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traincat · 3 years ago

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I’ve been trying to piece together a few things from your Twitter and Tumblr posts alike and still can’t make heads or tales of things, so would you mind helping out a FF & spideytorch noob? 1) what is currently happening with Johnny in the comics? (I’ve fallen head over heels for this guy, largely all your doing) 2) when’s the last time he and Peter have interacted, canon wise? (And do you think upcoming interactions are likely?) 3) your thoughts on if they’ll have him come out in the near future? (has that ‘biggest change to the fantastic four’ teaser come to pass yet?) Love all your content, thank you!

I'd say no problem but then I started thinking about this current run again and got a headache. But yes, I can do that to save you from reading it, because it is very largely not good.

So I don't think it's unfair to just flat out say the current Fantastic Four run is not very good, largely due to writer Dan Slott's efforts. Slott was previously on Amazing Spider-Man for 10 years, to mixed opinions, but a large portion of Spider-Man fandom, myself included, blames him near singlehandedly for the decline in quality of Spider-Man books over those ten years. I will say, in the interest of fairness, that Slott as a writer has an incredible fondness for the Spider-Man/Human Torch relationship, and that a lot of the recent teamups and interactions between them have been written or co-written by him. So it's all not all negative here. But in general, I personally find Slott's more recent comics (the last seven-ish years especially) to be badly plotted out, messily characterized disasters that feature characters written with all the emotion of a cardboard cutout. That's me putting it nicely.

To explain this fully, you have to understand the position Fantastic Four comics were in from the years 2015 through 2018, both in the fictional 616 universe and in the real publishing world. Following the 2015 Secret Wars event (great if you want some Johnny angst in the background of your plot), the Fantastic Four were disbanded -- Reed, Sue, and their many biological and found family children were presumed dead but in reality were remaking the multiverse, unable, for a reason that was never clearly defined, to reach home. Ben and Johnny were left on Earth. They had an unspecified falling out, likely due to Reed and Sue's absence, and went their separate ways -- Ben joined the Guardians of the Galaxy and went to space. Johnny was featured on both Inhumans and Avengers books. What's notable about this period is that it's the first time since 1961 that there was no Fantastic Four book being published by Marvel. Now the real world reason behind this is both complicated and extremely petty: Marvel really wanted the Fantastic Four film rights. Marvel denied this explanation at the time, stating that the reason was sales motivated, but it was a thoroughly flimsy excuse and Jonathan Hickman, writer of 2015's Secret Wars and overseer of the current X-Men plot, gave an interview saying the decision was film rights motivated. This decision kept the Fantastic Four books off the shelves for three years, up until the Disney-Fox merger, which secured the X-Men and Fantastic Four rights for Disney's Marvel Studios. Marvel then announced that the Fantastic Four book would be returning. So that's a little bit of background as to the precarious place the Fantastic Four currently occupy in the Marvel universe -- it's worth noting that this year is their 60th anniversary, and Marvel has done very little for it. Compare this to the X-Men, whose film rights Marvel also obtained during the Disney-Fox merger, and whose books are currently dominating the publishing lineup. The Fantastic Four definitely occupy an unpopular position, one Marvel themselves is at least partially responsible for forcing them into.

But to move back into the actual content of the book -- the readjustment period Slott wrote reintroducing the Fantastic Four into the Marvel universe can be described as clumsy, at best. It's never fully explained why Reed, Sue, and the kids couldn't return to Earth, something that was explored in Chip Zdarsky's 2017 Marvel Two-in-One, which featured Ben, Johnny, and Doom on a multiversal roadtrip to try and find their family and which I on the whole recommend, despite it having an awkward ending due to being cut short by Slott's announced Fantastic Four main title.

(Marvel Two-in-One 2017 #4)

Instead, the Fantastic Four return to a Marvel universe a little different than how they left it, with the Baxter Building -- formerly the offices of Parker Industries, the company Doc Ock started in Peter's body during Superior Spider-Man that Peter inherited after his defeat and then lost spectacularly when he trashed his own company to fight nazis (good for him) -- occupied by a different fantastic foursome in a plot that goes nowhere and does nothing. This is somewhat emblematic of the early days of Slott's run -- he introduces ideas that fail to go anywhere, including Johnny's rekindled relationship with his other best friend and former college roommate, Wyatt Wingfoot, who he was seen being very cuddly with in the early issues.

(FF 2018 #1) A small group of Fantastic Four fans have argued for a while that if Marvel was to have Johnny come out, a relationship with Wyatt would feel very natural -- they're already close, with Wyatt being an important Fantastic Four supporting character since the '60s. I have some further analysis here on the conspiracy theory that Johnny and Wyatt were supposed to be in relationship at the beginning of this run but that that plot was, for whatever reason, nixed. I don't know that I entirely believe this theory, for the record -- but I do think the pieces line up remarkably well.

Anyway, that didn't/hasn't yet happened, obviously. Slott instead for the most part put Johnny on the back burner for the beginning of his run, up until the Spyre arc, which I have reason to believe is the main story he pitched that he credits with securing him the Fantastic Four title. The Spyre arc suggests that the Fantastic Four's failed space exploration during which they got their powers wasn't just to beat the commies to the moon, as Lee and Kirby envisioned (simpler days), but to reach a specific planet outside of our galaxy. When the team sets out to conquer this mission, they arrive at the planet, but are quickly captured. The planet, they find out, operates like a soulmate AU -- everyone has a fated person that they are matched to via a gold armband. Reed and Sue are soulmates (and Ben is confined to an underground subterranean with the other monsters, because this is a Fantastic Four comic) while it's discovered! Shocker! That Johnny is actually the soulmate of the one the planet's inhabitants, a winged woman named Sky, with the suggestion that this is both why Johnny's previous relationships have never worked and why he loves space exploration -- he was just trying to get to his Soulmate TM.

(FF 2018 #15) "What's going on here? Where are my clothes?" As you can see, this didn't start off super great, with Johnny being separated from his family, stripped naked, and put in Sky's bed with a soulmate armband slapped on him. Did I mention they're only removable if your soulmate takes it off for you? And that Sky has consistently refused despite Johnny asking her to? Yeah. It's bad. (I think it's important to note Johnny's long history as a victim of assault plays into this narrative, whether or not Slott is personally holding that in mind while writing, which I don't believe he is. cw in the linked post for discussions of sexual assault.) There's an additional issue here in that Slott has a history of problematic writing regarding women of color, featuring characters he's created to act as love interests being oversexualized, infantilized, villainized, or some mix of all three, with two examples of this phenomena being Cindy Moon and Lian Tang, both of whom he introduced in quick succession in Amazing Spider-Man. Slott certainly didn't have to write Sky as manipulative or controlling towards Johnny, but that's what he chose to do, and that factors into the bigger picture of unfortunate themes in his writing.

Sky returns to Earth with the Fantastic Four despite Johnny appearing unenthused about the idea and initially generally reluctant to interact with her. Apparently they went on a few dates after this and kind of made up. I don't know because I stopped reading for about ten issues in there but I feel confident I missed very little. It's hard to talk about the Sky plot without referencing Johnny's previous interactions with a character named Lyja, a Skrull whose relationship to Johnny I have a long breakdown of here. It's doubly hard, because Lyja actually showed back up in Fantastic Four during this plot. Lyja's modus operandi has remained consistent throughout almost all of her appearances, which I guess makes sense, because she literally has no storylines that do not involve her being obsessed with Johnny, and this recent story isn't any different: Lyja shows up, Lyja disguises herself as another woman in Johnny's life to get close to Johnny, Lyja gets caught and claims it was all fine because she did it for love. This time she disguised herself as Sky.

(FF 2018 #32) Not gonna lie, kind of proud of him for this one. That's one of my problems with Slott -- very occasionally, he busts out good moments, only to undermine them with the rest of his narrative.

In the same issue, Alicia Masters, the first woman Lyja impersonated in order to get close to Johnny, uses her supervillain stepfather's radioactive clay to control Lyja's mind and send her back to space, and I do think she utilized girl power when she did this. Johnny, left reeling after Lyja's latest attempts to trick him into a relationship, ends this issue by sleeping with Victorious, Dr. Doom's right hand woman.

I know she pegged him. I know it. This scene was a little controversial in Johnny fandom, because a lot of people viewed it as Johnny cheating on Sky and thought that that action was out of character for Johnny. I'm personally of a little different opinion, which is that regardless of whether or not you view Johnny and Sky in a committed enough relationship that Johnny's tryst would count as infidelity when all Johnny and Sky are bound by are magic plot soulmate bracelets, I think Lyja's involvement changes things significantly when it comes to Johnny's characterization. All of Johnny's "playboy" periods, if we can call them that, coincide directly with Lyja having been in and then left his life again, which I think makes a certain amount of sense -- it's Johnny trying to wrest control back after a situation where he had none. None of this is explicitly canon, I have to note, but sometimes in comics you have to do the work yourself. So I think this is a case of something being accidentally extremely in character that Slott accidentally stumbled into because he had these love triangles in mind, not because he put a lot of thought into it.

Speaking of love triangles! Johnny sleeping with Victorious gets more complicated when Dr. Doom announces his intent to marry Victorious -- not because he has any romantic interest in her (this engagement caused a lot of uproar in Fantastic Four because Victorious had been previously referred to as being like Doom's adopted daughter) but in order to install her as Latverian regent in his absence. I'm not going to lie, I love a political wedding. Victorious, for some reason, thinks Doom will be deeply upset that she slept with some closeted blond twink and the member of the Fantastic Four he views least as an enemy and more as an annoyance. Johnny, who Sky is currently not talking to because she "felt" him sleeping with Victorious through their magic plot soulmate bracelets, also feels nervous about Doom finding out about this, which I guess is slightly more valid. Anyway, for some completely ridiculous reason, Victorious decides the best time to tell Doom about this little indiscretion is when they're standing at the altar, which coincidentally the Fantastic Four are also standing at, because Doom asked Reed to be his best man in a not at all homoerotic little setup involving midnight swordfighting and Reed slipping Doom's emerald ring onto his own finger. Sorry to sidetrack into DoomReed territory here but it's just like. It's just a lot.

(FF 2018 #33) Also, Ben walked the bride down the aisle. :,) Look at his gigantic hand.

Anyway then Doom decides he's going to kill everyone in a completely reasonable and not at all overblown reaction to Johnny and Zora having what was most likely both disappointing for Zora and weepy for Johnny sex. And that brings us up to where Fantastic Four comics left us yesterday -- in answer to your "big change" question, that's most likely coming up in the next issue, so it hasn't come to pass yet.

Having gotten all that out of the way -- the last time Johnny and Peter interacted canon-wise was in the recent Empyre Fallout Fantastic Four, at the end of the Empyre event:

It was cute! Slott does right good interactions between them. This is possibly the Stockholm Syndrome talking. I don't know if more interactions are likely imminent -- the Empyre event was fairly recent. On the other hand, Slott does like writing interactions between them. So I'd give it about a 50/50 shot. I was skimming the letter page in the latest issue and someone wrote in asking if Peter was likely to appear in the pages of Fantastic Four again any time soon, so there is definitely a demand.

As for Johnny coming out -- I don't know. It's not a call I feel comfortable making at this moment, which I guess means I wouldn't bet money on it. I'd like to say yes, especially because I think Slott set up, whether that was his intention or more likely not, several good places in his run where Johnny could have come out. The beginning, when he's implied to be living with Wyatt again and where he and Wyatt are paralleled against Ben and Alicia. Ben's bachelor party, where Johnny laments not finding the right person -- specifically person and not woman -- and where Ben tells him to "be brave, Johnny Storm." And the soulmate planet plot, where I think could have had a very different and much better ending if Johnny had told Sky that she couldn't be his romantic soulmate, because he knows he wants to be with a man. But those are just places that I think would have made good opportunities for a coming out story. Instead, Johnny's been involved (dubiously) with three different women over the space of the last 10 issues, which is more heterosexuality at one time than he's been confronted with in the last 60 years. So my thoughts are still that it's going to happen eventually, but quite possibly not anytime soon.

Hope that helps! And that my incredibly long answer about what's currently going on with Johnny in comics sheds some light on things!

#johnny storm #traincat talks comics #*replies #long post/#wednesday spoilers

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enchantress-emily · 3 years ago

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Good Omens Fic Recs

I thought it would be fun to do a rec post for some of my favorite Good Omens fics!

But It Wouldn't Be Make-Believe by @ineffablefool

Crowley wants just one visit home to see his mum without her trying to fix him up with some nice young lady. He also wants very, very much to kiss Aziraphale, a lot. If only there was some way for him to accomplish both of these goals at once without having to actually ask Aziraphale out, which he is one thousand percent too chicken to do.

It's hard to choose just one of Jack's fics to recommend! Everything he writes is soft, romantic, asexual, and extremely fat-positive. This one is a multichapter Human AU in which Crowley and Aziraphale are completely smitten with each other, but convinced that the other just thinks of them as a friend.

Demon & Angel Professors series by Ghostinthehouse (@ineffableghost)

They're professors. They're married. Their students don't realise. Cue shenanigans.

An ongoing series of linked short fics (each exactly 666 words!) in which every new batch of university students has to figure out all over again that the terrifying Dr. Crowley (Botany) and the husband that Dr. Fell (Literature) gushes about are in fact the same person. There's also a recurring theme of the two of them helping and supporting queer and disabled students.

The Serpent's House by @hope-inthedark

Aziraphale Fell has been working at Heaven's Gate, Inc for the better part of twenty years as an assessor of orphanages for children with magical abilities. His life had been perfectly normal and beautifully boring until the day he was summoned to the Office of the Archangels and given an assignment that will turn his life on its head.

I've thought for some time that somebody needed to do a crossover/fusion between Good Omens and The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune, and Hope is pulling it off spectacularly! (You don't necessarily need to have read Cerulean Sea to enjoy The Serpent's House, but it's even more fun if you have.) This fic is still in progress as of 7/12/21.

The Rose and the Serpent by Atalan (@brightwanderer)

Quite honestly, sending Aziraphale off into the forest to be held hostage by a giant snake in a cursed castle isn’t even the worst thing Gabriel’s ever done to him, and at least it means a change of scene. But then neither the snake nor the castle turn out to be quite what he’s expecting…

An absorbing, beautifully written Beauty & the Beast AU with snake!Crowley. If you aren't into sex scenes (like me), don't be put off by the M rating; the sex is a fairly minor part of the story and not at all explicit.

The Birds and the Snakes by @lyricwritesprose

Warlock Dowling discovers something that could ruin his life. Naturally, he calls on his godparents. The help that they give him isn't the help that he's expecting.

Teenage Warlock realizes he's gay and thinks that means he'll never have a chance at happiness, until Crowley and Aziraphale demonstrate otherwise. Heartwarming, with some very sweet Warlock-and-Nanny moments.

So You Need To Get Into A.Z. Fell & Co.; Now What? (A Guide For Unfortunate Bookworms) by arkhamcycle

London’s antique enthusiasts and rare lit nerds alike know that if you’re looking for a specific vintage or antique book, you have a good chance of ending up in A.Z. Fell & Co. as a last resort. And if you’ve ever been in (or are currently in) this predicament, you know how much of an absolute nightmare it is trying to even get in the door. Luckily, this handy guide, the fruit of a months-long collaborative effort to create the perfect formula for gaming the A.Z. Fell system, will tell you everything you need to know, complete with a comprehensive breakdown of what, exactly, the opening hours are. Compiled by pageknight and inky of the Rare Antique Forums.

A hysterical in-universe guide to buying a book from Aziraphale! Read the work it was inspired by, too, and then the other works inspired by that - they're all priceless.

Taking Some Pictures or Something by @infinitevariety

On a road trip to the South Downs Crowley gives Aziraphale his phone to take photos of the views. However, Aziraphale doesn't know how the phone works and spends all day accidentally posting to Crowley's Instagram story.

What it says on the tin. Impossibly cute and wholesome!

No One You Can Save That Can't Be Saved by AstroGirl

Correspondence from Ilyrophon, Bureau of Earthly Affairs, temporary field agent assigned to gather intelligence on the angel who shall be referred to as "The Traitor" and his confederate, the Serpent of Eden.

An interesting twist on outsider POV, with Ilyrophon gradually coming to understand and sympathize with Aziraphale and Crowley's love for the Earth and each other.

Blessed/Cursed Retirement by DictionaryWrites

Liam Buttersby, a very normal, nine-year-old boy, makes a friend in the retiree who has recently moved to his village in the South Downs.

The retiree in question claims to hate it, and is a liar.

A fun Book Omens fic where Crowley becomes unexpectedly popular with the neighborhood kids.

#good omens #fanfic #recommendations

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fandom-imagines-stories · 4 years ago

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Bells

Phillip Carlyle x Reader

Words: 1483

Summary: The new Mrs. Carlyle learns to navigate her odd place in society and finds unwavering support in her husband and in her friends.

Notes: Complete and utter fluff. This was technically supposed to be a Christmas imagine, but we all know how bad I can be with keeping deadlines, so it’s now a winter one. Oops. Anyway, Phillip is one of my favorites and I hope you guys enjoy reading Zac Efron imagines as much as I love writing them! This imagine was also kind of inspired by Ross and Demelza’s relationship in Poldark. Be sure to let me know what you think!

Find more Zac imagines HERE

The night, while cold, was lively and inviting. Snow drifted softly to the earth, lightly dusting your shawl and your skirt as you waited outside the theater house. The street lamps’ golden hallows made your beaming face glow, your smile surely shining brightly for miles. Tonight was perfect.

“Can I give you a lift, miss?” A carriage driver smiled down at you.

“Thank you, but no. I’m sure my-”

“Free of charge.” He enticed further, his stare beginning to make you uncomfortable. “I’m full of holiday spirit this evening, especially for a pretty thing like you.”

“Thank you, sir, but again, I have to decline.” You weren’t used to this kind of attention and you weren’t sure how to politely escape. It was almost funny. This man probably saw you a hundred times on the street before but never bat an eye. You were different then.

The man continued to badger you until another voice interjected.

“I appreciate your concern, sir,” Phillip appeared beside you, laying a hand on the small of your back, “but I have already secured a carriage for my wife and myself.” The man stammered an apology before taking his horses elsewhere. You laughed lightly.

“I was starting to think you’d abandoned me.” You teased. Phillip placed a sweet kiss on your cheek.

“I was caught by the Whiltons before I could escape. I hope you weren’t waiting too long.”

“Long enough to be noticed, apparently.” You laughed in disbelief. “I can’t remember ever being noticed before.” It wasn’t entirely true, of course, for it wasn’t long ago that a certain leader of the circus had noticed you. Phillip chuckled.

“If you don’t want to be noticed, my dear, you are going to have to stop looking so lovely.” Phillip’s blue eyes sparkled as he brushed his nose against yours, bringing your lips to his in a kiss.

A sudden rush of cold air made you shiver and Phillip quickly helped you into the carriage. Your smile outshined all of the lights in the square, your eyes wild and bright with excitement as you watched the city go by. Before, the holidays were harsh and forgiving. A reminder of your place in the world- starving and cold and unloved. Now, in the arms of the person who had shown you love like you had never known, the world was merrier. Even the snow that you once dreaded sparkled as it flitted down through the air.

“What are you thinking about?” Phillip asked, smiling admiringly at your wondrous expression. You smirked.

“How I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to it.”

“Get used to what?”

“Being your wife.” You tore your stare away from the snowy sky to look into his eyes. “Just hearing you say it…it’s so silly, but I feel like sometimes I have to be reminded or else I don’t believe it.”

“Would you like me to remind you more often?” He bit his lip and his eyes held a look you had only recently begun to recognize.

“Phillip.” You gasped, having to cover your mouth to stifle your laughter. He kissed your cheek.

“Did you enjoy yourself tonight?” He exited the carriage first, taking your hand as you stepped down onto the pavement.

“It was lovely.” You beamed. Your husband had taken you to the ballet as a belated Christmas present. It was unlike anything you’d seen before, not that you had much experience with finer arts. You used to press your ear against the outer walls just to hear the music. Now you had box seats. Sometimes the changes made your head spin. “They’re all so graceful and elegant and… beautiful.”

With a light sigh, your eyes looked up at the sky again. Somewhere in the distance, you could hear bells. Not heavy church bells swinging back and forth in some chapel. These were light and soft. Phillip’s hand on your cheek brought you out of your trance.

“Do you know what I think is beautiful?” You gave him a small smile.

“I don’t need cheering up, Phillip. I had a wonderful time.”

“I think the way you look at the world like it's a gift is beautiful. Even after the life you grew up in, you still can see things spectacularly.” Before you could say anything else, Phillip pulled you into a kiss. Again, you could hear bells, only this time they were closer. You imagined them as stars having fallen to earth, bouncing lightly down the street towards you.

“Phillip,” You started once the kiss had ended. He smiled affectionately.

“Yes, dear?”

“I believe it’s time we turn in for the night. Don’t you agree?” Your smirk matched his previous expression. Phillip scooped you up in his arms, causing both of you to laugh, and carried you inside.

It took every ounce of self control you had not to escape to the kitchens to hide. At least amongst the cooks and waiters you would feel more like you belonged. Here, you felt like, for lack of a better phrase, a circus attraction.

Phillip had been whisked away by P.T. to help impress some visiting family of prominence, leaving you to face the wolves.

“Mrs. Carlyle, I wasn’t expecting to see you here.” Miss Martha Whilton approached you with a less than gracious smile on her face. You put on the most polite smile you could while also desperately searching the crowded room for your husband.

“Miss Whilton, how wonderful to see you.”

“I had the pleasure of running into Mr. Carlyle the other night at the ballet.” Her tone seemed genuine enough that you let down your guard.

“Yes, he took me as a late Christmas gift.” You beamed, fondly remembering that night. Her expression soured.

“I’ve found that the ballet is nothing like it used to be.” She looked at you pointedly. “Too many ugly ducklings and not enough swans.” With that sneer, she sashayed past you to join her other snobbish friends. You wanted to shrink into the floor.

“You shouldn’t pay any attention to them.” From the crowd emerged P.T.’s wife with a kind and knowing face. “Martha is still furious that you snatched Phillip away from her.”

“It’s not as if I expected it to happen.” You laughed nervously. Your marriage to Phillip was just as much of a surprise to you as it was to society. “How do you do it Mrs. Barnum? Survive all of the small talk and backhanded comments?”

“Years and years of practice. And please, call me Charity.” She hooked her arm through yours and the two of you walked about the room together, careful to avoid any more contact with Miss Whilton or her fellow vipers. Eventually, you found your husbands, P.T. with his bright showman smile. Even after he stepped aside as the center of the circus, he still knew how to perform. Phillip had a drink in his hand and his smile was far more strained.

When he saw you, however, his demeanor immediately brightened.

“There you are, darling.” He sounded practically relieved. You leaned in close so only he would hear.

“If you needed saving, all you had to do was ask.” You whispered, causing him to chuckle. He kissed your cheek.

“I’ll keep that in mind for next time.”

“Must there be a next time?” You whined a little louder than you meant to. Luckily, P.T. and Charity just laughed.

“I guess I’ve kept you both here long enough.” P.T. took Phillip’s drink and downed the rest himself. “You two go have a nice evening.”

“Are you sure?” Phillip asked, barely able to contain his enthusiasm. P.T. nodded and Phillip gave him a pat on the shoulder. “Thank you.” P.T. just laughed and Phillip laced his fingers with yours and hurriedly walked towards the exit.

As soon as you were out of the view of prying eyes, he placed his hands on either side of your face and pulled you in for a kiss. There, hiding in the shadow of the doorway, you felt like you were back at the beginning of your relationship, stealing moments after shows behind the stands.

“Mr. Carlyle, someone is going to see us.” You giggled, stepping towards the stairs, but he pulled you back into the darkness.

“And if they do?” He smirked. “They all think I’m a terrible scandal anyway.”

“What did you expect to happen when you ran off and joined the circus?”

“I hadn’t expected to fall in love and yet here we are.” His charming smile grew and you gave him a quick kiss before retreating down the stairs, laughing as he chased you.

He didn’t catch you until you were outside, wrapping his arms around your waist and pulling you towards him. You continued merrily down the street, hand in hand and listening to the distant ringing of bells.

#phillip carlyle #THIS IS THE GREATEST SHOW #the greatest showman #zac efron imagines #fluff

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paths-of-my-childhood-candid · 5 years ago

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Lover Conquers All

By: Mark Sutherland for Music Week Date: November 4th 2019 issue (published online on December 13th 2019)

She’s the world’s biggest pop star, but despite her global success, Taylor Swift is also the music industry’s greatest advocate for artists’ and songwriters’ rights. And, with a ground-breaking new record deal and a bold new album, Lover, she’s not about to stop now. Music Week meets her to talk music and business...

Around this time of year, the Taylor Swift anniversaries come at you thick and fast. Nine years since her third album, Speak Now, every note of which was written entirely by Swift, hit the shelves. Five years since she released her mould-breaking pop album, 1989, and went from the world’s biggest country star to the world’s biggest pop star overnight. Two years since her Reputation record saw her become the only musician to post four successive million-plus debut sales weeks in the United States. And so on.

But today, Swift’s mind is drawn further back, to the 13th anniversary of her debut, self-titled record, and the days when her album releases weren’t automatically accompanied by mountains of hype and enough think-pieces to sink a battleship. Her journal entries from the time - helpfully reprinted as part of the deluxe editions of her new album, Lover - reveal her as an excited, optimistic teenager, but also one with a grasp of marketing strategies and label politics way beyond her years, even if she was reluctant to actually take credit for her ideas.

“It always was and it always will be an interesting dance being a young woman in the music industry,” she smiles ruefully. “We don’t have a lot of female executives, we’re working on getting more female engineers and producers but, while we are such a drastic gender minority, it’s interesting to try and figure out how to be.”

And, of course, when Swift started out she was, as she points out, “an actual kid”.

“I was planning the release of my first album when I was 15 years old,” she reminisces. “And I was a fully gangly 15, I reminded everyone of their niece! I was in this industry in Nashville and country music, where I was making album marketing calls, but I never wanted to stand up and say, ‘Yeah, that promotions plan you just complimented my label on, I thought of that! Me and my Mom thought of that!’

“When you’re a new artist you wonder how much space you can take up and, as a woman, you wonder how much space you can take up pretty much your whole period of growing up,” she continues. “For me, growing up and knowing that I was an adult was realising that I was allowed to take up space from a marketing perspective, from a business perspective, from an opinionated perspective. And that feels a lot better than constantly trying to wonder if I’m allowed to be here.”

In the intervening years, Taylor Swift has released six further, brilliant albums, growing from country starlet to all-conquering pop behemoth along the way. She takes up “more space”, as she would put it, than any other musician on the planet: a sales and now - having belatedly embraced the format with Lover - streaming phenomenon; a powerhouse stadium performer; an award-garlanded songwriter for herself and others; and a social media giant with a combined 278 million followers across Instagram, Twitter and Facebook (which would make the Taylor Nation the fourth most populous one on earth, after China, India and the US).

But her influence on music and the music industry doesn’t end there. Because, over the years, Swift has also become a leading advocate for artists’ and songwriters’ rights, in a digital landscape that doesn’t always have such matters as a priority.

In 2015, she stood up to Apple Music over its plans to not pay artist royalties during subscribers’ three-month free trials (Apple backed down immediately). She pulled her entire catalogue from Spotify in 2014 in protest that its free tier was devaluing music, sending Daniel Ek scrambling to justify his business model. When she returned in 2017, it was a crucial fillip for the streaming service’s IPO plans.

More recently, her ground-breaking new record deal with Republic Records contained clauses not only guaranteeing her ownership of her future masters, but also ensuring Universal Music will share the spoils of its Spotify shares with its artists, without any payments counting against unrecouped balances. And when her long-time former label boss Scott Borchetta sold Big Machine to Scooter Braun’s Ithaca Holdings, taking Swift’s first six albums with him, the star publicly called out what she saw as her “worst-case scenario” and stressed: “You deserve to own the art you make”. She may yet re-record her old songs in protest.

In short, Swift has, for a long time now, been unafraid to use her voice on industry matters, whether they pertain to her own stellar career or the thousands of other artists out there struggling to make a living.

All of which makes Swift not just the greatest star of our age, but perhaps the most important to the future development of the industry as a more artist-centric, songwriter-friendly business. Hers is still the life of the pop phenomenon - she spent today in Los Angeles doing promotion and photoshoots (or, in her words, “having people put make-up on me”) as Lover continues to build on huge critical acclaim and even huger initial sales. But now, she’s kicking back with her cats - one of whom seems determined to disrupt Music Week’s interview by “stampeding” through at every opportunity - and ready to talk business.

And for Swift, business is good. The impact of her joining streaming, and the decline of traditional album sales, may have prevented her from posting a fifth successive one million-plus sales debut, but Lover still sold more US copies (867,000) in its first week than any record since her own Reputation. It’s sold 117,513 copies to date in the UK, according to the Official Charts Company.

Even better, while Reputation - a record forged in the white heat of a social media snakestorm over her on-going feud with Kanye West - was plenty of show and rather less grow, Lover continues to reveal hidden depths. Reputation struck a sometimes curious contrast between the unrepentant warrior Swift she was showing to the outside world and the love story with British actor Joe Aiwyn that was quietly developing behind closed doors, but Lover is the sort of versatile, cohesive album that the streaming age was supposed to kill off.

It contains more than its fair share of pop bangers (You Need To Calm Down, Me!), but also some gorgeously-crafted acoustic tracks (Lover, Cornelia Street), some pithy political commentary (The Man, Miss America & The Heartbreak Prince) and the sort of musical diversions (Paper Rings’ irresistible rockabilly stomp, the childlike oddity of It’s Nice To Have A Friend) that no other pop superstar would have the sheer musical chops to attempt, let alone pull off.

“Taylor’s creative instincts as an artist and songwriter are brilliant,” says Monte Lipman, founder and CEO of Swift’s US label, Republic. “Our partnership represents a strategic alliance built on mutual respect, trust, and complete transparency. Her vision is extraordinary as she sets the tone for every campaign and initiative.”

No wonder David Joseph, chairman/CEO of her long-time UK label Virgin EMI’s parent company Universal Music UK, is thrilled with how things are going.

“Love Story was a fitting first single release for Taylor here - she’s loved the UK from day one and has engaged so much with her fans and teams,” says Joseph. “She really respects and values what’s going on here creatively. To see her go from playing the Students’ Union at King’s College to Wembley Stadium has been extraordinary. Taylor is an artist constantly striving for perfection, and with Lover - from my personal point of view, her most accomplished work to date adore working with her and whilst it’s been more than 10 years this still feels like the start.”

And today, Swift is keen to concentrate on the present and future. She has a starring role in Cats coming up (and a new song on the soundtrack, Beautiful Ghosts, co-written with Andrew Lloyd Webber) and, after a spectacularly intimate Paris launch show in September, festival dates and her own LoverFest to plan (UK shows will be revealed soon). Time, then, to tell the cats to calm down and sit down with Music Week to talk streaming, contracts and why she’s “obsessed” with the music industry...

Unlike with Reputation, most of the discussion around Lover seems to have been focused on the music... Absolutely! One of the ideas I had about this record, and something I’ve implemented into my life in the last couple of years is that I don’t like distractions. And, for a while, it felt like my life had to come with distractions from the music, whether it was tabloid fascination with my personal life or my friendships or what I was wearing. I realised in the last couple of years that, if I don’t give a window into distraction, people can’t try to look in and see something other than the music. I love that, if you really pour yourself into the idea that an album is still important and try really hard to make something that is worth people’s attention span, time and energy, that can still come across. Because we are living in an industry right now where everyone’s rushing towards taking us into a singles industry and, in some cases, it has become that. But there are still some cases where clearly the album is important to people.

Does it matter that some new artists won’t get to make albums the way you always have? It’s interesting. Five years ago I wrote an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal and said, maybe in the next five years, we would see artists releasing music the way that they want to. I thought that each artist would start to curate what is important to them, not just from an artistic standpoint but from a marketing standpoint. It’s really interesting to see different release plans, if you look at what Drake did and then what Beyoncé does, incredible artists who have really curated what it is to drop music in their own way. We all do it differently, which is cool. As long as people dropping just singles want to be doing that, then I’m fine with it, but if it feels like a big general wave that’s being pressured by people in power, their teams or their labels, that’s not cool. But I do really hope that in the future artists have more of a say over strategy. We’re not just supposed to make art and then hand it to a team that masterminds it.

Were you worried about putting an album on streaming on release day for the first time? Well, there are ways that streaming services could really promote the [whole] album in a more incentivised way. We could have album charts on streaming. The industry follows where they can get prizes. So you have a singles chart on streaming services which is great but, if you split things up into genre charts for example, that would really incentivise people. It’s important that we keep trying to strive to make the experience better for users but also make it more interesting for artists to keep wanting to achieve. But I really did love the experience of putting the album on streaming. I loved the immediacy, I loved that people who maybe weren’t a huge diehard fan were curious and saying, ‘I wonder what this is like’ and listening to it and deciding that they liked it.

You’d resisted streaming for a long time. Have you changed your mind about the format now? I always knew that I would enjoy the aspects of streaming that make [your music] so immediately available to so many people. That’s the part of it that I unequivocally always felt really sad I was missing out on. There wasn’t ever a day when I woke up and I was like, ‘Oh, I’m really glad that multitudes of people don’t have access to my music!’ So I always knew that streaming was an incredible mechanism and model for the future but I still don’t think we have the royalties and compensation system worked out. That’s between the labels and their artists and I realised that me, to use a gross word, ‘leveraging’ what I can bring to cut a better deal for the artists at my record label was really important for me.

How big a factor were things like that in you signing to Republic/Universal? That’s important to me because that means they’re adopting some of my ideas. If they take me on as an artist that means they really thought it through. Because with me, come opinions about how we can better our industry. I’m one of the only people in the artist realm who can be loud about it. People who are on their fifth, sixth or seventh album, we’re the only ones who can speak out, because new artists and producers and writers need to work. They need to be endearing and likeable and available to their labels and streaming services at all times. It’s up to the artists who have been around for a second to say, ‘Hey guys, the producers and the writers and the artists are the ones who are making music what it is’. And we’re in a great place in music right now thanks to them. They should be going to their mailbox and feeling like they’ve got a pension plan, rather than feeling like, ‘Oh yay, I can pay half my rent this month after this No.1 song’.

Did you have more creative freedom making Lover than on your previous albums? In my previous situation, there were creative constraints, issues that we had over the years. I’ve always given 100% to projects, I always over-delivered, thinking that that generosity would be returned to me. But I ended up finding that generosity in a new situation with a new label that understands that I deserve to own what I make. That meant so much to me because it was given over to me so freely. When someone just looks at you and says ‘Yes, you deserve what you want’, after a decade or more of being told, ‘I’m not sure you deserve what you want’ - there’s a freedom that comes with that. It’s like when people find ‘the one’ they’re like, ‘It was easy, I just knew and I felt free’. All of a sudden you’re being told you’re worth exactly, no, more than what you thought you were worth. And that made me feel I could make an album that was exactly what I wanted to make. There’s an eclectic side to Lover, a confessional side, it varies from acoustic to really poppy pop, but that’s what I like to do. And, while you would never make something artistic based on something so unromantic as a contract, it was more than that. It was a group of people saying, ‘We believe in what you’re making, go make what you want to make and you deserve to own it too’.

You’re obviously not happy about what’s happened at Big Machine since you left. But will the attention mean artists don’t find themselves in this situation in the future? I hope so. That’s the only reason that I speak out about things. The fans don’t understand these things, the public isn’t being made aware. This generation has so much information available to them so I thought it was important that the fans knew what I was going through, because I knew it was going to affect every aspect of my life and I wanted them to be the first to know. And in and amongst that group, I know there are people that want to make music some day. It involves every new artist that is reading that and going, ‘Wait, that’s what I’m signing?’ They don’t have to sign stuff that’s unfair to them. If you don’t ask the right questions and you sit in front of the wrong desk in front of the wrong person, they can take everything from you.

Songwriters are in dispute with Spotify in the US over its decision to appeal the Copyright Board decision to boost songwriting royalties. Do writers need more respect? Absolutely. In terms of the power structure, the songwriters, the producers, the engineers, the people who are breathing magic into our industry, need to be listened to. They’re not being greedy. This is legitimately an industry where people are having trouble paying their bills and they’re the most talented people we have. This isn’t them sitting in their mansions going, ‘I wish this mansion was bigger and I would like a yacht please’. This is actually people who are going to work every single day. I got into writing when I was in Nashville and it was very much like what I read about the Brill Building. You would write every day, whether you were inspired or not, and in the process I met artists and writers. Somebody would walk in and someone would say, ‘Oh, he’s still getting mailbox money from that Faith Hill cut a couple of years ago, he’s set’. That’s not a thing anymore. Mailbox money is a thing of the past and we need to remember that these are the people that create the heartbeat that we’re all dancing to or crying to.

You were clearly aware of music industry machinations from a young age... Reading back on the journal entries, I forgot how obsessed I was with the industry as a teenager. I was so fascinated by how it works and how it was changing. Every part of it was interesting to me. I had drawn the stages for most of my tours a year before I went on them. That really was fun for me as a teenager! A lot of people who start out very young in music, either don’t have a say or don’t have the will to do the business side of it, but weirdly that was so much fun for me to try and learn. I had a lot of energy when I was 16!

Are you doing similar drawings for next year’s LoverFest? Definitely. And that’s why it’s still fun for me to take on a challenge like, ‘Oh, let’s just plan our own festival’. Let’s create a bill of artists and try and make it as fun as possible for the fans. I’m so intrigued by what that’s going to be like.

Finally, when we last did an interview in 2015, you said in five years’ time you wanted to be “finding complexity in happiness”. How has that worked out? That’s exactly what’s happened with this album! I think a lot of writers have the fear of stability, emotional health and happiness. Our whole careers, people make jokes about how, ‘Just wait until you meet someone nice, you’ll run out of stuff to write about’. I was talking to [Cats director] Tom Hooper about this because he said one thing his mother taught him was, ‘Don’t ever let people tell you that you can’t make art if you’re happy’. I thought that was so amazing. He’s a creator in a completely different medium but he has been subjected to that same joke over and over again that we must be miserable to create. Lover is important to me in so many ways, but it’s so imperative for me as a human being that songwriting is not tied to my own personal misery. It’s good to know that, it really is!

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fermented-writers-block · 5 years ago

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With the recent developments in Mr. Universe and Fragments, I couldn’t help but be reminded of an old thought I came up with several months ago, back when the fandom thought that Steven’s pink mode was simply a heightened emotional state of some kind, and even though we know now that it actually is a stress response reaction, I can’t help but think it might still be applicable here to Steven’s current situation.

TLDR: Over the course of the series, Steven’s views of his mother had fallen and continued to fall very far away from its original pedestal due to the sheer barrage of harsh realities and troubling secrets constantly being upended and revealed, and the shifts in how he has felt about his mother’s legacy seems to tell a very interesting story. One of a long, rocky uphill battle against a mountain of expectations, and a sudden, sharp plunge into a ravine of self-loathing before finding one’s way out of the darkness.

When the original series first started, he looked up to Rose Quartz the protector of Earth, seeing her as the always kindhearted and perfect person whose legacy he felt like he had to live up to. He tried so very hard to be more loving and thoughtful like Greg and the Gems had told him Rose had been like thus far into the show - like he felt they expected him to be if he wanted to stay useful and thus someone they would actually keep around like In Dreams suggests - and he struggled with his constant failures to match up with such an impossible image, potentially even as early into the show as Laser Light Cannon with his desperate pleading for the titular weapon to work.

In the middle of the original series, as he heard more intimate stories about what Rose was really like in person from his family, found out about Bismuth’s bubbling, and had to be told by a stranger that his mother, someone he had been led to believe had always promoted peace, apparently shattered someone, his image of Rose the flawless hero turned into that of Rose the liar with an unknowable amount of secrets that hurt his family immensely.

He struggled with the question of whether Rose had made him for some untold grand plan, and he felt like he had to take care of the messes that she left behind, putting such a burdensome expectation on himself even though the Gems no longer expected him to be more like his mother. This culminated in I Am My Mom with his attempt to save his family from harm by resigning himself to sacrificing himself and atoning for his mother’s sins.

For the end of the original series, Pearl’s revelation that Rose Quartz and Pink Diamond were the same person the entire time finally gave Steven a fuller picture of Rose the person, someone who was flawed and still had positive qualities, someone who tried very hard to become a better person. He felt like he had really found his space with the Crystal Gems, and they expected him to be himself.

And yet, with the strange and inexplicable glimpses of Pink Diamond’s memories as well as White Diamond's existential questions either inspiring or bringing such a thought to the front of his mind, Steven struggled with the fear that his mother was still alive somewhere deep within his consciousness, and that ‘Steven’ the person had just been a lie the entire time.

Post CYM and another of his mother’s secrets coming back to haunt him with Spinel, Steven had stopped worrying about who he isn’t. He now knows for certain that he’s not his mother, that she isn’t living in some dormant part of his gem ready to take back control.

But after years of trying to live up to the ideal of Rose the protector, fixing the mistakes of Rose the liar, and doing better than Rose the person with the way he pushed himself to help others, he now worries about - if there’s no one else left to help but himself - who and what Steven Universe is like if he isn’t his mother.

We’ve seen him struggle to deal with this identity crisis in Little Homeschool and Little Graduation, pushing himself to solve problems that he either couldn’t find a working solution towards or likely projected onto others out of desperation from his anxieties over being left behind.

He expects himself to already do better, already help better, already be better than all of this. His approach of putting other’s problems above his own has worked before, so he shouldn’t be failing if he’s still doing the same thing he’s done before, but with every inevitable misstep and every doubling down on trying to be more like he expects himself to be and failure, the more those expectations feel impossible to ever actually meet.

I’ve been a longtime follower of the Worm Theory ever since @novantinuum made the first post that really kicked things off for it, and soon after Volleyball aired, a thought had occurred to me in light of Steven’s attempt at managing Amethyst’s program.

With Steven’s expression from his cracked reflection at the Reef, I couldn’t help but wonder if Steven might develop the fear that - while he isn’t his mother - he might just be becoming like his mother, and especially in regards to her flaws and repeating her mistakes.

Let me be clear, I didn’t and still don’t think that the stress from such a fear would be even remotely close to being a major instigator for Steven to become the creature from the intro from his pink mode stress response, but with these newest episodes - particularly the ending to Fragments - it has felt like all of this had come to a head for Steven, and that we’ll soon see one of the actual instigating fears for his transformation in the finale.

In the promo, Steven looks like he’s trying to assure himself that he isn’t a shatterer, trying to reaffirm what he knows about himself in the wake of his accident with Jasper, but with the shot of him clearly leaving Jasper and the Gems behind, I feel that Steven may be struggling with the fear that he’s become like his mother there.

Or rather, the (apparent) reality that he’s become “WORSE” than her.

Even with all the horrible secrets she kept, Rose Quartz and Pink Diamond had never shattered anyone, and yet here Steven is, having done exactly that.

Never mind the fact that it was an accident, never mind that he is still the same kind and loving person at heart, never mind that he deeply regrets what he did, Steven’s sense of identity has been crumbling for a good while now with losing what he defined his life by in his ability to help people, and the fact that he had shattered someone and that said someone immediately acknowledged him as their Diamond could disintegrate nearly all of what sense of identity he has left.

These last few episodes, Steven’s mental health has been on a nasty decline in struggling with feeling like he either can’t rely on his support structure in Greg and the Gems for advice with his problems or that his support structures in Connie and his friends are drifting away, and because of this and how he might feel about himself after what happened with Jasper, the only place he may feel like he should be is on Homeworld.

Steven has put so much weight on himself to be a good person, to be better than his mother and all the horrible things she did, that this might just feel like a confirmation that he isn’t a good person, that even Rose was a better person than him despite the stuff she failed spectacularly at. There’s no more expectations to live up to on top of him, only what he really is now.

He had abandoned his human side in Mr. Universe, and now all that’s left is his gem side - that is, his Diamond side.

Or at least, that’s how it’d likely seem to him.

It’d feel like the only point of support and belonging he has left is with the other Diamonds, as the one thing Rose wasn’t and tried desperately not to be in the end was a Diamond herself, and he may feel like he should just embrace his place since he’s “just as bad as them.”

Not only that, but he also tried to emulate Jasper’s mentality, coping methods, and appearance in his struggle to find some kind of ‘solution’ for his ‘diamond powers,’ and as such, there’s one final place where he might just be able to get a ‘solution’ - even though there’s no such thing as a full on solution for dealing with trauma.

With that said, while they most likely won’t initially understand or be that concerned with Steven giving up on his humanity to be with them, I can’t help but feel like the Diamonds have changed enough that seeing Steven act “like a Diamond is supposed to” would shake them HARD.

Acting that way had been what hurt themselves and each other for millennia, and they’ve been able to feel happier and create a relatively healthier dynamic between the three of them under Steven’s guidance, so to see Steven turn his back on all of that could make them VERY concerned for him.

It’d put up an unsettlingly ugly mirror in front of the Diamonds to the people they used to be, and that for as much as they may have wanted Steven to be with them, this isn’t what they had in mind at all.

Perhaps that might end in an ironic reversal of what happened at the end of CYM, where instead of denying Steven as individual from his mother and trying to force him to be his mother out of a callous and arrogant kind of love, White acts out of a fuller love and genuine concern for Steven, and in the heat of the moment, accidentally slips back into some old behavior.

“I only want you to be yourself! If you can't do that, I'll do it! For! You!”

But whatever their response may actually be, this could very well be the second to last major tipping point for Steven at the very least, as at that point, EVERY person and place he thought he could turn to for advice or just finally belong to would likely either feel to him like they let him down or that they’re scared of what he feels he’s become.

Not even the Diamonds themselves feel like he belongs with them, and with how he felt like Connie had flat out refused to marry him instead of leaving an opening for them to talk about it later, I can easily see him extrapolating from the Diamonds’ reactions that he’s become not only worse than his mother, but ALL of the Diamonds.

Of course, the stress and anguish from this fear of himself and what he’s become most probably wouldn’t be the key factor behind him turning into the worm creature, just one of several major stresses that would likely influence such a transformation.

Like @faelapis has discussed, most of the other contributing stresses had already been unbalancing Steven for a long time towards this direction in his tightrope act, and this kind of recent fear would merely be the final gust of wind to finally push Steven off.

As for how Steven could potentially be brought from the brink of this particular fear (since I’m withholding speculation on what the exact other stresses could be until we get there), I can see one way that could help Steven with this and his struggle with holding himself to the standard of always being able to help others.

Mainly, with a potential mixture of something clicking for him to help him fully understand his mother’s choices and the self-loathing that seems to have been behind so much of said choices, and for something to help him with feeling like he’s supposed to always be a hero and fixing things, instead changing it to feeling like he’s a person for whom it’s completely okay to make a mistake, like it’s okay for him to not live up to an impossible ideal.

Like he is a human with both the bad and the good that comes with it.

That just because he has the power to change doesn’t mean that he should pressure himself to never screw up badly even by accident, and that just because he’s capable of screwing up badly even by accident doesn’t mean that he is incapable of learning, growing, and improving afterwards.

Whether this is accomplished through a combination of Greg and the Gems acknowledging how, even though they love him, they’ve messed up badly while raising him, Connie relating to his struggle to push himself to be better with her studies as well as the shared experiences they’ve been through, and some help from all the other countless people he’s helped over the years, I can’t claim to know.

But even though it can feel hard to do, even though it feels like you’ll never be able to pull yourself out of the dark, even though it may feel like you just keep failing over and over and over again, you can still always pick yourself up and change for the better.

#su #su meta #su spoilers #suf spoilers #steven universe #long post

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bananaofswifts · 5 years ago

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Around this time of year, the Taylor Swift anniversaries come at you thick and fast.

Nine years since her third album, Speak Now, every note of which was written entirely by Swift, hit the shelves. Five years since she released her mould-breaking pop album, 1989, and went from the world’s biggest country star to the world’s biggest pop star overnight. Two years since her Reputation record saw her become the only musician to post four successive million-plus debut sales weeks in the United States. And so on.

But today, Swift’s mind is drawn further back, to the 13th anniversary of her debut, self-titled record, and the days when her album releases weren’t automatically accompanied by mountains of hype and enough think-pieces to sink a battleship. Her journal entries from the time – helpfully reprinted as part of the deluxe editions of her new album, Lover – reveal her as an excited, optimistic teenager, but also one with a grasp of marketing strategies and label politics way beyond her years, even if she was reluctant to actually take credit for her ideas.

And, of course, when Swift started out she was, as she points out, “an actual kid”.

In the intervening years, Taylor Swift has released six further, brilliant albums, growing from country starlet to all-conquering pop behemoth along the way. She takes up “more space”, as she would put it, than any other musician on the planet: a sales and now – having belatedly embraced the format with Lover – streaming phenomenon; a powerhouse stadium performer; an award-garlanded songwriter for herself and others; and a social media giant with a combined 278 million followers across Instagram, Twitter and Facebook (which would make the Taylor Nation the fourth most populous one on earth, after China, India and the US).

All of which makes Swift not just the greatest star of our age, but perhaps the most important to the future development of the industry as a more artist-centric, songwriter-friendly business. Hers is still the life of the pop phenomenon – she spent today in Los Angeles doing promotion and photoshoots (or, in her words, “having people put make-up on me”) as Lover continues to build on huge critical acclaim and even huger initial sales. But now, she’s kicking back with her cats – one of whom seems determined to disrupt Music Week’s interview by “stampeding” through at every opportunity – and ready to talk business.

Even better, while Reputation – a record forged in the white heat of a social media snakestorm over her on-going feud with Kanye West – was plenty of show and rather less grow, Lover continues to reveal hidden depths. Reputation struck a sometimes curious contrast between the unrepentant warrior Swift she was showing to the outside world and the love story with British actor Joe Alwyn that was quietly developing behind closed doors, but Lover is the sort of versatile, cohesive album that the streaming age was supposed to kill off.

No wonder David Joseph, chairman/CEO of her long-time UK label Virgin EMI’s parent company Universal Music UK, is thrilled with how things are going.

“Love Story was a fitting first single release for Taylor here – she’s loved the UK from day one and has engaged so much with her fans and teams,” says Joseph. “She really respects and values what’s going on here creatively. To see her go from playing the Students’ Union at King’s College to Wembley Stadium has been extraordinary. Taylor is an artist constantly striving for perfection, and with Lover – from my personal point of view, her most accomplished work to date – her songwriting has gone to a new level. I adore working with her and whilst it’s been more than 10 years this still feels like the start.”

Unlike with Reputation, most of the discussion around Lover seems to have been focused on the music…

“Absolutely! One of the ideas I had about this record, and something I’ve implemented into my life in the last couple of years is that I don’t like distractions. And, for a while, it felt like my life had to come with distractions from the music, whether it was tabloid fascination with my personal life or my friendships or what I was wearing. I realised in the last couple of years that, if I don’t give a window into distraction, people can’t try to look in and see something other than the music. I love that, if you really pour yourself into the idea that an album is still important and try really hard to make something that is worth people’s attention span, time and energy, that can still come across. Because we are living in an industry right now where everyone’s rushing towards taking us into a singles industry and, in some cases, it has become that. But there are still some cases where clearly the album is important to people.”

Does it matter that some new artists won’t get to make albums the way you always have?

“It’s interesting. Five years ago I wrote an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal and said, maybe in the next five years, we would see artists releasing music the way that they want to. I thought that each artist would start to curate what is important to them, not just from an artistic standpoint but from a marketing standpoint. It’s really interesting to see different release plans, if you look at what Drake did and then what Beyoncé does, incredible artists who have really curated what it is to drop music in their own way. We all do it differently, which is cool. As long as people dropping just singles want to be doing that, then I’m fine with it, but if it feels like a big general wave that’s being pressured by people in power, their teams or their labels, that’s not cool. But I do really hope that in the future artists have more of a say over strategy. We’re not just supposed to make art and then hand it to a team that masterminds it.”

Were you worried about putting an album on streaming on release day for the first time?

“Well, there are ways that streaming services could really promote the [whole] album in a more incentivised way. We could have album charts on streaming. The industry follows where they can get prizes. So you have a singles chart on streaming services which is great but, if you split things up into genre charts for example, that would really incentivise people. It’s important that we keep trying to strive to make the experience better for users but also make it more interesting for artists to keep wanting to achieve. But I really did love the experience of putting the album on streaming. I loved the immediacy, I loved that people who maybe weren’t a huge diehard fan were curious and saying, ‘I wonder what this is like’ and listening to it and deciding that they liked it.”

You’d resisted streaming for a long time. Have you changed your mind about the format now?

“I always knew that I would enjoy the aspects of streaming that make [your music] so immediately available to so many people. That’s the part of it that I unequivocally always felt really sad I was missing out on. There wasn’t ever a day when I woke up and I was like, ‘Oh, I’m really glad that multitudes of people don’t have access to my music!’ So I always knew that streaming was an incredible mechanism and model for the future but I still don’t think we have the royalties and compensation system worked out. That’s between the labels and their artists and I realised that me, to use a gross word, ‘leveraging’ what I can bring to cut a better deal for the artists at my record label was really important for me.”

How big a factor were things like that in you signing to Republic/Universal?

“That’s important to me because that means they’re adopting some of my ideas. If they take me on as an artist that means they really thought it through. Because with me, come opinions about how we can better our industry. I’m one of the only people in the artist realm who can be loud about it. People who are on their fifth, sixth or seventh album, we’re the only ones who can speak out, because new artists and producers and writers need to work. They need to be endearing and likeable and available to their labels and streaming services at all times. It’s up to the artists who have been around for a second to say, ‘Hey guys, the producers and the writers and the artists are the ones who are making music what it is’. And we’re in a great place in music right now thanks to them. They should be going to their mailbox and feeling like they’ve got a pension plan, rather than feeling like, ‘Oh yay, I can pay half my rent this month after this No.1 song’.”

Did you have more creative freedom making Lover than on your previous albums?

“In my previous situation, there were creative constraints, issues that we had over the years. I’ve always given 100% to projects, I always over-delivered, thinking that that generosity would be returned to me. But I ended up finding that generosity in a new situation with a new label that understands that I deserve to own what I make. That meant so much to me because it was given over to me so freely. When someone just looks at you and says ‘Yes, you deserve what you want’, after a decade or more of being told, ‘I’m not sure you deserve what you want’ – there’s a freedom that comes with that. It’s like when people find ‘the one’ they’re like, ‘It was easy, I just knew and I felt free’. All of a sudden you’re being told you’re worth exactly, no, more than what you thought you were worth. And that made me feel I could make an album that was exactly what I wanted to make. There’s an eclectic side to Lover, a confessional side, it varies from acoustic to really poppy pop, but that’s what I like to do. And, while you would never make something artistic based on something so unromantic as a contract, it was more than that. It was a group of people saying, ‘We believe in what you’re making, go make what you want to make and you deserve to own it too’.”

You’re obviously not happy about what’s happened at Big Machine since you left. But will the attention mean artists don’t find themselves in this situation in the future?

“I hope so. That’s the only reason that I speak out about things. The fans don’t understand these things, the public isn’t being made aware. This generation has so much information available to them so I thought it was important that the fans knew what I was going through, because I knew it was going to affect every aspect of my life and I wanted them to be the first to know. And in and amongst that group, I know there are people that want to make music some day. It involves every new artist that is reading that and going, ‘Wait, that’s what I’m signing?’ They don’t have to sign stuff that’s unfair to them. If you don’t ask the right questions and you sit in front of the wrong desk in front of the wrong person, they can take everything from you.”

Songwriters are in dispute with Spotify in the US over its decision to appeal the Copyright Board decision to boost songwriting royalties. Do writers need more respect?

“Absolutely. In terms of the power structure, the songwriters, the producers, the engineers, the people who are breathing magic into our industry, need to be listened to. They’re not being greedy. This is legitimately an industry where people are having trouble paying their bills and they’re the most talented people we have. This isn’t them sitting in their mansions going, ‘I wish this mansion was bigger and I would like a yacht please’. This is actually people who are going to work every single day. I got into writing when I was in Nashville and it was very much like what I read about the Brill Building. You would write every day, whether you were inspired or not, and in the process I met artists and writers. Somebody would walk in and someone would say, ‘Oh, he’s still getting mailbox money from that Faith Hill cut a couple of years ago, he’s set’. That’s not a thing anymore. Mailbox money is a thing of the past and we need to remember that these are the people that create the heartbeat that we’re all dancing to or crying to.”

You were clearly aware of music industry machinations from a young age…

“Reading back on the journal entries, I forgot how obsessed I was with the industry as a teenager. I was so fascinated by how it works and how it was changing. Every part of it was interesting to me. I had drawn the stages for most of my tours a year before I went on them. That really was fun for me as a teenager! A lot of people who start out very young in music, either don’t have a say or don’t have the will to do the business side of it, but weirdly that was so much fun for me to try and learn. I had a lot of energy when I was 16!”

Are you doing similar drawings for next year’s LoverFest?

“Definitely. And that’s why it’s still fun for me to take on a challenge like, ‘Oh, let’s just plan our own festival’. Let’s create a bill of artists and try and make it as fun as possible for the fans. I’m so intrigued by what that’s going to be like.”

Finally, when we last did an interview in 2015, you said in five years’ time you wanted to be “finding complexity in happiness”. How has that worked out?

“That’s exactly what’s happened with this album! I think a lot of writers have the fear of stability, emotional health and happiness. Our whole careers, people make jokes about how, ‘Just wait until you meet someone nice, you’ll run out of stuff to write about’. I was talking to [Cats director] Tom Hooper about this because he said one thing his mother taught him was, ‘Don’t ever let people tell you that you can’t make art if you’re happy’. I thought that was so amazing. He’s a creator in a completely different medium but he has been subjected to that same joke over and over again that we must be miserable to create. Lover is important to me in so many ways, but it’s so imperative for me as a human being that songwriting is not tied to my own personal misery. It’s good to know that, it really is!”

#taylor swift #all intreview

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triptychexe · 4 years ago

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TITLE: 2016 Gaon Music Awards SUMMARY: Triptych attend the 2016 Gaon Music Awards, make some connections, and win an award. PAIRING: Alluded Changkyun/Yen, some Asayen?, setting up Jooheon/Zim, Cal/Rosé mentioned? GENRE: Friendship, some fluffiness? WORD COUNT: 1.9k WARNINGS: Some swearing, alluded bathroom hookups.

Asa twiddled his thumbs and gazed out of the limo bus’s window solemnly. If he had to look at what his members were wearing, he’d remember that they are all wearing color-coded outfits. If he remembered that they all looked like a crayola factory explosion, he’d never leave the vehicle.

After taking two more turns, the bus finally pulled up to the venue and red carpet. Asahiko let out an involuntary whine. How could he forget about the red carpet? Now there’s going to be photographic proof of their tacky matching outfits.

“C’mon, Koko, quit being a baby.” Micha, who was sitting next to him, gave him a nudge with her elbow. It was easy for her to say. She looked beautiful. "Why do we have to look like a crayola ad? Couldn't we have just dressed like sluts and called it a day?" Asa complained. On the other side of Micha, Calvin let out a bark of a laugh. Yerin didn’t look too pleased with the comment, but she just shook her head. Eli looked over his shoulder at the younger boy, giving him a look that told Asa that he better go along with it, or there will be a price to pay.

Asahiko swallowed his pride and stepped out of the bus. He turned around to help Yen get out of the car without tripping over her heels. He extended his hand to help Ura down, but she gave him a scowl. He took the hint and followed behind Yen, heading towards the red carpet.

After a blinding photo-op, the group finally made it to inside the venue. A staff member lead the idols down to their seats. Asa couldn’t help but let his eyes wander around the venue in awe. Not only was it spectacularly decorated, but there were just so many idols everywhere. Even though he was fully aware that he too was an idol, it always seemed a little surreal when he passes a famous singer and realizes that they are in the same line of work.

“Hey!” Yen called out, waving her hand excitedly. Asa’s eyes landed on Monsta X, who were sitting right in front of their assigned seating.

Monsta X rose to greet Triptych, exchanging a mix of handshakes and polite bows as the nine members settled into their seats.

“Hey man,” Asa grinned, shaking hands with one of his best friends, Changkyun. “How’s it going?”

“Alright. I like the blue,” Changkyun grinned, giving his friend a look over. “Really suits you.” Asa arched an eyebrow playfully. “You checking me out, bro?” Changkyun wrinkled his nose. “You wish.”

“Hey, Changkyun.” Yen butted in, batting her eyelashes at the rapper. Changkyun grinned, his eyes scanning over Yen’s dress. “Hey, Micha. You’re looking gorgeous tonight.” Asa fought back the urge to roll his eyes. If his friends were going to flirt the whole night, he was going to go sit with another group.

Yen smirked before checking the clock on her phone. “When do you think the show will start?” Asa shrugged, leaning over to check Yen’s phone as well. “Probably like… Thirty minutes?”

“That works. I’m going to run to the restroom really quick.” Yen rose to her feet, smoothing her dress out. She gave Changkyun one last knowing glance before hurrying off to the restroom.

Changkyun tapped his fingers on the back of the seat, his eyes watching Yen as she left. Asahiko huffed, a mild annoyance building up in his chest.

“Dude, you should make your staring a little less obvious.” Asahiko advised. Changkyun’s attention snapped back to Asahiko suddenly, as if he forgot all about him to begin with. “Huh? Oh, yeah. You’re right.” The Monsta X member let out a dry chuckle. “Uh… Yeah. I think I’m just gonna run to the bathroom real quick too…”

Asahiko watched as his friend hurried off. He slouched a little lower in his chair. Of all the women in Triptych, why did Changkyun have to crush on his best friend?

Down the row of Triptych members, Zim was trying really hard to keep herself in control. She’s been begging Yen for months to introduce her to Monsta X. Monsta X was Eunha’s favorite idol group and now she’s making small talk with them.

“So, wait,” Shownu furrowed his eyebrows together. “Your lineup isn’t complete yet, even though you already debuted?” Zim and Nia shook their heads in unison. “Well, yes and no,” Nia mused. “I guess it’s complete for now, but we still are expanding our lineup…”

Nia launched herself into a spiel about Triptych and their concept to Shownu and Wonho. Zim wasn’t deaf to the subtle praises that Nia wove into her explanation. A smile quirked on Zim’s lips. Where was that fondness during dance practice?

“Are you guys performing tonight?” Jooheon asked. Zim looked at Nia, expecting her leader to answer. However, Nia was still talking to Wonho and Shownu, completely distracted. With a shock, Eunha realized that Jooheon had directed the question at her. Zim looked back to Jooheon, trying to focus on his eyebrow instead of looking him right in the eye.

“Yeah, we’re going on at around ten.” Zim said roboticly. Jooheon nodded. “Cool, cool…” His eyes drifted around the arena while his fingers drummed against the seat anxiously.

There was an awkward air between the two of them, and Eunha had a feeling she knew why. Last year, Eunha had mentioned in an interview that Jooheon was her idol crush. She had said it with such confidence back then, but now she was regretting ever saying anything. He must have seen the interview, or at least heard about it. Why else would he be so tense around her?

Eunha couldn’t stand silences like this. She had to say something. Apologize, even, for saying that he was her idol crush. She couldn’t go the whole night avoiding him when he was sitting right in front of her.

“I’ve been meaning to-”

Eunha paused when she realized her voice wasn’t the only one speaking. The two of them had said the exact same thing at the exact same time. Eunha’s cheeks flushed in embarrassment. Jooheon’s eyes went wide before a small, sheepish smile turned his lips upward. “Sorry, you first.” He said. “No, no, you first.” Zim responded. “No, you.” Jooheon insisted. “You can go, it’s really okay with-” “Eunha, just say what you wanna say.” Minhyuk intervened. “He won’t back down from things like this. He finds it amusing.”

Jooheon gave Minhyuk a sour look before focusing his attention back on Eunha. Zim took a deep breath before speaking.

“I don’t know if you’ve heard, but I named you as my idol crush.” Eunha’s cheeks were cherry red. “I’ve heard.” Jooheon smirked. “And I’m honored that someone as talented as you would name me their ideal type.” Zim blinked, unsure of how to respond to that, so she continued with her apology. “I just wanted to say that I’m sorry if it made you uncomfortable.” Jooheon gave a small laugh. “I’m not uncomfortable, not in the slightest. I was going to ask you if you’d be interested in maybe working on some music together at some point.”

Zim’s jaw dropped. She could feel her brain working overtime trying to piece together what Jooheon had just said. Her favorite idol wanted to work with her? The rapper in front of her chuckled in a fond way. “Cute.” He said under his breath, but it was just loud enough for Zim to hear it. The short comment brought her back down to Earth, her cheeks going from pale to pink.

“Yes.” Zim said suddenly before catching herself. “I mean, yeah. I’d love to work together. I can give you my manager’s number and we can plan it out later?”

Jooheon and Eunha swapped information just as the lights started to dim in the arena. As the cheers started erupting from the fans, Yen and Changkyun finally returned, flopping down in their respected seats. Zim blinked in horror at the small smudge of red lipstick under Yen’s lower lip.

Yen caught her group mate starring and ran her thumb under her lip, removing any excess product from her skin. “Mind your business.” She said gruffly.

Eunha didn’t need to be told twice. She turned her body away from her younger friend and focused on the MCs, who were just announcing the 2016 Gaon Music Awards had begun.

If Van squeezed Cal’s hand any harder, Cal was sure he’d have permanent nerve damage in his fingertips. Even though the possibility of never feeling anything with his hands ever again scared him, what scared him even more was the results for New Artist of the Year. He was probably gripping Van just as hard, both of them curling in towards each other as they watched the MC open the envelope with the results slowly.

“Best new male group goes to… NCT127!” The MC stated. Near them, NCT127 rose to their feet, shocked looks on all their faces. The members of Triptych also rose, cheering for their friends as they made their way to the stage.

“They deserve it.” Van said to Cal, clapping his hands together. “They’re very talented.” “I can’t tell if you’re trying to take the high road or if you’re being genuine.” Cal admitted. Van smirked and shook his head. “I’m not worried, they still have two rookie awards to give out. One of those is ours.” Van said confidently.

After NCT127 disappeared off stage, the MCs took over again to announce the second rookie award.

“Best new female artist goes to…” The MC dragged out. “Blackpink!”

Triptych rose again, cheering for the four girls, despite them never meeting the YG girl group. Cal’s clapping faltered when Rosé’s face was put up on the big screens. She was really pretty. Like… Very pretty. Her smile was bright as she spoke into the microphone, accepting the award humbly. Her motions seemed so fluid, so perfect. Cal never believed in religion or anything like that, but he was convinced that Rosé had been sent straight from the heavens. An angel on Earth. “Wow.” Calvin said under his breath, watching Rosé and her members disappear behind stage.

“Someone’s got a crush.” Van teased, nudging Calvin playfully.

“Shut up.” Cal rolled his eyes.

The MC returned to the mic and a stiff silence fell over Triptych as they all sat down together again, clutching each other’s hands. On the opposite side of him, Ura latched onto his hand. Van curled back in towards Cal, as if bracing himself for an explosion.

“Best new artist award goes to…” The MC peeled open the envelope. With a small smile the MC leaned in and spoke clearly. “Triptych!”

“AH!” Van yelped, instantly covering his mouth, his eyes wide. Cal looked between his friends, the win not registering in his brain.

Nia took initiative and led everyone to the stage. Looking up at the big screen, Cal realized that Nia was brushing away tears impatiently, like the emotional response was too inconvenient. He’s never seen Yerin be emotional over anything before. Seeing Nia be this proud of them made Cal’s throat close up.

“We want to thank our company, HBH Entertainment, for all the opportunities and support they have given us,” Nia spoke into the microphone, her voice cracking slightly. Teo placed a supportive hand on Nia’s shoulder, patting her in encouragement.

“We also want to thank our Artychs, who never fail to show us love.” Nia’s tears were really flowing now. She wiped them away quickly and swallowed thickly. “Artych, we love you. Thank you.”

“We love you Artych, thank you for everything!” Asa yelled in Japanese, clapping proudly.

“We love you, Artych, thank you very much!” Ura jumped in, speaking the phrase in Chinese.

“We love you to the moon and back, Artych. Thank you so so much.” Zim concluded in English. With that, Triptych was ushered off the stage.

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buckyreaderrecs · 5 years ago

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So Far Away: Chapter 2/?

Summary: Bucky Barnes doing what he does best. Saving. Loving. In this particular case, the object of both is you. (Bonus: Bucky Barnes happy, healing, doing really well!) Chapter 1.

Chapter 2: He's saved you before. Now he's gotta find you and bring you home.

Pairing: Bucky Barnes/reader Characters: Bucky Barnes Additional tags: mostly canon compliant (Infinity War and Endgame didn’t happen, Stark Tower still exists), possible future smut (who knows, not me), she/her pronouns, more tags/characters to be added with future chapters, hero Bucky Barnes, canon typical violence, warzone/disaster zone setting Warnings: possible triggers for anxiety, PTSD, grief

Tag list (open): @darlingtholland @browngirlmagic @lookalivefrosty

So Far Away Chapter 2/?

Bucky couldn't visit you in the hospital, even if he had wanted to; there was only space for the critically injured in the still-standing healthcare facilities. Others were transported elsewhere in the country. Anywhere that could take people did. That just left the people like you - hurt but able to walk, i.e. not dying.

Along with the thousands of other displaced city dwellers, you were assigned a fold out cot in a repurposed rec centre. It wasn't until you were sitting on it, with only a government issues sleeping bag and water bottle to call your own did reality set in. You'd lost your home. There was no way of contacting finding friends or family. With no connections outside of DC, you could only put your name on the 'registered: to be relocated' list and wait. Eventually you'd be seen by a caseworker, or so you were told.

The rec centre was a battle within itself. Three nights in and it was almost as bad as the moments before Bucky found you. There were crying and hopelessness, and a sense that everything important was happening elsewhere, that all your fates were out of your hands. You were going mad.

…

On the fourth morning, you were sitting on your cot with the girl who'd been sleeping next to you. While her mother went in search of anything resembling warm coffee, you braided the girl's hair. That's when you heard your name.

Behind you stood a man in a crisp black suit. The dark sunglasses sitting on the bridge of his nose were unnecessary in the rec centre. "Y/N?" he repeated when you turned to look at him.

As you stood, you nodded. "Yes,"

"Please follow me,"

"Wait!" you called when he moved too fast. "What's happening? Did you find my family? Do I bring my stuff with me?"

Throwing all you had - drink bottle, toothbrush and paste, protein bar - into your sleeping bag, you bundled it up and jogged after the man.

Nobody had been collected like that. Nobody had heard anything about their family from any official source either. You were very confused and a little sick with anticipation. Trotting along, you did your best to keep up without dropping anything.

Outside in the still dirty and broken street, the door to a sleek black car was held open for you.

"Where-" but you were cut off by a body emerging from the back seat.

"C'mon, man. She's only got one good hand. Could've taken her bag," Bucky said in a tone that was trying to be friendly but made the suited man shift uncomfortably and mumble an apology.

Bucky took the sleeping bag from you and carefully put it in the car. He looked at you then, smiled and nodded. "Sorry, I didn't bring any flowers. Took a little longer to find ya than I thought."

Eyes welling up with tears, you fell into his solid chest. Any embarrassment you could have felt was chased away with a wave of relief. You felt safe.

"Hi," he whispered, knowing you weren't able to reply.

Bundled in the backseat, Bucky gave you space to spread out if you wanted to. You didn't. After two minutes of watching you breathing heavily and trying not to curl into yourself, he undid his seatbelt and slide over.

"Come 'ere," he said, pulling you closer with his right arm. Nestled under him like a baby bird, it was easier to think. Thinking led to questions.

"Where are we going?" you asked. The first words you had spoken since seeing him and they weren't even gracious. Bucky didn't care though.

"New York," he answered. "Bit of a drive, but I reckon driving is safer than flying right now. We'll stay off the radar better too."

At the allusion to threat, your heart rate increased. "Are they still here?" you asked.

A state of emergency had been declared. That's all you'd really heard. You wanted to know if the creatures that had come from the sky were still waging war. It hadn't been an accident that they'd landed in the capital of arguably the most powerful nation in the world.

"I'm a sucker for a pretty face, Y/N, but I can't go around telling state secrets… But the battle's over for now; you're safe. Nothing to worry about."

It wasn't just you, though. There were people to find. Help. Save. However, even thinking about all of that, all of them, was too dangerous of a luxury at that point. You couldn't let yourself think beyond yourself. Instead, you asked, "Where are we going?" again, meaning to inquire about specifics.

Bucky was very used to people's inability to function effectively after pain, trauma. The repetition hardly registered as such; he knew what you meant. "Been staying at Stark Tower since I've been back in America,"

"Wakanda," you mumbled, mostly to yourself.

"Yeah, Wakanda. The Tower is… not exactly a home, but it's safe and it's somewhere to sleep,"

"'Kay." A slight nod was all you could muster.

You closed your eyes and let Bucky gently move his thumb over the exposed skin on your arm. Since it all began, you'd been cold. It was cold outside between the broken homes. It was cold in the rec centre, despite the mass of human movement. But in the back seat of the sleek black car, you were warm. The hoodie you'd been picturing in your mind for days was crossed off the wish list. Suddenly, you were glad to be in a t-shirt, glad to feel skin on skin.

Bucky's hand was warm. You wondered if his other one was, the one made of new vibranium and Wakandan technology. A combination of sleep deprivation and strange comfort led to you briefly opening your eyes and looking across Bucky's lap to where his left hand rested on his thigh. You reached out and took the hand, pulling it closer.

"You can feel everything?" you asked.

It was more than rude, but he forgave you. Usually people were too afraid of him to ask curious questions, so your bluntness was kind of refreshing. "Yeah. Pressure and temperature, at least," he answered, flexing his fingers in demonstration.

"Can you feel this?"

With the lightest touch, you traced patterns over the palm of Bucky's hand. He nodded, letting you trace seams and map his hand like you were charting a course to somewhere important.

"Are-" Bucky went to speak but stopped himself, starting his sentence again. "I know this is a… I don't know, a dumb question, but how are you?"

At first, Bucky tried to not involve anybody else in his search for you. Eventually, he had to explain to Steve and Sam, who kept asking where he was disappearing to. Earth had been invaded - what was more important? He had to talk to F.R.I.D.A.Y. too, so he assumed Stark would find out he'd been on the hunt for one girl. Bucky had half expected people to laugh at him. Or maybe even warn him against ruining an innocent girl's life with his own chaotic one. He was the Winter Soldier after all. Nobody had though. He'd been left with the resources he needed.

On Bucky's way out of New York, Stark had even phoned in, left a voice message. "Yeah, hey, Barnes… Look, if you find… if you find her, you can bring her here… What's one more stray?"

It made him feel like a massive idiot, like he was getting too big for his boots, but Bucky asked the agent to go into each building full of survivors and check for you. He knew going in himself would make a scene, disrupt the peace people so truly needed. The agent complied, of course. The first three times the agent had returned, he shook his head solemnly - "Sorry, Sir." Each time Bucky had reminded the agent that a) it wasn't his fault, no need to apologise, and b) he really didn't need to call Bucky 'Sir.'

Bucky knew you were alive, so you had to be somewhere. And when he watched you trot outside the rec centre, finally knowing where somewhere was, he felt a weight lift off his shoulders he didn't know was there.

Three nights and four days wasn't a long time, especially not by Bucky's standards, but he'd missed you. Even less than four days were the few moments he'd spent carrying you to safety. It wasn't like he'd gotten to know you. It wasn't like you were looking spectacularly beautiful. Honestly, Bucky had no fucking idea why he couldn't stop wondering where you had ended up and if you were okay. He had no idea what was driving that immense pressure coming from inside him to find you.

None of that mattered. You were tucked safely into him, holding his hand like it hadn't been the thing to kill countless people.

"You must have saved so many people," you said suddenly, ignoring his question not out of rudeness or deflection, but out of distraction. You were replaying it all in your head, imagining how Bucky must have swooped in and rescued other people stranded like you.

When Bucky didn't reply, you looked up at him. His expression was almost neutral, but erring on the side of confusion. His head cocked to the side a little, then his eyebrows pulled together.

"You mean, like…"

"Like me," you confirmed.

"Uh, no… not really. I'm more a… frontline combat kind of guy,"

"Thought you were a sniper?"

Bucky smirked. "Yeah… I mean I'm not… They don't send me looking for… civilians, people. The others are better at that," he tried to explain. He could see you didn't understand. "People see Captain America or… fuckin' Thor and know they're saved. Clint's good at it too. They're… people people, you know?"

You were frowning so much it almost looked childish. It was your thinking face, and Bucky didn't want to think it was entirely adorable, but it very much was.

"Then what are you?"

"I'm a… frontline combat, call me when there's a war not a press conference, kind of guy… I guess…" he said, repeated with flair. It was hard to read the tone in his voice; you couldn't tell if he was glad or sad about being that kind of guy.

"What about me?"

Quiet again while he thought, Bucky racked his memory. "You're… You're the only one…"

Bucky had saved hundreds of people during war pre-Howling Commandos and post, and he had saved the literal planet alongside The Avengers, so you were not the first person he had saved by any stretch of the imagination. But he wasn't searching for civilians the day he found you. He was stalking the enemy and killing them. You were not meant to be there. But you were. And if Bucky wasn't, you would have died. It made you the first and only individual person to be 'saved' by Bucky Barnes in the traditional help-me-Superman kind of way. That fact had only just become clear in Bucky's mind.

As Bucky figured it all out, you were watching him carefully, trying to read his mind. His blue eyes were glazed over, but finally came to refocus on you. He smiled softly, and it was very identifiably sad.

Then, unpredictably, he said, "How about we don't talk about the world ending, and we talk about how there's a hot shower waiting for you in New York." And just like that, as quickly as that strange darkness flashed across his face, it was gone. Replaced with a bright expression and casual smile, Bucky's face was reassuring again.

"Shower sounds good," you agreed.

"And food. What do you feel like?"

"Pizza," you replied immediately. Pizza, always.

Bucky laughed. "Probably need something a bit more… nourishing than pizza, darlin'. Vegetables, ya know?" He almost surprised himself with how quickly he seemed to snap into a caring role. He'd not played that part since Steve was small, sick. It felt good. Natural.

It kept going like that for a while. Bucky's constant small talk chatter keeping you on the upside of consciousness. You weren't sure if he was doing it on purpose. If he was worried a nap would ruin future sleep, he was definitely mistaken.

An hour into the trip, you looked up at him again. You'd sunk deeper into him. "Thought you said you don't talk that much,"

"Don't normally… Why? You got a problem, punk? Am I boring you?" he teased, poking your side a little. You tried to swat him away but you used your injured hand. The bandages frayed and dirty moving through the air were a sudden reminder. Warm. Safe. Comfortable. Almost happy, even. But that wasn't the case everywhere. Even if the terror seemed so far away, it was still just out there. You went quiet.

Bucky repositioned you in his arms then, dragging you across the back seat so he could sit on the far left, leaning half on the backrest and partly on the door. He held you so you could fall back on him entirely. His right arm was a secure vibranium seatbelt. His left one was free to move his hand around. He settled on running fingers through your hair. Surely it was full of knots and grit, but he didn't seem to find them. Very quickly, you fell into a shallow nap.

…

Bucky was trying to wake you gently, but you were hard to stir. He laughed as you frowned hard, slowly coming out of a fitful sleep. When you sat up and looked around, you were confused. The car was no longer in motion, and had come to park. It was difficult to see out of the tinted windows. "Where…?" you mumbled, not bothering with the rest of the question.

"We're home," Bucky replied, getting out of the car and closing the door. Inhumanly fast, he was opening the door on your side, offering a hand to help you out.

Shaky on your feet, you let Bucky's hands linger around you as you found your footing. Looking back into the car, you couldn't stop the natural urge to check you had everything - your wallet, phone, keys… But those things didn't exist anymore.

"Do you want any of that?" Bucky asked you, motioning to the sleeping bag.

Your head was shaking no before your mind had really decided, and you closed the car door with slightly too much force. Wincing at the loud thud, Bucky felt bad for you. He often felt bad for people; everything he'd been through somehow made him more empathetic.

"Stark doesn't normally just let people in the back door like this… But it means if you wander off F.R.I.D.A.Y. will probably lock you in a room."

It was easier to nod than ask who 'Friday' was and how they'd locked you in a room.

Bucky took your hand and began to walk. Stark Tower was designed to be somehow both easy to navigate but just as easy to get trapped in - just in case that's what Stark wanted. As Bucky led you down hallways and into multiple elevators, you knew you'd never be able to find your way out without him. It didn't bother you much. The world beyond the Tower was frightening and cold.

The only thing you really took notice of was the distinct lack of people around. Between the car and Bucky's suite, you only passed two others. There was an agent in the first elevator. She greeted Bucky with a monotone, "Sergeant," before hitting the button for twentieth floor, apparently knowing Bucky's path.

The second person was a little more animated, but also addressed Bucky as Sergeant. When he said it though, it felt like a term of respect and endearment. "Serge!" he called as he turned the corner into the hallway you were making your way down. "Heard you'd be here, Sergant." Bucky stopped to shake and pat the back of the man. He was dressed like the driver and elevator agents, but seemed far less robotic in his professionalism.

"Yeah, taking some quick R&R. I'll be back out soon,"

"Take your time. Don't think you owe us overtime or nothing," the agent said, smiling wide.

Bucky shrugged and stepped to continue on his way, his hand still holding yours firmly. "Be safe, yeah?"

"Always, Serge. You get some rest."

In the next elevator, Bucky ran his thumb over the back of your hand. "Figured you're too tired for introductions," he offered quietly. Smiling weakly, you nodded. "Don't worry - he'll go ask someone about you as soon as he can… Bunch of gossips."

At the door to Bucky's suite, he didn't produce a key of any sort. Simply, he said, "Hey, F.R.I.D.A.Y.," out loud. You looked around, confused, then the door made a small clicking sound and Bucky opened it.

Inside, coming simultaneously from everywhere and nowhere a warm voice greeted you both. "Good evening Sergeant Barnes. Welcome Y/N,"

"F.R.I.D.A.Y., I told ya to just call me Bucky,"

"Boss says only your friends call you that," the voice retorted. You could hear the sass in her voice.

It stumped Bucky, and he smirked and looked around, annoyed he couldn't face any one spot to speak to her. "Did Stark tell you not to be my friend?"

You thought maybe… she… had gone, but then, "Boss isn't the boss of me… Bucky."

Bucky laughed, and the sound made you spin to face him. His nose was crinkled up in amusement and he put his hands on his hips. Bucky noticed you watching. "That," he pointed up at the ceiling, "…is F.R.I.D.A.Y. She's Stark's… A.I. Kinda runs the place. If you need anything, just ask her. She can hear you anywhere,"

"But I only come when called," she added, seemingly disapproving of the creepy explanation Bucky offered.

"Thanks, F.R.I.D.A.Y.,"

"You're welcome. Have a good night."

You were still looking around for her when Bucky laughed again as he watched you. "Takes a bit to get used to, but you will. If me and Steve can, you can."

Nodding in response, you glanced around the space. Already it was overwhelming. There were floor to ceiling windows, and you could see all of New York from them, even from the other side of the room. You couldn't regulate your emotions. It was like anything you'd felt in your life had a sudden renaissance, all of them fighting to have their fifteen seconds of control of your mind and body.

Slowly, Bucky approached. It wasn't until he was right in front of you that you even noticed him.

"What do you need?" he asked, reading your expression and each movement of your body very carefully. "Don't answer that… You probably don't know what you need, yeah? How 'bout… Shower first."

He was patient. He could probably stand in the one spot for hours without moving if he needed to - if you wanted him to. But you didn't, of course. The problem was that you didn't really know what you wanted. Logically, you knew you should eat. Sleep. Clean. Facing choice, free will, for the first time in days felt alien.

"I…" you tried, but your voice was shaking and didn't sound familiar. "I… I don't know… Can… Can you just…"

What exactly were you asking for?

"Look after you?" Bucky tried.

Aim. Fire. Bullseye.

You nodded, bursting into tears. Bucky closed the gap between you, wrapping you up in his arms like he'd done before. Your own arms were folded, pressed tightly between your chest and his.

"Here's what we're gonna do, darlin'," Bucky whispered, not trying to hush you. "We're gonna get you in the shower, then put you in bed. Go from there…" He kissed the top of your head. "I got you, Y/N."

Chapter 3.

#mine #Bucky Barnes #Bucky Barnes fanfic #Bucky Barnes fic #Bucky Barnes x Reader #Bucky Barnes/Reader #Bucky Barnes x Y/N #Bucky Barnes/Y/N #Bucky Barnes/You #Bucky Barnes x You #Marvel fanfic #Marvel #Marvel fic #So Far Away

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mousehole5000 · 4 years ago

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tgcf lb the third chapter 14 - 21

okay hit me with the lore

Xie Lian hadn’t spoken his next words before the teenager said, “He dug it out himself.” Startled, Xie Lian asked, “Why?” The teen replied, “He went mad.” -digging out your own eye okay worm

If there were demons in this world who would scam or entice the hearts of people, then there would also be humans who would fool demons. There would exist much ongoing exploitation and betrayal. He said, “If it was handed over in infatuation, yet only results in broken bones and scattered ashes, it would indeed render one’s heart to feel aggrieved.” okay also kind of dope i love it when humans and demons get some back and forth. also this feels like it could be foreshadowing

awwww xie lian giving away his only steamed bun what a sweetheart

everyone keeps telling me this book is also a tragedy but now im just laughing at the visual of headless ghosts carrying their heads around and bickering

chronic bad luck and chronic good luck meet... what will happen to our heroes...

Xie Lian raised his head, softly saying, “You are tenacious, extremely dedicated, and despite many bitter encounters with frustrations and dashed hopes, you’ve stayed true to your heart. More often than not, your misfortunes will turn into blessings, calamity to prosperity. You will continue to have good fortune, my friend, your future is radiant and will blossom spectacularly.” All the things he said were made up on the spot, so they were complete nonsense. - fhklasjksldfdfh i know this is a ploy but still this was funny. also why didnt xie lian try to pick up palm reading from another source when he fell? are they just not as good? is he pretentious like that? either way i hope we find out more about what he got up to during those 800 years

Xie Lian felt rather skeptical on how he only ate half a bun for the duration of the entire day. If young people took advantage on their good health like this, sooner or later they would surely end up passed out on the streets. - xie lian is directly calling me out for my quarantine eating habits im sorry king ill do better

Previously, it had always been Xie Lian telling other people ‘it’s alright, it’s okay’. Today was the first time he heard those words spoken back to him, leaving him with an indescribable feeling. - awww okay this got me

oh my god there was only one bed

again comedy of the year. “oh you’re putting up a curtain that repels evil thats so interesting. on an entirely unrelated note im going to make you a door”

Brushing past him, San Lang pulled out the bamboo chopstick. He swayed it twice in front of him before saying, “It got dirty. I’ll throw it out later.” - edgy bastard moments begin

Xie Lian could hear the deliberation win Ling Wen’s tone. One thing he could be sure of was that she must be in a difficult situation. He said, “Okay, I understand. Since this is inconvenient for you, then there’s no need for you to say more. In addition, the two of us never had this conversation in private.” - awwwww considerate crown prince xie lian

“What, do you guys know him?” Xie Lian said. “……” Fu Yao coldly replied, “No we don’t.” - all men do is lie. also love the petty little broom dispute. i know its actually quite intentional and that only makes it funnier. also guys stop wrecking xie lian’s home he just got it fixed up!! if anyone breaks the new door ill be highly disappointed in them

Xie Lian nodded his head. “That’s right. I wrote it. If you guys continued fighting in there, I would be pleading for reconstruction instead of renovation. Then, I would really have no dignity left.” - see xie lian said if youre not going to contribute to it then please dont fight in my monastery its been through enough

Earlier, when Fu Yao had entered, he hadn’t gotten to examine the interior furnishings. Now, after standing in this crooked, shabby house for quite a while, he was able to see it all. As if his entire body, from head to toe, was uncomfortable, he asked, “You live in a place like this?” Xie Lian handed him a chair and said, “I’ve always lived in these kinds of places.” - ive seen this quote before and it really is just that “damn bitch you live this like?” meme. amazing

Fu Yao did not sit, his expression also turning rigid for a second. It was hard to tell what the look on his face was. It seemed nine parts blank shock and one part schadenfreude. - THIS IS MY NEW FAVORITE EXPRESSION I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IT

In the desert, the difference in temperature between night and day was drastic. During the night, the freezing temperature was cold enough to seep into one’s bones, yet it was still tolerable. But come daytime, it was a whole other experience. The sky here was incredibly clear and expansive with dashes of white clouds, but likewise, the blazing sun was just as fierce. The group continued to walk, but the more they walked, the more it felt as though they were going into an enormous steamer basket. The hot air emitted from deep within the earth felt as though a day’s worth of walking could steam a person alive. - YES DESERTS YES

okay xie lian is so kind and so generous? he keeps giving stuff away when he has almost nothing and making sure that others are taken care of first..... love him

Xie Lian watched them put on airs. But when such airs were discarded, they finally got physical. Separated by the space of the table, the three of them fought with the poor water bottle, pushing it back and forth. - if these three really are who i think they are this is even funnier. the very clear toying thats going on is truly delightful

Even before, Xie Lian had always thought that although this teenager was always smiling, his smile often made it hard for people to distinguish whether it was actually genuine, or whether it was mockery in the guise of compliments. However, this time, anyone would be able to tell that there wasn’t even half an ounce of goodwill in his smile. - yeah that about sums it up. not even half an ounce of goodwill damn that sure the hell is not a lot of goodwill

He had Ruoye go grab onto something sturdy and stable, but Ruoye ended up grabbing onto San Lang! - awwww thats kind of cute. also the mental image... im going to make this its own post too but

im waiting for xie lian to cough up all that sand hes eating and say something funny when we’re back on the ground. i hope we get more very literal decisions from ruoye

It should be noted that there was a common saying within the mortal realm—a powerful dragon cannot crush a snake in its old haunts. - oh i like this and the translators note This is an old Chinese adage that basically means, ‘even a powerful man cannot crush a local bully.’

“General.” Nan Feng and Fu Yao both spoke at the same time, “What?” - CONFIRMED I CALLED IT tbh it was kind of obvious now ig now im just waiting. also again hysterical. if youre gonna hide your identities boys fucking lkafjfjlkdaf; try harder to remember that youre hiding

To be demoted again and again, to the point one couldn’t be demoted any further…… this kind of experience honestly felt too familiar. Xie Lian felt two gazes collectively fall on his body, but he pretended not to notice and continued reading the text on the stone slate. - this is a funny little set up for what seems to be a parallel between xie lian and this central plains general. he tripped on his own bootlace??? this HAS to be xie lian parallel what does it mean. oooh the common people on both sides of the conflict were the ones who commemorated him? interesting..

San Lang faintly smiled before he whispered, “No, I made that up. Since they had laughed at him before, making them kowtow to him now wouldn’t be asking too much, right?” Xie Lian looked and saw that it was really true. There was already no more text left to translate on the stone slate. He had originally wanted to sigh, but now he just found it funny. Thus, he also whispered, “Why are you so cheeky?” San Lang stuck out his tongue. The two of them were laughing when suddenly, someone screamed, “What is this!!!???” - okay they are funny and i respect the deception. also oooh scorpion tailed snake. oooh a horde of them. a classic cave blunder

“Yeah! The results are relatively the same as worshipping that rubbish immortal! The more you worship, the unluckier you become! “ “……” For an arrow to hit the bullseye despite being in a place so distant and unrelated, Xie Lian was left with no words. - oh my god xie lian are you wearing a spiritual “kick me” sign because it really feels like you are

HE GOT STUNG XIE LIAN NO

#i need to take a break from this i got fic to write #tgcf liveblog #mouse mumbles

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the-desolated-quill · 5 years ago

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Quill’s Swill - The Worst Of 2019

Congratulations! You’ve made it through another year! You’ve faced many obstacles and overcome many adversaries to arrive here, at the dawn of a new decade. So as we prepare to leave the 2010s and make our way into the 2020s, lets take a look back at the challenges and hardships of 2019. And by challenges and hardships, I of course mean shitty fiction and media.

Yes, it’s time for yet another edition of Quill’s Swill, where we mark the absolute worst stories that the industry had to offer over the past year and proceed to tear them to shreds. Think of it as like voiding your bowels before the New Year.

As always remember that this is my personal, subjective opinion. If you happen to like any of the things on this list, that’s fine. More power to you. Go make your own list. Also bear in mind I haven’t seen everything 2019 has to offer due to various other commitments. So as much as I really, really want to, I can’t put Avengers Endgame on here. I know what happens. It sounds fucking terrible, but I haven’t seen the film, so it wouldn’t be fair of me to put it on the list, even though it would most definitely deserve it.

...

Seriously, read the synopsis of Endgame on Wikipedia some time. It’s like fanfic written by a nine year old. It’s truly shocking. And now it’s the highest grossing movie of all time? Give me strength.

All In A Row

Don’t you just hate it when you’re expected to parent your autistic child? Like actually show love and care and consideration to your offspring. Look at him, expecting you to treat him like a human being. Selfish bastard! If only there was a play that explored the horrors of having to be a decent person to your own flesh and blood and how objectively awful it is. If you’re one of those people, then the play All In A Row will be right up your street.

Premiering on the 14th February at Southwark Playhouse in London, All In A Row was a total shitshow to say the least. The playwright, Alex Oates, claimed to have ten years of experience working with autistic children, which you wouldn’t have believed if you saw the play as the autistic child at the centre of the play, Lawrence, seemed more like a wild animal than a person. In fact two of the main characters compare him to a dog. And if you thought this wasn’t dehumanising enough, Lawrence isn’t even a child. He’s a puppet. Yes, it’s as bad as it sounds.

All In A Row seems to place all of the blame for the family’s predicament on the autistic child, who’s presented as barely functional, bordering on bestial. There’s no effort to really make an emotional connection with Lawrence (how can you? He’s a puppet!) as the play instead focuses on how this kid has effectively ruined this family’s life because of his autism and aggressive behaviour. Speaking as someone on the autism spectrum, I can say quite confidently that this play is fucking despicable. Badly written, badly conceived, insulting and downright mean spirited. I wouldn’t want Oates looking after my autistic children, that’s for damn sure.

Anthem

EA is back and this time they’re dragging the critical darling that is BioWare down with them.

Anthem was a desperate attempt to jump aboard the ‘live service’ bandwagon, trying to replicate the success of other video games like Overwatch, Destiny and Warframe. They failed spectacularly. The game itself had more bugs than A Bug’s Life, loot drops were often stingy and unrewarding, loading times were farcically long, and the story and worldbuilding was fucking pitiful. Oh yeah, and if you played it on PS4, there was a good chance it could permanently damage it. Thankfully I have a uni friend with an Xbox One and they allowed me to play the game on that. It was a crushing disappointment, especially coming fresh off the heels of Mass Effect Andromeda, which didn’t exactly set the world on fire back in 2017.

It didn’t help that EA’s reputation was in tatters thanks to the lootbox controversy of Star Wars Battlefront II and having to try and win back the trust of fans, but worse still reports began to service of what went on behind the scenes at BioWare during the game’s development. Apparently the game’s story and mechanics kept changing every other day as the creative directors and writers didn’t have the faintest idea what kind of game they wanted to make, and the developers were often forced to work obscenely long work hours in abusive crunch periods to get the game finished for launch. It got so bad that, according to an article on Kotaku, some members of the team had to leave for weeks or even months at a time to recover from ‘stress casualties.’

To think this was the same company that gave us Mass Effect, Dragon Age and Knights Of The Old Republic. Thank God that Obsidian Entertainment is there to pick up the slack on the RPG front because I think it’s safe to assume that BioWare won’t be around for much longer at this rate.

The Lion King (2019 remake)

Here we go. Yet another live action remake of a Disney classic. Excpet it’s not live action, is it? Well... it’s live action in the sense that Dinosaur was live action (remember that film? Don’t worry if you don’t. No one does). Real locations but CGI characters. Millions of dollars spent on cutting edge tech to create photo realistic animals... and the film ends up duller than a bowl of porridge that really likes trainspotting.

It’s not just the fact that The Lion King remake is yet another soulless cash grab from the House of Mouse, it’s also the fact that it’s done really badly that upsets me. The Lion King works as an animated film. Bright colourful images, over the top song and dance sequences and vibrant character designs. As a ‘live action’ film, it just looks awkward and stilted. None of the animals are very expressive, leaving it up to the poor voice actors to carry the film, and to cap it all off the CGI isn’t even all that convincing in my opinion. At no point did I look at Simba and go ‘oh yeah, he looks like a real lion.’ It’s so obviously fake. In fact it reminds me of those early 00s movies like Cats & Dogs or Stuart Little where you see the jaws of the talking animals moving up and down like some messed up ventriloquist act or something. And here’s me thinking cinema has evolved past this.

BBC’s The War Of The Worlds

Remember Peter Harness? That guy who wrote that Doctor Who episode about the moon being an egg? Yeah, he’s back and he’s doing an adaptation of H.G. Wells’ War Of The Worlds. And guess what! It’s fucking ghastly! :D

The three part BBC mini-series was without a doubt some of the worst telly I think I’ve ever seen. It’s staggering how clueless Harness is as a writer. For starters he managed to achieve the impossible and somehow made a Martian invasion of Earth boring. I didn’t even think it was possible, but somehow he pulled it off. Then he sucks all tension out of the story by revealing the ultimate fate of the Martians at the beginning of the second episode, so now any threat or danger has been chucked out of the window because we know that the main female protagonist Amy at least would survive. And then finally he takes a massive dump over the source material by having humanity weaponise typhoid to kill the red weed rather than just having the Martians die of the common cold like in the book. Because God forbid us Brits should be presented as anything other than heroic and dignified.

So what we’re left with is a poorly realised allegory with ineffectual horror tropes full of OTT progressive posturing in a pathetic attempt to make Harness and the BBC look more liberal than they actually are. There’s no effort to really explore the themes of imperialism and colonialism outside of casual lip service, and we barely get a glimpse of the dark side of humanity. Everyone is presented as flawed, but basically awesome or, in the case of Rafe Spall’s character, utterly gormless. Our TV license fees help fund this shit, you know?!

And if you think this was bad, just wait till New Year’s Day where we’ll get to see Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss’ butcher Dracula. Can we stop giving these beloved literary icons to these hacks please?

Glass

I liked Split. It wasn’t an amazing movie, but it was entertaining with some good ideas, a great performance from James McAvoy and was a true return to form for M Night Shyamalan. That being said, I wasn’t keen on the idea of it taking place in the same universe as Unbreakable. I feared it would be a step too far and we’d end up having something like... well, something like Glass.

On paper, Glass isn’t a bad idea. The idea of superpowers being a delusion is legitimately intriguing and could have been a great post-modern deconstruction of the superhero genre. Except Shyamalan never actually does anything with it. The first act drags on and on with absolutely nothing happening, none of the characters really grow or change over the course of the film, Bruce Willis in particular is basically only here for an extended cameo as his character does pretty much nothing for the majority of the film, and then the entire film is undermined by that stupid Shyamalan twist. Turns out superhumans are real and there’s a big cover up. Oh great! So not only does it render the entire film pointless, it also undoes what made Unbreakable and Split so good. They’re no longer people capable of extraordinary feats via rational means. They’re just superhuman. They can do anything. Sigh.

Shyamalan... maybe it’s time to give up the director’s chair, yeah?

Cats

Oh come on! Don’t act surprised! Did you honestly think I wouldn’t put Cats on this list?!

Cats, without a doubt, is the worst film of the decade and, yes, the CGI is terrible. Not only are there these sub-human cat mutants running around, we also have mice and cockroaches with child faces, James Corden coughing up furballs, Taylor Swift trying to give the furries in the audience boners, Idris Elba looking disturbingly underdressed and Rebel Wilson being... well... Rebel Wilson. It’s a disaster of a film. And really, should we even be surprised? We all knew this was going to suck. And no it’s not because of the CGI. I thought the CGI in Pokemon: Detective Pikachu was creepy as well, but at least it had a decent script and good performances to back it up. No the reason why Cats sucked is because... it’s Cats. It’s always been that bad. No amount of ‘advanced fur technology’ was going to change that. It was still going to be a confused, plotless mess with one dimensional characters and bad songs.

The only consolation I had was that I didn’t waste money buying a ticket. A friend of mine snuck me into the premiere and we watched it in the projector room. The plan was to make fun of it and have a laugh, but we didn’t even do that because honestly there’s nothing to really make fun. There’s only so many times you can take the piss out of the CGI and honestly the film was just boring more than anything else. It doesn’t even have the distinction of being so bad it’s good like Sharknado or Tommy Wiseau’s The Room. It’s just bad, period.

I just hope we don’t see something similar happen to Starlight Express. Just think. Anthropomorphic, singing trains on roller skates. Shudder.

Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker

Finally we have yet another cynical cash grab from Disney.

I confess I didn’t exactly go into The Rise Of Skywalker with an open mind. I was never all that keen on a sequel trilogy in the first place, and neither The Force Awakens nor The Last Jedi ever convinced me otherwise. Admittedly they weren’t bad movies. Just derivative and painfully uninspired, and I was expecting more of the same for Episode IX. What I got instead was quite possibly the worst Star Wars film since Attack Of The Clones. Yes, it’s that bad.

This film is very poorly made, filled with plot contrivances and logic holes galore. I lost count of the number of times the protagonists got into a dangerous situation because of Rey constantly wandering off like a confused toddler lost in a shopping mall. Oh and we finally find out who her parents were and it was quite a twist, but only because it was really stupid. Of course we didn’t see it coming because nobody would have guessed it would be something that moronic. I feel JJ Abrams’ stupid ‘mystery box’ philosophy is to blame for this. It’s derailed countless franchises before such as Lost and Cloverfield, and now Abrams has fucked up Star Wars because he’s obsessed with mystery for the sake of mystery and Disney are so lazy that they couldn’t be bothered to plan an actual trilogy out properly beforehand. Instead they just wing it, making it up as they go along, which led to Rian Johnson ‘subverting our expectations’ and left Abrams desperately trying to pick up the pieces.

In fact a lot of The Rise Of Skywalker seemed designed specifically to appease people of both sides of the wide chasm The Last Jedi had created. The roles of characters of colour like Finn and Rose were significantly reduced, Poe and Finn don’t end up together because of homophobia, but we do see two women kiss in the background of one two second shot that could easily be cut out when they release the film in China, Kylo Ren gets his stupid redemption even though he hasn’t fucking earned it, Lando Calrissian shows up for no fucking reason, Rey is given ‘flaws’ relating to her parentage in order to combat those accusing her of being a Mary Sue, but they’re the boring kind of flaws that don’t have any real impact on her character, and that ghastly ship Reylo is made canon even though it makes no sodding sense in the context of this movie, let alone the whole trilogy. They even go to the trouble of baiting us with a FinnRey romance before pulling the rug out from under us. Then, just to add insult to injury, the film retroactively ends up making the entire original trilogy completely pointless. All because Disney wanted more dollars to put in their Scrooge McDuck money bin.

The Rise Of Skywalker, and indeed the entire sequel trilogy, should serve as a cautionary tale against the dangers of hype and nostalgia. The reason The Force Awakens was successful wasn’t because it was a good movie (because lets be brutally honest here, it really fucking wasn’t). It was because it gave gullible Star Wars fans warm fuzzies because it reminded them of A New Hope whilst tempting them with the vague promise that things might get more interesting later on. And when that didn’t materialise, quelle surprise, the fanbase didn’t take it very well. I would love to think that this will serve as an important lesson for the future when people go and see Disney movies, but who am I kidding? I guarantee at some point we’re going to get Episodes X, XI and XII and we’ll have to go through this sorry process all over again.

So there we have it. The worst of 2019. May they rot forever in Satan’s rectum or wherever it is stories go to die. Tomorrow we’ll take a look at the other end of the spectrum. Yes it’s the Quill Seal Of Approval Awards! The best of the best! Who shall win? The suspense is killing me! Ooooh, I can’t wait! You’ll be there tomorrow, won’t you? Of course you will. How could you not?

#quill's swill #quill's swill 2019 #worst of the year #review #opinion

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notes-from-sarah · 4 years ago

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A Coal Black Colt

Summary: When Diego catches a magnificent black colt in the hills his father tells him to turn it loose. After all, wild horses are dangerous because they cannot be broken. Diego has no intention of breaking this horse and knows he must find a way to keep him. Disney’s Zorro. One-shot. Canon compliant.

AO3 Link FFN Link

“His name is Tornado. An old shepherd has been keeping him for me. He was a colt when I left…Even my father wouldn’t recognize this horse” – Diego de la Vega (Season 1, Episode 1, Presenting Señor Zorro)

“¡Papá!” Diego’s voice echoed into the stables. “Papá, where are you?”

Alejandro looked up from inspecting one of his mares that was due to foal soon. “I am here, Diego. What do you need?”

Diego sprinted into view holding a rope lead. On the end of the lead was a coal black colt.

“Diego, where did you get that colt?” He hadn’t the faintest idea where Diego could have gotten the animal, the boy certainly didn’t have the money to buy it.

“I caught him in the hills. Isn’t he beautiful?” Diego patted the horse lovingly. Running his hand over the colt’s mane and neck. The animal was surprisingly calm, only betraying the slightest bit of nervousness.

Alejandro blinked in surprise. “He’s a fine looking animal, but-” he didn’t know what to say. His son had been known to drag home the odd pet or two in his life, but a wild horse was another matter entirely. “But how on earth did you catch him?” Alejandro knew the story was probably a good one, Diego’s stories always were.

“I was out riding in the hills past the big meadow,” Diego gestured away from the house in the general direction he meant, “and I saw a herd of the wild horses. This one caught my eye because I didn’t see a mother anywhere nearby. I followed them-”

Here Alejandro sighed. He was sure one of these days his son would follow some creature into the wilderness and never come back.

“-and they went deeper into the hills.” Diego began scratching the colt behind the ears. “The more I watched this one the more I knew I had to catch him. He ran like the wind over the hilltops and showed the most agility I’ve ever seen in a horse of his age. I believe he is an orphan.”

Alejandro guessed that the foal was about eight months old, quite old enough to get by without a mother. Alejandro opened his mouth to make a few remarks but Diego continued.

“He is such a fine animal, but he is smart too, I had to be very clever to catch hold of him. I decided to lay a trap there in the hills. I could tell he was intelligent and curious so I took off my hat and propped it up on a stick and put it in the ground where he could see. Then I hid myself behind a rock and waited with my lariat.”

Alejandro tried to stay quiet through Diego’s story, but he was already imagining how surprising a herd of wild horses while on foot might have gone ill for his son.

“My deception worked.” Diego patted the little horse’s head proudly. “He alone out of all the herd came to discover who the stick-man was, he was most curious about it. But he was cautious too.” He ruffled the horse’s forelock. “But not cautious enough! I sprang from my hiding place and lassoed him neatly. And do you know what?” Diego looked down at the foal with a grin.

“What?” said Alejandro with some trepidation.

“He didn’t even fight back. He was a bit frightened at first, but he didn’t try to run. I knew he was special.” Diego petted down horse’s nose ending at the velvety muzzle. His eyes shone with pride.

It was more than obvious that the boy was already in love with the animal. Alejandro sighed again, this wasn’t going to be pleasant. “Diego,” he said gently, “you must realize you can’t keep him.”

His son looked at him, surprised. “But Papá, he’s perfect. With a little training and more time he’ll be the most magnificent stallion.”

“Diego, he’s a wild animal.” This was not the first time he had some version of this conversation with his son. “He’ll never really be tame.”

“Of course he can be tamed,” said Diego. “I will train him most spectacularly.”

At times Alejandro wished he had even half the confidence of a teenage boy. “It won’t work, my son. It is simply impossible to make a wild animal tame.”

“But, Father,” Diego protested, gripping the colt’s mane, “I can-”

“No, Diego, you cannot.” Alejandro already had visions of his son being thrown by a half-trained wild horse. He had witnessed other dons attempt to break the wild ones, it never went well for them.

“I just need a little time,” Diego insisted. “I know it can be done.”

“But, Diego, you don’t have time.” Alejandro hated disappointing his son like this, but he needed to see sense. “You will be leaving for university in just half a year. Not only do I doubt that you can tame the wildness out of this horse, but even if you could you do not have the time needed to do so. I am afraid I must insist on you turning the animal loose. It will be better off with the other wild horses than languishing here, unrideable, for four years.”

“But,” Diego tried one last time, “I could start his training and then maybe Benito could work with him, or I might delay entering the university for a year and-”

“No, Diego, I have made up my mind on the matter and I want no more argument. He is not fit for breaking and I will not hear another word of you delaying your start at university. Take him now and turn him loose before he becomes to accustomed to the domestic horses. We do not want him returning and leading them off.”

Diego was bitterly disappointed. He cast his eyes downward combing his fingers through the colt’s mane. “Yes, Father,” he said finally.

“There’s a good boy,” said Alejandro. It was difficult for him to let down his son like this. He hated to take away something Diego so clearly enjoyed. “You had best go about it quickly, I’ll see you at supper.”

Diego nodded. “With your permission,” he said, not meeting Alejandro’s eyes. He tugged at the rope around the colt’s neck and the horse and boy left the stables.

Alejandro sighed. He wished Isabela were here to help manage this, her death last year had made parenting that much harder. She would have been able to make Diego see sense. At the same time, Alejandro thought, she probably would have convinced me to let Diego keep the horse. He was certain he had done the right thing in telling Diego to release the horse. Wild animals were just that, wild, and had no place in a domestic herd.

Diego mounted his palomino, Sinfonía, and leading the little black horse began to ride towards the hills where he had captured the colt. He was aggravated. He had spent most of the day tracking and capturing this foal, he hated letting him go again. He hadn’t even had a chance to tell his father the name he picked out for the animal. Tornado. His father hadn’t even seen how Tornado could run like the wind or turn on a pin. He was frustrated to be dismissed so quickly.

Glancing at Tornado cheerfully trotting beside Sinfonía his heart sank. The small horse was magnificent. To turn him loose was a waste.

“Do you want to stay with me, Tornado, or shall I set you free? I could train you to be the most legendary horse in all of New Spain.”

In way of response Tornado snorted and kicked up his heels, shaking his head. The colt was energetic even after the long day of activity.

“That’s what I think too,” said Diego, taking Tornado’s gestures for an answer. “Papá thinks that a wild horse can never be broken, is that true?”

Tornado twitched his ears in various directions.

“Well, I suppose it is true a little bit, but I do not want to break you. I want us to be amigos. I think we can work together most fabulously.”

Tornado scampered through the grass at Sinfonía’s side.

“Do you think I should listen to my Papá and turn you loose?” Diego was debating the issue internally. This little horse was so full of life and practically begging to be his friend. It would be cruel to send the animal back out to the wild when fate had so clearly intended for them to be together. Diego realized he couldn’t turn Tornado loose, he had to find some way to keep him without his father knowing.

He rode deeper into the hills, the hacienda disappearing in the distance. He knew the herd wouldn’t be where he had left them earlier, but he was beginning to think he wasn’t going there anyway. Still, where could he keep a horse so that his father wouldn’t suspect?

“So, Tornado, if I am not to turn you loose, where shall I put you? Shall I swear Benito to secrecy and have him hide you among our herds?”

Tornado frisked along oblivious to Diego’s troubles.

“That would not work for very long, Benito is too good a man to hide you from my father.” Patting the neck of his Palomino Diego said, “What do you think, am I being stupid, Sinfonía?”

Sinfonía just climbed through the hills calmly giving him no opinion.

Diego scanned the horizon hoping inspiration would come to him regarding his predicament. Presently the smell of smoke wafted over him. He stood up in his stirrups looking around for the source of the smoke, one could never be too careful about that sort of thing. The breeze was coming from the east so Diego rode in that direction hoping to find the source a campfire or something equally innocuous.

The source of the smoke, it turned out, was a cooking fire made by Old Cristóbal the shepherd.

“Don Diego,” Cristóbal rose and hailed him, “it has been a long time. Come, sit with me and tell me about your life.”

Diego smiled. He liked Cristóbal, and would on occasion seek him out just to enjoy his company. The man had many stories of his adventures as a shepherd in the wilderness, and he knew everything there was to know about the Californian countryside.

“Buenos días, Cristóbal.” Looping Tornado’s lead around Sinfonía’s saddle horn, Diego dismounted and shook the old shepherd’s hand. “How have you been?”

“Each day is like the other, but no two are the same.” Cristóbal smiled at him. It was a warm, earthy smile that Diego liked very much.

The two of them sat down near Cristóbal’s cook fire where he was preparing a pot of what smelled to be beans. His mule grazed nearby and Diego saw a small, neat tent erected a couple of yards away.

“Has your work been kind to you lately?” Diego asked. The shepherd looked to be in good health.

“It has been kind enough. It is my old bones that are not kind to me these days.” Cristóbal’s eyes twinkled.

Diego laughed. “I hope they provide you with a few more years of kindness all the same.”

“And what of you, Don Diego. I see you have a fine colt hitched to your horse there.”

Diego looked at Tornado. At least he wasn’t the only one who could see Tornado’s worth. “Sí, he is the finest I’ve ever seen. I caught him in the hills earlier today, and as you can see, he is already half tame. I think he will be the most magnificent stallion when he is grown.”

Cristóbal stirred his beans to prevent them from burning. “Why do you take him on a lead through the hills? Would it not be better to start him in the paddock?”

“My father does not believe a wild horse can be tamed and has told me to return him to the wild.” Diego’s voice held an edge of the irritation he felt about the issue. “I think he is putting one of the finest horses in California to waste because he assumes that good things can only come from Spain.”

“That is a difficult spot, Don Diego.” Cristóbal took a delicate bite of his cooking off the end of his spoon. “What are you going to do about it?”

Diego rubbed a hand over the back of his neck. “Well, when I left the hacienda I intended to do what my father told me to, no matter how loathsome. But now,” he looked back at Tornado, “I want to find a way to keep him. I know I can prove my father wrong, I just need to be given a chance.”

“An important time in every young man’s life, when he eschews the counsel of his father and begins to make his own decisions.”

“He will not be happy when he discovers I’ve disobeyed him.” Diego grinned a little. “What a tongue lashing I will receive.”

Cristóbal laughed. “Your father’s way with words is legendary.”

“It is most certainly that.” Diego smiled and shook his head. “At any rate, I had just come to my decision when I smelled your fire and came to make sure that the hills were not ablaze. I don’t know what I’m going to do with Tornado, I just know I need to keep him.”

“Tornado, a fine name for such an animal.” Cristóbal stroked his mustache for a moment as he gazed at the colt. “I agree with you, Don Diego, you must find a way to keep him and train him in secret.”

“There’s another problem,” Diego said, thinking of the future. “My father is sending me to university in Spain early next year and even if I make progress with Tornado, I will have to interrupt my training of him for four years.”

“Oh, Don Diego, this is good news, though. You will get the most fantastic education.” Cristóbal’s voice was filled with enthusiasm.

Diego raised an eyebrow, softly skeptical. “Do you think so? To tell the truth I am a little nervous. I’ve never traveled so far before, or been away for so long. I keep thinking that maybe I could put it off a year or two. What difference does it make if I enter university when I am nineteen or even twenty years old? And if I stay I could train Tornado and show my father that the wild horses are every bit as good as the domestic breeds.”

“But Don Diego, opportunities like this come only one time in a man’s life, if ever. You need to reach out boldly and seize it.” Cristóbal mimed a grabbing movement plucking the spoon from his one hand to the other. “When you are older you will find that you no longer care to do things to impress your father, or show him that he’s wrong.”

Diego considered Cristóbal’s words for a moment. “So, you think I should leave Tornado?”

“Right now it is necessary for you to go to university. You will get an education and return to the pueblo with a mind sharpened and ready for action. You will contribute something to all of us who cannot go to Spain for an education and lift us all with your learning. You must go, Don Diego, and not worry about what will happen to Tornado.” Cristóbal returned to stirring his beans.

In Cristóbal’s words Diego heard a hunger for learning. He was sure Cristóbal had only the most rudimentary education, if any, and it was certain that a lot of opportunities had been lost because of this deficit. “But what then of Tornado?”

“Don Diego, if he means so much to you, I will look after him until you return.”

“Really?” Diego sat up a little. “But I could not ask you to do such a thing.” He sat back again, then sat up again a second later and said, “What if I pay you? I can give you a salary for four years to keep him, watch him, feed him and work with him? Would you do that for me?”

“Don Diego, it would be my pleasure. Now, my beans are ready, join me and we will work out the details of this arrangement.”

Diego came to say goodbye to Tornado and Cristóbal. He was leaving for San Pedro in the morning and from there taking a ship to Spain. Tornado, just over a year old now, was shaping up to be a fine animal. Diego had not breathed a word about Tornado to his father. He wasn’t entirely sure how this would work out with him being gone for four years, but he was willing to give it a try.

Tornado was grazing in the small pen Cristóbal had for his mule. Upon seeing Diego the young horse nickered excitedly and raced to the fence. Diego reached over the fence rail and petted Tornado’s nose. He looked magnificent. “Hello, boy. Are you glad to see me?”

Tornado nuzzled Diego’s hand affectionately.

“I’m glad to see you too. I brought you a present.” Diego reached into his jacket and produced a carrot.

Tornado reached for it instantly.

“Wait,” Diego told the horse, holding the carrot out of his reach, “first you must do a trick.”

Tornado seemed to shake his head.

“Yes, you must. I want to know you will not forget everything I’ve taught you. Kneel, Tornado.”

Tornado backed away from the fence rail at Diego’s command.

“Kneel, come on boy, kneel,” Diego repeated.

Tornado sank down, bending one knee in a facsimile of a kneeling bow.

“Good boy, Tornado!” Diego said.

Tornado sprang back to his feet and ran to the rail again. Diego handed him the carrot. As Tornado munched the vegetable Diego scratched his neck. “I won’t see you again for a long time, boy. You must promise not to forget what I’ve taught you. When I come back you’ll be waiting for me and I will have the most exquisite horse in California to ride every day.”

Tornado leaned into the scratching, enjoying Diego’s attention.

“You must behave yourself while I am gone, be good to Cristóbal.”

“And I will be good to him, Don Diego,” said Cristóbal.

Diego turned to see the old shepherd. “Cristóbal, Buenos días. I came to say goodbye. I’m leaving for San Pedro in the morning.”

Cristóbal came to the fence and patted Diego’s arm. “Is it that day already? It seems only yesterday it was more than six months away.”

Diego nodded. “I am afraid you will not see me again for four years.” Diego reached into the pocket of his jacket and produced a fat purse. “Here is the sum which I promised you for taking care of Tornado.”

“Don Diego, you are too generous.” Cristóbal attempted to refuse the purse.

“I insist,” Diego said firmly, “you are doing me a great favor and I would not dream of treating you any differently than the best stables In Mexico City which house the finest racehorses.”

Cristóbal smiled. “Even though he will eat only plain grass and not imported oats?”

“The plain grass of California will make him strong, not soft like those Spanish imported breeds.” Diego placed the purse into Cristóbal’s hand and closed the man’s fingers around it. “No, I want him to be a true steed of the country. Swift, confident in the hills, and strong on good Californian grass.”

“You are too generous, Don Diego,” Cristóbal said again, finally accepting the money.

“Really, I am not. You are helping me, providing me with a service, and I am paying you a fair wage. There is no generosity in that.” Diego patted Cristóbal’s shoulder warmly. “Now, no more talk of our arrangement, it is settled. You will keep him and train him while I am gone and that is all I need to know.”

“Will you not stay for a light meal, Don Diego?” Cristóbal gestured to his small house.

Diego smiled. “I would like that very much, but I’m afraid I must get back home, I still have many things to do before tomorrow.”

Cristóbal nodded. “Then I wish you safe passage and look forward to your return.”

Diego embraced Cristóbal. “Thank you. Know that you and Tornado and all of California will be in my thoughts often.”

Turning to Tornado he motioned the horse back to the fence. The colt ran forward at full speed before coming to a halt at the last second sending a spray of dirt and a cloud of dust into the air. Cristóbal and Diego laughed and Diego reached out to pet his horse one last time.

“Goodbye, my friend, I will return soon.”

#fanfiction #Zorro #Disney's Zorro #Diego de la Vega #Alejandro de la Vega #Tornado #Fathers and Sons #Family #Horses #Friendship #one-shot #canon compliant #before the show #Zorro 1957

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ruffiorocks · 5 years ago

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unpopular opinion (long post)

This might be unpopular but its irking me a little bit, im actually completely OK with Lena punching Kara in the face.

Its not so much that Kara kept her identity a secret, that on its own doesn't warrant a smack or a punch (if they had been dating then it absolutely would) because that’s beyond disturbing behaviors,

No for me its, as i’ve mentioned before the way that Kara treated her as Supergirl, especially in season 3.

Now yes Kara has been lovely to Lena as Supergirl, the same as Lena has to her. they have actively saved each others arses on more than on occasion.

BUT season 3 and 4 gave us a look at what Kara can be like when she feels her authority is being questioned. Kara was instantly p**sed at Lena for daring to keep Reign a secret, no regard for WHY just accusations. Honestly why Kara was there while they interrogated Lena is beyond me, she doesn't actually have a DEO rank? But whatever. She instantly got p**sed that Lena had some leftover kryptonite (we know she made it) and immediately took it as threat, even though Lena IS her best friend. What irked me the most about season 3 was that Kara didn't really give a lot of thought to Sam, in her beef with Lena it was always Kara, Kara, Kara. The fact that Lena did all of this FOR SAM to protect her went completely over Kara’s head.

Kara also got p**sed that Lena dared to have tech that she didnt know of or approve of. Lena literally told Kara that the force field on Reign’s cell prevented Kryptonian’s looking through it, so what was the first thing Kara does? Why she tries to look through it and gets p*ssed that it caused a bit of pain. She instantly rounded on Lena and saw something SHE personally could nosy through as a threat. I mean Lena could literally just have used this so she wouldn't be spied on in the shower by passing Kryptonian’s. Just because Kara does have X Ray vision doesn't mean shes entitled to be able to see everythong (*cough* Batgirl *cough*) This scene was basically like telling someone not to put their hand in the fire because it will burn, only for them to instantly do it and then get upset with you for built the fire in the first place.

I was beyond happy that Lena brought Kara down a peg or two, ive said it before but Kara is rarely seriously questioned by anyone and it seems to have gone to her head. Kara’s authority is mostly what shes bestowed on herself, much like Superman.

But anyway, Kara seems to have realized she’s been a colossal ass and jumped to conclusions, because she has a really awkward exchange with Lena and says she hopes it wont ruin their friendship. See my issue here is that Kara thinks she can attack Lena but because she has had a change of heart its still all good? yeah... no. Lena tells her what for again, poor love tells her she has friends that trust her, not knowing the very woman she is referring to is the same woman shes talking to.

Kara then gets pissed that Lena gives Kara whats ‘left’ of the kryptonite. I mean you were upset she had it and now you’re upset shes giving it to you? Once again the fact that this could help her fight Reign and save Sam when she and the others have spectacularly failed goes over her head and she attacks Lena again, who quite rightly tells Kara that lots of things in the world could hurt her but she goes on with life and doesn't whine about. Kara seems to think that NOTHING on Earth should ever be allowed to exist that could hurt her or any other Kryptonian completely forgetting recent Kryptonian attacks, one of which she did herself oh and the current one. This is pretty God like behavior. She also doesnt have issues with DEO having weapons that can hurt other aliens, as long as it isn't her. Kara even pulls the ‘Luthor’ card on Lena. Note through all this its always Kara who has the issue with Lena, Lena has no issues with Supergirl until she attacks her.

Kara thinks she has the authority to tell Lena she isnt coming to the dark valley to try and save her friend Sam, i mean why is Kara calling the shots here? She does redeem herself a bit when she tells Reign to take her instead of Lena, but honestly? Kara would have done that for literally anyone, this isn't because its Lena.

Lena even returns to the DEO the moment Kara is in danger of dying. Lena has pre-made suit that even has the House of El crest on it!

Remember also, that even after the interrogation, Alex asked Lena to just tell her why she didnt let on about Sam and Alex was absolutely OK with Lena’s explanation and didnt harp on about it, this is Alex Danvers whose life is dedicated to protecting Kara’s.

Kara then did the ONE thing that i thought was so below the belt. She meddled in Lena's relationship and put it at risk. She quite literally went to Lena's boyfriend, a man who not long ago wasn't going to give her the time of day and wanted her in prison no matter what and Lena had to learn to trust, and Kara asked him of all people to betray Lena’s trust. Kara could have asked any DEO agent, but no, apparently James, the one person she SHOULDNT have asked to betray Lena was the only one who would do it? Im sorry Kara you dont do that under any circumstances. Kara is dumb anyway because she trusts James! He literally breaks into L Corp, then he lies to Kara and then drops her in it with Lena? There was NO reason for him to do that, he just wanted the best of both worlds.

Kara gets pissed that Lena dared to make Harun El for anyone other than the mighty Kryptonian’s that have decreed that this substance they dont understand, arent even close to understanding and has the power to keep civilizations alive is NOT allowed to be used for the benefit of humans, but a human is allowed to make it for the benefit of Kryptonians and only kryptonians, Yeah, Argo would be a floating city of dead people if it wasn't for Lena managing to figure something out in about a week that the entire race of advanced scientists o Argo weren't even close to doing. The fact is Kara jumps down her throat again, but this time its Alex that comes to Lena’s defence.

The problem when it comes down to it, is that Kara is too quick to assume the worst in Lena, when she used to be the exact opposite. This is shoddy writing and OOC but unfortunately its what happened. Kara thinks she has authority over all things and the fact is she just doesnt.

Getting James to betray Lena was the worst one for me, and the one that warrants a smack or in this case a punch in the face. If my best friend asked my significant other to betray my trust because she decided she couldn't trust me oh and then acted like she had nothing to do with it while i vented i would think about punching her and if it was the other way round she would probably think the same, and she would justified because that isnt friendship.

Kara was Jekell and Hyde with Lena, she even looked her nose down at her in season 2 when she and Superman landed on L Corp’s balcony to talk to Lena and Lillian, the look Kara gave Lena has stuck with me because it was so superior, like because she was now standing with Superman she had more authority? Was she trying to measure up?

Then there’s the fact that Kara has no issue letting Lena think her ass is in danger, or letting her think shes been blown up!

Kara knows the amount of betrayals Lena has faced, but she just kept on going and it was wrong. If she had no intention of telling Lena and letting her be the only one in her new found family that apparently wasn't trusted enough then she should never have gotten so involved with Lena in the first place.

Kara ignored Lena after Mon El left, then only came to her when she needed her help, essentially her money and her influence. Then once shed asked for it she fobbed off Lena’s attempt to reach out to her. Lena actually does use her power and her own money to save Cat Co and Kara is just like ‘oh ok, but i quit’. It was using Lena and it was harsh, even if Kara did say she would go back. Then you have Kara’s blatant disregard for Lena as a boss.

The fact is Kara picks and chooses her attitude to Lena, she should pick ONE not have multiple personalities, choosing to support her on minute, ignore her the next or accuse her of misdeeds in another.

Now think about what Lena is thinking? Kara lied about who she is, Lena is going to know a Super came to investigate her the moment she arrived in National City, this same super integrated herself into Lena's life and they got close, but Lena is probably wondering why that was now? If Lena had befriended Kara knowing she is Supergirl you know it would have been instantly treated as suspicious. Kara treated her like she was bad even after Lena helped save her and the world several times. Kara used the relationships Lena built against her. Kara acted like she had dull authority over her, she let her think her life was in danger or she was dead more than once. Yeah id be pretty p**sed to.Lena may even wonder why Kara pushed her to date James of all people, someone who wasnt a fan of hers, but then suddenly was? Oh was that so he could stay close to Lena and be used against her? To spy o her? Lena ‘s feeling arent something Kara can just play with depending on how the mood hits her, actions have consequences and treating people like this isnt cool.

Its a lot for Lena to process, and its not like she can ask kara about it, even when Kara knows Lena knows she cant trust the explanations Kara may give her.

If Oliver punched Barry the fans would just be like ‘ahh man! They’ll make it up’

Batman and Superman fight, ‘ahh man! They’ll make up’.

But Lena punches Kara? ‘Oh my God abuse!!’

i dont think Lena is punching Kara because of the secret itself, shes probably punching her because of all the s**t that came along with it.

(if you dont agree fine, but dont send hate)

#supergirl #lena luthor #kara danvers #anti james olsen #anti guardiancorp #supercorp

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qm-vox · 5 years ago

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So You Want To Play An Elemental

(Re-used portrait of Colors Eriksdotter, the Warlock Knight, provided by Domochevsky. Catch her in New Avalon, where she’s the protagonist of Cinderella Sanction Quest.)

Previous articles: So You Want To Play A Beast & So You Want To Play A Wizened

Author’s Note: You’d think the hard part of writing this article would have been refuting basically every canon depiction of Elementals in Changeling: the Lost 1e, but instead it was the bit where I tried to write my lived experiences with autism. While not all Elementals need to be autistic or represent autism, they as a Seeming are pretty good at it, and I’ve written this article with that in mind. That said, the experiences I’m drawing from are my own and those of close friends, and are therefore not even close to being universal, to say nothing of me running my mouth about other kinds of troubles Elementals might metaphorically (or literally) represent. While I’ve made every effort to talk to folks who’ve lived these experiences and to write about them with respect, I recognize that I may well have fucked up. I invite you to let me know if that’s the case.

The stories all agree; you do not want the attention of the Lords and Ladies. Be polite, stay humble, mind your manners. It goes a lot further, of course: don’t stand out, don’t be special, don’t rock the boat. Some say that the purpose of these fairy tales is to reinforce societal mores, but those the Lost know as Elementals have been the victims of those tales firsthand. Taken for a purpose, transformed to fulfill it, they face the task of rebuilding lives in a world they only half belong to. Of all the Lost, even Beasts, it is Elementals who struggle most with human society.

This article draws primarily on Changeling: the Lost, as well as Winter Masques and Swords at Dawn. Other sources, when used, will be cited. It requires Content Warnings for depictions of torture, maiming, abuse, and transformation.

The Remade - Elemental Overview

Elemental is the third Seeming presented in Changeling: the Lost, and joins Beast in being almost as defined by Kith as it is by its Seeming. Elemental is unusual in that it is commonly represented in printed material (Elemental characters with stat blocks appear in Changeling: the Lost, Night Horrors: Grim Fears, and The Rose Bride’s Plight), but also commonly and egregiously misused and mischaracterized. As a result, more than the prior two articles, this one must directly address some of the way White Wolf chose to write Elementals and refute them as examples of the Seeming.

A stunning variety of people become Elementals, but generally speaking any given person was selected for their fate. Unlike the opportunistic kidnappings that mark Beasts and Wizened, Elementals are those whom the Fae sought for some specific purpose or trait, which either served as the catalyst for their later transformation or was enhanced by that same transformation. Infused with the thoughts and feelings of inanimate matter - rushing rivers, whispering winds, forge-hot silver, cold earth, crackling lightning, and more - Elementals gain a distance from humanity that they are never again to bridge. To be Elemental is to be alien even among the Lost, and for those without help it’s all too easy to become a stranger in their own homes.

Nature In Revolt - Homecoming As An Elemental

With few exceptions, most Elementals can eventually point to a singular moment in which they were transformed into what they are. Though all Lost experience shattered, faded, and absent memories of the Fairest of Lands when they first have their Homecoming, the moment of transformation is among the earliest memories Elementals recover. The vehicle of that transformation varies - sweet-smelling fruit that turn humans to trees, vats of molten glass into which their living bones were dipped, vast farms of lightning-trees to which humans are lashed until the levin-bolts enter their souls, and more - but the essence of the moment is the same. Some part of the human soul calves away like ice from a berg, and the Wyrd that rushes into its place is brimming with the will of the inanimate. It could be a singular moment, over almost as soon as it’s begun, or a gradual one (as is the case for the rare passive transformations one finds among Kiths such as Earthbones), but that was the moment at which an Elemental was born.

What happens after depends very much on why any given Elemental was taken and why they were transformed. For some Keepers it’s a matter of pure practicality; the Elemental’s new form is necessary to exist in their Domains (such as the Shining Network and the City of Brass, both in Winter Masques), and without those modifications they would be useless for the Fae’s purpose - or dead, which amounts to the same thing. Many passive transformations are similar to this as well; Snowskins who adopt the ice to survive their duties in the wild tundra, Earthbones who dig until digging runs through their living veins, and Waterborn who choose transformation instead of death share a lot of bones with those who were reshaped before beginning their dread tasks. In other cases, though, the transformation is the logical (well, “logical”) extension of what their Keeper wanted them for to begin with. A bored Page of the Stacks steals a bright-voiced human boy to serve her as a lantern in her dark domains and ignites him from the soul outward; the Screaming Demon ‘rewards’ the luckless gym teacher who beat him in a yelling contest by making her an Airtouched with bottomless lungs. These Elementals share uncomfortable commonalities with the Fairest, who sometimes flock to them once the gap in communications between the two Seemings can be bridged.

Some of the most unfortunate are transformed because they wish to be. The Fae are not above openly offering their ‘gifts’ to others, and for those bending and breaking under the weight of inhuman expectations, inhuman abilities can seem like a godsend. But whether it’s a college student pacting for an all-too-literal ‘enlightenment’, an athlete offered the chance to run ‘like the wind’, or a broken-hearted romantic who takes the hand of a Fae selling a cold heart, the consequences of these deals are never clear up front - and there are no take-backs in the Fairest of Lands. Elementals who suffered this fate often drift towards Summer or Autumn, and throw themselves into the mortal world besides, driven to ensure that no one else is forced to endure the torments that made them other than human.

In Arcadia proper, the transformations Elementals endure are often much more extreme than the ones they bear when they emerge from the Thorns. This forms the first obstacle to a potential escape; an Elemental must recall human form, human emotions, human perspective. Where a Beast loses their reason and intelligence, Elementals lose some vital part of themselves, the part which knows how to speak to other human things and be heard by them, to understand what they do and why they do it, and it is this they must grasp once more in the wounded halls of their soul before they can once again yearn for the mortal world. Those who yearn without remembering end up as hobgoblins when they finally breach into the Hedge, or else dissolve entirely once they have well and truly broken the oaths that hold their new forms together. On the other side of human perspective is the memory of human flesh, and part of almost every Elemental’s escape is the incomplete transformation back into a form of flesh once more.

The escapes themselves are often spectacularly violent. Elementals wield great power over their elements and are, by their nature, surrounded by it during their Durance. An Elemental’s fragmented memories of escapes might be marked by revolts fought alongside their fellow slaves while tame flames consume the soldiers of their master, obedient earthquakes opening ways into the underground of the Hedge, duels of water and ice whose backblasts can cleave steel, and more. For those who cannot escape their memories of this godlike power, the Autumn Court beckons, but for most of the others the fear those recollections evoke is enough reason to quietly pack them away and think about them as little as possible. Still, even the meekest Elemental is the person who performed those acts of sorcerous violence, and their fellows among the Lost quickly learn to respect that capability in those who make it home at last.

The memories that draw an Elemental home can be different from what they or others expect, at least in part due to the nature of their transformation. The infusion of the inanimate shifts the emphasis in recollections of the mortal world, calling to mind thoughts of Earth’s manifestations of the elements. A Fireheart may well want to return home to her loving family, but the memories she has of that family which stand out will often feature fire in some way; candlelit dinners, camping trips with her brothers around a crackling fire, shivering with her wife in front of a space heater in their apartment after the gas bill came up bust. An Airtouched thinks of long walks through whispering woods, sitting on the porch with his mother while a tornado rips its way across a distant street, the cool breeze through a classroom window on the day he crushed his SATs. The mortals these Elementals once were remember those events in a different light, but who they’ve become has an undeniable connection to their element and the call of Earth - for better or worse - is also about the relationship humans have with that element. They may not have asked to have the breeze put in their soul, but the winds of Earth still taste like home in a way those of Arcadia can’t.

By Your Powers Combined, I Am - Elemental Kiths

It’s telling that the common bonds that unite Elementals are almost all about the downsides of their experience. Their Seeming blessing enables them to temporarily display inhuman endurance, but without access to more or less immediate healing any situation that requires its use has already killed the Elemental and they just don’t know it yet. Still, the grim prospect of exactly how dead you have to kill one of them before they die does inform how other Seemings - especially the more violent ones such as Darklings and Ogres - treat Elementals. It pays to remain polite when the other guy can afford to die more dead than you can.

On the negative side, Elementals consistently have problems with, not to put too fine a point on it, being human people. All Lost have urges that are inhuman and suffered inhuman abuse, but for Elementals relating to other people - even other Lost - can be supremely difficult. Their Seeming curse hits all rolls based on Manipulation, as well as those based on Empathy, Persuasion, Socialize, and Subterfuge; that is to say, when it comes to social skills Elementals only display human-level competence in Intimidation, rearing animals, and, for some reason, criminal networking (Streetwise). While Elementals, much like Beasts, are not wholly incapable, their social skills will fall consistently behind a mortal with equal values - and, much like Beasts, this tends to get Elementals seen as idiots by people who refuse to understand their struggle (in some ways moreso; struggling with math is relatable to many people, but struggling with social cues can get the taste slapped out of your mouth right fuckin’ quick).

How this manifests varies widely from Elemental to Elemental, but the common touchstone is some disconnect from societal perception. Elementals quite often come off as autistic (and are prime for representing the struggles of an autistic person, as mentioned in So You Want To Play A Wizened); they miss social cues, misread or don’t understand body language, and struggle to describe their own perceptions and experiences in a way others can understand. Some of that is just not being able to quite connect what they feel with words in a human language; some of it is that Elementals genuinely are not perceiving the same things the people around them are. How do you tell your friends about the language of mirrors without sounding like you’ve absolutely lost it? The way a steady, eroding breeze feels against your rocky skin? The color of the lightning in your veins?

This comes out in the behavior of Elementals in a variety of ways, which does not always help those outside the Seeming understand the common thread, but it’s never quite...”right”, for lack of a better word. A Woodblood with flowers growing in his skin doesn’t always reply even when you speak to him directly, and when he does talk he over-shares; others don’t know of the secrets entrusted to him in a distant Arcadian wood, and the terrible consequences for speaking. A Waterborn nymph won’t shut up even when she ought to; as a babbling brook her musical voice soothed the rages of her Keeper. A heavyset Earthbones, thick with mud and rent with craggy scars, has trouble not touching people, as if he’s afraid they’ll slide away; his friend, a Fireheart, shrieks at the tiniest human contact and flashes knives to keep you away from her precious wick and its life-giving flame. A Snowskin’s volume goes up and down with the ambient light; an Airtouched can’t seem to stop just picking up objects to stare at them in fascination. In all of these cases, the root problem is the same - disconnection from societal expectations - even though the causes of those problems are different. The challenge that Elementals face in their recovery is not to pass as “normal” - no Lost can really do that for long anyway - but to find a medium between their rights and needs and the rights & needs of those around them.

Like Beasts, Elementals are essentially defined by their Kiths, in some senses even more than by their Seeming. Though a Fireheart and a Waterborn have things in common, the experiences that gave them those commonalities are likely to be so different as to be essentially alien to one another. An Airtouched is more likely to feel like she has things to talk about with, say, a Runnerswift Beast or a Windwing than she is to immediately realize she has touchstones with a local Snowskin witch. Mechanically, the Kiths themselves are a pretty even mix of ‘almost entirely related to the folklore’ and ‘almost entirely the physical property of being This Thing’. Some, like Beast’s, are begging for Dual Kith or other Merits to round out certain archetypes, but not all of them.

Some thoughts on the individual Elemental Kiths follow:

Airtouched - Do you like to go fast? Fleet of Foot not cutting the mustard for you any more? Runnerswift is too slow? Airtouched is here to help you. In a game where combat is often decided at the point when initiative is rolled, the potential to add 1-9 to your Initiative if you pick your chicken right means the chance to decide a lot more combats. The Speed boost isn’t anything to sneeze at either (and is applicable to a lot more situations than just murder). Thematically, Airtouched are meant to represent spirits of the air, but their sheer speed doesn’t do it for all such representations, especially in the realm of storms, gales, and other destructive manifestations of the firmament. If your Airtouched concept bends that direction, consider investing in Contracts of Stone, the Giant Size merit, Dual Kithing out (Earthbones, in-seeming, can provide great out-of-combat strength, while Hunterheart & Razorhand could work wonders for you as a more murderous spirit), the Lethal Mien merit, or any combination of the above.

Earthbones - Elemental does Ogre; Earthbones are great for puzzles and problems that can be solved with physical force but which are not in some way murder-related, and strike a solid image of various earthen beings with basically no add-ons. That said, Earthbones also makes a fantastic Dual Kith option for other Elemental Kiths that you might want to use to embody large & strong versions of themselves (such as a glacial Snowskin or a towering Waterborn with the soul of a tsunami).

Fireheart - This is the first Kith where it’s great for thematic reasons but kinda weird for physical ones. Firehearts can burn Glamour for Wits rolls, which makes them great at bursts of perception, quick thought, and cunning, but also sorta bad at being fire. Now, that could very well be a feature! A character used as a candle, a torch, a hearth-fire, a forge beast, might not embody the destructive potential of flame and you may have no need to do so; even if you do, Elements (Fire) is a lot of destructive potential. Should you want to draw that out a little more, consider Lethal Mien as an option, possibly alongside a Dual Kith into Draconic. If the fire you’re interested in is one of renewal or purification, look into the Goblin Contracts of Sacrifice and/or Contracts of Hearth, and if pyromancy is your game it’s hard to beat Contracts of Omen.

Manikin - I wanted to love Manikin, I really did, but I can’t. It’s trash. It’s absolute trash, not just because Artifice is essentially only half a contract (see So You Want To Be A Wizened) but because the other half of their Blessing is completely negated by having any ranks in Craft to begin with. I don’t even know where to start on suggesting a fix for this, but if you’re dead-set on it, maybe look to Shadowsoul for inspiration, as it’s the other Kith that does what Manikin tried to do.

Snowskin - Elemental does Fairest. Appropriately enough, Snowskin shares Fireheart’s potential problem of being very strong in the folklore (its icy social focus is shared by many of the mythic beings you might want to emulate) but very weak on the ‘embodying the element itself’ back end. Snowskins are great candidates for overtly sorcerous Elementals, not just because of those social bonuses but because they get less out of the classic Elemental contracts (Elements and Communion) and a lot more out of Contracts such as Wild, Eternal Autumn (or Winter), and Smoke which provide powers traditionally associated with the lords of frost and snow. A note: Snowskin does not have the same mechanical exemption that Chatelaine does, which means that its bonus of getting 9-again on Subterfuge meets the Elemental curse of not getting 10-again and evens out to having no bonus or penalty. Even then, though, the Intimidate end of things is pretty legit.

Waterborn - Remember Swimmerskin? This is Swimmerskin but as an Elemental. The three water-based Kiths are all fairly alike, so there’s not really a lot for me to say here.

Woodblood - Elemental Does Darkling, Badly. Don’t get me wrong, the actual bonuses are great, but getting access to them is incredibly situational and unlike Snowskin who can, with investment, eventually create the conditions for their more restricted abilities themselves, Woodbloods can’t just grow plants where no plants are no matter how hard they try - which is a shame, since Woodblood is absolutely amazing for many concepts! Talk to your Storyteller before you select this Kith and see where your Chronicle might be taking you. Semi-regular expeditions into the Hedge, a more rural Freehold, or even a traveling Chronicle are all great chances for Woodblood to shine.

Blightbent - You remember how Venombite is cool but kinda a late bloomer? Blightbent is more or less in the same camp; the bonus against man-made toxins is a solid additional bonus, but rolling against Armor, Defense, and Stamina is a losing game both just in general and in a world where shotguns exist. Blightbent’s a really cool concept but even beyond the Kith blessing problem is begs some questions about how you parse out your choices for Contracts of Elements and/or Communion. You’re probably better off flavoring another Kith as a polluted aspect of itself and leaving this one on the table.

Levinquick - Thematically, Levinquick is the physical fire/lightning to Fireheart’s metaphorical fire/lightning. Mechanically they’re solid enough; situationally better than Runnerswift, but at a cost. At low Wyrd, though, that duration on their Blessing is gonna kick your ass if you don’t pick your chicken right. For the cost and duration, you’re better off running an Airtouched with a stormy theme, which is a damn shame because Levinquick is just such a cool idea in theory.

Sandharrowed - When I find an RPG that has a functional grapple system, I will let y’all know. As it stands, Sandharrowed’s Blessing is both incredibly narrow (even if grappling DID work, which it absolutely does not) and kinda a head-scratcher as far as physical themes or metaphorical ones go. I really don’t know what to suggest here beyond ‘anything but this’. Airtouched, Dual Kithing into Earthbones maybe? Air/Fire? Something.

You’re the Queen? Well I Didn’t Vote For You - Lost’s Canon Elementals

So: Elementals are quite bad at all social situations, and especially in those required for leadership considering that their penalty to Empathy makes it harder for them to detect bullshit, be judges of character, recognize the needs of their subjects, and get into the minds of their enemies. That in mind, what are the canon Elementals in the run of Changeling: the Lost 1e - ‘canon’ in this context meaning with fully available statistics that make them ready to use?

- Jack Tallow, a Spring Court Fireheart, who is...primarily Social...spending his time openly inciting revolution against Grandfather Thunder and attempting to talk his way out of trouble. Okay. Like, he’s bad at it and this is the sample character, the example White Wolf gives of how you yourself should make characters (a bad example, at that), but surely the next will be - - Rose Thorn, the Queen of Spring in Miami and a Woodblood, who is known for her...inspiring leadership...and...empathy...hold up...

- Grandfather Thunder, the King of Endless Summer, another Fireheart Elemental. THIS guy is known for his cunning, tactical acumen, ruthless ambition, and raw, unbridled rage. He’s probably the only one of the lot that’s a plausible Elemental ruler. It helps that Thunder was a founding Freehold member, but Summer’s strict chain of command and tendency to favor Mental and Physical attributes over Social in leadership definitely does him favors here.

- Aeolian (The Rose Bride’s Plight), a Spring Airtouched, also a Queen, who for reasons never broken down in the adventure has a dice pool of fucking SIXTEEN to try and trap people into Pledges. She is an abusive and nakedly evil Queen who enslaves her subjects with the word-bond and is known for her fast-talking and being good at all the things Elementals are bad at but surely our last one will be an iconic and helpful example of an Elemental, ri-

- Green-Eyed Gerta, the Queen of Jealousy, ANOTHER Spring monarch and our second evil one: a seductive (???) and charming (??????) Mannikin with a severe abandonment complex, who pacted with a Fae to drive a former lover mad.

And that’s it. That’s all the printed Elementals. And with maybe one exception, who comes from fucking Miami, a setting that should not have been written at the time it was for reasons I might get into in its own article, they’re all garbage. That one exception, Grandfather Thunder, is still an unusual case in and of himself, and as a result should not have been the only fucking poster child of this Seeming.

But Vox, you say, surely this is one of the reasons you’re writing this article? Well, yeah, it is, but I bring it up specifically because for the other Seemings there’s at least a solid base to start with in terms of canon representation. You can look at other Fairest, or Darklings, or Beasts that have been published and get a bit of an idea of what they’re “usually” like. That doesn’t mean yours has to be or even should be like that, but it does form a helpful point for discussion and inspiration! But Elemental has no such point of reference, and for a Seeming as incredibly diverse as it can be, such a reference point is more, not less, valuable. Unfortunately, WW’s writing advice in nWoD 1e had this tendency to encourage players to create characters that were, well...bad. Uninvolved in the plot, incompetent at their supposed specialties, disconnected from the game world, or some godawful combination of the above, and it is with this in mind that I want to counsel you to just kinda studiously ignore the published Elementals. It’s my hope that the contents of this article will be enough to help guide you along in creating your own Elementals if you’re stuck or just kinda lost, but if they’re not, please, feel free to let me know.

Assigned Wizard At Homecoming - Elementals In The Courts

All Lost of all Seemings deal with greater or lesser amounts of prejudice when they join a Freehold, depending on the Freehold in question, and the stereotype that follows Elementals around is “WIZARDS! NO SENSE OF RIGHT AND WRONG!” It’s not entirely without reason; Elementals have native access to three of the most potent and versatile Contracts in all of Lost’s run, and depending on their selections and affinities the roles they can fill are staggering. Contracts of Elements alone can be used for information gathering, theft, sabotage, rescue, construction & demolition, straight combat, open warfare, disguise, home repair, gardening, and That Gay Witch Aesthetic, and that’s before we even touch Communion, Wild, any of the game’s other Contracts, or the fact that the majority of Elemental Kiths see huge returns for cranking their Wyrd like they’re trying to cold-start a Model T in Anchorage. Every Court could use the services of a powerful sorcerer in its baliwick, and almost all Elementals are theoretically capable of providing those services.

But just because the Courts would prefer that Elementals be big-shot wizards doesn’t mean they agree.

Elementals are more keenly aware than most Lost that there is no such thing as a non-magical Changeling, and the closest you get to the idea is a frightened victim trying to deny what’s happened to them, but for many Elementals the idea of following the Wyrd all the way down has a distinctly sour taste. They’re already distanced from mortals in ways that can be confusing, frustrating, and hurtful; why distance themselves further? Going further, institutions without a strong Elemental voice may not understand what they’re asking when they try to whistle up a wildfire or get someone’s bird bath to spy on them, and what those actions might mean to the Elementals they’re blithely attempting to order around. An Elemental might seek a primarily non-magical position in their Court as a way of grounding their humanity, or simply because they find the idea of such work more appealing than witchcraft.

None of which is to suggest that Elementals don’t also commonly fall into sorcerous roles. Even if their title doesn’t say ‘witch’ or ‘magi’, Elementals are likely to lean on magic to enhance their prowess because they, unlike their peers, cannot natively ‘flare’ their strengths. An Ogre knight can call upon her Seeming to intimidate people; an Elemental is more likely to invest in Contracts of Darkness to do the same, or else to get very good at meaningful looks while fingering weapons.

When it comes to selecting their Courts, Elementals often lean towards the ideological end of the scale. Though they, like Beasts, can be extremely sensitive to the seasonal nature of the Courts, Elementals tend to look to Courts for guidance on how to be a person again. After what could have been years of being an object instead, with their references to mortal behavior and mortal society severely damaged, Courts provide a much-needed sense of direction and purpose, a starting point for the all-important question of “who am I?”. Wise Courts help guide their youngblood Elementals, who are rather likely to adopt a performative identity (generally one rooted in their profession) in order to simplify social interactions in a way that makes it easier for everyone to understand each other; the important thing is not to stop this, but to ensure that it doesn’t get in the way of the Elemental’s recovery and journey towards the promise of their Court.

For obvious reasons you don’t see a lot of Elementals wearing the Crown or in general leadership positions, but you do see them in some. Autumn’s Witch of the Bitter Wind is often an Elemental, if not because of strict sorcerous prowess than because of going Full Sith Lord on the previous incumbent. Summer fields Elementals as Jaegers or leaders of knights, favoring tactical prowess and experience over their ability to inspire or politic. Elementals can make for ideal senior Squires in Winter, and can excel as Icebound Armigers with the right Thane to handle them - or enough raw stoicism to negate awkward social encounters before they can start. When looking for Elementals in positions of power and responsibility, try positions that favor intellect, experience, and diligence rather than those predicated on good social skills. Like Wizened, Elementals are common secondary combatants; even if they weren’t inclined to fight tooth and nail to never be literally turned into objects again, figures like the Arrayer of Distant Thunder are exactly as erect for the powerful sorceries of Elementals as everyone else is.

Spring - Elementals don’t often rise to prominence in Spring, for rather obvious reasons, but perversely are among those Seemings most likely to choose Spring as a first Court. Spring’s promise of renewal can be very attractive to Elementals, who then prove completely immune to the subtle attempts to snub them out of the Court by virtue of not noticing the slights to begin with. Many of Spring’s off-brand roles (such as “warrior”) are filled by Elementals just trying to earnestly live their truth, which is not to say that Elementals don’t sometimes make a splash in the Emerald Court as masters of high ritual or keepers of grand Hollows.

Summer - The Court of Wrath has many tactical and logistical needs, and God damn if Elementals can’t provide a ton of them in a single package. Summer puts a lot of effort into recruiting Elementals so that it can use their talents to secure places of power, shore up defensive positions, call tame wildfires down on hobgoblin invaders, create distractions for assaults, and anything else the Crimson Court can think of. The culture of brotherhood and military honor that Summer provides can be equally attractive to Elementals, who find in Summer an identity they can feel good about and which does not ask them to perform complex social niceties...until it does, anyway.

Autumn - Autumn is often of two or three minds about Elementals. On the one hand, they make for incredible sorcerers and Autumn has a strong interest in recruiting those who want to fulfill that potential. On the other hand, Fear is a powerfully intimate emotion, and while Elementals are capable of putting on a good game face they often struggle to achieve the intimacy necessary to understand the Fears of others. And on the third mutant hand growing right out of Autumn’s chest, the Leaden Mirror has powerful needs both social and intellectual at all times, and must balance such factions within itself to maintain its identity. An Autumn with a high Elemental population is likely a somewhat visibly calmer one, with strong similarities to an academic institution in how it comports itself; one with a lower Elemental population is still likely to have some rather explosive Elemental personalities placed highly within it, by virtue of their powerful lore and merciless wills.

Winter - While almost all Lost dally with Winter for a time after their Homecoming, Elementals are among those who dally for the shortest time unless they’re inclined to stay. So much of what they are is obvious and bombastic that it can be difficult for them to feel like they belong. For those who can shake those feelings, Winter puts just as much value in their services - and is much more up front about payment for those services - as its peers do. Winter’s strict culture of humility and silence can be attractive to those Elementals who feel insecure about their difficulties with mortal and Lost society; in time, the Coldest Court may even be able to coax them from their shells.

Fuck, I Forgot How To Person - Elementals And Changeling’s Themes

All Lost need the help and support of their fellows to make a new home on Earth again, but Elementals need it more than most in some ways. Though I’ve brought up their potential to represent the autistic experience (and I’m going to keep bringing it up because this Seeming is among the strongest candidates for it), Elemental is good for any experience of abuse and trauma which changes how a person is capable of relating to society. The person who grew up bent beneath inhuman expectations and the guilt they felt for not meeting them is an Elemental. The person who learns to dissociate in order to function in stressful situations they cannot escape is an Elemental, as is someone so used to being ignored and neglected for their chronic pain that the concept of genuine compassion from the medical establishment is alien to them. Where Wizened embody those whose lives are destroyed by oppressive economic systems, Elementals are those crushed beneath the weight of oppressive social systems that value the appearance of normalcy over genuine health and happiness.

While Elementals can feel disconnected even from their peers (not just because their experiences are different, but because they have difficulty mentally and emotionally envisioning those different experiences), their greatest struggle is with mortal society - which, in this metaphor, is the wider body of neurotypical people. Their fellow Lost at least have a jumping-off point when it comes to understanding and communicating with Elementals, but ‘normal’ people do not, and it is all too easy for them to callously mistake an Elemental’s struggles for deliberate rudeness or malice. In response to this constant rejection and exclusion, many Elementals develop maladaptive coping mechanisms which they then struggle to shake once they find the acceptance they were seeking, ranging from deliberate isolation to dissociation or even, in extreme cases, retreating into power fantasies (”people only hate me because I’m better than them”). While Fairest get all the press in the books for being prone to going back to Arcadia (and that’s its own bag of absolute bullshit that we’ll be addressing in their article), it’s Elementals that can find the idea of complete separation from mortal society to be the most attractive. For too many, trying to relate to the rest of humanity is traumatic in itself.

Autism isn’t the only set of troubles Elementals are primed to embody; almost any kind of neurodivergence which leads to trauma fits very easily into the Seeming’s mechanics and themes, in large part because society is absolute garbage about this topic no matter what your troubles are. Schizophrenia (which causes disconnects in what perception and symbolism mean to a person vs. what they mean to wider society) & ADHD (which is often ‘treated’ in ways ultimately harmful to the person who has it, with long-lasting side effects), among others, are also prime for depiction as Elementals. More physical problems such as chronic pain, fibromyalgia, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, or multiple sclerosis, might also be represented by this Seeming, again because - and I cannot stress this enough - society is garbage; victims of these conditions are often disbelieved, pushed to harm themselves to meet societal expectations, and neglected or abused by those skeptical of their condition or its severity (including family members), and the resulting trauma & its attendant effects stalk them for the rest of their lives. If you’re looking to draw out those themes of medical problems and their life effects, consider using your Blessing more often than you otherwise might (representing the push to try and “function” and its attendant consequences).

Keep in mind that all Elementals are more than their magic, whether that’s their Kith or their Contracts. I’m not here to tell you that you’re playing the game wrong as long as your group is having fun and not hurting anyone, but overt focus on the power of Elemental magic definitely leaves a lot of their potential just sitting on the table. I highly encourage you to ask yourself questions about how your Elemental characters think, feel, and believe. What is their relationship to their element and how does that shape their use of Contracts? What confuses them the most about other people? Do they resent that thing, want it for themselves, maybe just yearn to understand it? What kind of identity has your Elemental chosen to adopt and why have they decided to try to be that person? Do they miss their mortal life, and whether or not they do, how do they feel about that? There’s a lot to explore here, and the best part is that exploring it doesn’t mean you can’t still cast fireball.

Sir, That Is My Emotional Support Belle Dame Sans Merci - Coping As An Elemental

Relating to society - wider mortal society, Freehold society, and most often both - is the great challenge that Elementals face. Most remember at least some helpful things - what pants are for, why you don’t just kick in the door to strangers’ houses, stealing is wrong, that kind of thing - but when it comes to the day-to-day social cues and actions needed to navigate a job, one’s school, a party, or even just kinda sitting at a bar, Elementals’ problems with mis-reading signals or even failing to detect them entirely rise to the fore. Accordingly, Elementals seeking to cope with their return to Earth seek out social solutions to these problems.

There are suggestions in the books that Fairest tend to exoticize or fetishize Elementals; I’m gonna need you to throw that concept in the garbage next to the Magister of Nightmares (So You Want To Run An Autumn Court) and the canon description of the Sage Escort (So You Want To Run A Spring Court). That said, there is something there in the idea that the relationship between Darklings and Elementals, as well as Fairest and Elementals, is different from how those two relate to other Seemings. For Darklings and Fairest, Elementals can often represent someone around whom they can let down their guard; someone who is honest (even if that honesty is just because they’re real bad at lying) and, often, straightforward. For Seemings so consumed with performative social and emotional expression, whose anxieties and fears center around those expressions, a friendship with someone for whom they do not have to perform can be one of the most precious things in their life - something to kill for, if need be. Elementals, in turn, can rely on such friends (including friends of other Seemings, of course, though not usually Wizened because of that Seeming’s own problems navigating society) for help translating the confusing world that is Other People; to trust them to be honest in turn and to help the Elemental back the fuck out of situations in which they have managed to deepthroat their own foot. It doesn’t always work out so neatly (everyone involved has their own troubles and trauma, their own emotions and needs, and like all human and post-human relationships such things cause Drama), but it works out enough.

This focus on friendships and social identity follows Elementals elsewhere. Adopting a performative identity, especially a collective one, gives them guidance on how to interact with other people and helps them establish a routine for their day-to-day. An Elemental that becomes a Knight of Summer knows what’s expected of them and can then perform those expectations, and count on their fellow Knights for assistance and advice; likewise, joining Entitlements, or seeking prestigious offices like the Witch of the Bitter Wind can similarly set expectations. It doesn’t alleviate all of an Elemental’s social problems, of course, but it at least gives a place to start. Shuffling which hat they’re wearing at what time can be exhausting, as it can be for anyone, but the value of those hats cannot be overstated.

When it comes to their physical environment, Elementals are often less concerned with it than Beasts or Wizened. They do tend to lean towards locations that are strong in their element or in which they can be close to it (as an easy example, all other things being equal, most Firehearts will choose an apartment with a working fireplace over one without a fireplace) and to decorate and appoint their homes in ways reminiscent of that element. An Airtouched is likely to have gauzy curtains, open windows, windchimes, glass decorations, relatively light furniture, and the like, whereas a Snowskin’s home may seem like a winter cottage no matter what time of year it is. For those Elementals that are skilled in Communion and/or Wild, their ability to establish a place of power rivals that of Beasts; those who invade such a sorcerer’s home quickly find that the doorknobs are trying to kill them, and the kitchen knives move on their own. Attempts by Elementals to deny these tendencies in themselves traditionally end poorly. Whether they like it or not - and their feelings on the matter are often complicated at best - the Elemental has an affinity with their element, a relationship which inherently brings a feeling of comfort and kinship. Trying to reject that relationship only makes them unhappy on purpose.

With a place to live in and friends made, Elementals then have to actually figure out what to do with the arc of their lives. This can be...challenging. For those with unfinished business from their mortal lives, finishing such business and making decisions about it can be a great initial goal, but eventually all Elementals come back around to the idea of making something of themselves in the context of their Freehold. That isn’t to say that Elementals lack ambition or desires, but rather that articulating such desires, even to themselves, can often be difficult. Many Elementals don’t know what they want or why they want it, and without outside guidance end up spinning their wheels in the lower ranks of their Courts without comprehending either why they have done this or why it has made them unhappy. Here, as well, an Elemental’s Motley, friends, mentors, and/or romantic partners provide invaluable insight and direction. No Seeming proves the truism that isolation leads to shredded Clarity more clearly than Elementals.

Example Elemental - Ripley “Rip” Tide, Summer Waterborn

Jaeger Rip Tide is a coastal-dwelling Summer Courtier who, unusually for their Court, travels quite a bit. They keep a home in one Freehold to which they ostensibly belong, but are rarely there; they take bounties on Hedge beasts, exiled True Fae, and water monsters of all kinds from five separate Freeholds, all of whom have either appointed Rip their Jaeger or else just not made an argument about it when they’ve introduced themselves as such. Rip keeps two Hedge Beasts (”professional associates”), twin eels who introduce themselves as Port & Starboard, which run messages to and from the busy hunter and help Rip with particularly difficult quarries. The sight of their gem-like teeth, or Rip themself (coming in at a clean six-foot-six and never found without their thorn-and-steel fishing spear) is a sight for sore eyes to the Freeholds that the Jaeger services.

Lately, though, Rip’s been under pressure that they don’t really understand. Their ‘native’ Freehold wants them home more often or to at least take time from hunting to train an apprentice, both things Rip does not want to do. People need their help, right? Rip can reach those people easily, right? So what’s the problem? As far as Rip is concerned, their job is to Protect The Weak, not just a particular subset of The Weak. If someone doesn’t manage to defuse the situation, the Jaeger is going to end up exiled or worse over the sheer unwitting indignity of it all.

As with all of my articles, I welcome questions, comments, discussion, feedback, and criticisms. Please, feel free to reblog if you’re feelin’ it!

Next up: Ogres

#Changeling: the Lost #Seemings #RPG #Elemental #abuse #trauma #torture #transformation #autism

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redheadnamedabigail13 · 5 years ago

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