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fuckyeahharryhart · 4 years ago

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PART 2 HARRY HART FAN FICTION Because they better give him a good story for the last Kingsman. In case they don’t, I wrote something myself.

PART 2

FAN FIC

KINGSMAN III: REDACTED

MULTI PART SERIES:(My version of Kingsman 3)

Harry Hart x Original Character

Warnings: Reference to violence

Word Count: 5,900

OVERVIEW: After the events of Kingsman, The Golden Circle, Harry, Eggsy and the rest of the survivors rebuild their agency to it’s former level of integrity. A new player arrives unexpectedly, carrying memories of the past that will change the future of Kingsman.

CHAPTER SUMMARY: Harry and Eggsy try to discover who this new players is, how they were at the right place and the right time, and what they know about kingsman. A marksman of that caliber isn't someone to take lightly.

------

Bloody hell. Harry's hand was still stinging with heated pain from having his key fob, of all bloody things, shot out of hand. His knee was out of sorts from dropping, face down, to the pavement. Hearing gunshots ring out from, not one, but two different directions did not improve his mood or his state of mind. Continuing to roll as he hit the ground, he switched to his side so he could draw his weapon. But first, he turned toward the direction of the original fire. That was the shooter who caught his interest. A marksman with the precision to shoot a key fob from that distance, within centimetres of his hand without (well without significant) injury was someone not to underestimate. He could make a shot like that. He had plenty of times at the Kingsman shooting range. But that was aiming at a non-moving target in a controlled environment, under the best of circumstances. The only other time he fired a shot that exacting was in Cambodia. While wrestling a certain Agent Whiskey for control of a firearm, he was able to free Eggsy from a lasso looped around his neck by shooting clean through the rope. He assumed landing that shot was 1/4 luck, 1/4 technique and 1/2 his sheer force of will.

Very few marksman possessed the natural talent, training and skill to land that shot. Even less in London proper and he was almost certain that all of those individuals even close to that level, were under Kingsman’s employ.

Under the cover of shadows and partially hidden by a gate column, he spotted the shooter. At the same time, the shooter spotted him and they made split second eye contact. Obviously, the shooter did not want to be witnessed judging from the displeased look that he had noted. But rather than ducking out of view, they kept their stance, provided cover fire until the area was cleared and the threat was gone. And then, without a moments hesitation, the person holstered their weapon and turned abruptly in the opposite direction and began to walk off with long, measured steps. He and Eggsy dusted themselves, gestured to the other, nodded and made off in opposite directions in the attempt to cut the person off at the path. As he smoothed down his suit and adjusted his cuffs, he was quite certain that he was never going to enjoy a peaceful evening again.

——

She didn’t waste valuable seconds checking her phone, grateful that she took the extra time to map her locations in her head. Quickly referring to her orientation, she saw three viable options. Directly in front of her was the Royal Academy. Though it was vast and beautiful and filled with courtyards and eaves, arches, doorways, ideal to drop a tail, it was also closed and quiet. There was no crowd to get lost in. A single person moving in that space would surely be noticed.

She weighed her two other options against each other. Both were about equal in distance. No more than a 10 min walk in either direction. To her right was Mayfair. Situated in the heart of the city, it was one of the most expensive and exclusive areas of London with swanky five-star hotels, shops, restaurants, bars and pubs. Bond Street was sure to be packed with people enjoying the nightlife. Perhaps in another lifetime she could enjoy an evening out in such a place. Not at the moment.

On the plus side, the streets were more random, intersecting at odd places, without the usual grid format. That gave her more exit options. They would less likely follow the same path. Downside, as much as she would enjoy an elegant evening out, she was not appropriately attired. Of course, there would be the usual strong of tourists and visitors that would be similarly inappropriately attired. Even though she would blend in with part of the crowd, she didn’t want to stand out in anyway. Plus, if she needed to tuck into a shop or a restaurant, she wanted to blend with the locals and not the tourists. And she wasn’t going to do that with her nondescript outfit. Or, she would find herself in a situation where someone would ask to take her jacket. She would have to politely refuse because of her shoulder holster and her gun. They would insist. Then it would become an uncomfortable situation for everyone involved. Awkward and uncomfortable would be hard NOT to notice.

A ten minute walk to her left would drop her in ever trendy Soho. A little louder, a little more rowdy and relaxed, Soho was more happy hour than cocktail hour. The way there would have more traffic, both car and pedestrian, but it was also more direct and brightly lit. More importantly, she would be able to blend with the locals, not just the tourists. Maybe even slip into a pub or bar for the glass of wine she so desperately could use. There would be more viable places to manuever, evade, and find cover. More opportunity to lose a tail. And less likely for a messy confrontation.

Though she didn’t stick around long enough, she was fairly certain that the two men were following her. She kept in mind that they were trained with the same skills and likely had the same natural talent and instincts as she did. Part of her plan was to move slightly against instinct, find the ideal move and then, proceed with something slightly different. But they had to be thinking the same thing.

Shit. The shooters might still be in the area. Depending on whether or not they had backup, if this was an isolated threat on a personal level or if was on an organisational level, she couldn’t be sure that the coast was clear in that direction. When in doubt, take precaution. There were too many unknowns, too many unanswered questions and her preference was to get away without further contact. Since she couldn’t do it clean, she wanted to avoid any additional messiness.

Typical, she thought, making her way through the last of the shoppers and the first of the evening revellers. At the moment she was making progress and feeling more in control of her circumstances, some prick with a gun comes in and has to spray bullets over all the blocks that she spent the last month building. With care and precision, she arranged and rearranged, stacking and re-stacking, until she had created a platform where she could make her move. All her variables were in place. She calculated the possible outcomes and was so close to having a plan. There was some satisfaction, knowing that she had put an equal damper on their scheme, but when success of their plan meant the death of two people, and her plans would only work if those two people were alive, It didn’t leave her much of a choice.

Evasion was as much about mindset as it was movement. She took a mental pause, reset her outlook. Plans only fail if you allowed them to fail. Plans change and hers just did. Focus on clearing out first and then she could regroup and consider her options. If she let her frustrations distract her, she would end up missing details and she had not come this far to make bad decisions. Even in the smallest circumstances, she learned how to turn off emotions, cutting off thoughts and inconvenient emotions. Unfortunately, it was usually the thoughts about the situation she was in, that caused troubling emotions, such as her frustration at the turn of events. But if she walled off those thoughts for the time being, she would be more likely to operate with logic and clarity.

To her advantage, she had a head start, she knew the situation she was dealing with, two known variables on her tail, one unknown threat that could possibly be armed and still in the area. Likely, all three of them knew the area so there was no upper hand in that case. Two would be on foot, probably split to cover more area. It was to her disadvantage that there were two of them, but would be easier to confront them individually if it came to that.

She assumed that they also saw her as a threat. Regardless whether or not her actions had saved their lives, she was still an unknown, an armed and dangerous, one at that. She had to expect hostility, possibly aggression if confronted. It was a situation she would prefer to avoid.

Her steps were light and relaxed. She paced herself neither too fast, nor too slow. Rushing would call attention. She avoided looking around overtly, but she used her periphery to scan the people and places around her. On the plus side, two handsome men in Saville Row bespoke would definitely turn heads. Especially the tall one, who stood inches over the average person. They couldn’t take off their suit coats either. Not with their own weapons and shoulder holsters.

She took a quick left off the main road. A few blocks over and then she could make another turn toward Soho and break up the straight line she was currently traveling. Maybe stop in Central for a quick diversion. Stay on the move. Be aware of her surroundings. Those were her two priorities. Casually checking her 360 along the way by using any reflections she saw, footsteps, noises she heard, neck stretching every few steps to check blind spots. And for a little while, she did just fine.

That is, until she found herself caught in a standing rear choke hold. Fuck.

———

Wherever the hell this person had materialised from, Harry thought, these were not the customs of a novice agent. From weaponry, tactics and evasion, their actions were one hundred percent on point. They should be only a suggestion in the wind by now. The single reason he was able to catch them unaware was because of new Kingsman tech. Just developed, airborne nano GPS trackers. Designed to mark a large group of targets from a distance, they were tiny particles, almost invisible by the naked eye. Programmed to navigate toward the wavelengths of infrared radiation emitted by the human body, specifically at the signature of 12 micron. Best for outdoor use, or in large open spaces, these capsules were broken and released into the air where the prevailing wind would transport the nano GPS transmitters and attach to the nearest known radiation signature. The tracking range could vary depending on the windspeed, air density and how many capsules were released. They were handy to track large crowd movement, not typically used to track a single person. But it was all he had on hand. Since the street was empty at the time, they had a good chance that some GPS attached. Using the process of elimination to rule out unintentional attachments, they could isolated the movement they were looking for. They were looking for someone who moved like a spy.

This person, whoever they were, made all of the decisions that he would have and then added some surprise evasion tactics that he wouldn’t have thought of. They surely would have gotten away if not for the trackers. It wasn’t absolutely necessary that they locate the person. But they were an unknown entity. He wasn’t sure if they were an adversary, an ally, or a neutral player. Neutral players were not known for being experts at tradecraft. That left adversary or ally. With the events of the past two years and the most recent destruction of Kingsman by the Golden Circle, unanswered questions usually returned on their own, carrying an unfavourable answer. Granted, the person saved their lives, but they already knew too much of Kingsman. Knew of threats of which Kingsman was not aware. So when chance invited him to make a move, to quietly sneak behind the person at the last second, he took it.

——

This is not why I spent four weeks planning, she fumed silently. Her mood was grim. Of course it would be at this exact moment that she registered the slightest contact from behind, like a passing breeze brushing against her. But she knew displaced air when she felt it. Based on her position, facing forward, added to the position he was in, directly behind her, also facing forward, that would have to equal a rear standing choke hold. Instantly, she countered, dropping her chin to her chest like it belonged there, denying him the chance to press his forearm against the front of her neck. A chokehold had two purposes, either to crush the windpipe, resulting in death. Not the outcome she was looking for. Or, to cut off blood to the brain via the carotid artery, leaving her unconscious. Which wasn’t much of a consolation prize. Either way, she had just about 12 seconds to act. Since both options were less than desirable, she shielded her throat as best she could and waited for the window were she could counter like a small, but fierce animal.

The strength of his grip said that he wasn’t going for either option, but told her he using the hold as a restraint. So, she had that going for her, she thought darkly. Yet, he still had the capacity to follow through on either option. There was no give to his grip. Twisting out of the hold was not an option without more leeway. Not one to be held in a vulnerable position, her goal was to escape. Several ways presented themselves, few of which incorporated an unrestrained elbow or kick to the groin. Her aim was not to incapacitate, regardless of how satisfying that may be, but to extricate herself.

Based on sheer size and strength, she was highly disadvantaged. But, as a woman in the field, only relying on your strength, you’d get beaten every time. Women didn’t have to fight harder. They had to fight smarter. Not only did she have to use her size and weight to her advantage, she had to use his size and strength against him. With the obvious discrepancy in height, not that she was short. Five foot nine made her taller than average, but at 6’ 2”, he was also taller than average. Her best option? Leverage. Literally. Use him as lever. It was the move where he would be at a disadvantage and she would have the clear advantage. There was some consolation to be found, knowing they were also expert spies, but not enough to spare herself the embarrassment of being caught. Summoning her nerve, one deep inhalation, she thought, and she would be ready.

He smells nice.

The thought landed without warning. It didn’t merely land. It hit her. It hit her hard and with feeling. Her concentration stuttered. It was the scent of wood, leather, spices and a hint of something warm, rich and slightly sweet, like a velvety dark chocolate. And then there was a breath of something unexpected. A note she couldn’t identify. It was him, she realised. That was his smell. It was a good smell. A masculine smell. She was suddenly aware of his wool suit against her chin. She noticed the pinstripes against a navy as dark as the sky. The crisp white of his French shirt cuffs and the gold of his cufflinks that held them in place.

Her senses were wide open. They always were on hyperdrive when she was out in the field. That was expected. She relied on them to send her signs that she didn’t have the time to look for. But now, they were receiving all the wrong signals and sending all the wrong messages. Intensely. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the shadow of his hand. His large, wide palm was warm on the back of her neck. By pressing her neck forward and down, it was this hand that locked the chokehold in place.

What the hell? she thought. She felt the strength of his forearms underneath her own palms. Her hands were gripping him so tightly she could feel the cords of muscle through his sleeve. Suddenly, her body became all too aware of his own. The sensation of him, the entire length of his body against hers, awakened her own. He wasn’t just standing behind her, he was bearing the whole of his body into hers. Thus, she was counter balancing with equal force. Generating heat and pressure between them. Realising how close, how intimate, how physical, literally, their contact was at that moment, overwhelmed her reason, her logic, her objectivity. And most of all, she was aware of the man behind her. Not as a target, or a mark, or a tail or a problem to be solved. It was him. It was Harry Hart.

He must have sensed a slight shift in her energy because once that random, startling thought struck home, she didn’t dare move until she knew where it was heading and what she was going to do with it. She probably stopped breathing. Maybe that’s what he noticed because all of a sudden she felt dizzy and lightheaded. Maybe he was holding her a little tighter than she thought. He must have noticed a change because just as suddenly, his grip loosed by a fraction, not enough to escape, but enough to jar her back to the present. He was confusing her and she was angry at being confused.

She was on pause and someone had just hit the reset button. Instantly, she made her next move and she went into action fully committed. There was no hesitation in a move like this. To her advantage, their height difference meant that he had to lean down slightly to get his forearm around her neck, which shifted his center of gravity slightly forward. With his tight grip, she pushed against it, creating the energy of opposing forces to gain momentum. With her neck guarded by her chin, she quickly dropped down to one knee, gripped tightly onto his wrists and forearms, leaned back into him to get the tiniest bit of additional momentum, and then bent forward as sharply as she could from her waist, throwing the full force of her weight into the move and tucking in as tight as possible. Sure enough, with his weight already off center, using her body as a fulcrum, a pivot point, and using his height as a lever, she forced him to tumble over her head.

Normally, after a move such as this, that put her at a tactically advantageous position, she would either evade or go in for an attack move and neutralise the threat. This was not the way she wanted to introduce herself to these two men, but it looked like fate wasn’t giving her any options. She was not prepared for this situation. She didn’t have claim over the next move. It could be either of theirs. Brushing her hair away from her eyes, she cursed herself for not having a hair tie, of all things. She paused for a moment. Her cap got knocked off during her manoeuvre. Wonderful, all these identifiers, now facial features, and the damn hair. She should handover her passport and smartphone and just get it over with. How did this evening turn so sideways?

She took a mental pause. Footsteps. His colleague. Who didn’t know what he was walking into. She quite certain it did not look like afternoon tea.

When she heard the brushing noise of a weapon being pulled out of its holster she went back on high alert. They had most definitely past the “direct contact” portion of the evening. As much as she did not want to do them harm, she was more than willing to talk, she equally, did not want to be on the interrogation end of a gun. She had another split second to decide her course of action. Two was much more complicated.

All three of them knew the rules of weaponry in the field and in engagement. Never pull a gun in a circumstance you’re not willing to use it. Never aim at a target you’re not willing to shoot. It wouldn’t have been her first choice, but when she had a lethal weapon aimed in her direction, it left her with few options.

She never had an opportunity to use it before, but it was ideal for this circumstance and what she had planned. She palmed her carbonfiber graphene tactical knife, short, less than 5”in length, from its discreet sleeve at her hip. It’s description stated, “A device for specific close quarters combat manoeuvres in very focused special circumstance scenarios with high impact.” This circumstance would fall under that category, she thought.

The upper hand was all she needed to gain, to have a moment where they would be forced to listen to her. Grace, eloquence… She tossed those out the proverbial window. Her words would have the hardest strike. The most impact. Not her knife, not her gun, not any weapon. Now was not the time for finesse. Once again, she had to turn shitty odds in her favours before the man she just flipped could reorient himself. She wanted to be sorry that it had come to this, but she was just making her counter move. It didn’t matter if it was personal or not. This part, at least for her, was the business aspect of her work. Similar to negotiating a deal, but using weapons and lives as bargaining points.

The knife firmly in her grip, she raised the blade and held its lethal edge against his carotid artery with enough pressure to be VERY uncomfortable, and almost, but not break skin. He was smart and followed the direction guided by pressure of her blade hand and rose with her to a standing position. She stood behind him, angled slightly toward one side. He knew that any counter move on his part, which there were many he could take, and in this case his strength and mass would be at his advantage. She was in a very vulnerable physical position and he could take her down easily. If it weren’t for the knife at the side of his neck. The blade was very small, very light and most of all, it was very, very sharp and designed for close, personal combat. Easy to handle, low pressure point. Which meant, whether or not his move disabled her he would, no doubt, be pulling away with nothing less than a very serious neck wound.

“Stop.” she called out firmly. “Gun down on the ground.”

The man who was under her knife, indicated, Do what she says.

He placed his gun on the ground and stood with his hands in the air.

She knew he was weighing his options, just as she did her own.

Her voice was clear and just loud enough so he could hear her where he stood.

Seriously, like this was what she needed. Did they really have to go through all this fuss? Spies could be exhausting.

“I know what you’re thinking.”

She kept her voice conversational. Of no consequence or concern and certainly not threatening.

“Do you have enough time to disarm me and get help for your friend, Harry, before he bleeds out?”

She felt the slightest flinch when he heard the sound of his name. Not Arthur or Galahad. His given name.

“You’re quite fast, Eggsy, but not that fast.”

Now Eggsy’s turn as his eyes narrowed both suspicious and surprised. Not Galahad. Not even Gary, but Eggsy.

Ok, making progress, she thought. She had just shown her first card. She knew exactly who they were. Not just their code names. Their real ones.

To drive her point home. “Just the tiniest amount of pressure on his carotid artery, thats all I need. 68 seconds until he loses consciousness. My knife, which you probably can’t see from where you are standing, but he can certainly feel,” she nodded her head toward Harry, “is designed to pierce fast and deep. If I had a regular blade, he might come out clean, but not with this one. Please, sincerely, think twice, for his sake, about making any sudden movements.”

Good. Neither of them made an attempt to move. Not even a twinge. She continued. She didn’t know how long the odds would be in her favour. At this point, she was playing fast and loose. Something she rarely did and she was not used to. One of her biggest strengths was her ability to prepare. This was not a scenario that she had imagined.

“I know either of you could disable me, but not without me doing a fair amount of damage first.”

It wouldn’t be her first choice to do harm, but she was in no mood for additional fuckery and she wanted to make it abundantly clear that, though she was no match for them in terms of brute strength, she had plenty of ways to dominate a fight using strategy. She wasn’t stronger, but she could be smarter. She wasn’t above shedding blood to prove that she was not to be underestimated.

“I didn’t start this fight, but I’m more than happy to finish it.”

She added, “You see how well trained I am. You should be asking yourself why i haven’t killed him, or either of you, already.”

Did they really have to be so obstinate? Obstreperous. Truculent? They should have been asking themselves that question after she took the first shot. They could very easily be dead right now if it were not for her. She needed to prove to them she was not a threat to their lives. Against all of her training, she laid her second card down.

“And ask yourself,” she repeated. “perhaps why, then, I would let him go.”

Very carefully, very slowly, and very deliberately, she softened the pressure against his neck until the blade was no longer making contact. She continued to draw it far away from him, far enough to clear so not to do any damage, before she began to lower it. She took a few steps back, hands up, the knife still visible in her right, but with a carry hold, not an active grip.

Imagine her surprise when Harry turned on her, twisted her wrist until she had to drop the knife. Not without force. She resisted the split second she saw what was happening. She knew in this case, she didn’t have an immediate out, but that didn’t mean she had to make it easy for him. Rather than conserving her energy, she fought him and fought him with force, until she saw his face grimace with the effort.

Good, she thought.

She made some pretty satisfying contact before he was able to push her all the way back against the red brick warehouse. The wall gave her less room to maneuver. She landed one last, very satisfying kick to his shin. It wasn’t a fancy move. There was no technique involved. She just put all her grit behind that single kick and the connection she made was very gratifying, despite her situation. She hoped it left huge bruise to remember her by. It was obviously painful and hurt him enough that he shoved her away fairly hard. The back of her head knocked into the bricks with a force that she wouldn’t have considered gentlemanly.

Well, she did have a knife to his carotid just a few moments ago, she countered. She supposed turn about was fair play. This time, he was able to get his forearm across her throat and braced his right wrist with the circle of his left hand. Standing arm bar hold. She had no counter this time, seeing since Eggsy had his gun again and it being much harder to escape a bullet than a choke hold. So, that move did not have the impact that she thought it would.

She knew they had to have this conversation, but she was pissed. At them, but she admitted, begrudgingly, that she was mostly pissed at herself for letting her guard down. To be fair, they really had no idea who she was. And until they did, she would remain a threat. But she still had one more card. She was just waiting for the chance to use it.

——

What the bloody fuck had just happened? Harry Hart was not one to get caught off guard. But he was miffed that it happened this evening. Not only once, but three bloody times, and he had just quite enough of whatever fuckery was happening around him. First, the key fob, then the chokehold, then the bloody knife. Well, my dear, he thought, two can play this game. He wasn’t above fighting dirty. Sometimes the situation insisted on it. It seemed as if this was one of those times.

As soon as she let down her guard sufficiently enough for him to act, he twisted her arm, forcing her to drop the knife. But she wasn’t making things easier for him, or for herself, for that matter. Even though he clearly had the upper hand, she fought him the entire time. She, too, apparently wasn’t above a little dirty dealing when she landed a kick to his shin. A very hard, directed kick, not meant to disable, not in an attempt to escape, a kick just purely meant to cause him pain. A bit more than cheeky. He finally pushed her, maybe just a tad harder than he anticipated, until her head knocked back and hit the warehouse wall behind her. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Eggsy had taken the opportunity to retrieve his gun and provide cover. Her eyes quickly darted in the same direction, confirmed the same thing that he saw and then stared at him furiously. Whether the fury was directed toward him or to her change in circumstance, most likely both, he could not be certain.

Making sure his arm bar would prevent any further roughhousing, Harry spoke, adopting almost the same conversational tone as she had. She wasn’t sure if he was matching her tone to respect her or mock her. This time she felt free to show as much aggression as she felt like. There was no consequence at this point. She tossed her damn hair out of her face.

——

As she flipped her hair to the side, Harry, by instinct, began to document her features so, if needed, he could provide a detailed description of her should it ever become necessary. Tall, 5’ 8 1/2 - 9. Slim build, but athletic, lean muscular rather than simply thin. Age was hard to determine, she looked both very young, but her eyes, they were both wise and melancholy. A look that only came with time and experience. Her eyes seemed to say that they had already seen too much. She was anywhere from mid twenties to mid thirties. He noticed that her eyes were grey. Grey, and they had a slight almond shape to them. Tilted just enough to give her an air of mystery. Dark lashes, dark hair and much of it. Long. Wavy. It was shiny and looked very soft. Dusky fair skin with just an undertone of warm olive. Cheeks pink, with displeasure, he thought, or embarrassment, certainly not because she was flattered by the attention. Her mouth was small and delicate, her lips pressed together in a firm line. Also pink. She was quite becoming. Beautiful even. He tried to determine her ethnicity, but found himself unable to place her exotic, yet subtle, delicate features.

Harry caught himself. He wasn’t just documenting her features. It wasn’t bloody like him.These were not the most appropriate thoughts for the moment.

She noticed him noticing her. She didn’t know what he was noticing, so she grew even more frustrated. She obviously didn’t care about keeping her expressions to herself any longer. It was quite loud and clear what she was thinking. It was written all over her face.

He came back to his words. In his calm, deep voice, he asked her three simple questions.

“Who are you? Who do you work for, and why did you shoot at us?”

A firm set to her jaw and with equal composure, she answered his questions without hesitation, but in her own order.

“I” she emphasised, “didn’t shoot at you.” she added under her breath, “I was aiming for your key fob.”

“I work for no one.” She halted, her eyes pulling their full attention to hers.

She laid down her last card.

“My name is Gwendolyn Mycroft.” she took a meaningful pause. “My father saved your lives.”

Glancing between the two of them, she saw that, as she intended, she had hit home. She added.

‘So, I suggest you release me, and let us go to a place where we can discuss this in a more civilised manner.”

She saw that both of the men were in a state of shock. She could understand. The evening hadn’t gone the way she expected either. She waited for a response that was something other than a blank stare.

“Do you like scotch?” Eggsy asked.

Well, that was a good of a start as any.

-----

If you made it this far, Thanks for reading!! Comments, questions, likes are always appreciated. Always feel free to reblog.

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maverixcollective · 4 years ago

Text

DUAL PURPOSE

David Adjaye and A-Cold-Wall’s Samuel Ross on architecture, fashion, Covid-19, anti-racism, and the future of the creative industries

‘Architecture and fashion move away from each other, and then come really close, and then move away again,’ says Sir David Adjaye, on a video call from Accra. He is in conversation with Samuel Ross, stationed in London. It’s mid-summer and the world is in the grips of the Covid-19 pandemic and anti-racism protests. This is a transformative moment for both industries.

The architect behind the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Adjaye was recently commissioned to create Brixton’s Cherry Groce Memorial and Abu Dhabi’s Abrahamic Family House. He continues to work on the landmark Ghana National Cathedral, and champion new African architecture and architects.

Ross, who founded A-Cold-Wall* in 2015, is a rising star of the fashion industry. A natural master of cross-disciplinary collaboration, he has partnered with brands as wide-ranging as Nike (to create emergency blankets upcycled from plastic bottles, with aspirations to make them freely available in parks), Apple, Converse, Diesel, Oakley and Dr Martens, as well as recently establishing a grant fund for Black creatives.

Their discussion covered the impact of technology, localised production, the politicisation of architecture and fashion, anti-racism, the effects of pandemic, and the future of creative industries. Right after, they were photographed – Ross in person and Adjaye via video call – by Liz Johnson Artur, who has dedicated her three-decade career to documenting people of African descent.

Adjaye Associates’ design for the Abrahamic Family House on Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Island, comprising a mosque, a synagogue and a church.

Collaboration has long been key to Adjaye’s work. Artist Chris Ofili’s Within Reach, the British Pavilion at the 2003 Venice Biennale, designed with Adjaye and engineered by Charles Walker, Arup, featuring a glass sculpture titled Afro Kaleidoscope above the main gallery space.

Wallpaper*: How does the responsibility of creating lasting works – as opposed to ephemeral ideas –influence your designs and process?

DA: There’s a bit of a myth with this idea of permanence, because nothing is really permanent, not even architecture. It all ends up disappearing. Architecture [just] has a larger duration.

SR: It all comes down to having the ability to quantify if a product should exist, which goes back to functionality and use.

W*: As a discipline, architecture can be really slow, whereas fashion feels faster – but that’s not always the case as the after-effects can last a long time.

DA: Fashion seems to be absolutely immediate, but [its] impact might be in the way we look at the bodies of males and females. [Take] for example the work of Yves Saint Laurent: it’s profound, it changes and resonates through generations.

SR: Totally. I kind of look at fashion like a moving slipstream. This idea of [how garments can serve] changes from generation to generation, as times move forwards and as social movements move forwards.

‘I kind of look at fashion like a moving slipstream. This idea of [how garments can serve] changes from generation to generation, as times move forwards and as social movements move forwards.’ — Samuel Ross

W*: How do the materials you use embody the ideas that you want to portray in your work? Does sustainability play into your material choices?

SR: I’ve dabbled with technical and synthetic materials, although I’m moving into more sustainable materials. There is a movement happening within big tech that needs to be integrated into fabrication, which can then define fashion as a whole for the 21st century. Fashion should mean smart materials and patented weaves that are antibacterial, that cling and mould to the body, versus just being about a point of expression.

DA: In the built environment, we spent the 20th century industrialising, making very efficient materials that will get things done fast. With speed came excess and pollution and degradation and destruction. Now we are asking, how do we build responsibly? In architecture, we are talking about microbial issues and creating healthy environments. That’s become much more heightened with Covid-19. We have to look at the things that destroy the planet – pandemics and ecological collapses – and really be responsive. I’m working with communities here [in Accra] and discovering that compressed mud has incredible properties that we totally underestimated. We just assumed that it was primitive, but actually it’s one of the best performing and most abundant materials on the planet.

W*: How much of your work is about educating people in your respective professions, to push your industries forwards?

DA: With all design there is a kind of public role, especially if you’re interested in pushing the limits of your industry. You deliver things to the public, so the public needs to be able to hold you accountable. I taught for about a decade and then I stopped, because I was teaching in elite schools to kids who are already very privileged. Instead, now I mentor and I’m interested in finding emerging voices that are not getting attention, trying to support them or to help them think about their businesses in the early stages.

‘I chose architecture because it was part of a language that I felt was very much under-represented from the position of a person of colour within the global discourse. I felt that I had a lot to say and I wanted to be part of that conversation about how we make the contemporary world.’ — David Adjaye

A look from A-Cold-Wall’s pre-S/S21 collection.

Ross’ Beacon 1, presented at Serpentine Galleries as part of the 2019 Hublot Design Prize exhibition.

W*: How important has the role of mentor or mentee been in your career? When you started out, could you identify Black creatives you related to?

DA: A real hero for me when I started was Joe Casely-Hayford. He was simply a man of colour doing really excellent work. And I thought, ‘Why don’t we have that in other places?’ It actually drove me to want to do it. I have a stubborn disposition. To be faced with ‘You can’t do this because…’, well, the ‘because’ better be damn good! It made me angry when I was younger. I’m much more chilled out these days.

SR: Mentors have been seminal to my journey. I shifted my direction [from product and graphic design] towards fashion to be a little more expressive. At that time, Virgil [Abloh] and Kanye West happened to come across my work, and I started working underneath the two of them. They were great mentors, able to articulate between Western European and North American ideologies, whilst having an intrinsically Black imprint on the work they were producing. They took these references to an industry, cross-referenced them through channels of mass communication, and built a new language and discourse that a lot of designers of my generation now operate within. From these two mentors, I learned how to communicate ideas and to have this ‘scatter diagram’ approach to zig-zagging across industries.

‘For me, the act, the statement, the building, is always political, it’s always making a statement about the world that we are in, it’s always positioning an ideal of some sort. The building isn’t mute, it speaks volumes about a certain world value and morality.’ — David Adjaye

W*: In terms of communication, is fashion more inherently attuned to marketing, whereas architecture is built on letting the work speak for itself?

DA: Absolutely. There’s a desire to depoliticise architecture continually, and I fight against that all the time. For me, the act, the statement, the building, is always political, it’s always making a statement about the world that we are in, it’s always positioning an ideal of some sort. The building isn’t mute, it speaks volumes about a certain world value and morality.

SR: The work I showed at Serpentine Galleries [Ross won the 2019 Hublot Design Prize], and the work I’m soon to do with Marc Benda from Friedman Benda gallery, is about that. I’m pivoting towards the long form conversation, and how we stabilise and re-chisel the playing field for the next generation.

W*: How does collaboration enrich your work?

DA: When I left the Royal College of Art I missed not being in a campus environment. I would collaborate across disciplines, with a scientist or a musician. When I did the Venice Biennale with Chris Ofili in 2003, we flipped roles – I said, ‘you design and I’ll do the visuals’. It was amazing to see my now dear friend talking about architecture, to learn what was interesting to him. It teaches you different ways of seeing the world.

SR: I’m a moderately sized brand, so collaboration offers access to tooling and technology. It’s also about having an opportunity to push forwards a social consciousness. I’m thinking how I can carry as much information through a macro partner, let’s say Nike, without being too cumbersome: can I hijack a community to a certain degree and fix the attention?

Moving forward, the idea of showing collections needs to be completely rearticulated.’ — Samuel Ross

W*: Practically, has Covid-19 affected your business?

DA: I moved to Accra as I’m doing a lot of work in West Africa right now. This decade feels like the decade of Africa to me. This pandemic has unleashed this new connectivity that I’m very grateful for. I have three offices on different continents, and most of my time was spent moving between those. And now it’s become very technologically based. What’s kind of amazing is that it all works! Apart from the amazing aromas that you miss, I love the aroma of construction sites!

SR: We’ve decided not to do two shows a year any more. This idea of a continuous critique to an open market every six months when you’re building and growing didn’t necessarily sit right with me in the first place, but I was willing to participate and spar and win in that arena to show a more intellectual Black approach within fashion design. But moving forward, the idea of showing collections needs to be completely rearticulated. We are looking at more personable presentations, which almost feeds back into the early days, when counter-cultural movements actually began to swirl and churn around fashion brands. I’m becoming a bit more hands on with discourse with consumers. We’ve been able to compress and condense down the modelling of the company. And be more emotive and sensitive to market needs. And take a lot more risk. I’m hoping that it will kick start a few other contemporaries in a similar situation to ourselves.

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klngofdarkness · 5 years ago

Text

Discord Thread Archive - #2

This is a thread written on “Klonoa Party”, a server on Discord with Maxipawz, available on Twitter and DeviantART.

Characters: Lephise, Ghadius

Setting/s: Kingdom of Cress

Notes: This thread takes place shortly after Klonoa: Door To Phantomile and this thread.

@driftstar13

"Interesting..." A haunting voice echoed through the hallways as an unfamiliar figure wandered them, lost in thought as he pondered how fae had him continue to exist. Luck wouldn't be smiling upon him today. would it? No, it was too good to be true. "What happened... is quite interesting." He seemed to mumble to himself aloud.

@maxipawz

A figure of much smaller stature was trailing right behind the strange person. She seemed to look a little more carefree, even twirling around one, letting her ponytails swing around. "Ahh...goodness, early day, and the sun's already out..."

@driftstar13

"The sun has always burned in my eyes." Ghadius complained. "When it comes I'd rather hide away. You must understand..." Sure, it made sense. He was quite pale after all, at least from what could be made out from his face.

@maxipawz

"I don't blame you. The sun is rather strong during this time of the day, and the heat is just too much for me. These are days where I wish I didn't have to wear such heavy clothes." Lephise sighed softly. "Let's just stay indoors all day. It's much cooler."

@driftstar13

"You are quite agreeable, Songstress." Ghadius observed, bending down a little to glance back at her. The only part of his face that Lephise could really read was his mouth, which carried a little smile. "Yes, that would be preferred. But it's not like you must keep me company. I am not a mischievous child wishing to cause a scene as soon as it is left unattended. I promise you, I will do no harm."

@maxipawz

"Ohh, believe me." The Songstress giggled, "I am a little rambunctious myself, but I know my limits. I might be more of a handful to you than you are to me." Bravely, she decided to reach up to gently touch the king's beak-like mask. "Besides, I've had my fair share of younger kids running around the place. It's...an experience. An experience I don't have to clean up."

@driftstar13

"Hmm?" Ghadius kind of just froze in place as Lephise reached out to hold Ghadius's mask. Was she trying to take it off? He just patiently stood there, not sure what exactly her gesture meant. "Is that so? I haven't seen many children, but their nature is very... inspiring."

@maxipawz

Thankfully, Lephise showed no signs of wanting to de-mask Ghadius, merely petting his beak as a sign of friendliness. A weird way to do it, but well-intended. "They're the most innocent ones of this land, so naive and adventurous. They give me the motivation I desire whenever I am slow. Though, I must give my condolences to the parents of those with children who just love to get into trouble. It's...rather humorous."

@driftstar13

"That is true. However I've never experienced that for myself." Ghadius explained and stood up, denying Lephise the “tuch bek". He simply continued wandering, "I have not met children. Not many, at least. I'm quite sure that they'd run to their mothers crying if they witnessed me. I understanding that I am not what this world considers 'beautiful'."

@maxipawz

Lephise want tuch bek. Bek was tuch. Lephise was satisfied. "Aaaah...I wouldn't say all of them would. In fact, it takes one curious, brave child to let the others know you are no threat. Once one starts climbing over you, the others will, and then you will have wished they were afraid of you." Lephise giggled, placing her hand below her mouth.

@driftstar13

"I had to learn this the hard way." Ghadius stated, "Having creatures thrown at you is more painful than it appears. I've underestimated the strength and perseverance of that dream." The entity cast his gaze up, pondering. "Klonoa..."

@maxipawz

"Klonoa..." Lephise spoke up. Her eyes trained to the ceiling, as she lost herself deep in thought. She remembered that bouncy hero. A charming friend of this world. It was such a shame she could not personally offer more appreciation for his hard work. If only he could've stayed. "I believe we all have. It's not every day a young child is brought to our world, capable of feats far surpassing ours. Perhaps those are the greatest heroes." She stopped her ramble for a moment, glancing to him. "On the bright side, I assure you these children don't nearly do as much moo-flinging."

@driftstar13

Ghadius lowered his gaze, and stared down the hallway. It was empty, but he could still see that child making his way through all the same, batting aside any enemies that he had thrown his way. He and that prince, Hewpoe. His gaze eventually sunk to the floor. "I understand." he spoke, accompanied by an idle chuckle. "It doesn't compare to the pain of failure, dear Songstress... Or the pain that I have caused you."

@maxipawz

"Hmmm.." Lephise sighed idly, her head tilting. His words didn't bother her too much. She knew there was some sort of soft side to him, though the challenge was finding it. "Pain and failure bring out the worst in us, but sometimes, they make us stronger. A little suffering goes a long way. Believe me, children can be a nightmare. It really isn't that much of a comparison." She giggled once more.

@driftstar13

"Children are not comparable to nightmares." Ghadius exclaimed, and his voice became uncharacteristically loud as he laughed. He probably didn't expect her to say that, and it just amused him to no end. The entity turned around, once more facing Lephise. "It is funny, how you can simply laugh it all off... It's necessary to move on, isn't it? After all, dwelling in the past is a miserable thing to do."

@maxipawz

Ghadius' laughter sometimes struck fear into people, but Lephise could tell this was uncharacteristic of him. The way he sounded so genuinely joyed by such a comment. "Exactly. Moving on is a part of life, and humor helps us cope. It is one of the lessons Phantomile has to re-learn. This surely will mean more hearts may be broken as time goes on, but...well...we'll just have to teach them to come out stronger."

@driftstar13

"Maybe so." The emperor commented, glancing out from one of the arches at the world below. "However these people enjoy to find something to blame, and surely they are blaming me for what has happened." He was right in a way. Ghadius was to blame for a lot of horrible things that had happened. "You may forgive me, Lephise, but Phantomile may not. They may continue to shun me, to shun nightmares and cast away the cruelty of reality. That's just the truth."

@maxipawz

Lephise soon joined Ghadius' side, glancing down at from the balcony with a bit more effort, being smaller. "It is a sad truth in your words. That is why I knew this world was so flawed. Once they learn to take their own actions to blame for their wrongdoings, I pray to see some change. I feel anyone can redeem themselves within time. Teaching the newer generations not to fear you is a step in the right direction."

@driftstar13

Lephise was fair. It still felt odd, almost wrong, that she was giving him a chance. "To be able to breathe fresh air again has cleared my head just a little." The spirit reminisced, "I know that I am far from welcome. I am used to it. Do not waste too much time trying to make people accept something that they have long chosen to loathe." With that Ghadius kept walking. Where were they going again?

@maxipawz

"Under this kingdom, you are in safe hands." Lephise insisted. "They simply need their time. If ever. Otherwise, we just keep looking forward." She followed him out, also unsure of where they were going. Praying it wasn't going to be over the edge.

@driftstar13

Suicide wasn't something that Ghadius was interested in. Maybe he was just happy that he could explore and be somewhere without being cast away. "Of course." He responded to her thoughts, "I suppose I must return to my kingdom. It has been without a ruler for so long. Until then..." The entity turned to face Lephise. "... is there anything you need or wish to address?"

@maxipawz

Lephise too wasn't a fan of going to commit die. But she was fond of how much her new guest wanted to explore. "Ahh, yes, to truly live side by side. Perhaps we could become that 'silly neighbors' cliche. I can peer over a fence and ask you what's troubling you." She couldn't help but giggle some more. "Oh, my funny bone will be aching tomorrow! And to think I'm not that old..."

@driftstar13

Ghadius smiled. For someone to take their situation so lightly; it amused him. Perhaps it was what he needed, an aid to help his broken mind heal. Perhaps he wasn't too far gone yet. "I'm afraid that I've lost my humor over the years. That is, if I have had any to begin with." He observed, "If you call my name I will come. Do expect me to return regularly."

@maxipawz

"I can understand, after being without contact for so long..." Lephise spoke softly, her hands held together. "Ah, please do visit. It would be wonderful to have you around. I myself may offer a more lighthearted conversation rather than a deep, meaningful one, but you should come to me if you wish to clear your mind. Perhaps I can get you acquainted with others close to me."

@driftstar13

"Of course. Your friendliness means a lot to me. It surprises me that I have somebody to speak to at all. I must appreciate what I have. I don't know much time I will have to appreciate it." The elder spirit elaborated, and nodded his head to Lephise. "I will see you, Lephise." Ghadius greeted and held out his cloak, a cloud of deep-purple smoke enveloping his form before he brought it together, disappearing suddenly.

@maxipawz

"See you around, neighbor." Lephise spoke farewel as Ghadius made his departure. With him gone, she was now alone, having the area to herself. She hustled her way over to a bucket that was sitting on the floor. Glancing around, she then placed it over her head. "Laaa, lalalalaaaa, laa laaaaa...laaaaaa-oho, it really does amplify my voice! Lalalaaaaa, laaaaa, lalalaaaaa la laaaaaa~ LaaaaaaaAAA-OW!" Her poor body tensed up as she pulled the bucket off her head. "...Well...if that doesn't wake me up, nothing shall..."

#𝒮𝒾𝓂𝓅𝓁𝑒 𝑅𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓃𝑔𝑒 // IC #Closed Thread #Discord Thread #Maxipawz #Klonoa: Door To Phantomile #𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝒮𝑜𝓃𝑔𝓈𝓉𝓇𝑒𝓈𝓈... // Lephise

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inevitably-johnlocked · 6 years ago

Note

Hi steph. Do you have a fic rec list of novel- long fics? Ta

AHHHH Nonny you’re in luck! As I’ve been sorting, I’ve been separating them into word length too, LOL. And seeing as it’s National Novel Writing Month, I think this is a great time to give our fandom writers love and appreciation for their novel-length works!

So I Googled how long a basic novel is, and according to this site, it’s between 40k and 90k. Hmm, well, I have them sorted in 25K chunks, so I’ll start at 50K to 100K, since it works seeing as NaNo’s writing goal is 50K :D).

I really hope you enjoy! :D Love all you authors so very much, and I look forward to this year’s submissions!

NOVEL LENGTH FICS (50 - 100 K WORDS)

Triage by scullyseviltwin (E, 51,612 w. || Character Injury, Introspection) – Sherlock’s mind goes exceedingly, devastatingly quiet and gray-blank. When he speaks it’s through a thick haze, it’s through molasses, he’s so disconnected from the words that it may as well be the unconscious shooter speaking.

In the Dark Hours by hubblegleeflower (E, 51,639 w. || Friends to Lovers, Unreliable Narrator, Closeted Bi John, Angst, Miscommunications, Slow Burn, First Time, John’s Blog / Epistolary) – John, wounded and silent, drifts back to Baker Street for healing...and then goes home again. He visits, gets more upbeat, chattier, smiles, jokes... and still goes home again. Sherlock wants him to move back in - it just makes sense - but John shows no signs of doing so. This is the story of how John and Sherlock learn to say what needs to be said when they're both so very, very rubbish at talking.

The Homecoming Series by sussexbound (M, 51,744 w. across 12 stories, WIP || Domestics, PTSD, Love Confessions, Hurt/Comfort, Cuddling, Jealousy, Family Issues, Cuddling) – Sometimes home is all you need. After three years of horror, betrayals, and crushing loss, John and Sherlock find their way back home to one another, and together find new footing in a world that has changed forever.

Spare Change by Ermerness (E, 51,966 w. || Rich Holmeses AU || First Kiss / Time, Holmes Family, Virgin Sherlock, Anal, First Meetings) – The Holmes family is one of the richest and most powerful in England. Sherlock spends his time flying around the world on the family's private jet drinking a lot and shopping at expensive boutiques as a way of trying to alleviate his endless boredom. His mother decides it's time he settles down with someone powerful, wealthy and well connected. John Watson happens to be none of those things.

Coventry by standbygo (E, 52,020 w. || Dollhouse AU, First Time/Kiss, BAMF John, Slow Burn, Falling in Love, Case Fic) – “Let me get this straight,” John said, wondering when his life had become a science fiction film. “Some guy orders up a personality, a person, to his specifications, and they program this into a real live person, who has consented to do this, and she goes to this person and acts as his wife, or lawyer, or Royal Marine, or Navy Seal or what have you, and she has all the skills, all the knowledge, everything? Then you say the magic words, and she follows you back to The House, and they erase it all until her next appointment?”

Lost Without My Blogger by starrysummernights (E, 52,155 w. || Rev. Reich, PTSD, Hurt / Comfort, Fluff / Angst, Psychological Torture, Reunion Fic, Friends to Lovers) – John is abducted and declared dead. How will Sherlock cope without his blogger? How will he react when John comes back from the "dead?" Drama and angst with a healthy dose of romance. Part 1 of I'd Be Lost Without My Blogger

John Watson's Twelve Days of Christmas by earlgreytea68 (M, 53,464 w. || Christmas, Holmes Family, Fake Relationship, Alternate First Meeting, Falling in Love, Fluff and Angst, Hardcore Pining) – It's the holiday season. John Watson needs money. Sherlock Holmes needs something else.

Fan Mail by scullyseviltwin (E, 53,942 w. || Stalking, Obsessive Fans, Angst) – “WatsonChick143 has been rather maniacal in her commenting as of late... she’s left comments on everything you’ve posted John, something so obvious can’t have escaped even your attention."

Albion and the Woodsman by Glenmore (E, 54,437 w. || Post S3 || Parentlock, Pining Sherlock, Angst, Family, Drug Use, Depression, Sherlock POV) – Sherlock and John are devastated after Mary Morstan makes her final moves. Sherlock relapses at the crack house, John walks around the world ... and a lot happens in between. Parentlock, in the good way.

Guilty Secrets by Ellipsical (E, 55,086 w. || Drumsticks, First Time, Love Confession, Self-Sexual-Discovery) – John has a prostate exam and discovers something surprising about himself. Experimentation follows. Sherlock wants to help. They're in love. You know the drill.

Wars We Fought, Things We're Not by blueink3 (M, 55,204 w. || Parentlock, Fluff & Angst, Kidnapping, Whump, Post-TAB, UST, Slow Burn, Couple for a Case) – Five months after John's world has fallen apart, Mycroft sends the consulting detective and his doctor on a case that neither is prepared for.

The Great Sex Olympics of 221B by XistentialAngst (E, 58,611 w. || First Time/Kiss, Experiments / Sexual Experimentations, Multi Pairings) – John Watson thinks Sherlock Holmes should admit that he, Watson, is more of an expert on sex than Sherlock is. But Sherlock refuses to concede the point. He comes up with an experiment plan that will resolve the issue. The results will determine who wins the prize. But sometimes even the best thought-out scientific study has unexpected consequences.

Bridging the Ravine by SilentAuror (E, 58,887 w. || Post S4, Couple For a Case, Bed-Sharing, First Times, Confessions, Awkwardness, Sex Trafficking) – Sherlock and John go undercover at Ravine Valley, a therapy centre for same-sex male couples in an investigation into a possible human trafficking ring. As they pose as a couple and fake their way through the therapy sessions for the sake of the case, it quickly becomes difficult to avoid discussing their very real issues. Set roughly six nine months after series 4.

The Book of Silence by SilentAuror (E, 60,056 w. || S4 Fix It / Post S4, Virgin Sherlock, Rosie / Parentlock, Domesticity, Fluff, Praise Kink, Sex Toys, First Person POV) – As spring blooms in London, John and Sherlock begin to take new cases and cautiously negotiate this new phase of life with John living at Baker Street again. Despite how well it's all going, John struggles to forgive himself for the way he treated Sherlock following Mary’s death as well as trying to figure out how to finally put his long-time feelings for Sherlock into words. Part 1 of The Book of Silence/Rosa Felicia

Scars by SilentAuror (E, 60,493 w. || Rape / Non-Con / Abuse, Gaslighting, Manipulation, Dub Con Elements, Homophobia, Angst With Happy Ending, Mary is Not Nice) – S3 rewrite, showing Mary’s manipulation of John as he realizes his love for Sherlock. Mary is not having it.

The Progress of Sherlock Holmes by ivyblossom (E, 62,006 w || Sherlock POV, Pining, Angst, Slow Burn, Infidelity, Sherlock Learns About Himself, Happy Ending) – Sherlock struggles with his feelings for John, makes a mistake, and learns just how important he and John are to each other. Non-BBC Mary / John, but it’s a *complicated* relationship.

An Experiment in Empathy by belovedmuerto (T, 62,397 w. across 13 stories || Empath AU || Psychic John, Psychic-by-Proxy Sherlock, Empathy, Psychic Bond, Romance / Bromance) – In which John is an empath, Sherlock is Sherlock, and an epic bromance happens. In the aftermath of The Great Game, John creates an unexpected bond between himself and Sherlock. Now they have to learn how to deal with it. John is better at this than Sherlock is.

Perdition’s Flames by i_ship_an_armada (E, 63,435 w. || Treklock AU, Est. Rel, Genetic Engineering, Angst & Fluff, BAMF!John) – Sherlock would do anything to save him. Risk anything. Give anything. His money, his life. His soul. What he does, though, is change both of their destinies forever. Genetic re-engineering is the only option left. It turns out researchers underestimated the life expectancy and potential abilities of genetically re-engineered subjects. The British government and what would eventually become the United Federation of Planets, however, had not. Part 1 of PF Universe

Bedtime Universe by Liketheriver (M, 65,173 w. across 2 stories || Hurt/Comfort, Romance, Angst, Humour, Case Fic) – John's POV during Season 2 and beyond when Sherlock takes up semi-permanent residence in his bed. A collection of codas and missing scenes wrapped up into one long fic and topped with a bow that takes the story beyond Reichenbach and into happy territory once more.

Watches 'Verse by bendingsignpost (E, 66,905 w. across 2 works || Magical Realism, Reality Distortion, Angst, Partial MCD, BAMF John) – First, he is shot in Afghanistan. Second, he wakes to a phone call in Chelmsford, Essex. Third is pain, fourth is normalcy, fifth is agony and sixth is confusion. By the eighth, he's lost track. (John-centric AU) Part 1 of Watches 'Verse

You Have Drawn Red From My Hands by J_Baillier (T, 67,085 w. || Three Garridebs, Heavy John Whump, Hurt / Comfort, Pining, Heavy Angst, Case Fic/Adventure, Slow Burn, Sick Fic, Injury, Guilt & Depression, Just Talk Already Please, Medical Realism, PTSD) – John getting injured leads Sherlock on a path of guilt and revelations.

Electric Pink Hand Grenade by BeautifulFiction (E, 67,718 w. || First Time / Kiss, Seizures, Headaches) – "If Sherlock's brain is a hard drive, then these attacks are an electro-magnetic pulse." Sherlock Holmes does not do anything by half, not even a migraine. It falls to John to witness one of the greatest minds he has ever known tear itself apart, and he must do his best to help Sherlock pick up the pieces.

The Green Blade by verityburns (T, 72,929 w. || Casefic, Bromance) – As a serial killer hits the headlines, the police are out of their depth and the next victim is out of time. With faith in Sherlock Holmes at an all time low, this is a case which will push loyalties to the limit...

Darkling, I Listen by You_Light_The_Sky (T, 73,254 w. || Fairy Tale AU || Loosely Based on Beauty and the Beast, Magical Realism, Suicidal Themes, Romance, Creepiness, Adventure) – No one who enters old London ever comes out. They say that the beast devours them. When his sister disappears, John ventures into the dead zone beyond the wall, and finds a brilliant madman under a terrible curse... Part 1 of Darkling I Listen + Extras, Deleted Scenes

The Moonlight and the Frost by CaitlinFairchild (E, 77,289 w. || Case Fic, Post-HLV, Self Harm, Virgin Sherlock, First Time, Oral/Anal/Rimming, Romance, Angst, Mary is Not Nice) – John has to somehow rebuild his life in the wake of Mary's betrayal and Sherlock's deceptions.

A Cure For Boredom by emmagrant01 (E, 81,665 w. || Dirty Talk, Threesomes, Light Dom/Sub, Sex Club, Experiments, Anal, Mildly Dubious Consent) – They'd never talked about sex in the year they'd known each other. Well, that wasn't quite correct: Sherlock had never said a word about sex; John had bemoaned his personal dearth of it on many occasions.

Secrets and Revelations by Hisstah (E, 83,535 w. || Sentinel / Guides AU, Omegaverse, Aventure, Violence, Anal / Oral, Omega!John / Alpha!Sherlock, Case Fic, Politics, Mild DubCon) – Dr John Watson has some major secrets that he's kept from his flatmate, Alpha Sentinel Sherlock Holmes. Now the Sentinel Tower is after him. Can John stay out of their hands until he can reveal his secrets to Sherlock? Part 1 of Secrets and Revelations

Uphill by scullyseviltwin (E, 84,945 w. || Olympics AU || Sherlock POV, Skier!Sherlock / Medic!John, Rivalry, 2014 Olympics, Happy Ending) – Sherlock Holmes is striving for gold in this, his fourth and final Olympics as a downhill Alpine racer.

Not Broken, Just Bent by Schmiezi (E, 87,585 w. || Pining, Love Confessions, Torture, Hurt/Comfort, Heavy Angst, Villain!Mary, Suicidal Ideations, Main Character Death, Sherlock POV, Eventual Happy Ending) – "For a second, I allow myself to remember teaching John how to waltz. There is a special room in my mind palace for it. A big one, with a proper parquet dance floor. For a second, I go there. I remember holding him, closer than the World Dance Council asks for, excusing it with the fact that we are training for a wedding, not for a competition. For a second, I feel his hand on mine again, smell his sweat, hear the song we used. For a second, I allow myself to love him deeply. For a second, only a second, that love reflects on my face." Fix-it for S3, starting at the end of TSoT. Evil Mary.

Bleed Me Out by antietamfalls (E, 87,987 w. || Vampire AU || Bonding, Vampire Sherlock, Fluff & Angst, H/C, John Whump, Magical Realism) – John isn’t exactly surprised to discover that Sherlock isn't human. His vampirism doesn't pose a problem, even when their relationship gradually grows into something more. That is, until a deadly revelation about John’s blood sends their lives spinning dangerously out of control.

A Case of Identity by jkay1980 (T, 91,009 w. || Fake Relationship, Post-TRF, Case Fic) – John and Sherlock have succeeded in rebuilding their friendship after Sherlock’s fake suicide, but an unusual case puts their relationship to the test. They pretend to be engaged and attend a marriage counseling workshop. Under the pretext of the case, Sherlock turns out to be a master of seduction, and John finally learns he might like Sherlock more than he thought. Slowly, John discovers that he loves Sherlock not only in a friendly, brotherly way, but both men have to fight their own demons before they can think of taking their relationship to a new level… [[I love this fic. It’s a really great long-fic!]]

The Stars Move Still by BeautifulFiction (E, 96,022 w. || Magical Realism, Demons, Slash to Pre-Slash, AU, Happy Ending) – "What could I want so desperately that would make me sell my soul? What could possibly compel me to surrender the part of myself that makes me who I am: the source of my magic, my self-control, everything?"

#steph replies #johnlock fic recs #my fic recs #novel length fics #long fics #Anonymous #50 to 100k #long post #nanowrimo

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hyperfixation-station-1234 · 7 years ago

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The Haircut

Hey guys! Here’s chapter 6 to Slow Burn! Again, it took wayyyyy too long and I’m so sorry.

It had been a month since Elain started training with Azriel. Azriel, who made it a point not to underestimate her, was surprised by how quickly her training had progressed. Like both her sisters, she was a fast learner. It made Azriel wonder if the three Archerons were all destined to be Made as fae. And like Feyre and Nesta, there was fire inside her soul that he could see blazing from within. Each of the Archeron sisters had a different feel about them. Elain’s was like the fire of a hearth: warm, strong, and controlled.

Her physical abilities were quickly building and recently they had started to work her seer abilities into her fighting. To make it even more difficult, he had made her start training with everyone else as well. Although he wanted to keep their training sessions between the two of them out of selfishness, he knew it would be a disservice to keep her from learning other fighting styles. Even if it he was not the one fighting her he was always on the sidelines watching. He loved seeing her own the movements of her body. Her spirit shown so brightly through her confidence and focus.

Today is the first time they had sparred in a week, and like always, it was so easy to soak in her bright spirit.

Elain stopped their light sparring with a huff and put her hands on her slender hips. Today she’d been getting more frustrated than usual. Seeing movements still happened in only happened occasionally. It was more than he expected for her to learn at this stage. She found it frustrating, which he found endearing.

“I’m taking a break,” she walked off toward the bench Amren and Mor were seated with water. He watched her walk off. Elain never flaunted her gracefulness and it always enraptured him. Stopping his mind from entering a dangerous territory, like envisioning his hands wrapped around the legs walking away from him, he forced his eyes away. And, Mother’s tits, Feyre was staring right at him with a smirk on her face. There were times he was grateful for how perceptive she was. This was not one of them.

Feyre laughed and looked towards Rhys, “Feel like running?”

Azriel rolled his eyes at the immediate, “Why yes, Feyre Darling,” that followed.

No one really believed they went running. They were probably just looking for a spot to have a different kind of workout in mind. He groaned and shook his head.

He crossed the training grounds to Elain, who had plopped herself on the bench watching Nesta and Cassian share equal time sparring and arguing. He lowered until he balanced on his heels in front of her. His hands twitched to grab the knees in front of him, but he kept them still and focused on her face.

“Do you know how many trees Feyre hits when she flies still?”

Her lip twitched and he almost had that smile back that he couldn’t get enough of. She shook her head at him in answer.

“A lot. She still hits a lot of trees,” he didn’t only receive a smile, but the sound of her quiet giggle.

“I know you’re rushing yourself, but you aren’t going to pick something new up right away. You’ve already come farther than even I was expecting at this point. Don’t ever be discouraged in your abilities. Just keep pushing them. When it seems like your stalled, sometimes moving on to something else can bring more clarity to the block on another ability.”

His eyes trailed her throat as it bobbed, “So, I may not ever really be able to control seeing in battle?”

“Oh, no I definitely think you can. But we can work on other ways to make you stronger, too,” Azriel stood and offered her his hand, pulling her to her feet.

Just when she had reached her feet, Elain tensed. A far-off look crossed her eyes. On instinct, he catalogued their surroundings. Besides the argument between Cassian and Nesta growing louder by the second, he couldn’t feel anything threatening in their vicinity. It only lasted for a second. Elain came to almost instantly and she shoved him. Azriel saw a blast of blue flame blow right behind Elain in the spot he had just been standing.

Her body slammed into his. He whipped his head in the direction the attack had come. Cassian and Nesta were standing agape looking in their direction. He tracked their gaze to the charred spot where the blast he knew Nesta had created made its landing. His gut screamed and he furiously ran his hands over Elain’s head and shoulders, stopping when he found a patch of raw skin and heard Elain gasp into his chest. He looked over her shoulder and found angry red skin glaring back at him. A section of her hair had been charred right above it. He felt his body grow icy.

He gathered her hair in his hands and gently pulled it away from the wound. Securing it with a band he found on her wrist. Almost too gently, his hands held her face.

“Go into the house, I’ll be right behind you. I’ll send for the healer.”

He could tell she was in pain when she nodded her head and made her way back into the house. Once he knew she was inside he turned to Cassian and Nesta. Nesta’s face was vacant of color. He almost felt bad for her. Azriel stalked toward them both.

And then, he threw a fist in Cassian’s face.

He looked at them both, “Sort your shit out. Both of you.”

He looked at Nesta, pointing a finger in her direction, “Control you damned powers and emotions. Start actually training instead of throwing childish tantrums when you don’t like what he tells you.”

Walking off he yelled back over his shoulder, “Send for a healer.”

It didn’t take long to find Elain inside the house. He stared at her while she tried to place a washcloth over the burn on her shoulder.

Before she could cause more damage, he said, “Hold on. You need to take your shirt off first.”

Elain startled at the sound of his voice.

“You have to remove it when the healer gets here, anyways.”

She studied his eyes and slowly nodded her head.

“Okay, will you help me?” She didn’t look unsure, just resigned.

“I won’t look, El. I promise.”

A soft laugh sounded, followed by, “I don’t care. I trust you.”

Azriel felt his chest constrict with something a lot like hope at her admission. He’d come to adore the way she would look at him with complete faith and understanding. Before his mind could come up with a response the door to the bathroom opened and the healer and Feyre were standing outside the door.

She slowly turned her back toward him. Air hissed out of his lungs at the sight of her shoulder. He had the sudden urge to run his lips over her shoulder. And he did not want to stop until he reached her lips. But he would never cross that line with her. Not yet, when so much of her future was in the air.

The burn was in a precarious position. He knew if she pulled her arms over her head herself the skin would rip itself. He gripped the bottom of her top and ripped it along the seam running down her back.

Like they had a mind of their own, his finger ran down the length of her spine. He didn’t need to touch her skin to peel the leather off her body, but he could not help but feel appreciation for the way for skin pebbled in the wake of his finger, or the imperceptible shiver her shoulders gave.

Before he could help her peel the shirt from her shoulders, both Feyre and the healer arrived in the bedroom. Azriel left it to Feyre to help Elain remove the shirt and quickly left the room adjoining bathroom with Feyre on his heels.

It was not long before the healer emerged. It felt like an eternity with Feyre smirking at him from her perch on a chair in the study, Azriel avoided her the best he could by finding an extra tunic laying around the house. After finding one he re-entered the room to find Feyre talking to her sister, Elain still clutching a towel to her body. Few people would be able to tell Feyre was upset, her tell was the slight pull of her eyebrows.

As he walked closer with the shirt in his hand, Feyre squeezed Elain’s hand and then walked out, patting his shoulder. Azriel’s cocked his eyebrow, staring at Elain.

“Is that shirt for me?” Azriel nodded at her question. His eyes tracked over her shoulders and her face. It donned on him that her hair was still uneven from the blast.

“Do you need some help cutting your hair?”

Elain’s face mouth gaped, “What happened to my hair?”

Azriel winced, “Some of it got burned off. I can cut it for you if you want.”

He heard Elain groan and gave a quick laugh, “It’s not bad. Just a small section. Come on.”

With a sigh, Elain turned to go back into the bathroom. Azriel sucked in his breathe. On Elain’s shoulder was a patch of skin was still red and razed, like the healer had not even been there.

It matched the skin of his hands.

Azriel could feel an icy rage building. He did not blame Nesta, not really. But her beautiful skin being scared permanently like his created a visceral response in his body. He warred between wanting to tear the room apart and needing to gather her in his arms and hold onto her. Elain must have sensed his shadows leaking into the corners because she turned back to him then. When she saw where his gaze had been directed, her face softened.

“Az, I’m alright. Nesta’s powers… they aren’t like any seen before. The healer had some difficulties with figuring out how to treat the burn. I’m not in any pain,” her voice was strong, she gazed at his steadily, “Can you come fix my hair? Please?”

Azriel knew speaking would give away the rock that had lodged in his throat and settled for a firm nod and moved toward her. However, he knew attempting to hide the emotions that rose like waves in his eyes was impossible. He was sure she could read the sadness, the need to in some way give her comfort when he looked in her eyes. He was astounded when he saw those same emotions when she was the one who had been hurt. Shaking his head in disbelief at the woman in front of him, he started searching the drawers for a straight razor. Finding one, he grabbed it, absentmindedly twirling it around his fingers. Elain’s lips twitched into an almost smile at it.

“Have you cut hair before?” Her fingers were still following the movement of the razor.

The corner of Azriel’s lips turned up, “You’d be surprised how many times I’ve cut Cassian and Rhys’s hair over the centuries.”

Elain looked at him and studied his face, “Who cut your hair?”

“You think I’d trust either one of them to cut my hair?”

Azriel heard her giggle chime through, “I can’t blame you.”

He smiled at the happy tone of her voice, “I need to wash your hair before I cut it.” Taking out the chair from beneath the vanity he positioned it in front of the sink and pointed to it. Elain sat gently in the chair and leaned back with her head over the sink. Azriel slid between Elain’s and leaned over her. He knew it was unnecessary to gently slide his leg along hers, just like it was unnecessary for her hand to glance off his thigh. Somehow, the unnecessary things seemed the most necessary when it came to being near Elain.

Azriel turned the water on, using his hand to wet Elain’s hair. She closed her eyes and let out a contented sigh and it almost killed him. He was sure being able to touch her like this felt almost as good. As her golden hair grew dark a memory surfaced in his brain.

“The first person who ever cut my hair was Rhys’s mother.” At his admission, Elain’s eyes popped open.

“After I was brought to the camp, Cassian and Rhys had brought me back to the cabin. She had this way of calming everything around her. When she spoke, you listened to her. The first thing she did was tell Rhys to show me where the bathroom was to get cleaned up. After I was finished and dressed she sat me down, grabbed a straight razor and cut and cut and cut. Afterwards she cleaned all the hair off his face and said, ‘Now there’s a handsome boy if I’ve ever seen one,’” he smiled slightly, grabbing the soap to wash Elain’s hair, “she reminded me so much of my mother.”

Elain smiled at him, “She must have meant a lot to you.”

“She did. She was the first person to show kindness to a lonely and hurting boy.” His hands massaged the soap into her scalp, feeling satisfied when he heard Elain hum.

When her eyes opened, they turned wistful, “Nesta would cut mine. I know you all thought we were both useless sisters to Feyre, but at least Nesta did that.”

Azriel stilled, and locked eyes with the woman in his hands, “El, the past is just that. You aren’t who you were. And now, you’re one of the strongest people I know, Sunshine.” Elain’s face warmed, both her hands raised and encircled his wrists. Her thumbs caressed the scars just below his palm, while Azriel’s thumbs slowly stroked Elain’s temples. Azriel shivered at the intimate touch. He was finding it more and more difficult to not use the hands in her hair to draw her face toward his own. He was becoming addicted to the small touches between them. Even though he had finished washing her hair, he found it hard to move away from her.

Abruptly, he shut the sink off. Taking a towel, he got most of the water out of her hair. Elain hands grabbed a hold of his arms and he helped hoist her out of the chair. Azriel spun the chair around.

“Alright, sit.”

Obeying him, she tucked her hands under her legs and sat straight in the chair. To keep hair from touching the would on her shoulder, Azriel took the towel and draped it around her shoulders. Silently, he went to work, evening her hair until it reached just below her shoulders.

When he was finished, she got up from the chair and looked in the mirror. Her reflection looked back at him with uncertainty.

Before he could check his self-control, he approached her back. Both his hands met the vanity on either side of her body. Bending slightly, he gently grazed a kiss just above the top of the burn, and meeting her reflection said, “Beautiful.”

Recognition dawned in her eyes, and the sweetest flush crept into her cheeks.

He caught movement in the doorway of the bathroom. Apparently, they missed the entrance of Nesta and Cassian into the room.

While Nesta looked shocked by the position Azriel and Elain were in, Cassian looked as if he were about to say something that would make Azriel plant his fist in his face for the second time. Azriel sent a cold stare to Cassian, daring him to open his Caldron-damned. The male must have received the unspoken message because his smile disappeared and he kept his mouth shut. Nesta’s face was wracked with guilt when they settle upon her sister.

Before Nesta could open her mouth, Elain walked up and wrapped the arm with the uninjured shoulder around her sister and said, “Ready for dinner?”

As he watched the two sisters whisper to one another, Azriel fell for her just a little more, like he had been for days, weeks, and months.

He watched Elain pull away from Nesta and say, “Go on we’ll be right behind you.”

Just when they had turned out the door, Elain stepped towards him. He was not expecting to have her arms wrap so tightly around him he felt some of the cracks in his soul mend together. Like she was a human balm for unseen scars of all kinds. In turn, his arms would around her just as tightly.

“I owe you a haircut,” she said.

Azriel smiled into her hair, “As long as you use Cassian as a practice subject first.”

He felt her warm breath fan over his chest as she laughed from deep within herself. Her pinky wrapped around his as she led them toward the door. Smiling mischievously, she said, “I’m sure I can guilt him into agreeing.”

In that moment, staring at her joyful face, he would do anything to always bring that joy back.

#acowar #acowar fanfiction #elain archeron #azriel #azriel x elain #elain x azriel #elriel #elriel fanfiction

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sarakaybct-blog · 8 years ago

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Sara’s Reflective Journal

It’s kind of funny to reminisce on the good ol’ first days of blogging in Creative Technology and how I used to put so much effort into trying to perfect every single word. I think I cared too much about the structure of my sentences when I should have been deeply focusing on my participation/progress of my project and reflecting on my blog. I don’t like calling myself a perfectionist. But I saw qualities of one in my early blogging days - which certainly slowed down my progress. I remember how I’d spend over an hour on a small blog post when I could have been putting my effort into something else. Before BCT, I was not familiar with daily blogging. Heard of it but never done it. So being told on day one that I had to blog EVERYTHING that I did or that I was going to do, was a little overwhelming. But who doesn’t like a challenge? Oh, and not to mention, my grade will be determined by these blogs. So, I couldn’t brush this off. Growing up, I personally enjoyed writing in my journal (I know, it’s kind of embarrassing to admit) so it kinda gave me an idea on how to reflect on my projects, seeing that I (from time to time) I reflect on my life through my journal.

During the early stages of BCT, (around the time of the cards for play project) Ricardo gave us a lesson on Reflective Blogging. In the link below, it shows the notes I made during that class on how to make a ‘reflective blog’. These tips were extremely useful but I am guilty by not applying them in my first project. I think it was a matter of forgetting their importance. But as time gradually moved, I began to apply these tips and I see the contrast between my first project and the last. I no longer saw blogging as a “chore” but rather a way to keep track of my work, and my self-progression as creative technologists.

https://sarakaybct.tumblr.com/post/158582003280/ctec502

Before, re-visiting all my old blogs, I can see the positive changes in my blog and the way I creatively and critically think since the beginning of creative technologies till now. I can tell that I have improved in terms of reflecting on my work and myself, rather than stating what I did (with images and videos) and what I’m going to do next. Honestly, I haven’t changed so much in the time-management area, I still need to focus on staying on track.

Cards for Play I just wanted to make something, deliver it, and get graded on the outcome. But this wasn’t the case. And it will never be. I had to get used to displaying and documenting everything I did on my blog. In terms of the cards for play project, “everything” meant: - Producing a new play artefact - Testing it - Discussing it with your peers - Reflecting on feedback and play observations - Iterating on your artefact Going back and reading my blog posts on this project, I realised many things. One being that, my participation, progress and reflection was not quite up to standard. I focused on quantity over quality. And that is why I did not succeed the way I wanted to. My blogs were lacking depth, emotion, critical thinking, honesty, a reasoning behind why I took the step I took. It was basically a blog on how I made something not why I made it. I documented my progress through images, and videos of my prototype and the steps I took to create my prototype. I feel like this area outweighed everything else. I was missing the point of the project. It wasn’t so much of producing the artefact, it was the importance of demonstrating competency in creative, critical, and reflective thinking. I was missing the purpose all along. The iteration, and the reflection was to get us thinking creatively and got us to incorporate those critical thinking moments into our blog. My final blog post on this project, had a little reflection (https://sarakaybct.tumblr.com/post/158455268055/final-blog-post) but I was mostly reflecting on the final fabrication of the card.

Sound Project I was stepping into a new territory; sound. At this point, I was up for a new challenge, to learn something new. I saw the purpose of blogging. It wasn’t only a matter of going back and seeing what you did and how you’ve progressed as a creative thinker. But it was a reminder to keep reflecting, analysing your individual participation and progress. This time around, I wanted to emphasis on my thinking process and reasoning behind the steps I’m taking, rather than just describing how I’m doing something. I noticed a change in my blogs, even though I was still guilty of being descriptive of every step I’m taking but in general I feel as though I have added more room for reflection, compared to the beginning of the course. and it showed on my final grade. The quantity however, expanded, but the quality improved. I didn’t spend too much time over-thinking each blog post, I just wrote what I did, and why I did it, (using research to back me up) with pure honesty and emotion. The reflection was evident during my progress, but not as much as I wanted it too (https://sarakaybct.tumblr.com/post/158802991140/all-done). I still dedicated a lot of blogs on the materials I was going to use to make my instrument and the how I made it - But I guess I needed to, in order to show my lecturer how my instrument came about.

Speculative Design At this point, I found it hard to keep up with the blogging. I saw a repeated pattern in myself; at the end of every week, I’d be blogging for hours and hours because I’ll be trying to write everything I did for the entire week during one day. I was stressed out but I kept repeating the same thing over and over again and I had no idea why. I think I was starting to lose sight of the purpose of creative technology...wondering if this degree was for me or not.

Did this bad habit and these thoughts ruin the quality of my blogs? Not really. Did it ruin the pace of my progress? Yes. Seeing that I ended up with this big load of blogging I was behind on the actual project. And to be quite honest, I was slacking off. Nor was I participating or progressing as I would’ve wanted to. So basically, for this project, I only managed to complete phase 1 and 2. The Research phase and the Designing phase. I’m glad I was still able to show these steps in my blog. Researching. I think I included a more than I should have. I just threw all this information out there, but I didn’t know what to do with it. I can’t even tell if I applied this information to my speculative design...I still need to work on this this area and ask myself: “how can I apply this knowledge to my project”. The design phase of this project was much easier. I found that I was reflecting a whole lot more on my work and the processes I was taking (https://sarakaybct.tumblr.com/post/160582349040/phase-2-spaceship-earth-2050) Not only did I state what I did, but why I was doing it (backing it up with images and videos). I was going into more depth; I could each blog incorporate some sort of reflection on myself or my project. For example, what led me to do this design? did my time management skills lead to work alone? etc. The blogging in this project has helped me greatly to reflect on myself and my personal practice. It helps me dive deeper into my creative thinking process, it helps me find a purpose, a reasoning for my opinions.

To Conclude I have come a long way since day one of Creative Technology. At first I underestimated the power of blogging. I saw it as a way to document your production process. But it’s purpose goes further than that. It shows a newbie creative thinker, like me, the importance of reflection and seeing your progress as well as your participation in words. So, you can go back and improve and expand your ideas, and take them to a new direction. These projects have taught me to put more emphasis and reasoning in my reflections rather than describing what you’ve been doing. It gives me something to reflect my ideas on. Overall, each project has given me the opportunity to dive into new fields of knowledge, experiences and challenges that has expanded my thinking process as creative thinker.

#CTEC502 #reflectivejournal

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justanothercinemaniac · 8 years ago

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Epic Movie (Re)Watch #121 - Back to the Future

Spoilers below.

Have I seen it before: Yes

Did I like it then: Yes!

Do I remember it: Yes.

Did I see it in theaters: Yes.

Was it a movie I saw since August 22nd, 2009: Yes. #383.

Format: Blu-ray

This is super long. You have been warned.

1) I love this movie. With all my heart. With a burning passion. It is my favorite film of all time. I first saw it...well, I was probably 7 when I first saw it but I didn’t remember it much. I first saw it and remembered it on my 13th birthday and watched it with my family and freaking fell in love! I ended up watching it once a month for the next year, I’ve seen it easily at least 20 times, I even got a chance to see the entire trilogy in theaters on October 21, 2015! And I think that’s all because it is connected to a time in my life when I needed an escape like this. Back to the Future provided me with comfort during a year in my life which was one of the hardest in my life. I would not be a film student today if it were not for this movie, I could probably write a book on the trilogy! I’ll do my best to keep this shorter than a book though.

2) The opening pan of Doc Brown’s lab is a great way to start the film. The high number of clocks puts an emphasis on times (with the clock of Harry Lloyd hanging from the hour hand being particularly foreshadowing), and we get a lot of information for smoothly.

Doc Brown used to be rich but his mansion burned down.

We know the film is set in 1985.

There is some missing plutonium.

Doc is an inventor, as seen from all the inventions he has in the lab.

It’s a simple, memorable way to start the film and I love it.

3) Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly!

Marty McFly is honestly you’re average guy without being boring. He’s got people in his life he cares about and who care about him, he’s got ambitions even if they’re not “change the world” ambitions, he has anxieties, and he’s just very relatable. Also he’s pretty cool, and his introduction establishes a lot of important things about Marty. It shows us his love for music, a sharp wit (“Rock ‘n Roll!”), and an ability to roll with the punches (for example, being flung across the room by an amplifier and then saying, “Rock ‘n Roll!”).

Honestly Marty NEEDS Michael J. Fox. Eric Stoltz was originally cast in the role as Fox (who was the filmmakers’ first choice) was busy on his TV show “Family Ties” at the time but Stoltz was just NOT working out. It’s easy to make Marty sort of annoying on paper. There’s a Back to the Future comic book running right now and there was an arc starting around issue #6 where Marty started to bug me. And that’s because he was PURELY writing, there was no Michael J. Fox to bring that x factor Marty needs so badly. Fox (who ended up working on both “Family Ties” and Back to the Future at the same time) is what MAKES the character. There is no Marty McFly without Michael J. Fox.

4) Doc tells Marty that his, “experiment worked! [The clocks] are all exactly 25 minutes slow!” How is that an experiment? Can’t I do that with my clocks?

5) “The Power of Love” by Huey Lewis & The News is a great theme song for the film. I personally prefer “Back in Time” which plays towards the end of the film, but there’s no underestimating the power of “The Power of Love”. It’s a memorable, slick tune, which plays under a scene which very easily gives us a sense of what the town of Hill Valley is like. Another key ingredient to the film.

6) Freaking Strickland.

Strickland is not on screen for much time but he’s memorable. And that’s because he’s a raging asshole. Actor James Tolkan is able to play Strickland well in his few scenes because he makes his assholish nature funny. Much like Jeffrey Jones’ character in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Strickland is someone MAD with the little power he has. I mean look at that GIF above! Personal space, dude! It’s hysterical, and the character forever changes the way I hear the word, “slacker!”

7) Hey, look Huey it is! (I’m so sorry.)

8) In there few scenes together, Michael J. Fox and Claudia Wells make you feel that Marty and Jennifer REALLY love each other. There’s a quiet trust and honesty to their performance, an ability to talk with each other openly while being true to who they are. Do you think Marty would tell ANYONE else his fears about his rejection? His parents? No, no he wouldn’t. It’s a shame we didn’t get more Jennifer in the film, but the little we do is much appreciated.

9) This film really excels in the exposition department, because it gives you the information you need to know in smooth natural ways. You don’t feel like the film has paused to tell you, “This information is important,” it just makes sense! Whether it’s done for laughs or because it’s an honest character moment, it just works! This is true in:

The “Save the Clocktower” scene.

Lorraine telling her children how her and George met.

Doc Brown giving us ALL the exposition we need about his time machine.

10) Oh Biff.

Biff [after we learn he wrecked George’s car]: “I can’t believe you lent me your car without telling me it had a blind spot in it!”

I’ll talk more about Biff once we get to 1955.

11) Thomas F. Wilson, Crispin Glover and Lea Thompson all day amazingly playing the old age versions of their characters. You don’t feel like you’re watching 20 somethings play adults, you feel like you’re watching adult performers! And then it feels as natural when they’re playing the teenagers in 1955. It just works and I give massive credit to not only the actors for pulling that off but also the makeup people for not making the old age stuff look too ridiculous.

12) Okay, what 47 year old man calls someone a butt head? Like, how juvenile is that? I mean that’s probably the point, because it’s Biff, but still!

13) It’s a running gag throughout the series that Marty’s uncle/Lorraine’s sister Joey is in jail. Except...WHAT IS HE IN JAIL FOR!?!? I MUST KNOW!!!! MURDER!? ARSON!? FRAUD!? FALSE ADVERTISING!? WHAT IS IT JOEY!?

14) So, Lorraine in 1985 seems...pretty miserable to me. With watching it 20+ times I see that she’s pretty much an alcoholic, she’s always morose, she rarely smiles, and the look on her face after she recounts the story of how she and George fell in love...like she does NOT look happy!

And then that line becomes sort of greater after finishing the film. By 1955 standards she “chased” Marty as Calvin Klein, meaning she probably felt that she chased George too. Now she regrets that and wants to A) create some revisionist history and B) make sure other people don’t make her perceived mistakes. Thank god for time travel to make her life better though!

15) Remember this sign:

16) Alan Silvestri’s INCREDIBLE score does not kick in until 18 minutes into the film, first appearing when the DeLorean first shows up. That’s because up until this point life was normal. Marty went to school, got busted for being late, Biff was an ass, a normal day. Then the extraordinary enters the picture and Silvestri’s score signals us of that.

17) Christopher Lloyd as the iconic Doctor Emmett Brown.

(GIF source unknown [if this is your GIF please let me know].)

Lloyd is spectacular in the role. Be is able to mash up the mad scientist archetype and bring to it a warmth and childlike glee to every moment. He is EXCITED! He’s passionate about all he does and that is his dominating personality trait. He’s not mean or condescending like Dr. Frankenstein, he’s just this guy who wants to do something great with his life and he finally accomplishes that! Lloyd is great through and through, bringing that essential warmth and energy to every scene Doc is in. He feels over the top but he never feels phony. And his chemistry with Fox is off the charts.

Fun fact: Doc’s signature hunched over stature came about because Christopher Lloyd (6'1") is significantly taller than Michael J. Fox (5'4½") & they had to appear in frame together.

18) There is a fan theory out there that Doc was actually trying to commit suicide the night of the DeLorean test. He had himself and Marty placed right in front of the car, was joyfully surprised when it actually worked, and in 1955 comments that he, “finally invent[s] something that works!” That makes the film way dark way fast so we’re going to move on.

19) The DeLorean going into the future is just such an iconic image.

(GIF sources unknown [if these are your GIFs please let me know].)

Everything about that visually is so iconic and incredible. From the flames to the pair turning around, and ESPECIALLY the spinning license plate! All great!

20) The DeLorean.

Marty: “Wait a minute, wait a minute Doc! Are you telling me that you built a TIME MACHINE...out of a DeLorean?”

Doc’s immediate response was that he wanted to build a time machine with some style, and then goes on to say, “The stainless steel construction was perfect for,” and is cut off by the DeLorean returning to the present. WHAT IS THE STAINLESS STELL CONSTRUCTION PERFECT FOR DOC!? WHAT!?

According to IMDb:

Writers Bob Gale and Robert Zemeckis actually received a fan letter from John DeLorean after the film's release, thanking them for immortalizing his car.

21) The interior of the car is just as sleek and simple as the exterior. There is nothing superfluous in this film, and everything that’s necessary is fun!

(I know this GIF is from Part II but it’s the best one I can find of the readout.)

22) I read a post on Tumblr which you can find here which said:

One of my favorite phrases my Creative Writing professor had for when you’re writing fantasy is ‘giving your story a Flux Capacitor’.

Because it’s not real, it doesn’t exist. But the way it’s thrown into Back to the Future, at no point does it throw the audience off or suspend any more disbelief than time travel would. You believe Doc when he says he created the Flux Capacitor - the thing that makes time travel possible, because the universe never questions him.

So it essentially means like, there are going to be elements to your universe that are just not gonna make any sense, even if you set up a whole system based on it. And the only way to make it work is completely own it. You cannot second-guess your system or else the reader will too. You can give it the strangest explanation, but write it like you own it.

23) Foreshadowing!

Doc [after he says he’ll visit 25 years in the future]: “I’ll also be able to see who wins the next 25 world series!”

24) The car chase between Marty and the Libyan nationalists is the first showcase of the film’s excellent action. In the action-y parts of the film the audience is kept tense at every turn. Every little moment has a cause and an effect and you’re just waiting on the edge of your seat to see what happens because of it. That’s great.

25) Robert Zemeckis has said that he and the filmmakers talked about having the time travel sequence be long and cool, but they realized it should be instantaneous. That when you travel back in time, you travel back in time in the same spot you’re in. It’s not like a TARDIS which moves you through time and space: if where you are was a farm 30 years ago, then when you travel back 30 years in time you’ll be in a farm.

26) Remember this:

youtube

27) The scene where Marty is wandering through Hill Valley in 1955 is done so well, and it establishes Hill Valley’s character. Because that’s what this town is: a character. Marty never travels back to Ancient Rome or Capone’s Chicago, it is ALWAYS Hill Valley and we get to know the town and its history because of that.

28) Biff and his crew.

Biff is shown at his most villainous in 1955, when he’s a big freaking bully! But Thomas F. Wilson also makes him enjoyable to watch. You like it when he gets punched and embarrassed, and Wilson brings a lot of humor to what could be a very cold role. I’ll talk about one important improv later.

PS: That guy with the toothpick is Billy Zane!

(GIF originally posted by @d-white211)

29) Crispin Glover SHINES as 1955 George.

He’s a total weirdo in the role but that’s what makes it work! He’s socially awkward and a pushover and THAT’S his character, but Glover also makes it believable that George goes through the transformation he does by film’s end. It’s a shame they couldn’t really get him for the sequels.

30) Man, just wait until Lou gets to 2008.

Lou [after he hears that Goldie Wilson wants to be mayor, which he becomes]: “A colored mayor, that’ll be the day.”

31) This film handles the ideas of expectations vs reality well (like when Marty finds out his dad’s a peeping tom), and that’s where it shines. This isn’t some time travel film about time bandits or something. The science fiction is just the device to tell this really interesting, human story about a kid realizing he’s got more in common with his parents than he thought. And THAT’S why it’s so special!

32) Wait...

Sam Bane [after Marty pushes George out of the road and gets hit by his car]: “Stella! Another one of these damn kids jumped in front of my car!”

ANOTHER!?

33) Okay so the fact that Lorraine has the hots for her future son Marty is creepy (that’s the point), but it also makes sense. As I understand it human beings are naturally disposed to experience physical attraction to our own genetics in other people. So if you don’t KNOW it is your family member, than you just think it’s someone who’s cute because they look like you.

Also the way Lorraine handles herself around Marty (ie: over the top attracted to him, pushing him into a chair next to her, being so shocked by him showing up at school she falls back into her locker) makes me think she may be REALLY sexually repressed. Like, unhealthily so. Freaking 50s, man.

34) And there’s only one way Doc Brown could possibly open a door: looking like this.

35) A fun fact about this line:

Doc: “Then tell me, future boy: who’s president of the United States in 1985.”

Marty: “Ronald Reagan.”

Doc: “Ronald Reagan!? The actor!?”

President Reagan loved that line so much he asked the projectionist to play it again, and even used the quote, “Where we’re going we don’t need roads,” in his 1986 State of the Union address. I miss having a President who was secure like that.

36) Me too Marty. Me too.

Doc [after hearing they need 1.21 gigawatts of electricity to get the DeLorean to work]: “1.21 GIGAWATTS!? 1.21 GIGAWATTS! GREAT SCOTT!”

Also, did you notice that this is my 121st Epic Movie (Re)Watch? As in 121. As in 1.21? ;)

37) Roll credits!

Doc: “Next Saturday night, we’re sending you back TO THE FUTURE!”

38) Doc’s bemusement at Marty’s slang is so great to me. It feeds into his idea about what the future will be like.

Doc: “Why is everything so heavy in the future, is there a problem with the earth’s gravitational pull?”

39) I never got why Strickland called George a slacker for being bullied but he never calls out the bullies. Granted this has been happening in schools all across America for years now and I don’t get that either.

40) Remember how I said Lorraine’s marriage to George was unhappy?

Doc [about Marty’s parents]: “What are their common interests? What do they like to do together?

Marty [after a beat]: “Nothing.”

41) The idea of this being a boy who gets to know his parents really comes through when Marty learns that George writes sci-fi stories but doesn’t share them with anyone for fear or rejection. In the original timeline, did George keep writing sci-fi as an adult? Did Lorraine know? Did he tell ANYBODY and get rejected and that just made him stop writing? I have so many questions!

42) Thomas F. Wilson improvised this iconic line of Biff’s:

43) According to IMDb:

Universal Pictures head Sid Sheinberg did not like the title “Back to the Future", insisting that nobody would see a movie with "future" in the title. In a memo to Robert Zemeckis, he said that the title should be changed to "Spaceman From Pluto", tying in with the Marty-as-alien jokes in the film, and also suggested further changes like replacing the "I'm Darth Vader from planet Vulcan" line with "I am a spaceman from Pluto!" Sheinberg was persuaded to change his mind by a response memo from Steven Spielberg, which thanked him for sending a wonderful "joke memo", and that everyone got a kick out of it. Sheinberg, too proud to admit he was serious, gave in to letting the film retain its title.

44) George is absolutely hysterical in the diner scene.

DUDE YOU’RE A WRITER!!! DID YOU REALLY THINK THAT’S WHAT YOU WROTE DOWN!?!?!?

45) When Marty is confronting Biff at the bar and then in the skateboard chase around town, he plays it smart not tough. He distracts Biff before his one punch of the big brute and then maneuvers him around town in a way that’ll be beneficial to the young time traveler. It’s another excellent action scene which keeps you riveted at every turn.

46) There are probably so many GIFs out there of just Doc Brown reacting. This is one of my favorites:

47) Marty and his mother don’t get to know each other as well as George and Marty do, primarily because she’s trying to seduce him during his entire stay in 1955. But the scenes of George and Marty together as friends are great.

48) Also this line is attributed to Doc in the beginning of the film but we never hear him say it. Jennifer says it to Marty, Marty to George, and then George to Marty in the future.

49) Doc and Marty’s friendship in this film is great, as Marty is trying desperately to save Doc’s life in the future despite Doc not wanting to know. Marty respects Doc’s wishes but will be damned if he does nothing (hence the letter). Their friendship is developed as the trilogy progresses but it starts out strong.

50) Marty tries to prevent Lorraine’s alcoholism by keeping her from drinking when she’s 17. I appreciate that.

50.1) One of the best bloopers ever.

youtube

51) (Trigger Warning For This Note: RAPE) Okay, I love this movie but as I grow older I find that it kind of glosses over the fact that Biff is trying to RAPE Lorraine. And later in 1985 she’s totally fine having her attempted rapist come by their place regularly to wax their cars. Like...that’s super weird.

52) I always felt this scene could have either gone two ways: George becomes a self confident hero, or George becomes Norman Bates.

That’s like a really murdery face.

53) This is a very Hitchockian rule: it’s never over when you think it’s over. George punched out the bad guy and he’s going to the dance with Lorraine. All’s well right!? Well...no. Marty has to play guitar otherwise it’ll all go to shit. Marty, who’s super self conscious about rejection when it comes to playing guitar.

54) Johnny B. Goode!

The filmmakers described this scene as Marty’s victory lap. He just got his parents together! He’s playing the school dance! He’s going to go back to the future tonight! He’s going to have fun, and that’s what the number is. It doesn’t feel superfluous or unnecessary, it adds to the heart and excitement of the film. It’s amazing!

55) According to IMDb:

In the original script, Marty's playing rock and roll at the dance caused a riot which had to be broken up by police. This, combined with Marty accidentally tipping Doc off to the "secret ingredient" that made the time machine work (Coca-Cola) caused history to change. When Marty got back to the 1980s, he found that it was now the 1950s conception of that decade, with air-cars and what-not (all invented by Doc Brown and running on Coca-Cola). Marty also discovers that rock and roll was never invented, and he dedicates himself to starting the delayed cultural revolution. Meanwhile, his dad digs out the newspaper from the day after the dance and sees his son in the picture of the riot.

I don’t know how accurate that is but it’s fun to think about!

56) Not only am I going to include this next quote, but I’m also going to include what I said the first time I watched this movie with my family.

Doc [waiting for Marty to show up]: “Damn where is that kid?”

Doc [waiting, then checking watch]: “Damn.”

Me [with my family]: “Man, there’s a lot of swearing in this movie.”

Doc [checking his watch again]: “DAMN DAMN!”

That scene is so much funnier to me now just because of that instance.

57) The Clock Tower Climax is spectacular and it follows an age old rule of conflict: everything that can go wrong does go wrong. The cable comes undone, the car won’t start, Doc falls off the ledge (remember that foreshadowing I mentioned in point #2?), the cable is stuck on a tree, all while the clock is literally ticking away at their once chance to get this. It is glorious, and using the clock tower just reinforces the idea of time in the film (it was originally going to be a nuclear test site, à la Kingdom of the Crystal Skull) but they went for this iconic scene instead. Thank you filmmakers. Thank you.

58) Remember how the mall was called Twin Pine Mall in the beginning of the movie, and then when Marty went back in time he killed one of Peabody’s pines? Well when he goes back to the future something is a little different.

59) So now that Lorraine and George are happily married and George pursued his writing career, they family is like upper middle class (I don’t think they’re upper class). Crisping Glover did not like the fact that the films ending directly tied together money and happiness.

60) This film’s iconic ending was originally NOT meant to set up a sequel, but instead just tell the audience that the adventure kept going. Of course Robert Zemeckis and writing partner Bob Gale would return and finish what ended up being a trilogy in 1989 and 1990. But until then we have this perfect finishing line.

If my love for Back to the Future isn’t clear after the sixty notes you just read, let me reiterate: I freaking love this film. I love everything about it. I love the acting, the story, the direction, the music, the heart, the humor, the visuals, the themes, I love it all. I can’t imagine it not being my favorite film ever. Everyone needs to watch it as soon as possible. Seriously, everyone.

#Back to the Future #Michael J Fox #Christopher Lloyd #Robert Zemeckis #Marty McFly #Epic Movie (Re)Watch #The More You Know #Claudia Wells #Thomas F Wilson #Crispin Glover #Lea Thompson #James Tolkan #Billy Zane #Movie #Film #GIF

22 notes · View notes

dinoalexander · 7 years ago

Text

The Semi Quotable 2017 Part 5

“applebee’s is literally begging to give away their food.” – Christine Teigen

“In the car w/husband, I offered $20 and a blowjob immediately if he could guess the official title. He did not win.” – @SteelyDanRather on the title announcement for Solo: A Star Wars Story

“280 tweets look like serial killer manifestos” – Scott Aukerman

“Dick Versace had two goals in 1989: guide the Pacers to the playoffs and beat Ricky Steamboat as many times as possible.” – Super 70’s Sports

“It’s D-Day and (Robert) Mueller secured the beaches before noon. Run Nazis.” – Mark Frost on the indictment of Michael Flynn

“The Rebellion is reborn today. The war is just beginning. And I will not be the last Jedi.” – Luke Skywalker

"The answer is either ass, boobs, or dick." -Jordan

"For the sake of salvaging whats left of the positions dignity for President of the United States...can someone in his staff please for the love of God delete Trumps twitter account? Its now gone from one of the most prestigious positions to "worlds most cringe worthy Twitter handle" in less than 6 months." -Steve

"Plague!!!!!!" -Block

"Donald Trump deals in bullshit the way a bovine fertilizer salesman deals in...well, bullshit." -C

"Sometimes you're the Galactic Empire, sometimes you're the Rebel Alliance." -Heather

"Leave it to us to make 'The Little Mermaid' SUPER awkward." -Q

"Ted Cruz...trippin'?" -Molly B

""Live your life in such a way that Donald Trump tweets mean things about you" -David K

"I remember reading so many posts immediately after the election from people who were absolutely terrified of what was going to happen once Trump was sworn in and Republicans controlled both houses of Congress. As evidenced by the fiasco that's unfolding with the health care bill, it should be clear that you folks had nothing to worry about. Even if they had some sort of nefarious purpose they were trying to carry out in their agenda, it seems as though these guys couldn't find their ass with both hands and a GPS." -Tim

“Well then get your shit together, get it all together and put it in a back pack, all your shit, so it's together. And if you gotta take it some where, take it somewhere, you know, take it to the shit store and sell it, or put it in the shit museum. I don't care what you do, you just gotta get it together. Get. Your shit. Together.” -Morty Smith (Justin Roiland)

"Alright, I'm now willing to admit there is a downside to everyone wearing yoga pants in public: I can't tell which of the adults milling about at the gym are here for adult gymnastics and which are just waiting to pick up their kids." -Pam

“Byron Allen’s got me all confused.” -me whenever “Happy” plays on the radio.

"A teacher in the school is selling Girl Scout cookies. The teacher got my order. In related news, someone's daughter is going to Camp Sugarbush this summer. Also in related news, after I eat these cookies, my nickname will be Sugarbush." -Klauss

“Like THAT’s safe!” -Michael, on Quisla’s... erm, safe.

"I used to eat a lot of natural foods until I learned that people die of natural causes." -Rammson

"Donald Trump doesn't understand climate change because he lives in perpetual shade." -Laura

"A close friend referred to this before and after as Exponential Degredation. He said it and he's not taking it back." -The Perfesser

"This would be the equivalent of opening up a Cracker Jack box looking for the prize and seeing it in the bottom ox a box filled with sludge. There's some cool things but do you really want to go through the sludge?" -Gordon, on "Hip Hop Squares"

"You're not minimalist. You're broke." -some guy

"Okay, so we have watermelons.... why aren't there earthmelons or airmelons or firemelons? What happened to the rest of the elemelons?" -Emily Ann

“Thanks for making me confused about my sexuality, Adam Driver. You talented douche.” -Laura

"Unicorn Frappuccinos are what happens when you try and make too much of a good thing for profit. Its the answer to a question nobody asked. It's a Bar Rescue gone horribly wrong." -C

"(As Craig Ferguson) Now he used to be a wrestler and now he's going into politics. Now the two are highly different of course. One involves people with larger than life personalities who make grandiose claims and attack their opponents constantly and the other involves spandex tights." -Brian

"Dang it, PWC! Where were you in November? We could have had Emma Stone as President!" -Clint

“Feelings are real, but they are not reality.” -Dan Harmon

"It's like you've inherited a baby alligator. He was cute for awhile and now he's a big alligator who's threatening to destroy everything but still hangs around you and calls you daddy." -Gordon

"If one of those interchangeable Kardashian chicks dressed as a stewardess interrupted Sean Spicer's press conference by handing him a Pepsi, we as a nation could begin the healing process." -Kevin

"Opened Emma's recital costume and IT WAS COVERED IN GLITTER AND NOW I AM COVERED IN GLITTER AND EVERYTHING I OWN IS COVERED IN GLITTER OMG WHYYYYYYYYYYYY" -Molly B

"It's not terrible, but you can see terrible from where we're standing." -Q

"WHERE ARE MY PANTS!!!" -Michael

"Ladies and gentlemen, my sister, the one-woman Greek chorus." -C

"I have designated February 14 as 'Catch Pokémon, Not Feelings Day'." -J-Ho Boy-Type

"Because that's what ABC thought. This party needs more Lucy Hale." -C

"If I were Samsung I would make my keynote address one sentence. "Samsung galaxy S8… This one won't light itself on fire"." -Brian

"We are not going to let another demon monster take hold and grown and run wild. We are going to nip this problem in the bud. WE ARE GOING TO KILL HITLER AS A BABY!" -Q

"To quote the great Panamanian philosopher Roberto Durán, 'No más'." -C

"I broke my banana." -Q, re: an actual banana.

"Los Angeles has two football teams, two baseball teams, two basketball teams, and two hockey teams, but no curling teams?" -Kevin

"I have to wait for the Luther breakdown to finish!" -C

“Ugh. I really wish I had something cool to say.” -Johnny Yong Bosch

"Less Donald Trump! More techno music!" -bus random to a Bop It!

"Someone told me that being verified on Twitter “really doesn’t do anything” but that person is 1) wrong and 2) head of a social media dept." -Cory

"How did you know Carolina was going to beat Duke?" -Q

"Quisla... its U.N. motherfucking C. They handle shit. Consider this shit handled." -C

"my most-recent counseling appointment had me reaching the following conclusion: i fully acknowledge that i am a jackass, and my attempts at keeping myself from being a jackass has stifled what people like in me as a consequence of not wanting others to think badly of me. so what am i to do? just be a jackass and shoulder the consequences no matter when and where it happens? not entirely -- if i am to have my moments of jackassery, i will make better efforts to steer those spells towards being a jackass for the right reasons. sometimes it takes a jackass christian speaking up when someone claims to be a christian but whose words and actions are far from the basic command of 'love one another.' sometimes fighting for the weak and powerless means being a jackass towards the mighty and powerful. sometimes only an absolute jackass would punch a nazi in the face. i'm josh eldridge. i am a jackass. i hope this admission doesn't effect our friendship." -Josh

“Kylo Ren is like a sullen, resentful jungle gym.” -Laura

"I'm going to make a screwdriver because it's cold as shit outside." -Shelly

“I’m Regis Philbin! Welcome to night 24 of Who Wants To Get Impregnated?” -Jordan

"I just can't girl right." -Shannon

"Our long national pasttime is over." -Jessica, on overlong baseball games

"You may have a problem if the Target cashier recognizes you, knows you by name, and asks if everything was good because you didn't come in on your 'normal' day. Yay! I'm a regular!" -Aryn

"I read my bed all the time! It's a Serta!" -Kitty Carrion

"Does Baby Jojo need a binky?" -C

"I sense a great migraine in the Force...as if millions of white people were trying to get woke at the same time." -Laura

"Well the inauguration is over, finally after two years we can all get back to normal and... *boots up facebook* ...and I'm going to stay off Facebook until January of 2021, cheers 🙂" -Brian

"What fruit is the state of Georgia famous for? ... Todd Chrisley." -C, at quiz night

"So, apparently as an instructor, referring to the start of a new semester as "hazing" is frowned upon." -Heather

“2017 in a nutshell: You see “Mario Batalli :(“ as a Facebook status and you say to yourself, “Dead or pervert?”” -Adam

"Fun fact: staying sane is hard." -Jordan

"If I performed my job with the same razor-sharp precision with which meteorologists perform theirs:

Boss: Is this the data you promised me three weeks ago? Because it looks like completely wrong information.

Me: Yeah, but, as you can see, I've color-coded it in lovely hues of blue, purple and pink where I thought it would make it look nice.

Boss: Yep. Looks great! Keep up the good work.

I am clearly in the wrong profession." -Molly B

"😂😂😂 if I was meant to behave, I wouldn't have been born so good at misbehaving 😛" -Emily Ann

"Seen on a group page tonight:

Everything Kirk Cameron touches turns to patriarchy." -Shrub

"In other news, 30 oz of ribeye can be converted to 0 if you just believe in yourself." -Justin S

"Bacteria gets me so hard." -Jordan

"Oh REALLY..." -Q, reaching for Jordan's pants

"Who here loves animals but hates that Sarah Maclachlan commercial?" -Sweet Tea Shakespeare guy

“Hey... I run them miles. I’m slow as fuck, but I run them miles.” -C

"Trying to stay positive in a world full of assholes is like trying to shovel hot jello from a wheel barrow using a pitch fork with only one prong!" -Sheila

"If there's one thing I learned in college, it's: never underestimate the power of an icy, cold shower beer. Thanks guys!" -Dahlia

"No, no, no. I can't have penises all over my car tonight. Tomorrow night, maybe, but no penises tonight." -Nicole W

"Maybe for Lent Trump should just give up." -George Takei

"She wanted someone to take the pickle, so I did." -C

"Too... many... JOKES!" -Brian

"Saw the Barca result. Ah, so that is why folks riot." -Steve P

“I can’t have weird Chico. I live with him.” -Q

"Yay sports! Spoooooooorts!" -Milana Vayntrub

"You're at a bar. Playing bar trivia. Against an IQA ranked quizzer and his sister who would also be IQA ranked if she made the trip to Raleigh with me that morning. We are naturally expressive people within our family. That comes from being the children of Carlos and Olivia Alexander. We laugh together, we love together, we cook, fight, and emote together. And when we win, we emote like hell. If you don't like it when we win, next time bring smarter friends. Until then, get the fuck over it." -the son of Carlos & Olivia Alexander.

"This is my face when I find out some epically old karma has been served." -Shannon

Okay, one more oughta do it.

0 notes

inevitably-johnlocked · 8 years ago

Note

You always have such great fic recs! I have a looong cross-country flight coming up and am looking for some multi-chapter fics to wile away the hours in the flying tin can. Preferences in order of priority: *very* in-character (anything OOC kills it for me), slow burn/first time, not AU (ACD is good tho!) Any rating. Have read all the fandom classics so looking for less-known or newish. For reference two of my favorite ever fics are Quiet Man, & Safe Distance. Thank you Steph! You are the best!!

AHHH Nonny!! Sorry I just saw this, so I hope I’m not too late for your cross-country flight! All I saw was “multi-chapter long” and I put it aside to attach to 2 other asks of similar requests. BUT because this is time-sensitive, I’ll give you a few to tide you over! I’m actually working on a TONNE of fic rec lists:

… (essentially I create a new textedit document every time I get a “different” request from others I have) and was going to add this ask to my “long fics” request I received a month or so ago. Okay, so instead, I’ll pull some long fics from my “Fave Fics Ever” List for you that I have so far (I still have 15 more pages of bookmarks to go through, plus all 1000 fics on my FFNet account, so, WHEE. Being meticulous is ridiculous).

It’s hard to choose, so I limited it to my go-to long fics for you that I have ALREADY sorted on my lists you see in that window above there :D I’ve put them in word count order for you :D

TOP 20 FAVE 40K+ w. FICS || APRIL 2017

Goodness Gives Extras by mydwynter (E, 39,629 w. || Fluff & Angst, Case Fic, Oral / Anal, Humour, First Time, Miscommunication, Snark, Christmas) – Christmas time. ‘Tis the season to settle down with a drink, some food and a present or two, and to enjoy the quiet relaxation of the holiday. Instead, there’s a case that drags them all over, missing presents, disappointed kids, angry parents, and a freak snowfall. On top of that John has to deal with Sherlock, who is being even more of a prat than usual. He really shouldn’t have expected anything different. (okay I’m cheating with the word count on this one but it’s so good!! One of my ALL TIME FAVES)

Right Hand Man by SilentAuror (E, 42,031 w. || H/C, Injury, Slow Burn, Infidelity, Mary is Not Nice) – When John’s left arm becomes paralysed after a car accident, Mary asks Sherlock to take him back to Baker Street to recuperate, as she’s about to give birth. Despite the fact that the search for Moriarty is ongoing, Sherlock takes John in and takes responsibility for overseeing his rehabilitation as he adjusts to the loss of his arm. (FAVE FAVE FAVE)

Guidelines by WithLoweredVoices (M, 43,018 w. || Winglock || Angels, Fantasy, Angst, BAMF! John, War) – The Good Soldier, one of the oldest and strongest of the fallen, is offered a bargain: to live as John Watson and to Guide a fledgling archangel so that he will stay on the path of good. Of course, Sherlock Holmes has different ideas about his destiny. Fantasy AU. Warnings for violence, occasional gore, and a whole load of hurt and angst.

The Case of the Vanishing Pants by SwissMiss (E, 44,025 w. || Post-TRF, Case Fic, UST, Homophobia, Friends to Lovers) – Five times John and Sherlock lost their pants in the course of a case.

Left by lifeonmars (M, 45,153 w. || Magical Realism) – John Watson is left-handed. He’s tried not to let it affect his life, but as any Lefty knows, that’s almost impossible.

The Norwood Love Builders by flawedamythyst (T, 47,798 w. || Fake Relationship, Slow Burn, Post TRF Angst) – Sherlock and John go undercover to solve the murder of Joanna Oldacre, but things are complicated by the many feelings John has been repressing in the wake of Sherlock’s faked death and return.

Guilty Secrets by Ellipsical (E, 55,055 w. || Drumsticks, First Time, Love Confession, Self-Sexual-Discovery) – John has a prostate exam and discovers something surprising about himself. Experimentation follows. Sherlock wants to help. They’re in love. You know the drill.

Wars We Fought, Things We’re Not by blueink3 (M, 55,204 w. || Parentlock, Fluff & Angst, Kidnapping, Whump, Post-TAB, UST, Slow Burn, Couple for a Case) – Five months after John’s world has fallen apart, Mycroft sends the consulting detective and his doctor on a case that neither is prepared for.

Perdition’s Flames by i_ship_an_armada (E, 63,435 w., || Treklock AU, Est. Rel, Genetic Engineering, Angst & Fluff, BAMF!John) – Sherlock would do anything to save him. Risk anything. Give anything. His money, his life. His soul. What he does, though, is change both of their destinies forever. Genetic re-engineering is the only option left. It turns out researchers underestimated the life expectancy and potential abilities of genetically re-engineered subjects. The British government and what would eventually become the United Federation of Planets, however, had not. Part 1 of PF Universe

Shatter the Darkness (Let the Light In) by MojoFlower (E, 109,683 w. || GenieLock, Torture, H/C, Magical Realism) – Fairy tales are for those who remember how to dream; not John Watson, broken and hiding from his bleak future in a beige bedsit. But then he discovers a lamp and finds himself in the dangerous riptide of an enigmatic man whose very existence is unbelievable, murder charges against his sister, and the growing pains of feeling alive once more. {{This is a REALLY great story, which tears at your heart consistently}}.

Breakable by MissDavis (E, 117,627 w. || Established, Fluff/Angst, Depression, Paralysis, Happy-ish Ending) – After John is seriously injured, Sherlock struggles to figure out how to help him, keep himself sane, and maybe, just maybe, get their life back to the way it’s supposed to be. Part 1 of Breakable Not Broken

Midnight Blue Serenity by BeautifulFiction (E, 151,907 w. || Friends to Lovers, Gay Bar / For a Case, Drugs, Pining, Case Fic, UST) – When Sherlock infiltrates a club in order to track down a serial killer, his altered appearance is enough to make John question his assumption that Sherlock is beyond his reach. However, is he the only one who appreciates his flatmate’s charms, or is Sherlock at risk of becoming the next victim?

A Fold in the Universe by darkest_bird (E, 152,857 w. || O-John, A-Sherlock || Body Swap, Crossing Universes, DubCon, H/C, Angst, Happy Ending) – Alpha Sherlock and Omega John are in a relationship. Prime Sherlock and Prime John are not. So what happens when a freak fold in the universe switches one John for the other?

Performance In a Leading Role by Mad_Lori (E, 156,714 w. || Hollywood AU, Coming Out, Show Business) – Sherlock Holmes is an Oscar winner in the midst of a career slump. John Watson is an Everyman actor trapped in the rom-com ghetto. When they are cast as a gay couple in a new independent drama, will they surprise each other? Will their on-screen romance make its way into the real world?

#johnlock fic recs #my fic recs #long fics #Anonymous

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