#it’s literally Next Gen he watches ALL the Star Trek

[neverheroes]

[wesleycrushers]

Hey, I need the lore on the Wil Wheaton national TV fiasco. I'm intrigued.

I apologize for letting this sit in my inbox for a hot minute, being an adult with responsibilities and stuff is stupid 😒 (especially when you have an uncontrolled chronic illness on top of it, but anywho)

my time has finally come

okay I lied just a little because it wasn't technically Wil Wheaton that made fun of me, but you'll get what I mean in a moment

So about ten(ish) years ago, Wil had a short lived series on Syfy called the Wil Wheaton Project and for those unfamiliar, he would basically discuss the geek news of the week (like, I know Gotham was airing at the same time, so he would often talk about the latest episode) and there were sketches and guest stars and things of that nature.

But, let me give you some context on me ten years ago, so I can really paint the picture of how batshit this was for me. So, I would've been around 19, maybe 20, at that time, and I had just watched Next Gen for the first time and instantly fell in love (it was actually the first star trek series I had seen, and it's what got me into it). But, not only did I love the show and characters as a whole, I was OBSESSED with Wesley in particular (and Data, but that's not relevant to this story), and at that point in my life I was so much worse than I am now in the sense that, when I was fixated on a certain character, I was FIXATED. Which made me want to look up what Wil was doing in the present day. (it certainly didn't help that i developed a brief little crush on adult Wil). Like, I bought and read his book, I watched and rewatched every movie of his I could get my hands on (Toy Soldiers and Stand By Me in particular were practically playing on a loop), I would rewatch the Wesley episodes like. It was bad lol

So, when I found out he was going to have a new show on Syfy, ofc I was super thrilled and my ass was SEATED from day one when it first premiered. I would faithfully watch it every single week while live tweeting. But, obviously the only episode I ever missed live ended up being the one where I was mentioned lmao I can't remember exactly why I couldn't watch it right away, it's been ten years lol But, I think I was just out or something so I had my DVR set. Normally I would've just watched it the second I got home, but my Mom really enjoyed it as well so I promised I would save it until the next night so we could watch together. As soon as I said good night to her, I logged onto twitter and. all these random people were tweeting me and retweeting a couple of my tweets and I was like "????" I used twitter a lot back then, but I still like. my following was very modest, and I was only involved in one (1) fandom on there, so things like that did not happen to me. And what's worse, the first few people that tweeted at me didn't really explain why?

BUT THEN. I got to one that I still remember it to this day both because it's when I was sort of clued in to what had happened and also because the tweet itself was kinda funny to me. It said something like "just watched the wil wheaton project and immediately had to run to twitter to see if you're real, I'm so glad you are. Have a good evening!" and that's when the adrenaline kicked in. I saw a few more tweets mention the Wil Wheaton Project so at this point I'm literally shaking lmao and I ran into my Mom's room to show her and to freak out a little so she's like "alright, let's go watch it"

And we're watching it, and everything's normal, Wil's just talking about the nerdy stuff that happened that week and I'm just getting more confused as to what I had to do with this BUT THEN

(as a sidenote, they obviously showed my twitter username, but I'd rather not repeat it here because I started it when I was a very young teenager and I no longer have access to it and I'm sure there's stuff on there from past me that would get me doxxed and killed on the "we piss on the poor" no nuance website)

Anyway, he had this segment with Skeletor where Skeletor would read mean tweets, and since this was the season 1 finale (which, unfortunately, also turned out to be the series finale), Skeletor was reading tweets disparaging the Wil Wheaton Project. AND THEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN, MY TWEET POPS UP ON THE SCREEN BEHIND WIL AS HE SAYS SOMETHING ALONG THE LINES OF, "I happen to know a lot of people like watching the show. For example, [REDACTED] said, 'My Tuesday isn't complete without a new episode of the #WilWProject :)'"

and that's about where I burst into (very excited!) tears lmao my mom had to lovingly shush me because she was trying to hear what was being said but I was too busy crying

So, then Skeletor made comment about how I must be a woman of sophistication before he pulled up another one of my tweets that read, "I love sitting on countertops and I don't know why" and then he said one or two more things making fun of me and my love of sitting on countertops and that was about it lol

But the thing is, those two tweets were not back to back. I was a young millennial on social media, I was posting every damn thought that popped into my head lmao and idk when they started planning out the next week's show and writing the jokes, but there's about a 50% chance that either Wil himself or someone on his team saw some of tweets where I talked about how adorable I thought Wesley was in his uniform 🤦🏻‍♀️ (I like to imagine my absolute nightmare scenario where Wil and maybe a few writers are all sitting around some table and my tweets are just projected onto a screen in the front of the room or something. I don't want to be corrected if that's not what happened, I'd rather just live with that image forever 😂)

Anyway, I can't remember exactly how long it was after that happened, but I believe it was at least a few days, Wil posted on his website that unfortunately, the show had been canceled. Except he titled that particular post with "if you like sitting on countertops..." which was so bittersweet for me. Like, I was obviously super bummed his show hadn't made it but it was so exciting that I wasn't just a blip on his radar, like I was still a part of the running gag! And, as I said, it's been a decade since this happened but I still think of it at least once a year on the anniversary, if not more often, because it was legit one of the top 5 moments of my life lol

I've always hoped that I would get to go to a convention or something and meet him so I could be like "I'm the countertop girl!" but sadly, especially with COVID, that hasn't happened yet. Perhaps someday :)

[aceofwhump]

Have you ever considered doing any Star Trek whump?

The Original Series actually has an episode that inspired the whump hurt/comfort trope (as so often happens) and it literally has everything.

Our main characters being brutally tortured? ✔️

Emotional whump as one character, immediately after being tortured, is forced to choose who gets tortured next (and this time it’s being tortured to death)? ✔️

Our main characters fighting with each other over why he should be chosen to suffer and not the others, because nobody wants anyone else to be hurt? ✔️

Taking care of a friend dying from said torture and coming to the realization that there’s nothing to be done? ✔️

Medically induced unconsciousness (both as post-torture care and for Other reasons)? ✔️

Internal injuries, weakness, coughing, telepathic comfort given to dying friend, cuts and bruises, losing consciousness? ✔️

A classic “if you don’t save my friend then just kill all of us” moment? ✔️

Character who can and does feel the agony everyone else is going through, and who even reflects those injuries on her own body? ✔️

It’s literally got everything. Please watch it because I Need your thoughts

I LOVE STAR TREK! And yes I have indeed considered making Star Trek whump gifs!! But there's so much to choose from that I always end up frozen with indecision and never make anything. Every single one of the series has fantastic whump. I want to make Tom Paris whump gifs cause he has some GREAT whump in Voyager. Next Gen is my favorite and has great stuff too. I want to start watching Strange New Worlds and I'm sure there's good whump in that. Star Trek is so good. And how can I not love the show that held so many fandom firsts! Omg what episode is that?! That's so many amazing tropes! In one episode!? SO GOOD!

[ramblings-of-a-mad-cat]

Mad cat do you like The Orville? I saw your post talking about Twice Upon a Lifetime. Gordon has my whole entire heart and I wish they could have just let him be, but they had to protect the timeline. Everything they did they did for the sake of their future.

I do! In a lot of ways, it was baby's first Star Trek, for me. I saw episodes of Next Gen here and there when I was a kid, but The Orville is what inspired me to watch Next Gen (and Discovery) in full. Even to this day, I consider The Orville to be "real" Star Trek. Not saying it's better than official content (though I certainly enjoy it) but I would argue that it's more than earned it's place as an addition to that fictional universe.

Regarding Twice In a Lifetime,

I know that was the point of view the episode wanted to establish for Ed and Kelly, and I'm not even sure if they wanted us to see Gordon as being in the right or wrong. I can only tell you that when I watched it, I was absolutely on his side and frankly, rooting for Ed and Kelly after that episode was...challenging.

They claim they want to protect the timeline, but they have an extremely narrow definition of what that means, regarding a subject that they freely admit to not fully understanding. The fact is, Gordon could be right. Maybe the timeline where he stays on Earth is the "right" one. The Orville crew don't know. They can't be sure, one way or the other, so what makes the version of time they're fighting for more real, more legitimate, more "safe?" Whether or not Gordon should have done what he did, it's happened now. Ed claims that it's still in flux "until we act." But that doesn't make any sense. Everything they do is "acting." How does the timeline know when they "mean" it?

Oh and, they go back in time to rescue Gordon from 2015, despite already interacting with Gordon in 2025, and obtaining the fuel they need to make that journey from 2025. Would that not create gigantic paradox? I guess it doesn't, but again, how the hell could the Orville crew be sure that it wouldn't before they make that jump? Can we also talk about how they mine a finite resource from the Earth's crust that hasn't even been discovered yet, like that won't affect the timeline more than Gordon having kids.

There is no way to not leave a footprint when you're in the past. It is not possible. On paper, hiding out in the woods seems like it would change less, but it really doesn't. Every one of the animals Gordon killed for food might have played some role or been part of a domino effect that changed the future somehow. It's called The Butterfly Effect for a reason. Living a quiet, mundane life, to me, is just as acceptable and probably smarter than staying in the wilderness. Oh yeah, and when they find Gordon's bio, Kelly asks "Why is there a record of him at all?" My sister in Christ, why were you looking him up in the first place if you didn't expect to find something?

Ed and Kelly keep bringing up Union law to Gordon, even though the Union literally doesn't exist in the 21st century. How is he supposed to break laws that don't exist? The Union can try to legislate the past all it wants, but in actual practice it should have no right or jurisdiction. By The Union's it's own reasoning, the past is apparently written in stone. Ed and Kelly also mention how Gordon "took an oath" as if he hasn't made it very clear that he's resigning his post as a Union officer. And so long as we're talking about the law, would it not be a crime to erase Edward and his unborn sibling? Like, Gordon raises that point and Ed/Kelly don't acknowledge it.

Man, I could go on. I could talk about the hypocrisy of The Orville crew considering history says they're all supposed to be dead after the dark matter storm in Season 1. How they were far more open minded with Past Kelly in Season 2, agreeing to let her stay and not forcing a memory wipe on her when she was going home. Not to mention they were willing change history in The Road Not Taken. I could talk about how, in just the previous episode, they were willing to risk losing their greatest ally against the Kaylon just so Topa could transition. I'm not saying any of these decisions were wrong, but if that's the attitude we've been going with so far, how do Ed and Kelly justify such a sharp turn?

In general, I have a lot of issues with the laws of The Union/Federation. I also think The Prime Directive is a circular argument that basically humble-brags about it's own lack of empathy, but that's a debate for another time.

[bearsinpotatosacks]

In Every Universe - a Fanback Fic

Fanboy's got some questions, Payback may have answers.

~~~

For a prompt list, this was "I hope I find you in every life"

Words: 685

“Okay, so if you were in Star Trek, one, what era would you be in, and two, what department?” Fanboy asked.

Payback slouched further down the chair, they were in the middle of a movie marathon to celebrate surviving the mission. Last time he got to pick, they’d spent an entire day, closer to two really, watching all the films. They’d even included Deadpool, much to Mickey’s dismay, Reuben counted it, the X-Men Academy was literally featured so was technically an X-Men film in his book.

“Era?”

“Yeah, the 60s original tv show, the films, the Next Generation, Voyager, Deep Space Nine, Enterprise, the New Films, Disco-”

Reuben held his hands up and laughed, “Okay, okay I get it,” he then pondered for a second. “I’d say Next Gen, I didn’t watch the original show until I met you but I watched that, so nostalgia points, but also all the rest seem too stressful.”

Mickey was almost taken aback by the look on his face but it soon settled out. His familiar grin came back, eyes crinkling on the sides as the apples of his cheeks flushed darker. Somehow he always managed to look happy or impressed.

“What about you?”

“The original show, specifically the second series, or maybe whenever the animated show happens, which is at the end of the mission, and I’d probably be either a weapons officer in the Engineering Division or a Navigator on the bridge.” He took a breath, then turned to him. “What about you?”

His answer wasn’t that complicated, but then again, he wasn’t autistic with a special interest in Star Trek, “Well, I’m a pilot right, so what’s the closest equivalent to that?”

“You said the Next Gen, right?” Reuben nodded at him. “So you’d be a flight officer.”

He tried to go back to the television but Mickey pulled on his arm again. Deciding to pause it, he fully turned to him.

"Lord of the Rings, what would you be?"

"Hobbits eat all day and don't face danger," he nodded smugly to himself. "That would be the life for me."

"You've got the feet to match," Fanboy mumbled.

"What was that?"

Mickey smiled, "Nothing," he paused, then added. "I think I'd be an elf, you know, tall, elegant, knowledgeable-"

"-none of which you are-"

He elbowed him in the ribs. But Reuben recovered quicker than Mickey thought, so he lunged toward him, grabbing him feet first and tickling them.

"No stop!" 

He tried to shake him off, tried to kick him but Reuben had too much of a grip. Tickling was an unknown skill that he'd mastered. He knew every spot to get him to squirm, and did this whenever he couldn’t win a discussion. Like now.

After a moment, he stopped. Mickey lay there panting for a moment. The smile on his face flickered for some reason and slowly sunk as he got his breath back.

Reuben rolled over him and pinned his arms above his head. He kissed his left cheek, then his right, before settling on his nose.

"What's the matter?"

"It's silly,"

"Not if it's got you this sad," 

Mickey took a second, then told him, "It's just that we'd never see each other, in all those other universes, we'd be in different times or be different races and, I wouldn't want that, I love you,"

Reuben had to admit, that was a little silly, but if his Mickey got sad over it, then it wasn't silly at all. 

"We'd find a way back to each other somehow,"

"How, though?"

"Because I hope I find you in every life,"

For what was meant to be a serious moment, it was a bit disheartening to have him laugh in his face.

"That was so corny,"

Reuben laughed and kissed his temple, leading his way down to his lips by laying more on his jaw.

"Well, you know me, I'm as corny as a cob,"

Mickey wrestled his hands free and cupped his face. Their noses grazed each other’s as they almost kissed.

"Yeah, you so are," he said as their lips finally met.

These two cuties! Also putting my special interest in here too, Star trek. Thanks for reading!

[kangev]

Movie Review

"The human adventure is just beginning" Star Trek The Motion Picture 1979

So I felt like watching some old movies recently and got my hands on a collection of Star Trek movies from old to new. Today I set out to give them a shot and see how the old movies hold up and if I like the series. A bit of a backround info on my knowledge on Star Trek: I know next to nothing about the universe and have had little to no contact with any media prior. I first got to know the name of the series because my physics teacher talked about it a lot in class and modeled themed exams when I was in about 7th-8th grade I guess. I've always been a big Star Wars kid and am to this day very fond with nostalgia on the series, but Star Trek was before my time (I'm born in 2002). Recently a friend recommended me Next Generation and I'm getting into it a little recently aswell. A lot of stuff baffels me tho, I don't know jack about the characters, the alien races and relationships between them.

So now today I had quite the shite day and decided to treat myself to a nice old movie, picked the first in my collection and decided 'chronological it is, baby". This movie fucking slaps. Gotta say straight out the gate, I loved it, it looked awesome, I don't know how they did all this shit in '79 but it's sick. The camera drives through the cloud and around the planet thing are stunning, this tops some of the computer generated stuff of the last decade for me for sure. Visually: Gaming The characters are the only thing that didn't pick me up as much. As always when I watch something Star Trek, I feel like I'm missing some crucial information on who people are, why people react the way they do and shit. I liked the dynamic between the 4 dudes, the struggle who gets to command the ship felt a bit out of place for what I know Star Trek to be in Next Gen. Kirk in this one is a bit too indicisive of a captain in my opinion. He gets affected by his surroundings more, which, actually, now that I think about it, is a nice contrast to Picard, who is incredibly competent and doesn't show much of fear or indecisiveness. Something else that was interesting to see is the way diversity was (or wasn't) included. When the whole crew assembled at the start I could see native american representations in the crowd, but the way women were portrayed was lacking in comparison to Next Gen. The twist near the end of the movie literally made me gasp out loud. I was fucking SHOCKED what V'Ger was, FUCKING nuts. Also the theme of the movie was super cool. Seeing the search for meaning in a movie made like 50 years ago, an outspoken denial of materialism being capable of finding the meaning of life, whoa, that was nuts!

Great Movie, I'm rating it 11/13 for the 13 books that I'm currently (not) reading nor finishing anytime soon the way it's been going

Sending my blessings darlings

[gar-trek]

hi gar trek if you watched tng what did you think of barclay

I like Barclay

see every day i fight for my life in the trenches because the tumblrinas on here dont seem to share that opinion. but its kind of interesting because he seems to be a fan favorite in like every other space. I think its because on here we hate to see a problematic king winning. like okay i get it he was weird for recreating all his coworkers on the holodeck and wanting to have sex with troi so bad it made him look stupid. but he was never rewarded for that behavior and by the end of hollow pursuits he made the decision to change his ways. He said goodbye to his fantasy life and took that step into the real world even if it was hard. There are two things that I really like about him: some say hes kind of a mean spirited wink wink nudge nudge representation of a trekkie. im sure the writers were sick of star trek fans. im sure they received more unhinged letters and harassment then any other show runners at the time. There is something that happens when a show gets too popular and suddenly the creators find themselves in contact with the consumers. Who remembers sherlock S3E1 where they for no apparent reason wrote in a sherlock fanclub and made them all deranged obsessed people. Barclay is extremely socially awkward and spends all his free time creating fantasies about star trek charecters. jee does that sound like anyone you know? If Barclay is supposed to be this mean character of a star trek fan, well. I'm kind of obsessed with that right? like the writers really said "look at yourself your pathetic" and like not only were they spot on but like.... everyone really liked Barclay. Like the fan reception was great. I don't know there is just funny irony in that. okay SECOND did you know Genes whole idea for next gen is that there would never be any interpersonal conflicts between anyone because by that point humans would have evolved past that kinda of drama and everyone would be perfect and get along nicely? well like, obviously you cant have a tv show where everyone is perfect because that would be boring as shit, but that residual energy was still there. Right like the main cast, they go through shit on a daily basis, but they are all like, extremely good people. and then BAM Barclay enters the scene. and he's just this horrible pathetic loser and the way it contradicts everything else we've seen in the show is so amazing. like I don't know how relatable the cast of TNG is, maybe they are people we aspire to be and maybe we share attributes with them, but have you really ever met someone so smart and brave and heroic? but then there is Barclay. and he's literally just some guy. and not even a good one at that. its genius!!! pure genius

[sleepyowlwrites]

find the word tag CCXXXXIV

I had a sudden hankering to watch either a mission impossible movie or star trek next gen, but since there were two options, I watched neither. typical me. little snow hats from @drippingmoon and @akindofmagictoo

spine ( you, of bone, and I, of bitterness, 2020) [of course it had to be this.]

your spine links all your bones closer the more I strain them apart and there is not a one that could be separated except, perhaps, by the visceral decapitation of an inward part the sinew from the skeleton, the muscle from the mainframe your essence is elegant in its demise and I admit even in defeat you maintain your strength from older days

wink (summon story supplemental - moonink you like grimes right?)

Grimes still couldn’t portray emotion but she could color her words nicely. “You moth-headed moldwarp, what did I just say about power? Even though you might be able to design the array perfectly, a Shidha is more than capable of tricking you into letting it out of it. And I’m not stupid enough to get us both in trouble by trying it.” She shook her head again, the bones of her neck sliding back and forth. “You’ve got guts, I’ll give you that.”

Shae spat her annoyance onto the summoning array and it winked out of existence. “You don’t.”

“Ah, you got me, right down to my bones,” Grimes howled before leaping back up to the roof. “Be careful, or that’s all you’ll have, too.”

growl (summon story d0 - I know the grammar of the first sentence doesn't seem to make sense, but it does in the story)

Wryn showed up looking far too pleased with themselves for somebody who were drenched in ibsin blood.

Zan dropped the log he’d just placed against his arm, not because he was afraid but just out distraction. He took in the entire sight of Wryn, their dark shirt dripping with a purple substance. Literally, it was dripping, and the drops made the dead grass beside Wryn’s feet sizzle a little when they fell. “How does your passenger not have a problem with this?”

Wryn grinned even wider, their skin purpling with the effort and distorting out of shape on their hands. “We have no loyalties,” they said in a coarse growl, the “s” elongating into an unnatural hiss. “We not not seek to kill, but we do not mind it. Even each other.”

torch (the sleepy stash)

You saw my mangled edges and caressed my deep wounds You saw the outlines in shadow and drew me a halo You held me up against the sky like a torch in the night and I was quiet

active (beating hearts, 2021)

“He’s still able to shiver, that’s good.” Wu Xie pulls out heat packs and strips the plastic off of them. Liu Sang holds onto them while remembering and forgetting and remembering to shake them active. “Will you hold onto this tight while Xiaoge carries you?”

Liu Sang is not a child. He can follow instructions. “Yes,” he says, before his brain takes its time figuring out the other implications of that question. He’s being pulled onto Zhang Qiling’s back by the time he catches up with it. “No, I can walk!”

He means to say it loudly, in protest, but his voice is all hoarse and his teeth are chattering again, so it sounds more like a quiet, “No, I- c’n walk…”

“Of course you can,” Pangzi says, rather placating. “But this will be faster.”

“I don’ like it,” Liu Sang tries to explain, very unhappy about the tightness at the base of his throat. He can’t quite swallow it away, so he has to just let the tears creep up the inside of his mouth. “Feels bad.”

“You’re safe,” his ouxiang says, the first time he’s spoken since they reunited and it shuts Liu Sang up in a good way.

break (the sleepy stash)

Look inside again, look deeper still Where flowers bloom on staircase rails Where curtains draw at break of dawn Where hands are fixed and faces drawn My house was burning But my home stands strong

chain link (space dust, 2021)

link our limbs to the creatures of the outside the monsters who share our fate and tremble in the starlight if we swallow our fear we can find our path through the galaxies and further still inside the overpass

keep you, keep you, keep you in my pocket, keep you by my side hold you, hold you, hold you close to my heart, always in my mind take it, take it, take it all the way back to our first night breathe in, breathe in, breathe in all the oxygen so we won't survive

we'll turn to space dust and float around together we'll mean nothing as we study the great black void we can shine, we can go up in flames, we'll shatter we are stars, we are a supernova, we are the silent noise

daylight (summon story d0)

The jolt he felt yanking him back to reality came suddenly with a frenzied energy that reformed him. He became a self, he regained his body just in time for something to split his being in half, then casually sew it back together with no anesthetic. Zan had felt less pain when Wryn had slit his throat. The world of fog and blood and emptiness drained away like darkness before daylight and he could feel more than the pain. There were cold stones under his back, a clot of something disgusting lodged under his tongue. He could breathe- his heart beat, his ribs ached. Zan was alive.

He opened the eyes he once again possessed to find the people he was starting to think were not actually his friends looking down at him with not nearly the right amount of pity. Zan glared, the action pulling at his skin like a rope burn.

"The first time is the worst," Wryn said without a trace of an apology.

in the words of Erin, Shidha, Wryn. lonely, wrecked, monday, knives, easy. BONUS: smoke, mirror. @spacetimewraithwrites @selene-stories @uraniumwriting @mel-writes-with-her-dragons @diphthongsfordays @yejidoesthings OR ANYBODY or nobody

[twinkboimler]

data or geordi?

Data:

How I feel about this character: I love him! IDK how you could not love data!!

All the people I ship romantically with this character: geordi :3

My non-romantic OTP for this character: I've always loved the scenes of Troi and Data hanging out and having a conversation, they have a very sweet friendship

My unpopular opinion about this character: IDK if I have one... like. literally as much as this site hypes of data, it's all true. he's the perfect little guy. he lives up to the data love on this site.

One thing I wish would happen / had happened with this character in canon: gay. also I think he and riker should have formed a ska band

Geordi:

How I feel about this character: every time Geordi smiles or laughs... it just fills me with such joy and love... he is the most handsome dude, especially when he's got a bit of beard, and star trek next gen really nerfed him not letting him keep the beard for the series because it LOOKS GOOD. anyway I love him he's great he's perfect even when he's not etc etc etc.

All the people I ship romantically with this character: data :3

My non-romantic OTP for this character: I recently watched "The Next Phase" for the first time and the way Geordi and Ro have gay/lesbian solidarity vibes. I need to finish season 6 but man I just love that this show is just a cast of friends! STTNG by beloved.

My unpopular opinion about this character: IDK. He's underused as a character, maybe. But even that might be untrue, I should watch more next gen and get back to you on this

One thing I wish would happen / had happened with this character in canon: hmm because I'm not completely caught up IDK if I have an answer rn... let's see what I think after I finish next gen and the movies tho

[adultswim2021]

Space Ghost Coast to Coast #85: “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed” | December 7, 2003 - 11:30 PM | S08E04

Happy 20th anniversary, Adult Swim. And, boy, what a momentous episode of Ghost do we have here to celebrate. There are a number of episodes where the guest is an event unto itself and this is truly one of them. Frequent punchline William Shatner is an absolute cunt... and a proper legend. His cuntiness and legendary status are two things that seem to be at odds with one another, and the Space Ghost crew have managed to come up with an artfully idiosyncratic episode to match Shatner’s weird-guy-ness. It’s a classic for sure, and important. But (making a “smug dipshit” face) is it funny?

YES! It’s FUNNY! I will admit though, the first time I saw this episode I didn’t quite know what to make of it. This is partially because I’m very much a Star Trek agnostic. I’ve never been into Star Trek. In the last few years I’ve watched most of the pre-Next Gen motion pictures for inane list-making reasons, and I enjoyed them to varying degrees, but Star Trek is truly not for me. I’m more of a... well, I’m not a Star Wars guy either. What’s the other one? Uh... Spaceballs. That’s it. I’m more of a Spaceballs guy.

But I feel like I’ve absorbed a lot of Star Trek lore through cultural osmosis. I vaguely understand that William Shatner has had some deliberately-paced choreographed fight scene on those rocks from Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey. When I hear music similar to the the music that Jim Carrey hums in The Cable Guy, I’m pretty sure whatever it is I’m watching is doing a Star Trek thing. And yes, I’ve watched every single Red Letter Media “Mike and Rich talk about Star Trek for 4 hours” video. But even today, after having picked up more Star Trek knowledge on my journey to the grave, I still have this nagging feeling of “I only sort of get this”.

Still, this episode has a handful of screamingly funny lines, and the episode ends wonderfully, with Space Ghost in his death throes, suffering the ultimate indignity of dying in front of William Shatner. There’s also the part where Zorak asks why everyone in Star Trek is black, and a part where Moltar nervously reads from his fan fiction (from a book labeled TARD WARS, hahaha). Shatner, who has a reputation for being arrogant and difficult, is as good a sport as one could hope. The show makes good use of his hammier moments, and only shits on him slightly in the process. The most notable moment is when Shatner says to Zorak “didn't you and I fight to the death?” to which Zorak replies “That sounds pretty dumb, man”. I’ve actually quoted this line many times. It’s one of the best.

Also, for those of you who like to track these things: the show features callbacks to other episodes and shows; the handimen at Zorak’s apartment are clearly extras from Sealab 2020/2021, one of the Leprechauns from Aqua Teen Hunger Force shows up, and there’s a poignant callback to classic Space Ghost episode “Banjo”. 

The title motif of this season is naming the episodes after Allman Brothers songs, and I always wondered about this one. Maybe I’m reaching, and it’s probably too disrespectful to be true, but I always thought that it was somehow a veiled reference to Shatner’s wife, whom he supposedly killed or let die. It’s simply too dark to be true, but it’s the first thought that immediately jumped to my mind when I first heard the title of this episode. Am I stupid for thinking this? Am I stupid because it OBVIOUSLY is a reference to that?? I simply do not know. I would like to know.

MAIL BAG

The big anniversary is upon us. What are your 20 favorite things about adult swim for 20 years going. Don't sleep on this question!

I gotta do SOMETHING special, so I might as well do this. More thought could have gone into this, but I spent about an hour trying to come up with episodes or moments from 20 different shows and putting them in rough chronological order. I limited myself to one episode/scene/moment/joke/whatever per show so it’s not all Space Ghost jokes. So, here we go:

Sealab 2021: “I, Robot”. Adult Swim proved it could be brilliant right out of the gate with the stealth premiere of “I, Robot”, but for Sealab it’s all downhill from here. (2000)

Space Ghost Coast to Coast: Space Ghost stops in his tracks to reminisce about the time Bobcat Goldthwait said "crack a window". The entire episode “Kentucky Nightmare” is brilliant, but this moment in particular so uniquely captures my sense of humor that it’s inexplicable. The dumb look on Space Ghost’s face when he stops in his tracks. Goddamn. (2001)

Aqua Teen Hunger Force: “Mayhem of the Mooninites” I tried very hard to make this all be individual jokes or scenes or whatever, but this is another episode where the entire thing is just line after line and I can’t really pick. This, “I Robot”, and “Kentucky Nightmare” is like a perfect trio illustrating how good Adult Swim really was right out of the gate. (2001)

Home Movies: Jason casually reveals that his parents have no idea who Brendon and Melissa are and that he spends most of his free-time making movies with them. This is the episode “Storm Warning” which is overall one of the best episodes of Home Movies, but this scene is probably my favorite. Illustrates how simple and hilarious the comedy is on this show. (2002)

Tom Goes to the Mayor: the end scene in “Undercover”, where they’ve shoddily reversed Tom’s various unnecessary surgeries and called him “Taumpy Tears” to boot. Positively sublime. (2006)

Metalocalypse: Dr. Rockso’s music video. From the episode “Dethclown”. I was never in love with this show as much as the true fans were, but there were a handful of incredible episodes. This episode basically tells one joke over and over and it’s very funny. It really ends with a bang showcasing Dr. Rockso’s shitty music video that celebrates cocaine use. His singing voice is hilarious. (2006)

Assy McGee: I am the only person in the world that defends Assy McGee as being “actually pretty good” and it’s all entirely due to this one line: Assy McGee (a pair of naked buttocks with legs, whose ass functions as his head) is forced to attend a black tie event and is just milling around wearing nothing but a black bow tie. Through clenched anus he delivers the line “I can barely breathe in this penguin suit”. The whole show is worth it for that joke. I don’t even know what episode it is except that it’s from one of the first few. I might not even have the line exactly right. But, I remember laughing so hard. I may not have laughed at Assy McGee again. (2006)

Saul of the Mole Men: The opening theme song. And nothing else. (2007)

Tim & Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!: Jim and Derrick. I should pick something more user-friendly maybe, since this episode almost entirely relies on being familiar with Tim & Eric’s previous episodes. But goddamn, this episode is such a funny concept (which is basically Tim & Eric doing an alternate MTV-ified version of Awesome Show) (2008)

Moral Orel: “Numb”. When Moral Orel suddenly stopped being a quirky Adult Swim comedy and suddenly started doing episodes that resembled art films. This episode is a fucking masterpiece. I remember sobbing the first time I saw it. There are a few in season 3 that are like that, but this one is my favorite. (2008)

Check it Out! with Dr. Steve Brule: Terry Bruge-Hiplo reviews “Dumpster’s Children”. Another bit of comedy that I’d describe as ���inexplicable” and “sublime”, and it all hinges on an old man’s mouth. Holy fuck. I don’t think I’ve laughed harder than this at a TV show since. (2010)

Delocated: The ending of “Mole”, an extended Face/Off riff where Jon goes undercover as the scary mobster Sergei. In the final moments of the episode he marries a woman, fathers multiple children with her, and only then is pulled out of the mission. The episode is a tour-de-force of comic acting by Steve Cirbus, who is graciously allowed to shine for most of the episode. But man, that ending is fucking wonderful. (2010)

Venture Bros.: The ending of “Operation P.R.O.M.” a flurry of emotions hit me when “Like a Friend” by Pulp starts playing. The scene is so well done and weirdly touching. Brock realizes that deep down he gives a shit about the Venture family and is genuinely terrified something might happen to them. And then he gets to slaughter a bunch of Zorak monsters, which is also weirdly sweet. It’s even touching on a meta-level knowing that Jackson and Doc tried many times and failed to include licensed music in the show. I love Venture Bros, but I think we’d all be better off if this were the series finale. Sorry. I had to say it. (2010)

The Heart She Holler: The first scene with Patton being taught the way of the world posthumously by his father on a VHS tape. The first season of this show is amazing, but that scene, especially where Patton does a little Japanese bow and says “oh, hot dog!” is just hysterical. Literally every time a hot dog comes up in conversation my wife and I quote it. Please, do not scorn her, it’s not racist when SHE does it. (2011)

Eagleheart: The All That Jazz inspired finale. “Paradise Rising” is mostly a masterpiece, and how it ends is so fucking incredible. Easily the most under-rated show on Adult Swim and I’m not just saying that because... you know (mimes dick-sucking) (2014)

Rick and Morty: I watched the first two episodes of Rick and Morty, thought it was good, but for some reason didn’t become a devotee until my wife made me watch the Mr. Poopybutthole episode. It’s still my favorite episode, I think. (2015)

Brett Gelman’s Dinner in America: The “Dinner with” specials are all really good, but goddamn, this one hits. Should be shown in schools. I am going to go to every grade school in my county with an AR-15 (to get past the guards, of course) and I won’t leave until they call an assembly and they let me fumble around trying to find it on vimeo and play it for the students. (2016)

The Eric Andre Show: Eric interviews Steve Schirripa. The bit where he has an intern dip his balls in Steve’s spaghetti sauce is hilarious, naturally, but I’m here to showcase the running gag where every time Steve complains how hot the studio is, Eric just wordlessly hands him an ice cube until Steve explodes. It’s one of the most childishly hilarious things I’ve ever seen. It’s perfect. (2016)

Million Dollar Extreme Presents: World Peace: The Pick-Up artist sketch. I’m mostly unimpressed with MDE, and all but a few Sam Hyde bits leave me cold. But this sketch is a crowning achievement. I mean, I think these guys suck politically and are more mean than funny, but their sensibilities yielded one really incredible piece of comedy. Okay, I laughed at the blackface sketch too. There. You dragged it out of me. (2016) Joe Pera Talks With You: This show is beautiful and I love every episode. But the episode “Joe Pera Reads You The Church Announcements” Wherein Joe discovers a new-to-him song and can’t stop listening to it, is one of the most joyous episodes of television I’ve ever seen. A gateway episode. I tell everyone to please watch this one first. (2018)

[marveliciousfanace]

My Star Trek viewing experience has been just an increasingly wild ride of "we will make you care about this non-human character."

Because like, I started with tos and they said "have some humans, and also one (1) alien for flavor but he's pretty human just emotionally repressed." And I said sure, great, he's my son and I love him.

And then I watched Enterprise and they said "okay so humans, another Vulcan, and the sweetest, most upbeat cutie pie you could ever imagine from a polyamorous pufferfish race." And I said great! T'pol is my daughter and I will protect Phlox from literally everything. This is good.

And then Next Gen. And oof, Next Gen said, "you'll love our ensemble of a half-human empath, a Klingon separated from his people, and an android who wants to be a person." And I cried and said okay. Because I adore Deanna and I adore Worf and I WOULD FUCKING DIE FOR DATA and its gonna be perfect.

And then. Then DS9. Those fuckers said "have a race of pretty normal humanoids but also the cutest and smartest spotted trans alien ever, some sentient slime, the butt-headed assholes of the galaxy, and the gayest war criminal known to man." And at this point I'm just like fine! Give me all of them! I love ever single one and you can't stop me!

I'm three episodes into Voyager and I've adopted a half-Klingon I'd let break my nose, my latest Vulcan child who is 100% done, an adorable not-Vulcan maybe-empath with also pointy ears, the most earnest chia pet of an alien to ever make a cheerful nuisance of himself, and a goddam hologram. Fuck it. Sign me up. I'm in too deep and I'm never going back.

[storyweaverofgondor]

My Story Turnoffs

This is purely personal preferences.

This is purely in regards to published works like book, movies, TV show, or video games,etc. Fanfics and assorted fanworks tend to fall under their own unique set of preferences for me.

I’m writing this because i enjoy finding new stories to read or watch and asking for recommendations. Having a clear list like this might make things a little easier for everyone.

Nudity

I don’t care if the character is naked at some point or not but if the author decides to mention certain things or go into a lot of detail? and use this to have the character ogled by a bunch of people? not my thing. I’m also not to fond of it if it feels contrived, like the writers of a show did this just because they wanted to shove some naked people into things. I’m looking at you, Star Trek: Next Gen. Having the Betazoid weddings be in the nude and the two main characters of that race be women? The whole ferangi/females thing? It makes me uncomfortable tbh.

Sex

I’m ok with “Happened during the commercial break” scenario. Or like a certain level of . . . i guess the word is censorship? But like full on, plain as day sex scenes? No. Not my thing. It makes me severely uncomfortable.

Graphic Violence and Gore

I know what you’re thinking. “You call yourself the Queen of Whump??? What gives?” Well, let me explain. books, for one, are different. i can handle a little more there. With visual Media? I like Return of the King Level Violence. I dislike Games of Thrones Level Violence. What’s the difference? Well, that would be the details. Literally the details. Like say a character is stabbed. LOTR? They bleed. GoT? you could see organs and watch as the light fades from their eyes as they choke on blood. The killer might then do gross stuff to the body and i just XP. I don’t watch GOT and horror movies for the same reason. it’s just too much for me.

Embarrassment, Humiliation and awkwardness

This. This right here. This is the number one reason i’ll stop reading or watching things. I hate it. I can see the set up a mile away and i just start squirming and wanting to run away. I would rather have to watch two hours of the three previous things then endure one minute of this. It just feels too personal and like someone is driving a knife into me and makes me want to scream.

Unlikable Characters

If I’m reading or watching something and imagine going to the world and hitting every character with a big stick? Then it’s not for me. I want to root for the characters. I want to give a sh** about what happens to the main people and want them to succeed. I don’t enjoy stories where the main character is just unlikable. There was one story i read once where i disliked everyone. I like stories about people i can root for.

Preachy Plots

This one is . . . hard to explain. Here’s an example: Fern Gully and the movie Epic have very similar plots. But I like Epic and don’t particularly care for Fern Gully. Why? The preachiness. Fern Gully is very heavy handed in it’s message whereas Epic relies more on telling a story. I am very much a strong supporter of conservation and agree with the things Fern Gully conveys. But i just feel like I’m being smacked upside the head with a picket sign when i watch it.

Animal Deaths

You could have the most perfect story in the world but if the animals or pet dies? Not happening. Yes, in the Neverending Story the horse dies but he comes back! This is the reason i never finished watching Stranger Things. I enjoyed the 1st Season. But when i heard a cat gets eaten in the 2nd? Yeah. Not for me.

Grit and realism

I don’t mind characters getting dirty. but if the story is very cynical and ‘Gritty’ and ‘Realistic’ i don’t like it. I watch and read things to escape reality not experience more of it.

Racism and Bigotry

I only like things were the bullies, entitled, racists and bigots reserve glorious karma and lose in spectacular fashion while those they picked on and oppressed triumph over all. possibly to a catchy song like in Hairspray. if that doesn’t happen i want nothing to do with it. Abuse falls under the same umbrella for me. unless they get some form of karma i don’t usually enjoy reading or watching it.

Psychological or mental illness

Mental illness is something i deal with every day and i have never seen or read about a character with a diagnosed mental illness that i identified with. not a single one. in fact they make me feel like there’s something wrong with me. i have the same issues this character has but we have nothing in common? maybe I’m at fault? They just aren’t healthy for me. Psychological stories or thrillers are the same way. they mess with my mind and cause me a lot of issues.

Lots of Talking

I like for stuff to happen in the things i read or watch. If the story is mostly talking i start skimming trying to find the action parts, wishing i could go into the book and interrupt the characters to ask when their going to do something. Or beg them TO JUST DO SOMETHING. Just some sort of action.  Please?!

Book Burning

No. Just no. There is a book burning in one of the indiana jones movies and i do love those movies. but i have to tell myself every time that their science books (science can be rediscovered) and not fantasy stories otherwise I’d be inconsolable. even then it only gets a pass because it’s Indiana Jones. if there is a book burning in a story a won’t touch it with a ten foot pole.

[inceptionbigbang]

The complete list of fics available for the Inception Big Bang 2019 is here!

Works are numbered, without the authors names to preserve the mystery. Artists, when you're ready to make your decision send us an email or a tumblr message with your top 3 choices. Fics will be claimed depending on availability, on a first come first served basis. 

On this round we will only assign one artist per fic. Artists that wish to claim a second fic, or that wish to work on a fic that has already been claimed should check out the second round, on July 2nd. All fics will be open for all.

Without further delay, here they are:

1. Arthur and Eames meet as trust fund teens in a Manhattan private school. Eames is a new student who's just moved from overseas, and him and Arthur hit it off immediately. Friendship turns to a whirlwind summer romance, until Eames is forced to move back to London. They meet again many years later when Arthur has to kidnap Eames for a job.

Arthur/Eames

Teen and Up

No content warnings apply

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2. A songfic featuring Aubrey by Bread, studying Arthur and Eames and what their relationship might have been like before the Fischer job. The characters aren't going to resemble fanon (Arthur's closed-off persona and Eames's flirtiness). I'm going to try to expand more on what Nolan gave us during the movie (Arthur's straightforwardness and Eames's aloof/cold personality). Basically, Eames is distant and Arthur chases.

Arthur/Eames

Side: Dom/Mal

Teen and Up - Mature

Graphic Depictions of Violence*

* There might be a torture scene, but I'm still debating on whether or not I want that in the story.

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3. A fic about arthur and eames and their first meeting in the military to all their other meetings in the criminal underworld of dreamshare. not that long, i'm aiming for 2.5k or maybe 3k if i can. i wanted to focus on their totems and how eames could use forging as a totem (because if he can't forge then he must be awake, right?) but he has a totem just in case. and arthur has a totem (the die from the movie) that he uses a lot more except when he happens to be taken and tortured for some secret or another and the only thing that convinces his brain that he isn't dreaming is the way eames stands when arthur aims a gun at him? if that makes sense....

here's a little bit of what i have written so far:

he’s more surprised at the lack of surprise he feels when eames digs a poker chip out of his desk. its blood red with gold and white accents, worth five thousand dollars at the particular casino it came from, disregarding the fact that it was arthur’s shitty first and last attempt at a real world forge after he participated in a poker game eames held on base many years ago and realized half the chips in the set were fake, pocketing a one thousand dollar chip to use as a reference.

“our totems match,” eames murmurs, flipping the chip over his knuckles with a concentration a bit too intense for something he could do in his sleep (ha).

“match how?” he asks, sipping a glass of orange juice, freshly squeezed because eames wanted to use the electric juicer. he's tempted to pull out his die from his pocket and roll to see it land on five, even though he knows this isn’t a dream.

“i have something that you made, and you have something i made. also, there’s some significance with the number five.”

Arthur/Eames

Side: Dom/Mal

Mature

Graphic Depictions of Violence*

*I put the Graphic Depictions of Violence just to be safe but i think it's less than what's shown in the film? because it's supposed to be like an after-torture scene where arthur is like "ouch i'm super hurt and drugged and don't know if i'm dreaming" but again i don't think it's any more graphic than the film at least. might keep that tag just to be safe though idk

.

4. When dreamshare is first developed, no one has totems. They've always gone into dreams for short amounts of time and always with another person, so there's no chance of someone forgetting their reality. Mal's friend Pip has consistently been pushing the boundaries of dreaming, and one day she decides to go a later deeper without Mal. When Mal wakes up, she realizes that Pip is still asleep and she has to go down after her where she basically incepts Pip with the idea of totems.

Gen

General audiences

No content warnings apply

.

5. There was a small lake behind Arthur's house. The following night, he sat at its edge and stared at the moon's reflection in the water.

See something you like?

Arthur turned. A man was sitting next to him.

"Hello," Arthur said. "Thank you for helping me get home last night."

The moon smiled. "How did you know it was me?"

Arthur rolled his eyes. He picked up a pebble and tossed it into the water, watching the waves ripple the reflection. "How can you be here and there at the same time?"

The moon leaned back on his elbows and stared up at the sky. "Same way I can be in the lake and the sky at the same time."

Arthur frowned. "That's not the same thing. The lake's just reflecting the light from the moon. From you."

The moon turned to smile brightly at him. "Well aren't you a smart one, hm?" He leaned in and whispered, "I'm a reflection, too. We all are, at the end of the day."

Arthur thought about that. It didn't make sense, but that didn't mean it was wrong. He looked up at the moon in the sky, then at the moon sitting next to him.

"My name's Arthur," he offered. "What's your name?"

The moon looked at him strangely. "Eames. You can call me Eames."

"I'm going to be an astronaut, Eames," Arthur said. "Then I can come and visit you in the sky."

Eames smiled again. Arthur wouldn't have thought the moon liked to smile. "I would like that very much," Eames said. "Very much, indeed."

Arthur/Eames

General – Teen and Up

No content Warnings Apply

This fic is a canon AU and will ultimately include the events in Inception.

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6. Eames on vacation after inception and stumbling upon Arthur; floppy haired, tanned and just completely the opposite of how Eames has ever seen him before.

Hawaii looked good on him, no better than good...

Arthur/Eames

Teen and Up – Mature

No content warnings apply

.

7. It’s a follow up story to Cat Person.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/11040948

First story summary:

Arthur misses his cat and would very much like to get another. He gets Eames instead.

Arthur/Eames

Teen and Up

No content warnings apply

Set in the Star Trek Universe

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8. This is an academia AU! Arthur is a struggling young professor trying to find his niche, Eames is the mysterious colleague he keeps (inadvisedly!) hooking up with at conferences.

Arthur/Eames

Mature

No content warnings apply

.

9. When Eames first moved to America, he was at a loss for things to cook. He wasn’t used to the supermarkets and ingredients he needed were expensive. So he Googled food bloggers and found Arthur’s blog. The weekly updates keep Eames going in his boring office job. It takes him a few months before he gets the courage to comment but it’s all downhill from there. Eames is lost with Arthur’s sardonic commentary and when Arthur’s next recipe is one Eames requested, he knows he’s in bad.

Arthur/Eames

Teen and Up – Mature

No content warnings apply

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10. Arthur is a flight attendant. Eames is a passenger.

Arthur/Eames

Teen and Up – Mature

No content warnings apply

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11. Haunted House AU. Arthur’s working at a popular horror maze escape place to make some extra money over the summer. It’s far from his dream job—making minimum wage crouching behind dark trap doors and chasing random couples and tourists—but at least he gets to vent his frustrations about his coworkers (who are, frankly, driving him insane day by day) by literally screaming at customers. Then there’s Eames, who finds haunted houses boring, overrated, and not the least bit frightening, but is willing to humor a friend (Ariadne?) by accompanying her. But an encounter (and some painfully obvious flirting) with the cute guy under the ghoul mask is enough to make him want to come back again, and again, and again—

FEATURING:

- Cobb as the owner/boss and the only guy who actually takes his job seriously. He probably squints a lot because sunlight genuinely hurts his eyes lmao - Mal as his wife, who used to be an actress but left to start a business with Dom. Super sweet and kind of protective of their employees. Plays the main ghost. She’s terrifying. - Yusuf doing their costumes and makeup!!!!

- Arthur getting the job in the first place because his screams are so full of rage (let! him! rest!)

- Eames blowing all his cash on haunted house admission fees so he can flirt with Arthur (who plays different roles on different days, maybe? but Eames can always recognize him, even under the masks/makeup)

- he’s not trying to be creepy, he just wants to ask if he can see him outside of work/get his number—but something always goes wrong before he can

- Arthur being frustrated because Eames is a) distracting, and b) not easily scared, which doesn’t look good for his job. And it annoys him because he has a track record of being able to freak out anyone. He takes it upon himself to make him scream at least once (I haven’t decided how he does, but he does, eventually. Eames probably jokes about screaming with something other than fear, but i am too babey to write any sexytimes)

- maybe??? mild h/c?? Dumbass Drunk College Students coming in all wanting to prove to their friends that they're the Alpha Male, picking a fight and being super violent/rowdy/destructive, + arthur getting hurt/generally kind of shaken up; that’s the first night he lets eames really talk to him outside of the job, maybe even lets him take him home (i dont know if im including this scene for sure but..perhaps)

- Ariadne getting them banned from the haunted house after reflexively slapping Arthur in the face with a rubber snake (Cobb takes the ‘no touching the actors’ rule seriously—especially after what happened^). Eames thinks he’s lost his chance for good, but Arthur finds him outside and finally makes the first move :)

Arthur/Eames

General – Teen and Up

No content warnings apply

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12. Arthur is in love with Eames, and he's pretty sure Eames is at least interested in him back. Only problem? Arthur is ace, and not at all sure how Eames is going to react to that. But Arthur's going to talk to him about it, because the alternative is to lose even his friendship with the forger, and that's just not on.

Only the team is also determined to set the two of them up. Will that end up being a wrecking ball to Arthur's fragile attempts at making things work with Eames?

STORY OUTLINE:

Arthur is ace, and no one knows. When Eames invites Arthur to join him for Christmas, Arthur panics and says no - and spends the whole of Christmas regretting it. The team comes back from Christmas break, and everything is awkward. Arthur knows he has to say something or ruin his relationship with Eames forever, and he's going to do that at the New Year's party where Eames will hopefully be in a good enough

But unbeknownst to him, he's not the only one who's realized something needs to happen. Cobb, Ariadne and Yusuf agree that an intervention is in order. And when better to set their two friends up than at New Years? Get them kissing and surely the tension between them will resolve itself.

What could possibly go wrong?

At the New Year's party, Ariadne suggests playing a game of spin the bottle. Arthur is less than enthused, but Cobb and Yusuf both back up the idea. They play a few rounds before it lands on Eames, whom Ariadne dares to make out with Arthur.

There's an awkward beat before Eames moves to do it. Arthur reacts by freezing and shying away physically. Eames takes this a rejection and leaves the room. Arthur sits there, frozen, and then leaves too.

He goes to the bathroom and breaks down, blaming himself for being so stupid and backwards. Eames hears him, and comes in and comforts him. Once Eames realizes what the problem is - that Arthur is ace - he promises Arthur that it doesn't matter to him, he just wants to be close to him. Cue happy end credits.

Arthur/Eames

General

No content warnings apply

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13. Arthur learned a long time ago that he was special, and no else could see the strings.

Or, ‘everything is still the same, but Arthur can see Red Strings of Fate’ AU.

There are moments when Arthur thinks he needs to tell Eames about the strings. Owes him the truth, he thinks, Eames deserves to know. Other times – well.

Eames knows enough, and he has secrets of his own. Arthur is allowed this one.

Maybe someday it will come up on Sunday brunch, or something.

“Oh yeah, by the way, I can see red strings that I’m pretty sure are tied up to being literal soulmates and we have one. Get it? Tied up hehe. Anyway, no pressure or anything. Love the sex.”

Yeah, Arthur, that would go lovely.

Arthur/Eames

Teen and Up – Mature

No content warnings apply

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Ok folks, the next fics are or may eventually get explicit. Minors, we love you guys! Stay safe. Don’t claim them.

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14. Arthur has a goldfish which, long story short, he has convinced himself he only needs to keep alive to prove he is not a hot mess. Except now it’s not looking so good and has a weird sore on its side and he doesn’t know what to do but he can’t just let it DIE. So he takes it to the vet and is scoffed at and told it is a feeder goldfish, they cost less than a dollar, just get a new one.

Two vets later and he’s at the end of his rope when he meets Dr Eames, whose dog is introduced as his PA and goes on all his rounds with him. Dr Eames doesn’t even question it, just starts the exam and tells Arthur to pet the dog and start at the beginning while he works.

Arthur/Eames

Teen and Up – Mature - Explicit

No Content warnings apply*

* Discussions of parental death.

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15. Eames is working with Arthur the first time in a long while, only now it seems that he has a huge crush on Arthur. He doesn't know how else to get rid of the crush and he really can't concentrate on the job when he's thinking about Arthur all the time, so he asks Arthur to have sex with him, to get the crush out of his system. Arthur agrees surprisingly easily and sex is great, but afterwards Arthur doesn't seem happy and Eames' crush is worse than ever. The more Eames tries to get rid of his crush, the more it sticks, and the less Arthur is talking to him. After the job, Eames has some time to think and he realises that maybe neither of them really wanted for him to get over Arthur. He goes to see Arthur to talk to him about it, but they end up kissing and stuff as well.

Arthur/Eames

Mature – Explicit

No content warnings apply

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16. Summary: Eames hasn't seen Arthur in almost four years.

Pseudo- Winter Soldier AU.

--

There's no response from Arthur, no recognition in his eyes. No banter, no teasing – a coldness that would leave any lesser man with severe frostbite.

"... Arthur?" The words sound so raw, so gutted in Eames’ mouth. "Are you-" are you alive? Are you dead? Am I dreaming?

He reaches for his poker chip.

But before he can trace the ridges for the familiar grooves, a shot rings out loud like a crack of lightning.

And the last thing that Eames sees is Arthur and how he always remembers him: in his whip-black suit and a smoking gun in his hand.

Bang.

A single bullet tears through Eames' temples, and he is ripped open, pain lighting every nerve in his body like a pinball machine – and he prays to god that this is merely a dream so he can finally wake up.

Arthur/Eames

Mature – Explicit

No content warnings apply

.

17. “Taxiing an injured delivery boy around the neighbourhood to help him complete his remaining orders had not been a contender on Eames’ list of potential scenarios for the night. Instead of the morose teenager bleeding onto the synthetic leather of the passenger seat, and the short stack of pizza boxes sliding to and fro across the backseat, the Brit had rather imagined his rental car would serve far more nefarious purposes tonight." -- Essentially, Pizza Delivery Porn Guy Crack A/E AU. Aim: comedic tone with bowchikkawowow.

*Arthur isn't the teenager. He is a customer who ordered pizza.

Arthur/Eames

Mature – Explicit

No content warnings apply*

*There is mention of a traffic accident - no detail, but it might not be someone's cup of tea. Also, not yet at the sexual scene so don't know whether I'll stop at M or go to E.

.

18. In the court of the vampire supreme Saito, ambitious human noblemen Eames and Arthur battle for the coveted position of favorite bestower. Winner takes life everlasting.

Arthur/Saito

Side: Arthur/Eames

Arthur/Dom Cobb

Eames/Saito

Explicit

Graphic Depictions of Violence

Bloodplay, Extreme Sadomasochism. Possible Necrophilia

.

19. Arthur is an undercover narcotics officer posing as a high school senior. Eames is his teacher, who is taken with Arthur and who feels terrible for lusting after a student. Arthur takes down the bad guys, saves Eames' life, then they smash (after Eames finds out he's a fully grown adult person).

Arthur/Eames

Explicit

No content warnings apply*

*Eames is (shamefully) interested in Arthur, who he thinks is 18 and also his student.

.

20. Pre-movie: Dom and Mal are a dominant/dominant couple who want to find a sub they can play with together. Arthur is interested in trying to fill that role.

Arthur/Dom Cobb/Mal Cobb

Mature – Explicit

No content warnings apply*

*BDSM, bondage, dominance/submission, spanking/flogging, roleplay.

[coffeebooksorme]

AURORA RISING REVIEW

GOODREADS SYNOPSIS:  The year is 2380, and the graduating cadets of Aurora Academy are being assigned their first missions. Star pupil Tyler Jones is ready to recruit the squad of his dreams, but his own boneheaded heroism sees him stuck with the dregs nobody else in the Academy would touch… A cocky diplomat with a black belt in sarcasm A sociopath scientist with a fondness for shooting her bunkmates A smart-ass techwiz with the galaxy’s biggest chip on his shoulder An alien warrior with anger management issues A tomboy pilot who’s totally not into him, in case you were wondering And Ty’s squad isn’t even his biggest problem—that’d be Aurora Jie-Lin O’Malley, the girl he’s just rescued from interdimensional space. Trapped in cryo-sleep for two centuries, Auri is a girl out of time and out of her depth. But she could be the catalyst that starts a war millions of years in the making, and Tyler’s squad of losers, discipline-cases and misfits might just be the last hope for the entire galaxy. They're not the heroes we deserve. They're just the ones we could find. Nobody panic.

First off, a HUGE thank you to Random House for providing me a free eARC through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review!

Aurora Rising is one of my most anticipated releases of this year. Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff blew my mind with the Illuminae Files trilogy and I’m a HUGE fan of Jay Kristoff so it was only natural for me to be excited about their new foray together.

As you can see from the synopsis of this book it’s another sci-fi novel set in space with a huge cast of characters. It’s similar to the Illuminae Files but it’s different enough that fans of that series will walk in with some familiarity but walk out gobsmacked with what Jay & Amie have done with this new world (universe?). As always, the characters are fantastically written and instantly make you love them, the world building is gorgeous and makes you clamor for more, and the plot is wonderful!

However, I found a LOT of similarities between this and the movie Serenity, which is a continuation of the Firefly series. Rag tag team of outlaws? Check. Chick in cryo? Check. Super powered girl that the government is after? Check. Super secret world that no one knows about? Check. Add in a few more elements that are spoilers for the book and you’ve got yourself a literary version of Serenity. Am I complaining? Hell no! 

There’s a lot of nods to previous avenues of sci-fi. If you’re a fan or even a casual follower, you will notice nods to Starship Troopers, Star Trek: New Generation, and Red Dwarf. You will even notice little wink wink nudge nudge nods to The Princess Bride, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Aladdin. Not to mention the 80′s classic The Breakfast Club, which I think heavily influenced the character cast. These are the only nods that I caught, but knowing how much Jay & Amie like to toss them into their work, I can only imagine how many more there are that I didn’t catch. 

As always, Jay & Amie provided their own spin on it and really allowed the novel to soar on it’s own. What really stands out is the cast of characters. Tyler, the Alpha; Scarlett, the Face; Cat, the Ace; Finian, the Gearhead; Kal, the Tank; Zila, the Science; and finally, the namesake for the book, Aurora, our fish out of water. Each character gets their own POV (I KNOW, IT’S A LOT), though Zila only really shows up a small handful of times, and you will grow to love each and every one of them throughout this adventure. Characters are really the bread and butter for Jay & Amie’s novels, I think, because they write such good interactions, dialogue, and growth for their characters.

Personally, I loved Finian, Kal, and Magellan, a smart mouthed AI on a tablet who’s basically next gen Alexa, the most. Aurora, in my opinion, wasn’t really fleshed out as much as she could have been. To me, she seemed more like the typical YA trope of ‘super special YA heroine’ but I know that Jay & Amie have more in store for her so I’m reserving judgement for now. Zila, a black character who I think is on the Autism spectrum but wasn’t confirmed in story, didn’t really get a lot of her own POV in book, but I really did enjoy what we got from her. Magellan was fantastic and I really think it speaks volumes for Jay & Amie as authors that they can make you care so much for an AI character.

There was a hint of romance in this story but it was really a blip in the storyline. It kinda reminded me a little bit of the whole Twilight imprinting thing BUT NOT IN A BAD WAY, I PROMISE! The pairing shocked the heck out of me considering the most commonly used YA trope is that the first guy our heroine sees is usually her HEA. Not to mention, the two characters don’t even get together in this book. There’s literally no relationship execution in this book, but a promise of what could happen and I honestly really enjoyed that addition. 

The plot itself, as I said, wasn’t too original. It’s something we’ve seen before and flew so closely to Serenity that I wasn’t all that surprised with how things turned out. If you watch that movie and then read this book you’ll see a lot of comparisons between the two that will sorta kinda make you expect things to happen in the book and then not be surprised when they do happen. The pacing was really well done. There were enough lull moments that when the action hit I flew through it with a lot of anticipation and worry. The ending, as usual, ended with a loud bang and left me severely wanting more.

All in all, this book is a wonderful add on to the YA sci-fi genre and I am so glad I got to read it. I thoroughly enjoyed it and I’m definitely jonesing for some more from this squad!

[mattholicguilt]

Tell us more Star Trek x-men thoughts?

okay so i thought meggan might be a trekkie because she was practically raised by TV and what if she metamorphs into vulcan/klingon/bajoran for halloween or just because it’s fun. then i thought “what if meggan were friends with ANOTHER super sweet pointy-eared blonde lady” aka kes

dani moonstar and kira nerys would get along like a house on fire. throw ro laren in there, too. dani would punch gul dukat in the face. 

there’s a wonderful fic about scott using the danger room to recreate the kobayashi maru

obligatory dr. mccoy and dr. mccoy point

what if the starjammers showed up on deep space nine. they would just.... trash quark’s. hepzibah would probably hit on dax.

shard bishop is a hologram but she’s also sentient so like. what if a star trek au where shard’s memory is preserved on the holodeck but then holo!shard really takes on a life of her own? also also. i think lorna/shard would be a fun ship and i have this idea of like. lorna watching star trek (with pietro or jamie or someone) and they remark “i can’t believe geordi fell in love with a hologram! so ridiculous” meanwhile lorna is pining away for shard

not strictly x-men but. what if odo and the impossible man met. they have similar talents but VASTLY DIFFERENT personalities. 

doug ramsey figuring out ‘darmok and jalad at tanagra’

jamie braddock is one of the q. maybe proteus too? maybe all reality warpers. 

i said this on twitter already but sam has never missed an episode of star trek since next gen began airing. tng, ds9, voy, ent, dsc, he’s seen them all. even when he was literally in actual space.

scott has something in common with everyone on tng. he wears a visor, like geordi. he’s from alaska, like riker. he has a son, like dr. crusher. he has an outlandish and outgoing parent sexing through the galaxy, like deanna. 

the borg and the phalanx/technarch are very similar concepts which means either ‘au where they are one and the same’ or ‘sam guthrie makes warlock watch ‘I, Borg’ with him’

i’m NOT saying this just because they’re both redheads i swear but i think beverly and jean would get along really well. and i think bev would understand the phoenix really well. 

jake and nog befriend everett and angelo

ric and star love watching star trek together. ric just likes the adventurey aspect of the show and shatty LOVES WORF. tabby joins them occasionally because she thinks beverly crusher and janeway are hot. 

[bearsinpotatosacks]

So I'm doing what a lot of star trek blogs do and am going to watch all the series (TOS -> TAS -> TOS Films -> TNG -> DS9 -> VOY -> Enterprise -> AOS -> Discovery -> Picard -> Lower Decks). So far I've watched most of TOS, a few episodes of TAS and all the AOS films.

But I've been holding off from watching any other series for 3 reasons:

I'm worried I'll lose interest in TOS and AOS when I watch them. But, this doesn't make much sense because if I'm that worried I'll lose interest then I'm not going to, I'll keep interacting with TOS and AOS because I like it that much

The episodes are an hour long and my brain is actually afraid of getting bored while watching things. This doesn't help with the fact that I distract myself with my phone and i watch things on my phone, but Netflix does have a thing where you can watch and do stuff. Also I don't have to watch everything in one go. (Seriously my mind is a wonder sometimes)

There's so much to watch. But there's no deadline to everything, I'm literally going to watch 1 episode a day, then tng when I'm watching the films.

So, that's a look at the wondrous thing called my brain and sense of time. Here's my thoughts on the first episode of TOS I rewatched, the Man Trap

Jim gives Bones flowers, that's wheat Jim, not flowers

Bones is such a romantic I love it

Also love how the first episode (or the second if you include the pilot) is centred around him, he is my fave 😍

Sulu is great this episode, him and Janice Rand are plant buds and I love it

Also I love the little things they put in here that didn't stick, there's more close up, follow one character camera movements that you don't see too much later on and the little sayings are great too (e.g Janice Rand saying "Go chase an asteroid")

Also when Uhura speaks Swahili to the thing, it suggests the fact that, at least in TOS when they're on duty, there's a common Federation language spoken so everyone understands each other, because apparently there were no translators everywhere like there are in the next gen

This episode is just fun overall

And Deforest Kelley acts so well as himself but also not him because it's a fake version of him

Also any info on how Vulcan biology works is appreciated, I love the nifty gritty stuff (case and point my ideas of how farming, education and building works in the Star Trek universe which I'm planning to post one day)

I like how the ending shows that Bones hasn't immediately recovered from things, like other episodes do

I will have to remind myself that Chekov is in season 2 onwards because I got confused when I first watched TOS for the first time

That's all, I hope you enjoyed my thoughts and explanations of things!