#flame con 2022

[kenpiercemedia]

Scenes From Flame Con 2023 @ Times Square Sheraton (Part 2)

Scenes From Flame Con 2023 @ Times Square Sheraton (Part 2)

Welcome back my friends to some more coverage of the 2022 Flame Con. This LGBTQ+ Comic Convention is the longest and largest running of its kind and comes care of the folks over at GeeksOUT. This was their first time back since the 2019 event based on the pandemic and I was only able to attend on the first day due to a really hectic schedule for the website. I’ll pick up where I left off with the…

[astrronomemes]

PUSS IN BOOTS: THE LAST WISH STARTERS

a collection of quotes, phrases, and sayings from the 2022 Dreamworks Animation film, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. change & alter as needed.

"Welcome! Mi casa es su casa!"

"Hey! This is a party! Where is the music?!"

"Thanks for everything, you know, but I am feeling great."

"Do you know a good place to get some gazpacho?"

"How many times have you died already?"

"My prescription: No more adventures for you. You need to retire."

"[Name], is there any safe place you can go? Any special someone you can rely on in this moment of need?"

"Remember, [name], death comes for us all."

"You've really got to work on your bedside manner."

"Oh, I keep the heavy stuff in the back."

"Hey, I never do this, but can I get your autograph? I've been following you for a long time."

"Everyone thinks they'll be the one to defeat me. But no one's escaped me yet."

"You're not living up to the legend, [name]."

"I am no longer worthy. I'm sorry."

"You're not from the health department, are you?"

"We'd better get you inside because, baby, they are always watching."

"So this is where dignity goes to die."

"I'm no expert, but you don't look like a [name]."

"Despite all this best-friend bonding, you're still a mystery to me, [name]."

"You think this is the first time I've been stuffed in a piano?!"

"If this [name] is such a big deal... maybe we shouldn't be desecrating his grave?"

"My home is where my friends are."

"Oh, no! I misjudged the situation!"

"It's like a possum crawled on your face and died! Of shame!"

"You said you were going on some spiritual retreat!"

"Hey, [name], I found a sandwich in here. I think it's tuna fish."

"We are not a team!"

"Nice try! Classic con! But no one's that dumb. No one's that nice. I don't trust you."

"Don't rush through it. Take your time, and really appreciate what's right in front of you."

"Don't be near where I'm flame-throwing!"

"I am a solo act. I keep my secrets, and I play my cards close. That's how you get a winning hand."

"Take it from me: Never trust anyone."

"What? What's so funny? Nothing should be funny!"

"You're not gonna shoot a puppy, are you, [name]?!"

"What's going on with you, [name]?"

"Maybe you should tell that to [name]. It might make you feel better. It might make her feel better, too."

"What you seek may be right in front of you."

"Well, that's a load of rubbish! What's that supposed to mean?!"

"If you wanted to hold my hand, all you had to do is ask."

"I knew I could never compete with your one true love — yourself."

"You don't seem like that guy anymore."

"You know, I'm starting to think you don't appreciate the value of a life."

"There's good in all people."

"You know, [name], maybe we need to dig a little deeper. Tell me about your childhood."

"Well, you know what they say: Can't bake a pie without losing a dozen men."

"You're horrible! You're an irredeemable monster!"

"You're not chatty, are you?"

"I wish I had a family like this."

"Speaking from one orphan to another, [name], you won the orphan lottery."

"I don't mean it metaphorically, or rhetorically, or poetically, or theoretically, or in any other fancy way."

"I'm getting a family, that's what! A proper family! And then everything will be just right!"

"I was always afraid it was too good to last."

"I can't believe I fell for it again."

"You want to know what my wish was? Someone, anyone, that I could trust. In my whole life, I've never had that. But I thought I finally found that someone without a wish. I thought it was you."

"I've been called a lot of things, but never death."

"I've enjoyed the chase, [name], but I think we've reached the end now, you and I."

"You've really got to stop losing that."

"Live your life, [name]. Live it well."

"I thought you were just being melodramatic."

"You deserve someone you can trust."

"It's so cute how you think that would work on me. Don't you know I'm dead inside?"

"By the way, your nose is bleeding."

"I hate to say it, but... should we make a wish?"

"[Name], one life spent with you is all that I could wish for."

[tarlosmalec]

Pairing: TK Strand/Carlos Reyes

Fandom: 9-1-1 Lone Star

(Requesting my mutuals to share their go-to tarlos fics :) Here are five wonderful pieces I’ve come across)

The Ring-In by ifyoustay, LolaLand

@welcometololaland

87K | Explicit | No Archive Warnings Apply

When TK receives a call from an old friend offering him a last minute invite to a wedding in Hawaii, he jumps at the chance to finally wrangle his fiancé into a vacation. Unfortunately, TK isn't the only old friend invited.

Or, the fic where we say "why should they have to wait for their honeymoon to go to Hawaii?" Featuring TK Strand and Carlos Reyes being disgustingly in love, some interesting headcanons, some indulgent scenes and Alex finally working out that he probably shouldn't have shacked up with the spin cycle instructor.

My Constant Companion by Child_Of_Wonderland

@child-of-wonderland

23.7K | Teen & Up Audiences | No Warnings Apply

Moving to Austin, in a way, made things easier than TK expected. Having a support system that never faltered, that didn't know the depths of it but still supported him, was something TK never knew he craved until he moved.

A simple case wasn't supposed to be enough to knock it all down. He wasn't meant to be faltering just days before reaching 2 years. He wasn't supposed to. And yet, here he was. (Written for: Lone Star Big Bang 2022)

Sanctuary by PhoenixWillRise

38K | Teen & Up Audiences | Rape/Non-Con

Carlos is on his way home from a long day. And as he goes down an unknown route, he encounters a stumbling man. Its 2am and freezing, he stops to offer aid and perhaps a ride somewhere but as he takes in the dazed, and confused looking green eyes of the mysterious man.The bruises on his wrists, and the red bites and hickies covering his neck and collar, the police officer believes there is more to this boy than meets the eye.

Siren Sounds by ElfinNevermore17

22.7K | Not Rated | Creator Chose No Warnings

TK had not had a good day to start with. It began with him and Carlos getting into a stupid fight before they both began their respective shifts this morning. Something about who should fill the dishwasher, or maybe it was whose turn it was to empty it? TK couldn’t fully remember what they had argued about, he just knew that they'd both left the condo angry with each other and hadn’t said their usual goodbyes or ‘I love you’s before separating at the door, Carlos into his car and TK into a waiting Uber. TK’d taken an Uber to work so that he didn’t have to share an angry car ride with Carlos, not wanting to stew any longer in such a tense silence.

TK wished with everything that he’d swallowed his pride and taken Carlos’ offer of a ride one last time. Perhaps then, the feelings of guilt wouldn’t be as strong as they were right now.

Time of death…

there ain’t no way to burn when the fire’s out by justapoet

@justapoet

22K | Teen & Up Audiences | Creator Chose No Warnings

It was heated, grey, and painful.

And Carlos didn't know how long it took for the ring in his ears to deafen until the point he could hear the dispatcher he had on the line, but he was almost sure she had said something about help being outside the house already.

"I need you to stay awake," she said, and Carlos turned his head to the side just to see the flames closer than it should be, the vivid orange being reflected by the dark walls and mixing with the red and blue lights coming somewhere from the outside. "Sir, are you listening?"

Or, TK and Carlos have a fight over Owen and his stupid actions, and Carlos is alone when the fire starts ― and even more when, for him it ends.

[stardust-cindy]

For my end of year ❄writer appreciation❄ here are the Top 10 stucky fics of 2022!

Filters: otp:true, language: english, search within dates 2022-01-01 - 2022-12-31

⭐Top 10 by KUDOS⭐

🥇Number 1🥇 - Simple - Osidiano, Warnings: Violence, Non-Con, Word count: 67,963, Published: 2015-01-02 - Completed: 2022-03-27.

🥈Number 2🥈 - Omega Services: Rut Assistant - roe87, @jro616 Warnings: none, Word count: 175,604, Published: 2021-10-03 - Completed: 2022-07-05.

🥉Number 3🥉 - We miss being ruffians - Napricot, (work in progress), Warnings: none, Word count: 111,802, Published: 2017-07-13 - Last updated: 2022-07-15.

Number 4 - Orphan Darling - pandafish, @myexplosion Warnings: Under age, Violence, Word count: 148,215, Published: 2022-05-02 - Completed: 2022-09-02.

Number 5 - Smoke Gets In Your Eyes - SmolderingFlame, @smolderingflame Warnings: Violence, Word count: 90,289, Published: 2021-05-20 - Completed: 2022-09-01.

Number 6 - Thin Blue Flame - jaxington, @jaxington Warnings: Creator chose not to use archive warnings, Word count: 174,676, Published: 2016-10-19 - Completed: 2022-07-09.

Number 7 - Lullaby for Futures Lost - Oh_i_swear, @oh-i-swear-writes Warnings: none, Word count: 114,620, Published: 2022-02-01 - Completed: 2022-05-31.

Number 8 - Swaddle You so Good (you’ll never want anything else) - SarahYellow, Warnings: Non-Con, Word count: 71,916, Published: 2021-08-03 - Completed: 2022-07-12.

Number 9 - Cat Person - The_She_Devil, Warnings: none, Word count: 72,440, Published: 2021-03-19 - Completed: 2022-03-22.

Number 10- Veni, Vidi, Vici - SmolderingFlame, @smolderingflame Warnings: Violence, Non-Con, Word count: 57,716, Published: 2021-07-14 - Completed: 2022-08-26.

💖Thank you, stucky writers, for your amazing fics!! 💖

Read more top 10s under the cut

⭐Top 10 by HITS⭐

🥇Number 1🥇- Omega Services: Rut Assistant - roe87

🥈Number 2🥈 - Orphan Darling - pandafish

🥉Number 3🥉 - Simple - Osidiano

Number 4 - Thin Blue Flame - jaxington

Number 5- Smoke Gets In Your Eyes - SmolderingFlame

Number 6- Swaddle You so Good (you’ll never want anything else) - SarahYellow

Number 7- Golden Boy - Polelozza

Number 8- Alpha, Beta (and Omega) - sarahyellow

Number 9- Veni, Vidi, Vici - Smoldering Flame

Number 10- My Albatross Is Always With Me - LolitaBlue

➖

⭐Top 10 by COMMENTS⭐

🥇Number 1🥇 - Omega Services: Rut Assistant - roe87

🥈Number 2🥈 - Matchmaker, Matchmaker, Make Steve a Match - BlueSimplicity

🥉Number 3🥉 - We miss being ruffians - napricot

Number 4 - Orphan Darling - pandafish

Number 5 - Simple - Osidiano

Number 6 - Lullaby for Futures Lost - Oh_i_swear

Number 7 - Reading Your Love - SucculentHyena

Number 8 - Golden Boy - Poelozza 

Number 9 - Smoke Gets In Your Eyes - SmolderingFlame

Number 10  - White & Blue - JJK

💖Thank you, stucky writers, for your amazing fics and hard work!💖

[sitp-recs]

Hi Liv! I just want to let you know that your blog is the only thing getting me through grad school. It's my one moment of solace before going to sleep. Do you know any fics where Draco is some kind of hedonist and introduces Harry to all the luxuries he's been missing so far? I need that in my life!

Oh anon, I’m sorry grad school has been rough! I know I don’t miss those days 😔 very happy to hear the blog offers you comfort and solace. And I love the hedonist!Draco take, I wanna find more fics like that tbh! Here are some great reads that came to mind:

Still Life, orphaned (2019, M, 3k)

Cake by astolat (2016, M, 4.3k)

Harry tried not to care when after the war, everyone he knew seemed to have made an agreement to stop paying attention to birthdays.

Steal/Keep by @shealwaysreads (2021, E, 4.6k)

The stealing was all Hermione’s idea, though Harry still doesn’t think anyone would believe him if he told them.

push and pull you down by @bonesliketambourines (2020, E, 5k)

Harry's resigned himself to petty, inconsequential cases and no real connection to his job at the Auror department—after all, what else would he be doing with his time? He's not happy, not really, but that hardly matters. A chance encounter with a mostly-naked Draco Malfoy exposes him to an entirely different world, one much more colourful than the lonely one he currently occupies—but at what cost?

Reparatio by astolat (2016, E, 17k) - maybe not a perfect fit but I couldn’t resist, this fic is brilliant

Draco snorted. “I’m not reduced to penury. I want something considerably beyond money, and I rather think you’re the only one can give it to me.”

amid this warm and steady sweetness by warmfoothills (2019, E, 21k)

Harry is not living in a period drama, no matter what his friends or his new house or Malfoy’s sudden affinity for horse-riding might suggest, and if one more person uses the word courting, he’s going to start hexing people.

A Summer in Bordeaux by @zigster-ao3 (2021, E, 28k)

Harry turns. Malfoy leans against the doorway to the back garden under the halo of a gaslamp dangling overhead. The warm glow of the flame casts him in a golden light, and he’s framed on either side by trailing grapevines cascading over the garden walls. So soft, Harry thinks, where the Malfoy in his mind once seemed so sharp.

Shine, Even in the Darkness by raitala (2014, E, 41k)

Harry hasn’t seen Draco for over fifteen years, but now he’s showing up everywhere and Harry is sort of weirdly attracted to him, but that can’t be right?

Sweeten to Taste by @saintgarbanzo (2021, E, 51k)

It starts with Draco's buckwheat crepes with honeyed oranges. Or maybe it starts with his porridge with toasted walnuts and homemade apple butter. Or perhaps it starts with the cinnamon buns Draco made from scratch with mascarpone icing. Harry just knows he's hungry for more.

Against All Odds by momatu (2015, E, 54k)

Beauxbatons is hosting the first ever Quidditch Summer School for children from all over Europe, and Harry has promised to enroll Teddy as his birthday present. Meanwhile, Draco is stuck in his office, putting together the first ever Quidditch Summer School for children from all over Europe during, when he should be enjoying summer holidays.

Nights With You by @the-sinking-ship (2022, E, 58k)

Draco is mortified when moments prior to departing for the most anticipated destination wedding of the year, he is cruelly dumped. But when he learns that Harry Potter has, at long last, split with his horrible boyfriend, Draco is certain his luck has changed. Never a man to squander an opportunity for revenge (and what would probably be a spectacular shag), Draco vows to make Potter his for the weekend.

Criminal by @the-sinking-ship (2020, E, 83k)

Things were going just fine for Draco Malfoy. He successfully conned and counted cards across Europe and America, amassing a small fortune, along with a lengthy rap sheet. That was until he made the grave mistake of returning to England for a high stakes card game and got himself caught – by Harry Potter no less.

[moonlight-prose]

✧ 2023 WIPS LIST ✧

As you can guess by the title this will be an updated wips list of what is to come, what will be continued, and what will be finished. I'm actually really excited about what I'm writing this year for many reasons. Partly because I have such amazing people here who inspire me everyday to keep writing.

You are all welcome to ask whatever you want about the fics on this list. I'm more than happy to talk about them! This list is subject to change throughout the year so some stuff may not get written/finished.

The list is beneath the cut, because it's quite long. Enjoy!

ONGOING WIPS TO BE FINISHED IN 2023

Black Velvet - 1980s!Din Djarin (3 chapter remaining)

Badlands - Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw (3 chapters remaining)

Paper Airplanes - Bucky Barnes

Asterism - Cassian Andor (4 chapters remaining)

Celestial Serenities - Obi-Wan Kenobi

Night Crawling - Jack Russell (5 chapters remaining)

Beautiful Nightmare - Dream of the Endless

Strength Among Stars - Din Djarin

Blood Along The Moon - The Batman

Kinktober 2022

Winter Prompts

UPCOMING SERIES IN 2023

Hurt - Joel Miller (coming january 15th)

Turning Pages - Moon Knight bois

Never Break The Chain - Jurassic Park AU w/Din Djarin

Love Is Strange - Mickey "Fanboy" Garcia

There'd Better Be A Mirrorball - Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw (2 parts)

Diamonds Are Forever - Jake Lockley x Jewel Thief!Reader

Con La Brisa - Namor

Rogue Redemption - Western!Poe Dameron

Bloom - Obi-Wan Kenobi (3 parts)

Somewhere Only We Know - Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield)

Shadows Of The Past - Mickey "Fanboy Garcia

In the Ashes of Hope - Sith!Obi-Wan Kenobi x jedi!f!reader

Silhouettes of Love - Frankie Morales (maybe)

The Moon Will Sing - Moon Knight bois x goddess!reader

Midnight Wire - Cassian Andor

To Lie Within The Stars - Din Djarin x f!reader x Boba Fett

Unnamed Boba Fett series

Violent Delights (rewritten) - Loki

Unnamed Poe Dameron series

Fractures - The Batman (dark academia)

Various Storms & Saints - Pero Tovar x witch!reader

World On Fire - Apocalypse!Poe Dameron

The Song Remains The Same - 70s!Guitarist!Din Djarin

UPCOMING ONESHOTS IN 2023

Cherry Bomb - Tangerine (bullet train)

Photograph - Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw

Bluebirds In The Night Sky - Javi G.

Solamente Una Vez - Santi Garcia

Together We Fall - Marc Spector

Beauty In The Madness - Steven Grant

Love Is A Fire That Burns Unseen - Din Djarin

Worst Nightmare - Cal Kestis x Sith!Reader

Heavy In Your Arms - Poe Dameron

Breathe Me In - Darth Vader

The Rockrose and The Thistle - Sith!Anakin Au (2 parts)

Kar'ta - Din Djarin (2 parts)

Hidden Flames and Deep Desires - Darth Maul x jedi!Reader (2 parts)

Unnamed Jake "Hangman" Seresin fic

Edge of Midnight - Natasha "Phoenix" Trace

Din Djarin fic for @softanon

Poe Dameron fic (unnamed)

a/n: All of these are subject to change/be added to or deleted throughout the year. This is just what I have at the moment. There are some wips I haven't added, because they aren't plotted and have no full storyline in my head. Here's to a good year of writing!

[theomeganerd]

Video Game News Stories For February 20, 2024

Nintendo Switch-Exclusive Games Discount

Nintendo fans can celebrate as several exclusive games for the Nintendo Switch are now available at discounted prices. Whether you’re a fan of iconic franchises like Mario, Zelda, or Pokémon, there’s something for everyone. Dive into these captivating adventures without breaking the bank.

Apex Legends Legend Upgrades

Attention, Apex Legends players! Get ready to level up your Legends with new upgrades and shield cores. Whether you’re a seasoned champion or a fresh recruit, these enhancements promise to change the dynamics of the game. Sharpen your skills and dominate the arena!

Microsoft Visual Studio 2022 Pro License Sale

For developers, Microsoft Visual Studio 2022 Pro licenses are currently on sale. Priced at just $45, these licenses provide access to powerful tools for coding, debugging, and building applications. Enhance your development workflow and stay ahead in the software development game.

Windows 11 Pro Discount

Upgrade your operating system! Windows 11 Pro is available at a discounted price of $23 this weekend. Experience the sleek interface, improved performance, and new features that Windows 11 has to offer. Whether you’re working or gaming, this upgrade is worth considering.

Diablo 4 SteelSeries Accessories Sale

Prepare for the infernal battles of Diablo 4 with discounted SteelSeries accessories. From gaming mice to headsets, these peripherals are designed for demon-slaying excellence. Equip yourself and venture into the dark realms with confidence.

Fanatical’s Mystery Fire Bundle

Curious about what’s inside? Fanatical’s Mystery Fire Bundle offers up to 20 Steam games for just $14. Unbox the surprises and discover hidden gems among the flames. Will you find your next favorite title in this bundle?

Embracer’s Game Cancellations and Layoffs

Embracer Group, the parent company of several game studios, has made tough decisions. They canceled 29 games and laid off 1,400 employees in the last six months. The gaming industry can be unpredictable, even for giants.

Superman: Legacy Film Update

Director James Gunn sheds light on the upcoming Superman film. Unfortunately, Bassem Youssef won’t appear in the movie. Fans speculate on the reasons behind this casting choice. The Man of Steel’s legacy continues to intrigue us.

Nightingale’s Extended Gameplay Trailer

Crafting, realms, and adventure await in Nightingale. The extended gameplay trailer showcases intricate systems and captivating visuals. Dive into this fantasy world and uncover its secrets.

Nintendo Switch 2 Release Update

Hold your Joy-Cons tightly! The Nintendo Switch 2 might not arrive until 2025. Rumors swirl about its features, but Nintendo remains tight-lipped. Patience, fellow gamers!

[rags-writes]

My Master List

Ao3 : Rags_Writes

Tik tok : Rags_Writes

Please follow to show you support.

Request status: Open go here for the rules.

Arcane (League Of Legends):

Holidays Special:

2022 -

Arcane's Valentine’s Day - Valentine’s day with you and your Arcane lover.

Series:

The Crime Lord's Secretary

Part One - Let Me Be Yours - Being the secretary to the biggest crime lord in the Undercity had plenty of perks. Like being able to wear and look how ever Alice wanted to. None of that topside shit of having to look a certain way to be professional. The hours where long but the pay makes up for it. Even if she was to run late, she didn’t live far, just one floor above the office. Not to mention a boss with a voice that seem to caress her body every time he spoke, he was even finer to look at.

Of course with the perks came cons. The likelihood of being murdered increases with each step she takes deeper in the crime world. Even by her own boss but that was nothing compared to the situation Alice finds herself in this moment.

Call of Duty:

Requests -

Untitled (Konig x Reader) - Rated M - Requested by @apollodarling-writes - After a mission, you find yourself unable to sleep, so a quick trip to steal Ghost's tea should help you fall asleep unless you run into another masked giant who had been plaguing your mind.

Lean on Me (Ghost & Reader) - Rated T - You're the youngest on the 141 squad, yet you've been with them for two years and they still treat you like a rookie. Hell, they still call you the rookie callsign but you don't let that bring you down. Then you go home and when you come back, you're different. That spark you had disappeared and Ghost is determent to get it back even if it means he actually has to talk.

Headcanons -

When you accidentally bump into them - Ghost and Soap

141 helps you move headcanons - Price, Ghost, Soap and Gaz

Cyberpunk 2077:

Headcanons -

What would they impulse buy at the grocery store?

One-shot -

Voice in my head, Gun in my hand - Life can go all sorts of ways. One minute I'm having the time of my life. Next, my best friend is dead. I get a brain parasite. Said parasite is killing me. I fall in love with him. Then he leaves and I'm still dying. I still see him, taunting me but I can't let go. I can't take it anymore, I'm at the end of my rope.

Play it on Repeat - V's mourning her best friend on a rainy day and Johnny is surprisingly comforting.

FanFic -

When Two Seconds Chances Collide - Johnny wasn't the only victim of Soulkiller. A girl with red eyes haunts his past. When he wakes up in 2077 stuck in the head of a thief who has secrets that she doesn't even know. He can help him think of their similar traits as he think of could have be. Will he be able to change or will he down down in flames again?

V is just a thief, or that what she tells everyone. A nobody but with hidden talent and no memory from a young age she left to wonder if she really is a nobody. when a heist goes wrong she is left with a dead best friend and a terrorist stuck in her head. on a timer she race to find a way to save herself before the engram kills her. Unfortunately for her the engram also stir up an emotion in her that she didn't even know was possible. Not mentioning her recurring nightmares are getting worst of flash of event that she never live through or could ever live through. Will she be able to put together the puzzle before her time runs out?

Dragon Age Inquisition:

Headcanons -

^Nothing here for now^

One-shot -

The Path You Cannot Follow - Rated T - Waking in a place full of shadows, Solas sees only his mistake. On the path of redemption that leads to just one destination: Death. He accepts his fate and goes on his path but when one shadow appears to be too radiant, Solas struggles to turn away from her.

Marauders Era

Remember everyone Fuck JK Rowling, this shit is mine.(Legally it's not but you know what I mean)

Series:

Drowning Fate

Part 1 - Drowning Change - Regulus had accepted his fate, drowning alone in his cave in the hope that others would destroy the dark lord, but someone changed his fate, and he now has hope of living till the end of the war.

Headcanons :

Starchaser -My Collections of headcanons and drabbles of James Fleamont Potter. These will be the backstory for James in any of my fanfic of him unless stated otherwise in any of the fanfic.

Sunseeker - My collections of headcanons and drabbles of Regulus Arcturus Black. These will be the backstory for Regulus in any of my fanfic of him unless stated otherwise in any of the fanfic.

Collaborations With Hale_Grey

Series:

Marauders Era -

Stars Realign

Book One - The Flies in the Spider's Web - After a prank gone wrong, Sirius and Regulus reunite on the Quidditch pitch and an unexpected wish sends the brothers back in time. Now they have a chance of changing the future, ending the war, and saving everyone. But will they be able to heal years of pain and regret to do so, or will they repeat the same mistakes that tore them apart in the first place?

Remember to heart, leave kudos and comments to show you're support.

[halconnoticias]

Guardianes de la Galaxia Vol.3 | Un Conmovedor Cierre

Por: Hector Gaytan. 14 de mayo de 2023.

Sin Spoilers.

Seis años después de su segunda entrega y tras un controversial despido, James Gunn cierra su trilogía de los Guardianes de la Galaxia antes de encaminarse a dirigir el reinicio del universo DC. La más que recomendada cinta nos sitúa tiempo después de Avengers: Endagme (2019) y The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (2022), donde el equipo de inadaptados galácticos deberá cruzar la galaxia en una última aventura para salvar al universo y a uno de los suyos, mientras aprenden a dejar el pasado atrás.

Sin dudas James Gunn se despide de Marvel en grande con una enternecedora película que se aleja de la obligación de estar conectada a otras para construir un gran evento, como la tercera cinta de Ant-Man. Desde el detonante uno se da cuenta de que esta película le pertenece únicamente a los guardianes, brincamos de un conflicto en el multiverso a algo más íntimo. Los personajes que llevamos 9 años conociendo tienen un cierre que brilla por el cariño y el estilo con el que se desarrolla.

Marvel Studios hizo lo que debió haber hecho desde el fin de la fase 3, darle la libertad a los directores de enfocarse en sus historias y no en exclusivamente construir su nuevo gran evento. La cinta toma riesgos al tocar temas sensibles y en romper las expectativas a las que la trilogía nos tenía acostumbrados. El viaje acompañado de los ex-criminales es disfrutable y crudo al mismo tiempo.

En lo negativo, para algunos espectadores los guardianes pueden parecer más caricaturizados y extravagantes que de costumbre, razón no les falta. La película brinca de un tono dramático a uno cómico sin paciencia o sutileza, el cambio abrupto a la comedia rompe la tensión que Gunn intenta impregnar y el misterio rompe una muy extravagante e irreverente comedia. Los chistes no siempre se sienten frescos, al contrario, se sienten fuera de lugar, a excepción de dos escenas a mitad del filme en las que un anti humor ejecutado con base en las personalidades y traumas de los protagonistas hizo reír a toda la sala.

La interacción entre los personajes se vuelve demasiado cursi, lo cual generalmente funciona con la historia, pero a veces termina cayendo en lo incómodo. Las actuaciones se vuelven demasiado frenéticas, como si los personajes se hubiesen tomado 5 tazas de café y tuvieran que hablar o moverse de forma extravagante cada vez que pueden; el ritmo se siente lento, hasta el punto medio de la cinta parece que el guión no sabe cómo resolver el conflicto que plantea o como seguir la historia.

Sobre la selección musical tan característica de la saga, he de decir que de las 3 películas esta es la que más me ha quedado a deber. Pues, aunque esta incluye canciones de Radiohead o Do You Realize?? de The Flaming Lips la mayoría se sienten a priori desaprovechadas o que no encajan en las escenas en las que están colocadas y se sienten más como un relleno en la mezcla sonora, no hay armonía entre la imagen y el sonido. Como si estas hubiesen sido escogidas luego de terminar el guión, en lugar de que las escenas fueran escritas con base al ritmo de las melodías, a excepción de The Dog Days Are Over y No Sleep Till Brooklyn.

Además, el compositor de la banda sonora original de las dos primeras cintas -Tyler Bates- no regresó para el volumen 3 por su compromiso con la 4 parte de John Wick y la ausencia de su ambientación se nota. John Murphy (The Suicide Squad) y Kevin Kinner (Peacemaker) hacen lo posible por recuperar la esencia orquestal de los guardianes, pero las composiciones se sienten incapaces de evocar a otra emoción que no sea una bélica tensión que con el pasar del filme se siente sosa.

Aunque en los efectos especiales y prácticos el cierre de la trilogía se lleva las palmas, si bien sí hay ciertos errores que distinguen que Groot y Rocket son hechos por computadora, esta es la película de Disney/Marvel que mejor se ve en años. Gunn optó una mezcla casi perfecta de CGI y efectos prácticos, al punto que se le acaba de otorgar un récord Guinness por la mayor cantidad de aplicaciones de maquillaje/prostéticos creados para una única producción.

La fotografía de Henry Braham junto con la dirección de arte destaca tanto como en las primeras dos cintas, añadiendo una capa extra de extravagancia que es capaz de preocupar al espectador, sorprender y provocar risas y lágrimas.

El estilo de Gunn ya no es tan diferente e innovador como lo fue en su época, ya que todo Marvel y hasta otras productoras, se dedicaron a copiarlo, pero sigue sintiéndose carismático. El final es maravilloso, una despedida de Gunn a sus personajes que se que quedará en el corazón de los espectadores, es un final que revertirá toda expectativa de la publicidad y de los seguidores de la filmografía del director. Sí, puede resultar menos “impactante” de lo esperado, pero sin duda es emocional y hará a todos sacar una lágrima.

La película se siente más informal, menos de estudio, factor que le juega tanto a favor como en contra. No es la mejor de las 3, ese puesto sigue perteneciendo al volumen 1. Sin embargo, es una experiencia disfrutable que vale la pena ser vivida, una película de superhéroes que tocará en lo más profundo de cualquier espectador. La trilogía de guardianes se consagra como la más única del UCM, la que marcó un estilo en Hollywood que todos intentan copiar. Se entiende por qué nadie quiso el puesto de Gunn, el ADN de los guardianes está en su mente y en su alma, el nuevo universo de DC está en buenas manos. La película es un bello parque de diversiones que recuerda que en Marvel Studios deben dejar de expandir su universo y deben profundizar en él.

[shopwitchvamp]

Hello! I just found you and your clothes are amazing!

Out of curiosity, I’ve noticed some circle specific patterns used for the skater and midi, but I don’t think I’ve seen any maxi circle skirts… do you think you’d ever make some, or even just the circle specific patterned ones, or is it a matter of being just too much fabric?

Hi! Thank you & thanks for being here!!

So this explanation is gonna require a bit of a 🌟Journey Through Time🌟! Get ready for a long answer. (Short version: maxis are just really new)

I ended up thinking about this a lot, because I couldn't even remember my own timeline fully, but here it is:

Made my first skaters - 2015

Joggers, all-over-print tshirts - early 2018

Skirts gained pockets!, first midi - late 2018

Finally made more midis, first solid color skirt - 2020

First gradients introduced - early 2022

Maxis - spring 2022

Skaters go so far back that when I first started selling them it was at con tables that looked like this:

If you ever saw me at a con back in this era, you a real one

So for "circle specific patterns" if you mean one's like the Ouija Board or Demon/Angel Summoning, they were first introduced back when I only had skaters.

In 2020, I finally started to make more midis (only one I had for quite a while was Polkat Dot). Midis quickly became much more popular than skaters, so in 2021 I focused on adding more midi designs (and solid colors which were also more popular than my older designs).

2021 also was my first BIG hit design with the Spider Lily Midis. Which at the time was only on midis & then a variant on joggers.

So, 2022! I knew going in that Maxis would be introduced in the spring. I just had two at first, and they're both not exactly circle designs. Emergence is kinda a combo of a repeating pattern and a circle design, Queen of the Night is just a large motif.

My next chance to add more maxi options was during spring preorders. I didn't have enough time to make straight up new designs, so I needed to pick from existing designs and modify them to fit onto maxis. I went with designs that had already proven popular and wouldn't take a long time to rework for maxis (Spider Lily, Apathy & Spring Fever Gradients, Solid Black, Creepy Eyes, Polkat Dot). Out of all of these, Spider Lily is really the only one that's a "circle design".

After that, in 2022 I had plans for a summer collection, and for a bunch of reasons (including that it was summer, so shorter skirts would be more in demand) I didn't include maxis in that set. The two circle designs in that collection are Jealous Flame & Poisoned Apple. Jealous Flame was very well recieved & I think it'd work well on a maxi, so I'll very likely make that available later this year.

Shortly after that collection went up, a lot of things happened and a lot of things changed. I ended up running fall preorders with less new designs than I'd originally intended. One was another hybrid repeating pattern + circle design maxi, a variant on my Blue Rose midi design.

That pretty much brings us up to date! There are a lot of designs I haven't turned into maxis yet just because there hasn't been enough time. Ones you can expect this year include the Agony gradient, Jealous Flame, maybe Red Rose, and then a number of new not yet revealed designs. The majority of my existing "circle designs" are still only on skaters, are pretty old (most are circa. 2017), and they're not very popular compared to newer designs. I'm not sure if I'll go back and make them work on midis/maxis because I think at this point I'd rather redo them (plans are in place to redo my Demon Summoning design, as an example) or just make completely new designs. I have so many ideas and relatively so little time (and funds), so I have to be very selective about what designs I release, what designs I retire, and what I put on which type of clothing.

I'm sure this is wayyyy more answer than you bargained for, haha. But I hope it was interesting to hear some history! This has also reminded me that I really want to put together a timeline/design graveyard page on Witch Vamp. Little do many of you know that before Witch Vamp was Witch Vamp, things started off with skirts like this:

[fireboots4all]

At the Stake Waiting For the Fire

I took this selfie while I was in a conversation with a so-called Illuminati recruiter about fulfilling my ultimate dream of burning at the stake naked in the fall/winter of 2022.

The recruiter told me that the Illuminati would fulfil my dream, of course she wanted a significant amount of money and “donations” before they would arrange to burn me at the stake.

Sensing a scam and a con in the works I declined to send the Illuminati any more money.

Even then the recruiter told me that the planning for my burning was in the works and that “The Burning Must Happen” whether I “donated” or not. She also told me that 2023 was the year I would burn.

I was truly looking forward to burning at the stake totally naked so I went to a forest clearing, stripped naked, wrapped my self around a tree and took this selfie. I was envisioning the Illuminati burning me at the stake!

This is the same clearing where I had done a simulated stake burning in the winter of 2006. In 2006 I did build a fire behind me and had flames licking my bare bum!

Like the Illuminati recruiter said, I believed that “The Burning Must Happen”!

[astaldis]

Nauseous

@whumpers-monthly

Fandom: The Witcher 

Whumpee: Cahir

Whumper: Emhyr var Emreis

Exerpt from chapter 6 of ‘Prison Blues’ - Warning: Maggots

"Splendid. Then let's make a deal. You eat this one bowl of food right in front of my eyes to show you respect my orders. And, as a reward, I'll have better food sent to you in the future." Smiling a self-satisfied smile at his ingeniously benevolent proposal, he motions to one of the guards to bring the usual rancid, alive-with-maggots goo and bread that is supposed to be food.

As always, Cahir's stomach starts to turn just at the sight and smell. However, with the Emperor looking and the ever looming threat of being turned over to the torture master once again if he does not comply, he fights down the rising bile and takes a deep, steadying breath through his half-open mouth to avoid the worst of the stench. It is only food, not an instrument of torture. It cannot truly hurt him, even if it is utterly disgusting. Moreover, having to eat maggots can hardly be more humiliating than having to strip before the Emperor, can it? And he has done that. He is still naked on the floor. He only has to keep it down as long as the White Flame is watching, too. He can do this. He must. Still, his eyes well up with tears of shame as he brings the maggoty piece of bread to his mouth. He gags reflexively and quickly closes his eyes. Maybe it won't be as bad if he cannot see the wriggling white grubworms? But he can feel them moving in his mouth when he has taken the first bite. Which is decidedly worse. Valiantly suppressing the strong urge to hurl and spit it all out, he chews quickly and tries to swallow. However, it does not work. The bread is too dry, as is his mouth. And he is still missing a tongue to help with the swallowing. Cahir coughs and gags again. Desperate, he opens his eyes to look for the bowl with water.

"Here, take a sip. You are doing good. And I am here to help." The Emperor passes him the bowl with the tepid water, smiling down at the prisoner encouragingly. Gingerly Cahir gulps down some of the liquid and with it the bread that is in his mouth. And the maggots. They still feel alive as they go down his gullet with the rest of the food. No, don't think about it. Just do it again. Some more mouths full, a few more horrible minutes, and then it will be over. He takes another bite of the bread.

When Cahir has finally managed to eat up, his face is glistening with cold sweat and looking almost green. He is shaking and feels like he has to vomit any second now, but he cannot let that happen. This whole ordeal will be for nought if he does while the Emperor is still here.

"See, it isn't so difficult to follow my orders." Emhyr pats Cahir on the naked shoulder approvingly. "And it will be worth while, you'll see tomorrow. As I promised." He turns toward the door. "And, Cahir, you need to exercise. Regularly. The guards will make sure you do. I need you fighting-fit when the time comes."

The door closes behind the White Flame. Finally. And not a second too early. Cahir just manages to reach the bucket before his stomach convulses violently and he retches everything up again. Bits of bread and goo and maggots and all.

Prison Blues 

Published: 2022-06-04; Completed: 2022-08-03

Words: 32,672; Chapters: 14/14

Summary: While sitting around the campfire with his companions, Jaskier sings one of his favourite songs. Which elicits a very unexpected reaction from one of the more recent additions to the company. Jaskier can be such an idiot once in a while. The good thing is - he knows and is ready to apologise. However, things are much worse than he anticipated and a quick sorry nowhere near enough.

Rating: Explicit

Archive Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Rape/Non-Con

Category: Gen

Relationships: Cahir Mawr Dyffryn aep Ceallach/Emhyr var Emreis; Cahir Mawr Dyffryn aep Ceallach & Jaskier | Dandelion; Assire var Anahid & Cahir Mawr Dyffryn aep Ceallach; Cahir Mawr Dyffryn aep Ceallach & Merlin The Cat

Additional Tags: Friendship; Trauma; Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD; Torture; Aftermath of Torture; netflix season 2 compliant; Spoilers for The Witcher (TV) Season ; Angst; Vomiting; Sexual Abuse; Maggots; Emhyr is an evil bastard; Hurt/Comfort; Whump; a few days after the battle on the bridge; and directly after season 2 ends; Panic Attacks; Cats are the best; and bards; Jaskier is a good friend; Cahir Mawr Dyffryn aep Ceallach Has a Bad Time

Read ‘Prison Blues’ on Ao3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/39433770

[ao3feed-brucewayne]

Banished Bastards

by ItsFinished Blade filled his lungs with air as soon as he knew he needed it urgently. The wounds on his forearms burned like flames across his bruised skin, and he snorted as came up from his crouching position. Vampire's mouth filled with blood, his nose was probably nearly broken. The sun went through his eyes like a gust before illuminating his entire body, Blade tilted his head before frowning... the creature was not dying. or: Where different vampires that are totally different from the ordinary turn out to be actually a commune, Blade decides to ally with a couple of hunters knowing that the enemy is big and Michael is really screwed. Words: 3553, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English Fandoms: Fandom: Blade (Movies 1998 - 2004), Blade (Comics), Morbius: The Living Vampire, Morbius (2022), Twilight (Movies), Fright Night (2011), Van Helsing (2004), Interview With the Vampire (Movie 1994), Batman (Movies - Nolan), The Dark Tower (2017), The Incredible Hulk (2008), Near Dark (1987) Rating: Explicit Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Rape/Non-Con Categories: M/M, Other Characters: Blade Eric Brooks, Michael Morbius, Jerry Dandrige, Lestat de Lioncourt, Louis de Pointe du Lac, Armand (Vampire Chronicles), Peter Vincent, Aro (Twilight), Milo Crown, Gabriel Van Helsing, Vladislaus Dracula, Bruce Wayne, Roland Deschain, Walter Padick, Bruce Banner, Severen (Near Dark) Relationships: Michael Morbius/Blade | Eric Brooks, Aro (Twilight)/Peter Vincent, Lestat de Lioncourt/Louis de Pointe du Lac, Blade | Eric Brooks & Peter Vincent, Milo Crown & Michael Morbius, Gabriel Van Helsing & Blade I Eric Brooks, Michael Morbius/Bruce Wayne, Jerry Dandrige/Lestat de Lioncourt, Roland Deschain/Walter Padick, Louis de Pointe du Lac/Bruce Banner, Vladislaus Dracula/Gabriel Van Helsing Additional Tags: Blood and Gore, Blood Drinking, Vampire Hunters, Cliche, Love/Hate, Dark, Hybrids, Angst, Hurt No Comfort, Threats of Rape/Non-Con, Crossovers & Fandom Fusions, Crack Treated Seriously, Vampire Sex, Explicit Sexual Content, Vampire Family, Crying, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Hunter/Vampire Relationship, references to some other franchises and fandoms, you know, Painful Sex, Rape Recovery, Vampire Bites, Not Canon Compliant, Oral Sex, Canon-Typical Violence, Jealousy, Out of Character, Dark Magic, Horror, Angst and Tragedy, marvel/dc crossover - Freeform via https://ift.tt/fAmtMlK

[petravoncult]

Favorite 2022 First-Watches 🎬

this year, i've only managed to watch 173 films according to my letterboxd logs - that's already including rewatches. 2022 certainly fucked me in many ways i couldn't even imagine at the first place, which is part of the reason why i couldn't spare more time to watch more. 🥲

regardless, it's suffice to say that i've managed to broaden my horizon for a bit, discovering and finding unique films from many corners of the world, unrestrained by release dates or its mood and nature - highbrow, classy, unhinged, you name it; some of them eventually latched onto my mind and soul ❤

now i wouldn't be ranking these films in a particular order, but i will start with the ones that completely won me over and went straight into my all-time favorites!

these are the films i'd probably rate a perfect 10 if i had used the traditional metric score, but i don't review movies that way anymore 👇

Mikey and Nicky (1976), dir. Elaine May 🇺🇸

John Cassavetes and Peter Falk were best friends in real life - and simultaneously two of the best actors of their generation, so there's no doubt they were enthralling to watch in here. indeed, the film's power lies on their dynamite improvisational chops that chronicled the breakdown of their relationship over a night, fights and conversations filled up with intense emotions coupled together with May's minimal direction helped this film shined through and through. i'm definitely a sucker for character-driven movies, so hurrah 🙌

Love Letter (1995) dir. Shunji Iwai 🇯🇵

coincidences and memories of a deceased one can lead you to unexpected findings you took for granted at first, changing how you view that particular person in a different light. perhaps the 'contrived coincidence' trope has been done to death in every type of media imaginable - but due to the naturally-progressing plot that always keeps you interested and Shunji Iwai's directing, it feels very much fresh, not generic, and hits all the beats it's supposed to! Love Letter is blissful and warm, yet it's also a terribly sad tale about a love story that's almost meant to be. 💔

The Devils (1971) dir. Ken Russell 🇬🇧

god, if it isn't an over-indulgent picture (in a good way). to be more exact, it's about overzealous hypocrites indulging themselves in shameless immorality, shielding behind the tenets of Christianity to justify their actions. and they all went down in glorious flames, as depicted mercilessly by Ken Russell with the incredibly eye-catching set designs by Derek Jarman. while it's set in the Middle Ages when those deemed dark witches were guaranteed death sentences, I still think it functions effectively as a critique of the current state of 'religious' conservatives who are so blinded with hate for anyone but themselves. it's a lot of fun to watch, too, even if it does seem too cartoonish at times. (Oliver Reed, sexy and marvelous 💪)

A Snake of June (2002) dir. Shinya Tsukamoto 🇯🇵

Shinya Tsukamoto's films are basically when you combine Lynch's affinity for industrial-themed surrealness and Cronenberg's exploration of the human body transformation, only for their presentation and energy to be cranked up to 11. out of many Tsukamotos i've watched this year, A Snake of June fascinated me the most. i think this is when Tsukamoto's themes and trademarks really worked for me, because they synergize so much this time around; it's relentless in its exploration of self-destructive eroticism, creating a haunting yet sexually-charged atmosphere. it also left quite a lot to be analyzed due to its ambiguous nature (especially toward the end). endlessly rewatchable 👍

On the Silver Globe (1988) dir. Andrzej Zulawski 🇵🇱

a bit unfair to include this since it technically is an unfinished film, but this certainly was one of the most intense movies i've seen in a long time. the bleakness of the material is the foundation of the cinematic earthquake that would've been had it been completed, added with colorful costumes and dystopic set designs that contributes to the mystiqueness of the picture. the most prominent aspect, of course, is Zulawski's direction - while it may seem exhausting and annoying for some, in my honest opinion it certainly worked the way it's heading for. if i had to remake an existing film, it would be this one.

other films that i adore during my first watch this year include:

Blue (2002) dir. Hiroshi Ando 🇯🇵

Dogra Magra (1987) dir. Toshio Matsumoto 🇯🇵

Ashik Kerib (1988) dir. Sergei Parajanov 🇬🇪

The Wolf House (2018) dir. Joaquin Cociña & Cristóbal León 🇨🇱

Four Nights of a Dreamer (1971) dir. Robert Bresson 🇫🇷

there are so many other movies i like & love which unfortunately couldn't make it to my mentions on this post. movies are abundant and it's impossible to watch every single one of them in a lifetime, but finding those that resonate with you is a very personal and treasuring experience!

thank you 2022, here's hoping to watching more next year 🥂

[sluggybasson107]

Overall thoughts on the Digimon Con 2023! I am writing this while sleep deprived, so please ignore grammar or spelling mistakes, thank you <3

Feel free to share opinions on this post!! I’d love to hear it!!

I feel way more split after this year’s con compared to 2022. To me, the con felt like a recap of recent Digimon products than a deep dive of Digimon and its future?? If that makes sense.

Even though I did joke about the female host not being present, watching only one host and a lot of prerecorded videos made it feel way less exciting during the fluffier parts of the con. The second to last segment where everyone watched two people play with their bracelets was extremely boring.

The worst part about the con was the subtitles. I probably could’ve enjoyed most of the fluffier and slower parts of the con if I could understand what they are saying! Unfortunately, the subtitles for the English version of the stream were broken, making a lot of the con awkward. I ended up drawing during a talking segment due to the lack of English subtitles.

I did enjoy a lot of the con too! I loved the Digimon Strike promotion and concerts (even if the last concert felt like last ditch nostalgia bait)! Also, the interview with Takuya’s and Hiro’s VAs at the beginning was really sweet to watch!!!

I had the most fun during the card compositions though! While the visual effects from last year’s con didn’t stay (rip Daisuke card going into flames), I loved watching everyone play and battle!! Sunglasses man aka surprise pikachu face man was so entertaining to watch too!

In the end, I felt like there were really fun segments, but the company could’ve cut the con into half the time to get rid of the fluffier segments and thirty minute long advertisements. If there will be another con next year, I will plan to watch it, even if this con was a little bit messy. I hope you all had fun moments while watching the stream and a good rest of your day/night!!

Anyways these aren’t my final thoughts and I need sleep. Goodnight!!

[dbzebra]

For the fanfic ask game: 18, 21, 22, 40 and 66

Thanks for the ask :D

18. Do you title your fics before, during, or after the writing process? How do you come up with titles?

Definitely after. I’m not the best with titles tbh so sometimes I just come up with something random.

But some fics/chapter titles I try to title them like they’re an episode of DB.

For example “Ghosts From the Past” is a reference to Z episode 164 “Ghosts From Tomorrow” :)

21. Would you ever collaborate with another writer for a story?

Absolutely! I’ve always wanted to do that :)

22. Are there certain types of writing you won’t do?

Angst with no happy ending

Non-con/dub-con

Cheating

I’m pretty flexible with what I could and couldn’t write but these three are automatic no under any circumstances for me, plus there’s some ships I’ll never write either

40. If someone were to make a fanart of your work, what fic or scene would you like to see?

Oh god, getting any literally fanart of my fics would make my whole year I can’t even imagine. But if I had to pick basically anything with MarTen kissing or hugging or just being touchy cause there’s not enough of that lol

66. How do you deal with writing pressure (ie. pressure to update, negative comments, deadlines, etc.)?

For pressure to update it doesn’t really effect me because those people never comment once I update anyway.

For negative comments, really depends. I’d it’s flames I just try to ignore it but it may hurt my feelings, but for just general criticism I will try to look into it and see if I can improve. Sometimes I just won’t agree with what they don’t like and move on

Writing deadlines I’m not great with tbh because I’ve given myself multiple in 2022 and none of them were accomplished lol