#i get nervous that i’m not doing that bug bitch justice

[dooblez]

hey! I came from your recent insta post to inquire if you post any of your writing anywhere in fanfic format or otherwise? I found your caption about Prismo very interesting and your internal dialogue for Scarab is well-written/ has incredible potential imo. I’d love to read more, if you do have more /gen/pos/srs

hiiiii :]

I do have an Ao3 account !! I only have a fic for the prohibited love au published because I am too nervous to post anything else yet sjdkglslglhlb but I WILL I WILL POST MORE THINGS I PROMISE I WILL

a lot of my other stuff is unfinished crumbs of content that I write when my eepy meds kick in so I keep it from the public eye/j

I’m also writing about,,,, six things right now for the blorbos not to mention all the other stuff I have to do 🥹 it’s fun I’m having fun this is a great thing I did to myself/silly

As a treat here is a piece from something I wrote at like,,,, 1:45 teehee

oh also i forgor to share my instagram here look at it

[waywardimpalawriter]

My love... may I request my favorite, Marcus Pike, and a plus sized female reader with #78 from the smut prompts? "Can you feel what you're doing to me?" 💚

Eyes on you 

Pairing: Marcus Pike x Plus Size Female Reader, (past) James ‘Bucky’ Barnes x Plus Size Female ReaderCharacters: Marcus Pike, Bucky Barnes, Steve Rogers, Sam Wilson, Natasha Romanoff, 

Setting: Washington DC to start then moving to New York City. Set years after Marcus’s move too DC, After The Mentalist ended. Marvel AU no powers 

Rating: M (Mature), E (Explicit), NSFW, +18 only please 

Warnings: stealing, mentions of other art heist jobs, violence, gun violence, smut, oral (female and male receiving), unprotected and protected sex, Dark Bucky Barnes (more to come as the series grows) 

Summary: High end art thief sets his sights on the one woman Marcus Pike can’t seem to get out of his thoughts. Now paired together for an undercover mission will Marcus keep his composure and those feelings hidden or will this mission fuel his desire to finally go after his most precious piece of art? 

Word count: (Prologue 790)

Notes: written for the beautiful @lucrezia-thoughts your request grew doll, I’m sorry not sorry and thank you for all your help and support. Also written for the beautiful @autumnleaves1991-blog Writer Wednesday picture prompt. 

Tag list: 

Forevers: @chickensarentcheap @jedi-mando 

Prologue

File folder lands with an inaudible plop drawing your eyes from the computer screen to pages scattered across the wide expanse of your already cluttered desk. Traveling upward, brow cocked with a half smile on your mauve painted lips, pausing to take in the set of Marcus’s shoulders. Arms tightly crossed over broad chest, “Something I can help you will Pike?” 

“Got your go bag handy?” Countering with his own question left hip cocked out studying your confused drawn features. “Got a break in the Barnes case, seems he’s setting up shop in New York City,” one hand coming out to point towards the file. “Specially bought a block of brownstone houses, pictures in the files of what he’s turned them into. Son of a bitch thinks he can flaunt his stolen wealth right in front of our noses.” 

Nabbing the file and thumbing through. Pausing with a small gasp the beautiful architecture drawing your eyes. “It looks Mediterranean but I’m not sure without a closer look,” glancing up to catch Marcus’s eye. Hard edge to the normally soft chocolate browns, “How’d you get this information? Especially the photo’s Marcus,” attention returning to glossy eight by ten. Fingers tracing the common ivy vines climbing up impossibly pink limestone walls, back down over the balcony with its pointed trefoil arch cut into the stone. You could only guess at the type of wood used to construct the balustrade of every balcony you could see. Clear turquoise water catching your eye tracing the mosaic of tile visible. Mentally calculating how much money the cost of renovating a brownstone costs, let alone a whole block. 

Till a throat clears and you look up, heat raising over your plush form at getting caught drooling over the spectacular architecture. “Never finished your thought Y/N,” teasing smile tugging at his full lips. Enjoying the awe he see’s written over your beautiful face, a rarity in your line of work these days. 

“Just that,” swallowing you look back at the file in your hand. Flipping through the photo’s pausing once again. Eyes damn near bugging out of your skull when they land on those cerulean blue’s you long since pushed into the back of your memory. Praying Marcus didn’t catch your slip, “We could actually nail him this time and hopefully get back all the stolen art.” 

Nodding Marcus sensed you holding back, having seen the flicker pass over those deep orbs he’s tried many times to forget during the dark of night. “There’s more,” bottom lip worried between his teeth while watching your expression flip from neutral too curious in a matter of seconds. 

“Don’t leave me on pins and needles Marcus out with it,” clutching the file to your ample chest not sure if you’ll like his next words. Running a hand through his perfectly kept dark brown locks noticing he’s tugging slightly. A nervous habit you figured out about three weeks into the partnership. Same hand lands on the back of his neck rubbing tension away. Another tell which has your gut twisting, “Spit it out Pike I’m not getting any younger.” Trying to make light of the matter to put you both at ease. 

“How would you feel about taking a little trip to New York City Mrs. Rossi?” Seeing the array of emotions cross your face from confusion, to thinking and understanding little gasp accompanying the revelation. He’d find the display endearing if your facial features hadn’t settled into one of uncertainty. “Don’t do that Y/N you’re the finest agent I’ve ever worked with, don’t doubt yourself.” 

“It’s not,” pulling your bottom lip between indenting upper teeth trying to figure out how to ask. Going for blunt, “Who’s my partner? Please tell me it’s not Miller or Morales, there’s no getting along with either of them. We’d blow our cover…” 

“You’re looking at him,” words cut across your babble stopping the flow of words with a gapping of you jaw. “We gonna have problems already wife?” Infusing his tone with a playfulness not felt as his thought run an iron man triathlon through his mind. 

Even since the file dropped on his desk half an hour ago Marcus knew there’s only one person who could help him pull the mission off without issues and actually bring James ‘Bucky’ Barnes to justice. Only true concern brushing against his better judgement? His feelings kept buried under duty, and honor. The job always coming first, and the fact you’re his partner. Bringing this high class thief to justice could also destroy the friendship he’s built over the last five years with you. Or… slight shake of his head to push those thoughts firmly away. Needing to focus on catching Barnes and nothing more.  

[deans-haunted-baby]

The Last Rites

*So, many fans including myself were unhappy with Adam Milligan and Michael’s exits out of Supernatural. This is my fix-it or at least my interpretation of what happened after 15x19 and 15x20. Enjoy!*

Summery: Chuck now human is a bitter bin collector and part-time serial killer stalking his latest victim. Little does he know that the dynamic human vessel/archangel duo Michael and Adam have been stalking him.  

"Damn that Sam and Dean and that little brat for making me human! But I'll get the last laugh," he says as he makes his rounds and choosing his latest victim. Plotting all the terrible things he plans on doing to the Winchesters. “I’ll get them all for this!”

As Chuck follows this person out to their car in the middle of the night, knife in hand. All off a sudden he hears wings flapping and turns around in horror. His eyes bug out when he sees a figure standing before him in the shadows.

"W-who's there?"  

Michael/Adam step out of the darkness wearing a "surprise-bitch" look on their face: "Hello...father" by the darkness of his ton Chuck knows his son hadn't forgotten the last time they saw each other. By that lakeside where he'd killed him for helping the Winchesters.

"No i-its impossible... You're dead I killed you. You should be in the Empty."

Michael hesitantly shakes his head. "Not anymore."

"How?"

"Let's just say I made bail thanks to my nephew and Castiel as they needed my assistance in Heaven's rehabilitation. And I humbly obliged."

"Castiel? He's alive too?! And you're working for them?! Why? That little brat took my power!" Chuck screams in anguish. "NO you both should be suffering in the Empty for all eternity!"

Michael/Adam looks at his hands flexing them into fists. Recalling the last second he drew breath being smited by his father. Regretting his decision to ever forsake his duty for humanity for his father. And his anger burns like acid.

"After what you did to me the last time we spoke...all I've cherished was this moment," the archangel Prince darkly replies. Adam's soul quietly astral-projected is in the background roots on his buddy. "Jack and Castiel offered me a chance to atone myself for wrongly choosing you over that which I’ve swore an oath to protect. That I could leave the Empty and reclaim my throne in Heaven if I stayed on Earth and helped the Winchesters clean up your mess."  

Chuck glares "So you're their bitchboy now? Ha, pathetic." He chortled in his throat. "I always knew you were weak, Michael. Being in that cage all those years with Sam and Dean's forgotten little bro has made you soft."

Michael's cheeks throb angrily. But he maintains his restraint. "Oh I'm not doing this for them," he reveals; stepping a little closer to his father. Shoulders squared. "Being stuck on Earth is also my punishment. But I've accepted it...I deserve my fate...just as you deserve yours right now."

Chuck then scrutinizes his son suspiciously. Looking from the archangel's fists to the face of his vessel Adam.

"What so you're like an archangel superhero now?" He can't contain a laugh. "Wow those Winchesters must be really desperate to resort to sending you here instead of facing me themselves."

Michael shook his head. "As I've already stated...I'm not here for them, he says. "The one called Dean, my original sword, has already fallen in battle and has inherited his place in my nephew's paradise. And his brother Sam sought out his other brother Adam, my chosen vessel. They've been working together ever since."

"And that's when Jack sent you."

“Yes."

"Dammit!,” Chuck swears this wasn't suppose to happen. If he killed a Winchester in his story the other brother left alive was suppose to take his own life in grief. No this couldn't be happening. They changed his ending AGAIN. "THIS WASN'T THE ENDING I PLANNED! I DIDN'T WRITE THIS!"

Michael cocks his head sideways; basking in his father's frustration. It was music to his ears. Then he's serious; raising his hand and forwarding his palm in a power-up.

"Your reign if tyranny is over father. You will not be scribing another's fate ever again. Not while I'm around."

At that Chuck's face is ghostly white. "Wait, what are you doing?" He puts up his hands submissively. "I'm human now, you can't just smite me. I'm part of the humanity that I created for you to protect!"

"Oh you don't have any rights here," growls the archangel sternly. "You gave up those privileges when you chose to use your newfound humanity to blindly murder others. Your arrogance and hatred for mankind was your own undoing. And now your death shall be your punishment, father."

Chuck trembling now resorts to begging for his son's mercy. "Michael, wait son we can talk about this." He showcases a nervous smile. "We can still make this right."

"No we can't." Michael scoffs. "The centuries of my allegiance to you have also perished. And I've wanted nothing more than to watch you beg forgiveness as you draw your last breath."

"Wait please show your father mercy, my son! Please!"

"Like the mercy you demonstrated to me that day by the lake shore?"

Chuck nodded still keeping his hands up. Okay so Michael was still pissed about that. "Fine you're right that was a mistake. I should've never hurt you like that. I was wrong and I see that now."

Michael's expression is smug, giving a mild throat chuckle. Then his cold expression shifts into anguish. "I hate myself for ever believing in you and turning my back on humanity. I will never be able to forgive myself for making that choice. For allowing you, Lucifer and my devotion to you to manipulate me from doing what was right."

"This doesn't have to get ugly Michael, we can still talk this out." Chuck begs. “Come on, what do ya say?”

"No we're done talking father." Michael's eyes glow like silvery blue light.

Chuck back peddles "Wait j-just give me another chance. I can prove to you I'll change I will."

Michael chuckles darkly, "Like the chance you were about to give that civilian you were following just now? Or the others you’ve murdered since?"

He eyes the knife in his father's hand. Suddenly Chuck realizes this and impulsively drops it onto the pavement.

"No, this isn’t what it looks like. I-I wasn't going to hurt anyone else. I swear!"

"You'll never learn will you father," Michael shrugs apathetically. "It's a shame. You were given a gift by your own flesh and blood and you've squandered it."  

"WAIT MICHAEL, PLEASE LET'S JUST TALK ABOUT THIS!"

No, no the archangel Prince was done talking. He'd said all he needed to say and with that throws Chuck's own last words to him right back in the short man's face.

"SAVE IT!" smiting him instantly on the spot. Blasting his father in a blinding light, erasing him from existence. When the dust settles Michael eases his tense shoulders releasing a sharp intake of breath.

Adam's projected soul then takes it upon himself to console his friend. Who is clearly bitter about destroying his own father even if he was an evil bastard.

"You did the right thing you know," the pre-med student/hunter in training reassures him. "Your dad would've killed that person if you hadn't intervened."

But Michael doesn't want to hear it. "I didn't do this for that person. I did it out of my own volition. I wanted my father to pay for what he'd done to me and my broken vow."

"It still doesn't change the fact that you saved someone tonight, Michael,” Adam insists. “And you proved that you can be better than Chuck ever was."

Michael frowns lowering his gaze to the ground melancholically.

"Or maybe I've just demonstrated that I am no better than him. I betrayed my sworn oath," the archangel squeezes his fist tightly. Putting all his anger into that hand. "And for that transgression alone I shall never be redeemed."

Adam recognizing the sadness in Michael's expression, throws his celestial pal a genuine smile, kneading his shoulder. "There's always redemption for all of us," he says gently. "I believe my brothers were capable of that, even if they never cared about me. Knowing you and even getting to know Sam has taught me so much more about myself, my family and what I'm meant to do with my life."

"What like being a hero?"

"Yah and it's kinda cool I get to kick some ass with an archangel."

"So, you want to honor your family. Despite what fate they'd left you to."

Adam shook his head. "Sam and Dean were far from perfect. I don't think I'll ever fully forgive them for what happened," he reveals. "BUT I think it changed me for the better. I got to become friends with Heavens MVP and I care about their cause now. They wanted to protect the world from evil and that's what I want to do. It's not about honoring the Winchester's legacy I want to do some good in this world. And you know what...I think you do too."

The archangel smiled to himself. "Well I did get some amusement out of watching my father squirm," He says lightly then adds. "Alright kid, you win. We shall continue our eternal quest for justice."

"Good, but we can continue that quest another night," the pre-med checks his wristwatch. "I gotta get some rest I have classes in the morning."

Michael scrutinized Adam. "You do know that you no longer require rest now that I've possessed this vessel or has that notion escaped you?"

“Oh yah I forgot," Adam laughs. "I guess I won't be needing sleep anytime soon then. Let's go home anyway I want to check out the bunker some more. Find any hidden passages or something."

"As you wish. I imagine your canine companion is also getting famished without us around to feed it."

A light bulb went off in his head. Right Sam and Dean's dog Miracle was in his care now. He loved that scruffy mutt even if he did drool a lot. Time to get home.  

"Miracle, okay we gotta get home stat!"

And with that Michael flew back to the bunker.

[animefinatic]

Fire Force: 1st thoughts/impression

Okay so I’ve been hearing some murmurs about this anime for a while but because I weird I move slow when it comes to new anime for some reason, mainly because I want something to binge. But since getting Hulu recently I’ve been watching a lot of nostalgic shows (Digimon s1-3 and Yuyu Hakusho along with some old school nickelodeon and cartooonnetwork shows) but I’ve decided to finally get around to watching something new for a change. I’m not done with season 1 (episode 12)yet so I’m just going to give some 1st impressions on a few characters. Just some general thoughts, I’m sure overall feelings will change as i finish what’s currently out so don’t get bent outta shape if I don’t like someone or mention someone. Also be respectful if you’re a manga reader.

World building: The whole people turning into infernals at the drop of a dime and killing other people and the rest of humanity seems to have all been clustered in some small ass piece of japan lowkey put me in the mind of AOT (humanity being behind walls, the monster being humans all along type shit) I went into this thinking the protagonist is some sort of form of internal with that logic.

Shinra: Sharp teeth. I’m not into the whole teeth thing (Rin from Free, Soul from Soul Eater, Kirishima are swell in their own way but i was never a fan of their teeth) I like his little ‘smile in tense situation quirk because bless his heart i know when he’s nervous or tense about something. He’s a good kid all the same and he lowkey gave me Izuku vibes because they want to be a hero but he also gives me Rin (Blue Exorcist) vibes because he gets a bad rep and being called Devil even though he’s really sweet and has a good character. Seeing him in action I can’t help but think how would he do in the my hero universe (he’d kick so much ass) Has a typical shonen protag tragic backstory about his mother and brother and so has a reason to be in the fire force, I like the drive to be a hero from that kid dream he had, I look forward to him finding the answers he seeks while also not looking forward to seeing him fight his kid brother (I fucking swear if he has to kill his own brother I will fucking scream)

Akitaru: Oh my god fucking hot, fucking cute that's my husbando right there. When he called Shinra’s smiling quirk cute I fucking melted. The Dad (and daddy) of this squad I see him looking out for the other and providing a solid foundation of justice. a swell guy that has the whole groups trust and respect and I just hope nothing happens to this man. When Joker gave Shinra a reason to doubt the fire force i was a little nervous but so far so good team 8 seems to have been formed for a specific reason bc the other teams are lowkey shady.

Hinawa: stereotypical glasses character, annoyingly strict, and give the mc a hard time. In comparison to captain he annoyed me, by putting down my boy Shinra without giving him a real chance, (it wasn’t Nighteye lvl of annoying  but still) but overtime I’ve warned up to him, I tend to like the glasses characters too (Kyoya...I blame Kyoya) so by this point I see he’s a caring individual in his own way, what sold me is when he pulls Shinra aside to check on him and ask if he was ok...also mans can cook so bonus.

Maki: Mikasa vibes, just a woman with some muscle but she seems very insecure about it. I like she’s such a romantic maiden at heart though. I like her Sputter flames, so cute it made me think of calsifer from Howl’s moving castle.

Iris: I took one look at her and went: a sister. oh fuck religion is going to be a big influence in this show. Ignoring my own personal bias feelings of religion it seems she serves the purpose of praying for the souls of those who turned nothing too special about her, she’s sweet even though she has her tragic backstory with everyone but her and Hibana watched the whole damn church burn. 

Arthur: Annoying. I thought he was gonna be some sort of edgy rival for Shinra since they seem to fight on sight. However he’s kinda this cute idiot. But his knight at the round table schtick is kinda aggy he reminds me of that one classmate in my class that took Shakespeare too seriously. Maybe he’ll warm up on me later he has got to be more than the idiot blond (maybe at some point they’ll drop a back story on him)

Tamaki: Adorable, her powers make her look like a twin tailed cat (I not sure but I think there is like fire yokai so it works for the fire theme of this show) and I love cats so she's adorable. However this trend of her being clumsy af all of a sudden and becoming undressed and/or being groped or touched by Shinra accidentally only for her to hit the hell out of him is a trope i kinda want to die already like it’s not even funny. I’m an elder weeb so i’m not new to this but idk if it just my old age but I’m kinda over it. So even though I found her so cute earlier she’s almost annoying me even though its not her fault its the creator. 

Hibana: Bad bitch, she had dudes as her chair and had dudes lined at her feet like a red (in this case orange) carpet. Love seeing a black woman thrive (she’s brown skinned or whatever so I’m claiming her as black until further notice).Stunning, only I hate the oddly shaped eyes (it works given her power is flowers and her eyes are in a shape of a flower) but it was jarring to see it. It reminded me of Nia teppelin (Gugrren laggan) did she make me wanna stomp her for messing with my boy Shinra? yes. But I kept wondering why was I so awed by her I looked up her VA and it made sense, fucking Riza Hawkeye and Erza Scarlett (I am watching it dubbed, blame Hulu for not letting me have an option for sub but its whatever I’m committing to the dub for now) and well I respected her more. Also love how she wasn’t actually into that religion stuff even though she was taken in by the sisters. Now her moment with Iris after she got her shit rocked, sweet, adorable, so cute. Also her sudden affections for Shinra going forward is cute not sure if I ship anyone at this point but adorable is adorable I can not deny that.

Rekka: My stars that annoying. I also cringed because it reminded me of (yagamiyato’siida if you know then you know) And again with the weird ass eyes its not missed on mean that Hoshi is means star and its a part of his surname. But he went from 0-100 real quick once I realized he’s who Shinra is looking for and once again  me being wary over religion is validated through the white coats or Evangelist running around turning people into infernals on purpose (once again we back on some AOT shit) this man is bat shit crazy but he somewhat succeeded I wonder what it means for that kid who happened to be compatible with that bug thing (and of course Shinra is special bc the bug reacted to his fire) anyway what I learned from this character than religion got this universe all the way fucked up and the direct result of this is that religion has a firm hold in government and I know this is not finna be good.

[the-mic-drop]

Class 1-A Cypher by Rustage

Lyrics below the cut

Izuku Midoriya - Deku (Performed by Rustage)

Call me Deku, I’m starting out on this cypher

I was quirkless, but by working I’m deserving something higher

It’s my purpose, I’m versing my present, future, and my past

So I’m gonna rock the mic with a Detroit Smash

Taking a second, I’m breaking my limit

Hitting with everything, pain I can feel it

I’m straining my muscles, I tussle with enemies

Better be ready, I’m more than a critic

I spit it, exhibit it all night

I’m killing it, chilling with All-Might

A villain inhibited by my ability

in minutes you’re watching my school fight

Fumikage Tokoyami - Tsukuyomi (Performed by Shwabadi)

When you cross this bird, you might get to see me wield the talons

So absurd how I’m applying subverse talents

Yes I’m cursed, carry a demon, I’m full of malice

Even worse for you when striking a bitter balance

Dark claws harming the vermin that are below me

Start wars, armed with determination and Oni

Get back, I’ve been endangering those who know me

Jet Black Hero, they’re calling me Tsukuyomi

Ochaco Uraraka - Uravity (Performed by DaisyBanaisy)

I’ll make you float as I’m messing with zero gravity

Don’t mean to gloat when I’m calculating these strategies

Rapidly climbing casually, my quirk “lacks in lethality”

but actually your apathy will lead straight to your casualty

I’ll happily fight for justice, with all of my capacity

My motive’s money, thankfully that don’t define morality

Reality is I’m just helping others for my family

I’m saving all humanity, don’t you mess with Uravity!

Tenya Iida - Ingenium (Performed by Dan Bull)

I’ve got many a twitch, that’s the Tenya itch

I’m like my test scores, I got plenty of tics

Academic, educated, but I never skip leg day

Still regretful of the day that I met Stain

Enraged, by what he did to my brother Tensei

I didn’t handle it the best way, I dare say

Left my hand damaged in remembrance of fair play

I’m representing Class 1-A, they’re my best mates

Tsuyu Asui - Froppy (Performed by Sophia Dere)

Ribbit Ribbit, exhibit a hero’s spirit

I’m in it and so I’ll win it

When I’m swimming, yeah I won’t stop

This frog’s idyllic not a gimmick in a minute

I be launching in to kill it

Like a frog, I’m bringing mad hops

My tongue’s deadly, spitting and I take charge

and then I’m turning invisible with my camoflage

In the water, no villain can dare to stop me

You’re looking sloppy, now you’re facing Froppy

Hanta Sero - Cellophane (Performed by VideoGameRapBattles)

Lucky 13 of the A-1 team

Kid I spit great mixtapes, stick your team

Wraps so clean,

and I’m sealing all the matches now that Cellophane will bring the pain all wrapped up in a package

Getting shipped with tons of damage, but there’s no send backs

Shut you up with my bind attacks

Get back, ‘cause you know that I’ll be winning

in this sticky situation, so I think you better stick it.

Mezo Shoji - Tentacole (Performed by Dreaded Yasuke)

You can call me wall that have ears, door that have eyes

Meaning I’m cavalier when it comes to fighting just like a spy

In close combat, my dupli-arms is coming for the harm

and I’m laughing at you if you’re trying disarm

I’ll sacrifice for everybody exhausting my quirk

Even when I’m down for the count, I’m disguising my smirk

You can cut off all of my limbs, I’m still coming in a burst

Class 1-A will always come first

Kyoka Jiro - Earphone Jack (Performed by Savvy Hyuga)

It’s ya edgy girl, Earphone Jack

Utilizing my quirk in both stealth and combat

I guess I can see how you think I fell flat

but lemme show you how I make up for that

with punk rock attacks

When my earlobes are growing

you know they whippin and probin

an’ now they got you tip-toeing

findin the range that my tone is

It’s not your typical motion n my moves don’t need compression

It’s just another jam session featuring my form of expression

Denki Kaminari - Chargebolt (Performed by Dizzy Eight)

It’s time to put in work, I got this cypher on lock

I don’t need my quirk when this verse will leave you shocked

Like a battery, I got the juice, so they put me in a box

When my positive means negative, I’m like “so watt?”

You don’t want that static with me homie it’s fatal

I got so much energy, I’m plugged in without the cable

On the low, I’ll leave everybody on the scene disabled

I’m underrated, but in a flash, I’ll leave you endangered

Shoto Todoroki - Shoto (Performed by None Like Joshua)

It’s Todoroki, I chose to be cold and lonely

Nobody can hold me with the inferno, I’m overloading

From a broken home to known hero I’m going up slowly but surely

and be better than Endeavor whether it’s hot or it’s snowing

Even if I’m behind, I’ll be sure to make Bakugo see

I do it for All of his Might or to stop killer Stain, forget any trophy

So now that you’re immobilized and then frozen in pain, no one can approach me

Put up a wall of my ice or a wall of my flames to build your enclosing

Rikido Sato - Sugarman (Performed by GameboyJones)

Give me 10 grams of white, then I’m activated (um)

Wait, I’m talking ‘bout the sugar that I took

Got a sweet tooth for taking out these villains ‘cause they’re agitating

Plus the girlies like a guy that can cook

Call me Sato the Macho, I’m saving these streets

Yeah these nachos are not yours, I need me a treat

and this crime fighting’s hard work, it can leave me beat

but like candy and cakes, being me is real sweet

Mina Ashido - Pinky (Performed by StarGirl)

The corrosive caped crusader, Pinky here to save the day

and end up taking center stage upon these lyrics that I lay up

Easygoing, I’m passionate in battle, I’m not passive

See it flowing I don’t spit fire, I spit acid

Hypnotic fashion sense, I leave you in a trance

I’m good at fighting, my other skills are in dance

Protect my friends, we’re going in on advance

Mina Ashido, you don’t even stand a chance

Eijiro Kirishima - Red Riot (Performed by NerdOut)

Kirishima’s here, everybody stand down

I’mma activate a quirk and give your chest a hand pound

With these Red Gun Turrets yeah the target is locked

I’m a boulder with a boner, man I’m hard as a rock

I’m unbreakable, cannot penetrate this armor

and I don’t need a little blue pill to get harder

I’m full of energy, enemies looking dead tired

Blood running in the street, you can call it Red Riot

Koji Koda - Anima (Performed by Connor Rapper)

I’m the quiet type, lying with the wildlife

When I’m on, you wouldn’t even need subtitle lines

Nervous around others, I’m the last one who would yell loud

But to be a hero, then I need to break the shell now

Yo it’s Koda bringing massive noise, flowing with that Ani-Voice

That timid kid with rabbit toys no longer acting coy

Drinking honey tea, facing my fear of bugs and bees

Get a bull stampeding with the words like I’m Douglby

Yuga Aoyama - Can’t Stop Twinkling (Performed by Zach Boucher)

Never needed fame or money, I can get it later

Even though it hurts my tummy, when I use my navel laser

I have got finesse, snazzier than all the rest

I’m the best, nothing less

being honest, not a flex, I’m a threat

It’s getting harder to stomach, I’ve got the smarts and I love

I’m certainly perfect, it hurts just like the art of seduction

Heart of a Puma, get ready to lose

I’ll be spreading the truth

and y’all are stupid if you choose to fight against the Yuga

Momo Yaoyorozu - Creati (Performed by HalaCG)

I’ve got the quirk creation and patience to work it

Balancing equations, don’t even need to research it

Sequencing elements, a testament to intelligence

You’d better watch out ‘cause I’m not feeling very benevolent

If a person’s in trouble, just wait and see what I’ll do

I can literally make anything. Overpowered, who?

Overpowered, who?

I meant I’ll overpower you

It’s true, sincerely Class 1-A’s Momo Yaoyorozu

Minoru Mineta - Grape Juice (Performed by Nux Taku)

Where the ladies at? (ay)

Where the ladies at? (ay)

Mineta’s here to peek at women that I’m gazing at

People thinking that I’m weak, but you know what I say to that

Leave you in a sticky situation with my grape attacks

Underestimating me? You’re lacking information

Incapacitation, when you’re facing me, frustration

Master of flirtation, pretty much the top dog

You ain’t ever coming close when I pop off

Ojiro Mashirao - Tailman (Performed by Rockit Gaming)

Ojiro, the Tailman, you get what you train for

Master martial artist, black belt on my waist though

Nobody even really understands me

Got intelligence, can’t predict any hit that I’m landing

Classmate you confide in with dignity

You can wear a costume, all I got on is a gi

Noble attitude, that’s my personality

Accept results that I earn with my own abilities

Toru Hagakure - Invisible Girl (Performed by Outcast Rae)

Take you by surprise, yeah, I can do it easy

Miss me with your eyes, yeah, you can’t even see me

No matter what you try, yeah, you can never beat me

Feels a little cheesy, like a wish from a genie

When it comes to action, my quirk is in light refraction

so it has the side effect of never being a distraction

Sneak up on my enemies, let me be the best assassin

Toru Hagakure, you can feel my passion

Katsuki Bakugo - Kacchan (Performed by DaddyPhatSnaps)

I don’t think you other heroes are even listenin’

Maybe I should focus your attention with some ‘glycerin

You don’t even get it, there’s really no competition

I’m lighting these rookies up, boi, I’m slaying on every mission

I’ll show them once and for all, little Deku won’t know what hit ‘im

I will get the recognition, exploding the opposition

I will be the greatest hero that ever took the position

So come at me little bitches, I’ll make you wish that you didn’t

[krokodile]

movie watched in 2018, just three n this one with two behind a cut because spoilers for movies older than all of you :P

battle of the sexes - holy fuck, so good.  SO SO SO GOOD.  look, i usually can’t stand emma stone and i rarely like sports movies.  but i loved this movie so much i couldn’t shut up about it for days.  emma stone and steve carell are fucking flawless, and watching the bonus features, seeing how emma lights up whenever billie jean is onset, it’s clear how strongly she felt about doing this right.  and it absolutely shows.  her transformation goes beyond the makeup (although holy crap they did a good job with that).  her performance is remarkable; i won’t take back all i’ve said about how annoying i’ve found her over the years, because i did, but i underestimated her (which i guess is thematically appropriate for this movie :P ).  she is immensely skilled, and her desire to do this project justice is plainly visible.  the fire in her eyes when she’s on the court is fucking magnetic.  i can’t say enough about how much i adored this performance.  and i generally feel that biopics bring out the worst in actors (academy catnip though they may be).

steve carell nailed his role as well, but that was no surprise; i knew he would be perfect.  i hope he gets his oscar for this, finally, though i’m assuming 3 billboards will sweep all the major categories.  andrea riseborough is predictably perfect, and cute as a bug’s ear - i’ve always thought she was incredibly pretty,  but this is the first time i’ve found her adorable.  she and emma stone have the most insanely believable chemistry - i don’t think i’ve believed an onscreen relationship more, in every facet.  

the movie looks amazing; it drops you right into the 70s with no detail ignored.  and, you know, having lived on planet earth, i knew how this story ended.  and yet, i was nervous.  i was on the edge of my seat wringing my hands through every set.  i wanted to stand up and cheer.  i just...i really loved this movie.  i expected to like it, because reviewers i tend to agree with raved over it, but i didn’t think i’d fall in love with it.  easily one of the best to come out of 2017, at least for me.

when the wind blows - this is the best movie i NEVER EVER WANT TO SEE AGAIN.  oh my god.  look, if you know this movie, you understand me.  if you don’t, how do i sum it up?  an elderly couple living in (i think) rural england has been following the news of a seemingly inevitable nuclear conflict approaching.  the wife is largely unconcerned - after all, they made it through world war ii, and enough time has past that the memories have become romantic - and the husband is confident that the government pamphlets instructing him to whitewash the windows and create a shelter out of doors will instruct him well.

...you know where this is going, because there’s only one way this story can go.

bombs fall, everyone dies.

but not like that.  while most of their area is flattened, their home stands.  and at first all seems well.  emergency services will be along soon enough to rescue them, after all.  the pamphlets instruct them to stay in their little shelter for fourteen days to avoid fallout, but the impracticality of that is immediately apparent, and after all - if you can’t hear it, feel it, see it, how can it be harming you?  

sure, they’ve had headaches, but stress, you know?

if you for some reason have been meaning to see this but haven’t gotten to it, and don’t want spoilers, skip this, because i really can’t figure out how to explain how quietly horrific this film is without spoiling the entire thing.  

the couple - jim and hilda - quickly grow bored indoors and stroll around their garden, chatting about how nice everything will look once it’s grown back next season.  

yeah,  you’ve correctly inferred just how much denial they’re in.  hilda notices a neighbor’s dog in the distance and worriedly comments that it must be hungry; we can see that the dog is not only dead but partially fused to the ground.  grimmer still is jim’s comment that people must have put sunday dinner on early in the week; he can smell the meat roasting.  hilda mentions her worsening nausea, which jim attributes to a woman’s inability to handle stress.  

the water runs out, there are rats in the toilets, and hilda and jim can’t quite pinpoint why they feel so off; so tired and weak.  surely nothing a cup of tea wouldn’t fix, but that’s out of the question now.  still, emergency services should be arriving any moment now.  they wonder how their son and his family are faring.  

jim wonders if hilda is wearing lipstick; she isn’t.  her gums are bleeding.  but surely it’s a result of ill-fitting dentures.  they’re old; it happens.  those strange sores on their limbs must be varicose veins.  they’re old; it happens.  bloody diarrhea?  hemorrhoids.  they’re old; it happens.

jim runs out of answers when hilda’s hair starts coming out in handfuls - or perhaps he’s simply too weak to speak much at this point.  

ultimately, they retire to their tiny shelter, both finally acknowledging - wordlessly but clearly - that no help is coming.  with no better ideas left, hilda suggests they might pray.  jim, endearingly, begins his prayer with “dear sir,” which hilda suggests is wrong.  they are, after all, an old married couple.  

mid-sentence, jim ceases to speak.  and that is all.

this movie came out in the 80s, as part of that boom of nuclear holocaust films that flooded the nation at that time.  but unlike the thrillers or the family dramas, this film is almost painfully quiet.  jim and hilda have no fear.  there’s no screaming, no crying, just wondering why on earth their son seems to have gone mad at the news.  war is survivable; they’ve done it before.  there are no horrific shots of dead bodies, of people burned and in agony.  just jim and hilda, quietly transforming from round-faced little old cherubs to hollow-eyed skeletons.  

and my god, they make you love them.  they’re fucking adorable, with their accents and their quaint little house.  they bicker, but you know neither would know what to do with themselves without the other.  (the sweetness of their relationship is, i imagine, what makes the moment where jim carelessly calls hilda a “stupid bitch” as she refuses to get into the shelter - the oven’s on, the laundry’s still on the line, she really should take care of these things first - so disproportionately upsetting.  it feels personal, somehow.)  

the movie looks absolutely gorgeous.  the characters are animated, the home is done in 3d models, manipulated with stop motion, and the blending of mediums is startlingly seamless.  the character designs are simple - jim looks rather like an elderly charlie brown, with a large round head, dots for eyes, a little squiggle mouth and little else - making it all the more effective when the effects of their sickness start to visibly affect them.  there’s no gore, nothing hyperrealistic, and yet the images are deeply disturbing in ways eli roth can only dream of being.  

as the saying goes, one death is a tragedy; a million, a statistic.  we can speculate about the number of lives lost if nuclear war breaks out, but somehow that will feel less devastating than watching just these two.  there’s nothing exaggerating, nothing made “bigger” for film.  just the quiet, horrible truth.

and fuck, it’s a sick feeling when you remember that this is exactly what we did to every single japanese individual who didn’t immediately die when we bombed them.  they died in days and weeks after with radiation poisoning, or years later of blood and bone cancers.  either they went through this themselves, dying horrible, agonizing deaths that they couldn’t even feel the hope of curing, or they helplessly watched their families.  numbers are sobering, but the reality of the suffering is nauseating.

oh and i mean trump seems determined to bring about the same fate to the us, so there’s that to think about, if you didn’t feel shitty enough.

it’s an absolutely brilliant piece of art; one of the best animated films i’ve ever seen.  but i think it’s best to go in warned about what you’re seeing.  you know it’s going to be sad, you know they’re going to die, but...you should know that it’s worse than you’re envisioning.

still.  see it.  it’s on youtube.  

ringing bell - because shit, i didn’t already want to die enough, right?  it’s bambi, but with sheep.  oh, and instead of growing up and marrying his cousin, bambi joins forces with the hunter and becomes an expert gunman.  

yeah.

honestly, i didn’t like it, and not for the reasons you might think.  yeah, it’s sad, but i didn’t think it was well put-together.  the first third is just a baby lamb called chirin prancing around being nauseating (or cute, i guess).  the second third is an irritating, dumb baby sheep deciding he wants to become an apprentice to the wolf who killed his mother, which...okay, i can accept that he’s come to reason that only the strong survive (there’s an absolutely gutting scene, one of the few done well, where the lamb attempts to rescue a bird and her eggs from a snake.  the mother is killed, and in the scuffle, the eggs are broken.  the image of chirin wailing “why do the weak have to die?” is going to be the thing that fucks me up for the rest of my life.  jesus christ.) but we see NONE of this - he goes from hunting down the wolf determined to kill it, the wolf knocks him down a fucking mountain, he climbs back up and declares his intent to become a wolf.

we get a rocky movie’s worth of training montages, and really a whole bunch of nothing for the second act.  i’ll give it credit for having the wolf’s design be badass as fuck and for the hunting scene having more realism than i’d expect from a sanrio production (yeah, this came from the people who brought you hello kitty.)  but the story elements are really ignored.  we never do find out why the wolf never just ate the damn sheep when it came looking for him.

the third act is better - chirin’s adult model is the stuff of nightmares compared to his cotton fluffball appearance in the earlier scenes, and everything looks gorgeous and is animated far better than what came before it.  i won’t spoil the story of the ending, but the final shot, of chirin alone, wailing for the wolf in what sounds creepily like a howl, is...depressing.  it’s not SAD.  it just comes with a resignation that makes it so much worse than just being sad.  of course this is how it ends.  what else could there be for this wretch, no longer a ram, but not enough a wolf?

it’s a short, about 50 minutes, and at first i was thinking it might have worked better as a feature, but really, it would’ve worked better at the same length, just with differently-applied focus.  still, i appreciate its existence.  i think the 70s and 80s realized what we’ve forgotten now - kids eat up the dark stuff, the cautionary and morality tales.  when things are scary, you get to feel proud and excited that you made it through.  when things are sad, you learn to remember that happiness returns.  when you experience loss vicariously, you begin to understand it, how to process it.  when you see death, you accept it as part of life.  kids WANT to understand these things; they WANT to know more than what they know; they WANT to take on tough things and overcome them.  WE want to keep them “safe” and “innocent” - they know that that’s the opposite of what they need.  

that said, if any kid i’m watching wants to watch it, i’m going to another room until it’s over.  JESUS.

[bringingmetoneverland]

aight time for some kinda bulleted JL movie thoughts. long post, spoilers ahead.

we’ll start with the bad:

first thing’s first, fire Joss Whedon. that “thirsty” joke? barry tripping and falling on diana? fuck off

like seriously these are two POWERFUL women who--when they are in an environment meant to showcase that power--are undermined by some stupid sex joke. 

the amazon’s armor was like half-and-half. some of it no different from wonder woman movie, some of it SO DUMB. not seen too often thank goodness

single gratuitous Diana in leather pants ass shot

writing was good, but the few cringe lines were PAINFULLY cringe-y

lookin at that weird as shit “you smell good” exchange after clark was brought back to life???????????

I wish the transitions between scenes flowed smoother--general cohesion was not a strong point *sigh*

no context to arthur and mera in an exchange that necessitated context

THEY CUT THE SCENE WHERE BARRY MEETS IRIS BYE I’LL FUCKING FIGHT DCEU

THEY ALSO CUT A SHIT TON OF CYBORG SCENES 

couldn’t we have--idk--replaced those stupid sexist jokes with one of those beautiful moments that would have solidified character motivation for barry/victor???

overall disappointed with Lois Lane--though I loved Bruce referring to her as “the big guns” for helping with Clark’s revival

now for the “trying to decide how i feel about it”:

felt kinda like a DC arkham video game at times--ngl part of me was into it, but that’s also cause i love those video games

the russian family

I JUST???? FELT LIKE THEY WERE A GOOD TIE TO SHOWCASE THE HUMANITY AT STAKE ????? BUT WITH THE SIDE PLOTS FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL HERO FELT IT KINDA CLUTTERED THE MOVIE AND TOOK AWAY TIME THAT COULD HAVE BEEN USED TO BETTER ESTABLISH OUR LESSER KNOWN HEROES? BUT I LIKE THEM?? THAT LITTLE GIRL WITH HER CAN OF BUG SPRAY FOR GIANT MUTANT ALIEN BUGS??? PRECIOUS!

MAYBE THEY COULD’VE BEEN INTRODUCED EARLIER AND BEEN SHOWN AS A MOTIF THROUGHOUT???

Aaaand the stuff I liked:

BARRY FUCKING ALLEN BUT WHO’S SURPRISED? NOT ME

My awkward jewish son is a treasure to us all and his panicking moments but his excitement and

WHAT IS BRUNCH????

“HI BARRY I’M DIANA NO WAIT THAT’S NOT RIGHT”

BLESS HIM

THEY SHOWED HIM VISITING HIS DAD IN PRISON. GIVE ME MORE. I LOVE ME MY FLASH ANGST COVERED IN SEVEN LAYERS OF HUMOR 

ALSO BLACKPINK.

I REPEAT BARRY ALLEN IS A KPOP FAN. 

I loved that they showed that his speed CAN be challenged by superman, especially as he is a young hero whose powers only recently manifested. 

his. metabolism. his. bloodsugar. a blackhole--a snackhole if you will

“just save one person” <3 <3 <3 

Actually this is a cross over to something I enjoyed about how they played Batman as well because Bruce, for all his deep-seated psychological issues, is the BatDad constantly collecting strays, and this fatherly moment was the softer side of batman I’ve been dying to see on the big screen.

the beginning of the movie starting with a phone-recorded video of clark being “interviewed” by little kids who want to know if he could fight a hippo because they’re strong and then being asked what’s his favorite thing about earth and him laughing softly and humoring them

that

that is my superman

Arthur Curry

Me: *complains about gratuitous scenes objectifying the female body*/Me: *god bless every shirtless scene of Jason Momoa*

Granted he’s aquaman so there’s a case to be made.

But also I love that they tackled the “fishman” problem by having him throw it right back at Bruce-- “wow so you really do dress as a bat?”

iconic

then when Bruce tried to make fun of him  about a “spear”, then Arthur uses it to completely skewer like 5 alien bugs. blesses all around

*tries to be rage cool and rebellious against his responsibility to atlanteans*

*saves fisherman from drowning in storms like the little mermaid*

Atlantian/Themyscira/GREEN LANTERN TEASERS

this sounds dumb but the simple acknowledgement of one group to the other builds the DC universe so much and i loved it

All forces joining together, tribes of men, atlantians, amazonians, FUCKING LANTERN CORPS.

Too bad we shall never talk about the green lantern movie

every single member of the justice league roasting bruce fucking wayne because i live for batman being knocked down a few pegs

likewise, every single member of the justice league is whipped for diana and that’s exactly as it should be

speaking of diana I saw someone complain about her “motherly instincts” and how “stereotypical it was”

AIIGHT BITCH LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT DIANA OF THEMYSCIRA

THIS GODDESS IS THE MORAL COMPASS AND HEART OF THE DC UNIVERSE WHO IS BOUND BY HONOR, TRUTH, AND LOVE

HER POSITION AS A HERO IS NOT DEFINED BY TRAGEDY AND REVENGE ARCS LIKE MOST MALE SUPERHEROES

BUT IS INSTEAD A CELEBRATION OF FEMALE STRENGTH THROUGH JUSTICE AND COMPASSION

SO YEAH SHE’S GUNNA BE PARENTAL

Victor Stone’s booyah

Victor Stone’s booyah

Victor Stone’s booyah

Victor Stone’s booyah

There’s more to be said of Victor/Cyborg of course, but I just had to get that out of my system.

His projection of his personal fears onto his father

“funny how you assumed i thought i was the monster”

okay victor

you tell yourself that

He was overall very stoic, but not in the “tough guy *grunt grunt* fuck feelings” kind of way. It was more like the nervous kid who saw the potential he had to hurt others, to be used to hurt others. He didn’t know what he was anymore and he was scared.

In general I loved the interactions between Barry and Victor. “We’re the accidents”

Bruce to Clark: “I don’t...not...like...”

SLADE WILSON 

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

[ellanainthetardis]

It’s Reaping day! (again) I hope you enjoy this chapter! Let me know!

[FF] or [AO3]

Chapter 15 :  The Best Part Of The Deal

Haymitch had been right when he had thought Thread would like them to make a grand entrance. The whole District was gathered on the Square and parted for them without the Peacekeepers being forced to clean a lane.

It felt… solemn.

A few men took their hat off, like you did at a funeral. Some people made a point of meeting their eyes, others nodded… When they passed in front of Gale, Haymitch could see Peeta squeezing Katniss’ hand in a gesture of comfort.

He wished Effie could hold his hand too.

Familiar faces blurred together. Sae’s sad crooked smile. Ripper standing as tall as her broken back would allow her. Hazelle’s teary eyes.

Dust puffed in small clouds around their feet.

Haymitch was there and he wasn’t. He was walking toward the stage twenty-five years earlier, for another Quell. He was walking in the lane kids always automatically created for the tribute who had been unfortunate enough to be picked. Too many tesseraes, he had thought at the time, never had a fighting chance. Not with the double number of tributes. Not with so many pieces of paper bearing his name in that glass ball.

He looked around for his brother’s face and found Prim’s gaze instead. The kid shot him a soft encouraging smile and he ruffled her hair as he walked past her, making her squeak in protest – like always. It helped. It grounded him.

They separated at the foot of the stage, once they were past the security ropes.

Katniss and Peeta’s hands remained entwined for as long as possible, their arms stretching to touch to the very last second. A nice little display that he hoped the cameras had caught.

Effie’s fingers discreetly brushed against his before she went up the stairs.

He followed Peeta to their waiting area on the left of the stage, catching Katniss’ eye when she was in her own designed space on the right. The girl nodded, looking older than her seventeen years. He nodded back, placing a heavy hand on the boy’s shoulder. To remind Peeta – or maybe himself – that they all had an arrangement.

“Are you one hundred percent certain?” the kid asked, as if on cue. “I beg you, Haymitch. If you are doubting just for one second…”

Effie was exchanging a few words with Undersee, all smiles and theatrics as usual. He stared at her, focusing on the red dress, retracing the curves of her calves with his eyes…

“That’s how we save your girl.” he said at last.

“But you…” Peeta argued.

“That’s how I save you.” he cut him off. “Don’t you fucking dare take that away from me or I am gonna punch you.”

If he did anything good in his life, it would be saving those kids.

Peeta was the easy one, truth be told. Katniss… It would be trickier. She would be an obvious target to the others, the outsider to their group and the crowd’s favorite. It would take brain and muscles. Keeping her alive long enough for Effie and Peeta to find her sponsors, keeping her alive long enough that she could reach the finish line…

“I just want to save her.” the boy whispered, clearly in pain. “I want to save her so badly. I would go in with her. In a heartbeat. I’d die for her.”

“You’re gonna have to do better, kid. You’re gonna have to live for her.” Haymitch countered. “’Cause when all this is over and she’s back, she’s gonna need you.”

Going in an arena once was usually enough to rip someone’s soul to shreds.

He wasn’t impatient to find out what happened when you went back for a second time.

He shook his head, sighing when he saw Undersee take his place in front of the microphone.

“Dying’s easy, Peeta. Surviving’s the real bitch.” he said. “Don’t feel guilty. I’m getting the best part of the deal.”

It wasn’t quite a lie but it wasn’t quite the truth either.

He had sat through a lot of Reapings, most of them as drunk as he could get away with, but this one felt particularly weird. The Square was deadly silent. Undersee talked in a flat mechanical voice about the rebellion and the origins of the Games and Haymitch tuned him out. He stared at Effie and tried to remain grounded.

When Undersee left his place to their escort, there was no clapping.

She looked nervous and not quite as at ease as usual but that could easily have been explained by the particular atmosphere. It was downright rebellious and he could glimpse the Peacekeepers adjusting their grip on their guns at every corner of the Square.

“Welcome, welcome to the Third Quarter Quell!” she declared. She aimed for cheerful but her smile was too fixed and the tone wasn’t quite right. “Ladies first!”

Her hands were visibly shaking, she struggled to grab the lonely piece of paper and she paused before announcing Katniss’ name, barely glancing down, her eyes on the girl.

She was doing her best, Haymitch figured, but it wasn’t good enough. If she didn’t keep it together… He wasn’t sure how off the hook she was. She knew better than this. It was one thing to fall apart in the privacy of his house, where there were no bugs and no cameras, it was entirely another to betray herself in front of the whole country.

“Katniss Everdeen.” she said, at last. If she even tried to put some cheer in there, it fell flat.

She waited until the girl came to stand next to her before moving on to the other glass ball and its two pitiful folded papers.

She stood there and looked at them, flashing Haymitch a smile that was entirely fake and that pained him more than it comforted him. She fished one of the papers and briefly closed her eyes once she had read the name. It gave her away. He knew her too well.

“Remember the plan.” he reminded the boy. “Stay put.”

“Haymitch Abernathy.” Effie called, her voice cracking in the middle of his name.

It didn’t matter. He didn’t hear it in her voice anyway. It was the old escort’s voice he heard and it was toward the old hag that he walked as if in a daze, after pressing Peeta’s shoulder. Once he was next to her, he blinked and Effie was back. Their eyes met. Her fake eyelashes were batting like crazy to fight off the tears she couldn’t allow herself.

Her hand slipped into his and she gave the world her brightest smile. He supposed she had caught Katniss’ hand too.

“District Twelve, I give you your tributes for the Seventy-Fifth Hunger Games: Katniss Everdeen and Haymitch Abernathy!” she exclaimed. She forced both his arm and Katniss’ high over their heads in a victorious pose. The crafted iris dug in his palm.

Aster was the first one to bring three fingers to her lips before holding them out but, soon, a second figure copied her and a third and, before he could blink, the whole District, spread at their feet, was doing it. It was a mark of respect, of love… It was beautiful.

For a second, Haymitch felt himself moved beyond words. It was one of those moments that were bigger than just a person.

But, then, he saw Thread’s reaction and he realized just how it looked…

“Don’t.” he hissed at the girl before she could give the salute back.

Katniss shot him a confused look but mercifully listened.

They couldn’t afford to look rebellious. Not if they wanted a chance at getting her out.

The cameras shut down and Effie relaxed. So did Haymitch. It was done. Peeta was safe. As safe as any new victor was anyway. And he was…

Effie turned to him, probably about to remind him they needed to proceed into the Justice Building, when he was brutally torn from her side. Katniss screamed and he automatically fought the hands that tried to restrain him, managing to hit someone in the stomach with his elbow and only getting knocked behind the head for his trouble.

Stunned, he was dragged away and tossed in a car, barely hearing Katniss’ protests or Effie’s cries of outrage.

“They can’t do this!” Katniss raged, once the car’s door locked behind her. She pounded on the tainted glass with her fists. “We’re allowed to say goodbyes! We’re allowed…” When the car drove away, the fight left her. She slumped against the seat. “We’re allowed to say goodbye…”

He would have offered some comforting words if he had been able to put a sentence together. He felt the back of his head, not quite surprised to feel a bump developing…

The world was still spinning around him when the car doors opened and hands grabbed him again. They pushed them in the train so brutally Haymitch hit the wall and would have collapsed without Katniss’ hands steadying him.

“You’re okay?” the girl finally worried, manhandling him so she could get a look at the back of his head.

“We’re off to a great start.” he mumbled with a wince.

“Insufferable!” Effie’s voice screamed in her best I’m pissed and someone is going to pay for it voice. “Do not dare put a single finger on me or I swear I will have your tongue removed! I will report this. Heads will roll for this!”

He was vaguely aware Peeta seemed to be playing the role of buffer between her and the Head Peacekeeper. As soon as the two of them had climbed on board the door locked shut and the engine hummed to life.

“Outrageous! Hitting victors on the back of the head with guns!” she screeched, making him wince deeper. “Imagine that! I swear!”

“That’s what it was?” he muttered, batting away Katniss’ hands.

Effie’s attention relocated from the now shut door to him and anger faded to concern. “You should sit down, darling. It looked like a bad blow.”

“Don’t call me darling in front of the kids.” he huffed when she gripped his arm and steered him toward the sitting room car.

“There’s no blood.” Katniss offered helpfully.

Effie’s free hand was already probing at the wound like she knew what she was doing. She had patched him up after enough binge drinking accidents to know some stuff about first aid, he figured.

He felt a bit better once he was sitting down on the couch but his head was still spinning. Someone – Peeta, he thought – pressed a bag of ice on the bump. He hissed but the relief was immediate. He looked up at the three concerned faces peering at him and rolled his eyes. “I’ll admit it’s not glorious. Good thing there won’t be any gun in the arena.”

At least, he hoped so. There had never been any before.

The reminder worked as he had intended it to. Katniss’ worry disappeared for a sulk.

“We were allowed to say goodbye.” the girl protested, mainly directing that at Effie. “It’s in the rules. It’s…”

“I know, dear.” their escort cut her off almost distractedly, her eyes still glued on him. “I am sorry, I had no clue. If I had known...”

“It’s alright, Effie.” Peeta temporized. “We know it’s not your fault.”

“I will report this incident.” she promised, pursing her lips tight. “This is not to be suffered.” She sat down next to Haymitch and reached for the bag of ice. His fingers were numb so he let her take it. She inspected the bump carefully before pressing the ice back. “How are you feeling?”

“Peachy.” he lied.  

“I’ll be in my room.” Katniss spat before storming out.

He expected Peeta to follow but the boy hovered awkwardly, worrying his fingers a little.

“Spit it out.” Haymitch grumbled.

“Thank you.” the kid offered. “Nobody… I never thought anyone would ever do something like that for me and… Thank you.”

He wasn’t sure what he was supposed to answer to that so he simply gave a brief nod.

“Peeta, dear.” Effie cut in with her usual cheerfulness. “If you go to my room you will find potential sponsors files on the dressing table. They are color coded. Perhaps you could start reading them, learn their face and their name. It will make mentoring easier.”

“Sure.” Peeta immediately agreed. “I’ll… See you at dinner.”

Haymitch waited until he was gone before dropping his head on her lap, nudging her further down the couch so he could put his feet up. She switched the hand holding the bag of ice and placed her cold fingers on his shoulder. He covered them briefly and then brought them to his lips.

“That’s done.” he commented flatly.

“I suppose it is.” she replied, bubbly and fake. He wasn’t sure if she was acting because the train was bugged or to keep the pretense up for both of their sake’s.

“Don’t suppose you’d let me have a drink, yeah?” he mocked, his eyes resting on the liquor cart in the corner. His mouth was watering at the simple sight of the bottle.

“I will have them removed.” she declared. “And I will make sure the penthouse is alcohol free.”

“Thought so.” he snorted.

He remained silent for a while, trying to come to terms with the enormity of it all.

It wasn’t just the thought that he was going to die in the next three weeks. That, he might have made his peace with. It was the knowledge that he was going to have to go back to the arena in every sense of the term. That he was probably going to be forced to kill people. His friends.

Effie’s fingers were running through his hair slowly, the only thing grounding him to a reality he would have gladly fled.

“Any guess as to who’s gonna be in there with us?” he asked.

“Brutus is volunteering.” she said.

“You’re guessing or you know for sure?” he frowned.

“Valeria told me.” she confessed. “We won’t know for certain until the recap airs but… She sounded certain. You know how he is… It is all about the competition for him and a Quell… He wouldn’t be able to pass on the opportunity.”

“Suppose not.” he sighed. “How come you’re so close to that woman all of a sudden?”

Effie had never had many good friends amongst the other escorts. They were all best friends in front of the cameras, of course, but behind them…

Her fingers ran in his hair a few times before she answered and he knew she was trying to waste time, to figure out how best to word something he wouldn’t like.

“I was not the only one who was asked to step down after the Quell is over.” she declared. “We believe… Any escort who is close to her victors has been fired for various inconsequential reasons. It brought us closer.” She snorted. “You won’t be surprised to learn Viola Summercket is being promoted from Eleven to Two next year.”

“She’s taking Valeria’s spot.” He made a face. “Explains why Two’s your best friend now.”

“Well, that and the fact she is intimate with a lot of prestigious sponsors.” Effie countered. “I have been making contacts while conducting my personal vendetta, if you must know.”

“That’s my girl.” he chuckled. He squeezed her knee and sat up straight. The bump at the back of his head throbbed but he didn’t feel like the world was spinning around anymore. “We’re gonna have to talk strategy.”

“It can wait until after the Reapings recap.” she countered. “Once we know who we are dealing with, we can plan accordingly.” He knew she was right so he gave her a small nod. She made a small face, worrying one of her big diamond ring around her finger. The iris shaped ring looked out of place amongst the gemstones, too common and plain to rival with her expensive jewelry. He was betting it would be gone from sight as soon as she would have found a safe place to keep it. “There is something else…” she hesitated.

“Isn’t there always?” he scowled.

“Our stylist.” It was all she needed to say, really.

“Great.” he deadpanned. “How bad?”

“Bad.” she confirmed without trying to make light of it – which told him all he needed to know really. “I made it very clear I had the final say and that I would supervise parade costumes and the interview outfits but we should expect troubles. She is… very full of herself.”

“You checked the parade outfits though, yeah?” he asked, suddenly panicked at the memory of what they had been forced to deal with over the years. “No gunnysack. Tell me, there’s no gunnysack.”

He hadn’t given a single thought to the parade, had forgotten how humiliating that part was.

“I specifically told her to work with the flame design.” she countered. “However, I have yet to see any prototype so…”

“You don’t know what’s in store.” He rubbed his face. “I ain’t letting them put me in a gunnysack. Rather wear the minor outfit again.”

His own parade outfit hadn’t been the worst he had seen all those years.

“It won’t come to that.” she promised in that soothing tone of hers. “I made it clear she should expect drastic consequences if I was displeased with the end result.”

It wasn’t that reassuring.

Eventually, Peeta returned with the sponsors files and too many questions. Haymitch did his best to answer them despite his headache while Effie found a train attendant and had the liquor removed and strict instructions given about how he should not be indulged with whatever alcohol he asked for. He was grateful not to have to request her to do it. He was grateful she knew him well enough to know he was tempted to gulp down a couple of bottles and say hell to it all.

When Katniss trailed after Effie in the dining-room car that evening, she looked a bit better than she had earlier. She was still sulking about not being able to say goodbye – and Haymitch understood, really, he was lucky in the sense that anyone he would have wanted to say goodbye to was standing in that room – but she had apparently decided to make an effort for their sake.

Dinner was a silent, gloomy affair. Nobody made much of an effort to chat. Effie tried a few times but always ended up falling silent again.

“I like your new hair.” Peeta ventured at some point, tired of the defeated atmosphere maybe.

It was all Effie needed to have the ball rolling. He listened to her talk about matching tokens as if she was clueless about how it would be viewed and faked complete disinterest when his opinion was sought.

“Maybe we should get you a wig, too.” Katniss tossed in a pitiful attempt at humor.

Haymitch scowled at her and Effie quickly cleared her throat, giving up on forcing herself to eat her custard. She suggested they moved on to watching the recap of the reapings and they all wholeheartedly agreed, relieved to leave the dinner table behind. It didn’t help that they had spent a whole month sharing meals with Cinna and Portia at this very table. Their ghosts lingered.

“How many of us in all?” he asked Effie when Peeta ran to his room to grab his notebook. He hadn’t been able to pinpoint an exact number. There were those who never came to the Capitol anymore either because of age or because their mental state wasn’t suitable to public exposure…

“Fifty-nine.” she answered with some nervousness.

He didn’t ask how many were older than forty or how many were addicted to something but he bet she knew those numbers too. He bet she was praying for most of their opponents to be elderly and weak from withdrawals.

They sat next to each other on the couch, leaving the armchairs to the kids. It allowed him to press his side against Effie’s, to draw comfort from her presence without being too obvious about it. He schooled his features into a blank mask before it even began, certain that the children would look at him to gauge his reaction with every new name called.

One was easily the District with the most tributes. The escort called Cashmere and although a few female victors looked at each other, nobody challenged that. Cashmere smiled and looked the part but she didn’t seem very happy with her fate. It was a different affair for the men. When Evira and her long green painted nails picked up Velmar’s name, Gloss stepped forward before anyone could even react.

Peeta drew stars next to their names in his notebook.

“To protect her or to win the title?” Effie asked under her breath.

“Protect her.” he answered, low enough that it wouldn’t carry to the kids who were commenting on the shallowness of Careers.

The Ritchson siblings had had their share of glory. They hadn’t liked being sold like cattle any more than any other victor had – never mind the fact that they were often sold as an item.

Gloss and Cashmere exchanged a look before the escort officially announced them and the spark in their eyes when they lifted their arms high over their heads, hands tightly locked together, promised mayhem. They would do their best to see that one of them got home, he already knew.

District Two was a quick affair. Valeria called Lyme and Enobaria volunteered, flashing her fangs to the cameras, then she called an old man and Brutus stepped forward, high-fiving his former tribute with a happy smile before pressing a loud kiss to their escort’s cheek. Because he knew the crowd would go mad for that in the Capitol. His wife didn’t seem as pleased about it.

“Poor Val.” Effie sighed softly.

District Three didn’t have as many tributes as One or Two. There were only two women standing there. Wiress looked downright apprehensive and was clearly fighting to keep a straight face, her posture was rigid, her eyes riveted to Beetee’s on the other side of the stage. Layela was younger, in her late twenties. An old flame of Finnick’s. He could still remember talking the kid into chatting her up… Layela didn’t step forward when Gloria’s dyed green hand picked up Wiress’ name. Nobody spoke out either when Beetee’s name was called.

Four… Four was a sham. There were as many victors there as there were in One and Two. Della, the escort, hesitated after checking the name on the piece of paper. Her eyes darted to the pool of female victors and then to where the men were waiting. Her voice broke when she called out a timid “Annie Cresta.” and Effie clucked her tongue at her behavior as if her own had been exemplary. But Della had been her protégé since she had become an escort a couple of years earlier so he supposed this explained that.

He wished he could say he was surprised when Annie lost it or when Mags tapped the floor twice with her walking stick to get everyone’s attention. If she spoke the words “I volunteer” they were lost to the cameras. But the way she hit her chest was enough for Della to understand and quickly announce her as the female tribute. That Finnick’s name was called of all the men gathered there confirmed Haymitch’s suspicions that some of the Reapings had been oriented. Both Annie and Finnick? It was very unlikely.

Effie let out a small pained sigh and he pressed his shoulder harder against hers, to remind her their only concern should be the kids next to them not the ones they had no hope of saving.

Five and Six went down as could be expected given the small numbers of victors.

Seven… He had hoped Johanna would escape it but she was forced to walk to the stage scowling and sneering. Nobody volunteered for Blight either.

He held his breath when it was Eight’s turn, not quite sure who he was hoping for. There were only Alina and Cecelia standing there and both of them had children. He liked Cecelia but he liked Alina more and so he breathed a sigh of relief when it wasn’t her name that echoed on Eight’s square.

“Oh, not Cecelia…” Effie lamented. They were friends, he remembered too late.

Nine was quick since there was only one male and one female victors. They were both in their sixties and Haymitch would have been surprised if they survived the inevitable bloodbath. Ten was pretty much the same.

Eleven… Seeder flinched when she heard her name but she recovered quickly enough to step forward with a forced smile and undeniable poise. Viola waited for a bit, her eyes on the other woman standing in the waiting area, clearly wishing her to volunteer – either because it would have spiced things up and given her some opportunity to shine or because she actually liked Seeder, that was anyone’s guess. When it was clear it wouldn’t happen, she moved on the other glass bowl.

“Come on.” he muttered under his breath when Viola’s fingers struggled to catch one of the two pieces of paper. “Come on…”

Not Chaff. It couldn’t be Chaff. If his best friend remained out there, he would know for certain someone would be there to look after his kids. If his best friend was out there…

“Chaff Mitchell.” Viola said almost gleefully. She didn’t bother waiting for Dam to volunteer and take his former tribute’s place.

He briefly closed his eyes.

“Well, Chaff never could stay out of a fight.” Effie commented out loud. He wasn’t sure if it was meant to comfort him or not.

Twelve’s reaping had been heavily edited. Gone was their solemn entrance. Effie called Katniss’ name, then Haymitch’s and the feed cut back to the announcers who congratulated themselves about how it would be the best games ever.

Haymitch stood up and left without a word for anyone.

[spooksuprex]

1-170!

1: How tall or short do you wish you were? I’m good with my height.2: What’s your dream pet? (Real or not) One of those bear hunting dogs.3: Do you have a favorite clothing style? Loose and soft.4: What was your favorite video game growing up? Pokemon Emerald5: What three things/people do you think of most each day: My friend from Arizona, my writing, and general story ideas.6: If you had a warning label, what would yours say? Uber awkward.7: What is your opinion on [insert person/thing here]? [insert person/thing here] is the worst thing ever8: What is your Greek personality type? [Sanguine, Phlegmatic, Choleric, or Melancholic] Melancholic9: Are you ticklish? Yes10: Are you allergic to anything? Pollen, and a specific brand of allergy medicine.11: What’s your sexuality? Heterosexual12: Do you prefer tea, coffee, or cocoa? Cocoa.13: Are you a cat or dog person? Dog.14: Would you rather be a vampire, elf, or merperson? Vampire, so I can wear a cape.15: Do you have a favorite Youtuber? Hat Films.16: How tall are you? 6′1″17: If you had to change your name, what would you change it to? Vladimir.18: How much do you weigh? [Only ask this if you know the user doesn’t mind!] 31719: Do you believe in ghosts/spirits? Yes.20: Do you like space or the ocean more? Space.21: Are you religious? Not really.22: Pet peeves? Not soaking dishes before washing them.23: Would you rather be nocturnal or diurnal [opposite of nocturnal]? Nocturnal24: Favorite constellation? Uh... big dipper?25: Favorite star? North star I guess?26: Do you like ball-jointed dolls? I think they’re neat27: Any phobias or fears? Spiders and bugs in general28: Do you think global warming is real? Yes, though I’m unsure how much is natural and how much is man-made.29: Do you believe in reincarnation? Eh... I don’t think its impossible.30: Favorite movie? Superman vs The Elite31: Do you get scared easily? Yes32: How many pets have you own in your lifetime? 533: Blog rate? [You’ll rate the blog of the one who’s asking.] 11/1034: What is a color that calms you? White, reminds me of my bed.35: Where would you like to travel and/or live? Hmm... Italy would be interesting to visit.36: Where were you born? Indiana37: What is your eye color? Green38: Introvert or extrovert? Introvert39: Do you believe in horoscopes and zodiacs? Not really, but they’re neat.40: Hugs or kisses? Hugs41: Who is someone you would like to see/visit right now? My friend from Arizona... or kara, so I can “thank” her for sending this to me.42: Who is someone you love deeply? My dog43: Any piercings you want? No.44: Do you like tattoos and piercings? Tattoos yes, piercings no.45: Do you smoke or have you eiver done so? Once. It sucked.46: Talk about your crush, if you have one! ... My friend from Arizona. We’ve talked for a long time, and every time it always makes me super happy. She’s funny, kind, a bit goofy... She’s very memorable and its hard not to think of her.47: What is a sound you really hate? A train braking48: A sound you really love? A fan blowing49: Can you do a backflip? No50: Can you do the splits? No51: Favorite actor and/or actress? Nicholas Cage52: Favorite movie? Superman vs the elite... again53: How are you feeling right now? Annoyed at this length of this.54: What color would you like your hair to be right now? Brown, which it is.55: When did you feel happiest? When I’m talking to my friend from Arizona.56: Something that calms you down? Drawing.57: Have any mental disorders? [Only ask this if you know the user doesn’t mind!] Autism.58: What does your URL mean? A bear that is ghostly.59: What three words describe you the most? Big, quiet, smile.60: Do you believe in evolution? Yes.61: What makes you unfollow a blog? When they annoy more often than they post neat stuff.62: What makes you follow a blog? Neat stuff, like art.63: Favorite kind of person: People who can do their damn jobs.64: Favorite animal(s): Dogs65: Name three of your favorite blogs. karawaltersuniverse, puublack, candygarnet66: Favorite emoticon: :D67: Favorite meme: I lived, Bitch68: What is your MBTI personality type? Dunno, don’t feel like doing the test.69: What is your star sign? Cancer, I think.70: Can your dog roll over on command, if you have a dog? No, she can sit tho71: What outfit out of all your clothes do you like to wear the most? Work pants, loose T-shirt72: Post a selfie or two? No.73: Do you have platform shoes? Nope, don’t need ‘em74: What is one random but interesting fact about yourself? I once had a swing set fall on my head and I didn’t get a concussion75: Can you do a front flip? No76: Do you like birds? Yes77: Do you like to swim? Yes78: Is swimming or ice skating more fun to you? Swimming79: Something you wish didn’t exist: Assholes80: Some thing you wish did exist: Pokemon81: Piercings you have? Noone82: Something you really enjoy doing: Writing83: Favorite person to talk to: Karawaltersuniverse.84: What was your first impression of Tumblr? Weird, obsessed with social justice.85: How many followers do you have? 17986: Can you run a mile within ten minutes? No87: Do your socks always match? No88: Can you touch your toes and keep your legs straight completely? Nope.89: What are your birthstones? Ruby90: If you were an animal, which one would you be? Cat, so I can sleep all day.91: If a flower could aesthetically represent you, what kind would it be? Peony92: A store you hate? Target.93: How many cups of coffee can you drink in one day? None94: Would you rather be able to fly or read minds? Fly.95: Do you like to wear camo? No.96: Winter or summer? Winter97: How long can you hold your breath for? I dunno.98: Least favorite person? Annoying coworkers.99: Someone you look up to: This sounds cliche, but Leonardo Da Vinci.100: A store you love? Kroger101: Favorite type of shoes Boots102: Where do you live? Indiana103: Are you a vegetarian or vegan? If so, why? No.104: What is your favorite mineral or gem? Ruby105: Do you drink milk? Yes.106: Do you like bugs? No.107: Do you like spiders? No108: Something you get paranoid about? Being gossiped about behind my back.109: Can you draw: Fairly well110: Nosiest question you have ever been asked? Look down five questions.111: A question you hate being asked? This one.112: Ever been bitten by a spider? No113: Do you like the sound of waves at the beach? Yes114: Do you prefer cloudy or sunny days? Cloudy115: Someone you’d like to kiss or cuddle right now: .... my arizona friend.116: Favorite cloud type: White floofy ones117: What color do you wish the sky was? Orange118: Do you have freckles? No119: Favorite thing about a person: Their hair120: Fruits or vegetables? Fruits121: Something you want to do right now: To be done with this.122: Is the ocean or sky prettier? Sky.123: Sweet or sour foods? Sweets124: Bright or dim lights? Dim.125: Do you believe in a certain magical creature? Ghosts.126: Something you hate about Tumblr: The community.127: Something you love about Tumblr: My friends.128: What do you think about the least? Toast.129: What would you want written on your tombstone? “This isn’t the last you’ll see of me!”130: Who would you like to punch in the face right now? The person who wrote this.131: What is something you love but also hate about yourself? My beard132: Do you smile with your teeth showing for pictures? no133: Computer or TV? Computer134: Do you like roller coasters? No.135: Do you get motion sickness or seasickness? No.136: Are your ears lobed or attached? I assume lobed.137: Do you believe in karma? Yes138: On a scale of 1-10, how attractive would you say you are? 3139: What nicknames do you have/have had? Cory, corky, cody, corey, coby, cornbeef, cornbread.140: Did you have any pretend or imaginary friends? No.141: Have you ever seen a therapist/shrink? Yes, when I was younger.142: Would you say you are a good or bad influence to others? I’d hope good.143: Do you prefer giving or receiving gifts/help? Giving144: What makes you angry People who can’t do their damn jobs.145: How many languages do you speak fluently? One.146: Do you prefer boys, girls, and/or non-binaries? Girls.147: Are you androgynous? No.148: Favorite physical thing about yourself: My hair.149: Favorite thing about your personality: The fact I like to try and see both sides of an issue.150: Name three people you would like to talk to right now in person. My Arizona friend, Leonardo Da Vinci, and karawaltersuniverse so I can choke her out for making me do this.151: If you could go back into time and live in one era, which would you choose? Renaissance.152: Do you like BuzzFeed? No.153: How did you meet your spouse/girlfriend/boyfriend/partner? [If you have one.] Ain’t got one.154: Do you like to kiss others’ foreheads or hands for platonic reasons? No.155: Do you like to play with others’ hair? No.156: What embarrasses you? My looks.157: Something that makes you nervous/anxious:158: Biggest lie you have ever told: I once said I threw up to get out fo work.159: How many people are you following? 382160: How many posts do you have on your blog(s)? 18,641161: How many drafts do you have on your blog(s)? 32162: How many likes do you have on your blog(s)? 17,453163: Last time you cried and why: Couple weeks ago, had a bit of a funk.164: Do you have long or short hair? Short.165: Longest your hair has ever been: Like... two inches?166: Why do you like, dislike, or have neutral feelings about religon? Neutral167: Do you really care how the universe and world was created? ... Not really. I got shit to worry about.168: Do you like to wear makeup? Nah.169: Can you stand on your hands or head for more than thirty seconds? No.170: Did you answer the questions you were asked truthfully? Yes, you fuck.

[thatawkwardnerdytomboy]

My Review of the Netflix DeathNote Movie (Spoilers Included)

The Plot

Within the first 10 minutes of the movie, we’re presented with a bunch of cliches of high school life that we didn’t see with the original Death Note. The character, Light, who was a popular respected student at his school has been reduced to a school outcast who gets paid to do his schoolmates’ homework and gets assaulted for protecting his future love interest, a fellow classmate. When he’s assaulted, this love interest, Mia lies to the principal about how he was knocked unconscious and it seems as though Light doesn’t remember anything that occurred prior to this. When Light is approached by the shinigami (death god) Ryuk, in his classroom during detention, Ryuk destroys the room causing Light to freak out. In the anime, Light is both nervous and excited to meet Ryuk. Someone with Light’s mentality should feel entitled and even expect to meet such an entity, not cower and fear for his life before it. 

We’re then introduced to Light’s family...er...dad. Apparently his mother was killed off to provide motivation for him to push him to become Kira and his sister...I guess she doesn’t exist anymore? This scene should have been a way to show that Light has a normal supportive family which adds to his privilege. I feel that this was lazy writing and that it sends a message that people with broken families are more likely to become murders and sociopaths when this isn’t the case. If the writers decided to keep his original family, it would create the message that sociopaths can and do come from normal families. There’s a scene where after Light kills his mother’s assailant, he tells his father about the perp’s death. His father reveals that his mother was against violence but believed that “Karma is a bitch.” Would have been nice if they had some scenes that showed Light and his family bonding before her murder to actually make us care more about it. We get it, it’s terrible but we don’t even know who his mother is. 

There’s a montage of Light and Mia engaging in sexual activity as they kill more criminals and we see a cult of Kira rising around the city. We get a sense that they’re both taking more sexual pleasure from the murders than they are from each other. We’re then introduced to L as he is at the scene of one of Kira’s mass murders of two rival Japanese gangs and L and one of his constituents converse in Japanese. It’s also noted that Kira’s victims write out his name in Japanese on the walls around them before they die which begs the question...why didn’t they just keep this movie Japanese?! Oh wait, it’s just a way for Light to throw detectives off of his path and make them believe that Kira is Japanese and living in Japan because y’know, it can’t possibly be a Japanese American. Though L already figures this out. How? it’s not explained until later.  

We have a scene where Mia prompts L to take more kill requests from Kira worshipper sites online but Light is reluctant. Who’s Kira here? Light or Mia? L reveals that Kira resides in Seattle because one of his victims death’s was only exclusively televised live in Seattle and that his name and face was revealed to Seattle residents only. L makes his address to the city to call Kira out and of course, Light can’t kill him. I thought that it was an obvious but decent decision to have L masked even he’s supposed to make his public address on TV. I like the scene where Light sneaks up behind his father out of the darkness to ask him about the investigation and the conversation that ensues--the one time where we see Light in the correct character. Why is this guy not in the whole film?! 

Mia gives Ryuk the idea to kill all the agents who are investigating and stalking Light and even though he’s not supposed to, Ryuk goes through with it, having them walk off a building before the uncaring emotionless gazes of a woman and her child. Light’s father calls Kira out in a public address to which Light freaks out about being tested again and when he survives this, L becomes convinced without a doubt that Light is Kira. L confronts Light at a local eatery and accuses him to his face. Light freaks out when L pushes him too far--which is out of character. Light is also supposed to befriend L to keep his suspicions at bay and assist his father with the case but apparently, in this portrayal, Light isn’t smart enough to do this. 

When Light forces Watari to find L’s real name for him, L also begins to break character and freak out. The real L wouldn’t even allow this to happen. L also randomly shows up to the Turner household (Light’s dad doesn’t show the proper amount of shock at this moment). Mia is sent away while L interrogates Light and his father about why Light sent Watari away. L and his team then search the house. In the anime, L bugs Light’s house instead to spy on him. This also creates a sense that L is becoming unstable which detracts from his position of power over the situation. Watari is killed before he can tell Light L’s real name. Meanwhile, Light is at a school dance, doing normal teenager stuff to keep the agents spying on him off his back and we find out that Mia caused Watari’s premature death when she removed the page with Watari’s name. Manipulative much? Again, who is the real Kira here? Light or Mia? I think that the writers were seriously confused about this. Misa would never do this unless instructed by Light. 

We then have a cliche chase scene between Light, L and the cops who were ordered to protect Light. These two assholes knock people over as they’re running through a restaurant. As a worker comes into the alleyway to see what’s going on, L blabs to this random stranger about Light’s true identity and the worker who turns out to be a Kira cult member, clocks him with a 2x4. Very professional move L... The following scene is probably the most absurd nonsensical scene in this movie...Light and Mia trap themselves on a ferris wheel to escape the cops and they both admit to each other that they wrote each other’s names in the book as an act of revenge. The ferris wheel begins to collapse and they both plunge to their deaths, killing Mia. Light’s page’s magically and conveniently floats into a burning trash can and Light survives. A man later revealed to be a pedophile collects the Death Note and returns it to Light while he’s in the hospital. Light’s father then enters the room and accuses Light of being Kira because he found out that Light stole the newspaper clipping naming his mother’s killer from his room. We then learn (mostly through narration of course because lazy writing and this movie is too short) how Light killed Mia and saved himself as he explains it to his father. L loses his shit as he contemplates how Light slipped through his fingers. 

This movie was way too short and succumbed to lazy writing and cliches. It’s bad enough that they fell into American movie studios’ mistake of white-washing the cast which was supposed to be primary Asian actors (yes, Asians can be American too!), but to deviate from the anime’s source material so much confuses Death Note fans like myself. Even from an objective standpoint and my struggle to not compare this movie to the original source material, it’s still doesn’t bring anything new to the slew of vigilante justice movies out there in terms of the plot or the characters. Where the original Death Note subverts the cliches of vengeance and casts the protagonist as a villain, this adaptation falls back into the cliche of the protagonist being an angry young adult who’s had family taken away from them...as if we don’t have tons of films with this subject matter already. The cinematography in this movie, while decent, in my opinion was not enough to save it from it’s lack of direction and poor decisions. If I had to give this movie a grade/rating, I’d give it a 1/5 and I’m being generous. 

Light

Light isn’t portrayed as the sociopathic genius that he’s presented as in the anime, but clearly, just another angry teenager with a twisted sense of justice. He’s more reactionary than calculating and often makes decisions based on what’s going on at the time instead of being 2 steps ahead of his opponents like Light from the anime. If pushed far enough, he becomes frightened and paranoid whereas anime Light keeps his composure no matter what the situation is. He often mentions that part of his motivation to seek vengeance against the criminals in society is the murder of his mother but the film makes the mistake of failing to show us his relationship with his mother and why she was so important to him as well as her murder. A lot of films and TV shows tend to do this but the writers on this movie clearly don’t learn from other movie’s mistakes (especially about white-washing the cast) so I’m not surprised about this. I personally, don’t even think it was necessary to include this plot point to provide a motivation for Light to become Kira. Because another part of Light’s becoming Kira stems from his superiority complex and I believe that that the story would have been more gripping and psychological to show that this character feels so intensely entitled to assume his position as a god over the rest of his society. 

Misa

Misa’s (Mia) character in this film is completely different from the anime. Other than the fact that she is no longer a celebrity, she seems to be more like Light’s character than Light himself. She’s vengeful, sociopathic and calculating (exactly how Light is supposed to be but isn’t) instead of cheerful and hyperactive like Misa, which I think detracts from the tone of the story. In the anime, Light and Misa have a Joker and Harley Quinn type of relationship and Misa’s naive and cheerful air despite being used by Light punctuates her unsettling devotion to him. If this portrayal of her was used in this movie, I think it could have also provided a much needed break from the serious tone of the movie and added some contrast between her character and the other characters in the movie. I can understand why they chose to change celebrity Misa Amane’s character to that of average high school student, Mia. Could be that people who aren’t familiar with the Death Note anime would find it unrealistic and strange that a celebrity would be attracted to an average person (even though this does happen in real life and it adds to Light’s power and Light is in fact, not an average person in the grand scheme of things). I think that having a famous celebrity become obsessed with Light/Kira would show the impact of his actions on society. He’d be shown to be so powerful that after protecting this beautiful famous person, she’d fall under his power. Another thing that I think that the writers missed with their relationship is that when Light realized how obsessed this girl was with him, he used it against her and used her as a tool to achieve his goals. He was never interested in having a sexual relationship with her, but only keeping her satisfied so that she would stay attached to him and comply with his commands. 

L

Keith Stanfield’s portrayal of L was surprisingly decent/ok. Upon watching the trailer, I expected his performance to be laughably terrible but it was actually not the worst I was expecting. I thought that his his suspicions of Light were premature. In the anime, L didn’t suspect Light until they met and Light took an interest in his father’s investigation. Also, in the anime, Light became L’s friend to keep him guessing about his suspicion. In this movie, we get mounting suspicion, paranoia and a cliche chase scene like in a typical crime movie. Where L’s character fails is that he’s still missing a lot of L’s personality. It’s not enough just to make him an eccentric and intelligent man with a sugar addiction and strange quirks, L was supposed to be a childlike prodigy who’s patient and so meticulous and attentive that we watch him awake investigating every bit of footage and file on his desk while the rest of his team sleeps. Stanfield’s portrayal, while not the worst, was also not a good enough portrayal of L’s character. His physical appearance was nothing like L’s and I’m not just talking about the casting. But L is supposed to look Haggard, disheveled and he’s supposed to wear jeans and a white shirt to make him look as distinguishable from a law enforcement agent as possible. Stanfield’s character’s attire looks either ninja-esque or like something out of a NYC modeling catalogue. It’s just wrong and nothing like L at all.  

Plot Holes

This film has a lot of plot holes. For example, in the anime, the rules for the usage of the Death Note are clearly explained. However, in this movie, only a few are. So when Ryuk takes matters into his own hands and kills a group of agents, this comes to Light’s dismay. In the Death Note anime (unless I am mistaken) a shinigami (god of death) is not allowed to kill without the Death Note owner’s usage. We never find out why Misa lied about Light being knocked out by that bully and it makes it seem as though this might have been some way to manipulate him. But Light is supposed to be the manipulator, right? We also never find out what Mia’s motivations are for wanting to murder people other than her being bullied by that one guy at their school that one day. Misa from the anime had a valid reason to but Mia didn’t. Big lack of character development there. Also, through everything that happened, where were Mia’s parents? Are they not involved in her life? Is that why she’s so mentally fucked?  Stray Observations:

-What happened to Light’s sister? Why does her character not exist?

-There’s a shot of L giving his public announcement to Kira and to the citizens of Seattle and there’s an American flag waving behind him. We get it...this is the American version of Death Note...don’t bludgeon the fans of the anime over the head with this fact. We’re insulted enough as it is that this movie even exists. 

-When those police jumped off the building, there’s a woman and child who watched them walking into the building looking a bit curious. As the police are jumping, before they collide with the ground, their expressions hadn’t changed, especially the little girl’s. You would think that watching a bunch of people fall to their death would make these two background characters cry out in horror. Has Kira made people this accustomed to seeing death around them or do these two people just not have the capacity to show emotion?

-In the scene where L and Light are at the diner and L knocks all those objects off the table, none of the employees came over to see what was going on? Or were they told not to interfere with their discussion?

-At the end of the chase scene where L corners Light, a man enters the alleyway to see what’s happening and L tells the man that Light is Kira. If you’re a law enforcement agent and you’re investigating a mass murderer, why would you blab out that information to a random stranger especially when you know that said murderer has a cult following and this person is extremely dangerous? I hope that getting clocked in the head taught L a lesson about that. 

-This movie should have taken place in NYC, in my opinion. Whenever L made an address to the city, it should have been on screens mounted on the surrounding buildings in the city like it is in the anime. They could have taken advantage of the screens in Time Square and used the fact that NYC is so diverse that whenever something happens here, it quickly spreads to the rest of the world. The main and surrounding casts would have also been more racially diverse. No offense to Seattle residents but this story needs to take place in a bigger, more famous city.