of parents valuing control over safety, this looks like the lead-in to a mobile game ad where she gets guided through a series of traps except when you play it it's actually just bejeweled again:

Even the details themselves are deeply insulting to the intended young audience-- the phone's time depicts it being afternoon (don't worry, just reuse assets, kids won't notice):

and in the end, she gets handed a scrooge mcduck sack of coins with a big dollar sign for... bus fare, a very normal and relatable way to carry around one's coinage, because god forbid he just hand her a regular coinpurse or a ziplock bag full of quarters or literally anything a normal person would (i get they are an eccentric family and the show has exaggerated visuals, but, come on-- let's work on tone). are they afraid a six-year-old won't understand what's in an unlabeled coinpurse via the spoken context?

anyway like, not my fandom and not my business or whatever, but god what a dire clip for so many reasons. disney needs to stop undervaluing its animators, the very cornerstone of its existence as a company. it's embarrassing that one of the wealthiest companies in the world can't quality control its animation or take a little risk with emotional complexity.

editing to add (it's 4am and i'm ranting sorry) that the original quote about emoji behavior was more specifically directed at animated feature films, but i think the sentiment shouldn't just be reserved for it. kids are smart and absorb everything that enters their radius, and i think that needs to be respected in the art we make for them too.

[astoundingbeyondbelief]

Kaiju Week in Review (June 25-July 8, 2023)

I picked a bad time to skip a week lol

Ultraman Blazar, the 35th entry in the Ultra Series, has made the scene. Episode 1 throws us right into a battle between humanity and a space monster. Blazar's the pushy type, all but forcing Gento to transform, but he doesn't speak Japanese—just yowls. For now, that makes him the show's central mystery. The show's defense team, SKaRD, won't actually form until the next episode, at which point we should have a better sense of it. But I'm intrigued so far.

Free streaming TV service Pluto TV has added a Godzilla channel. It boasts, or should soon boast, all of the Japanese Godzilla films minus King Kong vs. Godzilla and Shin Godzilla, plus Rodan, all the Mothra movies, The War of the Gargantuas, Godzilla (1998), and Godzilla: The Series. A Blu-ray.com user has composed a detailed rundown of the versions of the films used—short version, nothing we haven't seen before apart from a few small changes.

I got to see Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken before its official June 30 release date thanks to Regal's Monday Mystery Movie series. I guess I didn't retain much memory of the trailer, because it surprised me how early in the film the title character first grew into a kaiju. I can't give it an especially enthusiastic recommendation—comparisons to Luca and Turning Red are inevitable and don't flatter Ruby at all. But I get a kick out of seeing kaiju in such alien territory as a hyperactive animated kids' movie, and they continue to show off their flexibility as metaphors (Ruby is plainly neurodivergent). 7 outta 10.

Nimona dropped on Netflix the same day, and that's one anyone reading this column should sprint to watch. It saves its kaiju for the third act, and I've held off on posting much about that part of the story yet, but trust me, Ishiro Honda would be proud.

After years of lackluster Gorgo home video releases, Vinegar Syndrome seems poised to finally do it right in 4K Ultra HD. (If you're like me and don't have a way to watch such discs yet, don't worry, it comes with a Blu-ray.) New scan, new audio commentary, special features both new and old, and a killer cover. For those unfamiliar with the company, note that this release is "only available on [the Vinegar Syndrome] website and at select indie retailers. Absolutely no major retailers will be stocking them."

Every episode of Chibi Godzilla Raids Again is now subtitled, a fine excuse to get acquainted with one of the Reiwa era's biggest surprises. No stakes, no budget, just a bunch of Toho's biggest stars acting like a bunch of fools.

There's always more Godzilla toy news than this column can hope to cover, but a few highlights:

Bandai's ever-expanding Movie Monster Series will release Gamera 1965, Gyaos 1967, and Battra larva later this month. The defunct Daiei Kaiju Series last offered a Showa Gamera in 2006, and never covered any of his foes from that era; here's hoping Gyaos is the first of many.

Hiya Toys now has the license to produce figures from the Toho Godzilla films, not just the Monsterverse.

Super7 will be selling ReAction figures of Godzilla chomping some helpless people on a subway train at San Diego Comic Con. They just get it (and hopefully the many of us who aren't going will have some way of getting it that doesn't involve scalpers).

The new unit in Godzilla Battle Line is Monster X/Keizer Ghidorah. The former evolves into the latter after his first death. Keizer is a heavy hitter with a twist: he regains 20% of his health with every defeated foe. Great against swarms, but you don't see too many of those these days.

Believe it or not (many are still in denial), but Pacific Rim turns 10 on Wednesday. Thankfully, per this Tweet from director Guillermo del Toro, the effective start of the Kaiju Renaissance (and one of my all-time favorite films) won't go unrecognized on its first big anniversary. I'm guessing a cast reunion?

More translations from Noah Oskow await on Toho Kingdom, these a collection of synopses of early versions of Godzilla vs. Mothra, Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II, and Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla from the Toho DVDs. Much of this has been translated in greater detail already, but the later drafts are interesting.

[streetsofsecrets]

A Long List of Paternal Headcanons About Pietro

Although Pietro has looked perpetually miserable in most stories, this is actually the happiest he has ever been in his life. And honestly? In regards to being at work? Pietro is cold as hell, he's far more warm amongst his family.

His children (and Rosaria) are his weak spot. Pietro is similar to his father, in the sense that he has 'older sensibilities' in regards to his expectations for the way his children should conduct themselves and behave. Yet, he's never risen his hand with them. He seldom even yells - his kids know when he's displeased through his glances or how low his voice becomes. He's the master of giving a fatherly face of disapproval.

He often finds himself on the line between wanting modern American sensibilities with his parenting while also honoring traditional Sicilian customs without having the more problematic aspects of his culture. Rosaria always succeeds in balancing him out in perspective.

MORE UNDERCUT

Having Carlo changed him, but having the twins changed him more. This is because they were his first daughters, and the emotions he felt seeing two small girl infants was somehow stronger than what he felt at the sight of his son. He and Sal had a good chat in the hospital that morning, with Sal noting that Pietro was gonna be willing to murder someone for these little girls, he was gonna be a slave for them and their happiness. Pietro believed him.

Everything Pietro thinks and considers about the future, he does so with his children in mind. Carlo made him want to [REDACTED]. The twins made him want to go legitimate. Pietro feels that as a parent involved in the underworld it's so important to have things in order. Plans, a will, incase you suddenly get a bullet in your brain. But upon obtaining fame and large heaps of money from various legitimate sources, Pietro realizes that this isn't the way he wants to live: he wants to enjoy small things in life with his children without looking over his shoulder. He got in the life, now he wants to get out of the life.

NSFW. Currently in Sink or Swim, Pietro believed he was attracted to slim woman, model shaped. Turns out he actually prefers Rosaria's weight gain, he thinks she looks more lively and beautiful. Plus, you know, her weight reminds him of how they started a family.

He finds himself using phrases, stories and songs that his mother use to tell him. He's very good at telling stories, which is something he never expected to be good at.

He's always felt extra tender towards Angela because she was a shy, clingy toddler whereas Antonella prided herself in being extroverted and spontaneous. Angela use to latch onto him and crawl into bed at night afraid of the dark whereas Antonella use to yank at his beard and put M&Ms in his ear when she was a toddler. However, Angela becomes his biggest fear because he sees so much of himself in her sneakiness and occasional lies.

He absolutely refuses to let any of his children, nieces, or nephews get into the entertainment industry or modeling industry while they're minors. This firm stance impacts Antonella the most because she would love to be on TV.

Watches a mixture of old and new things with his kids. Movie nights are commonplace. Pietro's the sort of dad who'll turn on episodes of I Love Lucy or the Caroll Burnett Show for the girls to watch [which does prompt Antonella's interest in female comedians across decades] but he'll watch the latest Disney movie too. However, he doesn't think too highly of the storytelling and characterizations in the latest films.

Angela and Antonella came out of the theatre with him after viewing Wish. Antonella felt the star was cute and that was it, whereas Angela had a moment of silence before saying, "I don't think I like Disney movies anymore…" to which Antonella said, "me neither." Pietro was proud they were able to feel this way, but he also felt like an end of an era was upon them.

Guillermo Del Toro's Pinocchio makes him depressed because he sees too much of his father in the portrayal of Geppeto's coldness. He thought the movie Luca was lovely though. Sometimes he definitely watches animated movies redubbed in Italian for nostalgia and to get the kids in-tune with their heritage.

Usually watches the girls play Dreamlight Valley, and once while they were at camp he and Rosaria had the honorable duty of watering the girl's Pumpkin Patch.

[bigassbowlingballhead]

Fic Pride Game

thanks for the tag @anincompletelist

Rules: Post your favourite line or passage from as many of your published works as you’d like. Let yourself feel proud of your creations! Tag as many people as you post snippets, so your fellow fic friends can be proud, too.

Saddle Up and Ride (firstprince bronco fic)

It takes an excruciatingly long three weeks for the package to finally arrive. He’s been so excited waiting for this he nearly trips and lands face first into the door when he hears the knock of the delivery guy. “Thanks, boss!” he shouts at the man returning to his truck before slamming the door and running into the bedroom.

Cruising (buddie)

Fingers appear and slowly push the foreskin over the tip, as if to say it won’t bite. Eddie gulps and reaches down. His fingers brush the tip, he can hear the man on the other side hiss at the sensation. His index finger leads the rest in a dance down the shaft, finally wrapping them around. He cradles it in his hand. It feels warm, comfortable, full. Eddie strokes the man’s cock; it’s thick and veiny. The man moans when Eddie’s pinkie grazes the tip.

two is better than one (firstprince shane fic)

Shane laughs, “Where can I wash up before we eat?” he asks. “Down the hall, to the left,” Henry says, gesturing like a flight attendant. Shane stands and heads off down the hall. He turns right and walks into a linen closet. “To the left!” Alex shouts down the hall. “Left, got it.” Shane holds up his hands and makes two L type shapes and looks at his thumbs for a considerable amount of time, presumably trying to decipher which is an L before turning on his heel that direction. “There we go, he’s got it,” Henry says, taking another sip of wine.

Testicoli del Toro (taynick)

He leans over Taylor and rests his arms on either side and kisses him as he begins thrusting. His thrusts are long and slow. Taylor’s hands grab Nick’s face. “Is that all you got, pretty boy?” Taylor sneers and lifts his head. “Come on, harder,” he commands, slapping Nick’s ass.

i got you (taynick)

“Come on, deep breath,” Taylor coaches and Nick breathes in deeply through his nose. “That’s it good, now, one, two, and,” Taylor draws his hips back and pushes deeper than before, and Nick sputters. “Shh,” Taylor places his palm on Nick’s chest and rubs, “Just relax and breathe, I got you.”

to the core (ryliver)

Ryan hopes no one catches the moment Oliver whispers, “this isn’t the cake I want to be eating,” in his ear. He almost chokes on the cake he just put in his mouth and fights the urge to bend over on top of this dry ass cake right now and let Oliver lick his hole until he sees cartoon stars. But he can’t–that would be illegal, there are children present. So he swallows the dry ass cake, and tries not to think about Oliver’s tongue in his ass.

tags: @eusuntgratie @rylivers @taste-thewaste @dreamsinthewitchouse @doublecheekedkinard

@onward--upward

and please! consider this open!

[softlytowardthesun]

just for the record, Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio is my favorite movie of the year. and this is the same year we had Entergalactic, Wendell & Wild, Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, Prey, 3000 Years of Longing, and Everything Everywhere All at Once. 

Seriously, it’s brilliant. The Fascist Italy setting with the old children’s story seems strange when you first hear it, but it connects so smoothly I’m surprised this hasn’t been the go-to choice for every adaptation. Fascism demands blind obedience, so who better as a hero than a living embodiment of independent thought and free will -- a puppet with no performer?

No one literally turns into donkeys in this version, but the transformation into fascists is just as chilling if not more so. For the first time in my life, I pitied the Candlewick character and held back tears when it was clear there was no saving him from his fate. (Seriously, Collodi’s novel just treats it as a punchline that donkey Candlewick is literally worked to death; the original story is basically a black comedy and how it got transmuted into a coming of age fable is fascinating and befuddling.)

At the same time, it also takes a much more elegant approach to well-worn Pinocchio ground. Once again, Geppetto constructs the wooden boy out of grief for his dead child, but that’s not glossed over or used for pointless angst: Carlo is a real character who’s in real relationship with Geppetto and later his “younger brother” Pinocchio. The Cricket and Pinocchio have a more developed relationship, and Ewan McGregor is clearly having the time of his life in this role. 

The production design is next level. Like every Jim Henson Company project, you start off thinking “How in the world did they do that?” but soon enough the magic washes over you and you forget to be impressed by the astonishing amount of work that went into every frame. I’m so happy that the Creature Shop is still continuing Jim’s legacy, and I got a little teary eyed imagining what Jim Henson himself would have made of this.

Is there a weak link? Of course; no movie’s perfect. This movie’s a musical, and there’s no competing with the 1940 score from the cartoon. I doubt that many of the songs will make a lasting connection, but one in particular more than justifies the whole affair: I won’t spoil it, but it’s the best scatological joke of all time.

Guillermo del Toro, Lisa Henson, Patrick McHale, and Mark Gustavson have made something to be very proud of. I can’t wait for this to come to Netflix next month; I’m sure there’s dozens more details for me to find and further geek out about. If it’s in your area, please try to find time to check it out. 

[zukkacore]

i can't. remember if i sent in numbers for the writer's ask already. if i did, crying ignore this but: 11, 12, and 30?

11. a wip you'd like to finish someday

Oh god i started so many just w/in the past few days. Jace hireling au obviously. jaceporter first time. Actually, the true honest to god earnest answer is i always felt terrible abandoning my multichap danganronpa talentswap. It's so old i really don't think its indicative of my current skill level but it was so much fun and it means so much to be and its so long and i did have a whole ending planned out but im just not that good at writing detectivework. I do think there's some good shit in there still tho.

The other answer that's kinda cheating is i have a fantasy based Taming of the shrew retelling i've been like retooling for like a goddamn year. It's such a fucked play but i have so many mixed feelings abt it. My feelings on taming are very similar to del toro's on pinocchio in that it's very pro domestication of the human spirit that i think is kinda depressing. Like im very centrist abt whether the play is irredeemable or whether its not meant to be taken seriously, but the themes are interesting. In my mind, there's like. all this stuff abt performance and palability and. Individiuality vs community. Acceptance vs ostracization. This tension between vulnerability n connection vs. power and control and how those are competing needs w/in people. Like. Kate n Petrucchio are both outsiders and petruchio could choose vulnerability and connection w/ his wife and instead he chooses social approval in a patriarchal society which he gains through proving how good he is at subjugating his wife. The themes are INTERESTING it's just the fuckin CONCLUSION (aka its morally good and just to gaslight your wife actually) are fuckin DIRE. On the other hand. Kate and Petruchio have mad chemistry and is it so wrong to think they should fuck nasty?

12. a trope you're really into right now

... 4 jaces? I feel like i have a weird stance on the clonefucking joke poll that goes around every few months (in that its not the same as masturbation b/c the minute their consciousness is different from yours thats like. a full person but not a person i would be compelled to be with but maybe im to arospec for that) so its never particularly compelled me before, like i thought that shit in Loki was kinda cringe. but just bc i don't find the idea particularly compelling for myself doesn't mean Jace can't be a little obsessed w/ himself. Tbh the idea of being a xerox of a xerox of a xerox in general is very interesting for me tho.

There's also something I think i keep returning to abt like. Having to renegotiate or reclaim power and love in a relationship that should otherwise be fucked and heartbreaking. By all intents and purposes, there should be one break at the heart of this that ruins everything, a moment at the beginning that should have ruined everthing from jump. but if we're stuck together, I'm determined to reconcile w/ myself that there's love there. It's very Jaceporter. It's very Kate n petruchio. Very hades n persephone I have another very old school ship that actually has something very similar happen. If you can figure it out based on this text i sent my friend then you were probaly on tumblr when a certain webcomic was updating.

30. share a fic you're especially proud of

I feel like me giving so many answers to these is a total copout. The truthful answer is that I have like a 10k togakure (hiro n togami for those curious) pwp fic thats on my google drive somewhere that i've never posted bc ive been too embarrassed and the ship is NOT that popular so i think like .5 people would read it. But it's like my favorite thing i've ever written. I might post it eventually. If i pluck up the courage. I have sent it to like 2-3 people in my lifetime. I'd cite a scene i like, but I like all of it. And also most if it is smut.

The half-hearted answer is my talentswap bc i am fuckin proud of it im just embarrassed bc i abandoned it. I'm legit so sad. I'm such a Hiro n Mukuro should be proxy siblings truther and im glad their scene was the last thing i posted but now it will never come into fruition.

So i guess. My default answer is my Sky High AU for It chapter 2. It's called Welcome To the Loser Track and it's reddie and in it Richie is the kid who glows and Eddie is the kid who turns into a guinea pig. I actually really like the movie Sky High a lot, I think it's a really good kids movie and it's got a lot of fun setpieces and cool design components and even some of the camerawork is pretty neat and cute stuff in it that's rly underrated. Its like one of the main Things i feel like ppl who are my friends or have been w/ me a long time know about me, and the silly thing abt me is that i really do earnestly like Zack/Magenta as a ship, but mainly bc i just think Zack gives off baby butch dyke vibes (and. I hate to use the phrase. but it's kinda black cat x golden retriever vibes). I actually like it so much that Sky High reddie is probably my favorite version of reddie, and i do think the other Losers in that mode are also very fun (Bill is strong n can fly, Mike controls plants, Stan melts, Bev is pyrokinetic, and Ben is a technopath). The main thing abt it is that it's COMPLETE (i have so many abandoned wips), but i am geuinely proud of it. I don't think the writing is like always the most polished but i think there is a lot of interesting queer subtext in that movie (in that there is basically a coming out scene even if the conclusion of the story is that he was straight the whole time lol) that i kinda picked at and did a good job elaborating on. There's actually a lot of underutilized subtext in that movie that isn't rly interrogated that i think is fun. I just think there's very romantic abt two people with "useless" powers seeing the beauty in each other.

I feel like some old school mutuals from my IT days already know this, but this is probably my favorite scene from the fic:

[jowobaby]

hey, I don’t know if/how much this even helps but I had to say something. we’re yoi mutuals and seeing you in my notes or my dash makes me smile. I know I don’t know you personally, and that the season is hard… but there is someone who cares whether you live or not. I’ve also delt with suicidal thoughts and have to constantly remind myself of people who’s careers got started in their 40s or later, of the interview where Guillermo del Toro says he’s much happier in his 50s than he was even in his 30s, other little reminders that life gets better. Its hard to have that optimism, especially when you’re actively spiraling, but I’m mentally sending you a blanket and tea and hugs and hoping you can find that desire to continue. It is fucking hard to persevere. Esp if you’ve been struggling with depression for so long. I’m proud of you and I’m sending you love, even just as someone your life has peripherally touched <3 and even if you’re not in a place to accept this rn, I understand…. I just hope you stick around.

I debated answering this because I’m not sure how to respond to the kindness here. I figured even a thank you would be too little but you seem to care, and I don’t want to worry you.

So thank you, thank you, thank you. I’m doing my best and I’ll continue to. I really appreciate you taking the time to encourage me. I was having a pretty fucking awful night.

My cat who never cuddles me actually cuddled me last night. And I don’t know if it’s because he missed me because I was away over a week or because I was sad. But either way, he loves me. And I’m going to continue to do my best for him and my other kitty, and all the people who care about me, even peripherally. <3

Thank you.

[witchvvolf]

introducing the writer tag!

i was tagged at an ungodly hour by @thewardenofwinter that i did see...before passing out at nearly two in the morning because my sleep schedule is violently out of wack. their intro is right here and the original creator of the tag is here!

Rules: fill in the blanks with as much or little detail as you would like and tag some writer friends to play too.

hello! my name is rownan and when i'm not writing, i don't like to use proper punctuation online. i suppose i can classify my writing as literary fiction? adult literary fiction? alongside fantasy and mythological retellings and retellings of childhood stories i adore. so far i am exploring writing about religious trauma, witchcraft, and creatures we would only see described in their true nature in a guillermo del toro film (the fae).

i am sfw (ish. sfwish i think), and again i will be writing about religion as this is what i have experienced, namely christianity and theistic satanism so beware if the cross burns you in some way. i will also be writing about cults/cultish behavior, death, and violence. you will not find me romanticizing any sort of abuse against minorities, domestic, ect.

so far, i won't venture to call it my best work but i will mention the two i am most proud of. firstly 'black forrest cake' as in a way, it is a blatant self insert about my experience at my first and current job that continues to not only cut my hours, has heavily impacted my mental health. i have turned it into something that i can in turn be proud of.

the second is 'project labyrinth' which is a passion! it weaves together movie ft david bowie, and the show 'the chilling adventures of sabrina.' rumi has to be my favorite mc thus far, although the books villian is inspired by gwendolyn christies portrayal of lucifer in 'the sandman' which has me very excited. i not only have an opportunity to create a tall, androgynous, yet effeminate creature but i have the chance to make them absolutely terrifying. i have the chance to make your skin crawl and that thrills me.

something to note about my writing that isn't mentioned within the game, or perhaps is, is that i am still finding my footing within my style. i had only decided to pursue projects outside of fanfiction rather recently, maybe a year or so? so i am still learning confidence in the writing i have, and that's quite alright!!!

i have no one to tag- so if you see this, the ball is in your court.

[goddesspharo]

for the ask meme: F, H, and/or V

I'm going to answer this out of order.

H: How would you describe your style?

Non-existent? I'm not sure what my style is and I think it changes a little with whatever I'm writing for, but I'd probably go with sarcastic with a healthy dose of banter sprinkled with moments of earnestness?

V: If you could write the sequel (or prequel) to any fic out there not written by yourself, which would you choose?

It has been fifteen years since the first Iron Man movie came out, I barely care about the MCU anymore, and it's been at least a decade since this was written, but I still think about obsession_inc's Concession every once in a while. It's such a well-executed fic that doesn't need a sequel or prequel (and certainly not one that I could do any justice), but I would love to be in that world for a little bit longer. Easily one of the best AUs I've ever read.

F: Share a snippet from one of your favorite dialogue scenes you’ve written and explain why you're proud of it.

The first and only time I participated in Yuletide (not write crap AND meet a deadline? oh, the horrors!), I wrote mirror my malady, a post-Sicario fic, and it was a challenge to get the voices down but I think I did a pretty good job. I especially liked Kate/Alejandro on the plane because I could hear the words very clearly from Benicio del Toro's mouth when I was writing it. (And because I think a response like "a new draft always requires revision" when talking about the assassination they're about to commit is hilarious. Should've hired me to write Sicario 2: Electric Boogaloo.)

In more recent times though, it's probably this from not every conversation is a new grenade:

Selina practically squeals in excitement as she asks if he's going to show her his lair. "I'm not Dracula," Bruce deadpans as he leads her down the corridor to the library with the secret door. "I don't have a lair." In retrospect, Bruce realizes that Alfred might have been right the moment Selina makes it halfway down the winding staircase and starts laughing. She's never going to take him seriously again. He'll be interrogating the criminal element of Gotham and Selina will be in the background making fangs with her claws behind his back. "Is this supposed to be a cave?" "It's an old underground train station. At one time, the Waynes used to—" Selina nudges his shoulder and asks, "You sleep upside down like a bat too, V?" Seeing Bruce's frown, Selina raises her hands in surrender and promises that it's the last crack she'll make about his kinks as they walk the rest of the way down.

Took 14 years to become a bat!

Fanfic ask game - ask me things!

[rookie-critic]

Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio (2022, dir. Guillermo del Toro) - review by Rookie-Critic

Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio is one of the most gorgeous pieces of claymation artistry I have ever seen. Purely from an artistic standpoint this movie is perfect and Guillermo del Toro should be incredibly proud of what he was able to accomplish in an art form that he has never really worked in before. The motion is smooth as can possibly be, the faces are expressive, and the environments are vibrant and full of life. Everything feels very fleshed out and alive throughout the entire movie. Characters' personalities come out just as much in their gait, facial movements, and the way their mouths move around their words as it does in the vocal performances themselves. There's not a ton that I can say about Pinocchio's animation because it's just perfect. The same goes for the cast and their performances. Newcomer Gregory Mann was a perfect cast for the titular character, and brings all the childlike wonder and naivete to the little wooden boy that the story demands and even more. David Bradley, Ewan McGregor, and Christoph Waltz all deserve high praise for their work in the movie and a very special shout out should go to Cate Blanchett for taking on a very no frills, minimalist animal role that would normally go to someone like Frank Welker, Dee Bradley Baker, or Alan Tudyk, and making it very unique and one of the more memorable parts of the movie, of which their are many.

The biggest change from the Pinocchio we all are probably familiar with (Disney, it's the Disney one) is that this time del Toro has set the story in World War II, fascist, Mussolini-led Italy, and has made the story largely about said fascism as well as death. We still hit a lot of the same story beats: Volpe still tricks Pinocchio into a contract, the whale (or in this movie's case, a dogfish) still makes an appearance where you-know-what happens, and Jemeny (or Sebastian J. Cricket in this version) is still tasked with being Pinocchio's conscience, although it's not said in those exact words. While del Toro's themes are prevalent and his message is clear, it feels like he's holding himself back. The war is portrayed as horrible, but outside of one or two horrible things that happen we're largely delegated to view it from afar, even when Pinocchio is presumably in the thick of it. The whimsical nature of the movie never falters to the film's detriment. I've heard del Toro say this is the last film in a thematic trilogy with his earlier films The Devil's Backbone and Pan's Labyrinth (the former of which is my personal favorite of his), and I think openly comparing Pinocchio to those two films is a mistake because it highlights how massively tame this is by comparison. This takes place in World War II Italy and we barely feel it. It just seems so strange to me that del Toro would choose to be reserved now when that's never been his inclination before. Even Geppetto, who has more reason to be absolutely cripplingly angry at Mussolini and the fascist government, almost seems like he views war as just "bad." More beaten into submission than anything else (which isn't inherently an invalid way to go, but I don't think it serves the story very well).

I also feel like we could have spent a little more time in just about any part of the story to really make the journey feel more full and Pinocchio's arc feel more earned, and no part of this is felt more strongly than the time Pinocchio spends with Death (yes, the capital D is intentional). I found those moments and those conversations to be the most fascinating part of the movie, but ultimately it doesn't really lead to anything and I wanted it to feel more meaningful. Again, we don't spend enough time anywhere to really make anything seem that meaningful. Even the whale feels so out of place in this movie that otherwise keeps itself very tied to the war; I almost feel that the idea of the whale and what it means to that part of Pinocchio's journey could have been repurposed as something else, something a little more in line with the film's main themes. I could also go into how I don't think Sebastian serves the film at all, but I have that complaint about the "cricket" character in any version of the story, so I don't really hold that against this movie specifically.

Don't let all my rambling make you think that I didn't still adore this movie. I'm hard pressed to think of a Guillermo del Toro movie that I don't at least like (I wasn't a huge fan of Crimson Peak, but that's about it), and Pinocchio is no different, it may just be more in the middle of the pack.

Score: 8/10

Currently streaming on Netflix.

[quetozcoatl]

For the fanfic game: B, F, and R!

Original ask meme here, feel free to send me a letter!

B: Any of your stories inspired by  personal experience?

One of my old RWBY fics is me angsting about my neurodivergency via the lens of Professor Ozpin. NGL, I'm considering deleting it, it's... embarassing, and not my best work.

On top of that, the backstory for one of my WoW OCs was based on, for lack of a better term, my daddy issues. It's a fucking cringe backstory and it just turned melodramatic and I'm so glad I reworked it.

But for a more light-hearted response, it's a fic I'd like to write. When I was young, one of my teeth was loose. I complained about it to my older brothers, and one of them responded with: "Oh, your new tooth is going to grow into a vampire tooth" ...or something along those lines. Knowing my younger self, she was terrified and probably cried.

I think it's a perfect concept for Klint and Barok van Zieks!

F: Share a snippet from one of  your favorite dialogue scenes  you've written and explain why  you're proud of it.

As much as I want to post a snippet from my roleplaying on WoW, I won't, because it will require a paragraph of lore-dumping, which I am prone to do at a moments notice, just read any of my AU fics.

I have a LOT of WIPs, and some of them do have dialogue I quite enjoy. However, one of them just takes the cake: it's from an AU inspired by Baldur's Gate 3 (a very good game!) and tried to work within the canon of Dungeons and Dragons. In it, Klint is a bard of eloquence, rather than a ranger. I decided to make Balmung his stuffed hell-hound that Mama van Zieks made for him and he cherishes deeply, and my favorite dialogue is Klint talking to that Balmung:

”What was I thinking, Balmung?!“ No one would hear him, he had wards specially installed to prevent that. In here, he was free to talk how loud he wanted to an inanimate object, and no one to judge him for it, either! “Acting like some sort of seductress, touching her with my bare hands!” He gives Balmung a squeeze. “I don't want to be a harlot, and, I must have frightened her terribly with these talons of mine.”

This too, which happens some lines later:

“Hells!” He snatches his head back in. “Can you believe this, Balmung?” The dog did not respond, on account of being just a stuffed animal.

R: Are there any writers (fanfic or otherwise) you consider an influence?

First off, Guillermo del Toro. He is one of my idols and I look up to his storytelling a lot. I love that he does not sacrifice color to tell dark stories, and that his works have taught me to accept that I'll write what I want! Another one is Zack Morrison who writes and draws the webcomic Paranatural, which I have kept up with since high school. They made the swap to a blend of writing and art sometime in 2021, and the descriptiveness and cleverness of the writing has made my jaw drop.

Next, Another one is Eiichiro Oda. That man can casually reference something he wrote hundreds of chapters ago, and no matter how crazy things get, it feels perfectly plausible within the world of One Piece. But unfortunately it's come at a cost due to him being a mangaka, and I must stress the importance of taking care of yourself before anything else.

These two are well-known for their diverse cast of characters, and Zack Morrison does little, but effective things to make the characters stand out even more in the mixed setting and it's genius. However, an honorable mention to Andrew Hussie and Homestuck, for popularizing the concept of using limited things in text like numbers and cases to distinguish the characters.

Now, the next is sillier: Elizabeth Hoyt and Tessa Dare. Yes, they crank out regency romance novels but they know their niche, damn it! My first romance novel was Duke of Sin by Elizabeth Hoyt, and it's helped me really come to terms with the fact that what I read is not necessarily what I want. I love the fantasies romance novels bring, but the idea of actually BEING in a romance makes me want to run away screaming!

[seasideretreat]

I have nothing to say

I have had a psychotic era; I am autistic, but I don't believe these things define me: in fact, I don't think they say anything about me. There really isn't that much to do. We live in a world where all the power is in the hands of oligarchs, but the heroes of the past, I don't know who they are, have secured some basic freedom for us, and professionals, maybe politicians, maybe intellectuals, conduct themselves in such a way to make sure everything keeps going right. But there really isn't anything gained. We were better off when the world just consisted of a couple of splendid cities in which the slaves worked for the small aristocracy. For some sick reason, we live in a world where everyone is equal. Where everyone has to work. And yet, even St. Paul wrote: "He who does not work, neither shall he eat." Why wouldn't I be content being a part of a beautiful world in which my master could compose the most splendid poetry as made sure he was free from cares? I would probably have plenty of time off. We see, we live in a world built on the shoulders of the African-American slave. That is a foul situation, not something to be proud of. The Trans-Atlantic slave trade was the first step of the industrial revolution, of the foobar-world order we live in today, in which everyone is supported to continue his sinful lifestyle.

However, there is nothing I cherish more than my freedom. All wars were fought over freedom, my freedom. If I lose my freedom, everyone loses. As Hegel said: everything is the history of freedom. And yet we see that there is a meanness in this world, and freedom plays a trick on itself. People can be hypnotized by the lure of adventure. People think if they don't behave like monsters, there will be nothing to do anymore. Violence is the only industry that needs every man. But a man of God can work out. I have seen this today. This is my new meditation, and tomorrow I will have another one. Doing one of those nice Biblestudy courses on-line is the first step to a better world. If everybody did guided meditations, there would be hope.

I am not saying we should kill time by pondering existence. Thinking is not possible for everybody. Oh, I am surely demented. But neither I am saying that HAVE to do Biblestudy courses, or guided meditations. In fact, it won't change anything, except make us a bit stronger. I am reading Jack Kerouac and fairy tales. I enjoy the fairy tales a lot. I think the fairy tales will truly give me the chance to become a raconteur again. They say I was a raconteur when I was a kid; honestly, I find nothing more charming than a raconteur. I really liked the character of Sebastian J. Cricket in Guilliermo del Toro's Pinocchio. And he refers to himself as a raconteur. It is the kind of skill that you can use when you are not conscious of it, but when you try to control it, it is truly hard. You know, usefulness is truly overrated. The better thing is strength. As Bruce Springsteen says: only the strong survive. We must strive for strength with everything we got. It is a thing, to bring peace to your mind, but then it is equally prudent to take some time to rest: verily, it is smoother than you realize. In fact, my dad said this when I was in a bad way because of my psychosis, he said: you are processing, as I was lying incapacitated in the chair with a blanket over my face to stop the pain. As I say, it is smooth. We really don't have to do anything. We don't have to work out. But we can develop ourselves. It is my dream to become a priest, but I don't want to be dependant on a church: and all the courses at the university are of course either protestant or catholic. And I figured at a time: I am just going to do the catholic one, you know, be learned. Or: I'll do the Protestant one, you know, be stalwart. But now I guess I'll just read that Theology textbook I bought on the Kindle app, which is "theologically neutral". Learn it by myself.

Life is smiling at me. I see chances for my spiritual development as well as my professional one. But if war comes, I won't be ready. Of course, I play chess, but that is incomparable to the complexity of mounting a campaign. And yes, I try to read Marx at times, but I find it a rotten book, and I think communism exists more in our imagination than in reality. I guess I'll just try to really get into those Let's Plays I have been making, play some really good games. I have been doing a Let's Play of Expeditions: Conquistador and it is truly exhilarating. Fighting those rebels on Hispaniola really made me tense. In any event I have thought it was a lot like acting, you know, playing the game, but now I see it more accurately a work out: of course, there are elements of acting, such as the importance of understanding, but it's way more mechanical than acting on stage, you know, there is much more restraint; but it also differs markedly from chess, because most games call on many human qualities, whereas chess only calls on cold calculation (and psychological warfare). Oh, well, the contours of simple astutement are relative to the entire subtlety of sheer knowledge, that sends us with a wail into the realm of simple analysis, which forms us and rescinds us, to some extent, to become circular divisors of the eternal world that wants to combine us into a behemoth which is only a natural course of the renunciatory modality of vehement nature. The architecture of sheer multiplicity in ordinality is sheer, but the requirements of particularity are set in stone: therefore, the ordinary requittal of the main storyline of work is reproved. Something must be denied, or acquired, and we can build segments in the endless structure of meritorious descent and the main construction of simple automaticity. But something is done, to repair the remainder of the autochtonous whispering of the main structure of reality and we are lost in the contours of syntagmatic opportunity; and we do what we do, but there is a structure in the dark that moves aggressively against the repurposes of the eternal mania of ordinary existence that helps to reposition us in the vehemence of ordinary repercussions: and so something may happen that retraces our steps from the origin back to the limit: and this makes us hope again that something may happen in the vicinity of sheer work that helps us retain a semblance of the simple eternity of reality. And so it ever goes on, in silence, or in noise. But nobody really knows where it goes. The essences of weird creativity is nothing. I make sense of many ordinary things, but I scarcely know anything about the Roman Empire. Well, I know Marcus Aurelius was an emperor and a stoic philosopher, but really he said not so great a noble word, and he was not a very rigorous thinker. I don't know. It's nice to be normal, but someone may be abnormal and think he is; he does not know what is real and what is absurd, and so he is stuck in limbo. He does his best. Really, he does, but it is only heartbreak and precipitation. I am stuck in being myself and I really do what I really do. And yet, there is a colour of statement in the structure of ordinary reality that I set forth in genera and the constant song of something is let down by real things. This is what I really need, perhaps: a feeling of using ordinary noises, in the silence that makes something authoritarian, and this is the thing that we need, but there is a lot of sound, and nobody knows what this truly is, because we are stuck with it. I don't know. The silence of things obscures the essence of the higher reality that I have found and that I am making clear; the ordinality is made universal, however. So the noises continue in the alleyway, and we are stuck in reversal. The thing go yet on, so the thing we see can happen and may be real. I have yet to see the things that really happen, but I do what I can.

You know there is something good coming. We may insist upon the relativity of ordinary events, but something good is coming. Let us insist upon the repetitious segmentation of real things, the objectivity that is granted to us in silence. I will perhaps start writing history tomorrow.

[fullofbees]

Anon requested: Lucifer totally would want to have sex on a grand piano just because.

CW: Lots of religious undertones, tbh this is probably just straight up blasphemy

»»----------► Reader is Gender Neutral

The time on your phone reads 23:08 as you slump in the loveseat, stretching your legs out before you. For six hours, you have locked yourself in the library, skimming book after book for a report that’s due next week. You’ve made decent progress, but as the night passed, the more certain you became about having to give up your weekend.   

The thought has you sighing in frustration and sadness. You had been looking forward to the weekend, having been invited out by Asmodeus for a spa treatment and much needed retail therapy. A Devildom influencer you liked had been raving about a new gel polish that you were desperate to get your hands on. And with Asmo by your side, you were sure to get one in each color, as his death glare would keep any lesser demons out of your way.   

You can already see the demon’s pout as you regretfully cancel your plans in the morning. You know he’ll hug you tightly, promising to get the polish for you anyways before kissing your forehead. That is all well and good, but you miss the lustful fifth-born.  

Focusing on it will only make your mood worse. Deciding to leave everything where it was– you did not have the energy to lug everything back to your room– you stand from the loveseat and put out the fireplace. Darkness overtakes the library in an instant, the eerie feeling creeping up your spine reminding you of the house’s haunted nature.   

Holding your D.D.D. tight to your chest, you know you’re probably being silly as you turn its flashlight on. As you make your way to the exit, you can hear faint music echoing from beyond the room. It only adds to the creep factor, making you feel like the lovesick protagonist of Guillermo Del Toro’s latest blockbuster hit. You’ll exit the library to find your ghostly lover at the end of the hall, and you’ll call and chase after them only to watch them vanish into thin air as after rounding a corner.   

The door creaks as you open it to the adjoining music room. Faint candlelight blossoms from the far corner, your supposed lover cloaked in a black silhouette. The melody flowing from their fingertips is soft and melancholic, as if afraid to be heard. Moonlight gleams from the windows, creating a tiled path up to the grand piano, cool grays melting into the warm golden light from the candles.   

You hadn’t realized you had taken a few steps into the room until the heavy wooden door of the library slammed shut behind you. You’re not proud of it, but you scream and end up tripping over your feet when you try to run away. Bruisably soft body meets unforgiving cold tile. The melody stops, being replaced by frantic steps rushing your way.   

Rushing blood causes your head to pound as you push yourself to your knees. You’re greeted with the sight of black Oxfords before you. Raising your head, Lucifer stares down at you with a confused look on his face. His large coat is nowhere to be found; his tie is undone, hanging loosely around his neck, with the first few buttons of his shirt open. A delicate rosy glow decorates the exposed skin, trailing up to his cheeks. His well-kept hair is now messy and tangled, like he’s been constantly running his hands through it.   

“Lucifer…?” You hesitantly ask, wondering why he’s not saying anything.  

The demon bends forward and offers you his hand, gloves absent for once, “Are you alright?”   

After placing your hand in his, Lucifer helps you off the floor. “Why aren’t you sleeping?”  

“I just finished studying,” you answer.  

“Very well, time for you to head to bed then.”  

You stare at each other, an awkward aura settling around. Lucifer’s eyebrows furrow in annoyance, “What is it?”  

“Uhm, it’s just– You haven’t let go of my hand.”  

He looks down at your clasped hands, fingers intertwined, and his expression softens. Still, he doesn’t release you from his hold, now too entranced by the feeling of your soft skin.  

“Lucifer, are– are you alright?”   

The first-born drops your hand suddenly, as if he has been burned, before taking a step back from you, “Quite. Nothing you need to concern yourself with.”  

You nearly roll your eyes, wanting to chastise him about how his health and happiness are always your concern as their assistant, but manage to refrain when you see how his gaze lingers. It’s not hollow, like he’s looking through you, but rather like he’s searching for something. A gut instinct tells you to defy his dismissal and stay; you have a feeling he wants you to.  

“I didn’t know you could play, you’re really good,” You lie, trying to use conversation as an excuse to stay. But Lucifer merely answers with a confirming hum.   

The awkward feeling returns, and you’re caught off by just how much it hurts. You forget that this isn’t your Lucifer; this is him at a time of vulnerability, of distrusting others, a time where you hadn’t existed to comfort him.   

“Can I listen?” Now it is your turn to extend a metaphorical hand to him. You just hope he takes it.   

The demon acquiesces with a gruff, “Fine,” before turning on his heel and making his way back to the piano. You follow behind silently, listening to the steady chorus resounding off the walls as your footsteps fall in line with his.   

You’re startled by the mess that surrounds the instrument. Music sheets litter the floor; some crumpled up and piled in a nearby wastebin, some torn in half, others in multiple little pieces, all of them with hasty scribbles of ink and jarring lines where the notes have been scratched out. An uncorked bottle of demonus sits precariously on the piano’s frame, though there is no glass in sight.   

Lucifer seats himself on the bench as you begin collecting the discarded papers from the floor. The demon doesn’t seem to pay you any mind, as he starts a slow melody, single notes echoing out into the adjoining planetarium.   

Some of his writing has not been completely crossed out, and the repeating themes of his words both confuses and saddens you.   

Dread encounters me  

My palate discerns disasters  

That my soul would choose suffocation  

And are not satisfied with my flesh?  

“I was there that day; the day my Father broke that man’s spirit... I had delighted in it,” Lucifer’s somber voice cuts through the chords, “Is it not poetry then that I would befall the same fate?”  

The papers rustle in your hands as you even the pile out, “And what fate is that?”  

He hums, gloved fingers idly hovering over the ivory keys, before chuckling and shaking his head, resuming his playing, “Forgive me, the demonus has loosened my tongue.”  

It always does , you want to say. You have lost count how many times Lucifer had whispered the sweetest, and filthiest, words imaginable to you because of the damned drink. How many mornings had he awoke to find himself drooling on your chest, his hair wild and unkempt from your hands during the previous night’s activities?   

It almost crushes you in its enormity; to realize how lonely you feel amongst the very devil you love, to feel his absence though he sits before you. You miss him so much.  

You remind yourself that you will return to him soon; that’s he’s not as far as he seems, all you need to do is form the pacts again. If you think about it, freshly fallen Lucifer is much like the Lucifer you knew when you first came to the Devildom, albeit considerably more brooding.   

It’s familiar. He’s familiar. You can do this.  

Lucifer had told you about ‘that day’ once, when he was but a babe of an angel, with only Simeon and Michael to keep him company. You had heard of the story before, as it had been spread amongst humankind for hundreds of years. You even had spent a a great deal of your own time studying it and any accompanying texts.   

No scribe could match the horrors he had shared with you. It was the worst you had ever seen him, save for tonight. It was a distant past wound to your Lucifer, but for the one before you, it is open and raw.  

Cautiously, you approach him, clutching the music sheets to your chest. You had comforted him once before, and surely that kind of bond can transcend time.   

“Therefore, I will not restrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit. I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.”  

The music stops. Lucifer now stares at you with both curiosity and apprehension. His gaze is piercing, intimidating, but it no longer phases you, for you have seen the tenderness that hides below.  

The demon shuffles over to make room for you on the bench and you graciously take the offered seat. Such a simple action should not thrill you so, but the warmth radiating from him is like your second home. The remnant of his cologne fills your lungs, and you’re pleased to find that it is the very same that he uses in the future. How very Lucifer to wear the same scent for centuries; you’ll have to tease him for it later.  

You’re about to speak, to further soothe his worries, but do not get the chance as his lips meet yours. His bare hands cradle your face, trapping you to the onslaught of feverish kisses, but it barely satisfies your craving for him. The papers you hold begin to slip from your grip before you cast them back to the ground so that you can run your hands through his hair.  

Tension quickly melts into desperation as you cling to each other, but your body demands air, and you are forced to separate. Lucifer takes the moment to stand, his hands dropping to your waist as he encourages you to rise as well. Once up, he immediately spins you around to press your body against the piano.  

Harsh and discordant notes chime from below as he balances you against the keys, hands gripping your thighs as he trails sloppy kisses along your neck. Your need is only intensified when he grinds his clothed cock between your spread legs, eliciting a small moan. He repeats the action again, harder than before, and it shakes the piano.  

You’re interrupted by the sound of glass breaking, and if the growing red puddle on the floor is anything to go by, a perfectly good bottle of demonus has just been wasted. Lucifer releases a deep sigh with a scowl, and tries to part from your body, presumably to clean up the mess.  

But you refuse to let him go, not when he was finally where you wanted him most. You push your heel into his backside, hands simultaneously pulling on his belt, forcing him back into position.  

“Don’t you dare stop.”  

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