#i might make a set for the ladies(tm) as well

[tacticalhimbo]

No one is UNTOUCHABLE.

[frodothefair]

Marigold is back! Sort of.

Image by buffyscmmers.

Ok, so I could not bear to leave Marigold Gamgee behind, even though I'm working on something completely different with The Golden Hall.

As a result, the character of Hafrith, Lothíriel's lady in waiting, has been growing. She is quite similar to Marigold in that she is a sweet and shy, an incredibly competent and loving human being, and has a tragic past (tm). Her faceclaim is also the same, Holliday Grainger. She will likely be the third most important character in the fic, after Éomer and Lothíriel, since her dynamic with Lothíriel will develop the latter's character, and shape Éomer's attitude toward his new wife.

Alright, so who is Hafrith? (Everything that follows is subject to change, of course)

--she has been at the court since she was sixteen, and is now in her mid-20's. She comes from a prominent family in the Eastfold, and is more than just a lady in waiting. In Éowyn's absence, and while Lothíriel finds her feet, she essentially runs the royal household, and knows everything there is to know about Meduseld. In fact, I might just make her Elfhelm's daughter -- I haven't decided yet.

--In the first chapter of TGH, she is described by Lothíriel as looking more fit to herd cows than serve at a royal court, but that was just Lothíriel being a bitch and an unreliable narrator (tm). In fact, Hafrith is beautiful in a rustic way -- she has ample, appetizing curves, a round, sweet face, and a mass of golden curls.

--she is quite maternal toward Ainsie, Éomer's slightly cracked and tragic ward, and in fact is the only person who does not despise or pity the girl. In return, Ainslie becomes devoted to her, heart and soul, and follows her like a shadow.

--like many daughters of prominent families, Hafrith was originally sent to court to find a husband. In fact, early on there was talk of her marrying Éomer, when he was still the king's nephew and far removed from inheriting the throne, but the match did not go forward because Hafrith fell in love with someone else, and because Éomer was too engrossed in saving Rohan from enemies both within and without to think of marriage. However, Hafrith did not get to marry the man she loved either, and a few other tragic things (tm) happened, leading her to foreswear men and marriage forever. At the time of The Golden Hall, Éomer esteems Hafrith greatly, and trusts her with many important tasks. In fact, there is some indication that had the timing been better, and if she had been more willing, they might have been a match, and when Lothíriel learns of this, she laments that Hafrith might have been the better queen -- for she knows Rohan, she knows the court, and she is far more mature and competent, despite her traumas. Éomer, of course, takes this opportunity to reassure Lothíriel that he wants no other queen, and it took King Théoden several years to get used to his new role.

--Lothíriel learns of Hafrith's tragic past (tm), and is incensed, leaping into action to try and set things right -- even if it's years later. Éomer is impressed by Lothíriel's compassion and initiative, which he sees as evidence that she is well enough to look outside herself and make a difference in the world.

--When Lothíriel is angry at her family in Dol Amroth and refuses to answer their letters, Hafrith -- who considers family sacrosanct -- begins to send regular updates to Amrothos, the brother who is closest with Lothíriel and sends the most persistent correspondence asking for news. In time, they start to correspond about more than just Lothíriel. Eventually, Amrothos comes to visit his "petulant sister," as well as discuss trade routes, and he and Hafrith meet in person. Whether this goes anywhere romantic is yet to be decided. Goodness knows, however, after everything she's been through, Hafrith deserves a little happiness of her own, and guess who Amrothos likely resembles, with his dark curly hair, large sea-colored eyes, and a tall, slender physique? (I'll give you a hint -- he tossed the One Ring into a certain fiery chasm).

@konartiste @dilettantefeminist @celeluwhenfics @from-the-coffee-shop-in-edoras @emmanuellececchi

[comingfromastatechampionasshole]

Wilt-resist your whipped cream! (A cheat, by Doc)

Okay, the phrase "by Doc" is doing a lot of heavy lifting here--I actually learned this tip from a gal I was competing with years ago in state fair (she beat my ass) and I'm sure other aunts and grandmas know it. But, whomst else on tumblr will deliver it to your eyeballs?

Because you know the trouble with whipped cream and whipped cream frostings is they tend to wilt over time, especially if they have to deal with absolutely any level of heat. A simple room temperature can make your pie or cake look weepy and sad. Your bowl of fresh whipped cream now looks worse than the fuckin' cool whip. Tragedy.

Now, I assume you, erudite and exceptional readers of this blog, are already using powdered sugar/icing sugar instead of standard sugar to make your whipped cream, not only because of greater stability but because it functionally removes the possibility of graininess. This is a "I want to make this whipped cream the night before" tip. Other tips like milk powder, I find, just don't have the same longevity as what's below:

Professionals use gelatin or agar-agar, which I don't like for two reasons: 1) Gelatin is not vegetarian and in the US is often made from pork, so fuck your Jewish or Muslim guests and 2) you have to bloom the gelatin or agar-agar, and it can be tricky to work with, and if you aren't the 'working with high-level mousses and creams often" type, it may be a waste of space in your kitchen.

But gee whiz, did you know there's a very cheap and intensely easy solution for busy housewives to keep her man loving her whipped cream, and by extension, her? Tell her, Don!

Why little lady, it's Jell-O (tm) brand instant pudding mix! Don't tell the ladies at the church bake-off...we won't.

This is the easiest possible way to get nice, stiff whipped cream that holds up for, I think my record is three days. It can also tolerate sitting in a warm room much much better than whipped cream really ought to be able to.

"But Doc, isn't Jell-O, uh, gelatin?"

Jell-O itself is, but Jell-O pudding is actually kosher. I assume other brands are as well, but I don't know this for a fact--so make sure to check the label if you're using a different brand. What's doing the work here is 'modified food starch' which is a stronger version of cornstarch, which I find, added to whipped cream, to require too much to be added, and the texture gets odd.

This is cheap! Your grocery store may vary, but this small box was 99 cents.

This is easy! All you do is add about 1 tablespoon of pudding mix per one cup of heavy/whipping/double cream* and then whip as usual.

It does lightly flavor the whipped cream, which I've never found to be a problem--I use regular vanilla mostly, but french vanilla is nice for banana cream pie, I used coconut cream for the pie I just entered WHICH WON BEST IN SHOW I MIGHT ADD. Chocolate is great for chocolate whipped cream. You're smart people, you got this. The only ones I don't recommend are tapioca (pearls) and Oreo (having about three bits of oreo in the whipped cream looks dirty rather than intentional.)

Go forth, and set your whipped cream on the sideboard with confidence!

*I'm aware these all actually contain different levels of fat, but let's get real here, they are often used interchangeably and only the craziest among us is going to seriously get into "What cream should you be whipping?" discourse.

[smolvenger]

A Court of Mischief and Purpose Chapter Five (Loki x fem! Reader, Hiddlesverse A Court of Thorns and Roses AU)

Chapter Summary: As you get to know the different variants of Loki, his purpose of uniting them is revealed. There is a crucial threat to your worlds...and you make a decision regarding Will.

Chapter Warnings: Discussions of cheating, and violence. Odin being Odin (tm). Some angst and some fluff/comfort.

Chapter Word Count: 6K

A03//My Ko-Fi//My Etsy Shop//Masterlist//Wattpad

Taglist: @evelyn-kingsley @jennyggggrrr @five-miles-over @fictive-sl0th @ladycamillewrites @villainousshakespeare @holdmytesseract @eleniblue @twhxhck @lokisgoodgirl @lovelysizzlingbluebird @raqnarokr @holymultiplefandomsbatman @michelleleewise @wolfsmom1 @cheekyscamp @mochie85 @muddyorbsblr

Chapter One//Chapter Two//Chapter Three//Chapter Four

“Now, to our purpose!” Loki announced.

The last servant passed by the food. For breakfast, you learned that Norse Gods enjoyed foods similar to your own- only very hot and hearty. Eggs and thick slices of bread and butter. Not like the overcooked burnt bits your mother tended to make. You began to enjoy some. Though one servant did bring some coffee, especially for you. You smiled up at her and then she bowed and left.

Robert turned his head watching the door close. Then he turned back.

“Are the rumors…true?” Loki asked.

Robert sighed, “Only one of us can confirm that. It’s not my job to snoop around.” He picked up a piece of bread and munched at it.

He turned to Jonathan. Jonathan crossed his arms. He let out a deep sigh, retaining his frown.

“Yes, it is true as far as I can tell. Grendel and his mother have made an alliance with the Dark Elves.”

You nearly dropped your cup as you were lifting to have a drink.

“Grendel?! That’s the same name as…do you mean from Beowolf?” you cut in.

Jonathan turned to you with a nod.

“One and the same!”

You leaned forward, your eyes widening to Loki.

“Are you telling me that Grendel is real?! And still alive?! I thought Beowolf killed him and his mother!” you cried.

“You actually believe that poem? Hm, you’re a bookish girl, aren’t you?” Robert commented.

“Well, my lady, Grendel, and his mother turned out to be real…I was as surprised as you,” Hal said. He picked up another orange and began to peel it with his dagger.

Loki gave a wide smile and leaned toward you.

“I’ll be the one to explain, my dear. Long ago, Beowolf lost to Grendel in a fight. Beowulf fled with his tail between his legs and a few broken bones. He used his time recuperating from his injuries to write an entire poem about how he completely defeated Grendel easily. He spread it through his kingdom- so they all believed him! Why else would he write a whole, long poem boasting about how wonderful he is?”

Loki turned to Jonathan. He kept his fork and knife politely on the plate, cutting up his food and taking small bites. You could smell Hal’s orange as he set the discarded peel on the plate.

“In the taverns, those drinking and caroling sometimes mention Grendel. Only briefly. Most laugh and shrug it aside. But only a wise few are genuinely fearful. As they should be…”

Loki looked at all of them. The forks and knives stopped with the gravity of his voice.

“Grendel is a powerful being. Far more than the poem wrote. And far smarter. Gets it from his mother. Between the two of them, he’s determined to do what it takes to invade and rule all of us…and he is looking for ways to do it easily.”

“There is…another rumor…” Jonathan began. “But it’s something.”

Heads turned over.

“Well-what is it?” Robert pressed. He lifted his own drink and took a long sip.

Jonathan then set down his hands and folded them across the table. He looked seriously at every person there.

“They say there is a prophet…he resides in Jotenheim. He is one of the Frost Giants. But he has ancient knowledge. Of things that are, will be, and might be. I heard he might have…information. That Grendel has a weakness. Now- all that are rumors. But the prophet knows what it is. If we give him something, he will return the favor and tell us.”

“What sort of something?” Robert asked, arching an eyebrow.

“He accepts offers of food, of warmth.”

“Warmth? Ironic for a Frost Giant!” Loki commented.

You leaned forward. “But… and let's assume the worst-if Grendel has an alliance with these Dark Elves, whoever they are, I assume it means he has an army… How will any of you stand against an army?” you asked.

Loki tilted to you. He rested an elbow on the table and looked at you, resting his hand to rub on his chin.

“You are far from wrong. And do you think I would let these mortals near an army and ask them to defeat them all? No! We knew Grendel had a weak spot. If we located what it is and asked this prophet. That is our mission. To discover this weakness of his and take care of it. We get the weak spot, I doubt that the army will be behind him.

Loki turned to Jonathan.

“Do you have anything else to report from your spying?”

Robert Laing took out a cigarette. You could smell the smoke where he was. Hal then turned to Loki.

“I heard one thing. Now, I a spy? No! But I do hear that Odin plans on naming his heir. Perhaps going during the day of the ceremony will keep him distracted.” Loki froze. The corners of his lips twitched. He stared and blinked once. Then he frowned gently.

“That is…a good idea…I will be expected to go but…the rest of you may.

He swallowed. Something in his eyes dimmed - a sadness. Then he blinked rapidly and threw a hand up.

“Now, enough! Please, let us move on…where is Thomas?”

“Thomas? Yes- you mentioned another? Is he staying here too?” you asked.

In answer, in walked another gentleman. His clothes were not too far off from what men of your time wore. He looked a lot like Loki- an uncommonly handsome man with curly dark hair blue eyes and pale skin. In his arms were several contraptions.

“Please forgive the delay. A gear was spinning the wrong way!” he said.

He went over and sat down on the table. He flourished out a napkin and set it on his lap.

“Loki, we have been going and going…but if I’m going to find something to track him, I will need some magic to my devices, as you promised. I have been working at it all mo-”

His voice cut off. His eyes went to you. You gave him a smile and he gave a beautiful one back to you.

“Oh…we have a new guest?” he crooned.

Loki nodded.

“Thomas, this is the ever-charming Y/N- she hails from a small town in Essex. She’s another guest in the palace.” Loki introduced.

He nodded to you with his head, his eyes were so bright you felt something flutter inside you. He was a natural charmer.

“Why- Miss Y/L/N, the pleasure is mine. I am Sir Thomas Sharpe, esquire.”

“Sir?” you asked. “Are you a lord?”

“A baronet,” he answered.

“A Baronet! Then it should be mine! I am so honored- I never met a Baronet before!”

“Well, now you have, Miss Y/L/N,” he answered.

You curtsied excitedly and he smiled. You saw Loki frown at him. Something glimmering in his eyes. He began to fork at some eggs and eat. After he smiled, you turned to the baronet.

“What brings you to Loki?” you asked.

“I’m working on an invention for him. A contraption to find Grendel. He tends to hide a lot. I am sure that Loki’s magic could help. As well as anything to help with training,” Thomas explained.

You looked around.

“Training? For fighting?” you asked.

Loki nodded.

“It is a requirement of my little circle. We train to know how to fight. I do have my beloved daggers.”

With his magic, a dagger-long and sharp- appeared in his hand.

“But one must know how to wield them. Thomas and Robert must especially practice. Hal knows of battling with swords…”

Hal smirked.

“I was raised to be a warrior. Shrewsberry changed me.”

“And it is Jonathan who teaches sparring and the like. Far less elegant in my opinion. But it strengthens the body and gets the job done,” Loki added.

“You have…fought before, Mr. Pine?” you asked.

Jonathan sighed.

“Yes. I was a soldier. I’ve seen battles. Been part of many, in fact,” he replied calmly.

Robert tipped off the burning end of his cigarette.

“Just go to our time, Loki. Find a gun and just shoot Grendel!” he suggested.

Loki let out a laugh in spite of himself.

“If it was that easy, I would have done it! But Grendel has survived many years for a reason. I doubt a mortal bullet would scratch him.”

“I will say- training is an excellent workout. Far more exciting than any gym I’ve been to,” Robert replied.

You thought about it. You were…weak. You could see her again. See Cora again. Leaping about and running. Even with no bloody corset to prove how superior she was to the other women. But…strong. Getting dirty and going about in the muck and through forests and beaches. And was that why Will…lost interest in you? Betrayed you for a “stronger” woman? You felt a tear curl up on your face.

Robert turned his head.

“Y/N…are you alright?” he asked.

You wiped off the stray tear with your napkin and then asked on impulse.

“Could I join? Just for one?! I would like to train to fight too,’ you announced.

They all looked at you. You folded your hands back in your lap.

“I would like to train with you…to be…be strong. Please teach me how to fight like the rest of you!”

If you said such things back home, it would very, very, very likely be immediately shut down. You prepared for it. The verbal rejections. The rolling of eyes. Sighing. Even laughter.

There was nothing like that here. Loki then blinked and smiled.

“Oh…of course…if you would like to, you shall! I’m sure any help concerning Grendel would be appreciated, my dear.” Loki replied.

Your eyebrows shot up. Hal did squint a little, and then he relaxed. Jonathan was smiling and he nodded at you.

“Really? Do none of you have anything against women warriors?” you asked.

“No, not at all!” Jonathan assured you.

“There is one- Lady Sif! We must alert her- won’t she be thrilled! She fights alongside all of us!” Loki replied.

“Yes! Maybe…she could teach me too! We could use Thor’s help!” you suggested. You took a bite of a thick slice of bread.

But Loki shook his dark curls. His smile was melted. His jaw looked tight and his pale face turned slightly red. His voice came out as a slight snarl.

“No. Only as a last resort, I supposed. But you underestimate how much of a brute and dunce my brother is…”

You nearly choked out what you were eating.

“Thor a Brute?! Dunce?! Loki, you’re being very harsh on him!” you chided.

“Just wait and see-you will understand what he is really like!” Loki declared.

“Thor has been nothing but kind to me. What has he done to deserve these words?” you asked.

“You only just met him- I knew him all his life,” Loki argued.

“My fiancee is twice the brute Thor could ever be!” you impulsive declared.

There was such silence in the room one could hear a bug crawl. Robert tightened his lips. Jonathan ate his food quietly. Hal began rubbing a hand over his mouth as if hesitant to comment something. Then Loki relaxed.

“Well…we’re not here to discuss my brother…we’re here to discuss Grendel and replenish ourselves, let us move on, please.”

But Thor had been so kind, so friendly- A blonde Great Dane in human form. What would Loki have against him? But…wasn’t something about an heir mentioned earlier? Was that the great grudge Loki held against him? Yes, they were brothers. But sibling rivalry was always a thing. Thor never seemed to bully or belittle Loki. But that was only the few times you saw them interact.

Jonathan wiped his mouth with a napkin and then looked around.

“I hope all of you have enough to eat-we should resume training today right after breakfast…and Y/N, you will be with me. I’ll show you the basics of sparring,” he declared.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

“So then! Let us begin!” Hal announced.

The training grounds were a courtyard. The sun shone warmly that day and there were leafy green trees fluttering in the wind. They provided ample shade. Loki and Hal were still in their normal clothes, though Jonathan’s look was far more casual. A simple shirt and pants that allowed movement (even if they did look a little odd to you). Thomas simply rolled up his sleeves. Then there was Robert’s outfit- a white shirt and very short pants. It was everything in you to hold yourself from staring at the exposure of his legs.

You were changed out of your normal dress into the athletic wear of your day. A shorter dark skirt that merely went a couple of inches above your ankles and a white shirt. You wore comfortable boots that would allow quick movement.

It began with warming up. You had to stretch and do jumping jacks. Robert grunted but did so easily. He had been doing this for a while. You were getting used to it. Robert could easily do several push-ups ups quickly. You could not. Your arms screamed as you tried to push yourself up and down from the ground.

Prince Hal went up to Robert, handing him the end of a practice sword. Loki stood by to observe them. Jonathan then went up to you.

“Would you like to know the basics of punching, Y/N?” he asked.

“Oh- yes, please! Please, Mr. Pine! I’ve…I’ve been weak all my life- but I’ll try!” you cried.

Jonathan shook his head.

“I don’t think you’re weak, Y/N,” he said.

“I’ve never…punched before….I bet it must be…”

“It’s not a matter of physical strength, it’s how you do it.,” Jonathan advised.

After he practiced a parry, Robert turned his head towards you two.

“Oh, Jonathan- we have to spar again! I will defeat you this time. Easily,” he bragged.

“Good luck,” Jonathan bit back.

In his distraction, the practice sword tapped his shoulder. Robert’s eyes turned big and he twirled around to Hal and Loki laughing at them. Jonathan rolled up his sleeves. He then went to you.

“Y/N, open your stance-like so,” he stood so his legs were a couple of inches apart. “Your dominant foot leads and the other goes to the back.

You did so. Just one little step. If you made them all little steps, it wouldn’t feel as bad.

“Now bend your knees a little-very good. Now make two fists. You put them to your face. If it’s quick-it’s a jab.”

Jonathan opened up his hand.

“Hit me very quick with your dominant hand-try it.”

Lightly as a tap, you tried a jab onto his hand. Jonathan smiled and nodded his head.

“Very nice! That’s one way to punch. Let me show you a way to defend yourself. Crough a little beneath your fists- it makes you a smaller target for them.”

You did as much as your corset would allow you. You couldn’t slouch, but you could bend your knees and lower your head with good posture. You peeked out at him from between.

“Now, throw twenty jabs with your leading hand, Y/N,” Jonathan instructed.

You punched his hand.

“Now harder,” he pressed.

You jabbed with more force. You felt the smack of skin against skin. You exhaled quickly and as quickly as you did.

“Now bounce between your feet…there…there you go-not punch my hand again- hard as you possibly can. ”

You thought of Will again. In your mind like a flash. The field. If their kiss was a picture printed on Pine’s hand. You punched harder. With such force, Jonathan took a few steps back.

“Excellent, Y/N he praised.

“I did good!?”

“Yes- see? You’re a natural,” Jonathan praised.

“A natural fighter?” you asked.

“I think you are-you just had to learn how. But it’s only your first day-it will take time, but if you want to, you’ll learn.”

You spent the two hours learning about about crossing. About hooks. He taught you combinations and you moved the punches with focus. It was a matter of repetition- doing it over and over again. But with the sun beating down and the demand of the exercise you sweated so much. You wanted to guzzle water. You wondered if you were going to pass out (again). The pain of your muscles being worked hard as you moved, begging you to stop.

But you pushed through and survived. More than survived- your body buzzed with life, with newfound soreness and strength. Though your hands were stinky and sweaty, tight from being in fists, you had done it. You had learned the basics of throwing a punch. You never felt so…powerful before. You couldn’t recall the last time you felt so.

Going back to your room. You saw that on the desk was the engagement ring. Still glittering. You merely sat in your chair to stare at it. Looking down at your sweaty hands, you noticed a mark on your finger from how often you wore it. It felt a little bit like your finger was naked. But here you were doing well without it. Could you have learned to punch with it on? No.

But there it was. Staring at you. Mocking you. You pushed it aside to see your beloved journal.

You had used it to write diary entries, but it was filled with so much more. You pressed flowers and photos and scraps of paper with recipes and doodles and memories-often happy ones. There was one photo on the first page that kept a special place in your heart. You and a few of the local women your age sitting on the beach for a picnic among friends. Everyone’s hair was swept by the wind and several of you kept a hand to keep your hats on. But everyone was smiling-big, genuine, happy smiles. Smiles such as the one caught when one was going to have a big, full-belly laugh. In the center was Stella, becoming as ever with her blonde braid draped to the side of her right shoulder and her bright eyes beaming full of life. It was the smile she made right before she was going to laugh. You had looked at the camera at the side and everyone had linked arms or shown off their plates of cake slices. The sand looked as light as snow and the sun was gentle that day. You put a hand over it to trace the edges and the inside, your fingers lightly touching down it as if to feel the happy memory on your skin.

You deliberately did not look at anything regarding Will. There was a page you had pressed the red rose he gave to you and a lock of his hair you both exchanged with each other when you got engaged. You gaped at it, your stomach dropping as you took it in along with his small photograph. Your eyes shot down to the white edges of the pages as if you could not have it in you to even look at him. You then forced the page to close to the next one.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

You all were invited to dine with the royal couple the next day. You were thrilled. You never imagined being in the same room as Queen Victoria herself. Godhood was a different matter altogether.

Dressed in a dinner dress from your time in a rich blue with a bow on the breastline, you placed your napkin on your lap as you sat down. All of you all sat at that golden table. Pine was in his nice blue suit, Robert his grey one, and Hal in some dark satin with gold buttons. Everyone rose up to their seat as the royal family walked in. Odin was a man with long, white hair and a white beard. Frigga was always graceful, smiling, and comforting as always. Thor followed afterward, lumbering into his seat. Everyone took note and returned to their own. Servants filled goblets of wine and served large legs of chicken and more side dishes than you could count.

“How are you, lady Y/N? I heard you were here but I never saw you around. There was a rumor you were unwell, my dear-is it true?” Frigga asked, her voice soft with genuine concern.

“I have had…a recent difficulty…” you started.

Robert took a deep drink of his wine. Loki leaned forward, putting an elbow on the table and a hand over his lip. He watched you intently-willing himself not to speak.

“Oh dear- are you ready to speak of it or would you rather not?” Frigga asked, she leaned forward. The warm, full plate of her food was forgotten. Odin meanwhile immediately dug into his meat.

You nodded, bunching up the napkin on your lap like a handkerchief.

“I can speak about it... My betrothed was…he…uh, he betrayed me for another. I found their letters. Then saw them embrace.” you explained.

A hand flew to Frigga’s heart and her mouth formed a small O. Right as the words were about to get out of her, the AllFather cut in.

“Oh, slighted by a beloved?” Odin asked.

You swallowed back the impulse to yell at him.

Slight?! Slight?! Slight like it was nothing. Slight like you were overreacting. Slighting was when you looked at someone and they turned the other way. Slight was when someone said, “no, I do not feel the same about you.” Adultery was not slight. It was not little. If it was little, you would be over it by now. You knew that. Odin should know that!

But yet -this was this world’s king! You couldn’t chide him or rebel. Even if you were a guest, it would create bad tensions. And between a king and some mortal peasant woman, you knew who held the upper hand.

You turned your head down. But a clearing of a throat nearby you made you look up.

“If that is how you put it, Father-but Y/N darling deeply loved him. She still does. It was a betrayal, nevertheless,” Loki informed.

He shot you a look and a nod. An acknowledgment. An understanding.

“Oh, you poor dear! That must be very hard! No wonder the rumors flew!” Frigga sighed.

She reached over and offered her hand. You took it and she rubbed one over in comfort. You gave her a smile.

Thor nodded. He picked up a leg of chicken and knawed at it. Robert took another sip of his wine.

“Yes, he was full of faith. He just couldn’t be faithful.” Robert commented.

“Indeed, lady- that is a miserable situation- Have you considered meeting him on a battlefield and ramming a sword through his gut?” he asked with his deep voice.

You gave him a bigger smile that was met with a half chuckle. You saw Hal beam at the idea. But then you tensed up again as you answered.

“I’ve been tempted to!”

“Then by all means, Lady Y/N, do it!” Thor encouraged.

“It’s easier said than done,” Robert commented.

Thomas was cutting his meat with his knife and fork into bits. Suddenly he set down the fork with food on it. Jonathan watched intently, not saying a word.

“If I break the engagement…I will be considered…. Damaged. Embarrassed. Even unmarriageable…”

“Unmarriageable? Why?!” Thor cried.

Thomas leaned in and politely put in.

“It is true but… usually, Miss Y/L/N, it is more severe for the gentleman to break it than the lady. But yes-I can confirm. From our time, it can risk a lady's reputation.”

“It would mean…ruin…” you added.

Loki’s eyes gave an angry glint and his frown was hard at Thomas.

“Are you implying that Y/N is defective? Do you agree with them, Sir Sharpe? She has done nothing to be ashamed of!” he hissed.

Thomas shook his head, his eyes wide and losing his sudden grace.

“Oh! No! I’m so sorry! I’ve heard it…but…Miss Y/L/N…”

Thomas leaned closer to you.

“The advice given is to write a letter. A calm one. Send it to him. Return the gifts, no matter how expensive-especially if there is a ring. Was there?”

A lump was in your throat as you nodded.

“I…I’m so scared to…to…to do it,” you confessed.

A whole future you were so looking forward to. A man you loved. The promise of a peaceful life in a nice small town married to a handsome, faithful vicar. You still wanted it. But that was never to be. On top of the humiliation of a broken engagement, you knew you had to let go of wanting things to be an ideal instead of what it was. But holding onto it never made you feel any better. And the idea of going back home and walking down the aisle of that brown church and being brought to his brown house knowing what he did seemed impossible.

“My dear, you have good reason to….if you want to. It is your decision,” Frigga encouraged.

She looked at Odin and he nodded as if on cue before drinking his goblet.

“My worth, my future…will be gone…” you mumbled.

“For letting go of an engagement?! Of course, it won’t!” Robert added on. You turned to him.

He began to shrug. “Where I come from, there are hundreds of breakups like this-hundreds of divorces. They’re normal in the future.”

Loki made a gesture to the blonde man politely cutting his meat into strips.

“Better than being stuck with something miserable. Jonathan here is divorced! But he’s not some ruined good with no future- if his own life moved on, and so could yours!”

Jonathan nodded.

“It is true…but it doesn’t make it any less painful, Y/N,” he said.

Thor smiled and raised up a goblet to you.

“Warriors have scars on the battlefield. And this is just another battle for you, Y/N. But you will win it, no doubt..”

You gave all of them a smile. Then continue your meal. Odin turned to his elder son.

“Speaking of battles…I heard there was a duel between you and a warrior of Jotenheim- how did you do son?”

Thor curled his fingers into a fist with a proud grin.

“Crushed him, easily!” he boasted.

Odin applauded with a laugh. He reached a hand and touched his arm.

“There you go, there’s my boy!” But as you turned, Loki’s face drained of its color. He ate the rest of his meal in a hurry and then excused himself. Once it was finished, you found him on the balcony.

“Loki…you don’t like Thor…though he’s your brother and he’s kind to you…how come?” you asked. No matter beating around the bush.

You followed him over. You both were looking out the balcony onto the evening sky. The Asgard city sparkled in its lights before you. Loki turned around to you. His voice was quiet.

“Do you remember what Jonathan said at the meeting? About Thor?”

“Odin’s going to name Thor as his heir?” you recalled.

“Yes…Odin’s going to name Thor as his heir. Not me. Him. And you saw him at dinner-lauding over every little thing he does.”

He looked out. He began to mourn softly-the words fresh out of him. Losing the cool confidence he kept as a god.

“All of my life. I have been second to Thor. Thor the Great. The Mighty Thor. He’s always been Father’s clear favorite. He’s gotten everything to him on a silver platter. Me…not so much.”

You placed yourself closer to him. You saw his hands grip the railing. A small tear ran down his face despite his angry frown.

“Oh…dear, Loki-that is miserable…your father shouldn’t treat you like this…no father should,” you consoled.

“You only need to understand what it is to have Father’s favorite in front of your face paraded all of your life.”

You arched an eyebrow.

“Do you think I don’t understand what it is for someone I love to prefer another person over me?” you asked.

There was silence. Then Loki looked down. He then noticed your hands.

“They haven’t come off since the bargain…I wonder…how much do you know about the spell?” you questioned.

“I only know how to perform it and what it does. But as to the after effects…I’ll have to ask my mother. She is the one who taught me magic, after all.” he explained.

Both of you looked at the small marks across your skin. Then turning up, you met Loki. How relaxed he seemed here. No formal dinner. No swaggering display of power. Just…just himself.

“So…you keep Thor out of this quest…so you can get all the glory?” you asked.

He placed both of his hands on his hips and tilted his head a bit.

“Is there anything wrong with that?”

“No..it’s just…it’s a complicated scheme. Perhaps you should just sit down and tell your father how you feel?”

He turned to the balcony and looked at the city again. Down one could see people going in and out of places-joyful and smiling and laughing. As if a celebration was going on down there.

“I have other matters. Bigger ones. We have a threat to our planet. Our world. To Asgard And yours and the others. If we’re going to keep anyone we love safe, we have to go through. We began and we will see this to the end,” Loki answered.

You looked down, then back up.

“Alright..then count me in…” you said.

Loki turned to you.

“What…what do you mean?” he asked, tilting his head.

“Loki…what if I stayed here? Trained every day? Stayed here and helped you?”

“You…want to stay here? You have someone waiting back home to marry you…” Loki mumbled, blinking rapidly.

“If I go now…I will be pressured to marry him at once and I…I…I don’t want to…not after what he did…Loki…don’t send me back there and leave me there…I…I don’t want to marry Will. I want to stay here. Don’t send me back to Aldwinter, please.” Your voice became pleading.

He looked at you. His blue eyes became shiny, and then his posture relaxed.

“Then I won’t force you…you are free to come and go from here, but stay as long as you like. We’ll make it a second home…” he answered.

You stepped forward and hugged him. In honest gratitude. He nestled into you, nuzzling tight.

“Thank you…I wish Odin could see this side of you- the generous side…” you muttered.

“And your priest could see your bravery,” Loki replied.

You squeezed him tighter. As if you could squeeze out the air from him. But he took it. He held you. And he didn’t release until you were the one to let go.

“I’ll ask Jonathan to escort you back to your room.”

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

You sat down at the desk the next morning. You put out a piece of paper and began writing. This first letter would be an easy one.

“Dearest Mama and Papa, I was never abducted. I am not Loki’s whore. I am safe and cared for in Asgard. I plan on staying there a while but I will stop down and visit you. I do not know when I will be returning, but they treat me like part of their family. There is something there that requires my assistance. I will write to you soon with more details- but I am very much alive and well and unharmed with all of my needs met. You have nothing to worry about with me. I will write to you as often as I can. And visit when time allows. All of my love, Your daughter, Y/N.”

You stared at the piece of paper. Your pen hung in the air. One piece of paper- and it would determine your fate. Your future. A whole future you had set up that you were now going to throw away… No…it was nothing you did to ruin it.

“Will,

I have written to my parents to say this, but I will tell you. I am in Asgard. I am safe there. All of my needs are being cared for. I am no one’s whore as some might say. I plan to stay there for some time…”

You paused. This was hard. It was very hard. But you knew it had to be done, tears brimming in your eyes. You recalled the evening you danced together at a party, not too long before he proposed. A happy memory made sad and bitter.

The letters. The tan coat. The red dress. Cora. The kiss.

It curled up in your stomach and made the inside of your bowels feel like it was full of fluids. And not in a pleasant way. The people in Aldwinter will chide you for this. But the people in Asgard… said you would still have worth.

No matter what I have worth. And I will survive this and move on, you thought. After all, it was not you who was ruined. It was not you who did any wrong, you had to remind yourself. And if this means I am ruined because I know what I want in my husband, so be it. With a deep breath to calm yourself, you continued writing.

“Our agreement was made when we were in love but we truly did not know each other. We did not understand marriage- neither of us. When I did not understand what it meant to be your wife. And you did not understand what it meant to be my husband. Now we do. You have hurt me. Deeply. And one day you will answer to your God for what you have done as much as you answered to me. May you be prepared. I remember Proverbs- “the man who commits adultery is an utter fool, for he destroys himself. He will be wounded and disgraced. His shame will never be erased.” William, I cannot marry an adulterous man. There are women out there perhaps more forgiving than I am. I hope you meet one. Be loyal to her forever. May she never suffer the cruelty you have done to me. May you be willing to die for her, be a mere slave at her feet. May she never be shattered at the expense of your pleasure. For this, I release you from our contract. You are free now. Do not ask me to marry you again, I will say no. Do not look for me in your blind congregation. Do not go out and seek me. Do not speak to me. Do not do anything for me. And do not beg me to be kind to her. She knew you were not free. And it did not stop her. She is as guilty, as selfish, as unkind as you. No wonder you both were drawn to each other. I release you, with a heart full of both love and grief for who we were and who we might have become. You may visit my house for I would like to have the gifts you gave me returned to you. You are no longer mine as I was never truly yours. Goodbye, Father Ransome.

Sincerely, Miss Y/L/N.”

You folded it and tucked it into an envelope. You turned to your journal. You took out the page with his flower, strand of hair and picture. You put a finger through it to feel it. Tears ran down your cheeks, but your determination steeled you forward. You placed them in the envelope. Then, finally, you placed in the engagement ring and sealed the envelope shut.

You then walked over and found Loki in the dining hall with Thomas. Thomas was looking at a small music box, fiddling with the gears.

“I need this letter delivered to my home- to Essex, to Aldwinter. First this one to my home, and then…then this one to the church…” you said.

Thomas stood up.

“I think I would be the most suited- I think your time is close to mine. I dress a decade early already.” he sighed.

He put on his top hat and cloak and Loki’s magic whisked him away and then back. Thomas merely took off his top hat and brushed off the dirt of the town.

“There! Delivered efficiently! Now, Y/N, Loki-come here- this little box can play a different tune than it had at first! Come have a look…”

That night, you slept. Free from your betrothal. Free from your home. Free from living with the judgment of others. Yet you had an odd dream. You saw the sea- it looked like the sea back home.

Then images began flashing. A boat. A boy with brown hair. Flowers in the water. Spools of thread in the water. Little bottles in the water. Shells in the water. Then a glimpse-you saw threads of blonde hair floating in the water…someone was in it…perhaps swimming…but you could not make out a face, a person, yet you felt a presence…you saw a white hand reach outstretched towards the surface, where the sun glimmered through the sea. Then it went down, down, down…

When you woke up, somehow, the dream stuck with you.

[hannahwatcheshorror]

28 DAYS LATER (2002)

💁‍♀️💁‍♀️Strong Female Lead(s)

While over 20 years old now, the effects hold up very well as does the story. I would like to find flaws and say that people wouldn’t be so stupid as to spread the virus in the first place, or that people would never be so cruel to one another in hard times, but after having gone through a pandemic… This movie does an excellent job showing what happens during a public health crisis. I’ve only just seen the film but I know it's worth watching again for details I missed the first time.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

The filmmakers had no idea about COVID-19 when they made this movie in 2002 but I can’t help but compare the two events and shudder. The Rage sickness did NOT have to be spread. The science man told them pretty explicitly that if they set the chimps loose, everyone will start dying immediately, and what happened? Exactly. It only took 28 days for Rage to ravage London and for poor lil' Cillian Murphy to wake up all alone in the buff (though I appreciate some male nudity with these mostly female nudity heavy movies, thanks Cill). He finds his world very empty save for some very wild folk who really want a bite out of him (but I mean, who doesn’t). He teams up with a guy and a girl but lights a candle so he can be alone with the girl. Then he and Selena (the girl) find a Daddy-Daughter duo and the daughter’s name is Hannah so she has some big shoes to fill (but I digress). 

They pick up an emergency broadcast telling them to go to a promised land and Hannah is the deciding vote (get it, girl). They go through a tunnel and Papa Frank guns it which is scary and fun but it pops a tire. Hannah to the rescue! Everyone lifts the car while reminding Hannah to hurry (she knows) as she puts on a spare. This was very stressful because I really want Hannah to survive this movie (figures). Next, Hakuna Matata because they go apocalypse grocery shopping (and Daddy Frank is pleased to see the Granny Smiths are going strong because of radiation). Picnicking and having a campout somewhere green and with wild horses, you almost forget about the terrifying, red-eyed, infected. Almost.

They make it to the promised land but there is no one there so Father Frank kicks something out of frustration and gets a drop of virus blood in his eye and THEN the army fuckers pop up out of nowhere to kill him. I am ANGRY and sad for Hannah (and Cillian who mistook Frank for his father earlier). All those left are trucked back to the army headquarters. Things start to feel a little off, and then the head honcho tells dear Mr. Murphy that he promised his hard working soldiers women. Yeah, it’s only been a month but they were all ready to off themselves over the idea of not getting laid again, but being able to take advantage of a woman? Now that sounds like a fine idea to these freaks! Obviously, Cillian, Selena, and Hannah are NOT on board for this but they are outnumbered and so the non-dominant male is exiled.

Cillian doesn’t take well to this so becomes a super stealthy boy suddenly even though in his life before all this he was a delivery driver. He lures Best Boy out into the woods and then doubles back to the clubhouse to rescue Selena and Hannah, taking out one of the baddies on the way. At this point the girls are very scared which is fair because they’ve been made to change into different clothing in front of the men (bright red dresses specifically). Selena gives Hannah some drugs so she won’t have to endure the full effects of the evening but this sort of backfires when the young lady isn’t taking the zombie in their midst very seriously! By the time Cillian comes in and takes care of the guy grabbing up on his woman, Selena thinks he might have The Rage (TM), but he still has his big, old, baby blues. Blonde bitch boy tries to ruin things but Hannah tells him no and feeds him to his pet zombie. Finally, they are in a little house and like a little family, and they sew and make a big “HELLO” for planes overhead to see (but they are pretty sure all of Europe is in lockdown so they are gonna be stuck there a while).

The “what if” alternative ending is just the most realistic ending if Murph-dawg really got shot point blank in the torso during the apocalypse. Homeboy dies. Sorry. The “Radical Alternative Ending” was just as it said, radical. They had an idea that perhaps the cure could be a full body blood transfusion but realized that this couldn’t work in the world they created where a single drop of blood in the eye could infect you in 20 seconds. Cillian ends up dead but Frank lives in the radical scenario. It was fascinating to see them storyboarding.

[offorestsongs]

okay this is a very silly idea but please indulge me: lilyarrow Tropey Historical Romance Novel AU (because i am very weak for those)

we're imagining a fantasy regency Bridgerton-esque setting but you know, with gay people and gender fuckery

also everyone is probably aged up at least a few years so they're adults just so it makes more sense

Lysander comes from a wealthy family but he himself is quite poor, only living from his meager allowance and doesn't partake much in The Society TM

but he's also the sole heir of the family and when his grandma dies, he inherites all of her fortune

EXCEPT!

in her will, his grandma made a condition that he has to marry somebody of a good social standing to actually get the money

easier said than done, not only because Lysander has no idea how to go about finding somebody to marry but because the unfortunate circumstances of his birth are a widely known fact

he's a child born out of wedlock; his mother, a proper lady, ran away with Some Guy TM who then abandoned her after getting her pregnant. it was a huge scandal, it tore the family apart and it's the reason why Lysander's grandma was basically hiding him from the society his whole life

that, as one might expect, doesn't make him a great husband material

but fear not, our poor heir-to-be is not alone in this!

Lady Vil (he can be a lady and a man, who's going to tell him no?), a high standing aristocrat whose family was friends with Lysander’s family until the whole fiasco with Lysander’s birth

but he thinks it's unfair to judge somebody based on what their parents have done and so he and Lysander are friends

he and his overly enthusiastic spouse Rosienne (who writes campy gothic romances under a pen name) take it on themselves to help find Lysander his perfect fake husband so he can claim the money that's rightfully his and not live poor as a mouse anymore

enter: Lord Rook, a dear friend of both Vil and Rosienne, a son of a wealthy, well-respected family and a poet

he can be quite the social butterfly and charm full drawing rooms of people with conversation. unfortunately, he also has a bit of a rake-ish reputation

he goes after helpless young men, "hunts them" and ruins them oh no :(

well. he did "ruin" exactly one young man. at said young man's request

to be precise Vil and Leona were engaged to be married, neither of them particularly wanted it but didn't have a way out so Rook. helped them. break off the engagement (interpret that as you will) whoops

it was quite the scandal, sure, but most of the blame fell on him, leaving Vil free to choose his own spouse

Rook spends most of his time on the countryside but he comes to the city for the season per Vil and Rosienne's invitation

while Vil and Rosie are trying to integrate Lysander into the society, Rook is just. kind of there. sometimes helping. mostly observing

it's such a fascinating project, after all! who would he be, if he couldn't see the delicate flower finally blooming from up close?

Lysander is keeping his distance at first but well. both Vil and Rosienne can be a bit overwhelming sometimes while Rook is being such a perfect gentleman and he pays so much attention to Lysander and he seems to be very knowledgeable and he's always so encouraging

it's. nice

the fact that he's pretty also counts for something

the husband hunting is going... less nice. Lysander is bad at the whole societal song and dance, he gets lost in conversations, doesn't know how to be quick and witty and all the balls and tea parties and walks just overwhelm him

during the balls Rook is often by Lysander’s side and if he sees that everything is too much for Lysander, he takes him outside

maybe they dance, too, when they're finally alone

and finally Lysander gets the BRIGHT idea to just. ask Rook to marry him. he won't be a burden, he promises!!! they won't even have to live together!!!!

Rook is happy to help :)) he's happy, in fact, that Lysander would choose him and not somebody whou wouldn't appreciate him properly

and but of course they have to live together! what if Lysander won't get the money because the lawyers will see that the marriage is fake? ;)

and so they get married. Lysander moves into Rook's country house

insert all your favorite marriage of convenience tropes out there

including, of course, the most important one - "how do i tell my husband that im in love with him? what if it ruins our friendship? it's surely just an obligation to him! he's being so nice already i can't just impose myself on him like that!"

[alarrytale]

I think that the whole concept of het Harry StylesTM is so wrong and it´s becoming slowly obvious that he´s not that boyfriend who´s about to protect and defend his fake gfs because instead he´s actually the one who needs protection and craves for it IMO. The way he always lays on one´s shoulder when someone who´s close to him is hugging him - f.e. Pauli (at the end of EU LOT after they did their dance), Kid Harpoon (after H won AOTY), Gemma (when he won one of his Brits) or the way he threw himself on Stanley Tucci also on Brits. He just doesn´t have that vibe and when we connect it with his feminine part of him (which he is very well aware of and he´s learning how to embrace it)...it´s just against nature if you understand me what I´m trying to say, it´s like to wanting introvert to have fun at some big party while introvert loves being alone or just in the small group of known people. The only ladies he´s protective are his mum, sister and other women in his family we are not very well aware of. On the other hand Louis definitely has this protective vibe (no suprise when he´s the oldest brother to his younger sisters) and that´s why they go together so perfectly - because they fits their needs. Btw few weeks ago I was watching DWD again just for fun and nope, seeing him acting like he´s heterosexual horny husband ready to please his wife with oral s*x had weird vibe for me when I compare it to his gay role in MP. I will repeat this opinion but how can het harries be so blind not seeing he´s the one who wants protection and to be taken by gentle care because he´s the soft one. People who know him treats him like that and so is Louis - that perfect protective boyfriend who will fight for his girl Harry.

Hello, anon!

This ask is a minefield (not your fault), but here we go. I disagree with most of your takes here, but that's okay. If that's how you see it, then that's how you see it. We simply disagree.

However i think we have to differentiate between who harry is in private and who harry tm is. A lot of his behaviour is tied to his image. I think harry is very different in private, with people he know and love, than when he's in a public setting. Harry uses jokes, physical comedy and exaggertion in public. It's a performance. Like the whole Stanley Tucci thing was. Mocking fan behaviour and playing damsel in distress. I don't think that's very reflective of how he acts at home. I also thinks he's not very protective of his beards simply because he don't like them and know them enough to be.

I think Harry can be just as protective as Louis to the ones he cares about, he just shows it in different ways than Louis. I don't think Harry craves protection, he's a big boy and can handle himself. He's assertive when needs be and says no when he means no. But he's shy at times in unfamiliar settings and an introvert as you say. Louis is tactile, but so is Harry. But unlike Louis, Harry is only tactile with the ones he knows. I don't think harry is particularly soft either. Yes, he's feminine, but he has an explosive anger and can pin a guy to a wall when provoked no problem (poor Liam). Harry is mulitdimentional and i hate when he's reduced to either this or that. He can be both and he can be more. And he is. Same with Louis.

I've said this before, but i don't think harry can act. At all. So that might be the reason that his acting in dwd felt weird to you. In mp he didn’t really act as much as just being himself (as grandage put it). Good actors usually don't have any issues with playing straight/gay or good/evil no matter what they identify as or who they are like as a person. It's acting. Also, you were watching DWD for fun? Why? Ironically?

I also take issue with this fandoms obsession with making h and l emulate stereotypical heterosexual relationships. Gay couples usually don't. They don’t require that one partner is "masculine" and the other "feminine" or one being "soft" and the other one "hard". In most couples, both partners have a mixture of gender traits. I think h and l are a mixture. So i don't think one has to be protective and one has to be craving protection. Or one has to be a prince and the other one a princess. Neither of them are the one or the other. They are both a bit of both. They are each others babies and each others rocks.

[tsuki-sennin]

Beep Boop. Long time, no see, Tarou! My loathsome copy! Momo... Momota Saburo? Can I call Don Killer that? Don Hakai? Would perhaps Don Amour be appropriate? Don Magia? Don Ark?

He's a robot, is my point.

Spoilers, I guess...

-Murasame-kun goes a little cray cray once in a while, but he's okay!

-...oh Christ, I forgot Miho was back.

-Christ Tarou, do you ever have a quiet day free of shenanigans?

-Just kidding, I love you *chu*

-Ohhhhhh, that's a Ryusoul Gold I spy! ...Canalo's like the total opposite of Jirou, now that I think about it.

-Damn, Don Killer's just... totally barehanded, huh?

-Jirou and Haruka are finally paying their tabs! Yatta!

-Oh, and Shinichi and Tsuyoshi too, I guess. ...everybody be sure to set your KijiBro alarms, they will go off sometime soon.

-Jesus Christ, people can't get enough of Don Kaito!

-...neither can I, to be fair, but holy frack

-Terasaki-san! The pleaseman!

-Oh?

-Haruka, don't dig through somebody's possessions!

-Oh hey, that's Kohaku Shida's actual birthday, that's a fun detail

-...that's uh, not Yuuki Beppu's birthday, but we'll run with it!

-Aaaand Hifumi Suzuki's too!

-DON KAITO

-WHY WOULD YOU SET IT TO THOSE DATES YOU FOOL

-Do Not Fucking Press This Fucking Button (TM)

-"...okay." <- Totally gonna press that fucking button.

-ENCOURAGE HIM

-Great to see they're getting along, at least!

-Aaaaaaand, we're in trouble.

-All across the city, people felt a shudder.

-Don Kira!

-Ware wa Meshia nari! Ha ha ha!

-Ooooooooh, I don't know if I said this, but I love that look for Kouhei Higuchi, it looks so pretty.

-Ohhhhhh, he took that very cold.

-Man, that there Don Clan seem very short sighted.

-Oh hey Sononi! So uh, bad news, it's possible that Don Killer's gonna cancel the series by turning all the Donbrothers into meat products of various states of overcooked, but I have good news! I happen to know a talent scout for 765 Productions, always looking for new idols! ...we might need to pull some strings to get you a legal identity, but don't worry. I know a guy, just call this number and ask for a new dust filter for a Hoover MaxExtract-

-Ohhhhh, this dude's a fuckboy!

-Speaking of whom, hello Tsubasa! /j

-"Humans can't hurt me. ...also, your girlfriend is literally still comatose."

-Who's that Hitotsu-ki!

-Ohhhh, this one's very easy! It's a Denge-Ki!

-Don Time!

-Ohhhhh, Sononi knows.

-"WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT"

-"DON KILLER"

-"DON WHAT NOW"

-To be fair, this isn't that different from how Tarou used to treat the squad (Haruka especially) in the beginning.

-You know it's bad when even Tarou says "fuck this, we're outta here!"

-HKJKHKLHG TSUBASA NOOOOO

-Seems pretty fucked up to make the Donbrothers' executioner look like their boss.

-Holy shit, Tarou :(

-Oh hi, Sonoi.

-Yeah, Sononi didn't help us earlier, thanks for that.

-C'mon Tarou, we don't really need that "Stay out of this" right now.

-Ohhhhhhhh, Don Killer's here.

-Banana Pafa.

-Parufaito!

-Banana Parfaio!

Seems like he's enjoying it.

-...Don Kaito, what the fuck

-Ohhhh, seems like that mustard's causing an error.

-"Sonoi, the council already hates us, do you really wanna risk dying over this?"

-"We are saving our boyfriends and Sonoza's weird annoying manga friend."

-So much for "not attacking" Noto, huh?

-SONOI HJKHL

-De-mustarded.

-True Hero.

-Heeeeey, Kaito. Whatcha doin' there?

-Don Killer-Killer.

-Forever Hero?

-Beep!

-Awwwwww, Jirou loves his dad :)

-Helloooo, Crane Lady!

-Hey, so uh... the Don Clan created another massive mess, turns out. Have you considered helping us out, even a little?

-TSUYOSHI'S WRITING A WILL

-OH WELL FUCK THAT I GUESS, VALOR TME

-...oooooor not.

-"OH FUCK, IT'S KIJINO"

-Two fail men can't fight robots.

-Very nice, Shinichi. I will pass this onto my children.

-Is this Don Killer's "execution" method?

-All in the same god-dang ward.

-Terasaki-saaaaan?

-.

-Ohhh.

-JIROU NO-

-Hey there, Haruka.

-Dyin' sure sucks, huh?

-"Manga, huh? ...How dull. Rejected."

-"No dying unless you draw something worthwhile!"

-Donbura Ko!

-HE BIT THE FUCKING SWORD

-Zenryoku Zenkai!

-...Zettai Zetsubou!

-Barf missiles!

-OH?

-Is that

-S

-Saruhara

-Okay, thanks!

-Guess he's helping us now!

-Don Kira Kira!

-Oh sorry Miss Tamaki, we kinda forgot about you.

-Jirou's getting his crunches in!

-Admirable resolve, Tsuyoshi!

-...agonizing pain though.

-Aesthetics!

-QUE BOM! Ryu So Cool!

-Omikoshi Soul! Kyo! Ryu! Soul! Doul! Kono Kanji! Omikoshi!

-Big Bird!

-Here comes the Big One!

-Guess they're just.

-Fighting forever now!

-Oh god, the Kagome motif

-Hooray, Dad's home!

-J

-Jirou, were you

-Folding a penguin just now?

-SONONI JIROU'S INDICATING SOMETHING REAL WHAT THE FUCK YOU DON'T JUST DROP "Let's run away together, Tsubasa-san!" ON ME AND NOT ACT LIKE THIS ISN'T OVERWHELMING ME

-Absolutely insane episode. In a good way at least, as usual.

[cabezadeperro]

hi!! I would love to hear about the director's commentary for "death and a kindness"?

hi friend!!!!!

death and a kindness my beloved ♥️

i'm a huge fantasy fan, even if i don't read it as much as i used to (because i am also the pickiest person alive). this was in a way my homage to that genre, in that i think it is the most "traditional" fantasy thing i have ever written, both in fic and in my own original fiction. still, it's more of a low fantasy than high fantasy lmao

there's a lot of Lore TM to that AU i never shared in any of the fics i published, about cody and rex's childhood before their father was killed and their experience in captivity, and then how they got free and kicked off the rebellion. and also stuff about obi-wan and quinlan and luminar and the force in this 'verse and how they got to where they are, but lbr i am first and foremost a cody person lol

it all got complicated in teh sequel (and i think i chickened out), but i started writing that first fic because i wanted to explore that kind of dynamic, i wanted to explore an AU where their power imbalance and differences in life experience exists in maybe more obvious ways, since i feel that it's one of those things it's very often glossed over in codywan fic. i wanted to write a version of cody who very much doesn't just distrust obi-wan but dislike him (and for good reasons!), and an obi-wan that has embraced all the ruthlessness that i think it is part of his character.

i think that AU is my favourite kind of AU to write: i had a lot of fun exploring the character dynamics in that specific context, and i love that kind of worldbuilding. most of my worldbuilding is vibes-based (i usually don't research a lot lmao i do that enough in my day job, thank you very much), but i think it really came together in that fic.

i also think i was low key stealing stuff without realising from what might be my favourite fantasy series, the malaz books (one of these days i'll make it to the end of the series.......). the whole premise (the rebels and the soldiers for pay) and the vibes are kind of similar to those books'.

also, for what it's worth: i think this might be my favourite part of that fic:

“We looked for you.”  Cody shakes himself and turns to look at his brother. Rex is staring at nothing; his hold on Cody’s arm is so tight it hurts. “We went back after they left and we looked for you among the corpses and found nothing.” Cody still remembers the day he realised that the world was an unjust, cruel place he could make better. That he realised there was very little he wouldn’t do to make his cruel, unjust world better. He fell after he told them it was time to leave. Hit to the head, lost consciousness for a few hours. Someone took him away from the battlefield, hid him in a barn—when he woke up, it was night, and they were searching for him, so he hid his knives and his armour and joined the workers in the fields and when Kenobi’s soldiers set the fields on fire he joined the long, long line of refugees and prisoners as well.  Rex looks exhausted. Cody tugs him closer, places one dry kiss on his brother’s forehead, feels Rex shudder. “I knew you couldn’t be dead, I just thought—” “I would come back from the dead for you. Cross the river, find my bones, fight the lady of the well and win,” Cody tells him seriously. Rex stops, mouth open, and Cody cradles his face with his cold hands, feeling stubble and too-sharp cheekbones. “I would. I will. Alright?” Rex snorts wetly. “Alright.” They rest in silence, eyes closed, foreheads touching. Cody sighs. He steps away, rubbing at his face. He can half-see Kenobi between the trees further down the narrow, winding road, whispering to the horses. “He’s not what I expected,” Rex says suddenly. Cody scowls. “I don’t trust him,” he tells his brother. “He will use us until he can’t and then he will get us out of his way.” The peasants call him the Kind Man. 

[crystalelemental]

Unit Teambuilding - Proton

At long last, that's all the Rocket guys. Proton is here, to be...I mean, they seem to refer to him as the pretty guy that the Rocket ladies swoon over, but I don't see it.

General Overview Flying support with Golbat. This man is the reason we got Flying Gear this month. Think about that. Anyway, if he's who you get hit with the ticket, the good news is he might be the best of them somehow, depending on what you're after.

Air Slash for flinch on a support is great, Confuse Ray is at least funny. X Sp Def All and TM boosts +1 Spd/acc/crit/Special Moves Up Next. Yes, Proton is, for some reason, an SMUN boosting pair with 2MP and an MPR node on grid. Repeated application of such an effect is huge. His gimmick is MGR9 and Revenge Boost 9 in one passive. All Ramped Up makes him, in a slow sense, a Sp Atk/Crit buffer. Stop Hitting Yourself 5 is just generally fun. His grid offers MPR, All Ramped Up on Trainer Move for faster boosting, Aggravation, and built-in Vigilance right near Aggravation so it's actually accessible for once.

The main problem with Proton is that he's pretty 3/5 dependent as a support. Every good thing about his grid is 3/5, and his base kit just doesn't really hold up. The buffing is slow, 30% flinch is insufficient, Confuse is not reliable, etc etc etc. I do think he has merit, but that merit comes in the form of very specific team comps, and needing max investment.

EX, Role, and Move Level Support, so generally encouraged. Move Level is 3/5 mandatory, this man offers so very little without it. Role is Tech, which is hilarious for a dude with 210 special attack. What are you gonna do, tickle them to death? Should've been Field or Sprint, dingus.

Team 1: Proton, Blue, Anni Skyla I'm going to mention both in one. Blue actually caps accuracy with this team, for full Brutal Clarity. Anni Skyla can actually get her missing special attack thanks to Proton's help. Because Blue self-buffs for three turns, successful MPR means that Blue bursts, then has, under Zone, +3 SMUN for a massive damage Hurricane.

Team 2: Proton, BP Falkner, NY!Lance These are the other two worth noting. Proton's crit boosting can salvage Falkner and Lance over time, with his speed and special attack boosting really benefiting a Hyper Beam user like Lance. Falkner's debuffs also complement Proton's preferred defensive set well.

Team 3: Proton, Lorelei, Ghetsis Proton's kit should focus on the fact that he buffs accuracy more than anything. He can fully salvage Lorelei's offensive needs for DPS, while also patching up Ghetsis' accuracy issues. For an Ice comp, Proton can offer a lot, given how many of them rely on accuracy checks. Like, say, Irida and Pryce, who are also good picks for him.

Team 4: Proton, SS Leaf, Brendan While Brendan doesn't need offensive support, he can benefit from the accuracy boost to save on energy for ensuring Leaf Storm hits. Additionally, SS Leaf appreciates the complete offensive support, speed for supporting Dual Strike, but most significant of all, the ability to store SMUN by spamming Razor Leaf for AoE debuffs first. This can turn Frenzy Plant into one hell of a nuke. Her healing also supports Proton, who is otherwise lacking in sustainability.

Team 5: Proton, May, Archie This is a really significant one. As mentioned, accuracy is a huge deal for teams that don't naturally acquire it. May and Archie can miss, and Proton fixes that, while also offsetting buffing needs. Archie can skip his trainer move and not completely ruin his bulk. May doesn't need her trainer move as desperately. SMUN is optimal for high DPS moves like this.

Final Thoughts Proton is deceptively fantastic. SMUN is ideal in circumstances where the base power of the move is incredibly high, and nothing skews damage higher than poor accuracy. Being able to buff both accuracy and SMUN in one button is already fantastic, but include the ability to boost special attack and crit, and suddenly we're dealing with a very respectable pick. I think he's being underestimated a bit.

[seeker-ophelia]

But wait there's more.

Forewarned,

#Long Post, and also a (bad) Literary Analysis by an Electrician.

Okay, I've been in angst for so long I re-watched a much of older Jane Austin moves on Netflix and... you guys... they're all solavellan.

Solas & Predjudice

A slew of miscommunications and “prejudices” cause a kerfuffle for the Bennet family. The main couple, Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, eventually find love after throwing away their pride, and the prejudices they heard about the other from untrustworthy sources. All of the attraction between the two is conveyed without them touching, halted broken voices, the infamous “hand,” etc.

Austen is thought to have taken her title from a passage in Fanny Burney's Cecilia (1782), a novel she is known to have admired: "The whole of this unfortunate business," said Dr Lyster, "has been the result of PRIDE and PREJUDICE. ... if to PRIDE and PREJUDICE you owe your miseries, so wonderfully is good and evil balanced, that to PRIDE and PREJUDICE you will also owe their termination."

The American novelist Anna Quindlen observed in an introduction to an edition of Austen's novel in 1995: Pride and Prejudice is also about that thing that all great novels consider, the search for self. And it is the first great novel that teaches us this search is as surely undertaken in the drawing room making small talk  (hello, DragonAge Dialogue) as in the pursuit of a great white whale...

Next is Jane Eyre, in which the male Protag, Edward, might be the best comparison to Solas I can imagine.

Jane (well spoken, soft, witty, good, kind) falls in love with a loner but rich landowner (Edward). There is something fishy about him tho, we are led to believe there's something dangerous/off about him, if he is housing a demon/animal, or is in fact a demon himself. They attempt to marry, but the ceremony is stopped. Its discovered "the demon" is his wife, a mentally unstable woman who Edward married to save. He literally calls her “My own demon.” He wants to protect this deranged woman (out of duty? misplaced duty?) but loves Jane deeply. Jane runs away, makes a life for herself, feel guilt, then goes back to him to find his house burned, the woman dead, and Edward blind. They kiss, you assume happy ending.

Edward thought to protect Jane by NOT FUCKING TALKING TO HER Bro like come on what are you even... like you should have fucking told her. Gods damn it Solas Edward just use your outdoor voice and talk to the pretty lady.

They do end up together, but only after Edward has gone through great physical and emotional strife, pretty much of his own doing, I think we can all agree.

And I'd be remis to not talk about Persuasion, because the scene is set so perfectly for Veilguard.

In Persuasion, the book starts up several years after protag Anne breaks off her Engagement with Love Interest (TM) Captain Frederick Wentworth.

Once AGAIN, through NOT FUCKING TALKING TO EACH OTHER, they think the other has moved on, and they try not to intrude on the others life. But (in the movie), Wentworth writes her a beautiful confession letter, which I will put here with some *minor* modifications:

Dearest Inquisitor Levellan, I can listen no longer in silence. Vhenan, you pierce my soul. Dare not say that man forgets sooner than woman, that his love has an earlier death. I am half agony, half hope. I know too much time has passed, and you have moved on, but I will never forgive myself if I do not tell you this. You alone have brought me to heel. For you alone, I think and plan. But of course, you have not seen this, how could you? Because your love has not lasted as long as mine. Vhenan, I have loved no one but you and I don’t think I ever will. I have thought many times about how to tell you this. But the pain of a love unrequited (except for Soals it’s the pain of perceived duty/guilt) rendered me silent.  Tell me not that I am too late. My love for you has never faltered. Yours, eternal, Solas Fen’Harel What is even your real name just tell me cuz its NOT FUCKING WISDOM YOU DUMB EGG

Solas is so ANCIENT, and GDL voices him SO WELL, with that welsh-tinge, its so hard NOT to put this love story in with the romance classics. Especially with the main theme being JUST TALK TO EACH OTHER YOU FUCKING IDIOTS.

I am just hoping and praying and huffing that copium that we get a happy ending, and not a sad one.

Or even better, through our interactions with Solas' memories, that we get to choose.

remember recent posts about that scene?

it was mostly about a solavellan reunion

it suddenly hit me and unblocked a bonus fear: solavellan ending just like in the movie/book. like a bit melancholic yet happy ending in which love wins and future seems much brighter than before and... then you found out it isn't real, it's just a story told by someone else as a try to make things right for them and bring a happiness because they deserved it even if the reality was never kind to them.

Varric, a storyteller, if you will try to make this Atonement thing to me, I will find you and I will kill you.

Movie: "Atonement", 2007

Book: "Atonement", Ian McEwan, 2001

[sonofanumbranwitch]

LGBT+ Headcanons for the Phantom Thieves

So I beat the final and post game bosses for Persona 5 Strikers yesterday so to celebrate I want to make a post I’ve wanted to do for a while now. I’m always of the mind that anything can be improved by making it gayer so I have my whole set of LGBT headcanons for the Phantom Thieves. Because the idea of rebellious LGBT kids fighting the evils of society speak to me on a near religious level.

1. So I am very much a “I am Joker” kind of role-player. So my Joker, like me, is gay. He is very much in love with a certain lovable blond beef cake on the team. And he hates it when a lovely lady confesses to him and he can’t just tell them that so they don’t blame themselves when he has turn them down. “YOU’RE BEAUTIFUL I SWEAR! I’M JUST A RAGING HOMOSEXUAL!”

2. Both Ryuji and Ann are Chaotic Bisexual tm. Ryuji definitely prefers girls, but he’s really attracted to anyone he thinks is pretty, like Joker. He’s shows his affection through physical touch mostly. Sitting next to Joker with an arm around him, casually resting his head on his shoulder. ALL OF THE CUDDLES! Ann prefers girls as well but she’s not opposed to relationships with men. That being said she is in a very committed relationship with her girlfriend Shiho. That “I love you” on top of the roof was actually a confession and I do not take criticism on this.

3. Yusuke is a transman. One of the things that really interests me about Yusuke is his expression of masculinity. His arcana is The Emperor which is usually associate with masculine qualities and Yusuke expresses his in a very loud but still soft way, so it made for an interesting idea to have him be trans showing there is no “right way” to project masculinity. He came out really young and this was one of those instances where Madarame shows he wasn’t a complete dirtbag by actually being supportive of Yusuke, and even helping him go on hormones and receive top surgery when he wanted it. If someone tries to misgender Yusuke the rest of the thieves practically have to be restrained. Haru definitely pulls out her axe and just stands there with a smile on her face that says, “misgender my friend again, and I’m going to identify as a problem.”

4. Makoto and Haru are the hard and soft lipstick lesbian couple of the group. They invoke a lot of Ruby and Sapphire energy, in that almost nothing gets done on their own because they’re too busy being wholesome and flirty with each other. When they started dating, after Haru broke off her engagement, Sugimura showed up on one of their dates enraged. He tried to grab Haru, and Makoto was not having any of that. She punched him so hard he lost a couple of teeth. When he ran away, Haru was just so overwhelmed with how hot Makoto was in that moment she just kissed her there for the first time and Makoto brain shut down for a few seconds.

5. I was going to have Futaba be asexual but there is, weirdly, a lot of dialogue where she is fascinated with Ann’s chest… so instead she’s a nonbinary lesbian. As far as pronouns Futaba doesn’t really have a preference. If she was really pushed, she’d say “either she/her or they/them, but whatever”. The hang-ups concerning gender just don’t interest them, so whatever you use they are pretty chill either way. But they do love some pretty girls, particularly red heads.

6. Goro is a trash-sexual. He identifies as trash, lived as trash, and died as trash.

7.Sumire is asexual however. She’s not really sex repulsed per say she just doesn’t feel interest in it. If her partner wanted to she could no problem but she would always prefer grabbing something to eat instead.

8. Sophia does lost of research to try and figure out where her connection to gender and sexuality lie. After doing a lot of soul searching on the matter she determines she is demisexual. She doesn’t really experience physical attraction until she develops a strong emotional attachment to someone.

9. Zenkichi has been around, lets just say. He’s a bisexual man, but he was never really able to act on his attraction to men when he was younger. And he thinks he might be past the point of dating given his career. The other thieves aren’t having this since they can see he wants to form a connection with someone, and also thinks Akane needs another parent in her life seeing at how busy he is. So he starts dating again, this time going to a few men only events to explore that aspect of himself more. Akane just tells him to find someone who makes him happy.

[beholdtheleaves]

la familia madrigal.

A text game set in Disney's Encanto

Please choose an occupation:

- Farmer - Mason - Blacksmith

>farmer mason blacksmith

>master of all

Your name is LEANDRO. You're... well, you're sort of everything! You're the village handyman, doing all sorts of odd jobs that people need you to do.

You've got a busy day ahead. You step out the door, reviewing your tasks in your head - help repair Carmela's roof, lay the bricks on the town plaza and... oh. Oh. You have to send a letter from Don Mariano Guzman to the Madrigal residence. Oh my.

>oh?

You've got a crush on one of the daughters. Luisa... Oh Luisa, Luisa! You could write a hundred verses about her and her marvelous muscles.

>==>

You're honestly tempted to skip your first two tasks and just go to the Guzman residence to get the letter. They're not time-sensitive anyway! Yes, this is totally okay.

Do you go to get the letter?

>bring some food for them before going

You get some of your mother's arepas and wrap them in some banana leaves before going back out the door. They're not as great as Señora Julieta's - they can heal injuries with literal magic - but they're still pretty good!

You knock on the Guzman residence. Mariano himself answers, and smiles.

"Leandro! Just the man I wanted to see!"

>"greetings, im here for the letter, and i brought food, for your fam, your daughter might like it perhaps"

Mariano sputters and blushes.

"H-How could you insinuate that I'd have a daughter? I'm engaged! Don't let anyone hear that!"

Oh right. The entire reason he's having you deliver the letter is so that he can communicate with his fiancee Isabela, who is Luisa's sister.

>"right, sure i wont forget"

"Alright! Here's the letter. Please be extra careful with it, and make sure it reaches Isabela! Give it to her personally if you can."

You nod, and run off as Mariano closes the door. It's a bit of a climb up to the Madrigal house, but you'll make the journey!

>==>

(Huff, puff.)

You shouldn't have run all the way here. But anything, anything for your lady love Luisa!

Just before your fist hits the door, it opens. It's Dolores - Luisa's cousin.

"Hi, Leandro. I could hear your labored breathing from a mile away so I thought you'd be on your way here. Is that a letter from Mariano?"

>yes it is! For isabela!

>oh and uhhh would luisa happen to be here ahahaha

"O-Oh! Right... Of course it's for Isa... Haha..." Dolores says, laughing nervously. Wait, is she blushing?

"Yes, I'll deliver it to her. She's just inside changing clothes. Oh! And to answer your question, Luisa's down at the quarry."

Dolores perks her ears.

"She just said she's about to take her lunch break! You'd better hurry if you want to talk to her before she gets back to work~ Hehe."

>okay whats the fastest way to the quarry

>what are the odds miss isa can conjure vines for us to Tarzan (tm) our way to the quarry

>or are there any shortcuts??

The fastest way would be cutting through the forests, but they can get dangerous, what with wild animals and all.

You suppose you could ask Isabela to conjure up some vines, you've seen her done so before... But you're pretty shy.

>hm, risk of death is certainly better than socialising! Probably

>maybe we should nyoom through the woods !!! For luisa !!!!!!!!

You do a quick run through the woods!! Nyooooom!!!!

This is totally a good plan. Why, it's pro-

You slip and trip over a root, falling face-flat into the mud. Ouch.

>get up

>we're gonna look all muddy for luisa... 💔💔💔

>try to wipe off as much of the mud as we can !! Maybe even wash up a lil if theres any water nearby !

You get up. No mud can stop you from getting to your lady-love! You wash your clothes in the nearby river.

"...Leandro?" a deep, familiar voice says. You look upstream, and—

There in her shining, chiseled beauty! It's her!!!!

>very intelligently: kanfkwjvkeovkwkfjwkvkqkvkw hi luisa !!

"H-hi Luisa! I uh-"

>...what are the odds we get so flustered/nervous that we just. Fall into the river

Very high, apparently. You lose your footing and fall into the river.

Luisa breaks out laughing. "Pfffft! Hahaha!!! That was... pathetic! You have a crush on my cousin?"

Luisa gets smaller and smaller, and her clothes shift too. It wasn't Luisa at all, just her shapeshifting cousin Camilo.

Ughh. You were friends with them when you were younger. But they're such a troublemaker sometimes.

>...hi camilo 💔 dont be an ass smh

>wow the water sure looks tempting to drown myself in rn 😔

>...no !!! We dont have time for this !!! We gotta go see luisa before her break ends !!!

"Don't be an ass," you tell them.

They shapeshift into you.

"Aww, woe is me! I'm Leandro, and I'm a lovestruck fooool. Bwahahaha!"

"I don't have time for this, Camilo," you say. "I have to go down to the quarry."

You dust yourself off and get on your way.

"Hey friend, don't be like that! Come on, don't waste time over my cousin. Why don't we catch that band that's in town today? For old time's sake."

>well, maybe later?

>im not opposed to it, but

>luisa's on break now !! I can't waste any more time !!!

"Fine, fine, fine..." Camilo throws their hands up in surrender. "If you're so crazy about her, just go."

You're back on your feet, and you run!

You make it out of the forest, and see the quarry below you. But then... rain clouds begin to gather overhead. Thunder booms.

Either this is a freak storm, or Camilo and Dolores' mother, Pepa, is nearby. Her mood affects the weather, and she swings moods a lot.

Great. Just great.

You hear wailing nearby.

>....waaaaa

>wanna see luisa but... we can't just leave miss pepa like that 🥺

>we can take a short detour, can't we?

You suppose you could.

You come upon Señora Pepa, down in the dumps. She's seated on a rock and sobbing into a handkerchief.

>uhh... senora pepa? Are you okay?

>oh well i guess that was a dumb question, uh— what's wrong? Can i do anything for you to help?

"I-" she sobs. "It's my anniversary with my husband and I forgot to buy him a gift! Oh, he'll be crushed! Absolutely crushed! Just like... those rocks down at the quarry!"

She bawls even harder. As she does, the rain turns torrential.

>ohkay ohkay uhh think think

>theres still time !! What does he like

>you could make him something he likes !! Like his uh favourite food?

"Oh? His favorite food... yes, he's particularly fond of empanadas with potatoes. I suppose I could make them."

The rain weakens.

"But then. I'll never be as good as my sister. She's always been the chef in the family..." she sniffles.

>its the thought that counts, isnt it?

>i know that food from the woman i love would always taste delicious to me !!

>but if youre that torn up about not being as good, maybe you could even make some with your sister! So its still made by you but can have that tastiness from her skills?

"Th-that's true! By God, that's true!" she says. She wipes her tears and puts away her handkerchief. "I should go to my sister right now and ask her for help!"

The rain stops, and the clouds part. A rainbow emerges in their stead.

"Thank you, Leandro. You're a very sweet boy," she says, putting her hand on your shoulder affectionately. "I wouldn't mind having you in our family, hehe."

Oh no. Does she know, perhaps? Maybe Dolores told her? Ooh, that gossipy, nosy, busybody!!

>kajdkskfjakdkw

>th,,, thank you senora 👉👈

>i mean uh, youre welcome!!

>speaking of, i gotta go!!!!! Good luck though!!!

You're on your way down to the quarry.

"Gargh!" you hear Luisa shout. The real Luisa this time, not Camilo.

She punches a boulder, and it splits neatly in two. She's not even breaking a sweat.

You've never been so in love.

>okay take a deep breath, steel ourself, lets not make a fool of ourself

>god shes so strong and pretty

>hey luisa!!!!!! I heard- well, dolores heard and told me- that you were on break?

"Oh, she said that?" she asks as she goes off to a bench, seemingly carrying a sandwich.

"Y-yeah, she did..." you bumble. Focus, Leandro!

"Wait, you asked her where I was? Why? Do you have a job for me? Hang on, I have another one after this but maybe I can fit it in."

>oh no not a job or anything!!

>i just, er ,,,, wanted to see you i suppose

>sorry, are you too busy?

"A bit, yeah," she says. "If you've got something to say, spit it out."

>well, uh

>i,,,, i wanted to ask if you needed any help? Or had anything i can help with? Like, lighten your load and all?

>not that you cant handle it yourself of course you totally can youre very capable but you always have a lot on your plate so i figured uh, yeah

"Oh." she seems a bit shocked. "Nobody's really offered to help me before. Thank you."

She turns serious again.

"I'll be helping Juan transport his goods to the market later. Maybe you can build a cart? You're pretty handy, after all."

>you can totally do that

>totally!!

>anything for luisa... hehehehehe...

"Of course!" you say. You can actually do it, but you're not the best, y'know? You're more of a jack of all trades.

"Anything for you," you inadvertently say. Wait, no!

"What did you say?" Luisa says, tucking into her sandwich. "Didn't hear ya there."

>NOTHING AT ALL HAHA

>im just gonna go and. Build that! Yes.

>uhhh have a nice meal !!!!

"Thanks...? It's just a sandwich."

You nervously shuffle back up out of the quarry and head towards town. You need some spare wood and tools, stat!

—To Be Continued.

[earlgraytay]

Okay, here's a more concrete example so that it's easier to see where I'm coming from.

I'm a sucker for cozy mysteries. Give me a tiny village, a spunky detective who is either under the age of twelve or older than thirty, and the world's most bloodless murder-- I'm yours for the next 200 pages.

I picked up a promising-looking one a couple years back called Wicked Autumn, about a priest in a small English village who's investigating the murder-by-peanut-allergy of an obnoxious woman who runs a big part of the town's ~social calendar~. Half the women in town wanted this lady dead because she was a snobby arch-conservative. But as our priest begins to untangle the mystery, he discovers the murderer isn't any of the women at all!

It's the obnoxious woman's son and his chef husband, who poisoned her for the insurance money. They wanted to run away together and start a restaurant, and killing her was the perfect solution to both of those problems. Our boy wouldn't have to deal with his mother's disapproval anymore, and chef husband would get his restaurant. The perfect crime! Until our priest comes in to save the day.

....As a writer, I would have enjoyed the not-obvious but well-constructed solution to the mystery. As a reader, I would have liked all the characters in question; I still joke that I'm going to steal Our Antagonists and give them a story that is even vaguely sympathetic to them.

....But this book was written in the period of the 2000s where "this character is from Belgium! and has bleached hair! and earrings!" is all meant to lead you to the conclusion that he's gay. Because gay marriage is legal in Belgium, you see.

It was very clearly written by a Straight Person, who wants you to know that they think Love Is Love (TM), but doesn't understand that they've written a sympathetic villain. They don't seem to understand that a gay man poisoning his arch-conservative parent in the 2000s might, might have a motivation other than Being An Evil Calculating Bastard. That this guy, as written, is very clearly at the end of his rope, has very clearly suffered a lot of abuse from both parents, even if they were supporting him financially-- his dad's a retired Military Man (TM)-- and just wants to run away with his husband rather than have to deal with one more day of their bullshit.

There are ways to write a sympathetic murderer in a cozy. "Cool motive, still murder" can apply, but a lot of cozy detectives will let the "right" kind of murderer off the hook. A battered woman who killed her husband, for example, will likely have the detective cover for her. Even if the author goes "murder is always unforgivable regardless of circumstances", it's more than possible to make a sympathetic murderer who is clearly caught in an untenable situation and write it as a tragic story. And yet this narrative did neither of those things. The author wrote pretty convincing gay characters, but seemed to have no understanding of why they were doing the things they were doing.

It's incredibly problematic rep, but if it was written by an author who understood and was sympathetic to the characters? I would have had a grand old time. It was a decently written story, and the characters and setting were fun. It's just that this author... did not understand what they had here, and so it killed my enjoyment of the book.

The three things that I needed were in conflict, and the "things I need from my queer-focused fiction" outweighed the other two this time. A different story would be different.

Last night in a "socially aware writer" Facebook group I saw a "new Bechdel test" for queer characters that suggested a good queer story should not 1) end in tragedy, 2) involve cheating, and 3) involve an age gap. People were lauding this as good advice and tbh I am. So stupidly tired of shit like this. The only thing this kind of thinking has led to is causing harm for queer writers who write these sorts of topics. I don't think it does us any fucking good to say "you can't write about us unless you avoid these things", sorry.

Treat us like fucking people. We have tragic lives sometimes. We cheat on each other just like straight people. And for the love of the gods, no one can give me a straight answer on what the fuck an age gap is, let alone one of problematic nature.

I hate how the writing scene for queers has been warped. Really, really hate it.

[vaguely-concerned]

The Mandalorian Chapter 14 reactions: HOLY SHIT THAT WAS AWESOME BUT ALSO I’M CRYING edition

- the good good din characterization is back after all the weirdness last episode!!!! that soft way he says ‘no, no, I’m not mad at you’? THAT’S din djarin, he would not be fucking impatient with his son having just been informed and seen for himself that he is terrified, go away mr filoni I know you’ve got all of canon memorized but you don’t get this lol. this feels much more right in how din being conflicted and still thinking he should give the baby away for his own good plays out too  

honestly every line of dialogue for him in this one was perfect I was just whispering ‘I love this awkward clueless wonderful man just doing his best’ to myself any time he said anything. “...does this look Jedi to you?” sir I adore you more than words can describe

- we got din chuckling. asjdklfhsdkafghsdafsadhjkfsdahjkfh. fskahfksjad. side note: I can’t believe my joke post about din desperately trying to Force home school the kid with the one (1) jedi trick he knows about and the baby being delighted by it over and over anyway -- listen to his expectant excited laugh when din takes the ball and sets up the game!!!! -- was canon all along. and then the baby & mando music kicking in when he gently put the silver ball into the baby’s hands again and tells him he’s special (because he IS special. to din)? hmng. hmmmmnnnnn  

they opened on the height of softness so we would all crumple under the weight of the rest of the episode and that was very mean of them in a way I sincerely appreciate 

- nothing to see here... just a dad trying to walk through the literal manifestation of the unassailable underlying forces of the universe to get to his baby again and again........ the desperation in that, the love, the foolhardy devotion................... shit

- okay so I might be a dumbass, but I’d never noticed this before -- the silver ball has a blue spot on the top, like so: 

and in addition we get the room where the baby goes full darth grogu (I have to laugh so I don’t cry okay) on those storm troopers, and there’s a red light in there dominating the room (and it did even more in the concept art):

in star wars blue means light side and red means dark side (it’s very sophisticated that way), meaning the visual storytelling here is that there’s a battle for the baby’s soul and gideon and all his nonsense (and the trauma bb’s been through in the wider sense) is pulling towards the dark, while grogu and din’s connection leads him towards the light. just... the image of the baby looking at his own reflection in the symbolic representation of his relationship to din? the way children find their sense of self through being safely reflected and held by their caretakers? god help meeeeeee I will go in there and fistfight gideon myself for disrupting that in any way  

the smaller light seems to be blue too, like there’s still the presence of light even if it’s dimmed and small in that shitty horrible room, which is a change from the concept art!

- FENNEC SHAND SURVIVED BITCHES!!! I even called that she’d be back with new shiny robot parts back in season 1, could not happen to a cooler lady, I hope we get more backstory and interaction from her the next episodes -- sounds like she’s basically sworn herself to boba’s service in gratitude for saving her life, I wonder if that’s a cultural thing of whereever she comes from? does she live aboard slave 1 now too?? because that would be hilarious and amazing, it must be like two strange cats trying to get used to sharing the same space   

- everything I could ever hope for about boba fett in this series came true, they went down the much more interesting and nuanced route with jango and boba’s identities as mandalorians, he looked cool as fuck and made din as a character shine rather than overshadowing him... amazing beautiful yesss 

(I did 100% not anticipate just how ‘cool uncle boba here to help you fuck shit up’ he was going to be but I am delighted to get it anyway. uncle points deducted for getting someone to point a gun at the baby, but the main point still stands lol) 

the power and brutality of his hand to hand fighting too... a w e s o m e , I enjoyed the action scenes a lot in this one

- they even recanonized him actually wearing jango’s armour. what more could I ask for. I’ve had confused parent & child feels about these two since I was like eleven and here we fucking go again. and jango fighting in the mando civil wars too!

- so I’m grieving the razor crest (and I always will be, rip you magnificent jalopy, always in my heart) but also there’s the grim satisfaction that my reading on it was sort of true -- it is (...was. oh god it’s going to take a while to sink in huh) a symbol of din’s self and life, and at this point when they take the baby it tears everything else to pieces. the only thing that’s left in the ashes is the beskar and the thing that connects him to the baby. and there’s... a strange solace in seeing that that’s all he needs to keep going? he’s fucking obliterated from orbit but he still has his love for the baby and the beskar and that can keep him going until he finds something new, everything else can be replaced?????? weirdly healing, though he is probably going to have a solid breakdown at some point after they get the kid back (shut up they are getting the kid back) and the cold distant fog lifts 

also this scene/shot feels like it carries some Meaning, doesn’t it? I’m on record several times saying I never want din to be mand’alor and that’s still true, but there’s something about the framing of this and the way boba looks at him that’s like... hm. I’m not sure I have the words for it. there’s something heightened about it, anyway, for a moment he looks like something mythic there in the wreckage 

(something I would be much cooler with is our clan of two growing a little bit and those new people rallying behind him, actually, that might be neat. imagine if a force user does show up for the baby and gets adopted into the clan somehow??? so many possibilities.) 

- from the way he picks up the silver ball... din djarin is on his way to straight up murder some people huh

I think part of what reassures me about this scene is the music -- this mando flute is not distant, is not beaten, is not despondent, it’s clear and determined and strong.

- 

I love this. I love when we get explicit baby POVs, it makes it feel so real and intimate and... like home. (I especially loved baby’s point of view inside the razor crest, which just made me tear up again. baby lost the closest thing he’s had to a home in a long long time on top of it all. everything is suffering)

-

Emotionally Significant Thumb Grabbing tm; the show

- din djarin looking for the ‘on’ switch on a magic rock fhsdakjfhsadlfhsdjah I can’t breathe

 “Well, this is the seeing stone. Are you. Seeing anything?” fsafkdsajhfsa sdhfksjalhfkjsdahfkjsdhf

- the energy around the baby as he’s, in ahsoka’s words, ‘choosing his path’ is blue, and the force sort of works across time and space, right?? so there’s definitely still hope for our lil green bean to not have to come up with a really dumb unsubtle sith name for himself, as is regrettably yet delightfully tradition. darth babbu should never come to pass (I do like how they’re interrogating the normal dark/light side dichotomy in this series, seeing as this is a literal baby who can’t really be responsible for that stuff himself yet and has such capacity for both.)  

- listen. listen, the way din says ‘can you please hurry up’ with no sarcasm or real impatience whatsoever, more like a harried worry, to his force-meditating son as he jogs off to make sure no one’s trying to kill them. is hilarious and also YES this is what the character is!!! weirdly and incongruously polite under stress sometimes and with a slightly odd reaction pattern to things!!! he’s not just quiet and badass, he’s a little strange sometimes and it’s so good!  

- a friendly opening volley warning shot from boba there

also din uncertainly asking BOBA FETT if he’s a jedi... now this is the dramatic irony I’ve been looking for haha 

I guess neither shand nor boba actually know din’s name after this either. baby you gotta start introducing yourself at some point it gets real confusing when there are two mandos on screen 

oh the long weary sigh going through din’s frame when boba says he wants ‘the armour’ and he thinks it’s just someone trying to peel the beskar off his corpse again. sorry the galaxy’s so shitty dad   

- “But fate sometimes steps in to rescue the wretched” is a killer line well done mr favreau. I like that boba actually offers din a good deal as well and seems to intend to deliver on it from how things are going. 

- din using his beskar-covered bod to cover someone he’s fighting alongside!!! literal moving cover haha. also I love fennec’s costume design  

- I don’t know where din got more whistling birds from and I don’t care, it was really cool haha 

-

wow haha um so anyway -- 

(cue all the ‘who wore it better’ with cobb vanth’s ‘spiderman’s first home made costume’ look on one side and ABSOLUTE UNIT DADDY boba fett on the other side posts lol)

- aaaghh the music almost like a stunned desperate fluttering heart beat as din watches the razor crest be destroyed 

- for someone who has willingly worked for them in the past boba sure sounds less than thrilled about having the empire back in any capacity 

- oof the deadness in din’s voice when he says “The child is gone”. ooooh no that got me  h e l p 

- guessing next episode is at least partly a ‘gathering old allies and preparing the assault’ step before the grand finale, then! they cannot go for the season ender cliffhanger with this, I will fucking riot. anything can be up in the air except baby and dad being separated, I will not allow it

it would be very funny if the force user baby called out to comes stumbling into the middle of all this like the troy entering the room with pizzas meme too 

- the music in the darth grogu scene is partially a dark mirror of the baby & mando music :’( is nothing in this world sacred

also from how he reaches out for it baby might have used a light saber before in the past with the jedi? ngl the idea of baby wielding the dark saber not when he’s all grown up but in like two episodes -- with all the chaos a toddler holding a laser sword would involve -- is all that is keeping me sane here 

‘liable to put an eye out with one of these’ well gideon you sure have doomed someone to lose an eye with that one, here’s to hoping it’s you, for full dramatic payoff 

he is a deliciously smug awful force with great musical cues tho, you have to give it to him

- okay so this

is obviously awful and horrible and it makes me so sad... but it is undeniably also very very very funny in how it’s framed. you know what? after all this bullshit baby grogu can have a little dark side tantrum, as a treat, we’ve all been there right

(forget finding a jedi, we need to go out there and find a child psychologist who can help him deal with this without adding the fear that he’s on the path to become a two foot tall evil space sorcerer to the mix Y_________Y) 

- rip the razor crest except for the second time :’’’( gone but never forgotten

- the last thing din tells the baby is “I’m gonna protect you; I’ll be back soon”. and I hope that stays with the kid somehow and that it actually comes true, that din will be back for him as soon as humanly possible and all this pain and fear can be repaired. ggggghhhhh my emotions are too big for my dumb human body 

[kinncman]

A LIST OF PLOTLESS TOWN RP-FRIENDLY CHARACTER IDEAS & CONNECTIONS INSPIRED BY MOVIES! (PART 2)

once again, you can obviously spin any of this in any way (platonic, romantic, familial) etc, and not all of these are the exact plots of the movies they are referencing so pls don’t @ me i am but a lowly translator of ideas.

click here for part one.

content warnings for: drugs, food, hospital, light implications to a toxic former relationship

THE LAKE HOUSE // basically, the lake house except nobody is a ghost and everyone is from the same year <3 muse a is an architect who has been living in The House they built. for reasons utp, they are forced to sell it. muse b is the buyer. muse a can’t let go of the house so even though the title has been transferred to muse b, they keep making excuses to visit The House.

LIGHT SLEEPER // muse a is a former drug addict whose job is delivering drugs to high-profile clients. muse b is their ex and also a former drug addict, with whom their relationship fell out bc of the drug abuse. they coincidentally meet again in a hospital when muse a visits a regular client of their boss who OD’d and muse b’s mother is in for chemo/other intense procedures. muse a and muse b reconnect. they both confess that they are now clean and sober. muse b doesn’t believe muse a since muse a admits that they still work for their old boss, but muse a insists that they haven’t used in years. muse b, on the other hand, is a successful business person who’s really cleaned up their act and is nothing like the person muse a knew before (i.e. a Mess TM). despite the feelings that they hold towards muse b, muse a knows that they should keep their distance since they are the reason that muse b started using in the first place and they wouldn’t want to throw any progress away. HOWEVER, fate seems to keep bringing them together in the most inconvenient places and when they least expect it the most; they allow themselves to indulge in old habits (sex, not drugs) even tho they know they’re totally bad for each other. just when they’re starting to become regular fixtures in each other’s lives again, muse b disappears for weeks on end. as it turns out, they were the one who was never clean and sober to begin with.

PHANTOM THREAD // muse a is a highly-renowned fashion designer / artist / photographer who meets muse b and decides that they want them to be their muse (after already having had a string of former muses). being invisible all their life, muse b accepts this new role— however, to muse a’s dismay, they are nothing like any muse they’ve had before in that instead of having their muse wrapped around their finger, muse b has them wrapped around theirs. great for exploring shifting power dynamics!

GRAY MATTERS // (originally a familial and queer relationship but hey whatever floats your boat) muse a and muse b are siblings (or best friends could work, too). muse a gets engaged to muse c and muse b is their maid-of-honor / best man. because muse c and muse b are the two most important people in muse a’s lives, muse a makes them spend the week before the wedding together bUT OOPS muse b realizes that they have feelings for muse c and they share a drunken kiss which muse c instantly forgets about in the morning??? which is #awkward because 1) MUSE C IS MUSE A’S SPOUSE-TO-BE and 2) MUSE B NEVER REALIZED THAT THEY’RE NOT STRAIGHT. so now they’re trying to deal with coming to terms with this newfound attraction that never thought they could have with the same sex on top of trying to decide whether or not to remind muse c of what they did that one night (since they seem to have zERO recollection) and come clean to their sibling / best friend.

LONG SHOT // muse a works for muse b, who is a very powerful exec / influential artist / whatever. muse a is very much infatuated by muse b, who thinks that they are way out of muse a’s league. muse a reveals that muse b used to come over to muse a’s house to babysit them (because lbr, even tho the the age gap might not be that much, a 14 yr-old will be paid to watch over a 10 yr old). what happens from there?

VELVET BUZZSAW // muse a and muse b are rival art curators / music producers who claim that they are the ones who have rightfully ‘discovered’ muse c. muse a and muse b then go through great lengths to try and win muse c to sign over to them. muse c has no plans of defecting to either sides but decide to string them along for the perks (and for the attention). great for exploring a kooky triad of frenemies or a polyship.

PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE // muse a is a painter / filmmaker / photographer who is tasked with relaunching muse b’s career. muse a thinks that muse b is a brat. muse b thinks that muse a is full of themself. 

I’M HUNGRY, I’M COLD // you might wanna try and watch it here first, it’s v short! muse a and muse b are best friends who’ve been on the lam for a long time (for reasons utp) and are now broke bc they blew up all their funds on life’s little pleasures. maybe they start conning people? maybe they try to get a dozen dead-end jobs at once that they suck at so they keep going back to square one? either way, they must decide whether or not they should finally face the music and go home. or maybe they just need to find the means (and a reason) to stay in their current town, and fast. 

BABETTE’S FEAST // muse a is formerly the head chef of a michelin-star awarded restaurant who is now working as something else. muse b had one unforgettable (for sentimental purposes, reasons utp) meal in said restaurant which, unbeknownst to them, was cooked by muse a. the two meet in the current setting, several years later, and become friends / lovers / etc, with muse b sparking muse a’s interest in cooking once again. muse a cooks The Meal™️ for muse b, not knowing what it means to them, and muse b finally recognizes who muse a is as they are flooded by memories of that night they first tasted the dish.

CIGARETTES & COFFEE // muse a and muse b are newlyweds who are in town for their honeymoon. however, things go awry on day 1 when muse a blows it all on some stupid, petty thing (in the original, they blew it on a game of craps in a casino when they’ve neVER played craps before and muse b is fuckin LIVID it’s just hilarious and sad) and their relationship is immediately put to the test when they have to figure out how to scrape money to get home (but also maybe kind of fall in love with the place??? and decide to start their family there??? idk) 

SUCCESSION (this is a tv show but this particular dynamic is just too damn good not to include) with a little bit of THE PANIC IN  NEEDLE PARK // muse a and muse b come from rivaling families (for whatever business, but they gotta be high profile). they meet while theyre trying to be lowkey doing ~~normal people stuff and instantly click despite their families’ tumultuous history, but have to keep their relationship (platonic or otherwise) away from the public eye to avoid raising suspicion from the critics. they think they can help each other’s recoveries by being in each other’s company but all they do is enable each other, further destroying not only their lives, but their families’ reputations as well.