#i bring you another gif montage

[tardxsblues]

Because you and Mr. Fell don't ever talk to each other. We talk all the time. We've been talking for millions of years. Bla-bla-bla-bla-bla-bla-bla-bla-bla. I say something brilliant, and he says something unintentionally funny back. It's great. You never say what you're really thinking.

[etherealily]

𝟡 𝕝𝕚𝕧𝕖𝕤 // Nate Jacobs.

Nate Jacobs + Fem!reader. Darker. SFW, but discretion advised.

Part 1 : Whiplash

Part 3 : Blessed

Part 4 : Shards

Part 5 : Eighteen

Part 6 : Sin

You do NOT have permission to repost and/or translate any of my fics.

Desc. : You should be grateful.

════════════════════ ⋆♠️⋆ ════════════════════

He wasn't supposed to text you. He was supposed to take the beating you'd given him for being a prick, like a man, and shut the fuck up about it.

But here you were, midnight, staring at the chat that had started it all.

'yo, u up?'

You rolled your eyes, going back to your scrolling.

'I hate seenzoners.'

You liked his message.

'That's so much worse.'

'The fuck do u want?'

Nate Jacobs sent a voice message.

You could have just ignored it. You could just block him. You could just… stop. But the allure was far too much. The urge of finding out what he wanted was too strong.

"Guess where I am."

He could've just texted that. No need for a voice message, but he was Nate Jacobs.

"I don't know, the psych ward?"

"You wanna know? You'll have to drive and follow my instructions, though. You trust me enough for that?"

Ha. No fucking chance. "No, I'm good, thanks."

"Oh, so you'll text me, but won't see me in person?"

His voice was oddly sultry, as if he'd either just woken up or hadn't slept for days. Most likely the second one.

"Bingo. Go to sleep, Jacobs."

And then he sent you a picture of him from the bleachers of your school's football stadium - how the fuck did he get in?

"C'mon, don't you want to see what our school looks like at night?"

Uh, yes. But with him? No.

"It's 12:05, ASSHOLE. No fucking way."

"This is the scene where you cave and meet me and we have a cute little nighttime school montage where we sit and talk about life."

You listened to that message a good four times before you stopped laughing.

"This is the scene where I block you."

"I will come over if you don't come to the school. Uh, y'know, if you want your parents to think you're fooling around with the QB."

"I will literally shoot you if you come within fifty feet of my house."

"Come. I'll make it worth your while."

Was it possible to hear smirks?

"I'm not coming, Nate."

No way he was actually at the high school. It was probably an insanely good edit.

"You will be."

The FUCK was that supposed to mean? Not like he could force you to show up.

"Wanna bet?"

"Sure. Fifty bucks says you show up to the high school tonight."

"Not blowing fifty bucks on anything, even if I do win."

"What's it going to take for you to come? Look, I-I know it's been weird, and I might've scared you, but that's… that wasn't my intention, I swear."

Yeah, his intention was just to show you what his blood looked like. You liked his message once more, rolling your eyes.

"Dude, seriously, I swear, I'm not like, a serial killer or anything. You can bring pepper spray, a taser, whatever, if it makes you feel better. I'm just- okay, fuck, you're right. Dumb idea, trying to convince you like this."

Wait, okay, good. That was good. He was getting the message.

Another voice message.

"I forgot who I was talking to. You leave me no choice."

"What?" No.

And then, you received a video. He was teetering off the edge of the top-most row of bleachers. With a gun at his head.

"Come on, Y/N, this is getting really sad, that the only way I can grab your attention is by almost killing myself."

"I don't care. Do whatever. Not falling for it this time."

═════════════════════ ⋆♠️⋆ ═══════════════════

"FUCK!", you yelled, as you found yourself running frantically through the school football field for the second time in two weeks.

You'd actually kept your word for a while, pushing out every Nate-related thought for a good night's sleep - you didn't fall for it.

Until McKay called and informed you that Nate wasn't picking up his phone - and that his last message was something along the lines of : 'Call Y/N if you don't hear from me in the next couple of minutes'.

He was deranged. Playing Russian Roulette with his own life was absolutely deranged.

"You actually showed."

GOOD, he was still alive, meaning you could kill him.

You didn't speak. That would simply complicate things, because then you'd have to look at him.

"Plus, you didn't flinch when you saw me. Think that's a win for me in the trust department."

You stood there, glaring at him as he jumped down from the bleachers, even doing that dangerously, as if he was a cat with nine lives, or he was playing a video game and would just respawn.

"You know, you could say something."

He wasn't getting impatient, though, like his tone was trying to portray. No, he was getting more amused. He liked this. He liked the fact that he got you to come to a basically abandoned-for-the-holidays-high school at midnight. He reveled in it.

"Like hey, Nate, thanks for convincing me to actually live a little for a change instead of staying cooped up in my house.", he suggested.

You punched him.

Yeah. You kept running across that field till you were close enough and you punched him right then and there.

You full-on punched him, shoved him back, slapped him, clawed at him. "Stop FUCKING doing this to me! STOP! You can't FUCKING do this to me!", you screamed, hitting him repeatedly on his chest.

He took every beating, and the fact that it seemed he was trying not to laugh just egged you on even more to actually kill him, make his nose bleed, make his head fall clean off his egotistical body.

Eventually, though, it seemed even Nate Jacobs had his limit. He grappled against your hands as he held them between both your chests, clenching his jaw. He wouldn't risk saying anything, seeing as your eyes were already burning with tears.

"You…", you cried out as he shifted his grip on your hands to only one hand, wrapping the other around you. "…Can't keep…"

"Shh, shh, I know.", he muttered as he rested his chin on your head. "Shh, I had to."

"No, you didn't."

He kissed your head, then your forehead, your nose, your cheeks, and stopped for a moment, hovering over your lips but not touching them, as though he was more scared than you were. "You know I did."

You wondered if he could taste the tears, whether he relished it. Knowing what little you did of him, he might have.

"I would've come."

"No, you wouldn't have. Shh." He was right, but there had to be some other way.

"You know what, sweetheart?"

It was sickening how he could do this to you and then use words of endearment against you.

"You should actually be grateful."

And that's when you noticed that he was actually gripping onto your hair, tightening it when your face didn't show any contortion due to pain (only contortion due to unbridled rage and the urge to stab him with your car keys).

"I usually hurt people to get what I want. With you, I'm hurting myself."

You fought the urge to say 'so fucking what?'

"You're not bleeding, baby, that's what you don't get. You're untouched, and safe, and not bleeding. Me, however?"

What was his point? That he was being a gentleman by scaring you half to death instead of having a normal adult conversation?

"I'm bleeding. I'm hurt. I'm in pain. But I'm still holding you."

He said it with exaggerated magnanimity, like he was doing you a favour, or something, like all your problems, trauma, worries, stress, had just disappeared because he was holding you in his 'big strong arms'.

"Then stop!"

"Neither of us wants me to stop holding you."

"I do."

He grinned, knowingly, with a subtle shake of his head. "No, you don't."

"Let me go."

"No."

"Let me go, Nate."

"Fine. Because you called me Nate and not Jacobs.", he nodded, letting go of you and throwing up his arms. "Don't hit me again."

"Was McKay in on this?"

He frowned momentarily, before realization swept over his face. "Shit. Yeah, no, he wasn't. I should text him, huh?"

Oh, now he was asking if he should be a courteous human being?

You watched him loathingly, as he typed out what you guessed was a half-assed apology.

'Sorry, McKay, I'm good, man. Chicks, y'know?' or some absolutely fucked up shit like that, to be sure.

"Done. Now, will you stop being so square and enjoy the fact that you're here at school at midnight?"

"What?" Enjoy?

"I'll bet this is your first time out at midnight period, let alone your first time out at midnight somewhere you're not legally supposed to be."

"Why am I here?"

The condescending look he gave you set your teeth on edge. 'Oh, poor, naive girl. Of course she doesn't even know why she's here. This is why I told her to stay in my grasp. She never listens.'

FUCKING ASSHOLE.

"You're my good luck charm. My good luck charm, but I heard you're fucking Shane. You can't be doing that."

The softness in his movements, the gentleness, it had either completely stopped, or entirely overshadowed the fact that he had put you through yet another nerve-wracking event that would raise your blood pressure.

Shane who, Shane who, Shane- oh. Shane.

Not so much fucking as went on one date with, but it was better for everyone if Nate thought you had already gone that far.

"Why not?"

"He's a punk."

"You're one to talk."

"Look, he plays defense. What if you're just, like, intensely fortunate? Can't have him sneak in a quickie before the game and then he's lucky."

It's like he wanted you to punch him again.

"He's on your team. You'll win anyway."

He shrugged, as though he could see where you were coming from, but was about to respectfully absolutely ruin your argument.

"I like to win."

"Not a team player, are you?"

"Never claimed to be."

══════════════════════ ⋆♠️⋆ ═══════════════════

He was so clearly getting frustrated with your lack of response - the initial dopamine and thrill of being a disgusting element of surprise by shooting/not-shooting himself in the head gone.

But what could you say?

You'd already ghosted Shane after the date had tanked, so technically there was no reason for you to still be here. The chances of a 'lucky quickie' were virtually zero.

And so, you just stood there, the two of you, with inexplicable rage pooling within.

Your senses were heightened, your emotions wilder than the crazed look in your eyes as he stood there, looking down at you like an adult looking down at their childhood toy. As if you were the naivest, most precious, pathetically adorable thing he owned, reminding him of a simpler time.

At this point, even a rabbit's foot had been treated with more respect than you.

And you hated every moment of it because it was thrusted upon you, just like the silence of the eerie, void-like field you two were in.

"Why are you like this, Y/N?", he groaned, with the nerve to sound tired.

You? Why were you like this? What about him?

"You're… so cold." His hands flexed as if they were about to move from your hair to your throat. "Just… let loose, please. You're the reason I'm winning, I'd at least like to get to know you!"

"Oh, so this is like, an interview? Is she good enough to be associated with me? You think you're hot shit? Dude, I- you gotta realize how fucked up all of this is."

You were practically pleading. Acknowledge your absurdity, Nate Jacobs, please.

"Hey, whoa, look, you chose to associate yourself with me. Not my problem, ok?", he spat back, clearly happy with the return of banter.

"I didn't choose any of this!"

"You requested to follow me after I followed you. You chose not to block me after I followed you."

"You're putting this all on me?"

That's what normal people do ; they follow people back! He was grasping at straws, but it still seemed as though he had an iron grip on them.

"There wouldn't have been a first time if you didn't care so goddamn much." Like he was mocking you. You almost screamed. You almost hit him. He was so nonchalant.

But that… rang true. However, the humanitarian in you was adamant that there was absolutely no one cold enough to shrug off a video of someone slicing so effortlessly into their palm and exposing their blood so unabashedly.

Well, except Nate Jacobs himself.

"But, y'know what, Y/N?", he said, clearing his throat, matter-of-factly. "That's all in the past. Because now, now, we're going to sort out this arrangement between us and everything will go back to normal."

Normal? Normal as in, both of you go back to being strangers? Unlikely.

"Arrangement?"

"How this thing is going to go. Before every game, you fist-bump me. You don't touch any other players whatsoever, Blackhawk or otherwise."

Great, he was policing who you could fist-bump now.

"I- you brought me here at midnight for this?"

"Uh, no, I brought you here at midnight for fun.", he replied, scoffing. "But since you wanted to be all violent and physical, I thought we should stick to business."

Did he mean to be this insufferable? Was it a bit? There was no way an actual human being could act like this, yes? There was no way anyone could think that this was a justifiable response to a genuine question. Right?

At this point, you didn't know anymore.

Nate Jacobs had officially stumped you.

"If I say okay, can I leave?"

"No, you cannot leave, but you definitely can go sit over there and think about your little attitude before I bring out the tequila."

He burst out laughing at your annoyed face, slinging a heavy arm around your shoulder in an oddly possessive display of 'familiarity'.

"Relax. Loosen up, like I said, and you'll be fine.", he snorted, and that was your only indication that he did not, in fact, actually wish to put you into time-out.

The insane man with a gun had a sense of humour, apparently.

"You brought tequila?"

"I told you, the whole point of tonight was fun and getting to know the reason I'm winning better. So, sit."

You sat, still glaring up at him. You must have looked absolutely fucking cute or something, because he pouted at you before reaching into a duffle bag you hadn't noticed before and whipping out two bottles of straight tequila.

"Body shots?"

"Jacobs…"

"I'm joking, I'm joking. You'll come around soon, though. They all do."

Great. That's brilliant. You'd been reduced from a stranger, to a bitch, to a joke, to now a stereotype. This was just spectacular.

"Why me?"

That question seemed to genuinely catch him off-guard.

Good. Now he knows what this past week with him has been like.

"Hm?'

"Why me? Why am I the good luck charm?"

"I don't know."

"You could just be a really good player. You don't know, you haven't gone a single game without it, so you assume you're winning because of it."

"The third game was the one you weren't there for. You must remember hearing about it, though? Most embarrassing game for East Highland, I swear. 34-nil? That was shameful. That's why I decided, fourth game onwards, I wouldn't have to risk it because I got you."

Shit. That actually made sense.

"Okay, now you tell me.", he began, slightly turning the bottle in his hand around and examining the contents, curiously. "Shane Crestin? Seriously?"

"What?"

He scoff-snickered, taking an impressively large gulp before answering. "Y/N, the guy's a tool."

Look who's talking.

"He asked me out after the game."

"So, he knows you're my good luck charm.", he said, quietly, like a king trying to figure out where his men's loyalties lay.

Did Julius Caesar have a girl who he gaslit in order to get her to watch him in battle because of superstition? If so, she'd have been the first to stab him.

"Of course he knows, you made a huge spectacle of it that first time."

"Oh, yeah. But still, what a bastard. Trying to steal my lucky girl and her luck like that."

You needed to do a lobotomy on this man, seriously.

It wasn't even like you could ask him what the hell that meant because that would just bring him immense amounts of joy.

"You're not drinking. Why?", he inquired, opening the second bottle and forcing it to your lips.

You frowned as you held onto it. "I don't drink."

"Oh, bullshit. Come on, drink, don't be a nerd."

"I said no, okay?"

"Wait, do you not want to drink around me?"

He was really going above and beyond to break the 'dumb jock' stereotype, wasn't he?

"I can't believe it.", he continued, leaning back on the bleachers as he watched your face. "After all this, you don't trust me."

After all this, he said, as if he had spent his entire life working solely for your benefit. Like a tired mentor.

"I mean, dude, this is like… such a bitch move, you know that? I'm just trying to be nice."

"I don't know what you want me to do, Nate."

"Uh, trust me? Thought we were cool now, Y/N. You think I'm going to get you blackout drunk then have my way with you? Rape you? Are you scared to be around me? At midnight? In a quiet, empty football stadium where no one would think to look for you?", he questioned, still holding your gaze as he lifted his bottle to his mouth.

The elaboration of that statement unnerved you.

"I don't think you're going to rape me, I'm just-"

"Just scared of the possibility?"

"Don't take it personal, but-"

"There's no other way to take it. You're all but accusing me of assault. I thought you were different."

Was that meant to make you melt? 'Oh, no, I'm just like everyone else in that I don't want to end up in a ditch somewhere, the horror!'

"Maybe I'm not.", you shrugged.

"But you came. Tonight. No one else would have. So maybe you're a judgmental bitch like everyone else, but you've at least got your stupidly huge heart going for you."

If you strained your ears, that almost sounded like a compliment.

"Uh, thanks?"

"Drink, Y/N. Please."

Oh, fuck it. You needed that goddamn tequila to shoot through you with a vengeance.

"There we go.", he mumbled, watching you. "Dude, look at you."

"Hm?"

"You're finally badass."

His eyes lit up as he saw your finger enter the scene. He chuckled for a moment. "I'm being serious. I mean, you've beaten me up, what, three times so far - once in front of the entire school - and now you're doing underage shots with me at night at school, which is like, two illegal things at the same time."

See, that's where the difference between the two of you lay.

He thought that was being a badass.

You thought that was being a dumbass.

══════════════════════ ⋆♠️⋆ ═══════════════════

"…So yeah. That's why I joined football, basically. Made me feel, like, stronger and more in control, I guess."

This asshole had just told the most human story, and now you had to see him as a person. The cunt.

You watched as he stood in the middle of the field, aiming and shooting at the banners that were strewn up all around the field.

God, he was so fucking terrifying.

How does he play Russian Roulette to bait you into coming one minute and then reload and shoot at banners like a child with his first Nerf the next?

"Control. Yeah, that tracks."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You want everything to go your way. You get pissed when other people do things of their own will."

"Can't argue with that.", he shrugged, as he turned his back to you and shot another banner, impressively shooting right in the centre of the 'O' in a 'GO BLACKHAWKS!' sign. "You know how to shoot?"

"No."

"You should learn."

"I'll get right on that.", you scoffed, as you observed your tequila bottle intensely, ignoring him coming back to rest his feet on the bleachers from your peripheral vision.

"Open your mouth."

"What?"

"Humour me."

"I've humoured you enough tonight."

"Please? Pretty please?"

You rolled your eyes, but opened your mouth. You had no idea what you expected, but it sure as hell was not him stuffing the barrel of his gun in there. You suddenly felt the tequila evaporating from your bloodstream as he slapped your hands away after you tried taking it out, like anyone would. Shit, it hurt. FUCK.

"Just relax.", he whispered, so soothingly that he might as well have been talking you through a panic attack. "There's nothing to be scared of."

Besides the hot gun you've got basically lodged up my throat.

Suddenly, the amount of danger you really were in began to materialize in your head. He was right. It was midnight. It was spring break. It was at high school. No one would think to look for you there.

"Are you scared?"

Oh, God. He was one of those freaks who got off on these things.

You nodded, not really knowing what else to do.

"You think I'll shoot you?"

You shook your head.

"Kill you?"

You shook your head.

"Then why are you scared?"

Honestly, it was the fact that he wasn't going to do either of those things, and decided to shove a gun down your throat simply for shits and giggles.

"You need more tequila."

WHAT?

You frowned, but nodded. Anything to get the gun out of your mouth.

He poured it straight from the bottle into your mouth, watching with sick satisfaction as you swallowed, and you realized that he was psychotically drunk.

"How's that? I do it all the time, y'know? Hot metal plus cold tequila equals the best fucking night ever."

Um, ew. No. But that would be super unwise to say.

"You shove a gun down your throat then take a shot?"

"One of my more dangerous drinking games, yes. God, dude, look at you. Like, you're so fucking uptight, loosen THE FUCK up!"

You were unsure how much 'looser' you could get - you were already going along with his 'dangerous drinking game'.

"I am!"

"Not enough. Not even close. You need more."

"We're all out.", you said, (thankfully) pointing at the empty duffle bag next to him.

"Oh.", he sighed, slumping down next to you and using the duffle bag as a pillow. "Just- I don't get it. What is it about you?"

"That makes you get suicidal?"

He snorted, softly. "That makes me so mad?"

"You're mad?"

"Not like angry-mad. I mean like… crazy-mad. Like I go mad around you."

Five-year-olds could explain things better than him, but, to his credit, he was shitfaced.

"Really? Thought you were born that way."

"I mean, last week? When I kissed you? I don't do that shit. But it was the only way to shut you up. I-ugh. It's you, Y/N. Just fucking up my brain, one game at a time."

"Oh, oh, so you being a psychopath is because I didn't show up to one game?"

"When you're constantly worried about someone needing to be there, you do crazy things. Like cut yourself. I would have done it, too, seriously."

"I know. That's why I came."

"So, we weren't entirely strangers, huh? You knew me a little, at least?"

"Uh, no, we were definitely strangers."

"Now? What are we now?"

"Uh… friends?" You didn't mean that. You wouldn't be his friend if it killed you.

"No, I think I'd know it if we were friends." Phew.

"So, you tell me."

"What? No, you've been in charge this whole time, you tell me."

He just said you'd been in charge.

One offhanded, sweeping statement, and he'd shifted all the blame on you as easy as pie.

How did he do that?

It was obvious what he was referring to: the fact that none of these interactions would have happened if you just hadn't given a shit in the first place.

The fact that every single move of his had been linked to you, in whatever this weird everybody (except you) ante, sketchy poker game he was playing was supposed to be.

And it unnerved you.

Because in some twisted way, it was true.

"Acquaintances."

"But we've kissed.", he reminded, diligently and unwantedly. "Acquaintances - and classmates, before you suggest that - don't just kiss."

"Dude, then what do you want to be?"

Shit. That was what he'd wanted all along. For you to ask in exasperation, to give you his interpretation.

"You know, just… an average relationship between a man and his good luck charm." He inched closer, his hand loosening its grip on the railing as if it was going to do something, but there was no more tequila to reach out for.

There was only you.

And reach, he did.

First, his hands were on your cheek, like they had been a half hour ago. Then, suddenly, they were in your hair, and his tongue was trying to coax your words out of you directly from the source.

And you just let it happen.

If anyone knew why you let it happen, you'd have loved to start a suggestion box.

But you had a funny feeling that the only person who knew why was Nate Jacobs himself.

Fat chance he'd tell you.

[ethicaltreatmentofcowplants]

And we start off with, well.

Yet another cooking loather, Lee, brings about what may likely be a harbinger of things to come for this household.

No, Lee. Fires do not flee before a zombie imitation, even if yours had actually been a decent one.

Sage, can’t you use your vampire powers to do something about this???

Wow, you become immortal once and everyone assumes you can do everything. Sheesh.

Lilac however very conveniently has a fear of fire to vanquish.

Yes, you do have to do everything yourself around here.

As everyone has been cheated the FOCUSED moodlet, I do have them perform a mental skill building activity every now and then. Lee hasn’t been given a reprieve from cooking, but at least sunshiney Tiago is entertaining him through memes, which he may not necessarily consider to be consolation-

Oh wait - he likes them. Is this the beginning of a beautiful (and surprisingly wholesome) friendship?

Look Ma, no fire! And yes, it's breakfast time ladies, so stop admiring Mister's wood work and head downstairs.

Tiago continues to be entertaining. And Sage enthuses about the thrill of the steal to Giovanna - who is surprisingly into it?

Lee is just getting cozy with Lilac on the ottoman when Forest (who was skill building upstairs and missed the fire) says hey girl, he heard there was a bit of a catastrophe earlier, but luckily he may have found a hose that he can show you upstairs?

(Yeah, today is not Lee's day...)

And this of course brings about chore montage hour! Tiago grinds on handiness, Mister goes fishing, budding buddies Giovanna and Sage tend the garden (with geeky Sage even finding some time to game later) - aaaand rather fittingly, Lee is stuck on cleaning up after the animals 💩

Moojito is likely wondering where that nice young man Spencer got to. He took much better care of her. Hooves down, 2/10, leaving a terrible review on Yelp...

Meanwhile NEAT sim Giovanna is dismayed at the mess in the kitchen, and Forest's sunny post coital bliss isn't enough to stop his EVIL trait from kicking in and slinging some insults Lilac's way. Oof.

@riverofjazzsims @ravingsockmonkey @fl0pera

@igglemouse @panicsimss @simsfvr

[whateverisbeautiful]

♥️Reveling in Richonne - TOWL

#43: The Good Life (1.05)

gif cred: @nerd4music

The vibes of this whole sequence are so good. The good life truly. 🤩And Say Yes has always been a comfort ep for me, so I love that this montage has such Say Yes energy and parallels. If ever I need a pick-me-up this tranquil series of clips from Richonne's road-trip home will lift my spirits every time. I love the way this montage depicts that in finding each other again, Richonne refound the best, most at peace parts of themselves 😌...

So after that teaser with Father Gabriel, we get our babies back on screen. And it hit me that Episode 5 is the first time there are even scenes that don't feature Rick and Michonne. In episodes 1-4 of TOWL, Rick, Michonne, or both are on screen in every single scene apart from that one episode 2 teaser. Which I was very much in support of this as a long-time card-carrying member of the Give-Richonne-More-Screentime ministry. 😊

After how excellent the plot, pacing, and dialogue were in episode 4, I will say that ep 5 & 6 are a bit clunkier in those areas to me. But one thing is for sure, the Richonne content in ep 5 & 6 is still solid gold.

While these last two eps are ranked lower than episodes 1-4 for me, the good moments in these last two episodes aren't just good, they're great and include some genuinely Top 10 worthy Richonne scenes. So we definitely have to break it all down.😇👌🏽

gif cred: @andy-clutterbuck

The montage starts with that yellow truck turning the corner and then they just get right into the good vibes and romance as we see Richonne calmly driving.

I love that they use 'The Good Life' by Tony Bennett to set the mood. Rick and Michonne both just look so relaxed and happy and it’s super refreshing to see. 🥰

gif cred: @msanonships

After everything they’d gone through thus far it was so nice to arrive at a point where Rick and Michonne are back in sync and as connected as ever.

I love the way Rick seems so content and peaceful with his hand out the window. Michonne has that man feeling on top of the world again. 😋 And then it’s so sweet the way he looks over at Michonne and the way she smiles back at him while driving. All is well with their soul and mine. 😌

Then we get one of my favorite Richonne actions ever when Rick takes her hand and kisses it. 🥹 It’s perfect.

I love the lingering depth of this hand kiss and that it’s such an illustration of how much Rick loves and cherishes Michonne. It was another soul kiss. And you can just tell how much peace Michonne brings Rick. She’s like his medicine. The cure to his anxiety and to his life. 👌🏽

gif cred: @msanonships

Something I so appreciate about Richonne is how every moment like this feels like such an organic outpouring of love in their hearts. And it feels like it’s the exact thing they both needed. Like Rick is offering Michonne so much love with this hand kiss but you can tell it’s also for him too, because she brings him so much peace and happiness and calms any anxiety he might have about really being able to break away from the CRM this time and go home.

This might be the furthest Rick has got in terms of actually breaking free from the CRM and heading home. I know he knows it has everything to do with Michonne that they’re making it this far and actually going to get home this time because they can do anything together.

I appreciate how this hand kiss is just one of the many ways Rick’s romantic heart so naturally wants to show his love and that Michonne is so receptive to it. Like the way she looks at him while he kisses her hand. They really know how to make the love they have for each other leap off the screen. And I know she knows that her Rick is fully back by him doing this.

The song lyrics that play say “don’t try to fake romance” and truly this is just giving authentic romance. Richonne's hand kisses in Say Yes were always so incredibly sweet to me so I love that we have another precious one to add to the list.

I also love that now that Rick isn’t trying to shut Michonne out, he’s immediately back to loving on her every second. This is how Rick loves.

I appreciate that Rick and Michonne immediately started living out that sentiment to love on each other as hard as they can while they can. Loving on each other is what they're both so good at doing. And the way they love is beautiful. 🥹

gif cred: @coalfires

So then they pull up and find all those ramen packs because the universe loves them some Richonnne. And y’all, I adore that they are matching again. 😊 It’s another signature Richonne thing. And it's great how they aren’t just matching in the same general color - no they're basically both wearing the exact Pantone shade, honey. The best. 😋

gif cred: @ricksmarlene

And Rick and Michonne are just at their all-time adorable when the noodles fall out of the trunk and they excitedly laugh and pick them up. Michonne looks like such a cutie when she holds up a pack and amusedly addresses their punny name “Tasteful Noods.”

gif cred: @perryabbott

And Rick looks like such a cutie laughing and just seeming happy to be there. I love that they always bring out such a smiley playful side of each other. 😊

gif cred: @andy-clutterbuck

Another thing I love about TOWL whenever I think about it is how Rick and Michonne's journey of refinding each other was never rooted in questioning if they're still compatible as a couple. After nearly a decade spent apart, some characters who aren't soulmates could have easily changed too much and been unable to rekindle this type of comfortable passionate chemistry so quickly.

But while Richonne had to navigate the way their circumstances had impacted and altered them, they still always operated like they knew the other was their person and the love of their life. And now that they've risen from their ep 4 timeout stronger, they're so effortlessly back to being best friends & lovers.

That's part of why I love how passionately Richonne kisses in their episode 2 reunion scene because they didn't have to hesitate, wait, or wonder how the other felt about them after all these years. Without even needing to verbally confirm it, they immediately knew the love, chemistry, and connection they have was alive and as strong as ever.

But back to this heavenly episode 5 montage - We get a sweet moment of the two having dinner together and I’m just smiling from ear to ear yet again. 😁

I love how this montage moment really highlights how far Rick and Michonne have come in their journey since that season 4 moment beside a fire.

Also, in the TWD series finale when Rick and Michonne were both writing letters alone by a fire, I remember just feeling like I cannot wait for them to be side by side again and it was lovely to see that time finally come. 🙌🏽

During this dinner in front of the mural, they’re both looking out at something but I can never tell what exactly. And then Rick puts his arm around Michonne and I love that he looks over at her first, watching her taking in whatever they’re seeing like maybe another mural/painting or something idk. Either way, Michonne is clearly the true view to Rick. 🥰

gif cred: @ricksmarlene

And then Michonne turns to him with the sweetest smile as they share a kiss and I just love how warm this whole moment is. It's great how they take a moment to just smile at each other before having yet another kiss infused with passion. And the way they get lost in this kiss - equally addicted to each other. 😊 They’re so blissfully in their Richonne bubble and it’s great to see. 

gif cred: @lousolversons

As they drive along the scenic road they also come across a vending machine and I love how their movement is so synchronized as they look from the vending machine to a walker with a sword stuck in its neck. See how the universe always wants to provide the things Richonne needs? 😋

Also, what this episode really hammered home is that Richonne communicates with words pretty much for fun, because they’re entirely capable of having whole conversations by just looking at each other.

And in this moment they both immediately get the same idea at the same exact time to use the blade in that walker to hack through the vines covering the vending machine. And they’re so cute and determined as they go to take care of it.

Clearing out the vending machine was clearly a success as they cut to Richonne back in the car while Rick chugs a soda. And even the soda moment shows that he’s really released a lot of the stress he was carrying in the first four episodes and just seems so at home. And of course he seems at home because his home is right next to him looking beautiful while driving. 👌🏽

gif cred: @andy-clutterbuck

Also, you always know you’re truly comfortable with someone when even just sitting in silence together brings you peace and I felt that from them in these car clips.

Then this heavenly montage wants to make me teary by having Rick take out the phone with the image of Carl and just take a moment to appreciate it. Again, Rick loves his son so much. 🥲 I'll forever be moved by the love this father has for his boy.

It's heartwarming that Rick gets so much comfort from these images of his family. And it really is one of the greatest things Michonne’s ever done for him by giving him this drawing that brought his son's face back to him.

gif cred: @taiturner

I love that Michonne looks over at him and gets to again see how meaningful having this piece of Carl is for Rick. The way she looks from the phone to him, both those Grimes boys forever have her heart. 🥹

(And she knows soon Rick will get to meet the third Grimes boy, RJ. 🥲)

I think about the OG Richonne episode Clear when Michonne was behind the wheel as Rick sat silently beside her with a hand out the window. Now, years later they do the same, no longer strangers but soulmates.

The biggest difference between the two moments is Carl is right there with them in the back of the car in Clear, and now in TOWL he's with them through a phone portrait. 🥺

Carl would be so proud of Rick and Michonne for finding their way back to each other and finally going home together. 🥲

Also just looking at Rick and Michonne in this car heading home, y’all, we really made it. 😭 All those years without them and we really made it to a point where Rick and Michonne are back on a road trip home together and at peace. And so I just adore this whole opening sequence for perfectly painting the picture of their travels home and how in love they are at every turn.

gif cred: @ricksmarlene

Rick and Michonne looked so refreshed with vacation vibes as they finally got to just enjoy each other without the threat of the CRM nearby. Beyond here for it. 😇

Then, as they drive they come across a souvenir shop...and it’s there we get another one of my absolute favorite TOWL scenes. 👌🏽😌

[thoughtfulchaos773]

3x09 Apologies Part 3

This episode calls back to 2x09 and the blue period as Carmy made love to Claire- that familiar isolation is there, and it's bleeding in his relationship with his Bear family. He's colder now. He feels nothing. This episode also calls back to 2x09 when it plays a Nine Inch Nails song during the cinematic sleight-of-hand montage.

The next scene Sydney and Carmy and it's nothing like 2x09 where the two are sharing their fears and undying loyalty to each other like under the table. Instead it's Sydney tired, carmy noticing but not saying much, Sydney wanting to tell Carmy about the offer. They're not present.

The magic is gone.

Carmy wants to crack the magic trick to the perfect dish. But where's the collaboration we want as viewers? Where's the love music that plays with them? Where's the collaboration? The passion that Jeremy and Ayo mentioned that would be prevalent this season?

Carmy: Tonight was off

Sydney: Been off

Carmy: I'm Sorry

Sydney: It's hard to keep up with you sometimes.

Another fourth wall breaking. As the audience it's hard keeping up with Carmy mentally even and The magic of the partnership is off, he's in his head and isolated. Are we speaking to the audience or just artistic coincidence? Where's the Carmy that faces what Sydney wants to face, that would prompt Sydney with a simple say more?

The Carmy we know would never just say you sure? He'd talk to Sydney.

But it's another situation that's left unresolved. Carmy steps out of himself for a minute and out of that plate to invite Sydney to the funeral of Ever, he's outside of himself and his head to get her to enjoy an experience he never brings himself to enjoy. The thing with this season is there are endless great cinematic moments of Carmy's career but there's no meat, no connection, no substance just fancy techniques. Where's the connection that's the heart of the restaurant and shows itself?

When Sydney decides to go, he recognizes a good thing of Sydney going there with him and seeing it, feeling the moment gets Carmy to attempt to open up and communicate with Sydney.

Sydney waits for him to communicate, to speak- and this long quiet moment is an attempt from Carmy at unspoken communication- recap to this-

How unfortunate. There's no screaming back and forth, no attempt at communication that we usually see with Sydney and Carmy, the passion is gone for the viewers. I'm left wondering if the cold- noticeable lack of passion, that something is off is done on purpose?

I want to lean towards yes, because the next moment, once sydney leaves goes back to the audience- stay tuned!

[bikiniarmorbattledamage]

Mortal Kombat 1 & "Girl Power"

Content warnings: Unsurprisingly all the new Mortal Kombat trailers include high definition depictions of extremely gorey violence and death. Like, gives developers PTSD extreme. I will link to the trailers, but not include them inline. I did include a more cartoony Mortal Kombat 2 fatality.

Mortal Kombat (MK) has a long history, ever since Mortal Kombat 2, of not great female outfits.

Ed Boon has had a long history justifying this with "girl power" and that its a game where women get to be kickass, and now there's been an announcement that Mortal Kombat is setting up for... yet another reboot of the narrative.

So let's investigate Ed's claims of girl power, now they're giving the world a soft reboot and have used it to do redesigns and depict the characters in their ideal situations.

The new game Announcement Trailer that the characters now have a "choice" to live in quiet, serene lives they have - until we get a montage of Shang Stun just murdering them. Notably some of them get to make token effort to fight back, but it's not until the Gameplay Trailer we see them actually bust any worthwhile moves.

Kitana

In the initial trailer, Princess Kitana gets shown being carried in luxurious wagon before the crowds, accompanied by the oddly threatening Mileena. So... doesn't seem she's getting the same level of deep fulfilment the boys are.

The next time we see her - she's just like... kneeling in front of Shang Tsun and waiting to get her eyeballs gouged out with his thumbs.

In the second trailer, completely unconnected to the noble quest the boys are preparing for - she's having a battle with Mileena that seems fuelled by jealousy and paranoia.

We don't get to see any of her fatalities in the fatality montages - and while we see the boys testing one another, and building an alliance against their oppressor - we just see the girls squabbling.

Would this be an awkward time to bring up that Princess Kitana used to be 10,000 years old and expert at dealing with the machinations of the courts - unlike Fire God Liu Kang, she's been nerfed.

Mileena

Milenna gets shown riding with Kitana... and implied to be her rival, but is apparently now the actual Empress. then the next time we see her it's in a half-second clip of her getting her neck snapped effortlessly.

In the second trailer she trades blows with Kitana for a while, tagging in Goro to do some big hits and then later she's in a fight with one of the boys... the hits are done by another one of the boys she tags in.

We don't get to see any of her fatalities, which is pretty disappointing given that hers have often been particularly creative with the horror angle.

Sonya Blade

Sonya doesn't appear at all... and in the second trailer she rushes in during a fight to do like a weird, flip where she suplexes someone with her legs - then runs out again. Sort of a tag team feature that she seems to do just once.

She doesn't get a line, she doesn't get to show off a move set, she doesn't make a critical move and doesn't get a fatality. Sonya Blade, the original

Fuck you Ed, stop trying to justify your own jerk off material as "girl power" retroactively and pretending that you don't think women deserve to be badass. And give the people what they want to see:

That and like female characters who are as badass and badass looking as the boys - and shown to be as driven and interesting.

Ed, make Sheeva the main character of the promotions, you coward.

-wincenworks

[humbledragon669]

S1E5 – The Doomsday Option Write Up P2 - Saturday (The last day of the World) from "the wiggle on" to "He was waving"

Alright, so now we have the seed of hope planted for an Aziraphale/Crowly reunion, this episode moves, pretty swiftly, through a number of plot threads that now all need to be brought together to serve as the climax for the season.

Thread number one: Madame Tracy and Shadwell, and their purpose in the storyline.

I don’t have a great deal to say about this scene, only one tiny question. Why is that Julia makes no move to hand over a “donation” to Madame Tracy?

Both Mrs. Ormerod and Mr. Scroggie (brilliant names by the way) are clearly well-prepared to be handing their money over, but not so young Julia. I don’t think it’s important, just one of those little things I wondered about when I was watching the scene back.

Thread number two: bringing the Four Horsemen together.

Couple of things to point out in the next montage sequence, including an Easter egg or two. Firstly, the immigration official has clearly become disillusioned with her job in the short time that she granted Anathema into the country.

It’s a very different interaction than the one she had with Anathema where she was actually paying attention. Even Famine seems puzzled at her lack of interest. Next up I just want to say that I really didn’t have the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse down for being tea-drinkers. Don’t get me wrong, I’m British. Tea is the foundation of civilised society as far as I’m concerned. But that’s kind of the point, isn’t it? These four characters are about to, quite happily, undo all of civilisation. Always time for a cup of tea I suppose though. And now for an Easter egg! Feels like it’s been a minute since I’ve pointed one of those out. The top scores on the arcade game next to the one that Death is playing on are all allocated to D.EATH, except for the #1 spot, which goes to T. PRATCHETT.

There is another Easter egg here for the eagle-eyed, this one of the apple variety – one of the questions on the quiz machine asks what year Apple Computers was founded in.

And the last thing about the quiz machine: the machine that displays the “GAME OVER” sign is actually not the machine that Death has been playing on:

As a little side note, once we realise that it’s Death playing on the quiz machine, we can appreciate that he has in fact been there from the beginning of the scene. I wouldn’t swear to it given the camera angles that are used, but I don’t think his bike is in the car park when War arrives. You could argue that it’s out of shot, but I’m still pretty sure she would have recognised it for what it was and known that he was already inside. Famine and Pollution too. So why aren’t they aware of his presence from the outset? Again, probably not important, and the little quiz machine interaction provides some much-needed light comedy.

Back to thread number one. I found little of interest in this scene prior to Aziraphale’s arrival from the spirit world, aside from the vapid personality of Mrs. Ormerod and the obvious dig at the validity of psychic mediums whilst using the delightfully oblivious Mr. Scroggie. What I do really enjoy about this scene is the sound editing (I know, you’re all shocked I’m picking up on sound cues…). We know that something is about to happen when a low rumble begins, enforced by some lightly flickering candles in a room with no breeze, but the real joy here is the sequence of noises, animal, human, and object, that issues from Madame Tracy’s mouth as Aziraphale takes up residence in her body. Miranda Richardson does a pretty stella job here too – this was either really fun to shoot or incredibly embarrassing. I’d lean towards the former, given she’s largely a comic actress, but managing to keep a straight face throughout the whole thing must have taken an incredible degree of self-control. I’d be quite interested to know how much free reign she was given with this, how much of it was improvised, and if she knew there was going to be extra noises added in post-production. Here’s a list of the noises that I could pick up in the sequence that takes place during Aziraphale’s possession:

Rumbling noise before Madame Tracy starts vocalising.

Madame Tracy making a low rumbling noise.

Elephant trumpeting.

The noise of something ramping up, like a turbine engine but not. No idea what this noise actually is!

Thunder (from outside the house – accompanied by lightning).

Madame Tracy’s short shout followed by very high and musical almost-screams.

Another one of those weird ramping up noises but shorter and sharper.

Panting.

Madame Tracy blowing a raspberry.

Loud singing (enforced in the soundtrack) of the William Tell overture.

Madame Tracy belching.

A little quacking noise made by Madame Tracy.

A fart (no way was I leaving this off the list), which puts a definitive stop to any other noises that are ongoing.

Pretty impressive. Those sound editors aren’t done yet though, because aside from another chaotic sound sequence for Ron’s possession, there’s still a load of work to do with the voices coming out of Madame Tracy’s mouth. I love the way they shift between her voice and Aziraphale’s during the following sequence, starting from the very first sentence that she says after the possession has completed – she starts out as Madame Tracy and finishes as Aziraphale (in German, which we were led to believe that he couldn’t speak back in 1941). There are times in this scene where both voices come out of her mouth at the same time and there are other times where Madame Tracy speaks in her own voice but in a deeper tone, and times where it’s one or the other speaking, and it’s all so seamlessly stitched together. Not to mention the fact that it never once looks like it’s not Miranda Richardson speaking – her lip movements match the words exactly. She even adapts some of Aziraphale’s mannerisms when she’s speaking as him.  It’s a really brilliantly put together scene. The sound sequences for Ron’s possession (played by none other than Johnny Vegas) are more difficult to pick out because the surrounding scene is very noisy (not that Shadwell would know anything about that, sound asleep in the unaffected boudoir) but I did manage to pick out:

Another raspberry.

A short squeal.

A line from “Moonlight Becomes You” (by Johnny Mathis, I couldn’t see any immediate Easter eggs or references from the lyrics).

A prolonged shout.

More thunder.

What sounds like a piano string or strings (from low down the keyboard) being struck.

A retching noise like someone’s about to hurl.

Something bubbling.

Howling.

Lightning.

Fireworks, used in the same way as the fart in the first sequence – to cut off all the other noises.

It feels like quite a jolt moving from all that cacophony into Madame Tracy’s peaceful kitchen. There’s one little thing that really makes me giggle in this scene:

She seems pretty blasé about the fact that there’s a blonde, slightly transparent, male figure staring back at her from the mirror. It’s only when he actually waves back at her that she reacts at all, and even then it’s pretty muted. I think most of us would have taken off screaming at that point, or pass out, but not Madame Tracy, she’s way too worldly-wise for that dramatic nonsense.

I was a little puzzled at the choice of soundtrack for Crowley’s battle against the traffic in the next scene, but then I wondered whether it was a reference to the M25 being another one of Crowley’s plans that started out so well and then ending up foundering “on the rocks on iniquity”, which appears to be a bit of a running theme throughout the show – first the misplacing of the Antichrist, again in his desperate pleas to Aziraphale for them to run away together, and in his failed rescue of the angel. This particular instance of Crowley’s well-intentioned failings would suggest that it’s a characteristic he has been prone to for a long while, and that the foundering of his plans can take anything from seconds to decades. And just for a bit of fun, a tried to get screenshots of the M25 before and after Crowley’s interference:

I also noticed that the projector Crowley uses is marked as belonging to Room 11:

Having fallen foul of my neglect in consulting Strong’s Concordance with numbers in my write ups before, I did actually remember to look this one up. According to my scant research, 11 in Strong’s Concordance represents a place of destruction or ruin. Whether this is a reference to Crowley’s original intentions for the M25, the eventual fate and purpose of the M25 in the show, or a tongue-in-cheek remark to the experience of actually driving on the M25 in real life isn’t clear. Maybe it’s a bit of all three. Or maybe it’s just a random number. Unlikely I think.

Now that Shadwell’s had a nice little snooze, he also seems to have had some sort of personality transplant. That’s the only real explanation for the impassioned attempt at protecting Madame Tracy’s dignity, right? I think we as the audience all know better, but he clearly forgets himself in the heat of his jealous moment. Interestingly, the mirror no longer appears to show Aziraphale’s reflection:

I think this might just have been a case of budgetary or time restraints rather than an intent to convey anything specific. Whatever the reason, Aziraphale doesn’t seem too upset at Shadwell for discorporating him. One question though – how does the angel know that Shadwell has referred to him as “the Southern pansy” before? As far as I can remember, he never uses that name to his face, which only really leaves the possibility that he has obtained the information from Madame Tracy, who has heard him refer to Aziraphale in that way at least once before. I find it unlikely she would have told the angel the offensive name that had been allocated to him, which suggests he has obtained the news from her own thoughts. Obviously at this point Madame Tracy is sharing the residence of her body, but it does raise an interesting question for later when Aziraphale and Crowley perform the body switch – would they be able to read the thoughts of the other without the sentience of that other being present concurrently?

Whilst we are on the topic of how people know things that they do, how does Crowley know the M25 has just combusted into a ring of infernal flames? I know we’ve had the whole “Crowley turned the M25 into a hellhole” scenario written out for us already, but that was to do with the eternal traffic jams he caused, not some sort of hidden boobie trap that would cause it to spontaneously combust. Presumably this is one of those things his demon-sense tells him has simply happened, like when Adam welcomed the Hellhound into his life.

I find the next scene with the cold caller provides an interesting overview of the way nuisance callers have evolved across the years. The basis for the call in the original book was double glazing, but we’ve moved on to ambulance chasers in the show. As a society I think it’s likely we’ve moved on even further now, from using actual real people to individually make these calls to automated recordings, but Hastur wouldn’t be able to eat them all in that case, thus denying the audience the satisfaction of the sick justice he unwittingly wreaks on the call centre staff. Got ourselves a little Easter egg here too – the message that Lisa types out on her screen (to a colleague or as a note on a casefile isn’t clear) is the title of a Queen song:

This happens to be the very song that Crowley was listening to in the Bentley on the M25. She also types that up right before she arrives his own casefile (titled “Anthony Cowwley”, which differs from the book’s “A J Cowlley”).

Shifting back to Crouch End now (this episode really does jump around a lot doesn’t it?!), can we just take a moment to gape at Aziraphale adamantly declaring that the Antichrist must be killed. The Antichrist who is a child. It really wasn’t that long ago that he was vehemently stating that he himself could never do such a thing, nor could he endorse it without suggesting that it would be for the good of Heaven’s reputation. Now though, he’s very happy to encourage a human, for whom the consequences of killing an innocent child would be dire in Heaven’s eyes, and even worse for killing the Antichrist as far as Hell is concerned, to do the deed, but this time the motivation is nothing to do with his employer; it revolves around the fate of the World. It feels like something of an oxymoron – his siding with humanity driving an incredibly inhumane act. In fairness, Shadwell follows it up with an oxymoron of his own:

So, as far as Shadwell’s concerned: witches? Kill without question. The Antichrist? Not so sure. Even if he’s going to bring about the end of the world. Sounds like he’s all good with the plan when Aziraphale tells him that he has traits associated with witches though. Good morals Shadwell, well done. Perhaps not quite as terrifying as Aziraphale’s declaration of triumph when the sergeant suggests they can use a massive antique gun to fire lumps of building materials to assassinate the Antichrist. Again I’ll point out that Adam is a child, but perhaps it wasn’t clear enough earlier on that Aziraphale also knows he’s a child.

I don’t know whether what I’m about to say describes a typically British behaviour when caught in traffic jams or not, but here goes. Anybody else find it suspect that other people aren’t either already driving down the hard shoulder or that Crowley doesn’t have a giant tail of cars following him? I’ve been in my fair share of motorway gridlocks, enough to know that once some entitled prick starts driving down the hard shoulder in attempt to assert their own self-importance over the rest of the people caught in the chaos, anybody else with delusions of grandeur will follow suit very quickly. Not for Crowley though, he’s just pottering down the escape lane under his own steam. And is it just me, or does it feel like a bit of a violation when Hastur removes Crowley’s glasses? Looks to me like Crowley feels like that as well to be fair.

He manages to get over his surprise quickly enough though, characteristically engaging his brain into full gear to try and find a solution, which he does with an interesting choice of music:

I find it interesting because it deviates from what we have come to believe is his usual taste in music. Mozart would actually seem to be more Aziraphale’s taste than Crowley’s. It’s also a pretty sedate underscore for what he’s about to do. As a side note, this piece not only doesn’t actually start from the beginning when it starts playing in the Bentley, but is also used in another one of my favourite shows – Our Flag Means Death. In that show, it’s used as background music in the final episode when Prince Ricky is strolling down the street his victory over the pirates with another naval officer. The Mozart doesn’t stick around for long though, morphing into Queen’s “I’m In Love With My Car” (no need to point out the reference with this one) as Hastur starts to lose his calm. For those who haven’t read the book, or just don’t remember this detail, there is mention of this phenomenon in the original text – the apparently common mystery that every tape or CD left in a car is doomed to become a Queen album eventually, but this little detail is left out in the show, with the audience instead being led to believe that the CD player plays mood-appropriate music instead.

The speech we get from Crowley here goes a long way to showing us how much he has come to love both humanity and modernity – he’s actually quite complimentary about humans and their ability to invent new things.

Lovely clever people, inventing cars and motorways and windscreen wipers.

He also, in a very dismissive way, puts a clear distinction between himself and Hastur with his marking of the difference between his feelings towards the 14th century and what he believes the Duke of Hell would have thought. That simple little line actually says a lot to me about how he believes he distanced himself from the other beings in Hell – it’s a clear declaration of “we are not the same”. I also find myself wondering if Crowley had little to no contact with Aziraphale during the 14th century, contributing to his dislike of the time period. We certainly never see anything of the sort – the meetings we bear witness to have a large gap between 537 and 1601, though the book and script book tells us that there was definitely a meeting in 1020, and the script would suggest that there were several (dozens of them in fact) meetings between that and the 1601 meeting.

It's interesting to hear that Hastur is concerned that he’s going to be discorporated as it confirms he’s been issued with a human body, just like Crowley, even though he doesn’t reside on Earth. I’d be interested to know if the body was issued to him in that state or whether it looks pretty run down because of Hastur’s lack of appropriate care (which would in turn suggest that both Aziraphale and Crowley have had to work towards maintaining the appearance of their own corporal beings). And whilst we’re on the subject of bodily appearances, I love the little detail that the snake component of Crowley’s eyes now fill his entire eyeball as he maniacally drives through the flames.

I have a suspicion that the size of the snake “irises” (for want of a better word) is reliant on his emotional state, but I don’t feel like I have the patience to go through the show and test the theory. And I don’t know if those little horizontal lines on Crowley’s nose were intentional here or whether that’s just a natural crease in David’s face, but they certainly strengthen the snake resemblance. As a final comment on this scene, we actually hear God telling us that Crowley really is fundamentally different from his peers – he has an imagination. Which is not so different from the idea that Aziraphale is different from his peers because he has free will, a theme that has been presenting itself, with increasing clarity, throughout the series.

Final little note for this section, and it’s about this snippet of epic:

Apparently the most amazing thing about this, according to the local bobby, isn’t the fact that the car is on fire, or that it’s just driven through a wall of fire, or that it’s still moving forward, or even that the person inside it is not only alive, but unharmed and still capable of driving. No, the most amazing thing is that the driver is waving. Gotta love the way us Brits have a way of stating simple facts to display complete amazement.

Right, this section went on for way longer than I thought it was going to so I’m going to cut it short. I was hoping to get as far as the defection of The Them from Adam, but as soon as I started watching that scene I realised I had more to say about it than I thought, so I’m going to let you go for now. As always, questions, comments, discussion – always welcome! See you next time 😊

[tumblingdownthefoxden]

"The Assistant and The Star"

Chapter 10: Holy Moly

*Three days later

We open with a camera shifted below the tower and we see wish moths emerge from the top to find their wisher. Inside the chamber, Magnifico takes a look at the wish of Okot. It showed him clad in armor and riding a chariot alongside other chariots. He wanted to be a chariot racer.

Magnifico gazed at it and nodded. He set his wish moth free before pulling a lever to close the tower. Rosas did hold a sporting event in the arena next to the castle but that wasn't for another 2 years. Enough time to prepare his horses.

“That should be enough for tonight.” He said to himself.

“Did you find it yet?” Intruded the book from the chest.

Magnifico sighed. The book has been asking him about the star for days now. “It’s still a work in progress.” He hasn't found any useful details about fallen stars from whom he talked to but he told his guards to keep an eye out for any magical sightings that are outside his standard practice.

“Time is of the essence, King of Rosas.” It pushed. “It could be amongst your people right now.”

He glared at the chest. “I am not releasing you!”

“Denying my help will cost you dearly. Especially as your people have been leading you to dead end after dead end.”

“I will find the information I need. I already have the means to handle what a star can do!”

“Why do you lie to me.” It said, disappointed that he wasn’t subtle with it.

He scoffed. “I don't even know if you have a name! And how do I know that you truly can help me. Why do you insist on helping me?”

It chuckled at his exasperation. “Madok. You may call me Madok. And you know I can give you everything needed to keep your kingdom under your control and contain a star. Do not pretend you weren’t eager to release me if your spouse hadn’t suggested otherwise. Even with her advice, you still yearn for another option. Lest I wouldn't still be in this room.”

Magnifico was silent. Amaya was quick to talk him out of using it because he was too tired and stressed to think clearly about the consequences. He wouldn't deny that he was still open to using dark magic if the situation called for it. But the time is not now.

“Not to mention that you are going about this the wrong way. Have you ever wondered if the star was called down? If someone might have wished on a star?” It asked.

“Of course I had. No one that I spoke to has recently wished upon a star.”

“Remember that people can lie. You could have a traitor on your streets.”

Magnifico frowned and walked away. He had enough doubts in his people as is, he couldn’t afford more. “I have the situation under control.” He said as he opened the black doors.

“Every man’s last words.” He stopped. “Gods have been rendered mortal by lessers. Kings were stripped of their power by the actions of a few. Your control is slipping. It's only a matter of time before this traitor and their star do the same to you. Please. Release me, and I can snuff out the traitorous flame before everything you know and love burns.”

Magnifico closed the doors behind him and sighed. “Have faith.” He mumbled as he left the study. "Have faith."

. . .

We transition to a montage of a few of the seven helping Altan grant wishes. Hal had the most influence as an entertainer and would bring people to see Altan. Dahlia took over when she wasn't available. Bazeema and Simon would find places to move Altan to so no one would catch on to them. And though Gabo was rarely near Altan, he would work to refute any rising rumor about a new wish granter.

The wishes were straightforward. A woman wished to control fire so Altan gifted her the ability to control only pre-existing fires and then taught her how to light a match. She still needs to develop her control over it. One old lady wished to grow beautiful flowers so Altan conjured a pack of seeds and gave her instructions on how to best raise them. A woman in blue wished to fly so Altan conjured a stretchy blanket that works like a parachute if held right. Just to name a few.

Some wishes had to be compromised. A woman who wanted many children was introduced to another woman who wanted a nanny for her many children. A man who wished for true love was given a flower and told to talk to another woman who wished for a similar thing.

Only wish he couldn’t grant was for a man in green who wanted to be a boy again. Altan could only give him a stick and tell him to always explore and exercise his wonder no matter what happens.

Beyond that, things were going smoothly.

. . .

We cut to the next morning with Asha in a red cloak and a white rabbit masquerade mask in the Hamlet. A little pep in her step.

The Solstice ceremony depleted much of the herbal stock in the Hollow so it was Asha's job to replenish it. She knew a grower in the Hamlet that sold high quality herbs that were more effective in spell work. She started buying herbs a few days ago but she needed two more.

She stood before a porch where a burly man handed her a basket with bundles of mint and rosemary. “Thanks John.” Asha handed him silver coins and waved him goodbye.

“Anytime Asha!” He replied, waving back.

She skipped off towards Rosas. The operation was going in her favor. Less people have been seeking the “veiled assistant” for remainder of the Solstice festival. For the first time in forever, she felt that she could breathe.

On her way to the castle, Asha found Gabo at the edge of the courtyard.

“Oh Gabo! How are you doing today?”

“Hey starlight! I’m doing fine. You seem preppy today. What's going on? Did one of your stalkers trip into a pigpen?”

“Not yet. I'm just more relaxed. I don't think anyone has been searching for me. How's Altan and the Fairy Godmother operation?”

“Oh, they're doing great! The people are standing tall.” He cracked his knuckles. “But it's getting harder to convince people that Altan is only a novice magician. If not a show puppet.”

“Thank you all so much. Where is Altan anyway?”

“Simon told me that they was taking them to the marketplace today. I’ll look for them later.”

They bid their farewells and Asha skipped off to the castle.

Gabo made his way to the marketplace. After some aggravating twists and turns, he finally found Simon, Dario and Dahlia with Altan. He sat on the floor in a slump. “Hey!” He quietly shouted. “Why does our Godparent look depressed?”

“Oh! He's just tired. We found him just about to nap.” Dahlia reassured. “He should be fine in a few minutes.”

“Now you be careful missy. For all I know, this guy could have narcolepsy as well.” Gabo walked around and knelt down to meet Altan eye level. “Are you sure you're up to do one wish today or do you want to wait until the afternoon?”

Altan yawned and held out an index finger. They had energy to do one wish before going to nap again. When Altan said that they didn't to sleep at night, he didn't mean he didn't need to sleep at all. Like all stars, he is nocturnal. Stars don't have much to do during the day so they will take that time to rest. Altan thought that he could handle the stress of so many extra wishes and bypass some sleeping hours but now it was taking a toll.

“Alright, let's do this quickly.” Gabo encouraged as Altan stood up and stretched. Dahlia took out Asha's book and a pencil. They were halfway through all of the names now.

“Okay. Who do we do today?” She asked. And right on time, there was moo from behind them.

They turned around puzzled to see a large kankrej cow and a veiled old indian woman in white coming up behind it.

‘Oh drat! Was I being followed!?’ Gabo panicked in thought. Dario was also concerned because he didn't recognize this person. “Oh, hello! Hola! Shalom! And Salam!” Dahlia started. The woman gave a small bow that everyone returned.

"सुप्रभात। क्या मैं पूछ सकता हूँ कि राजा को कैसे शुभकामनाएँ दूँ?" She asked. Everyone looked to each other to see if they were familiar with Hindi. Only Altan. He told them that she is asking to make a wish to the King.

“We're very sorry. He won't take any more wishes until next month.” Dahlia gently pushed Altan to the woman.

“But do not worry. Instead of having to wait, we have someone who can help make your wish come true.” Altan gave her a warm smile and her eyes lit up.

“He's a simple magician but he can supply you with most of your desires.” Gabo added.

She smiled wide and looked over at the kids still close by and signaled them to step back. The friends took note that she only wants Altan to hear her wish and gave them space.

Altan leaned forward and cupped their hand to their hood. It might obscure her voice but it will make due. And so the woman told Altan her one wish in explicit detail.

As she spoke, Altan's face slowly shifted from intrigued to confused to wary to shock. Once she finished, Altan stood up in mere shock.

“क्या तुम मेरे लिए यह कर सकते हो?” She clasped her hands together before her chest and had a hopeful smile.

Altan looked at her with fear mixed with sadness. What was he to say to her? He shook their head.

Her eyes widened and held up her hands in a wait gesture before reaching into a bag on her cow's side.

“रुको! क्या आपको यह जानने की ज़रूरत है कि वे कैसे दिखते हैं? क्या इससे मदद मिलेगी?” She pulled out a folded parchment and handed it to them. "मेरे पास पर्याप्त पैसा नहीं है लेकिन मैं आपकी मदद कर सकता हूँ." Altan wrapped their hands around hers, refusing to take the parchment. The woman looked at him with confusion. "क्या तुम... सचमुच ऐसा नहीं कर सकते?" With their head down and holding back tears, Altan nodded. For yes, that they cannot do it.

He felt something taken their hand and looked up to see her face. The woman gave them a small smile and placed her other hand on top of their hand.

“कोई बात नहीं। मैं... ज़िंदा रहूँगा। आपकी मदद के लिए बहुत-बहुत शुक्रिया.”

Altan looked into her eyes and at her fire to see a small white flame that begun to flicker viciously as though it was about to give out.

The woman bid goodbye and her cow followed.

Once out of the alley, the cow gently nudged her as she wiped away her tears. “मैं ठीक हूं, Kamadhenu. मैं कुछ न कुछ सोचूंगा.” She unfolded the picture to show a portrait of herself and her family of 6 other members. “हम फिर मिलेंगे.”

Gabo walked in front of Altan quite angry. He was going to say something about upsetting the woman but the words died on his tongue when he noticed black tears running down Altan's face. His gaze softened. “Oh woah. Altan? What happened back there?”

Altan said nothing. He turned to the others and their newly concerned faces.

“Altan?” Dahlia started, wiping away the tears with a handkerchief. “Altan, what's wrong? What did she say to you?”

“Was her wish bad? Can you not grant it?” Simon followed. “It’s okay. You can talk to us.”

Can he though? Can he tell them about the wish for her family to be brought back to life. How her flame nearly went out like the news was about to kill her and she still smiled.

“I can't grant it…” He signed. “I can't grant it…"

“Do you want some water?” Dario signed. Altan shook their head. "I need to go." And walked away.

Only Simon followed and took his hand. ”Hey.” His voice was gentle. “I know you're not ready to talk but you might get lost in the city if you go by yourself.”

Altan stood still and Simon pulled them into a hug.

“Everything will be fine, star. We don't have to talk about anything.” Altan sniffed and dropped their shoulders. “Do you want some rest?” Altan shifted in a cat and laid in his arms. He would love some rest. “Aww.” Simon turned back to see the others watching them. “Let’s pause the operation today. You guys can go home. I'm gonna stay with him for a while.”

. . .

The camera fades to black and then something moving aside to reveal Asha looking straight at the camera. "Oh! There you are!" She grabbed a round bottle of rosemary from where it fell behind the shelf. She pushed the shelf back into place and put the bottle next to the other bottles on the shelf. She looked around to admire the cleanliness of the newly stocked Hollow.

She walked up to the study to see King Magnifico writing replies to a few letters from citizens. He sighed and rubbed his eye. Stress over a fallen star in his kingdom and the pressure from Madok has prevented him from finding peace in his own bed. He will try to take a nap once he's done.

"Sir. I finished cleaning and restocking the Hollow. Is there anyway else you need?"

Magnifico put his quill down before he looked up at her. "Thank you. And yes, one last thing. Could you bring Hal Diop in here and tell her to bring her cello please?"

She nodded and left the study. As Magnifico stamped a waxed seal onto an envelope, Hal walked into the study with Asha carrying a cello case. "Good afternoon, your Majesty. You summoned me?"

"Yes. I just need you to play some music please. Anything slow and soft. That's all."

Hal took her cello from the case and stood before the black mirrors. "I understand. I know a few songs in pianissimo and adagio." She was an average player but her songs were enjoyable.

"That would be perfect." He picked up his quill. "Asha. You are dismissed from your duties for today."

Asha bowed down and saluted to Hal. Now she needed something do with her new free time. Maybe she could sit and draw in the garden? She wanted to practice drawing plants. But first, she had to pick up Valentino from Safi.

. . .

We cut to Simon sleeping on the floor of an alley behind a few crates with cat!Altan on his chest when there were some preparations in the marketplace. The day after the Solstice festival, it was custom for a firework show to commence at sunset along the coast. A horse drawn cart has been set and is being loaded with crates of fireworks by a man. Otok stood before the horse and gently whispered to them while stroking their neck.

“Thanks again for helping me with this. I got to ask. How did you keep her so calm? She hates even seeing fireworks.” He said.

Otok chuckled. “I got a gift.”

From across the way, the woman who wished for fire control is sitting before a stall and is concentrating on a lit candle in her hand to have it stretch tall and shrink. Growing curious, the woman envisioned the flame dancing. The flame didn’t respond. She tried again and the flame shot a spark at her face. She cried out and rubbed where it hit. The man holding one firework noticed her anguish and walked over. “Oh, are you alright there love?” He asked.

“Oh yes, don’t worry about me. Just experimenting.”

“Might I ask what you're doing with a candle?”

“I can control fire. Well, I’m trying to learn how.” She held up the candle to him.

“Oh, your wish to the King?”

She was quiet for a moment. “...Yes.”

“Can I see please?”

“Okay but stand back.”

“Yeah, this may not be your strong suit.” He scratched his head. “I’d send a complaint to the King.” He walked back to the cart. The woman blew out her candle with a disappointed look. How would she send a complaint letter to the hooded figure from an alley? She looked at the man to notice the shortening firework fuse and panicked.

The man still stayed near as she focused on the flame and had it grow tall. She tried to have it widen but then it shot sparks again. The man jumped back but not before a spark landed on the string of his firework.

“Oh, sir! SIR! YOUR THING!”

He turned and looked down to see the firework in his hand going off. He shrieked and tossed the firework to the floor before it shot away. It flew past the carriage and hit a building. Nearby shoppers and store clerks saw the missile and ran out of range of the explosion screaming. The boom and flying sparks startled the horse with Otok. It bucked and bolted off with the cart.

“No! Wait! Stop! You’ll hurt yourself!” He shouted running after the horse. The horse tried to stop but the momentum had itself and the cart crashed into a stall.

Simon slowly pulled himself up and looked past the crates towards the sound of the commotion. He put Altan down on the crates and walked out of the alley when his eyes widened at the sight of the destroyed stall and collapsed horse.

Someone screamed as the sparks from the firework had caused fire on two other stalls. People ran to get water and a shopkeeper took a cloth to try and smother the fire. The shopkeeper dropped the cloth as it caught fire as well. The firework man was clenching his hair at the scene but then remembered the fire girl. He ran to fetch her and placed her before the flaming stalls.

“Please! Your gift may be faulty but can you shrink it?!”

“Uhh!” The woman was scared but took a step forward to try. She took a deep breath and faced her hands down before swinging them to the side. “Out!” She said.

The fire swelled and shot across the air. Lighting up the destroyed stall and the carriage. “What did you do!?” The man panicked, clenching his face.

“I don't know!” The woman also panicked with tears in her eyes.

. . .

From the distance, Asha was sketching a zinnia bush next to Bazeema and Amaya whom were both painting the scene as well. No sound beyond the chatter of birds. Valentino glanced at them as he snuck a bit of a rose from atop a rose bush at the edge of the garden when he noticed something. He gave a bahh at the three ladies. Asha was the first to turn over.

"What are you doing, Val?" Valentino pointed his head over the hedge and everyone looked to see it too. Smoke was rising in the distance. Bazeema and Amaya followed his gaze and grew uneasy. Queen Amaya put her paints away in a case. “Please excuse me. I’m going to get a few guards. Looks like it’s near the market.” Amaya walked off and Bazeema peered to Asha. “Do you think…?” Bazeema signed as Amaya was still in ear shot. “I sure hope not!” Asha signed back with great animation. “Do you know the fastest way to the market?”

. . .

Simon ran back to the crates in the alley where he left Cat!Altan and shook him.

“Hey! Something went wrong! We need your help!” He whispered in his ear. No response. “Wake Up Cat!” He shouted, shaking him harder. Altan didn't so much as stir. Simon looked back and forth between the market and Altan before running out to the crowd to help put out the fire. Otok tried to unharness the horse but it bucked as the fire began to surround them both. “Please. Just keep still for a moment!” He desperately cried to the horse but they kept shaking him off. “HELP!” He cried as the fireworks on the cart began to spark. Simon rushed out and grabbed onto one of the beams attached to the harness and snapped it in half. He did the same for the other. The horse leaped over the rising flames and knocked over Otok. Simon picked him and ran out of the circle.

“GET OUT OF THE WAY! GO GO GO!” He shouted to the crowd with his guard voice. Just as everyone ran...

We cut to Hal in the study still playing her cello with a smile on her face and the King stamped the last envelope. This is when a faint boom was heard and they both froze. Magnifico slammed his palm against the desk, enraged and on the brink of tears. "Why! Why couldn't this happen tomorrow!?"

We cut back to cat!Altan yawning and stretching awake. Their ears twitched and turned towards the market. Their perception was hazy and he could only hear noise. He dragged himself out of the alley and recognized the smell of smoke. Perception sharpened just enough for them to recognize the disaster that was the marketplace. Turning purple in their panic, Altan ran into the scene to check on the fallen shoppers.

Bazeema held onto Asha's hand and Asha held onto Valentino with her other arm as they rushed through the streets with smoke clogging the air. "Do you think they're okay?" Bazeema coughed.

"NOT AFTER THAT EXPLOSION! PLEASE! HURRY!" Bazeema took one last turn down a passage into the cloud.

"Guys! Are you here?" She called out and they all gasped at the partially destroyed market.

Flaming stalls collapsing. Flaming streamers and lines with hanging lanterns were falling. Simon is trying to put out a fire on somebody. A purple cat healing a person's back that was cut by shrapnel.

"Oh bother." They said in unison.

A/N:

Plans almost never go how you expect them to go. I want to give Magnifico more interaction with the book before he considers unlocking it after the breaking point. Meanwhile making Magnifico just a bit more on the edge so the next chapter will be more interesting.

I didn't expect the moment between Altan and Simon to be so touching on my end but I love it so much. I can't quite describe how long I wanted to write Altan being confronted by a wish he can neither grant nor compromise and is similar to the wish from his backstory.

And Simon being a guard did come in handy. Don't worry about the people that got hurt by the explosion, nobody has died and it's mostly cuts.

I will admit that I sometimes wonder if I am going to far with my diversity but then I remember that Rosas is based to be a melting pot of cultures, I'm giving the characters a well rounded personality and I want to make the "anti-woke" crowd mad.

@annymation @rascalentertainments @signed-sapphire @chillwildwave @uva124 @your-ne1ghbor @oh-shtars @thisnameisnotspokenfor @spectator-zee @mythartist21 @flicklikesstuff @cocoapowderpictures @snackara

[bengiyo]

La Pluie: The Kindness is the Point

Hello again, friends and fellow clowns. It’s a Saturday evening and I have recovered from the Devil’s Nap. I’ve seen some great posts already, and I feel compelled to share some thoughts as well following Episode 9 of La Pluie. This episode focused on the fact that Patts has always been a kind person and that Nara is deserving of grace. This show displays a gentleness for its characters that feels so queer to me because so many of us can appreciate how difficult it is to have love, and the way this show goes out of its way to NOT punch down on its characters cannot be overstated.

Nara Gets What She Needed and What We All Deserve

Before I get into talking about Nara, please go read @liyazaki post about the breakup scene and @lurkingshan talking about how Nara’s role in this show subverts the faen fatale trope. Both are brilliant, and I cannot do them justice in any reiteration.

gif by @liyazaki

I absolutely love how this show treats Nara. It’s the exact opposite of bisexual erasure. We have seen across five episodes now that Patts’ feelings for Nara were incredibly real and sincere. They loved each other. When he began hearing Saengtai it became a completely understandable problem in their relationship. Saengtai doesn’t get jealous of the former relationship between them; he instead gets upset because he sees that once again the soulmate connection has caused pain in another relationship. We could have left Nara behind in the last episode and totally been fine, but this show said that she deserves closure, and she doesn’t deserve to lose her friends.

Nara comes to Saengtai and apologizes unknowingly interfering in his relationship with Patts, states that she wouldn’t have done any of this if she had known about them and apologizes for causing his misunderstanding (implying that she blames herself for sending him into his mountain spiral). Tai instead apologizes to her for causing so much trouble and says that all of this was because of his own troubles. You can see the sigh of relief in Nara and the immediate drop in tension.  Nara offers that she likes Tai and Patts as a pair, and clearly says something about Patts’ body to make Saengtai blush. I think it’s wonderful that Tai doesn’t have to leave this trip feeling any kind of ambivalence for his boyfriend’s ex.

Later, Dream brings Nara along to the party, and everyone checks on Tai and Patts to see how this will play out. Tai assures everyone that they talked, and Nara is instantly welcomed back into the fold. The other vets are genuinely relieved to have her back with them and reminisce about old times they had together. After the party montage Patts uses the truth or dare game to pull Nara aside and have one final conversation with her about their relationship.

gif by @liyazaki

Mor already wrote beautifully about the Patts and Nara scene (linked above), and I think it’s so special that this show gave us this scene. This show began with Tai letting us know that his soulmate parents divorced. He has painful feelings wrapped up in how soulmate relationships dissolve, and he still feels a lot of angst about his own parents. I think it’s incredibly helpful for Saengtai to see that Patts and Nara still love each other despite not being able to move forward as lovers.

Finally, the show lets Nara be sad about the end of her romance with Patts. Despite the friendship they might rebuild and maintain in the future, her pain is real, and it matters, too. She’s allowed to have a moment of sadness with Dream and weep for the hopes that she must let go. There are even hints that perhaps Dream held a quiet crush on Nara before (@slayerkitty and @respectthepetty). How wonderfully kind it is of this show to show so many different people holding unrequited feelings for each other without it turning into angst or cruelty. The end of one relationship is not the end of love. Hopefully Tai remembers this as we get back into some of his family drama.

We needed to see the amount of grace extended to Nara. In a show about how love is an active and ongoing choice, there’s no way we could move forward without honoring Nara. I also think it’s important that Nara acknowledge the love between two men as special and valuable as Tai also acknowledges that her love with Patts is valuable. Despite the complex queer relationship chart being drawn across this friend group, everyone is determined to keep folks together.

Patts Has Always Been Good

Let’s talk about Patts. We’ve been saying for weeks that he’s a good guy and that the show has given us no real reason to be suspicious of him. I loved the reveal about him being The Kind One. I’m also curious about the temper he mentioned he has to Nara.

We finally got @shortpplfedup to watch the show, and she nailed down immediately that the core themes are about the choice to love each other in small ways constantly. I cannot stress enough that for all the writing and thinking we’ve done this episode, Tai and Patts do not refer to each other as soulmates this episode at all. They are boyfriends now. They are boyfriends because Patts has always been kind. They are boyfriends because Saengtai has been open to kindness even when he’s hurting and a bit scared.

gif by @liyazaki

My man Patts loves to write notes.

I love the reveal that Patts and Tai happened to be neighbors years ago. Patts was seeing Nara at the time, which we know because the grandmother asked about her. We know that Patts was an attentive and diligent grandson who happened to notice that Tai was clearly going through something. He didn’t even know what Tai looked like. He just saw that he was hurting and wanted to help. We know that help mattered to Tai to the point that even Tien knows about it. When Patts’ grandmother dies, Tai goes out of his way to send that kindness right back.

gifs by @liyazaki

What’s more, you can see these two falling even deeper in love with each other as soon as they recognize that they were briefly pen pals during a very difficult time in their lives. This is great news for fans like me who liked episode six opening with a high heat scene, because Tai is wearing this sweater in the scenes we saw in the trailer during what felt like their first time.

We eatin’ good next week. (“Not as good as Patts.” - @ginnymoonbeam )

However, Patts mentioned to Nara that he has a temper, and we’ve seen that he’s painfully aware of Lomfon’s interest in Tai. I like the show’s choice to hold Lomfon’s conversation with Patts until next week, because it doesn’t matter to Tai. Tai isn’t interested in Lomfon in any way comparable to Patts. I’m excited to see Lomfon get decked for interfering, and for Tai to get mad at Patts for feeling threatened.

I Love Everyone in This Show

I think it’s notable that Saengtien has dropped any pretense that he enjoys being around Lomfon, and I like that it clearly complicates Lomfon’s own feelings. You can see that Lomfon doesn’t even know how to deal with the passive kindness Tai extends to him just because he’s close to his brother.

gif by @wanderlust-in-my-soul

I loved the vets being excited to welcome Nara back into the circle. I also like them joking about finding something new to tease Patts and Tai about.

I loved Dream going to Nara and giving her a shoulder to cry on.

I loved Kung and Bow cheering for Tai and Patts new relationship.

I loved Tai giving Bow yet another cutting look to not get into his time with Patts and teasing her even as she was trying to exit the scene.

I loved Tai and Tien continuing their bit of poking each other in the face with Tien pouting at the end with “I’m your little brother!”

I love Patts’ grandmother passing these notes back and forth just because it was something her grandson wanted.

I love Saengnuea not even being sure if he should do the “don’t hurt my brother” thing with Patts because he’s younger than Patts. I also love him taking care of his brother’s cat so he could go on the trip and complaining that the cat wouldn’t reciprocate his love.

In so many ways this show is about how important it is to extend a little bit of kindness to each other. It’s about how far just a little bit of grace goes. What with Be My Favorite also saying something similar this week (@ginnymoonbeam), I am enjoying some of the themes in the more dramatic shows this year. So, “Please. Be kind, especially when we don’t know what’s going on.”

Thank you as always for coming to my post.

[dozing-marshmallow]

If requests are open... Chris and reader watching Heathers the original release together?

Ooo! I haven’t actually watched it until today, and it was worth the watch! I hope you have a good time reading this as I did watching the film! This took me the entire day to write since there was so many good scenes to choose from.🥲

Spoiler warning to those who haven’t seen it!

WATCHING HEATHERS: ORIGINAL RELEASE WITH CHRIS MCLEAN

“Yo Chris.” You approached him one evening,“You wanna watch a fun nostalgic movie that involves childhood trauma as a plot point, the idiocy of teenagers in love and girl power?”

“As innnn?”

“Heathers!”

He recognised the film, but his response didn’t demonstrate that,“You know I can never see that name the same way after meeting Heather.”

You knew it wouldn’t,“I don’t think anyone can, but lucky for us, this film isn’t about her.”

“Of course it isn’t, no one with a brain would centre a movie around something like her.”

“Chriiiis.” You pout, setting the disc into the DVD player. You weren’t on tv so there was no need for him to be so destructive.

“What? Can’t I tell the truth?” He asks in a sassy manner,“Producers don’t want someone controversial leading their movie, the public would tear it down before it’s even released! Then again, it is a good way to ensure people will watch, even if it’s not for the reason they were hoping for.”

The film opens with a blonde girl tying her hair back in a red scrunchie with a feminine song elegantly lacing the girls’ beauty and image. The clothes, the hair, the camera quality pull Chris in to reminisce.

“I remember those times! All the gals loved keeping their hair fluffy and in scrunchies!” A shot of the girls stepping on the flowers brings him to ponder,“Can’t remember if they loved mallets though.” 

“I thought they would have the colour coded everything.”

“What do you mean?”

You explained,“As in, they were gonna wear the same thing just in their colour, and have their hairstyles identical too.”

“Ohh, yeah, I think that was in the musical.” He recalled,“Speaking of which, if I end up liking this movie, we’ll totally go watch that too.”

Hearing that potential chance to see it made your heart skip a beat, disguising it with,“It’s crazy coincidence that all three of these girls happened to be named Heather.”

“I for one hope they end up like Heather.” So in other words, he wanted them to suffer tremendously.

You’re introduced to the sore thumb protagonist, Veronica, who was being ordered by red Heather to forge hot and horny, but realistically low-key note Kurt’s handwriting and we’ll slip it onto Martha Dumptruck’s lunch tray. The note will give her shower nozzle masturbation material for weeks.

Chris’ eyes ran corner to corner,“How did she say that with a straight face?”

“Welll it’s clearly not their first ploy, and you’ll be surprised to know that’s how teenage girls talk.”

“I have experience, (Y/N).”

The camera pans on an unconventionally attractive girl in sweatpants and a pink hoodie getting her lunch tray. Must’ve been the Martha the girls were planning on upsetting.

“Beth? I didn’t know she was in this film.” Chris chirped.

Your mouth drops at his attempt to slander another one of his contestants,“Chris, you know that’s not Beth! Beth has longer hair and she wears glasses!”

“Scissors and contacts exist, (Y/N).” He pats your back, treating you like a simpleton,“Wouldn’t be surprised if she did them herself for the film.”

Heather pulled Veronica with her on a poll protocol, featuring a question about five million dollars given two days before an alien explosion. She began the poll by a table with a girl named Courtney sitting there.

“Oh, great.” Chris groans,“It’s already a nightmare that three girls are named Heather, now there’s someone called Courtney? Who’s next, Harold?”

“Huh? Chris, Harold is a complete anomaly with Heather and Courtney. I thought you were going to say someone like Tyler.”

“My badd.”

There was a montage of teens from different cliques having individual screen time to answer Heather number one’s question.

“This scene has to mean something, right? I am betting you a hundred bucks that these question protocols are some sort of motif and have a deeper meaning.” Chris confidentially proposes.

“Alright.” It was pointless, but whatever made him happy.

“Uh.” He pauses the movie,“You’re supposed to hedge now.”

“What?”

“Y’know, if I end up being right, you give me a hundred dollars instead.”

What is this man on,“No? If you end up being right, you get to keep your hundred bucks.”

“But whyy? Come on (Y/NN)...it’ll be fun! Live a little.” He rested his head on your shoulder. If that was meant to convince you, it backfired.

“I’m good.”

“Booo! You’re boring! Bo-ring!”

“Chris, a hundred dollars doesn’t even equate to a dollar in your eyes, why are you so bothered?”

The movie focuses on Martha again, clearly in a trance from the letter she was misled into believing was written by her presumed crush. Chris waved at the screen,“Hi Beth!” As music in the background played, with the enhancement of a woman breathing like she was having an orgasm.

You pre-flinched at the motion of Martha getting up and appearing to be walking over to the Jock table, forged letter in hand, anticipating the next few seconds to be nothing, but ripping insults and a confused girl with her heart broken, returning sulkily to her table in confusion and tears. Meanwhile, Chris was sitting up in his seat, smiling.

And your guess was correct: the second that guy, Kurt saw the letter, the dreamy music was replaced by a jagged cruelty of laughter escaping him as he passed the letter to his mate, where he also started laughing. The Heathers were gracefully infected by it too and so was Chris. Feeling humiliated, Martha stomps out of the cafeteria.

“Oh dear. Poor girl.” You verbalise your pity, leaning more towards Veronica’s reaction.

“She’ll be fine.” Chris coughs,“As far as Beth knows, he’s just trying to deny how much he loves her.”

You don’t try scolding him anymore,“Let’s hope she doesn’t turn out to be a yandere.”

“A what now?”

The guy you and Chris questioned the relevance of was revealed to be named Jason Dean. You didn’t pay attention to the problem those jocks had with him, but you couldn’t connect the reason to the utterly random choice on Jason’s part to take a gun out and fire it. Twice.

“What the hell!” You exclaimed.

“What’s the big deal? I do that all the time.” Your boyfriend shrugs lightly.

“Not funny.”

It transitions back to the scenery the Heathers were in the beginning, with their mallets, their balls, the grass and statues.

“God they won’t expel him, they’ll just suspend him for a week or something.” The one in yellow claimed.

“He used a real gun. They should throw his ass in jail.” The leader Heather levelled more logically.

“So it actually happened?” You thought aloud, seeing that Veronica was now not only on the same ground as the others; she possessed her own mallet in blue,“In the beginning, I thought this was place was meant to be a metaphor.”

“A metaphor for what, (Y/N)?”

“...Sisterhood?”

He shakes his head in disapproval.

No way, they were actually plotting on killing Heather Chandler- After the disastrous party at Remington university where Veronica blows it and potentially foreshadows the bad dust forming between her and the rest of the Heathers, Jason crawls in through her window and stayed the night with her, topless. In the morning, they mixed something together with cleaning liquid and orange juice to bring for Heather, Jason’s “family recipe” for her hangover.

After indirect peer pressure, Heather takes the cup from Jason and right after consuming it, the damage instantly kicks in. To Heather’s horror, her gagging became more and more tyrannical to the point of her clasping her hands around her neck and gluing her eyes shut. She wheezes out an incoherent statement, before she falls face first unexpectedly into her glass table, motionless pink robed body landing on a bed of broken glass shards and her flowers, magazines.

Where that scene was meant to be silent, Chris revived an equal reaction of Kurt’s in the beginning- Hilarity.

You were still processing it. You didn’t think they would kill the leader off so early. You thought it would be one of those things where the protagonist would have started off with the lower ranks, saving the leader for last. Not in this story.

“Ahahaha!” In your partner’s fit, he shakily grabs the remote,“I’ve...I’ve got to see it again!”

He rewinded it a few seconds back. Since he knew what was going to happen, his relentless laughter ran in prematurely and lasted longer.

“Chris, come on.”

“One more- one more time.” He repeated, readying to hold onto his stomach again.

You rewatch Heather fall into the glass table. How did he not get bored? 

He rewinded it again.

That’s where your patience ran too,“Enough, Chris!” You asserted, trying to grab the remote from him.

He still had that large smile on his face as he holds it away from you,“Wait (Y/N), maybe she won’t fall down this time.” You both know that’s not possible, as she disproves his statement for the fourth time,“Nope!”

“Can we move on now please?” You screech.

“Augh, fine! Let’s have it your way then.” He throws the remote to the floor and latches his arms folding,“Remind me to never watch anything with you again.”

“I won’t.”

“Uh uh...” Chris chuckled, watching the note Veronica forged as Heather’s suicide note be present in the teacher’s hand to be shared around the class so they can “feel its pathetic beauty for yourself”.

“Isn’t that like...a major piece of evidence at the crime scene though? How did she get a hold of it?” You were thinking too deeply about it.

“I don’t know dude, but it seems that no one really liked Heather to take her death personally.” His enthusiasm profound,“Isn’t that similar to the situation for our Heather? Chick was so despicable, her own parents wanted her gone!”

“Do you see how everyone else is dressed in black and she came in navy?” You pointed out Veronica’s standing out funeral attire.

“I’d have done the same.” Chris retorted,“You won’t get a dime of respect from me.”

You scoffed at the prayers Heather’s guests made over her death bed, most of them not even being about her,“The amount of disrespect at her own funeral.”

“Could never be me. The world would die with me.” Of course Chris needed a time of the movie to stroke his ego.

Two days after an atrocious “double date”, Kurt and Ram were coming to school early  for some promised fun with Veronica; in reality, they were going to mask a double suicide. They? Why, yes! Jason was waiting behind a tree, with his gun loaded and the two notes Veronica forged the night before, confessing their dying sorrow of the love they felt for each other, that could never be revealed to an uncaring and ununderstanding world.

“Hi Veronica.” Speaking of the devils, they had smugly arrived to the told meeting spot, behind the school.

Chris rubs his hands together deviously, the performing girl requesting them to strip,“Ooo here we go!”

“You do know she’s not actually going to-“

“I know (Y/N), I wasn’t talking about that. I was referring to the part where their bodies fall to the ground helplessly in blood. What kinda sicko do you take me for to think I’d want to see high schoolers have a sword fight with their dicks?” God, he was actually offended.

“Sorry.”

“You’re forgiven.”

“I was kind of hoping you could rip my clothes off me sport.” Veronica flirtatiously played.

“Girl’s got serious game!”

“She’d have to, to be able to fool those guys.” 

Baam! After Jason’s chasing steps terrified Kurt to return back to where he once successfully fled from, Veronica finally pulled the trigger to send his nearly naked body falling to the ground. Despite Chris getting what he wanted, he was unamused,“So he had enough sense to run the first time, but was paralysed the second time? Seriously? She didn’t even have the gun ready!”

“One more dead body to add to your collection.” Gruesome words, but it cheered him up.

Unnecessary to inform, but they were real killer bullets used on Kurt and Ram that day. When Veronica wrapped her head around it, Chris made it known that he took much pleasure in her screaming at her boyfriend in his car that she never wanted to kill them, while he was trying to unveil the intention that she did. The start of their crumbling relationship.

You shake your head in disbelief when the movie cut to their funeral and how their corpses wore football helmets.

Who names their child Kurt or Ram...?

“It was chaos, fucking chaos!” Veronica ranted, distressed from the next day event that happened in school. It was bad enough that teacher Pauline was attempting to use the second tragedy that week to liven things up as a positive thing, it was broadcasted.

“What are you talking about, huh? I mean today was great! Chaos is great. Chaos is what killed the dinosaurs, darling.”

“I like him. He gets it!” Chris too acknowledged the similarity he held with the male protagonist.

He started laughing from shock when he blew up his radio with his gun. That was the breaking point for Veronica to furiously get up and declare the end of their relationship.

...You know when you’re uneasy seeing something, but your mind forces you to keep watching to see the end of it? That’s what was happening to Chris when Jason grabbed Veronica back down and tried to convince her to stay by forcefully kissing her.

“Oh jeez...I am highly uncomfortable.” Chris lets out, turning his head away from the screen.

At least Jason could manipulate Heather Duke into taking the place of leader to carry out some petition (which Chris bragged that he knew the poll in the beginning would be significant to the plot) that would need all students to sign. After failing to persuade Veronica though, Heather leaves, not before taking pride in how ruthless she’s become.

“You know, I really love the colour symbolism here. That one started off as jealous of the first Heather’s power, so she wore green, cuz green is like a symbol for envy, and now that she’s embodied Heather Chandler’s position, her change of colour to red symbolises how her character developed for the worst.”

“Good observation.” The closest Chris will get to complimenting you.

Out of nowhere, Jason descends from the stairs, in his signature waistcoat.

“He’s back.”

“Or rather, she’s back.” Chris appropriately clarified as Jason took Veronica into his arms, fooling you into believing they were rejoining as a couple.

“So... Are they back together?” The second Chris asked that, Veronica hastily rejected his embrace and stood her ground otherwise,“Haha, guess not.”

Chris huffed in annoyance when Jason kneeled by Veronica’s bed, with Moby Dick in his hand.

“I’m super confused, do you like this guy or not?” You called out on him, not noticing you were taking some of his annoyance as yours.

“I do! But it’s nagging me that he’s everywhere!”

After snatching the largest kitchen knife you’ve ever seen, Jason sprinted to Heather Duke’s room where said girl was asleep in her bed and locked the door shut to prevent any witnesses (i.e. Veronica) from interrupting his ploy.

“That’s why you don’t leave your bedroom door open at night!” Chris raised his voice at the tv like the characters could hear him.

By this point, the priest is fed up with leading these constant funerals for popular teens. No one was taking it seriously anymore either- Hell, the guests were wearing lab coats and 3D glasses.

“Out of all the death beds, I think I’d rather die in her one.” Chris trivialised her funeral with his liking to her unusual coffin of a replica of green gunk in a bathtub.

Veronica stands at the back of the ceremony, a Heather dressed in all black joins her. It wasn’t until she sneered about the smaller number of people at this Heather’s funeral that you’re alerted it’s the former leader Heather.

“Plot twist!” Chris declares, downing his entire glass of wine.

“No way...” You’re stunned,“Do you think she actually survived or Veronica’s hallucinating?”

“No idea.”

Turns out it was all dream.

“Oh good because she can’t be going to sleep in tights.” All that Chris was concerned about, Veronica writing her last entry.

“She’s dead!?” Chris regurgitated on his popcorn at the sight of Veronica’s body hanging from the ceiling,“Duuuude! I thought she’d have main character armour!”

You yell when Jason theatrically talks like his ex girlfriend could see,“Look at how he’s reacting to it! He’s acting like she’s not dead! Deraaaanged!”

“That’s probably the most relatable scene yet.”

You flip your head to him,“Sorry?”

“Ohhh listen listen, he’s going to take right after his old man!” Someone regained their composure,”Blowing up the school. Respect. Only so little of us could pull that off.”

“No, what did you say just then?” You probed him, refusing to let him off the hook so easily.

“Huh? That Veronica’s dead?”

“After that.”

“...He’s going to blow up the school?” You can’t tell if Chris genuinely forgot or was playing dumb, but never mind, you lost motivation to interrogate further. Attention is his life source.

Jason reads and reveals,“We students of Westerberg High will die today, our burning bodies will be the ultimate protest to a society that degrades us.”

“So the entire time, they were signing up to die?”

“Sound familiar?”

“You’re kidding. So he went through the difficulty of planting the bombs in the boiler room, just to blow himself up outside the school?” 

He’ll finally be with mommy. Chris’ whining disappointment didn’t stop an ashy, bleeding, wild haired Veronica(who by the miracle of God didn’t actually die that scene) to go back inside, like she didn’t witness her crazy ex kill himself moments ago. She stumbles upon Martha, in a wheelchair and as the rest of the school leaves, the both of them decide to stay together, inside, smiling, marking an implication that they may bloom into something tender.

What a bittersweet hour and forty three minutes.

“Oh! That’s it. Well... That was dark.” Chris firstly begins his thoughts by underlining the conspicuous theme of the movie,“No joke, it was really messed up. But you know my vibe.” He sniffled, flicking a teardrop from his eye,“I loved it! See, this is a perfect example as to why the eighties were the best! You don’t get a lot of dark colourful movies like these nowadays, everybody’s so boring and sensitive and unoriginal.”

You added onto that, from another aspect,“I think we were desensitised to a lot of things that happened though. Still can’t get over how Veronica’s mom thought she’d off herself because she couldn’t get some job at the mall.”

He sighs,“What can I say? We were bound to see it one way or another. A fine film that shows a stupid world that’s still accurate today.” That pessimism didn’t go well with Chris gaining satisfaction from stretching his stiff arms out,“Overall, it was sick! Ten outta ten, would watch again. It just feels a tad bit weird watching it all happen as a grown man. I would literally close my eyes at some points, and every time, I would be confused if it was still the movie playing, or if you switched it to Total Drama.”

On the topic of his show...“When you think about it, Jason is the alternative Trent and Veronica is the alternative Gwen.”

Lightbulb moment. Uh oh.

(Sorry if it feels incomplete, there was a lot of things I had to take out to avoid it being too lengthy 😞 If anyone’s interested, though, I’ll publish some of the things that didn’t make the final post, but would have been great to have :))

[rayslittlekitten]

Heavyweight

A/N: Okay so I've had this idea floating around for a long while. This is inspired by Commitment Issues written by the lovely @coweye. I'm not a Benny person but this series really got me hooked. If you haven't read it yet, I highly recommend it. This was also inspired by "Emily" by James Arthur (YT link below) and this whole music video formulated in my head but I really wanted to write this so the challenge was to translate this music video in my head into a fic. The music video, I imagined more like intercuts and no dialogue at all. Basically a montage of key parts of the fight and also him warming up and getting ready for the fight and slo mo shots. I can go on and on about how I imagined this music video so let me stop there lol, but I hope this also gives the same feel that I've been going for. Also, thanks to @musings-of-a-rose for beta reading this for me! Enjoy!

Rating: T? (for violence)

Word Count: 1517

Plot: Benny has a lot weighing on him.

Contains: mild violence? (MMA fighting), a little blood, mentions of pregnancy and birthing

Benny keeps his head down, focusing on his hands as his brother carefully wraps them.

"How does that feel?" Will asks.

Benny forms a fist and then opens his hand back up, flexing it back and forth to test the tightness and comfortability.

"Feels good," Benny nods.

While waiting for his fight, Benny warms up to keep himself distracted. After some stretching and doing some mitt work with Will, he jumps rope for a bit while trying to keep his mind clear, counting each jump as he makes it. Counting is a method Will uses to stay grounded and focused. It’s never worked for Benny but he’ll try just about anything right now.

Minutes before it's time for him to walk out, he takes a few moments to himself. Will leaves him alone with just his thoughts and there are more of them than usual. He pulls out a sonogram out of his locker and looks at it. He silently makes a little prayer and finishes just in time when Will interrupts.

"Hey, you're up."

Benny turns to look back at his brother and nods before kissing the picture and putting it away.

"You ready for this?" Will asks, grabbing both sides of his face.

"Hell yeah," Benny nods.

Will lays a gentle slap on Ben's face before gripping his shoulders.

"Hell yeah, you got this. Come on!"

The brothers walk down the wide empty hallway. The plain white walls and overhead fluorescent lighting makes it look sterile. As they continue making their way, they pass under a flickering bulb.

"From Red Feather Lakes, Colorado, standing six foot three, weighing in at 195 pounds... Ben Miller!"

When they enter the venue, the crowd goes crazy. Rock music fills the space and bright lights flash. The venue is sold out and "Benny" can be heard chanting. Ben's chest puffs out and his stance tall as his eyes are only focused on the octagon while he makes his way inside the cage. He's even tuned out all the noise and staying in fight mode.

When he gets inside the cage, he loosens up his limbs while waiting for his opponent. Will says something to him from his corner and he nods while staring down the guy on the opposite side of the ring. Ben makes his way to the center where the ref is. After quickly reciting the rules, they bump gloves and the bell goes off.

Round 1:

The men start dancing around each other, feeling each other out. They both take turns testing out their jabs, seeing how the other would react. The crowd roars when Benny gets the first hit. Benny catches a hook and stumbles back before falling. His face hits the mat and his opponent gets right on top of him. Before he can react, another blow hits his cheek.

"Arms up, Benny! Protect your head!" Will shouts.

Benny blocks the next hit when he finally brings his arms up. He curls up on his side while also protecting his midsection.

“Don’t give him your back!”

Benny is able to turn over onto his back but his opponent tries to mount him. Benny uses his legs to put some distance between them, preventing his opponent from getting the advantage. The opponent swoops for a hook but Benny is able to quickly roll away and get back on his feet. The crowd cheers at his recovery.

The two are back dancing.

Round 2:

Benny catches a kick and with his height advantage, brings up the leg and makes his opponent lose balance. His opponent hops on one leg trying to stay up as he swings at Benny, eating a jab or two but he’s unaffected.

The leg gets yanked from under Benny’s arm and he gets push kicked, causing him to take a few steps back. Both now have their hands up, anticipating each other's next move. His opponent throws a few jabs, testing his reach as Benny dodges them.

"Come on, Benny! Stop fucking around!" Will screams.

Benny cautiously inches closer to the man in front of him and gets a jab in. Feeling more confident, Benny takes another step and throws a cross which gets dodged. Feeling bold, Benny charges at him, wrapping his arms around his hips and trying to take him down. His opponent throws hammer fists at his back trying to get him off. Instead, Benny lifts him up and throws him down on the mat. Whistles and applause emerge from the crowd.

Round 3:

Benny's gloves are over his head and face as he gets plummeted with punches. He finds his back against the cage. As he tries to get away, his opponent's right fist collides with his face right as the bell rings, making Benny stumble back, almost completely losing his footing if it wasn't for the support behind him. By the look of the offender's face, his advances didn't produce the result he was hoping for. He was sure that would knock Benny out, especially after the countless blows. Will isn't the only one with a hard noggin.

"Fuck!" Benny shouts and then makes his way back to his corner with clenched fists and jaw.

"Fuck!" he echoes as Will wipes his bruised and bloodied face down with a towel.

"Hey," Will starts.

Benny is staring down the man on the opposite side as Will cleans up the new cut on his cheek and continues to coach him. His opponent looks back just as intensely as both of their chests rapidly rise and fall.

"Benny! Are you listening?" Will smacks his face.

"Yeah, stay on the ground."

"Look at me," Will says.

"Hey, look at me!" he repeats and forces his brother to make eye contact. "You got this, okay? I know you have a lot going on in here-" he says pointing to the top of his head. "And a lot going on here too," now pointing to his heart.

"But don't worry about that," Will continues. "Because she's gonna know her daddy is a contender. You owe yourself this last fight to go out like the fucking champ that you are. Do you hear me?"

Benny nods.

"You got this," Will reminds him. "Now finish this!"

Round 4:

Benny nods again, but with more assurance behind it. He then lets out a roaring scream while punching his gloves together. He jumps up and puts his fists up, ready and charged up to continue the fight. Bobbing and weaving, bouncing side to side, he makes his way closer to his opponent. After touching gloves, the bell rings immediately and he instinctively dodges the jab thrown at him and counters one with his own, hitting his opponent in the ribs, quickly followed by a hook to his liver. His opponent stumbles before falling.

Benny jumps on top of him, successfully mounting him and then rains punches down his face and head. His opponent curls in as he protects himself, allowing Benny an opportunity to slip behind him. With Benny's long legs wrapped around his opponent's waist, he's able to slip an arm around his neck after a few attempts.

"Yes! You got this!" Will shouts while shaking the cage.

After successfully putting the man in a headlock, Benny arches back, holding his torso down while pulling back on his head, stretching the opponent out. The crowd goes wild.

"BEN-NY! BEN-NY!"

The chanting encourages Benny and he uses all his might to keep his opponent straightened out as he continues to put more pressure on his neck. The thrashing continues in his arms.

"Put him to sleep!" Will yells.

Benny grunts and gives a little more squeeze, keeping his opponent in place and holding on for his life.  Finally, he feels tapping and the ref's hands on him, trying to pull him away. Benny instantly releases his defeated opponent and gets to his feet. Deafening cheers erupt and he roars as he bounces around the ring, throwing his fists in the air.

When Will jumps into the cage to celebrate his brother's win, Benny collides with him, wrapping his arms around his best corner man. A man who will eventually become the godfather to his unborn child.

***

Benny walks as fast as he can down the hallway with Will behind him trying to catch up, the white light above illuminating him more as he passes under them. Their pacing picks up and they're practically running at this point.

In the room, Benny is holding onto his girlfriend’s hand and coaching her through the birthing. She cries when she sees the baby, holding her against her body.

Benny cradles the wrapped newborn baby in his arms, being very careful. He stares down at her, studying every little part of her. Her eyes are barely open and her face is so small and squishy. He brings his pointer finger up and gently nudges his daughter’s fist. He smiles when she grabs onto his large finger, barely able to wrap her hand around it.

“Your daddy may have had his last fight, but I promise to never stop fighting for you.”

[noxturnalmoth]

Scalpels and Paintbrushes || Chishiya Shuntarô x Reader

- read ‘til the end for notes -

When a freelance artist travels to Japan to rekindle her passion for art and her life, she finds herself in a whole other predicament. Dangerous games, dangerous people, a dangerous world with dangerous rules. She’s alone, fending for herself, until she meets a disoriented medical student that will bring her comfort but might bring more difficulties and heartbreak aswell.

TW: gore, Niragi being Niragi

Chapter 7: I am not a Woman I'm a God

The first two weeks of being alone without Chishiya were the worse, I felt disoriented, like I was a ship lost in a turbulent sea without an anchor to keep me in place. I lost an arm and it also felt like I had lost a friend, or more than that... a lover.

I didn't know what we were, everyday, I wrapped my wound and felt the stump left instead of my arm, wanting it to be him helping me lick my wounds. Everyday I fall asleep with my walkie talkie clutched tight in my arms. I was waiting for him, because he was the only one I had left. And unlike Hide or Yumeko, he wasn't dead, I didn't kill him, he was fine....was he? Is he? I still have no news and I am starting to lose my mind. I try to be positive, to tell myself he'll call but then another week passes. Two more games are completed. They are harder when you only have one arm left.

"I should get in better shape, I'm back at letting myself die at this point."

Looking in the mirror I see that the chub that used to be around my hips and waist, and the one around my legs and right arm are gone. My face is looking thinner and my clavicles start to show. It has been hard taking care of myself while lacking an arm and someone to help me in this disorienting situation. I still needed to find ways to make everything easier for myself.

"I need to eat more, and I definitely need to do something about this nest of hair."

"Seriously, I need to put on some muscles, I won't be able to help anyone out if I'm a dead woman standing. C'mon (y/n) he'll call when he can, when he's ready. He said he needed time, and so you will need some too, not thinking about him, but getting better for others and him to see that you are here, alive and well and ready to help."

Because that was my vow to Hide and Yumeko. That I'll help others in this shitshow of a world.

And with a sigh I cover up the mirror and prepare myself to go get the traps I set outside for wild rabbits, hoping for a good catch. Hunting by setting traps was by far the easiest way to get food for me, as I couldnt hunt with only one arm, or at least not yet, I'd adapt sooner or later I hope.

Fortunately, three rabbits were caught in my net. Enough to last me two days, and as I could make broth out of the bones they would last me even more.

That was how my life was since Chishiya left. One armed lass against the cruel world of the borderlands, waiting for her beau to call. Playing games when absolutely needed and hoping they didn't require two arms or else she'd be royally fucked.

And then three weeks turned into four, then five, six, seven, two months, then three, then four.

And as I lost hope of ever seeing him again, whether it be because he died or ghosted me, which would be the same in essence, I decided to take it upon myself to get stronger.

So one might expect a training montage while I say this and honestly it might be better but the reality is more cruel unfortunately.

It started after the one month mark:

In the mornings I'd wake up and run until my legs and lungs gave out, having two arms to catch yourself is easily taken for granted in situations like this one and I most often than not face planted.

Nose bloodied I made my way to the traps, some days luckier and more bountiful than others.

More often than not I'd go to games whenever I could in the evenings, they'd keep my mind sharp and would force me to adapt to my new disability. And as monstrous as it sounds, you easily get adapted to the sight of brain matter and organs on the floor and walls.

My stump hurt like crazy still, it also itched under the bandages. And more often than not, I woke up with the phantom pains, feeling as if my arm got ripped from me, again and again.

I could rarely fall asleep, so I went to take Chishiya's old blouse and used it to cuddle as i curled on myself during the hard nighs, which were most of them.

After the two months mark I got better:

My legs and lungs had a harder time giving out so I ran further and faster until they did.

I also barely managed to cut my hair at this point, it was down to the middle of my back and looked just about ready to be a rat king. So with gardening scissors, a lot of shaking and a lot of patience I managed to look like a little boy who cut his hair with daddy's ball trimmer. It was bad, but more breathable, easier to take care of, and I mean who doesn't like a short haired, one armed wonder?

I didn't but you get used to it when it's all you can have.

I also started hunting bigger catches, like wild boar. And to do so I had to learn by myself, with the help of books I found in the mall book store. My japanese, having gotten much better in the bast two months, helped me enough that I could decypher how to observe and analyse the tell tale signs of the presence of boars. Bite marks on the trees, shape of frictions on the ground, hoof marks...

And that also meant I had to learn how to make spears. You never know how much more useful can your legs get until you use them as a second arm to hold wood down as you sharpen it. And they are definitely of use when trapping a boar down as you pin the beast with all your weight and deliver the killing blow.

That also meant my right arm got much stronger, I mean to compensate for my lacking left one, I had to make it better than it was. So, remembering Yumeko's self defence lessons I started to use them on real people in games.

To train of course.

.

.

.

But also because those people really need to get a grip. The lack of physically present autorities and the permission to commit atrocities really get to some people and they need to get their brains out of their asses before they get got.

Of course if assholes died it isn't much of my fault, I mean I do warn them. But do I go out of my way to save a guy that just groped a middle school girl? Nah. Fuck that. I much prefer saving the pregnant woman from getting killed by a masked kitsune.

And the third month I started to see:

My stump had healed almost fully by this point, it was itchy yes, the phantom pains were killing me, also yes. But there were almost no signs of fresh flesh or almost no risk of infections. That was one less worry to have? But to give me more balance I put a belt around it and gave it some weight, it would help me be better and faster on my feet without fearing that I'll fall every second that I live.

The walkie talkie was loud with silence, it teased me, laughed in my face at my abandonment so I hid it in Yumeko's stuff. And speaking of Yumeko and Hide, I organized their stuff in boxes, but not without crying at the memories and reiterating my vow to them.

I swore once more to them that I'd live once more, but also that as much as I'll help the ones around me I won't trust anyone to be close again. Not if it ends up with death, not if it ends up with them leaving

I left the idea of Chishiya contacting me again, maybe he did die, maybe he really did just leave, or maybe he broke or lost his walkie talkie. But I have to forget him, as good as it was he isn't here anymore so I have to learn to be by myself.

And that had to be the hardest thing.

"Goodbye Shuntarô."

I say as I close the box containing his scrubs, ID and white vest.

And until the summer I thrived:

After the third and fourth months I felt it, how I hardened mentally. The loneliness didn't feel quite as gruelling, the sound of silence not as mean. The pain in my stump stopped and other than my flashes of phantom pain I was, almost back to normal, as normal as I could be lacking a limb.

During a game in Harajuku I also found much better clothes than what I had. And I decided to treat myself, a trench coat, similar to the one from the Kuchisake-Onna game that felt was years ago. But also better, stronger and more comfortable combat boots. The rest was easy enough to find as Harajuku is the fashion district of Tokyo. But looking in the mirror, it was a different me than the one I was when I first came to Japan.

"It pains me to say it, but this batshit insane game really did give me my spark back. Just not in the way I had hoped."

But a win is a win, and I was not about to refuse something alright happening to me.

Hunting was bountiful, once every four to five days I could catch a boar and on the daily would be fish, some rabbit too. I also started to grow chillies, soy, sorghum and wheat as they were easy to conserve and create durable meals out of.

As time passed I saw some sort of faction make itself more and more known, people dressed in bikinis and other swimsuits rolling around in old cars with guns and a strong smell of weed following them. They were loud and participated in a few games with me, seeming more excitable and deranged than the average game player around.

So, I kept an eye on them, danger is common around here but they were trouble.

"Why are you looking at those people like that?"

I turn around to see a tall lanky girl with dreadlocks looking at me curiously.

"It's fine, they just seem way too excited to be here."

"I hear you. I'm Kuina, nice to meet you."

"You're part of their org aren't you Kuina-san?"

"Oh please don't be so formal with me. And yeah, I am. Is that a problem?"

She asks looking a tad bit nervous.

"As long as you don't cause any problem, no. But if your friends do don't expect me to go easy on them."

"You didn't tell me your name?"

"It's (y/n). You've been with them for long?"

"Nah, only a month or so? I had a good card they wanted so they brought me to their boss and boom."

She shows her wrist, showing a locker key bracelet with a number on it.

So, it seems this org was looking for cards, did they want to have every number from every suit? Why would that be?

Could it be their answer to being out here, could it be a way out?

It would be stupid, but maybe not impossible.

All of a sudden a chime is heard.

"Game, Eight of Spades: The Cage. You will have weapons at your disposition and the group will be separated in four smaller player groups, each fighting in one of the four arenas until only one is left alive. The four players left will be granted their visas. Good luck!"

Damn, my fucking arm. I'm fucked, but I need to try.

On the four tables are an array of simple short range weapons, american fists, many types of knives, boxing gloves reinforced with metal, batons, tonfas, bo, kendo swords. All in all, they'd be better for abled people.

All except for one. A long and strudy steel chain whip with its blades looking ready to shred flesh.

I close my hand in a fist, trying to calm my shudders, and take the whip. It was heavy but not too much, the lack of material made it lighter than a two handed sword but the length made it harder to manipulate than a butcher knife. They will do, they have to. and all of a sudden it glows teal, displaying my name on the pommel.

"Players, please separate in even numbers to form the groups"

Kuina and five other people are sent to one side of the room to an arena as she nods good luck to me and I to her. A bald and tattoed man, feeling similar to a snake somehow, lead his group to another arena. A long black haired man with a monochrome patterned shirt and a sadistic smile lead his to the penultimate arena. And I was left walking with my own group to the last one.

Here we were given earphones.

"Welcome to arena four. The rules are simple, the matches are one to one and end only when one of you is dead. The winners will fight each other again one to one until two are left, the winner of this last fight will recieve their visas and be granted the right to keep their weapon. Good luck."

Some look anxious and others look extatic, as for the latter one of them approaches me and grabs me by the stump.

"I'll take you, it'll be an easy win for an easy woman."

"Of course you go for the disabled one, trying to compensate for something big boy?"

The people around us laugh.

"Cause if so c'mere, mommy will put you to sleep so you can think on it. Unless I bashed your brains in enough that I destroyed your last braincells."

I get in the arena and motion for him to come teasingly.

"(y/l/n) (y/n) against Yoshitsuke Kunizaku"

And Kunizaku doesn't waste time, coming at me full speed with his machete. So I drop to the ground and kick his feet from under him, his momentum making him fall harder than he would've normally.

He is like a boar.

He attacks again and again, brashly but with a strength to worry about. So just like a boar I slowly turn around him, I make him lose his breath with unnecessary chases.

He nicks me on the face, under the breasts, on the arm, on the leg. But he breathes herder, and as I evade him I swing my whip, and I cut and lacerate his legs.

And so they give up on him.

And he is left writhing, clawing his way to his machete and when he does he blindly cuts as he tries to get back to his feet.

"You see the sad thing about a bladed whip is that I can't kill you at once, so don't make it harder for yourself little boar."

The whip is lashed at the man, and the arm holding his weapon is cut again and again until only bone and mangled flesh are left. And as he bleeds and screams I swing the whip again and again and again. My rage, my stress, and the pain felt during the past months possessing my senses as I finish by wrapping the whip around his head and cutting it clean off.

.

.

.

"(y/l/n) (y/n) wins"

And I pant as I get off the arena, people looking at me while I pant and wake up from my haze. The rest of the fights are a blur until mine.

She was fast and slippery like a fish. She hit with small cuts, nothing impairing but definitely would make you lose enough blood on the long run so that she could win.

So instead of playing around like with the boar, I take her by her hair and kick her to the ground, then make her a belt out of my whip. I try to shut my brain off as I saw her in half and she screams in agony.

What am I doing with myself. That I what I ask to the inner me who laughs and just say one word that rises bile in my mouth.

"Survive"

Yeah, right, survive.

"(y/l/n) (y/n) wins"

My last oponent is a very tall man, probably ex military. He looks, blank. And I would be scared of him, if I wasn't already of myself. This game was only one of the many after the Eight of Hearts in which I had to kill someone....multiple someones. And I was doing it flawlessly. As I did last time and the time before. And the fact that I didn't feel much while doing it was disgusting me.

But that's how the borderlands are. They change you, and it's never for the best.

"(y/l/n) (y/n) against Hikaru Kazushi"

He waits for me to attack first. He is patient, almost catatonic. It's a game of who will crack first and give the upper hand to the adversary.

So I slowly approach, wating to tease, to tempt him to attack first but he doesn't. So I turn around and prepare my whip, acting as if I was preparing an attack.

And he beats me to it.

Hitting the back of my head with his american fists. He turns me around expertedly and hits just about everything he can.

My eyes start to fade to black.

I need to find an opening

But where?

WHERE?!

I don't want to die, not yet, I need to repent, I need to uphold my promise

I NEED TO LIVE

"Found it."

He was using his left arm more, flinching when using his right. When I heard him move, he limped and seeing as he ended with his right leg he limped from the left.

So as he winds his right arm to hit my face I turn at the last moment, trapping it between my stump and my ribcage in my armpit. I kick his crotch a few times to destabilize him and turn us so I would be on top of him, his arm still in my grasp. And I wind my legs around his left leg and squeeze, hearing a pained yell from him and a crack from the leg. I then take care of the right arm and hit his elbow, hitting it so that it breaks and then bending the limb to an unnatural angle, the arm almost completely cut in two.

"See, now we're twinsies!"

I say as I agitate my stump in his horrified face and then use what is left of my left arm to cut his hair flow. With my right arm I grab my discarded weapon and bring it to the throat of the bleeding man beneath me and slit his throat.

As he gargles with his blood chimes are resonating all around the building.

"Takatora Samura, Suguru Niragi, Hikari Kuina and (y/l/n) (y/n) congratulations!"

I get up and as I do I try not to look beneath me as I fear I will vomit. And I stay here for a while, standing up without moving. My breaths short and rapid, body covered in blood, short hair sticking to me like glue with my sweat and blood.

"Damn woman, that was hot. Do you wanna do the same but in my bed, I'd love for you to draw my blood and use me as a fucking punching ball as I fuck you into my mattress and cut you open."

wha- What the fuck?

"What the hell Niragi, don't you know how to talk to a woman?!"

"As if YOU were a woman Kuina. Plus she isn't just a woman, she's a fucking war machine! A blood Goddess!"

I turn to see that Kuina was arguing with the man that flirted with me...? The psycho himself was the monochrome patterned shirt wearing man from group three.

"Blood Goddess? I'm flattered but refrain from talking to me like that or I'll castrate you kiddo."

The tattoed dobby wannabe snickered at that and full on laughed when Niragi glared at him.

"We've seen you around sexy, you've made quite the impression. Everyone at The Beach knows about you one way or the other, you've killed many of us and always seem to observe. We'd like to recruit you, we're sure you got some good cards, plus we could have some fun you and I. One on one, or if you want more I could always call more friends, fill you up real good with all of us until you're round and satisfied."

I visibly cringe at this, I've seen him around too. Always laughing, always smiling, always with his gun and always sadistic and horrendous towards others if he isn't already gutting them open.

"Listen I get what your org is trying to do and I'm fine on my own, why should I get in?"

"Why not, we have electricity, we have pleanty of food, booze, drugs, anyone you could ever want to have sex with. We have comfortable beds and a shelter that is assured against any type of exterior attack from greedy newbies or other factions."

"Yeah! And (y/n) I could really use a lady friend, shit is pretty much boring for me female wise there, they all act the same and you seem cool! Wouldn't you like a friend?"

"Not really no, you know what happens to people around here, I'm not losing someone else around here Kuina."

She nods, knowing the feeling. And then her head shoots back up with her eyes sparkling. And she starts to talk as we get out of the building and towards their cars.

"Listen I know you don't want to come and I won't force you but if you have enough good cards you could very much become a member of the executive council, and then you'd get infos no one else has and influence!"

"And why why would I care?"

"From what I know you want to protect people right? With those you could very well be the guardian of our people here at The Beach. There will always be a purpose for you there, and you won't be alone!"

That had me interested. Loneliness, I had gotten adapted to it but it was certainly getting to me at times. There I could go to my room or disappear outside if I needed alone time.

I also would have a permanent job. Whether as a card collector or as a "guardian" as Kuina put. It would certainly give me a purpose other than waiting until I get a new game and visa.

And it would certainly beat the emptiness at home.

So I sighed and climbed in the car next to Kuina who beamed at me.

"Niragi, drive before I change my mind."

He snickers and answers with a playful "yes ma'am" as he speeds on the road.

It was quiet surprisingly, the night was black and it was cold enough to stay awake but it was also so comfortable. The wind was blowing on us. And I stood straight, holding the headrest of Last Boss (as I learned he prefers to be called) and let myself relax a bit. The blood caked on me was going to suck ass but I'm finally going to be able to have a bath. From what I've heard they even have a sauna.

"How the fuck do you guys have so much, are you in a hotel?"

"Sorta, yeah. We're in a holiday resort, so there's the hotel but also a shit load more."

"Damn. That's fun."

"Where did you live before?"

"Oh a store in a mall that old friends and I made into a cool living space. We recycled rain water, and lately I even grew my own food for some things. I hunted for my meat in the suburbs, mostly boar and rabbit but also fish. It was calm enough but I had to wack away a few assholes that tried to overrun the place."

Kuina then stands up holding Niragi's headrest to be with me.

"We also recycle rain water, we use the fuel from cars to fuel our generators to make electricity and the old cars are our means of travelling since electronics are not worth much in this world compared to analog."

"Yeah, I can see you guys are self sufficient if The Beach hasn't crumbled yet in the time it has been around, even with the large number you guys seem to be."

And as I finish talking I hear yells from afar, they get louder and louder as we get to the coast where a resort is situated.

They scream at us like the public yells in joy after a gladiator wins his fight against a feral animal, like a country welcoming their war heroes. And I look at Kuina, silently asking her if it was always this way, and by the way she laughs at my face, it seems to be the case.

And after the car was parked Kuina said goodbye to me and Niragi and Last Boss lead me to where I'd be introduced to the "executive council". Overall, I respect the organization of...well, the organization. And so we walked, up many stairs and down many corridors until we arrived at a large double door.

"So uh lady let me tell you, the boss is quit an egotistical asshole so try not to bite his head off, though I'd love to see it."

"Niragi, I'm not interested."

"Hey, but you might be some time!"

"Yeah, no. I like my men less psychotic and my women nicer. Open the door please? I'd rather get this done quickly and be able to shower."

"Sure baby, come to me anytime you want to-"

"Niragi."

And with that he knocked, calling upon the people inside who he contacted previously via walkie talkie, and opened the door with Last Boss. They allowed me to walk first and closed the door behind me.

"Come, come! Please sit! I am Hatter, the boss of this utopia that is The Beach!"

Yeah he's a hatter alright, a mad one for sure. Extravagant and loud but most importantly way too confident.

"And you, who are you sweetie? I gotta know who my future member is after all!"

"(y/n)."

"Not a talker are you?"

"Not really no, I'm efficient in my work, that's all you need to know."

"And that's fine! I love it when we have efficient players! What cards do you have darling?"

I reach into my backpack and pull a packet of a dozen or so cards and Hatter looks extatic. And as he looks excitedly through the cards that he snatched from me I look around the room. There is one man with glasses, he seems tense. A woman with sunglasses who seems to be impatient. A woman with short side bangs and long black hair who seems almost like she is pleased. A tall muscular man, probably ex military. And in the far back someone, in white...

In Hide's old clothes.

He looks at me, face lacking expressions but eyes showing surprise and maybe even fear.

The man that left.

The man who abandonned me.

The man I tried so hard not to think about anymore, not to love anymore.

Shuntarô Chishiya

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WELCOME BACK TO S&C EVERYBODY, I never forgot about this story I just had a rapidly declining mental and physical healthy I HAD to take a drastic time off of everything. Writing was the lesser concern so I appologize for continuing this story only nearly two years after last chapter. But due to my now stronger than ever mental fortitude, the new season of AiB and a multitude of projects that I have: I decided to come back and make it count. SO welcome to the new and bettered Arcanox tumblr which will in substance, be the my main hub of influence since it is where I have the most followers!

[msookyspooky]

Some '3 From Hell' Sibling HC's if you joined the Firefly Family

If they weren't the ones to bring you into the family:

- Otis would be the hardest to warm up to:

Unless you two are a couple or something and or he's the one that brought you into the family; he is gonna tolerate you only. The man has trust issues and contempt for most people and humanity as a whole. You ain't special. In fact, he'll remind you how unspecial you are everyday till you prove otherwise.

- Foxy is gonna be the most chill with you:

Even if one of his siblings brought you into the family; Foxy's just laid back and chill like that. Even if he's a con artist at heart and will manipulate you then watch your reactions for some 'test' to prove your worth in this family...He's still pretty okay with you overall. May not always be the most friendly but he's not hostile like Otis or in your face like Baby. In fact, if you don't annoy him he might even tell Otis 'C'mon Whitey, they ain't that bad. Let 'em stay for fuckin' entertainment purposes if anything.'

- If you're a pretty woman/female presenting; It's 50/50 whether Baby would like you right away or dislike you out of jealousy at first:

Unless she brought you in of course; Baby can be a loose canon on how she treats someone especially someone her brothers brought into the family and ESPECIALLY another pretty girl like her. Because let's face it; our girl is a bit of a pick me at times. She craves attention and won't hesitate to put other women in their place like she did Mary in Ho1000C to remind these women she's better than them and she could take their man in a heartbeat. She whispered to her Daddy Cutter in Devil's Rejects 'what a skank!' while giggling about the sexworker trying to hook up with Otis at Charlie's Ranch. She grew up the only girl in a family that cattered to her because of how angelic and beautiful she was. She can have anyone she wants and is use to all eyes on her. The only positive female interaction we've ever seen is the brunette sexworker at Charlie's Ranch with them dancing together and in the tub later. Then Bela in 3 from Hell that wanted to hook up (And I suppose we see her partying with the other two sexworkers in that psychedelic montage).

So she COULD be elated and look at you as the sister she never had, want you for herself and give some competition to her brother(s), or she could also dislike you getting any attention over her in public especially if you're pretty and girly like she is. If the latter, she'd treat you just as hateful as she does her female victims and make snide remarks until she gets over it or warms up to you.

If you're masc presenting, male or nonbinary or hate to say it but she doesn't view you as pretty (I'd cry) she probably just accepts you're here and trys to warm up to you like Foxy does. Just a bit friendlier than Foxy.

- If you're drastically younger than them they treat you like a kid:

(Under 27/ A decade younger than Baby and 2 decades younger then Otis and Foxy)

• Baby pinches your cheeks and makes 'Aw, you poor innocent child!' remarks with a grin if you don't instantly get a dirty joke.

• Foxy is gesturing to you telling his siblings 'Hey, YN is in here. Watch your language.' just to fuck with you.

• Otis makes jokes at your expense or says shit like 'My God, what are you? Fuckin 12?' but that also means they're all VERY Protective of you as the 'youngest sibling'.

- If they're close enough to make you a member of the family then they are EXTREMELY protective of you:

They all are fine with you having a good time. After all, family motto 'let's get fucked up and do fucked up shit' so unless you're their partner; they're cool with it. Hell, even if you are they're partner I could see them being okay with a possible open relationship. Either one depending on your relationship dynamics...But if someone is making unwanted moves on you and coming on too strong they are glaring them down.

• Foxy has his chin up and a death glare as he towers over whoever is too close and makes a firm remark to back off.

• Otis is straight up going to insult them and threaten them in the meanest way he can.

• Baby is latched onto you the entire night or dragging you along no matter who you are to her partner or just a sibling. She'll threaten some bitch or asshole being mean to you with a huge smile and her knife.

• Foxy has a habit of being the last to enter a room with his shotgun slung over his shoulder so he also puts his hand on your back and guide you inside protectively.

• Otis is the first one to watch your drink and make sure no one gets near it.

• Baby has an arm around you all night long or takes your hand to go places.

• If someone like a bounty hunter of someone like another Aquarius and his gang were to harm you? Oh they ALL are going to go out of their way to make them suffer.

- Foxy urges you to watch Classic Cinema late at night with him whether you want to or not:

Tells you every actor or actress as well as the production. If you know a few vague classics like 'The Man who Laughs' or 'Metropolis' you are his new best friend. He is going to demand to know all your favorites and why you like them.

- Otis demands you know how to properly shoot a gun and throw knives because you're no good to them if you can't defend yourself:

He's actually a very patient teacher and grins at you when you get a bullseye the first time even if he teases you about 'Bout fuckin time, YN! Been out here long enough!'

- Otis gifts you your first weapon

- Baby wants family time the most and thoroughly enjoys your company:

Go on walks, eat food, talk. Regardless, she wants you with her. She was alone for 10 years in prison. Now that she has a family again she ain't letting a single moment go to waste.

- You're getting a nickname:

Whether it's a petname like Vera Ellen has as 'Angel Baby / Baby' or a shortened version of your name like Winslow Foxworth with 'Foxy' or a complete alias from a Groucho Mark's film like 'Otis B. Driftwood'...You WILL be getting a nickname they use exclusively.

- If you're pretty to her and she's fond of you, Baby calls you 'Kitty':

You don't even begin to know how much she actually cares for you or the symbolism with that petname

- If you kill, then however you kill or a character you remind him of is what Otis is calling you

- If you're unwilling to maime/torture they're surprisingly fine with it:

Sure, it does cause tension especially when you first join because they think you're like everyone else and won't fit in but as long as you're willing to kill in self defense they accept you. If you are strictly no killing at all? You're probably a pet for one of them at best because no member of their family isn't a member without being willing to get their hands dirty with murder especially in a life or death situation. But Tiny, Grandpa Hugo, RJ, Mama and Captain Spaulding/Cutter all seemed to let Baby and Otis (And whereever the Fuck Foxy was) take the sadism reigns the most while they just enjoyed the show, killed when they had to or when someone pissed them off. But RJ and Tiny We see only kill cops or when necessary, Cutter definitely kills plentifully but was annoyed with Baby and Otis torturing the girl in the motel in Devil's Rejects and spared the one woman with the boy in the parking lot. We only see Baby and Otis truly torturing victims and enjoying it thoroughly and Foxy getting a kick out of breaking a victim mentally before killing them (We never see him truly torture someone on screen like we did Baby and Otis but his sadism is definitely there).

So you wouldn't be the first family member they had to not get into heavy torture. As long as you stay out of their way, they learn to accept it. It's like a vegetarian in a family of carnivores. As long as you don't damn them for how they live; they accept you.

- Being celebrated if you do something to earn your stripes (Kill a cop, evade a highspeed chase, protect one of them when they rarely need it):

Do they ever hype you up! It feels like a right of passage that you really are family to them in this 'sick sad world' as they view it. Drinking, getting you anything you want, doing whatever you want. Foxy is smiling at you, Otis is giving you credit for once even in the form of a bullying remark and Baby is smacking you and dancing around while cheering you on.

- Foxy secretly being relieved you're there even if he doesn't show it:

He's left out quite a bit because of the bond Otis and Baby have and he's the third wheel. (He gives forgotten middle child vibes I swear) so having a fourth 'sibling' is great to him especially if you both get along because he doesn't feel as left out. If you're a couple that's even better!

If you're Romantic with a member (Or members 👀) of the Firefly Family:

- Foxy is the biggest hopeless romantic followed by Baby then Otis:

• Foxy quoted Quasimodo to woo Bela like it was nothing. He adores old cinema and what are those classic films without romance? He may be one of the toughest, sadistic, egotistical guys you'll ever meet but if you're his he is very romantic towards you; at least in private. (Loyalty as far as not cheating is iffy ngl all 3 of them that's debatable) but out of all of them he is the one to call his partner oetnames. Some might be sexual like 'ass cakes' like he called Bela but there's definitely ones like doll or sweetheart or darlin' or even putting 'my' in front of every petname just to seal the deal (My sweet girl. My darlin. My baby. My boy... Mine.) He's also very aware of how to woo you and secretly craves the praise and attention you give him. He likes to be playful when flirting and doesn't like too sappy of a relationship but in private he's willing to lay it out there how much he cares about you. Don't expect too much PDA though or a date. But a private 'date' in the woods, at a lake, or at home; sure!

• Baby is romantic but not in a sappy way. Her romance with a partner is more teenage romance. Think her surprising you with tiny gifts, teasing you while kissing you, calling you both sweet petnames and mocking juvenile nicknames too. Like, you're both 'her kitty' and 'poopy pants' just because. She loves scarying you or rough housing with you and then being the one to hang all over and comfort you afterwards. She just likes to keep things light hearted and exciting at all times. She loves to tease you and flirt. She's a playful bully in a relationship and wants you flustered. Constantly asks 'Are you flirting with me? Is this a date? Aw, are you blushing? Are you checking me out?' with a smirk no matter what your answer is.

• Otis is the least romantic. His romance is just touch or a straight forward 'I want you'. He's creative, yes, but he's not one to write sonnets or paint you something. If anything, he may gift you some belt he made of snakeskin or a skull of an animal he cleaned up. Something that matches his morbid hobbies so he doesn't feel 'sappy'. Never expect a fancy necklace or roses because you ain't getting them. But a knife or a skull or a necklace with a vial of his blood is very doable. Depending on your gender; He calls you 'Mama' or 'Boy' or 'Babe' and that's about it. Might throw in 'Suga' or 'Honey' here and there. His 'date' is him half joking in a mocking way and it's just hanging out with him while he does something.

- They all 3 crave a playful partner or at least one with a sense of humor:

• Baby NEEDS a playful partner. Period. End of. She has to have a partner that's willing to get into tickle fights and wrestle and have playfights and pull pranks on each other and make fun of her brothers with her and go on crazy adventures together. If you're not playful, she won't even be into you.

• Otis doesn't need it for a relationship to function but it is appreciated. A sense of humor that's a bit dark is a must but playfulness is nice too. He's use to Baby's pestering and playfighting so if anything you playfighting with him just gets him to not be so grumpy and loosen up a bit. If you annoy him too much he can just hold you down and punish you in a very fun way.

• Foxy is a slightly 'less' version of Baby but he really needs a partner that can have fun. He is constantly smiling at Baby's antics in the movie and a partner is no different. He loves you cracking a joke, even a bad one. He loves you poking him or trying to get him to give chase to you. Even if he tries to be serious and tell you 'Goddamn, stop it.' he still has a smirk on his face. If you keep up poking or tickling or smacking him or something he is coming after you to give it right back to you tenfold with a sadistic smirk on his face.

- None of them care about an age gap if you're more than 10 years younger than them:

• Baby still views herself as young (And honestly she still is at 37 even if it's not young young) and will literally fuck someone up if they bring up the fact she's nearing 40 or you both have a 10 year age gap. If they say 'Is that your Mom/Older Sister/Aunt?' she is getting pissy and ready to gut them because they think she looks that old?!

• Otis is the eldest at 59 and doesn't care about societies norms. You can be 30+ years younger than him and he does not care. If someone says something, he's definitely crudely making some remark about how well you fuck him as an adult while wrapping an arm around you. If someone asks 'Is this your Dad?' he is definitely smirking and telling them 'I'm they're Daddy but I ain't they're motherfuckin father.'

• Foxy is somewhere in his late 40's to 50's in between Otis and Baby if I had to guess. He knows he's older than you and like Otis he doesn't care. Hell, sometimes it's a turn on. If someone asks 'Is that your Dad?' he is fucking with them by agreeing he is and then kissing you passionately and then saying something like 'Honey, call your mom and sister and tell them we're gonna be late for dinner. You know how your mother gets when her hubby and youngest are late.' just to smirk at the horrified look on the persons face.

- They're all possessive partners in different ways:

• Otis is the most possessive partner out of his 3 siblings. He is so use to leading the entire Firefly Family (Prime example was him telling Hugo in Ho1000C 'I'll just go around back and take control like I always fuckin do!') so he naturally is both protective and possessive of a person that accepts him enough to be with him. There is no 'breaking up'...EVER. He doesn't bond with many people and he isn't letting you go or letting anyone else interfere. He might even start telling you if an outfit 'makes you look like a hooker' or if you 'were fucking drooling over some asshole' if he's pissed off enough over men looking at you because he can't admit he's the one jealous here but you giving him the okay to kill anyone that flirts with you or convincing him (Firmly. Otis is not going to listen unless you match energy with him) then it would probably solve a lot of his underlying fear you're looking for a way out. But he is still going to keep you close in public to make sure no one gets too handsy in bars. Hate to say it but it might be years before he fully trust you just because in his line of 'work' he can't afford to trust people. He's not going to aimlessly kill every guy that looks at you but if they touch you? Something is happening to them.

• Foxy is about like Otis but not as intense. In fact, he's probably fine with whatever you wear or someone flirting with you as a means to have an excuse to have some intense possessive sex with you later where he makes you repeat you're his. But he's more open about his insecurity than Otis not because of sex or looks but because he genuinely has a hard time understanding why you're in love with a man like him. Especially if you treat him well despite seeing the fucked up shit he's done. He probably asks you all the time 'Babydoll, what the fuck are ya doin' with me?'. Will most definitely give a glare to anyone trying to put their hands on you and shuts that shit down immediately. If they get too pushy he's gonna smolder and wait all night before killing them outside their car when everyone is gone.

• Baby is the least possessive outwardly but she gets jealous the most. You can wear what you want, dance how you want, shit you could even flirt with someone if you want to as long as you're with her. But if the flirting gets too intimate she is killing them. Unlike Foxy who is going to try and keep his cool at first or Otis who has to be pushed a bit too far before planning a kill in public ...Baby is straight up killing them not caring if she gets caught. She is instantly luring whoever touched your ass or tried to kiss you or was flirting with you too much outside where she's going to leave one hell of a mess. Then she's going to smile, kiss you and cheerfully ask 'where to now, honey?' and she's not going to even mention that she killed that person unless you REALLY push her. Because if you ask where that person went? She's dropping the smirk, showing you and letting you know THAT is what happens when someone tries to take what's hers.

[ethicaltreatmentofcowplants]

I determined this by a roll. Caden is the lucky Sim and gets a knitting basket, in his favourite colour. Maybe he’ll be joining Agnes in the village square as she cross-stitches?

We add an easel to the lot which turns out to be less popular than the Watcher anticipated.

Another day, another pixel that despises cooking. And what’s this occurring in Moojito’s shed? Spencer! You’re supposed to be an IRRESPONSIBLE Sim - not that we’re complaining.

Piper rejects Avery’s cooking in favour of some grilled eggplant (and seems to be having a better time), while Caden receives a hug from our main girlie.

For some reason in spite of the general bonhomie of everyone else, she’s in a bit of a funk today so we leave it to GOOD traited Spencer to lend reassurances while Pauline looks on encouragingly.

Then she refuses an embrace from him. Yikes. 

Even though Lilac’s in a strange mood, she’s bringing all the attraction alerts to the yard.

In spite of last night’s party pooper Patchy in the background - not to mention Piper’s hand going through the back of Avery’s head - I think that everyone’s outside for some fresh country air and wholesome bonding time. But Lilac evidently had another kind of bondage in mind, and makes Avery an offer that they can’t refuse.

Evidently it was just ‘hugs’ that she wasn’t in the mood for today.

We’re going off-site today so with our bachelorette occupied, chore montage hour kicks off early. Spencer and Pauline were our gardeners, Aubrey fished, and Lilac eventually took care of Moojito with her job much easier thanks to Spencer.

The second to have his embrace spurned is Caden, who is so embarrassed that he goes upstairs to cry in the closet. I make him play chess for a skill building activity, while Piper swims.

No Aubrey, you cannot 'attempt to swipe' from your own residence. Just hang in there a few more minutes.

For this household’s mini competition to see who gets a solo date with the bachelorette, we are putting our singing pipes to use! Doubtless anticipating the humiliation that awaits, our pixels are very reluctant to go inside. 

Even the promise of nectar isn’t sufficient to lure them, so the Watcher temporarily sacrifices her screencaps and activates the social club.

Oh hey, it’s Lilac’s old buddy Jacques. Who takes the opportunity to steal Avery's drink.

Caden and Lilac are looking like a couple on date night until they’re joined by Lilac’s crush Avery - then Aubrey disrupts the mood as only a KLEPTOMANIAC sim can, attempting to swipe the… wall graffiti.

Surprisingly enough, it doesn’t work. I love Klepto sims.

When’s a better time to sing in public then after some failed theft embarrassment? Everyone is at such a low level of singing that we can only do that one country ballad. Pauline and Piper take it outside, while Caden discovers what many femme sims have known for decades and that the bathroom is the perfect place to make a new friend.

Caden must have received some encouragement from the toilet bot, as he becomes inspired and is the first sim to reach Level 2.

(part ii coming soon! when canva is back up)

@plasmafruittree @x-digitaldollhouse-x @mdshh

@invisiblequeen @sleepyselkiesims @akitasimblr

[whateverisbeautiful]

♥️Reveling in Richonne - TOWL

#13: The Recovery (1.02)

gif cred: @riickgrimes

Rick and Michonne’s journeys are always so similar to the point that they both endured their most awful year at the same time. Rick spent the year officially being the walking dead away from family and Michonne spent that same year recovering in a mall from a brutal attack away from family. And once she's healed physically, Michonne still has to navigate so much heartbreak as she finally makes it to Bridgers Terminal🥺...

After the CRM's attack, that group of travelers is then reduced to just two - Michonne and Nat. They spend a year recovering in a mall and there's a montage of how they got through the time, which includes a lot of oxygen, slow healing, and inspiring determination.

I know this time in the mall had to be so painful for Michonne because she wanted to find Rick and get home ASAP and now she literally has to just stay put and fight for her life until she heals up for an entire year.

gif cred: @nerd4music

But never one to take anything lying down, she works hard at her recovery, attempting to still exercise and strengthen her lungs, which is a big challenge at first. Yet another reason Michonne is a commendable queen - because working out is hard enough when you haven’t been bombed with chlorine gas.

Michonne is willing to push through the hardship as we see her slowly but surely get better. Seeing her perseverance is always so inspiring. I also like how the push-ups tie back to the way she would work out and stay fit in the prison. 

Michonne watches the seasons change and gathers food and I guess the one good thing about being hunkered down at a mall is you get to sleep in those comfy display beds.

gif cred: @richardgrimes

There’s a moment where she and Nat eat and she stares at Rick’s boots, a sign that she’s not losing sight of her mission to find her husband and bring him home. Nat also talks about the importance of knowing when to go and knowing when to give up as he feels he learned the hard way.

gif cred: @taiturner

But Michonne is hope personified and so she brings up Nat’s stepdad Danger and says, “He didn’t give up, right? Didn’t give up on you. Gotta think it was cause of your mom. You gotta think it was cause of love.”

As she says this we see she’s holding the phone she found with the image of her and Judith and Rick’s name. I think they pair those lines over that phone image because Michonne knows wherever Rick is he hasn’t given up on his girls, (even if he’s given up on reuniting with them he hasn’t given up on them) as he clearly still kept images of them as reminders to keep going. And if he hasn’t given up because of his love for her then you already know Michonne isn’t giving up because of her love for him.

gif cred: @nerd4music

She also looks outside and sees birds flying which is indicating that the air is getting safer. (Side note: I love her outfits in this mall montage and how she really did bring more pops of color to the show. And the music is great too. 👌🏽)

As Michonne gets better at the push-ups I love how you can see the ring hanging from her neck. It feels symbolic of how Rick is still with her and motivating her to regain her strength. 

gif cred: @nerd4music

So then Michonne and Nat sit and eat and she gives him a map to go to Alexandria because she knows he’s strong enough to travel now. Nat says, “I go to your home and you go to Bridgers Terminal? It should be the other way around.”

Michonne says the s8 ep title from when Carl reveals he was bit as she tells Nat, “This is how it’s gotta be.” But Nat begs to differ and says no.

gif cred: @richardgrimes

Michonne tries to convince him again but Nat passionately cuts her off and emotionally declares, “This is all I got. Okay? You. That’s it” And my heart. ☹️ And then he does his signature thing of playing with his lighter as he more tearily says, “That’s it.” I love that Nat values Michonne this much. 🥲

So Michonne agrees to have him go with her in the morning and also she looks so pretty in her outfit. 😊

gif cred: @nerd4music

Nat says they need to make one stop first for his wagon and I love their little teasing exchange as Michonne asks, “What, you’re expecting me to pull it?” and he’s just matter-of-factly like, “Yeah I am.” 😋

Michonne asks if he’s coming along to see how it ends but Nat gravely says, “Nope. I know how it ends.”

Then without even making a big show of it, I appreciate that they pay homage to Michonne’s signature ability to make the walkers work for her as she and Nat arrive at Bridgers Terminal with a walker pulling their wagon. You just know that was Michonne’s idea and she and Nat have being inventive people in common. 

gif cred: @nerd4music

Michonne is super eager to see what she can find when they get to Bridgers Terminal but all that’s there is a giant shipwreck and the horrific sight of several piles of scorched bodies nearly impossible to identify.

gif cred: @richardgrimes

Michonne’s teary-eyed response to seeing this hurts my heart. 🥺 Like it’s painful to think for a moment she had to seriously wonder if this is the horrible fate that her husband met.

gif cred: @richardgrimes

And then in another act of immense love for her man, Michonne is shown searching every pile of burnt bodies into the night hours to try and see if any of them are Rick. If that ain’t love. 🥲

gif cred: @chaoticroad

The fact that the burned bodies all don’t have shoes makes things even more complicated. But again the resilience of Michonne Grimes is on display as she meticulously checks each one, even with knowing that they might bring her no answers or worse a devastating confirmation that Rick really is gone.

She checks until it’s literally too dark to see anymore and then we get a heartbreaking scene by a fire. 

It’s sad because earlier in the ep she was cozily by a fire with friends and laughing and now she’s by a fire and coming as close to losing hope as she’s ever come in years. 😢

But she still tries to hold onto some hope as she takes out Rick’s boots and hugs them. Just end me now, that sight is so heartrending. 😭 She loves Rick so much and would give anything to be holding him instead right now.

gif cred: @nat111love

Also, now knowing that she only feels safe with Rick, it feels like this moment of hugging the boots is her way to self-soothe as she’s feeling really lost and devastated and it’s like these boots are giving her at least a little of the comfort Rick gave her when they were together. They’re reminding her that somehow his story didn’t end on the bridge and she’s not crazy for still feeling he’s out there. 

I adore seeing Nat take care of Michonne in this state and wrap a blanket around her. 🥹 Just exactly the type of friendship Michonne needs and deserves.

Nat acknowledges the reality of the situation and how it’s likely a dead-end ever knowing if Rick is among the bodies. But Michonne says with conviction, “I felt him. I still feel him.” And I know that’s right. 👏🏽 That’s such a beautiful and powerful sentiment.

gif cred: @nat111love

I love the way TOWL really affirmed Richonne’s soulmate status. Like their souls are in every way connected and so of course even miles and miles apart she can still feel him.

And I bet she knows the way she feels Rick's presence is different than the way she feels Carl or Andre's. In s9 Michonne told Negan she sees Carl in everything so she obviously still feels his presence but in a way of someone who is no longer with her. With Rick, you can just tell that she feels him alive and breathing and walking the earth.

Again, with the immense amount of love Rick was still emitting to her while with the CRM it makes perfect sense that she can still feel him.

Nat tells Michonne that the Japanese on her phone means “believe a little bit longer” and Michonne silently reacts with tears in her eyes, knowing that's likely what Rick has been doing all these years.

gif cred: @nat111love

Michonne then notes that Nat has been telling her to go home. Nat says she should go home but she can still believe that Rick is out there. And then knowing that Danai is an incredible actor with even just her eyes and expressions alone, they zoom in really close as Michonne sheds tears and entertains an idea she’s fought so hard for years to not entertain.

She vulnerably says, “It’s been right in front of me, hasn’t it? All this time, it’s been right in front of me. It’s been so long. If he were alive…he would’ve found his way.” Ok that has my soul sobbing everytime. 😭 It’s so beautiful to see how much she loves him and so painful to see her voice break as she says this.

gif cred: @nat111love

And it’s touching because it again shows how much she believes in Rick. She knows if he could have been home by now he would’ve. But the thing is...Rick needs her in order to truly find his way and without her, he’s too lost to find his way on his own.

I love the way she says this line with so much love, belief, and care for Rick. Almost like she just wants to know even if Rick can’t be with her that he’s okay out there and that he’s found his way somehow, just as a person she loves and wants the best for.

gif cred: @nat111love

All and all, it just really moves me to hear Michonne say this. She knows that Rick Grimes would fight tooth and nail for his family so, considering he's been away from them for years, it might mean he’s not alive. And honestly, that's correct in a way because Rick isn’t alive. When the chance to see her again was taken from him, he lost himself and decided to die.

At this very moment, Rick is living life as the walking dead without her and so that’s why he hasn’t found his way. He lost his compass when he lost Michonne so he can’t get home without her. But I love how Michonne believes Rick would have found his way no matter what. 

Nat is comforting saying Michonne doesn’t know for sure if Rick is gone and then gives her a balanced perspective as he beautifully says, “You can believe he’s out there, that he’s not gone. You can believe a little longer and still go home to your kids. You can know when to go. You can do both.”

gif cred: @nat111love

And then I appreciate his supportiveness in letting Michonne know she doesn’t have to do it alone as he says, “I can do it with you. I will.” He’s the best. 🥹 And how I wish Nat could have gone to ASZ with Michonne and Rick. You just know he would become a beloved uncle to Judith and RJ. 🥲

Nat then tells Michonne something that she really needs to hear as he says, “It’s not giving up.” I think for Michonne, heading back home feels like failing and giving up on her true love when she knows and feels that Rick needs her, and she needs him, and her kids need them both.

Like for someone as loyal and determined as Michonne, going back without finding him would be such a hard and painful defeat. And you see that on Michonne's face as she sheds tears and seriously wrestles in her mind with how going back home now could feel like giving up on the man she loves.  

gif cred: @nat111love

Nat turns on the walkie and as they listen to the static Michonne let’s it all out as she bursts into tears and Nat hugs her like the good friend he is. That was such a raw vulnerable moment. 😭 I love that Michonne got to just release her emotions over everything by this fire because there’s clearly so much weighing on her.

gif cred: @nat111love

I know when hearing that static she’s longing to hear her children’s voices and be back with them. She’s longing to see her husband and be back in his arms too. She's been put through so much in mind and body after the CRM attack and put through even more before the CRM attack in her six or so years as a single mom and head of security.

And in this moment by the fire, you see her just bring all that emotion to the surface and finally know it’s time to go home, even without Rick as much as that breaks her heart.

gif cred: @nat111love

This scene by the fire was stunningly acted by Danai and Matthew. 👏🏽

And then - the episode cuts to "Now" as Richonne’s epic reunion is so close you can feel it in the air…literally. 😌👌🏽

[faithinlouisfuture]

Louies' 2023 Wrapped Tag Game

(Rules: Answer the questions below and tag at least 3 people!)

Thank you bestie @berlinini for tagging me 🤍 sorry i’m so late on this, work’s been kicking my ass, here we go though!

favorite walls song: this year; don’t let it break your heart

favorite fitf song: impossible to pick just one but right now; holding on to heartache (which is funny considering my fav off of Walls this year)

most played song on Spotify by Louis: Written All Over Your Face (ok whore)

favorite louis lyrics: that’s actually an impossible task because there’s WAY too many! but “there’s endless versions of the thing that keeps me drifting back to darkness” hits home in a way that i can’t explain in words

louis life lesson: it always remains the same; picking yourself back up after facing hardships, seeing the possibilities and positives in a difficult situation; basically strength & resilience

favorite louis outfit: oh that’s unfair, my little fashionista kills it 99% of the time so i have a list of favorite 50 outfits from 2023 but for the purpose of this game we’ll narrow it down to three (and it’s not even top three just three that i loved)

favorite tour show: there were so many good ones this year (Phoenix, Austin, Houston, LA, Philly, New York, Bologna, Paris, Antwerp, Vienna, Łódź, Sheffield, Cardiff, London) but the way that I felt physically ill after fitfwt: Columbus might need to be studied for science; the whiplash from the stark difference of him during the show and him post show was entirely TOO MUCH

favorite public appearance: has to be the RS Awards; the slutty custom-made fit, the main character energy throughout, the confidence, the glow, the ever present eloquence with which he spoke about his work and his successful af year, just him him him <3

favorite AOTV scene: once again there’s so many; that scene where louis’ recording Saturdays and we get some insight into his thinking and his process, the montage of louis with band and crew having an absolute blast while All This Time plays in the background, that one scene where JD is helping him put his hoodie on after he broke his elbow 👀 the last few minutes of the movie where we hear him say the words “i do feel like i deserve this” 🫶🏽🥹 and so so many more actually

favorite band or crew member: favorite three :p are Krystle, Steve & Joshua! special shout out to Joshua for going above and beyond this year honestly! that man carried lthq on his back!

favorite picture: another unfair question but i won’t cheat and post one of my absolute most favorites from this year because it’s like the energy of his shows captured in one moment (i found out on twitter that the hand in his hair belongs to a desi louie which was like the cherry on top)

something that you are looking forward to in 2024: the fitfwt latam shows!!! there is nothing else like the energy the latam crowds bring, which in turn brings out the absolute best (and most unhinged) in louis and his band too, so definitely looking forward to that! and the festivals!!! can’t wait to see him shine in front of the world <3 hope against hope to be a part of it if things work out 🤞🏽🕯️

one wish for Louis (or Louies) for 2024: 🍑🐧🎧 sighting! kidding (not really)! honestly though, growth

growth in this fandom’s level of maturity (with the addition of lots more people who are here for louis’ art and not his personal life), growth in the markets he’s able to capture, growth in the places he’s able and willing to tour *cough*ASIA*cough*, growth in the ability of his teams especially his social media and PR teams, growth from Louis himself in regards to him being open to trying new things

i don’t know who all has done this! but i’ll tag some people just in case (no pressure) @noraincsl @timidlouie @poekitty2020 @stormyhale @louveyous