#jack frost unites us all

[lunanofflibrary]

OMG tysm!!! you have no idea how big a compliment "looks like stained glass" is, let alone being told my lineworks good, especially coming from you thank you for looking, and im glad you like it!! i had alot of fun, i've been meaning to draw jack with long hair since you first started drawing that god!jack design that had it. something about pretty boys with the long white hair, man. artists dream. thank YOU GUYS for having work thats so inspiring in the first place! i plan on drawing more stuff in this style now that im more comfortable in it ^^ <3

OK SO. inspired by works from people like @alkalinefrog and @twiafom (amazing work guys, hope you don't mind the tag!) i've officially subscribed to long haired jack frost, more specifically long haired jack frost with a ponytail. certain parts of this design are very much hindering on my own au and all the nightlight shenanigans BUT for the most part this is actually not that far off from a genuine "future jack frost" design, if you'd ask me to come up with one. SO here i present you, winter herald jack frost! bonus design feature explanation: -the wreath is mint, specifically chocolate mint! - the lapel is an au thing, specifically nightlight's shattered starcore -the flowers, aswell as the wreath, are from bunny! blue roses and forget me nots - his hoodie has been traded for a cloak, that tapers off near its worn ends into wintery mist - his ears are more elvish, to more closely resemble nightlight - not seen in the photo, his left eye is pastel green! - the earring is also a nod to nightlight

[dreaminglittlestar]

PAC: Love Story

Disclaimer!: This is a fictional story/reading! I picked out actual cards to kind of guide a story but this is not meant to be an actual reading or reflect your life. All of this is a FICTIONAL story for fun, like a mini-reader insert that has you in this kind of magical world.

This is just a fun little thing I've been wanting to try out for a while now, like a pick-your-adventure thing and again, is just meant to be for fun. Just think of it like a cute little surprise since this isn't meant to be tarot. But other than that, hope you guys enjoy this!

Ah, welcome traveler to my humble little magic shack. Would you like a fortune?

Choose which image you're drawn to, and your story will be revealed.

(Lovely images are from Unsplash and the links are in the image descriptions!)

Oh, a fellow mage I see. The 6 of Clubs immediately identifies you as someone with strong intuition with guidance from the forest and sky. Someone who is already in high spiritual power should seem to have no need for the guidance of some forest kook, so what brings you here? Let me see your palms if you will. Ah, yes, I see now. Soft yet hardened with lines, the burdens you carry deep within your tower. Perhaps, that is what brings you here. A relief from the great responsibilities that pile upon you due to your great sense of power.

Are you are a healer of some sort? Or is it ice that you wield? Stoic is your face, hardened by the tasks you are in charge of. Yet this ice mask of yours does little to hide your heart's desires. The 2 of Hearts comes out hidden, but underneath it lay your heart's want for love and companionship, a love truer than the gods gift upon you, instead of being stuck in the cold tower of yours making potions and spells for the good of the Kingdom. Worry not, this secret will be kept by the trees, yet they implore you to seek within.

Is this a forbidden love I see? Someone from the past, a familiar face you keep crossing paths with yet you never can seem to connect. Is this perhaps the knight from the bordering country, a rival to your owns with duty and loyalty separating the both of you from one another. Is this the person you love? Breathe, this information will not leave the safety of the canopy. While this love is not meant to be in the moment, I see a transition from the Jack of Clubs to the Queen of Hearts in the future.

By thinking outside of the box, and using that cleverness of yours you will embody all the love that you want to be, reuniting you with your heart with your mind and eventually you'll be reunited with your lover when time is right. I can not reveal more, but know that you will pursue the desires of your heart, the willow's weep of it's sincerity to come. Out of battle, when the thundering roars of war slows down and the field is empty of chaos, the night sky will sing to you to take your chance.

You appear like that of a frozen flower at the top of the mountain, someone who seems to stand strong in solitude, but under the frost lays the growing bloom, your heart desiring a true companion. And once the time is right, the exterior frost will disappear to reveal a worthy love. Worry not, those fears will dissipate, the 6 of heart repeats this tale.

Additional messages the willows' of the wasps sing to me, this knight you love is that of a "heart throb", royal and loyal, soft yet structured. You will truly be united within a couple of years, and the willows wisps for you to be patient, as he whispers to you "be patient my love, I'm almost there". Soon may not feel soon enough, but the magic can be felt and you will know. Take you chance and stand tall with your choice my dear mage.

For no brighter light than love could ever hope to stop this path.

(Disclaimer, this is fictional and for fun! None of this is accurate! Though I do hope that you enjoyed this little adventure with me! Feel free to visit again!)

Well isn't this a bit odd. A reclusive inventor paying a visit to my old humble shack? I'm honored, though it seems as your mind does not align with your heart, hence your hesitance to be here. Worry not, for the weeping willows weep no secret not meant to be revealed yet. Everything meant to happen will happen in due time.

So please take a seat, and do mind the fairies, they tend to love peeping in on any potential mischief to be had. However, I don't think you will as you seem to be kindred spirits of sorts. Ah, yes. Though hardened with time and diligence, the mischief is hidden within your eyes, still alive despite the years passing. Though along with the time came the nagging feeling of never doing enough.

A bit of a worry wart, are you? The 8 of Spades reveals that despite your outer appearance of being calm and in control, internally you overthink quite a bit. Your ambition for greater good is strong, yet it often leaves you too far from the ground. Stuck in your head with numbers and possible solutions, the greatest new inventions, but the forest advises you to think of what you already have achieved.

You are young and have yet more to grow, more than you know, though the 10 of Spades warns of your borderline workaholic tendencies creeping upon you if you overthink the future and fail to stay in the present. It's among this time between being swamped with mercenary orders and your drive for success through hard work where you will meet your future spouse.

Often stuck within the inner schematics of your next invention, you tend to fail to realize how much you already have. Perhaps the love you seek in already in your periphery, but you have yet to notice. Currently, everything blurs into together and perhaps that's also why you're here. This sense of time and dread builds up as you're constantly thinking of what to do next.

But breathe in the fresh rain after a storm, as when you do take notice of your surroundings, you will notice them, and that blurry storm will wash away. They are free-flowing, like water, and they leave you feeling light and refreshed, bringing a sense of living into your life. The Fool in Reverse and 3 of Clubs reiterates your stable footing in what is considered the real world, but you never venture far enough into the divine or present to see what's already there and the wind howls a warning; not to lose grasps what's important to you.

What do you truly seek? While you may find it a bit silly to take a break, everything may begin blurring together. Like water, let life flow and all will be revealed to you.

Additional messages that have trickled in through the sweet musings of the river tell me that you are to be patient as things happen in time, but it will be the most ordinary "magical encounter". There's even the musing of "Hey, where have you been my whole life?" with the "chilly" weather after the storm. Maybe this is love will feel like a first, but even against the current, stand strong with your values but also feel free to float along the river's path.

The river will flow where it needs to flow, as does life, with a little effort on your part, but also trust.

(Disclaimer, this is fictional and for fun! None of this is accurate! Though I hope you enjoyed this little interactive story and feel free to visit again!)

Oh my, you're quiet the adventurer aren't you? Ha ha. Harrowing through quest with that mighty sword upon your hips, you have drive and ambition. Yes, you seem quiet strong, your drive for knighthood seems compels you, is that what you wish for? I can see the fire in your eyes but your heart seems to be missing something. You seek financial compensation, perhaps?

I can see within the Ace of Diamonds that you wish to begin a new journey, an adventure or quest for financial gain within your adventurer life. Very fun I see. But to come here for a mere fortune, in this small little hut, with no near guilds or institutions that could offer you any real thrilling question begs what you wish for.

You are no longer a struggling adventurer traveling through the naked wood banks, but neither are you financially abundant. Hence, within your future, I see you taking the burden of an instrumental quest given by a powerful mage. Although you will begin the journey alone, along the way, you will meet companions and friends who will help lessen the burden placed upon you. Within that group, you will find your soulmate.

The 5 of Diamonds suggest that you will be prosperous in this journey, and you will find all that you seek for in addition to the finical gain you want. However, this is a life altering path, one where you will come to question your being, and life, as you know it. Not only is your path altered by the riches and fame of knighthood given to you, but by the companions you will meet in your life, that only enriches your adventurer mind.

The journey will not be easy and will challenge everything you had known of your previous life. But as a reward to ease your growing nerves, the willows tell me that your love is very handsome in deed. Gazes will be shared and maybe you have a trickle of fancy at first sight, but instead you busy yourself with gathering your companions.

No need for alarm, you must be patient, this does not happen in a day. And it may be possible that even after meeting, it would take a few years till you two officially begin your relationship. Dancing to the fire at nights, singing to the stars as other cajole you two to rest, and laughter will be abundant as well as comfortable silence. It's within these moments that your bond will grow and you will know.

The forest wishes to end it's wisdom, so I shall no longer speak.

Are you willing to take this jump? The rest is up to you, young adventure. May the world bless you with love and take care.

(Disclaimer, this is fictional and for fun! None of this is accurate! Though I hope you enjoyed this and feel free to visit again!)

Notes: So this was originally going to be posted in August but I kept delaying it but wanted to get it posted before October so here it is! I had lot of fun doing this but I'm not entirely satisfied with it as now. I may come back to do this again, but for now, hope you guys enjoyed this little interactive story!

Like said, this isn't an actual reading and shouldn't be taken seriously. This is just a fun little fictional story idea I've been dying to do for a while now so here it is!

[merakiui]

If you can I need you to explain that list and your reasonings for their placements 😭

It’s honestly so silly, but I do have reasons for why everyone was placed where they were.

Trey -> you can’t tell me he wouldn’t want to try it at least once, just to see how many can be stacked. He even provides you with the donuts and they’re guaranteed to be delicious because they’re from the Clovers’ bakery!

Cater -> I like to think Cater’s willing to try anything fun, trendy, or interesting at least once just to gauge what he thinks, and the idea of stacking pretty donuts on his dick makes for such a good opportunity to snap photos (only for your and his eyes of course).

Ace -> he just wants to be able to fit more donuts so that he can brag about it to his friends. If anything, it’s Ace who comes to you asking if you’ll stack donuts on it lol.

Deuce -> he loves you so much, so he will gladly allow you to stack donuts on it. He thinks you’re so cute when you’re so focused on his dick, and it’s a little flustering to be under your intense attention. Deuce isn’t complaining, though. <3

Ruggie -> as long as he can still eat the donuts afterwards, he doesn’t mind. Donuts are his absolute favorite! And he sort of wants to know how many will fit………. orz

Jade -> he’s a freak, a curious one at that.

Floyd -> he’s a freak, a curious one at that x2.

Kalim -> it sounds fun and he’s genuinely curious. This is probably a question that has crossed Kalim’s mind before, and now he absolutely must know! He’s sure you won’t mind helping him. :)

Rook -> it’s Rook. But also he’s a freak, a curious one at that x3.

Lilia -> it’s Lilia. He is absolutely wanting you to stack pink frosted donuts on his dick! If this is how young people have their fun in bed, count him in. He wants to try it.

Silver -> he’s too nice, so if you ask him he has to think about it for a minute because he doesn’t quite get the meaning at first. But then you explain it and Silver’s nodding as if it’s the most sensible question ever. He doesn’t mind it because you seemed really curious about the answer and he doesn’t want to be stuck with all-consuming curiosity all day.

Neige -> he just wants you to be happy, and if that comes at the cost of stacking donuts on it he will pay it without hesitation!

Che’nya -> also another one who has considered this question before, so he’d like to find out the answer with you. If you see a floating box of donuts in your room and hear a far-off giggle, just know you’re about to find out. Che’nya has too much fun with this.

Leona -> he thinks it’s stupid, so he doesn’t let you stack donuts on it. :( in his mind, you could do so many other (and better) things with your time than asking silly questions. Although he does tease you, smirking and asking, “If you want to stack donuts on it, it’s only fair I should get to see how many toys you can fit in there.” You’re either so embarrassed or intrigued at that prospect that now you’re considering a new question.

Jack -> he doesn’t understand why you’d ever want to do something like that. Also, why ruin perfectly good donuts trying to stack them on his dick? It’s not that he’s bragging about being big; he’s genuinely concerned for the donuts. >_< why ruin them when you can eat them as a tasty treat?

Vil -> absolutely not. Maybe in your wildest dreams, but Vil will never allow you to stack donuts on it. First, they’re donuts and he’s not one for unhealthy foods and snacks. Second, won’t it make such a mess? Third, if you wanted to know how big he is just measure it using actually units of measurement and not donuts.

Sebek -> he’s secretly flustered that you’d ask such a question, and he yells at you to “quell your insufferable human curiosity!!!!!!!” You take that as a no. T-T

Rollo -> now why would you ask him this? He stares at you for a long minute, processing the words that just came out of your mouth. His answer is simple and devoid of reason: “I’d rather you not.” There’s no swaying Rollo once he’s made up his mind.

Riddle -> Riddle’s the type who dwells on stuff, so if you leave him with that question it’s a guarantee he’s going to be putting some thought into it after he’s initially said no. And wooooo what a question it is. On one hand, it’s embarrassing and foolish. On the other, it’s you asking and donuts! An opportunity (and excuse) to have sweets with you (and also learn how many will fit on his dick). You don’t really have to do much persuading. It’s actually Riddle who either talks himself into it or out of it.

Azul -> he’ll do anything (within certain parameters) if you sign a contract. But who would be silly enough to sign a contract like that? Oh, you’re already signing. Wow. Huh. Okay. Maybe it’s his lucky day, or your curiosity is that bad. Whatever the case is, he’s more than happy to help you out with this and in return… we’ll see. :)

Jamil -> he thinks it’s foolish to waste food like that, but then, without intending to, he lets the question haunt him for a few days. How do you even think of questions like this? Just what goes on in that head of yours? Maybe he shouldn’t know, but now he’s somewhat curious and he wants you to at least explain it to him. Your explanation is either so good or so bad that he’s compelled to try it, if only because you actually managed to make him laugh outright.

Epel -> at first he doesn’t get the appeal, but then he realizes if he can fit lots of donuts on it he’ll certainly be considered big and manly, right? He’s so excited that he talks himself into it because now he’s too curious.

Idia -> no way! That’s weird and gross. Why should he sacrifice his snacks just so you can use them for something like that? >:( oh, but then I guess Idia isn’t going to see you cosplay his favorite characters or get to dress you in skimpy hentai-esque outfits… :( oh well. In the end, he caves and lets you stack donuts.

Malleus -> you’ll just need to explain it a little more thoroughly so he can understand you’re coming from a place of curiosity. He’d feel cruel to not indulge his favorite Child of Man, so he might as well allow it. And you seem so excited and eager; how can resist? You’re too cute. Malleus offhandedly mentions that he “hopes a dozen will be enough” and it has your eyebrows raising so fast. Just how big is he??????

[fablesuntold]

🃏Biography. The Joker🃏

Most of this is made up by the mun— do not steal or reblog as I’ve put a lot of thought into this. Also do not copy this layout.

Basic info:

Real name: Jack Oswald White— but this information has never been disclosed to anyone else so only he knows his real name.

Preferred alias:

Joker.

Mister. J.

John Doe.

J.

Age: 31 years old.

Birthday: Born October 31st.

Zodiac Sign: Scorpio.

Gender: Male.

Sexuality: Bisexual.

Nationality: American.

Born in: Gotham City, United States.

Currently residing in: Gotham City, United States.

Morality: Chaotic evil.

Occupation: Full time menace to society/Self proclaimed King of Gotham City.

🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏

Appearance:

Height: 1.8m / 5’11”

Weight: 76 kg/ 12 stone.

Hair: Neon Green/Brunette before the acid incident.

Eyes: Bright blue.

Tattoos: Joker has a range of tattoos from head to toe. Most resemble his alter ego. From jesters to playing cards and toothy smiles, his skin is decorated like tapestry with the art. His favourite tattoo of all is the ‘Damaged’ on his forehead as it best describes his mental state of mind. He plans to get more, possibly something that could be used to mock Batman with because why not~? He just loves to rile the caped crusader up.

Piercings: The only piercings Joker currently has are his ear piercings and a tongue piercing. He much prefers tattoos but will likely get more anyway in the future.

Scars: Due to many battles and run ins with Batman over the years, Joker has sustained many injuries much like his archnemesis. Scars litter his pale skin, some jagged and deep and some faded. Luckily his tattoos cover the worst of them— partly the reason he got them to begin with.

Other: Thanks to a rather intense fight with Batman before being escorted to Arkham Asylum, Joker’s regular front teeth were brutally smashed out and had to be replaced with silver caps— thus why his mouth takes on a more metallic look.

Faceclaim: Jared Leto.

🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏

Family/Friends:

Mother: Sophia White.

Status: Unknown.

Relationship: Joker doesn’t remember much about his time spent in his mother’s care. At the age of seven, he was placed into an orphanage due to his parents not wanting him anymore, though he briefly recalls his mother’s hand combing through his hair one last time before she turned on her heel and made a swift exit from his life— a strange display of affection for somebody who so easily gave up on him. The true reason as to why she gave him up remains unclear, but the abandonment has stuck with him more than he likes to admit. He can’t help but to wonder though.. was there a part of Sophia that regretted leaving her son behind?

Father: Damien White.

Status: Deceased.

Relationship: Much like his mother, not much is recalled about his relationship with his father. All he remembers is that his father used to shout a lot and smack his mother around when she stood up to him. Perhaps the reason he was put into care? Joker doesn’t know, but he no longer possesses the quality to care about why exactly they’re no longer around.

Siblings: He’s an only child as far as he knows. Given the fact that he doesn’t know his family at all though, it’s a possibility that he could have siblings somewhere out there.

Spouse: N/A. (Depending on the verse, I usually ship him with Harley Quinn and have a few plot ideas if anyone is interested. Bruce Wayne is also an option too as an enemies to lovers/enemies with benefits plot.)

Kids: N/A. (Again, depends on the verse.)

Pets: He once owned a pet Hyena called Chuckles, but it was quickly confiscated and sent off to a zoo when Joker was apprehended by Batman and sent to Arkham Asylum.

Friends: Joker doesn’t consider many people his friends, but his closest companions are Harley Quinn, Jonny Frost and of course he’ll claim Batman to be his best friend even though Batman loathes the bones of him.

🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏

Other:

Personality traits/Characteristics: Narcissistic, sarcastic, witty, cruel, unpredictable, brazen, overconfident, wild, crude, apathetic, heartless, clever, impatient, impulsive, aggressive, cynical, enigmatic, obnoxious, possessive, envious, greedy, menacing, loud, immature, twisted, wicked, evil, mischievous, irritable, selfish, boastful, excitable, assertive, demented.

MBTI Type: ENTP. He’s an extrovert who is creative and loves a good plan. However, he’s easily distracted by new possibilities and can often stray away from his original plans to pursue another manic idea. He’ll do anything to achieve his goals even despite the resistance from others he knows he’ll be met with.

Any mental illness: Joker suffers from schizophrenia— psychotic disorder which often results in random bursts of violent outbreaks and excessive delusions, hallucinations included. His mind is often muddled with wild fantasies that can only be described as insane and no amount of therapy has been able to provide him relief. Past therapists at Arkham Asylum conclude that he may be bordering on dissociative identity disorder too.

Weapons: Depending on his mood, Joker uses a range of weapons from handguns to bombs and melee weapons.. but his absolute favourite of them all is his trusty submachine gun. Nothing gives him a thrill quite like letting those bullets fly all while laughing hysterically about it.

🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏🃏

Backstory:

A rough childhood behind him, Jack was born into an abusive household and exposed to violence at a young age. With his father mercilessly beating him and his mother almost every night in an alcohol induced rage, it’s no surprise that his morals were corrupted from the get-go. However, he wasn’t around his father long enough for him to be a major influence in his life when his mother decided enough was enough.

Waiting for her husband to consume enough alcohol for him to pass out, Jack’s mother wasted no time in driving her son to the nearest orphanage and after a whispered ‘you’ll be safe here’ and a quick kiss to his forehead, she disappeared off into the night never to be seen or heard of again.

Growing up, Jack always knew he was different to the other kids in care. He wasn’t interested in what they were interested in, dolls and action figures only doing so much to appease his tormented little mind. Instead, Jack found himself fascinated with crime and death which quickly caused concern for staff at the orphanage when told time and time again about his morbid curiosity. To say the least, staff often found themselves uneasy around him, especially when he started to display symptoms of early schizophrenia— the exact same symptoms that deterred any potential foster parents away from adopting him.

By the time he reached eighteen and with no success of a foster family, Jack was released as a young adult into the world— and that’s where his life of crime began. Quickly getting in with the wrong crowd after a club brawl gone wrong, Jack joined one of Gotham’s many notorious gangs of thugs where he quickly began to climb the hierarchy. For the first time in his life, Jack felt as though he had a purpose. Like he had a life worth living with people who understood him. But all of that came crashing down within the blink of an eye.

One stormy evening, Jack found himself on the end of a drug bust when Batman intercepted the deal. Him being the supplier, he was chased through the streets of Gotham until a promising escape route beckoned him in the form of a chemical factory. Little did he know this is where his life would take a drastic turn.

On the cusp of escaping, it wasn’t until Batman took a swoop at him from the top floor did he lose his footing and take a tumble into a burning container of acid that quickly burned and bleached his skin a sickly white, lips stained red and chemically altering his hair to a neon green once he finally emerged after almost drowning. It was that exact same acid that drove him further down the road of insanity. Pronounced dead by Batman, he’d once again been left behind.

Following that night Jack became obsessed with Batman and swore revenge, and in the following years he adopted his alter ego— becoming well known and greatly feared as ‘The Joker’ thanks to his unique appearance which oddly resembled that of a clown.

From bank heists to mass murder and destruction across the city, it didn’t take long for Batman to find him once again and many altercations with him later, Joker unfortunately landed himself a one way ticket to Arkham Asylum after a particularly lethal fight with the masked hero. Therapy sessions were made a mockery of, and Joker only laughed at anyone who attempted to help him, only requesting to speak to Batman. This resulted in him being doomed to spend most of his twenties confined by white cushioned walls and restrained in a snug straitjacket for everyone’s safety— including his own.

**MORE TO BE ADDED**

[invisibleicewands]

Michael Sheen: ‘I find it very hard to accept actors playing Welsh characters when they aren’t Welsh’

Has he taken the concept of authentic casting to a whole new level? Ahead of his latest BBC drama Best Interests, the star explains all

Michael Sheen has had it with the Prince of Wales. Not the man, but the title. “I think it’s ridiculous,” he says. “It’s just silly. I see no reason why the title should continue. Certainly not with someone who’s not Welsh.” 

“That’s not the majority view,” he adds, with resignation. “So, whatever the majority of people want, I’m sure will continue.” 

The star of Frost/Nixon and proud son of Port Talbot is chatting via video from a bucolic spot close to his hometown (a deer has just wandered into view), but even at a distance, it’s not hard to see that Sheen is a man ofstrong convictions.

He has spoken in the past about the opportunity to retire the title after the death of Elizabeth II, as a gesture to “put some of the wrongs of the past right”. In 2020, he returned the OBE he was “honoured” to have received in 2009 when he felt it would make him a hypocrite to give a lecture about how the English king Edward I “put a stranglehold on Wales” at the turn of the 14th century. 

When we chat, he’s about to begin shooting his TV directing debut The Way – co-created with playwright James Graham and documentary-maker Adam Curtis, about a family caught in a civil uprising, set in and around Port Talbot. The BBC project is the first from the production company that he set up with Sherlock producer Bethan Jones to focus on telling Welsh stories because, “You can shout about how bad it is, but if you want to see something be different then do it, you know?”

The 54-year-old is one of the actors of his generation, a stage star in his twenties (The Telegraph’s Charles Spencer called him “outrageously charismatic”) who went on to create unforgettable screen portraits of Tony Blair (The Queen, The Deal), Chris Tarrant (Quiz) and Brian Clough (The Damned United), alongside his David Frost in Peter Morgan’s play and film about the 1977 interviews that brought down the US president. Recently, Sheen has gained a whole new tranche of fans playing a very arch angel opposite David Tennant’s insouciant demon in Amazon’s Good Omens – not technically gay characters according to the Terry Pratchett-Neil Gaiman source novel, but seemingly in love.

Tennant and he have a natural chemistry on and off screen, Sheen says, adding that “he stops me being too grumpy”. He is a little on the grumpy side. In one exchange, in which I suggest he is a supporter of Welsh independence, he responds hotly: “Show me where it says that. I don’t believe I’ve ever said that.” Sam Mendes compared Sheen to fellow Welsh stars Anthony Hopkins and Richard Burton – “fiery, mercurial, unpredictable”. 

But he shares a warm screen chemistry with Sharon Horgan in Jack Thorne’s moving new four-part drama Best Interests. They play the parents of a child with cerebral palsy, the adorable Marnie (played by Dublin actor Niamh Moriarty), who suffers a seizure that leaves her without brain function. The couple find themselves on opposite sides of an unbearable decision: whether or not to switch off their daughter’s life support. Very few will make it through the drama without tears, but the issues it raises will be familiar to all who have followed recent legal battles over 12-year-old Archie Battersbee and baby Alfie Evans. 

Best Interests is “heartbreaking” at times, he admits, which makes the humour that he and Horgan bring to it all the more important. They hadn’t worked together before. “That relationship had to do a lot of heavy lifting. Sharon and I didn’t know each other very well … but straight from the off, we had a very similar sense of humour and made each other laugh.” Moriarty’s is a break-out performance – one scene involving make-up beautifully captures the parent-child relationship. She has cerebral palsy that affects her legs, a condition called spastic diplegia, but she’s not the only disabled actor in the piece. 

Bafta-winner Lenny Rush, 14, who in real-life has a condition that affects his growth, is brilliant as George, who sets his cap at Marnie. Mat Fraser, who plays a legal advocate in Best Interests and portrayed Shakespeare’s Richard III in 2017, has a thalidomide impairment, which likely gave him an insight into Richard’s sense of “my deformity”. 

Thorne, who experienced a chronic medical condition in his twenties, has said in the past that disabled people have been “utterly and totally” failed by the TV industry. In Best Interests, one parent of a child with a disability states baldly that people “hate” disabled people. “I think people can feel very uncomfortable around people with disabilities,” Sheen says. “A lot of the time it’s just to do with ignorance about, ‘Oh gosh, I don’t know, what should I do?’ It can make interaction quite awkward at times, and it can bring out people’s fears.”

The fact that there were several people with disabilities working on the project, he says, was striking because it brought home how rarely he had seen it before. It leads into a discussion of how far actors can credibly play identities they don’t personally inhabit. Sheen has thought about it: “You know, seeing people playing Welsh characters who are not Welsh, I find, it’s very hard for me to accept that. Not particularly on a point of principle, but just knowing that that’s not the case.

“That’s a very different end of the spectrum, but a part like Richard III is such a great character to play, it would be sad to think that that character, you know, is no longer available or appropriate for actors to play who don’t have disabilities, but that’s because I’m just not used to it yet, I suppose. Because I fully accept that I’m  not going to be playing Othello any time soon.

“Again, it’s not particularly a point of principle, but personally, I haven’t seen many actors who have come from quite privileged backgrounds being particularly compelling as people from working-class backgrounds. If you haven’t experienced something, you know, the extreme example is, well, if you haven’t murdered someone, can you play a murderer?”

In 2021, it was reported that Sheen intended to be a “not-for-profit” actor, after selling his own properties to ensure the Homeless World Cup that he had organised in Cardiff in 2019 went ahead when funders withdrew. So, what is a not-for-profit actor?

“There’s no such thing,” he says. “In that interview, I talked about how the ideal I was aiming towards was working like a not-for-profit company. When I put the money into the Homeless World Cup, since then I only owe money, so in terms of profits, there are no profits. I put as much of the money I make as I possibly can into either funding and supporting what other people are doing that I believe in, or starting up projects myself.” 

It’s a measure of Sheen’s confidence that he knows the parts will keep coming. He has become a father again in his 50s; he and his partner, 28-year-old Swedish actor Anna Lundberg, have two young daughters. “My knees creak a lot more,” he says. “It’s a lot harder to get up and down off the floor when you’re playing with the baby.” 

Sheen also has a grown-up daughter, Lily Mo Sheen, 24, from an earlier relationship with British actress Kate Beckinsale. “When my eldest daughter was born, I was still trying to make my way in my career and having to make harder choices about whether to work away from home and how much time to be away and all that stuff,” he says. “This time around, that’s not as difficult as I’m more established as an actor. Physically, it’s hard. But the one thing that is always the same is, you know, poo doesn’t smell any better.”

[bobthedragon]

This ask is a free ticket - I want to hear you ramble and babble about something that delights you, please. I think you're lovely.

apologies to everyone but it's time for yall to hear my story about Jack Frost u_u

so about 5 years before Rise of the Guardians came out, one of my friends, unbeknownst to me, was working with William Joyce at his new studio Moonbot. One day they messaged me and said "I have a NDA, but something I'm working on is gonna make you go nuts". I'm like "oh that's ambiguous and I wonder what dragon or monster they are getting to work on :O"

We hadn't spoken much, and we still don't talk much bc I have a tendency of being an idiot and saying the wrong things, but my dear friend had spotted that I have Issues when it comes to Spiky White Hair.

anyway, RotG comes out and I p much forgot about this until I go out to see it and instantly when I watched it I turned my head all the way across the united states to dead stare at them because I KNEW it was them somehow, they confirmed it, and now I'm Extra insane bc when I look at him, I'm like "THIS DEAD BOY WAS MADE FOR ME" and I feel the need to climb into his eyeballs against my will.

anyway I also used this knowledge later to ask my friend if Jack Frost Shits like a Bird and told them I would count their answer as word of god, and they said Yes he has a Cloaca so here you guys go. New RotG canon 11 years in the future.

bless you anon and good day to you all. u_u

[stupendouspizzacomputer]

INSANITY (Hellaverse x isekai male reader) Winners (Part 2):

•Adrian Newey (F1/Formuala 1/oscar piastri/Ferrari/Austin gp 2024)

•Black Widow (Florence Pugh)

•Haruka Sakura (Wind Breaker)

•Danny Phantom (Danny Phantom)

•Wonder (autism/neurodivergent)

•Donald Trump (Us politics/Presidential debate/United States/election/American politics/Us elections/Election day/Presidential election/2024 Presidential election)

•Joe Biden (Us politics/Presidential debate/United States/election/American politics/Us elections/Election day/Presidential election/2024 Presidential election)

•Kamala harris (Us politcs/Presidential debate/United States/election/American politics/Us elections/Election day/Presidential election/2024 Presidential election)

•Matthew Domick (nasa/space/astronomy/science/Astrology)

•Elen Musk (Science/physics)

•Beyonce (Beyonce)

•Ponyboy Curtis (The outsiders)

•Aurora (Witchcraft/Witchblr)

•Malefica (Witchcraft/Witchblr/Witch/Wicca/Witchcore)

•Bojan Cvjetićanin (Joker out)

•Kris Guštin (Joker out)

•Jan Peteh (Joker out)

•Nace Jordan (Joker out)

•Jure Maček (Joker out)

•Jannik Sinner (tennis)

•Galadriel (Rings of power/Lord of the rings/Lotr/Tolkien/The rings of power/Gigolas)

•Ranboo (Youtuber)

•The passengers of the AA 11 (9/11)

•Regan (Inside job)

•Brett (Inside job)

•Kai (Exo)

•Byun Baek-hyun (Exo)

•Suho (Exo)

•Sehun (Exo)

•Park Chan-Yeon (Exo)

•D.O. (Exo)

•Chen (Exo)

•Kris Wu (Exo)

•Huang Zitao (Exo)

•Xiumin (Exo)

•Luhan (Exo)

•Lay (Exo)

•Jere Mikael Pöyhönen (Käärijä)

•Susan Ivanova (Babylon 5)

•Alexander Gabriel Claremont-Diaz (Taylor Zakhar Perez)

•Aabria Iyengar (Critical role)

•Marisha Lay (Critical Role)

•Furbys (Furby/r/196)

•Kirie Goshima (Uzumaki)

•Nora Sakavic (All for the game)

•Owen (I saw the TV glow)

•Dark Cacao Cookie (Cookie run/Cookie run kingdom)

•Golden Cheese Cookie (Cookie run/Cookie run Kingdom)

•Chili Pepper Cookie (Cookie run/Cookie run kingdom)

•Hollyberry Cookie (Cookie run/Cookie run Kingdom)

•Pure Vanilla Cookie (Cookie run/Cookie run Kingdom)

•Stardust Cookie (Cookie run/Cookie run Kingdom)

•White Lily Cookie (Cookie run/Cookie run Kingdom)

•Crimson Coral Cookie (Cookie run/Cookie run Kingdom)

•Elder Faerie Cookie (Cookie run/Cookie run Kingdom)

•Moonlight Cookie (Cookie run/Cookie run Kingdom)

•Mystic Flour Cookie (Cookie run/Cookie run Kingdom)

•Stormbringer Cookie (Cookie run/Cookie run Kingdom)

•Wind Archer Cookie (Cookie run/Cookie run Kingdom)

•Angel Cookie (Cookie run/ Cookie run Kingdom)

•Black Pearl Cookie (Cookie run/Cookie run Kingdom)

•Frost Queen Cookie (Cookie run/Cookie run Kingdom)

•Pitaya Dragon Cookie(Cookie run/Cookie run Kingdom)

•Sea Fairy Cookie (Cookie run/Cookie run Kingdom)

•Sherbet Cookie (Cookie run/Cookie run Kingdom)

•Fox Mulder (Txf/The x Files)

•Dana Scully (Txf/The x Files/Gillian Anderson)

•Agatha Harkness (Agatha all along/Kathryn Hahn/Agathario/Disney)

•Haruspex (pathologic)

•John (Outer banks)

•Jack O'Malley (Chris evans)

•Cady Haron (Mean Girls/Lindsay Lohan/october/october 3rd/october 3)

•Areala of Cordoba (Warrior Nun)

•Stede Bonnet (Ofmd/Our Flag means Death)

•Liam Gallagher (Oasis)

•Noel Gallagher (Oasis)

•Paul Arthurs (Oasis)

•Tony McCarroll (Oasis)

•Gem Archer (Oasis)

•Andy Bell (Oasis)

•Chris Sharrock (Oasis)

•Paul McGuigan (Oasis)

•Alan White (Oasis)

•Evgeni Malkin (Pittsburgh penguins)

•Kate McKinnon (snl)

•Travis Kelce (Kansas City Chiefs)

•Keith (Voltron/vld)

•Shiro (Voltron/vld)

•Pidge (Voltron/vld)

•Lance (Voltron/vld)

•Hunk (Voltron/vld)

•Princess Allura (Voltron/vld)

•Vex'ahlia Vessar (Vox Machina/Critical Role/Dimension 20/Misfits and Magic)

•Vax'ildan Vessar (Vox Machina/Critical Role/Dimension 20/Misfits and Magic)

•Percival de Rolo (Vox Machina/Critical Role/Dimension 20/Misfits and Magic)

•Pike Trickfoot (Vox Machina/Critical Role/Dimension 20/Misfits and Magic)

•Keyleth of the Air Ashari (Vox Machina/Critical Role/Dimension 20/Misfits and Magic)

•Scanlan Shorthalt (Vox Machina/Critical Role/Dimension 20/Misfits and Magic)

•Grog Strongjaw (Vox Machina/Critical Role/Dimension 20/Misfits and Magic)

•Alice Oseman (Heartstopper)

•Al Pacino (60s/Cinema)

•King Arthur (Merlin)

•Merlin (Merlin)

•Goodtimeswithscar (Trafficblr/Traffic smp/mineblr/Solidaritygaming/Wild life smp)

•Grian (Trafficblr/Traffic smp/mineblr/Solidaritygaming/Wild life smp)

•Mumbo Jumbo (Trafficblr/Traffic smp/mineblr/Solidaritygaming/Wild life smp)

•Skizzleman (Trafficblr/Traffic smp/mineblr/Solidaritygaming/Wild life smp)

•Bdoubleo100 (Trafficblr/Traffic smp/mineblr/Solidaritygaming/Wild life smp)

•Tangotek (Trafficblr/Traffic smp/mineblr/Solidaritygaming/Wild life smp)

•Florence Welch (Florence and the Machine)

•Isabella Summers (Florence and the Machine)

•Robert Ackryod (Florence and the Machine)

•Hazel Mills (Florence and the Machine)

•Tom Monger (Florence and the Machine)

•Loren Humphrey (Florence and the Machine)

•Tom Moth (Florence and the Machine)

•Aku Orraca-Tetteh (Florence and the Machine)

•Cyrus Bayandor (Florence and the Machine)

•Dionne Douglas (Florence and the Machine)

•Chris Hayden (Florence and the Machine)

•Mark Saunders (Florence and the Machine)

•Rusty Bradshaw (Florence and the Machine)

•Samantha White (Florence and the Machine)

•Roz (The wild robot)

•Hayley Williams (Paramore)

•Ichigo kurosaki (bleach)

•Bjork (Bjork)

•Sparkle (Honkaistairrail/Hsr/DATENROUTE)

•Historia (Attack on Titan)

•Shajar (Riseofkingdoms/Egypt/History/Didyouknow)

•Haruto Soma (Kamenrider/Kamenriderwizard)

[takaraphoenix]

Mary's SHAZAM acronym is so horribly... forced and lackluster at the same time. I love the concept of her getting her own and even her getting a blessing specifically from goddesses, as a counter to Billy. But the choices, particularly the stubborn insistence on sticking with Greek and Roman goddesses exclusively, leading to them... genderbending the god Zephyrus... Just... No.

This whole godly crisis thing has, from the get-go, been set up to go beyond the Greco-Roman pantheon, we had the little prelude with Jack Frost and Siegfried, meaning the Nordic-Germanic pantheon is very explicitly shown and included, and then there are the two other Amazon tribes too - who famously stem from different pantheons.

Quite frankly, with both of that as well as the very opening of this mini-series of them showing us various gods from various cultures, it was an incredible let-down how... completely Greco-Roman centric the entire story was.

Wouldn't it have been much more... satisfying, more more progressive for the story of the Amazons as is, to see Hippolyta lead not just the usual Greek goddesses but allied Egyptian and Brazilian goddesses into the fight? And, hey, maybe some others too, who knows. Just, goddesses, standing together, united, the way the Amazons have come together, united, despite the different tribes they came from. A mirroring of that storyline.

And, consequently, those goddesses from different pantheons could have been the ones to bless Mary. There's no reason why Mary's SHAZAM has to be Greco-Roman.

Instead of bending over backward trying to try and make it all Greek and Roman goddesses to the meta-point of turning genderbending a god because there are no goddesses starting with the letter Z to make the acronym work, just maybe go shopping in another pantheon that has goddesses starting with a Z. I know it's a tough letter, but there are goddesses that have names that start with Z that could have come up organically in this mini-series and thus feeling inclined to bless Mary, after fighting at her side.

And it's not just the genderbent that bothers me, I also question Aurora because her granted powers don't make much sense to me as a choice. It just all feels very rushed-job forced. They were trying to force this so hard when they didn't have to.

Mary gets to redefine what it means to be a champion of SHAZAM, because she isn't a champion of the wizard - she is a champion of the goddess of Amazons, chosen by her and by other goddesses. They could have also just redefined what goddesses get to do the blessing, instead of going with "no, no, it has to be Greek or Roman"...

[cloama]

It's right around this time that my class and I start relaxing until Christmas break but the state is conducting observations now of all times, three months late...and they want to see me teach.

My kinders worked so hard to go from crying for their mommies and shitting themselves to reading and writing better than kids two years older than them. They're 3 units ahead of schedule. They deserve to relax but they're stuck reviewing material for an audience bc the powers that be demand I demonstrate a typical day for them. My window for these little popups ends Friday. It's been two weeks of stress and I'm over it.

It's there aren't enough observers then observe us less. I don't know what else to tell y'all. Don't expect me to still be hammering curriculum right when it's chanukah for some kids and the others these kids can hear sleigh bells ringing. Jack frost is what? Nipping! It's time for cocoa and letting our poor weird bodies adjust to getting sleepy at 6pm. Shit is getting dire.

I can't wait for them to leave us alone😭 We just wanna hang out, make weird art, and do karaoke.

[sylphmacabre]

Mullioned Pains

Fandom: Nightmare Dork University, an AU of RISE OF THE GUARDIANS that has become its own subfandom

'Verse - Collegeverse

Characters: NDU Pitch Black, NDU Piki Black, NDU Cossimo "Coz" Pitchiner, NDU Jack Sickle, NDU Proto

Pairings: Nightmare Galleon [Pitch/Coz], StageFright [Piki/Jack]

Rating: Teen

Summary: How friends, brothers, lovers, and... ummm, others... help drama student and theatre director Pitch Black cope with the frequent migraines he suffers during and after his time at Nightmare Dork University.

Notes: If you are wondering what the devil Nightmare Dork University is, and what it has to do with either the movie RISE OF THE GUARDIANS or the GUARDIANS books by William Joyce, please visit the NDU 101 page on Tumblr and its accompanying tags. It's a wild and woolly ride involving four different versions of Pitch Black and a very different version of Jack Frost, all of whom either room together or "fraternize" in a college / university AU. And let's not forget a taxidermied ferret named Mr. Pickles.

Originally posted on Archive Of Our Own on April 1, 2016.

Mullion: a slender vertical member that forms a division between units of a window, door, or screen or is used decoratively

=================================

PIKI - two years after graduating NDU

He couldn’t help but flinch when he heard the key in the lock of the front door of his flat, rather than the expected buzzer from the foyer below.  Piki’s momentary resentment of Pitch’s presumption disappeared when he saw his twin’s face.

A still face.  A composed face.  Not a flicker of animation, not a hint of pursed lips or clenched jaw.

But Pitch’s right hand kept opening and closing spasmodically.  Piki knew that sign.

It had been more than a decade since his brother had come to him for comfort for one of his headaches.  Without letting himself think about why Pitch was coming to him for comfort, Piki swung instantly and instinctively into the routine he and his brother had established in childhood.  He led Pitch to the couch, sat next to him. and guided Pitch’s head to his shoulder with his right hand while keeping his left arm loosely clasped around his twin’s waist.

He could feel Pitch’s breath hitching as he tried to cope with the pain.  “Ssssh, close your eyes,” Piki murmured, closed his own in sympathy, and began to hum the “Promenade” theme from Mussorgsky’s Pictures At An Exhibition.  

JACK - November of Pitch’s senior year at NDU

Was he overstepping his bounds?  Would he just be adding to Pitch’s headache?  Would Pitch appreciate the little trinket that was just like the one Jack’s sister had given him when she thought Jack was afraid of the dark?  

Since the beginning of the semester, Jack had quietly filed away in his memory everything he had observed about the older student who’d taken him on as a stagehand, even if Pitch had done it under protest.  He knew how Pitch liked his coffee.  He’d learned when Pitch was trying to rile Koz up in a lighthearted manner and when they were poised to do one another unmitigated damage.  He was unsurprised that Pitch genuinely feared his cousin Proto, his fear an equal measure to his disgust at their being related.

He did not understand what it was about Piki that made Pitch unleash real venom at his twin brother instead of the clever drawling sarcasm he used on everyone else.

After yet another screaming match backstage at the NDU theatre, where Piki stormed out slamming the stage door behind him and Pitch sank down on a rickety chair behind the curtain and put his face in his hands, Jack was prepared, despite his self-doubts.

When Pitch returned to the apartment he shared with Pitchiner and Proto, exhausted, hungry, and bleary-eyed after combatting his stress-induced migraine in private, he found a bright blue rabbit’s-foot keychain on his desk, along with a note in Jack’s neat handwriting.

It’s not magic, but it helps me to calm down.  I hope it will help you too.

Pitch rubbed the soft fur between his fingers and closed his eyes. 

PITCHINER - Sometime after their tenth wedding anniversary

He was not the most sentimental of men on the planet, but then again, neither was Pitch.

Coz had congratulated himself on finding what he thought was the perfect getaway spot for Pitch to finish his newest screenplay.  Spooky inspiration was all right in its way, at least for Pitch, and chopping wood for the massive fireplace in the cabin helped Coz flex muscles he hadn’t used since NDU and the Army, muscles he’d forgotten he had.

But now he wasn’t so sure that a wooded mountain retreat, far from the highway and civilization, was all that great an idea.  His husband was now huddled in a rocker near the kitchen stove, face screwed up in misery, in too much pain to snark or to make a sound beyond an occasional hiss.  A combination of unexpectedly cold temperatures for May and altitude sickness from the increased elevation had conspired to give Pitch one doozy of a physical headache and Coz one doozy of an emotional one.

To distract himself and Pitch from the worrisome thoughts of seizures and blood clots and strokes and aneurysms while being two hours away from the nearest hospital, Coz gave his husband a cheeky grin and blurted out, “Do you remember when I stuffed sweat socks into that old radiator back at our dorm to stop it from clanking?”

Pitch looked back at him blankly, his eyes ringed with darker shadows than normal.  The silence stretched for countless minutes and Coz mentally kicked himself   Then, surprisingly and gratifyingly, the corners of Pitch’s thin lips quirked upwards in subdued mirth.  “Ah, the stench of true love.”

PROTO - Two months after move-in at NDU

A four-afghan migraine.  Oh dear, this WAS serious.

Proto dispassionately viewed the sleeping form of his cousin stretched out on the couch under multiple blankets, face buried in cushions so that only his distinctive crest of black hair could be seen.

Oh dear, indeed.

This called for drastic measures.

One quick and completely justifiable break-in, one cupboard rummage-by-feel, and one gently-muted whisking later, Proto placed a mug of hot gingered wheatgrass-and-chard tea and a snifter of brandy on the coffee table within Pitch’s reach.  He tenderly positioned Mr. Pickles between his roommate’s drawn-up knees and the back of the couch so that the stuffed ferret’s winsome grin would be the first sight to cheer Pitch when he awoke.

Proto ghosted away to his own room with a self-satisfied smile.

[linuxgamenews]

Tails of Iron 2 Release: A Bigger, Meaner, and Deadlier Sequel

Tails of Iron 2 release for Whiskers of Winter sequel for the action RPG game for Linux, Steam Deck, Mac, and Windows PC. Developer Odd Bug Studio brings their creative talents to life in new ways. Due to make its way onto Steam this month. Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter is coming in hot and due to release on January 28th. United Label and CI Games just unleashed a fresh trailer, and it’s packed with juicy details about the all-new spellcasting system. This sequel is shaping up to be bigger, meaner, and deadlier than the first, and we’re all here for it. This time around, you’re stepping into the paws of Arlo, the new hero of the Ratdom. If you thought the original was brutal, get ready to dive headfirst into Arlo’s bloody quest for vengeance. Since an ancient threat is stirring, and Arlo’s not about to let it slide. Developed by the talented indie crew at Odd Bug Studio. The Tails of Iron 2 release cranks things up with new mechanics and deeper combat. There is also a whole load of new features in this action RPG sequel. Let’s talk gameplay because that’s where things get real. One of the biggest new additions? Spellcasting. And not just any spells – we’re talking god-tier 'Elementa' magic. Fire, ice, poison, and electricity are now part of Arlo’s arsenal, and it’s looking like a total game-changer. Toss that magic at your enemies, set traps, and chain devastating combos. Due to make you feel like a true rat warrior. Jack Bennett, Lead Designer at Odd Bug, said it best – they wanted to give players even more combat options to dominate the battlefield. Mission accomplished, Jack.

Tails of Iron 2 | Magic & Monsters Trailer | Release on Jan 28th

But that’s not all. On top of the epic main quest, Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter throws in some seriously nice side content into the release. You’ll be hunting down giant beasts – 15 of them to be exact – scattered across the icy northern frontier. Take them down, grab rare resources, and craft some legendary gear. Just be ready, these beasts aren’t going to roll over easily. And for those of us who like a bit of customization, the Deluxe edition has you covered. Along with the base game, you’ll score two DLC packs. 'Augur of the Draugr' comes with ancient Draugr armor. While 'Hair to the Throne' hooks you up with badass beards and hairstyles to make Arlo look like the toughest rodent around. Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter Linux and Steam Deck players also get a digital artbook and soundtrack to round out the release package.

Geralt?

Of course, Doug Cockle (yes, that Doug Cockle – Geralt himself) is back to narrate the entire journey. His voice alone is enough to get us hyped, but hearing him guide us through the frost-bitten lands of the Ratdom? Perfection. And let’s not forget base-building. The Rat fortress of Winter’s Edge is yours to upgrade. Buff the smithy, expand the kitchen (because every hero needs good food), and unlock even more traps to keep the Dark Wings at bay. Speaking of Dark Wings – those devilish bats are out in force. So prepare to dish out steel, arrows, and magic to put them in their place. Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter action RPG sequel is due to release on Linux and Steam Deck, with Mac as well as Windows PC. So, whether you’re slashing through beasts or flexing your new magic powers, this one’s shaping up to be an unforgettable ride. January 28th can’t come soon enough on Steam.

[everygame]

Sleighbells (BBC Micro)

Developed/Published by: A.G. Cartlidge / Gemini Released: 1983 Completed: 02/12/2024 Completion: Delivered five presents to Santa.

Altogether now, in our best Noddy Holder impression: It’s CHRISTMAS! And here at exp. Towers that means we… play through ropey old Christmas games that we’ve dug up because maybe it’ll make us feel festive, although normally it just makes us shake our head in despair, thinking about a situation where anyone received these games and then had to play them because they didn’t have anything else to play.

So here’s Sleighbells for BBC Micro, which I think is the first time that arguably the UK’s most important home computer has shown up here on Every Game I’ve Finished. As part of the BBC’s Computer Literacy Project, it exposed entire generations to computers for the first time (and the BBC Micro was still being used in some schools until the mid/late 90s so it crossed from Boomers all the way to late Millennials). While I think that the most understandable point of comparison for non-Brits might be the Apple II, being a more expensive, sort of schooly “real” computer, I don’t think that really captures the utopian nature of the BBC Micro and the associated project (which you can read all about in NESTA’s excellent “The Legacy of the BBC Micro” white paper): an attempt to create a wide cultural change where the general British public would become truly educated in the tools that were going to change the entire world. To not just watch computers change everything: but take part in it.

When you think about that–and especially when you read the white paper–you can’t help but become a bit disappointed in the world we live in now. How computers work has become completely unknown to the average person, and our ability to control them has become ever sanded off as we get pushed into walled gardens and proprietary systems, and our governments seem to have absolutely no imagination in trying to actually transform society, at best hoping corporations might help regions “level up” rather than just suck money out, but mostly trying to keep enough blame on immigrants and minorities that struggling people don’t stop and consider a better world might be possible.

Sorry, this isn’t very Christmassy, is it?

Now. I’d love to follow this train of thought to explain something that I’ve often wondered about–that the BBC Micro seems to get discussed so much less in retro circles than contemporaries like the ZX Spectrum. Is it possible that utopian promises, long dashed, simply make us too ashamed to remember the venerable Micro? That it reminds us, always, that another United Kingdom was possible?

Not really. It’s just that the BBC Micro was really expensive, most people only played educational games or used LOGO on it, and commercial games outside of a venerable few were… a bit crap. Even compared to the likes of the Speccy.

But back to Sleighbells. While it does seem like Santa’s Sleigh Ride is the first Christmas game ever (look, I’m just not going to count Christmas Show and Tell) I keep finding new Christmas games that could easily be the second–it seems like 1983 was a big year for Christmas for some reason.

Packaged in generic box art and featuring absolutely no sleigh bells, Sleighbells is a multi-screen game that probably has some arcade inspiration but I’d be very hard pushed to work out what it is. Narratively, Jack Frost, who always seems to have a problem with Santa, has stolen all the presents, and so as Santa’s assistant you have to venture into his secret cave and steal them all back. You do this across four screens:

On the first screen, you have to get to the entrance while avoiding a gang of snowmen who make a beeline towards you. 

On the second, you just have to run through the cave, avoiding the snowflakes that fall.

On the third, you… do the same thing again, but there are snowmen popping out of the ground and there’s a bat flying about that will kill you literally the instant the level begins unless you move forward immediately. Fun!

On the fourth, you’re supposed to catch the presents being pushed off ledges by… spiders(?) and move them to the left of the screen. The presents can squash you and that bloody bat is still there, but there’s absolutely no time pressure or anything so the first time I played this I just stood thinking I was “collecting” presents and wondering when the level was going to time out until I realized I had to move them one by one to the edge of the screen.

And that’s it, although it loops if you haven’t gone completely doolally with all the excitement.

This is, of course, rubbish, only remarkable because of how annoyingly difficult it seems at first (the snowmen mob you immediately, and that bat can fuck off) but once you get it it’s just a test of patience really. It does have a very festive title screen with a bleepy rendition of Jingle Bells, but that’s about as far as I’ll go.

Will I ever play it again? No!

Final Thought: Something I would be remiss to mention is that the spirit of the BBC Micro does live on in the form of the Raspberry Pi, which does see lots of ordinary people learning how to hack away at a very open computer format, even it is usually just to get a media server running, or a emulation box. It might have been nice, as Ian Livingston pitched, if the device had led to a second Computer Literacy Project as the BBC Nano though.

Every Game I’ve Finished 14>24 is OUT NOW! You can pick it up in paperback, kindle, or epub/pdf. You can also support Every Game I’ve Finished on ko-fi! You can pick up digital copies of exp., a zine featuring all-exclusive writing at my shop, or join as a supporter at just $1 a month and get articles like this a week early.

[writer59january13]

The remnants of August 2024 Hurricane Debbie

Like a humane huntress, she

(the anthropomorphized storm)

brought a spate of cool Autumn like

temperatures and gentle soothing rain here within my neck of the woods

for the last couple of days.

No matter the fall equinox and first day of autumn arrives countless weeks from now on Sunday, September 22, 2024, at 08:44 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time in the Northern Hemisphere synonymous with The Eastern Time Zone a time zone encompassing part or all of 23 states in the eastern part of the United States, parts of eastern Canada, and the state of Quintana Roo in Mexico

the only Mexican state to observe EST. Said geographical area moved from Central Time to Eastern Time after a successful lobbying effort by tourism interests. In 2015, the state of Quintana Roo changed to a new time zone, Zona Sureste (Southeast Zone), and discontinued daylight saving time, being in UTC−05:00 all year. Quintana Roo does not observe daylight saving time.

Though record breaking triple digit temperatures showed no mercy against the sheltering sky, (when humanity

gets bowled over like ten pins

not sparing anyone after fury of coming storm and indiscriminate havoc of mother nature

poised to strike) unleashing brutally hazy, hot, and humid dog days gave

weather weary woebegone wretched earthlings something to complain about and blame the Republicans

no doubt, aforementioned swath of land experienced temporary respite and relief against relentless horrid umpteenth heat wave,

which reprieve and blessing from the blustering, blistering,

and blasting fiery solar blast furnace

summoning gratitude regarding

temporary prized lull heaven sent

buzzfeeding, and nursing biosphere with good n plenti liquid precipitation offering sneak preview when at long last summer two thousand twenty four segues into September days awash with refreshing temperatures and bathing the terrestrial firmament with much welcoming rain. Soon empyrean découpage citadel

will betoken (bespeak) autumnal arrival

as chariot of fire emblazons telltale signature

one humble human doth bid summer adieu. Already an imperceptible merest trace hints of crisp cool mornings and evenings ushering fresh air French kissed yours truly tongue in cheek refreshing air wafts thru longish hair trademark characteristic property aging pencil neck geek attends brief bathroom charge coffee exotic brew jolted kidneys leak urine not kidding water closet doth reek.

Back after I did potty hod dee.

How grand when third season of two thousand and twenty four

visits upon us mortals

Montgomery county, Pennsylvania said geographic real estate sloughs (i.e. sheds) summer dog days

necessitating unshuttered windows

allowing, enabling and providing natural aeration

to circulate thru unit B44 cozy one bedroom apartment.

I will stave off clicking

the central air conditioning unnecessarily,

nor crank up british thermal units

(the amount of heat needed to raise

one pound of water at maximum density through one degree Fahrenheit,

equivalent to 1.055 × 103 joules)

until bone chilling cold arrives,

though hard to believe,

yet invariably come Jack Frost will make his debut

and like clockwork, yours truly will renege and surrender creature comfort, albeit climate controlled temptation similar when global warming quite evident predicated upon Farmers' Almanac prophetic prediction. Though ecology minded quick acclimation to unseasonable hot or cold temperatures

will find me (a contrarian) eating his words

adjusting thermostat dial by way of explanation to remove the chill no matter cranking up heat will invariably aggravate palmar hyperhidrosis

whereas turning on air conditioning

doth thwart excessive sweating of palms

during sweltering triple digit

Ah... remembrance of wood burning stove papa lit,

to dispense chill pervading childhood home

324 Level Road christened "Glen Elm"

within national (local registry)

when Leiper family initially occupied estate

at that time (think early twentieth century)

merely intended as summer getaway.

This time of year finds me

to reminisce and wax poetic

nostalgia more pronounced,

particularly as aspiring wordsmith

orbitz the sun seemingly with greater rapidity

twelve months cycling at light speed

accentuated when flora and fauna

exhibit metaphorical raiment

presaging fall fashion

linkedin with approaching senescence

prompting choleric, generic, and homeric garden variety Homo sapien

to rue his transience upon oblate spheroid.

Gentrification impossible mission

thus thy lovely bones will subsequently

become repurposed into ashes sprinkled

hither and yon to and fro

across elysium fields of happy hunting grounds.

[erinsworld]

Another WIP I'd forgotten about until I searched for this week's word. Which I apparently use a lot, lol! Though after reading through this, I may call it done. It's longer than a drabble, flashfic maybe? Small one-shot scene? I think I had left it with the intention of going back and adding a lot more to it, a lot more details. But I think I may like just as the small moment in time that it is.

And hey, look at that, more hurt Jack. 😊

He presses two fingers against Jack’s neck.

Doesn’t move, doesn’t breath.

His drops his head onto Jack’s shoulder as he presses again. Harder this time.

Please…

Proof of life thumps against the pads of his fingers and the sob he’d been holding in breaks free.

He cups Jack’s cheek, meticulous and slow in his movements as he rolls Jack’s head to face him.

Blood coats one side of his face and Mac uses the cuff of his shirt, softly wiping across his eye.

"Jack… hey, Jack… No sleeping on the job."

Mas uses his free hand to tap the other side of his face. Silence reigns. Only the two of them exist.

"Wake up, man." He runs the knuckle of his forefinger on Jack’s sternum.

"I really need you to wake up." Mac stammers. "You’re scaring me, Jack."

**

If there is one fic on my extremely long WIP list that I would one day love to finish, it is this one. Or, this set of WIPs. Sitting abandoned now for a few years. It's a set of about 5 or 6 separate fics. Each one with different characters, different actions, their own separate moments in time, if you will, that all further the main story idea to its conclusion. Each part is partially written, some much more than others, and some an absolute total mess that'll need a rewrite.

And totally overwhelming.

Maybe I'll make them my winter project. Something to work on when I'm stuck in the house during snow storms.

Sierra November and its characters belong to the lovely altschmerzes and I thank them immensely for allowing me to play in their sandbox. I hope when, when I finally finish I'll do them justice. Go check out their fics on A03, they're great.

"Come in please,” Director Webber steps into the doorway and addresses them. “And shut the door behind you.”

The members of Sierra November file into the room and Thomas closes the door with a near silent click. The Director’s fingers brush up against the large windows that line the room and they instantly frost over, and Thomas would think that was a pretty cool trick if he wasn’t so preoccupied with finding out exactly what was going on.

“Thank you all for coming in so quickly.”

“You’re welcome,” Lucia answers for them all, automatically taking the lead. “But your message didn’t give the impression that this was a casual request.”

Thomas cringes at the direct, almost flippant remark and waits with bated breath for the reprimand he sure is coming. Director Webber smiles instead, but it’s a brittle thing, pain, and an emotion he can’t identify shining in her eyes.

“You’re right, it wasn’t. And before you ask,” she holds up a hand to forestall any of them from speaking, “none of you are in any sort of trouble. Quite the opposite in fact. Have a seat while I explain.”

Thomas sits on one side of the couch as Meredith settles beside him on the other side. Vincent and Lucia flanking them as they sit in the armchairs on either side.

“This is a time-sensitive and fluid situation, so I’m going to get right to the point.” the Director begins. “You were all summoned here for the skills that you all possess not only individually, but as a unit, you’re standing as one of our top-tier exfil teams and for your familiarity with the…operative in need of emergency evac.”

This week’s word is…

✨ PLEASE ✨

Find the word in any WIP and share the sentence containing it. Reply, reblog, stick it in the tags, tag us in a new post, or keep it private. All fandoms, all ships, all writers welcome.

[praeteritus-memories-muses]

Name: Jackson Overland Frost

Series: Rise of the Guardians

Continuity: FIlm version

Age: 18 (physical appearance)

Height: 5'9"

Birthplace: Burgess, Pennsylvania, United States

Orientation: Bisexual

Species: Frost spirit

Occupation: Guardian of childhood fun

Sister: Mary

Bio:

Before becoming an immortal spirit of fun, he was Jackson Frost. His parents had lived for a while in Burgess, Pennsylvania. He was born on a frosty evening and was certainly loved by his parents. Though he wasn’t entirely the good boy his parents thought him to be, he often played pranks on the other villagers and had a tendency to joke around often.

It’s only at ten years old when he learned of responsibility when his little sister was born. Jack bonded with his baby sister immediately and vowed to protect her no matter what, she’d certainly grow up to be very close with her brother too. Jack would dedicate himself to make sure his sister knew nothing but joy and laughter, especially after their father died.

Their father had unfortunately died of a horrible infection from an animal bite during a hunt with the other men thus leaving just Jack, his mother and sister. He was there for his mother and made a promise to make sure things stayed happy for the two of them now that he had to be the man of the household at such a young age.

Jack would continue this pranks, tricks and silly fun. He’d hang from trees and swing around pretending to be an animal to make his sister laugh or play games like hopscotch with her. While he played a little too many pranks and games, even his mother telling him that he can’t have fun all the time, he loved it and was happy with his life.

While it was spring, the snow was still on the ground and the lake was presumably still frozen in. Jack normally would check with a stick but the ice looked surely perfect enough to skate on that he made the fatal mistake of not checking that one day. With his mother’s last words to him being “Be careful.”, he’d go out onto the ice with his little sister.

Just as they were skating, the ice started to crack under his sister. While she was normally a very quick little girl, even earning the nickname of Flea because of her speed, she was too scared at how fast the ice was cracking to move out of the way of the cracking ice.

Jack would immediately calm her down, pretending to play one last game of hopscotch with her before throwing her out of the way and onto the solid ground where no ice could fall in under her. While he laughs that they did it and lived, Jack wasn’t watching himself and fell into the frozen water where he drowned to death.

That was when the Man In The Moon, a being who chooses creatures from all over the galaxy to protect children, chose Jack for his kind heart and love to protect his little sister. He revived Jack from the dead with the goal that he would protect the children of the world from harm by bringing them fun in their lives. Yet Jack wouldn’t know this.

He was resurrected with no memories of his past and no understanding of why he was here. All he was told by the man in the moon is that his name was Jack Frost with no explanation of his powers or that he was even a dead young man brought back from the dead.

Though he’s curious and immediately used his magic stick to bring snow to the area, realizing he could fly with the powers of the wind where he’d immediately fly to a local village. He’d tried to ask where he was in the village only to realize nobody could hear him, see him and walked right through him. He had to live in complete isolation like that for 300 years. Mostly alone as he only briefly met with the Easter Bunny and Santa Clause every once in a great while.

300 years later, Jack was told by North (Santa) that he was a guardian to which Jack would immediately reject it. He was far too fun and relaxed to be a guardian in the same way all the other guardians were, but the journey to stop Pitch Black opened his eyes that perhaps he could protect others by giving them the fun and joy they need to have the strength to be strong.

After being a large part of Pitch Black (the boogeyman)’s defeat, Jack was finally seen. He was first seen by a boy named Jamie and quickly snowballed into now every child being able to see him.

Not only was he finally seen by people, he was able to unlock the memories of his past and finally figured out why he was brought to life again. Sometimes he does wonder if Jamie is related his little sister, solely from how similar he thinks they can be.

Today, Jack is a winter spirit who protects children and adults when danger hits. Even if they can’t see him, he’ll still help him any way he can with the power of icy winds and snow.

[llpodcast]

(Literary License Podcast)

Deliverance (1972)

 Deliverance is a 1972 American survival thriller film produced and directed by John Boorman, and starring Jon Voight, Burt Reynolds, Ned Beatty, and Ronny Cox, with the latter two making their feature film debuts. The screenplay was adapted by James Dickey from his 1970 novel of the same name. The film was a critical and box office success, earning three Academy Award nominations and five Golden Globe Award nominations.  Widely acclaimed as a landmark picture, the film is noted for a music scene near the beginning, with one of the city men playing "Dueling Banjos" on guitar with a banjo-picking country boy, and for its notorious, violent, brutal sodomy rape scene. In 2008, Deliverance was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."

 Race With The Devil (1973)

 Race with the Devil is a 1975 American action horror film directed by Jack Starrett, written by Wes Bishop and Lee Frost, and starring Peter Fonda, Warren Oates, Loretta Swit, and Lara Parker. This was the second of three films Fonda and Oates would star in together (The Hired Hand, 1971) was their first, and 92 in the Shade (1975) was their third). Race with the Devil is a hybrid of the horror, action, and car chase genres.

 Opening Credits; Introduction (1.04); Background History (20.15); Deliverance (1972) Film Trailer (21.45); The Original (24.37); Let's Rate (57.29); Introducing the Double Feature (1:02.27); Race With The Devil (1973) Film Trailer (1:03.30); The Attraction (1:05.30); How Many Stars (1:51.31); End Credits (1:58.50); Closing Credits (2:00.23)

 Opening Credits– Epidemic Sound – copyright 2021. All rights reserved

 Closing Credits:  Take Me Home, Country Roads by Olivia Newton John.  Taken from the album Let Me Be There.  Copyright 1973 Festival Records

​

Original Music copyrighted 2020 Dan Hughes Music and the Literary License Podcast. 

 All rights reserved.  Used by Kind Permission.

 All songs available through Amazon Music.