#i think the only other things i were were Also juan carlos Just Standing There

[the-meme-monarch]

hi. goodnight

[gogz-ee]

His Physio C.A

Warning: smut ?

The sounds of grunting and shoes squeaking were all over the court as you watched Carlos practice in the middle of summer. His shirt was off and his sweat glistening on his abs as he moves around the court like it’s nothing in Spain’s hot weather…

You’re sitting on the court’s bench with the rest of Carlos’ team besides his brother, Alvaro (which is currently hitting with him) and Juanki who is standing behind Carlos, watching him and instructing his movements on the court. They’re chatting about the rest of Carlos’ schedule for the day, but your eyes are constantly on Carlos. One of them mentions your schedule, which also brings up your schedule as his physiotherapist. Juan Carlos had made an appointment with you for Carlos to massage his sore muscles after his practice in the afternoon.

It was something you were really looking forward to. I mean come on who wouldn’t wanna touch him? Your thoughts were now wandering far far away from what you should be thinking about. It was no secret you had a crush on him for while, but you were scared of what Carlos and the rest of the team would think. Him and his physio dating? It wouldn’t be such a problem with age or anything, your only a year younger and you two have been friends even before you became his physio or he became a professional athlete. But Juan and his manager would throw a fit and make a whole argument talking about how, “He shouldn’t have a relationship at this time,” or “It would distract him, he already had a terrible schedule”.

His practice was coming to an end which meant there was an hour left until you could massage him. He sat next to you on the bench, wiping his chest, his abs and his face. You took a quick glance and smiled even if you weren’t directly looking at his face. Carlos saw what u were looking at and gave you a wink.

“Like what you see?” He says with a heavy Spanish accent and a smirk. He didn’t tease you much, but with the amount of staring you did today, he actually noticed and he just had too. Whatever he was doing, it was working you mumbled a quick “huh?” and looked the other way to start a conversation with Juan.

He smiled again, and then tapped your shoulder. “Come on!! You didn’t answer my question.”. You ignore him and quickly head back to the tennis academy’s fitness building before he gets to your head, the fitness building where all the massage and fitness equipment is stored. You head to a room with a table that he could lay on as you prepare.

He came back from practice, still shirtless and his sweaty shirt he was wearing at the beginning of practice before he took it off a little later was rolled up in his hand. He laid on the table on his stomach waiting for your hands to be on his back. Your glad he didn’t bring up what happened earlier. You start slowly as you talk with him.

“So how was practice?” You ask as you pour oil on him to help with the massage. He shivers slightly when he feels to cool oil touch his skin. “It was good I guess but you still didn’t answer my question..” You roll your eyes, already annoyed by this whole thing. You rub the oil all over his back and he lets out small hisses.

When you actually begin, he let out grunts and praises of how good you were doing, and of course, your mind wandered to other place. Your so turned on, the only thing you can think about is how his body would feel.. But for now it’s just a silly crush you developed hoping it would go away soon, but it doesn’t seem like it will, especially since you get to hear him grunt and praise you like this.

After you finish with his back, he’s realized the effect he’s had on you. He grins and sits with his legs crossed on the table as his hand taps on his thighs.

“Sit,” he says with a low and husky voice, his back still covered in oil. Before you can even think about what your about to do, your body involuntarily moves to his lap, straddling him. He grips your hips and keeps you in place.

“I’ve noticed how you stare at me y/n..” he whispers as he moves his head closer to your ear. He moves a piece of your hair behind your ear as he slowly pushes you right where you want to be on his lap. “So beautiful..” he whispers again. You find your head buried in his neck, you leave kisses all over it making him whimper and asking for more. He keeps one hand on your hip as the other one slowly travels down to your ass.

You start leaving marks, which both of you know you shouldn’t since if the team found out, they would definitely kill you both. But in this moment it really didn’t matter, all that mattered was how he felt against you.

He began pushing you down, forcing you to grind on him. You moan loudly, you’ve been wanting, no needing this. You start doing it yourself which it only gets faster and faster. Soon enough, you feel something grow and it only fuels you more. Now both of you are panting and letting out cusses and grunts wanting more and more, but you know that if you go any farther than this, it will end bad.

Carlos starts kissing you while you move your hips against his, his tongue slowly entering your mouth in a slow dance making you moan in his mouth. You grip his hair, touch his abs and dig ur nails into his shoulders, trying to get a lot of physical contact. Soon enough, you get interrupted from your moment with a knock on the door with a familiar voice.

“Hello? The massage was supposed to end 20 minutes ago?” Its Juanki. You jump off Carlos’ lap no matter how much you truly wanted to stay as Carlos fixes his hair. “One second!” You go and open the door and he looks mad, before he enters, Carlos realizes the marks are still on his neck, he attempts to hide it with his sweaty nike shirt he was using to practice earlier. Juan comes in still confused and mad.

“What’s going on? Why did you finish late?” He crosses arms with a raised eyebrow. Carlos stammers and stutters but you shush him and do the talking instead. “We actually started later than we needed to so we ended later as well.”

Juan sighs, taking in the lie. “Okay but next time make sure to start on time, one of his sponsors have an event today that he’s gonna go to and it’s starting soon so hurry up.”

Both you and Carlos nod. He leaves the room and both of you let out a sigh of relief.

“Phew..”

[elivanah-writes]

Wired

pairing: Juice Ortiz x reader

sum: coming back home after a long time away brings it’s challenges, specially if you’re the daughter of Gemma and Clay. what if she sees someone she tought she’d never see again?

warnings: fluff, implied smut and a small bit of angst

A/n: this was actually a requested by someon on my main blog @evanstanwrites​ but sadly I can’t remember who did and I can’t find the original message with the request.

It felt amazing to y/n to finally pass the sign that stated “Welcome to charming”, for her it was more of a welcome home. y/n had previously studied and worked a few years in New York, at first she was happy to get away from home, away from the always busy place full of bikers. Then she met a certain brown eyed Puerto Rican from Queens, they fell in love, hard and fast. Time spent together was heavenly and she couldn’t get enough of him, he even promised her to marry her one day. God, they were young and stupid. They were together for most of her college time but then one day a few weeks before she graduated she got a panicked phone call from her boyfriend, he’d done something very stupid and now people were after him. He told her he’d ran but couldn’t take her with him. So they broke up, still loving each other. She could have gone home after she graduated, it would have been easy to just get in that car with her mom but she didn’t want to face everyone and their questions. She had told her mom she was seeing someone, that they’d get married someday and her mom in time told everyone back home. It was already hard enough how she had to deal with the phone call from her father when he had heard, man was he pissed that his little girl found a guy he didn’t approve of beforehand. Her father finally made peace with it as long as the guy treated her right. How the hell was she gonna face him after her heart was broken, he’d look for him and kill him himself.

So instead of going home, she found herself a job that paid pretty well and tried to build herself a new life, after some time her father did found out that she and her guy broke up. Her new life only lasted for a few years tho. She kept worrying, thinking back to her brown eyed man, she hadn’t heard from him anymore and she felt so lonely in New York. So when she got the chance to be transferred to a place of choice she took that chance with both hands and went home. She didn’t tell anyone she was going back home so nobody was expecting her and no welcome back party would be waiting for her, She hated surprise parties but she loved to surprise people.

It wasn’t long before she reached the long driveway of the Teller-Morrow garage, as she drove up the driveway and parked her car. A few guys were hanging around on the benches in front of the clubhouse, only a few of their faces seemed familiar to her others were completely new to her. One of the familiar faces was Jax Teller, her half brother. Jax sat on the bench smoking a cigarette talking to who she remembered as Chibs and Tig and a few new faces. None of the guys had seemed to notice her yet, maybe they just thought she was just another customer of the garage and didn’t paid mind to her. But even if they did saw her she wasn’t so sure they’d even recognize her, over the last few years she changed so much. She didn’t look like that little cute girl that left this place to go to college, now she was a fully grown up woman and not so little anymore. It was only when she got out of her car and shut her door that the group of men looked up to her and just like she thought it seemed like they didn’t know who she was. Jax did hold a look of recognition in his eyes but also seemed to be unsure.

She just winked at the group of men with a small smirk and turned her back to them and started to walk in the direction of the small office of Teller-Morrow just as she heard one of the guys whistle at her. Not even a second later she could hear the sound of a punch being thrown, a curse, and then the voice of Jax calling out to her.

“Y/N!” 

So he finally did recognize her, his baby sister. With a wide smile, she turned back around seeing Jax throwing away his cigarette and running at her. 

“Hey Jax,”

And then next thing she knew she was wrapped up in Jax’s arms as he lifted her into the air just like he’d always do with her back in the day when they were younger.

“What are you doing here, I thought you’d made a new life back in New York?” Jax asked when he placed her back on her feet.

“Nice to know I’m welcome back here,” she joked

“This is your home y/n/n, you’re always welcome here. We just weren’t expecting you. You’re here on holiday?” he chuckled 

It seemed that their reunion had drawn quite the attention, as she saw people spill out of the clubhouse.

“That’s the point of a surprise brother, and no I’m not here on a holiday”

She just finished talking when she heard the voice of her mother calling for her and not a minute later she appeared next to Jax together with my father at her side.

“Babygirl, my babygirl is home.”

And jet again I was wrapped up in a pair of arms.

“Hey mama, hey daddy,” I said once she released me from her hold and I could give my father a hug too. 

“Hi princess, you’re home for good?” was the first thing that left Clay Morrow’s lips as he held his daughter close.

“Yes daddy, I’m here to stay”

It didn’t take long before they had lead her inside the clubhouse and started up an impromptu welcome home party. For most of the night, she sat with Jax, a few of the other guys, and her father. Her mother went home early so she could make her room ready for when she’d come home.

It was a quiet night up until the door of the clubhouse opened and 3 club members walked in, two of them she remembered as bobby Munson and Opie Winston but what shocked her was the third person that walked in behind the two: Juan Carlos Ortiz, her Puerto Rican ex boyfriend.

She was so shocked to see him there that she forgot all about who sat with her and stood up and walked towards him calling out his name.

“Juice? What are you doing here?”

it seemed like Juice was just as shocked as her when he heard his name being called and saw her stand there in the middle of the clubhouse.

“Y/N? I could ask you the same thing” he said surprised not noticing all the eyes on them.

But y/n did so she grabbed him by the arm and led him back out the door and went to sit on one of the benches.

“So, you ran off to Charming?” y/n started as she looked at the man standing before her wearing a kutte with the sons patch. 

“Yeah, I drove around a lot. Jax found me, that’s how I got here,” he explained before taking a seat next to her.

“Did you knew that Clay’s my father?”

“Not at first, but then I noticed pictures of you on the walls, they talked about you. But then I heard Clay and Jax talking about you, about how there had been a guy you were seeing and that he’d broken your heart,” He said taking a breath before leaning his elbows onto his knees.

“I knew I was that guy, I broke your heart. I can never forgive myself for that but I also knew it was better if they didn’t know”

“Well, I bet they figured that part out just now,” y/n sighed before continuing

“You may have broken my heart in leaving Juice, but I knew it was for the best. You don’t need forgiveness because there’s nothing to forgive, I knew you still loved me when you left. It’s not like you wanted it to happen like that” She finished and she softly bumped her shoulder into his.

“The kutte suits you,”

“Thanks, I like it here. Got a new family now” he smiled

He’s seeing someone? She wasn’t prepared to hear him say that, she still loved him, she didn’t know if she could see him with another woman. Unconsciously she scooted away a bit from him which of course he noticed right away why.

“I meant the club you know, I’m not seeing someone. I haven’t since I came here, since you,” he pointed out.

“Why?”

“Because, because I still love you y/n,”

And before she knew it they were making out and dry humping with her in his lap like two horny teenagers.

“This can’t be serious, tell me this isn’t what it looks like!” Clay yells filled the almost empty house. Only he and Gemma were home while y/n was at work the following day. It wasn’t a secret that the two of them had been fighting for days so it wasn’t a big surprise that they were at it again. 

“Calm down Clay, they’re two grown up people,”

“I won’t calm down Gemma! Juice has his filthy hands all over my little girl, and to top it all off he broke her heart before he came here! I should have never let him patch in!” Clay went on in fury.

“Let them be, they love each other”

“That’s not love! Nobody touches my little girl!”

“She’s not your little girl!” suddenly Gemma screamed back at her

“what? What the fuck did you say?”

“She’s not your daughter Clay, I lied, she’s John’s daughter. I was already pregnant when he died”

“I can’t fucking believe it! I rased her, I am her father. Did you tell her that bullshit?”

“Of course not”

“I can’t fucking believe you woman”

Clay was more than furious, y/n was his daughter, he was sure of it. And then seeing the hands of Juice all over his daughter only added to his anger. He was so angry that he had threatened Juice to cut off his dick if he even saw one hair out of line on his daughter or a tear on her face. But then sometime later he had what he thought the best idea, he was going to bribe Juice into getting the information he needed from y/n, he needed to know if Gemma had told y/n he wasn’t her real father. So he made Juice a deal if Juice asked if she knew anything about john Teller and if he had another kid with Gemma, then he’d make peace with the fact that he was dating his daughter. Of course, Juice jumped at the chance of getting Clay’s approval so he agreed. Clay seemed happy with his answer and hugged Juice goodbye. But what nobody had seen was that during the hug Clay had dropped a small device into his pocket.

“Okay, where were we baby?” Juice smirked as he closed the door of his dorm room behind him. 

“What did my dad want?” y/n asked as she got up from his bed in nothing but her underwear.

“Just some club business, nothing to worry about. now let’s get back to where we left off,” Juice said while removing his kutte and walking to her.

“You gonna make me feel good, Juicy?” she blushed as she helped him remove his shirt.

“Even better, baby, I’m gonna make you scream my name,” he growled before he connected his lips to her neck making her moan at the feeling as she ran her hands over his defined chest.

“God, you got even more handsome with time”

“Thanks, babe, I always thought you’re the most gorgeous woman I ever saw, you still are. now lay back on the bed and give me a taste of that sweet pussy of yours”

Clay was cooking in anger, he wanted nothing more than to march op to the dorms, kick in that door, and fucking kill Juice. But then again this was his own fault, he could have known this would happen when he wired Juice. He didn’t even think about the fact that he may hear the two of them going at it like rabbits. He wanted to be able to unhear the moans of his precious little girl that was clearly not so little anymore.

Clay sat at his table alone in chappel growling things to himself when suddenly the doors to the room closed with a bang. When he looked up he saw y/n standing there with her arms crossed looking straight at him but surprisingly not in anger.

“You could have just asked me, dad. I would have truthfully answered you,” she said as she walked closer until she was right next to him and placed the wiring device on the table in front of him.

“I’m not gonna say I’m sorry kid”

“I know, but you didn’t need to wire him. He’s loyal to the club and he loves me, treats me right, what more do you want dad? Did you just wanted to test his trust now you know we’re together?”

Clay took a deep breath, normally he wouldn’t discuss these kinds of things with someone who wasn’t a member.

“No princess, I wasn’t testing him, it was a good bonus, I’ll give you that. But I just wanted to know if your mother told you that I wasn’t your father, I didn’t want to lose you,”

“Oh daddy, It doesn’t matter if John Teller is my biological father, to me you’ll always be my dad. Hell who thought me to notice when someone was wired, who thought me to fight, to stick up for myself, and many more things? You did, now be a man and make things right with mom” y/n chuckled before giving her father a kiss on his cheek and made her way out of the room.

“Who taught you to be this vivacious?” He called out after his daughter with a laugh.

“You and mom did!” she responded before she joined Juice who was waiting for her at the bar.

[darkwingsofimagination]

I have lots of thoughts and feelings about Madre Solo Hay Dos, and this post is an attempt to express it. Since I'm posting through the android app I can't use the keep reading option, so SPOILER ALERT IN CASE YOU HAVE NOT WATCHED MADRE SOLO HAY DOS YET.

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So, when I began watching I couldn't find a trailer or a teaser, was relying solely on the small synopsis Netflix gave - which honestly was the best thing for me.

It also meant that at fisrt I was really surprised there was a husband at all not to mention two older kids in Ana's life, but I grew up watching enough mexican telenovelas to know that one way or another things would work out (I surely hoped so). But I liked how the story unraveled.

I was also VERY SURPRISED by Mariana and Elena's relationship because I definitely wasn't expecting Mariana to actually be with a woman before falling for Ana.

Juan Carlos cheating on Ana was both expected and utterly irritating (how could he do that when he had such an amazing wife and family?) And it cannot be justified by the fact she was controlling and workaholic. It just isn't, I mean he knew that control was how she showed love - he said it in episode two - and knowing he met her in university he must have known she was and would still be career driven. And to me that marriage was in the verge of ending and not just because he cheated, but for how he treated her. Always making her feel bad on focusing on having a successful career. I like him as a father, he is pretty good. But as a husband to her he was an asshole. I mean I could understand him asking her stop working a little to spend some time with the baby, for health and bonding issues, (and in a way she did need some rest) but I can't say I liked him in the first episode, because as soon as I knew he cheated that was it. But I tolerated him, he had some nice moments.

Pablo made me so pissed at him for the way he treated Mariana, specially after she said no to him. Although I didn't see him as being manipulative at first, I do agree he seemed to only want Regina if Mariana would go back to him. Besides, the fact he kept competing against Elena (he didn't see Ana coming at all and I really love that lol) irritated me. To me he was clearly treating Mariana as if she were some prize. As if she came back to him would prove he was better than Elena, that Idk Mariana was only with Elena because he left you know? Like getting her back was just to boost his ego - just my opinions. If he could work on not being an ass to Mariana just because she doesn't want to go back with him and still be in Regina's life and for all that's holy if he finally stops listening to the jerks he calls friends he could be tolerable.

I like Elena, I don't love her though, but I like her pretty much, however telling Mariana that she was just confused about how she felt for Ana was a jerk move. I get it, she is hurt and maybe she feels like getting revenge because what Mariana did to her wasn't nice (I mean, it was pretty clear she let Elena assume they were more than just friends who occasionally kissed) but still doesn't justify it. Honestly, I don't even think she should have told Mariana that she noticed she fell for Ana. Mariana needed to that on her own (which she was almost there if the gay panic on her face while she looked at Ana during their "bonding" ritual for Regina's spiritual reception was any indication). What happens is I think that Elena accepeted that she had lost Mariana to Pablo, and to her ir made sense: he was there first (in the sense he was her previous relationship), he was a man, and she was the first woman Mariana ever was with, so maybe she was trying new things and he is Regina's father, maybe she even thought Mariana was still in love with him on some level (which is even sadder, honestly). But seeing Mariana fall in love with Ana, made her realize that Mariana likes women, that she can fall in love with another woman, she just never fell for Elena. So yeah, if they don't make her into a manipulative bitch she could still be an awesome character - my headcannon is both Elena and Pablo getting their heads out of their asses and helping Mariana win Ana back.

All of the men in Ana's life are stupid.

Juan Carlos doesn't appreciate all the effort she puts in trying to be a business woman, a good mother and wife. Neither does Daniel, her ex, seems like he actually understood her. While he read a bit of his book to her she seemed very unconfortable, just as when he talked about not being able to keep up with her. And like he said, her smile is beautiful, yes (the woman is masterpiece of beauty) but she's way more than that. However her ex did look like a fool in love when he saw her again (which Juan Carlos never does) and I guess that's what drove her to him.

I'll save the best for last, so bear with me just a bit more before getting to Ana and Mariana. Before I'd like to talk about Teresa.

Even if I wish Mariana didn't hide from Ana what happened I do understand her. First Tere (beautiful woman, wich honestly this show just slayed me with so many beautiful women) is her mom and she is kinda manipulative (although I'm sure she sometimes means well most of the times she doesn't think about the consequences of her actions) and I don't know, I think as strong and as independent Mari is, she does want to have a family that gets along and people here in Latin America sometimes get in too much of that "family is blood" bullshit, and not only Latinex but the rest of the world seems pretty adamant in having children listen and forgive their parents and carry on toxic parent-child relationships because "they are your parents", which sucks, but it's true. And not only that as much as Ana feels hurt I don't think she would have believed Mariana if she told her. After all in 20 years Juan Carlos never seemed to show any signs of ever being unfaithful to her. Even if it was the right thing to do, it's not the easiest decision. It wasn't just a relationship of a married couple it would affect but also JC's relationship with the children, because it does change their view of the parent - hence he cutting Ana before she said to the children she cheated on him. And yes Tere is her mother and the thing about parents (and other immeadiate family members) is that even if they screw us up all the time we always feel like we have to stand by them someway, somehow. And (and it's a very unpopular opinion and I'm not sure if I'll manage to get my point across very well but I'll try) I guess Mariana felt guilty for what Tere did, not only for keeping the secret but for her actions as well. Mariana is always trying to fix things with and/or for Tere and I guess she might have felt guilty over bringing Tere into Ana's life, even if she knows it's not her fault anything happened... but guilt is something really weird, so yeah. why I think she feels guilty is because, well, I don't know how it is for other people, but when living with manipulative people they managed to make you feel bad for things you have nothing to feel sorry for, not to mention that her attempts of protecting and trusting her mother comes from a feeling of guilty of not being able to trust her - which is also another thing both Pablo and Teresa want from Mariana without ever giving her reason to and then making her feel bad about not being able to trust them.

And finally, what I thought of Ana and Mariana's relationship.

I love how Ana and Mariana balance each other, I like the age difference as well. I thinks it sends a great message as well, not only with the cliché that you may find lkve whenever, but that no matter how old or how young are life happens and you have to deal with it. Being married and having a stable life didn't stop Ana from having her life turned upside down, and the same with Mariana, in her case it just meant that her mess of life got even crazier but that just it.

I love how the relationship between Mariana and the kids just flows naturally as well. And I love how Mariana does support Ana and shows she is happy for her a lot more than her own husband. Even if they are not married they do act like each other's partners, at least to me.

I feel like their relationship begins to shift at the end of the first episode when they decided to live together - and 'Flotando' by Francisca Valenzuela playing during the scene, to me, it's a very beautiful and subtle way to say to us viewers that we can and should expect more from their relationship.

However the second episode it feels to me like it's fundamental, specially for Ana. They both fell very silently for each other, and without noticing and I think Ana began falling when Mariana not only broke her rules but defied her and told her the truth everyone else was afraid to say - and not only that that bond the girl began forming with both Ceci and Ro. I loved how she was super attentive in listening how Pablo was a jerk and then being super protective of both Mariana and Regina when he began coming around - but I also loved that she relented, albeit reluctantly, when she saw that Mariana really thought Pablo could be of importance to Regina. The fact that Mariana was so worried in making sure Ana approved of him showed more of how much she valued Ana's opinion than whatever she may feel for her ex, which to me was step 1 of Mariana falling for Ana, step 2 was definitely the scene where she makes faces at Valentina just so the baby would smile at Ana and the woman could be a little happier, and sideways hug was the cherry on top - the way she feels uncertain of it before doing was very well thought out and executed.

The scene where Ana introduces Mariana and Regina as her other daughter and Valentina's other mother without explaining further than "we are the mothers of the two babies" was really such a heartfelt moment I just died.

I loved how after those initial moments they were constantly checking on each other (I really do love when Ana goes check on Mariana after her disaster of day with Anuar and she gently tucks Mariana's hair out her face in such a beautiful caress).

The scene in which Ana is shocked about how Mariana's date went is definitely one great indication of the fact she was feeling something more (I mean, saying that if she were a man she would definitely hit on her? That has got to be the oldest play on the book, the famous "I'd kiss you if I weren't straight"). Also on the same episode but before the horrible date, she did ask Mariana to never again say she wasn't attractive, which I also saw as something more, 'cause she was able to read between the lines. Mariana out loud said she wasn't sure about her body, not really saying she didn't feel pretty but one could read it. I think it meant something because Ana seems not that much of an expert reading people, so to be able to be so certain would mean she really paid attention. When Ana said Mariana should try with someone she trusted I think that she wanted it to be hed, even if she didn't realize yet. Or maybe did. In the episode where she takes time off before accepting her promotion there's a scene after she wakes up that Juan Carlos begins to kiss her, clearly intending to have sex (and they did have it) but her face is like "god this is boring/I don't think I really want to" that just makes me think ok, maybe she's already realizing she wants someone else (I had this impression). The episode where they go away and not only Mariana manages to convince everyone to go without being intrusive it's really nice, I also loved how fast Ana embraced everyone else as family for Mariana and Regina. The pool scene, oh my, I melted. First how pissed Ana was to know that Tere got distracted and Mariana almost drowned and how she instantly went after Mariana to chek on her, and not only trying to calm her about the water, listening to her about her fears and at the end asking if she trusted her (like I said before I really think she already wanted Mariana and knew it) and then the way they looked at each other whilst in the pool with the babies. Perfect!

Ana feeding Mariana the baby food was the cutest, and I know she said the girls weren't ready to be parted because she was afraid of she might have cancer I really do think she also meant because she wanted them there (let's not forget the lengths she went to make Mariana stay when Juan Carlos said he thought it was time to get back to normal).

Ana's "Te amo" makes lots of people think it came out of nowhere, but I don't think so. I really do believe she fell in love with Mariana, silently and without even noticing - the lingering gazes and gentle touches are some indication - and while she was drugged and asked Mariana to promise her to take care of the girls and she did I guess it hit her right then and there how much she fell for her and you know, most people do say that when you're drunk or high you tend to do and say the things you really want to because your filter just doesn't work. So yeah, I admit to me it was both unexpected and not at all.

I keep wondering if Mariana would have told Ana that she kissed her had she not told her she needed to do the biopsy to rule out cancer. Either way I love everything about the scene. How grateful Ana is to know that she can count on Mariana and how fearful Mariana looks. I loved that Mariana just stopped everything to accompany Ana to the hospital.

I loved that Mariana never for one second seemed to think of saying yes to Pablo and how even with all of her mother bs she refused to live with them because Ana needs her.

The baptism is the peak. Their bonding ceremony is not only wedding vows worthy but it's also the it finally hits Mariana that she fell for Ana, and I just love the gay panic she clearly has. I love her face of fool in love when Ana goes to her friends and how happy both of them look while holding the girls through the ceremonies.

Even if I'm very grateful for the declaration and the kiss we got - highlight for the lightning of this scene. The way the sun hits them helps give the impression that they will work it our - however Mariana should've processed her feelings first but I get her, she was afraid of losing Ana without a fighting chance - both for not telling and for Ana may having cancer. That scene is as beautiful as it is heartbreaking with both of them so miserable. The ending is one more proof of how well this show knows to pair scenes and songs. Cobarde's lyrics is so perfect it feels like it was made for the scene (or perhaps the scene was thought for the song).

I really hope we get these two together in season 2 - however I love me some angst, and usually is what we get, so I think that Ana's tests will come back positive and that Mariana will go back to take care of her and things will go on from that.

And that was my TedTalk, thank you for having the patience to read the ramblings of a very enthusiastic viewer.

[reyeslonestar]

red snapper boy

Available on Ao3

Uhh hey so this is essentially this post about Carlos being friends with the ‘guy at the market’ expanded into an actual fic. basically Carlos makes friends with everyone and this is about one of them

Carlos Reyes pov, Original Male Character, Carlos Reyes/OC friendship, Slight Angst with a Happy Ending,

 2.9k words

The early morning sunlight shines just above the tops of the stalls that line the marketplace as Carlos meanders through them, picking up groceries from some vendors and stopping to chat to those he isn’t buying from this morning. He always prefers to come here instead of a store; he’d grown up trailing his mother around an open market like this one as she sought the best ingredients for her many delicious recipes, so when he’d grown up and moved out the habit had stuck.

“Ahh, Carlos! How are you this morning, my friend?” Carlos smiles at Juan’s greeting and heads over to the fish counter where rows and rows of colourful scales and fins glitter in their stacks on the crushed ice.

“I’m well, Juan, and you?” Carlos asks. Juan had been the first vendor Carlos had befriended when he’d found this market; the fishmonger had been delighted by the culinary knowledge he’d admitted to when he’d first bought from his stall, and a strong friendship had since grown over the years as they’d traded recipe ideas and kitchen tips.

“I can’t complain,” Juan says cheerfully, plastic-gloved hands resting on the counter in front of him. “Now, what can i get for you? I have some more of that salmon that you liked, or some pollock? We even got some catfish in this morning.”

They spend a few moments chatting, and Carlos gives him his usual order in between catching up on Juan's family news, and the latest of the scandalous gossip that seems to spread around the fishing community like wildfire.

“Anything else for you?” Juan asks, spreading his hands above the fish bar.

“No, I think I’m good today.” Carlos shakes his head. He’s not cooking for his family this week, and there’s only so much food he can eat by himself.

“Are you sure I can’t tempt you with this fresh red snapper? Look how strong that colour is, Carlos! Perfect for treating a special someone, eh?” Juan teases, effortlessly showing off both sides of the fish and Carlos chuckles, shaking his head at Juan’s running joke about Carlos’ nonexistent dating life.

“You’re incorrigible, Juan,” he says, “but no, I’ll have to pass.”

“Maybe next time then,” Juan smiles, turning to wrap up the pieces that Carlos has asked for.

“Wait, actually,” Carlos says after a moment, an idea forming in his mind. Maybe there was someone he wanted to cook for, to treat to a special meal.

“Yes?” Juan prompts, looking at him with evident curiosity.

“Yeah, I will take that snapper,” he says before he can backtrack.

Juan raises an eyebrow at the implication that Carlos knows he’s made with their conversation. “Carlos! You haven't been holding out on me, have you? Have you got a boyfriend?” he asks, voice dipping into a mock-scandalised tone on the last word.

“Oh, no, definitely not,” Carlos rushes to correct him, a faint warmth rushing to his cheeks. Whatever he and TK are, they are most certainly not boyfriends. But maybe this could be an opportunity to get to know each other a little better. “I think this would be more of a first date, if it's even anything serious,” he confesses, and Juan grins at him.

“Well, at least you know your date will be well fed,” he jokes, picking up the fish to wrap it with Carlos’ other items. “You must tell me how you find it, I just know it will be delicious.”

Carlos laughs. “Of course, I would expect nothing less from you,” he says and once he’s paid and Juan has finished packing up his order, he waves goodbye and wanders on through the market, already planning sides and a sauce that would go well with snapper.

*

As it turns out, Carlos never finds out whether or not the fish was any good.

The sound of the door slamming behind TK’s back echoes around his head as he slumps into a chair in defeat. While he’d known that TK wasn’t looking for anything serious when they’d started hooking up, he hadn’t quite anticipated that the prospect of an actual date would have him walking out the door less than three minutes after he’d walked in.

Although, Carlos suspects that it was more than just the idea of a date. While TK had seemed reserved when Carlos had seated him at the table and offered him a drink, he would be blind to miss the way TK’s walls had flown up at Carlos’ comment about it ‘not being a marriage proposal’. Whether his own defensiveness that had crept out at that moment had pushed TK away, or something else, Carlos just wishes he knew what he’d done wrong.

He sits motionless for a few minutes, eyes not really taking in what was in front of them until the chimes of his phone fills the room, startling him. Picking it up, he switches off the timer he’d set for the fish and slowly gets to his feet, heartbreak making each of his limbs feel as though they were made of lead. Picking up some oven gloves, Carlos pulls the tray out of the oven and unceremoniously drops it onto the counter, closing his eyes against the delicious smell that filled the kitchen. He hasn’t eaten since the early afternoon when he was still on shift, but despite the prospect of the carefully prepared snapper in front of him, his appetite had vanished out the door with TK. Unable to stand it any longer, he grabs the tray and dumps everything in it into the bin.

*

The next morning Carlos finds himself at the market bright and early, a shopping list courtesy of his mother in his hand. She had sent him the list soon after he’d woken up, knowing he had a day off and could help her out while she was caught up with keeping the family ranch running smoothly. Scanning the list, his stomach sinks as he sees the next items that he needs to get.

His mother needs salmon fillets. Which means talking to Juan.

Carlos really hates his life sometimes.

It’s not that he doesn’t want to see Juan, but he knows that his friend will want to know about his date, and he’ll want answers that Carlos doesn’t want to face just yet. Carlos also doesn’t want to worry his friend, who’d seen him the last time he’d been rejected, when Carlos’ somewhat fractious relationship between his parents and his sexuality had proved too much of a issue for his ex. That whole fiasco had been a mess that had left Carlos brokenhearted, wondering if anyone was going to stick around long enough to love him.

It was uncomfortably similar to his current emotional turmoil.

Unfortunately, none of that is something he can give as a reason to his mother for why he’s neglected to get all her groceries, so he steels himself and heads over to Juan’s familiar stand.

“Hey Carlos,” Juan greets him, ever cheerful, “I wasn't expecting to see you today - this isn’t when you normally come.”

“Hi Juan,” Carlos forces a smile onto his face, trying to maintain some impression of normality, but it quickly drops. “Just picking up some things for mamá, she’s a bit caught up at home today.”

Juan nods slightly as Carlos gives him his mother’s order and he starts preparing the fish, but Carlos doesn’t miss the way his brow has furrowed at Carlos’ uncharacteristic manner.

“So,” he asks eventually, when Carlos doesn’t offer any conversation, “how was your date? Did you both enjoy the snapper?” His voice is cautious, apparently sensing Carlos’ mood, which plummets even further as guilt floods him at the memory of the fish landing in the bin, untouched and untasted.

“Ahh - well,” Carlos starts, chest tight with the cocktail of foul tasting emotions that are swirling through him. “Yeah, not so great.”

Juan looks up at him, concern filling his features. “What? What happened?”

Carlos shakes his head, not sure how to explain what exactly had happened the night before. “He- I- He didn't exactly stick around long; we didn't actually get to eat the fish,” he eventually admits.

“I guess he wasn’t on the same page I thought we were on,” he continues, “I’m sorry, Juan.”

“What- why are you apologising, Carlos? Fish really isn’t that important - although you are not allowed to quote me on that,” he jokes, making Carlos smile weakly. “I’m sorry my friend, you deserve better than that idiot.”

“No,” Carlos jumps to TK’s defence instinctively. “No, he’s not an idiot, he’s a good man, he’s just- I don’t know, going through some stuff, I think.” In truth, Carlos has no idea what’s going on in TK’s head, but it’s not TK’s fault that Carlos got invested too quickly, and Carlos can take a hint when someone wants him to back off.

Juan frowns. “Still, Carlos, you’re a good man too, and you deserve to be treated with more respect than that.”

“Thanks, Juan,” he says, but he’s not sure he really feels it. “Are those fillets ready?” he adds, changing the subject.

Juan quirks an eyebrow at his lack of subtlety, but doesn’t comment, instead ringing up his order and handing over the fillets.

“Look after yourself, yeah, Carlos?” is all he says, and Carlos nods.

“I’ll see you, Juan,” he says before he leaves, “keep well.”

*

Carlos doesn’t see Juan for a bit. He can hardly seem to grab a morning off from work, meaning Juan’s fish counter is empty by the time he makes it to the market in the afternoons, and as he starts spending more time with TK after their conversation at the police station, his free time seems to vanish. Then the lockdown comes into place and the market closes anyway, so he’s forced to resort to buying food from the store.

TK teases him for his disdain for store-bought quality, but Carlos just tells him to wait until they can go to a market and he can treat him to food made with the freshest ingredients.

Eventually, the markets in Austin reopen and they both have a day off when they’re both prepared to get up early. Or, more accurately, when TK is prepared to get up early, as Carlos tends to be an early riser even when he doesn’t have a shift.

They wander through the stands with their hands entwined, regardless of how inconvenient it becomes to pay for their groceries and fill their shopping bags. Before long, they turn a corner and Carlos spots Juan at his counter.

“Hey Juan,” Carlos calls out to the fishmonger as they walk up to the stand, and the shout of happiness he gets in return makes him grin.

“Carlos! My friend, it’s been too long!”

“It has, I’ve missed you - and your fish,” he jokes, “how’s business been?”

“Ah well, you know, a global pandemic tends to put a damper on things.” Juan shrugs and spreads his arms in a ‘what can you do’ gesture. “But I’ve managed - I was running a delivery service for a while but now the market’s are open again things are getting easier.”

“I’m glad to hear that,” Carlos says, “and how’s your family?���

“Thank you, and they’re well - we’ve all been okay, thankfully.” A quiet look of relief crosses his face and then his expression turns curious. “Now Carlos, don’t you have some introductions to make?”

Carlos chuckles at Juan’s complete lack of subtlety. “Of course - Juan, this is my boyfriend, TK. TK, this is Juan.”

“Boyfriend huh?” Juan says, studying TK with a steady gaze.

“Hi,” TK says, “Pleased to meet you, Juan.”

Juan turns to Carlos, bluntly ignoring TK’s greetings. “Is this the red snapper boy?” he asks, and Carlos frowns slightly at his cool tone.

“Uh - yes,” he says, not necessarily surprised by the question, but unsure where Juan’s going with it.

“You know something?” Juan turns back to TK, voice inviting no response, “You wasted a damn good fish, boy, but more importantly, you weren't too kind to my friend here.” The displeasure in Juan’s voice causes Carlos’ jaw drops open in shock, but apparently he’s not finished.

“Do you know how long I have been selling Carlos fish? And offering him something interesting each time, waiting for the time that he has someone special to cook for? And you, you are the one that makes him stop and buy my best snapper, and then I find out no one ate it! A waste! A complete waste!” Juan finishes, throwing his hands up in frustration.

Carlos doesn’t know what to say, completely taken aback by Juan’s outburst. He sneaks a look at TK, who seems equally surprised, and his cheeks have turned pink with embarrassment, but he can also see the slightest twitch of amusement playing over his lips and he takes a tiny sigh of relief at the knowledge that he doesn't seem too upset by what just transpired. TK glances at him briefly, warming him with a smile, before turning back to Juan, expression sincere.

“You're right, I did miss out on that fish and I’m sorry to have wasted it. And- yeah, I wasted an evening with Carlos that night.”

The downcast look on TK’s face makes Carlos’ stomach flip uncomfortably. While they hadn’t spoken much about that evening - the unintentional barbs they’d hit each other with were still painful despite the time that had passed - they had discussed it and TK had been apologetic and regretful about the way he’d left. And though they’re now long past it, and he knows that TK loves him more than anything, he also knows TK still feels guilty about hurting him. He squeezes TK’s hand where it’s held in his and when TK glances at him, the momentary sadness on his face is replaced with his lovely smile as he returns the motion, and TK turns back to Juan.

“Will you allow me to make it up to you, and to him? Have you got any red snapper today?” he asks, and Carlos can easily recognise TK’s puppy eyes expression, even when it’s not directed at him.

Juan continues to study TK for a moment, brow still furrowed and Carlos holds his breath, unsure whether TK has succeeded in placating his friend’s outrage. Eventually, though, Juan relaxes with a laugh. “I suppose that might make up for it.”

“Is that okay with you?” TK asks him and Carlos just grins, relieved that he’s not going to have to break up a fight between his unexpectedly protective friend and his boyfriend.

“Sounds good to me, although who’s going to be cooking this, hmm? ‘Cause I don’t think it’s going to be you,” Carlos teases, and TK makes a noise of indignation.

“I can help,” he grumbles, brow wrinkling into a slight scowl. Carlos chuckles and pulls him in gently to press a chaste kiss to his lips.

“Sure you can,” he says against TK’s lips before pulling back and returning to his surroundings to see an amused expression on Juan’s face.

“Are you two finished?” he asks dryly, one eyebrow cocked as he smirks at Carlos and Carlos can't stop the flush that floods his face. “Alright then, one red snapper for Carlos and his red snapper boy.”

Carlos snorts with laughter, and can’t help but laugh harder at the affronted expression on TK’s face, but soon TK is laughing too, and he looks so beautiful that Carlos can hardly catch his breath. He’s so distracted that he doesn’t notice Juan waving the wrapped fish at him until TK steps forward to take it instead. He blushes again at Juan’s evident enjoyment at his distraction and he shifts his feet slightly, unsure what to say.

“Well, enjoy the rest of your day, boys, and I’m sure I’ll be seeing you again soon,” Juan says, directing the last bit to TK, who nods with a smile.

“Thanks, Juan,” Carlos says, “we’ll see you soon.”

“You’d better, and make sure you don’t waste my fish this time!” He says and they wave goodbye with a laugh.

As they walk away, TK tugs Carlos’ hand slightly until they’re walking as close together as they can without falling over each other.

“So,” he says, “that was interesting.”

Carlos huffs a laugh. “He’s known me a long time. I didn’t realise he was quite so protective of me, though.”

TK hums, eyes on the ground in front of him. “I’m glad you have friends like that. You deserve to have people fighting for you.”

Carlos glances at him, trying to decipher what TK is saying. “I’m glad, too,” he says cautiously, pulling them both to a halt so he can look TK in the eyes.

“You know I’ll do that too?” TK says, voice earnest. “You’re everything to me, Carlos, and I will fight for you every minute of every day.”

“TK…” he breathes, unsure how to cope with this declaration. Part of him already knows this, they’re not shy about sharing how much they care for each other, but it still shocks him every time.

TK smiles, and presses a kiss to his lips. “I love you.”

Carlos grins back, giddy with emotion, “I love you too.” TK’s smile broadens.

“Let’s get the rest of these groceries and go home. You’ve got fish to cook.”

“I’ve got fish to cook, huh? Are you not helping anymore?” Carlos teases and TK scoffs.

“You want my help now? I’m needed, am I?”

“I’ll always need you, Ty.”

[herstorshe]

Isabel I of Castile

Many consider Queen Isabel I of Castile to have been the best queen Europe has ever had. Her accomplishments certainly stand out amongst those of medieval monarchs, as well as her modern thinking. 

Isabel was born on April 22, 1451 to Juan I of Castile and his second wife, Isabel of Portugal, who was half her husband’s age. Juan had 4 other children by his first wife, Maria of Aragon, but only one, his 26-year-old son and heir Enrique was still alive when Isabel was born. Her parents had one other child together, Alfonso, who was two years younger than Isabel.

When she was 3, Isabel’s father died, making her older half-brother, Enrique, the king of Castile. 

Anxious about his half siblings or stepmother trying to claim power, the new king sent them to a broken-down castle, near destitute, with not enough to eat. Despite this, their mother was determined to educate her children well, especially in religious piety.

When Isabel was 11, the king recalled her, her mother, and her brother back to court, as his wife had just given birth to an heir, Juana, cementing his reign.

They lived in court, with much better living conditions, food to eat, and clothes to wear. Their education continued and, in addition to literature, history, mathematics, and religion, they were introduced to art and music. The only problem was that they were forbade from leaving their brother’s castle.

Despite Enrique’s great efforts to keep his half siblings out of politics, they were completely aware of the fact that his subjects, noble and commoner, were very dissatisfied with their king, and Enrique became known as “The Impotent”. Many began supporting Isabel’s 10-year-old brother, Alfonso, as Enrique’s heir over his daughter, Juana, who many thought to have been sired by the Queen’s royal favorite. Many speculate that Queen Joan, at least once, tried to poison young Alfonso to keep him from taking her daughter’s throne. Either way, any murder attempts against Alfonso failed. 

Nobles eventually forced Enrique to name Alfonso the Prince of Asturias, the traditional title of the heir. He agreed, but only if Alfonso married his daughter. It was agreed, but the king went back on his word, so the furious nobles crowned Alfonso as a rival king and declared war on Enrique.

Unfortunately, five years into the war, Alfonso died at the age of 15. His will named his sister, Isabel, as his heir. Thus she became the rival monarch to the weak King Enrique. But Isabel was wise, and she did not want war. She decided to meet with Enrique to make a diplomatic decision regarding who his heir would be. They compromised, agreeing that Isabel would end the rebellion in exchange for being named Enrique’s heir, as long has he could have a say in who she married. 

Now, Isabel was well known for her intelligence, modesty, religious piety as well as her beauty. Many men, royal or noble, would have been happy to marry such an amazing woman, as is shown by how many men Enrique considered marrying her to. She had been betrothed since the age of 6 to Ferdinand of Aragon, the younger and favored son of King Juan II of Aragon, but Enrique wanted a marriage alliance between his sister and the older son, Carlos, with whom he agreed to ally with against his father, King Juan. But once Juan found out about this plot, he was furious, and sent Carlos to prison where he died shortly after, leaving Ferdinand as his heir. Enrique, wanting a stronger alliance with Portugal, then tried to marry Isabel to King Alfonso V of Portugal, but since Alfonso supported his niece, Juana’s claim to the throne over Isabel’s, she refused. Enrique tried thrice more to marry Isabel off, but all three attempts failed. 

Eventually, Isabel decided to take the matter of her marriage into her own hands, and planned marriage with her second cousin and first betrothed, Ferdinand of Aragon. 

She lied to Enrique, telling him she was going to her brother Alfonso’s tomb, but she was actually going to marry Ferdinand, who had secretly crossed the border. Once they were wed, they agreed that they would rule jointly and equally over Castile, and Aragon once Ferdinand took the throne. They were a great match, both intelligent, both handsome, and both great politicians. They were poised for greatness.

In 1474, King Enrique died at the age of 49, and Isabel became Queen of Castile. Upon receiving the news of her ascension, the queen took refuge and called on the support of her loyal vassals, as she knew neighboring rulers would see a queen as weak, and attack. She was proved right when King Alfonso V of Portugal invaded, married his own niece, Juana, and made a claim for the throne through her. The war raged for a year, until Ferdinand made the sly move to pronounce that him and Isabel had won. This made Alfonso’s supporters, who had not witnessed the battle, withdraw their support of him, forcing Alfonso to return home in defeat.

One of my favorite moments of Isabel’s reign was when she, during a rebellion in Segovia, went against all of her advisor’s judgement and rode out to end it herself. Her daughter, Katharine of Aragon, did the same, but with a much bigger invasion from Scotland.

In 1478 she gave birth to her second child, a son, Juan, which legitimized her reign in the eyes of the people.

In 1479, four years after Isabel came to the throne, Ferdinand inherited the throne of Aragon, when his father, Juan II, died. They came to be known as the Catholic Monarchs, keeping each kingdom politically separate, but ruling over them equally and jointly, as in their marriage contract.

Once she had cemented her reign, she began working to fix all of the problems Enrique had caused in Castile. Firstly, she had to solve the crime problems in Castile. Enrique had utterly failed to enforce law, so murder, robbery, and rape were extremely commonplace. Isabel went about solving this by forming a police force called the Holy Brotherhood to bring peace to the land. It was very effective in this, often using violence against violence. Thus, Isabel earned herself a reputation as a lover of justice over mercy.

Secondly, she had to fill the royal treasury, which Enrique had left bare. She decided to retry one of Enrique’s attempts at raising money, in which he sold off royal land to wealthy noblemen. However, he sold them for much lower than their true value. So, Isabel decided to give the landholders two options: 

1. They must pay the difference of the land’s true value

2. She would buy back the valuable land at the low-low price originally paid

Most picked option 1, and so the treasury filled fast. Isabel did insist that any land granted by her brother to the Church, hospitals, or poor be left alone.

Another large accomplishment of Isabel’s was that she reorganized the government to favor those with intelligence, not wealth or nobility, as well as allow the commoners more power. She did this in two ways.

The first is that she put men with administrative skill and legal training into important positions in place of the lackadaisical nobles. This also simply improved how well the government was run. The second is that she and Ferdinand heard complaints and petitions directly from the people every single Friday. This gave the people more power, and also undercut the power of the corrupt nobility which so fraught her half-brother’s reign.

One of her most problematic accomplishments, though majorly her husband’s going, was the Spanish Inquisition, which forced Jews in Castile to either leave or convert to Catholicism. Isabel and Ferdinand did this mostly because of an agreement they made with the Roman Catholic Church that if the couple made Catholicism the national religion, they could appoint all church officials. And so, half of the roughly eight thousand Jews living in Castile fled, while half converted to Catholicism, though they remained under persecution, constantly under careful watch. Though Isabel was against taking harsh measures against the Jews, the more strict Ferdinand hired a inquisitor general to further persecute those who remained in Castile, making sure there were no practicing Jews in Castile. This resulted in hundreds of thousands of innocent people being tortured, and thousands of people being executed. This disgusting persecution lasted for 3 whole centuries. 

One of Isabel and Ferdinand’s dreams was to finish their ancestor’s work at conquering the Muslim lands in Spain. They got to work on Granada, the last remaining Muslim stronghold, in 1482, recruiting soldiers from all over Europe, and getting the best artillery and latest canons. They began a systematic assault on Granada from the West, where mountains gave way to a few valleys that would accommodate an army. It took 10 years, but by 1492 they had conquered all of Granada, and were given the keys to the city on January 2 of that year. They signed the Treaty of Granada, which ruled that the Catholic Monarchs could rule as long as they allowed Muslims to live in peace.

The second big thing to happen in 1492 was when Isabel and Ferdinand decided to sponsor Christopher Columbus on his search for a route to the East Indies by traveling west, which they did in hopes of profiting off of the spice trade.

However, when Columbus returned a year later, he had not found a route to the East Indies, but instead a whole continent that had never been touched by European life before. He returned with gold and enslaved Native Americans. Isabel was against enslavement and wanted to enforce laws the new world that would forbid slavery. But Ferdinand ignored her wishes, and he and King Juan II of Portugal divided up the Earth outside of Europe for themselves, thus starting the era of New World colonization and the enslavement and death of millions.

Isabella and Ferdinand had five surviving children: Isabel, the eldest, was married to King Manuel of Portugal, and had one son, Miguel. She died shortly after his birth. The second eldest was Maria, who married King Manuel after her sister’s death. She had ten children, and died of exhaustion at 34. The third eldest, the one and only son as well as heir, Juan, was married to Margaret of Austria but died shortly after the wedding, at 19. It is said that his mother was never the same after his death. The second youngest child, Juana, became the heir apparent to the throne of Castile and Aragon. However, she became known as Juana The Mad, and is believed to have suffered serious mental health problems. But recently historians have began speculating that there were much darker forces at work, but I won’t get into that in this article (I linked a resource about it in the Resources page of my blog). And finally, the youngest child, Katharine of Aragon, whose name you most likely recognize. She was married to Prince Arthur, heir to the throne of England, but he died a year after their wedding. She was kept in England for 7 years, with an uncertain future, but eventually married Arthur’s older brother, King Henry VIII. She was infamously divorced by Henry, however, much later, when he fell in love with Anne Boleyn.

All of these family tragedies eventually took their toll on Isabel. She died in 1504 at the age of 53.

Remember this queen for her accomplishments, good and problematic. Then, it was very uncommon for a woman to rule, and also uncommon for a king and queen to rule equally and jointly. She was very pious, determined, faithful, and intelligent. When considering any set of historical figures, however, we mustn’t compare them. It is especially important to remember this with the women, as women are much more often compared, even now in the era of social media. We need to recognize that all women are strong, beautiful, and powerful.

- References linked in resources page -

[mtvswatches]

Wynonna Earp 2x08 No Future in the Past

Click here for previous recaps!

Stray thoughts

1) We begin the episode with a flashback of little Waverly running on very thin ice because evil Willa threw her stuffed rabbit there. You know, in case you needed a friendly reminder that Willa was the worst. Waverly uses this anecdote to explain how, in a way, she always knew she didn’t belong in the Earp family. Willa hated her, so that must mean she wasn’t one of them, right? Well, wrong, Waverly. Willa was the fucking worst and that’s the only reason she hated Waverly. Wynonna tries to comfort Waverly and argues she saw her come home right after the hospital and that she even named her herself (how cute!) But… the fact that their parents brought Waverly home as a newly born baby doesn’t mean she was their daughter, right? I guess we’ll soon find out. While Willa tried to kill Waverly, Wynonna saved her, although she doesn’t remember that part. History does repeat itself, doesn’t it?

2) The Widows pay JC a visit, and it’s not looking good for old Juan Carlos…

I truly hope they don’t kill him off because I was hoping we would find out more about him and what’s his role. He seemed like a prophet of sorts?

3) Doc is headed to the salt flats so I guess he’ll soon find out Clootie is gone and he’s in trouble, right? Also, kind of bummed because I thought he would go to the doctor’s with Wynonna.

4) Wynonna saw her baby for the first time and totally freaked out. I mean, the doctor is giving her lectures about taking proper care of the person growing inside of her and then suggesting adoption is a viable option and then boom, here’s your baby! She had, what? all of two or three weeks to process she was pregnant and the baby might be a revenant hybrid? I think she’s handling it quite well, to be frank. She didn’t want to know the baby’s sex, but I have a feeling it’s going to be a girl.

5)  Wait, what happened? Was Wynonna kidnapped?!

Was that blood?!

6) The truck that took Wynonna was JC’s, so that means the widows have her, right?

7) Nicole makes a GREAT point…

NICOLE: Waves, Wynonna remembers you coming home from the hospital. Okay? So, who are you gonna trust more, your sister or a sociopathic revenant in a fuzzy coat?

But to be safe, Waverly sent in the blood samples. Okay, I’m calling it, she’s not an Earp. Or she’s a hybrid. The latter. She’s hybrid. Calling it.

8) Rosita suggests they should throw Wynonna a baby shower, and that’s very sweet of her? Unexpectedly sweet.

9) Oh, he’s back!

10) So, JC did kidnap Wynonna, the question is why? Is he possessed by the Widows or something? It didn’t look like he’d survive that bite at the beginning… Is the Church where the third seal is located?

11) So… JC has apparently a curse of his own. He claims he’d like to give Wynonna answers but he literally can’t because his burden is “to survive and witness, never to decide.” He also says that Wynonna is “all choices,” which is kind of funny considering how she really didn’t get to choose whether she wanted to continue her pregnancy or not. He then proceeds to instruct Wynonna to go into the church and do a ritual that will show her the truth, but I feel he’s leading her into opening the third seal?

12) She thinks the ritual didn’t work but she left the gun there…

13) And now she’s talking to Doc and he’s ignoring her and WTF! She’s traveled in time?!

“When am I?”  That sounds like a line out of Back to the Future.

14) OMG BOBO IS BACK!!!

And he looks like Spike before he was a vampire?! And Doc is bullying him in front of everyone? He’s being an asshole and I don’t care for it one bit.

15) Doc tells Bobo to sod off, basically, and that he’s been dying since he was 14 years old. He starts coughing, and I’m afraid my prediction that he’s getting his tuberculosis back might be on point…

16) Bobo, on the other hand, seems like a righteous dude, and he expresses absolute loyalty towards Wyatt Earp, so this means that his relationship with the Earps goes way, way before he was a revenant. And how did he become a revenant? And now I’m imagining he’s Waverly’s dad and he gave her to the Earps to protect her and that’s why he had that weird connection with her since she was a little girl? Am I insane? Please, don’t tell me.

17) I really enjoy the call back to Waverly’s safe phrase from a few episodes ago, “tacos are tasty.”

18) Wynonna finds her way back to the church only to find a dying Bobo del Rey after Wyatt shot Sheriff Clootie and his THREE WIVES are pissed off. So, I guess, Clootie the Stone Witch was one of these widows and the other two are the ones that possessed Mercedes and her sister, right? But how did Bobo die and why did he become a revenant?

19) Father Juan Carlo! So this dude also goes all the way back, huh? Did he try to mediate between Constance and the two widows? Is that how he got cursed?

20) Rosita is being super friendly and sweet, and Waverly is kind of suspicious and so am I? Nicole is trying to understand Rosita from the outsider’s perspective, but I don’t know, it seems too iffy.

21) Dolls is threatening JC and the padre says “she needs to see the past if we have any hope for a future.” And what does it all mean?!

22) So… Constance Clootie locked her demon husband away with the three seals. I guess if the three seals are opened, the Big Baddie will be released in the present, right? If I’m correct, there’s only one seal left…

23) And the reason JC finally decided to intervene was that he’s dying. Is it because of the Widow’s bite? Why didn’t they kill him? I still think he might be playing Wynonna…

24) It turns out Wyatt shot Bobo while he was being held by Clootie as a human shield. And that’s how he became a revenant! Before dying, Clootie cursed Earp by saying that all those killed by Peacemaker will go to Hell until Earp’s death when they will be resurrected until the next Heir kills them all. So… Bobo became a revenant because of his loyalty to Earp. Constance offered to give him a way out if he helped her find her sons’ bones. And that’s how their deal was born.

25) Oh, no. The DNA results arrived and Nicole kept them hidden from Waverly because “she was trying to protect her.” She’s not an Earp, is she? I love Nicole, but… why would she take the choice from Waverly? I think this was the worst possible way she could’ve found out she was not an Earp. Instead of being there for Waverly to support her when she found out, Nicole kept it hidden from her and hurt her. I don’t like this.

26)  The third seal… is a ring on Doc’s finger, a ring given to him by Clootie since the moment she threw him in the well. Bobo was given a choice… rescue Doc, get the ring and be cured, and allow Doc and Wyatt to be reunited. Or let Doc in the well forever, die, come back as a revenant and fulfill Constance’s wish to get the bones of her sons back. I guess Bobo was very jealous of Doc and Wyatt’s relationship, wasn’t he? Was the guilt over this choice what led him to work with Wyatt after he was a revenant, even though they were technically enemies?

27) Oh, Padre JC…

28) Well, here’s demon Dolls to save the day…

It’s his love for Wynonna what brought him back, right? These two are going to be a thing, I feel it in my bones, but I’m Team Doc ugh! And now he mercy-killed JC and damn, I really liked him.

29) Aaaand the Widows are setting the church on fire while both Wynonna and Dolls lie there unconscious. Cool. Cool cool cool.

30) Now Bobo actually sees Wynonna and can talk to her and calls her his angel, and… did she give him his nickname? And told him to remember how much she loved Wyatt Earp even after he becomes a revenant. So…? This means this trip back in time altered their future? OMG! It did! She told him that his angel’s name was Waverly so that he would protect her!!! That’s why he’d always protected Waverly!

31) In return, Bobo saved them by ringing the Church’s bell and waking Wynonna up.

32) Shit, Bobo saved his angel.

Can I just say that I love the relationship between these two A LOT? Like, a lot.

33) Dolls actually counted the seconds Wynonna didn’t breathe. That’s sweet.

34) OMG how didn’t I realize this? WYNONNA DIED. For a few seconds, but she did die! THAT MEANS… the revenants will be back! BOBO WILL BE BACK?!

35) YASSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!

36) Wow, what an intense episode! I feel like this a pivotal episode in the show, isn’t it? A game-changer. Like, it goes back to the beginning of the story and sets up the future while tying some loose ends. I guess Waverly and Bobo are not related after all, but how amazing is it that Wynonna’s quest is the reason Bobo maintained a good relationship with the Earps and protected Waverly? And what will it mean for Waverly to have Bobo back? Will she go ask him for answers about her real parents? And will Wynonna dying have other ramifications? I mean, she’s sort of reset the cycle, hasn’t she? That means that another Earp must become the Earp when she turns 27. But if Waverly is not an Earp, then who?! Wynonna’s baby? Will they do a time jump? Is this a Connor situation? So many questions!

More questions: Wynonna mentioned how her mother called Waverly her “angel”, which is Bobo’s monicker for her as well. Could it be that Waverly is her mother and Bobo’s love child? I mean, she was looking at the test results as she remembered how Bobo rescued her, so that has to mean something, right? And if she is a hybrid, does that mean that she could still be an Heir? Can you tell that I’m obsessed with this storyline? Like, Wynonna’s one-night-stand mentioned that it had happened once before, so this has to mean something, it must be connected to the main storyline...

Even more questions: If the revenants are those killed by Peacemaker, not an Heir, does this mean that both Willa and Wynonna’s father might return as revenants? She did kill them with Peacemaker, after all. 

Even MORE questions: Where does this whole seal-in-the-ring leave Doc? Why were Wynonna and Dolls so cozy in the bed as if they were a couple? Has Wynonna’s quest altered their past and their present as well? 

TOO MANY QUESTIONS, I’M SORRY, BUT PLEASE DON’T ANSWER ANY OF THEM, I’M JUST TRYING TO ORDER MY THOUGHTS AND LET YOU KNOW WHERE MY MIND’S AT AFTER WATCHING THIS AMAZING EPISODE. 

I’m truly in love with this show, I think it’s the closest thing to Buffy in the sense of how it blends different genres while still being a mainly supernatural show and how it has the characters and their relationships at the forefront while building this captivating mythology. I’m super glad you all got me to watch this show! I just hope I finish watching season 3 before season 4 is released, I’d love to watch the new episodes as they come out!

37) Hope you enjoyed my recap, and, as usual, if you’ve got this far, thank you for reading! If you enjoy my recaps and my blog, please consider supporting it on ko-fi.Thanks!

[ladysophiebeckett]

Steele Trying: The Aftermath

Part 2 | Part 1 

summary: bonds of steele: it still happens but I take things out and put other things in in my attempt to make steele make sense.

a very, very belated birthday gift to monica ( @beckybloomwood​ )

“This is the worst day of my life!” Laura whispers harshly.

 He frowns inwardly.

 “Laura, how can you say that? The honeymoon hasn’t even started yet”.

 ___

 In exchange for use of their boat as a wedding venue (and Juan for his services), Steele promised the crew cervezas and whatever favor any of them should need in the future from a detective. Free of charge. But in order to sell that this had been a real wedding, one needed to have a celebration afterwards.

 Which is how Juan’s crew, along with Estelle and Mildred, ended up in his apartment; for the world’s smallest yet loudest wedding reception.  Much to Steele’s silent irritation. They cheered as he carried an also irritated Laura over the threshold.

 No sooner had he set her down that Estelle began asking questions about décor and where they would be living.  A simple question that neither of them could answer correctly. Married a half hour and already on the wrong foot.

 “What my, uh, bride means is that we’re gonna live here but we’re gonna redo the entire place. Now that Laura’s the little woman—“

 “I’m what?”

 “In height I mean. She’s the ‘little woman’ of this place. The little woman of the house. You know the saying”, Steele said, sloppily kissing her forehead.

 “No, I’m not sure I know that saying dearest.” Laura said trying to distance herself from him.

 “No matter!” He said locking her to his side. “Who can remember all the sayings at a time like this?”

 “If you’ll excuse me, I think I’ll go freshen up a bit”, she said successfully extracting herself from him.

 “Good idea, my love”. He said as she shut the door to his—their—bedroom. “It’s been a long day for her, for both us. Actually, as nice as this has all been, I think Laura and I need---“

 “Say no more. With such an impromptu wedding, you’re probably in a hurry to pack for your honeymoon”, said Estelle excitedly.

 “I’m sorry?”

 “Don’t tell me you’re not going on a honeymoon.”

 “Um, we are. Of course we are. Just, not right now. Later. After we’ve, uh, you know redecorated.”

 “Mr. Steele, in order to make this stand in my report you need to go on a honeymoon. Sooner rather than later. A couple that eloped the way they did, it’ll look suspicious if they didn’t immediately go on a honeymoon. Just because you got married, doesn’t mean this process is over. Keys made such a stink about your case that I have superiors breathing down my neck, which means I’m going to be looking down on your shoulders. I suggest you and Mrs. Steele have a honeymoon right away. And take lots of pictures.”

 He sensed Estelle was stressed.

 “Right, of course. We will get right on that.”

 “I hope so, Mr. Steele. I’ve been very lenient thus far”.

 “I understand—we understand and we thank you for that leniency. And with that said I’m going to need everybody to leave. Juan, Sanchez, Carlos—it was lovely to host you. Take all the beer you’d like but please leave. Vamos!” he says as he ushers them out the door. “Ms. Becker, thank you for your service. Until we meet again”,

 “Get those pictures.”

 “Will do. Mildred?”

 “Yes Boss?”

 “You too. Vamos”. He says gesturing to the open door.

 “Why me?” she asks, offended.

 “I need to speak Ms. Hol—Mrs. Steele”��he corrects himself, “privately. Apparently we also need to go on a honeymoon and that’s not something she and I have spoken of. So as you can see that’s probably going to cause row”.

 “A honeymoon? That can be my wedding gift!” said Mildred who stopped listening to him after he said ‘honeymoon’.

 “That is very kind Mildred, but, and I think I can speak for both of us in this case, that we cannot accept. But as I was saying, I need to speak—“

 “Of course. I’ll go. But listen. You’re going to have to be patient with her, Mr. Steele. And you’re going to have to take it down a few notches. Humble yourself. If I had been put through what she’s been put through today, I would have killed you.”

 He winced.

 “But I know that you care for each other or I wouldn’t have been such a proactive accomplice. You can fix this Mr. Steele. I believe in you”. She gently patted his cheek and closed the apartment door behind her.

 At least someone believed in him because he very well didn’t.

 ____

 Steele cautiously opened the bedroom door to a pondering Laura who was looking out the window.

 “Thinking about the Los Angeles skyline?”

 “I’m thinking about how I got here”.

 “In the limo, Laura”.

 “That’s not what I meant”.

 Steele inhaled sharply. “If you remember I didn’t want get you involved in this charade. You were the one—“

 “Yes, I recall I was the one who ‘mucked it up’. I apologize if my involvement ruined your noble efforts at protecting me, a poor little woman.”

 “It was a figure of speech!”

 “I don’t care! Don’t you ever call me that ‘the little woman’ again. I’m not your little woman. I’m not anybody’s ‘little woman’.”

 “If we’re gonna look married, we have to act married”.

 “If that’s the deal then maybe we should call the whole thing off”.

 “While that sounds like an appealing idea at the moment, Laura, we can’t. We have a honeymoon to get to”.

 “What?” she looks at him as though he’s grown another head.

 “Our INS friend said that we need more proof that this is a legitimate marriage and that means not only living together but also doing what all people do after they wed. Going on a romantic trip.”

 “You never said we had to do that”.

 “I didn’t know.”

 “Well, have fun on your honeymoon Mr. Steele.” She said as she walked past him out of the bedroom.

 Stunned, he followed her out.

“What do you mean ‘have fun’? You’re coming with me.”

 “I agreed to marry you on a fishing trawler under dubious means. I agreed to live with you for two years as a consequence of that. And lastly, I agreed to keep up this lie of a marriage for those said two years with the promise of divorce soon after. Nowhere in between all of that did I agree to a fake honeymoon.”

 “We got married Laura, I think a honeymoon was kind of implied anyway”. Steele said, growing agitated.

 “Well, if you’re so concerned about going alone I suggest you go to the county jail and pay bail”.

 “What are you talking about?” And then it dawned on him. Clarissa. He shook his head. “Is that what this is about? There’s nothing going on—I told you—“

 “‘Is that what this is about?’” she repeated. “Do you really not know? Do you really not have any idea?”

 “Know what? What do you want from me Laura? An apology? I’m sorry I made you volunteer to marry me so that I could stay in the country. Your sacrifice has been noted”.

 “Screw you!” she says as she tries to walk past him out the front door

 “Thank you Laura Holt, for the citizenship and the name. I’m forever in your debt. Indentured servitude, I should say.” He says as he follows her.

 “Enough!” she says as she reaches the door.

 “Well then why did you marry me at all Laura?!”

 “Because I love you!”

 And suddenly time stops. The air in his lungs kicks out. Laura freezes in place. He’s never seen a deer in the headlights but he imagines it can’t look that much different from the way Laura is looking at him. She never meant to say it like this. It’s almost funny, in a very sick way. All the times he thought about saying that to her, in hallucinations or dreams; it was always a forced admission by her hand. Sometimes literally. He shouldn’t be all that surprised that reality would play out differently.

 “Oh”. He says without thinking.

 “Oh?” she repeats.

 “I don’t—“

 “Oh my god”, Laura says under her breath. “I cannot believe—“

 She runs out of his apartment.

 “Wait!” he calls after her. “Laura! Would you believe that I felt the same?”

 “Not a chance!” She says as the elevator doors slide shut in his face.

 He panics. He looks at the elevator and then at the door leading to the stairs.

 “Damn it”, he mutters as he opens the door and begins running down 10 flights of stairs as fast as he possibly can.

 As he sprinted down flight 6, he briefly recalled their fight at the spa. That actions meant more than words.

 Because I love you!

 She was infuriatingly right, as always. His actions today did nothing to support what he felt.

The words did matter.

 And hearing them directed at him, perhaps for the first time in his life. From her.

 Changed everything.

[gokinjeespot]

off the rack #1276

Monday, August 26, 2019

 Sorry for the lateness. I went fishing this morning with my buddy David and he brought his fly rod that he got recently. He's a novice but he caught two sunfish using it. That made me very happy as they were the first fish that he caught that way. Penny and I went to see a matinee at our local theatre earlier and I had to have words with a teenager who talked and then took out his phone during the screening. The second time he turned on his phone after I had asked him to put it away the first time he showed me no respect so I went and got a staff member to deal with him. By the time we got back to the theatre he had left with his friend but he still abused me verbally while standing at the exit doors. The kid couldn't have been more than 13. The language and disrespect was what upset me the most. I suspected they snuck into the theatre and the fact that they left before staff could deal with him confirmed my suspicions. I didn't care that they snuck in. If this kid had just sat and watched the movie I would not have had a problem with him. I must be an asshole magnet because the kid and his friend were the only other people in the theatre and they sat close to us.

 I picked up a copy of Marvel's "Heralds" trade paperback while working at the store last week and while reading the credits I see that it was lettered by Virtual Calligraphy's Clayton Cowles. So that's what the "VC's" stands for.

 Batman #77 - Tom King (writer) Mikel Janin & Tony S. Daniel (pencils) Mikel Janin, Norm Rapmund & Tony S. Daniel (inks) Jordie Bellaire & Tomeu Morey (colours) Clayton Cowles (letters). A death in the family and this issue is in super high demand because of it. Damian tries to fight Thomas Wayne/Batman while Bruce is recovering under Selina's care. The prospect of the Bat Family gathering has me all excited.

 Daredevil #10 - Chip Zdarsky (writer) Jorge Fornes (art) Jordie Bellaire (colours) VC's Clayton Cowles (letters). We get a glimpse of real Daredevil action when Detective North is threatened by corrupt cops in his own precinct while Matt is there. Matt gets a visit from an ex that had me chuckling on the last page.

 Fearless #2 - This is an excellent anthology for young readers, particularly young female readers.

 "Campfire Song" part 2 by Seanan McGuire (writer), Claire Roe (art), Rachelle Rosenberg (colours) & Cardinal Rae (letters) sends Kamala Khan/Ms. Marvel to the leadership camp where Captain Marvel, Storm and Susan Storm/the Invisible Woman are going to give keynote speeches. Something nefarious may be afoot.

 I liked "Night Nurse: A Cape of Her Own" by Karla Pacheco (writer), Iolanda Zanfardino (art) Rachelle Rosenberg (colours) & Cardinal Rae (letters). It's always a treat to see Night Nurse mending super powered people.

 To help get over the end of X-23's book Eve L. Ewing (writer), Alitha Martinez (art), Rosenberg (colours) & Cardinal Rae (letters) show us what Laura and Gabby are up to now.

 Ghost-Spider #1 - Seanan McGuire (writer) Takeshi Miyazawa (art) Ian Herring (colours) VC's Clayton Cowles (letters). So Spider-Gwen is now Ghost-Spider. She has dual dimensionship between Earth-65 and Earth-616. In her own dimension of Earth-65 everyone knows that she's Ghost-Spider but in Earth-616 where her secret identity is safe, she's just Gwen Stacy, freshman at Empire State University. Peter Parker helps to get her enrolled and now she can go back and forth taking classes and fighting crime. This is a good place to start if you're looking for another female super hero to follow but there wasn't anything really special in here to make me add this title to my every burgeoning pile of comics books that I want to read.

 Strayed #1 - Carlos Giffoni (writer) Juan Doe (art) Matt Krotzer (letters). In this new Dark Horse science-fiction book military scientist Kiara Rodriguez invents a device that allows her to talk to her cat Lou. The cat is special because it can astrally travel through space. Kiara's superiors are using her cat to conquer other planets and exploit their resources. They're the bad mans. This sounds familiar to me with Kiara's race being like Galactus and Lou like the Silver Surfer. I'm not much of a cat person so I'll pass on the rest of this story.

 Guardians of the Galaxy #8 - Donny Cates (writer) Cory Smith (art) David Curiel (colours) VC's Cory Petit (letters). Rocket's back and we even get a mini origin story for the little furball. This issue also reveals what the Universal Church of Truth's very bad plans are. I loved seeing the cocoon. With the impending battle with Death, I'm wondering if Thanos is going to show up. This would be a cool way to bring the Mad Titan back.

 The Avant-Guards #7 - Carly Usdin (writer) Noah Hayes (art) Eleonora Bruni (colours) Ed Dukeshire (letters). The one and only basketball based comic book on the racks and it's a three points shot at the buzzer to win the game. I love the message about team work in this issue.

 Powers of X #3 - Jonathan Hickman (writer) R.B. Silva (art) Marte Gracia (colours) VC's Clayton Cowles (letters). This issue clears things up for me. Nimrod is the big bad guy and Apocalypse is a good guy in this story. I'm so glad they took last issue to explain Moira's character and her mutant ability because she's crucial to everything going on. If you're not reading this and House of X, you're missing out on a major event in Marvel Mutant History.

 Marvel Action Spider-Man #7 - Delilah S. Dawson (writer) Fico Ossio (art) Ronda Pattison (colours) Shawn Lee (letters). Introducing Felicia Hardy, the Black Cat. Her bad luck powers have Peter, Gwen and Miles all tangled up. They're going to have to learn to work together to keep her from stealing again.

 The Superior Spider-Man #10 - Christos Gage (writer) Mike Hawthorne (pencils) Wade von Grawbadger (inks) Jordie Bellaire (colours) VC's Clayton Cowles (letters). Man, Spidergeddon sure did cast a wide net. So the super villain for this story is revealed to be the Norman Osborn of Earth-44145. He wants revenge for being humiliated by the Superior Spider-Man during the debacle with the Inheritors. But first Norman is going to kill everybody that Otto cares about. It's a tried and true basis for many a comic book story but it still works great.

 Superman Year One #2 - Frank Miller (writer) John Romita Jr. (pencils) Danny Miki (inks) Alex Sinclair (colours) John Workman (letters). Okay, so Clark trains to be a Navy Seal so that Frank Miller can set it up for him to meet and fall in love with Lori Lemaris and clash with her father Poseidon. It was a slog for me to read through this issue. I think Miller was trying for something epic like The Odyssey by Homer. I found that Clark's time in the navy was contrived, which soured my enjoyment.

 Valkyrie #2 - Jason Aaron & Al Ewing (writers) Cafu (art) Jesus Aburtov (colours) VC's Joe Sabino (letters). Why is it that the death in Batman #77 is bigger than the death in this comic book? Bullseye somehow got his hands on Valkyrie's sword Dragonfang and Jane Foster has to take it away from the killer or else a heck of a lot of innocent lives will be forfeit. The last line of this issue made me groan.

 Year of the Villain: Sinestro #1 - Mark Russell (writer) Yildiray Cinar (art) Julio Ferreira (inks pages 21 - 26) Hi-Fi (colours) Steve Wands (letters). A solo story of Sinestro doing Lex Luthor's bidding. This story uses sentient nanobots which to me was a silly concept. I thought they did a good job showing how smart and arrogant Sinestro is but unless you're a Green Lantern fan you don't need to read this.

 Year of the Villain: Black Mask #1 - Tom Taylor (writer) Cully Hamner (art) Dave Stewart (colours) Wes Abbott (letters). This is a good origin story and sets up the villain for what's coming next. These Year of the Villain one shots are a good way for new fans to learn about these characters which should give them a better understanding of their involvement in the big picture.

[womenofcolor15]

Kodak Black Issues Half A** Apology To Lauren London For Disrespectful Comments, Power 106 Cancels Him While T.I., The Game & More Go In

Kodak Black issues a half a** apology to Lauren London after T.I. and The Game got on his a** for disrespecting her and her late boyfriend Nipsey Hussle. LA's Power 106 has banned his music, thankfully. Get it all inside...

Kodak Black had social media in a massive uproar when he went on Instagram Live making disrespectful and insensitive comments about "shooting his shot" with Lauren London following the murder of her longtime boyfriend Nipsey Hussle.

In the video, the "ZEZE" rapper insinuates he would give her a year to grieve over Nipsey before he tried to holler, and while she's in bereavement, he would be a shoulder for her to cry and lean on.

“Lauren London that's baby, though. She about to be out here single. She’s finna be a whole widow out here,” he said. "I'd be the best man I could be for her. I'll give her a whole year. She might need a whole year to be crying and shit for dude (Nipsey)."

“I ain’t trying to shoot (my shot) at her.” he added. “I’m saying...She can do two, three years. I’ll try to be like the friend if you need to holla or a shoulder to lean on. She can call my line.”

He must not realize his colorist, basic, non-rapping, self-hating, misogynistic, yuckmouth, alleged rapist (his trial is upcoming), P.O.S. a-- could NEVER.   The audacity.

Check it:

  Kodak Black on IG talks about Lauren London being single and a widow, that she only needs a year to grieve for Nipsey Hussle, before Kodak will get at her.

This is so shameful and disrespectful pic.twitter.com/4bWiUj2Kt3

— RapVineyard (@RapVineyard) April 6, 2019

  So disgusting and ignorant!

After the clip went viral online, rapper T.I., rapper The Game, and singer/Kodak's label mate Tank called him out. Tip and Game's responses were much more aggressive than Tank's. Following their videos being posted, Kodak got back on IG Live to try and explain what he meant, but his explanation didn't really clarify much of anything. Watch it all below:

By the way, Kodak hopped in Tip's comments on the video he posted and replied, "or what?"

That's not all the backlash he has received:

Power 106 FM DJ Justin Credible said his station will NOT play Kodak's music and the station co-signed:

            View this post on Instagram

                  We stand with #NipseyHussle and the fam S/O @justin_credible for telling it like it is. (: @qonair)

A post shared by Power 106 (@power_106) on Apr 6, 2019 at 10:18pm PDT

  Power 106 radio personality Big Boy also hopped on social media to react to Kodak's ultimate disrespect:

          View this post on Instagram

                  I won’t disrespect my timeline posting a pic of Kodak Black. However, I will say this, I’m not here for the blatant disrespect and fake ass apologies. To disrespect the King Nipsey and The Queen Lauren, is where I draw the line. Hip Hop has been very disrespectful lately. Not only is this disrespectful to Hip Hop, but this is disrespectful to a beautiful human being, spirit and a legacy. Sometimes I feel a certain way, but I don’t publicly speak out. I just don’t fuck with the person, place or thing. This one, I can’t just keep it on a personal chill. I’ve been a child of Hip Hop for a looooooong time. Hip Hop raised me and I’ve raised Hip Hop. I’m not new to this or fake with this. I’m a soldier!!!! I’m not just Phone Taps and funny interviews. Check my pedigree. I will not stand by and let Kodak Black come between an allegiance I have with dear FRIENDS. Nipsey’s honor can’t be disrespected like this. We must put a shield around @LaurenLondon and his ENTIRE Family. We can’t allow these things to happen. Nipsey wouldn’t. We look the other way and forgive too easily. I’m a black man first and I love all that deserve my love. I’m with unity, however, we must discipline our own as well. This isn’t about radio or dropping records, that’s been done. This is about protecting a LEGACY and holding people accountable. This may not change Kodak Black now, but I pray it changes his or someone’s future. For all those out there that wanna disrespect and play with royalty, I advise you to think “THRICE”. Long live the spirit, knowledge and wisdom of Nipsey Hussle. This has to be the standard FOREVER!!! The Marathon continues (I’m blocking the bullshit from now on. Try me)

A post shared by Big Boy (@bigboy) on Apr 7, 2019 at 8:10am PDT

  Very well said.

This morning, the "Tunnel Vision" rapper offered up an apology to Lauren "if" he disrespected her. He said he knows he didn't disrespect her, but if he did, he's sorry. Check it:

This isn't the only ignorant thing he's said, and not the only time he swears he doesn't see the problem. 

During his IG Lives over the weekend, he said he'd only "seen" Nipsey once before. However, there are pictures of Kodak and Nipsey dapping each other up at Diddy's 49th birthday party at celeb hotspot Ysabel in West Hollywood last year.

  What we're not going do it this:

No, he's not a kid, Lil Duval. He's old enough to know right from wrong at 21-years-old. He chooses to be wrong, so he's certainly old enough to suffer the consequences.  Especially if he's so strong in his convictions that he's absolutely right about what he said.  Everybody else can also be convicted in reacted how they choose. 

If you haven't heard, Kodak Black was charged with first degree criminal sexual conduct after a woman made claims that he raped her after a concert in Florence, South Carolina in 2016. According to the AP, he will have to return to SC this summer or fall. A trial set for April was continued and no new date has been set.

Some people on Twitter are upset that NO ONE canceled this dude when the rape allegations first came out, or when he would post sexist and colorist videos/comments on his social media handles. Here are a few of the tweets:

    Kodak Black: *is a rapist* Y’all:....

Kodak: 'I Don't Really Like Black Girls Like That' Y’all:...

Kodak: “I'm fuckin' Young M.A, long as she got a coochie” Y’all:...

Kodak: Ima give her [Lauren] a year of crying and shit

Y’all: pic.twitter.com/SrD1mPfQQh

— Shane Jamal (@shanejbernard) April 6, 2019

    So let me get this straight... it takes Kodak Black to harass Lauren London for y’all to say something?!

Y’all wasn’t having this same energy when he was charged for multiple sexual assaults prior to this . Hate y’all dumb mfs

— Don Juan (@YungBG_) April 6, 2019

    Oh, so now Black folks wanna do a FULL STOP Kodak Black regarding his Nipsey and Lauren comments, but not rape charges. pic.twitter.com/V20uUw45X2

— Carlos (@PushaCeeeeee) April 7, 2019

    Kodak Black: Multiple rape charges

twitter:

Kodak Black: assault charges on women

twitter:

Kodak Black: holla at Lauren London

twitter: pic.twitter.com/sOb6FGnaSo

— (@zepblackstar) April 6, 2019

  Tell us your thoughts about this whole situation in the Yappa app below!

    EDITOR'S NOTE: TheYBF.com will not be supporting Kodak Black. Breaking news in regards to his alleged rape victim or anyone he hurts receiving justice though, will be shared.

  EXTRAS:

1. NBA YoungBoy has officially been charged in his marijuana case. He was hit with 2 misdemeanors - possession of less than an ounce of marijuana and disorderly conduct - stemming from a case back in February in Atlanta. STORY

  Photos: Arturo Holmes / Shutterstock.com/Backgrid

[Read More ...] source http://theybf.com/2019/04/07/kodak-black-issues-half-a-apology-to-lauren-london-for-disrespectful-comments-dropped-fro

[ramblingthoughtsofayoungadult]

Wicked, Part II-Chuck Bass Imagine

Requested: Yes

Warnings: underage drinking, long 

   “Y/N!” 

   I nearly jumped out of my skin and snapped my attention to Serena. She was staring at me expectantly and seemed the slightest bit concerned. We were standing in the courtyard at school, other Constance and St. Jude’s students were millling about around us. The cool breeze that slipped past also brought my attention back to Earth as I tightened my Ralph Lauren wool scarf tighter around my neck.

   “Sorry, what did you say?” I asked.

   “I wanted to know if you knew what the benefit tonight was for. Blair says it’s for the elephants, but I think it’s for the poor kids in the third world,” Serena said.

   I blinked and racked my mind for a moment. The Schaeffers were partnering with some big charity foundation for a benefit that night and everyone in the Upper East Side was invited. However, so many charity benefits were an excuse for people to throw money not just to help a cause, but to prove that they had the ability to throw money. Of course, my parents and I were going since Mother couldn’t only be a social butterfly, but also a philanthropist. 

    “I thought it was for the whales,” I replied. 

    Serena sighed. “It probably is, you’re better at remembering these things than I am.” 

   “Yes, maybe.” I turned slightly and spotted Jenny moving across the courtyard at record speed with a bright pink bakery box in her hands. Her blue eyes were wide but focused, a look that could have only been caused by Blair. My stomach clenched when I thought of the look of her face when she saw Chuck and me at his party last weekend. She probably had no idea what to do with this information, but as far as I could tell, she hadn’t told anyone. “I’ll catch up with you later.”

   “Okay,” Serena said, sounding unsure.

   I followed Jenny out of the courtyard and down one of the semi-crowded hallways. “Jenny, wait up!” 

   Jenny paused, turned to me, and relaxed when she saw me, but her shoulders were slightly tense. She couldn’t think that I was as threatening as Blair, Serena, or even Chuck? 

   “I’m sorry, I really should be going, Blair wants these danishes ASAP,” Jenny said. 

   “You can take a minute or two to talk to me, can’t you?” I made my eyes as innocent and kind as possible. “I’ll even go with you to give Blair her pastries to lessen the blow, okay?”

   Jenny glanced at her watch and breathed. “Okay.”

   I smiled and pulled her aside. “About last weekend, I wanted to let you know that I was drunk and maybe even a little stoned when what happened, happened, and I appreciate you not telling anyone or putting up a blast on Gossip Girl.” 

   “I’m not that kind of girl, Y/N. As far as anyone knows, I didn’t see anything,” she said with a soft smile. 

   “Great.” I had to fight letting out the biggest sigh of relief of my life. Jenny could have easily parlayed the situation to work in her favor, but she hadn’t. I’d told Blair that people from Brooklyn weren’t completely awaful.

   We started walking in the direction of Blair’s locker, I practically floated since I’d gotten so much off my chest and out of my head. Nothing could bring me back down to Earth. 

   When we got close to Blair’s locker, I nearly froze in place. Not only was she surrounded by her usual minions, but Chuck was talking to her. It had been days since I’d spoken to him and I had managed to avoid him at school. I couldn’t even begin to think about what I would say to him or how I would act around him. Part of me hoped that he thought I was incredibly intoxicated that night and the other part of me hoped that he blacked out and forgot that night even happened. However, when he looked over and saw Jenny and me, I knew that he had not forgotten one little thing.

   Crap. 

  “Jenny, what took you so long?” Blair asked as she snatched the box out of Jenny’s hands.

   “She was talking to me, it was my fault if anything, Blair,” I said. 

  Blair didn’t relax at all. “Well, you have to speak to her on your own time.” She handed the box to Isabel. 

  “Noted.”

  “Y/N,” Chuck said.

  “Hi, Chuck.” 

  The way he looked at me sent shivers up and down my spine. After Jenny caught us, I’d chased after her to try and talk to her, but Isabel caught her before I could and Blair dragged me into a conversation about colleges. We hadn’t spoken after that, not that Chuck did not try to, but I couldn’t talk about it. 

  “Nice shoes, Y/N, Ferragamo?” Kati asked.

  I blinked my gaze away from Chuck and glanced at the black suede over-the-knee boots I wore. “Yes, good eye, Kati.” I slipped my bag higher up on my shoulder. “I should get to class.”

   “I’ll walk you,” Chuck said.

   I wanted to tell him no, but he was already guiding me away. “I’ll see you all tonight?” I called over my shoulder. Then, I turned to Chuck. “What do you want, Chuck?” 

  “To talk. You’ve been avoiding me.”   “No, I haven’t.”

  “You didn’t respond to my texts.”   “My phone was dead.” 

  “We both know that’s a lie.” 

  I hesitated, a little ashamed of myself for trying to lie to Chuck. He was the father of lies, after all. “We can’t do this here, I’m not going to do this here.”

  Chuck pulled me aside, glanced at a pair of Constance sophomores who were staring at us as they past, and looked at me. “You knew that this was going to happen sooner or later. What happened the other night----”

   “I shouldn’t have done it,” I blurted out. “I was stupid, drunk, emotional, and I thought I knew what I wanted, but I didn’t.” 

  “Stop it,” Chuck hissed. 

  I shook my head. “It’s the truth, Chuck. We shouldn’t have kissed. I feel sick when I think about it because I know I hid it from my friends.”

  “We don’t have to hide----we can tell people.”

  “You don’t really want to be with me, Chuck.” 

  “I meant everything I said that night.”   “You were drunk.”

  “Not really.” He stared at me intently. “I know that you want to be with me as much as I want to be with you----I just don’t understand why you’re lying to yourself.”   “I have to go.” I brushed past Chuck and headed to class, tears burning at my eyes as I thought of exactly why I was pushing the boy of my dreams away. And I knew exactly why: I didn’t want to lose my best friends. 

   That evening, everyone in the Upper East Side was packed into the ballroom of the Waldorf Astoria. Champagne and fine hors d’ouevres were being served by waiters and waitresses in crisp black and white uniforms. All the guests were wearing sharp black Armani tuxedos or structured Dolce & Gabbana gowns. Mother dragged Father and I for the usual rounds before I finally got to break away and join Serena. She looked fabulous in her silk and chiffon pink spaghetti strap Juan Carlos Obando gown. Her blonde hair was slicked back into a high ponytail and diamond studs shimmered in her ears.

   “You look amazing, S,” I said as I hugged her. “Dan’s missing out.”

   “He had this work thing to do, it’s fine,” Serena said. “But you look great too.”

   “I should after three hours of getting ready,” I teased. 

   I was wearing a black velvet Ulla Johnson gown with strappy Jimmy Choos. My hair was wound up in a ballerina bun that gave me a little bit of a headache, but pain was beauty. 

  “Blair looks like she’s on cloud nine with Nate,” Serena said, gesturing to the couple as they danced to the band playing “Beyond the Sea”. 

   “She always looks like that when she’s with Nate, even when they’re fighting.” I snatched a flute of champagne off of a passing waiter’s tray and began sipping. 

  “They are adorable,” Serena mused. “But you’ll get your time.”

  I sniffed. “Yeah, sure.”

  Little did she know that I had already lost my time, it seemed like. Plus, it didn’t help that Chuck was flirting with a beautiful girl with long dark hair and olive-toned skin. She looked like a model of some sort, but it would have hurt to see him with any other girl. 

  How could I have been so stupid? He doesn’t feel anything for me, he was just playing me.

  “Y/N, what’s wrong?” Serena asked.

  “Nothing, I...I just need some air. I’ll be back,” I said, squeezing her hand in reassurance.

  The ballroom suddenly became too crowded as I weaved my way through the crowd of rich, finely-dressed people. Finally, I got out into the lobby and still couldn’t really breathe. It felt like someone had ran a knife through my chest and I was gasping for breath. Then, I felt the tears coming on and shook my head. 

  This couldn’t be happening, I was not crying over a boy. I had to get out of the hallway, no one could see me like this. I managed to make my way over to the women’s restroom to calm myself down. I took little sips of champagne and tried to even my breathing. 

  “It’s fine, you’re fine, Y/N, you’re fine,” I muttered to myself.

  Why couldn’t I get the picture of Chuck smirking with that model out of my head? Why did it hurt so much to think about them? I couldn’t possibly love him, could I? No, he had to be the worst person to possibly fall in love with.

  “I just had to do it,” I muttered again. 

  I loved Chuck, but was too afraid of what my friends would think to admit it outloud. Did he know how I felt? If he did, why would he rub his model friend in my face? Why would he play games? Everyone knew how much I hated playing games. 

  I took a few more minutes to calm myself down before walking back outside. Unfortunately, I could still hear my heart thumping in my ears and felt my stomach twist into knots. 

   Love really can make people sick. 

   I wandered back into the ballroom, glaring at everyone who dared to smile at their escorts and partners. It was childish, but I couldn’t help myself. I snatched another flute of champagne from a passing waiter and began sipping it as calmly as I could.

  “There you are!” Blair exclaimed as she dragged Nate towards me. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

   “Here I am,” I said with a shrug.

   “You look nice, Y/N,” Nate said.

   “Thanks.” 

   “Can you believe Chuck has the audacity to bring that prostitute into a nice event like this? I shouldn’t be surprised by him anymore,” Blair said.

   “She is a model.” When Blair glared at him, Nate quickly added, “He told me about her earlier today. Met her at some party or bar or something.” 

   “Whoever she is, she doesn’t have any class, but I don’t know if Bass has standards anymore.”

   “Blair.”

   “Who’s to say that he doesn’t?” I argued. “Maybe that girl is the next Alessandra Ambrosio or Adriana Lima. Maybe he didn’t like his options in the Upper East Side.” 

   “Whatever, he’s nice to have at parties, but no self-respecting girl would date him,” Blair said.

   Nate remained mum about his friend, suggesting that he agreed with his girlfriend. I, on the other hand, was boiling on the inside. As angry and upset as I was, I couldn’t help but defend Chuck. 

   “Perhaps they would if they got to know him.” 

   “Enough about Chuck, we need to talk about Yale.”

   “Blair----”

   “My father has a fantastic house in New Haven we could go to on the weekends and I even have a few leads on eligible Skull n Bones members.”

   “Blair, I am not interested in dating a member of a secret society nor your father’s New Haven house. I am so sorry that we, for maybe the third time in our lives, have different ambitions. Is it so terrible that I want to go to another state for school?”

   Blair hesitated. “We had plans. We were both going to go to Yale, marry Yale men, and---”

  “And move back to New York and raise our kids on Park, right? That may be what you want, but it isn’t what I want.” 

  “Well, what do you want?” She asked in a semi-curious, but mostly indignant way.

  At that precise moment, Chuck decided to approach our group with the gorgeous girl on his arm. “I don’t believe any of you got the chance to meet my friend, Natalia.” 

  “No, we haven’t.” Blair smiled tightly. “I’m Blair and this is Nate, my boyfriend.”

  “Hi, Natalia,” Nate said.

  “Y/N,” I said.

   She smiled, revealing a perfect gap between her two front teeth. “It is nice to meet all of you.”  

  “Do you mind if I borrow Chuck for a moment?” I asked.

  “It is fine with me.”

  Chuck smirked at me as we walked away from the group. “What burning thing could you possibly have to talk to me about?”

  I whirled on him. “How sick of a person are you? You tell me you want to be with me one second and then in the next, you taunt me with a model. You may like to play games, but I don’t, Chuck.” 

   “Unless my memory is mistaken, you’re the one that didn’t want to tell anyone what happened, so why does it matter to you if I bring a model to a gala?”

   “It’s ‘who’ and it matters because I want to be with you!” I hissed. 

   There was something so cathartic about finally admitting my feelings for him. All the pressure floated from my shoulders, so much so that I nearly fell forward. But Chuck grabbed me by my shoulders and kissed me. The kiss was so much sweeter than the first time, sweeter than I imagined Chuck could be. 

   In that moment, I didn’t care what anyone thought. All that mattered was I finally got the guy who I always wanted.

[eddycurrents]

For the week of 19 November 2018

Quick Bits:

Aquaman #42 is a tie-in to the “Drowned Earth” event, following on his skewering at the hands of Poseidon in Justice League #11. Navigating his way through a dead realm is kind of a weird way for Dan Abnett to close out his run on the series, but it’s still a satisfying issue. Great art from Lan Medina, Vicente Cifuentes, and Gabe Eltaeb.

| Published by DC Comics

Batman #59 continues the “Tyrant Wing” arc with Batman acting a little unhinged on Penguin’s tip that Bane is running Arkham from the shadows, continuing his criminal empire to kill throughout Gotham. It’s interesting to see Batman alienate his allies again in his pursuit for vengeance.

| Published by DC Comics

Bettie Page #1 begins a new volume setting up an alien adventure in Britain, building upon the previous series but not requiring it as reading, from David Avallone, Julius Ohta, Ellie Wright, and Taylor Esposito. Bettie Page, paranormal investigator, is still a weird but entertaining remit and this opening issue does a good job of continuing in that vein as Bettie travels to England to investigate the Queen having been abducted by aliens. Ohta’s art also just keeps getting better and better.

| Published by Dynamite

Black Badge #4 employs a unique approach to flashbacks, with a solid spot colour in otherwise black and white image from Tyler and Hilary Jenkins. It’s a neat technique that really makes the scenes stand out.

| Published by BOOM! Studios

Bloodborne #7 continues to question the realities and relationship of religion and science, even as the city’s fate becomes bleaker and the disease threatens more and more citizens. While I think I preferred the existential terror of the first arc more, this is still highly enjoyable.

| Published by Titan

Cold Spots #4 delivers a little bit of explanation as to what Grace has been brought to the island to do. I say a little bit, since there’s still a lot left unanswered in this penultimate issue. Gorgeous artwork from Mark Torres. You can almost feel the coldness coming off the pages.

| Published by Image

Cover #3 is some amazing storytelling. Somehow Brian Michael Bendis, David Mack, Zu Orzu, and Carlos M. Mangual are layering more and more into the narrative with each subsequent issue in such a brilliant way that you barely notice how many disparate pieces are being presented. It’s like an intricate tapestry being woven before us. This issue even has a special sequence illustrated by Bill Sienkiewicz of a fantasy story I desperately want to read the rest of.

| Published by DC Comics / Jinxworld

Crimson Lotus #1 begins a new series from John Arcudi, Mindy Lee, Michelle Madsen, and Clem Robins giving an origin story to Yumiko Daimio, one of Lobster Johnson’s enemies and grandmother to the BPRD’s favourite jaguar. It’s good, and an appearance early on from Rasputin just further shows some of the intricacies of the Hellboy universe.

| Published by Dark Horse

Devil Within #2 keeps the creepy factor up as Samantha and Michelle try to get help for Michelle’s possible possession. Excellent moody atmosphere provided by the art from Maan House and Dee Cunniffe.

| Published by Black Mask

Doctor Strange #8 begins “The Price” but it’s really just a continuation of the “Two Doctors” arc, building off the corruption of Strange’s former student. Mark Waid gives us some very interesting developments here regarding who is targeting him, along with Kamma finding out something Stephen wishes she wouldn’t, and the revelation of the location of one of the other gems from Cyttorak that were revealed to exist in X-Men Black.

| Published by Marvel

Evolution #12 ends the second arc with some lies, half-truths, and compelling confessions. The theme of change and mutation that has been evident since the first issue really comes to the fore this issue as some huge changes occur for the cast.

| Published by Image / Skybound

Exorsisters #2 gives more background to how the sisters came about through a deal with infernal powers by their mother. The art from Gisèle Lagacé and Pete Pantazis really is a huge draw.

| Published by Image

High Heaven #3 spends some time with Heather as she deals, kind of, with the loss of both David and Ben. Very weird things continue to go on in heaven with the usual great art from Greg Scott and Andy Troy. The Hashtag: Danger back-up remains funny with the lengths that the team goes to in order to save one of their own, only to have her kill herself again. And the prose pieces nicely round out the entire package.

| Published by Ahoy

Hot Lunch Special #4 delivers the penultimate chapter to not just one of the best crime stories I’ve read in years, but also just one of the best stories I’ve read in years period. Eliot Rahal, Jorge Fornés, and Taylor Esposito have really got something special here, with intriguing characters, an ever twisting plot, and some incredible visual. The layouts for this issue, breaking down the pacing, are just wonderful.

| Published by AfterShock

Immortal Hulk #9 is another staggeringly good issue, with a change for the Absorbing Man as he’s tapped to go up against the Hulk. While I am a little sad he didn’t stay legitimate following his redemption arc in Black Bolt, his development here from Al Ewing is pretty intriguing. Also love the art as the regular team of Joe Bennett, Ruy José, and Paul Mounts trade off pages with guest artist Martin Simmonds. The former illustrating the Hulk and the latter Creel before alternating in the battle between the two.

| Published by Marvel

Infinity 8 #7 begins the third loop “The Gospel According to Emma” from Lewis Trondheim, Fabien Vehlmann, and Olivier Balez. This reboot of the timeline starts off incredibly wrong as the Marshal approached to assist this time turns on the crew and effectively strands them in this timeline. There’s some interesting bits of grave robbers stealing treasure and overtones of the Marshal’s religion.

| Published by Lion Forge / Magnetic Collection

Infinity Wars: Ghost Panther #1 begins the final of these two-issue “Infinity Warps” mash-ups. Like the rest, it is incredibly well done. Jed MacKay, Jefte Palo, Jim Campbell, and Joe Sabino craft a tale merging Ghost Rider and Black Panther, seamlessly blending the two into something magical. The art from Palo and Campbell may well be the best of any of these minis and the art on all of them has been very impressive. Love the design for Zarathos.

| Published by Marvel

Judge Dredd: Toxic #2 has the violence and toxicity spillover as the explosion at one of the waste facilities causes increased fear and tension amongst the scrubbers hired to keep Mega-City One functioning. Paul Jenkins is crafting a tale full of the problems that come with xenophobia and the art from Marco Castiello, Vincenzo Acunzo, and Jason Millet just makes it visceral.

| Published by IDW

Justice League #12 has some really nice art from Frazer Irving for this penultimate chapter of the “Drowned Earth” event. Also, a very interesting revelation from Poseidon when it comes to the invading sea gods.

| Published by DC Comics

Justice League Dark #5 kicks off a new arc dealing with the ramifications of the first one, “The Witching Hour” crossover, and previous unrevealed tales of what happened with Detective Chimp after inheriting the Oblivion Bar. James Tynion IV gives some nice nods to the original Shadowpact series aided by beautiful art from Daniel Sampere, Juan Albarran, and Adriano Lucas.

| Published by DC Comics

The Last Space Race #2 introduces us to another member of the team, giving us a bit of his backstory, and largely making us want to drop him into a deep dark hole and forget that he’s there. Peter Calloway does a wonderful job of making Roger Freeman thoroughly unlikable, it’s kind of astonishing.

| Published by AfterShock

Lightstep #1 is a very different kind of sci-fi tale, mixing almost the feel of the decadence of Rome under Nero or Caligula and the high concept science fiction of a society that measures the class of its citizens by genetic similarity to their progenitor, and thereby assigns how “fast” they live. As I say, different from Miloš Slavković, Mirko Topalski, and Andrej Bunjac. Slavković’s art reminds me a bit Pasqual Ferry mixed with John Watkiss. The story itself somewhat reminds me of Watkiss’ work on John Jakes’ Mulkon Empire. On top of that, it’s part of a broader video game/media franchise from Eipix Entertainment, of which this looks like only the first volley (a novel and video game are forthcoming).

| Published by Dark Horse

The Lollipop Kids #2 continues to be a fantastic and fabulous comic from Adam & Aidan Glass, Diego Yapur, DC Alonso, and Sal Cipriano. The art alone from Yapur and Alonso would be worth the price of admission, but the characters, setting, and overall plot just elevate this beyond a typical kids fantasy type deal.

| Published by AfterShock

Low Road West #3 gets significantly stranger and much more surreal as reality seems to be growing thinner. We’re still not any closer to really understanding what’s truly going on, but it doesn’t really matter. Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Flaviano, Miquel Muerto, and Jim Campbell are telling one hell of a compelling story.

| Published by BOOM! Studios

Mae #10 has Mae deal with some stuff in our world before stocking up and returning back to Cimrterén to resume her search for her father. Gorgeous artwork as always from Gene Ha and Wes Hartman.

| Published by Lion Forge / Roar

Marvel Knights #2 sees Matthew Rosenberg and Nico Henrichon join Donny Cates for this chapter, giving a bit of back story on how Banner roped in Castle into searching out the various heroes and leads to a confrontation with Elektra. Still no closer to understanding what happened here, but it does get weirder with a hallucinatory Karen Page. Henrichon’s art is just perfect for telling this story.

| Published by Marvel

Middlewest #1 is a magical debut of this new series from Skottie Young, Jorge Corona, Jean-Francois Beaulieu, and Nate Piekos. It’s a fantasy grounded in the reality of growing up hard in Middle America, with Abel dealing with an abusive father, while just trying to be a kid. But there’s a talking fox and devastating sentient storms. Rather inventive stuff all around. I’m also getting the impression that Jorge Corona should really be a household name. Between No. 1 with a Bullet, Old Man Jack, and now this, he’s been killing it recently.

| Published by Image

Night Moves #1 is a pretty great debut from VJ Boyd, Jordan Boyd, Clay McCormack, Mike Spicer, and Shawn DePasquale. It’s a gritty crime drama with occult overtones, but most of the weirdness is just simmering under the surface so far as the protagonists work to find out what kind of mess they’re in. McCormack and Spicer’s art really capture the feel of the seediness of the story well.

| Published by IDW

Optimus Prime #25 brings it all to a close, with a flashback through Optimus’ life and little vignettes of the various Transformers from John Barber, Kei Zama, Josh Burcham, and Tom B. Long. I’m really going to miss this world. 

| Published by IDW

Pearl #4 is probably the most stereotypical Bendis issue to date, but the dialogue doesn’t tip over into the ridiculous territory. Most of this issue is a conversation between Pearl and tattoo boy, but at least it’s interesting conversation and not random pop culture references repeated as questions.

| Published by DC Comics / Jinxworld

Pestilence: A Story of Satan #5 gives a bittersweet end to this story, filled with loss and sacrifice. It’s kind of fitting considering how bleak both this and the first series have been. Wonderful art from Oleg Okunev, Guy Major, Michael Garland, and Marko Lesko.

| Published by AfterShock

The Punisher #4 may well be one of the bloodiest, most violent mainline 616 Marvel Universe Punisher issues yet as Jigsaw and an assortment of Hydra goons attempt to kidnap Frank from prison. Matthew Rosenberg and Szymon Kudranski are continuing to keep this book moving at a breakneck pace, like an action movie that barely takes any moments to breathe.

| Published by Marvel

Quantum & Woody! #12 brings this volume to a close, with an interesting character study of the brothers at the hands of GATE and X-O Manowar.

| Published by Valiant

Rumble #9 brings “Things Remote” to an end with an epic battle between the Esu and Rathraq’s friends, leading to an interesting realization for Rathraq and what he wants out of life. Stunningly beautiful art from David Rubín and Dave Stewart.

| Published by Image

Shadowman #9 continues the “Rag and Bone” arc as Alyssa and Jack confront Sandria Darque. Gorgeous artwork from Renato Guedes, Eric Battle, and Ulises Arreola. 

| Published by Valiant

Shuri #2 continues the search for Black Panther, while back on Earth the women of Wakanda form a council to figure out how to maintain and administer the nation while he’s missing. Definitely some interesting concepts and character points from Nnedi Okorafor. Phenomenal artwork and layouts from Leonardo Romero and Jordie Bellaire.

| Published by Marvel

Spider-Force #2 is probably one of the bleakest, mean-spirited stories I’ve read in a while. This isn’t a bad thing, but the story’s a bit of a downer as the nature of an irradiated world without hope seems to permeate everything, including characters like Jessica Drew who are normally at least a bit more level-headed. Priest is writing a very dark story, with some complicated characters like Peter’s granddaughter who grew up in the Old Man Logan universe and a Peter Parker who looks like he was abused by Uncle Ben.

| Published by Marvel

Spider-Geddon #4 kind of spoils the need to read Spider-Force #3 out in three weeks, which just kind of adds to the downer feel of that series. This issue turns darker itself with a bevy of betrayals. Christos Gage has kind of stacked the deck against the spiders, I wonder how they’re going to get out of it in the finale.

| Published by Marvel

Stellar #6 concludes the series and it is incredibly messed up. The conflict between Zenith and Stellar is bizarre and perverse, but I don’t really want to go into it more because spoilers would ruin its impact. Joe Keatinge, Bret Blevins, and Rus Wooton have done an amazing job with this series. Highly recommended.

| Published by Image / Skybound

Sukeban Turbo #1 is another series originally published by Glénat Editions in France, translated into English for North American markets. It’s a mix of teenage rebellion, crime, and following a boy band from Sylvain Runberg, Victor Santos, and Shawn Lee. The art from Santos is worth it on its own, very impressive layouts and storytelling.

| Published by IDW

Summit #10 kicks off the third arc for the series and like most of the Catalyst Prime series recently it undergoes a bit of a change in status quo. Val finds out that she hasn’t been hallucinating, but hearing the voice of another of her team that was essentially vaporized during the event, before having her life turned upside down as the government starts hunting her. Amy Chu continues writing the series, while she’s joined by Marika Cresta fully for the art here.

| Published by Lion Forge / Catalyst Prime

Tony Stark: Iron Man #6 begins “Stark Realities” and the launch of Tony’s eScape virtual reality game. Dan Slott, with a script assist from Jeremy Whitley, does a great job of making it feel chaotic at launch, with some ordinary and extraordinary problems occurring. The pissed off griefer is hilarious.

| Published by Marvel

Web of Venom: Carnage Born #1 is an interesting reinterpretation of Carnage’s origin to fit within the new mythology being crafted in the current Venom series, also building off the recent two-part arc there with the Maker, from Donny Cates, Danilo S. Beyruth, Cris Peter, and Clayton Cowles. This is more very entertaining outgrowth of the Marvel Universe from Cates and gives us a quite possibly deadlier Carnage.

| Published by Marvel

West Coast Avengers #4 concludes the first arc in fairly straightforward fashion as the team deals with BRODOK and the women transformed into giant monsters. Some nice little character moments from Kelly Thompson and great art from Stefano Caselli and Tríona Farrell.

| Published by Marvel

The Whispering Dark #2 continues its existential and moral crisis as the squad commits war crimes as they struggle to survive. There’s something off about how everything is happening, in how Christofer Emgård is writing the narration, but I’m not sure if it’s just the in-story reason of the go-pills. It feels like the squad is already in Hell and being judged.  

| Published by Dark Horse

Other Highlights: American Carnage #1, Archie #700, Black AF: Widows & Orphans #4, Black Hammer: Age of Doom #7, Burnouts #3, Days of Hate #10, Dejah Thoris #10, Dick Tracy: Dead or Alive #2, East of West #40, Encounter #8, GI Joe: A Real American Hero - Silent Option #2, Go-Bots #1, Jughead: The Hunger #10, The Long Con #5, Love & Rockets #6, Lucifer #2, Lumberjanes #56, Mars Attacks #2, The New World #5, Olivia Twist #3, Project Superpowers #4, Rick & Morty Presents Pickle Rick #1, Smooth Criminals #1, Star Wars #57, Star Wars: Solo #2, TMNT: Urban Legends #7, Underwinter: Queen of Spirits, Xena: Warrior Princess #10

Recommended Collections: 24 Panels, Accell - Volume 3: Turf Battles, Amazing Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows - Volume 4: Are You Okay, Annie?, Crude - Volume 1, Dark Souls Omnibus, Delta 13, Dungeons & Dragons: Evil at Baldur’s Gate, Flavor, Immortal Hulk - Volume 1: Or is he Both?, Justice League - Volume 1: The Totality, Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man - Volume 4: Coming Home, Resident Alien - Volume 5: An Alien in New York, Spidey: School’s Out, Stray Bullets: Sunshine & Roses - Volume 3, Unnatural - Volume 1: Awakening, Venom - Volume 1: Rex, The X-Files: Case Files - Volume 1

d. emerson eddy wonders if there’s going to be any light in our real darkest hour.

[tkmedia]

How Argentina’s Olympic gold earned redemption for Bielsa

When Marcelo Bielsa finally celebrated success with Argentina at the 2004 Athens Olympics, he marked it in the most Marcelo Bielsa way possible: by resigning and heading off to spend three months locked away in a convent.“I took the books I wanted to read,” Bielsa said. “I did not have a phone nor did I have a television. I read a lot and I don’t think anyone reads as much about football as I do. I lasted three months before I started talking to myself and answering back and then it was time to go.” In truth, he could be forgiven for needing a little time to decompress. Up until that point, Bielsa’s time as manager of the Albiceleste had been nothing short of a nightmare. “Nothing goes right in Argentina anymore” Appointed in October 1998, Bielsa’s first big test came at the 1999 Copa America – a tournament that’s best remembered for Argentina’s farcical 3-0 group stage defeat to Colombia in which Martin Palermo contrived to miss three penalties. Bielsa, for his part, was sent to the stands after contesting one too many decisions with the referee. Yet there was no debating the manner of their eventual exit with an understrength Argentina outgunned in a 2-1 quarter-final defeat to a Brazil team boasting Ronaldo and Rivaldo in their pomp. Even so, things looked good going into the 2002 World Cup, given the way Bielsa’s Argentina had romped through qualifying finishing 12 points clear at the top of the South American standings. What followed remains their worst ever showing at a World Cup, with Argentina dumped out at the group stage thanks largely to a defeat suffered at the hands of bitter rivals England. Fans across the nation wept after staying up until 3:30am local time to watch Bielsa’s team, who had been among the favourites, bow out following an ineffective 1-1 draw with Sweden. Coming at a time when Argentina was in the midst of its worst-ever financial crisis, it had been hoped that the World Cup would provide the nation with some much-needed respite. Instead, it deepened despair. “Argentina really, really needed at least one good thing to happen to us,” one fan lamented. “But nothing goes right in Argentina anymore. We had such high expectations. And now we have only the economy to think about again. What a disaster.” Yet if the fans reacted badly to the shock exit, it was nothing compared to Bielsa. “I feel a great sadness and disappointment,” he said. “To be favourite is a presumption prior to playing. Afterwards, you have to confirm that in practice and we didn’t.” In private, his reaction was even worse. Juan Sebastian Veron recalled how the Argentina manager began banging his head against the changing room lockers after the game. “It was the saddest thing seeing Bielsa crying,” Veron said. “He wasn’t able to talk to us for a long time. His words were short, his sentences brief. He said he felt a very great disappointment and we all started crying.” In the aftermath, Bielsa was criticised in the press for relying too heavily on Veron, who had just completed a torrid first season at Manchester United, and for sticking rigidly to a 3-3-1-3 system that left room for only one striker. Hernan Crespo was the main casualty, benched in favour of Gabriel Batistuta, despite finishing as Argentina’s top scorer in qualifying with nine goals. After Batistuta had bagged an impressive nine goals across the previous two World Cups, most felt more could have been done to accommodate both men. That Argentina went on to score just twice vindicated that viewpoint. Yet for all of the criticism garnered in the wake of the World Cup collapse, Bielsa retained the faith of the Argentinian Football Association thanks, in part, to his imperious record in qualifying. However, the knives were out once again after the 2004 Copa America final in Peru and a game Argentina undoubtedly should have won. A youthful Albiceleste had twice led Brazil in Lima, only for the tournament’s best player, Adriano, to come to the Selecao’s rescue with a brace that included a 93rd-minute equaliser. • • • •

READ: ‘Adriano, I want to kill you’ – When The Emperor ruled the 2004 Copa America • • • • Robbed at the death and mentally shot, Argentina went on to lose on penalties, leaving Javier Zanetti lost for words at the final whistle. “There are things that can’t be explained in soccer,” he said. “That’s what happened against Brazil, we can’t explain what went wrong.” In truth, Bielsa had little time to ruminate on what could have been. A month later, he was heading to Athens for the Olympics. Argentina arrived in Greece as the firm favourites to win gold in the men’s soccer tournament – but the pressure was on. An Olympic Achievement While treated as an inconvenience by many across Europe, the quest for gold in Olympic football was something of an obsession in South America. And though the World Cup had undoubtedly usurped it in terms of importance, it was once the only international title to elude both Brazil and Argentina. With the Selecao absent from that year’s Olympics men’s soccer, Argentina had an opportunity to steal a march on their great footballing rivals and gain a modicum of revenge for their Copa America capitulation. Yet history was not on their side. Twice previously, Argentina had reached the gold medal match only to fall at the final hurdle with their most recent loss coming in Atlanta back in 1996 against Nigeria in a game they twice led before losing to a last-minute Nwankwo Kanu goal. To add to the pressure, Argentina were going in search of their first gold medal in any event in 52 years, with their last having come in the men’s double sculls at Helsinki 1952. They had subsequently sent 1076 athletes to 11 Olympics without another gold. Knowing what was at stake, Bielsa drew heavily from the squad that had narrowly missed out on Copa American glory, Roberto Ayala, Kily Gonzalez and Gabriel Heinze were the three overage players. Heinze’s inclusion gave the Manchester United-bound star a chance at redemption having been one of two players to miss a penalty against Brazil at the Copa America. The other to miss, Andres D’Alessandro, was one of a glut of exciting young attackers – along with Carlos Tevez, Mauro Rosales, Cesar Delgado and Lucho Gonzalez. A young Fabricio Coloccini, then of AC Milan, joined Ayala and Heinze in defence with Javier Mascherano offering protection and River Plate’s German Lux in goal. The future West Ham duo of Tevez and Mascherano would prove the stars of the tournament. Mascherano, then of River Plate, marshalled the midfield to fine effect while Tevez, who was starring for Boca Juniors, led the line so impressively he reduced Javier Saviola to a bit-part role. • • • •

READ: Carlos Tevez: A priceless striker who even proved Fergie wrong • • • • Of the 19 players who would represent Argentina at those Olympics, 12 would go on to feature in at least one World Cup. Approaching the tournament in his familiar style, Bielsa had Argentina on the front foot and pressing high up the pitch from the off in their opening match against Serbia and Montenegro. It couldn’t have gone much better either with Tevez bagging a brace in a sensational 6-0 win that set down a marker. Rosales was another standout performer, scoring one and setting up two while D’Alessandro racked up two assists and there were goals for Delgado, Kily and Heinze. Tevez was on the scoresheet again a few days later when Argentina secured their place in the knockout phase with a 2-0 win against Tunisia. And though the Albiceleste barely got out of first gear in their final group game against Australia, they did enough to keep their 100% record intact with D’Alessandro getting the only goal of the game after just nine minutes. Any suggestion Biesla’s team might be taking their foot off the pedal was quickly quashed in the quarter-finals against Costa Rica, with Argentina running out 4-0 winners in another impressive display. While Delgado opened the scoring, it was Tevez who took centre stage again. Still only 20, he lived up to the hype in his homeland with a sensational hat-trick that took his tally to six for the tournament and had Argentina within sight of a medal match. The semi-final showdown with Italy was the biggest match of the men’s Olympic tournament so far. While the Azzurri had stuttered through the group phase, they had a squad brimming with talent. Andrea Pirlo, Daniele De Rossi, Andrea Barzagli and Alberto Gilardino all started for Italy and would go on to win the World Cup two years later. A young Giorgio Chiellini also got his first taste of tournament football at the Olympics. Yet despite that pedigree, Italy were no match for Argentina in one of the most impressive displays of the Bielsa era. This was the Albiceleste at their clinical best, attacking in numbers and at speed. It took Tevez just 16 minutes to open the scoring with an acrobatic volley that came after some lovely build-up play by D’Alessandro and Rosales. Argentina then pounced again in the second half as Italy chased the game with Lucho slamming home a second to finish off a neat counter attack before Mariano completed the scoring with a fine team goal. Treat your #WorldCup fever with the highlights of one of the best individual performances in an international tournament ever! Bienvenido, Tevez. pic.twitter.com/ssRaOSCjSL — Olympic Channel (@olympicchannel) July 4, 2018 The final pitted them against Paraguay, who had beaten Brazil to a spot at the Olympics. Oddly, the first all-South American final in 76 years was played at a half-empty Olympic Stadium in Athens at 10 o’clock in the morning on a Saturday with FIFA president Sepp Blatter among those in attendance. Not that the eerie scene mattered that much back home, where millions tuned in hoping to see their 52-year wait for a gold medal end. Thankfully for Bielsa and all of Argentina, they got their wish. Tevez was the star of the show yet again, scoring after 17 minutes to send them on their way. While the score stayed the same, Paraguay rarely threatened to get back into the game and the result was all but sealed in the final 20 minutes after Argentina’s opponents were reduced to 10 and then nine men. At the final whistle, the players collapsed to their knees, in a mix of joy and relief. “A great worker and a great person” For Bielsa, this was, at last, some form of vindication for his methods. Much maligned in the Argentinian media, he had delivered something no other Albiceleste manager had ever done – and something Brazil still had yet to achieve themselves. Though the Selecao would eventually go on to claim gold at the Rio Olympics in 2016, no other nation has come close to matching the style and dominance of Argentina in Athens. The Albiceleste scored 17 goals across six games and conceded precisely zero, goalkeeper Lux going 540 minutes unbeaten in a feat never matched before or since. In Tevez, they had the tournament’s top scorer and a star in the making, a man who proved the undoubted difference with eight of Argentina’s 17 goals. For Tevez, though, winning was about more than enhancing his own reputation. “I am happy for Bielsa,” he told reporters after the final. “He has had so much criticism and he deserves this. He is a great worker and a great person.” After all the pain, the disappointment and the personal anguish, Bielsa had found a way to write himself into the history books for Argentina. “To be champion of the Olympic Games is quite an achievement,” he said. “There are other elements that fit in professional football, the feelings of instability and constant analysis. But what has just happened, it is something that fills me with happiness.” Yet within three weeks he was gone, announcing his resignation in a hastily arranged press conference. “I realised the amount of energy which is absorbed by the various tasks which are involved in being coach of the team… and that I didn’t have this energy any more,” he explained. It would be nearly three years before Bielsa returned to the dugout with Chile and a national team stint that helped rebuild and repair any of the residual damage done by his time with Argentina. Today, speculation continues to fly around linking the Argentine with a return to the national team job and a second bite at the World Cup cherry. He’d be mad to take it. Then again, this is Bielsa. By Jack Beresford More from Planet Football The Marcelo Bielsa effect? Man-to-man marking showing signs of a resurgence Messi ‘removes thorn’ with Copa glory, but he’s never won or lost alone Can you name the all-time top scorer for every South American nation? The story of the blogger who got to work with Bielsa after inspiring Pep Read the full article

[fyeahwynonnaearp]

What Just Happened?!?: Gonna Getcha Good (S02E03)

After watching the opening scene a bajillion times and telling myself “Calm down, Flaming Ladybug”, I ended up rewatching the episode a grand total of six times in order to get my thoughts in order. And boy! did I miss a crap ton of stuff. Before I delve in, let’s get some minor stuff out of the way:

New Character(s)

Tucker Gardner (Caleb Ellsworth-Clark): The youngest Gardner sibling and the “town pervert” according to eldest sister Mercedes. He gives out creepy vibes and was choked out by Gooverly for being homophobic. Beth Gardner (@meghanheffern): The middle Gardner child and, as stated by big sis Mercedes, the “directionless shut-in”. She seems to be super protective of baby brother. No matter how creepy and pervy he gets.

Monster(s) of the Week

Marzaniok, Bringer of Good and Bad Fortune, or “Marzipan”, as Wynonna calls it: First emerged 10 years ago from the trophy case of Purgatory High, or did it? Honestly, all we know was a group of 17-year-old hockey players got high and summoned the burlap-wearing creature via a spell given to them by their tired-of-losing-all-the-time coach. Next thing they know? There was a Wizard of Oz reject coming from the trophy case and granting their wishes, until it started hunting them down.

Final Thoughts (No Spoilers)

This was an episode that needed so many re-watches, and not because of the glorious cheerleading sequence. It may not have been obvious, but this episode was very Nicole-centered and may as well have been titled “Nicole and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day”. 

It’s nice and refreshing to see Nicole outside of Wayhaught. We know Nicole as the thoughtful and supportive girlfriend, even when she was upset with the whole BBD un-deputizing thing. We get a peek into who she is without Waverly. BTW, Nicole Haught is awesomely unapologetic and sticks to what she believes in, even if it means standing up to her boss and her girlfriend’s scary older sis. Plus, we get a hint into why and how she ended up in Purgatory. More importantly, this episode sets her up to perhaps being responsible for putting down one of the Big Bads of the season; the Gardners. Meaning, she has her own storyline separate from her girlfriend, the Earp curse, and the BBD. Kudos to the writers, that’s how you treat “the girlfriend” becoming a series regular! (Even if I’m a tad disappointed Katherine Barrel doesn’t show up in the opening credits).

Favorite quote: Oh, I’m sorry. Did I hit my head and wake up in patriarchal bullshit land? --Officer Nicole Haught to Sheriff Nedley.

Now, head on under the cut for spoiler-laden theories and discourse!

10 Things That Happened/I Learned (in no particular order)

1. Gooverly is a klepto, likes shiny things, and is quickly becoming a hoarder. Also, though Gooverly may or may not have a crush on Officer Haught-stuff, the goo demon(?) definitely ain’t got time for homophobic bullshit. Most importantly, Waverly has no memory of her dark-eyed, spider-snacking, lipstick-eating, hulking-out self.

2. People in Purgatory pretend the town isn’t overrun with demons. Like, seriously?! Anyways, Nedley worked hard to recruit Nicole, who graduated top of her class in the Big City, to work for him because he’s grooming her to be the next Sheriff to protect the ordinary, non-werewolf citizens of Purgatory. I’m all for Sheriff Haught, but is there a reason why he recruited Nicole specifically? There has to be a reason other than her being smart and having good instincts for him to decide she would be the perfect person to police a town that is full of paranormal events and creatures.

3. The Gardners are important to Purgatory. It is clearly building up more to be than just being the rich family in town. Mercedes mentions that her (recently deceased?) parents left the majority of their fortune to the town. Plus, a community center in their name is being built. An important location for later on? Plus, there has to be a reason why Nedley made a file on Tucker and then saying he’s been playing a ‘long game’.

4. Dolls’ serum needs the pure blood of a demon. What exactly is the serum for and it seems like it doesn’t matter which demon. Would Gooverly’s blood work? Because when they signed that BBD contract, the camera panned to Waverly’s blood when it was her turn. Hopefully, we will get some answers in the next episode considering Dolls came back.

5. Wynonna definitely is having some thoughts about Wayhaught. She thinks Waverly is once again putting her significant other first, like how it was when she was with Champ. Wynonna is definitely protective of Waverly, to the point that she brushes off the new weirdness and just blames it on Nicole. However, at the end, she does asks Waverly if she was okay, but I think Wynonna was referring to the fighting with Nicole.

6. Doc is making Dolls’ serum with Rosita’s help. But, I’m still not clear on what exactly Dolls whispered to Doc when they were breaking him out of BBD site. Did Dolls tell Doc about Rosita and the whole “tell her” had nothing to do with Wynonna at all? I need to watch that episode again.

7. Waverly was giving Nicole a private show, was not wearing underwear, goes “on patrol” with her lady, and Wayhaught may or may not have panty-less role-play with Nicole wearing her uniform....Pass it on.

8. At least one of the Women in Black escaped from the BBD crate explosion from episode one. We know few things about them, such as smelling like Mama Earp and Willa (same perfume). The question is why were they at the Gardner residence and kill Mercedes? We first see them at the condo/building that Mercedes bought and where the broken seal is located. Other than Wynonna, Mercedes was also the only other person that the Women in Black haunted (or hunted?). 

9. Dolls knows something is up with Waverly. How soon will Dolls inform Wynonna about Gooverly and will she believe him? I only hope that the gang also talks to Nicole and not shut her out.

10. Someone/Something broke out of the seal. Throughout the entire episode, Wynonna keeps looking for whatever broke out of the seal. Previously, Earl mentioned being drawn to protecting it. This makes me think back to season 1 when Juan Carlo mentioned that the Ghost River Triangle not only keeps things in, but also keeps things out. It is a sanctuary from things that were kept out, but are now in because of Willa. Makes sense if the Ghost River Triangle (which is a really huge area that goes beyond Purgatory), is a sanctuary for some creatures (i.e. the werewolf citizens) and why people just pretend it isn’t overrun by demons. I hope this gets explored more before the end of this season.

Let’s take a moment to remember those we lost in this episode...

IN MEMORIAM

Mercedes Gardner: Bitch, I will always remember you for being an awesome friend to Wynonna and for putting your creepy baby brother in his place, no matter how short lived it was. I really do hope that your neck wasn’t snapped by the Lady Gaga hand because you’re a crazy, awesome bitch! B-Train: Honestly, I’m adding you because Wynonna likes your nickname. Kudos though for managing to rip out your liver with just your bare hand. Like, damn!

[maumeetsworld]

Welcome to your tape, bitch

Oh. My. God. This show is the perfect example of how I am actively ruining my life with the conscious decisions I make. I spent one week hate-watching it mainly because I wanted to understand the whole controversy around it contribute to all the shitposting happening on Tumblr. So there I was, sitting on my couch, ready for some Netflix & Chill - the real kind, not the Grindr-enabled one - and then I heard Hannah Baker's voice, which led me to the following point:

1. How conceited is this girl?

I knew this was shit the moment I heard her saying she wasn't going to send her victimizers a podcast because she wouldn't make it that easy for them, so instead she sent them plain old cassettes. Bitch, seriously? You're dead, whatever makes you think that people who dgaf about you when you were alive, will do it now just because you took the easy way out? Next time you want to guilt-trip your classmates from the grave, at least wait till after they've contacted you through a Ouija board.

And don't even get me started on her self-proclaimed moral superiority. She blames Jessica for her death because she slapped her, but then Hannah witnessed her being raped and that didn't ring a bell on how shitty a person she was too? Like, please, you would have gotten a million tapes yourself had anyone else come up with the same stupid idea.

This brings me to the second point.

2. She was not alone

This show would have been remotely less annoying if Hannah had actually been isolated. In fact, they tried to go there by having her say how lonely, unpopular, and disliked she was, and how everyone was just trying to get her. Except they were not. In fact she made a fuckload of friends throughout the series. She was dating the jocks, experimenting with the Queen Bee, being all deep and intellectual with the gay guy, going to parties at the cheerleader's house, friendzoning the hot geek, and even having her own little version of The Breakfast Club with an Eminem wannabe.

And yet you're telling me that she was unpopular and nobody liked her? Yeah, OK, next.

3. Her reasons to kill herself are ridiculous

Somebody stole the drawing that some anon left in your compliment box? Heartbreaking. Was that a reason to kill yourself? Of course not! Well, on a second thought, maybe the fact that she went to a school where they had compliment boxes was.

Seriously, what were the writers thinking when they were working on this script? Did nobody think that this was stupid af? Suicide is never justifiable, but fuck, if you're going to do it, at least come up with a decent reason. Don't slit your wrists open over someone reading your anonymous poem in class, which, by the way, nobody even knew was you. There's a fine line between crying for help and stirring up drama just for the sake of it. Hannah Baker mostly dwelt in the latter.

4. None of this would have happened if she had not been actively looking for drama

Hannah was upset because the high school jock shared a pic of her undies. He then told the whole school that she was an easy lay. Outrageous. Then one of his friends tried to pull a Donald Trump on her (and grab her by the pussy) because, you know, the high school jock said she was easy, remember? All of that I get.

What I don't get is why over the course of the series she continued interacting with him and everyone else who was mean to her - according to her delusional ass, anyway - and even getting in a hot tub with them. I'm sorry, but that's not the behavior of someone who's deeply hurt and desperate for things to improve. That's the behavior of someone asking for it. No, I don't mean rape. Rape is never justifiable. I mean drama. She was asking for drama and if she didn't t get  it, she would create it.

5. The rape aftermath

OK, fine, the whole rape situation was not cool. Yet her blaming the counselor is what really pissed me off. Hannah, being the dumb ass teen that she is was, wanted justice - which I totally get. What I don't get is why the fuck would she even bother to go and make a scene at the counselor's office and then throw a bitch fit at him when he told her that she needed to move on? Yes, that is a shitty answer, but what was she expecting? He was a fucking counselor for fuck's sake, not Professor Xavier. He couldn't read your mind, girl. If you she truly wanted him to help, then she should have spoken up and spilled the tea on Bryce. Oh, no. instead she went crazy and stormed out of the room ready to do the job, but not before standing outside of the counselor's office hoping he would run after her.

The hell you think you are, Hannah? Cinderella? Who'd want to run behind a crazy, borderline psychotic teen with an attitude problem?

6. The Latin classmate

I'm not done hating on Hannah, but this guy got me raging almost as much as she did. Everything from his crappy personality to his outfit was just terrible, but the real mystery is what he even had to do with Hannah, and why the fuck does he pretend to be all wise and mighty? First of all, if he was that wise, he would have stopped dressing like Danny Zuko.

Also, let me get this straight: Hannah kills herself because in the end she has no friends, yet she entrusted this guy to see her tapes through till they reached the 13th person? Ahem, is this a plothole or just plain stupid writing? I wanted to vomit every time Pedro - whatever, I'm Mexican - would show up just to act all shady and remind pretty much everyone around - mainly Clay, Clay, Clay, and Clay - that they had all killed Hannah.

Hoe, no. Someone friendly enough to give her a ride home when she was pissed drunk didn't kill her, she killed herself. Well, rather the razor blades that she stole from her bankrupt parents' pharmacy did, but those are just details. Also, if Carlos - whatever, I'm Mexican - was such a good friend and concerned about everything that had happened to her, he wouldn't be dropping cryptic af messages, he would have taken the tapes to the police and let them deal with the jock. But no, of course he didn't do that because that would have required a writer to stop mixing vodka and Xanax and realize the show they were producing. No, instead he took the least sporty-looking character rock climbing because that's just how he rolls.

7. Clay

So the guy went from being the wallflower to taking justice into his own hands? What's his name again? Batman? I still don't understand how he's supposed to be all smart and yet not once, not even for a single second, does he stop and think that maybe, just maybe it's better to tell his parents, or any other grown up in fact, about what's happening and about how every other person wants to axe him. Like, I get it, you're angry, you're hurting, but you know what hurts more? That gap on your forehead, you know, the one you got after a car hit you?

Like, didn't anyone notice it? Am I the only one who can see it? Cos, girl, it's so big it makes the gender gap in the workplace look narrower in comparison. Go get stitches, like, now.

8. Where the hell are all the parents?

Underage drinking, tattoos, drugs, reckless driving, guns, teens with huge af scars all over their faces, like, where the fuck are all the grown ups? Are you trying to tell me that not even one adult noticed any of this? For fuck's sake, Clay's scar is putrid and so is half his face now, he's dying of an untreated infection!

9. The fandom

I cannot even begin to explain how annoyed I am at the people who think this is an accurate reflection of the suffering that many of them have gone through. You're wrong, and I don't feel bad saying it. Hannah had multiple opportunities to save herself if she had not acted stupid, dared to speak, and or seek help. She had loving parents, a hot geek ready to jump her, and apparently she was the best of friends with Jorge - whatever, I'm Mexican. No, if she killed herself was because she was starving for attention. She wanted to guilt-trip everyone and make them feel as shitty as they had made her felt except, guess what? She's not there to witness it.

10. The message

That's my issue with this whole fucking series. It plays with the idea of suicide in an almost hedonistic way, it's almost as if they wanted us to picture Hannah Baker laughing in Heaven - or rather in Hell cos she killed herself, obvi - at the sight of all these people suffering over her death and feeling remorseful the actions that led to it. Let me tell you something: Unless you become Casper, you will not get to see this.

To everyone thinking that suicide is as glamorous as 13 Reasons Why made it seen, it's not. You die and that's it. Sure, there will be people devastated by it - your parents - but that's it. There will be no Juan - whatever, I'm Mexican - sending tapes on your behalf or Clay growing a vagina in the middle of his forehead during his quest to uncover the truth. You'll be gone and that will be it.

In conclusion, 13 Reasons Why is a steamy pile of trash from start to finish and was clearly targeting all the dumb af teens who also thought that The Fault in our Stars is the epitome of modern literature. It's pretentious, it's boring, it's full of plotholes, and it will make you rage from start to finish. Needless to say, this is my opinion and that's about it. If you don't like it, well... Welcome to your tape, bitch.

[xavierfiles-blog]

Entry 067 - Hellion

Art by Sana Takeda

Name: Julian Keller

Code Names: Hellion

First Appearance: New Mutants #2 (Aug ‘03)

Powers: Telekinesis

Teams Affiliation: X-Men

About

A healthy awareness of one’s ability is a good thing. When that devolves into arrogance it becomes an issue. That’s why Spider-Man’s mantra “with great power there must also come great responsibility” is so important. Spider-Man would be such an unlikable character if he continued to be the guy he was before he learned that. A character who never learns how to be humble is just gonna end up like Hellion, a real jerk.

Julian Keller was a spoiled brat. His parents were rich and he never worked for much in his life. When his mutant abilities manifested, they were more worried about the optics of the situation and didn’t care that their son was different. Julian’s telekinesis was very powerful from the start, but his insistence on using it in public caused his parents to ship him off to the Xavier Institute. He worked under the advisement of Northstar (who obviously wasn’t the right guy to learn humility from) but the two clashed heads a lot and Julian requested a transfer to one Emma Frost.

Art by Keron Grant, Rob Stull, and Dan Kemp

Emma valued Julian’s power and confidence, she knew she could shape it into something great. Julian already thought of himself as something great and decided to take a code name to prove it. He called himself Hellion as a tribute to Emma’s team of young students from the Massachusetts Academy. He led Emma’s squad, known as the Hellions and became close friends with his teammate Rockslide. Julian often bumped heads with Dani Moonstar’s squad of students, the New Mutants, but harbored a crush on their co-leader Wind Dancer.

Art by Clayton Henry

Hellion was good at leading his squad, helping them bring home first place at the school Field Day competition, but he was still a big ol’ jerk. He was the one to turn away the homeless Surge at the gates of the school and he was a constant antagonist to the New Mutants. He thought his money and his powers allowed him to do whatever he wanted, and he wasn’t shy about saying so. Julian had a soft spot for his teammates and at the end of the semester flew them all out to his house in Malibu for vacation. The Hellions struggled to get through security at the airport, considering a girl made out of liquid metal and a rock monster were on the team, and a skirmish broke out. Julian though he could use his family lawyer to smooth things over without consequence. He was wrong. The Kellers were furious that their son embarrassed the family name and tried to use their money to fix everything. They disowned him and Julian was furious.

Art by Clayton Henry, Mark Morales, and Wil Quintana

Hellion broke into his parents safe to find a piece of paper with instructions to contact the Kingmaker. His parents had used this broker to gain their wealth years ago and Julian desired to use this as an opportunity to make himself the beloved hero he deserved to be. He saved the governor of California, who at the time was Arnold Schwarzenegger, from an assassination attempt and won the admiration of the nation. The Kingmaker didn’t just give these away for free and enlisted the Hellions to steal a bioweapon for Doc Ock. Even though it meant losing his fame, Julian and the rest of the Hellions couldn’t go through with being terrorists and they turned the weapon and the Kingmaker over to SHIELD.

Art by Clayton Henry, Mark Morales, and Wil Quintana

Hellion was one of the few students to retain his mutant powers after M-Day and Emma Frost decided that the reminder would battle for seven spots on the New X-Men training squad. She gave Hellion specific instructions to ensure the X-23 wouldn’t be among those left standing. Julian had Laura on the ropes but something about her gave him pause and he couldn’t go through with it. Emma was not thrilled and snubbed Julian by giving the leadership role to Surge.

Art by Paco Medina, Juan Vlasco, and Brian Reber

Hellion and the New X-Men did what students at the mutant school had always done and snuck out to take care of threats without telling the adults. On one sure occasion, X-23 was gravely injured and Hellion was determined to help her. He convinced Emma Frost to remove the mental blocks she had put on his powers and he flew Laura to safety at hypersonic speeds. This didn’t come without consequence and Hellion lost a large amount of his fine telekinesis control. After that Laura started to develop a crush on Julian but she was crushed when Surge kissed him in front of the whole school to mess with a completely unrelated student.

When the first mutant child since M-Day was born Hellion and the New X-Men decided that they needed to do their part in ensuring the survival of their race. To that end, they launched a preemptive strike on the mutant-hating Purifiers, but got ambushed by a different faction, Lady Deathstrike and her Reavers. Hellion took the worst of the attack and ended skewered on Deathstrike’s blades. The young X-Men retreated and stabilized him, but he was left out of the field for a long time.

Art by Humberto Ramos, Carlos Cuvas, and Edgar Delgado

The mutant nation relocated to San Francisco and Julian followed them. He wasn’t satisfied with the way mutants were being treated and led riots throughout the city. This attracted the attention of Norman Osborn, director of H.A.M.M.E.R., who imposed a curfew on the city. Hellion wasn’t great about rules and started another riot to make a point. The good thing was that this led to the creation of the mutant island Utopia, the bad thing was that now people had more of a reason to dislike mutants.

Art by Marc Silvestri, Joe Weems, and Frank D’Armata

When Utopia was under siege during Hope Summer’s Second Coming, Julian was on the front lines defending his home. Battling the attacking Sentinels Hellion lost both of his hands and had to be rushed to the medical bay. He survived and was given advanced prosthetics, but was very bitter about the situation. As an aside, when you do a story about a disabled character whose mutant abilities render him effectively the same as before his disability it loses a bit of its impact. After this, Julian pushed everyone, including Laura, away deciding he only needed himself.

Art by Mike Choi and Sonia Oback

Rogue, who had taken it upon herself to mentor the young X-Men, enlisted Hellion to help the X-Men rebuild San Francisco. He was bitter about having to work with Hope who he felt let down by. This was the mutant messiah he was dismembered to save? The Omega Sentinel, who was helping with the construction, lost control of her human side and attacked the other workers. Hellion came to their defense and ferociously attacked the android. As her body laid broken around her, Karima begged Hellion to take her out before she could hurt anyone else. He was happy to oblige. The X-Men leaders were furious that Hellion took her life into his own hands, but he had no regrets about what he did.

Art by Paul Davidson and Brian Reber

After the Schism, Julian followed his classmates to the Jean Grey School, eventually getting enrolled in Spider-Man’s Special Class. He did well there and even grew to be a better leader, but the Terrigen Mists messed that up. Julian wasn’t with the X-Men when they moved the school to Limbo and found himself in the path of the Mists. He decided to make his last stand in New Attilan, forcing the Inhumans to see what they did to him. His telekinesis ran rampant, shaking the city to its core, but the Inhuman Synapse disabled him and take him to the med bay for treatment. With the threat of the Mists gone there is no knowing that the future holds for Julian Keller.

Art by Carlos Pacheco, Dave Meikis, and Antonio Fabela

Must Read

Most people would point you in the direction of Kyle & Yoast’s New X-Men, but I am well documented as not totally loving that run. Julian in there never really redeems himself in my eyes and it would take quite a writer to get to the core of him. That writer was Mike Carey who in two issues of X-Men: Legacy immediately got the character. The short arc Fables of the Reconstruction tells the tale of Hellion accepting who he is, even if that means alienating those around him. You can find these issues (#242 & #243) on Marvel Unlimited or in a trade.

Art by Mico Suayan and Marte Gracia

Ranking

When I covered Rockslide I said I liked Glob Herman and Kid Omega way more than I like Hellion and Rockslide. I stand by that because, at the end of the day, Hellion is still a jerk. Maybe some people find him sympathetic, but I don’t. Hellion is easily my least favorite of the New X-Men kids which has to put him below Surge who is currently at number 50. I’ve used Northstar as my line for characters I like vs ones I just don’t and Hellion falls below that line. Looking at this list, I think he has more merit than Mastermind but not as much as Darwin which places him as the new number 54 in the Xavier Files.

Hellion was requested by /u/dew7950 and /u/TheSnooinhiver on Reddit, OGStarkiller, Blind_Guard, and Clay from this site, and Peter Marinari better known as Krisis who won this by geting the most questing right on an X-Men quiz I did (and who happens to be our newest supporter on Patreon). Thanks to all of you and make sure you check out Peter’s site Crushing Krisis and it’s insanely comprehensive X-Men reading guide.If you have a request just submit it at the bottom of this article and I will add it to the list that currently stretches into December 2018! If you want to cut to the front of the line, link Max did, we have a Patreon you can support for just $1 to get a line cutting reward.

Make sure you check out Legion Quest a new podcast where me and Newsarama reviewer Matt Sibley talk about the FX show Legion. You can follow the show at any of these sources (iTunes | Google Play | Sticher | RSS).

Click here if you want to see the full ranked list, with links to every entry in the Xavier Files so far.

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Next week I get to talk about the most adorable little moppets in the Marvel Universe, Artie and Leech! See you then!

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Entry Key

Entry 067 – Hellion was originally published on Xavier Files