#he's made this ep absolutely brilliant

[flanaganfilm]

Hey Mike! Huge fan of your work, and if I can gush for a second, that one-shot in Hill House ep. 6, HOLY FUCKING SHIT. I was practically jumping out of my seat when I first watched. Hill House may be my favorite piece of horror media. Well done, sir.

To my question, I'm curious if you've seen the film Possum directed by Mathew Holness. If so, I'd be very curious about your thoughts! You can cut the atmosphere in that movie with a knife, and how shots linger on that damned puppet, shivers. Big shoutout to the prop team on that one. The first horror film to give me nightmares in ages.

Cheers!

I absolutely loved Possum. I was so impressed with it that I started to research who made it, and was pleasantly shocked to discover it was Matthew Holness, as I was also a huge fan of Garth Marenghi's Darkplace. I was amazed that those two things could come out of the same brain.

I praised Possum as loudly as I could on Twitter, which led to Matthew responding. We started writing back and forth, and then met on a zoom, and I offered him a role in The Haunting of Bly Manor. He played Miles and Flora's doomed father, the brother of Henry Thomas' character. His performance is absolutely excellent.

I'd love to find a way to support him as a director, as well, and over the years we've tried to find a project that Intrepid can produce for him. Matthew is brilliant, and Possum is exceptional.

[imogenisgod]

MAJOR EP C3 95 SPOILERS LOOK AWAY

Marisha, Matt, and Liam did such a good job. Marisha handling and rping for Laudna this episode was insanely good.

Her choices for Laudna where Laudnas mind is at right now made perfect sense. She believes she hasn’t lied, she is being gaslit, she is trying to protect those she loves, she is trying to protect Imogen. It was everything and so angsty and I choked the shit out of my stuffed animal while watching the whole thing.

It was absolutely even more heartbreaking when Imogen and her were on the roof. The repeating of i love you, asking if she’s still fun more than scary needing to know that what she’s doing didn’t ruin the one thing she is trying so very hard to protect. That love that’s also in Imogen making the poor girls heart shatter because she loves this woman but Laudna is sick not in an evil way, but a genuine sick way. An addiction way that neither of them or anyone knows how to control or help or aid in the slightest.

Matt’s voice syncing with Marisha was top notch! He did a great job and I think that entire scene will play in my head for awhile. From start to finish. Matt is an amazing story teller, amazing at balancing everything and going through the tension and making the angst so good. He genuinely has a brilliant mind. (The rest of the cats do to ofc)

Liam’s emotions as Orym were just as heartbreaking. I couldn’t help but understand him and also be mad at him. I am hella biased with how much I love Laudna, tho. I don’t think he was wrong, but at the same time I can see why it would upset Laudna of all people as well with or with your Delilah’s influence. But Orym was hurt so badly, he had his life shredded and torn apart because of this blade and reclaiming it for good, to fight against evil is a beautiful and growth filled thing to do.

What a brilliant fantastic episode! I genuinely think it’s one of my favorites in c3. It had a lot of things I’ve been waiting for, and things I didn’t even know I wanted. I cant wait for thé next episode, i am vibrating with excitement!

[starryalpacasstuff]

LITBC Episodes 1 and 2; Differences in Mediums

I finally watched the first two episodes of litbc, and I am absolutely in awe. This show is doing a brilliant job at presenting the story in a way that remains authentic to the themes and storyline of the book but at the same time bringing in a new perspective that gives us a new take on the story. This is a perfect example of what an adaptation should be like; true to the story but also bringing something new unique to the different medium.

The third question the book club discussion post brought up actually happened to be one of the foremost things on my mind while I was watching the first two eps. How does the broader lens of the show affect our perception, as the audience, of the characters in Go Young's life? My initial impression was that the show was...kinder to the characters than the book was, in particular Nam Gyu and Mi Ae. But I've come to think that, rather than the show being the kinder one, it's simply a difference of perspective. In the book, a majority of our understanding of the events comes from Young, who has strong opinions and a cynical worldview. K3 is barely mentioned and is presented to us as the kind of person Young views him as; overbearing, dramatic, and in the end, entirely unimportant. With the show, we're able to see things from Nam Gyu's perspective a little and understand him more. Similarly, in the book we're only able to see Jaehee from Young's perspective and feel a similar sense of betrayal as he does, while the show, by allowing us to see the actual confrontation between Mi Ae and her boyfriend, helps us feel more empathy for her. I think that the show allows us to learn more about Go Young by developing the characters of the people he interacts with—his interactions with them tell us more about him because we know more about them.

I think an appropriate parallel to draw here would be the difference between a friend ranting to you about a horrible person in their lives that you know practically nothing about—in which you're honor bound to vehemently agree and join in on the bitching—and watching your friend have issues with a person you are better acquainted with—wherein you're far more likely to act as more of a mediator and try to get your friend to calm the fuck down.

I also think it's worth noting that at the end of the first two episodes, Mi Ae and Go Young seem far more friendly than Jaehee and Young; most noticeably due to the lack of Young's bitter internal monologue. I'm fairly certain that even in this iteration, Go Young's feelings aren't all that different, the difference lies in the perspective of the show, which is far less intimate with Go Young than the book.

While the book club was still running, I wrote a little about Jaehee here, in particular about her being an ally, her acceptance of Young, and her failure to understand him. But I think the show made it clearer that this failure to understand the other person went both ways. I think a few people had pointed this out last time, but the show made it far more clear; though Mi Ae and Go Young were close, their friendship was based largely on their shared experiences as outcasts and their similarities, and they rarely ever discussed anything deeper about themselves. The show makes this quite explicit with Mi Ae pointedly refusing to talk about her mother and Young simply never bringing his up with her. So, it was to be expected Mi Ae beginning to conform more to society's expectations would drive a wedge in their relationship. The show also makes it abundantly clear that Mi Ae drifting away from Go Young was a major factor in him being enraged at her when she confessed to having outed him—to him, it was something like the final nail in the coffin, proof that Mi Ae had changed.

I'm really enjoying the way this show is enriching our understanding of not only Go Young but also the other characters of the story; allowing us even more insight into these incredibly complex characters. I'm also quite excited to see the way the different directors will impact the episodes and what the entire show will be like as a collective—something to thing about next week.

[happypotato48]

List of Thai BL dramas i've watched with short opinions about them i guess :P

Thai BLs that i finished:

A Boss and a Babe. It's cute for what it is, i loved the gaming friendships and i'm a sucker for forcebook. 7/10 need more unhinged energy from book.

A Tale of Thousand Stars/Our Skyy 2 : Bad Buddy x A Tale Of Thousand stars. this show reminds me a lot of early to mid 2000s lakorns. it's a beautiful by the book love story, i appreciated that a bl got to take a spin on this kind of quiet thai story. 8/10 loved it but still too vanilla for my taste.

Bake Me Please. Guide Kantapon is the cutest man alive and CAKES! that it, that all i have for this show. 6/10 it's a show that exist.

Be My Favorite. damn fluke gawin is so pretty what was this show about again? :P i'm kidding, i actually really liked this show. i watched it when i had zero knowledge about bl industry, i was oblivious about krist's controversy and i find krist acting to be charming and think kawee is very relatable as a cringe fail human myself. 8.5/10 this show made me want to collected weird thingies.

Cherry Magic (Thailand). oh boy this show. it's was everything to me also the only show so far that i've written extensively on this site. here is my personal feeling about this show. 9.5/10 would kill for taynew.

Cooking Crush. what! the fuc$! look look, i just learned that both offgun are older than me. when i first saw the show i thought they were some rookie actors with how young they looks. watching cute bl is gonna be the death of me. anywho this show is supercute don't have a lot of thought about it though. 7.5/10 cutting half a point cause of no samsee x metha.

Cutie Pie/Naughty Babe. what a fuckin legend of a series. all the characters have zero braincells and somehow all the rich pretty boys are engaged to each other and by arranged marriages nonetheless. wtf is this fanfic version of thailand and where can i get hit by a truck and get isekai to it. 7.5/10 still haven't watch Cutie Pie 2 U, i hope it get dumber.

Enchanté. this show is so dummmb it should've go full camp reverse harem yaoi nonsense but it didn't and ended up being kinda boring. 6.5/10. meh, i'm still a sucker for forcebook.

Last Twilight. UGHHH!! i'm still so mad. this show was going to be THE SHOW for me then ep 11-12 happened i legit mentally check out halfway through ep 12 and i basically blocked the ending from my mind. this show came out at the right place and the right time for me, the first 9 episodes helped me through a very tough time in my life. the story of two people helping each other finding their way out of the dark was very compelling to me. ughh. 5.5/10 (9/10 for ep 1-9) P'Aof why are you like this!!

Laws Of Attraction. yassssssss this show slay(literally :P) the show is a breath of fresh air for me despite how very lakorn of it is. i'm glad that there is a bl that feel this soapy and campy cause like i do love my angsty and innocent school bls but the industry really need show like laws of attraction. jamfilm also were very great in their roles espically film, charn is the most babygirl corrupted cute evil lawyer of all time. 9/10 no note headempty only charn's evil smirks in my mind

La Pluie. now, this is a romance. this show is one of the most romanctic media that i personally have experience. i loved that the show took the cheesy premise of soulmates and work it so well to do both deconstruction and exploration of the trope. i think using rain, thing that isolated people as a narrative tool for love connection is absolutely brilliant. last but not least pat is just the perfect bl love interest, he's an very idealized character but he do feels like an actual person. i want to give a shout out to Pee Peerawich the way he said "มันหนาวอ่ะ" in ep 8 sent me, the raspy voice, the eye twich and combo those with a back cuddle, sir! you just commited a mass murders with that move. 9/10 plz i need season two with my baby boy tien.

Love in Translation. the unhingendness of that first meeting is probably my favorite bl meet cute. look if you don't get into a fistfight with the guy you destined to be with then what is the point of life. this show fake date is very well done it's doesn't feel forced like in a lot of other bls and it make the growing attraction feels very genuine and it pay off in one of the best sex scenes in all of bl, yang is such a freak and i loved him for it. 8/10 the last two episodes did got slightly off the rail for me but i still enjoyed the show.

Moonlight Chicken. one of the most beautiful shows i ever watched. when watching this show i can feels, smells and tastes everything it depicted. from the comfort khao man gai to jim's loneliness, from alan's heartbreak to liming and heart's midnight motorcycle ride. this show gave me all the feels and i still can't completely shake it off. 9.9/10 this show is a healing.

My School President. These boys!!!! i can't, i loved these boys so much, all the boys, YES ALL OF THEM! this show is on the opposite spectrum of Moonlight Chicken for me. while MC give me the good heartaches this show give me unbridled joy it's like heartstopper on cracks. i absolutely adored tinn and gun and the show relentless optimism about thier first love. love is awesome no matter the romantic, familial or platonic kind and i think this show hit the marks with all three. 10/10(i'm super bias but fuck it idc i even liked the singing) this show made me started watching thai bl and it always will have a place in my heart.

My Ride. this show is lacking in intimacy but making up by being all heart. could this show be better if they fleshed out and explore more of tawan and his cheating bf's relationship, maybe but i'm happy for what we got. 8/10 mork and tawan were very cutie patootie, i don't remember much about the het and the side couple were just st ok.

Step by Step. man trisanu is exactly the same height at me and i want everyone to know that is the only reason i started this show🤣 . i feels like this show have a lot to say about stuff but i kinda got lost staring at man trisanu while watching. one thing i really loved is the very fem *ตุ๊ด coworker who got to be a real character not just a jokey sidekick and having a loving relationship with a hottie. 7.5/10 can i get more man trisanu in bl plz.

Triage. asshole doctor stuck in a timeloop for him to find the meaning of life, yes plz give it to me. i loved stories about assholes who need to better themself for love and other junk. tinn and tol are both grumpy bitches and i just loved that the show use the timeloop to soften these nerds. at the end i just want to wrap them in blanket and let's them cuddle each other forever. 8.5/10 the last ep is bit convoluted but i forgave the show for that cute clocktower kiss.

You're My Sky. i started this show for my boy suar and he did not disappointed. the pining and the longing for an older boy who been there for you most you life, chef kiss. this show also very beautiful to look at. 8/10 i'm kinda meh about the side couples, i do think they all got the "good ending" for their stories.

Thai BLs that i didn't finish or gave up and skipped to the ending:

Bad Buddy. Oh boy, am i gonna get murder for this??? sorry but idk why i didn't wholeheartedly love and give this show my undivided attention. i watched this show very weird and out of order, i started with the last ep than just watch other episodes in bit and peice. i think i've seen 70% of this show. plz forgive me this is the first thai bl i tried to get into but can't. maybe i need to give this show another chance and watch it properly. or idk maybe cause the way i watched it, it's ruined for me forever. 6.5/10 i loved the rooftop kiss plz don't kill me.

Dangerous Romance. this show is trash and not the good kind, how this show depicted relationship between a rich asshole and a poor boy feels very gross to me. i fast forward a bunch and gave up after the not just dumb but very cruel breakup. 4/10 it's watchable if you ignore the plot and the chatacters.

Hidden Agenda. wow this is the most nothing show that ever nothing for me. it's a perfected white noise while playing chill video games. i stopped watching after ep 8 cause look like there going to be a dumb break up, i have no desire to revisit this show. 5/10 joongdunk were kinda cutes.

The Miracle of Teddy Bear. this show is too god damn long with too many side plots the one and a half hour per episode killed the momentum for me. i liked the show and do think i want to revisit and finish it one day. 6/10 for now.

Vice Versa. why are they giving jimmysea this show. this show is so boring for me, i gave up in episode 6. 4/10 gmmtv give my babies better shows!!

Thai BLs that i've watched all the sex scenes and have no intention of watching the actual show:

Kinnporsche: heheehehhehehe everyone were so hot, too bad i don't like rich mafia story. mile being a nepobaby also significantly killed the mood for me. 55555/dead bodyguards (idk how many there are but i don't care) the ost are bangers though.

Venus in the Sky and Love in the Air. cringe gay sex for the wins. 69/420.

ok, whoo that was a lot. gonna pin this cause i don't think anyone want to read all that in one sitting. i think i'm gonna make another post for non thai BLs in the near future. thanks for reading my unhinged opinions hope i'm not gonna get moider for it 55555555.

[ingravinoveritas]

UMMMM DOCTOR AGREEING WITH DONNA SAYING ISSAC NEWTON WAS HOT?!!!!!!! AND THEN WHEN HE ASKS IF HE DOES THINGS LIKE THAT DONNA WAS SAYING SOMETHING ABOUT HIS SEXUALITY ALWAYS BEING ON THE SURFACE?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hoo, boy. Well, I just watched the second of the DW 60th anniversary specials ("Wild Blue Yonder"), and let me say...that was fucking awesome. As I've mentioned previously, I am a very casual Doctor Who viewer, but this felt so much tighter and stronger than "Star Beast" by several orders of measure. I know everyone talks about DW being owned by Disney now and how that has affected the budget, but this episode more than proved that you do not need fancy special effects or over-the-top action sequences when you have two actors who can just do what David and Catherine did.

I've only seen a few other DW eps, but I was amazed at how creepy this was, and having it be so intensely character-driven--that is, having the antagonists be copies of the Doctor and Donna and allowing David and Catherine to create two completely different other characters so that it felt like there actually were four different people on screen--was sheer genius. Absolutely brilliant and hilarious but also wildly unnerving at the same time.

Which then brings me to the moment you mentioned, which is thoroughly delicious on its own:

Right off the bat, what surprised me is how very not surprising this is, at least to anyone paying attention. We know the Doctor is an alien who transcends time and space, so there is no reason to think that he/she/they wouldn't also transcend sexuality. And again, not having seen as many episodes of other incarnations (Nine, Eleven, etc.), I have always seen Ten as being bi or pan, without any question. There was something about Fourteen saying this, however, that felt very akin to 57 academics punching the air, and I am just beyond thrilled that this made it into the show.

What's also been interesting to me is seeing the negative response to this development on Twitter, and the subsequent pushback to said response. I've seen a lot of folks saying the Doctor can't possibly be gay (nevermind that being into men doesn't necessarily make the Doctor gay, since bi/pansexuality is A Thing That Exists) because of Rose, and then other folks responding with examples from Ten's era showing all the ways in which Ten is not/has never been 100% straight. But as easy it is for these pushback people to see this as a possibility for fictional characters, they seem to have a very difficult time seeing that same possibility in real people.

To wit: I saw a tweet yesterday from someone who thought that Russell T. Davies was straight--much to my disbelief--and a subsequent reply on that tweet from another person who thought he was married to Julie Gardner. And sure, I'll grant you that not everyone is interested in the personal life of a DW showrunner/writer...but we are talking about the man who wrote the UK version of Queer As Folk, and gave the world Captain Jack Harkness, for crying out loud. The same man who made David/Ten look and act like the biggest bottom ever to bottom and earned the moniker "Russell T. Daddy" for a reason. Yet the grip of compulsory heterosexuality is so strong that all of these things (as well as the fact that he had an actual husband, who sadly passed away a few years ago) ceased to matter.

But...it also suddenly makes sense why so many people are oblivious to the fact that David (and Michael) are most likely not 100% straight.

If we are going to say that the Doctor is not necessarily automatically straight because of having previously dalliances with women, then it makes sense to say that David is not necessarily automatically straight for the same reason. I've talked previously on my blog about how assuming straightness when someone hasn't come out as straight or because someone is in a straight-passing relationship is a problem, and that people don't need to label themselves specifically to be who they are. Yet as willing as so many fans are to let fictional characters step outside of that confining box, those fans are equally willing to push the actors right back into it.

I still see people calling David a "straight man" when that very well might not be the case. When this year in particular, David has been more vocal than ever before about numerous facets of queerness in a multitude of forms (wearing badges, gay pride boots, t-shirts, etc). I've talked about how the clothes David wears seem to be reflecting who he really is more and more, and thinking about the roles he's played this year--Crowley, Fourteen--I see a similar pattern. And I keep thinking about that little boy in Paisley who was afraid to ask for a DW Leelah doll because he didn't want to be a "sissy." I keep thinking of David likely being told that his career would be destroyed if he was anything other than publicly straight, and especially while playing a beloved character like the Doctor.

For him to come back as the Doctor now--in the midst of a deeply charged period in history, with homophobia and transphobia spiking dramatically in the UK--and to mention finding another man hot in the most completely casual way is nothing short of astounding. And what better vehicle to potentially guide David toward opening up about himself than something he has loved for so long? What better show to serve as a lighted pathway, of sorts? Nothing Russell writes is not deliberate. Nothing being done in these specials is not deliberate. And if 900 years isn't too old to discover or become more open about a part of yourself, then why should 52 be?

So yes, those are my thoughts on this new DW 60th anniversary special, and this particular moment with Fourteen (Ten-Four) and Donna. It really does feel as though this is all leading toward something, and I am definitely looking forward to seeing the third and final special next weekend...

[as-i-watch]

PLEASE! give us your thoughts on Dungeon Meshi ! Thank you

Bc you asked politely and i love to ramble about stuff:

First of all i love the idea of a DnD type of manga/anime, it translates so well. But also to have a DnD based manga/anime and not make it battle centric but rather a food show? Amazing, brilliant, revolutionary

I love everyone in the party for different reasons. Laios is an absolute freak, Marcille is a badass and a loser at the same time, im obsessed with Senshi's desing and Chillchuck?

Chillchuck is my guy. He's tired of everyone bullshits but goes along with everything, he thinks he is the voice of reason but he's insane too, he looks 13 but is 28, and for what i gathered online he's made unions for his race and has a wife and kids(?) and he's the most divorced man ever. What a guy

I havent seen much of Falin but i like her, she as much as a freak as Laios if not more

I like that there are multiple plots going around, i have no idea whats going on and i cant wait to find out

I like how it approaches races, each with their own culture and stigmas in a mixes society. I also like there arent that many elf, when in fantasy they are usually the most abundant race.

And also the diversity of desings, not only in races but also in genders, speacilly for women.

I love the aesthetic and rhythm of the eps

Love the disaster lesbians, long may them reing

[slytherinprincesses17]

Part 1:The boy who flew too close to the sun and the girl who was made of sunlight

Summary: The part where Draco decides if you are the sun, then he must be Icarus

Author Note: Hello Everyone, This is my 1st Draco work! I'm very excited to share with you all, this takes pace in 4th year through 6th. I was inspired by Greek Mythology as well as Vincent Lima's EP Versions of Uncertainty. Reader is Terence Higgs, younger sister though it is not mentioned much in this one. Pure blood and one of the sacred 28 families. This going to be multiple parts! Im thinking maybe 4/5 !!

Please leave your feedback and comments!!

-K🍄

______________________________________________Draco Malfoy had known Y/N Higgs since childhood. His mother and yours were close from their Hogwarts years. So, you could often be seen frolicking throughout the manor. He recalls you picking flowers and handing them to the house-elves. Chasing butterflies. Lying about in the grassy hills, always under the blooming wisteria trees. Draco always felt drawn to you. Like spring after winter, you warmed those around you. He was no exception.

You murmured "Draco..." as you lounged in the garden one afternoon. As the brilliant blonde sat next to you with a Quidditch magazine in hand.

"Mhmm…" his head turned to you before he could think… like a sunflower to the sun, you commanded his attention.

“Will we be friends next year?” you inquired with a tilted head, fingers plucking at the blades of grass. You avoided his gaze, afraid of the blunt boy's answer. 

"Of course y/n, don’t be silly…. my mother's anger would erupt if I showed you any disrespect." Draco spoke in a flat tone.

He wanted to escape this moment, afraid you would see through him. That you would see it was he who disapproved of your exit from his life's circle.

“Even if I’m not a Slytherin?” you inquired, your voice tinged with melancholy, eyes narrowed.

"Of course, sunshine..." He said softly returning to his pages, looking up out of the corner of his eye at you. You had a matching rosy tint and a smile. 

“Good… That’s good,” you said softly.

To tell the truth, Draco thought you would never become a Slytherin. Simply because it wasn't in your nature. You are ambition and cleverness have always been present, but never cruelty. You were cunning and crafty, but never at anyone's expense. You were smart beyond measure, like a Ravenclaw. Kind and loyal, as they could come, like a Hufflepuff. And hard-headed and brave, like a Gryffindor. Yet he found himself corrected that 1st year at Hogwarts as you sat beside him in your green tie and beaming smile. Draco had never been more relieved to have been wrong.

From then on, everyone knew you, Y/N Higgs. You stood out as a remarkable Slytherin, distinct from the others. Walking with a gracefulness that compelled those around to turn their heads. Spending time showing 1st years around and volunteering in the Hospital wing. Even helping Hagrid with the magical creature care. You held friends in all the houses. Everyone would say you were uncharacteristically nice for a snake....

Draco always wondered. How could a pure-blood Slytherin, raised under the same pressures as him, be so kind? Still, you stayed close to one another. You kept your promise to be friends until one cold winter day in 4th-year during potions...

"You will work on this essay in pairs, and it will account for a significant portion of your final grade.”  Professor Snape droned on, explaining the assignment.

"I have preassigned your partnerships and will hear no griping or groaning about said matters. If you cannot work together, write your own 6 parchments on the effects and magical uses of a bezoar. These partnerships are absolutely final. Due Monday.” Snape said in his dreary, disinterested tone.

"Now…" Snape began to read off the pairs.

"Grander and Parkinson"

"Potter and Parvati"

"Zambini and Longbottom"

"Granger and Goyle"

"Malfoy and Higgs"

"Weasley and Finnigan."

Draco's doodling stopped at the sound of his name. Professor Snape was continuing down his list, leaving no room for complaints. As you plopped down next to him, your feet shuffled about. The scent of honey and wisteria filled his nose; you always smelled like home to him.

"Hello, Draco! How lovely… it’s like our summer studies at the Manor," you beamed, unpacking your quill and ink.

Draco nodded and returned a soft smile that was only reserved for you. 

"Not even our summer studies are this extensive. Leave it to Snape to dampen the weekend before the Yule Ball." You huffed out, defeated.

"About the Yule ball…..” Draco trailed off as you turned to look at him with hopeful, wide eyes.

"Who gets the pleasure of being your date for the evening?” he asked, his gaze slanting towards you, his breath suspended in anticipation. 

You see, over the years, Draco has grown fond of you as you have of him. Both too comfortable in your normal to risk something so dear, so both stood still. Suspended in the friend zone until he heard news that someone asked you to the ball. Lighting a newfound fire underneath him. He couldn't resist taking that leap, determined not to let the opportunity slip away.

"I was hoping you would’ve asked me by now, Draco. Though I take it you're opting for Parkinson.” You made a face when referring to Pansy Parkinson, a Slytherin with a crush on the Malfoy boy.

He let out a gentle laugh in amusement. He cherished the moments your envious Slytherin persona emerged.

"No. No. No. I'm not attending with Pansy. I heard through the gossip vine that the champion asked you himself: Cedric Diggory, is it?" He grimaced at the name. From the start of the year, it was known that he fancied you.

But who didn't? You were a dream come to life. You were kind and smart, second only to Hermione. Yet, you never dated. You never agreed to Hogsmeade dates or study sessions with anyone. That includes Oliver Wood, Cedric Diggory, and even Saint Potter. No one knew why. But you did. If you never agreed, you'd find Draco next to you in the library, or arm in arm on Hogsmeade weekends. So why agree when your heart was already so full?

You declared, "He did, but I turned him down." You shrugged, refocusing on your homework. The air around your desk grew heavy as you huffed out a breath of frustration.  

You adored Draco. The parts of him reserved for you were warm and soft. He looked out for you and was always there. Waiting since the announcement of the Yule Ball for Draco to ask you, turning down everyone who wasn't him. You knew he was a bloody coward, even considering asking him yourself a few times. All you needed was confirmation. Reassurance that it wasn't only you who found yourself wanting more.

"Since we cleared the air and I'm not going with Parkinson, you're not going with Diggory. Shall I save you the embarrassment of attending alone?" He flashed a playful grin.

"Save me the embarrassment? No. No. No. Mr. Malfoy, you forget yourself. I have a line of willing suitors waiting for me." You laughed, noticing Draco's slight annoyance.

"Let me save you the ghastly displeasure of having Parkinson be your last resort... Of course, I'll go with you, Draco; why do you think I turned down the future Triwizard champion?" You gave him a sidelong glance. "I was waiting for your daft arse."

Draco's lips curved upward in a subtle grin of admiration at your boldness.

" Well, thank you for waiting for me to catch on... It is a pleasure to be on the arm of such a lady."

You shared a warm smile with him before resuming your tasks. A new excitement and giddiness filled you both. 

__________

The following evening, you found yourselves in the library. Draco occupied the seat opposite yours. Surrounded by dim candlelight, open textbooks, and the smell of fresh ink in the air. You both discussed what colors to wear to the Yule ball and the Potions assignment. Which reminded you to write to your mother about the recent development. Both mothers grew anxious as they awaited news of your companions for the ball. They had hoped it would be each other after all. It was Narcissa Malfoy and Beatrice Higgs who watched all those summers. As childhood friendship bloomed into something only mothers could sense.

As the sunset and talk faded, you whispered, looking up at him through your long lashes.

"What do you wish to be when school is over?”

Draco set his quill aside, gazing at you with introspective eyes as he pondered the question.

“I know Father wishes for me to take a prominent position in the Ministry someday.” He muttered, shrugging his shoulders. "You know, following after him and all."

"No, no, no... what do you, Draco Malfoy, wish to be? Parents be damned!" You shook your head in disapproval and reached for his hand.

He let out a low, amused laugh and curved his lips upward. "A potions master, maybe an astronomer," he whispered, placing his icy hand on yours. You smiled back.

"I wish to be a healer, maybe a teacher. My parents likely want me to marry, and that would be the end of it." You huffed, your cheek resting in your palm.

“Parents be damned ….” Whispered Draco, tightening his grasp on your hand.

With soft smiles, hours passed and homework gave way to chat. The air was fresh and electric around you both. A want... no, more like a compulsive need to touch and be close grew and grew. As you worked through the weekend together in your safe little cove of the library. Transitioning from opposite each other to shoulder-to-shoulder. Any space between you both was too much.

___________

The Yule ball night arrived suddenly. As Draco found himself standing at the bottom of the long stairs in front of the great hall with Theo and Blaise. All anxiously awaiting their dates to descend the stairs… all minus Theo. Nothing could have readied Draco for the stunning sight of you in candlelight. Your dark blue dress and gold accents shone like the stars that made the constellation….

You descended the stairs grasping tightly to Draco's outstretched hand. Everyone faded away as he drew near, his gaze locked on you. When you finally reach him, he spins you around to savor every angle, embracing you tightly.

"Wow, Higgs, I knew you would clean up exquisitely."

Theo Knott, the endless flirt, spoke. Breaking your gaze with Draco and ruining the moment. The blonde boy shot a piercing stare at Theo, who responded with a sly wink. 

“Thank you, Theo… you’re too kind." Your face flushed; you dipped your head in embarrassment.

"Lucky man, Malfoy." he said, still gazing at your glory as you stood, arm locked with Malfoy by your side.

"I know, Knott … by the way, don’t you have a floor of single women to save from a night of heartbreak versus harassing my date?” Draco spat with no real malice toward the Knott boy.

"Did you come alone, Theo?” you said, confused.

"Don't waste your pity on him Y/N… he chose to come alone on purpose," Blaise said, laughing. "It's all part of his grand plan to woo the hearts of many."

"Exactly correct... because why limit oneself to one date when one can save many from a night of loneliness?" Theo said rather proud of himself "Although, if you were my one date, Higgs... I'd accept the burden." He smirked.

Draco pulled you closer into his arms as he swung at Theo playfully, shoving him away. As you rolled your eyes at the boy's antics. 

Lorenzo Berkshire appeared from behind Draco, quickly taking your hand from his cousin’s grasp and spinning you in a circle.

“ My goodness, you are a sight Y/N” Enzo said laughing softly

“ Enzo, you are too kind” you stated slightly dizzy steading yourself with your to his chest and a smile

“ This is not flirting with my date hour…” Draco huffs in annoyance as he once again pulls you towards him tucking you under his arm tightly. You smile at him softly patting his chest in reassurance.

"And who is the lucky girl gracing your arm tonight, Blaise?" you asked, changing the topic.

“You mean unlucky… very unlucky, y/n," Theo added with a laugh.

Daphne Greengrass your best friend appears looking like a fairy princess in her dark green and silver gown.

“ That unlucky girl would be me…” She says shooting a glare at Theo “ And at least we have dates” she stick her tongue out in touché

The last of your group trickle in, complimenting one other and filling the area with small talk.

Soon Draco’s hand finds your waist as he leaned over and whispered in your ear too distracted by his breath on your neck to listen to Enzo speak anymore. You turn your attention fully to the Prince of the hour.

"Shall we find ourselves a spot inside Sunshine?" he whispered, only for you, against the shell of your ear. It caused goosebumps to travel up your body.

"Lead the way, love….” You gazed, captivated by his timeless black tuxedo with blue highlights. He looked like he came from a fairytale. His regal appearance captivated you. 

You walked in through the large doors, arm in arm. Heads turned to see that the Slytherin Prince had won the fair maiden's heart. Yet, it surprised none. It was only a matter of time before the Slytherin Prince captured the princesses.

As you danced the night away with your friends. You suddenly weren't heirs to pureblood fortunes. You were nothing but dumb teenagers in love at a school dance. And it was there... in that moment, as his heart raced. Not from dancing, but from looking at you in the soft candlelight. He decided: if you were a flame, let him be a moth. If you were the sun, let him be Icarus.

Draco decided he would gladly face your light and fire. Fearing no consequences if it meant being wrapped in your warmth for a second longer. Let his wax wings melt and he be drowned in the ocean. Let him plummet from the sky ungracefully if it meant being with you. Because you.... made of sunlight and sugar, were worth it.

"I don't want this to end..." Draco's soft voice fought to be heard above the blaring band and laughter as you stood beside the punch bowl. 

You lifted your gaze from your cup and furrowed your brow in puzzlement. Was he referring to the song? The ball? The night?

“Say what you mean, Draco." you urged as you stared into his icy eyes that held a fire behind them.

“I mean this feeling, this … whatever this is. I enjoy who I am with you at this moment. I don't want it to end." His voice held a sense of sadness and fear, like after the music stopped and the night ended, that would be that.

You declare “ Then let’s be like this… always.” As you grasp his hand tightly and pull him into a kiss. He meets you halfway, kissing back effortlessly. He wraps one hand around your waist and the other in your hair. Passion and years of yearning found itself exchanged in the kiss.

As you broke apart, heavy breathing and foreheads touching, you chuckled at the cliché of it all.

"Shall we get out of here?" Draco's red, puffy lips spoke softly against yours.

And you could only nod as he took your hand out of the great hall, smiling and laughing. 

Running through the halls hand in hand, up the tall winding stairs to the astronomy tower. Stopping only to kiss each other for a few moments. It was there on the ledge. The very ledge that would later and forever change the course of your life, that Draco gazed at you.

"Y/N, my love…” he reached for your hand and began playing with your fingers as you both stood leaning on the rail.

"I am enamored by you. You roam my mind, unrestricted at will. I wonder endlessly about your happiness. I wonder if you dream of me. If you ate. If you're safe." he rambles like a madman.

You smile, rubbing your thumb against his hand as encouragement…

"Please do me the honor, sunshine, of being mine." He draws a long breath, his eyes locking onto yours.

"Oh Draco…. You whisper, "I've always been yours," before you lean in to brush your lips against his. He responds with a fervent kiss, hands around your waist, yours buried in his soft hair.

You spent another hour in the tower. Draco pointed out his favorite constellations between fevered bouts of making out. His suit jacket wrapped around you. It smelled of mahogany, fresh apples, fresh ink, and silver. Nothing but more time could have solidified the night as perfect.

"Your lips are turning blue, sunshine." Draco chuckled as his fingers caressed your winter-kissed cheeks. His hand felt like ice, so you enveloped it in yours, pressing your lips gently to his skin. The winter air was becoming too cold to ignore, signaling the end of the night.

"I guess we should be heading back then." You groaned, throwing your head back.

Draco's laughter burst out as he rose to his feet, bending to grasp and lift you upright. He enveloped you in his suit jacket, tucking you in tight and kissing your cheek lightly. Leaving a warmth in their place. You smiled.

Walking back to the common room down the tower steps, hand in hand, a newfound contentment hung in the air.

The rest of the year went by rather quickly. Between classes, you and Draco made time for each other. Enjoying Hogsmeade weekends and late nights sneaking off to the astronomy tower. It all felt too good to be true. Which as fate would have it was true... nothing good lasts long.

There you were in the stands of the third Triwizard task. Screams and cries filled the air. Draco hid your face in his chest, holding you close and tight. As you stare in shock at the body of the kindest boy you knew... tears slipped slowly down your face. Time dragged on, after Cedric's memorial with the buzz of grief and you-know-who on the rise. Static seemed to be in the air… like a drop of water about to fall into a still lake.

If only you knew then what hung in the stars for Draco and you. What darkness was at play and how far your Icarus was willing to fall for you, his sunshine. 

[nym-wibbly]

It's been brilliant marathoning Supernatural. That wasn't even physically possible when I first put the show on my 'to Watch' list and made the decision to avoid spoilers. I can currently access seasons 1-14 on ITVX, and all of it on Amazon Prime Video, which is something I take for granted far too easily. I still have actual stressy dreams about scrabbling around trying to collect and preserve shows on VHS, back when things aired once (if at all in the UK) then vanished.

I can say this for sure - watching this show air in real time would have driven me absolutely potty. Week to week, never mind season to season. Which may explain some of the fandom's wilder antics!

So, I'm a little way into season 13 now. The first few eps are emotionally brutal, with Dean basically falling apart at having lost so much during a single battle that he begs God - Chuck - for respite, praying, and turns inward when Chuck (to nobody's surprise) does nothing. I think I could've watched a whole season of Dean in that state of mind, with Sam trying to juggle that strain on their relationship, his own unsupported grief, and his nervous attempt to mentor Jack. But Dean's perked up because Castiel is back, by the efficent and simple ploy of having Cas irritate the boss of the celestial afterlife so much that it threw him back in disgust so it could get some sleep. Love it. (Is that the thingy that finally gets him in the end?)

I usually focus on characters, relationships, and performances as a viewer - that's my passion, after all. But some eps of Supernatural go above and beyond on the production side, especially the direction. Amanda Tapping brought her deep understanding of the sci-fantasy genre to her s12 ep (her first as director?) and Richard Speight Jr has done elegant wonders with some tricky material. The eps directed by Jensen Ackles highlight those particular passions of mine, characterisation-rich and full of heart. Speight's 12x12 Stuck in the Middle (With You) was so elaborately scripted that it could've been a hot mess in the wrong hands, but his direction delivered it pinpoint sharp and unsparing. I don't often smile at the direction alone, or even consciously notice it until I ponder the ep after the fact, but he practically had me punching the air while I watched. Impressive!

Next up is 13x07. Getting towards the sharp end!

ETA: Belated honourable mention for going with an ENTIRE SEASON of Dick gags that one time.

[ltash]

Forever

Ep-12 "Al Mazrah" SimonGhostRileyxFemaleReader

"Sometimes, the best conversations happen after years of silence."

Ghost stood silently for a moment, the mask concealing the flicker of surprise and admiration in his eyes. "I didn't know you were General Shepherd's daughter, Andrea," he finally said, breaking the silence.

Andrea glanced at him, sipping her coffee. "I didn't want to tell anyone, but Captain Price already introduced me."

Ghost nodded, his gaze steady. "Still, you joined the task force knowing how deadly the missions are. We can lose our lives. You're very young, smooth with hacking skills, and you have a whole life ahead of you, Andrea. Plus, you aren't used to a life like this as Shepherd's daughter."

A wry smile curved Andrea's lips. "You haven't seen me fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan, have you?" She paused, her eyes meeting his with a spark of determination. "I am skilled in hand-to-hand combat and good with an M14 rifle. That's why I'm here. And yes, I am high maintenance," she added with a chuckle, "when I'm off duty."

Ghost couldn't help but chuckle softly at her confidence and humor. "Fair enough. You've proven yourself out there today. Just remember, it's a different kind of battlefield here."

"I know," Andrea replied, her expression sobering as she looked out into the desert night. "But I'm ready for it. I'm here to make a difference."

Ghost nodded, a sense of respect growing for the young woman who had chosen this path despite her background.

He couldn't tell her he was her Simon, the same boy who left her for the British Army. It seemed impossible. Now that her identity as Shepherd's daughter was revealed, she felt totally unapproachable. He knew he was just an infantryman who would never deserve her.

As Ghost stood there, the weight of his unspoken truth bore down on him. The distance between their worlds seemed insurmountable. Andrea was the daughter of a powerful general, a brilliant hacker with a promising future, while he was just a soldier, hidden behind a mask, haunted by his past.

The memories of their shared youth played in his mind like a bittersweet melody. He remembered the laughter they shared, the support she gave him, and the silent promises they made. But now, those memories seemed like a lifetime ago, and the present reality was far more complicated.

Ghost knew he had to keep his secret, to protect her and to fulfill his duty. He couldn't risk the mission, nor could he risk her safety. As much as it pained him, he had to keep his distance, to remain the silent guardian she didn't know she had.

He resolved to bury his feelings deep within, to focus on the mission and to ensure Andrea's safety at all costs. She would never know the truth, but he would always be there for her, just as he had been all those years ago.

Ghost's eyes narrowed slightly, but a smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth beneath the balaclava. "As Shepherd's daughter, I'll have to protect you. So you will have to listen to my orders, Sergeant," he said, stepping closer, his imposing figure towering over her.

Andrea took a step back, still sipping her coffee with a calm demeanor. "Yeah, absolutely, Lieutenant," she replied, her tone light.

"Take a rest now. You shouldn't be out here so late at night," Ghost insisted.

Andrea raised an eyebrow, a playful glint in her eyes. "Whoa! Calm down, LT. Why are you getting possessive?" she teased.

Ghost let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. "Just doing my job, Andrea. Keeping everyone safe, including you."

Andrea smiled, the tension easing slightly. "I appreciate it, Ghost. But I can take care of myself. Don't worry."

"I know you can," Ghost replied, his voice softer. "Just... be careful."

"I will," Andrea promised, finishing her coffee. "Thanks for looking out for me, though."

Ghost nodded, stepping back. "Get some rest, Andrea. Tomorrow's another long day."

With a final nod, Andrea headed back to her quarters, leaving Ghost standing in the quiet night. As she settled into bed, she couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions—respect for Ghost's dedication, a twinge of frustration at being treated differently, and a lingering sense of camaraderie that was slowly forming between them.

"You don't know, Andrea, how much you mean to me," Ghost whispered to himself, his voice barely audible in the still night air.

Memories of their high school days flooded his mind—Andrea standing up for him against the bullies, her fierce determination and unwavering support. She had always been the strongest woman he had ever known, yet there was a fragility to her, like a delicate flower that needed protection.

Ghost clenched his fists, the weight of his silent promise settling heavily on his shoulders. "I have to protect her at any cost," he vowed, the resolve in his heart hardening like steel.

As he turned to head back to his own quarters, he couldn't shake the feeling that their past and present were intertwined in ways he had never anticipated. The thought of Andrea in danger was unbearable, and he knew he would do whatever it took to keep her safe, even if it meant confronting the ghosts of his own past.

The base of Al Mazrah went quiet after Andrea and Ghost retreated to their quarters.

The next morning, the chow hall was buzzing with the usual chatter of soldiers grabbing their breakfast. Ghost sat with Soap and Gaz, their conversation casual and punctuated by the clatter of trays and utensils. Suddenly, the entire room fell silent.

Andrea had entered the hall, dressed in a black silk palazzo with stiletto heels, a designer silk shirt, and diamond earrings that dangled elegantly. An expensive watch adorned her wrist, complementing her porcelain complexion and the delicate arch of her neck. Her long hair swayed gracefully as her blue eyes took in her surroundings. She was a vision of beauty, and her presence commanded attention.

Soldiers began to whisper amongst themselves.

"Look at the general's daughter," one soldier nudged another.

Soap's jaw practically hit the floor. "LT! Can't believe this lass is a soldier, aye."

Ghost glanced at Soap, a mix of amusement and irritation flickering in his eyes. "Eyes front, Soap," he muttered.

Andrea walked with an air of confidence, her every step echoing in the silent hall. She collected her breakfast and made her way to an empty table, the whispers and stares following her every move. Despite the murmurs, she remained composed, exuding a calm and collected demeanor.

Ghost couldn't help but admire her poise. She was a stark contrast to the rugged, battle-hardened soldiers surrounding her, yet she belonged there just as much as any of them. Her presence was a reminder of her strength and resilience, qualities that ran deeper than her elegant appearance.

As she sat down, she caught Ghost's eye and offered a small, knowing smile. He nodded in return, a silent acknowledgment of the unspoken bond they shared. Despite the whispers and the judgments, they both knew the truth: Andrea Shepherd was a force to be reckoned with, on and off the battlefield.

"You don't look like General Shepherd," Soap joked, his tone light-hearted.

Andrea laughed, the sound genuine and warm. "Yeah, I look more like my mom," she said, her eyes momentarily softening with the memory.

Ghost's mind drifted back to Mrs. Shepherd. She had always treated him with kindness, almost like he was one of her own children. Her passing due to cancer had been a blow, and Tommy had kept him updated on her condition until the end.

He remembered the warmth of her smile, the way she would fuss over him and Andrea, making sure they were always looked after. The thought of her brought a pang of sorrow mixed with gratitude for the time he had known her.

"Your mom was a wonderful woman," Ghost said quietly, his voice carrying the weight of those memories.

Andrea looked at him, her expression softening further. "She was," she agreed. "She always made sure everyone felt welcome and loved."

Soap, sensing the shift in mood, nodded. "Sounds like she was an amazing person."

"She was," Andrea repeated, a small, sad smile on her face. "And I miss her every day."

There was a moment of silence as they all reflected on the impact of those who had shaped their lives. Despite the hardships and the losses, they each carried the memories of their loved ones, drawing strength from them as they faced the challenges ahead.

Ghost finally broke the silence. "We've got a lot to do today. Let's make sure we make them proud."

Andrea nodded, her resolve firm. "Absolutely."

Ghost stood up, his presence commanding attention. His black cargo pants clung to his thick thighs, and the black t-shirt that hugged his broad, muscular chest made him look tall, dark, and undeniably handsome, even with the skull-printed balaclava. Andrea couldn't help but notice the intricate designs of his tattoo sleeve, seeing it clearly for the first time.

A flicker of a memory flashed before her eyes—Simon's burned left hand, marred by cigarette burns. She brushed the thought away, focusing on the present. Her eyes landed on the letter 'A' tattooed inside his wrist, just where the tattoo sleeve ended.

"What does the 'A' stand for?" she asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.

Ghost paused, his eyes meeting hers for a brief moment. The room seemed to hold its breath.

"It stands for 'Always,'" he said quietly, the word carrying a weight of unspoken memories and promises.

Andrea's gaze lingered on the tattoo, sensing there was more to the story but choosing not to press further. She simply nodded, a silent understanding passing between them.

In truth, Ghost had gotten the tattoo for Andrea, a permanent reminder of the girl he had left behind but never forgotten. But he couldn't tell her that now. The past was a complicated web, and he wasn't ready to unravel it just yet.

Ghost's eyes softened slightly, though his demeanor remained as stoic as ever. "Let's get moving. We've got work to do."

Soap followed him out, ready to face whatever lay ahead, the memory of loved ones fueling their resolve.

Soap followed Ghost out, leaving Andrea seated to finish her breakfast. She took a moment to herself, thinking about her upcoming birthday and the surprise she had planned for the Task Force team. She had managed to arrange a holiday at a luxurious resort in Utah, USA, thanks to a special request she made to her father after their mission in Al Mazrah.

Her father, General Shepherd, had agreed, understanding the need for the team to unwind after the intense operations they had been through. Andrea smiled to herself, anticipating the joy and relaxation that awaited them.

Finishing her breakfast, she stood up, her mind already drifting to the serene landscapes of Utah and the fun activities she had planned for everyone. The getaway would be a perfect opportunity to bond with the team outside of the battlefield, especially with Ghost, whom she felt an inexplicable connection with despite his mysterious demeanor.

As she made her way out of the chow hall, the soldiers' whispers followed her, but she paid them no mind. Her thoughts were on the upcoming surprise, eager to see the team's reaction and hoping it would be a well-deserved break for all of them.

Andrea adjusted her tactical gear, feeling the weight of the black Prada boots against the floor as she strode confidently toward the shooting range. The black cargo pants hugged her form, while the cropped T-shirt showcased her toned abs, all topped off with a fitted black leather jacket. Her thigh holster cradled her weapon, a reassuring presence that complemented her sharp focus. With her hair pulled back in a sleek ponytail, she was ready for anything.

As she entered the range, the sharp sounds of gunfire echoed in the air, punctuated by Ghost's gruff voice. He stood with his arms crossed, scolding Johnny for his aim. "You call that shooting? Focus, McTavish! You won't hit anything with that attitude."

Johnny shot a sheepish glance at Ghost, frustration etched on his face. Just then, Andrea stepped into their line of sight, her presence commanding immediate attention.

“Hey, Lieutenant, what’s up?” she called out, her tone casual yet laced with the confidence that came from knowing her own skill.

Ghost turned slightly, a hint of surprise flickering across his normally stoic expression. "Just trying to whip this one into shape," he replied, gesturing towards Johnny, who was still fumbling with his weapon. “What about you? You ready to show us how it’s done?”

Andrea smirked, stepping up to the nearest target. She could feel their eyes on her, the challenge igniting a fire within. “Always.”

With that, she took her stance, fingers steady on her weapon, ready to prove that she belonged in this world. The tension in the air shifted, and for a moment, all that mattered was the target ahead and the echo of gunfire that would soon surround her.

Andrea stood before the target, her focus locked on the distance. Ghost positioned himself behind her, their proximity electric. His hands guided her to assume the correct stance, his presence towering over her petite frame.

Her heart thumped in her chest as his warm breath grazed her cheek, sending a wave of tingles through her body. She struggled to concentrate, the proximity and the heat from his breath adding an unexpected layer of intensity. Yet, with his guidance and support, she steadied herself, attempting to maintain composure despite the swirling of emotions within her.

The sniper rifle bucked in her grasp as she squeezed the trigger, the recoil jolting her thin shoulders. Ghost's large frame shielded her from the impact, his firm chest pressing against her back to provide support and stability.

Andrea fought to regain her balance, the force of the shot momentarily rocking her off center. However, with Ghost's support, she quickly steadied herself, her body unconsciously leaning into him for balance and strength.

The bullet missed the target. "Oh shoot." Andrea said.

Ghost chuckled, a deep, gruff sound. "A close one," he remarked. "Try again."

His hand subtly adjusted her grip, his fingers gently touching hers. The contact sent a shiver down her spine, and for a moment, she forgot about the target, her senses fixated on the feel of his touch against her skin.

This time, the bullet hit the target with a resounding thump.

"Bullseye..." Ghost's voice, low and gravelly, filled her ear, sending a shiver down her spine. He stood closer now, his chest almost flush with her back, his breath warm against her skin. "Good job," he murmured, his voice a mix of appreciation and something undefinable.

Ghost took the rifle from her, their fingers brushing once more in the process. He could feel the heat radiating from her skin, the rapid rise and fall of her chest. She was so close now that he could count the flecks of blues in her eyes, the soft curve of her neck. The air between them crackled with an electric tension, an unspoken desire that was slowly building.

"I should get going now." She said to ghost and Soap taking off her mufflers and putting them.back on the table. See you guys around. She said as she turned away to go. Her heart was fluttering in her chest.

Ghost watches her retreating form, his eyes tracing the gentle sway of her hips as she walks away. He's acutely aware of the effect she has on him, of the way his pulse quickens and his hands ache to reach out, to pull her back into his arms and...

Ghost clenches his fists, fighting the urge. "Take care," he mutters, his expression hidden behind the skull mask.

Ghost's thoughts race through his mind, a storm of inner turmoil. He's drawn to her, the connection undeniable. But his past and her identity as Shepherd's daughter pose a significant obstacle. He can't risk revealing the truth, can't fathom the consequences it would bring. But the desire to be with her, to let his facade drop, it gnaws at him, a constant battle of duty and longing.

"Bloody hell!" He muttered under his breath.

"Whats the matter LT?" Dinnae shoot the aim this time?" Soap asked.

Ghost snaps out of his thoughts, forcing his mind back to the present. He glances at Soap, his gaze a mix of annoyance and distraction.

"It's not about the shooting," he mutters, his words coming out clipped and irritated. He rubbed a frustrated hand through his face, his thoughts still consumed by Andrea.

"Then what it is that bothering ye?" Soap asked.

Ghost sighs, a sound filled with resignation and frustration. He glances at Soap, weighing his words before finally speaking.

"It's...complicated. There's someone...someone I want, but I can't have."

He hesitates, the admission a risk in itself, a crack in his usually guarded demeanor.

"Oh! Someones in love." Soap chuckled.

Soap's chuckle sets Ghost's teeth on edge. He glares at Soap, his eyes narrowing behind the skull mask. "This is not a game, Soap," he snaps.

His gaze flickers with annoyance, his thoughts still consumed by the woman who makes his heart race and his mind fuzzy. "Focus on the damn target," he mutters, his voice gruff and tense.

[skippyangel16]

The Couple Next Door my thoughts…

Link here for a ‘real’ review from that neck of woods👇

👏👏👏

👆This just about sums it up for me, a real review from a real paper not a paid promo success piece from Hello or channel 4 blowing its own trumpet. If you google the series IBMd has it rated 5.2/10 at the moment of writing. (Saying something is brilliant does not make it so, unless you want to brainwash. Kenneth springs to mind taking a whole year+ to talk up Belfast so he would finally get that Oscar for the not so outstanding Belfast 🙄)

The Guardian Nov 2023 promo it as The couple next door a sexy fantastic time …4 stars but then by the 3rd Dec it’s no longer raving about it with an honest review.👇

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/dec/03/the-couple-next-door-channel-4-swingers-thriller-review-slow-horses-3-arena-being-kae-tempest-the-doll-fctory?CMP=share_btn_link Barbara Ellen exert from review 3 Dec 2023 still the guardian…

Exert from link above by Barbara Ellen..

Well for me TCND started off with a ‘OMG not again!’ for the opening shot. I said to hubby ‘I hate it when they do that!’. The second scene supposedly set in Leeds wtf? Why didn’t they find a more convincing housing estate…then (Sam) Danny picking up the washing machine…dear god it made me cringe and that’s just for starters!

Sam…I could not get past his ‘Yorkshire’ accent?… well he did his best, it came through well some of the time. It’s sad but production were aware they were not going to predominantly film in Yorkshire or substitute location with a suitable comparison so why the need for him to do a Yorkshire accent? They could have set this story anywhere. Why not let Sam do his normal Scottish accent ? Far more sexy! Bad decision imo.

I could go on…especially the ladies dress code for a casual UK BBQ, LMAO. For sure my neighbour and I need to up our game at our next one! Seductive dresses, tits out and heels on! Husbands can’t wait…🤣

Does it appear Sam was hired for his body?…absolutely! Is he typecast as the guy who does sex?…looks like it. If he wanted to up his stakes as a good actor imo this was not the project. Can he do chemistry with anyone but Caitriona?… barely, but this was his best effort so far. Sex scenes and build up no 🔥 for me. I found it more cringe so fast forward came into play. Seems Sam is okay with full nudity and grinding again so can’t wait for OL S8! No need for J&C sex scenes to be PG…

Continuity, script, direction, production…dear god did outlander do it?

Out of all the actors Jessica De Gouw (Becka) stood out with a consistent performance.

Gripping? Nah, wanted to give up many times but finally got past ep 3 and pace seemed to increase so eventually got to the end which was then suddenly abrupt.

I wanted to like it, but for me it was blah…should have been amazing! Fail is more down to script, direction and production, had a giggle most of the way through at the script and said wtf and why a lot? ….🤷‍♀️still they all had fun making it and got paid!

For those who thought it enjoyable and hot I am really pleased for you! Sex for sex sake came to my mind, script all over the place one minute quite good another that’s shit.

For me in the words of a true Yorkshire man…

Maybe if I had a couple of wines with the cheese and knew it was not going to be a quality drama but a cheesy soap it would have gone down better.

Strikes me his fate in life is to be an alcohol god, that’s his true path…acting gave him his wife and family and that’s all he needs from it. It appears it’s not in his destiny for it to do anything more than that…🤷‍♀️JMHO

So if you haven’t seen it and want to then I suggest lots of wine and lower your expectations to a tv movie or soap and you will probably enjoy it and think it’s better than it was…🤪

[writefullyrobin]

No spoilers past 1x10 if possible folks!

1x08 – Karma’s a Bitch thoughts

An aptly named episode! Karma is always a fun theme to play with and this didn’t disappoint.

I laughed like a crazy lady when Bobby fainted at the needle and fell off the table during a blood donation! After the seriousness of his backstory, to see him do something so ridiculous was brilliant. I wasn’t expecting his actor to be so good at physical comedy, which I think actually made it even funnier!

Speaking of Bobby though! Our favourite captain has a new purpose in life! Literally! Let him save all the babies!! This was such a fun and nifty way of giving Bobby that ‘redemption’ that he obviously craves. For a religious character, I hope this brings him some sort of comfort in a higher purpose and everything happens for a reason. I’m thrilled with this plot. It’s a neat way of closing the chapter on his black book.

There are a lot of abusive husbands in this series. This is what, the second, in two eps? And again, he gets exactly what he deserves. Not only did he abuse his wife, but he was stupid enough to think blowing up a tree was a fantastic idea. A violent end for a man with violent tendencies. Perfect karma.

Athena and Michael also made some progress this ep which was satisfying. I’d been wondering how long they could remain friendly throughout this separation. Even the kids were pointing out their marriage – which is already over – needs to be properly wrapped up. Athena and Michael have raised a good pair, haven’t they? I’m sure they’ll make excellent coparents and remain friends, but yep, sign those divorce papers already. Neither one of them can move forward until they do.

Hen and Karen were hard to watch this ep. Hen surely knew exactly what Eva’s like, she should’ve just come clean immediately rather than letting Karen find out she cheated through Eva. I want to say Eva might’ve planned this whole thing but that implies she’s smart and I honestly don’t think she is. I think she’s just using an opportunity Hen unwittingly gave her.

You’d think someone who hunted large predatory cats for fun would know how dangerous they are to piss off. Tigers can absolutely hold grudges so I’m not shocked it attacked the stupid hunter guy who threw things at it.

[shap3shifter-witch]

I JUsT BINGED HAZBIN HOTEL WTFFFF

Im not usually a fan of musicals or music-heavy shows, but i was genuinely surprised at how much i enjoyed this

MAH BOY ALASTOR IS FILLING MY BRAIN

**SPOILERS FOR EP 8**

I have to say, the way Alastor was walking in the scene where he lost it- he's usually so animated and peppy to fit with the persona he puts on, even in private. I know he was tired from almost dying, but once he starts talking about being chained and when he's lit up by the green glow, his body language looks like he's being physically weighed down by chains. We've never seen him this desperate or slipping from his facade this much in the show before, and i think it was brilliant use of body language to show how chained down he actually is.

THAT BEING SAID- who is chaining him down?

He clearly says "alastor altruist died for his friends" with distain, showing he isn't doing this out of his free will. He could get better entertainment in so many different ways, why come to the hotel?

He was gone for 7 years, and Lilith has been (haha hazbin) as well. My theory is that Lilith somehow made a deal with Alastor, and she made him protect Charlie and help her with whatever her endeavors were when she left for heaven.

Im curious if Alastor has come to care for the group at least a little bit, or if he's actually sick and tired of them from his bondage. Im curious if he's gonna kill Charlie or some of the others when his bondage is released, cuz everybody knows he's absolutely mad under that smile

But that's just a theory-

[chaosandwolves]

Ok my thoughts on s2 of Shadow and Bone

What I liked:

The first four eps were the strongest imo

I loved how they incorporated the crows into this

The costumes!!! (hello Jesper)

Most of the fight choreos since they were perfectly fitted to the character (actually didn't like the choreo in ep6 though)

Tolya and Tamar (thank you queer gods)

Genya

Genya and David

Ben Barnes was outstanding and so fun to watch

I liked the pace up until the last 3 eps

Mal as Stormhond? I dig it

They kinda speed ran Kanej but it was still well made and we got the "I'll have you without your armor" quote

WESPER (seriously they were the cutest ever and had such great chemistry)

Wylan (I KNEW Jack would be perfect but actually watching him being the perfect Wylan was amazing)

Jesper

What I didn't like

I'm mighty pissed about David. Given how important he was for Nikolai in the books and that we didn't even get the relationship between him and Genya properly. There was no need to kill him off so early. I'm really pissed about that (I feel like it's Eskel all over again although we at least got a few scenes with him)

Though I loved Tolya and Tamar I think they didn't quite manage to explain their role in all of this and why they're doing what they do so they seemed a bit randomly placed at times

I didn't like that they sidelined Zoya and that she wasn't with Genya and Nikolai. Obviously they've changed Nikolai's and Alina's story now but man we didn't really get to see any of what makes her Zoya. I mean they hinted that they'll still give her the storyline with that bee but yeah

Like 5 minutes in total of Matthias... Like what was that?

Pekka Rollins now ruling Hellgate - and probably more- kind of negates what Kaz did to him. If it all ends up with Kaz destroying him after all, I'll be happy but that way they really took away from the importance of what Kaz did. It was all he worked for why he is who he is... So I'm like... Yeah they either need to fix this (which I think they'll do or at least they'll revisit this story) or they absolutely built and destroyed that storyline in one go

I'm really not the person who's like "but in the books" or "the books were better" cause these are different mediums, different ways of storytelling and different ppl working on it.

I'm not sure what I think of Alina's storyline now. And which way this will go. I guess they did that to keep her on the show and I sure as hell hope Ben will make a return as well. But I was very... Ok.... When that happened cause it's actually an integral part of who she is that she's NOT drunk on the power in the end and doesn't turn into a person like the Darkling.

I'm gonna be mighty pissed if next season we finally get more Matthias but then he's killed off.

Yeah. I mean finally s3 will be the Crows season.

Also I think even though they upped their gane with Kaz, I think he still could've been more brutal... More Kaz

I hope next season there is more brilliant scheming. Cause imo we haven't really seen Kaz' brilliance yet.

Ok I'm done

[seeminglyranch87]

Taylor & Travis Timeline

December 2023 - part 2

December 10 - Chiefs v Buffalo Bills, Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City.

Travis Kelce arriving ahead of game

Taylor flies into Kansas City to attend the Chiefs game with her cousins, Travis' cousins & friends at Arrowhead Stadium

Travis made a brilliant play contributing to a touch down but was denied due to a team mates penalty.

During the game, NFL announcer and former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo referred to her as "Travis' wife" while on the air with announcing partner Jim Nantz.

"As you see, Kelce's wife, Taylor Swift, in the audience," Romo pointed out, quickly correcting himself and saying, "I'm sorry -- girlfriend."

"Not yet," Nantz said in response.

Chiefs were defeated 17 - 20.

Taylor and Travis leave the stadium together

Taylor and Travis together with team mates, coaches friends and family gather at Miracle Pop Up Bar

Travis' barber shares a photo of Taylor and Travis (x)

Lots of photos emerge from the party with Taylor and travis taking photos with friends - these have been cropped...

December 11 - Taylor is nominated for a Golden Globe for The Eras tour movie.

USA Today reports that Taylor has donated $1 million to a Tennessee tornado relief Fund (x) after a Tornado ravaged the state on Saturday 9 Dec.

ET article (x)

According to Cheterah Jackson, a Columbus, Ohio-based real estate agent and friend of Travis', the couple rented a luxury bus to transport their group and reserved the Christmas bar in downtown Kansas City for friends and family. 

Jackson tells ET, "My boyfriend Calvin Locke... is Travis' friend and has known him since the 7th grade. We were in the suite at the game, which was filled with family and friends."

"Taylor is an absolute sweetheart. She is very down-to-earth and kind." 

"Taylor and Travis are so in love. It was so cute seeing them together and I can see them getting married"  

December 12 - Taylor returns to NYC. Pictured with Miles & Keleigh Teller

December 13 - New Heights Ep. 68 airs (x 5:05)

Jason and Travis limit talking about Taylor although when the brothers chat about the No.1 & No.2 sales of NFL jerseys in the UK, they give credit to Swifties for helping with the success of topping the sales and Travis gives a "shout out to Kylie and Taylor." Travis suggests that perhaps they could "find our way over there this off season and say hello to everyone in person" and record a live show in the UK. Jason replies "we also got an opportunity to do one in Australia - we could make it a world tour"

Any one know of an international pop star who may be touring in the UK and Australia in 2024 that coincides with the NFL off season? Are the Kelce brothers hinting that Travis and perhaps Jason will join Taylor on tour next year? It should be noted that Patrick Mahomes has also raised the idea of possibly catching the Era's Tour in Europe in the off season too...

The boys answer "No Dumb Questions" from handle "metal-as-hell", a reference to Taylor's TIME article calling Travis "metal as hell" when he publicly declared his interest in dating Taylor.

Taylor Swift's 34th Birthday - Taylor heads to Banzarbar, NYC with friends to celebrate her birthday into the early hours of the morning - Happy Birthday Taylor! The paps even broke out into song to sing Taylor "Happy Birthday". Note Travis remained in KC with commitments to the Chiefs. This was expected.

December 14 - Taylor and friends share photos from the birthday celebration the evening before (x)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Taylor Swift (@taylorswift)

December 15 - Taylor is named Billboard's No.1 Greatest Pop Star (x)

It didn’t seem possible that anyone could have a year this dominant: not this deep into the streaming era, not this long after the oft-proclaimed death of the monoculture, not when the entire industry seems to be in crisis over how to capture and hold onto listener attention. It was a year not to be judged against Swift’s 2023 peers, but against the entirety of modern pop history. 

There is no wasted potential with Taylor Swift, no what ifs – the chance was there for her to have one of the greatest years any pop star has ever had, and you know that she grabbed it. Taylor was here. No one who was around for her 2023 will ever forget it.

With reference to Taylor's relationship with Travis, Billboard's Andrew Unterberger says:

... rumors were beginning to swirl about her and Kelce. The Chiefs star had become increasingly coy in his comments about the pop icon, saying he’d invited her to come see him play a home game (after he’d seen her Eras show in Kansas City that July). She did indeed do just that on the September 24th, with her presence at Arrowhead sending both the worlds of sports and pop culture into a frenzy, and leading to numerous posts and videos of non-football-conversant Swifties sharing the sport’s rules with one another, so they could better understand what was happening in between the shots of their hero in a private box with Kelce’s mom Donna.  From then on, every Sunday (and a couple Mondays and Thursdays) of 2023 was overtaken with Taylor talk: Would she be showing up at the Chiefs’ next game? What other celebrities would she be attending with? What kind of Kelce swag would she be wearing, and what would that mean about their relationship? What do you mean Kansas City is on a bye week?While Swift’s short relationship with Healy was extremely controversial to Swifties and her long relationship with Alwyn was largely uninteresting to everyone else, her love story with Kelce – a well-liked, unproblematic figure, a Super Bowl-winning superstar as an athlete with enough of a Q rating as a celebrity to host SNL – was universally accessible, and found near-100% public approval. You didn’t need deep grounding in Swift Lore to understand the relationship, because it just felt right: the All-American athlete dating the All-American pop star. 

Go to part 1 of December 2023

Go to part 3 of December 2023

Return to the timeline

[iamadequate1717]

Some thoughts nearly a month later: OFMD S2 flows together nicely after the first watch. Yes, I would like more room between certain milestones, but I also remember that Ed and Stede were besties about 20 minutes after meeting and were going to run away to China together like 3-4 weeks after meeting. I also remember the first time I watched this show and the style of it.

I first watched it the second week it was out, and I watched 1x1-6 in one go, knowing nothing of it. Like I do with fanfic, I then waited for it to finish before going back in (and was in no fanspace to see the speculation), so I watched 1x7-10 two weeks later. Let me tell you, I did NOT see the romance coming! First watch, I tried to get a feel for the humor and "voice" of the show while lazily trying to figure out the overarching story and what they were building toward; I thought it was going to a bigger emphasis on the English threat (and Spanish Jackie coming back in for a larger role!). Eps 4-6, Ed had the whole "I'm gonna burn off Stede's face and steal his identity" thing going on which made every action a bit sinister and Ed/Stede interaction seemingly tied to how that was going to resolve.

Now, 7-10... ep 7 is nice. Not sure how I didn't connect Lucius' "die alone" comment to a story romance, but I'm aroace and didn't have time to think about it much as I barreled into 8-10! Ed was a fratbro in 8, but he renounced his ways, and 20 audience minutes later, he's kissing Stede and starting this whole go to China thing! Whaaaa? It is absolute whiplash on first viewing if you came in not hearing this called "the gay pirate show." (Don't get me wrong! I liked it!) They just met, they got over that whole face burning thing, and ep 7 was the only breathing room on first run to see their relationship as one more as equals, and they're just immediately going off on a gay wedding honeymoon together?

However, if you go back and watch it, you can see all the details they put into the show and how they were setting up the season payoff. It was brilliant. The show was always breakneck and had things happen offscreen (ex: how hard Ed fell, the early early flirtation of Lucius and Pete), I think. If you need reflection time for S2 events, that is what the pause button (and S3) is for.

S2, the audience really had to adjust to the more "real pirate" tone and jettison the fanon (you know, in theory!) while also absorbing the story direction and payoffs. It is a lot to take in on first watch, like S1 was. Like S1, S2 improves on rewatch, and pacing and whiplash aren't so bad.

[remykai]

generation loss

i am just going to say everything that is on my mind right now. sorry if it doesn’t make sense. 

warning: generation loss spoilers, when i am talking about the episodes, i am talking about the characters mostly, not about the creators who portrayed them.

i LOVE the show so much. i love the idea. i love the creators. i love the story. i love the sets. i love EVERYTHING about it.

i am so proud of ranboo and everyone who helped to make this show come to life and to be THAT good of an experience. 

thoughts on ep. 1: 

being thrown immedietly into the action was the best thing. you feel like you are really in there with ranboo and you are experiencing it alongside them. having the chance to vote was an amazing idea and i loved how it really looked like a game. ranboo was really the main character we deserved, loved and felt for. i gotta say i was a little bit worried about charlie being the demon. when i saw the trailer, i immediately started laughing, and i didn’t know if i would be able to see him as a scary character. good thing i didn’t have to. i think it was the best decision ever not to make him scary and terrifying, and rather make him silly and goofy. the cooking show then was amazing. the idea with the door and going to different dimensions was absolutely hilarious, i loved it. when ranboo went to the basement and found sneeg and frank, that was also a great idea and funny af. i loved sneegs performance - how he portrayed going absolutely bollocks after spending so much time down there and talking to frank even though he is a skeleton (not a real person ANYMORE). last but not least, i loved the fight scenes. they were amazing and i gotta say - i loved being able to control ranboo’s moves at least a little bit. the ending was immaculate and the cliffhanger made me want more immediately. 

thoughts on ep. 2:

i didn’t watch ep. 2 live, because i was on a trip, but i watched it later and even though i wasn’t directly part of it (aka making any choices), i enjoyed it nonetheless. i loved how more creators were part of this one. every single one’s performance was immaculate. charlie being all silly and goofy while ranboo was taking all the stuff out of him, and then for a very brief moment screaming and crying because ranboo literally tore him open, and then casually coming back to silly, goofy mood. amazing. i loved niki’s performace especially because it was so chilling to see her crying this whole time but the second she had to speak to the camera, she was smiling and saying that she is kind and nice. austin’s straight trope was hilarious af. and sneeg’s acting skills - wow. how it was obvious that he “woke up” and saw what was really happening there, how it was obvious that he just excused himself to go to the toilet because he wanted to run away, and how it was so obvious (and terrifying) that he was wiped and put back in the game. it was especially scary, because they didn’t (and didn’t need to) tie him back up, because he wouldn’t run away anymore. he wouldn’t even think of it. and seeing how he still cared for frank was just hearwarming. then later, during the mouse trap game, it was so scary to see niki die. that was the first time i thought: omg, we CAN’T really control EVERYTHING. but i loved the acting, how ranboo and sneeg just carried on like nothing really happened and i realized that only after vinnie vinesauce came and started freaking out a little. the idea of charlie being soaked into the towel was also brilliant. then the wardrobe trope, just amazing. i loved the humour. i loved the show. then ethan having hope of getting out of there with that statue and then being killed just sent chills down my spine. then the play room - hilarious - the way they didn’t believe they could get out of there by pushing one button but that was actually it. i loved it. and then having a brief mcc hole in the wall moment. i was laughing (even though sneeg and austing were dying, sorry guys). and then the ending. ranboo waking up, realizing this is all a show, all a game, realizing we are watching and we are the once in control. their scared face. i love it. brilliant acting. also: rae, sykkuno’s and jerma’s acting was also on point. i loved how rae was just this little happy, confused, clumsy rat, it was so cute. 

thoughts on ep. 3:

ranboo finally sees through. wahoo. but it has consequences. they realized what they had done. hetch trying to calm them down, to think rationally, to end this once and for all potentionally save all of their friends (ranboo would’ve left if they didn’t have hope that their friends could be saved). amazing. them being all scared and worried. and confused. very, very confused. and the amount of guilt they must’ve felt. the moment with the code and then setting off the alarm was so chilling because that was the one time ranboo made a choice for themselves, and it was wrong, and it didn’t work. but the question is: did they really make a choice, or was this all pre-planned by showfall media? and then later on, when they found all of the streamers. it was chilling - the way no one was responding. only after ranboo took charlie’s headphone’s off, he got out of the tranz and he helped him. i didn’t see charlie’s stream from before genloss ep. 3, but it was in the set, and that’s just so cool. because like how much is showfall actually in control of everything. it extends into real life, not only the show itself. that was a really cool detail, i think. charlie and ranboo then running away and trying to get out of there, but they can’t, because this is all one huge set. they could never get out because that’s how it’s all planned. charlie being murdered by that tv monster and then ranboo pressing the button was so intense, i was barely breathing. and the ending. ranboo thinking they got out, that they are free, that they are no longer in the game, in the show, but being tied up immediately after. it was so sad. us having a choice - let them live or let them die. i gotta say i pressed live, i questioned my choice later on, but in the end, i think i would still pick live because i had hope that maybe showfall media would let ranboo go. but i get everyone who chose the die button. it was so scary to see ranboo that hopeless. the ending got me. the box just sent chills down my spine. it was not the ending i wanted, but it was the ending ranboo deserved because maybe he would stay in the spiral forever and would never get out. but we don’t know that. lastly, knowing this is only one of many, many experiments is just so chilling. yes, i am excited for ranboo and their team to see what they come up with, but for the characters, this is gonna be just more torture and pain. 

to sum this up: i loved it so much. i can’t wait for ranboo to keep doing this and to bring more generation loss to us.