#lord pendleton

[pendleton-manor]

[sas-afras]

baby shaun doodles

[lordcustythependletwat]

After re-reading my favorite Pendleton fics for the umpteenth time, I love that, despite the many different ways of characterizing the twins, everyone can agree that Custis's "best mind for business" translates to him being good with numbers and being busy at a desk all the time.

[letterboxd-loggd]

Trapped by Television (Caught by Television) (1936) Del Lord

November 3rd 2024

[thesamoanqueen]

Anatomy of an affair

Warnings: age-gap (but we keep it legal), cheating.

A/N: I was talking to @alyyaanna and the anatomy professor's idea took control, I couldn't resist, so this one for her. It will have a sequel, this is just part 1.

They say the secret of a good relationship is friendship, I had scientifically proven that this wasn't the case being a test subject all my life. Tobert and I had grown up in the same neighborhood in Pendleton South Carolina, two nearby houses, our families loved each other, we went to school together, hung out with the same group of friends, we even broke our arms together – it was his fault –. For everyone we were two soul mates linked, it was inevitable in some way. We had done everything together our whole lives, the most mundane things and the first shameful experiences. Our relationship on paper was destined for success, absolute, overwhelming, our faces under the heading "goal couple", at least until I decided to study medicine in Boston and he stayed in our hometown. Our paths had separated for just three months before he had a bad accident at his uncle's construction company, he had begged me, it had been a tough decision, but I had agreed to come back to support him. But now that I had finally taken control of my life, in my second actual year of studies, Tobert was boycotting everything again.

For the entire previous year I had thought he was trying to distract himself from the void I had left in his life, filling it with trips and nights with co-workers and friends, but looking back I had been kidding myself. Our parents called every day to find out when we were getting married and if I would be home soon, but from him? Oh, well, a few calls, always short, couple of messages, often stupid ones, and a facetime on weekend for some creepy phone sex. He didn't come to visit me, he didn't organize anything when I returned home, for my last birthday he sent me a package with a sweater I suspected he hadn't chosen. And now, after months of tolerating it, I saw him in an IG story with a chick’s ass in his face.

- "Good Lord man!"

- "Sav have you seen? Sav?"

What I could see was that he was even enjoying it! He had the same stupid face of an old man who can't read the newspaper, the one has been in my face since we were fifteen, ending our moments like commercials on TV in his father's garage.

- "What’s with that face? Sav is it everything okay?"

- "Savannah…"

I had felt guilty for wanting to start again and leaving him behind, I was working hard to finish and return home, I had always pushed away the instinct that told me I deserved more and instead he was living his best life without worrying about hiding it. His behaviour was not somekind of abandonment syndrome, it was just one of his bullshit and evidences were everywhere. I was a freking clown, our relationship was a joke I had wanted to believe alone because after so many years it seemed impossible to think of anyone else to me, when he was simply used to having me there at his disposal and now he thought was free. I had wasted my life and almost burned my future…

Realization hit me in the cafeteria, my colleagues staring at me like at some psycopath and rightly so, because when the next story popped up on the screen, I snapped.

- "That asshole!" – my scream echoed throughout the entire hall, overcoming the chatter that always filled it.

The sudden silence that followed and the hand one of my friends smashed against my arm brought me back suddenly, but by then it was late. I had just made the scene I would probably always be remembered for. Standing with my latte dripping onto the couch and music now playing in the background like a bad theme for my drama, I saw dozens of eyes staring at me.

- "... Sav what’s you problem?! We got company... get your ass over here!" – my roommate whispered in a panic, nodding towards the two men who had been about to leave.

In slow motion I saw them both looking at me and to humiliation was added absolute terror when without thinking I raised my hand to wave an embarrassed greeting, restarting Tobert's story. Oh, they would definitely remember me for that scene.

There wasn't a person on the entire campus who didn't know about my performance and the worst thing certainly wasn't the rumors but rather pity looks, plus the extra tasks I had agreed to do to clean up my reputation and keep myself busy. I hadn't received any formal warning, not even a comment, but I didn't want to risk ruining my career after having already dropped out in the past. The idea of losing the opportunity of a lifetime to someone who had already gotten more than he deserved from me drove me crazy.

Tobert hadn't commented, probably his two brain cells hadn't yet met to discuss what to do or they didn't think it was serious, but I had clear ideas and I had chosen to run the circus, patiently planning the day I would have kicked him with my degree.

So armed with good will and courage I marched across campus with my head held high, ready to face my demons and regain total control. It was almost time for the anatomy course to start and I planned to pass with top marks, but to do so I also had to make sure that the new professor didn't just remember me for screaming that day in front of him and his predecessor. My friends talked about him constantly, but I didn't have time for gossip, I had to seem like the right person to invest in for the future of medicine. When I arrived in front of his studio, however, my intention seemed less simple than expected. The entire aisle had been assaulted by a crowd of students, mostly girls. If I had suffered from amnesia, I would have thought I was at a concert or among a nymphomaniacs cult. We weren't in California, those outfits were definitely out of season as well as indecent, what’s was wrong with all of them?

- "Do you think he will receive today?"

- "Ah, I hope so! I want to see him so bad!"

Forced to wait like everyone else, I caught up with the gossip I had refused to hear from my friends, discovering the new professor was not only charming, but also young and free, which explained the cult. I also sadly discovered firsthand he hated receiving students and from what I saw he didn't even respect the time when he should have been forced to do so. Sitting in my chair, I waited twice as long before seeing the other students go away resignedly with their tiny blouses and too short skirts, deciding to spending my time finishing the chemistry project I had to hand in the following week. With my head down and fixed not to give up, I continued typing on my keyboard until two voices distracted me.

- "You can't take care of it alone, it's not necessary and you shouldn't at all" – I knew Mr. Heyman, he was an authority everywhere thanks to his investments and was often in the area because of his daughter, as well as a good friend of the rector.

The other man with him, I had only seen him on the day of my drama and I must not have seen him well due to the shock, because if I had I would not have given dirty looks to all the girls who had waited for him with me. Was he really a professor? Since when were professors like that?! You couldn't be like that, it was disorienting, didn’t help to the teaching process.

- "I should find someone but I don't have time to waste, Paul" – he complained and his voice sent a shiver through my body as I watched them reach the door in front of me.

- "I could ask, I have some friends, I'm sure there will be many smart guys who would be honored to do it, extra credits or not."

- "I will do it."

I said without thinking, lost in thoughts I shouldn't have been having, and they both turned to look at me, just as confused and surprised by the interruption as I was.

I had planned to introduce myself, ask a few questions, apologize for the bad first impression and now I had just made another one, listening to conversations that didn't concern me, without even saying hello, volunteering for who knows what next. Perfect.

Once the confusion was over, Mr. Heyman looked at me with interest, almost analyzing me, and I quickly tried to put myself together, putting everything away to get up.

- "And you are?" – He asked, his hands hidden in the pockets of his elegant suit.

- "Savannah Naïs Simon. Among the best in my class" – I introduced myself without hesitation and once again mentally scolded myself.

Now I even praised myself?! I usually handled the pressure well, for that kind of career it was indispensable, after all, but all of a sudden I was making one misstep after another and I couldn't afford it, not now. Tobert wasn't there to screw things, I had no excuses, it was my time, it was up to me. Head held high, nerves strong, that's what I needed.

- "Among the best doesn't mean the best" – Mr. Heyman cut me off, shaking his head – "and we have to check it too. I'll make a call."

Struck dumb, I quickly tried to think of something, anything, to make my case. The other professors would have confirmed, but what would I look like standing there waiting for their help?

- "It's no use" – however, Professor Reigns, who had watched until that moment, stopped us both.

His voice really played tricks on my body, but when my eyes met his it was even worse. His expression conveyed nothing, I couldn't imagine what he was thinking, but he exuded authority and there was something magnetic about him, the kind of man capable of changing the atmosphere with just his presence.

- "Are you sure?" – he heard Mr. Heyman ask him, finally stopping looking at me.

- "I’ll take her" – he established, checking me for a brief moment and I held my breath without even realizing it.

He will… take me? for doing what? And was it positive or…

- "We start tomorrow morning" – he said, addressing me directly.

- "I will be on time" – I promised, even if he had already turned his back to me to open the door, Mr. Heyman following him without paying any more attention to me.

- "No phone Miss Simon" – he advised from afar, just before I was left completely alone in the aisle and I distinctly felt the weight of the entire campus falling on me.

I had risked making another scene, I had volunteered for something I didn't even know what it was, I would have had to move lessons to keep my word and I would have thrown away even the amount of time I had left to sleep. And once again that wasn't the worst, but the fact he remembered and had already targeted me before I could even apologize.

What awaited me was a role as an assistant for the entire duration of the course, but I only found out the following day, after spending the whole night awake. I wouldn't have much time to do anything else, it was clear from the first moment, but I had no intention of backing out after having volunteered. It wasn't just a way to make up for my bad impression, it was an opportunity for which anyone else would have gladly given an organ, I myself would have done so - who needed two kidneys? One was enough - and that would certainly help my career, I was lucky. Professor Reigns was a successful doctor, he had changed the landscape of pathological anatomy with his works and his presence was an honor for the university. Admissions to his course were closed after just one day and the program specified that a selection would still be made by him personally. Assisting him and observing how he worked could have given me a great advantage in the selection phase and that was what I was aiming for. Memorizing had always been my thing, but anatomy was much more than listing body parts.

However, reality once again did not correspond to my expectations and in the following three days, I felt more like a secretary than an assistant, with alla those emails and calls. He always arrived early and most of the time I found him sitting at his desk, looking at personal documents and boxes full of medical records. He worked with his head down for hours, often without speaking or taking a break, which wasn't good for my ambition, but at least it helped me not to get distracted because the rare times I saw him looking at me were a test of mental resistance.

His presence demanded attention, his imposing body promised what it shouldn't with the most banal gestures like a pen between his fingers. Calling him a good-looking man would have been an insult, the world was full of handsome and insignificant men, but he had something vaguely frightening, something I had never tasted before and it awakened an almost primordial impulse in me.

The sound of someone knocking on the door brought me out of my thoughts and I quickly straightened up, hoping nothing in me would give me away. I couldn't think about certain things, I wasn't there to daydream about affairs, not when my future was in play and my lifelong boyfriend had cheated on me. A student I had seen a couple of times appeared in the doorway, wearing a lab coat, a deep neckline underneath. Her blue eyes scanned the room where I was in search of what interested her and which was instead sitting in the near room.

- "I know it's not reception hour, but is the professor over there? I would like to talk to him in private about some things" – she said without even trying too hard to simulate and I batted my eyelashes at her, fascinated and annoyed at her courage before stopping her.

- "Unfortunately he is busy. If it’s important you can ask via email or otherwise wait for the course to start. Lessons start tomorrow morning, the time and place are already confirmed" – I anticipated, getting a reproachful look.

- "I need to see him now."

Oh, I could imagine it and I would have complimented the clever attempt to show up when no one was waiting if she hadn't been trying to call me dumb.

- "Can I help you now?" – I proposed without getting too upset and she seemed on the verge of losing her patience.

- "Can I have an appointment?"

- "Sure, I'll put you on the list."

I didn't see her expression, she was probably furious, but she didn't give me time, huffing her disappointment out of the studio, leaving me with the agenda in my hand. I closed it with a heavy breath, putting it back in my bag, where I had been advised to keep it so that it was always with me and never unattended. When I raised my head I almost had a heart attack, discovering Professor Reigns intent on staring at me from his desk, hands crossed, his expression curious.

- "I'm busy?" – he inquired and his low, rough voice made my neck tingle.

I hadn't told a lie, he was busy. He worked on those medical records all day, there was always some document on which he kept his eyes glued. Why was he staring at me like that? Maybe I shouldn't have spoken before asking yes, but my intentions weren't bad, I was trying to be helpful.

- "With the material for the research project and the visit to the rector this afternoon, plus I don't think she really had any questions" – I explained, clenching my fists praying that I could use them against myself because it would have been much better.

I spoke without being involved, I made decisions independently, now I also commented and implied. The unkind thoughts I'd had about Tobert were backfiring on me, bad karma.

- "Is that so?" – Professor Reigns asked curiously, leaning back in his chair and knowing for a fact it was better keep my mouth closed, I nodded, returning to look at my laptop in silence hoping to not have to explain anything else.

I couldn't talk about those things with a professor, someone who could have mentored me, it didn't matter if there wasn't that much of an age gap between us and we ended up on the topic. It was an off limits talk and I tried to focus on the topics outline he would analyze the following day during the first lesson, it had to be detailed and precise, but I couldn't even read what I had summarized until five minutes before.

- "Savannah right?" – I heard my name being called and even more shocked, I watched him finally get up from his desk to join me – "you want to be a cardiologist"

- "How... who"- I spluttered in surprise and putting hands in his pockets, he smiled at me amused.

A smile that would have knocked anyone out, perfect and soft, so incredibly unexpected on an authority figure like him. For three days he had paid almost no attention to me, only addressing me as necessary as Miss. Simon and I had never hoped for more than that, because of our first meeting and his role. Plus not many people knew my goal, after giving up and coming back was something I had learned to keep to myself.

- "Paul is a friend of mine and the rector's. He has his people. He was doubtful at first, but he thought better of it after a few calls and was right as always. You're doing a good job" – he replied, clarifying the doubts I wasn't even able to express and I felt my stomach tighten with emotion.

I knew I shouldn't expect recognition, not in such a competitive environment and when I was a nobody, but it was nice to know my effort was being noticed. Noticed moreover by people of that level. It was a rush of positive energy I really needed to give value to my sacrifices and know investing in myself was the right thing. Tobert and this sort of incestuous relationship we'd had had tried to screw everything, but I was still in the running.

- "I do my best, it's an honor" – I said enthusiastically, matching the smile he had given me, but he raised a hand to stop me, swinging his head.

- "Let's leave this out, I need support and an objective opinion at every lesson. I'm not a real professor, I'm a doctor, but it's an opportunity and everyone has something to pass on. Do you think you can do it, without distractions?" – He asked, throwing another dig at me, but this time I quickly got over it, nodding immediately.

At that point I would have done anything he asked me, I couldn't refuse him anything. It had been three days as a secretary, ignored and perpetually under pressure, but I had passed the test, I had earned his trust. He really wanted me to become his assistant now, he asked for my opinion even though we weren't equals in that field. Screw karma, I had already won in life at that point!

- "I can give my word Sir" – I promised and once again that smile appeared on his perfect face.

- "Good girl" – he approved, before leaving me again.

Those two words rang in my ears right inside my head, as dangerous as a spell and I had the impression of feeling my blood warm, while my body suddenly came alive and melted at the idea of having deserved that pet name. Subconsciously, I scratched my notebook, legs clenched under the desk as I watched the profile of his massive back. We had had an important moment and there I was holding my breath for something that Tobert had never in a lifetime been able to give me, after two words said without any intention.

I saw Mr. Reigns sit back down, rolling his shoulders with ease as he resumed whatever had occupied him before our chat. His eyes searched me one last time and a part of me that shouldn't have throbbed around nothing, making me lower my head to the lesson plan.

I was imagining it, it was in my head and it had to disappear as soon as possible.

Tag squad: @sunnyfleur23 @racerchix21 @alyyaanna @expert-texpert @romanreignsdefencesquad @romanstheory @claymorexpunisher @keybladeofsteel @msbigredmachine @nayys-world @gobbersworld @utika151209 @cumxxslutt @civildawn @romanmydaddy @triscillal @papireigns-05 @helensanders92 @darqchilddaydreamz @meggylynnloves @unfriendly--blvck--hottie @nicolewoo @joannasteez @reignsx @kianaleani @daguenoire @extra-11 @333creolelady @snowpanda18 @brattyfics @mzv11 @romanreignseater @dreamsinfocus @vebner37 @depressedneedingrevenge @cyberdejos2 @mahi-wayy @jxtina-86 @harmshake @southerngirl41 @smile1318 @headoftheetable @sortudademais

[type40thiefoflight]

Four things I'd love from a DH1 remake are DH2-style non-lethal takedowns, a third upgrade to Blink that gives you Daud's version, NG+ that makes Knife of Dunwall and Brigmore Witches sepia-toned or black-and-white and gives them a film noir soundtrack, and different non-lethal options for Lady Boyle's Last Party. For DH2 I want another non-lethal option for The Clockwork Mansion.

Lady Boyle's Last Party:

1. Don't have Lady White and Lord Brisby feed you all the information, just subtle hints if anything. I really don't like that he just flat out tells you which sister to go after; it ruins the experience for me.

2. Corvo finds a letter opener in Lady Boyle's bedroom and slips it to her before taking her to Lord Brisby (think Daud swapping Barrister Timsh's documents). Funding a coup is bad but not "getting kidnapped and becoming a sex slave" bad. She can feed Lord Brisby to the hagfish on the way out.

3. Along with Lord Brisby telling Corvo that he's a friend of Treavor Pendleton's and part of the Loyalists, he confesses to being a supply smuggler and after the party is going past the blockade out of the city. All the food for the Hound Pits Pub and Lady Boyle's party had to come from somewhere and I doubt it was local markets.

Lord Brisby still asks Corvo to let Lady Boyle leave with him. He asks Corvo to hide her in an empty crate stashed near the boat in the cellar that he's taking back to his supply ship docked elsewhere. Once Corvo knocks Lady Boyle out and puts her in the crate it triggers a cutscene of Lord Brisby standing next to it on the boat. He thanks us for letting him save her and that he better get out of there before anyone notices they're gone. Yes I know this is just the Bundry Rothwild option again but if it can be reused for Paolo and Overseer Byrne in DH2 it's fine here.

The Clockwork Mansion:

1. The brainwashing chair reminded me of the electric chair in the Golden Cat so why not have Jindosh make an even more elaborate one? I think his punishment should be him getting knocked out in the chair then brought back to the Dreadful Wale and locked up. Maybe you could even zap the riddle's answer out of him or ask him later once he's on the boat. After Delilah is defeated he can be locked up in Coldridge, which we find out through either NPC dialogue or game notes has been reformed by Corvo so nobody has to suffer the way he did.

2. In a low chaos ending maybe you could hire him to make a solution to the whale oil crisis. If Anton "war crimes" Sokolov can be forgiven for infecting his test subjects, lying to them about it, leaving them to turn into weepers or die in his greenhouse, and supplying walls of light to Hiram Burrows, Kirin Jindosh can be let off the hook for supplying Duke Abele and Delilh with clockwork soldiers.

[thatrandomartistjavi]

Actors that were in Alice in Wonderland media and where you might know them better from. Part 2: 1970s-1990s

Part 1 | Part 2(you're here!!) | Part 3

1972-

Michael Crawford as the White Rabbit: The Phantom/Erik from The Phantom of the Opera Cornelius Hackel from Hello Dolly!(movie) Robert Helpmann as the Mad Hatter: Child Catcher from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Michael Hordern as the Mock Turtle: Jacob Marley from A Christmas Carol(1971) Davy Kaye as the Mouse: Admiral from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Roy Kinnear as the Cheshire Cat: Henry Salt from Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory Pipkin from Watership Down

Through the Looking Glass(1973)-

Sarah Sutton as Alice: Nyssa from Doctor Who Geoffrey Bayldon as the White Knight: Dr. Duval from Pink Panther(1976)

Festival of Family Classics(1973)-

Carl Banas as the King of Hearts: Head Elf from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Scorpion from Spider-Man(1967) Sweetums from Tales from Muppetland- The Frog Prince Grandpa Kitty from Hello Kitty's Furry Tale Theater Bernard Gouran as the Dormouse: Bumble/Spotted Elephant from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Paul Soles as the Cheshire Cat: Hermey from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Spider-Man/Peter Parker from Spider-Man(1967) Stanley Lieber from The Incredible Hulk(2008) Peg Dixon as the Queen of Hearts: May Parker/Mary Jane Watson from Spider-Man(1967)

Alice at the Palace(1982)

Meryl Streep as Alice: Donna Sheridan from Mamma Mia!(movie) Mrs. Fox from Fantastic Mr. Fox The Witch from Into the Woods(movie) Cousin Topsy from Mary Poppins Returns Dee Dee Allen from The Prom(movie) Betty Aberlin as Alice's sister: Herself in Mister Roger's Neighborhood Debbie Allen as the Queen of Hearts: Dr. Catherine Avery Fox from Grey's Anatomy Michael Jeter as the Pig Baby/Dormouse/Bill: Mr. Noodle from Sesame Street Steamer/Smokey from The Polar Express

Great Performances(1983)-

Kate Burton as Alice:

Ellis Grey from Grey’s Anatomy

Austin Pendleton as the White Rabbit:

Max from The Muppet Movie

Gurgle from Finding Nemo

Nathan Lane as the Mouse:

Timon from The Lion King

Hammegg from AstroBoy(2009)

Max Dialystock from The Producers

Gomez Addams from The Addams Family(musical)

Geoffrey Holder as the Cheshire Cat:

Narrator from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Ray the Sun from Bear in the Big Blue House

(He was also the original director and costume designer for The Wiz(musical)

Eve Arden as the Queen of Hearts:

Principal McGee from Grease

James Coco as the King of Hearts:

Mr. Skeffington from The Muppets Take Manhattan

Donald O’Connor as the Mock Turtle:

Cosmo Brown from Singin’ in the Rain

André De Shields as Tweedle Dum:

Hermes from Hadestown

The Wiz from The Wiz(musical)

Maureen Stapleton as the White Queen:

Mama Mae Peterson from Bye Bye Birdie

CBS(1985)-

Natalie Gregor as Alice: Jenny Foxworth from Oliver & Company Sherman Hemsley as the Mouse: B.P. Richfield from Dinosaurs Shelley Winters as the Dodo: Lena Gogan from Pete's Dragon Sammy Davis Jr. as the Caterpillar: Josh Howard from Ocean's 11 Robert Axelrod as the Frog Footman: Lord Zedd from Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers-The Movie Telly Savales as the Cheshire Cat: El Sleezo Tough from The Muppet Movie Roddy McDowall as the March Hare: Mr. Soil from A Bug's Life Jervis Tetch from Batman the Animated Series Ringo Starr as the Mock Turtle: The Beatles Carol Channing as the White Queen: Dolly Gallagher Levi from Hello Dolly! Harvey Korman as the White King: The Great Gazoo from The Flintstones Sally Struthers as Tiger Lily: Rebecca Cunningham from TaleSpin Pat Morita as the Horse: Mr. Miyagi from The Karate Kid The Emperor of China from Mulan Jonathan Winters as Humpty Dumpty: Grandpa Smurf from The Smurfs John Stamos as the Messenger: Jesse Katsopolis from Full House Iron Man/Tony Stark from Spidey and His Amazing Friends(put this here cause i thought it was funny)

Anglia TV(1985)-

Joan Sanderson as the Queen of Hearts: Dorcas from The Great Muppet Caper Bernard Cribbins as the Mock Turtle: Wilfred Mott from Doctor Who

BBC(1986)-

Elisabeth Sladen as the Dormouse: Sarah Jane Smith from Doctor Who Michael Wisher as the Cheshire Cat: Davros and the Daleks in episodes that the character was involved in from Doctor Who Roy Skelton as the Mock Turtle: Daleks for The Evil of the Daleks(and 5 other episodes) from Doctor Who

Carebears in Wonderland(1987)-

Tracey Moore as Alice: Cheer Bear from The Carebears Family Share Bear from Too Many Carebears stuff to list Emma Frost from X-Men(1992) Sailor Moon from Sailor Moon(1995)(Ep. 1-11,15, and 21) Princess Toadstool from The Adventures of Super Mario Bros 3 Don McManus as the Caterpillar: David Madsen from Life is Strange Elizabeth Hanna as the Queen of Wonderland: Grandma/Mama Kitty from Hello Kitty's Furry Tale Theater

Through the Looking Glass(1987)-

Janet Waldo as Alice: Judy Jetson from The Jetsons Josie from Josie and the Pussycats Townsend Coleman as Tom Fool: The Tick from The Tick Michaelangelo/Splinter/Krang/Shredder from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles(1987) Phyllis Diller as the White Queen: Queen from A Bug's Life Hal Smith as the Bandersnatch: Owl from Winnie the Pooh(until 1991)(was also the first replacement for Pooh bear himself) Josiah from Halloween is Grinch Night Gyro Gearloose/Flintheart Glomgold from Ducktales Phillipe from Beauty and the Beast Jonathan Winters as the Tweedles: Papa Smurf from The Smurfs Alan Young as the White Knight: Scrooge McDuck from Ducktales Farmer Smurf from The Smurfs Mr. T as the Jabberwock: Mr. T B.A. Baracus from The A-Team Clive Revill as the Snark/Goat: King Nod from The Thief and the Cobbler(1993,1995) Kickback from The Transformers-The Movie Will Ryan as the Paper Man: Petrie from The Land Before Time Willie the Giant from Mickey's Christmas Carol(and until his death in 2021) Harold the Seahorse from The Little Mermaid Digit/Moe from An American Tail

Burbank(1988)-

Keith Scott as the White Rabbit/March Hare/Dodo: Gordon/Diesel 10 from Thomas and the Magic Railroad Dudley Do-Right/Inspector Fenwick from Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls Popeye/Bluto from Popeye & Bluto's Bilge Rat Barges

Funky Fables(1988)-

Norma MacMillan as the Narrator: Casper from The New Casper Cartoon Show Gumby on The Gumby Show Doug Parker as the Rabbit/Frog/Mouse: Shredder from Ninja Turtles- The Next Mutation Richard Newman as the Caterpillar: General Cryptor/Emperor of Ninjago from Ninjago Professor Slopsink from Johnny Test Cranky Doodle Donkey from My Little Pony- Friendship is Magic Mr. Turtle from Franklin Rhinox from Beast Wars Alvin Sanders as the Cheshire Cat: King Sombra(season 9) from My Little Pony- Friendship is Magic Manten from Inuyasha Philip Hayes as the Hatter/Hare/Rat: Scratch from The Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog Mike Donovan as the King of Hearts: Yang from Ninjago Spike from Tom and Jerry Tales(2006) Lynda Boyd as Alice's sister: Nora Carpenter from Final Destination 2 Cheryl from She's the Man

Adventures in Wonderland(1992)-

Patrick Richwood as the White Rabbit: Neighbor Mr. Robutsen from The Princess Diaries Harry Waters Jr. as Tweedle Dee: Marvin Berry from Back to the Future John Lovelady as the Dormouse: Crazy Harry from The Muppets(Season 1) Terri Garr as the Duchess: Mary McGinnis from Batman Beyond Ken Page as the Walrus: Oogie Boogie from The Nightmare Before Christmas Old Deuteronomy from Cats the Musical Gilbert Gottfried as Mike McNasty: Iago from Aladdin Kraang from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles(2012) Mister Mxyzptlk from Lego Batman 3 Marlee Matlin as April Hare: Melody Bledsoe from Switched at Birth

1995-

Mike Donovan as the Narrator: Yang from Ninjago Spike from Tom and Jerry Tales(2006) Doug Parker as the March Hare: Shredder from Ninja Turtles- The Next Mutation Ian James Corlett as the White Rabbit: Mr. Mint from Candy Land- The Great Lollipop Adventure Cheetor from Beast Wars Hugh Test from Johnny Test The Conductor from Dinosaur Train Skales from Ninjago Blinky from Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures

Through the Looking Glass(1998)-

Penelope Wilton as the White Queen: Isobel Crawley from Downtown Abbey Ian Holm as the White Knight: Ash from Alien Bilbo Baggins from Lord of the Rings Chef Skinner from Ratatouille Steve Coogan as the Gnat: Octavius from Night at the Musuem Silas Ramsbottom from Despicable Me 2

1999-

Tina Majorino as Alice: Deb from Napoleon Dinamite Dr. Heather Brooks from Grey's Anatomy Miranda Richardson as the Queen of Hearts: Ms. Tweedy from Chicken Run Madame Giry from The Phantom of the Opera(2004) Rita Skeeter from Harry Potter movie franchise Martin Short as the Hatter: Huy from The Prince of Egypt B.E.N. from Treasure Planet Jack Frost from Santa Clause 3- The Escape Clause Stefano from Madagascar 3- Europe's Most Wanted Jester from Legends of Oz- Dorothy's Return Grandpa Frump from The Addams Family(2019) Preminger from Barbie as the Princess and the Pauper The Cat in the Hat from The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That! Whoopi Goldberg as the Cheshire Cat: Shenzi from The Lion King Gaia from Captain Planet and the Planeteers Queen Constantina from Rodgers and Hammertsein's Cinderella Ursula from Descendants 2 Gene Wilder as the Mock Turtle: Willy Wonka from Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory Dr. Frederick Frankenstein from Young Frankenstein Robbie Coltrane as Tweedle Dum: Rubues Hagrid from Harry Potter movie franchise Christopher Lloyd as the White Knight: Doc Brown from Back to the Future Profesor Plum from Clue Judge Doom from Who Framed Roger Rabbit Merlock from Ducktales the Movie- Treasure of the Lost Lamp Uncle Fester from The Addams Family(1981) Rasputin from Anastasia Ben Kingsley as Major Caterpillar: Mandarin from Iron Man 3 Bagheera from The Jungle Book(2016) Peter Ustinov as the Walrus: Prince John from Robin Hood Pete Postlethwaite as the Carpenter: Narrator from James and the Giant Peach Friar Lawrence from Romeo+Juliet Liz Smith as Miss Lory: Grandma Georgina from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Joanna Lumley as Tiger Lily: Aunt Spiker from James and the Giant Peach Lady Maudeline Everglot from Corpse Bride Murray Melvin as the Executioner: Ernest Reyer from The Phantom of the Opera(2004)

[pendleton-manor]

Quick screenshot redraw between the margins

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

75-year-old Leonard Bullock and his wife Dorothy have lived across the street from a railroad yard in Pendleton, Oregon since 1982. And over the years, they haven't always had the money to maintain their house.

A railway worker named Josh Cyganik has waved to Leonard on his porch almost every day for the last four years, but never actually talked to him until last month, after he heard two teenagers making FUN of the place.

They were joking that it looked so bad, someone should just burn it down. And Josh knew Leonard heard them too, when he saw the look on his face.

So a few days later, he asked Leonard if he and some friends could repaint the place for him, and got a hardware store to donate supplies. Then he posted about it on Facebook, and more than a HUNDRED PEOPLE showed up that Saturday to help.

They painted the house . . . fixed up the porch . . . made it wheelchair accessible . . . and bought everything they need to replace the ROOF, which is still in the works.

Josh says one of his friends drove by around 10:00 P.M. that night, and Leonard and Dorothy were both still out on the porch smiling.

Mark 12:30-31

30 And you shall love the Lord your God out of and with your whole heart and out of and with all your soul (your life) and out of and with all your mind (with your faculty of thought and your moral understanding) and out of and with all your strength. This is the first and principal commandment.

31 The second is like it and is this, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.

Read full chapter

[stuurman]

lord Pendleton! basically just a study from in-game screenshot because I tried to remember how to use gouache ashdfkj >< my favorite rat man

[toondisneyartz]

20 Years of Comfort Characters

Today is my 20th birthday, and I decided to draw every comfort character I've had since I was very young. You can notice there is a diverse amount of characters in this photo XD, some of them were really special to me growing up, but they all have made an impact on me. I also did NOT include every comfort character I've had in my entire life, as I was unable to include some characters I really wanted to include.   

Mickey Mouse is owned by Walt Disney Studios (2005?-2008) Martha Speaks is owned by Susan Meddaugh and PBS Kids (2011-2012) Ponyo is owned by Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli (2011-2012) Peanut Big Top is owned by Amandine Consorti and MGA Entertainment (2011-2014) Dracularura is owned by Garrett Sander and Mattel (2012-2015) Liberty Moshling is owned by Michael Acton Smith and Mind Candy Entertainment (2013-2015) Unikitty is owned by Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, and Warner Brothers Entertainment (2014-2015) Riley Andersen is owned by Pete Docter and Pixar Animation Studios (2015-2016) Bonnie is owned by Scott Cawthon (2015-2016) Violet Parr is owned by Brad Bird and Pixar Animation Studios (2017-2019) Loki is owned by Stan Lee and Marvel (2019-2021) Gumball is owned by Ben Bocquelet and Cartoon Network Europe (2019-2020) Marceline is owned by Pendleton Ward and Cartoon Network Studios (2019-2020) Tom Lucitor is owned by Daron Nefcy and Disney TVA (2021) Commander Peepers is owned by Craig McCracken and Disney TVA (2021-present) Cala Maria and Hilda Berg are owned by Chad and Jared Moldenhauer and Studio MDHR (2022-2023) Mordecai is owned by JG Quintel and Cartoon Network Studios (2022-present) Spinel is owned by Rebecca Sugar and Cartoon Network Studios (2023-) Alphys is owned by Toby Fox (2023-)

[thesffcorner]

Part 2: Dishonored: Characters

Our silent protagonist is Corvo Attano, and he is at once the ruin of Dunwall, caring for nothing but his own vengeance, and compassionate and kind despite the violence the city has inflicted upon him.

Immersive Sim:

Dishonored falls into a category of game called Immersive Sim, which in short means a game where the player has the ultimate choice in how to approach a situation. To paraphrase a quote from Warren Spector, the lead developer on Deus Ex, 'a key should not be the only way to open a door.'

The same thing applies to characters; though you are playing as a specific person, your decisions as a player greatly determine the personality and traits of said character, as well as their impact on the world. 

In theory, I love immersive sims. In practice, especially in a series, games run into a lot of issues when it comes time for the sequel. Dishonored is no different. 

If we take the first game in isolation, Corvo can be as violently destructive or as quietly imperceptible as you want. However, unlike the Mass Effect games, which take into account what you did in the previous games, Dishonored doesn’t; instead the game has its own true canon, which can be especially frustrating if you like to play loudly and violently. I will talk way more about this when we get to the level breakdowns, but suffice it to say, your actions have way less influence on the world than the game would like you to believe they do. 

Corvo Attano:

Ironically, though he is our protagonist, we know very little about him, especially in the first game. We know is that he is devoted to both Jessamine and Emily, that he is very close to Emily, acting as her father figure, and that he is respected by the people who know him.

This is where the issues start. Does Corvo know Emily is his daughter? Does Emily? In the first game, the answer to both seems to be no, and yet, in the sequel, this is common knowledge not just to Corvo and Emily, but the Dunwall public as well.

The game never explains why Corvo and Jessamine aren't together, whether it's a personal choice or if marriage between nobles and commoners is illegal. This lack of clarity does bring up some questions about the world, since we see that Dunwall, and by extension the Isles are quite conservative and traditional, with the Abbey having a very large influence over its citizens.

How is Jessamine an Empress? Why is her being unmarried or her having a child out of wedlock not a bigger issue? Why is Emily’s birthright not an issue for succession if her father is unknown? Does the Abbey not have anything to say about the fact that the Empress just seemingly had an immaculate birth?

This isn't just idle speculation; it brings me to a much larger and more serious problem with the first game, namely

Sexism and Misogyny:

I want to do a little experiment. I’m going to list the most important characters in the game. Ready? 

Royal Protector Corvo Attano;

Empress Jessamine Kaldwin; 

Princess Emily Kaldwin;

The Assassin Daud; 

Royal Spymaster/Lord Regent Hiram Burrows; 

High Overseer Campbell; 

Lords Custis, Morgan and Treavor Pendleton; 

Admiral John Havelock; 

Overseer Teague Martin; 

Granny Rags aka Vera Morley; 

Slackjaw, leader of the Bottlestreet Gang; 

Ladies Lydia, Waverly and Esma Boyle; 

and Inventors Anton Sokolov and Piero Joplin.

Do you notice something about this list?

Let’s do it another way. 

These are all the female characters in the game:

Jessamine Kaldwin, 

Emily Kaldwin, 

Granny Rags; 

The 3 Boyle sisters;

 Governess Calista Curnow, 

& Cecilia. 

6. There are 6 female characters in the whole game. 

I am not counting named NPCs like Madame Prudence, Lydia, Alfa, Elsa or Miss White, the same way I'm not counting Alec, Griff, or Lord Ramsey for the men. And I am not counting the 3 Boyle sisters as separate characters when they serve the exact same function and have the exact same character model. 

Actually, I think the Boyles deserve their own section because–

Lady Boyle:

After escaping prison, Corvo is tasked with eliminating 5 people who have orchestrated Jessamine’s murder. Those 5 people are: the Lord Regent, the High Overseer, Lords Custis and Morgan and Lady Boyle.

Lady Boyle is the ONLY female assassination target. She is also the only one who had no involvement with the plot to kill Jessamine.

One of the Boyle sisters is the Lord Regent’s lover, and she is financing his grab at power, specifically paying off the City Watch. When you read her journals, you quickly realize that she's in way over her head, has no way out of the relationship without jeopardizing her life and her family’s reputation, and she even talks fondly about Jessamine - she misses her, she likes her, and hates how bad things have gotten without her. 

We need to take her out because we need to take out Burrow's financial backing, but the justification for killing her is given by Lord Treavor Pendleton who is a) a super unreliable character, who b) has a very incel-adjacent relationship with all the Boyle women, and c) whose proof that Boyle ‘helped’ Burrows kill Jessamine is just ‘trust me bro’.

The only argument you could make is that in a transitive way, Boyle’s money paid for Daud, but that’s such an incredible reach that I sprained my neck just typing it. 

What’s worse, is that the alternative to killing her is so much worse than committing murder, that I don't even think the developers realized what they'd written.

Back to the Sexism:

You thought we were done?

Calista Curnow, along with Cecilia is one of the two female characters who like Lydia serve mostly to flirt with Corvo. What makes Calista different is that she's a) Emilly's governess and b) a canon 'love interest' for Corvo. Heavy quotations around "love interest", because it's part of the WORST subplot of the entire game.

Calista exists so that Inventor Pierro Jopin can stalk and leer at her. And when I say stalk, I mean that literary, because you catch him watching her while BATHING.

You, as Corvo, can tell him off, only for the game to give you the option to ALSO spy on Calista. You can enter the bathroom and 'apologize', and even proposition her; she rejects you, but the game lets you enter the bathtub even AFTER she does. The game treats this as a joke; if you do it you get a game over screen, but there is nothing funny about making your protagonist someone who is willing to sexually assault someone. You can even poses Calista and make her get out of the bathtub to ogle her naked character model. She not treated like a character; she's treated like an object for the male players to jerk off to.

Ceclia has a different subplot that ends up being crucial in helping Corvo in the latter half of the game, and she is the only character to have an actual arc throughout the game. She out as a cowardly, meek woman, who is afraid of Corvo and afraid of standing up for herself, but inspired by his bravery, she ends up escaping certain death and leaving Dunwall. 

Jessamine Kaldwin, is immediately killed, and spends the rest of the game as a LITERAL object, her physical heart and metaphysical spirit trapped in the mechanical heart the Outsider gives to Corvo. He only role is to be Corvo's literal spirit guide.

We never see what she was like as Empress, we learn very little about her opinion of Dunwall, her allies, or even of Corvo; all we know is that she loves Emily and wanted to cure the plague. Despite having many voice lines as the heart, most of them are about other people, and almost never about her.

Emilly is, thankfully, spared any sexualization, being 10 years old. She is, however, much like her mother, treated like an object more than a character. The game claims she imitates Corvo and watches everything he does with great interest, but in reality, outside of 2 scenes where Corvo plays hide and seek with her, she exists to get kidnapped and rescued.

There is only one female character that isn’t sexualized, isn’t in love or obsessed with Corvo, isn’t in constant need of rescuing, and whose motivations have nothing to do with Corvo:

Granny Rags:

I love Granny Rags. If Arkane ever magically gets the chance to make a Dishonored 3, I want it to be all about her. I want 10 more books about Granny Rags instead of whatever the Corroded Man is about.  

We meet her as a blind, crotchety old woman, but in her youth, she was so powerful and beautiful, that princes fought over her favour. She rejected them all, devoting herself to studying the occult and earning an Outsider mark. Because she can’t see Corvo, it’s unclear if she knows who he is, or thinks he's her late husband, but she ropes him into her schemes.

In addition to her side quests being the longest and most involved they are also the most morally fucked up. She’s never a direct antagonist, in fact for most of the game she's on your side, helping with runes and alternative routes. Even when she ends up fighting Corvo, it’s only because he gets between her and her soup.

So, to recap, out of the 6 female characters, only 2 aren't sexualized, a child and an old woman, and only the old woman gets to be an actual character with motivations and goals unrelated to Corvo.

Yes, We Are Still on the Sexism

I can already see the comments. 

Monika! This game is supposed to be brutal! And Dunwall is supposed to be sexist! The Abbey preaches that women should stay away from science and stick to the kitchen! That’s why it makes total sense that the only women in the game are maids or sex workers!

Well newsflash! Dunwall DOESN’T exist! The devs actively chose to build their setting in a way so as to exclude any female characters save for sex workers and maids. The place where you will see the most female NPCs in the entire game is a literal brothel. So no, they were not making a commentary on Dunwall's sexist society.

Even if they were, they did a piss poor job of conveying it, because the game never makes any commentary, outside of depicting misogynist actions.

The world the developers built doesn't even make sense under their own sexist logic! Once again, I have to ask: how is Jessamine an Empress? How is she unmarried? Why would a society where women can't do anything apart from raise children, cook and clean have a succession line of the eldest child instead of the eldest son? How come the Abbey never questioned Jessamine's decision to not marry or her daughter born out of wedlock? And if we are to believe that Jessamine is a good ruler, why wouldn’t she push back on the Abbey’s teachings?

Look, I love this game, I do. But part of loving something is being willing to acknowledge its flaws. I am glad that people did it, because guess what? The games improved! Even in this game's very own DLC the things I'm complaining about here start to change, and the games are better for it. But that would’ve never happened had people not acknowledged the issues in the first place.

Part 3: Dishonored: Gameplay

Part 1: Dishonored

Main Menu

[aquietlifesblog]

The Cost of You (Dio x F!Reader)

"I… I've always wondered if…" For the first time, you seemed unsure of yourself. This is an area in which you had no experience. Thus, he allowed his kiss to be the answer. It was all the comfort you would ever need. OR

You let Dio have you for the very first time.

This is the first short story set in the 'Hungry Eyes' Universe. This can be read as a standalone but canonically happens during the first 'fate to black' scene featured in Chapter 1 of 'Hungry Eyes.' Read the Full Story on AO3

Note: This story takes place during Phantom Blood so period typical attitudes and understanding of sex apply.

Main Story | Masterlist |

"A woman's virtue is all she has, no man of good standing would wed a girl who's been sullied. There is nothing worse than a fallen woman, do you understand?" 

"Yes." 

You understood the threat men posed to your good standing, how their whims could steer the course of your life.

You understood when you were 12, and the city boys followed you around the marketplace shouting vulgar words. You understood when you were 16, and the young footman insisted you accompany him to some faraway fair alone. And you understood at age 20, when Lord Pendleton returned from his long trip abroad and marveled at how much you'd grown. 

You understood. 

And yet…and yet…

The press of Dio's lips against your own was heaven.

'He wants me,' your heart sang, 'just as much as I want him.'

Maybe even more.

You'd hardly gotten through the door before he kissed you again, and your coats and scarves were haphazardly discarded soon after. You felt as though you’d swoon, that you'd faint like some delicate lady as Dio led you to the bed.

He wanted you. 

The walls of the inn were thin, so the muffled sounds of merry patrons and tired workers drifted up through the polished hardwood floor. It should have annoyed you, but the moment Dio pressed you back against the plush white mattress, the world around you fell away. 

Everything but your sense of self-awareness.

Your heart and body ached for Dio, but you carried no illusions; he wanted you, and he might have even liked you, but he would never marry you; you may have carried Lord Pendleton's blood, but you were just a bastard, the illegitimate daughter of a maid.  

A softer man, perhaps, would say it didn't matter and would promise to marry you anyway.

But Dio Brando was not a soft man. He was pragmatic and cunning. He didn't see the value in sentiment so any promise of marriage would only be a clever lie. He was a liar, a murderer, and a schemer. But despite his ways, he was more honest than anyone else, more honest than even he would believe.

He was a double-edged blade, sharp and unwieldy. But unlike other men, who hid their sharp edges beneath kind words and flowery gifts, Dio never hid himself from you. So when he pressed in close and wrapped his arms around you, you understood exactly what it meant: 

He wanted you.

And you wanted him too. 

"Dio," you hated the way you cried when he released you, needy and desperate like some pinchcock in a brothel. 

"Hush now, dear, have patience." His eyes were so beautiful, like golden pools of honey as he undressed you with his rough hands. They slid from the thick of your hips to the swell of your breasts and back again, peeling away every layer with the grace of a swan.

‘Take this off,’ he told you, and ‘raise your hips,’ ‘your arms,’ ‘good girl.’  He stripped you of your skirts, your blouse, your chemise, and your stays—leaving everything behind as a pile on the floor.

You might have been embarrassed and ashamed of your naked body—women should never bare themselves to a man after all—but you liked the way Dio gazed upon you, like a beast seeking prey. You reached out your arm to hold him but he stopped you, pinning your wrist to the mattress instead. 

"Allow me to admire you," he said, as though he wished to savor the moment, to savor you.

And for a moment it was quiet, with nothing but the low murmur of the downstairs patrons and the sound of whistling wind settling in around you. You allowed him to savor the moment; you savored it as well.  And then you blinked, and something bloomed behind his golden gaze. 

Was it passion? you wondered. Obsession? Greed? You wouldn't let yourself imagine love. 

"Tell me what you want," he demanded, and your heart fluttered at the sound of his voice, soft and low. The rough pads of his fingers brushed across your cheek as he spoke to you, and a wicked smirk graced that perfect face. "Don't act shy now. Isn't this what you wanted?" He leaned forward then, his breath warm and soft in your ear. "Come now, you've never held your tongue before." 

"This is different," you trembled beneath his touch and he laughed at you, a soft chuckle ripe with glee. Dio had experience, you realized, he'd done this before. You briefly wondered if he engaged himself with women of good standing or if he hired women of the night. 

"And so it is…tell me, dear, do you think of me at night?" He pressed down upon your wrists as he loomed above you, his larger form positioned at your side. 

You didn't reply, so he took your silence as an answer. 

"As I thought," he gloated as a deceptive smile softened his features. "Of course you do." His large hand settled against your leftmost breast. You gasped, unsure what to do as he squeezed and pinched your nipple. His movements were slow, torturously slow as he continued. 

"Tell me what it is you dream about," he whispered, "tell me what sinful fantasies run rampant in your mind so that I may do more. Tell me what you think of as your hand slips beneath your bedsheets. I shan’t do more than this till you do." 

You didn't have the words to describe what you wanted and he knew that. But the pleasure of his languid touch was a flame that threatened to consume you. He stopped for just a moment and you whined about it till he started on your other breast. 

"What do you think about?" Your voice was weak and it wavered as you spoke. 

"Me?” He slid his hand away from your breasts and you whimpered again in protest. But he brought his fingers to your cheek, turned your eat toward him, and leaned closer. His thumb traced the gentle curve of your lips and they parted for him.

You wanted him to kiss you.

“I dream of you using that mouth of yours for better things." He told you, slipping a finger partway into your wanting mouth, demonstrating exactly what it was he wanted to do. 

Your heart pounded in your chest, your eyes went wide with the shock before narrowing down into a glare that made him laugh once again. 

You may have been inexperienced, but you understood the implication of his words. You've heard men laugh and joke about having women on their knees, of 'their pretty mouths wrapped around their throbbing cocks,' and the very thought made your lips curl in disgust.

He pulled his hand away so you couldn't bite him. So you slapped his hand and sat up, covering your breasts in a feeble attempt to preserve your sense of dignity. 

"I don't want to be with you that way." 

"Oh?" He tilted his head in amusement as you tried, and failed, to muster a proper glare. "Many women enjoy such things; it excites their…sensibilities." He placed a hand upon your thigh and moved lower, but you batted his hand away. 

"It's disgusting." You turned your head toward the door, hoping to express discontent. How silly you must have looked, sitting naked beside him, playing the part of a modest dame. 

"And yet here you are. Were you not writhing naked beneath me not a moment ago?" He tutted, speaking as though he knew your mind. "Some might say the same of you, my dear: an unwed woman quaking at the thighs, so ready and willing, eager to be relieved of her maidenhood." 

"I-" you loathed admitting he was right. You wanted it, you wanted him so badly something warm and wet began to pool between your thighs.

But you turned to glare at him anyway.

You once found a book in Lord Pendleton’s study that contained detailed accounts of sexual intimacy. You were scandalized, shocked, yet the pictures of the couples never left your memory: The man was on top, nestled between the woman's thighs. Her back was arched, her lips parted and her breasts unbound. 

You were told that sex was an ordeal, something for men to enjoy and women to endure. But the woman in the illustration seemed happy; you wanted to share that bliss with Dio, even as he spoke such devilish things. 

"No words? No self-righteous condemnation or defense of your own pure desires? I'm waiting for an answer." He set his hand on the small of your back, and you shivered as he blazed a trail to the curve of your ass and back again. "Or could it be that you're far too enamored to think? Is that it? Have you become dumbfounded by my touch? By the thought of me as I claim your virginity for myself?" 

Dio loved to hear himself speak, and though his lewd insinuations made your heart race, you could only take so much of it. And worse, you were placed into an awkward position, with Dio’s hulking figure set beside you, touching your body as he pleased, saying whatever the hell he wanted...and you hadn't a clue what to do. 

"What more is there to be said?" You spoke out in frustration, "you know how I feel about you, the reason why we're here." Though you never managed to say it. You wouldn't let yourself love him, only want him. 

"I do, in fact. And it brings me joy to know how you ache for me.” He held your face between his hands and leaned forward just so. “Had you told me sooner, you may have been my first as well.”

And with a kiss, he ensnared you again. Dio pressed you back against the bed, wedged a hand between your legs, and settled himself between them. 

“You b-” He leaned over you then, caging your body between his massive arms. 

“Call me what you will, but here we are, blissful agony so close at hand. If only you'd reveal to me your innermost desires I could fulfill your every fantasy. Or are you ashamed? Women should be pure and yet you yearn to be taken, yearn to feel my cock within you..." 

"Must you be so lewd!"

"Lewd? Are your desires so pure then? Look at you, on your back for me, dripping with desire. Yet you refuse to tell me what it is you yearn for.” He scoffed. “At least I'm honest with my intentions.” 

"I want you to kiss me!" You finally crack, embarrassed by your admission and the delirium of desire.

He said nothing for what felt like a long while, as though he was shocked by the mundanity of your words. Dio chuckled softly. 

"Then perhaps your desires are more pure than mine."

Nonetheless, Dio indulged you. He kissed your lips, your neck, your shoulders, and your earlobe. Dio dragged his tongue along your throat, pulling pleasure from your pliable form in ways you never expected.

"Dio," you moaned his name, blindly pulling at the back of his shirt, desperate for something to hold on to as you beckoned him closer. 

"Yes, love?” He teased, one large hand playing at the base of your breast. He held himself up with the other.  

"Dio please," you murmured, again unsure what it was you were asking for. You tried to press your legs together to find relief from the throbbing need that gathered there, but he was still placed between them.

"Well, aren't you eager?" He teased, circling a thumb around your nipple once again. You gasped, startled by the sharp pleasure that spread throughout your body like lightning in the sky. "And yet so delicate.”

“Must you say such things?” You groaned. Never had he thought of you as delicate before. That isn't why he liked you. 

"You speak as though you don't like it, yet your excitement is palpable," he licked his lips. "I can see it in your eyes, how anxious you are for me to fuck you." 

"You’re incorrigible," you hiss.

"Shall I stop?" He threatened as his hungry lips moved lower, down to your collar, across your breasts. 

"No, don't stop." Your entire being ached for him, leaving you in almost pained anticipation as he pressed a trail of kisses down your stomach. But Dio let out a hum of disapproval, so you decided to play to his ego. "I want you to have me."

"And how shall I have you?" He whispered.

'However you please,' you wanted to say, but you couldn't let him get too haughty. So 'quiet,'  was your eager reply. 

"You want me quiet then? Hm. Well, I suppose we share the same dream...allow me to show you the appeal." Your entire body trembled as he looked upon you from his lower position, and inhuman hunger sparked behind sulty golden eyes.

He moved lower still, angling his chest to the bed and hooking your legs around his shoulders.

You didn't understand, but your heart swelled in nervous anticipation.

He could see everything now, see how wet you were between the thighs, see how badly your body quivered.  Would he be disgusted? Appalled? Think you no better than some back alley whore?

"My, my," He started, his voice deep, "aren't you pretty?" 

"I-" You gasped then, unable to finish your sentence as he dragged his tongue across your most tender place and swirled that devil tongue around you. He hummed, seemingly delighted by your taste, and something in your body coiled.

You took hold of the blanket, unsure of what to do. You never considered this, never dreamed of this, never imagined this was something that could happen.

Was Dio a sexual deviant? Is that what was happening?  (He was certainly depraved so you wouldn't be surprised if that were the case.) But if he was, what did that make you? You liked this, you liked the position Dio took below you, you liked the way his hot mouth and greedy tongue felt as he found a constant rhythm.

Frantic gasps and warbling moans spilled from your lips as he found his stride. It was like waves of pleasure, threatening to drag you out into an open sea of rapture. You had no idea how to meet this feeling—so you edged upward without thinking, as though to retreat. 

"Do you not find this pleasurable?" He stopped. You looked down your body to meet an inquiring gaze and smooth pale skin flushed with heat. 

"Do you? " He looked at you as though it was obvious, as though you asked him if the sky was blue.

"Would you like me to continue or not? I thought you wanted me quiet." 

"I…I do. But-"

“Then stop your insistent squirming.” Squirming? You hadn’t realized you’d been squirming. You wanted to protest but Dio was quick to begin again. This time, he leveraged his size to root your body in place. 

"Oh my," you gasped, your voice straining as he regained his stride. "My god," you cursed again, as that thing inside you, that coiling pressure, built and curled like a wave. You took hold of him then, sinking your fingers in his hair to pull him closer. Dio moaned, and the sweet sound of his pleasure blended with your own. Deviant or not, you liked what he was doing, and you didn't want him to stop. You begged him not to stop, not until that wave of pleasure crested and broke upon the shore.

Your breaths came faster and faster, and as he buried his tongue deep inside your needy cunt you found what it was you'd been chasing: the end. 

You met your first orgasm with a breathy cry as your body shook with a pleasure you've never known. It was a storm, a flood, a flower blooming in the night. It was everything. 

'Blissful agony' indeed.

You melted, your body nothing but a bundle of nerves swept by lust's tender embrace. 

"My God," you took a single, quivering breath. 

"Not quite, but you're free to think of me as such." Dio settled back on his haunches, his expression smug as he licked your essence from his lips.

You needed a moment to breathe, a moment to regain your sense of self before you responded, yet every part of you felt tender and warm.

"You're speaking again?"  Was the only thing you thought to say to him, but in truth, you enjoyed the sound of his voice: low, sharp, and deep. But you liked the sound of his moans even more.

"So I am." He leaned forward and kissed you deeply, sharing the taste of your arousal. You squealed at that, but Dio pressed closer, pinning you down into the mattress as he ground his clothed erection against your belly. You weren't sure about the taste, but you pulled him closer anyway. The kiss you shared was long and sloppy.  

"I find your desperation endearing." He smirked. 

"I'm not-"  You moaned again as he left a tender trail of kisses down your neck.

"You are." He countered, and Dio drew your skin between his lips, licking and sucking till he left a mark for you to find come morning. Again you were reduced to nothing but giddy nerves. "Look at you, always so dishonest. Perhaps you'll tell me this: are you ready for me?" He asked so sweetly it gave you butterflies.  "Well?" He asked, rolling his hips against you once more. He was more than ready. 

"I'm ready,"  You said, with more confidence than you felt. You wanted this, you did, but your heart thundered in your chest so hard, you felt the need to turn away as he sat back and peeled away his waistcoat and blouse, exposing the expanse of his chest to you. 

Dio’s body was sculpted by the gods, lean yet toned with well-formed muscle. His trousers left him next, then his underclothes. By the time you managed to meet his gaze, Dio was looking at you, his thick cock stiff against his stomach.

"On most occasions," he stroked himself slowly, large fingers wrapped around his veiny shaft, "I would have asked you to return the favor, but you've managed to excite me all on your own. " 

"Do you seek to flatter all your women?" You asked, blood rushing to your cheeks once again. 

"And then some, my dear, but only those who deserve such praise." He stopped his stroking and stood above you, guiding you into a more favorable position, with your hips settled near the edge of the mattress. 

He kneeled between your thighs and leaned forward till your eyes met, his throbbing member pressed against your belly. 

Dio gazed upon you like a man possessed by greed, as though he wanted to own you, make you his. So you reached out to him, settling your hands against his shoulders, bracing yourself for what was to come as he kissed you. 

"Relax," he told you, reaching between your bodies to line himself up against your entry. He rubbed the head against you, then the shaft, and you shivered. 

It felt so good, being used to wet his cock, so good you might have finished from that alone had he not decided to push inside you.

"Dio-" you winced. It hurt, like a burning pressure deep inside. You whined and grunted as his slick length pushed you beyond a limit you never knew existed—and it wasn't even the whole of it.

"No, please," you cried out. Surely it was meant to be better than this. 

"Hush now, you can take me." Dio's voice was strained as he eased himself inside of you, his breath hot and heavy as you took him inch by inch. He was holding back for you. "You want this to feel good?" 

"Y-yes." 

"Then relax." 

You tried but with little success. But soon he was kissing you again, his lips leaving pleasurable sensations on your ear that made your entire body shudder. 

"There, there, you've done well." He whispered once he could push no further. "And it seems I've drawn first blood. That's a good thing, I assure you." He mentioned, looking down at the place your bodies came together. "Shall I continue?"

'A woman's virtue is all she has, no man of good standing would wed a girl who's been sullied. There is nothing worse than a fallen woman, do you understand?'  

You took a breath. 

"Yes."

Dio gave you just a moment longer to adjust to the feeling of being full. And though the intensity of the pressure lessened, you still held him close as he began to move. 

"You feel divine… just as a virgin should. " Dio praised, rearing back and forth at an easy pace. His girthy member dragged across the walls of your aching cunt, sending shocks of pain and pleasure through you. 

"What a good girl you are, clinging to me for comfort, so—ugh—so demure as I fuck you open—" He let out a curse. Dio rolled his hips against you and you gasped at the sharp pleasure that claimed you as your clenched around him.

Then he did it again and again, driving himself deeper every time. 

"I like that," you told him, urging him on with the sweetest cries: "Don't stop," "Do that again," and "Oh yes!" 

"I prefer you this way." He goads you. 

"And I—I preferred you as you were before." He laughed. Dio's skin was flushed red, his pupils large as he claimed you.

A symphony of grunts and moans echoed through your rented chamber. The walls were thin but that no longer seemed to matter as he speared himself into you. Your labored breaths rose and fell in pace with your lover's thrusting. The bed whined and shook beneath you, moving with the weight of your passion. And soon, pleasure came and went like the tides, ebbing the pain away. That same warm dreamy feeling returned to you, settling in the pit of your stomach and building much faster than before.

"You're so tight—so perfect. " 

He grabbed you by the hips and brought you forward, helping you meet his every thrust. 

He called your name. 

"You were made for me weren't you?" 

"Yes!" 

"That's what you want, isn't it? For... me to take you every night?" 

"Yes!"

"Then you're mine." 

"Yes!" 

You hardly registered the words he said, hardly realized how loud you moaned his name as he pulled that sweet, primordial pleasure from your body.

"Yes, yes, yes!" 

Little by little, his strokes became rougher, quicker, and more demanding. Your eyes were shut, but you could feel him staring.

In and out, in and out...he set into a frenzied, desperate pace. Soon, Dio doubled over, pressing his face into the side of your neck as his cock pulsed and throbbed within you. He was close to the end.

in and out, in and out...Dio's breath grew ragged and he pushed inside you with a final shaky thrust. His groan was deep and throaty, and you could feel his body shake as he filled you with his seed. 

A strange new pleasure bubbled up inside you, warming your body like a spring. You've never known this feeling, the feeling of being full. 

And so you laid together in silence, nothing but heavy breaths and a sweaty pile of tangled limbs.

"How utterly careless of me," he broke the silence, lips still flush against your skin. "You simply felt so good,  I could hardly control myself. You don't mind, do you? I'm sure nothing will come of it."

Nothing will come of it? Surely he wasn't referring to— 

"I can't fall pregnant," you spoke without breath. "Not the very first time." Isn't that how it worked?

He didn't move. Dio remained in that position for a few moments longer before lifting off you. And when he pulled out, the excess of his finish spilled from you as well.

"It's as I said, nothing will come of it— don't look at me that way, as though you'll cry...there's a medicine woman in London, I will have something prepared to ensure you aren’t cursed with my child." He rolled his eyes. 

Dio stood, snatched a folded sheet from the closet, and shook it out. 

"Though you should thank me for the opportunity, I'll be sure to use a contraceptive next time."

“Next time? You’re... you're rather presumptuous, aren't you?” You tried to frown, tried to return to form, but you found you were far too happy. 

“You still have much to learn; what better teacher to have than me?” He all but threw the sheet at your face and instructed you to change them, saying he refused to lay down in filth and that it was your mess anyway.

 You scoffed but made a mental note of the sick satisfaction that shone in his eyes when he saw the red stain of blood amongst the other fluids.  

"I pity the man you vow yourself to, having been denied such a gift." 

You rolled your eyes and turned denying him the chance to see the blush that darkened the apples of your cheeks. You stripped the sheets in silence.

"I suppose it doesn't matter. You're free to be mine for as long as you wish to be." You were shocked to see Dio move the pillows, making it so you could place the new sheets on the bed. 

You wanted to ask if that meant he was yours too, but you feared knowing the answer.

Dio took the sullied sheets without a word, tugging them from your grasp. You reached down for your chemise but he ushered you back to bed. 

"Leave it. Sit down." 

You didn't expect Dio to help you wipe your legs with the soiled sheet or be the type that wanted to hold you, but he did. After tossing the sheet into a corner, Dio stretched across the bed, one arm bent behind his head, the other resting at your side as you curled beneath the blanket.

Predictably, Dio began talking, speaking this time of ambition and all his future plans.

"Perhaps I'll let you be my secretary," he smirked, and it was your time to laugh then, letting out a deep and throaty chuckle. Because Dio didn’t see you as a girl who's been sullied, as a woman who committed a sin.  No. When you looked into Dio’s eyes you saw desire there, a hunger with no end.

"I suppose I'll consider it." You told him, content to lay your head against his chest. 

He would never marry you, you knew that, but he’d find a way to keep you at his side. 

No matter what it cost you...

[jakesuit0]

Wizard Battle Review

This one has a great setup. I love how nerdy Finn is over the wizards. It’s also cool seeing a bunch of wizards from different episodes return, it really adds to the worldbuilding of Ooo. We have Naked Wizard from “Memories of Boom Boom Mountain”, Bufo from “Wizard”, Forest Wizard from “Storytelling”, and other wizards wearing the robes from “Wizard”. There’s a bunch of new wizards that make their debut who will reappear throughout the series, most notably Laser Wizard, Abracadaniel, Flame Lord, Grand Master Wizard, and Huntress Wizard. Huntress Wizard has one of the coolest designs of any character in Adventure Time. In terms of silent background characters (for now), only Jungle Princess can compete with how sick she looks. So much so that she built up quite a reputation in the fandom long before “Flute Spell”. Doctor Princess tries to enter the competition, disguised as Science Whyzard. Totally in line with Doctor Princess’s pattern of faking her identities. She has a psychological disorder or something, I swear! Grand Master Wizard disqualifies her for using science, setting up the conflict in “Wizards Only, Fools”. Considering the prize, this could suggest her sexuality is something other than straight. HW cheers at the idea of kissing Bubblegum, which is hard proof that she’s bi. I also think it's hilarious that the audience consists of only a handful of people that are filled by the most random characters possible like LSP, who’s on her phone, and Phil (him being moved to tears by Abracadaniel’s speech later is really funny). 

Grand Master Wizard mentions eight schools of magic, which is a reference to Dungeons & Dragons. In D&D, they are abjuration, alteration, conjuration, divination, enchantment, illusion, invocation, and necromancy. Several of these are classes that Pep and Cadebra will take in “Wizard City”. The episode sets up the wizards’ strict isolation from outsiders. As Finn says, “only wizards allowed!” Ice King is a contestant. This builds on The Lich referring to him as an “ice wizard” in “Mortal Recoil”. It’s interesting which magic users can be considered a wizard in Ooo, seeing as Ice King’s magic comes from his crown. Finn and Jake are real dicks to him. Even before he says he’s going to cheat, they boo him and call him a loser. 

This brings us to….Princess Bubblegum. Her being a prize is just yuck, especially in the context of seasons two and three usually just using her character as a plot device. It’s totally out of character for her, even putting aside her hatred of wizards. Even Pendleton Ward has said he regrets putting her in this role. Jesse Moynihan and Ako Castuera, who boarded this episode, also felt weird about it. Too bad this still made it through. But yeah, this makes even less sense with her portrayal later in “Wizards Only, Fools.” Jesse Monyihan and Kent Osborne argued she’s there as a diplomat. I don’t think that’s enough to excuse her absolute disdain for magic society. Like, she doesn’t give a fuck about diplomacy with these guys in season five. Oh and I’m not even close to done complaining about PB in this one. Uhh, the straight women being mad about the prize, and Brain Wiz forfeiting because it's not an open mouth kiss was funny though.

Finn and Jake enter the battle dressed as wizards under Finn’s guise of saving PB from having to kiss Ice King. He really wants a chance at kissing Bubblegum again. He’s grown from his attitude towards smooching in “Go With Me”. Ice King testing how his breath smells by breathing on his hand is really funny. Ice King seems impressed, so maybe kissing him wouldn’t be so bad! Finn and Jake team up with Abracadaniel. He’s a really funny character, and I don’t think any of his future appearances are quite as funny. “Turn and push” is the funniest thing he ever says. Ice King battles the Flame Lord (our first “Frost & Fire”!) using nunchucks, referencing his ninja skills in “The Chamber of Frozen Blades”. I’m not sure why he doesn’t just use his ice weapons, which would be legal, but he’s crazy. 

Abracadaniel beats Ice King and Finn forfeits, presumably just to get Jake to stop teasing him about wanting to kiss PB. He can live with that, as long as nobody else kisses her. I love Abracadaniel’s excitement making him want to kiss Princess Bubblegum after all. Finn’s high pitched scream at this is also really funny. It knocks him out, making Finn the winner. Kind of messed up that he betrayed Abracadaniel! He really is the series punching bag, alongside NEPTR. Jake’s teasing of Finn continues to be funny, but it leads to a big outburst from Finn, who says he’s sick of keeping his feelings hidden. This is strange, as he was totally open about his feelings with Jake in “Too Young”. Jake continues to encourage Finn’s pursuit of Bubblegum, pushing him to go kiss an adult woman.

Finn and Jake are exposed. Princess Bubblegum thanks Finn for going through the trouble to save her from kissing Ice King. I can’t imagine PB would have actually kissed Ice King though, even with how out of character she’s written in this episode.  Anyway, she kisses Finn. Not her usual kiss on the cheek, but on the lips. This is a strong contender for my least favorite scene of the franchise. I don’t even think I need to get into the problem with an 18 year old (800+) kissing a 13 year old, but bad Adventure Time, bad! I hate that it hurts the kiss and meaning in “Too Young”. That was special and tragic partially because it was the one time Finn got to kiss her! In addition, it is completely contradictory of PB turning down Finn at the end of “Too Young”. That is supposed to be a big development for PB that will stay consistent in “Incendium”. I like that PB had a character flaw in the first two seasons with humoring Finn’s advancements, and how that eventually gets addressed in “Burning Low”. But, the development in “Too Young” was really important and I’m not sure why this one episode decided to ignore it. She slaps Finn for ruining the sanctity of wizard battle, something she shouldn’t care about respecting. She tells the wizards to get ready for next year. Despite the implication, I’m going to choose to believe she doesn’t participate in it again. The ending of Finn and Jake trying on the wizard glasses to look cool is cute and Ice King gets in a hilarious line to finish the episode on. 

This episode has a lot of good jokes, and I like parts of it. Unfortunately, Princess Bubblegum just ruins this one for me. She shouldn’t have even been in the episode. Finn and Jake joining the competition to stop Ice King from cheating is enough of a motivation. More focus on cool wizard battles and Ice King being Ice King would have made this a great episode. Instead we get easily Princess Bubblegum’s worst portrayal in the series. She is written badly on multiple levels. As a PB stan, I can’t forgive that. We’re also at the point where I want the series to move on from Finn trying to get with Bonnie. I don’t mind Finn still having feelings for her. He isn’t even over her as late as “Breezy”. But there’s no real reason to be invested in Finn’s pursuits after “Too Young”. I just want the conflict to be wrapped up so the series can move on from something that’s finally gotten tired. Luckily, we are almost there!

Grade: C-

[karnaca78]

Lying Tongue (Dishonored Ficlet #2)

Overseer Martin lies; embraces the Lying Tongue for it has always been his companion.

He lies to Admiral Havelock. Tells him how much he likes his old war stories, how much he admires a man capable of self-sacrifice and courage on behalf of his country. Tells him that he couldn't care less about the red mantle of the High Overseer's office; when there is nothing else on his mind. 

He lies to Corvo Attano, mute and faceless even without the mask. Says he'd be happy to share a drink or two at night. Says that relief washed over him when he saw him approach at Holger Square; when it was terror with dead eyes and gloved fingers that stared back at him and mocked his shackles.

He lies to Lord Pendleton. Promises that there is no judgment to profess against marriage with a bottle. Promises that should the need arise, he will always be here to lend him an ear and a friendly shoulder. Promises that there is no selfish thoughts behind his offers; when he thinks of nothing but the moment he can sink his teeth into the other's lip and taste the alcoholic blood on his tongue.

He lies always, even if the need for a shred of truth stains his throat with a burning pain.

He lies because this is who he is.

Am I going to make them go through the Seven Strictures just for the fun of it? I might. But don't take my word for it. Remember the Lying Tongue.