#drake (my favourite) only lasted a few episodes | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

whitexwingedxdoves · 3 years

Text

Scream part 3

Part Three: Host Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Reader, Platonic Peter Parker x Reader Pronouns: She/Her Warning: Swearing, fighting. Summary: With the fear that Scream is still inside you, you confine in Bucky. A/N: Im so glad people are enjoying this as much as I am. Let me know if you would like to be tagged when Part 4 is out. Master list of chapters

You tried to brush it off climbed into the bed and under the sheets, attempting to get lost in the feeling of the silk on your skin and just when you thought you were drifting off. You cant get rid of me that easy.

The next morning you found yourself in the kitchen sat at a rather large table, poking at the bowl of chopped fruit in front of you. You thoughts were else where and despite the growl of your stomach you couldn’t stop thinking about her voice. All night you felt like you were talking to yourself trying to get her to speak again, so you knew you weren’t going crazy but she never responded. You couldn’t shake the fear that she might still be inside you some how. Laying down your spoon you ran your fingers through your hair attempting to come back to reality. That’s when Peter walked into the room, you sent him a small warm smile and sat back in your chair watching him for a moment. He sent you a smile back but he seemed a little scared of you, his reaction caused you to sigh and look away from the boy. That look alone made you feel like a monster.

“I never got the chance to say thank you for saving my life” attempting to break the tension, the froze for a moment holding an apple in his hand. He just nodded, thinking about his next move. He eventually decided to sit beside you at the table, nervously playing with the fruit he held. “What’s on your mind kid?” you questioned, carefully watching his actions. “She... Scream – she said that we were the same...” his words barely surpassing a whisper, he hung his head down a little trying to make sense of the words. “I mean, she could shoot webs...” he added clearly lost in thought. “Don’t let her do that to you, don’t let her get in your head, Peter.” Resting your hand on his arm to reassure him, you gave him another warm smile. “Trust me, you’re nothing like her. Regardless of what she can and cant do.” He responded with a nod, his smile seemed genuine but not convinced. Pulling your hand away from him to pick up your fork again, you started stabbing at the fruits in the bowl. You heard Peter push away from the table and walk towards the door. You assume he had left but you could sense someone. You looked up at the doorway for a moment at first no one appeared, so you shoved the fork full of fruits finally into your mouth keeping your eyes on the doorway. It wasn’t long until Bucky strolled into the kitchen.

He didn’t say anything at first, he just made his way to the cabinet and pulled out a glass before turning to the skin to get a glass of water. You swallowed your mouthful, your hand covering your mouth attempting to be lady like. Once he had finished gulping down the water, he nodded your way “Hey” he spoke simply yet it still managed to send butterflies into your stomach. “Hey” you smiled back at the man, your eyes wandered away like you were thinking of something. Bucky noticed your expression to soften almost instantly, which only caused his brow to cock. “What’s up” he asked leaning against the counter and crossing his arms. You just looked up at him and scrunched your face a little, deciding if he was trust worthy enough to tell about last nights episode. “Erm – Last night when I was falling asleep” You started, taking a few moments you chewed on your thumb before you continued. “I could have sworn she spoke to me again” you admitted, fear striking your face as the words left you mouth. He just shook his head before making his way over to you, taking the spot that Peter previously sat in. “No, no! You just had a long day. Pretty traumatic day actually. I’m sure it was just your mind playing tricks on you” As he attempted to reassure you, you mimicked Peter’s unsure nod as you looked up into his eyes. “Hey, I have nothing planned for today. I’ll stay close by, just incase” he added, giving you his best reassuring smile. “Thank you” you whispered back at him, almost feeling guilty for making him babysit you for the day but the guilt wasn’t anywhere as heavy as the fear.

As the sun started to disappear behind the hills, you found yourself in the communal area, tucked into a blanket reading one of your favourite books that you managed to find in the 1000’s of bookshelves jotted around the place. You snuggled into the corner of the sofa, engrossed in the words on the pages. Bucky had kept to his promise, he barley left your side all day, in fact the only time you were ever alone was when you went to the bathroom. He sat close by to you but not too close, he thought you looked far too comfy and didn’t want to ruin it. Peering down at the pages you were reading, keen to know what had you so engrossed. You looked up at him, though now his eyes were glued to the page, it made you laugh slightly which broke his attention. “You like Fight Club?” you asked, a smirk still plastered across your lips. “Never heard of it.” The words made your jaw drop, How had he never heard of Fight Club, hell everyone had seen the movie right? “What?” he added, noting your expression. “How... It’s Fight Club, I get not reading the book but the movie?” he just shook his head at your words as he laid back into the sofa a little more, his arms resting on the head rest. “You mean to tell me you’ve never had to question your sexuality watching Brad Pitt wear crop tops?” He just laughed in your direction, the comment clearly tickled him a little more than he had planned. “Oh we are so watching Fight Club, what the hell!” clearly excited by the idea, you shut your book and placed it down next to you.

As you and Bucky shared a laugh at your over enthusiasm over Brad Pitt’s navel, the voice came back. Oh how cute, like young love. Instantly you stopped laughing replacing your smile with confusion. Oh just stop teasing yourself, just kiss him already. The voice laughed. Bucky picked up on the quick mood change and sat up in his chair, his hands reaching to hold your arm to calm you but you turned your head towards the doorway suspecting someone was coming and like clock work, Steve turned the corner. It was starting to creep you out now but you chose not to mention it. He looked like he had some news to share which meant the voice in your head would have to wait. “I hope I’m not interrupting something” Steve teased, cocking his eyebrow up at Bucky who responded with a sarcastic smile before his eyes wandered back to you, scanning you to make sure you was okay. “So just as we were about to leave, for Carlton Drake. The news informed us that one of his rockets blew up as it was taking off – When we looked deeper at the footage... It looked like he was on there” he paused, insinuating that he had met his end... but in a freak accident, it didn’t seem likely. “We did more digging, turns out Scream wasn’t the only Klyntar he was holding onto. We don’t know how many but...” Venom. You looked around confused for a moment, you could feel rage bubble up inside you but it wasn’t yours. The pain and confusion seemed far too much for you as your eyes welled up slightly. Every other time she made an appearance you could feel how infectious her confidence was but not this time, this time she felt completely different... she felt scared.

You looked up at Steve as he seemed to still be talking “Venom” you’re words interrupting his. The men looked at you confused for a moment before you looked back at Bucky. “She’s still there.” You whispered, despite knowing full well Steve could hear you. “I don’t know what it means but, she seems scared... maybe that’s one of them.” You shook your head slightly, attempting to help the situation as much as you could. “Captain, James... Mr Stark needs your assistance in the lobby, he says its of the urgent kind” FRIDAY broke up the awkward silence in the room and just like that all three of you made your way towards the lobby as fast as your legs could possibly take you.

As you bust through the door to the lobby with the two super soldiers you saw Nat, Tony, Sam and Wanda all facing a rather large being. He looked exactly like Scream only he was practically monochrome. You froze in fear as the other two raced in front of you, you wanted to move but you just couldn’t. No! She screamed, causing you to grip each side of your head and wince in pain. “He’s after Scream” Tony shouted towards the men, attempting to fill them in as quickly as possible before things turned sour. “He doesn’t believe that we got rid of her”

The large figure laughed at the billionaires words. “You think it’s that easy?” He mocked, slowly inching closer. “You think your tiny human brains can comprehend the science behind extracting a Klyntar from their host?” He pushed past Tony with ease as he made his way over to you. Your body felt like ice, your eyes welling up. Suddenly your back bent as you screamed out in pain, to everyone else you looked almost possessed. Your body slowly shifting, revealing the very thing that he had come for. Scream panted for a while but every breath sounded like a growl. “There she is” he laughed his rather large hands wrapping around her wrist. “No!” she screamed using all the energy she had to pull away from him. “You left me” her voice though already distorted started to crack. “You left me, alone. YOU LEFT ME WITH HIM” she screamed in his face, his only reaction was to laugh. “You’ve always been one for the dramatics haven’t you” he mocked pulling on her wrist. She fought as hard as she could but she was weak, she had yet to master her full hold on you but you had a feeling her weakness wasn’t the lack of bonding, no it was him. It was Venom. You need to stop him. You cried out to her, attempting to relate to her in some way.

That’s when she whipped her hair into action, wrapping around his neck she kept squeezing but it wasn’t enough, a talon formed from his body and struck her across the face. The avengers stood and watched, not know exactly who to help in this situation or if to help at all but Bucky grew more and more worried as he watched that large dark figure overpower Scream. “We have to help her” He whispered to Steve, Steve peered over his shoulder at his friend with a look of regret. “It’s not our fight, Buck” he replied simply but Bucky didn’t take no for an answer. “How is it not our fight, Y/N is there... not just Scream. If Scream dies who’s to say she doesn’t die too!” his words were fumbling over each other but Steve nodded, finally defeated with the truth of the situation.

Though it wasn’t your physical being that was beaten, you felt every punch. You could feel her getting weaker and weaker but she still stood her ground, fighting back with everything she could... well until she couldn’t. As Venom’s fist came hammering down towards her face, she allowed herself to take the back seat, giving you the control again but before you couldn’t even understand what was happening, your face met with black, completely knocking you unconscious.

When you finally woke up, you found yourself in what you could only presume was a cell. Though it wasn’t bars and a metal bed, no. It looked comfortable and the walls almost seemed invisible if it wasn’t for the blue hue. What the hell happened.

#marvel fanfic series #peter parker x y/n #peter parker x reader #platonic peter parker x reader #bucky barnes x you #bucky barnes x reader #bucky barnes x y/n #marvel fanfiction #bucky barnes imagine #marvel symbiotes

46 notes · View notes

vegaspetes · 3 years

Text

Thanks to the lovely and beautiful Doreen @gunsatthaphan , for tagging me!! 💙💛💙💛

1. your all time favorite bl and why? -

A tale of thousand stars - I loved the setting and acting, it was so beautiful. And like the location was just so serene it was a beautiful escape. Also, earthmix are just *chefskiss* perfection. (Ps. Bad Buddy will probably be tied in first place too but I'm letting it simmer since it ended like a day ago)

2. that one bl that scarred you for life -

I'm gonna put this as scarred me in a good way. Aka it will stay with me for a long long time. Cherry Magic because Kurosawa has ruined my expectation of men. I know it's unrealistic but give me someone who cares and loves the way Kurosawa loved Adachi. 😭

3. is there any bl that made you feel very single? -

BAD BUDDY! I don't think I need to say more but I will. They had such a good healthy relationship, their support and love for each other was everything where do I get that?

4. if you could change one thing from a bl, which one would it be? -

The ending of Tonhon Chonlatee, cause like why and who allowed that? Or the writing team on cause you're my boy cause Drake was wasted on that show. Maybe even the editing for bite me, I was so sad I was let down by it. There are so many bls that could have been so much better if they fixed that one major weak point.

5. that one bl you detest (don’t hold back) -

I am very particular about the bls I watch so I don't really have any I detest.

6. your top five:

Atots

Cherry Magic

Bad Buddy

To my star

Until we meet again or Lovely writer (I cant decide :( between them)

7. that trashy bl that you lowkey like -

Together with me. I mean I don't even think it's all that trashy but the drama was lowkey ridiculous. Either way I still love it, and also gotta give it up for the kings MaxTul

8. your favorite korean bl (it’s important we know) -

To my star!

9. but also your top 3 for kbls

To my star

Light on me

The tasty Florida (I realized just now how few kbls I've seen lol)

9.5. (I'm adding this haha) top 3 japanese bls -

Cherry Magic

Kieta hatsukoi

My beautiful man (This show, I only saw the first few eps cause I wanted to binge when it all came out and have still been too busy to finish. But it still made my favourite list real fast haha)

10. season 2? which one? -

From evidence season 2 is usually not a great idea. But with that said I really really wanna see more of History 3: Trapped! I wanna know what's gonna happen to them, and I feel like that would be one of the shows that could have a sufficient story to keep going and not be forced into relationship drama.

I would also like more of Be loved in house: I do. Because it was criminal of them to only get together in the last episode. I wanna see more of their relationship.

11. a bunch of dramas will air soon. which ones are you the most excited for? -

There are so many interesting new ones I might forget some but... TMS2, kinnporche, cutie pie, Moonlight chicken/ cupids last will (I count these as one cause Earthmix), the Eclipse, and never let me go.

12. tag them!

This was really fun so I am tagging whoever sees this post!

#if you do this tag me cause I wanna see your answers!#atots #to my star #cherry magic #bad buddy #kieta hatsukoi #lovely writer #history 3: trapped #blih: i do

6 notes · View notes

orchideennacht · 4 years

Text

I was tagged by @rruslana💜 Thank you!

Rules: answer the questions about 2020 and tag some people to pass it on!

Five favourite films you watched in 2020?

Orlando, Suspiria, The Handmaiden, Emma, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Onegin

Five favourite Tv shows you watched in 2020?

The Queen‘s Gambit, a few episodes from The Crown

Five favourite songs you listened to in 2020?

Binte Dil by Arijit Singh, Suspirium by Thom Yorke, Eej Mini by Adarsuren P., Make it easy on yourself by The Walker Brothers, Himig Ng Pag-ibig by Asin

Top five favourite albums of 2020?

A Midwinter Nights Dream by Loreena McKennitt, The Handmaiden Soundtrack, Daisy OST, any Nick Drake Album, Força Bruta by Jorge Ben Jor

Top five Books you read in 2020?

Margaret the First by Danielle Dutton!, Daddy-Long-Legs by Jean Webster, Coming Home by Rosamunde Pilcher, The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton, Life among the Savages by Shirley Jackson

How did you spend your birthday this year?

At Home with my family and full of anxiety because I was moving to Heidelberg the next day. But now I’m back home because everything at uni is online.

What was your most memorable day this year?

The day I finally passed my Abitur. I was supposed to graduate in 2018 but I spent a year abroad which is why I only graduated this year. I’m so done with school!

What was the most memorable meal you had this year?

Christmas Dinner a few days ago

Did you find any new hobbies or interests in your quarantine?

I only watched more films than usually

What was the last big thing you remember doing B.C. (before Covid)?

Going to school

Five good or positive things that happened to you in 2020?

Ahh only that I managed to pass my Abitur

Biggest messages or lessons learned from this year?

Nothing really😅

What are you most looking forward in 2021?

Making new friends and leaving home!

tagging(if you haven’t done it yet): @xluenae, @amadryades, @languageofloveandteawithalmonds, @frenchsiren, @blauestunden, @russrusalka, @uneorchide, @aroseofanyothername

#tagging #to choose only five favourite songs and albums was the hardest #tag game

17 notes · View notes

vole-mon-amour · 4 years

Text

OTP tag game.

Tagged by @captainjowl. You know for sure than I'm struggling to pick only 10 & fit them in here. But hell, that’s fun, thank you <3

Rules: Choose 10 OTPs BEFORE reading the questions, and then get to answering

1) Harry James Potter & Sirius Orion Black

2) Daniel Le Domas & Grace (Ready or Not 2019)

3) Samuel & Nathan Drake (Uncharted 4)

4) Corvo Attano & The Outsider (+probably Emily Kaldwin; Dishonored series)

5) Steve Grant Rogers & Bucky Buchanan Barnes (Marvel)

6) Tony Edward Stark & Peter Benjamin Parker (Marvel)

7) Handsome Jack & Rhys (Borderlands video game series)

8) Damon Salvatore & Elena Gilbert (TVD Books & a tv show)

9) Batman & Joker (in every universe, really)

10) Adam Jensen x Francis Pritchard (Deus Ex video game series)

1. Do you remember the episode/scene/chapter that you first started shipping 6?

I believe it didn't hit me before Spider-Man: Homecoming. Civil War was about Steve & Bucky for me, but when I saw that growing up Peter with Tony, their dynamic, chemistry. Tom & Robert are really just like that.

2. Have you ever read a fanfic about 2?

Lmao. I've read like 50% of the tag on AO3, I wrote my own & started a few wips on them. They are amazing. Plus, with that shitty canon? We didn't get enough of them & they deserved better, so it's only logical to save yourself with fanfiction.

3. Has a picture of 4 ever been your screen saver/profile picture/tumblr screen saver?

I was living with The Outsider icon on my twitter & tumblr. That one is still my Google profile picture I believe. Don't remember about having an icon with the two of them. Also had The Outsider as my lockscreen on my smartphone for a while.

4. If 7 were to suddenly break up today, what would your reaction be?

Funny how it fits canon, lmao. Rhys literally tried to erase Jack's AI in TFTBL, so I guess another day on Pandora, nothing new. They torture each other, they kiss each other, they kill other people in the process. It'll be fiiine.

5. Why is 1 so important?

I love them since the first time I met them, which was much more than 10 years ago, I don't even remember when. At some point they were the reason I was waking up & forcing myself to eat just to read more fanfiction & feel something. Even if I was drowning in pain (I was extremely depressed), it was still something. I read every fic I could find at that time. The depression that Harry went through, all these feelings, his love for Sirius. I was living through it, I could relate.

I'm currently drowning in these two again, though in a much healthier & happier state. I see their flaws & I know as much as I can. I see them differently as an adult. They saved me, they keep being my number one, I still consider making a tattoo of Padfoot/Sirius or of both Harry & Sirius together. I have many headcanons, ideas, I write fics about them. They are everything, you see? They were my choice when there was nothing, no one. They are HOME.

6. Is 9 a funny ship or a serious ship?

Both. There goes the dynamic of Jack & Rhys: torture, fighting, flirting, a lot of trauma. I'd definitely say that they are wild and comical sometimes, but they are definitely serious. With the Asylum, the mental health issues. There is so much more to it, the complexity of their relationship. The struggle of loving who you probably shouldn't (but hey, when does it work like that?) Thinking about Tettlate's Batman, about Batman: Europa & how Joker was: "You must be crazy, putting me in charge of the plan, letting me decide. Okay, well..."

Nah, they are entertaining, but this is a serious ship.

7. Out of all the ships listed, which ship has the most chemistry?

Are you kidding me? They are all the definition of CHEMISTRY. I'd say 5, but then go 2, 6, 7, 8. Come on. I'm not choosing. Most of they are WILD.

9. How many times have you read/watched the 10’s fandom?

The fandom itself? Idk. I found one of my favourite artists through this fandom. If it's about the characters themselves, I played the first game with the DLC from start to beginning, looking around every corner. Spent more than 60 hours in there. Watched a second game (my laptop can't run the game) and the DLC (obviously), since Francis is in the DLC & not in the main game. I have a tag for them on tumblr, I read fanfiction, I tried to write my own. I still follow Elias & want a third game. Elias liked my tweets about Adam and Jensen being an actual couple a few times. I'd say I interacted with all of this a lot? Still do, actually.

10. Which ship has lasted the longest?

5. Best friends since childhood, fought & died for each other, still found their way back to each other. "It would break your Captain's heart, to see what they did to you." That only the MENTION of Steve can pull Bucky out of this brain washing(ed?) state, distract him in the middle of a fight. When Steve died in the comics because of Sharon & Tony sent Natasha to take Steve's shield from Bucky because even Tony knew how much Steve means to Bucky. And Bucky was like: "Oh, I see what he did. Not happening!" Fought Natasha (that is his ex in the comics) & kept going for Steve's sake.

Well, you see the point, I can go on and on.

11. How many times, if ever, has 6 broken up?

They're not actually canon so none? They had a few fights: In Civil war (the comics), in Homecoming (the movie). That only means that they’ve got history & love each other.

12. If the world was suddenly thrust into a zombie apocalypse, which ship would make it out alive, 2 or 8?

As fierce Grace is, they wouldn't stand a chance against Damon & Elena. Those two had to deal with worst thing than brainless stupid zombies. On the other hand, if there were no alive humans to drink their blood... It's either an animal diet that Damon hates so much or I don't know? Still, they're faster & more powerful. Their bodies have advantage of healing the wounds as well.

13. Did 7 ever have to hide their relationship for any reason?

From some people, yeah. Don't tell Athena, don't tell Vaughn, don't tell Fiona. Though Rhys wasn't very subtle about it & Jack just doesn't give a fuck. You will probably end up dead if you disagree or bore him, or if you're useless.

"I can take you to the top, but you gotta know where the top is" & Rhys doesn't tell anybody until Jack makes him the President for like whole 20 minutes lol.

Fiona & Sasha: "This can't be happening." Sure it can, darling.

14. Is 4 still together?

I have a headcanon about The Outsider finding Emily & Corvo after Billie frees him from the Void. He doesn't have anybody & they are his only friends aside from a potential friendship with Billie. And if we don't consider TOTO dlc, they definitely are! The Outsider visits them both when they sleep & takes them to the void sometimes. How could he not?

15. Is 10 canon?

Not really but also sort of? Let's say that they really care about each other in canon, despite Adam pushing Francis away because of his trauma & fear that Megan caused him. :/

16. If all 10 ships were put into a couple’s Hunger Games, which couple would win?

Can you imagine wizards fighting extremely powerful vampires? Superheroes with venom in their bodies that make them super strong with people that made a deal with the Devil himself (hi Le Bail)? 5000 y.o. God and his lover that share his powers and an augmented human protecting his tired IT guy? Combine mental health issues to that, Jack and Rhys with Batman and Joker. Corvo & The Outsider would probably slay them all as Corvo and Emily did in both games with entire islands, though it will still be a slaughter anyway.

17. Has anybody ever tried to sabotage 5’s ship?

All the fucking time, lmaooo. I’m not even talking about it.

18. Which ship would you defend to the death and beyond?

I feel like I already did with Steve & Bucky after many Marvel movies (we're not even mentioning Endg*me, I fucking died & was dead for full 4-5 months).

19. Do you spend hours a day going through 3’s tumblr page?

I used to do that a few years back, but not anymore. There is not much content since the trilogy is finished.

20. If an evil witch descended from the sky and told you that you had to pick one of the ten ships to break up forever or else she’d break them all forever, which ship would you sink?

1 already went through it & fandom lives, so I'd say maybe 7? Rhys will find a way to bring Jack back & they are both so wild. It’s what happened in canon anyway. Jack kidnapped Lilith & forced her to do Angel's job, so I'd like to see that witch try at first. Jack is an immortal bastard. <3

Now that I think about it, Corvo would also deal with her in seconds as she waits to curse them.

As a conclusion: no one breaks up forever, we're killing the witch.

I tag: @ianmillkovichgallagher & @aledbr

Whoever else wants to join the game, please do.

#otp #me #tumblr #harry x sirius #delena #corvosider #rhack #tony x peter #batjokes #jensard #steve x bucky #ready or not #drakecest

21 notes · View notes

camillemontespan · 5 years

Text

queer eye: the cordonian edition [drake walker] [episode 1, part two]

Part One here if you want to catch up (you probably should).

This is my last part of Drake’s Walkers episode in my Queer Eye collaboration with the lovely Marie @pug-bitch

@jovialyouthmusic @fromthedeskofpaisleybleakmore@sirbeepsalot@moonlightgem7 @katedrakeohd @emceesynonymroll@notoriouscs @dcbbw@drakesensworld @carabeth @be-still-my-aching-heart@andy-loves-corgis@mariahschoices @thequeenofcronuts @drakewalkerisreal@nikkis1983@simsvetements @alesana45 @iplaydrake@drakewalkerwhipped@drakxwalker @drakewalkerrosenberg @drakeswalkers@drakelover78@silviasutton1989 @furiousherringoperatortoad @hollygirl1269@ladyangel70 @i-bloody-love-drake-walker @burnsoslow @of-course-i-went-to-hartfeld @emichelle @stopforamoment @rainbowsinthestorm @drakewalkerfics @ibldw-main

************************************************************************************

Jonathan: GROOMING. Owner of luscious locks, self care advocate, is a Kelly Clarkson song.

Tan: FASHION. A style icon, inventor of the French tuck, lover of printed shirts.

Bobby: DESIGN. Unsung hero, man of few words and week-long renovation projects, lover of gray and blue hues.

Karamo: CULTURE. Beautifully manicured beard, inspirational angel, loves to get people to scream about their dreams as a self-confidence exercise.

Antoni: FOOD. Can only make grilled cheese or dips. Pretty to look at, cooking skills questionable. Owner of a million slogan tees and bandanas.

Day 4: A Place at the Table

'Right, food. Since you live in a Palace where you're waited on hand and foot, I'll admit, it was hard to work out how I can help you,' Antoni admitted to Drake the following day. 'But I've managed to get us into the kitchen anyway so that if the opportunity ever came, you could cook yourself something. I imagine that since there's servants and cooks here, you don't know how to do it yourself?'

Drake blinked. 'Uh, I can cook, Antoni.'

Antoni grinned. 'Awesome! So like, grilled cheese? Guacamole?'

Drake stared at Antoni. There was an awkward silence. 'That's not proper food,' he said bluntly. Antoni paled.

'I meant I can cook meat, you know? Like roast pork or roast chicken. I don't just get the chance to do it often but when I lived in Texas, my mom taught me how.'

Antoni was ashen now. His fists were clenched and he could feel panic rising in his stomach. Sure, he'd made roasts before but the Queer Eye job description had said he would be teaching very basic things, which meant Antoni's actual cooking had taken a backseat. Roast chicken was not basic.

'Okayyy...' Antoni said. 'Right, I love how enthusiastic you are. But, um, grilled cheese?'

Drake stared at him.

Yet again, the editing team would have to include the sound of crickets to fill the silence.

'I'll be right back..' Antoni whispered. He scurried away from Drake, who looked incredibly bewildered, and raced back to the suite where his co-star were staying.

Antoni burst into the room and threw himself on the bed beside Bobby. He was so glad the cameras hadn't followed him, for he curled himself into a ball and wailed, 'I HAVE NO PURPOSE IN THIS EPISODE!'

Bobby soothed Antoni by stroking his hair. 'There, there Antoni,' he whispered. 'I know what will cheer you up. Did you know the King has corgis?'

Antoni bolted up from the bed, a huge grin plastered on his face. 'Where?'

**********************************************

Drake was in his room, studying the clothes in his wardrobe to work out exactly how much denim he needed to bin when Karamo knocked on his door.

'Hey, Drake. Are you free just now? Thought we could do some things today.'

Drake agreed and the two men headed downstairs to the dining room. They found Antoni at a table with a corgi on his lap. He looked so pleased with himself.

'Hey guys!' he greeted them.

Karamo turned to Drake. 'I've roped Antoni in to help us today because after you gave him an inferiority complex, I figured he might feel better if he joined in.'

Drake shot Antoni an apologetic smile. 'Sorry Antoni.'

Antoni shrugged. 'All good, Drake. Besides, me and Rupert have been getting on so well, haven't we Rupert?!' he cooed at the corgi. Rupert licked Antoni's nose in response.

Karamo clapped his hands. 'Right, Drake. We're in the dining room because the three of us are going to learn about dinner etiquette -'

'Oh fuck no,' Drake interrupted, raising his hands. 'No way. I'm not turning into one of them. I like not knowing the correct fork to use, it makes me normal.'

Karamo and Antoni were silent. Karamo studied Drake before speaking. 'Drake. You live here. You're surrounded by nobles and the King is your best friend. Surely it would only put you at an advantage and feel more like you belong if you learned about this sort of thing? You could prove the naysayers wrong.'

Drake shook his head. 'Fuck the naysayers.'

Karamo closed his eyes. The editing team would have to bleep out half of Drake's vocabulary.

'If you just learned this one skill, it doesn't mean you're any different,' Antoni said quietly. 'It will just make you feel like you've earned a place at the table.'

'Why should I feel like I've earned it?' Drake asked bitterly. 'I don't want to act like being noble is the best thing in the world. I don't want to be grateful for getting the chance to sit beside them at dinner. I hate them. They can all go to hell. In fact, no. They can all suck my-'

'DRAKE,' Karamo raised his voice, pinching the sides of his nose with his fingers. He looked at Drake steadily. 'Okay, we'll abandon this. It was a stupid idea.'

Drake exhaled. 'Thank you.'

Antoni have Karamo a questioning look. It was not a stupid idea. It made sense. But Karamo gave Antoni a sly wink.

'Get some outdoor clothes on,' Karamo instructed. 'We're going on a hike.'

*****************************************************

The three of them trekked up the Cordonian Pass which overlooked the ocean and the terracotta tiled roofs of Cordonia. ‘Wow, this country is gorgeous!’ Antoni said, barely breaking a sweat.

‘I do like hiking so I can see this view,’ Drake admitted. Karamo smiled, pleased his activity was approved of. They stopped at the halfway point to have a water break and surveyed their surroundings.

‘Do you go hiking a lot?’ Karamo asked. Drake shook his head. ‘Nowhere near enough. Like... once every four months. So not much, no.’

‘Why don’t you do it more often?’ Antoni asked, pouring some water over his head so the water ran down his face and down his muscled arms. The camera zoomed in.

Drake shrugged. ‘I guess I just prefer to stay in my room.’

‘The room that’s bare and full of whiskey bottles?’ Karamo asked bluntly. Drake blinked, his eyes wide as he tried to think of an answer. Antoni winced and quietly sloped off to pretend to look at a tree. This was Karamo’s time now.

‘I.. uhh..’ Drake stammered.

Karamo sighed. ‘We saw you had a lot of empty whiskey bottles littered around your room. It was a lot, Drake. Why do you drink so much? No judgement here, I’m just wanting to understand you and help. This is a safe space.’

Drake eyed the camera then looked back at Karamo. ‘I guess I use whiskey to self medicate..’ he muttered. ‘It blocks out the thoughts I have.’

‘What thoughts?’ Karamo asked softly.

‘That I’m a nobody,’ Drake said honestly, clenching his fists and then unclenching them. Karamo could see he was digging his fingernails into his palms; it was a good distraction technique to stop tears.

‘But you’re not a nobody, Drake,’ Karamo told him.

‘Ha!’ Drake scoffed bitterly. ‘Believe me, I am. In this court, I may as well be the shit on their shoes. The nobles all look at me like I’m worthless. They accuse me of riding on Liam’s coat tails. They ask why I’m at court. They forget about my dad’s loyalty and bravery-’

‘Your dad?’

Drake went silent and cast his eyes down to the ground. Karamo moved forward and placed his hand on Drake’s shoulder. ‘Drake? Your dad? Safe space here, remember.’

Drake let out a shaky breath. ‘My father was part of of the Guard. He protected the King but was killed in service. He died an honourable death - he always said if he had to die, he would prefer to die protecting his king and country, which he did.’

‘He sounds like a great man,’ Karamo whispered. Drake nodded fiercely. ‘He was. He was.. he was my favourite person. It always felt like it was us versus the world. When he was gone, I felt lost.. like I had no place here anymore, regardless of how much Liam tried to tell me that I was his best friend and I deserved to be at court. His family took me in after dad died, so he became like a brother to me. But it made no difference to everyone else.’

Karamo sighed. ‘Why should it matter what everyone thinks of you? Drake, from the short time I’ve known you, you’ve proven that you’re a good guy. A bit rough around the edges, sure, but in a way that’s quite endearing. You’re kind. You’re your own person. You stick by your values and you refuse to conform. You’re one of a kind. So why should the opinion of some stuffy nobles bring you down?’

‘Because in a way, I guess I want to be accepted,’ Drake said, his breath hitching. ‘I’m sick of being treated like crap but I also don’t want to turn into those nobles who treat everyone badly. I just want one day where I can go about my business without someone making a snarky comment. Because soon, all the comments and insults start collecting in your head and you begin to see them as truth.’

‘But they’re not the truth,’ Karamo said fiercely. ‘Those people do not have permission to make you feel inferior, okay? Besides, fuck them! Everyone has got their own baggage and I can guarantee that they all have their own insecurities, some people just take it out on others. You just have to rise above it. As the beautiful Michelle Obama says, when they go low, we go high.’

‘She is pretty beautiful..’ Drake muttered, smiling slightly. Karamo chuckled then turned serious again.

‘Look, Drake. I bet your dad, if he was here, he would tell you to just do you. go your own path, screw everyone else, right?’

Drake nodded.

‘Okay. So I bet he wouldn’t want you to be sat in your room all day drinking to block out the negative thoughts, am I right?’ Drake nodded. Karamo smiled and continued. ‘He would want you to live your best life. He would want you to smile and just be happy and secure in yourself. He would also be so proud of you.’

‘He would?’

‘Yes! Drake, look. You’ve survived this long in court without him and you’ve built up a thick skin but we’re all human, there’s gonna be some cracks where negative stuff gets in. That’s okay. What matters is how you deal with the negative stuff. So, instead of sitting in your room drinking yourself into oblivion, I want you to do something else. Maybe, say.. hike?’

Drake smirked. ‘Was this meant to be a lesson?’

Karamo shrugged.’ View it how you want but I’m telling you, hiking, getting outside, this is what’s going to help you. It takes you out of your head. Tell me, how do you feel?’

‘I guess I feel lighter.. I mean, I’ve never told anyone about how I feel about court,’ Drake admitted. ‘Plus I suppose hiking gives me a purpose, it makes me feel like I’ve accomplished something.’

‘Exactly!’ Karamo cried. ‘I tell you, when we reach the top, you’re going to feel on top of the world - literally and figuratively. This can be your self care. I know you hate that phrase but it is. It’s therapeutic. It gets you out of your head, gets you active and hey, out of the palace.’

Drake grinned. ‘I should do this more, huh?’

‘You’re getting it! Now, come on, let’s get to the top. Antoni, baby, come on!’

Antoni, who had been studying the tree for the whole time, skipped over and gave Drake a wide smile. ‘Let’s hike, buddy.’

They trekked further up the mountain until they reached the top twenty minutes later. The whole of Cordonia lay out before them and Karamo whistled.

‘What a view.’

He felt Drake nudge him. Karamo looked at him and saw that his project was smiling. ‘Thank you, Karamo,’ Drake said. ‘I feel.. good.’

Antoni clapped his hands. ‘Awwwww, group hug!’

‘Oh no.’ Drake groaned. Karamo and Antoni jumped up and down. ‘Come on, honey!’ Karamo shouted. ‘Bring it in!’

Drake laughed and joined the two of them, throwing his arms around them as they shared a hug, laughing and celebrating.

******************************************************************************

They got back to the palace and as they passed the dining room, Drake stopped them. ‘I may regret this but since this is a good day, let’s continue,’ he said. Karamo and Antoni frowned, waiting.

‘Teach me about table etiquette,’ Drake sighed. ‘Give me a skill I can use to feel better in this place and maybe shut up those nobles who judge my dinner habits.’

Antoni and Karamo began screaming, jumping up and down. ‘Oh my God!’ Antoni squealed. ‘Yes! Let’s do it!’

They dragged Drake into the dining room, which was still empty, and sat him down at a table that was laid out with plates, bowls and cutlery. Drake swallowed nervously.

Karamo and Antoni sat down opposite him and poured three glasses of water.

‘So’, Karamo began. ‘We’ll start with the spoons and knives which are always on your right.’

Drake nodded, listening intently.

‘You start with the spoon on the far right,’ Antoni continued. ‘This is your soup soon. As you work your way in, you will find your first course knife and then once that’s used, you have your second course knife.’

‘So ridiculous,’ Drake commented. ‘Why all the fanciness?’

‘You live in a palace, Drake,’ Karamo said dryly. ‘Fanciness comes with the territory.’

Antoni cleared his throat. ‘On the left are your forks and the same applies to them. Work your way in from the outside. Above your plate, you will find your dessert spoon and fork.’

The three of them practiced for the next thirty minutes until it was ingrained in Drake’s mind. ‘I always just picked a random fork to use..’ Drake said quietly.

‘Well, now you won’t do that,’ Antoni assured him. ‘You can now sit down, have a meal and not feel like you’re doing that wrong. You have a place at the table.’

Karamo smiled softly, his eyes meeting Drake’s. ‘You have always had a place at the table,’ he corrected. ‘You just needed to know that.’

Drake grinned, his smile crinkling the corners of his eyes; a genuine smile. For once, he looked lighter and happier.

***************************************************************************

Day 5: I’m Drake Walker

It was the final day of their project and the morning of the ball which would host Liam’s suitors. The Fab Five, excluding Bobby, stood in the palace corridor with Drake, waiting for Bobby to let them in to show off Drake’s new room.

‘You are glowing!’ Jonathan squealed when he saw Drake. ‘Have you been using my face mask?!’

Drake blushed. ‘Maybe..’

‘Oh my God, yaaaaaas kweeen!’ Jonathan cried, pulling him into a hug. ‘I’m so proud of you!’

Tan knocked on the door. ‘Bobby, come on, open up!’

‘I’m just doing the final touches!’ Bobby called. ‘I’m sorting out the cushions!’

‘Cushions?’ Drake murmured, his eyes wide. He had never owned cushions.

The door opened and Bobby eyed Drake, smiling mischeviously. ‘Welcome home, Mr Walker.’

He let them inside and Drake stopped dead.

The room, which had been so white and bare, looked like a completely different space. Forest green walls, blue curtains, orange cushions and copper lamps decorated the room. The driftwood shelves Drake had liked had been put up on the walls and they held candles, books and framed pictures.

Drake moved towards them, silent, and picked up a framed picture. ‘This is me and my dad..’ he whispered. He turned to Bobby. ‘Where did you get this?’

‘I was emptying out your drawers and found it in an envelope,’ Bobby explained. ‘Sorry if it was private, I just thought that a gorgeous picture like that deserves to be framed. Was that on 4th July?’

Drake nodded. ‘We always had 4th July at the ranch,’ he said quietly, his eyes fixed on the photograph. ‘He loved that holiday. It’s one of my favourite memories.’

His eyes glistened and Jonathan let out a whimper when he saw that Drake was going to cry. ‘Oh honey,’ he whispered, coming forward to give Drake a tight hug. ‘It’s okay.’

Karamo patted Drake on the back. Drake squeezed his eyes shut and rubbed them, laughing shakily. ‘Sorry, didn’t mean to get all.. emotional.’

‘It’s your dad, we get it,’ Tan said. Karamo and Antoni had told the others about Drake’s dad privately and the group now felt like they knew another side of Drake that had previously been hidden.

Drake put the photograph back and looked around the room. ‘I love this,’ he said to Bobby. ‘It’s cosy. Like, I actually want to stay in here. Don’t worry, I won’t drink whiskey,’ he joked, shooting a look at Karamo. ‘It’s just a relaxing space.’

‘Come outside,’ Bobby said, guiding him. He opened the French doors out to the balcony and Drake let out a gasp. The once untouched balcony that overlooked the harbour had been decorated. Fairylights were strung up, casting a warm glow, and there was a table and chairs with the table laid out with purple and blue glasses and a bottle of wine. ‘This can be a space for any lady friends who come over,’ Bobby said. ‘Because face it, you need to get laid, Drake.’

Drake burst out laughing and clapped Bobby on the back. ‘That I do, my friend. That I do.’

*********************************************************************************

‘Right, let’s get you dressed up!’ Tan cried, dragging him to the closet. The others sat down on the bed and waited as Drake got ready in the en-suite. ‘So this is his off duty model look,’ Tan explained. ‘He is on his way to an underground gig and he had a model girlfriend called Ianthe.’

‘Oooh, Ianthe!’ the others called. They waited with bated breath when the door opened.

‘Holy shit..’ Antoni breathed. Drake stood at the door wearing the henley shirt, jeans and brown boots with the leather jacket on top.

‘Drake, you are serving me gorge vibes!’ Jonathan screamed. ‘Like I just want to lick you all over! Can I lick you all over?’

Drake chuckled. ‘If you want, sure.’

He came out and gave a twirl. The Fab Five screamed at this sudden flamboyance. ‘How do you feel?’ Tan asked.

‘I feel like a bit of babe, actually,’ Drake admitted, blushing. ‘I love this outfit.’

‘I may have to divorce my husband,’ Karamo said bluntly.

Tan clapped his hands. ‘Last look!’

He hurried Drake back into the bathroom and the Fab Five waited. Jonathan was fanning himself, overcome with lust.

The door opened and Jonathan let out a high pitched scream. ‘Okay, fuck me now!’

Drake was wearing a suit. An actual suit. It was tailored perfectly to him; it was a simple black with a blue pocket square. The suit jacket emphasised his broad shoulders and Drake was standing taller, more confidently.

‘Do you like?’ he asked weakly.

‘You are on fire,’ Bobby told him. ‘You honestly look incredible.’

‘Do you feel good?’ Karamo asked. Drake looked in the mirror and grinned. ‘I do. I look smart.’

‘You look like my new boyfriend,’ Jonathan quipped. ‘Wait till I introduce you to my mom.’

Drake ran his hands down the lapels, smoothing the jacket. ‘This is good. I feel good.’

‘You look good,’ Antoni said. ‘You feeling ready for tonight?’

‘I am,’ Drake said. ‘For once in my life, I’m not dreading a ball.’

‘Good,’ Karamo smiled. ‘Then our work is done.’

****************************************************************************************

The Fab Five convened in their loft to watch the short of film of Drake after they left him. They all settled down on the sofa with glasses of wine in hand and Bobby switched on the TV.

Drake appeared on their screen. He was in his bathroom using the face cleanser Jonathan had got him and even better, he was topless with a towel around his waist. He had clearly just gotten out of the shower as his hair was slicked back.

‘OH MY GOD, HE’S SUCH A BEEFCAKE!’ Tan screamed, jumping up and spilling his wine.

Jonathan’s mouth had dropped open. ‘Oh come to mama...’ he breathed, his eyes widening as he took in Drake’s muscled arms and torso.

‘I know I said I was divorcing my husband as a sort of joke,’ Karamo said, ‘but I mean it.’

‘His towel is so low..’ Antoni whispered.

‘Does he do manscaping?’ Bobby asked, bewildered. ‘Jonathan, I think he manscapes.’

‘I could have given him more tips!’ Jonathan wailed, heartbroken.

Tan sniggered. ‘Okay, let’s keep watching.’

They watched as Drake applied moisturiser -’good boy,’ Jonathan said- and Drake then shut the door to the camera so he could get dressed.

‘Damn it!’ they all chorused.

When he reappeared, he was wearing the suit and adjusting his cuff links. ‘He genuinely looks like he should be in perfume commercial,’ Tan said. ‘Am I right?’

‘Gucci by Gucci,’ Jonathan purred, before descending into cackles.

Drake studied himself in the mirror and smirked. The Fab Five squealed. ‘He’s so feeling himself!’ Antoni shouted. ‘Yes, Drake!’

The camera followed him as he left the room, walking tall with his chest out. The Fab Five gasped when the camera showed the ballroom with its glittering chandeliers. People were dancing already. Liam came forward as soon as he saw Drake enter.

‘Drake! Oh my God, you’re wearing a suit!’ he cried, beaming. ‘You look incredible!’

‘Awwwwww!’ Jonathan said, his eyes filling with tears. ‘They’re such besties!’

Drake hugged Liam and gave him a smile. ‘I know, right?’

‘Oh my God, I’m in love with self assured, confident Drake Walker,’ Karamo announced. ‘Seriously, where are my divorce papers?’

Liam guided Drake further into the ballroom, the camera following. Some of the nobles turned to look, curious as to why they were being filmed. A blonde haired woman with blue eyes and a scowl on her face. She studied Drake.

‘So, the runt wore a suit.’

The Fab Five straightened up, all laughter and joy gone. ‘Who the hell is this bitch?’ Jonathan demanded. ‘Who the hell-’

‘Madeleine,’ Drake drawled. He bowed, which made Liam’s eyes widen and Madeleine step back, confused. ‘How nice to see you again.’

Madeleine frowned. ‘Why are you being polite?’

Drake shrugged. ‘You go low, I go high, right?’

Karamo let out a whoop and jumped up, dancing around. ‘Yes, Drake! Yes!’

Drake gave Madeline a smirk and watched as she backed away. Liam stared at Drake. ‘What did they do to you?’ he asked, bewildered. Drake laughed. ‘A lot, Liam. They’re brilliant.’

‘Awwwwwww!’ the Fab Five cried. ‘He loves us!’

‘Come see my suitors,’ Liam whispered. Drake nodded and followed Liam to a line of women who were dressed in their finery, all trying their best to look regal and like a future Queen.

The camera watched Drake as his eyes slid over the Duchesses before landing on a dark haired woman. He studied her body, his eyes going up and down.

‘Holy shit, is Drake checking out one of Liam’s suitors?’ Bobby asked. ‘I don’t think he’s allowed to do that..’

The girl in question looked at Drake and curtseyed. ‘Hi, I’m-’

‘Oh my God, she’s American!’ Tan squealed. ‘Ahhhh, get her out of the competition and be with her, Drake!’

‘Shhh, we missed her name!’ Jonathan scolded. ‘She’s so pretty.’

Drake cleared his throat and bowed to her, as etiquette dictated.

‘I’m Drake Walker.’

#drake walker #trr fanfic #queer eye takes cordonia

38 notes · View notes

the-everlasting-dream · 5 years

Text

Walk of Shame - Drake x MC, The Perfect Cliché

A/N: So I’ve been playing around with the idea of Drake and Liz would have met if the whole TRR book never existed and I thought it would be fun to shove the into as many cliche situations as possible. Given my terrible track record of keeping up with series, this is gonna be an unofficial one. Stand alone fics that make up The Perfect Cliche.

Cliche count:

New neighbours

Mutual pining - or the beginnings of it

Awkward interaction

Walk of shame

Word Count: 2540+

Warnings: None

Drake rolled his eyes at the large moving truck situated in front of his apartment building destined to make him late for work that day. Tanner is going to have my guts.

He shrugged on his jacket and dashed out the door, slamming it shut behind him. The lift wasn’t working — of course it wasn’t working — so he wrenched the door to the stairs open, glad he only lived on the fourth floor. Close to the bottom, he was in such a rush he barely registered a stack of boxes on legs headed towards him until the last second when he twisted his body, clipping the new tenant as he shoved past.

‘Hey —‘

‘Sorry!’ He called over his shoulder, barely glancing back to glance at them before rushing off.

- Elizabeth huffed setting the last of her boxes down onto the floor of her new apartment, arm still sore where that asshole on the staircase had clipped her while bulldozing through. She looked around. This was her new apartment. That sure felt weird to say. Back home the prospect of going it alone and making it big in the big city was a lot more romantic than the sad little space before that cost more than it was worth. But going back wasn’t an option, she told herself, picturing her fathers furious face when she stalked out of his house for the last time. Shaking her head, she reached for the box of cleaning supplies, determined not to fail like he taunted her she would.

The day passed quickly and by the time the sun was setting, she’d accumulated a huge garbage bag of dust, bug carcasses and other unmentionables she’d found in the apartment. Now where was the bin?

She paused realising the superintendent hadn’t showed her where to dispose of her rubbish and there was no way she was leaving the bag in her apartment for another second. Hefting it, she opened the door to find it.

A few minutes later, Elizabeth realised that she was completely lost, and by some miracle had ended up at her own door. She was just about to give up when the sound of a door clicking caught her attention and she watched a tall broad shouldered man step out, carrying a garbage bag of his own. Perfect.

She wanted to leap after him but cautioned herself. Jesus Elizabeth let’s try not to creep out the new neighbours just yet?

He had headphones on so he wouldn’t have hear her approach but she followed behind him at a safe distance just to be safe. He lead her unaware the the fifth floor where the disposal awaited and she paused letting him throw away his bag first before stepping up for hers. As her neighbour turned, Elizabeth saw the tired lines on his unexpectedly handsome face. Noticing her staring, the stranger gave her a grim half smile before stepping aside to let her throw her giant bag away.

- As soon as Drake got back into his apartment, his phone vibrated with a text.

Kiara: Dinner on Friday?

Sounds good.

He clicked his phone off and sighed.

Kiara was... high maintenance to say the least. She was beautiful and smart and way out of his league and sometimes he wondered what he was doing with a girl like her. Their physical attraction was undeniable but in all other aspects, he felt severely lacking. He’d never pictured himself dating a high class New York socialite like her.

In his mind, he’d always pictured himself with a down to earth, jeans and t shirt kinda girl who wasn’t afraid to get her hands dirty for fear of ruining her manicure. Kinda like that girl he’d run into in the hallway. The new tenant he guessed, just finished cleaning judging by the giant garbage bag, messy hair and streak of dust on her cheek. His lips twisted up a little at the memory.

Yeah someone more like her.

‘So how are you liking New York?’

Elizabeth took a sip of her latte as her best friend sat expectantly on the other side of the lunch table. ‘It’s... certainly an experience.’

‘Welcome to the real world baby girl. It sucks. You’re gonna love it.’ Her best friend Athena Park replied mischieviously, earning an eyeroll in response. ‘Have you gone out since you got here?’

Elizabeth shook her head. ‘I’ve spent most of the week cleaning and unpacking and prepping for the interview today.’

‘How’d it go?’

‘Good I think? The guy wasn’t too sure but the lady liked me. They said they’d get back to me at the end of the week.’

‘Yes!’ Athena crowed loudly, other patrons of the restaurant cringing at her. ‘That’s a perfect reason to celebrate. You free tomorrow night? Doesn’t matter. You’re free tomorrow night. We’re going out!’

‘Thanks!’

Elizabeth tipped the delivery boy in exchange for one supreme pizza that was definitely not recommended for just one person. After the interview today she was hoping for a nice quiet night in to relax. She shut the door waiting for a few moments for the delivery boy to leave before sticking her head out in hope of catching sight of that handsome stranger. She’d caught herself in the act of looking out for him in the hallway each time, hoping for a glimpse of her mysterious stranger, who despite his attractive looks, seemed to be permanently grumpy.

Elizabeth had no idea what she was trying to achieve by this. It’s not like she was interested interested. After her recent break up with Robbie, she definitely was okay with being single for a very very long time. Still a little bit of eye candy wouldn’t hurt. Seeing nothing, she shut the door and settled in for a long night with Emma Swan, Regina Mills and Killian Jones, main characters of her favourite TV show.

‘C’mon babe you know I didn’t mean it. It wasn’t personal.’

‘Felt pretty damn personal to me Drake. Kiara snapped back, tossing her perfectly flat ironed hair as she glared at herself in her compact in the dim light of the cab. 'He’s my cousin.'

'He’s a pretentious prick.'

‘Drake!' She snapped her compact shut and fixed him with a furious look.

‘Sorry,' he mumbled half heartedly, not meaning the single word because anyone that complained that his exotic caviar had been served two degrees warmer than it should have been, deserved prick status in his mind. Still he felt guilty for making Kiara upset after she had worked so hard to maintain a good relationship with her cousin and he had probably ruined it.

'Babe I’m sorry.' He leaned over kissing her cheek, nuzzling her neck.

‘Mmhmm.' She hummed in annoyance, arms folded across her chest as she stared out the window.

Drake wasn’t giving up yet. Sliding close, he brushed her hair away from her neck, stubble grazing the exposed skin, a hand finding her thigh. 'Let me make it up to you.'

Kiara scoffed but he could tell her resolve was wavering. He began tracing little circles on her thigh, as he pressed his lips to her neck, searching for her sweet spot.

‘Please.' He murmured, finding it and she let out a moan. ‘I’ll do anything you want me to.’

‘You’re lucky you’re so fucking cute. Kiara muttered before slamming her lips onto his.

Elizabeth was completely enraptured by the final episode of season three of Once Upon A Time, pizza dangling between her mouth and hand. When the big reveal happened—

Shit! Both her hands clamped over her mouth, eyes bugged open as she sat in horror for a few moments after the end credits ended. It took a stick wet sensation on her stomach to pull her out of her stupor and she looked down to see the piece of pizza that she had slathered in child sauce lying face down on her shirt. Groaning out loud she glanced at the time and the big basket of dirty laundry that she had been putting off for the last three hours that she’d spent on the couch.

Surely no one would be doing laundry at 1:30am right?

Hefting it on her hip, she tugged the door open, shoving her foot between the crack distracted as she leaned over to grab her keys from the glass bowl when a strange sound reached her ears.

Is that moaning?

Poking her head out the door, her eyebrows shot towards her hairline.

Oh... he has a girlfriend. Of course he has a girlfriend.

Her very mysterious, very attractive neighbour currently had his tongue down a girl’s throat as he pinned her to his front door right in full view of anyone walking by. Pressed so tightly together, Elizabeth had no idea where he ended and she began, she forced herself to shut the door, opting not to be the creepy neighbour with a voyeurism kink. She would just wait until they were gone and escape down to the communal laundry room. Her neighbour and his girl didn’t seem to be stopping any time soon, she observed after a good five minutes had passed.

Their moans grew louder and louder until —

'Get a bloody room will ya? Some of us are tryna to fuckin sleep!'

Thank you cranky Australian dude from 145.

With armed with her phone, earbuds and throwback playlist on, Elizabeth hoisted the basket on her hip, ready to take the monster that was her laundry basket.

Drake sighed to himself again, the argument still replaying in his mind.

'You don’t even try.'

'All I’m doing is trying!'

'Well maybe you need to try harder!’

‘I don’t know what the fuck you expect from me!’

‘Clearly too much!’

Still shirtless, he ran a hand over his face wondering how they could go from making out to a yelling match in mere seconds. Too riled up to stay in this room as the scent of Kiara's Black Opium cologne still remained, he grabbed his phone and stalked out the door, remembering he had a pile of laundry to pick up from the laundry room downstairs.

A movement at the corner of his eyes, he realised he wasn’t alone. Glancing behind the second row of washing machines, his eyebrows shot towards his hairline.

His new neighbour, the girl who had followed him to the bin the other night, the one that he couldn’t help sneak looks at locked in her own little world, completely unaware of his presence. Earphones on, dancing like no one was watching because as far as she knew no one was. Interestingly enough she was also shirtless, save for a pair of pyjama shorts and a sports bra. As she attempted and failed to do what he guessed was meant to be a Spice Girls dance move.

The sight brought a smile to his face despite his earlier fight with Kiara. Not wanting to embarrass his new neighbour, he crept away, resolving to introduce himself properly sometime.

'What?’ Elizabeth yelled over the loud music of the club, having clearly drunk more than she should have.

Athena repeated herself, trying to be heard over the pounding bass beat with even less success than the first two times she’d tried.

‘What?’

Her best friend rolled her eyes, making a circle with one hand and stabbing her pointer finger through it repeatedly, needing no further clarification.

Elizabeth turned to the blonde guy whom she was currently dancing with knowing at once that a similar though was on his mind. She sized him up, weighing the pros and the cons of this while Athena was already heading off with another girl. Her partner raised an eyebrow at her playfully and Elizabeth felt a grin begin to grow.

Why the hell not?

Now that he thought over it, Drake truly felt like an asshole for the night before. Kiara wasn’t wrong, he hadn’t been trying his hardest at all. He’d know what life he’d been in for when he started dating her, the demands and requirements of her socialite status and he’d promised her he was worth it.

He liked to think of himself as a trustworthy guy and in the interest of not throwing a two year relationship out the window, he grabbed his jacket, phone and keys before he could talk himself out of it.

Adjusting the large hastily purchased sunglasses on her face, Elizabeth glanced around self-consciously as she made her way across the street to her apartment building, hoping no one would see her messy hair and hastily donned nightclub dress and put two and two together. Waiting for the elevator induced a spiral of anxiety as she prayed that none of the building’s fellow residents would show up. Glancing behind her, she caught the eye of the rotund building’s superintendent, regarding her with a thoroughly unimpressed gaze. When the doors finally dinged open, she rushed inside, hastily jabbing the close button. Adequately satisfied that no one had seen her do the most embarrassing walk of shame ever, Elizabeth slumped against the side, so ready for a hot shower and a six hour nap.

'Hold it!' A hand slipped past the closing doors, preventing them from closing.

She could barely stop herself from gasping as her grumpy-but-attactive-and-also-kinda-mysterious neighbour joined her in the small space, looking just as dishevelled as she was.

They stood there in silence, both not wanting to state the obvious cheesy elevator music trickled through the crackling speakers as Elizabeth struggled to think of something to say.

‘Rough night?'

The guy picked up his dark head, giving her a half hearted nod. 'Yeah you could say that. You?'

'You have no idea,’ she sighed, wracking her brains for something to say. 'I’ve seen you around sometimes. Your girlfriend is really pretty.’

Elizabeth’s eyes widened as her neighbour’s narrowed in confusion.

'I just mean.. uh... I’m not stalking you or anything uh.. I’ve seen you together.'

'Uhh thanks... I think?’ He ran a hand through his ruffled brown hair. 'Would probably mean more if she was still my girlfriend.'

Guilt immediately bloomed in her. Good one Richmond. 'Oh. I didn't mean to...I’m sorry to hear that.'

'Don’t be.’ He shrugged it off. 'It was bound to happen sooner or later. But hey at least the sex was good right?’

‘Yeah,’ she answered weakly. ‘It was… it was good.’

Mercifully the elevator dinged, getting to their floor and to her dismay, they were headed the same way, forced to walk together.

‘You’re not from around here are you?’

‘Was it that obvious?’ Elizabeth replied, surprised that he interested in making conversation after not one but two verbal blunders from her.

He shrugged again, making her clock that as one of his trademark gestures. 'You liking it here?’

‘Its definitely taking some getting used to but its not too bad.’

‘Huh, yeah. There’s no place like it.’ His tone was strange but she couldn’t decipher what he could mean by it as they were already at her door.

‘Well this is me.’

‘So it seems,’ he replied, already turning to go.

‘I’m Elizabeth.’ He paused, regarding her for a moment, lips twisting into a half smile.

'Drake.’

‘See you around I guess.’

‘Yeah, you too.’

Tags: @chantelle-x0x , @choicessa, @drakewalkerwhipped , @thewolvesss , @mfackenthal , @srawesleyghuewrites , @topsyturvy-dream , @enmchoices , @gardeningourmet @debramcg1106 , @alesana45 , @meladoridarcy, @blackcatkita , @tmarie82 , @annekebbphotography , @lizk77 , @jayjay879 , @tornbetween2loves , @akrenich , @theroyalweisme , @likethetailofacomet , @sleepwalkingelite , @ooo-barff-ooo , @drakewalker04 , @mkatschoicesblog , @speedyoperarascalparty , @carabeth , @fairydustandsarcasm , @drakewalkerisreal @mrsnazariowritesagain

#tbh idk what im trying to achieve here #can i even write fic anymore #half my permatags dont read lmao #but if y'all want i'll write more #inspo and time are hard to come by these days ugh #drake x mc #drake walker #trr drake #drake x elizabeth #elizabeth richmond #TRR AU #The Royal Romance #playchoices #choices #choices fandom #choices fanfiction

59 notes · View notes

mfackenthal · 5 years

Text

The MFackenthal Show with Special Guest @ownworldresident!

banner by @whenyourheartskipsabeat

Megs: Hello everyone! Welcome to another episode of “The MFackenthal Show!” Many many thanks to everyone who tuned in for the last episode. The response to the return of the show has been truly fantastic and humbling. It’s wonderful to have so many of you in our audience today!

Please give your warmest welcome to tonight’s special guest @ownworldresident!

Alex: Hey! *comes in waving* Great to be here, thanks for inviting me Megs I'm honoured! *gives bear hug* I'm a big fan of hugs. *collapses dramatically into comfortable looking teal lounge chair*

Megs: *Laughs* Well, make yourself comfortable, my friend.

Alex: Oh, you know I will!

Megs: Yes, yes I do. So I hear that you’re working on a book! Should I start calling you AJ?

Alex: Okay so ... as readers of Something Unexpected will know my name is Alex. My pen name, recently decided, is A. J. Brooks. *grins like an idiot* I give you permission to call me Alex.

Megs: Okay ... AJ ... so tell me, when did you join this crazy place we call the tumblr choices fandom?

Alex: I guess I could say I joined in about November? I started playing choices in August, because what better time to start than in the final semester of your bachelor's degree? I posted my first fic on Choices Archive which was unbelievably shit (the fic not the site!). I read A Royal Mate by @hopefulmoonobject aka Nesha and was inspired to write “You, The Lion” around chapter…. 6? I stalked Nesha to Tumblr, which I've never used before, and set up @ownworldresident, thus began the end of my social life. Courtesy of a design degree it was already pretty rocky.

Megs: Who needs a social life when we have choices, tumblr, and fanfic, right?

Alex: Right! We all need AUs to carry us through to the next chapter.

Megs: Speaking of the next chapter ... have you read all of the choices books?

Alex: Hehe… *grins sheepishly* I have not. I have, however, played TRR enough times to have played every book twice over.

Megs: Yeah, I think we’ve all done that! Okay, so who do you stan in TRR?

Alex: *in a monotone* Oh, gosh, what a difficult question. Gosh Meg that's so hard to answer… *feigns thoughtfulness, then grins and speaks normally* if Liam isn't gripping the headboard with one hand to steady himself… What's the point of playing?

Megs: I’ll answer that with one word: Drake.

Alex: *rolls her eyes* And that’s my cue to leave the stage. *Alex starts to get out of her chair*

*Megs grabs her arms to keep her in the chair.*

Megs: Nooooo! Stay! Tell us what you do when you’re not writing fics! Geeze!

Alex: Haha, you know I’d never leave you, beautiful! Okay, what do I do when I’m not writing fics ... I write my novel, reblog writing advice, play choices, chat to (and spam with excerpts) Nesha, Alicia, Stef, Urica, Pam, and you of course, also I have friends here but I'm not sure if they know I'm alive … I mean, I think I went out last month. This is specifically for Alicia - HE WILL REMAIN FRIENDZONED.

Megs: Awh, maybe you need to give this guy a chance?

Alex: Oh gosh, not you too! Stop! FRIENDZONED!

Megs: I’m just saying, sometimes the friend can be the *eyebrows raise twice* “friend.”

Alex: So, I’m from Australia! I was born in Perth (Western Australia), grew up in country WA, moved over to Melbourne to get a big fancy degree from a big fancy Uni, which i did *lifts fists in victory* and I love it here! Lots of ... um ... hot guys. But I spend all my time as a resident of my own world so don't actually see them much. I think I will need to go to Europe to find myself a Rhys.

Megs: nice deflection ... and we’re back to Liam. Hahah! Okay, okay, so as anyone who follows you on tumblr knows, you love to talk about writing. Tell us about your writing process.

Alex: What's a ‘process? *frowns quizzically* I haven't really trained myself enough to have one. I have a muse, she is incredible, if I'm stuck I give her a problem and go and do other things and my tigress works on it in the background. For example the last big thing I wanted was a new story to write, so about a week later I was washing dishes or something and she went LIAM BANGS AN ASSASSIN and that's how The Mark came about. In case you were wondering or something. i also really like walking through forests, that really puts me in touch with my tigress. It's how You The Lion started. *shrugs* otherwise it's just when I feel like it. If I'm angsty I write Rayne. If I'm frustrated (at myself) I write Anna. If I'm excited I write SU with Nesha. If I'm focused I write my novel. *smirks* that's it! *chuckles*

Actually, Megs, are you up for an acting challenge?

Megs: Don’t you know it! Did you bring a script with you?

Alex: Oh, just a snippet of my favourite passage of all I have ever written. It’s Liam and Lisa's argument. It’s love and trust and loss and honesty and pain, it’s really a pity they were too badly injured for angry sex. *winks*

Megs: I call reading Lisa’s lines!

Alex: Wha? Oh, okay, I’ll play Liam ...

*both ladies stand up in the middle of the stage and read overly dramatically*

Liam/Alex: “I thought you loved me Lisa…”

Lisa/Megs: “Of course I love you!”

Liam/Alex: “Then that should be enough to just my judgement…”

Lisa/Megs: “YES! It should! It should be enough to trust and yet you don’t! You don’t trust me, you’re blinded by him and how DARE you use your rank over me! I don’t give a shit what your reasoning was Liam that is not okay.”

Liam/Alex “It was to -”

Lisa/Megs: “Keep me safe! Guess what! I can defend myself, as if you didn’t know that. I told you, you should have believed me, because you said you loved and trusted me EVEN THOUGH YOU DON’T and that should be enough!”

Alex: And end scene!

*The ladies take a bow*

I don't know if it makes sense without context and its only the dialogue but I love it! You were a decent Lisa. Though I’m not sure Lisa would have been quite so dramatic about it.

Megs: You weren’t a half-bad Liam. But i know he would have been more dramatic than you were being! *wink*

*Both Alex and Megs starts to return to their seats - but Alex gets to Meg’s chair first. Megs slowly goes to sit in the comfy teal green chair and gives Alex the side eye.*

Alex: So Megs ... when and why did you decide to review and interview fanfic writers?

Megs: What is it with my guests thinking they get to take over asking the questions?! *Megs shakes her head in disbelief* Hmm ... the first spotlight post/MFackenthal show was just over a year ago on May 5, 2018. At that time, I wasn’t writing any fanfiction, but I wanted to give back to the community. I don’t think I had even done a review post yet. By that time I had written some posts to wish authors happy birthday or to highlight someone’s work that I was in love with ... but I had 100 followers and I wanted to celebrate that. @maxattack-powell, @tmarie82, @lizeboredom, and a few others who aren’t here any more helped me come up with a way to spotlight the fanfic authors and I wrote a pilot episode of the Mfackenthal Show. Ellen saw it, gave me this show, and the rest is history as they say.

Alex: I love that you wanted to give back! One last question ... *leans elbow on side of chair and rests chin on fingers to look at you, narrowing gaze* ... tell us one of your most fantastical Drake related dreams. Maybe you or someone can turn it into a one shot?

Megs: Alex! Oh my gosh! Hahaha! Hmmm ... okay ... well, the story would be an AU. The MC, Megs - cause all the MCs are named Megs in my stories, is a Princess of a small country, but she’s gone into hiding because someone is after her and her family. She goes to Cordonia and asks to help manage Liam’s social season. She needs to stay behind the scenes so she can’t be in it. She convinces Bastien, Liam, and Drake that she would be a good counselor/therapist for Liam - help him make decisions about who would be the best partner for him. Of course, both Liam and Drake end up falling in love with Megs. As always, Drake believes himself to be unworthy because he knows that Megs is a princess. Megs is always very clear that she’s not in love with Liam and is in love with Drake. All the forces keep Megs and Drake apart. Drake eventually helps Megs get back to her country and Megs gets injured in a battle when she tries but fails to save her father from being murdered. This means that Megs has to take the throne. Drake tries to live without her, heading back to Cordonia. Drake and Megs finally get together after her country and Cordonia enter trade negotiations and Liam sends Drake to make those negotiations.

Alex: *sighs* Megs, that’s beautiful.

Megs: Thanks! Probably not a one-shot though.

Alex: Probably not. Alright - well, your producers are telling me that it’s almost time to wrap up the show. So, I think it’s time for you and your audience to learn to do the shuffle! So stand up.

*stands and looks at you expectantly until you do the same*

okay now drink this …

Megs: uh ...

Alex: Just drink it! It's not poison *smirks as you drink and splutter then shrugs at your horrified expression and drinks the other half* don't worry it's just tequila. Okay follow me, stand there… music please… let's do this.

*proceeds to teach and dance and drink more and kiss the cameraman and fall over then get up and keep dancing like nothing happened*

--- several minutes later, both collapsed and grinning and slightly drunk ---

Please don't analyze me. I have a lot of problems. Urk.

Megs: We’ll save the analysis for after the show! (hiccups) Alright folks (hic!) I guess it’s time to go!

Alex: *drunkenly* Omgosh I LOVE this fandom. Everyone is so friendly and (predominantly) positive *side eyes you* and creative and supportive and talented! I love you all. Thank you for being you, and if you interact with me, my fics, or anything I post, I consider myself honoured thank you!! To the fandom I will say keep being who you are. Every single one of you is incredible *shrugs excitedly, grinning*.

Megs: Have a great night, all! Don’t drink and drive! Love you all!!!!

And now for the tags! If you want to be added to the tag list for these or removed, please let me know! They won’t come out every day, I promise!

@hopefulmoonobject @queen-among-writers

#The MFackenthal Show #Official episode 4 #but really episode 5 #I'm not drunk - you're drunk #Alex is a pusher!#She got Liam drunk this same way once #Tequila may be poison though #That was a set of dreams I had about Drake and Liam #Really couldn't be a one shot #We really do love you all though!

28 notes · View notes

navk · 6 years

Text

An open letter to 27

Someone told me recently that the older you get the more time appears to move faster because you’ve lived more and experienced more of the world. I’m not sure about how true this explanation really is, but experiences now certainly tend to carry more weight compared to when I was younger.

Every year that passes carries with it events and experiences that, I hope, contribute to who I am and my sense of where I am in my life and the world. However, it becomes increasingly difficult (at least to me) in a time where everything seems to be moving at such a rapid pace. It’s hard to pinpoint any one position when the world around me shifts so quickly.

Personally, 2018 has been a mad blur of experiences that have left me any series of words, including but not limited to: overwhelmed, winded, exhausted. Somewhere in between, I’ve also been inspired and captivated by the natural beauty that exists around all of us.

I took some time this year to travel and do things I normally wouldn’t do. I’ve visited about ten different cities across four American states and two Canadian provinces. All for pleasure. I’ve camped out in my car, stayed in expensive tourist hotels, shady Airbnbs, and ate in questionable establishments with the hopes that my overly sensitive stomach would make it to the next service stop.

I’ve seen (and scaled) the glory of the Rocky Mountains, their obscenely clear springs and rivers, and almost got carried by the rapids and down a waterfall.

2018 has been, by all accounts, a year of growth and growing pains. But isn’t every year like this? Perhaps, but perhaps more so for me because I’ve carried one question with me throughout these last twelve months: how do I strike a balance in my life? Financial balance, emotional balance, work-life balance. Balance between family and friends and passions and obligations. At first, it seemed simple enough to approach the matter by compartmentalizing different aspects of my life, dividing everything by time. Soon as the months progressed, all of this proved to be much more difficult.

Perhaps, I thought to myself, it boils down to a matter of where I am in my life. Two degrees, two jobs, I’ve saved, invested, built a decent stock portfolio. I bought a brand new car in 2017 (and very shortly felt a different sort of pain that I had not entirely signed up for). I thought to myself that I had most of my life figured out, that what was left would be sorted out by going through the motions.

I remember seeing a tweet by a famous philosopher named Drake some time ago that went something like “anything can be overcome with three sleeps.” Sorry Drake, I’ve had almost 365 sleeps and I still haven’t figured it out.

This is not a list denoting what I’ve done or haven’t done as much as it is a letter to myself admitting that I have some work left to do. And while one of my greatest traits (according to others, not me) has been the ability to be vulnerable, I’ve found myself sharing less and less over the course of this year. I’ve nearly completely shuddered myself from social media. Platforms through which I had routinely shared my writing and my thoughts on current world events went dark, and I allowed no remorse to seep through as I continued to live “in the real world.”

I told myself that I was gathering experiences and in turn gathering myself. I wrote less, but always thought about writing more. I devoted time into a business I registered with friends that we eventually dissolved even before we launched the product, because we soon realized that the idea had too many holes and was too time sensitive.

I finally landed a part time gig in my profession, finally I had put a foot through the door. But even then it wasn’t, and still isn’t, ideal. So I kept applying and finally, three years after graduating I had landed an interview at my desired organization. That dream, too, quickly ended. I broke down at the realization that 5 years of university and 3 years of chasing this opportunity had culminated to a flat out rejection.

Fast forward a few months: I’m still here, still kicking it. I’ve surrounded myself with the most brilliant and the most terrific group of people anyone could ever be blessed with. Still, sometimes it doesn’t feel like enough.

Is it still inherently wrong to not be wholly satisfied with what one has if the constant belief that “there is always room for improvement” exists? I don’t think I’m unhappy so much as I think that there is still an abundance of potential that I still haven’t found myself living up to. And I don’t think I’m the only one who actually feels this way.

I have always expected to stumble, prepared for the bruises and discomfort required to grow into different and elevated forms of myself (imagine your favourite Akira Toriyama character screaming in unjust anger and pain for something like 18 episodes just to reach a more powerful form to fight off a strange and powerful space lizard). Through this half-thought out example (and a sprinkle of nostalgic humour), we can see that becoming a better version of ourselves can often mean toiling through tremendous hardships. That we must also keep finding ways to become increasingly better in order to overcome any and all other challenges that life brings our way.

But the thing is, despite all of this, despite all the pressures and uncertainties that we find ourselves in, life goes on. The world keeps on turning. And tomorrow is a new day. And in a few more sleeps, it will be a new year. And our stories, hopefully, will continue in new ways. Some of it will be exciting, some of it will be challenging, some of it will test and perhaps even break us. But none of it will be fore naught.

Now into the tail end of my twenties, it took me a whole year to come to this one realization. That I had been running for so long that I forgot how to walk. And that to walk, sometimes we need to learn how to crawl.

(TL;DR: We’re all Goku, and life is Frieza because it keeps coming back to get us no matter what).

#navk #personal #perspective #prose #spilled ink #people #akira toriyama #life #2018 #struggle #journey #travel #27 #drake

114 notes · View notes

thorofasgard007 · 5 years

Text

Casting my WIP: “Blade of Penance Volume I: Bore of Great Sacrifice”

Haven’t posted anything in a while thought I would put up a fun game for us aspiring authors out there. My first draft nears completion. Just a the final fight, “mop-up” and a couple appendices to write. Hoping to be done this week while I am on vacation. *fingers crossed*

Anyway, I saw a YouTube video posted by an authortuber I follow named Kim Chance where she went through the dream casting of her newest book Seeker (soon to be released here is the video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5Rmhm8HhE8). I was thinking while I was running some errands earlier today I should do something similar. If my novel(s) ever get made into a movie whom would I cast as each character? So I decided to post that here and see what other authors/aspiring authors would cast as their characters. Name the character, a brief description of them, then the actor/actress and why you would cast them.

Here are the rules: #1) You have to use the actors/actresses as they are TODAY. No using “Early 80′s Arnold” or Clint Eastwood like he was when he played Dirty Harry. It also goes without saying you can’t use actors that have retired from acting or passed away. #2) If there is a seminal movie/tv show in your genre you cannot use actors from that franchise. Since this rule can really make things difficult you can use up to TWO exceptions to rule #2. Since my WIP is epic fantasy both actors from Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings movies and Game of Thrones are disqualified.

Okay here we go.

Dorath:

The father of my hero Kaaldor. A former general and hero of the Battle of Gos. The last scion of the House of Dranus who’s progenitor alongside Ka’Reyus The Elven Warrior King lead the Great Liberation against the Dragon Rule of Rab Yangin 500 years ago. Few either human or elf could match his skill with the blade save maybe one.

At first I thought of The Most Electrifying Man in Sports Entertainment: Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. I even used his physique as a bit of a template when I was doing up his character model. However in the end I thought he should be cast a bit younger (Don’t hit me with the People’s Elbow Rock.)

Therefore I will use one of my exceptions early and go with Aquaman, aka Kahl Drogo, Mr. Jason Mamoa.

Ka’Reyus:

The Elven Warrior King and Grandfather to my hero. Unquestionably the greatest warrior alive. Has gone unmatched in swordsmanship for over 500 years. Single headedly fought and slew three dragons at once. Him and Dranus (Dorath’s ancestor) tag-teamed to slay the corrupted dragon lord Rab Yangin to free the continent of Kalis from drake rule. Is Dorath his equal as a warrior??? SPOILERS :)

For him I batted around a few choices including Liam Neeson and Russel Crowe of course cgi would have to be used to size them down because as an elf Ka’Reyus was only 5 feet tall.

I finally decided on Wolverine himself (aka Jean ValJean, aka PT Barnum) Hugh Jackman.

(Yes this is an older pic... but I wanted one of him as Wolverine :) )

Princess Almelphia:

Mother of Kaaldor. Only child of Ka’Reyus. The unchallenged beauty of Elvendom. All the nobility compete for her attention not only for her beauty but that whomever she chose as her husband would be the likely successor to the elven throne. She is also is the only member of the royal house with any magical ability, even though it is just limited to reading the memories left behind on things/people that she touches. While my hero was growing up she always called him her “little champion” and he did everything he could to live up to that title.

She was a tough choice. If I wanted to use my second exception I would have chosen The Khalessi herself Emilia Clarke but considering Jason Mamoa is Dorath… that may be a little much. I also considered Miranda Otto (aka Eowyn) but again didn’t want to use my second exception. Therefore I decided to go with Jenna Coleman aka Clara Oswald from Dr. Who, and Queen Victoria on Victoria.

Here she is from the “Robin Hood Episode” of Dr. Who so you could see how she would look in a fantasy setting.

Ka’Vatch:

Lifelong friend of Ka’Reyus and Elvul Ka’s(the elven nation’s) foremost smith. Him and Ka’Reyus both learned their weaponry by working his father’s forge. Growing up Kaaldor learned from Ka’Vatch at the same forge. To be a great warrior you must both know your weapons and then know yourself. The weapons part started with Ka’Vatch after an 8 year old Kaaldor hid in his smith from bullies that didn’t like that he was half human.

For him I thought about Michael Ironside. Granted you usually see him as a bad guy (and he plays a great villain, especially with his voice work... if they ever do a live action version of Darkseid they should have him reprise the role from his voice work on Superman: TAS etc). However age is a factor. Therefor I chose Josh Brolin aka Thanos… aka Cable.

Ka’Draoi: (pronounced Ka’ DREE, gotta love Gaelic)

Grand Thaumaturge of Elvul Ka’ and one of the world’s most powerful wizards. He draws his power from the Blue Flame like all elves and fought along side Ka’Reyus and Dranus in The Great Liberation. Being such a long time friend of the king he can often get away with breaches of proper decorum and has been known to have a bit of a ...shall we say “unique” sense of humour.

My original choice for this role was of course Sean Connery... but he has been retired from acting for some time. I thought about Terrance Stamp (aka General Zod from Superman II, my all time favourite movie villain) but decided against it. I didn’t want to use another exception or to be seen as him being a Gandalf clone so no Sir Ian McKellan.

In the end I chose another James Bond Pierce Brosnan, he can command the regal presence and wisdom Ka’Draoi needs, plus have the comic timing to pull off the sense of humour needed.

Ok. That covers Kaaldor’s family and the elves. Now lets move on to some more human characters.

Admiral Jagaran:

He is the Admiral of the Palan fleet (the main villain nation of the story) and in command of its new flagship The Jorgmundr (a ship completely made of dragonbone). He is a very skilled warrior, especially at see and a cunning strategist. He always takes the most straightforward path to victory whether it is an honourable choice or not. However he has been known to let his ego get the better of him.

My first choice was Peter Wingfield. Highlander fans will recognise him as Methos from the 90′s Highlander TV series. (As a point of trivia I watched some of Methos’ sword fights on the series to map out some of this character’s move sets). However he has apparently retired from acting and at last report was pursuing a career in medicine.

So instead I went with Rome’s Ray Stevenson, he has been in many other things but I mostly know him as Titus Pullo on Rome, Volstagg from the MCU and as Frank Castle in Punisher: War Zone (I should dust that one off I haven’t watched it in a while)

Anonyus:

The Mage assigned to the Jorgmundr. Although he technically outranks Jagaran as he is a mage his role on the ship is similar to that of a “political officer” on the old Soviet ships. He is your classic sadist that makes King Joffrey and Reese Bolton look like boy scouts. He prefers to invoke fear in his adversaries of what he may do than to actually inflict the pain.

For him I went back to the MCU and chose Tom Hiddleston, aka Loki. I just love him as a villain.

(Point of trivia... he originally auditioned for the part of Thor... go fig because he was so good as Loki.)

Armorton:

The chief slave-driver on The Jorgmundr, and a sadist son of a... gun (trying to keep this PG) in his own right. He takes perverse pleasure in publicly and brutally executing slaves that can no longer work in the bowels of the ship... or just make an example of. As he is more a hand to hand brute than a swordsman I went with a wrestler/actor for him. Dave Bautista from Guardians of the Galaxy (gee I am pulling a lot from the MCU) and Spectre, also a former WWE Champion.

Ok... let’s get away from the villains for a bit.

Dex:

The classic dashing rogue. Thinks he is “the pyres” gift to women and even names his lockpicks after his conquests. Never met a maiden he didn’t want to hit on. Or a full coin-purse he didn’t want to cut. Always ready with a witty retort but also willing to help when he sees something unjust. Kaaldor sometimes sees him as his best friend... and other times wants to punch him. But they somehow make it work as they defend the village of Belieret from the warlord Tyv.

This character needs the comic timing that only Ryan Reynolds can provide. I have been a fan of his since he was in Blade: Trinity (not as bad as everybody says) and he was dead on casting as Deadpool.

Klok:

A Baegian merchant that is one of the few in Belieret willing to learn how to fight to protect his new home. His own brother betrayed him when the Baegian King became a vassal for Q’Rab The Sorcerer King of Palis and Klok began to speak ill of the new regime. He couldn’t let hit happen again with Tyv.

I have chosen a bit of an odd choice. A TV actor named Alimi Ballard. He has been on many TV shows but I mostly remember him as David Sinclair on Numb3rs.

Ok lets do some more villains then we will go for the Hero and Heroine.

Tyv:

The warlord that is pulling the old extortion racket on the village of Belieret. He blames Ka’Reyus for ***SPOILERS***. Little do the villagers know he is just a cog in the machinery of one of Q’Rab’s plans. In the meantime he plans to take his revenge on Ka’Reyus by sending him Kaaldor’s head.

For this I am going cast Clancy Brown, mostly because he played my #2 all time favourite movie villain The Kurgan in Highlander. You would also recognise him from The Shawshank Redemption and Starship Troopers. He as also done a lot of voice work, including Lex Luthor for Superman: TAS, Savage Oppress on Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Mr. Krabs on SpongeBob SquarePants (lol).

Hespera:

Apprentice to the Sorcerer Q’Rab and Master/Mistress to Anonyus. She suffers no failure and many of her apprentices have felt her wrath. None have lived to tell the tale. Her vanity is her weakness and although devoted to Q’Rab for centuries she has been known to have her own machinations to undermine his plans. You only briefly see her in the first book... but I plan to have her take a much larger role in book 2.

For her... if she is willing to be a redhead my first choice is Wonder Woman herself Gal Gadot. She can be both regal, the flirt to ensnare men but then switch gears to be something menacing all at once.

(come on I had to choose a Wonder Woman pic... all the world is waiting for you... and the powers you possess :) )

Q’Rab:

Sorcerer King of Palis and has ruled for over 200 years. He draws his power from the Black Flame and rarely gets his hands dirty himself but is always a Master of Puppets pulling strings from afar. All under his rule are fanatically devoted to him. Whenever he is mentioned they finish the sentence with “May his reign be eternal”. It has yet to be determined who is the more powerful wizard if him and Ka’Draoi were to meet in a duel, and the true goal of his plans while he is at war with the nation of Corlot are ****SPOILERS****. His origins are ***SPOILERS***.

For him I went with a bit of an odd choice, I needed a classical type of actor but one that wasn’t your standard English baddie. I went with Alexander Siddig. While best known as Dr. Bashir on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, he also has a long movie and TV career including 24, Gotham on the small screen and Kingdom of Heaven and The Nativity Story on the big screen. If he can pull off both The Angel Gabriel and Ra’s Al Ghul he can pull of Q’Rab. (Note: As he was also Doran Tyrell on Game of Thrones... he is my second exception)

Ok... you are saying enough with the villains. Fine lets get to the main event. My hero and heroine. First the Heroine:

Renna:

Daughter of the captain of The Divine Lady, the ship that Kaaldor is a passenger on when The Jorgmundr strikes. While able to fight for herself knows when she is out of her depth and instead fits into the facilitator role to get Kaaldor what he needs to win. She can also act as the diplomat to Kaaldor’s brute force as she knows not every problem can best be solved by the right amount of smashing. She is not the damsel in distress like Lois Lane that always needs a Superman to rescue her, but she also knows she doesn’t have to be Xena to be strong either.

This one was a hard choice... The aforementioned Jenna Coleman was a strong contender at one point. I also considered Rosa Salazar (loved her in Alita Battle Angel) however in the end (maybe because I just did a binge watch of Cobra Kai over the Labour Day Weekend) I chose Mary Mouser (Samantha LaRusso on Cobra Kai). Her look is the right combo of innocence, beauty and strength which is what you need to play Renna.

Finally.

Kaaldor:

The hero of the story. Half-elf and half human. Trained by his grandfather since he was eight years old to be a warrior without equal. He was even able to fight Ka’Reyus to a draw. Though of the elvish royal family very few fully accept him as part of elvish society. He can never let an injustice stand and sometimes gets himself deep in a bad situation by acting without thinking. But still is the one willing to act when others are too scared to. In the end he must complete his quest to ***SPOILERS***

For him I originally thought of Daniel Cudmore, I best remember him as Colossus in X-Men 2 and X-Men 3 (boy did three SUCK). However in the end thought a Hemsworth was a better fit. Not Chris (Thor)… but Liam (Expendables 2, The Hunger Games). (Note: He will probably have to bulk up a bit as when I wrote the character I was thinking “Early 80′s Arnold”)

Well There you go... It was a lot of fun going through this. For all you authors/aspiring authors out there... lets see your own lists. Use the Tag below. :)

#castingmyWIP #jenna moreci

3 notes · View notes

spacerhapsody · 5 years

Note

TOP 10 characters :D

(You are the best! :D)

I’ve decided to go with the ones that are some kind of all-time favourites because otherwise I wouldn’t even know where to start. So, here we go, in no particular order, because that would just be cruel:

James Flint (Black Sails) Listen, I’d follow this man into battle, into ruin, and probably even into hell, he’s such a great character, there is so much, so much pain, anger, emotions, and yet still all that softness underneath. He killed a man with his bare hands in the very first episode and yet I just knew. That’s him, that’s the one. Also, starting a war on England because England was a homophobic asshole? Your fav could never.

Julio Richter/Rictor (Marvel)X-Factor Investigations was the series that got me into comics (in hindsight a questioable decision on its own, but w/e), so maybe that’s part of the reason why he’ll always have a special place in my heart, but I just love everything about him, from his ridiculous fashion sense to the years he spent so deep in the closet he was basically in Narnia. Also, the way his depression gets handled still breaks me every time. Also², Rictor/Shatterstar is possibly one of the best things Marvel ever created (OTP: It can only be you.

Ronan Lynch (The Raven Cycle)Oh my god, Ronan. Who appears to be so sharp, acts like the badass troublemaker, and is just so angry so often, but actually took a baby raven out of his dreams, dreamt up a baby brother who’s all sunshine and happiness, whose softness somehow can’t even be taken away by the darkest things and places, and who just loves the few people he cares about so goddamn much, how could I not love him?Also, because I still remember the discussion about this, he was clearly written as gay from the very beginning, but in the most hilarious way. (Comparing Blue’s dress to a lampshape, and then “Whatever sort of lamp it belonged on, Gansey clearly wished he had one. Ronan wasn’t a fan of lamps.“? ICONIC. Also “I’m always straight.” - “Oh man, that’s the biggest lie you’ve ever told.”)

Percy Weasley (Harry Potter)Probably the most controversial of them all on Tumblr, but you can pry my love for Percy from my cold, dead hands. I’ve ranted about this a lot, but let me rant just about this one thing again: When it comes down to it, he doesn’t really fit into his family who are all loud and chaotic, when he’s just… not. And it’s not even like they have nothing in common, it’s just that nobody makes an effort to really understand him or to really get to know him, this frustrates me to no end, okay, because there are so many layers there and I love all of them so much!

Donna Noble (Doctor Who)DONNAAAAAA! Of all the characters who deserved so much better, she’s really reduced me to screaming her name into the void every time I see something about her/think about her, because SHE DESERVED SO MUCH BETTER, she deserved the universe, and she deserved to remember it. Also, she’s probably my favourite companion of all time because her dynamic with Ten is hands down the best (”You’re not mating with me, sunshine.”). She takes no shit from him, but it’s not like she’s harsh or anything, she’s got so much compassion, and she managed to be awesome without having a special connection to the Doctor or some ~mystery~ about her to solve.

Daisuke Motomiya (Digimon)Light of my life, miracle child of mine! He gets so much shit in and out of universe, with everyone thinking he’s just an idiot, but he is so brave, so optimistic despite the way almost everyone treats him and everything happening to him and his friends, so full of love. I’ve said it again and again, but the world truly would be a better place with more people like him, and everyone’s life would be so much better with a friend like him.

Alex Drake (Ashes to Ashes)I’ve mentioned her actress in the reply to that last ask, and obviously all of her outfits and hairstyles are such a “do I want to be you or do I want to be with you” mood, it’s the best/worst (I am weak for the 80s, I never stood a chance).But also, she’s such a good lead and character! I was super sceptical after Life on Mars because I thought nobody could be as interesting as Sam Tyler in a setting like this, but I think she totally beat him in personality and chemistry with Gene hunt, and that’s gotta say something.

Sirius Black (Harry Potter)Okay, I tried to include only one character per fandom, but Sirius Black has been one of the first characters I’ve ever been kind of obsessed with (I remember drawing sketches in my homework planner of me going after Bellatrix Lestrange for killing him, this feels like a lifetime ago), and I feel like the older I get, the more – and deeper – reasons to love him I find.I mean, he’s already got bonus points for the cool hair, leather jacket and motorcycle stuff (plus, he’s like 100% gay, fight me JKR), but he’s also a fucking mess. Even before Azkaban, but both that and the way he grew up and then walked away from his family probably bring out his flaws even more, and it’s great, because all of this makes him such an interesting character.

Zuko (Avatar: The Last Airbender)How often can you cry over the same character arc? Because is2g, I do every single time, it’s just so well done. In terms of redemption arcs, it set the bar so fucking high that I don’t think I’ve seen anything ever since that came close.And, I mean. He’s got all that angst from his history with his father and Azula and the path that sent him on, there’s so much growth that I could talk about that alone for ages, but he’s also just so awkward and such a goddamn idiot, it’s so perfect.

Tonda (Krabat)This one might seem a bit out of place (does anyone even know this book?) but 11-year-old me fell in love with him when we were reading this book at school, and the rest is history. I’ve been rereading it a few times over the last 20 years because I still love it and somehow always find new things to fall in love with, but what always stays the same is my love for Tonda. His story still kind of breaks my heart, and his friendship with Krabat probably even more. Characters who’ve been through so much but still are caring and want to protect their friends? GOD, YES.

#re:#yasisworld #oh my god this got long but they're my favourites after all!#honorable mentions:#richard 'i am bi and i don't have friends' beckmann (my problematic fav tm)#quentin coldwater who's only not on this list because i'm STILL BITTER #kate bishop because everything about her from young avengers vol. 2 on was SO RELATABLE #james tiberius kirk (captain of my heart) from the original series (where he actually had a personality)#minerva mcgonagall aka the best professor hogwarts ever had #and many more but i really should stop now #meme answers

5 notes · View notes

scope-dogg · 6 years

Text

Aura Battler Dunbine: Final Thoughts

This is a series that’s quite well known, both for being the very first fantasy mecha show and for the fact that it’s one of the creations of Yoshikyuki Tomino, the godfather of Gundam and many other famous mecha series besides, with this one being one of the more prominent of those. That said, besides its basic premise I didn’t know a whole lot about it, plus the word of mouth that made its way to me was kind of mixed at best, with some people saying it was slow and poorly written. I went into this not really knowing what to expect, and it subsequently took me by surprise by quite a bit - despite this being the first mecha series to take place in a fantasy world I actually think its take on the concept is by far the most interesting compared to every other series in the same vein, with complex worldbuilding, a lot of unique takes on the concept of magic meeting technology, and the same kind of character-centric war drama that makes Zeta Gundam such a popular series amongst Gundam fans - only this series came out two years before it. In the end I didn’t think it was perfect - the criticisms about writing do partially apply in places. More specifically I feel like the narrative is a bit much to take on at times, as it dumps a lot of characters, concepts, places and so on and so forth without giving you much time to digest, and at the same time it has a poor habit of letting certain plot arcs drag on for too long - I reckon it’s probably a good few episodes too long. With that said though, those flaws, despite being somewhat serious, were something I was prepared to look past because ultimately I admired this series for what it did right - on the whole, this might even be my favourite Tomino show that I’ve seen so far, second only to the original Mobile Suit Gundam.

The plot setup seems like a familiar isekai setup at first, with Shoh Zama being suddenly plucked out of reality and flung to the fantastic world of Byston Well - however, while he has been summoned to fight as in Rayearth and most other isekais you could name, he’s not a noble chosen one brought to deliver the world from evil - in fact, the one that summoned him is Drake Luft, a man with ambitions to take over Byston Well and rule as a tyrant. He aims to do this by way of Aura Battlers, an invention of another interloper from Earth called Shot Weapon. They’re an unholy union between Earth technology and magical material native to Byston Well, and run on Aura Power, which is pure lifeforce. As it turns out, those from Earth have the strongest Aura Power around and thus make the best soldiers for Drake’s army. Shoh and others abducted from Earth alongside him are thus pressed into duty as pilots of the Dunbine, a new model Aura Battler, promised glory and riches if they comply. Eventually, Shoh is convinced to defect from Drake by Marvel Frozen, another Earthling aligned with a faction that opposes Drake, and joins with them to prevent Drake from taking over Byston Well, taking part in a conflict that only keeps gradually escalating.

The fact that this was one of the earlier anime series to use this kind of plot yet still manages to sidestep a lot of the aspects of it that would go on to become cliche is kind of impressive. While, like I said, the story can drag in parts, it still changes in unexpected ways in several points, especially towards the end. Things keep escalating, up to the point where the finale wouldn’t be out of place in the Gundam series that Tomino would go on to direct. That was another thing that took me by surprise - all the other fantasy mecha shows out there are more super robot-like, but this felt very real-robot esque, both in the sense that the story was fundamentally a war drama, but also in the sense that despite the strange appearance of the Aura Battlers, a lot of time is given to showing how they work and their continued evolution as a piece of technology rather than a product of magic. In fact, one thing that’s made very clear is that they’re a dangerous invention - their invention is the tipping point that puts the world into a state of turmoil. Imagine giving two warring tribes of cavemen tanks and fighter jets all of a sudden, except if anything even more extreme. It seems like a strong allegory for the creation of more powerful and deadly weapons in the real world, with the way these machines tap into Aura Power more specifically being a likely analogue to nuclear weaponry in the real world. If anything, this series is even more anti-war than Mobile Suit Gundam, which also took me by surprise - I wasn’t expecting a series using such an experimental world and plot setup to carry such heavy thematic overtones.

I do think those aspects are what carry the plot, because I thought the characters were just okay. They’re not bad or anything, but there weren’t too many real standouts. Perhaps that was deliberate, because the cast feels a lot like they were meant to feel like real people and thus were kept quite grounded. Even a lot of the good guys in this series can be quite flawed and make mistakes, including Shoh, the protagonist, and many of his closest allies - whenever plans are made by anyone, they’re almost guaranteed to go awry in one way or another. I actually think the bad guys are probably the most interesting part of the puzzle - they’re all very schemy and manipulative, although even they feel pretty well fleshed out as characters. Even Drake, the arch-bastard of the story, is shown to have something of a soft side with his daughter, even though she hates his guts for being a tyrant.

In terms of presentation, I think it’s overall about par for the course for its time. It shows its age, with the animation not being particularly great, but it’s not ugly either. That’s largely because of the show’s art direction, which I thought was brilliant. I think Byston Well holds up as the most strange and ethereal setting for any fantasy mecha show I’ve seen to date, comfortably surpassing Escaflowne’s Gaea and Rayearth’s Cephiro, with utterly strange geography and fantastical wildlife - in addition to the standard unicorns and pixies it’s further inhabited by strange, buglike beasts that mostly defy description. These beasts are actually used for parts for Aura Battlers, which explains the distinctive appearance of the mecha in this series - that’s probably the series’ most recognisable aspects. In this particular series they were actually toned down a little to make them easier to animate, but some of the designs here are still unforgettable regardless - there’s nothing else quite like them out there.

On the whole, I would personally recommend this series quite strongly. However, if you were a fan of Escaflowne or Rayearth and are looking for another mecha isekai to watch, you might not necessarily enjoy this, because ultimately it is kind of dry and long-winded in comparison to both of those. On the other hand, if you happen to be a fan of early Gundam series like 0079 or Zeta I’d recommend this extremely strongly, amongst the rest of Tomino’s work along these lines I’d say this is up there with the best of them.

Of course, the entire reason I got around to seeing this is because it’s going to be in SRW T. It’s a little hard to say how that might pan out - Dunbine’s no stranger to these games and was in SRW X, the last mainline game - but in that game we basically got an acanonical post-season plot, whereas this time early signs show that we’ll be getting more of its actual plot this time. However, how that might pan out this time has a lot to do with how it interacts with other series, especially in regards to how much time is spent on Earth and what Byston Well and Rayearth’s Cephiro have to do with one another amongst other things. There was a lot going on in this series and much of it will likely have to be written out, and what that might be is hard to say.

With all that said, there’s one last piece of the SRW T puzzle I have to account for, one that’ll also likely have a huge impact on how Dunbine’s story plays out. I’m not quite finished with Byston Well yet.

#aura battler dunbine #mecha #respect the robot

15 notes · View notes

deadcactuswalking · 3 years

Text

REVIEWING THE CHARTS: 22/05/2021 (Olivia Rodrigo, J. Cole’s ‘The Off-Season’, Nicki Minaj)

Yeah, it’s a big week, given the impact of J. Cole, Jorja Smith, Olivia Rodrigo (more on that next week) and the remaining impact of the BRIT Awards. There’s a lot of nonsense on this chart, a busy as hell one at that, but this surprisingly did not affect the #1, as the remix to “Body” by Russ Millions and Tion Wayne spends a third week at the top. Let’s just attack this head on. Welcome back to REVIEWING THE CHARTS.

Rundown

First of all, let’s get this nonsense out of the way: what happened to songs already on the UK Top 75 chart, which is what I cover? Well, a fair few of them dropped out. Any song that spent five or more weeks in the chart or peaked in the top 40 is considered a notable drop-out, and this week, they include “Wants and Needs” by Drake featuring Lil Baby off of the return last week, “Track Star” by Mooski, “Heat” by Paul Woolford and Amber Mark, “6 for 6” by Central Cee, “Patience” by KSI featuring YUNGBLUD and Polo G, “Hold On” by Justin Bieber, “We’re Good” by Dua Lipa, “Commitment Issues” by Central Cee (Gosh, didn’t think J. Cole would take a chunk out of this guy’s audience specifically), “Up” by Cardi B, “Streets” by Doja Cat and finally, “Get Out My Head” by Shane Codd, but also interestingly “i n t e r l u d e” by J. Cole dropping out off of the top 40 debut despite the album boost. This doesn’t mean it didn’t perform well but rather this is demonstrating this silly chart rule where in the top 100, one artist can only have three songs, preventing album bombs that you see on the US Billboard Hot 100. It makes the chart less accurate but arguably more diverse and hence fun for me to talk about.

There are also a few returning entries to add some fuel to this chart fire, one that has already combusted in the US this week, as “Slumber Party” by Ashnikko featuring Princess Nokia is back at #70 thanks to the video, “All You Ever Wanted” by Rag’n’Bone Man is back at #51 thanks to a delayed album boost, and the same can be said for “Addicted” by Jorja Smith at #49.

Then we have our notable losses, songs that fell at least five spots down the chart this week, including “WITHOUT YOU” by the Kid LAROI at #18, “Higher Power” by Coldplay falling big off of the debut at #25, “Your Power” by Billie Eilish at #26, “Didn’t Know” by Tom Zanetti at #28, “Heat Waves” by Glass Animals at #30, “Leave the Door Open” by Silk Sonic at #31, “Don’t You Worry About Me” by Bad Boy Chiller Crew at #39, “Latest Trends” by A1 x J1 at #46, “Last Time” by Becky Hill at #52, “All I Know So Far” by P!nk at #55 off of the debut, “My Head & My Heart” by Ava Max at #57, “Martin & Gina” by Polo G at #58, “Miss the Rage” by Trippie Redd featuring Playboi Carti dropping hard off of the debut at #60 (Really, what was expected here?), Travis Scott’s remix of HVME’s remix of Travis Scott’s “Goosebumps” at #61, “Cover Me in Sunshine” by P!nk and Willow Sage Heart at #63, “Don’t Play” by Anne-Marie, KSI and Digital Farm Animals at #65, “Sunshine (The Light)” by Fat Joe, DJ Khaled and Amorphous at #66, “Tonight” by Ghost Killer Track featuring D-Block Europe and Oboy at #71, and finally, “Calling My Phone” by Lil Tjay and 6LACK at #73.

That’s not to say there weren’t any notable gains however as we do have some interesting remnants of BRITs excitement and some other reasons for our gains this week, which include “One Day” by Lovejoy (more on them later) at #54, “It’s a sin” by Elton John and Years & Years at #47, “Way Too Long” by Nathan Dawe, Anne-Marie and MoStack at #43, “drivers license” by Olivia Rodrigo at #35 off of the success of “good 4 u” (again, more on that later), “Black Hole” by Griff at #23 thanks to the BRITs, and finally, “deja vu” by Olivia Rodrigo at #11. Really, all of this is just me stalling because this is a massive week – I’m writing this early – let’s just get through this... starting with—oh, for God’s sake.

NEW ARRIVALS

#75 – “Taunt” – Lovejoy

Produced by Cameron Nesbitt

Two weeks in a row, ladies and gentlemen: Minecraft YouTuber-core. How this happens I have no idea but regardless, the people of the UK seem to enjoy this Wilbur Soot guy’s new band. Is the new single better than the last one that charted from this EP, at least? Well, yeah, it is, mostly because at least this one’s an actual pop rock tune that, whilst derivative again, has more hooks than “One Day”, especially those stop-and-start-again verses that give me mathcore flashbacks, just with less of a catharsis to come from it other than that infectious, trumpet-laden chorus. The content is pretty gross if anything, seemingly focusing in on this past relationship from secondary school in which Wilbur tears into a girl for being insecure despite her privileges... for seemingly no reason. I mean, surely, you’ve moved on, right? Thankfully, Wilbur does get his comeuppance by the end of the song as the girl throws his drink at him, but it does leave the rest of the song with a pretty spiteful taste in my mouth that can’t be avoided by some pretty, 2000s indie rock-esque instrumentals. It doesn’t help that Wilbur Soot is such a non-presence as well, which I can see improving as the band goes on to record more material but the problem is with this early stage is that for now, it’s all rather primitive... yet it’s still charting. Oh, and if any people happen to find this that are fans of this guy, I am terrified of you so I’ll clarify that I don’t dislike this band at all, I’m just not a fan of what I’ve heard. I just wanted to put that out there because I value my personal information.

#74 – “Crocodile Teeth” – Skillibeng

Produced by Adde Instrumentals and Johnny Wonder

So last week, Nicki Minaj re-released her classic 2009 mixtape Beam Me Up Scotty onto official streaming services for the first time, with a remastered mix of some of her classic remixes as well as some new tracks or fan-favourite loosies sprinkled in. Why do I say this in reference to some random unrelated track, you ask? Well, we’ll get back to Nicki later but this song was actually remixed by Nicki and appears on that mixtape, despite baring no resemblance or relation to that mixtape at all, given this was released in 2020. The UK Singles Chart is particularly inconsistent is crediting remixes however, so we have the original here and, for what it’s worth, I quite like this. Skillibeng isn’t the most interesting presence but does his job in being vaguely menacing and violent over this cheap piano-led Afroswing instrumental with some questionable bass mastering. The song is in Patois but you can get the gist that it’s gunplay and flexing, typically stuff you’d hear in any UK drill track and it’s generic for sure but catchy enough to ignore. This version of the song is completely passable but I do think it is elevated by Nicki’s short introductory verse on the remix. I’d obviously have preferred there be more interplay but the remix was probably only known to Skillibeng when Nicki’s lawyers reached out anyway.

#72 – “Straightenin” – Migos

Produced by DJ Durel, Atake, Sluzyyy, OSIRIS, Nuki and Slime Castro

So Migos are finally preparing to release their highly-anticipated record Culture III as the boys are back together after some time apart, in which they have had varying levels of success, with Offset probably delivering the best solo material because he has both the best qualities of Takeoff and Quavo and always delivers on guest verses... I’m sorry, what about this needed six producers? This beat is not bad by any stretch with some vague flute loop eerily played under a rote trap beat, of which the bounced 808s are probably of most interest, but I do not understand how one person, let alone just an AI, couldn’t have made this alone. Regardless, the beat is good enough to make Quavo sound like he finally cares, even if he’s just going to talk about how he just saw Tenet – a bit late to the party – and how he turned a pandemic to a “band-emic”. Yeah, okay, so we’re going to ignore Mr. Quavious and move onto Takeoff and Offset who... at least have some good flows, albeit just the same triplet deliveries they’ve had for years. I think the most interesting part about this whole song is the slippery backing vocal that follows Quavo in the later choruses, which shows an attention to detail I missed from these guys. There’s only so much I can hear Quavo say “don’t nothin’ get straight ‘bout straightenin’” before I lose my mind, though, especially by the time we get to that awkward outro, so I can’t call myself a fan of this. If we’re speaking trap-rap from acts on hiatus, I really would have preferred “Lay wit Ya” by Isaiah Rashad and Duke Deuce to chart but I guess these guys will do.

#64 – “Independence Day Freestyle” – Fredo

Produced by Handz

By the end of this episode, I will never want to hear skittering hi-hats ever again. For now, however, we’ve got the same genre, different country as we go home to Fredo, a British rapper who’s pretty consistently good to be fair to him and did release an album I liked earlier this year. This is just a random freestyle he dropped last week because he felt like it, and here it is on the chart. Okay, well, it isn’t an actual freestyle because nothing that’s called a freestyle actually is in 2021, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be a trap banger in itself and it’s got the foundation for it. I love the eerie chipmunk vocal sample that adds a touch of soul to the menacing keys before they get drowned out by trap percussion and Fredo going through his typical rags-to-riches commentary and memories of gang violence in one massive verse that somehow keeps my interest throughout the entire three minutes. The flow is about as smooth as it gets with UK rap, typically a lot stiffer, especially in drill, and the mixing’s fine, so yeah, I can’t really complain. I’d have preferred a chorus, obviously, and there are extended freestyles we’ll talk about later that do this a lot better, but for now, I can dig this, especially considering it’s pretty damn quotable for what it is. “If I fell off, I must have fell off the stairs into some elevators” is a bar, as is when he says he’s got more foreign cars than an Asian wedding or when he calls himself “Lord of the Bling”... okay, maybe that one’s not as impressive.

#62 – “The Great Escape” – Blanco and Central Cee

Produced by LiTek and WhyJay

Central Cee is a more familiar name but you may not know Blanco who, despite the collaboration with Cee making it ripe for comparison and comedy, is not a French white rapper. Rather, he’s from pioneering drill group Harlem Spartans and this is actually his first solo charting song thanks to Cee’s appearance. As you’d expect, this has some loud drill production and vague acoustic guitar loop as well as some stuttering vocal production peppered with dark 808s (that do bang here in all honesty) and pointless alarm sounds. Whilst drill is so standardised now, I do actually like this beat because it’s what I want to hear Cee on; sure, it’s got the guitar and the flutes but it’s also got a sax riff, which is what made “Loading” so fun. Blanco himself is also a more charming presence than Cee and their two energies bounce off of each other pretty well, even if the most witty their punchlines get are just referencing Powerpuff Girls characters... and when they’re not basic, they’re borderline incoherent but whatever, this is a fun slice of misogyny and violence that you’d expect from the genre with at least some care put into it. Not bad at all.

#56 – “Bussdown” – Jorja Smith featuring Shaybo

Produced by Riccardo Damian, Jeff “Gitty” Gitelman and Kal Banx

This is the break-out single from the most recent “project” from Jorja Smith, going the Drake route of not bothering to name it an album, mixtape or EP, and this one features London rapper Shaybo in a track about materialism but not as much embracing it as becoming increasingly alienated by it as whilst wealth may bring you luxury and connections, it detaches you from reality, which is the point in Shaybo’s verses about being Miss Naive, someone who is increasingly aggressive as a result because, well, she always gets what she wants, right? This is not a project I listened to but the content is promising... until I actually hear the song, with its awkward, clattering percussion showered in overwhelming vocal mixing that fails in whatever intimacy it attempts to present, and that’s before the decidedly unsubtle air horns and guitar licks. The song is minimal enough for the content to kind of fall flat as well, as a song like this feels like it deserves more than a slick bass groove, rather some kind of maximalist yet subtlety eerie production. I’m thinking Shaybo would actually make more sense there than she would here as well as her awkward, pathetic-sounding flow is delivered in the most dead-pan cadence, so much so that it drifts off fully into background “vibe” music but even then, it feels too distracting in the mix to work as that. I did want to like this but it just ends up as a really disappointing track from Jorja Smith, once again.

#42 – “Seeing Green” – Nicki Minaj, Drake and Lil Wayne

Produced by GOVI and Kid Masterpiece

We’re half-way through our batch of new arrivals and what better way to celebrate than a posse cut by three rappers long past their prime by now without a chorus that pushes six minutes? Normally, that would be sarcastic, but in this case it is absolutely not as this is awesome. I love 2000s hip-hop and a chipmunk soul-inflected beat blended with early 2010s era proto-trap production is obviously going to appeal to me as that type of contrast is what I love about more lyrical hip-hop, hell, I wouldn’t have been surprised if it was said this was a Kanye beat or more accurately perhaps one by Harry Fraud. It helps that over that gorgeous soul sample we have all three rappers proving they still have it as performers, with some detailed verses from the classic Young Money crew that if nothing else provide a perfect nostalgia button for their era of dominance in hip-hop, not that it’s ever stopped since. I also just love hearing Lil Wayne hungry again, because I am a pretty big fan of his voice, delivery and even some of his wordplay and one-liners, all of which he expresses perfectly in his high-energy verse that switches through flaws as if it were all some off-the-top freestyle, and knowing Wayne, it might as well could have been. I love how he starts his verse off by shooting a guy and then saying it was his bad for doing it because he was a “good cat” and somehow it gets more off the rails afterwards, as he calls his girl a vacuum and says he’s peeing lean, before this self-proclaimed “badonkadonk bikini fiend” reminisces about his bisexual ex from Atlanta in a pretty clever use of repetition in rap. This is all with his sludged drawl of a delivery, which becomes especially important when he calls us all back to 2010 as when Wayne was in prison at his career peak, Drake always said “Free Weezy” and now 10 years later, Wayne’s saying “Free Drizzy” because Drake’s locked up in Canada because of the COVID-19 pandemic... because of course. I know it just seems like I’m itching out tiny little details in the verse but that’s what’s so great about repeated listens to detailed and great rap verses. That’s not to say Wayne is the only stand-out here either as Nicki Minaj impresses with that confident delivery she’s known for as she clarifies her beef with Cardi B being less about her “copying her homework” as it was about her up-hill battle with the industry, she recites how bitches are infamously her sons and delivers some pretty clever and quotable lines of her own, like “brand new Vanilla Maserati, I’ve been Haagen-Daszin’”... which again sounds like a bar straight out of 2010. I think the best verse here might actually be from Drake as much as I hate to say it, with bravado out of the gate that seems pretty deserved for someone with as immense success as he’s had. Not only is he referencing back to 2010 and even his Degrassi days, comparing it to the run-up to his upcoming album since he’s back on two crutches, but he’s also delivering some of his most interesting and quotable lines in years, and it all runs off so effortlessly and smoothly, but with a constant hunger and conviction reminding me of some of his deeper cuts like “Dreams Money Can Buy”. I won’t go further than I already have with this song – even though I could gladly quote practically the entirety of Drake’s verse, even when he aspires to be Vladimir Putin (I guess it’s better than accidentally comparing himself to Hitler) – but I’ve rambled on enough about this wonderful track. Triumphant lyrical rapping over soulful vocal loops will never be a thing I stop having a fondness for; these are some of my nostalgia biases creeping in – especially since these aren’t close to being the best verses any of the trio have delivered – but it’s so great hearing all three back on form together. Check this out if you haven’t as it’s absolutely a highlight off of the mixtape’s re-release.

#37 – “Build a Bitch” – Bella Poarch

Produced by Sub Urban and Elle Rizk

Bella Poarch is a name I had to search up and it turns out she is another one of these TikTok stars turned pop singers and all power to them for starting their career through such a useful and culturally important platform, honestly, and realistically, anyone regardless of their career background could make a song I enjoy, so there’s no use in dismissing them as a result, especially if I actually enjoy the concept of this song. The writing tends to be a bit childish as expected – again, more on that later – particularly when she sings lines like “Bob the Builder broke my heart and told me it needs fixing”, but the song’s theme of embracing young women for how they really are instead of Photoshopped, unrealistic beauty expectations is a message I like being expressed to her audience of teenage girls; I see it as necessary in the social media age. I do think that this message could be expressed with more tact than a Build-a-Bear parody but it never goes the slut-shaming route and is more critical of the men demanding or expecting perfection from their female partners, or on a wider scale the expectation for successful women to follow fashion and beauty trends, especially by men in their industries and fields. Poarch herself is a light-hearted vocalist kind of reminding me a bit too much of a self-serious Ashnikko but the melody in the chorus is infectious enough for me to ignore how void a personality she is. It’s harder however to ignore the stiff 808s that drown out clattering, awkward future-bass production and that drop just being really gross, kind of ruining the song in how it’s clearly a lean towards hyper-pop without fully drawing itself within that lane. Either way, this is fine, and at barely two minutes it struggles to find itself as a finished song let alone anything I can be offended by. This is remarkably okay, and that’s more than I expected.

#16 – “a m a r i” – J. Cole

Produced by T-Minus, J. Cole, Sucuki and Timbaland

These songs don’t even show up when you search them on Spotify and to be honest, I was hoping that would lead to limited success but of course, it didn’t. J. Cole’s latest album The Off-Season is yet another mediocre instalment in a dull catalogue full of rambling verses from a guy who thinks he has much more to say than he actually ends up saying, and it’s exhausting to listen let alone discuss the man’s art out of a sheer lack of personality or wit that follows his every move. His Dreamville label is filled to the brim with people more consistent, skilful and interesting than Cole has ever been so it’s just frustrating to see the label boss get all of the recognition. Regardless, I’ve never liked Cole as an artist – especially not a conscious one given the ableism, homophobia and tone-deaf exchange with Noname just last year – so I’m almost glad he’s stripped off half of the pretence of making a woke, important album. He’s just rapping on this record, which gives me the excuse to run through the rest of these consecutive bores from Cole as quickly as possible. First of all, we have “a m a r i”, a barely sufferable dud from the album scored by a blend of acoustic guitars and squelching trap percussion that fails to platform Cole’s Auto-Tuned moaning, oftentimes just aggravating and barely listenable, and sometimes disguising some pretty weak, topic-less verses for a man who claims to be focused. “Want smoke? I’m a whole nicotine company” is not the silliest bar on the album, but I’m almost convinced the song ends as abruptly as it does because Timbaland’s embarrassed that he helped produce such an underwhelming beat and not even someone praised as a modern great can save it from being worthless.

#15 – “p r i d e . i s . t h e . d e v i l” – J. Cole and Lil Baby

Produced by T-Minus

One of my favourite hip-hop releases of last year was Aminé’s Limbo, a diverse selection of tracks that ranged from conscious hip-hop about his ambitions and fears about growing up and raising children in a modern world as well as typical trap-rap flexing and R&B crooners about girl problems. All of this is smoothly stirred into a pot of personality that actually attempts to bridge a gap between older and newer generations of rappers rather than just claiming to. “Can’t Decide” is not one of my favourite tracks from that record – “Compensating” with Young Thug executes its ideas just that little bit better for me – but it’s still a fun, R&B-adjacent tune with insanely catchy hooks about Aminé’s relationships. So why did we need a J. Cole remix? This guy sucks the fun out of beats like a vacuum in a bouncy castle, as he sloppily whines in an almost emo-rap cadence over a cheaper West Coast slide he just can’t convincingly sell. Lyrically, Cole focuses on the idea of pride and how it corrupts someone’s morals, criticising the flashing of money and social isolation from the family... both of which seem like Cole’s M.O. at this point, right? Success amidst independence? Platinum without features? This time around, there is a feature however from Lil Baby, who much like Cole claims to be focused in this very focused whilst pick-and-choosing between random trains of thought in his typical frog-throat delivery. Hey, at least Lil Baby flows with less strain and unwarranted, desperate effort that Cole does, and ends up out-shining the primary artist entirely, even if he’s going to “pay silly bands to have sex on the jet”. ..What?

#13 – “m y . l i f e” – J. Cole, 21 Savage and Morray

Produced by WU10, J. Cole and Jake One

The first lines of this song are “Spiralling up just like a rich person’s staircase; no fly zone, please stay out of my airspace”. Cole, I thought pride was the devil! I understand that one can still acknowledge the flaws in their worldview whilst embracing it and engaging themselves in it – that’s really a lot of the point of rags-to-riches rap – but some subtlety or at least some explanation from someone who wants you to see him as focused, woke, hungry and a master of his craft, would have been nice, right? This is Morray’s first charting hit in the UK and I’m glad he’s here as he’s basically what differentiates this from the duo’s prior collaboration “a lot”, a song that not only banged harder but felt smoother and Hell, just more coherent, especially with some soulful production that this new collaboration glaringly rips off. Morray’s biggest hit is “Quicksand” but his mixtape Street Sermons is full of soulful and honest trap-rap that I’d absolutely recommend for gospel flavour on the surface and the lyrical detail behind the bravado being extensive and confidently delivered, especially standing out on his own with no features to speak of. He has the chorus on here and I’m surprised DaBaby doesn’t have the second verse so this could be a North Carolina anthem but we do have 21 Savage, who delivers his typical brand of cold-hearted (or rather no-hearted), stoic paranoia bars but at least that’s a personality. 21 Savage delivers a slick flow over this sample and spits the pretty simple yet profound bar of “I pray that my past ain’t ahead of me”, leading to probably the most enjoyable verse on the whole album. If you couldn’t tell, the new guys outshine the old guard so obviously with so little effort it’s kind of impressive on Cole’s part even. I’m glad this is the biggest hit from this album so far as not only is this one of the best tracks out of a slim selection but it’s big for both 21 and especially Morray, who I’m really rooting for against, say, a Rod Wave or Kevin Gates in terms of southern rap with a lot more soul and grit. Oh, and Cole, “know it’s on sight when I see you like I’m working at Squarespace”? Really? Again, it’s not the dumbest bar on the album.

#2 – “good 4 u” – Olivia Rodrigo

Produced by Alexander 23 and Dan Nigro

It’s pretty fitting to book-end a batch of new arrivals mostly consisting of hardcore gritty trap with two up-beat alternative rock tracks, and I’ll say I prefer this to Lovejoy mostly because, well, like I said with “Seeing Green”, my biases will always be on full and honest display, and as someone who’s a sucker for pop-punk of all eras, especially if it’s a female-fronted band with some youthful, raspy vocals, this will obviously hit for me. Throughout Sour, I found it hard to buy into the teenage melodrama due to Dan Nigro’s production often sounding too clean for its own sake, never allowing the guitars to really crash into some lo-fi, distorted noise like they seem to want to do on tracks like this, “deja vu” and especially the opener, “traitor”. Sadly, that cuts the chances of radio airplay by a ton more than it should, so we end up with mixing that slides off Rodrigo’s reverb-drenched vocals too smoothly, creating a rather formulaic album, unfortunate for its sheer excess of promise. With that said, this is one of my favourite tracks off of the album, if only for that funky bassline and some of Nigro’s most interesting stylistic and production choices, particularly in the drumming, which sounds as organic as possible for something that was programmed by him and Alexander 23. The sarcasm-laced post-break-up kiss-off is already not unfamiliar territory for Olivia Rodrigo and neither was it for Avril Lavigne, which this track tends to sound almost like an imitation of, down to the inconsistently PG-13 image as “screw you” is delivered with as much conviction as the actual F-bomb in the same verse. Regardless of how much it wants to consistently kill its own momentum, this janky songwriting actually reminds me of early Paramore, much of which holds a special place in my heart, so whilst Hayley Williams has been off doing her solo work – and Paramore seem to have moved on from this kind of bitter, petty pop rock anyway – this quenches that thirst pretty effectively.

Conclusion

Olivia Rodrigo bags the Honourable Mention for “good 4 u” as well as it’s one of two songs debuting this week I think are pretty damn special, the other one being “Seeing Green” by Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne and Drake as it grabs Best of the Week. For the worst, I mean, pick your J. Cole-flavoured poison but personally I’d say “a m a r i” can be crowned Worst of the Week with a Dishonourable Mention to... great, I don’t want to seem like I hate J. Cole but nothing else here is even as bad as his Lil Baby collaboration “p r i d e . i s . t h e . d e v i l”. Here’s this week’s top 10:

Expect two more of those spaces filled up by Olivia Rodrigo next week as whilst we may not get any new entries from her the album will have an impact regardless on the chart. Otherwise, I guess we’ll have to wait and see with how a Queen-sampling BTS song wrecks the chart – probably will give both Olivia and “Body” some #1 competition – as well as new songs from Little Mix, Lana Del Rey, Polo G and Lil Nas X popping up not too far behind it. It should be just as busy next week, folks, so strap in, I suppose. Thanks for reading and I’ll see you then!

0 notes