#im behind omg

[hey-michael-young-history]

31 Days of Christmas!

Day 12: Let's See Who's Better

“The great Grandmaster Sub-Zero… turning down a challenge?”

Kuai Liang kept his eyes forward as Hanzo Hasashi stepped ahead of him. With his eyes on Hanzo's back, he slid his mask on. He witnessed the transformation from his human self to the skeletal demon that incinerated the thick brush of foliage obscuring their path. As Hanzo cleared out a path for them, Kuai Liang realized that the irrational fear that once home itself in the pit of his stomach was now dull caution. Even as allies, he thought he'd never be at ease in the former wraith's presence. Hanzo's hellfire came to him naturally, as though he was born with it. But even without it, he was a dangerous man. 

“Perhaps you should view it as the Great Grandmaster Sub-Zero prioritizing the mission at hand,” he said. 

Human once more, Hanzo turned and chided, “Your voice echoes and carries with your mask on.”

“It is only right to announce my presence before conflict begins. Sneakiness is the way of Shirai Ryu ninjas, not the Lin Kuei.”

Hanzo smirked and they began walking again. It was eerie, walking on the blackened earth. Embers rose around them, burning out before they could taint the lush greenery that was left untouched. Was this what Hanzo experienced in the Netherrealm, every grueling moment he was trapped in Quan Chi’s service?

“We should make the best use of our time and it has been too long since we were able to spar.”

“You allow yourself distractions, Grandmaster Hasashi. There is no need to fight each other when we should ready ourselves for any possible assault.”

“This is a simple extraction, per Raiden.”

A simple extraction. Per Raiden. Kuai Liang allowed the statement to die without comment. He wasn't sure if Hanzo was being facetious but they were experienced enough in Kombat to always keep their guard up. 

“Are you afraid, Sub-Zero?”

“I have nothing to fear, Hanzo. Not from you nor anyone else.”

“Then what is a casual match between friends?”

That made Kuai Liang stop. Friends. That was how Hanzo thought of him now. 

Hanzo only took a few more paces before stopping himself. “We are always forced to fight under the whims of sorcerers and gods. Why not engage in Kombat on our own terms?”

“Kombat is not an activity of leisure.”

“Perhaps you mean losing is not an activity of leisure.”

Kuai Liang shoved past him but didn't answer. Hanzo was in a teasing mood. That was always bad for their relationship… friendship. 

“Ah, so I have discovered the real issue.” Hanzo grinned as he grabbed Kuai Liang’s shoulder. “You know that I will defeat you.”

He snorted and brushed Hanzo’s hand away. “You allow yourself emotional distraction and this is why Raiden always invades my free time to guard you.”

“Ah, what a coincidence. I thought that Raiden dragged me from my territory to watch over you.”

Kuai Liang stopped and faced him. “And what would ever give you that impression?”

“The last time…” Hanzo’s statement lingered with a smirk on his face. 

Anger flared inside him and deepened his frown. Every single mission without fail. Even his missions with Johnny Cage eventually led to him ignoring the actor but the person who never failed to distract him, Hanzo Hasashi, the man with a temper that raged so harsh that even Hell was not even to keep him from living. How did he always get under his skin like this? 

“What pleasure do you seek from this, Scorpion?”

That only inflamed Hanzo's eyes as he removed his sword from his hip. “Let's see.”

It was almost a recital of an exhibition that would never be seen. Hanzo's ignited sword clashing with Kuai Liang’s ice blades. Kuai Liang believed in an all out offense and it was apparent through the domination of this match. Hanzo remained calm, steady, only defending himself against Kuai Liang's fiercest attacks. 

They knew each other too well. These fights were never fruitful, never a true winner emerging. That didn't bother Kuai Liang. Truly, it did not. What bothered him was how much Hanzo enjoyed them. 

Training, practicing, focusing, it was not supposed to be fun. There was no pleasure to be wrought from these matches yet Hanzo never took them seriously. 

This childish side of him was one that Kuai Liang did not appreciate access to. He did not appreciate Hanzo's dodges and fake outs. He didn't appreciate the way he'd catch Kuai Liang if he slipped or rest a hand on him longer than necessary. 

It was the shattering of his pole ax that he decided that enough was enough. As the ice dissolved into vapors on Hanzo’s skin, Kuai Liang turned away. “That's enough.”

“You don't care to continue?” That hand on his shoulder again. 

“Don't touch me,” he snapped, freezing the invading hand. 

Hanzo broke free. “Where is this anger coming from?”

“Our mission–”

“Is that honestly your concern? Have I offended you?”

Kuai Liang ignored him. He kept moving forward, relieved to see the castle in the distance. 

“Sub-Zero–” 

“Get off,” Kuai Liang shoved him off again. Hanzo dug his heel into the ground to counteract the force. “We can continue Kombat if you are willing to be serious.”

Hanzo frowned at the ice hardening over Kuai Liang's fists. He shook his head and sheathed his sword. “If we engage in Kombat now, I believe there will be hurt feelings.”

“Feelings have nothing to do with our mission or our alliance.”

Hanzo moved closer and searched his face. “You do not believe what you say.”

“Do not tell me what I mean!” Kuai Liang was about to push him again but Hanzo grabbed the assaulting arm and wrestled him into a half Nelson hold. Hanzo heard him speak, muffled by their twisted bodies. “What was that, Sub-Zero?”

“I do not understand you, Hanzo. I thought you held a certain maturity as grandmaster. Yet you fight for fun. You do not take these missions seriously.”

Surprised, Hanzo loosened his hold, giving Kuai Liang enough room to drive his elbow into his face and try to stand. Unaffected, Hanzo grabbed him again and dragged him back down. He sat on the small of his back and held his arms behind him. “I did not realize that my folly caused you this much stress.”

“It doesn't,” Kuai Liang snapped, trying to wriggle free. 

“That is good to hear. You are the only person I can do this with.”

“What?” Kuai Liang stopped moving and strained to turn his head. “What do you mean?”

Hanzo rose just enough to flip him over. Once Kuai Liang was on his back, he realized that his hands were bound behind him. “You tied my hands.”

“This is one conversation you will not be running from,” Hanzo declared, squatting back down so that he could sit on the cryomancer's abs. Kuai Liang flinched as the warmth hit his stomach and spread throughout his body. 

Hanzo continued, “We have survived Shinnok attempting to invade Earthrealm. There is no more grave mission than that. We have earned the ability to find leisure in the tasks we're called upon. Distractions are not always a route to failure, Kuai Liang.”

Kuai Liang. His brain sputtered, replaying the low, careful way that Hanzo intoned, the journey his mouth took to say it. 

He leaned forward and Kuai Liang steeled his face, determined to keep himself from reacting to Hanzo's growing warmth. “Is it so wrong to wish our time together was spent in more pleasurable ways than missions and training?”

“And you find… this… more pleasurable than missions and training?”

“Yes. I enjoy how you sulk when you lose. I enjoy the way anger simmers on your face when I gain the upper hand.”

“You mean cheat,” Kuai Liang growled. “So what you truly desire is to antagonize me.”

Hanzo chuckled and slid Kuai Liang's headband off. “What I truly desire?”

“You have made it clear,” The cryomancer complained, reeling from the touch. He felt like he was going to jump out of his skin. The heat, he reasoned. 

“What I truly desire…” Hanzo leaned in and Kuai Liang found that he enjoyed feeling Hanzo's breath on his face. 

His last coherent thought before Hanzo kissed him. Hanzo's lips on his own. Hanzo’s hand tilting his chin up. His own hands somehow bound behind him. 

Hanzo pulled away far too soon, leaving Kuai Liang to try to rationalize the new chaos about to enter his life. Hanzo gave him a knowing little smile as he pushed himself up. “We are close enough for me to take us there. We will grab the relic, take it to Raiden, then perhaps we can find time to continue this discussion.”

“What?”

“I know that distractions trouble you,” he explained, with that same smile and an extended hand. 

Kuai Liang ignored him as he broke the tie holding his wrists together. Hanzo’s hellfire tended to draw attention.  If anyone was up there…

What the hell. They were Earthrealm’s greatest defenders. They had survived Shinnok’s attempt to invade Earthrealm. They could handle it. Kuai Liang took his hand. 

There were pleasures to be had. 

[skitskatdacat63]

I'm already getting the feeling that he's somehow gonna be even sillier this year 🤔

[hyunpic]

hyunjin for elle korea & cartier

[forgettable-au]

What do we think? I think he's like the coolest scientist to ever science

HEY HAPPY 2000 FOLLOWERS‼️HOW DID THAT HAPPEN SO QUICK?????

I'm genuinely so shocked about that I'm so so glad you're all enjoying this AU so far hehehe:D

Also I just made the 1000 followers celebration post like a month ago or something??wow

Here's the guy ‼️‼️ I wanted to practice drawing him quickly and in different poses. I think I achieved that, all this was made with just the lasso fill tool it was soooo fun and I loved not being worried about details just SHAPE

ALL SHAPE (and colors)

[juaneloriginal]

This is the story of a woman named Mariella

TW: BLOOD AND MISSING ARMS

aaaand a couple doodls

ignorance is bliss

@blackkatdraws

[radio-zephyr]

alskgjdslk jthe new animated short for hsr,,,,,

the way black swan went from in control, leading the dance and moving with acheron, to being the one moved around, puppeted, torn apart and brought together under acheron's hand. THE SWAN GETTING KILLED BY A SNAKE IN THE BACKGROUND. THE PREDATOR PREY DYNAMIC AS SHE'S HUNTED DOWN OVER AND OVER, BRUTALIZED IN HER MIND before returning out of the abyss of acheron's memories, now the one being dipped as acheron looks down on her impassively.

oairesghdjkair IM GOING INSANE

[serendippertyy]

can u draw some femme aziraphale please please please ❤️

perfect opportunity to showcase my vision for 50s aziraphale with a cute lil poodle skirt,,what do y'all think,,🫶🫶💙💙

[hanzajesthanza]

if witcher 4 is set in the past, but in the recent past… in other words, the heyday of witchers… that would actually be way more interesting than setting it in the distant past, because we have so much more developed, canon context already for that period. there’s already a skeleton to hang a story on.

in addition to being able to bring back some already known characters. imagine meeting like, hen gedymdeith. what if we can know of tissaia training philippa as her pupil. meet eithné… uh… just the same as she ever was i guess, but with her daughter alive this time. encounter future scoia’tael agents as kids. i want to see falka on the stake

[szaryherbatnik]

I want to know ppls genuine opinions on icebound ships. Cause i totally get the energy of each ship, i think basically all of them are super cute. But what are like. SHIP ships. Not just a cute concept but something more. Something that makes you pace around maybe jump up and down a little bit

(Also im on ep 15 so pls spoiler free!!)

[sugarpasteltmnt]

ASHFHAJDHSJDHSJSH FRIENDS PLEASE I JUST GOT OUT OF WORK WAAAA

[themintman]

My opinions on some ships and characters 😼😼😼

Ill explain some stuff in the tags if yall are curious hehe ALSO IN THE REBLOGS. TUMBLR SILENCED ME 😔💔

Template by @stervil !!!

[kates-photography]

Gray catbird! 🩶

[pizzazzgf]

the idea of rio and agatha having a messy, early on breakup that doesn’t have to do with later actual tragic events appeals so much to me. like the idea of agatha knowing that rio is a cosmic, powerful, terrifying entity and still stomping on her heart on purpose. and it just makes rio more attracted to her because she has never had something slip away from her grasp before

[godsfavoritescientist]

well hold on, if we define a character flaw as any limitation a character deals with, regardless of whether it's something Morally Wrong With Them or not, then Ford's paranoia counts as a character flaw since it does in fact negatively impact him and the people around him. Let me use better wording here: I will die on the hill that Ford's paranoia is not a moral failing.

[gentlebeardsbarngrill]

02/29/2024 Daily OFMD Recap

TLDR; Cast & Crew Sightings; VicoOrtiz; Gypsy Taylor; Samba Schutte; How to Help: Ranker Polls; BBC News; New Appreciation Events; Rhys' 50th Birthday; NewarkNewark Watch Party with @adoptourcrew; Watch Party Reminders; PeopleOfEarth; TheseThems; SaveOFMDCrew; Calendar;Fundraiser Goals; LeapDayBingo; FanSpotlight; Collages;Trading Cards; LoveNotes; Daily Darby/Tonight's Taika

= Cast&Crew Sightings =

= Vico Ortiz =

Sorry were you planning on getting anything done today?

Vico has so much going on! "These Flowers Might Be Ours" read by Vico is available now on Amazon.co.uk!

Also too, ActNow: LA's LQBTQ+ Acting Class will be doing a scene study with Vico starting March 10th!

= Gypsy Taylor =

Our favourite costume designed Gypsy Taylor was interviewed by @screenaustralia! Check out the Podcast episode here. Src: Gypsy's Instagram

= Samba Schutte =

Just a little celebration of Leap Day!

== How to Help ==

Polls are still up! So that Ranker poll is still there! It's still taking responses, please feel free to stop in and push OFMD up! (You could even do it on multiple browsers!... not that I'd recommend something like that). Our friend @patchworkpiratebear was kind enough to make a helpful infographic since it is a bit of a goofy set up. Link to the Ranking

Step 5: You can actually rank the other shows and they still affect the ranking of OFMD.

== BBC News ==

So this was a cool catch by @queerly-autistic, our friend over here on tumblr and twitter. "A Pirate Comedy with a cult following". Talk about making noise!

I know I've seen several asks lately regarding whether or not the time slot change for OFMD on BBC was a good or a bad thing. @queerly-autistic had some great insight on this. Please check out their thread here. "It's a really great slot to have the show advertised in, and I was so surprised and thrilled to see them giving it that space (and specifically pushing people to watch it on iPlayer)"

== New Appreciation Events! ==

March 21: Rhys' 50th Birthday

Do you have prepared best wishes for our pirate captain? 

Use the hashtag #youwear50well in your social media posts! Also, here's a neat list of time zones to ensure our birthday wishes will be the first thing Rhys sees (depending on whether he's in NZ or LA at that time!) Tweet/Insta at the times of your zone to ensure timely impact. 

12 AM on March 21 in New Zealand is: 

    12 PM on March 20 for AEDT/Sydney

    11 AM on March 20 for GMT/London

    7 AM on March 20 for EST/New York

12 AM on March 21 in LA is: 

    6 PM on March 20 for AEDT/Sydney

    7 AM on March 21 for GMT/London

    3 AM on March 21 for EST/New York

Thank you so much to our lovely friend @yronnia and all the other folks working on this project! Super cool!

= More Watch Parties! =

Please join @adoptourcrew for a @NewarkNewark watch party on March 5th at 10 pm GMT/ 2pm PS / 5pm EST!

== Watch Party Reminders! ==

Coming down to the end of s2 Friends! #People Of Earth continues tomorrow and then a whole rewatch on Saturday! 10 pm GMT / 5pm EST / 4pm CST / 2pm PST!

= Mar 1: THESE THEMS WATCH PARTY =

Join @adoptourcrew on Friday 3/1 for a watch party of #TheseThems! Times haven't been secured quite yet but mark your calendars!

Watch Party Hashtags:

#TheseThems

#These Gems

#AdoptOurCrew

== Save OFMD Crew ==

= Calendar =

Tomorrow is #ImmoderateCitrus Day! (National Sunkist Citrus Day in the US). Feel free to reach out to the @saveofmdcrewmates about citrus-related faves: food, drink, clothing, recipes, or art!

= UK Advertising Fundraiser =

The truck stretch goal was met! The final stretch goal is getting petitions up in the tube in the UK! As always friends, donating is not a requirement but if you want and can afford it, that's great too!

== Leap Day Bingo ==

Today was Leap Day Bingo! Bingo credit to the lovely @OFMDBingo42 on Twitter or @Our_Flag_Means_Bingo on IG! There are several versions, see how many you can find across our socials. 😘

== Fan Spotlight ==

Febuary 29 bring the February LOVE #OurFlagMeansDeath Collage Fest to a close! Thank you again @wndrngnomad for taking the time to make such lovely dedications to our favourite show, cast, and crew!

Wanna see them all? Check them out here!

== Cast Trading Cards ==

Appropriate timing considering all the Vico sightings we've been seeing lately! Our lovely @melvisik has done it again. I didn't realize Vico was in Harley Quinn!

== Love Notes ==

HEY YOU!

Yes, YOU!

LOOK AT YOU!

With your awesome face, and your sweet ass smile!

Who do you think you are bringing all the swagger and charisma up in here? You're gonna blow this world away with that kind of powerful aura!

You are kicking ass today! Seriously, give yourself a big hug and a fist pump and say, "HELL YEAH!" because you are rocking it!

Now get out there and do whatever you're doing-- sleeping, playing, working, strutting, etc-- and show the next 24 hrs who'se's boss!

Love you crew <3

== Daily Darby / Tonight's Taika ==

Today's Darby is brought to you by none other than @sherlockig.

Daily Taika is by @memzhay. Why are these related? Idfk know, they just felt like generally the same vibe. Rhys being a cat chasing a string, and Taika a pup playing dead. (It's opposite day cause it's Leap Day, I guess).

Don't ask me how my mind works. I gave up many many moons ago.

[marurumai]

alnst spoilers (obv) okay so, ive been thinking. last year sua got to cover ruler of my heart, which is the song where luka was trying to impersonate her to use against mizi. with all the theories about luka doing the same to till with ivan, what if ivans cover will be the song for round 7? just like he impersonates sua with romh, he will impersonate ivan this time. the way mizi saw sua singing that day, till will see ivan too.