#it just proves that a movie needs good direction and director that knows what the fuck they want & not just pandering to themselves

[shinylights]

.😬

[luckycheesefoodie321]

Look idk what the new Narnia tv show will bring, and I can absolutely see it improving upon the second and third films… but the first movie was truly something special.

The vision of the director, the wonderful young core cast, the score, the visual and practical effects, the truly elegant cgi, all really bringing the original story to life in the most beautiful way.

I was just as captivated by the film after not having watched it in some 10-15 years, as I was the first time I watched it.

The war scene???? THE WAR SCENE. THE MUSIC. THE BUILD UP. THE TENSION. I CANT.

The way it allows for the quiet moments to enriched the big moments. Peter and Aslan talking for the first time? Peter looking to Oreius “are you with me?” “To the death”???

Even Prince Caspian was such an engaging film, even if it did deviate from the book, bc the cast was so good and the story followed on so well from the first. The understanding of the script writer’s that the characters were now adults flung back into young bodies and their skill level, their mannerisms, their confidence and countenance would all be drastically changed from the first film, and the cast do a wonderful job of projecting that. And obv Ben Barnes was a fantastic addition.

It’s the way that Susan and Edmund had very minimal roles in the first film’s war and leaned heavily on Peter to lead the charge. By the same token, Peter took most of the responsibility upon himself. Susan used one arrow to kill in the first film. Whereas Peter’s first kill was kind of incidental. Edmund used his strategic abilities for the first time in going for the Witch’s ice sceptre.

Cut to Prince Caspian.

Edmund is absolutely and clearly the strategist between the two. He’s the negotiator. The master manipulator. The diplomat. And proves to everyone involved he is a more than capable swordsman - we don’t need to see Peter fight before he needs to. We need everyone to mentally catch up to where Edmund is in his skills. Then Peter leads as he always does at the front of the action. He duels Miraz. He proves his mettle once more.

Then Susan, while initially paired up once more with Lucy, goes with them in the initial raid on Miraz’s castle to fight, demonstrating her expert archery and combat skills. She solos about 7 or 8 mounted soldiers from the ground with her bow. She leads the archers before entering the battlefield herself.

It’s the DEVELOPMENT.

And while Lucy is not involved in the fighting, it’s the way she speaks against the stubbornness of her elder siblings so openly. Who holds firm to her beliefs even when everyone else doesn’t. She doesn’t run away and cry anymore. This is a Lucy who knows how to counsel her fellow kings and Queen.

Voyage of the Dawn Treader, the third film, is where it falls apart story wise, in direction, and in vision - it forgets where the characters were previously. Like I hate when Caspian and Edmund are duelling on the Dawn Treader, and they end in a draw and Caspian says the line “you’ve improved, my friend” “I suppose I have” because BRO. Edmund is a skilled swordsman and several hundred years Caspian’s senior. While he may be in a younger body that doesn’t show the experience, and he doesn’t have opportunities to practice it, he has several wars and combat engagements under his belt and only a year since his previous visit to Narnia. That doesn’t go away. A better line would’ve been “the rust is starting to shed, my friend” “I’m finally warmed up” would’ve been a far less condescending line, even if sweet baby boi Caspian would never mean it that way.

so I definitely would look forward to how the show might improve upon it IF it gets that far.

[chronic-ghost]

Chapter 5 of Recovery Road

chapter rating: E (18+)

pairing: dieter bravo x f!reader

word count: 7483

chapter summary: Chloe comes home to him, just in time to face you again at the movie’s wrap party. But it seems nothing can stop the inevitable.  

chapter warnings/tags: SMUT (finally), officially infidelity, cheating, accusations of drug use, insecurity

a/n: this is what I imagined Dieter and reader wearing to the party.

▲ Series Masterlist | Previous | Next

▲ AO3 Link

▲ Taglist Form

For the first time in a very, very, very long time, one of Dieter’s projects ends on time and within budget. No psychopathic directors, no nitpicking changes to the script, no reshoots because the studio had a stick up its ass.

And – he can proudly say – no trouble-filled, cocaine-fueled hysterical breakdowns from the talent. He’s on the other side, uncomfortable with the silence– the peace – and waits for the other shoe to drop. It never comes. Scott even gives him a specific call out on the last day of shooting for being (and this is a direct quote) “a upstanding leader and insightful character actor, whose commitment to the craft ensured the success of this film.” 

Scott also gave you a glowing review as well, but whatever. 

On top of all that, Chloe comes home two days later. 

She smells like sharp, warm spices, he remembers when he buries his nose in her hair. She walks through the door and she’s in his arms, close to his chest, against that burning knot he can’t seem to shake. He carries her – her suitcases still by the front door – all the way up to their bedroom and, delicately at first, proceeds to ravage her. This body is familiar, he thinks, as he doesn’t even take off her underwear before thrusting his fingers inside of her. He watches her eyes roll back with deep, deep satisfaction and he closes his eyes, committing the sound of her cries to memory, if they weren’t already there. He needed them to paper the inside walls of his brain so he could pluck them down whenever he wanted. His brain needed a renovation. 

“Dieter, slow down, baby,” she mewls, pushing on his shoulder only to tighten her grip on him, twisting his shirt. He wants to beg her to do that to his hair. “I still smell like airport. Lemme take a shower first.”

To prove her wrong, he yanks off her underwear – a little lace thing that he wants to put in his pocket – and dives, tongue-first, in between her legs. He moans as her talons latch onto the crown of his head and he laps at her clit. 

“I don’t give a shit, baby. You taste so fucking good. I need you.” 

And he did. Despite where his fingers and his tongue and eventually his cock went, she made him whole. She smoothed out his rough edges, stroking down this frantic energy he had been carrying for days like wired hair on the back of his neck. He poured so much of him into her that when he came inside of her, this immeasurable weight was gone. 

“What the fuck was that, Dieter?” Chloe pants when they were done. They are both dripping in sweat, skin blisteringly hot, and gasping for painful breaths. “I’m not complaining exactly, but my God, where did that come from?”

He looks up at her, his head on her chest. She’s absently playing with his sweat-streaked hair so he thinks she might not be really mad. He shrugs, his heart still pounding as if it were inside of a drum, and presses a kiss on her shoulder.

“I just fucking missed you.” 

“Yeah, I got that . . .” 

He feels like he loves too strong sometimes. Too much. He squeezes his eyes shut in shame. 

“Did I hurt you? I wasn’t too rough, was I?”

“Honestly, Dee, just a little. I just got a seven hour flight and you come in like a horny tornado–,”

“I’m sorry, baby. I didn’t mean to – I just –,”

“Dieter, stop. It’s fine.” She kisses him and his anxiety falters.

“Let me make you dinner, while you take a shower. I’ll rub your feet later, if you want.”

She laughs and he feels things shift, return to normal. “Okay, baby, okay. And, you know, I missed you too.”

He shifts onto his elbows, trapping her below him before she can shimmy off the bed. Her eyes are bright and she’s smiling at him. 

Why would I risk this? Why would I risk her for you?

She strokes a damp curl behind his ear. “What? What are you so smile-y about?”

“You mean the world to me, you know that, right?” He kisses her gently, quickly because there’s more he has to say. “I don’t know who I am without you. I want to be the person you want me to be.”

“Dieter–,”

“I’m serious.” He swallows, shaking his head, suddenly fearful of what he almost lost. “I can’t do any of this without you.” 

It’s late evening and the shadows are long and he thinks he sees one pass over her face for a moment, but then she’s smiling again. 

“Of course, baby. I love you too.”

   The following morning, an invitation for a cast-and-crew screening of the film at Scott Manley’s home comes through the mail. It’s on nice cardstock and everything. With the press circuit coming soon that would take them on the road for weeks, Dieter is inclined to throw the damn thing in the garbage. But Chloe insists. 

“Oh, c’mon, Dieter, don’t be like that,” she says as she rifles through the mail while they wait for coffee to finish brewing. “I wanna meet your co-stars. And from what you’ve said about the director, I think it’ll be lots of fun.”

He crowds behind her with one hand on the island, the other wrapping around her waist, his pinkie digging beneath the fantastic green leggings she’s got on. 

“I can think of something that would be even more fun.” He noses the back of her ear. 

“Dieter, stop. You know I don’t like sex before yoga.”

The coffee pot beeps and she slides out of his arms. 

“Wait, yoga? Now? It’s eight in the morning.”

“I go every Tuesday with Marlene. This isn’t anything new.” She pours in MUD and the smell reminds him of fertilizer. 

He swallows. “But you just got back. I thought we could spend the day together. There’s a new art exhibit that I thought you’d like to –,”

“Dieter, I’ve just spent three months deeply entrenched in the art world.” She glances at him as she pours the sludge-y mix into a travel mug. “I think I’d rather do literally anything else.”

“Okay, then you pick. We can do whatever you want, but I’d–,”

She puts a hand on his chest and kisses his cheek. “We’ll talk when I get back. And we’re going to that party, okay? It’ll be good for us.”

He nods vaguely as she picks up her keys, yoga mat, and coffee and heads out the door without another word. 

Us. Okay. That’s good news. 

Thirty minutes later, he’s out running Griffith park until his knees buckled, sweat soaking the front and back of his shirt, and he’s overworked himself so much he thinks he might puke. 

God, he fucking hates running. 

She does come back, as promised, and they go see a movie. It’s dark and he holds her hand. 

He gets her door for her before the valet can, but his eyes are scanning the grounds, unsure what he’s looking for, but highly aware of an encroaching something. Maybe it was the storm above. If there was any luck, Scott planned for the viewing to be outside and with bad weather, he’ll have to cancel the whole thing. Frowning darkly, he takes Chloe by the hand, tossing the keys to the Jaguar to the boy in a red vest, and starts up the steps of the Tudor-style home two at a time. 

Fuck, he forgot he hates this shirt. The orange color is all wrong and the collar always itches the skin on his neck and–

“Dieter, honey, slow down!” Chloe demands. He freezes and she’s still two steps down, trying to balance up the stairs in heels and a chiffon, plated dress. “You’re running like something’s on fire.”

Immediately, he relents. He helps her up the stairs and rubs her elbow. 

“Sorry, sorry, I think I’m just nervous.”

“Oh, sweetie, why?” She tucks up a fly-away curl across his forehead and he kisses her knuckles, still frowning. “You used to love these.”

Above the slate-gray sky grumbles and the wind rushes the trees surrounding the property. 

“I dunno. I just feel like there’s going to be too much . . .”

He trails off and swallows. There’s not enough words to manifest exactly what he’s so afraid of.

“There’ll be too much temptation, right?” 

His eyes snap to hers. 

She’s frowning sympathetically. “There’s all kinds of alcohol at things like this. And God knows what other shit people are bringing. It brings back bad memories, right?”

It feels like he’s choking. He can only nod. 

“I know, baby. But you’ll get through this. You got through that party at that hotel, right? We’ll just do it again.”

He suddenly wishes she isn’t touching him, isn’t so close with her hand on his cheek. She kisses him on the lips but he doesn’t react. 

“C’mon. We won’t even go near the drinks.” 

He lets her pull him up the stairs. He catches one more glance at the rolling sky. He doesn’t like the tense smell of ozone that’s building. There is too much electricity in the air.

There is a brief moment of reprieve when he sees the inside of Scott’s home for the first time. The tall, cream walls hover in fixed arches over the doorways. The wainscotting is crisp, fine, matching the black edgings and black and white tiled floors in all but color. The furniture and tables are held up by beautiful copper pipes, made soft by wood accents in the knick-knacks and artwork. Splashes of green plants highlight the corners and shadows. The windows are wide and striking, coaxing in every thread of light. The house opens to a long foyer that disappears into the bowels of the house, with a thick stack of white stairs on the right that shrink up to another level. To the immediate left is an immaculate black-and-cream dining set of tables and chairs, and further down the hall, faint music and laughter creeps over the dark hardwood floor.

This is the house of a real, big-time, actual adult. Not exactly his first impression of Scott Manley. 

“Dieter, you were so mean when you talked about this man,” Chloe hisses as she shuts the door behind them. “This place is gorgeous. There’s no Star Wars anywhere. Does his wife work?”

Dieter shrugs, awestruck. He cranes his neck up to try and see where the second floor disappeared to. 

“I have no idea. I never even heard him mention his wife.” 

“He must be a pretty successful director to have a place like this in LA.”

“We’re on the outskirts, sweetheart, don’t sound so impressed.” 

Chloe opens her mouth to respond, when someone down the hall calls his name. “Dieter!”

It’s Scott. Dressed exactly like he did during the entirety of production, with the exception of a black blazer. That is new. He’s a bit pink-faced and there’s a glass of something amber in his hand. He’s smiling and it makes Dieter weirdly uncomfortable. 

“So glad you could make it! These things always go over better when you’ve got your stars!”

He turns to Chloe, but Dieter jumps first. “Natalie’s here?”

Scott’s wet mouth opens and closes. “Erm, well, yes. Why wouldn’t she be?”

He forcefully unclenches his face. “Why does she do anything?” 

Chloe and Scott watch him with uncertainty for a moment, then Scott beams at her. 

“And you must be Mrs. Bravo!”

“Chloe works just fine,” she laughs sweetly and lets him take her hand. 

“I’d say it’s a pleasure to meet you, but Dieter here talked about you so much I feel like I know you like a close friend.” 

He relaxes when her hand slides over his forearm. She stares up at him with her big eyes, her pink mouth grinning. She feels solid next to him, more solid than he is. 

“Did he now?”

So what if you are here? Chloe is here instead and she’s here to stay. He smirks at her and presses a kiss to the arc of her cheek.

“Of course, baby, all good things.” He glances at Scott again, who shifts back and forth on his feet, unflappably uncomfortable with displays of human affection. “Is Heidi here yet?”

“Oh, they didn’t tell you? She can’t come. Production on her other shoot got extended by three weeks.”

“Oh.”

It stings more than he thought it would. Her last email, because that has been the only way to get in touch with her lately, said she’d probably be able to make the wrap party.

“Well, if you’d like to see it,” Scott says, swaying on his feet, “the party is back here.”

And that’s how he enters the wrap party of his most successful project to date. With a beautiful woman at his side and a confidence that oozes. Scott leads them out to a square courtyard, with a single lemon tree in the center. There’s a relaxed beat playing from somewhere in the bushes. The night is cool and there’s a breeze. Everything’s glowing warm. People laugh and drink, peacefully. The waiters slide around offering canapes and champagne. In the garden beyond, there’s a screen and chairs. 

This is it. This is the moment he’s back. Back on top. Everything is right in the world. Everything is exactly as it’s supposed to be. He is where he is supposed to be. 

And then he sees you. 

And you’re still not wearing any fucking pants.

 “Dieter, honey, what’s wrong? You look like you’ve just seen a ghost.”

He blinks, his brain not connected to any part of his body. He feels hollow. Smooth on the inside. 

“Dieter. Dieter!”

Her nails dig into his chin as Chloe yanks his focus down to her. There’s something cloudy about the way she looks at him.

“Dieter, what are you looking at?” She doesn’t quite laugh but she tries.

“Nothing, baby, nothing.” He rubs his thumb over her shoulder. He can feel the tension in her neck. “It’s nothing. Just surprised to see this many people. It’s no big deal.”

She frowns, no longer committing to the charade. 

“I’ve never seen you make that face before. It was . . . I don’t know. It . . . scared me. I’ve never seen you look like that.” She repeats. 

He makes sure he’s not trembling when he runs his fingers from her shoulder down to her elbow. “Like I said, I’m nervous about being here, baby. It’s nothing.”

“That’s not–,”

“Dieter Bravo, as I fuckin’ live and breathe!” 

Mark Bronson in a crisp white shirt and black slacks climbs the stairs to the pavilion, his beard tinged with gray and braided down the center. He’s grinning when he yanks Dieter into a hug. He smells faintly like cheap vodka and cigars, but it’s not unpleasant.

A woman follows up behind him, with hair redder than the sunset and a matching red flush. The waitress, who’s name is . . .

“Molly, hey, how are you?” He leans forward and kisses her on the cheek. “It’s been too long.” 

“Hey, you said, you were gonna bring your wife to this,” Mark said, frowning with his hands on his hips. And then he takes Chloe’s hand and spins her. “Now, I know this beautiful creature cannot be your wife. She’s way outta your league...”

“Don’t I know it?” Dieter chuckles as Chloe laughs. Molly hands them both a drink as Mark bows in front of her. His is ice water. 

“Chloe Bravo, you are magnificent.”

“Chloe, this is Mark and his wife, Molly. Mark and I met a few years ago. I’ve only had the pleasure of meeting Molly once.”

Mark snorts as his wife winds her short arms around his long slender waist. “A few years ago? Dieter, it’s been a bit longer than that.” 

“Okay, well, who have you known longer? Me or Molly?” 

Chloe tucks her arms up into his chest and lays her head on his collarbone. He wraps his arms over her back. His grin teases Mark.

“Hey, man, what are you trying to do to me? Get me in trouble?”

“How long have you two been married?” Chloe asks sweetly. She smells like peach tea and, in his pants, his cock twitches. 

“Oh, ‘bout fifteen years.” Mark glances down to Molly. “Is that right, darling?”

“Fifteen this April.”

“Wow! So you must have been through it all. All the crazy celebrity gigs, right?”

Molly smiles and Mark kisses the top of her forehead. 

“Oh, yeah. All the press circuits, red carpets, premieres. I thought the worst was over and then Instagram came along.”

“The studio makes me have an account, darling, I’m helpless to stop them,” Mark laments pitifully and the rest laugh.

“Well, you might have to give this one here some pointers,” Dieter nods to Chloe in his arms, “she’s coming with us on the circuit for Recovery.” 

“What? No, I’m not.” Chloe lifts her head from his collarbone, her arms suddenly like weights against his chest. 

“What’d you mean? Of course you are. That was the plan.” 

“No, it wasn’t.” She pulls out of his grip and crosses her arms. “I told you months ago that my father has a gallery opening this month.”

“A gallery opening? The thing your dad always has going on?”

Chloe swallows as several on-lookers turn as his voice raises. “Dieter, let’s not do this right now.”

“We never talked about this. When did this happen? Were you going to say anything or just leave?” 

The crowd around them goes silent. She glances around, shame thinning her mouth. 

He doesn’t care. He’s not so much angry as he is . . . petrified. He was telling the truth earlier; he can’t do this without her. 

“Dieter, calm down, you’re making a scene.” 

“No! When were you going to tell me?” 

He’s not going to grab her – he’s not his father – but his stomach squeezes like a fist. His heartbeat is somewhere in his wrist and his head and his knees. The wind is suddenly too loud, the chatter is too loud. What is that smell? There are pennies in his mouth, rattling against his teeth. 

“Chloe, can’t you just do this one thing for me?”

“Jesus Christ,” she hisses suddenly with real malice, “everything I do is for you.” 

Her mouth snaps shut when she realizes just how many people were staring. 

The lightning is thick in the air, a spark running in circles against a tinder. 

“Oh, yeah? Then where the fuck have you been the last three months?” 

“Don’t be ridiculous. And lower your voice.”

“Is this what it takes for you to have a conversation with me? For you to actually look at me for five fucking seconds? I can barely get you on the phone for more than a minute, if at all!”

“Dieter, you’re being irrational.” Chloe’s eyes are scorching, fierce. She’s threatening him. She’s going to use her most powerful weapon against him. He knows exactly what she’s going to say a second before it comes out of her mouth. “Are you using again?”

Inside of him something breaks. 

He can feel the bend, the crack, the bleed. It wavers in agony.

Whether or not she actually means it is beyond the point. Beyond the pale. He’s trying – he’s been trying – so hard – so fucking hard – and it doesn’t fucking matter to her. His weakest point is her party trick. 

It comes in a rushing wave, overtakes him, drowns him. This is how the spiral hurts. 

He shoves Mark aside, going back towards the house. Back into the heart of this living thing that’s trying to eat him alive. Behind him, he thinks he hears your laugh. High and loud. 

He comes to the first door he finds on the second floor and nearly kicks it open. 

It’s up to his eyes. He can’t see straight. There’s pain over his eyebrow, in his shoulder, his fingers. It concentrates in his chest – he unbuttons his collar all the way down – he’s shaking – he’s shaking so badly — 

Count down from ten, the nice lady at the rehab center told him. 

You’re having a panic attack, darling. Don’t worry. It’ll pass. Count down and focus on what you can see, hear, touch, taste, and smell. Ground yourself in the space.

10. 9. 8 – 

He gulps down air, hand on his chest to keep his heart from bursting out through his ribs.

7. 6. 5 –

It’s an office, he realizes, when the room stops spinning. The walls are dark, much darker than the rest of the house. This is where the moss has grown, away from the ivory. 

Here, there is no noise from the party. He can still taste copper in his mouth. It smells like tobacco and mint here.

4. 3. 2 — 

The settee is a dark teal and the short, squat lamps on the oak desk hum orange. Walnut brown bookcases line the walls. 

And there in the corner, behind the desk and leather-backed chair, is a cabinet. Low to the ground. With gold tumblers and a mirror on top. 

On shaky legs, he goes and opens the square doors. 

His mouth goes wet with wanting. 

Whisky.

Rum.

Vodka.

All of it. 

Just one. He needs only one. 

The bottle is cool, smooth. He takes out the corked lid and the aroma fogs up his brain like condensation on glass.

Are you using again?

No. But he could be. The door opens behind him.

“Dieter, what the hell are you doing in here?” 

Of course.

Of course, it was you. 

Maybe it always was. 

“What? Did your wife put you in time out?” You smirk when he doesn’t answer and you shut the door behind you. “Or was it Scott? The night’s still young, Dee, so many other things to fuck up and –,”

“Natalie.” His voice is rough. It rumbles out of his chest on his last breath. “Don’t. Please . . . just, don’t. Not tonight.” 

His hand shaking, he puts back the bottle of whisky. You narrow your eyes at him.

“Shit, what the hell happened to you? You look terrible.” You say, frowning as though confused, as if this is some convoluted plot to fuck with you. “I saw you run off and I thought, this would be a great time to remind him what a piece of shit he is . . . but you look like someone beat me to it.”

You stay firmly planted in front of the door, arms crossed, as he comes to the front of the desk and leans back against it. He feels cold sweat stick to his lower back.

“Seriously, Dieter, are you sick?” 

He shakes his head. His stomach always feels hollow after one of those episodes. “No, just a bad night.”

“Like bad crabs or found out your aunt died bad?”

“Natalie—,”

“Just tell me. What happened?”

He lifts his gaze to you. It’s hard to believe that less than a month ago, he felt like he could tell you anything. In that golden house on the hill. When you were different people. You look genuinely concerned.

“Dieter, I’m going to go get a doctor unless you—,”

“Look, I have these . . . episodes, alright? My head gets all foggy and I can’t stop shaking and I can’t breathe right. I just need some space.” He adds pointedly because the expression on your face has changed. 

“You get panic attacks?” You take a step forward, hand reaching forward before you let it drop, as if remembering you can’t touch. “I, uh, I know what that’s like. I . . . I have them too.”

“C’mon, don’t do that. Don’t make fun of me.”

“I’m not — I’m serious!” Your brow furrows as your eyes flash hotly with anger. “They started after I moved away from my mom. And now, I just . . . manage the symptoms.”

“Yeah, how?”

You give him a look and he frowns.

“You know what’s not good for panic attacks?” He playfully glances to the ceiling as he lists them off on his fingers. “Bennys. Cocaine. LSD. I could keep going.” 

You put your hands on your hips, scowling. “Fine but waiting to get fucked raw by life isn’t the way to handle it either.”  

He bites his cheek, crossing his arms across his chest. “So, then we’ll just wait it out and see who survives the longest. Then we’ll know who’s right.”

Another dare in your eyes. He meets the challenge. But this time, you swerve first.

You drop his gaze.

“It’s a coin flip, right? Only a matter of time . . . before we both fucking lose it.” 

He doesn’t like how that truth sits in the back of his mouth. As usual, you’ve rattled in him something he didn’t know was loose.

“So, then go for it.” He opens his arms wide. “Say whatever has been stewing away in your head for weeks now. I’m an easy target.”

Your mouth rolls, pouting like an eight year old. You narrow your eyes at him. “Nah, you’re too pathetic right now. When I tell you what’s been on my mind, I want you to burst into tears. It’s no fun if you’re already like this . . . what happened?”

It didn’t feel like pity coming from you, even if he knew you had been picturing his balls in a vice grip since filming wrapped. 

He sighs, and picks at the skin on his left thumb. 

“You’ll be thrilled to know I just made an ass of myself in front of half our colleagues and coworkers. And then my wife asked, very publicly, if I was using again . . . I feel like I can’t fucking win.”

“Well, you’re not, right? Using?” In those knee-high black suede heels, you stretch across the room and take the place next to him. Just like you had at the pool. You crossed your arms too. A concession— another white flag amongst the bitterness.

He shakes his head. 

“So then fuck that. And fuck her for doubting you. Why did she ask that?”

He rubs the back of his neck. “I thought — hoped — she was coming on the press tour for Recovery.” He rolls his jaw from side to side. “I’m getting sick and tired of spending my nights in a hotel room by myself.”

He catches the corner of your eye and his neck warms. 

“Not like that . . . I mean, fuck, maybe a bit like that. I don’t know. I’m trying everything I can to keep this marriage alive and she just feels . . . ambivalent.” He swallows. “Last time, I gave her an out. After the arrest and before rehab. I told her I’d sign the divorce papers, whatever she wanted. She could have my money, my house, my car. I just didn’t want her to have to live with the embarrassment of being married to me. And, instead, she told me, ‘the money isn’t important to me’. I was so grateful at the time, I didn’t question it. But now . . . I sometimes wonder if this is how she punishes me. She didn’t want a divorce until she broke my heart first.”

You’re uncharacteristically silent. The white ruffles around your wrists flutter as you put your hands on the other side of your hips, fingertips drumming the desk. 

“Did you ever think maybe the problem isn’t you? Or her for that matter?”

“What do you mean?”

You sigh, an exasperated smile on your face. “Take a look at where we are, Dee. Normal people don’t live like this. Normal people don’t do what we do. No one else will take us so we congregate amongst ourselves to establish a new baseline of crazy.”

“And, what? Anyone who enters our orbit is doomed to be fucked in the head?”

“We’re all fucked in the head, Dieter. You. Me. Scott. Hell, even your pretty little wife out there.” You glance at him. “This whole place is a fucking breeding ground. A breeding ground for the worst parts of ourselves. It’s nasty and terrible but we don’t have to be nasty and terrible and alone. So, if she made you think that you’re the fucked one, that you’re the unlovable one, then . . . she’s wrong. She’s so fucking wrong.” 

Outside, thunder rumbles and the orange lamps flicker, casting shadows like heartbeats, but neither of you care. 

Your lips are a dark purple tonight, matched by mauve smears over your eyelids. You look . . . ethereal. 

He doesn’t know he’s falling, tipping forward into the plush cup of your mouth until he feels your breath rush against his lips. 

Purple, like bruises, he thinks as he watches your eyelids flutter shut. He wants to keep his open, to watch the moment your mouths finally connect, but you overwhelm him. He’s not strong enough to fight back anymore, to pretend like he doesn’t feel anything for you.And, oh, he does feel something. He feels it so strong— wants it so badly— it feels like a physical weight in his chest. 

He wants you. God, he wants this and he’s wanted it for so long. 

Just this one thing. This one thing. 

The throbbing of the broken thing inside of him is quiet. 

His hand winds up into your hair as he finally takes you by the neck and open-mouth kisses you. You shudder as if surprised, as if this wasn’t an inevitable conclusion. His other hand presses against your jaw to steady you, steady him. 

The kisses aren’t light. They don’t hesitate. They are wet, and they bite, and it’s a little bit of teeth and tongue and spit. He licks the corner of your mouth and your tongue batters into his. His tongue rides the valleys of your mouth tasting like sweet champagne. That talented, fucking legendary Dieter tongue —

Both of his hands grip you by your jaw as yours burrow into the fabric of his shirt just below his ribs. He pulls back slightly to nip your bottom lip and he tastes that familiar caustic burn of whiskey. The first sip of alcohol he’s had in years and he smears it off your wet mouth.

“Fuck, baby—,” Mouth still sealed to yours again, he slips his hands down your sides as he glides to his feet. The rings on his fingers make indentations in that maddening bare patch of thigh. He goes further and swipes his pinkies under the backs of your knees as he grips your thigh from underneath. “C’mere—,”

You bite his lip in retaliation when he swings you both into a clear spot of wall. The nearby paintings shudder in the resounding thud but, short of God stopping by, there’s nothing that would pry him off you now.

Now that he has those hips under his palms. He balances you on his thigh, the wall at your back, giving his hands and mouth the freedom to explore. He wants to kiss you so hard you vibrate through the wall. 

He can feel his lips swell from the force of your kissing. They sting and ache but fuck if it wasn’t a brand new vice he could torture himself over. He is so lost in the relief of it — this is what you taste like, what you smell like so close, this is what you sound like — this is what awaited him for days in New Mexico, if he had just taken it — that he leaves his waistband very open. 

His fingers around the sides of your neck, he nearly barks out when you slide your hand down to his crotch and stroke. The angle isn’t right to give you full access, but your half-lidded, blurry desert eyes are begging him for more. 

“Fuck me,” you gasp into his teeth. “Fuck me, Dieter, please. That’s all I want. Please, fuck me.”

He’s too taken by the wet patch, dragged up and down his thigh, to argue. You roll your hips, eyes never leaving his, and he groans, deep and anguished. 

Your cunt is already warm. 

He pulls away from you against the wall and nearly stumbles back to the desk. He doesn’t know exactly what he shoves to the floor but there is sound, perhaps glass breaking, before he lunges forward, snags you by the hand, and pulls you into his chest. The force of his tug draws you up into his arms, knees digging into his sides, his mouth again inches from yours. 

Broken open, he finally opens his mouth to the stream of filth that has been rotting his brain for months. 

“I want you on that desk. I’m gonna fuck you on it every way I want to and then when you’re so cock-drunk you can’t see straight, I’ll ask you how you want it. You want it on top?” He grabs the hinges of your thighs, and grinds his hips against the front seam of your shorts, right into your clit. You sway against him, eyes fluttering, mouth open. “Or will you let me fuck you from behind? So I can watch this perfect fucking ass bounce.” 

“Whatever — whichever way— you want,” you say breathlessly, your tongue thick, as you lean your weight forward and he stumbles back onto the desk. 

The desk groans when his back smacks against the wood, your tongue and teeth fighting back against his. You’re straddling him, knees on both sides of his slim hips, and you’re chasing that crackle, that spark in your crotch. You rub yourself against him and air is expelled from his nose.

“Ngh— Shit—,” he pulls back to look at you. Your hair is a knot spawned from pulling and jerking. The purple eyeshadow still glows in the dark but the lipstick — oh fuck — is smeared across your mouth as though you had tried to take it off with your forearm. Because he’s fucked up, his already hard cock twitches. 

Panting to let oxygen return to your brains, he takes his time trailing his hand down from the dip where your shoulder meets your neck, down to the first button of that ridiculous, flowy blouse. The vest seemed like an accessory and he was grateful he didn’t have to pick that apart too. You watch his deft fingers open the first button, and then the second, and the third, all the way down to the end. 

He groans when he waves back the curtain of fabric around your torso and exposes the soft curves of your tits. You are surprisingly still and annoyingly quiet as he drags a finger, featherlight over the rise of your lilac lace bra. He dips his finger across your other breast and sighs.

“Wanna take my time with you,” he slurs. His thighs flex and you bite your lip. “Wanna open you up, bit by bit, so I can just slide right into your pussy. Want it to soak my pants.”

“I want that too. I want that so much.” You lean forward, letting your warm cunt settle over where he’s rock solid. He moans against your lips and you grin. When you open your eyes, he’s glancing at the door. It’s unlocked. 

“Anybody could walk in at any second.” You don’t want to give him ideas as to who specifically could, lest he be overcome with stupid guilt. If you didn’t rail Dieter Bravo tonight, houses were going to be burnt down. “We’d better make this quick.” 

Quicker is better, he agrees as he slides you off him and begins unbuckling his belt. You undo your own shorts and somehow manage to wriggle them off your legs while still in those heels. He can see the dampness on your inner thigh and he works faster. 

He shucks his pants down just off his hips. Quicker is better, he agrees as he positions you back on the desk, those audacious black boots hugging his waist. 

Quicker is better, he thinks when he looks into your eyes, your hand cups the back of his neck and your back arches to give him better access. Your other hand is around his cock, as he balances one hand on your hip and the other flat on the desk. 

Quicker is better. 

Because those feelings you both share, those soft gentle feelings that want to make love and not just fuck — are wiped clean from existence when he slides into you. Your face crumples from the first stretch of pain, roasted with pleasure.

“Oh, goddamn it, Dieter. You’re so big.” 

“I know, baby, just— breathe.” He kneads your hip in his hand, huffing and struggling to fight firing back with his hips, and lets you adjust. He’s only got a bit more than the tip in and sweat cracks your brow line. 

You swallow and shift your hips forward. Your pussy swallows up more of him and you both groan.

“You’re doing so well, t-taking me like this. When I haven’t gotten you ready.” He kisses your jaw. Your skin is fire hot. You inch your hips closer to the edge of the desk. 

“C‘mon, baby, just a bit more.”

He pushes the last bit of the way, his pelvic bone pressed up against your clit, and you wail, your head dropping back. The front of his lap is soaking.

He smirks at you, a wildfire cooking every sensation, every thought, every autonomous function that wasn’t required for fucking clean out of his body. He puts a wide hand up to your cheek and kisses your skin between his knuckles. 

Your voice is breathless in his ears, and it gives him pause for a minute. Your cheeks are flushed, mouth puffy and kissed-out. You need a hickey on your neck, or several, he muses to himself. This thing he’s been holding onto since he walked onto the studio lot months ago is rusting, creaking, and for once, he doesn’t want to push it onto someone else. He doesn’t want you to have it because he knows you already do. His affection is corrosive sometimes, but you’re just alkaline; salty, burning, acrid. He wants to melt into you. His eyes half-lidded to watch your face, his hand cradling your head, he pulls out an inch only to thrust right back in. 

“You’re ruining my life, you know that?” 

Flint flashes in your eyes as you nearly snarl, your hair fisting into his hair and tightening. It makes his neck arch back and the moan gets caught in the back of his throat. 

“You wanted your life ruined. You’re just using me as an excuse.”

Hissing, his hold around the back of your neck roughens and he pulls you into his mouth. You’re met with teeth and tongue and a press of his hips that stretches you out completely. With your teeth around his bottom lip, you whimper just like you did on the couch and he can’t hold back any more. 

He starts fucking you in earnest. 

Every brutal stroke is rewarded with a high, sharp cry — he makes himself go deeper, the nails at his shoulder dig deeper into his skin, and it sparks pleasure down his back. 

His hand at your face slides down to your waist to hold you as his hips thrust and pump and scorch the inside of your pussy with his cock. He brushes something devastating inside of you and you naturally arch, naturally bend to take even more of him. 

“Oh, fuck, Dieter— Jesus Christ, Dieter—,”

“Keep talking, baby,” he huffs, “you’re grabbing me so tight I think I’m seeing spots.” He reaches between the open materials of your shirt to mold and shape and squeeze your breasts. His thumb brushes over your clothed nipple, and you hum. The thought of his mouth on them drags his eyes shut. 

He pounds you, he chases that pressure behind his eyes, in his gut, he wants you to always remember who you make these sounds for. You wail again and his cock pulsates. 

He ducks his head and catches your mouth as he lifts up. It’s sloppy and messy and neither of you can stay locked like that with the way your bodies wobble. He aims and drops a kiss on the corner of your mouth. The hand on his bicep trails up to the back of his neck and digs into his hair. You hold him close, and your foreheads naturally fall together. 

He jerks you closer, grinding into you instead of thrusting, just to watch you shake.

“Dieter, please—,”

“Hush, baby, I’m gonna take care of you. Such good care of you and this pussy. Squeezing me so tight. This pretty pussy needed someone to take care of her.” 

“You’re filthy.” 

“Yeah, and you like to listen to it.” He’ll keep running his mouth as long as it takes to clear out the mess in his heart, in his head. He’ll probably never apologize for what happened in New Mexico and neither will you. 

He mouths your ear before rocking back, building back up to his earlier pace, the sound of the wet slap of his hips into your thighs implanting itself into his memory. The desk where he dragged you shines and he half-wants to stop and lick the wood grain. He shudders at the idea your cunt would taste like your mouth – whiskey-soaked and salty. 

You’re drowning in the taste of his hot breath. Sweat grows on his spine and under your breasts. A look passed between you and him that can only be given when fucking wants to give way to something more — when there’s a crescendo of feeling building just by looking into someone’s eyes as they enter you again and again. It’s intoxicating. You feel drunk.

He kisses your mouth again briefly before arching up, moaning. His hips stutter — less focused, but harsh in their need. Your cunt flutters around him and he drives in that much faster, rougher. He can feel your skin break out in goose bumps under the palm of his hand.  

“G’ –n’ think I’m gonna come,” he grunts, his breathing uneven and ragged. His eyes are squeezed shut and he knows if he looks at you again, if you give him that look of naked vulnerability, he’s going to cream for at least ten minutes. 

You nod frantically, pleasure bobbing up from the pit of your stomach to your aching clit. Words are near impossible now.

“Put your thumb — there! Ah!”

He watches you almost recoil in the electric jolt you experience as he brushes your bundle of nerves with this thumb — anything harder would be too much —  the pace only slightly faster than the pounding of his hips.

“That’s it, Dieter, you’re so good– you feel so good.” His knees buckle at the praise, at the strain in your voice. 

“Tell me, baby, I need to hear it–,”

You lean closer to him, breath mixing with his, and you press up against where his fingers press into your clit. “You fill me up so well— I’m—I’m so full— of you. You’re so thick.”

He pinches you and in seconds, your cunt is smothering him.

“Ah — oh God — Dieter!”

You’re milking him and he clenches your thigh as you finally tumble over the edge with a shout. The instant his restraint to make sure you came first is lifted, he comes, coating your pussy and emptying his balls completely of his spend.

His shoulders slump, the aftershocks of his orgasm making his spine tingle.

He’s got his head buried in the curve of your neck, a pleasant hum everywhere in his body. Your cheek rests against his damp temple. 

He’s not going to think about his cum leaking out of you and staining what is presumably his director’s desk. 

You laugh, almost deliriously, fighting to catch your breath. His chest heaves as his lungs gasp for air. 

“Fuck. I mean– wow– fuck– I– wow.”

He grins at that. He kisses your collarbone.

“Now, what to do about the crowd outside the door . . .”

He glances at you, questioning. You huff, trying weakly to unstick your tongue from the roof of your mouth, still struggling for a normal breath. 

“There’s no way every person in this house didn’t hear that. Fuck, I bet the audio is on YouTube already.”

He chuckles and finally has enough feeling in his legs to stand up straight. He noses your cheek.

“Look out the window.”

You do and are met with a torrential downpour. White lighting clashing, thunder roaring, rain slapping the glass. You hadn’t even noticed it started raining.

“No one heard a thing. And no one’s going to notice two people gone from a party of dozens of people.” He cups the back of your head and kisses you soundly. “They don’t know a fucking thing. We’re safe.”

You take his word for it and wrap your arms over his shoulders. You kiss him back.

You kiss him and kiss him and kiss him.

[anhed-nia]

BLOGTOBER 10/27/2024: SCARAB

I always say that an interestingly bad movie is far better than a conventionally good movie, and SCARAB is here to prove that I'm right! I'm sure there's a major backstory on this vision of total insanity, and if you know what it is, please tell me. The producer of such films as GHOST, STRANGE DAYS, NEAR DARK, and MOTEL HELL directed what imdb describes as a movie in which "A former Nazi seeking to gain new power attempts to resurrect an ancient Egyptian god." This description could not possibly prepare you for what it is actually like to watch SCARAB.

The best way for me to review this movie would actually be to just describe every single thing that happens in it, in order. I genuinely wish I had time to do that. But basically, Rip Torn is a mad scientist who gets possessed by the scarab god Khepera, and goes about the business of assassinating world leaders in order to thrust the Earth into a new Dark Age to avoid nuclear war. I think. Robert Ginty plays Murphy, a journalist who is so horny that the next big journalism summit features a whole speech about how journalists shouldn't create public sex scandals. Murphy becomes aware of Khepera's evil plan, and stalks the living shit out of Elena (Cristina Pascual) who is a powerful psychic nurse who turns out to be Khepera's daughter. She basically handles the whole situation without any really necessary contributions from Murphy.

I had such a negative reaction reaction to Robert Ginty that I felt sort of bad about it. I love when he gets chased around by the laughing assassin who causes things to explode by pointing at them, but the movie's attempt to make him like a super sexual Indiana Jones is very offensive. Putting him on a motorcycle, putting him in bed with a sexy lingerie lady, putting cool-guy headphones on him, all this stuff only underlines how deeply and fundamentally uncool he is. I was so repulsed by him that I started to feel guilty, like maybe I'm just being terribly shallow; I mean some of it is definitely physical, the man is waspy and bland and has the bone structure of a Punch & Judy puppet. But here are some excerpts from his imdb page that made me feel a little better about my response to him.

Born in New York, rugged, virile, hard-looking action star Robert Ginty initially sought a career in music, becoming involved in several rock bands from age 16 on. [Long list of rock stars he hung out with that one time] He directed a rap/hip-hop musical version of Anthony Burgess' "A Clockwork Orange" to fine reviews. Once flew as passenger on a "VIP Flight" in F/A-18 Hornet with the Blue Angels.

OK you corny motherfucker, give it a rest already. In any case the real point of this movie is Rip Torn overseeing crazed black magic orgies and doing some of the strangest dance moves you have ever seen in your whole life. SCARAB is the kind of movie that you watch all of with your jaw in your lap, just passively letting it wash over you, because you really never know what you're going to see next. This is a major virtue in my book. There's also an odd competence to it, which I guess is accounted for by director Steven-Charles Jaffe's producorial chops; it's nicely shot, and the variety of interesting Spanish locations means that there is always something to look at, even when the fire-breathing cultists aren't writhing around on screen...but that very competence throws the extreme zaniness of the movie into even starker relief. SCARAB is an extraordinarily confusing movie, and in the era of used up, wrung out IPs and assembly line slop from streaming services, it's just the kind of movie we need.

[adamwatchesmovies]

Inside Man (2006)

Inside Man does something new with the heist genre. It’s stylish, exciting, filled with intrigue and packed with great actors around every corner. Thanks to its ending, this is a film you won’t soon forget.

In New York, masked robbers take control of a Manhattan bank by holding the people inside hostage. Their leader (Clive Owen) confiscates everyone's phones, divides them into separate rooms and forces them to wear outfits identical to their captors'. As the criminals turn their attention towards the bank’s contents, Detectives Keith Frazier (Denzel Washington) and Bill Mitchell (Chiwetel Ejiofor) take charge of the negotiations. Meanwhile, the bank's founder, Arthur Case (Christopher Plummer), hires professional “fixer” Madeleine White (Jodie Foster) to protect the contents of his safe deposit box.

The ingenious thing about Inside Man is that it follows the hostage negotiators rather than the thieves. This allows us to be fooled by their operation without the film having to cheat or go by the old rule that “if the plan is laid out, it isn’t going to work and if it isn’t, everything is going according to plan”. You’re as puzzled as the hostages and the detectives by what the “Steves” are up to. The way they take control of the bank and handle the hostages proves these are no ordinary criminals. The question is what are they after, exactly? If it were simply money, that would be exciting but obvious and frankly, you’d doubt the thieves’ ability to get away with it. No. Whatever they want, it’s in that safety deposit box. The detectives don’t know that. You’re not even sure if the thieves know what’s inside but whatever it is, it's valuable and it's got to be dirty. No one with clean hands needs to call someone like Madeleine White.

This mystery of the safe deposit box solves one of the inherent problems of heist films, which is the likability of the protagonists. Even when you have the likes of Danny Ocean breaking into a vault, innocent people - security guards who are simply doing their jobs, for example - are going to get hurt or at the very least traumatized by the experience. Dalton Russel (Owen) may be dirty but he’s certainly not as dirty as Arthur Case. At least, you don’t think so. Who knows? Maybe the mystery will be worth all the inconvenience these people are going through. Either way, Frazier and Mitchell are clean for sure so you always have someone you can feel comfortable cheering for.

Aside from one scene that talks about violent video games and gangsta culture (it's a bit on the nose, even if it is largely accurate), this is a superbly directed film. There’s one particular scene where Frazier’s whole world comes to the brink of collapse. In any other movie, the director would’ve had him dramatically leave his trailer but Spike Lee instead chooses to put Denzel on a track and move him towards the camera in a continuous motion. It’s jarring and unusual but it drives the point home like nothing else could’ve. It helps that Lee is working with a wonderfully inventive story by Russel Gewirtz. Inside Man is filled with superb dialogue and makes great use of the city it’s set in. This is the kind of movie that always keeps you guessing because the different characters are always sizing each other up and snatching little advantages from the most unexpected situations. The thieves may be in control of the bank but you know that’s going to change eventually. The detectives in charge are just too smart. Unfortunately, Dalton Russell knows this, which means everything must be part of the plan…

There are a lot of complicated and dubious moral choices in Inside Man. The police make some serious mistakes. The errors they make feel like they were anticipated by the thieves. The violence and stress Russell and his crew unleash upon their hostages is nerve-wracking but it’s hard not to admire them a little bit - they’re just so good at what they’re doing. This and the mystery of that box compel you to keep watching, always keeping note of who’s doing what because this film is told in flashbacks. You sort of know what’s going to happen at the end but you have no idea how. You don’t know what the title refers to, but it’s got to be a hint and you’re determined to figure it out before time runs out and the movie tells you. This is the kind of movie you want to watch again once it’s done so you can tally all the breadcrumbs before they pay off.

Inside Man is a memorable thriller filled with great stuff. There are twists, satisfying red herrings, memorable characters, ambiguous morals to keep you guessing, an intelligence that acknowledges the pitfalls of the genre and the choices made by Spike Lee make it interesting on a technical level as well. Sometimes it’s so intense I don’t know if you could call it “fun” but there’s no way you can keep your eyes off of Inside Man. (March 19, 2022)

[thebackstagepencess]

5 top reasons why 'LOVE JONES’ IS A MOVIE THAT WILL STAND THE TEST OF TIME!'

When we talk classics we automatically think of 'Love Jones’ A 1997 film directed by Theodore Witcher. a story of a two individuals taking a leap of faith on love, chemistry and poetry.

Before we get into this conversation perhaps I want you to imagine this... think of a movie that you could resonate with do you remember the feeling you had when you watched it? if you don’t remember that’s okay I’m sure by the end of this you’d remember something!

Now if you are the person that remembers the feeling then you already understand why I feel that ‘Love Jones’ is quite the ideal catch of a classic.

I assume we all have seen movies that might’ve impacted us in some way, shape, or form. There’s something about Black cinema that has me in a chokehold; I absolutely love how certain stories make me feel!

When it comes to story development and the chemistry of characters I am definitely a sucker for it! Like most people I love to collect, some collect cars, many might collect magazines, pictures, board games, anything that might be of value in my case, I collect movies not just any movies, but movies that are so good that I tend to watch them over and over again while finding enjoyment as I allow myself to explore each character and get lost in their journey as if I’m an invisible character being lead through a time capsule and feeling all the feels. okay wait maybe a time capsule is just a little to much... or is it? hold on, let me explain.

Have you ever watched a movie and by the time it was over you had no clue as to what the movie was about? How about chemistry between two characters? I know I am not the only one that can relate to watching a movie and having no idea of what caused a connection between two characters.

as for LOVE JONES there’s a totally different dynamic that has happened to prove itself time- and time again!

Nina (Played by actress Nia Long ) is a urban photographer that finds herself in the place of a rock in a hard place, she is focused on chasing her dream while being in a unsatisfying position in her current relationship with her boyfriend. To me, Nina is most definitely an empathic source character that has a vision of where she wants to go but also in a position in her life where she questions herself in a way.

Darius Lovehall

Darius Lovehall (Played by Larenz Tate) an aspiring writer who has a sense of sexiness and charm to him, Not only is he a writer but he enjoys poetry and faithfully participate in poetry at a local lounge in the city with his friends that shortly introducing the two character to one another. Darius may have the looks and the charm but he holds a bit of toxicity to him in a way we don’t quite expect as the movie progresses .

I loved how the two characters were created to create different atmospheres to get a feel of both dynamics, I felt invited as well as anxious to meet these characters. it instantly put me in the mood to know more about who they were as individuals and how their two worlds would cross paths or even resonate with one another. don’t get me wrong their attractive appearance on-screen definitely made it believable but I wanted more and NEEDED more and the director did an amazing job finding ways to develop these two characters individually before bringing them together.

Some people may put Nina and Darius in the box of being “too cheesy” and/or find it to be the These two characters has so much passion within throughout the movie that takes you through their journey. I loved how the approach between these two were different than your typical movie aspect where boy meets girl, girl like boy and they live happily ever after. in this case the scenarios differs and I love it.

although, Darius shot his shot at Nina through a seductive poem the night at poetry spot you could tell that she was flattered but remained calm. she understood where he was going with it and passed however, without making it too obvious she allowed him to be the man. she gave off the vibes along the lines of “ you want it then work for it!” and we understood that Darius wasn’t going to give up easy.

Darius was quite the charmer but not only did he use it to his advantage but he was determined to see Nina for who she was he use the method by any means necessary . These two immediately understood one another without words but through eye-contact and through their connection through each other vibes as if they knew that they were meant to be.

The film does a great job at using conflict to bring out the constant scarifies these two individuals had to endure. Nina decided to go trough with taking a job in New York where she knew that challenges lied ahead. she face the fact that in order to follow her dreams she had to take a risk. yeah down the line it was a bit of deception when it came to her ex but she was still on a journey of understanding as well as finding a deeper meaning of what her love required. the quest was a little bigger she was facing a challenge and she was determined for a requirement.

Darius knew that he loved Nina but also dealt with inner challenges trying to understand love while also figuring out his true outcome although he had friends in his corner he seemed to find a way to ask for advice but also knew that the relationship he had with Nina would come with a bigger challenge than what he expected in the very beginning. In fact, he’s a writer but he was also a lover that dealt with inner playboy tactics through his journey he had to realize his actions cause great conflict into the relationship he seemed unsure on the path.

I loved how the story took the idea of making these characters relatable but a bit difficult. the moment you thought you knew what these two characters would do they turned around and did the complete opposite. through the movie you might question their decisions but later understand that the route they took was necessary and great way to get the point across without dragging. in relationships there’s some type of sacrifice between you and your partner that may break each other or bring you two closer together and I feel love jones did a great job by allowing us to see the flexibility of these two characters and allowing them to share their love, fears, as well as vulnerability!

When it comes to love, I am here for It all honey! Beyond the physical there’s nothing like a connection that’s filled with communication, laughs, friendship, and the ability allow one another the space to grow as individuals.

There’s nothing more sexier than a secure/ respectful man knowing what he wants and able to establish that by not only taking charge but allowing his woman to live in her femininity!

A queen that can handle a career, love life, and still remaining a fierce woman while allowing yourself to accept and acknowledge that you are enough is a strength in itself. sure, We are in the era of “black love” and “couple goals” but I love the approach The film took in showing the importance of black love.

The film gave such a tasteful spill on relationships and the importance of making it work no matter the situation or the circumstances the good out weighted the bad and love conquered all.

Often times you find that people choose to leave a relationship without experiencing all parts of the relationship once it feels hard or a bit of an inconvenience the individual(s) decide on giving up instead of working it out.

Through these two characters we were brought along on their journey where we felt all of the feels of their relationship. some of us may’ve seen a reflection of ourselves through these two. ( Please notice I said “SOME” chill if you didn’t it is okay no judgement here!)

Darius and Nina related through poetry and photography, and used it in the most unique way. Nina studied couples while capturing the natural essence of how she felt in her heart and allowed it to show through her photography and it reflected in her love life with Darius. Nina took time to understand and reflect on her own needs, wants, and insecurities and allowed space for growth.

Darius greatest power was his words, he was smooth yet intentional on what he wanted. yes, it cost him a few things and may’ve taught him a lesson or two about true communication and commitment but in the end he prevailed.

5. impactful for Generations to come

Have you been on TikTok and seen sounds trending? how about when you are scrolling on your phone and you randomly see a photo of Nia long or Larenz Tate and automatically assume these two are actually a couple. which is hilarious because deep down we all know that they have two separately different lives but the chemistry is so strong that it is almost hard to accept the fact that they aren’t together in real life!

When we name movies today LOVE JONES is still mentioned 25 years later. Most look to Romeo and Juliet when explaining love stories but me on the other hand, I reference to Nina and Darius.

The film is a classic because it is an original body of work that brings a sense of hope and makes you excited about being in love. Although, the film came out in 1997, we are in 2023 where the new generation are seeing love jones for the very first time and rediscovering a love story that is timeless.

Blogger: DESTINY HUNTER

IG: D_JASMINETHEOFFICIAL

FOLLOW US ON IG: THEBACKSTAGEPENCESS

[woozisguitar]

[VENT]

genuinely so tired of this family making me constantly feel like I need to prove myself and gaslighting me into believing that I was the one who made the choice and I always had their support. Like no. Literally never. I’m graduating next month and I’ll get my degree soon but never once did they tell me oh I’m glad you’re happy with your career choices it’s always “why didn’t you go into med school it would’ve been easier for you to get it” yeah I know it was because have we idk considered maybe I don’t like biology?? Maybe I enjoy maths and computing more?? and now that I’m finishing my engineering degree the whole “why aren’t you getting a job” BECAUSE DAMMIT IM A RESEARCH STUDENT??? can you please for once please be fucking proud of me???? you say you are but god I don’t think you are I think you’re just lying because I once confided about wanting to end it all to you and now you’re just forced to be nice to me so i don’t do anything drastic. and then I get the fucking statement that “we never stopped you from doing anything you wanted” A FUCKING LIE. if I wanted to do what I wanted you’d let me go into arts and become an animation and movie director but you straight up told me to do the closest degree (being engineering), told me how I had no scope in that field because im not good enough for it but ykw I am good. Rather I was good. I knew how to direct things I had creative ideas for fucks sake all my theatre profs told me I was good and what am I doing in a stem college and just to not let that shred of creativity in me die and make me lose all my spark I did research. but still you keep telling me how you fucking wish I was a doctor or had a job that paid me like idk hundred thousand bucks a month and die on the inside. I’d rather just be dead. for once could you just please be proud of me I’ve published first author papers while I was in my undergrad, I was a national level finalist, fucks sake I was an intern in a different country purely on my merit that no one else got in the history of my batch. clearly I’m good at what I do and I don’t have to do it your way but please fucks sake please can you be proud of me? im like begging lol can we please not reduce me to my physical attributes all the time or call me an arrogant bitch because I’m trying to prove that I’m good enough? all this and you still make yourself the victim and wonder I wish I could leave this house already.

[maddieladner1999]

Bad Idea Right? Chapter 9

After graduation, Ricky was free for the summer. And he was excited because that meant time with EJ. EJ was still staying with his aunt and uncle and not talking to his dad. Ricky understands why but it’s still his dad and EJ should talk with him. So he decides to talk to EJ about it. He’s not gonna push just open the conversation to the idea

He decides the conversation is best had in person so he heads over to Ashlyn’s. Her parents aren’t home and she lets him in. She calls for EJ and they go to the guest room which is now just EJ’s room. 

Ricky: I was thinking more about what my parents said about you telling your dad. Have you thought about telling your dad?

EJ: no I haven’t why?

Ricky: I just think it might be good for you to talk to him. You don’t have to start with that just you know getting back on terms with him

EJ: why? He cut me off. He can’t even be proud of the things I’ve done. I mean I directed a musical in 2 weeks and he could care less

Ricky: I know and it sucks but he’s your dad. Maybe telling him about all your college achievements will show him you’re better off than he thought you’d be

EJ: what do you mean?

Ricky: like you said he cut you off. You’re a full time college student in an acapella group with 3 jobs to pay for your college tuition all by yourself. That’s impressive. 

EJ: you think he’d care?

Ricky: you won’t know till you talk to him. But I bet he thinks you’re not capable of keeping your life together like you are. Probably stays in touch with your aunt and uncle just to see if your ok. I can’t imagine he’d just stop caring all together. 

EJ: you’re right. I guess I can try but that’s it. And no I told you so from either of us depending on how this goes

Ricky: why would you say I told you so anyway?

EJ: cause I don’t think he’ll be impressed. 

Ricky: you don’t have to you know. It was just a thought. You can wait till you’re ready. 

EJ: I might never be ready to face him but it’s ok. One step at a time right? I’ll just call him give an update and see what happens. 

Ricky: ok well goodnight. I’ll see you tomorrow right?

EJ: yeah. I think I’ll call him after you leave. I should do it before my aunt and uncle return

Ricky: keep me posted then. 

EJ: of course. I love you you know. 

Ricky: really? I had no idea. 

EJ: ha ha very funny

Ricky: love you too you dork

So Ricky leaves EJ alone and after a few minutes he calls his dad 

——————-

EJ’s pov

EJ is waiting to see if his dad even answers and to his surprise he does

Cash: EJ, what do you want?

EJ: just thought I’d talk to you

Cash: about what? Another stupid musical? When are you gonna get your life together? 

EJ: I have gotten my life together

Cash: I doubt it

EJ: well tell that to my 3 jobs to support my college tuition. The fact that I’m a full time college student supporting my own self. All cause my father cut me off cause I didn’t want to go to his stupid business school

Cash: you aren’t gonna make a living in musicals. 

EJ: I never said I was. I liked directing sure but there are so many fields with that that make money. I could be a movie director. I could direct a Broadway play. They make money

Cash: you’d have to be good to do that though son. Idk if you’re good enough 

EJ: is that what it takes for you to believe in me? Proving you wrong? I guess I’ll do that then. See you in 5 years

Cash: it’s good you’re taking care of yourself. I’m impressed I just think you aren’t thinking your future through. You need a plan

EJ: I have a plan. I’m gonna get a film production master and become a director and you’ll see just how wrong you are. 

Cash: and if you fail?

EJ: I’ll still be better off without your opinion. I don’t even know why I bothered I knew you wouldn’t care. You wouldn’t try. 

Cash: son wait. I’m willing to try if you just go for a realistic career. Like sports doctor or something 

EJ: I don’t owe you anything anymore. You can’t accept me for me then forget it. I’m not gonna go halfway just to meet you. It’s my life. I’m gonna choose my own path. 

Cash: I guess this is goodbye then. 

EJ: goodbye dad. Wasn’t nice knowing you. 

EJ hangs up before his dad says something else and FaceTimes  Ricky. Ricky immediately answers of course, shirtless and brushing his teeth. 

Ricky: *holding toothbrush* hold on a sec

EJ: nice to know you do brush your teeth

Ricky: you saying my breath sticks or something?

EJ: only occasionally. 

Ricky: so what’s up how’d it go?

EJ: he sucks still. Tried to meet me halfway say I should choose a reasonable career path like sports doctor and he’d try. I told him I wasn’t gonna meet him halfway. He needs to accept me as I am

Ricky: good for you standing up to him. So you didn’t tell him you’re gay. 

EJ: nope. Didn’t  see the point. He can’t even come to terms with the theatre thing or my chosen path of becoming a director. 

Ricky: you decided your major?

EJ: yep! I’m starting film school in the fall. 

Ricky: I’m so excited for you. 

EJ: thanks. Sorry you were wrong. 

Ricky: it’s ok. He wasn’t even impressed by you putting yourself through school?

EJ: he was actually but it wasn’t enough to get him to try to be my dad again. 

Ricky: it might be a helpful step though. Maybe he’ll reach out?

EJ: I doubt it. We said goodbye. I basically told him I’d see him again when I prove him wrong and become the director he doesn’t think I can be

Ricky: oh well go EJ! Stick it to him

EJ: I should get some sleep good night. 

Ricky: good night. I love you. 

Note: so Lynn is great and cash sucks. Sounds like that’s about right. also yes finally updating this with more!

[bemusedlybespectacled]

so I watched victor/victoria last night for the first time (either since I was a kid or ever: I know one of our VHS tapes had a trailer for it and I might just be remembering that, but I'm pretty sure I watched it once as a little kid) and HOLY SHIT I DID NOT REALIZE HOW VERY QUEER IT IS. like I'm not saying "queer" like as in "subtext" I mean that one of the two main characters is introduced waking up in bed with another man and then goes to a gay bar to sing a song about "gay paree."

basic premise for those who don't know about this movie already: it's a 1982 movie where julie andrews is an out-of-work opera singer (and by "out of work" I mean "is extremely close to dying of starvation") who meets toddy (robert preston) who saw her auditioning earlier that day. toddy gets the idea to have her pretend to be a drag queen: she'll come across as an even better performer if everyone thinks she's a man who's extremely good at pretending to be a woman, instead of just a woman.

and like, okay, this is what happens when toddy first suggests the idea to victoria:

Victoria: Toddy, I don't know how to act like a man. Toddy: Contrary to the popular conception of how a man acts, there are different men who act in different ways. Victoria: I mean, as opposed to the way women act. Toddy: I am personally acquainted with at least a dozen men who act exactly like women, and vice versa. Victoria: But there are some things that are naturally masculine. Toddy: Name one. Victoria: Peeing standing up. Toddy: There's absolutely no rule that says a man can't sit down. Victoria: Men have Adam's apples. Toddy: So do some women. Victoria: Name one. Toddy: Nana Lanoux. Taxi! Victoria: What? Nana Lanoux? Who's she? Toddy: The last woman I slept with. Victoria: When was that? Toddy: The night before the morning I decided to become a homosexual.

Like, I have no idea how to read this other than "gender is a construct and bio-essentialism can get fucked." Like I know it was written with femme gay men in mind rather than trans women, but also, they call Nana Lanoux a woman, not a drag queen, and they use she/her pronouns, even though she had an Adam's apple (and, it's implied, a penis).

anyway, Victor/Victoria becomes a smash hit as a "female impersonator," and a guy who watches her performance, King Marchand, thinks she's hot in her drag persona and then is horrified when it's revealed that she's in drag. Because that means he's gay. And he's not gay! It is very important for him to establish that he's not gay. So he tells her that he doesn't think she's really a man. And this is her response:

Victor: Your problem, Mr. Marchand, is that you're preoccupied with stereotypes. I think it's as simple as, you're one kind of man, l'm another. Marchand: And what kind are you? Victor: One that doesn't have to prove it, to myself or anyone.

AGAIN, I know that the scriptwriter was almost definitely thinking about how gay guys aren't seen as "real men," BUT ALSO COME THE FUCK ON LOOK HOW TRANS THIS IS.

And like, midway through, he finds out she really is a woman by sneaking into her hotel room (which the director admitted was a cop out and that originally he was meant to not know until after he confessed his love for her). But the thing is, SHE KEEPS UP THE ACT, because she actually LIKES being perceived as a man, which means HE needs to keep up the act, which means that to everyone other than her and Toddy, he's going to appear to be gay. So there's a fairly good chunk of the film where he has to deal with homophobic violence directed at him because people see him as gay. and he doesn't out her as a woman to try to avoid it, or ask her to dress as a woman when they're in public together: they go out in public as two men. (also he realizes gay stereotypes in general are bullshit, his storyline is mostly "straight man unlearns homophobia very slowly")

like it is by no means a perfect movie (there are two rape jokes and the f-slur is used a couple of times), but holy hell, for 1982 it's insanely progressive.

[poppyseed018]

First of Many Part 2

fem!reader X klitz (girl next door)

summary: klitz gets jealous and i just want to prove he has nothing to worry about. part one here

**requests are currently open**

word count: 2k

warnings: smut, 18+ ONLY, oral (m receiving), minor sub!klitz, jealous klitz and some weird eli (obvi)

—————————————

Its been almost 2 weeks since me and klitz had our kiss and i couldn’t stop thinking about it. When he got home that night he texted me: ‘i had a really nice time. and i would like to see you again:)’ it made me smile knowing he was thinking about it too.

earlier today klitz called me and asked me to come over. at first i was super excited to be all alone but he said his friend eli would be there too. i didn’t mind, i’ve met eli, he’s kinda funny. a little different but in a good way. i was mainly friends with Klitz, not so much his friends too but it should be fun.

right…?

Klitz and i were sitting on the couch flipping through the channels not really paying attention to it, mainly just waiting for Eli. He held my hand tightly, i could feel he was worried about us meeting all together. The doorbell rang and klitz quickly let go of me and raced to the door.

“Hey Eli! y/n is here on the couch, there's some food in the kitchen if you want,” opening the door letting Eli in.

“Klitzy so good to see you, wow y/n so it’s true you are together... good to see you, too.”

I gave him a quick smile and a small “hey” before turning my attention back to klitz. I wonder what he told them… Klitz came and sat back down next to me, putting his attention on the tv.

“You’re sure its ok he hangs out with us? I can tell him to leave and it can just be us.” it was barley audible, it was cute he was willing to do that for me.

“No its ok klitz, i promise. you dont have to keep asking me that, ya know.” he takes my hand and glances to eli, who was looking through the fridge, then brings my hand up and kisses my hand, ugh i’m gonna melt.

Eli came back in the living room and sat beside me, holding an array of snacks and putting them on the table in front of us.

“Ok guys i brought a really good film for us to watch, its a swedish horror without subtitles but you dont need to understand it to enjoy it” he got up and put it into the dvd player. Instantly it was loud and flashing red blood drippings onto the title screen. ok, interesting start. Klitz still had my hand in his but had them prominently displayed resting on his lap.

As the movie continued i could see eli and klitz glancing at each other and at me. Something weird is going on with them, did they get hypnotized by this movie or something?

A particularly gory part of the movie started and i winced into klitz shoulder, burying it into the crook of his neck. I could feel his pulse accelerate at the contact, i stayed there for a moment just enjoying that contact, and being genuinely grossed out.

“Scary parts over” he whispered to me, i gave his neck a small kiss and looked back at the movie. I took a quick peak in eli’s direction, was he staring at my legs? I looked him in the eyes and when he looked in mine he gave me a wide eyed smile and quickly looked back at the movie. What a weirdo… I schooched over to klitz more and put my head on his shoulder and held onto his arm rather than just his hand, he felt tense.

The movie ended and i was left mainly just confused rather than “enlightened” by a foreign film as eli said would happen to us. klitz cleared his throat and got up first, then eli stood up too. guess i should too since we all are.

“Um so what did you guys think,” i asked making my way to the kitchen to get some water

“Definitely interesting”

“Ya im with klitz on that. Have you seen this one already, eli?”

“Oh no i don't think so, i've seen others by this director but they're all very good in my opinion. Ya know i- i think im gonna go actually. Its getting kinda late” we all looked outside to the still blue sky. “My mom wants me home early”

We all said our goodbyes and he left pretty fast, taking the leftover snacks with him.

“I think he just stole from you klitz” i laughed going back to the living room where he was still standing. His fists were clenched and he was chewing on the inside of his cheek. “Are you ok?”

“What? Oh uh ya fine, just…”

“Just what?”

“I can’t tell you” he dropped his head. I put my hands on his face and lifted his head up to meet my eye line.

“Why not”

“I promised eli i wouldn't”

“So it's something with eli? What does he have a crush on me or something?” i joked but as soon as i saw klitz chew on the inside of his cheek again i knew i hit a nerve, “Wait are you serious??”

“no! no, its worse, y/n” he sat down on the couch and started flipping through the channels landing on some show mid-episode. “I told him about you and me and he told me he.. He always wanted to ‘bang’ you” he said in quotes, trying not to look me in the eyes. “I don't know why I even invited him over. He said he was just joking and it would be fine to hang out but i don’t know.”

“Well i don't really care” i said quietly sitting on the floor in front of him, looking up at him hoping for eye contact.

“You don't? Why not? Couldn't you see, he was staring at you the entire time, knowing me and you are-”

“Are what, klitzy?” i looked up at him knowing it would excite him.

“Ya know, like.. Together or something” he reached out and stroked my hair. “Aren't we?”

“Are you asking me?”

“I guess ya”

I leaned over and rested my chin on his knee. “Mhm” is all i responded and i could see how hard he was blushing through all the hair that had fallen in front of his face.

“It just annoyed me that he was looking at you the whole time. All i could think of was taking you right here on this couch in front of him to show you that you're mine” ok wow… hot.

“Really?”

“I'm sorry that was kinda a lot, i respect you very much as a woman but yes that is what i was thinking” i moved from criss cross position to my knees in front of him. Pulling his knees apart so i could lay my head in his lap. I started kissing up his pants to just before his crotch. “Um what are you doing, y/n?”

“Nothing”

He's so cute when he’s all flustered and blushy. knowing i can toy with him and get him excited just by small gestures is probably my favorite thing. definitely gets me just as excited too…

“do you want me to stop, klitzy”

“well- no..” his face is so red aw… i leaned up and gave both of his cheeks a kiss knowing it’ll just make it worse. he puts his hand on my cheek to stroke my face. he smiled down at me, lovingly, then did that classic scooch forward that all guys do to hint at what’s in their pants.

“I just want you to know you have nothing to worry about with eli. how about we go back up to your room, huh?”

i’ve never seen someone stand up so fast. grabbing my hand and leading me to his bedroom. I've been here a couple times before but it was cleaner than i remember. bed is made, CDs and DVDs neatly stacked on his desk, and no clothes laying around like before. no nudie mags like last time either. i learned a few kinks about him that day.

i sat on the bed and patted the spot next to me for him to come sit. once sat he stared at me as i put my hand on his thigh, inching it up slowly too scared to look him in the eye.

“is this- is this ok?” finally looking him in the eyes to make sure this really is all ok with him, i know he’s a virgin and i just want him to be as comfortable as possible.

“hell ya, you look beautiful, y/n,” he says as he leans in to kiss me. i love kissing him, he’s always so gentle and yet so needy… feeling his soft lips and his long fingers rub my cheek and tangle in my hair, tugging lightly causing me to softly moan into his mouth. i can feel him smile against me as we continue to kiss and i try to unbuckle his cargo shorts. he broke the kiss to take them off and let them pool at his ankles then kick them across the room, still in his boxers. i get down on my knees in front of him watching him shift in excitement for my next move. looking up at him, I was just as excited. i heard rumors of his size but who knows for sure, i was about to know.

moving very slow, to tease him and because of my nerves, i went for his waistband and hooked my fingers under. both his hands also went to help me but i pushed his hands back and shook my head.

“have patience,” i can see he’s already so hard and yes i want him so badly, but come on it’s klitzy i gotta tease him some more. So instead of going back to his waistband, I started kissing up his knee to his thigh, looking up lazily to see him staring down at me with wide eyes silently begging for more.

“please, y/n.” he bucked his hips up and clenched up the fabric at the end of his boxers

“please what?”

“please touch me, i- i need you.”

i couldn’t resist him any longer. his boxers are bulging and i just need to taste him so badly. taking his boxers off as he scoots up to help them off. his dick springs up when they come off.

wow.

he is big. i start by kissing up and down his shaft and he’s already shaking and breathing heavily. i take just the tip in my mouth letting my spit collect and drip down so it goes down easier. oh now he’s whimpering, while i push my head even farther down, gagging slightly at his size. fuck, even in my mouth he feels so nice. i look up at him and his eyes are squeezed shut and his mouth is hung open in ecstasy. i take it as far as i can down my throat before i pull back for air then start bobbing up and down faster.

“oh god, y/n” i went a little faster now, and reached up to hold his hand which he eagerly gripped for dear life. i tried to get it all the way down every time i went back down to really grip him as much as i could. his breathing quickened and i could tell he was getting closer already.

“y/n… please i’m- fffuck, i’m really close”

i just hummed happily as a response, not wanting to break my pattern or speed. caressing his hand with my thumb while i do. and not even a minute passes and he’s gripping my hand even harder and bucking his hips up trying so desperately to reach his end. i look up at him while i do and he looks down at me and i swear that eye contact is what makes him cum. he squeezes his eyes shut and let’s out a soft string of moans and whimpers, sprinkling my name and some curses in with it. i try to swallow what i can but some spills out and drips down my neck and chest. i give him one last kiss on his tip before sitting back, trying to catch my breath.

“i need to go clea-” before i could even finish he’s kneeling in front of me and pulling me in for a kiss, it’s not like our normal kisses it’s more passionate and romantic. sure, the setting is a little awkward but this is by far one of our best. he wraps his arms around me and pulls me as close as he can, not caring he’s getting his own cum on himself.

“you were amazing.” he doesn’t even care he interrupted me. he kissed my cheek and got up and put his hand out for me to take it and help me up, such a gentleman. we walk over to his bathroom and he turns the shower on, getting two towels ready. “do you want to shower together?” i simply nodded and followed him into the bathroom. he took the rest of his clothes off and then waited for me. he quickly turned around trying to give me privacy.

“you can look. we’re about to be in the shower together, anyway”

he turns slowly, shifting his eyes up and down me. paying attention to every move and every detail of my body. slightly creepy but he just seems in awe of me.

“you really are beautiful, ya know”

fuck. this boy is gonna be the death of me.

we get into the shower finally and i start by rinsing my mouth out and then my chest, jeez this stuff really doesn’t rinse off with water. i hear him clear his throat behind me then the slow and soft feeling of his fingers on my waist. i take a step back and rest my body against him. we’ve never been this close without clothes. it’s nice and warm, comfortable too. he takes this closeness as an opportunity to wrap his arms around my waist and rests them there.

“maybe i can return the favor for you sometime, ya know like what uh- what you did to me but like for you..?”

“ya maybe you can” i turn and kiss him, he’s so soft, although another part of him is still partly hard… “if you’re good you can” i tease him and see him blush. he laughs lightly and drops his head on my shoulder, and sighs.

“i’ll try my best.”

he always does.

[mooshs-crack-headcanons]

Okay new Tails-tube short came out and I want to talk about it (mostly about Knuckles edition)

Under the cut because I go on a bit:

#1 Knuckles voice and character direction:

I absolutely love this new Knuckles voice a LOT. Of course Knuckles is being voice by Dave Mitchell, with his first Knuckles role being in Team Sonic racing where his voice there wasn't exactly bad to say but it was clearly trying tbh a bit to hard to be a Travis Willingham impression which I get for the sake of continuity but in that game at least it just seemed kind of too forced and a bit too noticeable to say at least. However, now as this short proves that he is no longer trying to do the Travis impression and is doing his own take on the character which is good!

Like I was very grown used to Travis' Knuckles when having his voice in so many games for so long and I believe personally Boom!Knuckles (at least when ignoring the canonverse Knuckles for just a moment) was definitely his best take on the character and honestly for me at least is most of the part of why Boom worked like it did, not as a sonic show but as a dorky little comedy.

Movie!Knuckles I think is what proved to me that change can absolutely work and was absolutely needed for Knuckles as a character, for so long his character had been so dumbed down and mostly just either used for jokes or incompetent decision making (look at everything he done while he was in charge in Forces) but thanks to the writing and Idris Elba's voicing it turned the page and started a new with Knuckles' portrayal, having him as warrior with honor who spent most of his time growing up alone and made it where while he's not stupid but he does have this naivety to him about how to be around people and exactly what it means to have a true friend letting the S3&K being tricked by Eggman plot line feel more natural than it did in that game. He felt like he had a healthy scale; one end being a warrior with the highest of honors and is absolutely ready to fight whatever and whenever nesscary and on the other end is naive kid new to society and learning the ends and out of what it means to have friends and family and not to be alone, throughout the movie he goes to different parts of the scale depending on the situation and the key of success here was it always felt natural when he did - both sides were him but if need be he can easily switch from one to the other if the situation called for it. It's a nice touch in my opinion and complexes his character out more.

Why do I bring this up? Because new and different voices can do very much a different direction of a character along with different writers and voice directors (there's many examples here in this franchise to take you're pick from) and here in this Tails-tube short Knuckles is proof of all of that; new voice that isn't just an impression of the previous Knuckles' one, new writers especially Ian Flynn which we know was involved with at least this short in particular thanks to one of his tweets, and we *know* there's new voice directors at least in some way while not doing the his 'new voice' for Sonic in this short but given so just how vastly different Roger's Sonic sounds in the small footage we've seen him speak in Frontiers, but even so just everyone who speaks this short sounds WAY less like their interpretations from the meta era sure they made jokes but nothing was nauseating to listen too like it was from colors-forces like you can just telling its Flynn's writing because of just how much it sounds like the IDW comics except it is more exposition dumpy but that's kind of the point of Tails-tube to give us lore and world building for maybe the younger audience who doesn't know much about the previous games so I'm fine with it.

Edit: It's actually Tyson Hesse who wrote and directed this short but pretty much my point still stands, they did an amazing job! :)

#2 Just some more things about Dave's Knuckles I noticed:

Anyway, Dave's Knuckles seems to be slowly forming his own identity in this short and will hopefully be fleshed out more in the Knuckles' prologue short (which I'll come back to later btw) so far he seems to be a lot less bullshity and more serious about his job protecting the Master Emerald than he has been in a very long time, this I'm very happy to see. Also??? This short addresses his consent leaps of absences away from the emerald and actually explains it??? That alone knocked me to the floor. Like he says he leaves to help Sonic whenever trouble he needs his help with comes around, which okay doesn't explain every situation because sometimes Knuckles is seemed just chilling around before the big bad of whatever game it is happens but again maybe there's something a little deeper there of him actually wanting to spend time with his friends just because but he doesn't want to say it out loud so that's the explanation he gives but maybe everyone around him knows that isn't truly the case but chooses not to say anything because the guy tries to keep a front of a guy only concerned with his job but actually cares a lot (which you can both see in this short given the fact even if he doesn't seem impressed or to get why Tails is doing his little internet show he still calls him though concerned at first that he was in danger but still stays on the line to answer Tails' interview questions and even oblivously in that older brother-like way teases him a bit about throwing him off the island for wanting to do tests on the Emerald even though the fox can fly, which was sweet. It's only when Sonic appears that he switches it up back to that front and breaks the camera. So... tsudere a little? Maybe but honestly it was never overbearing or all that noticeable that I think it kind of works and which I find cute but at least Sega is finally remembering that Sonic and Knuckles are also rivals even though their relationship is definitely better than Sonic and Shadow's rivalry which is, you know, more of a cliche hot-mess.

Knuckles' reaction to Rouge just being mentioned was funny.

Not Boom!Knuckles quality of jokes, which is good, but the fucking rock bit was also funny so good thing to know they're trying to regain balance which comedy when it comes to Knuckles' character, afterall even in S3&K comedy was indeed a part of his character (look at the him alone in that game trying not to fall scene and his boss fight being... a joke in itself) "I don't chuckle-" line in his SA2 theme when literally in his first interaction with Sonic that's what he does. ALL OF HIS THEMES IN SA1&2. Literally all of his in game animations in Sonic Riders. This face:

Yeah they might've dumb down his character over the years and went overboard with the jokes but that's not to say the jokes weren't always there, even indirectly. And that's what makes it work, make him indirectly funny.

When asked about if he what to know more about the Master Emerald he straight up gives the most SA1!Knuckles ass response which it's fitting given his SA1 theme is playing the entire time.

They are straight up hinting at some kind of new form for him involving the emerald in some way, I fucking swear. I feel it in my gut.

Anyway I love him.

#3 Frontiers.

Giving the fact they literally state so in the ending, just happens directly before Frontiers with them mentioning picking up Amy to come and join them. A few things:

Knuckles is still on the island so I'm also assuming the Knuckles prologue takes places right after this short. But we know he's going to also be on the Starfall Islands and is most likely also going to be saved like Amy and probably also Tails so exactly what is going to go down in the prologue animation that is also going to drag him also into cyberspace? Something also having to do with the emeralds?

Speaking of which; they are REALLY hamming in hamming in the roles of the emeralds, which I think is good given its been SO long since they had actual importance in a game. And we know we're getting super sonic at least maybe a few times each on every island given there's some bosses you can only fight using him... but that leaves one question what about the final boss of this game? Are we just going to use maybe a more powered up version of super sonic? Or maybe something else? Who knows 🤷🏻‍♂️

The glitches around the image of Starfall Islands. We know their connected to cyberspace so its not surprising that their glitchy but Tails said the chaos emeralds... lead/shown him the islands? How? I know their magic and all that but don't you think it's strange? Exactly how are these two places connected where the emeralds would sense them enough to want to go there? We know they have a subconscious of their own and thanks to Origins we see them travel as they please but why there? It's mysterious and I'm actually invested into learning more about it which is something I don't say going into many sonic games in recent years. I'm very excited.

#4 Prime.

Nothing in this short particularly made me want to talk about it but I wanted to talk about it anyway. So we know Sonic Prime is canon and it's Sonic is supposed to be gameverse!Sonic in some form. It's been speculated and rumored to come out in December and with the recent trailer confirming a winter 2022 release window I think that's very much plausible and at least says one thing: it's coming after Frontiers. Why am I bringing this up? Because I have a question:

Do you think since Prime from what we understand is canon takes place before or after Frontiers?

I'm asking because we know from interviews that Sonic is going to go through a character arc in Prime due to him supposedly being responsible for the dimensional rift or whatever and feels guilty over it and his motivation is to fix it and make things right.

We also know that in Frontiers Sonic is going to go through a similar situation and at least we're going to get a bit more character from him.

It's probably not going to be confirmed and we are kind of only left to guess until we have the game in our hands/watch the show to its fullest but given the two release not that far from each other which would make more sense coming first? Or maybe given the whole different dimension thing maybe (and this is just pure fan theory) they could both be 'versions' of gameverse!Sonic but also be parallels of either the same/similar event that comes out to the same result: improving Sonic's character and address some hidden things over the surface he's hiding (using some of the lines about fear and stuff from the Frontiers main theme as evidence here)

I don't know, we're kind of left in the dark on this one until we get both 🤷🏻‍♂️

[skinnyducky]

snot green jelly // v.h.

a/n this believe it or not was so hard to write bc i didn’t know what direction i was going to go. also, i got a little bit carried away with the angst of this one, but it’s still a fluff piece. anyways, hope this is what you asked for and i hope you enjoy :)

vinnie hacker x fem!reader

Word Count: 1131, slightly edited

WARNING: language, sexual themes, jealous vinnie, angsty but also fluffy

---------

Vinnie was in awe; he couldn’t believe what he was witnessing. You, barely in anything, kissing Tom Holland. Well, that was a bit of an exaggeration. You were wearing nude undergarments, but that didn’t change anything. You were still making out with him, and Vinnie couldn’t help but feel a little jealous.

He knew better, he really did. He had no reason to be jealous…this was your job. He knew what he signed up for when he decided to date an actress, especially one as popular as you. Vinnie was aware that you’d be required to lock lips with other guys. However, he didn’t know you’d actually be having sex with them. Granted, you weren’t actually doing the deed, it was just acting. Plus, it’s not like you didn’t give him a warning beforehand. He wasn’t blindsided or anything, but that didn’t stop him from being bitter.

“Amazing, Y/n!” Your director exclaimed. “Give me more! Give me passion!”

You followed his directions, “grinding” harder into Tom. As Vinnie viewed the scene with pain in his chest, he noticed the smile growing on the actor’s face. “Is he enjoying this?” Vinnie thought. “This is getting out of hand.”

The director squealed, “That’s perfect! Alright, we’re headed for the climax! Give me moans, give me wails…I need more power in those thrusts, Tom!”

If you hadn’t known this was a set for a major movie, you’d have thought this was a porno. And judging from the noise emitting from both you and Tom, it might as well be. Vinnie tried his best to keep his neutral expression, but that was proving to be impossible. The jealousy was radiating off of him like the funk from a gym sock.

“And that’s a wrap!”

You and Tom removed yourselves from each other, putting on the robes handed to you by your assistants. Vinnie glared at the two of you as you both proceeded to make conversation. He watched as you threw your head back in laughter, slapping Tom on his shoulder. You two chatted for a good minute before you finally turned and acknowledged him. Upon meeting your eyes, his frown quickly turned upside down.

“Come ‘ere.” You mouthed, waving him over. He did as you said and walked over to you and your co-star. “Vinnie, this is Tom. Tom, this is Vinnie.”

Tom grinned, holding out his hand for Vinnie to shake. “You’re the guy she’s been going on and on about?”

“Yeah, that’s me.” Vinnie said, timidly shaking the man’s hand. While Tom didn’t notice Vinnie’s hesitation, you have a keen eyesight and managed to catch it. Though, you didn’t think much of it and passed it off as Vinnie being nervous.

“It’s nice to meet you.”

Vinnie smiled, “Nice to meet you too. Big fan.”

While to the naked ear—or Tom in this case—it might not be noticeable, but to your ear…you could hear a bit of hostility laced in Vinnie’s tone. Something was up with him, and being his girlfriend, that was easy to pick up on. Out of the two months you’ve been dating, you knew he wore his emotions on his sleeve—no matter how much he tried to deny it. So, you knew when he was angry…and by the way he was acting, this wasn’t anger. In all honesty, you’ve never seen this side of him. Him and his passive aggressiveness was completely foreign, and if you didn’t know any better…you’d say it was jealousy.

It was at that moment; a light bulb went off over your head. Vinnie was indeed filled with envy, even after you warned him about the sex scene. While you were a bit irritated, you couldn’t be mad at him. His feelings were completely valid, and if you were in his shoes, you’d feel the same. That didn’t excuse his rude behavior though.

Sending a warm smile Tom’s way, you said, “Hey, we’re gonna go ahead and go back to my trailer. I’ll see you later.”

“Alright, bye Y/n! And once again, it was nice to meet you, Vinnie.”

“You too.” Vinnie replied through gritted teeth. Oh, he wasn’t even trying to hide it now.

You wrapped your arm around Vinnie’s and led him back into your trailer. Walking inside, you tossed the boy onto the couch and stood over him. “I didn’t know you were a big fan of Tom.”

He shrugged, leaning back. “There’s a lot you don’t know about me, Y/n.”

“Mmhm, like how I don’t know when you’re being an ass?”

Vinnie’s brows furrowed as he crossed his arms. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Vinnie, you know what I’m taking about.” You said, placing your hands on your hips. “The way you hesitated when Tom held his hand out, the way you spoke to him. It was giving very much asshole behavior.”

“Why would I be an asshole to a guy I never met before?”

“Because you’re jelly.”

He scoffed, “I am not jelly.”

“You totally are. You’re literally snot green jelly, and while you think you’re good at hiding it, you’re really not.”

Vinnie threw his hands up in defense as he shot up from his spot on the couch. “Okay, so what if I am? I can’t help it, Y/n.”

“Vinnie, I told you about the sex scene when my agent handed me the script. We literally ran through it together, both figuratively and literally. While I can see why you’d be uncomfortable, I don’t know why you’d be jealous.”

“Y/n, you were having sex with Tom Holland!”

“It was acting!”

“Might as well have been the real thing!”

You groaned, slapping your hands against your thigh. “Just answer my question, Vinnie. Why are you jealous?”

“You know, I tried to tell myself that you were just acting and that this is apart of your job. But…my mind was convincing me otherwise. The way you and him were going at it…I just felt bleh. And, then seeing him smile as it was happening, I-“

“Vinnie.” You cut him off, planting both of your hands on his shoulder. “Why would I go after someone else when I have all I need right here? You’re the one I say ‘I love you’ to everyday. You’re the one I cuddle up to at night. You’re the one I look forward to seeing when I wake up. You’re the one, Vinnie. And while I know my job can be…quite special at times, that’s all it is…a job.”

You giggled, “And, Tom wasn’t smiling because he was into it. He was smiling because I cracked a joke.”

“So, you’d never leave me?”

“Wouldn’t dream of it.” With a smile, you pulled Vinnie into your warm embrace. “Plus, I’m not trying to make an enemy of Zendaya. Bad for business.”

“Understandable.”

[gra-sonas]

The next episode of Roswell, New Mexico finds Liz trapped inside a mindscape — and this one has a theme: It's the Wild West! And if that's not crazy enough for you, there's more than one Liz! Behind the camera, star Michael Trevino (who plays Kyle) is bringing it all to life with his directorial debut.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: I know you've directed a short, but how long has directing been something you wanted to do? I remember you talking about shadowing directors on The Vampire Diaries.

MICHAEL TREVINO: I'm really happy you say that because yes, that is part of my journey here. Ever since Vampire Diaries, I've been shadowing and paying attention and had interest. But I made it more of a point since the pilot of Roswell, that if the show went for a few seasons, I was going to ask if I can get a shot at directing. Since the pilot, I've been shadowing Julie Plec and then all the guest directors. And luckily, I shot a short film after season 3 and proved that I was not going anywhere and that I was still just as serious. [Laughs] And finally, I think they're like, "All right, we'll give them one." And they gave me a shot here in season 4.

I mean, it was episode 409. But as far as the story line, when they're breaking story and what episode's going to be about what, no. I had no idea this was going to be what my episode was about. And I think when we got closer to the date, I was getting nudged by the writers and by Chris Hollier, our showrunner, saying, "This one's a big episode." I was like, "Are you sure you want to do that?" [Laughs] I guess they trusted me. But I'm so grateful that the writers gave me so much in this episode.

So many Roswell episodes look similar. What was your reaction to getting to do something so different?

What a gift — and also what a challenge. And so, like you do starting off, you ask for help. I leaned on my department heads and the first AD and our director of photography. But luckily, this isn't me stepping onto a set of a new show and not knowing anybody. It's a family and everybody's so supportive and has your back and wants to be there for you. And I couldn't be happier.

Did you go into this episode with a list of classic Western shots you wanted to incorporate? Where'd you look for inspiration?

I will say that my grandfather was huge into Westerns, and one of his favorite movies is The Searchers. And so I can remember months leading up to this, watching that film, because it was my grandfather's favorite movie. And just getting in that genre, just watching those movies and seeing how that feels and what that's about. I just tried to find something that was interesting. I feel like the episode plays a little playful. Because it is a mindscape, it is kind of a make-believe circumstance. And so I think we thread the line there of, okay, it is serious, but at the same time, this is kind of fun and wacky.

You also had a massive task of having your main actor play multiple characters. What was it like working with Jeanine?

Well, Jeanine is such a talented actress. She obviously has Liz down, and it was just about playing Liz in this world where now she's in a mindscape and these are all the people in her life, but they're kind of different. But I know it was very fun for her to play the outlaw Liz because it's such a departure. It's good versus evil here. And so it's the complete opposite direction of the character she usually plays. But I have to say, those were difficult days because the scenes are so heated and it's her acting opposite herself. She had a friend flying in from New York to play outlaw Liz to read lines against her because we needed to have somebody who can keep up with her and really deliver these scenes with her. She's the real MVP of the episode because to play two characters.... I mean, to be the lead of the show, working every day and you ask that person to play two characters in one episode is a huge ask. And she came through for me so prepared, so ready to go. She's just such a pro.

You also get to direct Jeanine and Shiri Appleby together. What was that like for you?

Yes. Shiri is part of the family already. She's directed two episodes for us, so we're all familiar with each other. But yeah, it was a full circle moment because I was shadowing Shiri when she did her episodes. And then her coming back now and me directing her, it's a great feeling. And I'm just so happy that she was able to make her debut in my episode. And yes, we have the two Liz's together. We have the OG Roswell veteran and we have Jeanine Mason here holding it down for us now. There are very special scenes between them and I hope that fans get a kick out of that.

The last thing I will ask you — because I have to — is what can you tell me about what's coming up with Kyle and Isobel [Lily Cowles]?

I've been waiting many, many seasons for them to finally come together and be a couple. But then to get great television, we've got to bring people together just to tear them apart. And so we're going to have a bit of that. There's going to be a lot of outside circumstances that bring these two together, as much as they pull them apart. But because this is our final season, I think we have a nice ending to both of these characters. We're not done yet. We're going to revisit this in a big way and it'll be nice. Put a nice little bow on it.

[alldayangst]

lovebug (Tom Holland)

GIF is from gaybuckybarnes here on Tumblr. You can access my masterlist here. This was written for @worldoftom’s lolbrosgetsicktoochallenge. The prompt I had was: ‘Tom self diagnoses himself as sick. He’s got all the symptoms. He’s speechless, over the edge and just breathless. He never thought he’d get hit by the ‘love-bug’ again’. Inspired by the song Lovebug by Jonas Brothers!

A/N: Y/N is an assistant director on Cherry in this fic. This has a lot of Cherry (the movie) references but most are explained if you haven’t seen the film. Such as, it was filmed in Cleveland and Morocco, directed by Joe and Anthony Russo. Some scenes in this fic borrow from the movie & I’ve linked clips from the film if you’d like to listen/watch along. WC: 4K.

“Yeah, Mum, I’ve just got like the sorest throat at the moment.” Nikki’s picture cuts in and out on a scrambled screen on the South side of London, her husband’s hand periodically reaching out for her, rubbing her shoulder, then leaving the frame almost as quickly as it came in. Even through the low quality, the pixels dashing about his screen, Tom can make out his mother’s brows knitting together and can’t remove the feeling of utter guilt when he sees her grow redder and redder out of anger, concern and confusion for her son. “But I’ve got Harry here with me.” Harry waves from behind his brother, his trusty mug swapped for a Phoenix Coffee Cup in his spare hand, just to get a taste of the States.

Tom reckons that's why he’s sick. He barely drinks coffee on the other side of the pond, and would bet good money that an at home PG Tips would beat America’s swankiest coffee joint any day. But now, he’s betrayed his usual routine and his body’s all out of whack and his throat is hoarse, he’s breathless even at times.

Harry shoots his mum a half smile to comfort her, but he doesn’t know what it's like to be a mother, and his and Tom’s mouth both form an ‘O’ when Nikki begins to type so hard her screen jolts and Tom swears she’s put a dent in it. “You know what? I’m going to give them a piece of my mind, Tom! They’re overworking you!” Nikki looks intensely to find her baby boy in drug-addled eyes and his jungle of curls on his newly shaven head. She guesses it becomes easier when Tom pushes his face halfway into the screen and pleads like the child he’ll always be to her, “Please, please Mum! I can’t have any days off. Under any circumstances, I need to finish this film!”

Tom turns to his younger brother for help. “Tell her, Harry!”

And as little brothers do best, Harry spills the beans as soon as Tom’s phone is in clutch. “Tom’s fallen in love with the first A.D., Y/N.”

Nikki immediately loses her frown, knowing how love can knock Tom off his feet and blow all the wind out of him. Tom’s father, Dom, re-enters the frame to match Nikki’s grin. He never misses an opportunity to tease. “Oo, caught a case of the love bug, have you?”

Harry has to whip the phone around to dodge Tom’s protesting arms reaching for it again. “Don’t listen to Harry. I’m not in love. I just like Y/N.”

“A lot.” Harry mutters. Tom’s family doesn’t budge any further, knowing how bad Tom was hurt after his last relationship. They weren't sure when the love bug would come back to bite him again. So after they all shared a knowing look, Harry handed Tom his phone back. “I’ll keep you updated. Bye, Mum.”

It all started five weeks ago. Tom, at 24, was beginning to feel like love was trudging up a high hill he couldn’t come down from, where every beat of heart was feeling like an ache on an open wound.  Tom had yet to meet a lover to prove distance makes the heart grow fonder, finding himself in six month long entanglements and illusions of love before things inevitably went sour.

He’d say, perhaps, you were the closest thing to the real deal. The problem was, he didn’t know if you liked him back.

“When life was beginning, I saw -”

“When life was-”

“When life was be-fuck!”

“When life was beginning, I saw you.”

Tom could make a picture book out of the day he first met you. He remembers how your hair looked that day, the speckles of genuinity in your eyes, how your ear-to-ear smile seemed to be a mirror because every time he saw you from then on, he brandished the same beam. He recalls how his eyes went low as he dropped his script to his lap and stared at your lips, so soft and kissable, as you repeated his words back to him: “When life was beginning, I saw you.” Then you chuckled softly as Tom waited patiently for his head and his heart to return to him.

“I’m sorry. I’m dyslexic. I have a bit of trouble reading.”

“It’s cool, I'm the first A.D. That’s what I’m here for.”

You rubbed your hands on the back of your trousers, your mic jostling in your back pocket as you attempted to rid yourself of your nervous, sweaty palms.

“I’m Y/N.” You reached out for a shake only for Tom to cough loudly into his own hand. 

“Fuck! I’m so sorry! That wasn’t me trying to get out of your handshake. I- I-.” Tom looked at his hand for it had failed him for the first time in his life. His hand that had helped him up during handstands, being his crutch through cartwheels and backflips, but had decidedly run out of luck to be on the receiving end of Tom’s monstrous cough impending a handshake with someone his eyes just couldn’t look away from.

You laugh again. Your laugh sounds like melody, Tom muses. Awestruck, he wishes he could play it again, repeat it like a radio hit and never wash himself of the feeling he got when he heard your laugh for the first time.

“It’s all good. I’ll see you around.” You disappear from his trailer, likely on a venture to your own, when Joe and Anthony block his view of you walking away.

Anthony and Joe take on the ghost of you in Tom’s room, “Tom! The man, the myth and the legend!” Joe comes behind him to rub his newly hairless head. “We’re so glad you agreed to do this movie!” 

“Bummed that you’re not coming to the Browns game tonight, though.” Anthony remarks, throwing a football at Joe who sets it in his lap.

“Harry and I, we’re British, mate. We play football with our feet.”

Joe doesn’t know it then, but his next words are the beginning of the end for Tom. He rubs on his football and looks Tom in his eye when he poses, “It’s a shame ‘cause the whole crew’s going. First day of filming celebrations.”

“The whole crew?”

Anthony mumbles an ‘mhm’ as he picks up a framed photo of Tom and RDJ sitting pretty on Tom’s dresser, posing like father and son.

Tom’s usually self assured when he’s on set, but he’s hesitant to say this next improvised line. His voice trails off as he speaks. “Including Y/N?”

“Y/N?” Joe queries, with a smile that’s half scary and half comforting, and the butterflies in Tom’s stomach are begging him not to fuck this up and suddenly every second a word is not spoken feels like hours have passed and he might have ruined things before they’ve even started, gosh he just met you and-

Tom tries to play it cool. “I don’t- they’re cool.” Tom coughs again. “I mean, I don’t really know them but Y/N seems cool I guess.”

Anthony and Joe smile at each other, scrambling to exit. “Whole crew’s going, baby!” Joe beams.

“Please don’t tell Y/N I asked!” Tom shouts before they’re out of earshot.

“Yeah, yeah. Anthony, go long!”

A few hours later, Tom was sitting next to an unamused Harry, you on his left, foam fingers pointing every which way. 

“Are you a big football fan?” Tom asked, imposter syndrome creeping up on him. He had the best seats in the house, but knew not a thing about this sport he’d come down to watch. Meanwhile, crew and crowd alike sat themselves around you guys, cheering leaving throats raw for days to come and a tussle for a foam finger between Joe and Anthony leading to hundreds of sugary popcorn shells scattered on the stadium floor.

“I mean, I wouldn’t ever turn down the option to look at Odell Beckham Jr. Are you?” you replied.

Tom looked over to his brother who sat with his chin in his hand, lips pulled into a thin straight line as his rusty curls were blown about from the wind of brown and orange flags flown from fans behind him. “We could learn to love it.” Tom flashed you a toothy grin, unsure of where to guide the conversation next. He knew for sure that he wanted to keep talking to you, but his ego began putting up a fight, eager to show himself off if you’d have him in any way. Tom sighed. “Truth is, we have no fucking clue what’s going on.” Tom could hear the commentary about a player reaching the end zone, but they were all just words that went into one ear then came straight out of the other.

You giggled. “I have no idea either. We could make up our own rules if you want.”

Tom likes the way you think. He also likes the way you speak. He loves the way you laugh.

“You have a beautiful laugh.” 

You covered your mouth. “Oh, fuck, I hate my laugh!”

“I’d make you laugh a thousand times if I could.”

You pointed to the jumbo screen as Mayfield made a touchdown, unable to stop laughing from sheer nerves as you felt Tom’s hot, burning haze on you. An advert for Cleveland’s Own Phoenix Coffee flashed on the screen as you spoke. “We’ll make our own rules. Every time we see the quarterback pick up the ball, we’ll cheer.”

By the end of the night, Tom is speechless, breathless and over the edge of his chair in faux excitement and anticipation of the quarterback receiving the ball once again. 

“Another coffee?” The service worker asked.

“Yes please!” You and Tom both say in unison, pumped as the quarterback began circling around to collect the ball in open arms.

The footage of the game is cut abruptly as the camera points to a confused, solo Harry; Anthony and Joe are seen at the edge of the frame whispering suggestively and pointing towards Tom, the camera eventually capturing the superstar who looks back up at his own reflection. Poorly green screened hearts flood the screen and the camera pans to include you in the frame too. Tom looks on in horror when he realises what’s going on and how it could be too late, and turns to you.

“I promise I didn’t know this was going on. We don’t have to.” Tom panics. 

You hear him loud and clear, that you don’t have to, but your heart and eleven thousand people are telling you to kiss him otherwise. “Oh well. We should just do it.” you murmur, the bright pink ‘KISSCAM’ logo flashing in and out.

It doesn’t take more than a moment for the gap between you and Tom to close, for your face to get lost behind his, his lips pressing against yours, eyes closed, trusting each other to share your air. This was probably the first thing that night worth cheering for, howls and whistles erupting around you. 

Tom doesn’t understand American football, but he thinks that the best seats in the house could be anywhere next to you.

Harry’s on the phone to his twin brother, Sam, when you and the rest of the crew make it back to the hotel later on. “-Yeah, and Tom spent half the night with the first A.D. cheering and screaming at fuck all.”

The Cleveland Browns lost that night, but Tom remains none the wiser. He stood in the doorway as Harry continued to relay his day to Sam. “Oh, and Tom, Mum said to give her a call, eavesdropper.” He flicks Tom’s reddening nose before closing the door.

A week and a half later, Tom reckons that's why he’s sick. He never has the time anymore to attend ‘real’ football games back home, and he actually understands the game back in Britain. But now, he’s cheered at almost every given opportunity to impress you stupidly, and his chest and voice is suffering as a consequence.

You and Tom walked onto set with your pinkies intertwined, growing closer and closer by the minute, but Tom doesn’t miss how Ciara’s boyfriend visits set every day for her, doesn’t miss how they rub their nose together in this lovey-dovey affection he wishes he could bestow upon you.

The scene wasn’t working.

The crew was beginning to grow restless and Tom silently became more frustrated as the minutes went by and he was unable to get his lines right. He remembers how a week ago, it felt so easy. You were there to correct him when he stumbled upon his lines and you picked him up so effortlessly, a twinkling smile on your face. But then? Then you were different. Your eyes were scrunched up behind the lens of the camera and you were mumbling something to Anthony about how the sun was due to go down in Ohio soon so you needed to hurry along.

“Alright.” you announced. “Take five!”

And Tom was thankful, Ciara perched upon a swing for the scene they were filming, Tom dwindling the rope of the swing under his finger as her boyfriend approached her once again. “Hey dude, are you okay?”

Ciara looked at Tom with the same concern, hands finding home in her boyfriend’s nest of hair. “Yeah, Tom, are you okay?”

Tom coughed into his hand. “Yeah, guys, I’m good.”

“I think you’re coming down with a nasty cough.” Ciara muttered.

“Yeah. It’s you guys. You’re too cute. You make me sick.” Tom laughed humourlessly for a short while, wanting to be that adorable with someone, maybe not anyone, maybe just with you someday. Then Tom shook his head, a bitter feeling in his throat as he yawned. “It’s the Browns game. I was yelling and screaming every time a quarterback got the ball. Of course I’m a little unwell. I’ll be good as new in a few days though.”

Ciara already knew Tom wasn’t playing a man with the healthiest of habits, but she worried that Tom was getting this bad this early. “Maybe you should talk to the first A.D. about reducing shoot days from five to three?”

Tom didn’t like the prospect of seeing you less. “Yeah.” Harry had a clapperboard between his hands, leading Tom’s eyebrows to furrow as his brother yelled something about it being take 13. “Maybe.” 

Harry resumed to a new position in your chair, with you taking Harry’s place right across from Tom, a coffee waiting for him when the scene was over like Harry always did. Ciara’s boyfriend left the frame to watch supportively on the sidelines.

“Lights. Camera. Action!” Anthony called. “Time is money, you guys! Let’s try to get this one right this time.” 

They’d been over this already twelve times today.

“Hey, I’m really happy you’re here.”

Ciara read her line back. “Why’s that?” 

Tom could hear whispers of the crew, the sound guy glaring at them in case they were picked up in the scene, and he knew it had something to do with the fact that he couldn’t for some reason get the next line out all day. And that reason, unbeknownst to everyone, was because Tom couldn’t say something he didn’t mean - feeling like his heart was locked in a cage for which only you had the key. He looked past his co-star, Ciara, and up at you; feeling so close but you were far away, leaving him all day without anything to say. And overcoming his speechlessness and breathlessness, even in just that moment, he ran his hand over the rope to say, “Cause I like you. A lot.”

Ciara and the rest of the crew broke into a wide smile once Tom finally spoke his next line, but the only person Tom was focused on was you, who wasn’t smiling, but mouthing his words back to him.

Ciara breathed, “Shut up.”

And Tom’s sure to look you in the eye when he says, “I really do.”

When the filming for the day is said and done, Tom makes a beeline for you across the greenery. You hand over his coffee to him, “It’s a little cold now, but a warm hand is holding it.”

Tom quirks an eyebrow. “Are you inviting me to hold your hand?”

“Don’t push your luck.”

“You swapped jobs with Harry, I saw.”

“Yeah, well. It’s good he gets to grips with the job now. You know, in case anything changes.” You pulled your phone out of your pocket. “I should probably give you my number. In case anything changes.”

“Oh no, yeah. Your number is?”

“216-XXX-XXX. Speaking of changes, I heard you’re trying to get your days reduced.”

“You were eavesdropping?” Tom looks at your face that bears no trace of guilt. “You’re just like me!” He pulls you close.

“Tom, if what happened today is because you’re working too much, I’m happy to reduce your time.”

“Nah, nah.” Tom sniffles, rubbing his nose on a jacket probably worth more than your life. “I’m just a bit sick, s’all. I’ll be fine.”

Two weeks pass and Tom’s no better. With the Cleveland game nearly a month ago, Tom has nothing to blame and as first A.D., you’re obligated to reduce his hours. Tom’s on the phone with his mother when you approach his trailer. 

“Don’t listen to Harry. I’m not in love. I just like Y/N.”

“A lot. I’ll keep you updated. Bye, Mum.” 

You’re so quick to skip happily back to your trailer that you miss Harry calling out to his brother, he’s his protector now that his mother was countries apart. “Tom?” Harry starts.

Tom mumbles an ‘mhm’, hoping Harry would make it quick as he sees you FaceTiming him. If only his mother could see him like this. He’d get to call her tomorrow and tell her he’d called you for the first time yesterday, he could hardly wait to utter, 'I've finally found the missing part of me’. Harry sighs as the FaceTime ringing is relentless. Tom’s eyebrows threaten to meet in the middle of his face as he clutches onto his phone.

“Tom.” Harry begins. “Y/N is giving up assistant director.”

Tom’s really not sure where Harry gets the source of his information from, but he’s sure this isn’t true. He thinks you’d tell him before his brother if you were leaving the film behind, leaving him behind.

The film is due to move filming to Morocco soon, and Tom’s well aware that not all film crew joins them when production moves abroad, but to Tom, you’re an extension of this movie universe. And Tom refuses to leave the memories of you in this filming cycle. “How’d you know?”

“I’m taking over.” Tom’s screen lights up with the glow of your call, and as bright as it is, as bright as you are, as bright as your smile surely is on the other end of the phone call, Tom’s in his deepest darkest feelings wondering how he fooled himself into thinking romance could go right for him this time. 

He’s going to Morocco. You’re not. You’re funny, smart, promising, beautiful. You’ll find someone good for you, a better pair by the time he’s back.

“That doesn’t mean it won’t work out, man.” Tom sulks in his bed, the light from your constant calls bleeding through his bed sheets. “I just wanted to warn you.” Tom nods, screaming into his pillow. Harry decides that’s his cue to leave, a glimmer of light from outside seeping through the crack of the door as Harry escorts himself. Tom musters all his might and courage to reluctantly answer your phone, the ear-to-ear grin he knows so well greeting him once again.

Suddenly, he forgot how to speak. Hopeless, breathless, couldn’t you see that?

“Tom?” You call out his name a few times before cutting straight to the point. “Do you like me?”

Tom shifts slightly but not enough to show that he’s alarmed. “Huh? Yeah, I like you.”

He sits up, but doesn’t reciprocate the outrageous smile you wear like a heart on your sleeve. Tom’s eyes are sunken, dark circles forming under his eyes where he and his disturbed character become one. You suddenly remember why you shouldn’t have run away so fast, perhaps Tom was overworking himself. He continues, “But I’m an emotionally unavailable hopeless romantic. So I wouldn’t waste your time on me.”

Tom can’t help the hurt in his heart when he sees your smile drop so suddenly, knowing it was earnest. “Tom, what are you saying?”

“I’m saying, life is unfair. And I’m gonna quit while I’m ahead. We wouldn’t work out. And I like our friendship now. We should stay that way.”

You’re not convincing when you nod rapidly, not letting Tom see your face as you play with your fingers to avoid his gaze. “Yeah, I agree.” You’re much less convincing when the last frame Tom caught of you was a shot of tears dripping down your face, as three rings followed you. Tom’s screen went black in your absence, and Tom falls asleep with eyes even redder from crying, and he wonders when he’s gonna shake this sickness.

It’d been a few days since Tom had got his shots to allow him to go to Morocco. He sat opposite the doctor on set, a coffee cup placed on the desk between him.

Tom reckons that's why he’s sick. Shots always have their side effects, and he’d taken multiple shots in one day. And now, he specifically asked for you to hold his hand during the process, Harry branded in a glinting jaw-drop, only for you to leave directly after. 

“I’m speechless, constantly feeling over the edge, breathless.” Tom explains his symptoms to the doctor. “At first I thought it was because of that stupid football game, then all the coffee I’m drinking, now I don’t know if it’s the shots. I feel like shit, doc.”

“I know exactly what you’re dealing with.”

“What?”

“Lovebug.”

Tom stares at the doctor in utter bewilderment. “You figured that out based on my symptoms?”

“I figured that out based on the puppy dog eyes you gave for your first A.D. when they left without a word.” The doctor begins to laugh softly, but Tom is unamused. How is he supposed to shake this illness after completely ruining your relationship? How is he supposed to mend your bond after talking so recklessly, so emotionally? “Tom, I’m not here to be a fairy godmother, I’m being strictly medical. At a certain point, what you feel in your mind affects your body. So I prescribe that you talk to Y/N and say everything you need to say.”

And while that seemed easy enough, Tom’s ego was at work again, and Tom was feeling far too bruised and wounded to speak to you first. Surely if you cared enough, if you liked him back, if you were willing to be distanced, you would reach out first.

It seems Tom’s pride had forgotten that you already did.

“I heard that this is the exact shit that happened in Cleveland, and he couldn’t get the line out.” Tom hears the whisperings from behind the camera, the amount of familiar faces in the crew dwindling after the change in location. He doesn’t respond. He waits for someone to take five. And when no one throws him a bone, he asks Harry to.

“Alright, everyone take five.”

“Someone get this kid a fucking coffee, he’s always on edge.” Joe instructs.

“And you think giving a kid in twenties coffee is taking him off edge?” Anthony chuckles.

Tom doesn’t care whether or not he gets the coffee, rocking side to side. He’s got all the motion for this role, but he feels nothing. All he felt was for you.

“Here.” Harry sets a Moroccan mint tea down next to Tom, hoping it would calm him down. When Tom takes a few sips, the look in his eyes is less pleading, and everyone’s ready to rumble, this being the last scene of the day.

Harry feeds Tom the line. “Baby, are you seeing bad things?” Tom is seeing bad things. A life without love, a life without you. Unable to contain it all, Tom turns his frustration into laughter. “Why are you calling me baby for, man?” Tom has this ear-to-ear grin but even he feels it's not as innocent, as genuine as yours. He never knew a smile so wide could be so full of pain.

“I have an idea.” Harry saunters off to collect his phone. “Don’t stop rolling the cameras.”

When Harry comes back, there’s sounds of shifting erupting from his phone. “Hi, Tom.” 

Tom didn’t know it would be so bittersweet to hear your voice again. He wasn’t sure if he should put walls up again or if twice was the charm. Even if you worked out in the short term, whose to say Tom wouldn’t get hurt again? And Tom wouldn’t want to hurt you.

“Are they taking good care of you out there? I don’t think I took good care of you.” Tom doesn’t say anything on the other side of the line, so you continue. “I’m not a good A.D. if you’re always sick and tired, and I didn’t want to see you any less, which was selfish of me, so I didn’t change your schedule.” You sigh as you admit why you left. “When you asked, though, I swear I was gonna do it, but then I heard you liked me, and I got carried away. I had to remove myself from the situation to do what’s best for you. Do you understand me? I did it for you.”

“I, uh, I got a diagnosis.” Tom stumbles.

“Oh my gosh, are you seriously sick?”

“I’m speechless. Over the edge, breathless.” Tom laughed dryly, finally feeling like he can choose an ending.

“What did they say it was?”

“Lovebug.” Harry smiles softly at his brother.

Your laugh is like nectar entering Tom’s ear.

“I might just love you way too much, Y/N.”

“Are you sure you’re doin’ okay?” Tom tries his best not to sound dejected that you didn’t say it back, knowing he’s already felt the brunt of this heartache already.

“I just miss you, that’s all.”

“I miss you too. I love you.” Joe stops recording, and Harry lowly whispers ‘take.fucking.five.’ as he and the crew creep away from Tom’s new found love scene. 

“Anthony, can I borrow your phone?” Harry begins to type Nikki’s number as soon as Anthony gives over the phone. “Mum, Tom just told the first A.D. he’s in love with them so guess who’s out of a job?”

Tom knows why he’s sick. He used to feel like love was trudging up a high hill he couldn’t come down from, where every beat of heart was feeling like an ache on an open wound. Tom had yet to meet a lover to prove distance makes the heart grow fonder, finding himself in six month long entanglements and illusions of love before things inevitably went sour. But now, Tom has found you.

[adamwatchesmovies]

Night Swim (2024)

While I didn't enjoy this film, that doesn't mean you won't. No matter what I say, the people involved in this project did it: they actually made a movie. That's something to be applauded. With that established...

When I saw the trailer for Night Swim, all I could think was “This doesn’t look good” but I would’ve loved to have been proved wrong. For a while, Bryce McGuire's direction and some of the character moments made me think I'd misjudged it. Unfortunately, the longer it goes on, the more you realize this should’ve stayed a proof-of-concept short film or an installment in an anthology at best.

Ray and Eve Waller (Wyatt Russel and Kerry Condon), along with their children Izzy and Elliot (Amélie Hoeferle and Gavin Warren) move to a new home. As Ray spends more time in the pool in the backyard, the illness that caused him to retire from professional baseball seems to go into remission. The rest of the family, however, keep seeing and experiencing strange things in the water.   “Just stay out of the pool!”

I know that’s what you think when you hear the premise of a haunted swimming pool. Those were my exact thoughts too. Night Swim is based on McGuire and Rod Blackhurst’s short film, with both writing and McGuire serving as the film's director (his directorial debut). To their credit, they craft a scenario that makes you understand why the family doesn’t just pack their bags the second they see something spooky beneath the surface. That’s assuming it IS that easy to just move, of course. We’re not told exactly what happened to Ray, but he used to be a pro player. Now, he’s not. He has to walk around with a cane. When the pool starts working its magic on him and he’s suddenly hitting the ball like he used to - maybe even better - you can understand why he ignores the weird, unexplainable things his family has been experiencing. He hasn’t seen any of that stuff, after all, and none of them can concretely, 100% for sure confirm that there’s something bad in the pool. Helping the film is that with three other family members plus some guests who show up at a party, the pool only needs to establish itself as sinister once to each person for us to get the message. It’s not like people are constantly going in there despite bad experiences.

Beyond the character work used to keep the plot going, there are some clever scenes/images in the water. Putting a spooky twist on “Marco Polo” might be obvious but it's effective nonetheless. There’s one moment during the climax built around the idea that you experience a sort of “zero gravity” effect in the water that’s particularly good.

Eventually, we learn the backstory of the evil pool and it’s the horror equivalent of a lukewarm glass of water. Not original, not interesting. I’ll go even further and say it also doesn’t make much sense, almost as if the premise couldn’t sustain a full-length movie but we had to keep things moving so… what if the pool made you do THIS now? It leads to a conclusion that isn’t satisfying at all. It sinks all the solid character material we had previously. Then, there’s the fact that this movie repeatedly shows these awful-looking ghosts in the water. They’re not scary, even when the scene was previously effective.

I found some kind words to say about Night Swim because I don’t hate this movie. It works its premise better than expected, but that’s not enough to make it good and to most viewers, all of the positive things I scraped together won’t add up to much because the film is about a haunted pool and the end results are as scary as that sounds. I’m not saying the premise couldn’t work. The short this is based on shows it could. I’m saying it doesn’t work for a full-length movie. (June 29, 2024)

[michaeltrevinosource]

So what exactly does happen when Liz Ortecho (Jeanine Mason) is hit with a massive dose of a spray she created for aliens? Well, we're about to find out.

The next episode of Roswell, New Mexico finds Liz trapped inside a mindscape — and this one has a theme: It's the Wild West! And if that's not crazy enough for you, there's more than one Liz! Behind the camera, star Michael Trevino (who plays Kyle) is bringing it all to life with his directorial debut.

EW spoke with Trevino about crafting the hour (which you can watch an exclusive clip of above).

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: I know you've directed a short, but how long has directing been something you wanted to do? I remember you talking about shadowing directors on The Vampire Diaries.

MICHAEL TREVINO: I'm really happy you say that because yes, that is part of my journey here. Ever since Vampire Diaries, I've been shadowing and paying attention and had interest. But I made it more of a point since the pilot of Roswell, that if the show went for a few seasons, I was going to ask if I can get a shot at directing. Since the pilot, I've been shadowing Julie Plec and then all the guest directors. And luckily, I shot a short film after season 3 and proved that I was not going anywhere and that I was still just as serious. [Laughs] And finally, I think they're like, "All right, we'll give them one." And they gave me a shot here in season 4.

You have no control over what episode you get, right?

I mean, it was episode 409. But as far as the story line, when they're breaking story and what episode's going to be about what, no. I had no idea this was going to be what my episode was about. And I think when we got closer to the date, I was getting nudged by the writers and by Chris Hollier, our showrunner, saying, "This one's a big episode." I was like, "Are you sure you want to do that?" [Laughs] I guess they trusted me. But I'm so grateful that the writers gave me so much in this episode.

So many Roswell episodes look similar. What was your reaction to getting to do something so different?

What a gift — and also what a challenge. And so, like you do starting off, you ask for help. I leaned on my department heads and the first AD and our director of photography. But luckily, this isn't me stepping onto a set of a new show and not knowing anybody. It's a family and everybody's so supportive and has your back and wants to be there for you. And I couldn't be happier.

Did you go into this episode with a list of classic Western shots you wanted to incorporate? Where'd you look for inspiration?

I will say that my grandfather was huge into Westerns, and one of his favorite movies is The Searchers. And so I can remember months leading up to this, watching that film, because it was my grandfather's favorite movie. And just getting in that genre, just watching those movies and seeing how that feels and what that's about. I just tried to find something that was interesting. I feel like the episode plays a little playful. Because it is a mindscape, it is kind of a make-believe circumstance. And so I think we thread the line there of, okay, it is serious, but at the same time, this is kind of fun and wacky.

You also had a massive task of having your main actor play multiple characters. What was it like working with Jeanine?

Well, Jeanine is such a talented actress. She obviously has Liz down, and it was just about playing Liz in this world where now she's in a mindscape and these are all the people in her life, but they're kind of different. But I know it was very fun for her to play the outlaw Liz because it's such a departure. It's good versus evil here. And so it's the complete opposite direction of the character she usually plays. But I have to say, those were difficult days because the scenes are so heated and it's her acting opposite herself. She had a friend flying in from New York to play outlaw Liz to read lines against her because we needed to have somebody who can keep up with her and really deliver these scenes with her. She's the real MVP of the episode because to play two characters.... I mean, to be the lead of the show, working every day and you ask that person to play two characters in one episode is a huge ask. And she came through for me so prepared, so ready to go. She's just such a pro.

You also get to direct Jeanine and Shiri Appleby together. What was that like for you?

Yes. Shiri is part of the family already. She's directed two episodes for us, so we're all familiar with each other. But yeah, it was a full circle moment because I was shadowing Shiri when she did her episodes. And then her coming back now and me directing her, it's a great feeling. And I'm just so happy that she was able to make her debut in my episode. And yes, we have the two Liz's together. We have the OG Roswell veteran and we have Jeanine Mason here holding it down for us now. There are very special scenes between them and I hope that fans get a kick out of that.

The last thing I will ask you — because I have to — is what can you tell me about what's coming up with Kyle and Isobel [Lily Cowles]?

I've been waiting many, many seasons for them to finally come together and be a couple. But then to get great television, we've got to bring people together just to tear them apart. And so we're going to have a bit of that. There's going to be a lot of outside circumstances that bring these two together, as much as they pull them apart. But because this is our final season, I think we have a nice ending to both of these characters. We're not done yet. We're going to revisit this in a big way and it'll be nice. Put a nice little bow on it.

Roswell, New Mexico airs Mondays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on the CW.