#hint hint to film companies in other countries

[penguicorns-are-cool]

IMG ID: tweet from "screen talk @screenTalk" saying "SAG-AFTRA is officially going on strike.

This is the first time both actors & writers are on strike in over 60 years. #SAG-AFTRA"

with an image of the SAG-AFTRA logo which looks like a very simplified person with their back to the camera looking right with a line coming out of their right shoulder.

END ID

Strike is on. Actors will be joining the writers on the picket lines. This is the first strike in 60 years for SAG, and essentially shuts down the entire US film and television industry.

[rye-bread08]

Finally finished my Gravity Falls OC

(If theres any questions about her, please do leave them in my inbox, I will do my best to answer them, since im practically crafting her story as I go, so things I say here might not be canon in later revisions)

And to my least favourite part writing: (TLDR; Childhood friends, Stan got kicked out, years passed they met again in Vegas, Dated, Stan 'died' in a Crash, 30 years later, met 3 & 4 in the woods, went to find Stan, reconnected)

Camila "Millie" Rosaline Garcia was born and raised in Glass Shard Beach, New Jersey. As a child, she spent nearly every day at the beach, this is where she met the Twins, Stan and Ford. Being just a year younger than the two, she naturally went along with them really well, and they quickly became friends.

Millie attended the same school as the twins and developed a deep infatuation for Ford. Her feelings were met with a rejection, as Ford was aware that his twin, Stan, had crush on her. Despite this, their friendship remained strong throughout high school. When Stan suddenly left without a word, Millie was understandably upset. Ford simply told her to not worry about it and to continue with life.

After Graduating, Mills pursued her passion and attended an art school neighboring Backupsmore University. Her and Ford interacted a lot in the beginning and almost started dating, but Ford prioritized his studies, and their interactions happen less and less. They eventually stopped talking and just focused on their own lives. After graduating from University, Millie traveled across America, seeking opportunities in the film and theater industries. She eventually settled in Las Vegas, where she sold paintings and worked as a background actor in films. To make ends meet, she also took a job at a local diner. One day, a familiar face randomly appeared. It was her childhood friend Stanley Pines. Despite the years apart, they hit it off almost instantly. Quite Little has changed, he's still the Big goof she knew since childhood, and still had his athletic physique and strong personality. But now, he's ever so slightly more charismatic? One thing led to another, and their renewed friendship soon turned into romance. Their relationship led them to create new memories together. For a year or two, their relationship seemed like a second chance at happiness. They enjoyed every bit of time they were together and found comfort with each other’s company.

However, their rekindled romance was short-lived. During a risky illegal venture involving Stan, he fled, leaving Millie to face legal trouble. She was arrested, and after being incarcirated, the atmosphere of their relationship drastically changed. Even after they parted ways following a heated argument, their true feelings for each other still remained.

-

Millie’s life was a mess after finding out about Stan’s tragic death in a horrible car crash. But she pushed through, throwing herself into her art, traveling across the Americas, selling her creations to fund her travels. Her journey took her to various countries, and she continued to support herself through her art for years.

Summer of 2012 While traveling through the Pacific Northwest, coming from British Columbia, Mills encountered two children taking refuge from the rain in a cave near her campsite. The two looked very identical. The only way you could be able to distinguish them from each other were the numbers in their cap, reading "3" and "4". The two, who introduced themselves as Tracey and Quattro, were visibly distressed and confused. She quickly took the two of them in. Providing them with raincoats and other necessities she bought at a nearby truck stop.

As she spent time with the two, their stories began to reveal hints of the supernatural. Millie was not estranged to the paranormal and the bizarre. Frankly, she had her own encounters throughout the years, and was very intrugued with the stories they told her.

tho, a familiar name surfaced in their tales: Stanford Pines? They havent talked ever since she graduated and left New Jersey. Mill figured that since shes still in the area, It would be nice to visit an old friend. With 3 and 4 guiding her, she drove to Gravity Falls, Oregon.

"Welcome to Gravity Falls" she read Driving through the town filled with debree and on going construction, It was clear that something happened ,any questions made were met with the same phrase "Never mind all that"

She finally drives up to the Mystery Shack, and saw Stanley? ... something something, insert plot, something, Im too lazy to right it now. Im going to bed. ... If you finished reading through that, Thank you. Im not usually the type to write, this alone took me a whole night to do and revise. I will definitely make more content of her in the future, interacting with other characters, writing more backstory, those sorts. For now If you have any questions feel free to ask and I will do my best to answer them.

[madisonmccoy]

Rykter cast featured in Bergens Tidende while filming season 3

translated below :)

New rumors are spreading: “Getting in the mood very quickly.”

The TV success from Bergen continues: “We had to think differently”.

The TV series from Bergen is finally starting again.

Teo Tomczuk, Sisilja Garen, Martin Storebø Koh, and Alisah Süssmann also have central roles in the next season of \"Rykter\". Shown here on the sofa during a morning party in Telavåg.

By: Frank Johnson

Alice Bratshaug (photography)

Published: September 19, 2023

It is Friday morning in Telavåg. The seaside house at the water's edge is full of festive young people from 16 to 17 years old. The alcohol is on the table, the guys and girls are dancing, the atmosphere is both amorous and aggressive. Many adults are standing around, watching and filming.

Sexual identity

Suddenly, a fair haired man stands up, shouts “cut” - and everything calms down. Before the music is turned up.

“It's a bit weird to dance in the morning without music. But the crew is also moving, so we get into the mood very quickly”, says Teo Tomczuk (17) smiling when the camera is switched off.

Sisilja Garen has makeup done for new party scenes.

“The adolescents in the scene are going to be at a party, so we play music between takes. Then they're on it right away”, adds director Andreas Milde.

The Bergen company “Mothership” is finally starting to film new seasons of the teen series "Rykter" for NRK. Most recently, students in tiende klasse (final year of lower secondary school) were followed on fictitious Vesterøy. Now the main characters have started videregående skole (upper secondary school).

Photographer Christer Steffensen and part of the crew in filming for "Rykter".

Things that were hinted at in the last episode – drug problems, identity, taking responsibility – are all made clear.

“They have reached a new phase in their lives and will, among other things, explore sexual identity”, says photographer Christer Steffensen, who will also direct ten of the episodes.

Success in Italy

In addition, 30 ten-minute episodes will be recorded this time. These will be released in two parts on Norway’s national channel, probably in the first few months of 2024 (liars). The series creator is, the same as last time, Christoffer Ebbesen.

Producer Linda Bolstad Strønen is keeping up with the recordings in Telavåg.

The budget is 22 million NOK. Producer Linda Bolstad Strønen admits that it has been tough to get funding after NRK, like most other channels, has reduced its budget. Despite the fact that each episode is seen by 200,000 in Norway alone.

Therefore, among other things, they had to go to the broadcaster Norddeutscher Rundfunk (NDR) in northern Germany. Production money from the West Norwegian Film Center and the Norwegian Film Institute, as well as support from the Media Fund Zefyr in Bergen, has also helped secure a new season.

“We had to think of an alternative, so it is a patchwork of contributors. The fact that "Rykter" was also picked up by the public broadcaster RAI in Italy, with great success, gives us good momentum”, says Bolstad.

Alisah Süssmann from Fana goes to the dance department at Langhaugen upper secondary school.

The Nordic countries have aired the series. Now Mothership is betting even stronger internationally.

“It is a clear advantage that we have a finished season to show off.”

We are a "Rykter" (rumors) gang

Glesvær and Telavåg became important recording locations. This time Sund secondary school is the new base.

“The collaboration we have with the school there is incredibly important. They really show up”, says Bolstad.

The atmosphere is good between recordings at the seaside house.

Many of the main actors are students themselves, so there has been a lot of planning with parents and schools to get the schedule in place.

“Last year we shot 30 episodes in one go. Now we record ten at a time and have a two-week break until the next few. It gives everyone some breathing room”, says Bolstad.

It has been a whole year since the actors last stood in front of the camera. The party scene comes along in episode six. Now there will be recording until the middle of January.

Teo Tomczuk grew up in Solund municipality in Ytre Sogn, while Sisilja Garen comes from Øystese.

“I have missed the gang very much, both in front of and behind the camera”, admits Tomczuk, who plays Mathias.

“We are a "Rykter (rumors) gang" who both know each other well and try to keep in touch, but we live spread out. It's not often that everyone gets to meet up”, says Alisah Süssmann, Sara in the series.

We bring ourselves into the roles

They are happy that another season came. It gives them the opportunity to go deeper into the roles and explore new issues.

The seaside house they use for filming is close to other buildings.

“I was a bit afraid that I wouldn't fully get into my character, Thea, but everything came back as soon as I got on set. The production crew wants it to be authentic, so we bring ourselves into the roles. We know the characters best”, says Sisilja Garen.

“From day one, I have heard from a friend of mine: "You are exactly like yourself. What you're doing is not acting". One day the director said we should screw with the script and just do what we wanted”, says Martin Storebø Koh, who plays Felix, and laughs.

Martin Storebø Koh from Austevoll gets an even bigger role in the next season of “Rykter”.

“We have had a little part in the script’s process, and have adjusted when needed to make it even more believable”, adds Süssmann.

Followed home by young girls

And since the TV series has become a success, they are also becoming well-known again.

"I am followed home by young girls every day, they stand outside the door until my mother chases them away”, says Tomczuk and laughs. He also talks about emails from Italian fans.

Director Andreas Milde and lighting master Poul Iversen during a break.

“I happened to be in Italy and got a login to RAI. It was very strange to see yourself dubbed. They kept my laugh, but used a different voice for me”, says Süssmann.

Director of the first episodes, Andreas Milde, thinks the target audience is getting older this season.

“Since the main characters in the series are getting older, the audience will probably be older as well. But we know that 13-14-year-olds like best to watch somewhat adult series.”

_

(y'all this is literally the last promotional thing i had saved to translate... NRK why are you not hyping people up about this show?!? 🤨)

[taekooktimeline]

June 18, 2023

June 18, 2023: Tae and Jungkook both are captured on film wearing the same shirt. It’s an ERL- White 'Kappa Sweetheart' T-Shirt. Tae wears the shirt during his personal time, when he attends Bruno Mars’ concert on June 18, 2023 with Wooga (it’s interesting he wore it on a day when he’d be publicly spotted wearing it, which indicates a statement and wanting to be linked to Jungkook wearing it). Jk wears the shirt while filming his “Seven” MV in Los Angeles, when he was shooting his train scene.

Remember, Jungkook had said if he wasn’t filming, he would’ve attended the concert.

It’s a genderless shirt, and it’s good to also remember that Jk’s lines in “Seven” are gender neutral. It’s also telling that Jk said, “The lyrics of Seven mean you want to be with the person you love all the time. Like the title of the song, from Monday to Sunday. The willingness to be with the love of my life every day is shown in this passionate serenade.” No, Jk didn’t write this song, but it’s still quite telling he explained the song by saying “love of MY life” - indicating there is a lover in his life - and once again he kept it gender neutral when he described the summer pop song. All of this is quite notable. And on a personal note, I find it so sweet that they find ways to stay connected, even when one of them is in another country. 

Tae at the concert -

Jk in the “Seven” MV + HD photo from the Seven MV photo sketch -

In the short film for “Seven”, we can better see the (matching) shirt. I love that Jk is filmed wearing it next to a “wish you were here?” poster while the lyrics “You know night after night, I'll be lovin' you for seven days…” plays. What’s also noteworthy is the jacket he’s wearing is Celine ( Tae is a BA for Celine ).

https://youtube.com/shorts/iaoW8HW421U?feature=share

The Celine jacket and gender neutral shirt -

The shirt is now sold out but it can be bought (if restocked) here - https://www.ssense.com/en-us/women/product/erl/white-kappa-sweetheart-t-shirt/13087701?gbraid=0AAAAAD9ouUvO1YKNZfX6jcpw33IJNjfXi&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIxafd8caNgAMVay7UAR2KTA8PEAQYAiABEgLQnPD_BwE ; Credit to @peachesminty9 for finding the information

Jk also wore Celine necklaces in the MV. I especially love that he wore the padlock Celine necklace with the Kappa sweetheart shirt he and Tae both own🥰As a couple people brilliantly said, and I agree (this is my opinion) it’s like he’s saying “the keeper of my heart/safely locked you in my heart.” It’s quite loud IMO.

This is speculative, but I still want to point out what others have noted. It seems like Tae was potentially hinting at Jk’s MV when he posted - as part of a series of photos he shared on his IG - the Molang Halloween candy keychain he was wearing after the Dream premier. It could be considered as a hint about the “Seven” MV because Jk (who’s emoji in the fandom is a bunny) pops out of a coffin in the MV, and the opening lyrics mention kissing a lover’s waist (in the photograph, the keychain dangles from Tae’s waist). I, personally, find this interesting, but please decide as you like.

Also something fun to note (and not necessarily Taekook related) is Jk’s funeral suit was created by Tailorable, a company that makes good quality, bespoke clothes.

Tailorable has a past with the group. This isn’t a comprehensive breakdown of all the times they’ve worn the brand, but this is a small summary. BTS wore Bespoke suits by Tailorable for their Butter performance at the AMAS 2021. They also wore their clothes for their cover on Time Magazine, and for their May 2022 visit to the White House.

While the group, and other members individually, have utilized Tailorable for official projects, what I want to point out is Tae is a frequent commissioner for Tailorable’s custom outfits, as seen in these photos below. This link may not mean anything as far as Taekook goes since BTS have utilized Tailorable in group, and individual, official activities, but I found it interesting enough to highlight that Tae clearly is a big fan and wears their clothes for other, varied occasions (his personal time in Vegas, with Wooga, for his Veautiful Days folio which was BTS’ personalized concepts, etc). You can decide relevancy, if any. I can understand why some see a link between Taekook because 1) the Kappa Sweetheart shirt and Celine jacket have clear, definite links and 2) Tae is personally a big fan of the brand (so it can be insinuated he suggested them for Jk’s MV), but to be honest, I’m not really sure if the Tailorable suit is relevant. It could be stylist choice, coincidence, personal preference or suggested to Jk. What I find important is the shirt and jacket. Still, I still wanted to preserve the information (for some reason my gut is telling me to), disclaim it and you can decide.

Jungkook’s MV for Seven - https://youtu.be/QU9c0053UAU 

Let’s keep doing our best to stream and support Jk’s artistry! If you need a playlist, here are some options: https://twitter.com/stream4taekook/status/1679751370017247232?s=46&t=StSwHjW0_Domk_lHUFMaCg

[lgcmanager]

VERSUS MISSION 005

SCHEDULE TYPE: TRIMESTER ( PART 1 OUT OF 1 ) SCHEDULE RESTRICTIONS: cannot be paired with another trimester schedule, unless stated otherwise. for reference as to whether your muse is eligible for this event, please click over HERE.

as VERSUS’ schedules slow down, KYUHWAN calls all of the VERSUS members in the living room of their dorms for a meeting.

“i know our schedules have shifted quite a bit lately. there’s less schedules and more time dedicated to practice, but with the loss of another VERSUS member, the company has advised that we work on other matters in the meantime while AGITO is in the middle of their comeback promotions. this also meant revising the company’s plans for a comeback too.” there was a hint of sadness in KYUHWAN’s voice, which was a rarity given that the manager was known to be spirited and jovial. KYUHWAN adds as an attempt to find the positive amidst the unexpected changes, “as you will see, your schedules will be a lot lighter but there are a few things to look forward to.”

CREATIVE SONG CAMP

“LEGACY has plans of releasing a special kind of show for V&A — one that showcases more of everyone’s creative sides. since your counterpart unit, AGITO, will be busy with their promotions, we’ve decided that in preparation of this project, all of the VERSUS members will instead be going to STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN to attend a CREATIVE SONG CAMP. in the past years they would host the song camp in different countries and focus solely on songwriting, but this year they wanted to expand to other skill sets such as choreography and mv filming. we know a few of you have attended something similar to it years ago when LEGACY had their songwriting workshops, but this will be an even more concentrated one since you will be meeting many famous producers.” KYUHWAN explains while giving them the details about the event.

starting from APRIL 22 to MAY 5, all of the VERSUS members will be packing up their belongings and travel to STOCKHOLM. when they arrive at their apartment ( where all of the members will be sharing one floor ) they will be given the schedule for the camp, which is scheduled from APRIL 25 to MAY 5. the VERSUS members have the option to take intensive workshops related to SONGWRITING ( LYRIC COMPOSITION ), PRODUCING ( MUSIC COMPOSITION, LYRIC COMPOSITION, INSTRUMENT ), and CHOREOGRAPHY ( POP/HIP HOP/STREET, CLASSICAL ).

during this time, the VERSUS members will concurrently work on their first project for their new and upcoming YOUTUBE show called ‘V&A’s SONG STEALER’, where V&A will use their musical and creative prowess to ‘steal’ some of the most popular songs and make their own rendition of the song. for the first set of episodes ( EPISODES 1-5 ), VERSUS will be ‘stealing’ TYPE ZERO’S ‘ONE ( MONSTER & INFINITY )’ and making their own version of it ( the genre of the new arrangement will be ROCK ). coincidentally, the producing team behind ‘ONE ( MONSTER & INFINITY )’ will be present during the camp and will visit the VERSUS members on MAY 2 to see and hear the group’s version of the song. they will give brief feedback on how to improve the song for the final performance, which will be filmed on MAY 5 as the last song for the camp’s talent show. the VERSUS members will be performing the same song live on JULY 27 for KCON LA plus the other song that they ( V&A ) will be working on, which is CRYSTALLIS’ ‘FIESTA’.

since the VERSUS members will be overseas for a few weeks, they will be given TWO free days ( SATURDAY, MAY 27 and FRIDAY, MAY 3 ) where they can use that time to explore around what STOCKHOLM has to offer. as always, if the members are planning on going anywhere, they must let KYUHWAN ( the manager ) know about their whereabouts and where they are planning to go beforehand. as for the rest of the days, if any of the VERSUS members are not attending workshops, they will be staying in the apartment and help work on the song project.

all of the content that goes on during that time ( including their free days ) will be filmed. In the case of the free days, the content will be posted as “vlogs” for the V&A’s youtube channel while the preparation process will be part of the first four episodes of ‘V&A’s SONG STEALER’.

V&A’S SONG STEALER ( FIESTA )

for ‘FIESTA’, V&A will be teaming up together to film the first part of this set of episodes with the leaders ( YEONWOO & JIHO ) randomly choosing some important rules for their new song arrangement. JIHO will be choosing the genre of the song ( FOLK, specifically KOREAN FOLK MUSIC ) while YEONWOO will be choosing one of the requirements for the song ( there MUST be a 30 seconds dance break in the song ). they will be told later after finding out the genre and arrangement that due to fans’ votes on LGC’s youtube channel, the song selected for this round was CRYSTALLIS’ ‘FIESTA’.

to help V&A gain some additional insight on traditional korean music, they will be visiting the NATIONAL GUGAK CENTER, which is the headquarters of korean traditional performing arts on MAY 22. during their visit, they will be attending a tour, learning some historical information, and partaking in music/instrument lessons from some of the masters of traditional korean music.

V&A will be working on this project from MAY 20-JUNE 11 and will be filming their live performance of ‘FIESTA’ on JUNE 11. for this song, V&A will be split into two teams to help work on different aspects of the song; DANCE TEAM ( to help with the choreography for the song / LEADER: JIHO ) and PRODUCE TEAM ( to help with the song arrangement / LEADER: YEONWOO ). in the case of JIHO, he will serve as the person connecting the two teams with his knowledge in music production and choreography.

for ic purposes, the team arrangements are as follows:

DANCE TEAM

KUROSAWA AKIO

LEE JIHO ( LEADER )

PONGSAK TEE

PRODUCE TEAM

JEON HARU

KANG MAXIMILIAN

LEE YUSHIN

PARK SEOJIN

WON YEONWOO ( LEADER )

the airing dates for the first season of V&A’s ‘SONG STEALER’ are listed below:

EPISODE 1 ( MAY 31 ): premise of the show, VERSUS’s initial reactions to finding out that they will be traveling to sweden

EPISODE 2 ( JUNE 1 ): VERSUS attending the creative song camp and working on ‘one ( monster & infinity )’

EPISODE 3 ( JUNE 8 ): VERSUS attending the creative song camp and working on ‘one ( monster & infinity )’

EPISODE 4 ( JUNE 15 ): VERSUS attending the creative song camp and working on ‘one ( monster & infinity )’

EPISODE 5 ( JUNE 22 ): VERSUS performing ‘one ( monster & infinity )’ for the people at the creative song camp

EPISODE 6 ( JULY 29 ): V&A deciding the details for their new song & finding out the song that they will be stealing

EPISODE 7 ( JULY 6 ): V&A visiting the national gugak center

EPISODE 8 ( JULY 13 ): V&A visiting the national gugak center and working on ‘fiesta’

EPISODE 9 ( JULY 20 ): V&A working on ‘fiesta’

EPISODE 10 ( JULY 27 ): V&A performing ‘fiesta’ ( aired after KCON LA day 2 is done )

( important note: for AKIO and SEOJIN, they will be announced publicly as the newest members of VERSUS sometime around early MAY so they will be eligible for OPEN EVENTS 006 ( FANSITES ) and OPEN EVENT 007 ( BIRTHDAYS ) by then and be included in the V&A instagram. )

Q2 SCHEDULES

APRIL 26: ‘infj’ song and music video release featuring WON [ YEONWOO ]

JULY 6: waterbomb festival ( will be performing CREAM SODA, TRAUMA, PADO, DIVE )

JULY 27: KCON LA

in addition to the schedules above, VERSUS will be doing a group photoshoot for a spread in ESQUIRE KOREA MAGAZINE ( something vaguely similar to THIS ) for the JULY 2024 issue. after the photos have been taken, all of the VERSUS members will be playing some games, specifically the BALANCING GAME ( aka this or that ). in the balancing game segment, all of the members will be lining up in a straight line and will each be asked two choices to choose from ( eg. ‘which season would you prefer; winter or summer?’ ‘if you have to take one item when you go on a trip, which would you pick; camera or headphones?’ 'which is more nerve-wracking for you; forgetting all of the lyrics on stage or forgetting all of the choreo on stage?’ ‘if you could only eat one type of meal for the rest of your life, which would you prefer; spicy food or sweet food?’ etc ).

WRITING REQUIREMENTS

VERSUS IN STOCKHOLM: write a 300+ word solo or a 4 replies thread ( 2 posts per mun; minimum 8 lines each ) with another VERSUS member about what they did during their free time in stockholm for +7 POINTS TO DISTRIBUTE ANYWHERE and +4 NOTORIETY !

V&A SONG STEALER: write a 300+ word solo  or a 4 replies thread ( 2 posts per mun; minimum 8 lines each ) with another V&A member about anything related to the show ( eg. versus attending the creative song camp, v&a visiting the national gugak center, brainstorming ideas for how the song should sound like/choreography should look like, rehearsals for performing their song arrangement, etc. ) for +6 MUSIC COMPOSITION, LYRIC COMPOSITION, CHOREOGRAPHY ( SPECIFY ), OR INSTRUMENTS ( SPECIFY ) and +7 NOTORIETY ! ** for the versus members, this can be completed twice as long as one of them is a thread **

Q2 SCHEDULES: write a 300+ word solo or continue a thread ( non-event or past event is acceptable ) with a V&A member that started in Q1 ( JANUARY 8-APRIL 6 ) by writing an additional 4 replies for +6 SINGING, DANCING, RAPPING, or PERFORMANCE and +4 NOTORIETY ! ** everyone except YEONWOO can do this **

make sure to use the hashtag lgc:versusmission for the tasks. you have until JULY 6, 2024 at 11:59PM EDT to complete the requirements and validate your points. please submit the following form ONCE on the points blog.

MUSE NAME ∙ VERSUS MISSION 005 - VERSUS IN STOCKHOLM: +7 ( skill points distribution ), +4 notoriety [ LINK ] - V&A SONG STEALER: +6 ( music composition, lyric composition, choreography [specify], OR instrument [specify] ) and +7 notoriety [ LINK ] ** can be done up to two times ** - Q2 SCHEDULES: +6 ( singing, dancing, rapping, OR performance ), +4 notoriety [ LINK ] ** for everyone except YEONWOO **

[fantasyinvader]

One of the things about IBO is that if you listen to what it was inspired by, those inspirations serve as hints to the show's true nature.

Barbatos was designed in s1 to start off looking like a kid wearing a samurai helmet, only to gain more samurai armor as it evolves. Therefore, it's linking Tekkadan to the honorable samurai. It's pilot Mikazuki is even described as honorable in episode 3, but there's a catch. Orga said that about Mikazuki after Tekkadan drugged their superiors, tied them up, stole the company from them with Mikazuki executing those who resisted earlier in the episode. It was said because Mika accepted a challenge for a duel, something he rejects towards the end of the season in an act that Yaraon reported had him being called evil on Japanese forums. That samurai-armor was ripped off Barbatos in the final battle of s1, with Mikazuki being called a monster. Barbatos would then become more demonic looking in the following season to the point it stopped looking human.

The thing about the samurai is they weren't that honorable. That was PR after the samurai class was abolished following the Meiji restoration, where the former samurai boosted their image in order to look better from the masses. It was also this image that fueled Imperial Japan, this belief that bushido made them better than others and acted as a justification for what they would do to them.

The story was also said to be inspired by the Shinsengumi, who fought against the restoration. Stories at the time paint the group as violent thugs, but following the Meiji era people began to romanticize them. So, like with the samurai we have Tekkadan being linked to groups that were made to appear better than they were in hindsight. Even in the show, Tekkadan having PR on their side is actually the truth, with Nobliss Gordon in s1 and McGillis in s2 spreading stories that they are heroes in order to further their own goals.

The director said following the first season the show was a mafia story, based on the same events that the Battles without Honor and Humanity series, treated as the Japanese version of The Godfather, were. That film series actually went against how the yakuza were portrayed in media at the time, as outlaw heroes looking out for the common man and even the modern-day samurai, by instead presenting them as crooks feeding off the poor and not giving much of a damn towards honor or the code of the yakuza.

They all link back to the samurai in some way, but now we have another link to WW2. Doesn't help that the show's name, Tekketsu no Orphans, invokes the tale of the Tekketsu Kinotai, where Imperial Japanese sent kids from Okinawa to fight against Americans. Tales involve giving them two grenades, one to toss at the enemy and the other to act as a suicide bomber with. One of the survivors of this talked about being rescued by Americans and crying when he realized they weren't the monsters he was told they were.

The last quarter of the show also reflects the Japanese far-Right narrative concerning WW2. In that narrative, America put Japan's prosperity into question with it's embargo so they bombed US bases across the Pacific in a surprise attack. Japan was beaten back to it's homeland, where they tried to negotiate a surrender before being illegally bombed with nuclear weapons. Meanwhile, the yakuza gain strength in Japanese politics with approval of the Americans to keep the country from going commie. That's pretty much what happens in the show, except the show leaves out that Tekkadan being hit with illegal weapons was a response to Tekkadan's usage of the AV-system, which itself was banned.

It all goes back to this idea of false narratives, which fits when the director talked about how following s1 we weren't supposed to think of Tekkadan as wrong or misguided only to say that Merribit was the one who was right at the time following s2. It was this director who pushed for Tekkadan to be punished for their crimes by the ending. And when you think about it, it's really... calling out Japan over WW2.

The standard Gundam design is based on the samurai, and Tomino has talked about growing up post-war and seeing the adults trying to pass on their ways to the next generation. It's why in his works he's so adamant that we need to empower the youth so they don't make the same mistakes. Miyazaki has also talked about growing up in this era and being disgusted both at the Americans for acting like they're the good guys after nuking the country and the Japanese men who bragged about what they did in China. The things these men, supposedly honorable men acting in accordance with bushido, were doing. Fukui even got in on this with Unicorn, with Full Frontal basing his plan on the Japanese co-prosperity sphere which was, in reality, just Japanese Imperialism while making themselves look as though they're defending the rest of Asia from the West.

Fukuda can fuck himself over his claims the original show was based on Vietnam.

Even the special edition of the show plays into this, reflecting how WWII wasn't taught in Japanese schools and even today they'll spend so much time on the history leading up to WWII they run out of time to teach the war. That ends at Hashmal, right before the start of the final quarter where Tekkadan are punished.

[iris-sistibly]

Is Kill Boksoon worth the hype?

Unpopular opinion: NO. Here's why:

1. The Storyline was unsatisfying

I do like the whole idea of the main character living a double life: as a mother and as an A-rank assassin. However, the whole film felt like a multi-chaptered novel/manga/manhwa that was "compressed" into a two-hour film. To be honest, there were so many parts in the movie which could have been expounded better, like the first meeting of Chairman Cha and Boksoon, how did he find out about the then seventeen-year-old girl's case? Did Boksoon heard or contacted MK and the company then assigned someone to stage her father's suicide? How come the director of MK despises Boksoon so much? Surely there was something deeper than just her being the chairman's favorite knife, what about the backstory of how MK was established and became such a powerful company? What about Jae-young's dad? Was she ever curious about who he was? The main plot had so much potential, but there are loose threads and unexplored side stories would have made it so much better.

2. There were interesting characters whose backstories could have added up to the excitement

Han Hee-sung, Cha Min-kyu, Cha Min-hee, Kim Yeong-ji, are among those characters who I'd like to get to know of. Sadly, because this is a film, the focus was definitely towards the main character. I'm not mad, and I think Jeon Do-yeon gave off a splendid performance as Gil Boksoon. But the four I've mentioned above have so much more to offer. Especially the Cha siblings, I wish they had given these characters a solid backstory so the viewers could have a better understanding towards these characters.

3. The climax didn't provide the climax

The other fight scenes were good, but the final fight scene between Boksoon and Min-kyu which by the way was supposedly a badass and exhilarating part of the show was rather underwhelming. Those two have known each other for so long that they could already predict what the other would do, but it was so hard to keep my eyes glued on the screen as the film goes on. It wasn't bad, but it was lackluster. And in all honesty, it would have been better if they really fought to the death than staring into each other's souls or predicting what the other was going to do. It's kind of common in many action films but hey, it works most of the time.

4. The ending was so-so

There are two things I have in mind: one was Min-kyu never intended to harm Jae-young, the film gave hints about his relationship with Boksoon which led to the suspicion that he could be the real dad of Jae-young (but it was never confirmed), and his #1 rule was that kids were off-limits so he was just really messing with Boksoon's head. OR Jae-young did watch the live but pretended that she didn't for some reason idk, and I kinda have the feeling that she could be following her mother's footsteps in the future but that was just me. Anyway, after Boksoon killed Min-kyu there wasn't really left to tell though I would have liked to know whether the remaining employees would...perhaps kill for the position as the new CEO or something but yeah, it was just an okay ending.

Some good things about the show:

1. Amazing cast ensemble

Hands down, they were all amazing ❤️ Like I've said, Jeon Do-yeon delivered her character so well! I love how she shifts from a badass assassin to a mom who's just trying to reconnect with her only daughter. Also, a huge shout out to Lee Jae-wok for his cameo performance.

2. The relationship of Gil Boksoon and Gil Jae-young throughout the film

I know South Korea is a conservative country and they're not as open towards the LGBT community, so I like that the character of Jae-young wasn't the usual kdrama or kmovie rebellious, bratty, girl. She was hiding something and was scared of what other people might say about her especially her mom and it sucked because she couldn't really be herself. But the moment she finally came out to her mother, their relationship has gotten better. Boksoon's initial reaction was understandable but in the end, she never forced Jae-young to be someone that she's not and even encouraged her to be true to herself.

Conclusion:

Kill Boksoon isn't the best film I've seen this year, but I wouldn't say that it's one of the worst. In fact, I think that this has so much potential and so much more to offer, and it could have been executed better. It was just lacking, I personally think that this could have been one of the best if this movie was turned into a series instead.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐/5

[cinematicpro-in]

10 Movies to Watch While You Wait For Killers of the Flower Moon

While we tremble with fear because of all the changes in release date schedules that we have seen taking place recently, Martin Scorsese's latest Killers of the Flowers Moon stands solidly for an October 2023 release in theaters. Surely an Oscar contender, we don't see Apple Studios making a last-minute change, but Hollywood's current strike seems to have shifted the industry's mechanics enough to make it pull out a few surprises when we least expect them. MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENT Killers of the Flower Moon has been Scorsese's project since before The Irishman was produced. A few changes in production schedules put it in development hell, but then we saw that glorious image featuring stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Lily Gladstone. Suddenly, the project was real. Based on the 2017 book of the same name by David Grann, it tells the story of a murder investigation in the Osage Nation during the 1920s, during a period of turmoil related to oil extraction on tribal land. As we wait for ticket sales to start, let's check out a few similar films to Killers of the Flower Moon to get in the mood for what will surely turn into a modern Scorsese classic.

10 There Will Be Blood

Paramount Vantage / Miramax Films Paul Thomas Anderson's drama epic There Will Be Blood tells the story of a visionary man with twisted morals but a peculiar drive to admit guilt and get something out of that. Daniel Plainview could be evil in the eyes of some, but to others, he was just an ambitious man. Plainview is a prospector in the early 1900s who finds oil in a California wasteland. This is the beginning of his quest to become the most powerful tycoon with a thirst for power that only gets stronger as he encounters his nemesis. Plainview’s greedy stance will face obstacles, and he does something about it. The score and cinematography are haunting.

9 The Power of the Dog

Netflix Jane Campion’s The Power of the Dog is a great film that people shouldn’t have forgotten about so quickly. Categorized as a revisionist Western, it tells the story of a sibling rivalry rooted in unrevealed secrets, and one that results in horrible consequences when personalities are unbridled. The Burbank brothers are wealthy ranchers. Phil is the talent and George… is not. George is more of an intellectual man who falls in love with Rose, something that Phil doesn’t exactly celebrate. This leads to a terrible outcome involving Rose’s teenage son which we won’t spoil if you were among the ones who decided to scroll past one of Netflix’s hidden gems.

8 No Country for Old Men

Miramax Films / Paramount Pictures In No Country for Old Men, greed is manifested through very distinct characters whose agendas dehumanize them beyond the rules of a grounded genre. It’s a Western film with far too many hints of comedy (Llewelyn Moss is an idiot), and horror (Chigurh is a horrific monster). Related: The Real Story Behind Killers of the Flower Moon, Explained It tells the story of a Vietnam vet who finds a huge money stash and decides not to report it. It’s how the hunt begins, both for the man and the money, by two very different characters. This winner of an Academy Award for Best Picture was directed by the Coens.

7 Wind River

The Weinstein Company / STXinternational Much like in Killers of the Flower Moon, a horrible crime sets the story arc in Wind River. In Taylor Sheridan’s underrated crime thriller, a wildlife officer helps solve a murder mystery that takes place in a territory where modern civilization and Native American tradition have collided for centuries, and it shows. The Western noir features Jeremy Renner and Elizabeth Olsen playing the leads but has exceptional secondary performances by Gil Birmingham and Jon Bernthal. The third act is an impressive exercise in tension that will most likely stay with you for days.

6 Hell or High Water

Lionsgate Tanner and Toby are two brothers who resort to heists to save their ranch. The problem is two officers are trailing on them and will most likely catch them soon. Hell or High Water could be a regular cat-and-mouse action film set in modern times, but Taylor Sheridan's Oscar-nominated script runs on a different kind of fuel than what you’d expect from the crime genre. Boasting incredible performances by Chris Pine, Ben Foster, Jeff Bridges and Gil Birmingham, Hell or High Water depicts a bleak descent with an inevitable outcome where desperation makes men attempt the impossible. A clever film for modern clever audiences.

5 The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

Warner Bros. Pictures In The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, admiration slowly turns to absolute hatred in a compelling and natural journey only made possible with stellar performances by Casey Affleck and Brad Pitt, who play Robert Ford and Jesse James, respectively. Well, Roger Deakins’ cinematography helps as well. The crime Western recounts the events that led to Robert Ford’s willing decision to kill outlaw Jesse James after joining his gang and developing resentment when he discovers Jesse is just looking to take care of himself. Robert uses the circumstances to play the hero and deliver the body of the notorious criminal to authorities.

4 The Hateful Eight

The Weinstein Company Quentin Tarantino’s epic crime Western The Hateful Eight is the impressive result of years of building up a passion for the genre for a guy who definitely knows how to show his love for cinema. Everything about the film is big, grandiose, and ambitious. It’s one of the last displays of Western epics in Hollywood. It tells the story of a bounty hunter who seeks refuge in a lodge during a destructive snowstorm. He’s got a fugitive with him. And he arrives at a dangerous place where other questionable characters are sheltering. It’s everyone for themselves in Tarantino’s exercise of hate within hate. There’s a reason why this one was meant to be seen in a theater, so do it whenever you get the chance.

3 The Revenant

20th Century Fox Aside from featuring Leonardo DiCaprio as the leading star, Alejandro Gonzalez I��arritu’s Western epic The Revenant shares something else with Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon. Native American values, traditions, and culture are at the core of a crime-based tale of redemption and justice. Related: Martin Scorsese's Most Underrated Films The Revenant is a revenge story about Hugh Glass, an explorer who gets betrayed while on a journey through the Dakotas in the 1800s. His company abandons him and when he survives a vicious bear attack, Glass decides to go after those who abandoned him, resorting to isolation and loneliness to explore a more spiritual aspect of his drive to wreak havoc.

2 Memories of Murder

CJ Entertainment Memories of Murder by Bong Joon-ho is a riveting film that hasn’t aged one bit since it was released in 2003. The story’s pretty simple: it tells the story of two detectives trying to solve a serial killer’s murder spree in South Korea when the term wasn’t exactly common. It’s thrilling and chilling at the same time because of its raw portrayal of a society traumatized by real political turmoil, and one man’s sick view of the situation to fulfill his darkest desires. The ending will leave you in absolute shock.

1 Insomnia

Warner Bros. Pictures / Summit Entertainment Christopher Nolan���s underrated crime thriller Insomnia is the story of a couple of detectives from Los Angeles who travel to Alaska to investigate a murder. The problem is they’re not exactly good guys and the killer witnesses them committing a crime, and he won’t keep his mouth shut without retribution. Nolan’s film is a remake of a Norwegian film of the same name, but it’s better to stick with Nolan’s version because performances are much, much better. It features Robin Williams in one of his prominent non-comedy performances. Killers of the Flower Moon will be released in theaters on October 20, 2023. Read the full article

[fatehbaz]

The US public got its first taste of bananas at the 1876 United States Centennial Exhibition. The Philadelphia event’s many displays included the new typewriter, Alexander Graham Bell’s telephone, the Statue of Liberty’s still-unattached right arm, and an exotic banana tree. The plant was so popular that it required its own security guard, and curious visitors could buy and try its phallic fruit for just 10 cents. At the time, bananas were largely unknown outside of their native locations, but they quickly became common household foods in Europe and North America.

Today, bananas are the most consumed fruit in the world, with an industry that generates 12 billion dollars per year. Developed countries account for 80% of the fruit’s consumers, though 75% of global exports come from Latin America and the Caribbean, where bananas are the most grown fruit. The crop’s dominance and ubiquity has had serious and far-reaching implications for the region, engendering exploitative labor systems, climate change, and migration.

La Fiebre del Banano / Banana Craze is the first major study to examine the banana’s role in shaping culture, nature, and politics in the areas where it’s grown. The digital exhibition and research project is co-curated by Dr. Blanca Serrano, the project director at the Institute for Studies on Latin American Art, in New York, and Dr. Juanita Solano, an assistant professor of art history at the Universidad de los Andes in Bogotá, Colombia. Together, Serrano and Solano have gathered nearly 100 banana-related artworks by artists dating from 1960 to today. The database is divided into three themes — identities, ecosystems, and violences — but the online interface also allows viewers to search and encounter works alphabetically, chronologically, and geographically. The site is available in both English and Spanish, and will continue to be updated into the future. [...] “It was a small show, but it showed us that we could tell a very complicated history through just one fruit,” the curators explained to Hyperallergic in a recent email. “We saw that we could tell the sociopolitical history of Latin America in the early 20th century through the banana.”

Standouts from the online display include Claudia Claremi’s installation La memoria de las frutas (Puerto Rico) (The Memory of Fruits [Puerto Rico]) (2015-16), which users can experience through installation images and a linked video. The piece records residents of San Juan, Puerto Rico, as they describe the island’s native fruits. Shot in black and white on 35 mm and 16 mm film, the photos and videos show speakers’ hand gestures as they reminisce about these fruits, which have largely been pushed out to make way for more marketable crops like bananas. [...]

Another work, the series Fotografías de las antiguas instalaciones de los campamentos de la UFCO (Photographs of the Old Camp Installations of the UFCO) (2014), by Elkin Calderón, captures the abandoned buildings of the United Fruit Company in Magdalena, Colombia, where the company massacred protesting banana workers in 1928. Calderón’s pictures radiate a haunting stillness, showing the camp’s current state of decay and hinting at its tragic past. This and other works are accompanied by detailed texts that offer deeper context. La Fiebre del Banano / Banana Craze uses its dynamic, extensively researched online interface to its advantage, encouraging viewers to explore and discover at their own pace. [...]

-------

All text, images, and captions published by: Lauren Moya Ford. “Digital Exhibition Examines the Darker Side of Bananas.” Hyperallergic. 18 January 2022.

[neocrush]

— enhypen reaction to hearing you sing for the first time !

genre: fluff + established relationship for heeseung and sunoo

pairings: idol!enhypen x gn!reader

note: requested by anon ♡

★ heeseung

you got into an argument, a dumb one actually

but you both being the stubborn people you are, you decided to give each other the silent treatment

you couldn’t handle it much longer

you just wanted to say sorry and cuddle with him

but then again - you didn’t wanna deflate your ego

so directly speaking to him was a no-no

so you sat there in his bed, grabbing his guitar and started strumming it

until you started playing and singing get you by daniel caesar

heeseung must’ve heard you as he slowly walked towards his room, pressing his ear on the door

he didn’t know you could play the guitar and sing

pls he had massive heart eyes

was convinced he fell in love with you all over again

he completely forgot the argument ever happened and just barged in

“you’re the love of my life.”

you stopped playing and singing and just went *instert shocked pikachu face*

“can you sing for me? please?” and you just shake your head no

pouts and gives you puppy eyes

you give in and kiss his cheek “fine, but only if you do it with me”

he nods and cuddles you as you both sing each other to sleep

★ jay

you were a new trainee at belift and he was at the studio, preparing a new song with jake and a producer

the producer had called you in to record a demo for one of the hybe groups

he wasn’t that fazed when you entered the room - the both of you having a mask and bucket hat on

as you entered the recording booth, you removed your mask and hat

you listen to the instrumental and re-read the lyrics once again as you asked the producer if you could record the song without instrumental first

the producer agreed and started recording

you got straight into the chorus, surprising jay

that specific part was in a very high key and he was shocked at how effortlessly you sang it at the first try

the recording went pretty well

but the way jay kept on looking back and forth between the lyrics he was writing and you in the booth didn’t go unnoticed by jake

you were done and had to return to practice as you bowed to the boys and producer - leaving the room

jake nudges jay, signalling him to go follow you and at least say something

jay took the hint and left the studio

“y/n!” he called out and you turned around

“your voice is beautiful. would you want to record with me- i mean enhypen some time?”

★ jake

you were part of a girl band

you played the bass and was also the lead singer

your company - a fairly small one - was just recently bought by bang pd so you were under hybe labels

your group used to perform for different high school festivals and you just happened to have performed at sunoo’s

after hearing the news that you were under hybe too, sunoo begged his members to come with him see your band at the company

“sunoo they’re there to practice, not to do free concerts” - jungwon

jake chuckled and he was the only one who agreed to come with sunoo

“hyung did you know their lead singer is the same age as you” sunoo said wiggling his brows as they both made their way to your practice room

jake just shook his head at his younger member

hearing a familiar melody, sunoo dragged the older member to what he was sure was your practice room

“sunoo you can’t just barge i-“

was he seeing an angel?????

“sunoo i thought they did rock”

“yeah but they have bsides in other genres too yknow”

you were singing your solo song twilight

jake nodded and watched you in awe, admiring how into the song you were

your members weren’t there and it may seem lonely but your voice echoing throughout the room made the atmosphere feel heavenly

once the song was over, sunoo cheered and clapped his hands as you grew shy, finally acknowledging their presence

the two boys introduced themselves to you and you did the same to them

you chuckled as you saw jake fumble on his words

“i know who you guys are, i watched your very good cover. you should try doing rock sometime, it seriously fits you guys!” you complimented them

as they grew shy, you couldn’t help but notice jake’s unique smile and how he plays with his hands when he’s nervous

“do you wanna grab lunch with us?”

“is the jake sim asking me out?”

“is the y/n l/n rejecting me?”

you both laughed as sunoo playfully rolled his eyes and you went to go get lunch with the two

★ sunghoon

you were at karaoke with the guys

all of them were having the time of their lives, doing song after song without taking breaks

jay and riki were singing new face and you were busting your lungs out watching them get tired of the never-ending song

remember when yoongi went “when does this song end” when bts was singing new face during that one run episode? yeah that’s them

when the song finally finished, jungwon noticed how you have been laughing and just sitting there the whole time

so he took the mic and pointed at you

that little shit

sunoo had already queued asap by stayc for him to sing, but jungwon insisted that you sing it since you should at least sing one song

“but that’s my song!” - sunoo

“sunoo you can do the choreo while y/n sings” - jungwon

sunoo nods, also wanting to hear you sing

(ps he wanted to do the choreo lol)

you refused and kept shaking your head until your crush, sunghoon, placed his hand on your shoulder, making your heart do backflips

“cmonnnn y/n, please?” he pouted at you

finally giving in, you stand up and grab the mic from jungwon

starting the song, your body was stiff

but once you reached the chorus, you and sunoo were doing the choreo while you sang with a big smile on your face

not you being a whole kpop idol whoop

sunghoon couldn’t help but look at you and smile to himself and blush - you looked so cute and your voice was so addicting

you even lipsynced the “i think you’re really cool” part (the one before the chorus) while winking at him

the song really brought out your inner confidence as you made sunghoon a flustered mess

once you were all finished and went home, riki showed you a video he took of sunghoon when you were singing

“dude i swear he’s super into you! look at him smiling ear-to-ear!!! he looks like he just saw an angel”

“oh shut up riki”

you mentally thanked jungwon for setting you up like that

★ sunoo

“can you sing me to sleep please?” you asked sunoo asked with puppy eyes

he poked your cheeks, nodding

“you’re so cute. of course i’ll sing you to sleep baby”

getting in bed with him, he started playing with your hair and caressing your shoulder

he softly sang love is not over by bts

what took him by surprise was that you suddenly joined in, harmonizing with him

he knew you liked music but wasn’t aware that you had such an amazing voice

he held your hand as you both finished singing the song, giggling

“baby you have the sweetest voice ever, you should sing more often” he playfully pouted

you softly laughed as you moved his bangs out frame, kissing his forehead

“i’ll only sing for you darling, i don’t want others to fall for me”

he playfully hit you as you laughed at your own joke

facing you, he looked into your eyes

“i love you so much.”

you blushed at his words

“i love you even more sunoo.”

★ jungwon

your group and enhypen were appearing on weekly idol together

your members kept on teasing you because you had previously revealed that jungwon was your ideal type on knowing bros

what you said garnered a lot of attention from knetz and engenes, some negative but most of them positive

“they would make an adorable couple”

“i wanna see them sing together”

“their visuals together would shake the whole country”

you were glad engenes didn’t hate your guys for being open about your admiration towards the boy

you being nervous was an understatement - this was your first time seeing jungwon in real life

and you expected the hosts to bring up what you said about him so you were prepared to face him directly

pls this sounds like ur about to have a boxing match w him

anyways filming started out okay until the hosts (ofc) brought up what you said

a few laughs here and there but suddenly they had an idea

“so you’re the main vocal, correct?”

you nodded at one of the hosts

“that’s perfect because it’s time for our karaoke session!”

you ended up getting paired up with jungwon to sing just one day by bts

you made eye contact the whole time and it didn’t take a genius to see the instant chemistry

your voices went so well with each other that even you and his members were shocked at how heavenly you both sounded together

you were both smiling and you could just melt right then and there

once you were done, you covered your face with your hands as you were a blushing mess

your members and enhypen clapped and one of the hosts went “you guys should sing an ost together”

you both got super shy and the rest of filming went well

a month passed and the episode aired

engenes and your fans went insane on sns and knetz were demanding a collab

it wasn’t anything serious until your ceo brought you in in a meeting with hybe executives and he popped up the question

“how would you like to feature in enhypen’s newest album?”

★ riki

your classmates were cleaning the classroom as it was the last week of the whole school year

you were sweeping the floor, humming the song that was silently playing in the background as the room was filled with chatter

riki was removing the decorations on the walls, listening to your soft hums

the songs that were being played were fairly calm

until a more energetic song suddenly played

your classmates suddenly became all energetic when i can’t stop me by twice started playing

you smiled, singing along

you were just playing around but you didn’t realize that you just hit nayeon’s high notes

“woah! y/n??? you’re really good”

you saw that riki was listening the whole time (and so was the rest of the class lol) and you got shy

you shook your head and stopped singing

“no keep going!” - a classmate

you gave in and went on with the song and riki gave you a “you’re so awesome” look

once the song was over, your classmates started playing even more hype song

a guy went “lets do karaoke!”

a girl chimed in “y/n has to go first!”

riki softly laughed and nudged you to go sing

you used the broom in your hand as a fake mic and mic stand as you sang blue hour by txt

he filmed you, zooming in on your smiling face

he was sure going to cherish that video forever

[blahkugo]

Manual

Terushima Yūji x Reader (Haikyuu!!)

Word Count: 4.5k

TW: dub/noncon (noncon filming & voyeurism), manipulation, drugs (weed and alcohol), implied virginity, degradation, exhibitionism, daddy kink

A night of danger and debauchery with the city’s infamous drug dealer. 

It was a simple enough text that started it, but you’re not even sure how he got a hold of your number. A few days ago, a plain ‘hey’ had flashed across your screen and before you knew it, you were agreeing to go for a ride in his speedy car. ‘How fast is it?’ you had asked as an attempt to stall the conversation. But it was his reply that settled it for you: ‘As fast as you want it.’ 

It’s stupid how easily swayed you were, but the words left a knot in your stomach that you had never encountered before. Like a ship setting its anchor on the seafloor, though not one of anxiety nor tension caused by any of the usual stressors of your life—something entirely alien. The real issue wasn’t its unfamiliarity, but how much you took pleasure in it. And as ships do, the feeling set sail as quickly as it appeared, and you were left wistful and aching for its return. 

Never had you been like your classmates at the private school, who used familial wealth to excuse week-long benders and avoid lengthy jail sentences, because never had you felt that depravity necessary. But as you make your way down the block, you envision daddy waking up to find his little girl simply vanished, and you can’t help the wicked smile that spreads across your face.

When you arrive at the grimy, red sports car— music blasting through the open windows despite the dead quiet of the block— that ball of thrill settles in your gut yet again. As long as you’re in the company of Terushima Yūji, you’re well aware that the feeling isn’t going to go away.   

The car is low. So low, in fact, that you have to balance a hand on the roof and slide in legs first. How does he even drive around in this metal death trap without scraping the asphalt? Your leather skirt bunches and slips further up your thighs no matter how hard you tug it lower. 

“Alright?” It’s the only form of greeting he calls out to you over the ear-splitting music. Terushima eyes your lustrous, bare legs resting in the passenger seat of his beat-up Camaro, but doesn’t bother turning down the tune. He’s not very polite, but you didn’t exactly accept his offer to be drowned in refinement, did you? 

“I’m okay,” you shout, struggling to be heard over the booming voice rapping about ‘drugs and bitches.’ Typical. “How are you?” You’re not sure if it’ll break the ice, not even sure he wants to speak at all, but anything’s better than fidgeting awkwardly in your chair with nothing but the god awful music to drown out your anxiety.

He mumbles back a simple reply, fixing his gaze on your breasts straining against the tight, low cut tank. You fished the two-piece outfit out of the depths of your wardrobe, a revealing number borrowed from a friend that you never even bothered trying on before tonight. His stare has you itching to cross your arms over your chest, but you hold out. You can’t have him thinking you’re a prude, even if it is the truth. 

His hand grips the stick shift lazily and before you know it, the engine is rumbling and you’re peeling away from the curb. Terushima’s driving is every bit as reckless as you assumed, stop signs appearing to be soft suggestions rather than mandatory decrees. The residential roads are practically deserted, but the lack of caution has your heart racing wildly all the same, fingers clutching at your seat. As the adrenaline rushes through your veins, your stomach sinks further into the frayed leather seat. 

When the music is shut off abruptly, you believe he must finally want to speak to you, perhaps even exchange pleasantries— but the next words out of his mouth are a sly, 

“Do me a favor, yeah?” You nod, before realizing his eyes are still fixed on the road ahead. It’s not like it matters anyways, because he continues on as if you had answered him. “Grab the bottle under your seat for me, princess.” Princess. It’s uttered so nonchalantly, but there’s a certain edge to his tone— the tiniest hint of a teasing lilt. You don’t like it, but logical as your brain may be, your stomach still swirls with butterflies. 

Swiping at the floor, you search until your fingers make contact with glass. Low and behold, you pull out a bottle of– 

“Smirnoff,” your eyes scan the label intently, attempting to place the emblem among the liquors you’ve seen at the country club. While you weren’t exactly expecting a water bottle— that’d be much too off brand for Terushima— you aren’t too keen on the idea of reckless and intoxicated driving. He glances towards you once, but doesn’t make a move towards the drink at all. 

Only a few seconds later, he shoots you another look, single brow raised in quiet anticipation. The long-forgotten burdens of high school peer pressure washes over you again, fingers quivering as you unscrew the cap. 

You’ve never had vodka straight out of the bottle, never had vodka in general except for when it’s mixed into your cocktails. But his expectation weighs heavy in the confined space. So, fuck it. What did you come out with him for if not to live a little? 

Nail polish remover, children’s cough syrup, and liquid fire. That’s all you taste as the lukewarm fluid glides down your throat. The burn is unbearable, but a pool of warmth oozes through your chest and your hand relaxes a bit on the edge of your seat. You don’t even realize that you’re coughing.

“First time drinking?” He offers you a lazy smirk, tone edged in ridicule. 

“What?” Holding your breath, you silently beg the itch in your throat to disappear. “No, I- I have wine with dinner.” 

The laugh that rumbles through his throat is deep and hoarse, much too loud to be laughing at your comment— and thus, is only perceivable as taunting. Even so, you can’t deny the seduction threaded into his smoky vocals, or the wire deep within your core, pulled taut and ready to snap at any moment. 

“Wine,” he snickers again. “You’re funny, you know that?” He swipes the booze out of your hands and chugs. If there’s ever a proper time to start worrying, it’d be now. But at least he stops for lights? 

Besides, you can’t say you’re not enjoying the view. Terushima’s defined jaw ruts outward with every swill, his lips puckered towards the bottle as if his life depends on it. As cautious as you should be, he’s too pretty to keep your eyes focused anywhere else; your mouth surely knows it, practically salivating at his Adam's apple, bobbing as he gulps. If you reach your hand out just a few inches, you can run your fingertips against it and–

“Gross,” he pushes the bottle back towards you. 

“Black cherry,” you counter, as if it’s an explanation for the disgusting taste. 

“Is that the flavor I nicked? Damn, wasn’t paying enough attention,” he shrugs. 

“Nicked?” Mouth agape, you stare intently at the side of his face and hope for a valid answer. 

“Bottle looked lonely, so I swiped it,” he brushes a finger at the alcohol trickling down his lip; one of your own digits twitches in envy. “Is that too criminal for you, princess?” 

So he is mocking you. The vodka must be melting your brain, because all your body comes up with in response is a wind chime of a soft laugh— an entirely foreign noise to your ears. It must be a mistake, or the music playing tricks on your hearing, because you don’t giggle. 

Still, according to Terushima’s awful pet name, you have something to prove. Not sure how else to shut him up, you opt for the easiest way out. 

“I’m not drunk enough for this.” The bottle meets your lips and liquid fire waltzes through you again. Seconds pass as you chug, the haziness of your last sip urging you to down just a teensy bit more. Just enough to get you tipsy, just enough to prove him wrong, just enough to drown out the voice in your head claiming this is a terrible idea. 

This time, you don’t cough. 

“‘Atta girl.” 

Then, you’re drinking, and he’s drinking, and the two of you are having the grandest of times. Never mind the fact that he’s consumed far less alcohol than you have, or that lines are blurring and you’re no longer able to see straight. Gone is the anxiety you were plagued with upon meeting him and the worries that shadow you day and night in your regular life. And that’s all that really matters. 

He blasts the music once again. Maybe it isn’t as terrible as you originally thought. A deep, pumping bass resonates through every bone in your body and Terushima seems to be pressing the pedals harder with every beat. 

Up you go, higher, higher— higher?

Your eyes have been scouring the mischievous man next to you so intently that you never bothered to ask where you were going. But can you blame yourself? Even now, as you round up the side of a cliff, every thought passing through your murky brain pertains to him. 

His lazy half smile that won’t drop, as if he’s keyed in on a secret that’s all his own, lidded eyes that make him look entirely apathetic and alluring all at once. Hell, even his fingers are beautiful. Slender and graceful, one hand is placed leisurely at the wheel and the other is shifting the gear stick with meticulous precision. Terushima Yūji has always struck you as raw and vulgar, but now you see there’s a sense of finesse to him as well— and of course, you’d need to be halfway into a drunken stupor to truly notice it. 

You’re shaken from your thoughts once he cracks the windows, hair whipping around violently. If you only knew the lyrics to any of these songs, you’d be singing along. Instead, you settle for kicking your legs out the window and tapping your fingers to the beat. Who cares that your fingers are moving too slowly to match the rhythm? 

Terushima says nothing at your erratic behavior, only smirks when your head leans against his shoulder and you stare idly up at him. Relief. It’s the only identifiable emotion you’re able to place in the midst of this haze. Yes, the world is foggy and black spots take over half your vision. But you hold onto that feeling— the breeze, the weightlessness. All the while, the anchor in your gut makes its home further into the sand. 

“We’re here,” he chuckles, pointing at your windswept hair when you turn to him. It’s the first time his laugh sounds genuine, bubbling up naturally instead of forced and vicious. And he’s finally looking at you; not in stolen glances, with eyes glazed over in mockery or lust, but truly looking at you. You break out of the murkiness clouding your brain to catch what ‘here’ is, only to gasp at the sight in front of you. 

He’s brought you to the very top of a cliff, overlooking the city. Cars and buildings seem nothing more than blips on a map, insects to your God-like view. 

As beautiful as they are, the dazzling lights of the world below you pale in comparison to the deity seated inches away. It’s difficult to believe that you had never once taken notice of him, though your younger self filed him away as a troublemaker—an invaluable waste of space— based on gossiped knowledge and without a second glance. 

“Y’know what I never noticed?” You’re well aware the words tumble out a whine, drawn out and a bit slurred, but proper diction is the last thing on your mind. “You’re really pretty.” As soon as you’ve said it, your face is set ablaze. Control yourself. 

“Pretty? Haven’t heard that one before,” he throws his head back and you’re struck with that gruff, raspy laugh once again.

“But you are,” you’re unable to contain yourself at all now, all proper thoughts replaced by the cut of his cheekbones, the messy bleached hair tumbling over his sleek undercut— and best yet, the tiny piece of metal prodding through his tongue and now balanced between his teeth. “A pretty bad boy, with pretty teeth, and a pretty piercing, and you texted me why?” With the hurried words, another wave of heat spikes your body. 

Perhaps his eyes brighten at your little confession, or perhaps his face gives away nothing. You can’t really tell much of anything.

“You really wanna know?” You nod hungrily at his whisper, his hushed tone teeming with temptation. Terushima creeps closer, so much so that you feel his breath fanning your face. Underneath the overwhelming scents of cigarettes and booze, he smells a bit like tea leaves. Strange, but pleasant. “Are you sure?” He’s smirking now, obviously finding your curiosity entertaining. 

At the same time, one of his hands inches towards you— cautiously, deliberately, like a predator creeping towards its skittish prey. You tremble in your seat, unsure why the proximity has your heart beating out of its chest. 

All at once, his hand shoots past you and towards the glove compartment. Terushima lets out a snicker, flashes you a brilliant set of teeth, and proudly offers you nothing: “Sorry, not tellin’ you.” 

Your slurred gripes do nothing to sway the tease, who’s now engrossed by the itty bitty ziploc baggie he pulled from the glovebox. Though your head is spinning, you yourself can’t help but feel enthralled by his movements— staring shamelessly as he sprinkles the weed onto paper. His fingers prove precise yet again as he rolls the greens into pretty little cylinders. 

Almond eyes meet yours only when he brings the wrap to his lips, gazing directly at you while his tongue slides across the paper. A chill prickles across your skin, but there’s only heat within the parked car. 

Before you know it, he’s extending a large hand towards you, silently willing you to take the first hit. Somewhere far away, you hear your own voice mumbling, ‘I don’t know how to.’ As hard as you try to put up a front, to exude sex and confidence in front of this well-versed man, you’re not quite sure you can pretend your way through this one. 

A wispy laugh, a sly comment and a wink later, two of his fingers have the joint pressed between your lips. ‘I’ll teach you,’ he promises, instructing you on precisely how to breathe. You barely register the palm fastened at your chest. Is he being a creep? Maybe he’s just trying to help. Either way, you don’t pay it much mind. 

And then, smoke fills your lungs, fills your head, fills the already-depleting air of his tiny car. You’re coughing again, but he warned you of the burn this time, and ‘besides, it’ll get you higher.’ 

You were hoping to see chalky hues of pinks and blues, but the drug does nothing but provide you with lidded eyes and a tingle that runs from head to toe. A single stroke of your finger against the leathered seat sends waves of shivers throughout your arm. Your palm splayed against your own thigh feels unfamiliar and ticklish. 

The buzz is only truly worth it when you finally turn to look at the wicked man next to you; Terushima has a slick smile dancing across his face, eyes heavy and probing you for any sort of reaction. The bleached blonde hair at the top of his head pales under the moonlight, suddenly seeming impossible to resist. When you reach out to grasp a strand, he moves quicker, gripping your fingers tightly between his. 

“What do you think you’re doing?” His low drawl is lazy, more amused than genuinely angry. But your fingers twitch beneath his grasp all the same, completely embarrassed and still itching to touch his locks. “Princess doesn't know how to ask for things politely?” You don’t have to look into his eyes to feel the smugness radiating off of him. 

“No, I-” There’s no saving face now, and he knows it as well as you do. 

“Or are you just so used to getting what you want?” Even as he taunts you, his digits thread through yours, pulling you towards him so that your hands hover over his lips. “Is this what you wanted?” 

You shake your head, but the thought of grazing his pillowy lips— of your trembling fingers exploring that tiny metal ball in his mouth— is now etched into your clouded brain. 

“No? What about here?” He trails your digits down his crisp t-shirt, stopping only when you’ve reached his midriff. You should stop, should adhere to the yellow tape bound around this entire encounter; instead, you stare at the blonde with wide eyes, tongue poking out of your mouth as you debate your answer. He breathes an airy laugh, “use your words.” 

But before you can, his lips are meshing into yours. And here are the hues of the pinks and blues you so desperately wished to see, hidden in his caress all this time. There’s heat, and heat, and more heat— and a quiet hum traveling from the very tip of your mouth to your toes, as you melt together. 

When he releases your hands, they fly towards his hair, finally tugging at the soft pieces. A simple clasp of your waist and you’re moaning into his mouth, a warm welcome for his tongue to slide in. Embers spread through the tiny space, setting your lungs ablaze far quicker than any drug could. His cool, metal piercing tickles the roof of your mouth; if you were coherent enough, you may wonder what it would feel like skimming other stretches of skin. 

But your thoughts are cotton candy melting at his touch and allowing one, singular thought: him, him, him. 

Your sugar-spun mind loses track of the time he spends pressed into you. Seconds, minutes, hours later, he finally pulls away, the long string of saliva between you the only remnant of your lip-locked endeavors. 

“It’s getting late,” his words are a whisper, a break in the heavy silence of heaving chests and spinning minds. You’d have thought the infamous heartbreaker would urge for more, and a part of you wishes that he would. But instead, he drives you back down the cliffside in silence, his hand on your thigh rooted in place, keeping you longing for another taste. 

Only when you’re coming down from the high, still a bit tipsy, do you realize you’re almost home. Terushima’s fingers still play at the hem of your skirt, stroking at the fire deep in your gut. With all his teasing, you figure you may as well make your move now. 

“You can pull over here,” you instruct, happy to have found your usual domineering voice. Perhaps it was buried under the weight of weed and wandering lips. 

“Your house is another block away,” he refutes with a grumble, but heeds your demand anyways. When he turns to you, you’re caught in that bewitching gaze, finding yourself at a loss for words yet again. “Anything else you need?” The words are laced with possibility, a dangerous challenge. But any gall you felt coursing through your veins has vanished without a trace. 

“No- I- I should get home,” your eyes drop, staring at a loose thread on his pants— and all at once, moving to leave the car. “Daddy’ll be mad if he catches me out.” The words are barely out of your mouth before he’s chuckling, repeating them.

“Daddy will be mad? You still call your father daddy?” And there’s the Yūji Terushima you thought you knew, mockery and taunts always at the tip of his tongue. You throw a weak punch against his chest, huffing in confusion. 

“What’s so wrong with that?” 

“Nothing,” He exclaims a bit too smugly, climbing out himself.

Next thing you know, you’re caught between his body and the hood of the car, sturdy arms trapping you in place. Chilled air nips at your bones; a single skim of his knee against your thigh and that cold is forgotten. You really should be at home. 

“Terushima.” It’s funny how a single word— a person’s name— can contain a thousand different meanings. You’re not even sure how you say it, questioning the inflections of your cracked voice and wide eyes. He whispers your name right back, the gleam in his eyes magnifying tenfold. 

You’re well aware he has you right where he wants you, a little bird caught in a cage, though you’re more than happy to be singing any song he asks. 

But there’s only silence as you stare at each other beneath the flickering street light. So much so, you can hear your hearts pump blood, can hear the engine of a car rumbling by, can even hear your neighbor’s pesky dog barking a block away. 

“Do you need something, or do you just like saying my na–”

You wrap your arms around his neck and pull him in. 

It feels different now. Perhaps your nerves aren’t frenzied, and you don’t attain euphoria with every graze. But you feel him. You can taste the smoke on his tongue as it knocks against your teeth. Black cherry floods your brain, the same flavor that drifted you up that cliffside to begin with. 

Terushima’s hands grab at your waist before you’re hoisted up and placed on the hood of the car. Gone are the lazy kisses of two heads in the clouds. His movements are quick and decisive, aggressive even. A hand roams your body, trailing under your tank and across your breasts. The other shoves aside your panties, nimble fingers circling your bud. 

A low whimper leaves you when he runs a digit across your slit. 

“Careful,” hot breath fans your lips as he chuckles, “too loud and he’ll hear us.” 

But you can’t stop your wanton mewls. Not when he dips into you, curling his fingertips to hit a spot that has you seeing stars. Not when his teeth nip at your jaw, your neck, the shell of your ear— leaving soft marks behind. And most certainly not when you can feel his cock straining against your thigh. 

“Fuck, Teru I–”  Within minutes, your entire body trembles, hands clutching at soft hair as you chase your high. 

“Tell daddy what you want,” his eyes pierce into yours, completely unashamed of his perversion of the pure term. You try to shake your head no, to refuse his order— but he simply flicks his wrist quicker, pumps into you faster. You’re so fucking close, too near the edge to care, so you simply allow the words to tumble out, 

“Daddy p-please, I want to cum.” 

A few circles on your clit, and you’re putty in his hands. The high hits you with a loud, leg-shaking cry— far more dizzying than any of the debaucheries of hours past. 

You’re flipped over without a moment to breathe, breasts rammed into the frigid car hood. Terushima pulls your skirt up with one hand, the other nudging your cheek firmly against the metal. 

Never would you have thought you’d be one for such public indecency, but the elation of your last orgasm still hasn't even completely resided. For the third time tonight, you find yourself drunk off the ambrosia of this wayward god.  

“Beg for it,” he slides his cock up your slit, coating his thick member in your slick. 

“Please Teru,” you whine helplessly. A loud slap echoes through the empty street as his hand meets the globe of your ass, the pain more shocking than painful. 

It reminds you that anyone could walk out of their homes to see you being railed against a beat up car— and the thought of one of your neighbors waking up to that sight wracks your body with a twisted pleasure. 

“What was that?” The bastard actually laughs, gruff and hearty, as you writhe against him. 

“Daddy, I need you.” And then he’s thrusting into you, pushing into the tight ring of muscle. Though he prepped you, you claw at the car, searching for any sort of relief from the overwhelming pain. 

A few snaps of his hips later, you relax as the stretch becomes bearable. He takes his time rutting into you, spreading your legs further, making sure you feel every inch of him deep inside you. 

Only when you begin bouncing back to meet his drives does he quicken his pace, a single hand gripping your waist— five finger-shaped bruises you’re sure will be evidence for days to come. You barely recognize your own voice; high-pitched wails spill from your lips, curses and pleas and cries of ‘daddy’ like a broken record on replay. 

“Look at the little slut, creaming all over me,” a particularly hard thrust sends you reeling, tears flowing freely down your face as you blabber mindlessly. “Who’d have thought the city’s very own ‘prude princess’ would be blacking out over some dick?” 

You should be ridiculed, would be utterly offended by the insult, if not for the fact that his cock has you teetering the delicate line of consciousness. Those words are precisely what send you over the edge for the second time tonight. 

“Fuck, stay right there,” a low, gravelly groan as Terushima continues pounding into you. Then, a few more prods and he’s following suit, pulling out to spill his seed all over your backside. 

Vision still spotty, you finally turn to look at the beautiful man, hoping for rosy cheeks and that soft smile you believe is a secret saved just for you. Instead you’re met with a dull frown and a look of pure apathy. 

He won’t even meet your eyes. 

“Can you walk the block or should I drive you?” Though he poses the question, the lack of his typical liveliness tells you everything you need to know about his preference: he doesn’t have one. 

Somewhere far away, you hear yourself tell him you’ll walk. Your head’s still caught on cloud nine, or perhaps it was only ever the ninth circle of hell—twisted and contorted by black cherry and rotten greens.

“Are you sure? You look a little shaken,” he laughs, that same hoarse tone you once thought charming now seeming gnarled and vicious. The taunts once endearing, now simply malicious. 

From the corner of your eye you spot his phone, unlocked and teeming with messages. A flash of a familiar black leather skirt bunching, a flip of your hair, pieces of your purity plastered across his screen for the world to see. 

You walk back home in silence. 

[whaleofatjme1920]

In the Backyard Catching Fireflies (Hoodie X F!Reader X Masky)

In the Backyard Catching Fireflies

[Hoodie X F!Reader X Masky]

[Warnings: slight blood]

You honestly could have dreamed you would be in this type of situation if you were looking at this from the lens of last year's Reader. It was a mistake to even make contact with them to begin with.

As a child, your mother would often bring you into the woods to look for fun things: flowers, mushrooms, rocks, sometimes bones or pieces of trees. Other times, she brought you out there to practice her own magick, other days it was just to spend time in nature, and every other time than those reasons was just to spend time with you, her one and only beloved daughter. The correct term would be ‘witch’ but your mother never actually called herself one. Magickal practitioner, maybe, but never a ‘witch.’ You, on the other hand, absolutely took that term with pride.

You being a witch was what accidentally caused you to meet them to begin with. One evening, while out and about in the forest on the edge of town where you looked for fresh violets to eventually make violet syrup for your daughter’s ‘magical creature tea party,’ you found your favorite stretch of woods filled with the scent of blood. How strange, and it didn’t strike you as an animal’s blood. No, this was much stronger, more metallic, and carried the weight of sins past in its wake. As you looked around the forest to see what on earth was causing the terrible scent, you saw two men get spit out in between the trees. They flailed for a moment before getting tossed onto the forest floor, looking so much worse for wear.

“Oh my gods!” You exclaimed in surprise as you began to run over to the two, wondering if they were okay. You drew cautiously near them, only momentarily pausing to grab a large stick from the ground should they pounce when you finally got close enough to see their faces. How peculiar - their faces were covered. The one in the yellow hoodie had a ski-mask with a frown etched onto its surface, and the one in the tan coat was donned with a white mask with feminine features.

Your eyes flicked down to their midsections - that’s where the blood came from. They’re out cold, and you confirm that by trying to get them up. No dice. Against your better judgement, you load them onto your little wagon and bring them back to the car. It wouldn’t be right for you to just… leave them to bleed all over the forest floor.

You entered back into your house around the early evening, tired from trying to drag two grown men much bigger than you into your garage and set them up so you can work on them.

“Mommy?” Your small daughter’s voice piped in as she popped her head through the door leading to the garage where you were. “Who are they?”

“Got hurt,” you replied. “Can you get me the first aid kit?”

Your little girl smiled widely and nodded before she quickly zoomed back into the house. “Make sure to get the lavender and rosemary oil too! Can you do that for me, Magnolia?” You called out.

You heard your little girl running around as if she went back to get something. She eventually came back to the door, her arms full of things she thought you needed and the things you actually needed. “Thank you so much, baby,” you said with a small smile, petting her head as she put the things down on the table for you. “Go upstairs and watch some TV for me, okay? I don’t think I want to overwhelm our guests.”

At the sound of being able to watch more spongebob, she zoomed off and allowed you to get to work.

You mentally asked the two men before you to forgive the intrusion as you lifted their shirts to get at their wounds. You’re not sure you’ve ever seen something like this before. Is that… Are those claw marks? You dab a piece of cloth with some isopropyl alcohol and move to the white masked man and get three of the four lines cleaned when he awoke. His eyes shot open and his hand was gripping painfully tight at your wrist.

“Who the hell are you?” He asked in a panic, struggling to get you off of him in his half awake state. “Where are we?”

“Woah!” You cried out as you attempted to wriggle your hand free from his grasp. “I’m just cleaning you up-”

“Where are we?” He’s rattling off questions so fast and so loud that it wakes the second one up.

Due to you not being able to hold him down as well, he was able to pounce up and pin you to the ground, ready to end your life.

“Agh- stop!” You cried out in shock. “I just wanted to patch you two up!”

The man in the ski mask looked into your eyes for any hint of lying, or deception only to find none. Still, you were a normal person getting involved with two proxies. That in itself warrants death according to their society’s rules - and the Slender Man’s will.

“Wait,” the man in the white mask sighed. “Let her finish this up. You’re bleeding out on the floor.”

On cue at his comrade’s words, Hoodie glanced down to his midsection. He was indeed bleeding out on the garage floor and by extension, you. Realizing he was in no state to even consider inflicting damage, he relented.

An awkward silence quickly built up once you were back working on them. “So… What’re your names?”

“Hoodie.”

“Masky.”

“Interesting names,” you noted as you continued to work. “I’m Reader.”

“Interesting name,” Masky mirrors.

You laugh slightly.

That wasn’t the last you saw of the two men. They left almost immediately after being patched up much to your chagrin, but came back about a week later to properly thank you.

“We noticed some spell books in your garage before we left,” Hoodie began before nodding for Masky to go to the back of the car (they stole). “One of them being florals and it looked like you had some space in the front of your house. So, we brought you some flowers.”

You move your vision from over Hoodie’s shoulder to see Masky holding planters full of flower’s you’ve never even seen before. “Oh my gods,” you said in slight surprise as Masky places the small bushes down in front of their designated spots.

“We can plant them for you - or if you don’t like them we can-”

“No, no! They’re beautiful and the front lawn needs some color,” you beamed, looking at the array of colors dotting your front lawn. “How did… Where did you even find those?”

“We know a guy,” Masky said as he went back to the car to get a shovel.

You ended up going out there to help them plant the flower bushes and spent some more time in their company while you worked.

“So, tell me about yourself,” Masky said as he began to carefully place one of the shrubs into the dirt.

“Too broad,” you teased slightly.

Masky rolled his brown eyes. “You and magick.”

“My mother practiced, now I do,” you replied as you gently scooped back some of the dirt. “Most of it is home related work, but these plants are such a big help.” You took in their sweet scent. Come to think of it, you don’t think you’ve ever seen these types of flowers before anywhere. “What about you two?”

“Travelers, of some sort,” Hoodie piped in. “Never stay in one place for too long.” He glanced over to Masky to continue.

“That’s pretty much it,” Masky whistled slightly. “Used to be film students. Now we just… Go wherever the winds take us.”

From there, you began to hear stories from the two. Mostly little adventures they’d gone to, creepy towns they never wished to visit ever again, people they wished they stayed in contact with and everything and anything in between. It was actually rather nice to talk to other adults - and while they were relatively quiet about their past past, they seemed at ease talking with you about these things.

In return, you told them about other memories and anecdotes in your life. Small memories of climbing up the mountain with your mother, meeting your friends, your academic adventures and what brought you out to this part of the country.

“Wanted to get away from it all, I guess,” you said as the three of you sat on the front porch. “Figured it would be better to start again out here than face everything that had happened back there.”

Hoodie shared a look with Masky for but a moment. You hadn’t gone into detail about what happened back then, but they could somewhat fill in the lines with their experience of the world so far.

They came by plenty of times after that - sometimes together, sometimes not. Most of the time they stayed on your porch with you, chatting away about the day’s events and what would come next. You told them about your job, a teacher’s assistant to middle schoolers, and how you often passed your time. They eventually showed you their faces - and lord were they handsome - and still refused to tell you about their actual work.

“It’s dangerous, that’s all you need to know,” Hoodie had said one night while sipping a beer bottle.

Yet, they seemed to come by even more than usual when they met your darling little girl, Magnolia. Somehow, they’d managed to avoid her and her them throughout all their visits, but one afternoon near the beginning of the school year, that all changed.

She’s only 7, and the school bus often lets her out about a block from your home. You trust her enough to walk there and back (though another part of you wants to hold onto her forever and never let go).

“What time is it?” You hummed, sipping at your iced tea.

“About… 3:30, why?” Masky asked as he looked at his watch.

You immediately perked up. “She should be home soon,” you said eyes wandering from the two men on the steps with you towards the direction you knew your little girl was going to be coming from. And just like clockwork, there she was.

“Mommy!” She cried out, a large smile on her face as she began to run the rest of the way to the front steps.

“Mags!” You giggled as you maneuvered your way through the two men before hurriedly meeting her half way. “There’s my special little girl,” you laughed, taking her into your arms, picking her up and spinning her. “How was your day?” You ask, carrying her in your arms as you make it back to the front porch.

Masky and Hoodie move aside slightly as you sit back down with Magnolia on your lap.

“It was so fun! Today, we talked about bugs!”

“You did?” You asked as she nodded rapidly. “Tell me all about it while I get you something to drink and a snack, okay?” You said as you put her onto the steps before standing and opening the front door - and propping it open so you could still hear her and see her from the kitchen.

“We learned all about butterflies and what happens when they’re babies and become pretty,” Magnolia began to explain. “And then Miss Honey said we were gonna get caterpillar babies in our classroom and release them later. And then, she told us about bees and how bumbly they are-”

You listened to Magnolia go on about her lesson with a small smile as you fixed her some iced tea and apple slices. You could listen to her all day. When you failed to answer one of her questions, you heard Masky picking it back up for you.

“Hey Mommy? Why is the sky blue?”

A beat of silence because you honestly didn’t hear it.

“The atmosphere,” Masky began as he looked up at the perfectly azure sky. “You know what the states of matter are, don’t you?”

Magnolia nodded. “I do! Solid, liquid and gas,” she answered.

Masky smiled back and nodded. “Yeah, that’s it. Atmosphere is air and it covers the whole earth like a blanket,” he explained.

“It does?”

“Absolutely,” Hoodie chimed in.

Magnolia looked in between the two men with stars in her eyes, urging them to continue.

“The atmosphere changes the way that light from the sun reaches us,” Masky continued. “Light comes to us in wavelengths,” he moves his hand up and down like ‘waves’ to show what he means. “And those wavelengths look different depending on what they hit,” he claps his hands together, “and how long they are.”

“Do shorter wave… wavelengths show different colors?” Magnolia asks, clearly enamored in Masky’s teaching.

“Smart girl,” Masky chuckled softly as he ruffled her hair.

You finally come back from the kitchen with Magnolia’s snack and drink, more than pleased to see how well Masky and Hoodie were doing with her. Magnolia was admittedly a shy girl - she never really warmed up to people easily, especially not men given the situation with her father (who you’d rather not think about most days).

“And what about rainbows? Are those wavelengths?”

Both Hoodie and Masky laughed slightly before entertaining your daughter’s question as she sipped on her drink and bit into the apple slices. You watched with a small smile as you listened to the three talk.

After meeting Magnolia, Hoodie and Masky were more often at your house than not. And it carried on like that throughout the school year.

Masky often helped Magnolia with her science and math when you didn’t (feel like it).

“Mhm, and how many do you need to add to 5 in order to make 9?” Masky asked, eyes

glancing between your daughter and her math worksheet.

Magnolia smiled widely, “It’s 4.” She said it so confidently that you felt your heart burst from the living room.

“Good job,” Masky smiled back just as widely. “I’m sure you don’t know what you have to add to 8 to get 15, do you?”

“7!”

“Gods, you are so smart,” Masky chuckled warmly, hand once again ruffling her hair.

Hoodie was much more inclined to help with her reading and language arts skills. Seemed he had a knack for those things over math and science anyways.

“Spell bridge.”

“B-R-I-D-G-E.” Magnolia said with a grin.

Hoodie nodded. “Alright, how about… Believe?”

Magnolia furrowed her eyebrows slightly but gave a stab at it anyways. “B-E-L… I-E-V-E.” I before E, right?

“Good one. And laughter?”

“L-A-U-... F-no… G-H… T-E-R?”

“Nice job!” Hoodie complimente in an excited tone, scooping Magnolia up onto his lap making her burst into a fit of giggles. “You are seriously gonna kick everyone’s butt at the spelling bee on Friday.”

While they grew closer with your little girl, you noticed they had also grown oddly close with you as well. It came in little bouts - sometimes Masky would be cuddling with you on the couch while you watched the late night news. Hoodie would sometimes spend time with you in the garden and help when he didn’t have to - he was there just because he wanted to be with you. There were some days when they’d get you little trinkets, plants and herbs to help with your magick. Masky would even remind you of the full moon so you could put a jug out for moon water - and Hoodie would inform you of when the planets were in retrograde to potentially explain any odd behavior (remember: mundane of magickal.) They were helpful. Other times the three of you would spend the day together and eat brunch and act like your own individual family unit. And in your own unique way, you were - what with Magnolia now referring to the two men as her ‘aunt Hoodie’ and ‘uncle Masky’ much to the former’s original hesitance to accept that title.

It wasn’t just you feeling this way either, it was both of them as well. Masky was surprised to see how fast Hoodie had grown to care about you as Hoodie doesn’t really care about anything anymore. Maybe himself, definitely Masky, and definitely the other two in their group - but that’s it. To care for a human and her child… That’s admittedly out of pocket for him. They’re not sure what exactly to call it, maybe it’s love, but it’s a different kind of love. One that doesn’t have a name.

Ever since they entered your life things have been better. Life has been sweeter. Your little girl is more outgoing than ever and she’s finally coming out of her shell with not one, but two positive male role models.

And that led to now. The sun had finally dipped below the horizon and the stars were coming out to play. Magnolia was about to go on summer break - and the four of you had been planning on visiting the beach sometime soon. There were a lot of things to look forward to (another magical creature plus aunt Hoodie and uncle Masky tea party) being one of those things.

“Careful with the jar, Mags,” Hoodie said as he handed Magnolia a good sized mason jar to her awiting hands.

“I will!” Magnolia said before she zipped outside the backyard.

“Masky, you want anything to drink?” Hoodie called out from the kitchen as you got together the materials for s’mores.

“Lemonade, if we have it,” Masky replied.

“Good choice,” Hoodie mumbled before turning to the fridge.

After the two of you had everything you needed, you and Hoodie went out to the backyard and started to set everything up on the glass table Masky sat at. You settled into your seat as Hoodie got a fire going in the pit and when that was ready, he let it burn and took a seat at the other side of you. With Masky to your right and Hoodie to your left, you felt an odd sense of peace.

“It’s a nice night, yeah?” You hummed out in content as you watched your baby dance around with the fireflies.

“It sure is,” Hoodie agreed, hand lightly resting on top of yours.

“Ditto,” Masky smiled, arm now around your shoulders.

In the grass, Magnolia giggled as she caught fireflies, admiring how beautiful the flashes of green looked as they danced through the swaying leaves of grass.

[harrysweasleys]

the silence of the night // f.w

summary: for @wand3ringr0s3’s writing event!

prompts: “i knew it was too good to be true” x “i trusted you.”

warnings: angst, language, heartbreak, brief mentions of sex

word count: 3k

a/n: i am sorry for this. that is all. :) enjoy! xx

—

There’s a saying, an expression, that states that all things feel a thousand times worse in the silence of the night. 

That once the sun goes down, your problems feel amplified, as well as your emotions. That you could spend the night crying yourself to sleep, feeling like you’re at your lower possible point, but the next morning you could be feeling fine. Puffy eyed and exhausted, but your worries and stresses would feel like they had less of a grasp on your life.

The point is, things were worse at night.

And you felt it completely.

Your home was eerily silent, not a single noise being echoed or carried throughout the rooms. The only sign that there was a person in here was that the telly was on. Muted, but on. The bright, smiling face of the newscaster lit up the room that you were sitting in, huddled on the couch with a blanket secured around your shivering body. 

If this were seven months ago, you’d have Fred’s body next to yours, his arms wrapped tightly around you as the two of you laughed at a stupid film — which would usually result in the two of you falling asleep on the couch with your limbs tangled, if you were being honest. 

If this were five months ago, Fred would have told you he didn’t mind what film the two of you watched, as long as the two of you got to spend the evening together. You’d finish the film and head off to bed, no cuddling and zoning out on the couch, but wrapped comfortably in your shared bed with comfortable silence.

If this were two months ago, you’d be sitting on the couch flipping through channels aimlessly, Fred working on paperwork next to you, eyebrows furrowed and muttering a quick ‘hm’ each time you’d point out something comedic to him on the screen. You two would go to sleep at different times, each bidding the other good night with a quick peck and facing opposite ways, an invisible barrier between you two, dividing the space that used to be shared. 

If this were a month ago, you would be fast asleep on the couch, waiting up for Fred to come in through the front door. You’d wake up a few hours later, noticing his shoes and coat by the front door, and you’d walk into your room to sleep on the bed, Fred already rolled over and cocooned in his own blankets. You’d sigh, slightly defeated, and take your usual spot, the coldness of the sheets being a forceful reminder that things were different now.

But tonight, things were even worse. Like most days, Fred didn’t even come home. He’d stay at the flat above the shop so that when the morning came around and he needed to get back to work, he was already there. He used to send you a message, let you know that he wouldn’t be coming home that night and that you shouldn’t stay up and exhaust yourself over his arrival. But now, those messages had stopped.

There was a list of small things that had changed at first — how Fred would stop kissing your forehead during the night, how he stopped bringing home products for the two of you to goof around with — but those small things turned to major things. 

For example, the last time he told you he loved you was a week ago. And even then, it was a half-assed ‘love you’ that he muttered before scurrying off to bed without his usual good night kiss. 

Things like this swirled through your mind in the silence of the night. In the dark, empty rooms of a house once so filled with love, you swore it would burst. 

But now, it was just that. Silent.

And it hurt more than you’d care to admit.

So, for the ninth night in a row, you trudged off to bed by yourself; no warmth, no company, no light. Just silence.

——

Mentally, there is no proper way to prepare for saying the six words that no one ever wants to say in a relationship.

‘I think we should break up.’

How does one come across at saying it without it being mean? Without it being accusatory, as if you know the other person is in the wrong and you want to cut them off? That wasn’t the case at all — you loved Fred more than you thought you could handle. You often wondered if it was even possible to love someone this much?

He was your soulmate. If you believed in that sort of thing, of course. You always thought he’d be the person you’d spend your life with, the person you’d end up growing old with as the two of you laughed about fond memories from when you were kids.

—

“You ever think about what life’ll be like when we’re old?” you asked, a strand of hair twirled between your fingers as you sat comfortably under the shade of a large tree, the soothing water from the Black Lake lapping gently at your bare ankles as you sat comfortably in the grass.

“I do,” Fred grinned, pressing a kiss to your temple, “I reckon we’ll grow to be very old. Together, of course, and we’ll have a big house in the country where we can experiment with fireworks.”

You giggled, leaning back to peer up at him, “As long as you don’t blow up the house, then I don’t see a problem.”

He let out a laugh, “Course not. I am very well educated on how to handle fireworks, darling. Besides, we’ll have the kids helping out too so I really don’t see a problem.”

“Kids?” you spluttered, sitting up so fast your vision went dark for a good moment, “You think we’ll have kids?”

His smile faltered for just a second before he regained his composure, “Unless you don’t want any, I’d like one. Or three.”

“Three?” you raised your eyebrows, “You really have high expectations for everything, don’t you?”

He beamed, leaning back against the chipping bark of the tree with his hands behind his head, “Always have and always will, love. It’s why we work out so well. Because you really do exceed all expectations.”

—

The rain was heavy, so there were less people bustling about in Diagon Alley than usual. You were partially thankful for it since it meant you could just barge right into Weasleys Wizard Wheezes and do what you had to do, no delays and no detours. But it also meant that there was no chance you’d run into an old friend and spark up a conversation, delaying the one that you dreaded doing more so than anything in the world.

The bright purple and orange shop came into view, cutting the breath directly out of your lungs and causing the tips of your fingers to shake. The lights inside were bright, contrasted to the dark evening skies that were clouded above you. You knew they were shutting down for the day, the large ‘closed’ sign on the door being the dead giveaway.

You approached it as quickly as you could, your coat dripping heavily on the front steps as you knocked loudly on the glass door. You hoped it would be loud enough for them to hear over the downpour, but your worries went away quickly as George’s grinning face appeared at the door.

“Y/N? Blimey, it’s horrid out there, come on in,” George unlocked the door and ushered you inside, not even beginning to complain about how you were dripping all over the wooden floors. You knew he’d be able to clean it up with magic, but you expected a bit of protest anyway.

“Hi, George,” you sighed, removing the hood off of your head and taking your jacket off, hanging it up on the tiny hook by the door. It wasn’t a coat hook, but at the moment, you’d use it as one. George didn’t oppose.

“Where’s Fred?” you asked, voice laced with a hint of urgency. You felt it shake as you spoke, worry and unease spreading through your body at lightning speed. Now that you were here, you couldn’t back out. Nor did you want to.

“Uh,” George scratched the back of his neck awkwardly, “He went out for drinks with a few of the other employees. He left about an hour ago so he shouldn’t be long now.”

You grit your teeth, heart hammering wildly in your chest, “Mind if I sit here and wait for him?”

“Be my guest,” George muttered, his body standing there as he was if unsure of what to do. You couldn’t blame him. You knew you were coming off quite odd and uncertain, but you wished that George would just leave you be as you sad there pondering about how to bring up the conversation. 

He gave you a crooked smile, “I sense you want space so I’ll leave you be. G'night.”

“Thank you,” you gave him the best smile you could muster, “Good night, Georgie.”

He took off up the stairs, turning off a few lights on the way. You sat on the chair behind the counter, placing your hands in your lap and letting your eyes dart around the store, trying to find anything that could possibly distract you from the raging wave of emotions you were currently feeling. The store was dead silent, only a few lights that were left on and giving you the ability to see.

Here you were, once again. In the silent of the night — alone, waiting, and heartbroken. 

Though that solemn silence didn’t last long as the familiar ginger head appeared at the door, unlocking it as quietly as possible before he rushed inside, running a hand through his wet hair to keep it out of his face.

You didn’t alert him of your presence, choosing to sit back quietly and let him notice your presence by himself. It didn’t take long for him to do so, turning around and stopping in his step completely as his eyes locked on yours.

The eyes that you had fallen so desperately in love with, the eyes that you had gotten lost in more times than you care to admit.

—

“You have gold in your eyes, y’know?” you grinned, running your hand along his face down to his neck, “They’re really beautiful.”

He grinned at you, placing his hand over yours and kissing the back of your knuckles lightly, moving his body closer to yours under the comfortably warm blankets, his bare skin pressed against yours as he continued scooting as close to you as he could, “As are you.”

“You flatter me, Fred Weasley,” you put your head against his chest to hide your blush, “But there’s no way you can deny that you have the best eyes.”

He chuckled, lifting one of his hands to run through your slightly messy hair, “Well, if I have the best eyes, you have the best everything else.”

“Oh, come on, it doesn’t work that way,” you pulled away from him, your voice shaky due to laughter, “You have the best lips, for sure.”

“Nuh uh,” Fred protested, shifting his body so he was now hovering slightly above you, both of his hands on either side of your face as he held himself up, “You’re definitely the winner in that category, darling. And I know just how to prove it.”

He leaned down, connecting his impossibly soft lips to yours, rendering your mind blank as you reached up to run your hands down his bare back, muscles tight under your touch as he deepened the kiss. Shivers spread throughout your body and you began to lose yourself in him completely.

—

You shook your head, clearing your mind of the memory, and stood up, “Hi, Fred.”

“Y/N,” he said lowly, walking quickly across the shop to the point where he reached you in under three seconds, “What are you doing here?”

You could see the confusion laced in his face and it stung more than you’d ever admit. The fact that he didn’t know why his girlfriend was here to see him after nearly two days burned a hole right through your heart. It stung more than the fact that after forty eight hours apart, all he could do was ask why you were here. 

“We need to talk," you sighed, looking down at the ground and collecting your thoughts as best as you could before you faced him once more, “I think this—” you motioned between the two of you, “—I think that — wait, sorry, I knew that this was too good to be true.”

He furrowed his eyebrows, “What do you mean?”

Fighting back a scoff, you waved your arms, “You can’t possibly tell me that you think this is going well, Fred. This is a train wreck. What happened?”

He took a deep breath, “I’m busy, Y/N. I’ve got work, I’ve got friends. I’ve got people other than you that require my attention too, you know?”

You ignored the burning feeling in your chest, “And I understand that. I know you have other things going on, I really do. But I am so sick of the distance. Of the fact that I wait up for hours, not even knowing if you’re coming home. That you don’t even bother letting me know if you’ll be in or not. That there’s this invisible wall between us that’s preventing us from going back to normal.”

The stinging sensation in the back of your throat and your eyes told you that tears had started to flow. You knew they would, but you hated the fact that they made you look so vulnerable.

“You’re seriously doing this?” Fred’s voice was small. Faint. More lost than you had ever heard it. In nearly six years of being together, you had barely ever fought or disagreed — the two of you were practically perfect. You couldn’t remember the last time you had ever heard his voice sound like that.

“Fred, we can’t keep doing this to ourselves,” you breathed out, stepping closer to him, “You know, when we were young, we said we’d be together forever. And I really wanted that, believe me. You told me you’d love me forever and I trusted you because I felt the same. I thought you were it for me. But this isn’t what being in love is supposed to be like.”

His eyes met yours and you swore your lungs caved in on themselves. His eyes were watery and every inch of his face looked lost. His expression broke your heart all over again and you had to look away to prevent yourself from turning around and comforting him instead.

“I loved you more than anything, you know,” he said softly, coughing slightly to clear his throat, ��Didn’t know why you picked a moronic git like me to go out with but I never complained. Always felt like the luckiest bloke at school.”

You stopped sniffling to listen to him as he continued.

“I genuinely thought you were my one. And I am so sorry that I haven’t been there. You’re right, this isn’t what love is supposed to be like. I didn’t want this to happen to us. I wanted us to stay, y’know, us.”

“I know,” you let out a small laugh, pulling a tissue out of your pocket to wipe at your eyes as you continued sniffing, “I wanted us to stay us too.”

You were nearly knocked off of your feet as Fred’s arms wrapped around you. His hug wasn’t like it usually was; bone crushing and tight. This time, it was soft and delicate — he knew it was the last time he’d be able to do this and the last thing he wanted was to break you more than you already were. Your heart connected to his, you could feel it pounding heavily under his sweater and you were nearly certain he could feel yours too. There’s no way he wouldn’t, considering how it was pounding so hard it was ripping itself to shreds. 

You pulled away after a good moment, trying your best to remember how it felt to be embraced by him, how he smelled, and what being in love with him felt like. Because you were still very much in love with Fred Weasley, and no matter what happens, you know that’ll never change.

“I guess I’ll be by tomorrow to get my stuff,” he muttered, his voice coarse but he didn’t bother clearing it this time, “You know I’ll always love you.”

You gave him a weak smile, your cheeks glistening under the dim lights due to the tears still freely coming, “And I’ll always love you too. I’m sorry.”

He was silent, not able to bring himself to say much else. You took one last look at him, his freckled cheeks, his messy hair, and the baggy sweater on his body that you remembered wearing countless times. Not able to continue reminiscing, you walked towards the door of the shop, grabbing your coat and putting it on as slowly as possible, wishing that you could run back to him, into his arms, and take off together.

But that wasn’t happening. Not today. 

“Goodbye, Freddie,” you said as you opened the door, not being able to look back at him. Your throat felt like it was closing in on itself as you took a deep gulp of fresh air, letting the door close loudly behind you. For fresh air, it was awfully suffocating. The air in the store was calling out to you, making you debate whether you should head back in.

But you shook your head and walked off of the front step.

The rain had stopped and the alley was dark. No bodies were running around and no lights were on. Though dark and quiet, nothing could match the hollow feeling that was etched into your chest. For your own sake, you wished that feeling was temporary, but at the moment it felt as if it would be permanent.

Because, after all, all things felt a thousand times worse in the silence of the night.

—

taglist

@grierpilots

@hxfflxpxffs

@mikumana

@msmimimerton

@pit-and-the-pen

@diary-of-an-onliner

@theweirdsideofstuff 

@thoseofgreatambition

@theweasleysredhair

@haphazardhufflepuff

@starlightweasley

@mytreec

@thisismysketchbook

@obsessedwithrandomthings

@almostweepingbanana

@ickle-ronniekins

@iprobablyshipit91

@wand3ringr0s3

@susceptible-but-siriusexual

[ethanredotter]

My ideas for Zootopia 2

Ah, Zootopia. It broke the record for the biggest opening weekend for an animated film, went on to be Disney Animation’s third most profitable film ever, became the second highest grossing original film of all time, and was nominated for and won innumerable awards including many for best animated picture, and rightfully so. It introduced us to a beautiful, creative, and lovable world populated by amazing characters, and had a poignant message that was conveyed, in my humble opinion, in the best possible way. I liked it a lot when it first came out, but after recently getting into stuff with a similar concept (Beastars), and being subsequently recommended various fan content on YT (Savage Company, Return to Zootopia), I got back into the film again and absolutely fell in love with it to the point that it’s joined my top three films alongside Coco, and The Land Before Time. 

Which is why I am really, really craving a followup of some kind.

Seriously, of all of Disney Animation’s recent films (or heck, films in general), I feel like this one has the greatest potential for a sequel. The setting oozes creativity from its every pore, has so many nooks and crannies that we didn’t manage to explore in the film, its two main leads were perfect and I really feel still have plenty of room to grow, and there are still so many ideas old and new that can be explored. So far we’ve received a few tie-in books, a hidden object game which is no longer available, a few comics, including a series about stories from Nick and Judy’s childhoods, a very large and intricate land expansion under construction in Shanghai Disneyland and a game starring Nick and Judy in Epcot, and a Disney+ original series focusing on various characters from around the city. All of these are fantastic, but four years after the film’s release, we’ve received no official confirmation of a proper continuation to Nick and Judy’s story like a sequel or TV series, just a few rumors here and there.

We’ll get some kind of proper followup eventually, that’s for sure, but what could it do? What kinds of places could they take us to? What ideas could it explore? What could happen to our leads, and what kinds of new characters could they befriend or combat? Well, I’m gonna give my ideas right here; buckle up, because I have a lot.

The City

Let me start off with the City itself. I mean… It’s marvelous. The architecture, like the Oasis Casino, central station, first precinct, the various neighborhoods. The accommodations like the sprinklers, water tubes, Little Rodentia, and the climate wall! The city of Zootopia is a star in and of itself with just how much care, attention, and creativity was put into its every crevice, and we barely got to see half of what it has to offer, as we only got a proper look at five of its twelve districts. They’ve revealed a few other districts via some maps and books (Meadowlands, Outback Island, Canal District) but there are a bunch of others yet to be revealed, and plenty unexplored.

Let’s start with what could be done with the ones already revealed. The Canal District could accommodate the city’s highly aquatic residents like hippos, otters, muskrats, beavers and manatees, and also be one of the city’s primary trade hubs. In terms of layout, it could be like Venice meets the Mekong Delta on steroids where the citizens live and make their living either in boats, or in buildings whose entrances are right on the water. There could be some walkways for less aquatic animals, but most of the transportation is through the water; either via swimming, or via motorboats, riverboats, jet skis, and ferries. And indeed, this is possibly what they had in mind judging by the concept art of the canals. I hope to see them implement something like this in the future; this stuff is just insanely cool! In terms of infrastructure, alongside the various docks and warehouses, I’m thinking that it could be a place for aquaculture where all manner of freshwater seafood are raised, as well as plenty of touristy stuff like river cruises. Maybe we could have a boat chase here, or perhaps just a relaxing moment between our leads, or maybe both. 

The meadowlands would be a place for more temperate grazers like sheep, horses, bison, and various kinds of deer. It could be akin to a massive park district with plenty of recreation and places to enjoy a bit of fresh air, and its buildings could possibly be like hobbit holes and built into the hills. I’m thinking it could also be a place with a lot of mills to process both food and textiles, and its overall atmosphere could be quite agricultural and country while being in the middle of a city and not having much in the way of crops.

Now on to potential districts

Credit to @florenze​

The one that I and many others have thought of the most is a nocturnal cave district. This would be located beneath the rest of the city, and would, of course, have little to no light in order to accommodate its main inhabitants such as moles, mole rats, and bats. This place could have homes on the ceiling and walls for the bats, with various cranes and elevators for the non-bats to get around both to visit, and do maintenance. I imagine bat homes could be quite atypical compared to other species since they’d likely sleep upside down and crawl on walls a fair bit, and if they need to get anywhere they can just fly, so much like the canals, they might not have much in the way of front yards and instead just have elevators and sheer drops on their front doors. Likewise, the less residential buildings could have entrances at higher floors for the bats as well. Entrances to the district could be drive-in cave mouths, as well as big openings for the bats to just fly straight out of to see the other districts at night.

As an opposite to that, I was thinking that a central mountain district would also be cool to see. This would accommodate mountain sheep and goats, takins, pikas, llamas, as well as snow leopards, brown bears, and other mammals who like high and rocky locales. This place could be even more vertical than the cave district, and require either elevators, stairways, or surefootedness to get around, as well as perhaps some oxygen tanks depending on how high it goes. Therefore, cars would be nowhere to be seen, and if anyone wants to get in, they’ll need to park outside, or better yet just take public transportation to allow room for residents’ vehicles. Buildings could possibly be carved out from the stone, and the overall atmosphere could be a mix of the Himalayas and the Andes, and also a bit of the Rockies and Urals.

Regardless of what districts they show us, I would like to see a few more angles to the city than just a bright and clean middle class. Show off its dirty underbelly too, and I don’t just mean more of the street hustlers and thieves like Nick, Finnick, and Weaselton. The first film did an excellent job of showing us that Zootopia wasn’t some perfect society with its discrimination and criminals, and while we did get a nice glimpse of its dirtier side, I want to see more of the run down neighborhoods and their residents. Heck, maybe make poverty an aspect of the plot and a motivator for the villain. Although, they also could also easily cover it with Nick due to the fact that his family was struggling back in the day. Alongside that, I’d like to see high society too, especially the oasis casino that they really wanted to show off, but couldn't find a way to. Show us just how both lavish and run down this city can be.

New Characters

Of all the things I love the film for, its characters and their arcs are probably the biggest things, especially those of the leads. This film has a very diverse cast from a big old cape buffalo to a tiny little fennec fox, and they’re all quite memorable and fun. Now I know what some of you are thinking, “why are you covering new characters before the old ones”? Mostly because I have fewer ideas, but also because the ideas I have for some of the old characters are quite big.

Firstly, I’d like to talk about Nick’s family, starting with his mother. Yes, Mrs. Wilde is already an established character, but I’m still putting her in here since I want to talk about Nick’s family in the same section, and she’s gotten very little characterization; heck, we don't even know her name. She seems like a very nice and supportive vixen from what we saw from the flashback, there was a tweet from Rich Moore that we can infer a fair bit from, and the end of a comic that showed her being a very nice mother and a massive fan of a rock band made of rabbits. Nick is seemingly an only child since no siblings are mentioned anywhere, and they certainly seemed to be financially struggling at some point since he said that his mom “scraped up” the money for the scout uniform, and in the comics he was always extremely short on money and didn’t even have an allowance. Rich referring to her as “Mrs. Wilde” as opposed to “Ms. Wilde” shows that she was/is married and that the husband was probably Nick’s father. The last line of the tweet highly indicates that she and Nick are in contact and on speaking terms (although it really begs the question of where she was during his graduation as there’s not a fox in sight (although there were plenty of seats out of sight and obscured)), and also potentially hints at, uh… Things we’ll get to later. Unfortunately, we don’t know anything more about her. Did she know about Nick’s bad behavior? Did Nick even tell her about the incident with the scouts? Was she ever estranged from him? I’d like for it to be talked about, preferably with her present. I don’t want her to just show up in a call or something, I want her to actually have a scene with her son, and I’d love for her to meet Judy as well.

At least we know a thing or two about her, but we don’t know a thing about Nick’s father that has been confirmed. In one of the original cuts of the film, Mr. Wilde was a tailor who wanted to start up a company with his son called Wilde and Son’s Suitopia and give his kit the best future he could possibly have. Unfortunately, after many attempts at getting a loan to start it up, Nick tried to stop some lemming bankers from denying their loan by trying to grab the stamp from them, was spotted by a guard, and was forcibly and permanently separated from his dad because the city in that cut was was a horrible place full of horrible prey who thought that predators were nothing but horrible monsters ready to blow at any time to the point that they were forced to wear shock collars that would zap them whenever they got even remotely excited. Seriously, screw this setting, it made Beastars look like a freaking paradise. Anyway, back on track. Nick only mentions his mom, so where is his dad? Again, a fair bit can be inferred from the sources on his mother. The simple fact that he wasn’t mentioned in the flashback or the comics seems to indicate that he was out of their lives at that point in Nick’s childhood. Go figure, fans have gone nuts with the possibilities. I’ve seen depictions of him ranging from dead, to estranged, to a genuinely good dad who’s back in their lives now, and a psychotic criminal mastermind who wants Nick to be his heir… Yeah. Out of all those depictions, the loving father one is my favorite. Sure, Rich didn’t mention him in the tweet, but that could have been a simple omission since the question was about Mrs. Wilde. I’ll be honest, my perfect version of this idea is from the fan comic It Should Have Been Me, in which which his backstory and character is almost exactly what it was in the original cut: he was a fabric worker who moved to Zootopia with his wife and son in order to make it big on a tailor business, as he strongly believed in the ideals of the city and wanted to show Nick what a fox could become. He was repeatedly denied a loan, and eventually his obsession with making the business made his wife leave with Nick. After some time, he finally realized that being a role model was not the same as being a father and returned to them. I adore this interpretation for how it shows a family that struggled to stay together for reasons mostly within their control, but still managed to, and are now seemingly happier than ever, something I can’t recall seeing at all in any of Disney Animation’s films (if you know any examples, please list them), and also the fact that Mr. Wilde is a great, likable, and kind of complex character here who is a good man who just messed up as opposed to a simple deadbeat dad I've often seen him depicted as. I want to see something like this out of his father in an official follow-up, but even if he is still separated from his wife, I’d like to see him, and if he’s dead, still give us something; I want to know who this guy is and where he is now, and if there’s anyone else in the Wilde family, I’d love to meet them too, and I want to know how they feel about Nick turning his life around and bucking expectations and stereotypes. His mother is probably exceedingly proud of him, and his dad probably is too if my preferred version is used. Either way, give us a lovely father, mother and son scene (or just mother and son scene, because you know, she’s the only one confirmed to still be around).

On to the villain! The villain should be as opposite to Bellwether as possible; big, male, predator, and not trying to fool anyone into believing that he’s not the mastermind behind anything. We’ll know, at least partially, who this guy is from the moment he’s introduced and what his motivations are early on. Unlike Bellwether, we’ll dive into his character more and more as the film goes on and see what makes him tick. So, what could he want? The idea I’ve conjured up was that he could be a segregationist extremist who sees the founding principles of Zootopia as foolish, believes that this all mammal society is unsustainable, and that all species should completely separate from each other. Perhaps he just wants to get back at the city that he believes wronged him and/or his kind, or perhaps he wants to go back to the wild square one where it’s every species for themselves, and perhaps he thinks that will genuinely be better for everyone. Regardless, I think that this idea would be an interesting continuation of the first film’s ideas of prejudice and living in peace with your neighbor, where this villain would want to bring down the city because he hates prejudice, wants to bring down what he sees as a hypocritical city, and wants mammals to be better off by being separate and under harm. Also, unlike Bellwether who was a power hungry sociopath, this guy will be far more genuine in his pursuit and see himself as a liberator. But as I said, he could very well just be using it all as an excuse for petty vengeance and lashing out at the world in a spiteful rage.

Despite what I said before, I do think that there should be an air of mystery around him. Since he’ll see himself as a demagogue for all animal’s “liberation”, he could conceal himself in shadows during his broadcasts, and also cover himself from head to toe in feature hiding clothes such as a helmet/mask, and specially designed gloves and shoes that hide what his hands and feet look like in order to not show off what species he is. Basically, he could be a twist on the twist villain; he’ll be all mysterious and some could think that he may be a character that we’ve met, but in reality he’s the same character we’ve known all along. As for what species he could be, I was thinking that he could be a less looked at member of a well known family of animals. My best bet would be a smaller and less predatory species of bear like an American black bear, sloth bear, or a sun bear since we saw so many brown and polar bears in the film, and while he’d be small by bear standards, he’d still be quite large, and heck, maybe they could make him particularly large and scary for his species of bear. Also, since he would be a kind of bear whose protein historically consisted entirely of insects (especially in the case of the latter two), he could have extra reason to be angry with society since his kind never wronged prey (although again not quite the case with American black bears since they will sometimes eat fawns and even fully grown deer), but yet he was lumped in with the brown and polar bears. Of the three species I listed, I think the sloth bear would work the best since their protein entirely consists of insects, but, despite their small size and goofy appearance, they’re one of the most aggressive species of bear and have been known to charge at elephants and rhinos at the drop of a hat, and this could play into his characterization as bear Kratos. I think there could be some hints to his species throughout the story, despite how well he may try to hide it. For instance, American black bears when scared tend to do things such as pulsing and clapping their jaws together, while the south Asian bears tend to rear up and stretch their chests out to expose their white stripe. Perhaps he could unconsciously do things like that when particularly agitated or under pressure.

What exactly could make him want all of this? I was thinking that much like our favorite fox cop, he could have experienced much discrimination throughout his life, only far worse, and been downright spiteful instead of rolling with the punches like Nick did. And again, it could have been more pronounced on him since the discrimination was due to “Sins of the cousins” and his kind had nothing to do with any of what they accused him of. A tipping point could have been the Night Howler Crisis, which could have either personally affected him, or just confirmed his beliefs and made him want to go through with his plans to try and tear Zootopia down, and now, about a year or so after that Crisis, his plans can finally go into motion. As for how he’ll go about things, well, he’d go for the hearts, minds and the infrastructure of the city. Perhaps he could broadcast all over to spread his propaganda and instill doubts in in the population (notably in his fellow preds by reminding them what happened not long ago), and also strike fear in those who oppose him. Other than that, he’ll of course go straight for the city’s infrastructure via sabotage and kidnappings. One victim could be the mayor, who this time could actually be a good person and politician, or, as one official comic showed, Lionheart again… Was this an error, or was he seriously canonically reinstated after the shady crap he got up to!?

Anyway, expanding on the idea of the concealing outfit, I’m thinking that his followers (who I’ll just call The Cell for now) could do the same thing with tail hiders, stilts, and padding which would be especially effective for bigger animals to possibly lean over and look like something shorter and fatter in order to make themselves appear roughly the same as to make themselves not see each other as another species for the duration of this insane operation (it also has the added effect of making them harder to differentiate and track). This will eventually be their downfall for reasons you may have surmised, but I’ll explain that later.

Speaking of more villainous characters, I'd like to see a bit more of the criminal syndicates and mobs throughout the city. I'd like to learn who rules what parts of the city, how far their reach goes, and how they operate. Although, we’ll probably only get a glimpse in the film, but we could see the criminal organizations focused on more in a TV series or official comic book, because I think a film would be about a much larger and complex threat that could change the city and characters as we know them.

What about more heroic characters? Well, perhaps we could see the return of concepts from the original pitch of the film like secret agents. Considering that the villain’s plot could be citywide and insidious, I think it would make sense. It could be cool to see conceptual characters such as Skye developed and implemented, and have them helping our leads with the case (or perhaps they could just be a cameo in a movie theater, I dunno, they had a billion other ideas when conceptualizing). I’d like to see her come back because she seemed like quite an interesting concept of a mechanic and badass secret agent (Also, look at that concept art; she's flipping adorable). Perhaps she could be undercover in The Cell, and Nick and Judy could meet her after being ambushed by them. As they’re driving away, Nick gets shot in the shoulder with a dart, but when they reach safety, he realizes that he’s fine. He pulls the dart out and finds that it’s hollow and clear and has a note inside it. They read the note and it includes an apology and directions to a garage in the meadowlands. Later they go to the address and find a light tan fox working on a car. She introduces herself, apologizes further to Nick for shooting him, and then brings them into a safehouse where she gives them vital info on The Cell, and gives them a number to call her at and a few special signals and monikers to help out.

If I were to describe the character I imagine her having, it would be extremely enthusiastic, friendly, and possibly coming off as a little childish, but also intelligent, savvy, and consummately professional and well trained. Basically, a quintessential bunny ears lawyer.

Some people have wanted her to have some kind of past affiliation with Nick, but I’m not sure. I mean, it would be interesting and a good callback to the cut where she was his sidekick, but in this version him knowing someone who just so happens to also be a secret agent would seem a little odd. Then again, he knows everybody. Maybe she’s that mysterious Lady Friend mentioned by Finnick…? (she is a mechanic after all, and he loves his van).

Other than that, I’d love to see the ZPD itself expanded and characterized a heck of a lot more. Maybe we could actually get to know Nick and Judy’s fellow officers like McHorn, Pennington, and Wolfard, and finally see some actual detectives as opposed to just patrolmen, and also get to see the city’s other precincts. I’d love to see the folks at first precinct all working with and respecting our leads, and for all of their strengths to be shown to the max. As in, I want to see them in full SWAT gear conducting a raid; Bogo and the big boys breaching doors, the wolves and cats on marksman duty, and Nick and Judy doing infiltration.

Returning Characters

Let’s start with everyone’s favorite tiny fox, shall we? Finnick wasn’t in the film all that much and only said a total of 37 words (yes I counted), but despite this, he still left a shockingly large impact on audiences for his in your face attitude and vocal dissonance of being a little fennec fox played by a giant former pro wrestler, Tommy Lister Jr (may he rest in peace). And honestly, I flipping adored him too. The creators also liked him a lot and have featured him extensively in newer material such as Zootopia Crime Files, which had him heavily involved in a case and really managed to flesh out his character and specify what his relationship with Nick was like (which is to say, they are genuinely friends), and he even appears as a playable character in Disney Heroes: Battle Mode, and they have said that they wanted to feature him more in a sequel. So what could he do in a follow up? I’m thinking that he could become a major supporting character. I’d like to see him having some genuine friendly times and conversations with Nick and Judy such as going out to eat with them, and also get them out of some scrapes; perhaps by going nuts on a perp that’s threatening them and/or driving them out of a sticky situation. Perhaps he could also help the investigation by acting like an informant or mole (but as I said, in this cut that could already be taken by someone else). Or perhaps he’s gone or will go relatively straight and operate a totally legitimate ice cream shop instead of running a complex hustle. Perhaps he could also act as a shippe- again something we’ll get to later. I’d also like to learn more about him as a person; did he get into the hustling life because of some kind of discrimination like Nick, or is he just a roughhouser who genuinely likes what he does and wouldn’t have it any other way? Who’s this lady friend he mentions? Does he harbor any resentment for Nick for getting off the street and into the force? Obviously it’s not too strong if he’s still giving him Pawpcicles and interacting with him in a cordial way, but is there any there? I’d really like to see. Also, what's his real name? The directors said that Finnick isn't his real name, so what is it? Maybe tell us, maybe don't. As for who could replace Zeus, I’m thinking Kevin Michael Richardson. Whoever they get, I hope he does him justice.

Leave Bellwether out of this; she's served her purpose.

I wouldn’t be mad at seeing Mr. Big return, but I don’t really have any ideas for him. That said, I think that Fru-Fru could be a nice inclusion as a good friend of Judy. Perhaps Judy could hang out with her and do a few things like a little bit of Godmothering for the little shrew bearing her name.

Flash… If he shows up at all, make it a minor appearance, maybe even a cameo.

Bogo was technically the tritagonist of the last film, and I’d like him to remain in a prominent role. I loved his character and evolution in the last film; he starts off barely giving Judy the time of day and repeatedly gets really pissed off at her antics, and also blows off Nick on the simple basis of him being a fox. But he’s an extremely principled and just fellow, and in my opinion, an example of what a good police chief should be, especially since he gets over his prejudices and comes to respect our leads as much as his other officers (which is to say, a LOT). And it’s that respect that I really want to see in a follow up. I want him to send Nick and Judy out on important missions, I want him to trust them with their conduct and intel, and most of all, I want him to protect them and treat them like valuable members of the force. For instance we could see him chew out another officer for talking badly of them, and also risk his life to keep them alive. Speaking of, I also want to see him in action, not just in his office playing with apps (although I certainly wouldn’t complain if we saw him messing around) or showing up after the fact to arrest a perp; I want to see this big bull kicking tail and taking names. Again that prospective swat raid. Other than that, I’d like to learn a bit more about him as a person outside his job, and maybe get a full name.

Benjamin Clawhauser… I don’t have much in the way of new ideas for him other than seeing him interact with Nick. I and many others think that the two of them would be great friends with some awesome banter (and in the Tame Collar cut he was supposed to be one of Nick’s employees at Wilde Times, so they’ve got some of their dynamic figured out already). If I were to imagine Nick's nickname (or I guess we could say Nick Name) for him, it may be Chomps. Other than that, for the third time, flesh him and his backstory out a bit more; he’s a likable guy and I’d like to know more about him. I also absolutely think that he’d be yet another shi- Oh yeah, the main characters!

Nick and Judy

And finally, the part that I’ve wanted to talk about the most; Nick Wilde and Judy Hopps. These two are incredible. I know I’ve already gushed about every last little thing this film has done even remotely right, but these two are genuinely just plain perfection. They’re my favorite cinematic duo ever, and some of my favorite fictional characters ever. Their dynamic, their chemistry, their dedication and adoration of each other, the way they grow because of each other, it’s all just wonderful. If you want more details as to why they’re so wonderful (especially together), check out @beastars-takes​ post on their relationship and why it’s so darn awesome; there is not an off word in there, offers a lot of insight into the hidden depths that you may not have noticed, and helped me understand these two and the film all the better and gave me the intense love I have for it. Buckle up, these two are the longest part of the essay, because they were the best and biggest part of the movie, and thus I’ve got the most to say.

Honestly, my favorite parts with them were in the last 20 minutes of the film where they are just a perfect buddy cop duo (and ironically enough, weren’t even cops at this point) who clearly had an unbelievable amount of love for each other and even faith in each other while kicking serious butt, and seeing Nick give off that extremely genuine smile upon finally being able to live up to the oath he made as a kid at his graduation was absolutely heartwarming. I want to see more of THIS duo in the next film; a duo of true companions absolutely brimming with charm and endearment who you want to be on screen as much as possible. These two had such good chemistry by the end of the film that many people wondered whether there was something more between them than mere friendship. Were they… Romantically involved? If not, should they be in the future? Many people have been against this idea because they either don’t interpret their relationship that way, and/or they feel that a romance would be cliched and/or forced. What’s my opinion on this whole thing? We’ll get to that soon, for now, let's talk about character focus and development!

I think that Nick should be in the protagonist seat this time, and Judy should be switched to deuteragonist, although she’ll be more in focus than Nick was last time. I want to see how Nick feels about his new life as an officer, his past and connections, his home (does he live in a leaky pipe ridden apartment and sleep in a drawer like in this concept art, or does he live in a better place?), him kicking but with his new training, and as said previously, his family. I want to see him being truly happy and fulfilled for the first time in his adult life, and how it affects him. I want to see the full weight of everything that he’s gained and will continue to have at the forefront of his story arc, and likewise with Judy. I want to see him open up to people more, and I want to see him continue to prove to the world that a fox can be more than a shyster, and heck, maybe he and Judy are becoming something of celebrities from their adventures and maybe the two of them are using their status to help their communities in ways other than police work. Maybe the two of them will visit schools, more run down neighborhoods and communities of stereotyped animals to tell their story and show them what they can become if they believe in themselves and in others. I also want a big emotional scene from him, or at least an adult big emotional scene. While we did see plenty of big emotional scenes from him and certainly saw the depths of what he’s been through, it was Judy who really brought out the most emotion. This time around, I want to see Nick carry the most emotional scene, tears and all. My choice would be him realizing the weight of what he has gained and how much he doesn’t want to lose it. For instance, perhaps they could have a party at the station in honor of their promotions (I'd guess detective given their skill sets) with him, his fellow officers, his parents, and even his and her civilian friends such as Finnick. He’ll sit down next to Judy and his folks with a plate and a cup, and they’ll start conversing. Suddenly, officer McHorn comes up and commends him and Judy for their great work in their short time on the force, and how they deserve to be detectives after all the cases big and small that they've solved. Nick will look at him with a smile as he’s talking, and then notice something: all of the most important people in his world are right there in that room, and each and every one loves, respects, and appreciates him. His parents, his friends, and most importantly his brothers in arms, and especially the one who brought him into the fold and changed his life forever. The realization that he’s achieved the camaraderie he wanted and fulfilled the promise he made in his youth, how he's made people see him for who he is and not what he is, and how whole his life has become from this job and how it will get even better from this promotion hit him like a train and he starts shedding tears. His parents, Judy and McHorn notice. He tries to play it off initially, but he realizes that he has nothing to hide anymore and explains everything. McHorn says he really meant what he said and that he’s an integral part of the PD, and Judy and his folks begin comforting him and eventually Judy says “Oh you foxes, you're so emotional”. Nick gets a big smile on his face and gives her a tight hug, and then chooses to get up on a table and say a big speech of thanks and cheers to his family, friends, his fellow officers, and especially to the greatest gal he’s ever known.

Speaking of the sly bunny, I want to see how the events of the last film have affected her and have shaped her into a wiser person and more effective officer. Much like with Nick, I want to see her continue to buck other’s expectations of her and prove that rabbits can be far more than just meek farmers. I want to see her grow even more street smart, wise, and a better problem solver from seeing all that Zootopia has to offer and from her proximity with Nick. I want her to see more of the world’s complicated problems and for her to start to understand the bad parts of it even more, but at the same time continuing to see plenty of good as well (sometimes, a bit of both). Also, there’s a lot of Zootopia as a city that she still hasn’t seen; species, districts, holidays, you name it. I want a big part of her story to also be her experiencing everything the city has to offer, preferably with Nick at her side, and the wonder on her face. That said, I want the wonder to be shared. I want to see Nick enjoying this city like never before since he can look at it in a whole new light, and do so with the one who made it all possible. And likewise, Judy would feel the same in regards to being able to explore it with the one who changed her for the better, helped her keep her career, learn more about herself, and has continued to be there for her. And again like Nick, I want her to really feel what she’s gained: a great career, comrades who respect her, the ability to help others, and fulfillment of the dream she’s wanted since childhood, and an amazing partner who helped her achieve it all and got all the same things because of her.

And all that of course brings us to the big question. How should their relationship evolve? Well, uh…  I think… You see, I… I uh… Well...

This is on the bookshelf in my room

And this is one of my most viewed images on furaffinity (credit to RelaxableFur)

Of important note; I’m not someone who casually ships characters. I may consider the idea of them being a couple when they’re together on screen and have good chemistry, but I’m never like “Oh my god, they need to get together!” (in fact, I was neutral about the idea of WildeHopps until last year when I dived back into the movie), and I’m especially not one of those people who ships characters who obviously have no chance in hell of being romantically involved. I only really get on a ship if I think there’s a strong precedent for it in terms of character plausibility and storytelling potential (and it also helps if they’re absolutely adorable on screen). And in the case of these two, I absolutely think that they hit all three categories.

Now, let’s get into details. Do I think they’re just friends at the end of the film? Not necessarily. Do I think they’re romantically involved? Again, not necessarily. I think their relationship is complicated. As I said, they trust, respect, and care for each other to such an incredible degree that they were willing to do THIS all for the sake of milking the scene and keeping up appearances to keep the bad guy talking (and as you may or may not have noticed, Judy’s nose didn’t move even a bit during the entire act until Nick was right on top of her, whereas before at even the slightest sign of distress it would twitch like crazy), and then just casually laugh about the whole thing while holding each other. Speaking of which, they are clearly very comfortable with physical contact; Judy comforts Nick with some arm caresses

Nick let Judy cry into him and wrapped his tail around her when making up (how else would she step on it)

The two of them share the aforementioned very nice embrace when gloating to Bellwether (yes, Judy had a wounded leg, but the way they’re holding each other and how comfortable they are indicates way more than just physical support)

And there was also this part in the concert… 

Y’all thought that was just a hip check, didn’t you!? 

There’s also the fact that, while it’s obviously a rather playful exchange,  they just casually threw the big, big L out there in their last conversation, and not only that, but the whole thing is delivered in a kind of longing fashion, and depending on the translation the wording gets either more or less explicitly romantic.

As myself and Beastars Takes have stated, they are perfect kindred spirits who have irrevocably changed each other’s lives for the better, and they believed in each other when no one else would. For those reasons they have grown closer to each other than anyone else and can’t get enough of each other. They made each other’s dreams come true, they’re the greatest things that have happened to each other, and they will continue to be so, especially now that they’re together nearly every day of the year since they’re now on the job together. To me, that’s not a will they get together, that’s a when will they get together, and I’d find it more forced if they didn’t become an item (unless their sexualities don’t match, but I doubt that, because again all of their dialogue and physical closeness) 

And this officially licensed merch…

And these park character interactions.

And honestly, I think that many mammals will probably think the same way. As I almost said throughout, I think plenty of folks like Clawhauser and Finnick will see the spark between them and be Shippers on Deck. I could imagine Finnick teasing their obvious affection for each other, and Clawhauser could just be his usual self and just make little squees and mental notes whenever he sees them interacting, and there could be a few rumors about them floating around the PD.

So how should their romance develop, and how should their couple dynamic be? Subtly, and not too much of a change from how they already are, respectively. As I said, these two already think the world of and can’t get enough of each other, and I really think that there’s already a romantic spark between them that they just need to think through and expose. I give them half a year on the force before they’re all over each other, a year at most. I don’t think that they’ll even have to make any real confession of love to each other, I think they’ll just have to have the right moment to properly figure out that their relationship already is romantic and/or that it really would be able to work out between them, and actually cement it right there and then. That said, don’t drag the hookup out. Don’t have their entire arc be about them getting together. Don’t have them magically be together at the start of the story, but certainly don’t drag for the whole time. Give us time for them to be the slightly better than best friends we saw at the end of the last film while building up some extra tension, and then have them properly hook up in the second act. But as I said, their dynamic shouldn’t change too much. Again, it’d be more of a realization than a decision since they already have an unbelievably high opinion of and affection towards each other (and they seemingly already know that there’s something between them), and it’d be an enhancement of what they already have as opposed to a change; they’ll continue to be the best friends that they’ve been, just with an extra openly romantic component. Have them be even more willing to show affection both physical (hand holding, cuddling, and kissing) and verbal (more flirtation, and some I love yous). I want this romance to be sweet and unique with a lot more friendly banter, discussion and enjoying more platonic fun stuff (like playing games and joking together), and way less lubby dubby crap. I want their trust and love and respect for each other to be extremely apparent; continue to have it be clear that they think the world of each other and show the reasons for it, and don’t have them be too doting, or at least not that often. That said, absolutely feature some powerful romantic moments like a little dance, or the hookup stated before.

As I said before, I also really get on to a ship if I believe that it can add to the story, and in this case, I really do think it can. I think that their relationship could bring up and/or amplify a lot of strong themes that would complement the first film’s message perfectly. For instance, friendship, love and family not knowing the boundaries of species.

Now, it’s clear that interspecies relationships and marriages are a thing in this city: the directors talked a bit about how society could see their relationship and how Zootopia is probably open to the idea; the first couple that Judy meets in Zootopia are her neighbors Bucky and Pronk Oryx-Antlerson, who are a greater kudu and a gemsbok (they’re also same sex, so that indicates even more societal openness)

There was also an official comic about Flash trying to ask Priscilla out on a date to a movie, but he was too slow and lost out to a Hyena, so that indicates that even predator-prey relationships aren’t widely looked down upon. 

However, as the first film showed, Zootopia’s not a perfect society, so they absolutely could receive some nasty stares and insults in the city, and Bunnyburrow Seems to be less open on the whole. Yes, I’m bringing up the ever so popular “Nick meets Judy’s parents after their hookup” idea that hundreds of people have written stories about, but I genuinely think it’s a fun idea, and I’d like to see their reaction to Nick if he’s romantically involved with their daughter, and Nick trying to get used to country life and bonding with a new family. We saw in the last film that Bonnie and Stu are opening up to foxes, and I would imagine that they met Nick around the time of the concert in the credits, but how could they feel about their daughter being with a non-bunny? That could be a fantastic storyline to cover, and it could be a fantastic way to explore that theme of interspecies bonds, and also of families being built on love. That being said, them visiting Bunnyburrow (AKA my hometown in upstate NY: we seem to have an infestation of rabbits here), would be best for a TV series arc or a comic as opposed to a theatrical release, but they could still have the Hopps family visit Zootopia in the film and have many similar things go down. Another scenario could be from Nick’s family. Remember what Rich said about his mother waiting for a grandkit? Does this mean that she actually wants him to continue the family line, or does it mean that she just wants another little tyke to help raise? Either way, she could be an interesting addition to this idea since the creators have specified that they normally fall back on what is scientifically plausible for the film, meaning that Nick and Judy probably wouldn't be able to conceive a child, so they could introduce some hesitance or vice versa into the story through her.

With my previous villain idea, the theme of bonds beyond species could come up quite often. Nick and Judy could become targets of The Cell from the beginning for their friendship, but they could perhaps become more of targets once it becomes clearer to The Cell that they may be more (and because they’re likely foiling their plans). If the villain actually saw proof up close that they were together, he could absolutely lose it and just try to tear them limb from limb. But of course, their bond could also be used to their advantage alongside the villains’ hypocrisy and foolishness. For instance, in a final confrontation. Here’s my prospective scene: Nick, Judy and possibly other characters are surrounded by Cell members who are armed to the teeth and pointing all they have right at them. Everyone in the room is weary from all that’s happened over the course of the film, and are hesitant to start fighting again. Then, Nick speaks up and asks The Cell why they’re still fighting. He brings up the fact that they’re all fighting for the downfall of Zootopia and the separation of all species since they believe that animals only see each other for what they are and are cruel because of it, and that they’re going as far as to hide their species from their comrades to not see each other as separate, but only until the job is done, and then they'll go their separate ways. Of course, why should they see each other as one only for now? They’ve all bonded and seen each other as comrades all this time while not knowing each other’s species; why should knowing what they are be any different? This would result in some taking the plunge and removing their helmets, which would then result in the others seeing what they are. Our leads would tell them that they have not known each other's species this long and yet they’ve bonded together as brothers in arms; why would they want to break that because of stupid differences, and why would they want to use those differences to separate themselves? Some folks can tear and digest meat, some can clip and digest grass; what difference should that make? If they want things to be better, then they must be better, and show those who hate them that things can be better (and for extra effect, Nick and Judy could show off the bond that they’ve gained despite being not just two different species, but predator and prey). One member throws his mask out, then another, and another. More and more continue to throw away their masks and even suits, either because they were convinced or because they see the cause as hopeless, and within a minute the floor is littered with masks and discarded body suits, and the members of the once mighty Cell walk out of the room, many with their arms around one another, and some holding hands, and soon it’s just the leader and the officers alone.

Conclusion

So those were my ideas for a Zootopia sequel. To recap, I want to see even more of the city’s districts and more of its socio-economic angles. I want to see new characters both brand new and from old drafts, and I want an interesting and fresh villain who we can gain a bit of sympathy for. I want to see all of our favorite supporting characters from the first film continue to be great and have expanded roles. And above all, I want our leads to continue to grow themselves and their bond into something even more wonderful. I want to see Nick grow as a person and officer, and I want to see Judy grow alongside him. I want to see Nick’s family and connections, I want how his new life is affecting him, and I want to see him open up emotionally with himself and with those he loves, and I want Judy to continue to grow wiser about the world and everything ugly and beautiful about it, and how being on the force, and with the one she cares about most no less, shapes her into an even more effective problem solver.

So when could we see a sequel? Well, we may have to wait a while longer. While it’s very clear that the franchise isn’t dead, we’ve heard absolutely nothing official on a sequel, and current events at Disney Animation Studios are making it seem like we may have to wait more for one to come. The director and mastermind behind the film, Byron Howard, and the co-director and screenwriter, Jared Bush, are currently working on a musical film currently called Encanto which is set to release in November. Why did they do this instead of going straight for Zootopia 2? Rich Moore, the other head director, had to scramble back to work on Ralph Breaks The Internet after leaving it for a year and a half, and that pretty much left the team in pieces. Considering how much he seemed to want to be a part of the development of a sequel and how they said that they didn’t want to rush it, the other guys seem to have started Encanto to do something new while Rich was busy, and of course shake up their creative juices. However, Rich left the studio in 2019 to join Sony Animation, although he said he left the studio in good hands, and I certainly hope that’s true. Considering that Disney tends to announce films around two years before release, and also tends to have directors work on films released two years apart, 2023 seems like a likely release year, but 2024 would work better for getting a bit more development time into it, get some test screening done and to iron out any possible issues. 

That said, the extra year may not be totally necessary. Considering how well developed the first film’s world and characters were, and how much they conceptualized during its production, I don’t think they’ll have to conceptualize quite as hard, and most of what they’ll have to create from scratch will be storylines, themes, character development, and brand new characters, as well as possibly a few districts and species designs. But again, there was so much that they have already made that they just need to show us, as well as so many concepts to fall back on with developing brand new content that even in the conceptual stage that it may have be in they’ll have a relatively easy time coming up with incredible new content; unlike Frozen II & Ralph Breaks the Internet where they had to make up totally new locations, concepts, and everything in between. I’m of the opinion that with all the time that it’s likely been in partial production that the relatively little new stuff that they've had to come up with has probably already been quite refined, and by the time Encanto is done, they may well have something extremely robust and just need to refine it, and then make models and animate it, and give us Disney Animation's best sequel ever. But then again, that extra year may be good for it. But then again, I'm not a filmmaker, so I don't know crap.

And after that, we could end up getting a TV series with further adventures of Nick and Judy, and also flesh out the world even more by showing us districts, criminal groups, precincts, and all manner of other things. Perhaps it could be a police procedural with our leads taking on whatever the city has to offer as well as de  showing off more about them and other characters than the films could, and also potentially be a bit of a Segway into the next film (why yes, I think a Zootopia trilogy could be amazing). Thankfully the majority of the cast is made up of accomplished TV actors, so they’ll probably be able to get almost everyone back (but I am hoping for Jason Bateman the most since he IS Nick Wilde and no one can replace him (the same applies to Ginnifer Goodwin with Judy to a very slightly lesser extent)). My hope is that it'll be a D+ original, and thus have an extra good budget that'll hopefully bring in a great cast, and excellent animation and writing.

But anyway, thanks for reading! I hope you all enjoyed my ideas. Was there anything you'd like to add, or anything you didn't quite agree with (or any mistakes I didn't notice while proofreading)? Well then please do discuss them. Until next time, may your battles be won and your day be blessed, and may you be excellent to all those you meet! 

[aphrodite1288]

Hi

Why are you so convinced there will be a ksoo dating scandal? Have there been hints?

I don’t want my ship to sink 🥺

It may happen. He was discussed to have a dating scandal, i mean he is on the list with many others Bang*tan/Got*7 members as well and , they cant risk B*TS cuz they in the EPITOM of their career, and for Ksoo not now but after his album looong after maybe??? Dunno when exactly But not too soon. He was discussed to have a setup dating back in the years but becuz he was still a rookie in acting and didn't want to ruin Ekso image and schedule S/M didn't want to risk his debuting acting career and damage his reputation and the group projects especially with the damage of having two members dating scandals exposed to the public and one marriage and pregnancy/kid, they couldn't add more damage to the group back then, also HE (KSOO) had to go to military and he wasnt on good terms with SM since 2017 and in military rules, the idol is better to go off to the Army clean and clear without scandals, so it's very preferable that the idol goes with no dating or any other scandal to military in order to maintain his image and insure that in army he will be fully focused on serving his country and not having an affair with a girl or going through court sessions or rehab in case of bad scandals such as drugs or molestation or rape or corruption or bullying etc...

But after military it's okay to have a setup dating, It's necessary to promote his actor image, he must be involved in a relationship to promote his next projects especially if a movie or drama ends up being extremely successful they won't hesitate to promote the couple in order to promote the drama/movie, that's a well known plan all actors go for, they are asked by either their official companies or their current production company and producers to go through dating scandals with their co-actresses wether they were really dating or just set up but in both cases it will promote the drama/movie they starred in. So please expect this sooner or later. IT WILL HAPPEN.

Cuz it happened with many many actors who really dated or fake-dated their co-actresses in order to promote their dramas, some even went to the extent of marriage and they eventually get divorced, i think u may know some couples wether in the korean film industry or the western industry, this is a very common thing, that actors fake date their co-stars to promote their projects especially if it's a ROMANCE 💒 DRAMA PROJECT, ppl start shipping and the shipbase gets bigger and the Romance project gets highest views and box office tickets and highest rates etc.... So the project is successful=Cash Cash CASH 🤑💰💰💰

I can list many many set-up couples from the kdrama industry to the turkish industry and the american industry and the Cdrama/taiwanese and Thai drama industry but im so lazy probably won't do it eventually but i got names but uk me I'm always lazy. Maybe the other admin would do it for me? I dunno I'd have to beg her hahahha.

But i guess u can guess urself some kdrama setup couples and as ksoo is getting his place and rank pretty high in the kdrama industry and is in the climax of his career, he might have one to promote his "straight manly actor who gets all the co-actresses all down for him" image. They may set him up with some famous rising actresses to promote the actress and him and their project as well if they had one.

" It's all about the money money money "

[emmy-writes-sometimes]

Lonely

Henry notices you’re lonely after moving out to the country with him, but he has a surprise under his sleeve.

Pairing: Henry Cavill x reader

Word Count: 2,627

Warnings: FLUFF! Fluffy puppies, fluffy Henry, etc. 

A/N: I had this idea and HAD to write it down. I hope you love it just as much as I do! 

-

           “Are you sure you’re alright? I really can just ask for them to switch scenes and…” Henry started when he saw you sitting on the floor of the den, Kal’s head in your lap as you rubbed behind his ears.

           “I’m fine,” you insisted. “You two go. You’ve been here long enough.” You and Henry had finally bought your own place together – you’d sold his old house in Kensington for a small farm. It was gorgeous – it was a few acres in every direction, an old but gorgeous house, and stables for Henry to live his best horse boy life. It was definitely a little bit more responsibility, but it had so much room for Kal to run around and it had extra bedrooms for when you and Henry would have a family of your own. You loved living out there. The only con was that Henry had to leave an extra half an hour early just to get back to the studio they were filming the Witcher at. You’d moved in two weeks ago and this was supposed to be his first week back on set.

           “Alright. If you insist,” he sighed. “Can you get Kal’s bag ready?” You nodded and stood up, earning a small whine from the dog who just wanted his mum to pet him. You walked over to the hutch by the door, one that you’d brought from Henry’s old house, and started packing up Kal’s toys, wipes for his eye boogers, and a small jar of peanut butter that Henry usually filled a toy with to keep him busy while Henry was on set.

           You put Kal’s harness on him by kneeling down and putting it over his head. You sighed when his face hit your arm and reached up to scratch his ear again.

           “I know, buddy, I’m gonna miss you too,” you said in the voice you reserved for just him. The black and white and brown dog pawed at you as you started to hook his leash to the red harness. You didn’t realize that Henry heard you, and he wasn’t sure he wanted to. He hated leaving you, and normally you worked from home so you were able to go to set with him and with Kal. But the house was a lot more responsibility now, so you needed to be there as much as you could. You could come with Henry maybe once or twice a week, if even that, especially now that you had horses that needed to be taken care of every so often during the day.

           “Alright. Kal, car!” Henry made a kissing noise as he pointed toward the door, opening it, and the dog disappeared through the crack in the door and out to the car. Henry put a hand on your waist and tugged you toward him, leaning down and kissing your lips. He was wearing your strawberry chapstick, you noticed, probably because it was on the vanity and it was so cold outside that his lips would get chapped before he even got to set.

           “Have a good day,” you said sweetly.

           “You too. Let me know if you need anything, love, and I’ll come home. I promise.”

           “I’m fine, Hen. Go film your show.” He gave you a soft smile.

           “I love you.”

           “I love you, too.” You stood on your toes and kissed his clean-shaven face, smelling the Lynx aftershave he always used. And then he turned and left the house, taking Kal’s bag with him. You were alone.

           The first part of the day was fine – you checked on the horses, even braided one’s mane because you were a little bored, and then took a walk around the house to take care of the garden. You had to admit that you were lonely in the gigantic farmhouse alone, but that was mostly because of the size. You were sure you would get used to it eventually.

           Henry called you during his lunch break and told you what had been going on so far, but that only made you feel more alone when FaceTime hung up and left you alone. You desperately wished there was a dog at your feet keeping you warm or Henry sniffling in the corner, highlighting his scripts. You looked behind you in the office you two shared, looking at his desk, and grabbed his cashmere blanket to use.

           Henry was finally home late that night, and after making himself an extremely late dinner he came and joined you in bed. He pulled you into his chest and shut the bedroom light off right after the shower shut off in your bathroom. You smelled the aftershave from that morning, but there was a hint of the chamomile tea he drank on his breath mixed with his toothpaste.

           “How was the house?” He asked you. You put an arm around his waist and cuddled into his bare, slightly damp chest.

           “A little lonely,” you admitted. “I think it’s just because it’s bigger. And we have all these empty bedrooms. And I miss Kal…” Your voice trailed off. “But I love it. It’s just a little lonely.”

           That wasn’t the first time you’d expressed how you felt to him – the loneliness started when you were packing up the old house while he was working. You missed him when he was gone. You were both notoriously clingy, especially toward each other, and most of the time you even traveled with him. You wanted to be around each other, all the time. That was just how your relationship was – your language toward each other was physical touch.

           “What if I told you I might have something that’ll help?” He asked. You felt the vibrations in his chest and shut your eyes, relaxing at the sound of his voice.

           “And what would that be?” You asked.

           “That, darling, you’ll have to find out this weekend.” You giggled and settled down, hoping that he wasn’t just messing with you. “Alright. Good night, love.” You turned away from him and he adjusted, putting his chest against your back, and tugged your duvet up toward your chin so you would be warm.

           You woke up the next day and he was already gone. You started your routine again, but you had to make a run into town for groceries. That really reminded you of how alone you were – you’d only been out to the town two or three times, all with Henry, all laughing and talking the whole time. You put your AirPods in and listened to a podcast to feel a little less alone, but as soon as you got into the house to unload everything, the feeling returned.

           It was just making you feel depressed, more than anything. You missed your person. You missed your pup. You hated the silence so much that you turned the TV on just to keep you company. You nearly jumped with joy when Henry pulled into the driveway, just in time for dinner, and you sat up like a child while he talked, eyes wide, wanting to hear everything about his day.

           “Will you give me a hint?” You asked, trying to figure out what Henry’s solution could be. You were thinking either another horse or a new car or maybe that they were transferring to a closer studio, but you really had no idea. And by the way Henry looked at you and ran his fingers through his curly hair and grinned, you had a feeling that it was something good.

           “No. Not at all. You’ll just have to see tomorrow.” You sighed and crossed your arms, letting him clean up as you started to get ready for bed.

           You woke up bright and early, nearly dragging Henry out of bed, and he finally just told you to get in the damn truck before he lost his mind. He took you out for tea and shopping, probably just to pass some time, but instead of heading back toward the house he went to the other town. You looked at him, confused, and you were especially confused when you saw a text from the dog-sitter saying that Kal was excited. That confused you even more, and when Henry pulled onto a dirt road you realized he was going toward another farm.

           “I swear, Henry, if we’re getting another horse…” He grinned and took your hand, squeezing it tightly.

           “We don’t need another horse,” he said, trying to rationalize you a little bit. You rolled your eyes and let go of his hand, crossing your arms against the sweatshirt you’d borrowed from Henry.

           “Well, where are we?” You asked when he pulled up to a house. He shut the truck off and let you out first, and without answering led you up to the front porch. He rang the doorbell and the wooden door erupted with bark after bark, and that was when you kind of realized what was going on. Maybe. You looked at Henry, who was grinning.

           “Do you know now?” He asked.

           “Henry,” you started to say. And then the door opened, revealing a woman who was holding a fluffy puppy in her hands.

           “Now do you get it?” He asked you. “Hi, I’m Henry, this is my girlfriend, Y/N,” he said to the woman. The woman shook both of your hands and you started to realize what was going on, but only briefly.

           “I think?” You responded, trying to contain your excitement. The woman led you into the house’s living room, where there was a gate set up. The room had probably about eight or nine puppies in it, and you looked over at Henry. Happiness flooded into your heart when you finally understood what was happening. You were getting another Akita. Henry smiled back at you, knowing that you got it.

           “We have three females and five males,” the woman explained, “but since you already have a male I would suggest you get another. Of course, it’s up to you, though.” Henry put a hand to your back.

           “Well, go on and pick one, love,” Henry said with a smile on his face.

           “You mean…?”

           “It’ll be all yours.” You hugged Henry from the side, squeezing his waist as he kissed the top of your head. “Go on.” You giggled and sat down on the floor. The puppies were all different colors, and you could see what looked to be the mother or the father in the other room walking around. Henry started talking to the woman and you soon came to find out that this was where he’d gotten Kal from. So, theoretically, this dog would actually be related to Kal. Something about that made you tear up.

           You looked around and petted all of the pups, who had different colored ribbons hanging on their necks. The pink and green ones were running around you, too busy playing with one another. The red and purple ones were sniffing you, and the others were walking around you. The blue one, though, was the first one that rest his head on your lap. He looked a little like Kal, but instead of almost black fur he was mostly the color of caramel with a little black and a little white. He was absolutely gorgeous. As soon as you looked down at him, he was the one.

           “You found one you like yet?” Henry asked a minute later, walking into the little corral and sitting down beside you. You carefully picked up the blue-ribboned puppy and smiled when the dog put his head on your shoulder.

           “I think this is the one,” you said softly, stroking the fur on his back. Something inside of you just broke and all of the loneliness and sadness you’d felt recently flooded out of you. Your eyes filled with tears and suddenly Henry was sitting beside you, his hand on the dog, too, and he put his lips to your temple.

           “I cried when I got Kal, too, it’s okay,” he said. You laughed and sniffled, hugging the soft, warm pup in your arms. “You know what you’re gonna name him?”

           “Well, it has to be after a superhero,” you responded like it was completely obvious. “But I don’t know yet.” Henry chuckled.

           “I’ll go arrange it. Spend some time with your new buddy.” Henry rubbed the dog’s ear for a second, agreeing with your decision, before walking back to the other room where the woman was standing talking to her family.

           In a few minutes you were all set and you were carrying the puppy out to the lawn, sitting back down. The puppy seemed to enjoy the sunshine, and when you got him into the car, he settled right on your lap. Henry’s hand reached over to pet the dog and etched on his face was a beam you hadn’t seen in a long time.

           “It’s not a fix-all,” Henry said to you. “But I know how much you love Kal and how happy he makes you. And I know how lonely it gets during the day, so when I take Kal, you can have this buddy.”

           “I can’t believe you got me a puppy.” You cuddled the dog like you had before, up by your neck, the soft puppy smell invading your nose. So did the hair, and you turned away to sneeze for a second.

           “Anything for my favorite girl,” he said to you. “I think you made the right choice. He’s so good in the car. Kal was absolutely evil when I got him, crawling around everywhere.” You giggled.

           “Yeah, he’s a good boy,” you commented as the dog whimpered when Henry went over a bump. “Drive carefully, my baby’s sad!” Henry chuckled.

           He pulled into the driveway a few minutes later and you made the introduction between the two dogs. You expected it to go worse than it did – Kal was territorial, especially over Henry and you, but he sniffed the puppy and sat down and let the dog even bite his ear without protesting at all.

           “I think they’re getting along well,” Henry commented as the two of you sat down on the couch and watched. You leaned into Henry’s shoulder, burying your face in his sweatshirt.

           “Thank you, Henry. You’ve no idea how much this means to me.”

           “I don’t want my love to be lonely. And I secretly just wanted an excuse for Kal to have a brother.” You giggled. “Thought of a name yet?”

           “You’re going to hate me for it.”

           “It depends, I’ll only hate it if it’s stupid.”

           “Well, since Kal is named after Superman, maybe we should name this one after another superhero.”

           “Oh, I hate where you’re going with this.”

           “Okay, you might kill me,” you confirmed. “But doesn’t he kind of, at least a little bit, look like Pietro? Maximoff?”

           “I’m sorry, I don’t speak Marvel.” You rolled your eyes and took out your phone, searching Google. Henry just tilted his head when you showed him a picture of the character you were referring to, and instead of protesting Henry just kind of nodded.

           “He… actually kind of does.”

           “Maximoff it is,” you grinned, walking over to the puppy and picking him up. “Max for short?”

           “Yeah, I’m calling him Max,” Henry said with a small roll of his eyes. He walked over to you and leaned down, kissing you. “Our family’s growing, love.”

           “Yep.” Henry reached down to pet Kal, praising him for being such a good boy to the new puppy, and you squeezed your new best friend tightly. “I love you. And Max.”

           “His name is Maximoff!”