#inherit the wind 2023

[plush4bunny]

I love your Alfred Molina characters art so much 😭💗💖

bless you anon, i'm very humbled ���🙇🙇 have some henry drummond sketch

[heythereimashley]

new pictures from "Inherit The Wind"

[littlebabyyd0ll]

KINKTOBER DAY SEVEN, SIZE KINK

His heart beats for you, sweet little you, and his head goes wild for your tiny little hole.

Daddy!Ari x Smaller!reader

Warnings: SIZE KINK! Reader is described to be vv small & short. Stomach bulge from Ari’s monster cock. Kinda crybaby reader, lots of dirty talk. Dacryphilia. Not proofread.

18+! Enjoy!

Main Masterlist ! Kinktober 2023

It’s hard to think, hard to breathe when you feel so full. You feel like you’re choking on him, inhaling him, and he thinks it’s funny. He’s chuckling as tears fill your waterline and splash onto your cheeks. 

He’s rough and burly, so big as he crowds himself over your little form. “Is it too much, honey? You’re crying, poor girl, you can’t take daddy?” 

You can, you know you can, because you are right now. Ari moves a little softer at the sight of your running tears, and he mocks your little pout. You can’t help it — he’s just so big, fills you so well, your little hole stretched out over his hard cock. There’s not much more spreading that your legs can do, trying to accommodate the width of his waist within them. God, he’s such a monster, and it doesn’t help how tiny you already are. 

“I can!” You protest with a sniffle, brows creased together unhappily. It only makes him laugh more.

That makes it all the more worse, especially when you can feel his cock twitch inside you. 

You whine, pushing your wet face into the creased pillows beside you. 

“I know you can.” He mumbles pitifully, finally taking a break from his mean teasing. One of his big, calloused hands makes it’s way up your twitching body until it winds itself around the back of your neck, fingertips brushing your hair at the nape of your neck. “Always take me so well, huh? Prettiest fuckin’ girl with the,” he breaks, a grunt as you look at him with those teary bambi eyes, “tightest little hole.” 

“Daddy,” you cry, tiny hands pushing against his hairy chest as he picks up the speed of his thrusts. Deep within your hazy mind you notice how pretty your manicured nails look against him, a treat that he paid for monthly. Ari groans again at your broken whine, leaning down to plant hot kisses against your wet cheeks. 

He’s never loved anything as much as he’s loved you. 

Angelface you, who fell off your bike in front of his driveway. He had been out the front, sweating profusely as he pushed the mower against the overgrown grass – he’d only just moved in to the massive place, inherited it from some uncle he never even met. He can still remember catching your eye as you peddled past, the way that you had been far too distracted looking at his chest, the way that you toppled over into one of his bushes. 

He was enamoured the moment that he first touched you.

Being the natural savour that he is, he jumped straight away to save you. His big hands wrapped under your arms and lifted you effortlessly from the crumple of limbs that you had ended up as. And when he set you on your shaky feet, that was when he realised just how fucking little you were. 

The top of your head reached around the bottom of his pecks, leaves wound into your locks. You tried to stable yourself against him, the tiniest of hands splayed out against his stomach. He can remember the way that your big watery eyes had looked up at him, apologising excessively and trying to ignore the throbbing, bruising pain. He can remember the feeling of fullness overtaking him, forcing him to reach out for you, to try his very hardest to win over your heart. The same feeling stays with him now, the need to protect you, baby you, keep you for himself. 

So tiny and helpless. 

His hips stutter as he looks down and lets out a long winded moan, something that would surely have the neighbours concerned and stray cats replying to the call. 

“Look, baby. Look at how good you take daddy.” He’s not teasing anymore, instead moving your limp head to face downwards. Your vision is blurry from the tears, but you blink fast to try and clear your vision. Then you see it, the thing that makes his hindbrain cry out and push his hips faster. 

There, at the very bottom of your tummy, is a slight bulge, appearing and disappearing with every stroke he gives. He’s so big, just massive, a juggernaut. You're so tiny, look like some sort of pixie next to him. The hotness of the sight has your eyes rolling and a choked whine filling the air, matching the rough slapping of skin upon skin, and the echo of your slick. 

Ari laughs again, pushing a warm hand against the moving bulge. “Is that daddy all up in your guts, huh? M’fucking ruining you, kitten. Does daddy feel good? Can feel you clenching, tightest little hole.” He’s getting just as close as you are, he always gets blubbery and breathy when he gets close to cumming. “Best I ever had, you know that? Best fuckin’ girl. You're my girl, baby. Tell daddy you're his girl.”

Your tears are worse now, but you will always give him what he needs. “I-I’m your girl, daddy. Always your girl -ah!- please, please.” Your breathing is rough and troubled. Your hand pushes against him, but all your pussy does is pull him in deeper. “S-So big. I can’t– M’gonna come.”

“Fuck. Sweetest girl. Make the cutest little mess. Come for me, angel. I got you. Daddy’s got you.”

It’s white hot, the pleasure. It grabs you and swallows you whole, has you shaking and creaming all over his cock. Your squeaks and whines are enough to push him to the edge too, and Ari pulls your tiny frame into a bear hug as he paints your rippling walls white. Ari shudders with you. Mouthing at your jaw, his warmth completely encompasses you. The gentle giant is so good to you, shushing your tired cries as he slips out of your wet cunt, thumbing away the tears at your cheeks. He keeps you there, small and tucked away, like his own little secret, like something fragile and tiny, like his most precious of keepsakes. 

Like his sweetest little girl.

[fastcardotmp3]

fluke

for @steddiemicrofic December 2023 prompt: PINE | words: 508 | rated: G | established relationship; no CW (I wrote fluff, are you proud of me?)

They come into the land by a total and complete fluke.

An empty Tennessee plot that hasn't seen use in decades, it's got a shed of a cabin built by Eddie's great grandfather, likely no modern plumbing, and it's perfect.

A perfect fucking fluke that the Munson family is fractured in enough ways that Eddie and Wayne are the only direct decedents around to inherit the land and all of its endless potential.

Or so Steve calls it.

“I mean, look! A balcony,” he jogs out a handful of yards across the snow-dusted plot of land, spreads his arms wide like he can see it, “right here-- a table and chairs-- a spot to look out at the view.”

The view is also a fluke. A gorgeous overlook of the Blue Ridge Mountains sort of fluke.

“It could even be two-story with stairs,” he gestures upward, such a skip in his step and a flush to his cheeks that Eddie can't help but think that he's a perfect sort of fluke too, Steve Harrington, “that lead right up to a second balcony right outside the bedroom. Yeah?”

He's beaming, positively glowing, and Eddie is mostly just stunned when he nods in agreement. Arms crossed tight to hold in the warmth of his coat and the hair not tucked into his knit cap whipping across his face in the wind, he nods.

Next month, Eddie will turn thirty years old even though he was supposed to die at nineteen, and Steve Harrington's face is going soft with something like understanding as he plans out the blueprints for the house they'll grow old in.

High up in the mountains. So far from the holes in the ground that once tried to drag them to hell.

“C'mere,” Steve strides back over to him, some of the broad exuberance leaving his step but none of the joy as he grapples for Eddie's hand and drags him to the other side of the plot, “okay, so from about here--” he gestures to where they stand, “to over by those trees, there's space for a guest house, don't you think?”

“A guest house?” Eddie looks at Steve questioningly.

“For Wayne. Now that he's finally retiring.”

Eddie may be the creative force when it comes to words and sound between them, but it's in moments like this that Steve proves the kind of vision he has. He can stand here on a nearly empty plot of land, a cabin so neglected the windows are boarded up and the porch rotted through, and still he sees a life.

A future. A family. Not just a fantasy but their prize, if they choose to take it.

“Hardwood floors. Pine,” Steve says, grin only growing as Eddie gapes at him in awe, takes his face between gloved palms, “oak furniture-- I'll build it myself.”

Eddie exhales, fog of breath dancing across Steve's crooked nose. “You really would, wouldn't you?”

Steve grins and kisses him soundly in the place that will become their home.

What a remarkable little fluke.

[mochalottie]

Masterlist

(Because even though no one asked for one...I wanted to do it to keep my brain entertained)

Avatar (Cameron Movies)

Oel Ngati Kameie (37k+ words) Series about Spider being adopted into the Sully. Post Way of Water.

To protect (2k words) Oneshot about Spider being injured on the SeaDragon.

Baby Mine (6.5k words) 5 times Spider called someone Mom or Dad and one time someone called him Son.

Eywa Provides (23k words) Multi chapter, complete - Feral Na'vi Spider living alone in the forest who is, surprise surprise, adopted by the Sullys.

Our Hearts Beat in the Womb of the World (115k words) Multi chapter, complete - Spider is adopted by Tonowari and Ronal. That's it. That's the fic.

For the Nights and Days of Life (387k words) Multi chapter, complete - All humans leave Pandora after the final battle leaving Spider behind. Oh, and he’s blessed by Eywa. That’s it. That’s the fic.

You Brought light, and new life (78k words) Multi chapter, complete - The comfort fic/sequel that everyone (surprisingly) wanted and I definitely needed.

What am I supposed to do, dance with it? (8k) Oneshot - Spider turns into a tiger. That's it. That's the fic.

Let the Wind Carry Us to the Clouds Multi chapter, ongoing - Aka the ikran racing!au I've snatched up and twisted into my own version, which features some Nocorro but centrics around our boy Spider!

Every Family has Someone Who Falls (160K+) Multi chapter, complete - the time loop au where Spider is thoroughly put through the wringer.

Avatar: The Last Airbender

When You Can't Look on the Brightside, I'll Sit with You in the Dark (63k words) Multi chapter - a Zukka Alice in Wonderland AU where Sokka is Alice and Ozai is the Red King.

If Music is the Food of Love, Play On (4k words) Oneshot - Zuko essentially pining after Sokka in a Modern AU

Final Fantasy XV

Stronger than the Tides (13k words) Oneshot - Mermaid AU for Reverse Big Bang 2023

Blessed be the Boys Time Can't Capture (6k words) Oneshot - heads of families in Eos are vessels for the Greek Gods.

FFXV Song ficlets Series of Oneshots based on songs by Lauv. Includes multiple ships and AUs.

New Dawn (74k words) Multi chapter, complete - Ignis x Male!OC

Star Wars Prequels

Rock You Like a Hurricane Multi chapter, second part abandoned -The Obikin Band AU with Obi-Wan on drums, Anakin with vocals, Rex on Bass and Ahsoka on Guitar

The Mandalorian

Chakaar (22k words) Oneshot - Din Djarin x Male!OC Where a curious thief gets too involved with a grumpy Mandalorian and gains a family in return.

Inheritance Cycle

The World Ahead Multi chapter, incomplete - The Eragon/LOTR crossover that no one seemed to need, but two people very much wanted.

The Witcher

Destiny Changed Series of Oneshots - Jaskier is a Witcher and falls in love for Geralt the Nobleman. That's it, that's the series.

Voltron Legendary Defender

Space Family to the Rescue (1k words) Oneshot - Sick Keith is cared for by his Space Family.

Love is Endless (6k words) Oneshot - Keith pines for Lance in a Modern AU.

(Techni)Colour Vision (60k words) Multi chapter, complete - Klance through many film AUs.

[two-white-butterflies]

parallel lines | d. targaryen | part one

Description: An ordinary middle school teacher moves to a desolate town with her fiancee. After suffering episodes of vivid nightmares, she realizes that his uncle looks exactly like the man in her dreams.

Pairings: daemon targaryen/reader, aemond targaryen/reader

Trope: Reincarnation

(A rewrite of 'Waiting for a Bus')

series masterlist |

<previous part

"You're in the wind, I'm in the water. Nobody's son and nobody's daughter." - Chemtrails Over the Country Club, Lana Del Rey.

(Targaryen's Residence, Dragonview. September 15, 2007)

Viserys places his cigarette on the ash tray, carefully browsing through his morning newspaper. "Our boy is a little weak, don't you think." he interrupted his wife's Lauds. Alicent's eyebrows furrowed, walking away from her hour of prayer. "Weak?" she inquired and he nods. Not even bothering to stare at her - only at his newspaper.

"He does not act the ways a boy should. He spends his time with Helaena, and I detest your girl very much." he stated, looking down upon his own children. A piece of Alicent's heart shatters. Who was this man that she married? "Our Helaena? She is bright beyond her years, I understand why Aemond prefers her." she defended.

Once again, she was a girl - gulping the grief of a woman scorned. "Don't you think that Aemond should spend time with children of his own gender? We live in a society, Alicent. You wouldn't recognize it, as you are privileged enough to turn a blind eye. Helaena must be perfect. She is a girl, but our sons - they must be strong. Our sons are the pillars of this family. Aemond is weak. Tenderhearted, loving, kind. He'd have an easier life being the opposite of that." he explained.

Alicent settles her rosary on the pew.

"Our sons are the pillars of this family? You say that while your daughter stands to inherit everything." she gritted her teeth.

"You ask for too much of me," he continues reading the paper. "And you give me so little, Viserys." she responded - glaring at him. "I cannot give our children the company. I wasn't the one who created it." he enunciated. "Aemma founded it but you made it prosper. Rhaenyra has money of her own, her husband owns half of Canada, but what about our children?" she frowned.

Viserys takes a deep breath, he settles the newspaper on his lap. "I'm not the only shareholder. If I divide it up into four pieces - there won't be enough to go around." he answers, not feeling the slightest of remorse for his children with Alicent. "- but there is another shareholder. Aemma's best friend." he looked at the vast horizon.

"I will deal with it, Alicent. If it makes you happy." he grumbled.

Another person's life had the same worth as a red fire-ant.

Easily murdered, and without any consequence.

(St. Joseph the Worker's School in Dragonstone. January 3, 2023)

"The island may look small, but theres four thousand citizens that live here. A quarter of whom are children." Rhaenyra took a bite out of her crostini. "Oh, that's why there are three sections in every grade." you chuckle, playing with the lettuce of your salad.

Dragonstone was the same size as Taipei.

Normally in these parts of the province, there were few buildings - then vast farmlands that stretched as far as the eye could see. To your surprise, there was a main city - with two hospitals and a functioning mall. Economy seemed to be booming in this little island.

"Yeah, we always seem to shock everyone with our numbers. I hope that the pay is good." she smiles and you nod. "It's decent - actually bigger than what they paid me in my internships." you affirmed. "You must be very smart to be teaching three grades in your first year." she complimented and you blushed.

"I can't be the judge of that," you played with the pendant on your necklace. "Humble, I like you." she smiled - returning back to her lunch.

jacejacejace posted to his story!

caption: my uncle is back in town, if ur above 20 hmu. he's single.

replies

LucerysGaming: 💀u should be embarrassed to call yourself a Velaryon - jacejacejace: who asked?

LaenorVelaryonLaw08: Why does he look sad? Seen 10:29

LaenorVelaryonLaw08: Shouldn't you be in school? - jacejacejace: I'm taking a gap year for college dad 😁 - - LaenorVelaryonLaw08: 👍���

RhaeTargaryen: The face I make when I find something out 😭 - jacejacejace: HAHAHA who taught u that emoji? - - RhaeTargaryen: yo mom 😮 - - - jacejacejace: joffrey ik that it's u, pls stop using mom's phone - - - - RhaeTargaryen: yo mama so fat 😮

It was seven o'clock when you left the building. Aemond was there - waiting for you. There wasn't a sliver of annoyance in his face. You were reminded of how lucky you were to have him. "Was I too long?" you asked and he reached for your handbag. "No," he placed a kiss on your forehead - then turning around to place your bag on the backseat. While he was doing all that - you feel a hand on your shoulder. "Rhae," you turned to look at her.

"I'm really sorry for the kid's noise during your math class. Their energy levels were really high after P.E." she apologized, eyes trailing towards the man behind you. She clenched her fist. "Aemond," she greeted in a passive-aggressive tone. "Rhaenyra," he enunciated every letter - as if he was mocking her.

She couldn't stand him. She couldn't bare to look at the man that stole everything from her in her past life. "You didn't tell us that you were visiting?" she tiptoed around the subject. You stare at them back and forth, "- you know each other?" your voice raises a single decibel. "He's my brother." Rhaenyra confirms with a chuckle.

She doesn't remember him much in this life - he was born when she was eighteen. Already bedded and wedded to her high-school sweetheart. The silence breaks and a mask enters your boyfriend's face. "Rhaenyra, she's my girlfriend. (Your Name), my sister." he introduced the both of you, and you shake hands again.

"I didn't know that you had a girlfriend," her eyes narrowed, bitterness dripping from her tongue. "I never imagined seeing you with a woman." Rhaenyra adds and Aemond could only scoff. He knew what it meant. Rhaenyra found him to be unlovable. "Surprise," he stared at her blankly.

His sister tears her attention away from Aemond. "I wanted to invite you to dinner - there's no classes on Wednesday. It's something that me and the grade school staff do." she explained and you nod. "Of course, I'd be glad to join." you confirmed, feeling Aemond pinch the curve of your spine. "That's all," she turns around and he pulls you away from his sister.

"Did you have to agree?"

"We'll talk about this when we get home, Aem." you roll your eyes.

You were annoyed with him - how could he not tell you the names of his siblings? You only knew Aegon and Helaena. You weren't even aware that he had another sister. He takes a deep breath, starting the car's engine and putting on that face of innocence.

DaemonTargaryen.phd: I had an amazing conversation with HRH Prince Harry last weekend. I told him that I'll bring my Megan next time 🤣.

liked by 1,238 others

>comments

LucerysGaming: the megan in question: Caraxes 🐶

jacejacejace: handsome ... prince harry is so handsome

"Are you done posting?" Rhaenyra peeked over her uncle's shoulders. "I feel like I might die," he gasped while leaning on the leather seats of her car. "- of all the people in the world. She had to be with him. I wouldn't even be mad at her if she dated Gerald Butler. But that cu-" he was about to curse but she interrupts him.

"Do not say that word, we got into trouble the last time you said that." she reminded and he rolled his eyes. "I think he killed her, he held a dagger to her neck. I didn't see - that bitch Alys stabbed me." he cursed again, opening his flask and taking a sip of his whiskey.

"I don't think he remembers,"

"He does - his green witch made sure, just as my wife did." he fumed. What game was Aemond Targaryen playing? Why did he have to take everything that Daemon desired? "He thinks that it is a prosaic task, but by the gods is he stupid?" Daemon chuckled.

He takes his attention off you - and into the car. "Why aren't we going anywhere?" he inquired. "We have to wait for my kids." she snapped.

"There's a reason why they have a father." he sassed.

"- you can start complaining when you get your license back." she smiled teasingly, before opening her phone and browsing through social media.

"You are aware that Jace is selling you to his followers, right?"

"That little cunt."

>next chapter

[krispyweiss]

Paul McCartney’s Bass No Longer on the Run

- Missing since 1970, McCartney’s 1961 Höfner 500/1 Violin Bass gets back to where it once belonged

Let it in: the bass on the run got back to where it once belonged.

Paul McCartney’s long-lost 1961 Höfner 500/1 Violin Bass has been found and returned.

The instrument, which McCartney played at Hamburg’s Top Ten Club and Liverpool’s Cavern Club and on “Love Me Do,” “She Loves You,” “Twist and Shout” and other tracks, disappeared in 1970 as the Beatles recorded Let in Be and in 2023 became the focus of Höfner’s Lost Bass Project.

A student who said he’d inherited the bass has returned it to McCartney, the Guardian reported without detailing the instrument’s long and winding road.

A McCartney spokesperson confirmed things are getting better and the bass shall not be leaving home again.

“The guitar has been authenticated by Höfner and Paul is incredibly grateful to all those involved,” the spokesperson said.

And a big fuh you to whomever took the thing in the first place.

2/15/24

[iamyoursonly]

Today’s bus ride (11/11/2023)

i was on the bus and was listening to music it was very relaxing and i had nothing to do so i wrote this

The rain was pouring cats and dogs as I gazed out of the bus window. As each raindrop fell on the glass, a slow rhythm started playing in my heart. The traffic was moving slowly in this rain, the bus moving bit by bit and I could only wait until I reached my destination.

At the next station the bus stopped, this pretty white haired man got on and sat next to me. He was so prettily breathtaking I couldn’t help but stare a bit. The soothing tone of the rain hitting the glass and the beating of my heart made a perfect harmony when I think about it.

Passerbys walking were holding up their umbrellas. The variety of colours were like the rainbow, so colourful and special. And the man with the white hair still sat next to me, and the feeling felt just like home. I wonder why. Maybe it’s because he smelled like rain.

When the jam was finally over and the air in the bus seemed a bit colder in my shorts and baggy tee. The man next to me appears to have noticed me shaking and made a kind offer to hand me his leather jacket. It must’ve been the air conditioning above me, but I couldn’t help but notice how the texture of the leather jacket seemed extremely expensive when he handed me it.

“How can I return it, sir?” I asked, and he just smiled and pointed to the left pocket on the jacket. What can I say, his smile was so precious.

The ride seemed extra long and awkward when we’re stuck again in traffic and this time with me in a stranger’s jacket. I look at my phone, 1:04 PM. It’s been 30 minutes, I sigh, and the man who lent me the jacket was on his phone.

Long after the bus stopped again did he stand up and nodded to me, “It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.” Then the man got off.

I just remembered that he pointed to the left pocket of the jacket when I asked him for the contact. To my surprise there was a note, saying ‘Just keep the jacket ;)’ with the prettiest handwriting I have ever seen.

The bus ride really did feel longer when the man left my side, for no reason I felt some attachment towards him.

Another 15 minutes had passed and I’m still stuck in traffic. I was on the news app scrolling through. Then I noticed the white haired man on the headlines. ‘28-year-old Gojo Satoru had inherited his father’s business and will be contributing to the society starting from today’.

That’s why he could afford that expensive leather jacket. I held onto it and hoped to return it to him one day.

When I finally got off the bus, the rain had stopped and the refreshing breeze mixed with the wind felt extra cool. It felt like I can appreciate everything in that moment, how the weather was so perfect I won’t sweat, or how it’s not so cold I’d freeze.

Lowkey I was quite curious about his background so I googled the man on my walk back home.

Gojo Satoru, a successor to the infamous business his father founded, and his yearly income was around 50 million. It’s heard that the 28-year-old man is looking for a wife to marry, one that could likely help him with his business.

When I got home, the man with the white hair looked empty without his leather jacket, but he was standing right in front of my door.

“Hey, good to see you again.”

Since it was such a shock I thought I was dreaming, it felt ethereal with such a gorgeous man standing in front of me.

“Hey.” That was all I could muster out. But the man in front of me chuckled and held out his hand for a formal handshake.

“Let me make my entrance properly, I’m Gojo Satoru. Nice to meet you.”

I took his hand, “Nice to meet you too.”

Unknown to me, this encounter had another ulterior motive. And soon after, this man had became my fiancé and then my husband. I guess this could be said as a hell of a ride. But the joy I feel with him can never be felt with another person.

masterlist

[the-frostiest-of-flakes]

Test Run

Fandom: rotbtd | Characters: Merida, Rapunzel, Hiccup, Jack Frost

Prompt(s): Merida, Favorite AU

Word count: 1851 | Warnings: None | Read on AO3

Summary: While giving her new gear a test run, Merida nearly dies and winds up meeting several budding heroes. Some more impressive than others.

Author's Note: I wrote this for the third week's prompts of the 2023 Big Four Fest, which were Merida and Favorite AUs. My favorite au is a very specific one by lucidorange on tumblr, and it's based around the larger superhero au. Unfortunately, the creator of the au deleted their tumblr account a while back, so everything I know about the au is thanks to the wayback machine and reblogs of the comic. (You can find part 1 here)

I tried to give the triplets more unique personalities while still staying in line with the au versions. I hope you enjoy!

---

Merida DunBroch, daughter of the wildly successful owner and CEO of DunBroch Technologies, Fergus DunBroch, was doing her homework.

Or, that’s what she was supposed to be doing.

In reality, she was perched on a flat roof thirty stories up, the lights of the city shining like stars below her.  It was beautiful, and the wind gently caressing her face only added to the serenity.  Unfortunately, it was currently being ruined by multiple voices jabbering in her ear.  Tuning back in, she found that they were still going on about features and safety and blah, blah, blah.  Pretty much everything she didn’t care about.

“—and if you notice sparks, tell us immediately and drop the—”

“If you’re done yapping,” she interrupted, grip tightening on her bow, “I’m gonna take this gear for a spin now.”

“Be careful,” buzzed one of the three nearly identical voices in her ear.  Her amazing sister-senses told her it was Hubert.  “This is just a test run — we don’t know if there are any glitches with the suit or bow.”

A second voice — Hamish — piped up, “Not that there will be any, considering we made it.”

“Don’t encourage her,” Harris broke in.

Merida rose, a wolfish grin spreading across her face as she looked to the ground below.  So, so far below.  “When have I ever needed encouragement?”

Three matching groans reached her ears, but she barely heard them over the rush of wind as she stepped over the edge—

And started free-falling.

All she could hear was the roaring of air in her ears as it whipped strands of hair out of her ponytail and stole the breath from her lungs.  Her gut was long gone, left behind on the rooftop.  The city lights pulsed brighter, getting ever closer.  To most this would be a nightmare.  But to her…to her it was exhilarating.

Sadly, all good things must come to an end.  Grasping an arrow from her quiver, she drew her bow, changing the setting to “Zipline” with a flick of her thumb.  Ah, the beauty of having genius inventor brothers.  Aiming for a nearby building, Merida fired.

And was promptly disappointed.

Yes, the arrow flew true, arching through the air with the precision only a master could give, but it did so without the intended zipline attached.  Leaving Merida still falling to her doom.

Okay, so maybe she should have checked that feature before jumping off a building.

A lump of panic rose in her throat.  “Uh, guys?”

“Don’t tell me you’ve already broken it,” came Harris’s response.

Oh, she was never going to live this down, was she?  “I, uh.  Might be about to die.”

There was silence on the other end.  All at once, her brothers’ voices came pouring over each other in crackling mayhem.

“It hasn’t even been five minutes—”

“—You are so irresponsible—”

“—More inheritance for me!”

Gritting her teeth, she was about to cut through their chatter when something soft and golden wrapped itself around her waist and promptly yanked her to the side.  She was no longer falling, but being swung like a pendulum.  Grabbing at the fabric that led away from her waist into the dark of the night, she realized it wasn’t fabric at all.  It was thousands of strands of golden hair.

What in the bloody hell…?

A moment later she was dropped — surprisingly gently — onto another roof, much lower than the one she had originally been on.  The hair loosened and fell away, disappearing in a flash.

“I don’t know what happened,” said a voice from the shadows, “or what you’re going through, but killing yourself isn’t the answer.”

Merida sprung to her feet, narrowed eyes scanning her surroundings.  It seemed to be the roof of an apartment building, with a box-like entrance to a stairwell in one corner.  And yet, no sign of whoever had— wait, there!  There, in the shadows of the entrance, was a girl, parts of her golden hair somehow still managing to gleam in the dark, giving away her position.

Her hair…

Calling it long would have been an understatement.  “Long” gave the impression that the hair went down to her waist, maybe a little ways past.  But the mass of yellow didn’t stop there.  It went to her feet, and then continued off, spilling over the edge of the building like a waterfall of spun gold.

“Are you okay?” The girl asked again, her voice just as soft as her hair had been.

“‘m fine.  And I wasn’t trying to kill myself.“

The girl stepped out of the shadows, confusion making furrows in her brow.  They looked out of place, and Merida had the sudden urge to smooth them out.  “Then what were you doing?”

“Testing out my gear.”  She motioned to herself and the bow that was still in her hand.

The girl’s green eyes lit up with understanding.  “Oh!  You’re like me then!”

“Like you?”

“Yeah, you know.  Superhero, vigilante, whatever you want to call it.”  She flashed a grin, bouncing on the balls of her feet.  “This is so cool!  I’ve been working alone for so long — well, not really alone, I mean I’m technically working alongside the police but that’s nothing like having an actual partner — not that you’re going to be my partner, I didn’t mean to imply—”

“Whoa, slow your horses!”  Everything was suddenly falling into place, from the freaky hair to the large purple crown perched on the girl’s head.  “You’re Swift, aren’t you?  The vigilante people are claiming is running around?”

The girl — Swift — nodded.  “Yes, that’s me.”

“I thought you were an urban legend!”

“Nope, I’m real.”  The smile on her face grew ever wider.  “And so are you!  Ohhh, this is so cool!”

Despite herself, Merida could feel one of her eyebrows raising.  This was…not how she had expected her first meeting with a vigilante to go.  Granted, she had never really thought about it before, but Swift had a strangely innocent demeanor about her.  She wasn’t remotely hardened or threatening.

Three loud beeps sounded from Swift’s pocket.  She withdrew what looked to be a burner phone and grimaced at whatever was displayed on the screen.  “Sorry, I gotta go.  There’s a fire downtown and a…dragon?”  She squinted at the screen.  “I think that’s a typo.”

Merida perked up.  A fire and possibly also a dragon?  That would be a perfect test run for the gear!  Never mind the fact that her original test run had almost ended in her own demise.  “Mind if I come with you?”

The look on Swift’s face could only be described as ecstatic.  “Of course!  But, uh…since you’re having some issues with your equipment, would you like me to carry you?  It’ll be faster that way.”

Well, she certainly didn’t want to die or get left behind.  “Sure.”

Golden hair came whipping up and around her waist, and a second later she was swinging through the air again.  It took all her willpower to suppress a scream.  From the way the city was whizzing past below, she had been right to agree to Swift’s offer.  She would have been left in the dust long ago otherwise.

Soon the sound of sirens and the sight of orange light licking the night sky reached her senses.  As well as…Snow?

A moment later the two of them were safe on the ground outside a burning apartment building, above which was a dark cloud.  From the cloud fell a flurry of flakes, killing the fire slowly but surely.

Swift frowned.  “That’s…weird.  It’s the middle of September.”

Merida’s comm piece crackled to life.  “So…are you still there?”  Came Hamish’s voice.  “I need to know if I won the bet or not.”

She rolled her eyes.  “Yes, I’m here.”  At Swift’s quizzical look, she gestured to her ear.  “‘m talking to my brothers, sorry.”

“Dang it.  Wait, are you with someone?”

“Just another hero I met.  Turns out that vigilante, Swift, is real.”  Merida followed said hero as she ran towards the entrance.  “And now we’re gonna stop a—” she broke off at the sound of shattering glass.

The two girls skidded to a halt as a large black bundle landed in front of them.  It was metallic, and as it slowly uncurled itself they realized what it was.

It was a metal dragon.

The craftsmanship was astounding.  From the textured metal and leather to the glowing green lights that constituted eyes.  There was an air of intelligence in them, making Merida second-guess whether it was really insentient or not.

The reason for its previous ball-like state became evident as well.  Clutched between its paws — talons? — was a child.  Covered in ash and smoke, Merida could barely make out where the kid’s dark skin ended and the gray smudges began.

“That’s the last of them!” Called a voice from above.  A moment later a brown-haired teenage boy dressed in black and green landed a little ways away, not noticing the two heroines.

All at once, the fire went out.  Instead of flickering flames, the building was now covered in layers of frost and ice.

Merida gawked at the now blue-tinted structure.  Just how many super-powered people are running around in this city?!

Swift was helping the dragon move the poor girl to a safe spot for when the paramedics would arrive, acting as if this kind of thing happened every day.  And hey, maybe it did.  Before Merida could decide what to do to help, another boy landed next to the first, this one seeming to float down with effortless ease.  His blue eyes were locked on her as he pulled down his hood, revealing a shock of white hair.

He grinned.  “Hey, look at that!  We’ve got an audience.”

The Brunet turned, finally noticing her.  He flinched, shooting a glare at his companion.  “Jack!  You said we wouldn’t be noticed!”

“Actually, I said we wouldn’t get in the papers.  Big difference.”  He was in front of her in a flash, lifting off of the ground like a leaf on a breeze.  “That’s some outfit you got there.  Who are you?”

Merida pursed her lips.  She certainly wasn’t giving this weirdo her name.  If she was going to be a vigilante like Swift, she’d need an alias.  “Atlas,” she finally answered.  “And what are you two supposed to be?  Dragon Boy and Frosty the Snowman?”

The brunet made a noise akin to a broken squeaky toy.  Jack only smiled wider.  “Close.  The name’s Frost.  And you can call my sidekick whatever you like.”

 “I am not your sidekick!”

Merida sighed internally.  These two yahoos were obviously just playing around — although the metal dragon was pretty impressive.  

“Well, aren’t you Miss Popular,” Harris’s voice rang in her ear.  “Just how many people have you met tonight?”

She had forgotten her comm was on during that whole exchange.  Great.  She turned away from Frost and his sidekick/partner/friend and whispered through clenched teeth, “Shush.  I’ll tell you all about it when I get back.  I promise.”

“You better.  We’re already making popcorn.”

[radioactive-earthshine]

The Flash (2023) #7

Yeah, hm. Not a fan of the way Max is being written here because he has never been one of to just trust in the winds of time and 'fate' to deal with bullshit - in fact his first response when things get too personally crazy for him is to run. He is called the Zen Master of the Speed Force because at the time he knew the most about it and could commune with it, and those within it. It was revealed later he actually knew very little about it but he never just.... trusted it and the comic rhythm of the universe to do as it will. He is not Schmendrick the Magician "magic do as you will" with speed wtf.

I think Spurrier got the notion that Max was a "Zen Master" and immediately jumped to a vision that he was some speedster 'hippy' character than a broken man who just happened to inherit speed from the arms of a dying friend.

[transmutationisms]

just read through your yellowjackets takes and i really resonated with your thoughts about it + why it feels so conceptually hollow (i think it’s an perfect 2023 tv show in that it’s a hollow exploration of girlhood with no substance to it) but i was wondering if you’ve seen bones and all + if you have any thoughts on it? the book was solidly bad but i the adaptation to be an incredibly beautiful movie visually, and while i think its understanding of what it actually has to say about cannibalism is shaky at best (i really think the movie did the best it could with the source material) i felt like its translation of cannibalism into a language of desire and violence thus linking them together was incredible. sorry this is so long winded but i feel like you’d have interesting things to say about it if you’d seen it!

i agree that 'bones and all' has a central problem of not knowing what it's trying to say with its cannibalism. there are a handful of different things going on, where it's alternately a metaphor for love, appetitive desire, hereditary 'mental illness,' addiction, and poverty. that's a lot. although you could theoretically do something interesting with virtually any of these—for example, there's an established literary tradition of using explicit cannibalism as a stand-in for implicit homosexuality or incest, both angles the film gestures at—if you actually tracked the metaphor as used in 'bones and all,' you would immediately run into the issue that its cannibalistic hunger is inborn, inescapable, and inherited. i don't really see a way to use this premise without just producing essentialist discourses about whatever theme you choose to lean into, which is at best boring and at worst reactionary.

there's definitely some attempt to explore the idea of violence-as-love, or vice versa, which is not uninteresting to me (<- guy who just read the locked tomb series) but i think is at its best in the flashes we get of parental violence, esp with lee's father. there's also an essay you could pull together here about 'bones and all' and cormac mccarthy's 'the road' as interpolations of the american travelogue that ultimately fail to transcend the epistemic parameters of the genre in any way. ultimately this is largely because they invoke cannibalism as signifying a loss, breakdown, or absence of civilisation, but they seem to have limited and varying degrees of awareness a) that this is what they're doing, and b) that this means grappling with a whole set of colonialist discourses that consequently pretty much go unremarked on.

i did like some of the cinematography, although it must be said that the dialogue struggled (like, how many times did a character say "i don't want to talk about [x]," only to be asked one follow-up question and then launch into an expository monologue about [x] lmao), which didn't do the actors any favours. i don't know the source material so maybe this is just inherent to it, but to be honest, i kind of think the whole lee/maren romance was the least interesting part of the film and the focus on it just ended up getting in the way of any more substantial thematic development in the script.

[plush4bunny]

ohmygod?!?!?! are they for real???

ohmygod they are for real 😭😭😭😭

[heythereimashley]

more Inherit The Wind publicity stills 👀👀👀

[pixiemoonmagic]

The autumn chill would not dissuade Elise, and so she ventured out into the evening to find Marie. It was a welcome surprise when Elise found that Marie was waiting for her. It was as if the two had some psychic connection, an unspoken bond that drew them together.

"I love you," Marie announced as she ran to Elise.

No more would their bond be restrained to the unspoken.

"I love you," Marie professed once again. It did not matter that her sister's and father were drinking evening tea on the patio within ear shot. She could no longer hold the truth back.

Marie knew that in time her father would have to accept the truth, for he knew his daughter and he knew that she would have only made such a proclamation if her heart, her very world was bound inextricably in the embrace of true love.

Elise could hear the gasps from Marie's sisters, but it mattered little to her. Caught in Marie's magical gaze Elise cared little for the world around her. Everything she had ever dreamed of was in those sparkling eyes. Elise had lost so much in recent years and though she had inherited her father's industrial empire she would give it all away in a heartbeat to live a life beside Marie.

"I love you more than anyone in the world," Elise confessed as she took Marie's hand.

The future was hazy and there was an ominous wind upon the air. In time Marie's father would agree, after all, the happiness of his daughters meant the world to him, especially after his wife had passed. But they would need help. The socialites of the city and the rivals to Elise's company would seek to bring them to ruin. The years to come would likely be fraught with peril but Elise knew that with Marie by her side she could face anything.

(10/20/2023)

[uchidachi]

There’s something very surreal about living in 2023 and watching Inherit the Wind.

It’s a 63-year-old movie, about a real court case 35 years previous, where a teacher was arrested for teaching something that fundamentalist Christians disapproved of.

And you look at Florida today and…

And then you realize that the Scopes Monkey trial has been relevant for almost a century, just as one of the movie’s characters mentions “the next hundred years”

[lordrethandus]

Daily Writing Challenge November 2023 Day 6

Expectation / Selfish ( @daily-writing-challenge @zoronadotatanado )

World: Final Fantasy 14

Theme: Andrey Vinogradov - Reverse Dance 

The servants were just finishing up Princess Leleni’s morning routine. They washed and combed her hair until it shimmered like gold and flowed like wheat against the wind. Lotion was carefully rubbed into her round cheeks, her tiny nails were filed down and painted red, and the soles of her feet were rubbed and exfoliated until they were as soft as a baby's backside. She kept her eyes closed when they plucked and shaped her eyebrows, and kept quiet when they brushed her pointy white teeth. For most mornings it would be a time to unwind and relax with a dozen or two books from the castle library until supper, but this was not like most mornings; not for her nor anyone else.

“Milady,” softly called a servant when she peeked through the door. “He is ready to meet you.”

The princess rose from her seat and stretched her stubby arms out to each side. Her flowing silk gown was slipped over her hands and tied along her lower back, with her maiden cowl draped over her head; finally her five-pointed tiara was placed upon her crown to keep her cowl from slipping. When she opened her eyes again, she peered through the slits that concealed her beauty, and with a racing heart she waited for her servants to open the door so she may take her leave.

Today was the day she would meet her betrothed. Her father the king spoke highly of his accomplishments, and her mother the queen mentioned his talents once or twice, but neither of them gave her any details lest she turn her nose up at the prospect and start to fuss. Leleni was a difficult woman to love– she knew it, her parents knew it, everyone knew it; the last arrangement ended in disaster when Prince Gogotago made a joke at her expense, and in response she tossed a glass of wine onto his face, staining his favorite coat. A woman of lesser birth would have ended up in the dungeons for that, but because she was Kol'dini royalty all he could do was flail about and curse obscenely. Begrudgingly the marriage was called off, and King Fafasasho decided it would be best to wait a few more summers until trying with someone else again. As angry as he was, even he could understand– she inherited his temper after all. 

Princes were in short supply in the Southern Isles. All the eligible men were either arranged for marriage by two kingdoms shortly after birth, already married and waiting to take the throne with their wives, or refused to risk Leleni’s wrath and scornful nature. She wanted to make her parents, her kingdom proud… but she was picky– far more than she had any right to be. Even her little sister was already betrothed to the prince of Yuw'nal, and their first meeting showed great promise; yet both were under ten summers old, so that alliance wouldn't be solidified for another half decade at the very least. Perhaps a prince was not in the cards for this princess… perhaps her father had someone else in mind. 

Her heart fluttered at the possibilities. If her father was just trying to get rid of her then she could be arranged to just about anyone with enough status. Maybe this mysterious man was a renowned sailor, or a captain of a worthy vessel! Spending her life on the sea would be a dream come true, but Leleni was not so naive to think that would be realistic; still, living in ports while her husband sailed wouldn't be such a terrible thing. Some of her father's Bulwark Knights have recently retired after forty summers of service. He would be old, and battle-hardened, and even a bit grumpy, but there are no men on these islands or beyond with more honor than them; tending to a true knight, scarred and weary from countless battles would be an ideal life. Yes… it had to be one of Father's knights! The servants at the other end of the hallway opened the door and lifted away the curtains, allowing her to enter the audience chamber. Leleni stepped inside, fully intending to give off as much graceful elegance as she could muster.

Her betrothed fumbled with a ceremonial saber upon her entry, anxiously dropping it and kicking it under the nearby desk before whipping around to face her. He was a mouse of a man, with short hair as green as woodland moss, and he was Plainsfolk with bright silver eyes that– unlike Leleni and the majority of the Kol’dini people– had clear and visible irises. Not an ugly man by any means, until Leleni noticed the wispy whiskers growing across his upper lip; he had not yet fully grown a respectable mustache but that clearly wasn't stopping him from trying. Nervously he bowed after clearing his dry throat, and she in return gave him a most elegant curtsey. 

“Lady Leleni Nar Leni, Princess of Kol'din…” The man said, undoubtedly practicing it while he waited for her to be summoned. “I am Lord Nonobira Vem Rarabira. A pleasure to finally meet you.”

“The pleasure is mine.” She retorted, also rehearsed. He had no scars so he surely wasn't a knight, and the heavy rings covering his fingers foretold his immense wealth but little else. Yet she couldn’t take the suspense any longer– she needed to know! “Forgive me, but… I do not recognize House Vem. Are you a lord from a distant land? A friend of my father’s?”

He seemed to ease up a bit now that he could boast about himself. “I am both and more, my Lady. I am the Baron of Opals, of House Vem. We come from the Kingdom of Po’lah, but our trade expands across the star.”

“A merchant.” Leleni thought, grinding her teeth together as she listened to him. “This… could work. Merchants roam far and wide to sell their wares…” Her eyes flickered before asking, “You must have many tales of your adventures between the Isles… what is it like to travel so often?”

Nonobira blinked a bit before partially deflating; he could hear the excitement in her voice. “Oh! W-well I uh… don’t really… travel that often. As the inheritor of my family trade I can’t risk such dangers. But I have many men under my command that aid in my business and do the sailing for me!”

“Mmm…” Leleni couldn’t hide her disappointment, even while wearing her maiden cowl. She stood there staring at him while he timidly approached, offering her hand when he reached for it. He lowered himself to one knee and tenderly kissed her knuckles, with his mustache brushing against the top of her hand. He was gentle and kind, at least… but Leleni felt like sinking into the rug beneath them. When he rose back up to his feet, he was a few ilms taller, so that was nice– until she realized he was wearing elevated boots.

“Since… we are to be married soon…” He started, drawing her attention away from his feet. “May I… take a peek? And receive a fateful kiss?”

“Father would be very angry if he learned we broke tradition.” Leleni immediately answered, surprised she came up with that so quickly; in truth, the last thing she wanted was that mouse-like mustache against her lips. There’s no telling what the knights guarding the door would do to him if they checked in to see her maiden cowl off her face; not everywhere in the Southern Isles but certainly here on Kol’din, a virgin woman traditionally wears a cowl outside to conceal her face, only revealing her true self to her husband the night of their wedding. Any man who gazes upon an unmarried woman’s naked face is required to marry her or perish– many lowborn girls will intentionally reveal themselves to powerful and wealthy men in order to force them to marry, which is also why the unmarried lords of Kol’din keep their gazes to the ground or travel with a closed carriage to avoid such fates. “Perhaps we should sit? And talk some more?”

“Y-yes!” He released her hand and waddled over to the nearby chairs, pulling one out for her. “Of course!” For the next bell she listened to him describe his job, his accomplishments, and aspirations; none of which impressed her. Part of her convinced herself that this was all her fault– she had a prince locked down but she let him slip out of her fingers. All she could think about was that handsome but rude prince, who in all likelihood was married to another woman by now. Nonobira wasn’t a bad person, but he just wasn’t what she wanted. 

Leleni craved adventure. Heroism. Courage. She wanted her husband to hold any of these traits, but Nonobira seemed to have none. She wanted to make her parents proud and right the wrongs she committed upon her own family, but she also wanted to find true love. Was it too selfish to seek both? Was it so wrong to chase her own dreams? The one saving grace from this fateful meeting is soon she would be free to leave the claustrophobic confines of her family’s castle, which meant soon her father would allow her to choose a dozen Bulwark Knights to protect her for the next forty summers. As Nobobira rambled on about the intricacies of international trade, all she was thinking about were the brave knights that she would surround herself with. 

Perhaps, as she lived in her new mansion far away from her homeland, she could at least entertain the idea of being in the company of true heroes, of distinct men with great and infallible honor.