#film buff Aaron is real to me

[dvrcos]

Aaron Minyard doing the risky business dance when he’s alone at the Columbia house

[sugdenlovesdingle]

Flufftober day 31: Free choice

Trick or treat (AO3 link)

Robron take Seb trick or treating in the village.

A/N: It’s done! This is the last one and now the month is DONE! Thanks everyone for your reblogs and likes - it really means a lot! I’ll put up a masterpost in the next few days, but for now, I’m going to sleep for about a week.

----

Halloween was coming up and after Liv mentioned to Seb it involved people giving you sweets, it was his new favourite holiday.

And secretly Robert and Aaron’s too.

Where Seb was mostly preoccupied with the sweets part of things, Robert had insisted the three of them would go trick or treating together in matching costumes.

The only trouble was finding something that wasn’t a) horrendous, b) aimed at straight couples, or c) something Aaron would try to burn within 5 minutes.

He’d spent weeks scrolling through endless websites with costume ideas and online stores but found nothing that fit all 3 of his criteria.

It was Seb’s first proper Halloween and he wanted to make it special, but by the way things were looking now,  they’d end up trick or treating in their regular clothes.

“Why don’t you go as James Bond?” Vic suggested. “All you’d need is a suit. It’s easy.”

“But I don’t want easy. I want something special.” Robert complained. “Something that people will still talk about by Halloween next year.”

“Why? Isn’t the most important thing that Seb has fun?”

“Of course. But that doesn’t mean we can’t beat the rest of these peasants.” He looked around the café. He’d only come to pick up some lunch for him and Aaron but ended up talking to his sister and asking her advice on Halloween costumes. “What are you going as?”

“Nothing really. Harry is too young to understand so we’ll just stay in and watch scary films. Luke knows all the good ones. He’s a real film buff, you know.”

“He’s something alright…” Robert mumbled under his breath.

“I heard that.” Vic scolded him. “Why can’t you just be nice to him?”

Robert sighed.

“This is me being nice.” His sister’s love life had been the source of many arguments between the two. “But I still don’t know what to do for Halloween.”

“Just keep it simple. That’s what I’d do.” She put a bag on the counter. “Here’s your lunch.”

When he got back to the scrapyard, Aaron was playing with Seb who was wearing some kind of costume.

“Cain just dropped him off. Apparently he’s decided Cain is no fun anymore.” Aaron explained when he saw the confused look on his husband’s face.

“Right. That explains everything but the outfit.”

“It’s the costume I ordered for him. I told you about that the other day, didn’t I? It was delivered today and he wanted to try it on.”

“A devil.”

“Yeah. There’s a pitchfork and devil horns that go with it but I thought I’d keep them in the box for now. And the wings and tail come off so it’s basically just a pair of red pjs.” Aaron told him. “What’s wrong?” he asked when Robert didn’t say anything and just stood there looking at their son.

“Nothing… I just… I thought the three of us were going to match? Go trick or treating as a family.”

Aaron got up and put his hands on Robert’s hips.

“We can still do that.”

“You bought us red pjs and devil horns too then?”

“I meant go trick or treating as a family. He’ll love the pitchfork and by the time we’ve made our way around the village, he’ll only care about the chocolate.”

“I suppose you’re right.”

“Of course I’m right, I’m always right.” Aaron joked and kissed him. “And the two of us can still match.”

Robert had agreed, but Aaron’s idea of a Halloween costume was to buy white paint and draw a skeleton on a pair of old black jeans and an old black hoodie, and Robert was not about to take the easy way out.

It wasn’t until a boring Thursday afternoon at work, with Aaron and Vinny out on a scrap run, and Netflix as his only company that Robert came to a decision. Suddenly he knew exactly what his costume was going to be and what he needed to put it together.

Only by the morning of the 31st, the next tragedy had struck.

Chas had been having an affair with Al and the whole thing had blown up in their faces the night before. Robert would have sympathised with her if he hadn’t been too busy enjoying the show, and relishing in the fact that he wasn’t the cause of the drama for a change.

But of course Aaron and his big heart felt had bad for her and had invited her and Eve along to go trick or treating with them and Seb.

“Come on… do it for Eve.” Aaron said, wrapping his arms around Robert’s waist and kissing his neck. “It’s just for an hour. After that we’ll take our hyped up almost three year old home and wait for him to slip into a sugar coma.”

“You really know how to sell it don’t you?”

“I know it’s not what you wanted for us… but we can still have a good time, right? Liv and Vinny promised to take care of the trick or treaters while we’re out… so we can sit back and relax after Seb’s gone to bed.”

Robert turned around in his arms.

“Or maybe not relax at all?” He grinned. “Now piss off and let me change. I’ll be down in ten minutes.”

Ten minutes turned out to be closer to twenty and after some yelling from his husband, Robert made his way downstairs after a final look in the mirror. As he walked down the stairs he could practically feel Aaron’s eyes on him. He smiled and met Aaron’s eyes. Later.

Chas killed the moment.

“Who are you supposed to be?”

Robert spread his arms and gave her a twirl. He was wearing a three piece suit with a white shirt underneath, a pocket watch hanging from his waistcoat, a shoulder holster strapped around his shoulders complete with toy gun under his arm, his hair was slicked back, and he had a fake cigarette between his lips.

Chas gave him a blank look.

“Ok it kind of needs this too.” He walked over to the coat rack and put on his long winter coat and a flat cap.

Chas’ expression didn’t change.

“My suits are on the house or the house burns down.” Robert said in his best Brummie accent.

“Is that supposed to mean anything to me?”

“Tommy Shelby!” Robert said exasperated.

“Who?”

“From Peaky Blinders. That tv show about gangsters in Birmingham in the 1920s.” Aaron explained. “We like it.” He turned to Robert. “And you look great.”

Robert grinned.

“I would’ve gone for Alfie but I didn’t want to ruin your Tom Hardy fantasies.” He winked and Aaron blushed.

Payback was a bitch sometimes.

After instructing Liv not to give out everything at once, the five of them set off on their mission. Robert had planned a route for them, starting at the farms and working their way back into the village.

They’d agreed to let Seb take his bike, so he wouldn’t have to walk the whole way, and the little basket on the back would be a good place to put his sweets bucket.

At Butler’s Matty opened the door and pretended to be scared of Seb when he waved his pitchfork around. He gave Seb some sweets and told him Isaac was out trick or treating with his mummy and daddy, much to the boy’s disappointment.

“Maybe we’ll see Isaac in the village later on.” Aaron told Seb. “And you can still show him your costume.”

Seb looked at Robert who nodded.

“Yeah, daddy is right. Say bye to Matty and we’ll go see if we can find Isaac.”

“Bye Matty.” Seb waved and got back on his bike, riding back to the main road with Chas following close behind with a sleeping Eve in her pushchair.

“Bye mate. Have a good night.” Robert told Matty. “You too Amy!” he called out, just before Matty closed the door.

“You’re terrible.” Aaron said laughingly. “She was hiding from us.”

“I know. But they’re both shit at it. Did you see that hickey on his neck? That wasn’t make up.”

“Play your cards right and you’ll have one of those by tomorrow too.”

They made their way over to Wishing Well where Lydia gave Seb more sweets than he could carry, across the road Eric gave him just one small chocolate bar, but he recognised who Robert was supposed to be so he let it go.

Things got a little awkward at the Sharma’s when they ran into Priya and Amba on their way back from trick or treating. Manpreet quickly gave Seb some sweets and even gave Chas some for Eve, much to Priya’s annoyance.

In the village itself, Seb’s bucket filled up quickly and Aaron suggested they called it a night when they’d almost had visited every house.

“No, come on, we’re not done yet.”

They’d just come from Jimmy and Nicola’s and only had Dale View left on their list.

“Rob his bucket is full. Let’s just go home.”

Robert grabbed a handful of sweets from Seb’s bucket and put them in his pocket.

“So you’ll have more room for the sweets from the last house.” He explained when it looked like Seb was about to throw a tantrum. “Let’s go that way. You go knock on the door and we’ll be right behind you.” He steered Seb towards the house.

“You’re doing this on purpose aren’t you?” Aaron hissed as he and an uncomfortable looking Chas followed behind.

Robert just gave him an innocent smile and jogged a few steps to catch up with Seb. He lifted the boy up to ring the doorbell and they both yelled “trick or treat” when Ellis opened the door.

“Oh you’re so scary.” Ellis said, pretending to be scared of Seb as he carefully dropped a few chocolate bars in his bucket.

Seb stabbed the air with his pitchfork and growled, and Ellis did his best not to laugh.

“Just go with it.” Robert said with a chuckle.

“You know, just for that, you get some things from my own supply. The really good stuff.” Ellis said and dropped a handful of sweets from another bag into Seb’s bucket.

“What do you say now Seb?”

“Thank youuuu.”

“You’re welcome mate. Don’t eat everything at once ok? You’ll get a tummy ache.”

“So how’s the first Halloween in your new house been?” Robert asked. “Busy?”

“Yeah, a little. We’ve been trying to watch a film but there’s kids from all over the place coming trick or treating here.”

“We? Do you have a hot date?”

Ellis laughed.

“Hardly. It’s just me and my dad watching horror films.”

“Oh he’s home? Tell him to come say hello. He has to see Seb’s outfit. And Eve is the cutest little flower.”

Ellis looked over Robert’s shoulder at Chas, who was suddenly very focused on her little girl, and an annoyed looking Aaron standing next to her.

“Erm… I’m… not sure…that’s a good idea…”

“But we want to show Ellis’ dad your costume, don’t we Seb? And maybe he’ll have some more sweets for you.”

“Rob…” Aaron said, beginning to sound more annoyed.

“What? We’re just out trick or treating. It would be a shame if Al missed us. Seb looks so good. And so do you, Chas. That dress really suits you.”

“Right… thanks…” she smoothed non-existent wrinkles from her Morticia Addams outfit.

“Just go get your dad for a second, mate. We’re all family here aren’t we?”

Ellis looked at Aaron for help but the other man just shrugged.

“Alright… I’ll be right back…” he went inside and came back a minute later with Al in tow.

“Trick or treat!” Seb yelled when he saw a new victim in the doorway.

“No, Seb, Ellis already gave you sweets, remember?” Aaron tried but Seb wasn’t having it.

“It’s ok.” Al assured him and bent down to put some sweets in Seb’s bucket. “A great costume like that should be rewarded.” He ruffled Seb’s hair and got up again.

“Don’t forget about Eve.” Robert said. “She might have fallen asleep but she’s part of the family, you know.”

“Right. Of course.” Al said and grabbed some more sweets from Ellis’s bag.

“No, you don’t have to do that. She’s asleep, she won’t notice anything.” Chas assured him.

“Well… maybe her mum would like some chocolates then.” He put a few of the little chocolate bars in the bag hanging from the pushchair’s handle.

“Yeah, Chas is always in the mood for a little sugar and sweetness.” Robert commented and Aaron was torn between laughing and filing for divorce.

“You look great.” Al told her. “You all do.” He added quickly when he realised what he’d said.

“Oh… thanks.” Chas replied, getting flustered. “It’s just a last minute thing.”

“Imagine what you’d look like with more time to prepare then.”

Robert rolled his eyes.

“So how’s life in casa Chapman?” He asked Ellis. “Are you sick of living with your dad yet?”

Ellis laughed.

“No, it’s alright so far really. We’re kind of in the same boat right now, after all.”

Robert nodded and looked at Al playing with a sleepy Eve who had just woken up. Chas looked enamoured, as did Eve, only Aaron looked uncomfortable and unsure of the situation.

Seb was getting bored by the lack of action from the adults in his life and started tugging on his dad’s coat.

“Daddyyy!” he whined. “Trick or treat!”

“We’re about done now mate.” Robert told him. “Uncle Ellis was the last house.” He scooped Seb up into his arms. “It’s time to go home now and see how many sweets you got.”

“That’s the best part.” Ellis assured him.

“Say goodnight to uncle Ellis now.” Robert urged Seb. “And if you ever get sick of living with your dad, give us a shout.” He said to Ellis.

“Why? Are you going to let me move back in next door to you?”

“No, Liv and Gabby are talking about moving in there… but we can always use a babysitter so we can have a night to ourselves.” Robert said and laughed and walked away to save Aaron from death by awkwardness as Seb waved at Ellis over his dad’s shoulder and shouted “Bye uncle Ellis!”

“Uncle Ellis?” Aaron asked, taking Seb from Robert and switching him for the boy’s bike.

Robert gave him a one sided shrug.

“Look at them, it’s only a matter of time.”

“I really don’t want to think about that right now.” Aaron said. The whole affair mess had shocked him too, and he still considered Paddy his father, no matter what had happened between him and Chas. “Let’s just go home.”

Robert nodded. “

“Yeah alright. Say bye to everyone, Seb.” He told the boy as they started walking in the direction of the mill.

“Bye nana, bye grandpa Al!”

Chas looked shocked and Al started choking on his spit.

Aaron glared at him.

“You’re impossible.”

Robert laughed.

“Worth it.”

[xlady-saya]

better than a night light [fic]

Relationships: andrew minyard/neil josten

Summary: Neil hasn’t had the chance to examine the feeling of fear in a long time. He’s all too familiar with it though; from the nightmares, to the memories of a cold basement floor, he knows the feeling like the back of his hand.

But this fear is new, loaded with ridiculousness and a complete lack of reason. It’s nothing more than pixels on a screen, far away theories that can’t hurt him like his past can.

Maybe that’s why he’s beginning to not mind it as much. It doesn’t hurt that Andrew is also there to hold him through it.

Tags: neil is a scaredy cat, fluff, fluff and humor, the monsters watch alien movies

Read on ao3!

The movie poster Nicky keeps shoving in Neil's face doesn't exactly do much in terms of persuasion.

Neil stares at the bold graphics, at the text of the title that drips as if it’s oozing blood. It's got an almost static quality to it, not original, but not trying too hard to be. It's an older movie, that much is clear, so not exactly Nicky's usual taste. There's nothing there to tell him about the plot, just a few shadows and a stark silhouette standing in the center. Neil stares at the poster on Nicky's phone, then at Nicky's expectant expression, and then back.

Surely there has to be some kind of clue to tell him what this is all supposed to mean, but he's not seeing it.

Nicky does his best to show Neil a few more posters from the same movie, some restyled and revamped for the modern era, but...

Nothing.

"For fuck's sake," Nicky huffs, putting his phone away. "It's a classic horror movie, Neil, and we're watching it tonight."

Oh. Neil's not sure why he had to know that.

It's never up to him to pick the movies for movie night, mostly because most do nothing for him or bore him to tears altogether. Watching them with Andrew is typically the only time he bothers to pay attention, and that's for the commentary about the stupid characters.

Nicky is the opposite.

He and Allison fight over the films every Friday night like it's a ritual, but on the rare occasions the upperclassman are busy, Nicky takes over and tries his best to drag Neil into it too. A seasoned movie buff, he's made it his mission to find a movie genre Neil actually likes. Neil's attempts to convince him otherwise have fallen on deaf ears.

After weeks of action spy movies and no luck, Nicky's obviously decided to up his game by switching to a new theme altogether.

Neil's not sure what this will do, though. The horror movies Nicky has picked in the past only served to annoy Neil or make him laugh with their horrible effects and impractical plot points. Nicky had still labeled that as progress.

Already, Neil is rolling his eyes. Neil has dealt with real horrors; ghosts and poltergeists aren’t what haunt him. He's only seen one or two slasher films with the team, but those were just nonsensical.

It's not something he enjoys thinking about, but it's hard to be afraid of being sliced open by some fictional asshole in a mask when his childhood already made him numb to the feeling of a blade.

As if sensing the underlying truth behind Neil's annoyance, Andrew makes his presence known with a loud thump of his soda can against the counter.

Nicky jumps, but Neil turns on instinct, a small smile on his face. They have new barstools, and he swears they're a little taller than the other ones. Andrew's legs swing, almost carefree in nature, and Neil averts his eyes at the glare he receives for staring.

"I said no horror movies," Andrew says finally, flicking another page of his novel over. It's for a class, Neil notes, and beams a little brighter. Part of their pact; if Neil has to do better in school, Andrew has to start trying to, too.

With some encouragement...it wasn't a hard compromise to make.

"Technically, you said no slasher movies," Nicky says, smirking at the loophole. Andrew stares, thoroughly unamused, and Neil blinks between them. He hadn't known about that. He glances back over to find Andrew already looking at him, resignation clear on his face. It's a common expression from the beginning of their this—less rare now, but just as endearing in Neil's mind.

It's Andrew's 'you caught me caring about you, and I hate that because it's not hard' look.

Neil hops up to sit on the counter, and Andrew's gaze flicks down to his knee as if debating resting his chin on top of it.

"You don't need to baby me, those movies don't affect me," Neil says with a fond smile. It's the truth; he's not sure why, but the masked villains and their carving knives just seem tacky to him at best. He understands Andrew's reasoning though, and appreciates it more than he can say.

Andrew would never think of him as weak, and Neil can handle most things no matter how painfully they might stir up old memories. Regardless, Andrew will spare him if he can.

The look of acknowledgement passes between them, and Andrew nods.

Then: "Even still, they're bad," Andrew says, aiming the statement at Nicky. "I refuse to suffer through them."

Aaron, who up until this point has been a silent bystander on the couch, grunts an affirmative. Kevin's got his headphones in, not even listening.

"Killjoys," Nicky mutters, clutching his phone tight to his chest. He points an accusatory finger right at Andrew, and keeps it there in challenge. "You might like it too, if you would just give it a chance!"

Andrew, highly unconvinced, raises a brow at Neil. The blond and Nicky are a lot better at having actual conversations without Neil now, to the point where Neil wouldn't even call Nicky afraid of Andrew anymore. Still...looks like this is not a case Andrew has the energy to make.

Neil smiles, all too smug.

"I thought you said horror movies were overrated?" he asks Nicky, grin just the right amount of shit-eating. "And by overrated, you meant you're super scared of them and won't be able to sleep for days."

"First of all, Neil, fuck you," Nicky says without hesitation. Aaron snorts in the background. Unwilling to be defeated, Nicky holds up his hand, counting off the reasons. "Second of all, this one is different! It's an alien movie, and those don't scare me as much. I mean, they're super impractical!"

That's what's super impractical?

Neil rolls his eyes. Their whole lives are impractical. Ha.

But ah, Neil realizes. Maybe that's the reason for the weird poster silhouette. Aliens. He'd almost prefer a slasher film. He crosses his arms, blowing his overgrown bangs out of his eyes. "Yeah, I'm sure Jackson with his goalie mask is just as realistic."

The room goes silent, and Neil isn't too prideful when it comes to pop culture. It's clear he fucked that up. Nicky blinks at him, and even Aaron is confused enough to turn around and lean over the side of the couch.

Neil blinks back, combing his brain for the revision. Nothing.

Andrew sighs below him, long and suffering, and this time he really does put his chin on Neil's knee. He glares a hole into Neil's abdomen, but Neil suspects it's mostly self directed.

"I think he means Jason," Andrew says, closing his eyes to ground himself. Neil's always been quite impressed with his self-control. "He's just trying to provoke me."

Oh, yeah. That prick.

A small chorus of realization goes through the room as Neil smirks down at his boyfriend.

Nicky squints. "Huh? Provoke you how?"

"Don't ask about their weird flirting," Aaron interrupts, making a slicing motion over his throat. Then, after a beat, he shoots a glare at his brother, who actually meets it for once. "Though for the record, you deserve to have a thing for morons."

Hey.

"That time, I really thought his name was Jackson," Neil defends, not caring that he just exposed how sometimes he will say the wrong shit on purpose just to get Andrew...in a mood. Aaron gags, and Neil is quite done with the conversation.

He squeezes Andrew's earlobe because, well...it's right there.

Nicky throws his hands up. "Oh my god, who cares! Neil, the point is that yes, a serial killer terrorizing a summer camp? Unlikely. But if someone were inclined, they could. And at minimum, slasher movies are scary because I could actually be stabbed on any given day."

"The chances of you running into a slasher are still pretty low," Neil tries, and Nicky gives him one of those looks like he's missed the point entirely.

"I'm talking about Andrew."

Ah.

"That's fair," Andrew says, eyes closing once more as Neil kneads his ear gently.

Done with the lot of them, Nicky shows Neil the button to rent the movie on his account, and rebelliously presses it. As if that somehow traps Neil in this apartment. Like he can't just leave.

The sad thing is that he won't.

Even without the upperclassman to join them tonight, this is his family—despite all their shitty taste.

"Your point?" Neil asks, though he's fully resigned at this point.

"So, alien movies are way cooler than anything else. Plus, the effects in this one are practical," Nicky says, and Neil tilts his head. Instead of bewildered, Nicky's excitement only grows. "You know, none of that cheap computer crap. You'll see, you'll love it."

Nicky squeals lightly as he goes to make snacks, dropping a few dishes in the process. It's a chorus of curses and clanging that Neil is all too used to, and Andrew barely flinches from it. It's hard to mind anything with Andrew's head in his lap and Neil's hands moving into his hair.

Neil stares over at the television, and sees his own annoyed expression staring back from the void.

Love it, will he?

Yeah, whatever you say.

--

They're about thirty minutes into the movie when Neil realizes there's a problem.

Nicky, for effect, has turned out all the lights, and the television illuminates the whole room despite its dark ambience. Neil's perfectly prepared to not pay attention, especially when the movie starts off slow and without any of the promised aliens. Nicky scolds him for his impatience, and things gradually start to get more suspicious between the characters on screen.

Neil's not bored out of his mind, but he's yet to see the full appeal. Because it's his spot, he curls up into Andrew’s side, sharing the bag of plain gummy worms between them since Neil hates the sour ones. Neil's more fixated on that at first; sometimes if they grab the same one on accident, they'll start the contest of pulling the poor worm and stretching the gelatin until it snaps. So far, Neil has won the longest piece two out of three times.

Then, in a shocking twist, the alien shows up.

Nicky was right about the practical effects. It's a grotesque creature, animatronic and padded with a fleshy substance that looks like bile. Its limbs are coated in it, sticky and disproportionate to its thin, skeletal body. Neil can see every disgusting ridge, and grimaces at the bubbles of flesh and pus that the effects team coated it with. After a while, he stops viewing it as a product of humans, as a robot. He starts seeing it as just the creature, in all its vileness. Random limbs and appendages shoot out from it, impaling some of the unlucky side characters, and the squelching sounds make Neil want to vomit.

Neil's throat begins to feel tight, and he's not sure why.

Throughout the next fifteen minutes, the creature starts its ruthless hunt after the team of scientists which make up the main cast. Only when it disappears does the audience realize the creature can shapeshift—that it's among them, somewhere on the base.

At first, Neil thinks he might have to go to the hospital. His pulse is fast, and he's sweating a little. It's weird, and he finds himself trying to calm down his own breathing. His muscles aren't usually this tense, and there's a nausea-inducing lump in his stomach, swimming around like the goop on screen. Maybe he's sick, maybe he ate some undercooked meat for dinner. That has to be it. He tries his best to stretch out, but his ankle hits Kevin's fancy metal flask, and Neil nearly jumps out of his skin from the cold when it coincides with a character being ripped in half on screen.

"Damn, that was pretty cool," Aaron concedes from his beanbag, watching the characters rush to safety from the gore they just witnessed. Even Kevin is invested, though he's still occasionally checking Exy stats on his phone. The creature is gone again all too soon, blending in, and the scientists begin to arm themselves against one another. Nicky looks over at Aaron gleefully, triumphant for his good choice.

At this point, Neil hates to admit he's fully invested. The characters in the movie have started to suspect one another, and the focus has shifted from the gore and the alien’s origin over to pure paranoia. It does a remarkably good job of capturing that feeling—one Neil knows all too well. Neil begins to suspect some of the characters too, even the main protagonist. The theories run through his head, but the film leaves everything as vague as can be.

There's a blanket of dread over him he's never felt before, because it's not real. There's no imminent danger to his person or his family, but he wonders what he'd be feeling if he were in this situation. The idea of imposters, walking around and having no way of telling them apart from your friends, from a human...

It takes Neil awhile, perhaps a little too long given his acquaintance with the emotion, to understand the tension in his body is fear.

He's afraid.

And isn't fear a strange thing?

He tries to remember fear, and it's not hard. It's always cold, piercing. It narrows down the world so that the fear is all that exists, along with the impending doom of the consequences that come with it. For him, fear has always eventually had a result. His fear was always well-founded. But this is nothing like that fear. Real, genuine, valid fear. This is not being threatened by his mom's scowl from across the room, or being on the basement floor, seconds from death. This is a queasy, unrealistic fear. One he can't get rid of, as much as he knows it shouldn't exist. There's nothing on the horizon, nothing coming to get them.

It's a lot of what-ifs and how-comes.

Neil hates it.

He can't look away as the characters all perish, eaten alive in part by the alien, but mostly by their own suspicion. In the end, the discord between them kills them all, and the ending hints heavily at the creature's survival and spread into the outside world.

Maybe here.

Neil scoffs at his own ridiculousness, rolling his eyes. That would never happen. He knows that, it's just—

"So?" Nicky says right in his face, and Neil jumps. Luckily, no one notices, and Andrew has already moved to switch the television off. Good. He surely would've felt the jump of Neil's body.

"So?" Neil parrots, unable to keep up. He keeps looking out the dorm windows, watching the darkness for any sign of life beyond it.

"Did you like it, Neil?" Kevin asks, turning around from his perch on the floor. He's also been weirdly committed to finding things for them to enjoy outside of Exy. Neil has a feeling that's mostly Thea's and therapy's doing, an attempt to get them some distance from the harsh Raven routines of old.

Kevin's attempt at getting them into trivia had been a disaster, and he'd abandoned it quickly.

Neil swallows the lump in his throat, eyes tracking Andrew to keep himself grounded. Aliens or no aliens, the sight of Andrew is a relaxant that's fifty times stronger.

Still, all he manages is a small: "It was okay."

It's a compliment coming from him, since his standard response is to shrug whenever any credits roll, and Nicky heads off to shower for bed with an extra lightness in his step.

Neil is not so fortunate.

An hour later, they're all turning in. Kevin has already passed out while Nicky takes his time in the bathroom with his twenty minute skincare routine. Neil had done everything in his power to not be alone once the lights began to go out. He's lucky his proximity to Andrew isn't unusual, but he keeps a few steps of distance just to throw off any suspicion the blond might have about why his boyfriend’s clinginess is off the charts.

The night sky is still pitch black through the windows, and any passing noise has Neil turning around and checking on his family critically. No, no—if Kevin were a creature, he wouldn't be snoring so loud.

Right?

He feels like a child, and does his best to go about his business without reading into everything so much. Even still, he hops onto the bed so he doesn't have to stand in front of the bottom of the bunk for too long. Something could grab his feet.

Andrew, per routine, wraps his arm around Neil's midsection to pull him closer, not yet aware of what's happening. Neil usually delights in this each time it happens, though he's certainly used to it by now. The path to sharing a bed had been a cautious one, and spooning even more so, but now he can't imagine sleeping without being cocooned like this.

Tonight, however, there's a problem.

Neil stiffens when Andrew moves to scoot him closer, a stark contrast to how he usually relaxes all his muscles. It's kinda fun when Andrew drags him. Andrew pauses, regarding Neil curiously, and Neil's dry throat seems to close up even more. The dread in his veins obviously isn't apparent, but it feels that way. Paling internally, Neil says, "I want a glass of water."

He really wants a glass of water. Fuck.

But is it worth it? Is he willing to die for a glass of water? He can make it until morning. If he were smart, he would've thought about this when everyone was still in the living room and he had access to knives to defend himself.

Andrew, calm as ever, concedes with a short nod. He removes his hand and waits for Neil to get up, and that's when Neil can't hide it anymore.

See, he doesn't move. Neil just lies there, staring up at the ceiling, and feels Andrew's eyes grow more and more critical with each passing second. Neil is torn. Does he get up despite his fear to preserve his dignity? Andrew of all people deserves to know when Neil has none to spare. Neil doesn't hide anything from Andrew, no matter how ridiculous.

The truth is, he'd love nothing more than to stay here on this bed with Andrew, where it's at least kind of safe. But, if he thinks more critically, he'll never get over this fear if he doesn't venture out into the dark common area to get his goddamn water.

Also, he's thirsty.

What to do, what to do.

At this point Neil begins to squirm, his gaze flicking over to the open bedroom door. It's black on the other side, inviting him and his imagination to wreak havoc.

Humans can survive a few days without water.

The whole time, Andrew doesn't stop staring at him, and Neil winces when he feels a gentle tap against his collarbone.

He's hesitated too long to keep the secret now. Better get it over with.

"Neil."

"Uh. Y-yes?"

"Look at me," Andrew says, and Neil can't disobey a request like that. Andrew's sleepy voice is gravely and soothing, like enticing smoke from a cigarette, and Neil follows it with all his senses. He turns over, then tenses up. Now his back is to the door. Can't have that.

He goes back to lying flat, and turns his head to send Andrew a desperate look.

It's stupid, it's pathetic. But...

"It's dark." That’s all he says.

Andrew's brows knit together, searching for the truth under that statement. "It's one in the morning."

Oh, but I'm the smart mouth.

Neil glares, and jumps when Nicky drops something in the bathroom. Neil waits for a sign of movement, and breathes a sigh of relief when Nicky's routine resumes.

Andrew sends him another look, no doubt already piecing it all together, and Neil huffs to himself.

"Asshole," he says, and picks at the thread of their blanket with his finger. He tries not to think of the aliens splitting open. Quietly, he admits: "The creature in the movie could see better in the dark."

It should be helpful to say it aloud, but it's not. It should convince Neil he's being truly unreasonable, that the odds of something otherworldly coming to target him are slim. He should be more worried about real killers coming for him on any given day.

But here he is, still afraid.

Andrew, in his own Andrew way, actually looks surprised. Something swims across his features that Neil has seen before, but can't pinpoint in the moment due to his own shame. He groans, turning away.

"Shut up, I know, forget it, I'm—"

A hand comes out to grab his chin, and Andrew turns Neil's face back towards him in one firm motion. Okay, now Neil definitely knows there's something in that look, and it renders him speechless for a moment.

"You're afraid." He swears he sees the corner of Andrew's mouth twitch, and he's so fixated on it that the truth comes easily.

"Yes."

"Of the...aliens. From the movie?"

Ah, but when put that way...

Neil groans again, pouting slightly. It's hard for Andrew to ruin anything for Neil, but it's difficult to stare fondly at one's boyfriend when he's trying to wring the embarrassing truth out of you. "Yes! I don't know why, okay?"

Andrew just nods, not judging. Not yet. Taking that into account, he taps Neil's chin a few times, maybe to the beat of invisible cogs moving in his head. Then he pauses, and gives Neil's earlobe a tug. Because...it's there. "Nicky said aliens are impractical. They aren't real. You know this, I assume."

Neil glares, but doesn't refute the statement. He's familiar with Andrew's process of retracing their steps, hypothetically. Trying to understand where the fear came from, how to best help Neil push it aside.

"Neil, confirm these things for me," Andrew says, and Neil nods, counting the freckles that dance over Andrew's nose. "You have dealt with members of a deadly mafia family."

Neil, because he's a shit, takes time to think about it. It's worth it when Andrew huffs.

Neil nods. "That is true."

"You are arguably more capable than me when it comes to killing someone," Andrew points out, and Neil does his best to ignore the spark of heat in Andrew's voice from that knowledge. "In fact, you've probably killed many people without remorse."

Hm. Okay.

"Mhm." Neil hums, and while he sees where this is going...

"You could potentially be Jackson, minus the hockey mask," Andrew finishes, and Neil is only somewhat insulted. What does he want with a summer camp?

Feigning stupidity this time, Neil squints. "Wasn't he immortal?"

"Neil."

Neil's laughter dissolves into a desperate whine, and he throws his hands behind him, hitting the headboard. Dammit. "Just—I know it makes no sense," he huffs. He scrambles up to a sitting position, an explanation on the tip of his tongue, and Andrew follows him calmly. "I know they're not real but...I think that's the problem. It's an unknown. I'm familiar with killers, with knives on my skin."

Neil almost feels guilty when he mentions it; Andrew accepts all his scars and experiences, but it doesn't mean he likes that they happened. They can't change the past, but the idea of either of them being hurt never fails to put a little pit of anger in their guts. He sees it bloom in Andrew's right then, and Neil smiles gently to quell it. It's not about that right now.

"But this is so removed from any of that," Neil explains, laughing at himself. It's sort of amusing if he thinks about it—that he’s made it to the point where he has the luxury of being afraid of such things, but he still doesn't feel relief. "I know it should be stupid and ridiculous. But that's probably why it bothers me. I mean, okay, what do we really know about aliens anyways? Nothing! No road map, no weapons. We're completely unprepared."

And...his explanation goes off the rails just like that.

Neil thinks he has a good point though. Like...who is really to say aliens don't exist? And if they do, they're all pretty much fucked. Who wouldn't be afraid?

Andrew only stares at him.

At the expression of disbelief, Neil whines and does his best to backtrack, but Andrew is having no more of it. Andrew just lays back down, hands covering his face.

It's a novel reaction, considering this is Andrew. He looks so beside himself, unable to process whatever is going on in his head, but not in the bad, overwhelmed way he might be used to. Neil leans over him, and artfully pokes Andrew between the eyebrows.

"Andrew?"

His boyfriend sighs. "I don't ever know what to do with you," he concedes, removing his hands so Neil can see his pissy expression. "Alien movies. It's goddamn alien movies."

Neil's not sure what to make of that, but even in the dimness of their room he can see the reluctant fondness in Andrew's face, poorly concealed behind a facade of neutral indifference. That, and the tips of his ears look a little red.

Neil's confused as hell before he realizes what it must be. He perks up, fear momentarily put on pause. "Oh...oh, you like this," he observes, not smug, just factual. Andrew glares. "You think it's—uh..."

Not hot, at least Neil doesn't think so. But—

"The word you're probably looking for is cute." Andrew grimaces when he says it, like it's a crime for the word to come out of his mouth. If Neil's being honest, he's surprised too. Not that Andrew thinks it, but that he actually said it. Hm. That's new. Neil likes it. He always insisted to Andrew that he didn't have to try harder at verbal affection just for Neil's sake, not if he didn't want to.

Clearly, part of him does.

Andrew glares at Neil's small smile, pushing his face away. "And you're wrong, so don't read into it."

Neil ignores that advice completely. "Oh, okay. So you think it's cute," he repeats, and mulls that over in his head.

"I just said—"

"Wait, why?" Neil asks, suddenly offended. Here he is trying to tell Andrew his alien attack plan, and the blond thinks the severity of the situation is cute. "Does my terror mean nothing to you?"

"Not in this case," Andrew admits, and this time there's clearly a small smile threatening to break the mask. Neil tries (pettily and unsuccessfully) to not let it affect him. "Now quit it, and go get your water."

Shit.

The fucking water.

The source of his woes comes back as a painful reminder in the form of his parched throat, scratchier now from all the discussion.

Noticing Neil's stricken face, Andrew wordlessly gets up with him, pulling him along to the edge of the bedroom so Neil can't talk himself out of it. Flicking on the light for the living area, Andrew pushes Neil out in front of him, a silent nudge to hurry up.

The room definitely looks a lot less sinister like this, but Neil's brain is reluctant to let him relax. He walks quickly and stiffly into the kitchen, turning back halfway to make sure that yes, Andrew is watching him.

"I'm here," the blond says, despite the roll of his eyes.

Neil practically runs to get his water, moving back to Andrew faster than the speed of light. As absurd as Andrew finds it, he dutifully waits for Neil to step fully back into the light of the bedroom before turning off the living room light again, and offers to take Neil's glass back when he finishes. Unwilling to lose Andrew by making him go alone, Neil takes his turn watching from the door.

Andrew looks back—not out of fear, but just to see the way Neil tracks his every move, wary of the surroundings. Something soft escapes Andrew's mouth, a vulnerable sound Neil swallows when he gets back into their bed.

He still can't fall asleep, but at least Andrew holds him a little tighter that night, a silent reminder that Neil's not alone in the darkness.

Neil's entire being burns with embarrassment, and he can't wait for a few days to pass so his brain will forget the movie entirely.

At least then the fear in his veins will be but a lingering memory, teasing fuel for Andrew at most.

--

Except, per routine, Andrew is a giant bastard.

"We're watching this tonight," he says a week later, throwing a library DVD into Nicky's lap.

Neil doesn't think much of it as he finishes the last of his math problems at his desk, kicking his legs happily since this means he'll be done with homework and his kissing ban will be lifted.

Nicky's voice has all his expectations shriveling up and exploding like alien guts. "Aliens again?"

Neil's head snaps up to meet Andrew's gaze across the room, betrayal lining his face. The DVD cover Nicky is looking at is old school again, another classic Neil assumes. It's less detailed than the first one, with nothing but a green, glowing egg on the front.

Hell no, Neil thinks, and glances back at Andrew with a desperate look in his eyes. Maybe it's a joke.

But Andrew's sense of humor is cruel.

"It wasn't awful," Andrew answers Nicky while looking right at Neil. There's nothing amused or challenging in his features, but Neil still senses it. Andrew has weighed Neil's fear, has no doubt picked it apart and tried to decide whether or not that fear should be quelled, or if it's fair game to prod.

The conclusion is clear.

"Awesome!" Nicky shouts, unaware of the turmoil between the two of them. "Finally, we found something you don't tune out completely."

"I'll make the snacks," Aaron says, and Kevin actually seems okay with the selection. He shoots them both a weird look—which, given the intensity of Neil's stare, is appropriate. However, living with them has given Kevin enough insight to know when and when not to intervene. He walks past them, as he should.

When they're actually getting settled in to watch the damn film, Neil has switched tactics. He's refusing to meet Andrew's gaze, foot tapping impatiently against their stained carpet. As peeved as he is, the fear is starting to outweigh it. What if this movie is worse? Is he ready for another night wondering if aliens are going to come absorb him into some hybrid monster?

What the fuck does the egg mean? Aliens lay eggs?!

Neil refuses to sit by Andrew at first, and Andrew's legs are spread in such a way that his lap is wide open and inviting.

It's difficult to resist.

Eventually, Andrew sighs, and slouches into the couch a little more, leaving a perfect Neil-sized spot next to him.

"You're going to sit over there by yourself?" Andrew asks. With the rest of the group out of earshot, he adds lowly: "Aliens pick off the stragglers first."

Neil's glare would melt flesh from bone if it wasn’t directed at Andrew. The blond is unaffected by Neil's threats, though there's definitely power behind them. Just...never towards him.

An unfortunate fact, but one Neil would never betray.

Sulking, he climbs up onto the couch and fits himself snuggly into Andrew's side, head on his chest. Completing the dance, Andrew manhandles Neil to rest more comfortably against him, and Neil ignores the smugness radiating off the blond.

When Aaron walks in, he regards them suspiciously. Neil hates him for smiling that knowing, shit eating little grin once the realization hits him.

Fuck Aaron. Neil knows he's afraid of possession movies. He better be ready.

"This one is especially gross," Aaron says, offhand, but aimed at Neil entirely. "I've seen it."

Neil stares into the television again, done with all of them, and hopes his brain is over it. He hopes this movie is as boring as it can be. "Let's get this shit over with."

And they do. But no, the movie is not boring.

This film is arguably worse than the one they watched last weekend. The aliens are somehow grosser, with tar-like skin and oozing orifices. Even worse, they're more parasitic than the other aliens, and extremely hard for these idiot characters to kill. Neil sees one of the alien babies jump down someone's throat and has to look away.

He supposes it's too late to ask how he got here, to wonder why he can't get over it and understand none of it is real.

But then again, what does he know about the universe?

Neil's glad everyone else is too into the film to notice him burying himself further into Andrew's chest, eyes glued to the screen reluctantly. That's the problem with fear—it takes hold of him. He's not one of those people who can look away or close their eyes, so he just wrings Andrew's shirt between his hands into a wrinkly mess.

At a certain point, the alien from earlier bursts through the character's chest and makes Neil jump away from Andrew's, but the blond grabs Neil's head gently in anticipation of this (which means he's seen this shit already, the asshole) and guides it to rest over his heart. It should make it worse, the rhythmic beating, pumping in time with the chest burster's onslaught. Instead, it's grounding, as it always is, and he sighs.

He wonders if this was Andrew's plan all along, but would that make sense? Having to comfort a scared Neil can't be anything but annoying.

Later, when he's having a mug of hot chocolate with Andrew and Aaron before bed, and steadily getting grumpier with the thought of the sleepless night to come, he says as much.

Aaron just looks at him, as if he can't believe Neil exists. "You really are a moron."

And with that, he goes back to his own dorm.

Neil tries to get clarification, but Andrew only takes the mug from his hands. He avoids Neil's questioning gaze and laces their fingers together, pulling Neil into the room before the lights go out.

--

It's hard to look serious when he's lying on top of Andrew's chest, glare peaking out, but he tries.

It's weekend three of Andrew's onslaught of alien movie sequels, and luckily he's promised to back off from now on.

Still. Neil's gonna pout all he wants.

A sound from outside makes him jump, but it's just an extra hard downpour knocking against the windows. If Neil closes his eyes, he almost sees the alien claws tapping on the glass, trying to get in.

"Poor, frightened little bunny," Andrew states without any inflection or tone, but Neil can sense the teasing underneath.

"Fuck you," he says, but it's dampened by the way he leans over to close the window blinds.

It helps. A little.

"And risk the alien contamination?" Andrew adds, tugging on Neil's bangs for his attention. Like he has to; he somehow always has it, even when Neil is less than pleased. "Tell me, just what do you think is going to happen? Nothing's going to burst out of you just from watching that movie."

Neil feels his stomach flip flop from the thought of it, his heart taking the tower of terror through his body. He makes a disgruntled noise in the back of his throat, and Andrew pulls him up by the scruff of his neck to get a better look at him.

"I still feel queasy," Neil says, a poor attempt at revenge. Andrew doesn't move away, isn't even remotely grossed out.

The blond just sighs, and rolls Neil over to the other side of the bed in a display of vulnerability. Instead of being pressed to the wall, Andrew's back is open to their room, to the world. Neil balks for a moment before he gets himself under control. They've done this a few times, so he closes his jaw. He knows he should be happy for these moments, not surprised by them. Because he knows they're not small. It's Andrew telling him something, it's Andrew giving. And that's nothing new.

Still, Andrew never has his back to the door, and it probably won't last long. Eventually they'll go back to their normal positions, but for now Andrew shields Neil from the world.

It's a silent emphasis, a promise.

Despite the dimness and the new tension in his shoulders, Andrew's gaze is like a spark to the gasoline pooling in Neil's body. "Neil, you're safe."

Yes. Deep down, that's the biggest truth of them all.

Neil sighs, and gently rolls them back over. It's his own affirmative, his own way of protecting Andrew—whether it be from real threats, or fictional ones. He slides over Andrew until he's on the edge of the bed, and is happy when the bits of tension bleed back out of Andrew. Much better.

"I know that." Neil curls up, and though his back is to the door, he doesn't turn away. It's another silent response. He's afraid, but he knows if an alien were to suddenly bust through the door...

Well, Andrew would let him know. "But I'm still...mph," he grunts, glaring at the blinds above Andrew, and this time, the edges of the blond's lips lift easily. Just for Neil to see.

"Scared?"

Neil rolls his eyes for the billionth time, mostly at himself. "Yes, Andrew, the stupid alien movies scare me. I'm glad you're enjoying it so much."

He won't lie; he expects a silent response, maybe the old 'I don't enjoy anything' just to make him laugh, because they both know it's not true.

Instead, Andrew grabs his wrist, tracing the veins there with his thumb.

"You're right," he admits, slow, as if he's considering taking it back. Neil waits with bated breath, and Andrew must ultimately decide that it's impossible to. "I am."

The blatant admission catches him off guard, and well...Andrew can be pretty cute too, when he avoids Neil's gaze like this. The blond fixates on where they're connected, tracing the scars farther up Neil's arm.

Neil hums. "Because you're a cruel otherworldly imposter, or because you know I secretly have a thing for when I amuse you?"

The master plan, all along.

At Neil's cheeky grin, Andrew rolls onto his back, questioning his existence. He slides Neil's hand over his chest, draping it across him. "You're a nuisance," he mutters, and Neil's grin softens at the edges. He still doesn't understand it all, but when Andrew's being so open like this he can't help but dive in. He slides his hand lower, resting it over Andrew's heart.

"Your heart's beating fast," he says quietly, nearly a whisper. "Could be a chest burster."

"Mourn me," Andrew responds, and Neil smothers his laugh in his pillow. It's got that fresh lavender scent, and reminds him that there's no way he's going to do laundry by himself this week. That room is dark.

For whatever reason, that makes him laugh more. He hears Andrew move closer, hears the stuttering breath of words kept back, and peeks an eye out. Andrew tends to look kind of constipated when he's trying to say something especially revealing, and Neil has long since stopped telling him he doesn't have to.

Because...Andrew told him it wasn't necessary.

'If I want to say something, I'll say it.'

Neil smiles; he remembers thinking it was such an Andrew answer. So now he waits patiently, letting his giggles fade into staggered huffs.

Moments pass, and then, quietly: "I like it," Andrew says, voice barely above a whisper. It hasn't lost its firmness, its inability to be argued with. "I like that you're scared of something that actually can't ever hurt you."

Neil's smile falls, but he's not upset, not in the slightest.

Andrew's statement from weeks ago feels wrong now. It's Neil that doesn't know what to do with him sometimes.

There's plenty of things Neil is scared of—things that have actually hurt him, ruined and scarred him. Those fears are more deeply ingrained and clawing, impossible to erase completely with a few nights of sleep. He doesn't have to wonder if they're real, how they'd hurt him or how painful it would be.

He knows. He can feel the ghost of a blade often, the searing scent of burning flesh whenever he's near a bonfire or when he touches his scars. He sometimes still wakes up from nightmares of being held down, except this time he's not able to get back up. He's never able to run again.

And as much as Andrew would like to, he can't go and reach into the past to stop those things from happening. The realities are so much more frightening, and that terror has no remedy. Andrew knows that better than anyone.

So maybe it's nice, maybe it's just a little rewarding, to see Neil so scared of fictional aliens and monsters instead. Those are the things that can't hurt him, that can't reach him. Perhaps it's better that they occupy his mind instead so that the other demons do not.

And that's the consideration that has Neil so at a loss; he can't do much more than echo Andrew's name in his head over and over, and scoot closer to him until he's all he can make sense of.

It's quiet, aside from the rain, but now it actually sounds like itself, calm and cleansing.

"Well, yeah," Neil whispers into Andrew's chest, then sits up. He wants to say it more firmly, with no room for doubt. This way even if Andrew doesn't believe him...he knows how Neil feels. "You protected me from all that other stuff, so those fears...they're easier now."

He's never put it into words before, but it's the truth. He'll always have nightmares about knives and guns, about fires and cold, blue eyes. But he knows any new threats that come crawling back from the mafia underworld won't have just him to deal with. He'll have Andrew by his side, fighting.

So he's not as afraid of that.

Andrew's grip around him tightens, a promise that never has to be renewed. Neil knows it's forever in place.

On the other hand...

Neil nudges Andrew sheepishly, tapping his finger right between Andrew's pecs. "I just don't know if you stand a chance against an alien hivemind," Neil admits. Though to be fair, no one does. They're all fucked.

Andrew, after a beat of silence, concedes. "For once, I think you're right."

Neil nearly feels better from that, light and warm, but then Nicky comes back into the room and turns off the lights abruptly, plunging them into darkness.

And suddenly, nothing is okay.

He scoots as far away from the edge as possible, practically pinning Andrew to the wall, but the blond takes everything with a sigh.

He deserves it anyways.

Neil still jumps from any little sound the next few nights, and yes, Andrew has to walk him to the laundry room, but that's alright. The teasing he eventually gets from the rest of the Foxes is more than worth it if he gets to make Andrew hold him extra tight.

The fear eventually fades, diluted, but if he pretends to cling to it a bit longer…no one has to know.

If Andrew catches onto Neil's dramatic, fake flinches and continued unwillingness to go anywhere by himself, well...

He certainly doesn't point it out.

[michpeach]

Movie magic

When I was 6 months old, my family moved from Zacatecas, Mexico to Southern California. I was too young to speak any language, but my parents and older sisters all only spoke Spanish.

Considering SoCal is so Latino/Hispanic heavy, it wasn’t a huge problem for them to get around, plus we had family here. But my mom recalls being in parent teacher conferences with my eldest sister’s teachers and her (semi) English-speaking and feeling useless. 

“Aquí estaban, hablando de mi hija frente a mí y no podía entender nada,” she said, which translates to, “Here they were, talking about my kid in front of me and I couldn’t understand a thing.”

She was determined to learn the damn language. Film/ TV was a big help. 

She watched Mr. Rogers with us, and rewatched 80s films (Top Gun was her favorite) she had seen in Mexico, but hadn’t cared enough to pay attention to their language then. She didn’t think she’d ever live in an English speaking country.

My dad did this, too. Of course, he worked most of the day so he missed out on Mr. Rogers and other kid shows, but we’d watch movies everyday. 

I guess I didn’t ever realize how many movies I’ve seen in my lifetime, until I started dating my boyfriend.

“I was busy playing outside,” he says. 

Well, I wasn’t. My mom was really protective (still is!) and we lived in an apartment complex in a not-so-great part of town. Sometimes, we’d go to the park or the library. But a lot of the times, we’d watch movies. 

Movies were enough.

To this day, I watch a ton of film/TV. It’s my favorite art form. Without it, I don’t know who I’d be.

So what are my favorite films, and why? 

 5) Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)

Directed by Wes Anderson | Written by Wes Anderson and Noah Baumbach 

"I think I have this thing where everybody has to think I'm the greatest, the quote unquote 'Fantastic Mr. Fox' and if they aren't completely knocked out and dazzled and slightly intimidated by me, I don't feel good about myself."

Pretty profound words, for a fox.

This film is one of my favorites for a few reasons. In a very Wes Anderson-esque way, the film is just gorgeous and symmetrical which I find mesmerizing. I've always been curious about claymation and seeing a film like this just peaked my interest.

Aside from this, the story is just flat out great. A fox looking for a rush at the cost of his family and community; how does he fix things? Mr. Fox is a really well developed and dimensional character, with relationships that may seem familiar to some watchers, such as the one he has with his wife and son.

4) Frances Ha (2012)

Directed by Noah Baumbach | Written by Noah Baumbach and Greta Gerwig

"I'm so embarrassed. I'm not a real person yet."

A love letter to women in their 20s that don't know what they're doing with their lives.

I feel there are more coming of age stories about people in their teens than there are about young adults in their 20s, which is criminal because who really matures enough to truly "come of age" at 15/16/17. I know technically you're an adult at 18, but your brain isn't even fully developed?

This film really reassures me, as a 22-year-old, that it's completely fine to not know what you're doing. It's fine to float through life for a while.

It's part of the journey of life, eventually you'll land somewhere.

3) The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020)

Directed and written by Aaron Sorkin

"Since this trial began, 4,752 US troops have been killed in Vietnam. And the following are their names"

Is there one right way to revolutionize?

I've never really taken myself as a history buff, but this film makes things fun. It's a story we don't learn about in classrooms.

The story of eight individuals tried in court for starting a riot at the 1968 Democratic National Convention. But was it really them? And did everyone at the defendants table need to be there?

The film itself is a riot. It's quick, but also poses questions about ethics behind badges and benches, which are questions that remain unanswered even today.

2) Little Women (2019)

Directed by Greta Gerwig | Written by Greta Gerwig Sarah Polley

"Life is too short to be angry at one's sisters"

I feel like anyone who has read the novel by Louisa May Alcott can understand what a wonderful and joyous group of girls the March sisters are.

Now mix that with Greta Gerwig's creative hand and some of the most beautiful costumes in the world and you get the 2019 film rendition of this beloved tale.

Aside from the story, the actors were just phenomenal in their delivery. I wouldn't expect less from Saoirse Ronan, Florence Pugh, Emma Watson, Timothée Chalamet (whom I'm in love with), Laura Dern, Bob Odenkirk, and the Meryl Streep. Wow! I hadnt even realized how many true stars were in this one. Amazing.

This is another coming of age film for women in their 20s. Sure, it's a different time entirely, but the message is the same. Women will, in their own time, know what's best for them.

1) Big Fish (2003)

Directed by Tim Burton | Written by John August

"I saw my death in that eye, and this isn't how it happens."

"So how does it happen?"

"Surprise ending. Wouldn't want to ruin it for you."

I have only seen my father cry in one movie, and this is it. Could it be the complex relationship between father and son shown on screen resonates with him? Or that is particularly a beautiful film? I've never asked him.

What makes me cry about this movie is that it's a build up to the ultimate ending. You see this man, slightly delusional, living his life through stories and you soon realize that perhaps its not an unfortunate way to live. It could be quite fulfilling.

I don't think I've ever seen another movie about wild imagination past adolescence, but it's a wonderful thing.

[blschaos3000-blog]

Its 3:31 pm

Welcome to a another edition of “8 Questions with…..” I’m pretty jazzed up for today’s interview with George Rother. I’m finally getting to talk with a fellow film buff and critic who is very much like myself. And just like most SERIOUS film buffs,George just doesn’t stick with the latest blockbusters or trendy releases,he isn’t afraid to explore quality foreign offerings or B-movie fun. If it can be seen on a screen,George is there to offer fair and quality insight and honestly,one can spend hours on his website Movie Guy 24/7. I know because the cheetah and I have spent a few visits checking out some classics from days gone by. George also has a crazy interactive Facebook page with over 10,000 followers who enjoy talking films in a respectful way which is rather refreshing to see. I’ll post a link down below after the interview. But for now,let’s go ask George his 8 Questions…….

  Please introduce yourself and tell us a little about Movie Guy 24/7

 My name is George Rother. I am a lifelong movie lover. I started Movie Guy 24/7 in 2010 after health reasons forced me to retire early. I’m primarily a film critic but I do more than review movies. If you go on the Movie Guy 24/7 FaceBook page, I post things daily. I offer up trivia, I ask questions, I give challenges, I put up songs, clips and trailers from movies. I do all sorts of things to interact with my fans/friends. 

What makes film so important to you?

Film has been a constant in my life. I didn’t have a lot of friends growing up so I often went to the movies by myself. I got used to it actually. Film has always been a subject of interest to me. Even as a kid, I wanted to see adult-oriented films like All That Jazz, The Rose, Apocalypse Now and Kramer vs. Kramer. Of course, that pesky parental R-rated movie block kept getting in the way. LOL! Anyway, I just felt at home getting caught up in a filmed story. I became a regular filmgoer at 13 and always seemed to know more about movies than other people my age. 

Are movies better today then when you started watching them? What are the three biggest changes besides budgetsand special effects that you like/dislike from films of yesterday and today?

LOL! I hate to resort to cliches but they sure don’t make them like they used to. Most of today’s movies are so impersonal. They’re not art, they’re made by committee. A lot of them are derivative. Comedies aren’t funny anymore; they’re just foul, gross and vulgar. PG-13 horror movies are the cinematic equivalent of watered-down alcoholic drinks. Blockbusters are little more than convoluted, CGI-heavy noisefests. I don’t really care for CGI; it looks too fake. Give me old school practical effects any day. 

What makes a movie a “classic” in your eyes?

 That’s a subjective thing. Everybody has their own ideas as to what makes a movie classic. If pressed, I suppose I’d have to say longevity. Will it hold up 5, 10, 20 years from now? Sadly, not many of today’s movies are future classics. 

Did you feel Hollywood has played a huge part in the rise of gun violence with so many violent shoot-’em ups?

 There has always been shooting in movies. Look at the old westerns from the 20s and 30s. Look at the gangster movies from that era. They seemed very violent at the time. Nowadays, filmmakers can get away with showing a lot more. However, I think the depiction of gun violence in film (and TV) has little to do with the rise in real life gun violence. I think it has to do with a person’s nature and/or their surroundings. 

What is a difference between a movie critic and a movie buff?

 LOL! Why can’t somebody be both? OK, here’s my answer. A movie critic watches a film analytically whereas a movie buff is passionate about film in general. In other words, business vs. pleasure. 

What five films/five stars/five directors are you favorites and why?

 WOW! That’s a tall question. Let’s start with favorite movies. If you mean all-around cinematic perfection, perfect in every way, I’d have to say Casablanca. If you mean what movie gives me the most pleasure, I’d say the 1982 version of Conan the Barbarian. I can’t really give you a top 5 here so I’ll just give you my favorites in a few genres. Sci-fi: (tie) Blade Runner and 2001: A Space Odyssey, Horror: The Shining, Comedy: A Fish Called Wanda, Cop: Sharky’s Machine, Action: First Blood, Action-Adventure: Raiders of the Lost Ark, Drama: Gandhi and Western: Once Upon a Time in the West. Okay, top 5 (no particular order) lists coming up. My five favorite actors are Jack Nicholson, Clint Eastwood, Steve McQueen, Harvey Keitel and Samuel L. Jackson. My five favorite actresses are Bette Midler, Goldie Hawn, Scarlett Johansson, Audrey Hepburn and Ingrid Bergman. My five favorite directors are David Lynch, David Fincher, Quentin Tarantino, Alejandro Jodorowsky and Martin Scorsese. I don’t really have a reason why other than I like what/who I like.

 Is streaming going to kill both the theater experience and pyschical media in your opinion?

 I hope that there will always be movie theaters. Nothing matches the experience of seeing a film on the big screen. However, I think more and more small-to-medium budgeted films will premiere on streaming services. It will definitely cut into box office revenue. As for me, I will always see films at a theater.

What five films/fiver stars/fivedirectors do you dislike the most and why?

 Ah, my dislikes. Okay, here’s my Top 10 Worst Movies starting with 1979’s Caligula, In my not-so-humble opinion, that is the absolute worst film EVER! It is a vile, disgusting, degrading, depressing and artless piece of crap. The rest of the list is as follows: (2) Basic Instinct 2, (3) Windows, (4) It’s Pat: The Movie, (5) Gummo, (6) Wild Wild West, (7) Baby Geniuses, (8) Knock Off, (9) Dangerous Game and (10) Born American. My five worst actors/actresses: Tom Cruise, Roseanne Barr, Rosie Perez, Ben Affleck and Steven Seagal. Five worst directors: (1) and (2) are Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer, the guys behind lousy spoofs like Disaster Movie, Vampires Suck and Meet the Spartans. The others are Michael Bay, William “One Shot” Beaudine (Billy the Kid vs. Dracula, Jesse James Meets Frankenstein’s Daughter) and William Shatner (ever see Star Trek V?).

Your Facebook page is rising fast in popularity,what makes it such a hot spot for fans?

 I guess I’m just lucky. I try to make the page fun for everybody. It’s geared towards movie geeks like myself but I also try to make it accessible for casual movie fans.

What is your impression of TV in general?

 For years, I regarded TV as a cultural wasteland. I had no interest in it. As of late, it’s changed a lot. Episodic TV is rapidly becoming popular. Some stories just can’t be told in two hours. Look at Killing Eve and Big Little Lies. My wife and I do a lot of binge watching in the summer. Right now, we’re doing Stranger Things. It’s great. In May/June, we did all eight seasons of Game of Thrones. It was great too.  The other great thing is when a network cancels a good show like Designated Survivor, it might get picked up by a streaming outlet like Netflix. I’d say TV has come a very long way.

The cheetah and I are flying in to catch you hosting a film festival but we’re a day early and now you are playing tour guide,what are we doing?

 If I was to show you guys around Philadelphia, I’d probably take you to some places where movies were shot. Of course, we’d have to go to Philly’s best cheese steak joint, Jim’s on South Street. After that, who knows? Maybe we’ll catch a movie at one of the Ritz Theaters here in town.

I like to thank George for graciously taking the time to talk film and TV with us today. The cheetah and I seriously recommend following George’s Facebook page for Movie Guy 24/7.  Tell’em that we sent you…..you won’t be sorry and you’ll be very entertained! I should have asked George if Jim’s Steaks delivers……..

While the cheetah and I don’t have 10k fans as of yet,we too have a Facebook page called Have Cheetah,Will View which we hope you’ll drop by and join up…

Thank you all for your support,we have a whole new crop of interviews coming including two of my biggest names yet. Stay tuned…….

8 Questions with…………. film buff George Rother of Movie Guy 24/7 Its 3:31 pm Welcome to a another edition of "8 Questions with....." I'm pretty jazzed up for today's interview with George Rother.

[allskynostars]

I want an answer to all the questions 😁

Gee, thanks T ;) 

1. What is you middle name?

Lee. It’s my Dads middle name, and my brother and I have my Mum’s surname seeing as they were never married (now separated) so she gave us our Dads middle name as our own. So me my brother and my Dad all have the same middle name. Oh and and my oldest brother (different Dad) has Lee hyphenated into his first name so there ya go hahah.  

2. How old are you?

23, 24 in 5 weeks :) 

3. When is your birthday?

August 20th

4. What is your zodiac sign?

Leo (it fits)

5. What is your favorite color?

Purple

6. What’s your lucky number?

My favourite number is 2, so therefore my lucky number is 22.

7. Do you have any pets?

There is a cat at the flat I’m currently living in, he’s the fattest ever and his name is Zinny. 

8. Where are you from?

Born in London. Moved to NZ when I was 6 months old. So legally British, but I am a Kiwi. 9. How tall are you?

I honestly don’t know but I’m tall. 5′9 maybe?

10. What shoe size are you?

In NZ I’m a 9 or a 10. I think it’s 8 UK, 42 US? I have big feet okay haha. 

11. How many pairs of shoes do you own?

At the moment only like 4 cause I just moved country and gave a lot away. 

12. What was your last dream about?

I wish I could remember :(

13. What talents do you have?

I can rap? Haha like don’t get me wrong I can’t freestyle but if I hear a song enough I get pretty good. But that probably ties in with my ability to just know the words to nearly every fucking song. My boyfriend always plays this game where he’ll start singing a song and then I have to sing the whole thing haha. 

14. Are you psychic in any way?

I mean I say I am all the time but it’s not serious. 

15. Favorite song?

This is so hard to answer. I have so many. it depends on my mood haha. 16. Favorite movie?

I am a movie buff. I cannot simply pick one. Although one film I could watch at any time is Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Oh and Shutter Island. Mark Ruffalo & Leo Dicaprio are my faves. Breakfast Club? Only Lovers Left Alive. I can’t pick. 

17. Who would be your ideal partner?

Seth Cohen.

18. Do you want children?

I do, but there are days I wonder if I actually do, you know?

19. Do you want a church wedding?

Nooo.

 20. Are you religious?

Noooo.

21. Have you ever been to the hospital?

Plenty of times, haha. 

22. Have you ever got in trouble with the law?

I can’t say I have, no

23. Have you ever met any celebrities?

Yes! Quite a few if I can boast haha. Aidan Turner, Dean O’Gorman, Karen Gillan, Jamie Campbell Bower, Marl Ruffalo, Aaron Taylor Johnson, Jeremy Renner, Chris Hemsworth, Robert Downey Jr, Andrew Scott, Jenna Coleman. That’s all I can recall right now haha. I have photographic evidence of all except RDJ :( 

24. Baths or showers?

It depends! 

25. What color socks are you wearing?

Black :) 

26. Have you ever been famous?

Haha no. 

27. Would you like to be a big celebrity?

I don’t think so, to be honest.

28. What type of music do you like?

A broad range. A lot is like indie/pop, and I really do listen to a lot of rnb/rap which always surprises people. 

29. Have you ever been skinny dipping?

God no haha. If I had the balls. 

30. How many pillows do you sleep with?

1 since we moved here but ideally 2. 

31. What position do you usually sleep in?

On my side. 

32. How big is your house?

Not very. It’s converted (typical London) so it’s basically fit anything where you can haha. 

33. What do you typically have for breakfast?

I don’t eat it normally, but if I do it’s cereal or toast. Also love pancakes. 

34. Have you ever fired a gun?

Nope. 

35. Have you ever tried archery?

At a school camp, once. 

36. Favorite clean word?

Clean word? LIke non swear word? Lovely. 

37. Favorite swear word?

Fuck. Classic.

38. What’s the longest you’ve ever gone without sleep?

Like 36 hours or so but I don’t do well on no sleep. 

39. Do you have any scars?

Just little cuts and things, nothing major. 

40. Have you ever had a secret admirer?

No, had a stalker once. 

41. Are you a good liar?

Kind of. 

42. Are you a good judge of character?

I believe so. 

43. Can you do any other accents other than your own?

Not at all I am terrible at accents haha.

44. Do you have a strong accent?

I’m told not really, not compared to others. It’s probably because my family were English so it’s buffered.

45. What is your favorite accent?

Irish. 

46. What is your personality type?

INFP-T 

47. What is your most expensive piece of clothing?

Nothing I own is expensive haha.

48. Can you curl your tongue?

Yes.

49. Are you an innie or an outie?

Innie!

50. Left or right handed?

Right :)

51. Are you scared of spiders?

Yes, any creepy crawlies ew. 

52. Favorite food?

Mexican!

53. Favorite foreign food?

^^^

54. Are you a clean or messy person?

Messy but hates mess. 

55. Most used phrased?

Oh my god.

56. Most used word?

Probably a swear word.

57. How long does it take for you to get ready?

Depends on whether it’s just going out or like going out out. Anywhere from 10 mins to an hour. 

58. Do you have much of an ego?

I don’t think so no.

59. Do you suck or bite lollipops?

Suck.

60. Do you talk to yourself?

Often haha. 

61. Do you sing to yourself?

Very often haha.

62. Are you a good singer?

I’ve been told I’m actually not that bad a few times haha so thats something I guess. 

63. Biggest Fear?

Whales. 

64. Are you a gossip?

Sometimes… hahah.

65. Best dramatic movie you’ve seen?

What kind of dramatic? Prisoners was so good and that sprung to mind. 

66. Do you like long or short hair?

My hair? Looooog. I cut it short 2 years ago and regretted it so much. On others? Unphased. Love a good man bun but don’t we all..

67. Can you name all 50 states of America?

I doubt it haha. 

68. Favorite school subject?

Biology.

69. Extrovert or Introvert?

Introvert mainly, extrovert tendencies. 

70. Have you ever been scuba diving?

No, terrified of the ocean. Which is annoying because it’s beautiful but ugh.

71. What makes you nervous?

Lots, especially having so speak to people I don’t know, about jobs etc.

72. Are you scared of the dark?

Love the dark.

73. Do you correct people when they make mistakes?

My boyfriend all the time,because he’ll still love me, but not normally anyone else haha. 

74. Are you ticklish?

No.

75. Have you ever started a rumor?

No.

76. Have you ever been in a position of authority?

In my previous management jobs, yeah.

77. Have you ever drank underage?

A lot.

78. Have you ever done drugs?

A couple times..

79. Who was your first real crush?

Non celeb? When I was like 12 I was obsessed with a guy my cousin has been with for 3 years and owns a house with haha. 

80. How many piercings do you have?

Nose & ears.

81. Can you roll your Rs?“

No?

82. How fast can you type?

If I get going quite fast. Dunno actual speed.

83. How fast can you run?

Not very anymore haha.

84. What color is your hair?

Naturally dark brown. Dyed darker but not black.

85. What color is your eyes?

Blue.

86. What are you allergic to?

Nothing I know of.

87. Do you keep a journal?

I want too!

88. What do your parents do?

Mum Retail, Dad Accounting to put it simply cause I don’t actually know.

89. Do you like your age?

23 has been good to me.

90. What makes you angry?

Inequality.

91. Do you like your own name?

I don’t hate it, but it’s boring.

92. Have you already thought of baby names, and if so what are they?

I have a few.

93. Do you want a boy a girl for a child?

If I could pick, 2 boys 1 girl.

94. What are you strengths?

I’m fiercely loyal.

95. What are your weaknesses?

Also stubborn, is that a weakness? V shy.

96. How did you get your name?

My Nans name was Jennifer, my Mum wanted to name me after her but not completely so therefore; Jenna. Also my family has a history of J’s. My Nan, Mum, oldest brither and 2 cousins are J names. 

97. Were your ancestors royalty?

I wish haha.

98. Do you have any scars?

Answered.

99. Color of your bedspread?

Pretty patterned pink/blue.

100. Color of your room?

These walls are like a light yellow but I did not chose it haha. 

That took way too long god I am boring.

[i-am-very-very-tired]

SUBSCRIBE HOME ARTICLE 'Suits': Inside Harvey Specter's mind and office MANDI BIERLY Updated August 18, 2011 at 06:41 PM EDT Gabriel Macht, who stars as Suits‘ Harvey Specter, one of New York’s best (and best-dressed) legal closers, had an idea that USA would renew the show for a second season even before creator Aaron Korsh announced it on set last week as they were shooting the Sept. 8 season 1 finale. In addition to making USA the most-watched network on Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET this summer, “Everybody at USA was constantly telling us how great the show is,” Macht says. “Jeff Wachtel, who co-runs the network, was like, ‘Gabriel, I’m telling you. We pull out our pens to take our notes for each episode, then all the sudden, we put the caps back on the pens and we just watch, and we’re entertained, and we don’t have any real notes.’ That was pretty exciting to hear along the way.” With four episodes left this season — and 16 episodes ordered for 2012 — it’s officially safe to let ourselves get invested in trying to figure out who the mysterious man who only wears Tom Ford suits is. We asked Macht for some clues. Here’s what he had to say: Image Craig Sjodin • Harvey’s a collector: Exhibit A: The line of autographed basketballs on his window sill. “He represents and is friends with major athletes. He’s got Michael Jordan on his speed dial. He’s got basketballs signed by Jordan and Patrick Ewing. He’s got a baseball signed by Derek Jeter,” Macht says. “He’s got really signature — signature, ba dump-dump — sports memorabilia, which he’s gotten from auctions but also probably from the people themselves. He takes a lot in pride in that. He’s a man of the town. He’s connected.” We’ll learn in tonight’s episode — which features guest star Eric Close as an undefeated Boston lawyer who weens his way into a class action suit just so he can say he defeated Harvey Specter — that Harvey, who Macht suspects has season tickets for the Knicks and Yankees, is a former athlete himself. “Harvey wasn’t even on the case. It was Jessica’s case, but he brings up a high school baseball game where Harvey was the pitcher and his shoulder went out, and the team won without him anyway. Harvey still felt like he lost. I think that’s part of his reason for always wanting to win,” Macht laughs. “His sense of self was demolished at that point. He threw his arm out. Big deal. It happens. It wasn’t his fault. Why’s he got to be so serious all the time? My god.” Exhibit B: Harvey’s wall of records. “I think he puts his music on when he needs to mellow out and really focus and think,” Macht says. “He’s a jazz man and a blues man, those are his staples. But he’s got so many records there, he must listen to everything … His vast knowledge of obscure music marries well with his mental library of obscure facts.” Image Craig Sjodin • There are no drawers in Harvey’s office. Strange, right, because you’d think a man like Harvey would have things he’d need to hide. “Yes, but you know what, that’s what he’s got Donna for,” Macht says. “Donna has her little area, which is really interesting, because whenever we get the name of the locations we’re shooting, it’s actually called ‘Donna’s Area.’ There’s always some funny sexual innuendo that Sarah Rafferty, who plays Donna, throws out there. ‘Okay, you’re coming into Donna’s area.’ [Sarah] is awesome. She’s been my friend for over 20 years. She’s one of my best friends. Our daughters are best friends.” One thing Harvey does keep in his masculine, streamlined office, besides that furniture Macht describes as “classic, modern, timeless, Eames- and Herman Miller-inspired pieces that cost a mint”: a can opener. “It’s hidden in his office, and it reveals itself in the finale,” he teases. • Harvey is a movie buff. “There’s always a film reference or two in the episode. Harvey likes to try to stump Mike [Patrick J. Adams] or other characters. He’s playful.” • If you want to see Harvey’s lighter side, look on his office walls. “His artwork was chosen to show that he has a whimsical side with a truly wicked sense of humor,” Macht says. Image Craig Sjodin • Despite his protests otherwise, Harvey does have a heart. “He’s tough as nails, but he’s fair. He has a huge heart, but displays it behind everybody’s back. So he’ll stand up for Mike, but not to his face. He’ll go to Jessica, and say, ‘You’ve got to give this kid a second chance,’ and he’ll go to Lewis and go, ‘Are you nuts? You’re not gonna take this kid. He’s mine, and there’s no way you’re gettin’ near him.’ He believes that Mike is absolutely his ace in the hole, and that he’s a younger version of who Harvey was. He messes up and makes mistakes and he does things in a rogue way because he thinks he’s being clever, and sometimes he gets caught. That’s what Harvey did early on and still does, but he just gets away with it.” • Harvey loves Jessica (Gina Torres), but not in the way some fans may be hoping… “Jessica put Harvey through law school. He was in the mailroom. She found him and saw that this guy was an ace of her own and decided that, ‘I’m gonna put him through law school, and I’m gonna get him trial experience,’ and that’s how Harvey became an assistant district attorney in Manhattan,” Macht says. (We’ll meet the DA that mentored Harvey, played by Gary Cole, in the Sept. 1 episode, when his office comes under investigation and he turns to Harvey for help.) “I don’t think there was ever anything physical between Harvey and Jessica,” he continues. “I think Harvey loves Jessica just because she gave him his start and pulled him out of whatever mess he was in — and hopefully we’ll learn about that in season 2. But it’s funny. I was on YouTube the other night, and someone sent me a video, one of those where they cut together their own interpretations of relationships. Obviously, there’s this whole bromance [on Suits], so anyone who wants the homosexual twist between Mike and Harvey [can use] those really awkward moments of delayed, long looks. They’re so funny. But then there was one with Harvey and Jessica, and it just looked like, who knows what’s behind that story,” he laughs. “It was well done. It’s just funny to me, because I’m there everyday going, this is a total business relationship with [Jessica]. He’s the mentor to Mike…” Loading video Loading video Read more: Five reasons to love ‘Suits’ USA renews ‘Suits’ ‘Suits’ season finale scoop in the Spoiler Room MORE FROM EW.COM Real Housewives star Barbara Kavovit demolishing Harvey Weinstein's NYC office The Bachelor Fantasy Suites recap: Intimacy issues Sunrise Bay reunion! Inside the scandalous Schitt's Creek soap opera drama David Morrissey gets tormented by a sports mascot in Inside No. 9 clip What to Watch on Monday: Fantasy Suites on The Bachelor and Nick Jonas on The Voice premiere EW.com Learn More Subscribethis link opens in a new tab Content Licensingthis link opens in a new tab Sitemap Connect Follow Us © Copyright 2020 Meredith Corporation. Entertainment Weekly is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation All Rights Reserved. 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Bleeding Edge has a dolphin who pilots a fishbowl crab mech via a Japanese AI • Eurogamer.net

Ninja Theory’s Bleeding Edge is a bit out there when it comes to its hero characters. It’s got a character who’s part motorbike, a character who’s got robot chicken legs, and a character who’s consciousness is housed in a robot snake arm that’s attached to their corpse.

Now, rounding out the roster of playable characters included with the team-based competitive multiplayer brawler at launch is a super smart dolphin who pilots a fishbowl crab mech via an on-board Japanese-made AI that also translates for him.

The dolphin is called Mekko, who I had a chance to play around with during a recent trip to Ninja Theory in Cambridge. I found him hard to get to grips with, but fun. The video below includes Mekko gameplay and provides a good idea of how he works. For more on how the game feels to play, check out Chris Tapsell’s Bleeding Edge hands-on preview from E3 2019.

In battle, Mekko assumes the role of a ranged tank. To that end, his mech has a sonic gun that turns the dolphin’s pulsed sounds into a projectile. He’s also one of Bleeding Edge’s more advanced fighters, and a lot of that has to do with the fact he lacks mobility (he doesn’t have an evade) and thus relies on smart use of his abilities.

He also has one of the more complex mechanics in the game: he uses an active shield to absorb damage in orbs that then boost attacks. Mekko is the only character in the game with an active shield, and you find yourself using it a fair bit to generate the orbs. The tricky part is knowing how to manage the shield’s meter – it doesn’t last forever and his lack of mobility means he can have trouble escaping.

As for his abilities, he’s got an umbilical cord-like teammate grab and a buff AOE that splashes on the ground, but my favourite of his cooldown abilities is his charge, which sees him slam repeatedly into an enemy, pushing them back with each hit. It’s a great way to keep someone stunned for a bit, or even chase down an enemy low on health who’s trying to escape. In keeping with a lot of Mekko’s abilities, it’s pretty annoying to be on the end of, too.

Of Mekko’s two supers, the Exclusion Bubble is best. This traps an enemy fighter inside a bubble, which floats in the air for several seconds. It looks pretty funny, too. The super doesn’t do damage, and the bubbled character can’t take damage either, but their team can destroy it by shooting it. As you’d expect, getting trapped in the bubble is proper annoying.

While Mekko is tricky to get to grips with, I imagine he’ll be popular simply because of his design and audio. There’s a real 90s cyberpunk movie feel to him. The tank in anime movie Ghost in the Shell is a clear influence, but I was reminded of the cybernetically-enhanced dolphin that turns up at the end of terrible Keanu Reeves film Johnny Mnemonic to fry Dolph Lundgren, although no-one I spoke with at Ninja Theory seemed to remember it.

Mekko also has an interesting development story. It turns out he was one of the first characters Ninja Theory worked on, but he was shelved for over four years before being brought into the fold.

“When when we started Bleeding Edge we had about six people, and we didn’t have a concept artist,” Aaron McElligott says. “So we were trying to work out ideas for ourselves and trying to find out where the game was gonna sit. But there was a chap next door who was working on Disney Infinity, and he basically just helped us out in his free time in the evenings. So we’d spoken a bit about the game and he went away. We were looking for some sort of Japanese mech thing that was maybe led by AI. And he came back with this and was talking about how dolphins were intelligent. And it was like, what? I was not expecting that at all. It was completely nuts. But we loved it.

“The problem with it at the time, though, was it just didn’t fit what we had in the game. It was too outlandish. We needed an accessible character to get into the game and test it out. So it’s just been sitting on the shelf for four or five years. A long time.”

Years later, after Ninja Theory had changed the tone of Bleeding Edge considerably, the concept artist’s design was used to create the Mekko we see now.

“We’d created a few tanks, but we needed another tank,” principal animator Warwick Mellow says. “And Rahni [Tucker, creative director] was like, ‘I haven’t done a ranged tank yet.’ It was like, maybe we can pull him off the shelf. During the process of the game, we’d become a bit more colourful and characters had become a bit more outlandish. And it was like, actually man, this could fly. Maybe this character could work.

“We recognise he’s pretty out there, but we love him! I like to say it’s nice having a juxtaposition of a very interesting and unique character versus a character that’s a bit more vanilla, because they complement each other. “

Isn’t he cute!

Mekko’s mech is a crab because that’s what a dolphin would want as a mech, Ninja Theory says.

“If the dolphin is intelligent enough to pilot the mech, maybe he would have choices about what he wants the mech to be as well,” Mellow adds. “Obviously it’s on land, but how does he get into it if it’s on land? Maybe it’s subnautical as well. It could be a deep-sea diving mech he can swim into and then he can come out of it.”

Mekko’s audio is a lot of fun, too. The on-board Japanese AI translates for the dolphin, so you hear this deep, dry cybernetic Japanese voice saying things like “look at Mekko in bubble shield”, “good job, Mekko” and, for his super, “bubble trap, muah ha ha ha ha”. There’s a robotic clack to the mech’s legs as Mekko moves about, too. He is unmistakable.

Overall, I got a cool 90s vibe from Bleeding Edge, which I was not expecting. It’s also the first video game I’ve ever played with a character who’s a direct reference to cult classic 90s thriller Hackers, which starred Angelina Jolie and Jonny Lee Miller as high school hackers who saved the world. In Bleeding Edge, there’s a character called Zero Cool who’s a healing hacker gamer with abilities such as Firewall (which creates a Tetris like wall on the map) and a super called 1up. In Hackers, Jonny Lee Miller’s character goes by the name Zero Cool.

This is all down to Rahni Tucker’s obsession with Hackers, it turns out.

“Yeah, that was me,” Tucker admitted when I brought it up. “I love Hackers. It was one of my favourite movies when I was a kid.”

Speaking of Zero Cool in Bleeding Edge, Tucker says: “He’s a hacker, right? He’s a gamer guy, but in his spare time he writes hacks for aimbots and stuff. That’s how he makes money on the side. So he’s a prodigy hacker. Not hacking corporations, but he’s hacking games basically making aimbots.”

This 90s vibe courses through Bleeding Edge, from its character design to its tone, and even its audio.

“I was born in 82 so the 90s were my formative years,” Tucker adds. “That’s true of a lot of the guys on the team. I see a lot of cyberpunk, right, which is very 80s. And it’s kind of a little bit tired in some ways. And I was like, we need some 90s up in here! We’re bringing the 90s back!”

The addition of Mekko means Bleeding Edge has 12 playable characters at launch. The game comes out 24th March 20202 on PC (including Steam) and Xbox One.

from EnterGamingXP https://entergamingxp.com/2020/03/bleeding-edge-has-a-dolphin-who-pilots-a-fishbowl-crab-mech-via-a-japanese-ai-%e2%80%a2-eurogamer-net/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=bleeding-edge-has-a-dolphin-who-pilots-a-fishbowl-crab-mech-via-a-japanese-ai-%25e2%2580%25a2-eurogamer-net

[newyorktheater]

Aaron Yoo

Aaron Yoo and Johnny Wu as son and father

Aaron Yoo, Laura Kai Chen, and Edward Chin-Lyn

L-to-R: Aaron Yoo, Henry Stram, Laura Kai Chen, Johnny Wu and Edward Chin-Lyn

The first of the many surprises in “The Headlands,” the latest, cleverly crafted play in New York by trickster San Francisco playwright Christopher Chen, comes after Henry (Aaron Yoo) introduces himself to us as a Google engineer, a film noir buff, and an “amateur sleuth” who’s been looking into the unsolved murder of one George Wong, a kitchen contractor.

Many minutes into Henry’s explanation of the mysteries surrounding the twenty-year-old cold case, in the middle of a flashback conversation between George (Johnny Wu) and his wife Leena (Lara Kai Chen), Henry tells us: “They stop when they see me in the doorway. Oh, I’m their son. Sorry for not telling you earlier…”

Henry was 10 when his father was killed. The official explanation was that it was during a burglary. But when Henry’s mother is dying 20 years later from cancer, a remark she makes in her delirium convinces Henry that she was covering up the real story. He goes on a quest to find out what really happened.

There are many clues and many red herrings in “The Headlands” about who killed George Wong, as Henry, with the help of his girlfriend Jess (Mahira Kakkar), sets about to interview George’s old business partner and the detective who had been assigned to the case (both portrayed by Henry Stram), as well as Henry’s deceased mother’s best friend (Mia Katigbak, who also portrays Henry’s mother when older), and a couple of other characters I won’t tell you about. (The less I tell you about the twists and turns, the better.)  But Henry’s delayed revelation about his personal involvement is the first clue that the play will be more than a murder mystery. It’s as much a contemplation of perception and memory and family dynamics, of grief and love and longing, and the cost of not fitting in. It is a love story; we see the courtship between George, a Chinese immigrant fresh off the boat, and Leena, a second-generation “princess,” the daughter of a shipping magnate. It’s a story of family secrets and about how much we really know about the ones we love. It becomes increasingly clear it’s a story in which Henry proves an unreliable narrator.

But theatergoers can rely on Christopher Chen to mess with our heads.

This was clear in 2016 with the New York premiere at La MaMa of “Caught,” Chen’s play that sent up the art scene by portraying a conceptual artist who is actually a con artist, and presenting the play as a kind of conceptual art, and as a series of cons.  As with “The Headlands,” “Caught” was playing with perception, but in service of several more explicitly intellectual themes, such as the intrinsic trickster nature of art, the problematic intersection between politics and art, even the gap between East and West.

“The Headlands” is less playful in tone, and less artsy in theme, and it more straightforwardly adheres to a genre that can be called San Francisco Noir — although “straightforward” is a deeply misleading description of anything by Christopher Chen.  Director Knud Adams’ production does justice to the play, with a game seven-member cast and a design that sets the right tone of mystery and precisely fits the snug space of Lincoln Center’s Claire Tow Theater. Of particular note are Ruey Horng Sun’s spot-on video projections – dizzying, dazzling, dark, but always relevant — which feel like a lesson in how to use video on stage in direct counterpoint to the current production of West Side Story.

The Headlands Claire Tow Theater at Lincoln Center Written by Christopher Chen; Directed by Knud Adams Sets by Kimi Nishikawa, costume by Tilly Grimes, lighting by Mark Barton, sound by Peter Mills Weiss, projections by Ruey Horng Sun Cast: Laura Kai Chen, Edward Chin-Lyn, Mahira Kakkar, Mia Katigbak, Henry Stram, Johnny Wu and Aaron Yoo Runtime: 80 minutes, no intermission Tickets: $30 The Headlands is on stage through March 22, 2020

The Headlands Review. San Francisco Noir Murder Mystery…and More The first of the many surprises in “The Headlands,” the latest, cleverly crafted play in New York by trickster San Francisco playwright Christopher Chen, comes after Henry (Aaron Yoo) introduces himself to us as a Google engineer, a film noir buff, and an “amateur sleuth” who’s been looking into the unsolved murder of one George Wong, a kitchen contractor.