#more in like a ‘100% effort every swing’ way

[just-a-whumping-racoon-with-wifi]

Male fencing coach: “you two can spar” (referencing me and another new girl)

Female fencing coach: “keep an eye on them.”

Male coach: “why?”

Female coach: “Newbie female fencers always lose their fucking chill when you put them in armor.”

I did in fact get bruises from that spar

[bring-forth-his-sac]

Nightmare Comfort with Negan

Summary: just a quick drabble about Negan comforting you after a nightmare

Pairing: Negan x f!Reader (established relationship)

Tags: comfort, 100% fluff, some suggestive language, pet names

Word Count: 1.6k

You can’t remember anything. 

The world is shrouded in darkness, your eyes unable to focus. The only thing you can make some sense of is the heavy and oppressive heat that envelops you, making every breath a haggard struggle. 

Reaching out, your hands feel the soft plush of the duvet.

Acting on impulse, you kick your legs out frantically in a desperate attempt to break free from its smothering embrace.

Despite your efforts, something dense stays around your torso, its grip like a vice. The hammering of your heart echoes loudly in your ears, the initial confusion of your sudden awakening now being overshadowed by the anxiety of your nightmare.

The world nowadays is much scarier than anything your brain can conjure up into a nightmare and yet, nothing manages to scare you more. It can be quite the conundrum when you think about it; your brain, the very thing that has kept you alive and surviving in this world just so happens to be the source of the most horrific thoughts that plague your dreams.

With a slight tremble in your hand, you gingerly reach for your stomach and grasp whatever is around you. Your fingers dig into skin that isn’t yours, sparse hairs tickling the tips of your fingers. It’s an arm.

His arm. 

Even with your jolt awake, Negan remains asleep. The only movement he makes is a slight shift in his position as you gently pry his arm off of you. A sigh of relief falls from your lips.

Unfortunately, the overwhelming heat persists. Your t-shirt sticks to your back, the fabric damp with sweat, while your scalp feels slick and clammy.

“Shit,” you curse though your voice sounds hollow, as if it’s a struggle to speak.

Trying not to disturb Negan, you carefully swing your legs over the side of the bed and stand.  You try not to move too much, shuffling along in the hopes of avoiding the sensation of your drenched t-shirt clinging to your skin.

Get a new t-shirt, go back to bed, relax.

Those three simple tasks echo in your mind, a mantra to soothe your racing thoughts. You repeat them silently, trying to force your mind to focus on anything other than the nightmare. 

With a shaky breath, you make your way across the room, the cold floor in stark contrast to your body heat as you search for a clean t-shirt. The soft rustle of fabric and the occasional squeak of the floorboards under your weight interrupts the silence of the night but you’re sure it’s not enough to wake Negan.

Quickly ridding yourself of the sweat-soaked shirt, you cast it aside without a thought as to where it lands. That mess can wait until the morning, not now.  

The new t-shirt feels cool against your skin, a respite from the heat. You take a moment to appreciate the sensation, a small comfort in the midst of your distress.

“Y’can leave it off if you want,” a deep voice slurs with sleep. 

The darkness obscures your view, making it impossible to see Negan's face. But you can sense his fixed gaze on you. It almost feels like he has some sixth sense that jumpstarts when you start removing clothes. 

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you,” you manage to say, whispering despite it being just the two of you. Negan grunts in response, dismissing your apologetic tone. 

“Everything ok?” he queries, Negan’s low voice tinged with worry.

He can sense your hesitation. You look elsewhere and begin fidgeting awkwardly, trying to delay the inevitable.

Negan doesn't rush you, patiently allowing the silence to stretch for a few moments before you finally admit it, the words slipping out with a sigh "Nightmare".

His voice softens “You coming back to bed?”.

Although you’ve grown accustomed to sharing a bed with Negan, an unexpected sense of shyness washes over you. Padding back across the room, you quietly crawl into his waiting embrace. 

Ironically, the unbearable heat that clung to your skin only a couple of seconds ago subsides as you press your body against Negan's chest, seeking refuge in his arms. 

You let your forehead rest against his chest, as if you’re trying to smother yourself in him. The rhythmic rise and fall of his breath helps you with your own breathing as you subtly mimic his steady pace.  

Despite his boisterous nature, Negan has always been an anchor for you in moments like this, when even words seem to fail. But, true to form, Negan doesn’t let the silence stretch on for too long. 

“Wanna talk about it?” he gently probes, his voice somewhat playful as he adds “or, I can think of one or two things we could do to take your mind off of it”. He draws lazy circles on your back, skimming the edge of your t-shirt as he does.

You try to find the right words to say but in the end, you simply opt for mumbling “Not really”.

He hums in understanding “You been awake long?”.

“Not that long,” you reply vaguely. He lets your answer simmer. You focus on the small puffs of air that you can feel hit the top of your head. When you don’t say anything else, he pokes your side, gently prodding you for more. 

You resist, staying quiet. 

Negan lets out a faint chuckle, his lips brushing your hair as he plants a small kiss on your head. His voice is a warm rumble against you. “C’mon, baby,” he coaxes, his tone teasing yet affectionate “I’m gonna need a little more than that”.

It’s not fair. 

Why is it so difficult to open up?! Opening up should be simple, especially when it’s to Negan of all people. This is the man who knows you better than anyone else, and all he wants to know about is a nightmare, he’s not asking you for your deepest secrets!  

Yet the idea of delving into the fears that come with a nightmare make you hesitate. The world is scary enough as it is, you don’t need him worrying about what’s going on in your head on top of it all.

“I just–” you immediately cut yourself off, your throat tightening. A wave of emotions overcomes you, a strange sense of fear and uncertainty closing in. “I don’t want to fall back into that dream o-or have another one. I don’t even think that makes sense but I just, I can’t, it was too much, it is too much-”.

Negan shushes you as your voice gets higher and higher as you fight back the sudden tears. “It’s alright,” he comforts you, his hand cupping your cheek as Negan’s thumb automatically swipes at your cheek, trying to clear away any tears that may have fallen “you wanna get up? Pretty sure I still got some leftovers if you want some”.

“No thanks… I don’t think I know what I want to do,” you sigh, knowing full well you probably sound like an overtired toddler as you try to keep your tears at bay. 

Looking down at you, Negan thinks for a few moments. “You’re pretty shit at sleepin’, you know that?” he makes the observation of the century. 

That breaks some of the tension and you scoff out a laugh. “C’mere,” both of Negan’s hands go to your waist as he gently manoeuvres you from laying on his chest to a spooning position. His lanky body comes around you, his legs pressed close behind yours, his chest against your back and his head close to yours on the pillow. 

Despite your comfy position, a weary huff escapes your lips. The tension in your head stubbornly persists, hellbent on preventing you from succumbing to sleep. 

Sensing your hesitation in an instant, Negan responds in a soothing tone. “We’re just cuddling, no need to start thinking about sleep just yet” he effortlessly draws you away from your overactive mind and puts you right back into a state of calm. 

As much as you try to fight it, a yawn escapes your lips. 

"Relax, sweetheart. Close your eyes and count some sheep or something. If I feel you thrashing around in your sleep, I'll kick you right out of that nightmare," he promises.

As much as you want to take his words at face value, you always are one to push back. "But how can you know for sure?" you whisper, worry creeping into your voice "If you fall back to sleep too, how will you wake me up?".

Negan lets out an amused scoff, his sleepy smirk widening into a grin. "Oh, sweetheart, you best believe all of me will be wide awake if I feel your body writhing against me in your sleep," he assures.

Somehow, that does the trick. That lewd Negan charm you thought you were immune to by now soothing you nonetheless. 

And yet a part of you want to resist the influence of his smooth talking. Defiantly letting out a soft "hmph" in protest, you playfully push back against Negan's crotch. He responds with a chuckle, his lips touching the back of your head as he quietly orders "Behave".

You let out a soft laugh, finally able to relax as you feel Negan's warm breath against your ear. His presence being the comforting reminder that you yearned for. He's here, you're not alone.

Negan peppers your head with a series of gentle kisses, the tender touch you would have never expected when you first met the man. As you begin to drift back to sleep, you feel the soft press of his lips against your skin, each kiss a silent pledge of protection.

With a final kiss behind your ear, Negan holds you close, sending you off to a peaceful, dreamless slumber.

[so-long-soldier-writes]

Smutty Kol mikaelson headcanons?

mmm smutty kol… i need to get back into the swing of writing for him!

okay. i have so many WIPs where he's more dominant, but have only posted one smut of him and he's submissive in that one. that being said, i can see him going both ways.

also, in general, idk why i started doing my hcs like this, but i can switch them back to the other format if preferred

tw: cnc / dub / non section; minor noncon mentioned

he's definitely experienced & mostly dominant

he's been alive since the dawn of time

he's an original vampire & whether or not he reveals that status, he will embody it by being the more dominant one in the relationship / situationship

and as charming & flirtatious as he is, it's safe to say he's got a lot of experience under his belt (HA - accidental pun)

that is to say, though, he's probably never been super serious about any of his flings

until, ofc, he meets the one that he absolutely falls for, and none of those hookups matter + he's lost interest in anyone else

1920s - little subsection for if you met him in this decade

okay so i read about this thing that happened in the 1920s called "petting parties," where PDA and sex weren't really acceptable, so people would have these orgy-type things centered around heavy petting and i can see that as SUCH a kol thing

i was actually going to write something based on that idea but need to do more research on it first

but kol would be so engaged with something scandalous (for the time) like that

he'd have girls worshipping him for the way he touches them; for the feel of his fingertips against their skin; the way he undresses them with his eyes, both parties wishing they could strip themselves of the last layer of separating fabric

he'd get into so much trouble in the 20s for this kind of stuff

flirting with other men's women, making crude hand gestures under tables to turn them on

he knows how to lay on the charm and fit in with the 20s, but he has the sexual appetite and style of a modern man

ofc, those words being nothing negative, but instead just him knowing how to be rough and how to please

modern day

likes the vulgarity & speed of modern sex

likes that he can strip a girl of her clothes and pin her to the wall and she welcomes it

likes that there aren't a thousand eyes watching his every move; likes the freedom & lack of rules nowadays

he wasn't around for the sexual revolution of the 80s (thanks, klaus 😞), but he would've relished it

all the young women looking to finally express themselves sexually; him giving them the best first experience he could deliver

despite all that, though, he loves the tender, loving sex of being with someone he knows, once in a while

he appreciates it more once he gets into a stable relationship, but sometimes his menial hook-ups were on the gentle side, too

modern day in an established relationship

rougher by nature, but can certainly be sweet, and often is

slow & passionate, kissing all over - forehead, neck, down your stomach, chest

roughness or gentleness depends on his mood

depends on your mood, too, because he cares & won't ever push you into something

respects boundaries if you say no

he maybe wasn't always like that, but when he started running with witches, he learned a specific respect & appreciation for others, especially women & those he'd sleep with

so, when he wants to have a long-term relationship with you, he really puts in the effort to be the best he can be

he wants you to know he loves you and shows it

kinks

so i read a fic about this, and i can see it fitting him 100% - some kind of predator / prey; hunting / hunted type dynamic, where he stalks & hunts you & then when he finally catches you off guard, fucks the daylights outta you up against a tree

very much a kol thing

throw a knife in the mix, too

you're pinned to a tree with a knife at your throat and his fingers are underneath your clothes, pleasuring you out of sight

bonus points if it's at night. or, if he hunted you all day and finally caught you at night. by now, he's extremely hungry

speaking of hunger, let's not forget about feeding

he definitely fed on most of the girls he railed in one night stands, but if it were a person he loved, he wouldn't feed until he knew he had enough control to not hurt them

the most intimate situation he can imagine is slow, passionate sex with blood sharing at the end

him drinking from you, then healing you back with his blood, or a mutual feeding if you're a vampire, too

first time with him with someone who just turned, he'd be very gentle, knowing how difficult the transition is

giving into every single need, including offering his own vein when the blackness starts to form under your eyes

i'm not sure kol would be into exhibitionism, but pda and public flirting, certainly

flirting across the bar at the grill, beckoning you closer with his eyes, then (mostly tasteful) jokes once you sit next to him

even when you're dating, flirts like you're strangers and he's still trying for your attention, just for the thrill

though places that are kinda hidden but kinda public, he loves to take you into those for a quick time ;)

bathroom stalls, dressing rooms, janitor closets, the whole lot

also... shower sex

he'd think it'd be a great idea even if you're skeptical

but you agree & it's ofc, a disaster, bc it never actually works out like it does in tv

but you make it fun anyway & he has a very strong hand on you to keep you from slipping

now, klaus' room, i think, he'd love to take you in there as a "fuck you" to his brother after a fight

an orgy type of guy, i think, as long as you're consenting of it

and then gives you all his love & attention afterwards when you get jealous of one person in particular

makes up with gifts & a very long night in the bedroom, with lots of aftercare

witch!kol would 100% tease you in public

it's over for you once he discovers vibrating panties

sometimes gets turned on by you at the worst possible times

you stand up to him against one of his brothers? yes

you fight off an enemy all by yourself? yes

even if you're joking around and fit a whole doughnut in your mouth or something, he's dtf

and his response to your shock is always along the lines of, "i can't control it!"

if he's in a submissive mood

is submissive at times, and some times, needs you to be more dominant

especially when esther is around

i can see kol having mommy issues & needing that reassurance

but it would take a certain level of trust for him to be comfortable telling you that

at first, you were surprised at how submissive he got, but then you were happy to provide what he needed

he's very appreciative of your comfort & lack of judgement when he gets in that type of headspace & makes sure to shower you in thanks & kisses when he "wakes up" from it

tw: cnc / dub / non

can't see him being into this, especially in a relationship

except for the desire to hunt you, i don't think he'd be into it straight up

as previously mentioned, pre-witch hanging-out, he might've had a few incidents that were a little questionable, but he's straightened out & learns that those incidents were wrong & does not repeat them

his biggest offense in one of those situations was probably nonconsensual blood drinking that turned him on

was still kind of a baby, psycho vampire when it happened, & he probably still regrets it to this day

dubcon, though, where you're both drunk after a night of bar flirting, he's into

like, if you were used as a distraction for him when caroline was used to distract klaus

you're both drinking way too much and one thing leads to another and then you find yourself in the mikaelson mansion in the morning like 🤷‍♂️

he makes sure you don't regret it, though, and you don't

calms his worried little not-beating heart

somnophilia, given explicit consent beforehand, he would like

the prospect of you waking up full of him, or with him delivering pleasure via tongue or fingers

you wake up and the first thing you feel is pleasure brought on by him - he loves that concept

[ponett]

I have now finally seen the Mario movie. It was Pretty Good. Here are my wordy thoughts on it. (I am going to spoil the entire movie. Duh.)

In many ways, the Mario movie does what I wish the first Sonic movie had done. They just took the characters and the premise and the world from the games, and made it a straightforward animated adventure movie. It's bright and colorful and remixes things JUST enough to include fun elements from multiple games, and it doesn't make Mario get adopted by James Marsden or whatever. It even has the music!

That's all you really need, right? Right...?

I'll get this out of the way up front. Chris Pratt was fine. He's fine

If anything, it really feels like they did the movie a disservice by letting us hear so little of the Mario voice in the previews. It took one scene for Pratt to disappear into the role for me. It was totally fine. If anything, I found Charlie Day's normal voice coming out of Luigi WAY more distracting, even if I did like him in the role.

Everyone else was pretty good, for the most part. Jack Black was obviously very good as Bowser, but I'm biased. Seth Rogen does the Seth Rogen laughs as Donkey Kong, but I thought DK was fun, too. (I liked his little rivalry with Mario where he was just constantly giving him shit.) The only casting choice I truly hated was Fred Armisen as Cranky Kong. I hated every line that came out of his mouth. He sounds atrocious. Just the worst. I swear to fucking god if they do a DKC movie and we have to hear him for 90 minutes

I did think Peach was lacking, but that was on the script, not Anya Taylor-Joy's performance. It's cool to see Peach fight, but it's one of those all too common instances where the writers put so much effort into making the main girl kick ass and be an effortlessly confident girlboss that they forgot to give her an actual personality. Not that I'd point to Super Princess Peach and its mood swing superpowers as positive representation or anything, but there's a happy middle ground, surely. Shrek was 22 years ago, just having the princess do flying kung fu kicks isn't enough.

Okay. With the voices out of the way, let's talk about the big picture:

It's way better than the words "Illumination Mario movie" implied, and I mostly enjoyed my time with it. The spirit of Mario is there 100%. But I'd also describe it as "ruthlessly efficient."

This was perhaps the main complaint critics had, and they were absolutely right. People have responded to these totally average reviews with "Well, what did you expect? Shakespeare?! It's MARIO!!" Like, yes, I would prefer it if the movie I paid to see had writing that was good instead of bad. What a shocker. My issue isn't that it's not "high-brow" enough. The problem is that it feels mercenary. It feels like an editor went through and deleted almost every line of dialogue that isn't some form of exposition, at the expense of the pacing. Any scene that's not a montage or some sort of action is kept as short as they could make it, with barely any room for embellishment, character interaction, or anything other than the bare minimum word count to hit all the typical Save the Cat Hollywood screenwriting 101 story beats to the letter. There aren't even as many jokes as you might think (and the ones that are there are extremely hit or miss, including a lot of the slapstick with Mario himself).

Mario and Peach's little arc together in the front half of the film is probably the worst example of this pacing. Even having read reviews that complained about how fast Peach goes from meeting Mario (by her admission the first other human she's ever met) to deciding to train him as the new savior of the Mushroom Kingdom, I was SHOCKED at how fast it was. They don't even lampshade it.

Peach takes Mario straight into the big training sequence where he learns how to use mushrooms and jump over platforming obstacles. Peach is apparently already a hypercompetent platforming pro and a great fighter, so there's no clear reason why she's taking the time to train this random guy to be half as good as her when the world is in danger. Then they set off on their adventure, Toad joins them, and we get a VERY brief travel montage. It's about thirty seconds total - just long enough to give Peach a line about how she wants to protect this beautiful world of hers to try and give her some stakes. We get the genre-mandated nighttime campfire heart to heart, which is exactly long enough to have Mario say he misses Luigi and to have Peach give the two sentence summary of her origin story and not a second longer. Then they reach the Kongs, and their big journey is complete. (They barely interact for the rest of the movie.) So much of the movie is like this - always ready to get on to the next scene as soon as a new one starts.

I'm not criticizing the script because I expect The Super Mario Bros. Movie to be a prestige drama - although there are certainly halfhearted attempts at a dramatic arc. The stuff with Mario's family was a fun enough idea, but again, ruthless efficiency. We get one quick scene with them at the start to give Mario some pathos, because I guess Save the Cat said he's gotta have some pathos. And then Mario gets his dad's approval amidst the action of the final battle in Brooklyn to resolve his arc, just so the movie can end as quickly as possible once Bowser is defeated. (Despite now having the approval of their family and their community back in Brooklyn, Mario and Luigi move to the Mushroom Kingdom off-screen without a single word dedicated to this decision, because that's where they live in the games.)

Look. I am not comparing it to The Godfather. Don't give me that shit. I am not asking for an extra half hour to explore Mario and Luigi's childhood trauma. I am not asking for the complex inner workings of the Mushroom Kingdom monarchy. I know this is gonna be a basic Hero's Journey adventure for kids. It just feels like it's turning down so many opportunities to have a little fun with the characters, to let them interact and play off of each other, to let there be some adventure on this adventure. This is the first time we've gotten to see these characters interact with fully voiced dialogue in a very, very long time! "Yeah, it's not High Art, but it's FUN!" Stories are fun! Character interactions are fun! The script could be having so much more fun!! It is adamantly against making the Story parts of this story-driven movie any more Fun than they functionally need to be!!!

Mario, Peach, and Toad's journey to find the Kongs is shorter than the training montage that precedes it. After the opening, Bowser mostly just sits in his castle and waits for the third act to start. Luigi's there, too, but he only gets one scene with Bowser and then the movie mostly forgets he exists until the climax. He doesn't even get to try and sneak out of Bowser's castle and get up to hijinx. He's just there to be a motivation for Mario, so he sits in a cage for half the movie. It's the bare outline of a script with action scenes added in.

Aside from the fact that it's Jack Black singing as Bowser, I feel like this overly-efficient script might be part of the reason why the "Peaches" scene stands out so much. It's a moment that didn't strictly need to be there to keep the plot moving or to provide an action setpiece. It's not even a reference to another Mario thing. It's just a fun and memorable little character moment that's there for its own sake. That's what the movie needed more of. To stop and smell the roses more often. To play in the space.

To be clear, this isn't a unique problem with this movie. Critics have been noting for years that second acts are disappearing from big Hollywood movies in favor of the Act I plot setup and the Act III action, even though Act II is supposed to be where you get to explore your actual premise. And lots of animated movies give me this exact same vibe of being too "screenwriterly," or feeling like they had an executive breathing down their necks and demanding changes based on focus testing. But these common issues are why I come away mostly feeling like the movie is on the better end of "average," rather than totally blowing my mind. You have seen this movie many times before, just not with Mario in it.

And, of course, there's the music. The score by Brian Tyler based on various classic Mario and Donkey Kong tunes (frustratingly all attributed to Koji Kondo) is absolutely beautiful, but it's unfortunately frequently overshadowed by the licensed music. Everyone already complained about things like the use of Take On Me in place of a lovingly arranged DKC medley, but it feels illustrative of the tug of war the movie is caught in the middle of, between wanting to be a lavishly faithful Mario movie and wanting to be a generic tentpole animated adventure movie. Every single licensed song used is the most obvious, overused song they could have picked for the scene. It reeks of cynical executive meddling and it took me out of the movie every time.

But there really was a lot of care and love put into this movie - more than probably any other video game movie ever made, not that that's a high bar. I don't want to underplay that too much amidst all my complaints spurred by the absolutely insane response to the reviews.

Aside from the countless background references that people will be picking apart for years, touches like the Captain Toad tune playing in the background of Toad's introduction or the Mario Kart 8 menu music playing in the kart garage really help bring it to another level of authenticity. I also enjoyed seeing some more obscure Mario enemies that felt like they were picked more for being fun to animate than for being nostalgic and marketable. No matter how many times I sarcastically pointed to the screen and deadpanned "reference. reference." I am not immune to noticing these things and smiling. I am not immune to the DK Rap. These alone don't make the movie good, but it's nice to have a video game movie that feels like it was made by people who like video games.

Most importantly, the animation is great throughout. It's leaps and bounds ahead of other Illumination work, and it's the best the Mario cast has ever looked. They even made Donkey Kong handsome, somehow. They're all so squishy and expressive, and they move so fluidly - especially in the action scenes. I particularly liked the more kinetic ones like the aerial Banzai Bill chase and the Mario Kart sequence. Truly, the Mad Max-inspired car battle on Rainbow Road where Mario literally does the speedrun shortcut is this movie firing on all cylinders.

Other, more hand-to-hand fights nail the Popeye-esque vibe Mario should be going for. He's an underdog who gets the shit kicked out of him by bigger, stronger opponents until he gets his signature powerup and turns the tables on them. My favorite animation of all probably came from the use of Cat Mario to turn the tide in the DK fight. They had so much fun making Mario move like a cat. Again, it feels like a choice made because it'd be fun to animate rather than just a nostalgia move.

It's that animation and that attention to detail that carry the film, really. They elevate it from mediocrity into being a fun watch for a fan like me, albeit one I couldn't help but pick apart with Anthony as we watched it at home. I'm glad I saw it, but there's a lot of room to improve with the inevitable sequel. I hope they do. I can't deny that I had fun with the movie, but I hope next time that fun is partially because of the script instead of in spite of it.

Stray thoughts:

Overall, I would say I enjoyed the movie a lot more than Sonic 1, but probably not as much as Sonic 2. Not that these movies need to be pitted against each other.

I hated the Luma. I hated how hilarious they clearly thought the Luma was. They have the fucking Luma break the fourth wall to end the movie and start the credits. This is going to be a deep cut for fans of bad animated films, but the whole time I was just thinking of the little fish from Romeo & Juliet: Sealed With A Kiss who's just the director's kid saying random nonsense. You know I'm right

I rolled my eyes at the "our princess is in another castle" joke and several other jokes that would have been dated in a gamer webcomic 20 years ago but I guess they had to be there

How much of Brooklyn did Bowser's giant floating castle take out? We know 9/11 happened in this universe because the Freedom Tower is there, hasn't New York been through enough

I can't believe there's a Diskun easter egg

The dog is the most Illumination character design in the movie. It felt like it wandered on set from The Secret Life of Pets

Mario being a gamer and playing Kid Icarus of all things just made me remember this tweet:

Yes Anthony did get mad at me for being thirsty for Bowser

[velvetvexations]

"if Kristen fell into a time quangle during the Night Yorb fight and landed in the last few minutes of the epilogue, her character growth, her entire arc, would be 100% identical to how it was in canon"

Feels like a shame to single out Kristen when that's basically true of all the PCs. Murph got in a just under-the-wire character arc that was largely unrelated to anything Riz actually experienced. (I feel like Murph and Brennan went into this season with opposite ideas of what Riz's arc should be.) And every other character remained essentially the same. They went through some external changes (Fabian got a girlfriend and Fig a new god). But those can hardly be called arcs. At least Ally took some wild swings at the beginning, even if they never amounted to anything

Riz is a very insightful point, he was such a non-entity this entire season. He basically existed just to do nat thirty investigations like an HM slave in Pokemon. Even in the epilogue, it's like "hey his mom reminded him to relax sometimes and he said okay" and like. That's it. That's literally it. NOTHING was solved.

I still feel like Kristen is different, though, and most obnoxious to me, because she so central to the narrative and the epilogue is more her victory lap than anyone else's. Like Riz had nothing happen to him all season but then also didn't have anything happen to him in the epilogue either. With Kristen it's like, woo! You're the president and this is inexplicably, against all conceivable logic, something we expect you to be good at! Cassandra apparently forgives you for literally almost neglecting her to death! Your religion has started picking up followers for, I don't know, Reasons I guess, I don't really know but I sure know it wasn't because you put any effort into proselytize one single time this entire season! Your ex left her highly successful religious movement and broke up with that dumb bitch slut who's probably evil I bet so now you've got another shot!

So like, at least Riz's epilogue doesn't act like he's gone through any real change or earned anything the way Kristen gets handed a trophy for every time she blinked this season. Everyone else, I feel, had something, even if Adaine's ended in the middle of the season.

[bunk-bed-blorbos]

6 and 21 for the otp question meme 🐈‍⬛

6. What is their favorite feature of their partner’s?

For Mayday, she's aware that Zuke puts a lot of effort into his appearance. She likes to play with Zuke's hair, since it's so bouncy and soft and well-maintained, and he's very proud of it, so it's always shiny and clean. However, her absolute favorite part is Zuke's chest. It's well defined, strong, and perfect for laying her head on, and when she puts her ear to it she can hear his heartbeat pounding as strong as his kickdrum, and it always puts her at ease. As for Zuke, his favorite part is... Well, everything that makes Mayday "Mayday". Every quirk in her appearance makes him smile, from her pointy, twitchy ears to they way her browline tapers into a cute little button nose, to her big, toothy grin that's so wide you can see her gums. But his absolute favorite part is her big, bright, beautiful pink eyes. The floral starbursts that bloom and sparkle whenever she's happy makes his stomach do flips every time. They're so unique and so Mayday, and he could spend the rest of his life just gazing into them

21. Who is more likely to start dancing with the other?

Mayday, 100%. It wouldn't take much prompting, just an upbeat song over the radio or at a show, and she's pulling Zuke to his feet and swinging him around, laughing and singing the whole time. Not that Zuke would mind, though he insists on having two left feet. May would just say it's "Never Stopped Her" and keep the two of them going until they're both sweaty and tired, hearts racing from the exercise.

[hanasnx]

"scuffling."

MINORS DNI 18+

WC: 0.8k | CHARACTERS: carmy berzatto x gn!reader NOTES: for @mcondance i do not write for carmy, pls do not talk to me about him. i just felt generous enough for a gift and ive seen the first season of the bear and a bit of the second. WARNINGS: sexual content | severe impact play | violence | not proofread | not 100% confident on carmy's characterization | no y/n

CARMY BERZATTO knows he's got a lot of shit going on in his head. Too much to keep track of, stray thoughts that can't be pinned down. When he's overwhelmed, everything's heightened. Like an attack dog, a ringing in his ears calls him back to his trainer. Except he's got no trainer, he's got no one. He's got him. It's not that that ringing makes him aggressive, it's not a Pavlov, that ringing reminds him of how he gets when he's angry. Exasperation layering over itself, building the tsunami. He's been told he's a dick, that he's a real asshole when he gets like this. But no one else is inside his head.

Not like you, anyway. You're about as close as they come, and you don't even know it. He doesn't know how you do it. You absorb that wrath— and you may come out swinging— but you never leave the kitchen. Miraculously, you don't quit. Even when he thinks you should. Even after he's thrown your experimental crème fraîche onto the floor. You hounded after him, but you still got your ass back to work.

"Are you sure about this?" he asks, one more time. Just to be sure. Even though he's boiling over, arms pulsing as he forms fists and shakes them out.

You don't give him an answer. Behind the Beef it's dark out, but you've waited all day to give him a piece of your mind. Well, a piece of you at least. The entire power of your body is put behind a punch, but he jerks out of the way. The knuckle of your thumb grazes the skin of his cheek, and now he's in your space. Rough hands shove at your chest, slamming your back into the concrete wall. The bones of your spine rattle against it, and you reorient too late. He grabs your shoulders, bringing you in to connect his knee to your stomach. You double over, clutching it.

Through strain, you manage a chuffed, "Fuck you, Carmy,"

"Fuck me? Fuck me? C'mon," That roar in his ears is unbearable, driving his actions, taunting you with beckoning hands. In his distraction, you throw another punch that he, again, dodges. "Haven't learned—" His own grunt interrupts him as the point of your elbow sling-shots into the back of his head. Falling forward, his eyes squeeze shut, but he runs into you. So his arms wrap around your torso as he goes down, his shoulder sinking into your chest as you land underneath him on the ground. It's cold, it's hard. Your head aches.

He picks himself up, straddling you. Adrenaline imbued within your beings, blood rushing to fill out everything. Every vein itching to be stretched and used. You weakly claw at him that, for the most part, he redirects by slapping your wrists away. When you get a hold of the straps of his apron, you yank him down, and he catches himself over you. The heels of his hands dig into grovel, scratching up his skin. In a last ditch effort, you jerk your head up, forehead-to-forehead, both of you suffer after impact. A joint groan of pain sounds between the two of you, and in his haze you roll him over. You see red, pressing your lips into a thin line, blowing hot air through flared nostrils. A pink mark blooms on his skin where your heads connected, and your fists bang against his chest.

It becomes a game of rolling around in the fucking dirt and grime, filthying yourselves in the scuffle. Until in between hitting each other, you're tearing at clothes. Prying open buckles and buttons. Fingers brace onto your hips, restricting your movements, burning you from his grip as you take it upon yourself to mount him. In the middle of this fucking alley, you're sinking down onto his cock. And when he tells you to quit fucking around, you grace him with a resounding slap.

His large hand plants on your face, shoving you backwards unceremoniously. "Watch it!" he tells you. His teeth bite into the skin past his lower lip as he throws his head back.

"Shut the fuck up." you chide, resuming the rhythm of your hips. Acting like you fucking needed this as you double over, fisting his shirt for purchase, winding your fingers in it tight as you ride him. He palms your tailbone, slamming you down deep onto him.

"I should fucking kill you—" Your hand claps against his mouth to quiet him.

"I don't wanna fucking hear your voice right now, just take it."

[whoiwanttoday]

So I pre purchased tickets for Love Lies Bleeding for a few reasons. One, it's getting great reviews and has been since it first screened at SXSW. I already liked the idea of it but knowing it works is hugely exciting. If you don't know, Film Noir is one of my favorite genres and every November my friends and I do Noirvember which started a decade ago with them going, "Film Noir seems cool but I don't know anything about it". Well guys, I did know about it and it was about time to put that education to use so that first year I chose 5 movies that I felt would help demonstrate the characteristics of the genre and wrote essays about each one with what to look for and what identifying tropes of the genre were there. Since then I have put in far less effort but every year we try to grab some movies that are significant for various reasons to the genre. My point is, I love Noir and really appreciate French film critics for inventing it after the fact. So Love Lies Bleeding is not a Noir, it is a Neo-Noir but for obvious reasons it's a genre that always interests me for obvious reasons. It's a Neo-Noir because you can't make film Noir anymore, part of what makes it film noir is when it was made and that no one has ever set out to make a Noir, if you are you're making a Neo-Noir. But I love them, too, especially sun soaked ones. Thirdly, Kristen Stewart. First of all, I think she is a tremendous actress who just does great work and her projects just get more and more interesting. They don't always work but man, I want big swings rather than boring. There are so many safe movies I give higher ratings to than interesting failures but those safe, bland mediocre movies all fade into the background, I still think about the interesting failures. So I love that she tries cool projects and the truth is most of her work. She always works in them. But the thing is, when I heard she was doing this I just knew it was perfect. My favorite Noir figure is probably Humphrey Bogart. That's not an out there selection, the guy was undeniably cool. And I was like, yes, let Kristen Stewart be Humphrey Bogart. I think she could 100% pull off that. I mean, I don't think she is in this movie, she's playing a different kind of a mess than the cool character who keeps getting in over his head but when it comes to vibes of someone who can be my favorite sort of Noir protagonist it's her. Which is a long way of saying I have tickets to go see the movie and resisted posting Kristen yesterday cause my brain was like, "We'll post her after we see the movie". Welp, I didn't make it cause she has been all over the place and looking very good. So I caved and made it exactly one day. Today I want to fuck Kristen Stewart.

[goodshipskypirate]

If Sea of Stars was a TV show, there would have been an obligatory baseball episode where Garl somehow invents the sport (or hosts it if baseball already exists in their world) in an effort to help a random town with their problem that can only directly be solved by the sport.

You'll see all the main characters in matching baseball outfits and that absolutely, 100% includes Resh'an.

Zale would absolutely take to the bat, but he'll swing it like a sword.

it's Valere who's the best hitter purely because this gal uses Moonerang like it's a Tuesday. She knows how to calculate when the ball is coming; that thing ain't leaving her sight. But she does that thing where she holds her baseball bat horizontally over her chest to get the ball instead of swinging her bat EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.

Serai is allowed to use her portal magic because their opponents will also have magic and/or fantastical powers to make it more interesting. She will be the best damn catcher anyone could ask for, positioned in ALL the bases because of her ability.

Garl is the umpire, of course. He is also just the general host of this whole game and the team's captain, but that's a given.

B'st will get every fucking home run because he can swing the bat with such force he breaks every single one. Also his baseball uniform doesn't fit him all the way because that is a comical visual and adorable as fuck.

Just pretend this is Resh'an and not his puppet, because it is infinitely funnier for him to be involved with minimum restraint. He is the pitcher, that is not even a question. The man throws vials like a beast, he will chuck that baseball with such accuracy and speed that you'd be struck out before you could even blink.

[fan-a-saurus-rex]

A Way Back Home | Part 1

Plot: It’s been 4 years since visitors from other dimensions came and went. Since then things had been pretty quiet. You graduated high school and college, your new friend Peter beside you the whole time. The two of you were now living in an apartment together in queens. You knew he was Spider-Man, you knew all about everyone in his life forgetting him and the fact that he was Spider-Man. Now you would watch him leave everyday to stop crimes, while you worked your boring office job. But there was something you’d been hiding from Peter, a few things actually.

Pairing: Peter Parker x Reader

Warnings: swearing, not much else

Masterlist and Requests/Prompt

* * * * *

You sat at your desk, fresh out of a last minute work meeting, when you suddenly heard sirens on the street outside.

“I gotta go…” you heard Peter say as he walked into room and opened up the window.

“Please be careful” you said

He smirked “I always am” he said as he jumped off the fire escape, swinging through the alleyway on his webs.

It was hard for you to watch your best friend go out into danger like that. It was even harder now that you had discovered you had feelings for him. You hadn’t told him, you wanted to but you figured he was still dealing with the loss of everyone in his former life, including his former girlfriend whom he rarely talked about. You decided to just keep your feelings to yourself.

One thing you couldn’t keep to yourself much longer was something that he could relate to much more than your feelings for him.

While you had been cleaning you found a weird spider climbing up the wall, something you’d never seen before. While trying to kill it, it climbed onto your arm and before you could brush it off it bit you.

You were extremely ill for the next few days, running a fever. Peter had taken you to see a doctor and they concluded that you were having a reaction to the mild venom of the spider bite. You were sent home with medication to keep your fever down. Within a few days your fever broke and you felt better, but soon some weirder symptoms started to become apparent.

You were stronger than usual, so strong that you lifted the couch in your living room with no effort. Things would stick to you and your senses were so strong that it was almost overstimulating. You could see clearer, hear things from miles away, and your sense of smell was so powerful that you could smell the perfume the lady next door wore. Food even tasted different and every time something brushed up against you you could feel it 100% more than you could before.

But the one thing that really got to you was that you could sense things before they even happened. You could sense Peter’s presence when he’d sneak back in late at night. You could feel him without being close to him, without touching him. You could feel his presence through the walls of your bedroom as he got ready to go to bed in the room next you.

You knew that Peter had become Spider-Man because of a spider bite and you feared that the same had just happened to you, even though you had no clue how a radioactive spider could have even gotten into your apartment.

You pushed yourself away from all of your thoughts and decided to go make yourself some dinner. It was dark now and things seemed quieter in the streets.

You made yourself a grilled cheese sandwich and sat down on the couch to eat, watching the news. Apparently the reason Peter had was left was because a creature from another universe had gotten through and was terrorizing Citi Field while the NY Mets were playing a game against the LA Dodgers. Sports fans had fled the area as the alien-like creature destroyed the stadium. Footage of Spider-Man assisting Dr. Strange and Scarlett Witch get rid of the creature flashed across the screen.

Since the discovery of the existence of the multi-verse, things like this had become more common. Crazy creatures and individuals coming through portals that seemed to manifest at random. The world had changed and it was all a bit much at times, especially knowing that the only person you had in life who actually cared about you was out there fighting them.

You were so lost in thought that you hadn’t heard or sensed Peter climbing back through the window. You watched as he shut the window and walked over to you.

“I see everything went fine” you said smiling

“About as fine as it could have” he said chuckling “that thing was nasty”

“It looked like a giant crab but without a shell” you said giggling

“And it smelled horrible” he said laughing again “I’m gonna go shower” he said.

You nodded and took your plate to the kitchen, rinsing it off and putting it in the sink. You decided you needed some fresh air.

You sat out on the fire escape, something you did when you were overwhelmed. After about ten minutes Peter joined you.

“You okay?” He asked.

“Yeah, just….thinking”

“About what?”

You sighed and took a deep breath. “Can we talk about something Peter?”

“Of course”

“Remember when I got bit by that spider and had a bad reaction?”

“Yeah, are you feeling sick again?”

“Um…not exactly” you hesitated “but I have been feeling…odd”

“Odd? Odd how?”

You took another deep breath and looked at him, then looked down at your feet.

“Y/n?”

You looked at him again. “Watch”

You stood up and put your foot on the brick wall of your apartment building. You hoisted yourself up and scaled the building with ease. You looked down at the confused man below you and then climbed back down to the fire escape. You sat back down beside him.

“How…how long?” He asked

“About a week” you confessed

“How did this happen?”

“I was wondering that myself” I said

“How did a radioactive spider get into our apartment?”

You had no idea. You knew there was no logical reason for something like that to be hanging around. Nobody knew Spider-Man’s real identity, except you, and you weren’t close to any research facilities that could be using radiation, at least none that you knew of. There were a lot of shady types living in the city, selling all sorts of contraband weapons and technology from other dimensions in the multiverse. But why would they have radioactive spiders? And why would they want to release one in a random apartment building in a nice part of Queens?

You looked over at Peter “you upset?” You asked

“Why would I be upset?” He asked confused.

“Because I’ve been keeping this a secret from you”

“I’m just glad you’re alright” he said “you were really sick, didn’t think you were gonna make it with how high your fever was”

You nodded “that was brutal”

“I got sick too, but not nearly that bad” he mentioned “having any other….symptoms?”

You nodded “I lifted the entire couch with one hand, my vision is sharper, I can hear everything, food tastes crazy good, touching things feels like electricity coursing through my body, and I can sense things before they happen. I can tell when you’ve come home, even when you’re quiet. I can…feel you”

“Still have no idea that spider got here” he said sighing

You nodded and looked over at him “I’m-I’m okay though”

He smiled “I’m at least happy about that. Don’t need to lose you too”

You smiled “I’m not going anywhere, well, except for bed. I’m exhausted” you confessed.

“Me too, come on” he said helping you get you up and going back inside.

You both went to bed shortly after coming back in. You felt a lot better telling him about your newfound spider abilities. You wished you could have told him about your feelings, but that could remain a secret for a bit longer.

Before falling asleep you wondered if Peter would help you control your powers and maybe let you help out around the city. You didn’t want to be an Avenger, you just wanted to help your best friend and spend some more time with him.

At around 4am, you were suddenly waken up by the sound of sirens and helicopters. You knew Peter would be leaving shortly so maybe now was your chance.

* * * * *

To be Continued….

[moon7jay]

HELLO IVE BEEN READING UR WORKS AND I LOVE IT SO MUCH!!! but cherry?!?!? oo hohooh ohoohhh ohohoh OOHHH SOME HOW ITS DIFFERENT BUT IN A GOOD WAY

in all honesty i mostly read and follow ur smut works BUT TGIS FIC MOVED ME!! TO THE FLOOR!! cause now im sobbing bcs of how good it is, the angs *chefs kiss*

KINDA IMPOSSIBLE IDK BUT IMMA NEED A PART 2!!! of just heeseung and y/n in their dating(?) or wtv their situationship going on. more fluff for y/n cause she deserves everything good in this universe

again hwiwhje i just needed to express how much i love ur recent cherry fic hehehehehehe LUV U MWHA

Okay first of all, THANK YOU for leaving this long message I was literally giggling and swinging my feet while reading this, I'm not even exaggerating.

I'm so glad you loved it so much, and there's going to be an epilogue for cherry, not saying 100%, because I'm drowning in uni work rn, but if I get around to actually writing something, I'll let you know‼️and you're so right, y/n deserves a little loving 😞

THANK YOU ‼️thank youuu, I always appreciate people who actually put in the effort to leave heartfelt feedbacks, like so much. And this goes for every writer out there. So thank you, ilysm🥹🤍🤍

[redhead-reporter]

You know the ship. You know who i want for the meme. GIVE ME THEM SHAYE GIVE ME OUR BABIES for the ship meme thing.

º ✧ 。SEND ME A SHIP AND I’LL TELL YOU… with @crisispider !

who’s the cuddler? true, these two do NOT understand the concept of "keep your hands to yourself" and they're not trying to learn either. but in terms of who initiates it more ? it's peter. mj is still ✨ terrible ✨ at seeking reassurance and comfort from people, even when she craves it with every bone in her body, because she didn't grow up in a house where that was safe to do. but the minute peter opens his arms to her? she's THERE, clinging to him with every ounce of strength in that little body of hers. he practically has to PRY her off him when he needs to "go to work".

who makes the bed? actually, this is something that mj NEEDS to do every day. it was one of her chores as a child, and one that saw her punished if she didn't do it, so now it's this weird muscle memory thing. she once tried NOT do it, as a pseudo therapy exercise, but it stressed her out too much that she almost made herself ill. she never asks peter to do it, doesn't care that he doesn't want to. and frankly ... she's never told him WHY she does it.

who wakes up first? mj. but this isn't a fair fight because you can't call what peter does "sleeping", especially not with mayday around. like it's just not.

who has the weird taste in music? peter, and mj loves nothing more than to ROAST him for it. she rolls her eyes when he's in charge of the music and groans when the worst of it comes on. but does she also know all the words to his favorite songs? and catch herself singing them under her breath at work (and then immediately curse him with a little smile)? 100%.

who is more protective? peter and mj are WILDLY protective of each other it's true. like it borders on feral behavior at times, especially when they've been apart for a while. i just think that the WAY they do it is very different and says a lot about them. mj is very much your "he said no mayo" girlfriend, willing to step up and speak for him when peter's mild manner and politeness might otherwise keep him quiet. she will FIGHT (verbally, relax pete) anyone who talks shit about spider-man and defend him to the ends of the earth. but peter? his is much more LITERAL - he positions himself between mj and danger in every sense of the word. sometimes that looks like swinging in to SAVE HER LIFE, sometimes that's him stepping in to a situation where she didn't ask for his help because he REFUSES to stand by while she gets hurt. it leads to a LOT of arguments, but she knows he can't really help himself because ... well, neither can she.

who sings in the shower? honestly where is their grammy award because the CONCERTS these two put on together are legendary. it's usually mj on lead vocals while peter sings back up and leads the shampoo bottle choreography

who cries during movies? peter. peter bejanmin parker cries during movies, even ones that aren't really that sad. but mj thinks it's one of his SWEETEST traits, always has tissues and hugs waiting for him when it happens.

who spends the most while out shopping? mj. not only does she have the paycheck to do it, but she likes having nice things. she keeps them for much longer than the average person, takes good care of them so they last, but being best friends with harry osborn for that many years definitely gave her an APPRECIATION for the finer things in life.

who kisses more roughly? i think peter does, but it's almost always because mj started it. there is nothing she does better than revving his engine, little teasing whispers in his ear about how hot he is when he tosses cars around like they're baseballs. trying to convince him to toss HER around, and peter gets a little too zealous in his efforts to please her and .... well, let's just say she has MASTERED the art of covering up dark ass hickies on her neck and bruising on her lips.

who is more dominant? in the bedroom, they definitely SHARE that role - the control ebbs and flows naturally between them, depending on the mood. mj loves to take the reins and make him moan, but she also gets thrill out of him webbing her up and having his way with her. but in everyday life? mj. oh it's mj and it's not even a close competition. she wears the pants in their relationship and the only time peter has them is when he's taking them OFF her and chucking them onto the floor.

my rating of the ship from 1-10. humanity does not have numbers high enough for my rating of this ship. it is peak, it is EVERYTHING.

[cyarskaren52]

what was your favorite holiday song

The 20 Greatest Black Christmas Songs Of All Time

Get into the holiday spirit with these festive songs.

Jasmine Washington

The Daily Grind Video

Get ready to spread some holiday cheer, because the most wonderful time of the year is here! The greatness of Black Christmas music is one of the things that remains the same even in a period of unprecedented changes.

The right playlist can make virtual and/or socially distant celebrations feel reminiscent of life pre-COVID-19 pandemic. 

And there’s a melody for everyone, too. Adorable jingles acclaim the innocence of young children. Soulful records offer encouragement in a time of despair. Sweet ballads fuel romance. Comforting holiday-themed tracks uplift the brokenhearted. Unique recreations of traditional carols highlight the religious aspect of the holiday. There are even festive records with sultry requests for Santa.

Source: Michael Loccisano / Getty

The greatness of Black Christmas music isn’t limited to our personal preferences either. At their best, these classics have landed at the top of the charts and have influenced the way people commemorate the season every year.

Check out 20 of the greatest Christmas songs by Black artists below, and be sure to tell us which ones you’re adding to your playlist.

1. Alexander O’Neal “My Gift to You”

Alexander O’Neal offered a never-ending souvenir of love on “My Gift to You.”

2.  Boyz II Men Featuring Brian McKnight “Let It Snow”

What’s the festive season without a little romance? Boyz II Men and Brian McKnight’s “Let It Snow” honored the “joyous thing” that is love. The collaborative effort peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart in 2012.

3. Destiny’s Child “8 Days of Christmas”

The chart-topping trio celebrated the early 2000s and all of its millennium glory by asking their “baby” to give them CDs, belly rings and a “crop jacket with dirty denim jeans” on “8 Days of Christmas.”

4. Donny Hathaway “This Christmas”

Donny Hathaway unknowingly delivered a Black Christmas anthem with “This Christmas.” According to American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), it was the 30th most-performed holiday song of all time. Aretha Franklin, Chris Brown, Mary J. Blige, John Legend and Ne-Yo are among the singers who’ve recreated the classic tune.

5. Eartha Kitt “Santa Baby”

Eartha Kitt came under fire after the suggestive tone of “Santa Baby” led to boycotts following its 1953 release. According to Billboard,songwriter Philip Springer called the sultry sensation “the first sexy Christmas record.”

6. Ella Fitzgerald “Frosty the Snowman”

The First Lady of Song’s “Frosty the Snowman” rendition served up a jazz swing that made her cover one for the ages.

7. The Jackson 5 “Give Love on Christmas Day”

While most holiday songs focus on the act of giving, this number by The Jackson 5 shines a light on what’s really important. “What the world needs is love. Yes, the world needs your love,” they sang.

8. The Jackson 5 “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus”

Filled with holiday hit after hit, The Jackson 5 Christmas Album spent four weeks at No.1 on Billboard magazine’s special Christmas Charts. It went on to sell more than 3.5 million copies worldwide. “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” is one of the album’s standout tracks.

9. Kirk Franklin & The Family “Jesus Is The Reason For The Season”

Back in 1996, Kirk Franklin & The Family set the record straight about why they were celebrating. If you listen closely, you may hear familiar voices like that of David and Tamela Mann.

10. Luther Vandross “Every Year, Every Christmas”

Celebrating the holidays may not be a remedy for a broken heart, but Luther Vandross shared his optimism on “Every Year, Every Christmas.”

11. Mahalia Jackson “O Holy Night”

The Queen of Gospel, Mahalia Jackson, offered her special soulful take on this beloved hymn.

12. Mariah Carey “All I Want For Christmas”

The holidays just aren’t the holidays without Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas” on repeat. In 2019, the single helped earn Carey the record for the longest span of Hot 100 No. 1s: 29 years, four months and two weeks, Billboardreports.

13. Nat King Cole “The Christmas Song”

Songwriters Bob Wells and Mel Tormé wrote Nat King Cole’s “The Christmas Song” on a hot summer day as a way to cool down. Talk about irony!

14. Otis Redding “Merry Christmas, Baby”

Otis Redding flipped the script on “Merry Christmas, Baby.” The crooner spoke from the delight of a gift recipient whereas most carols focus on the act of giving.

15. Run-D.M.C. “Christmas in Hollis”

Heralded as hip-hop’s earliest mainstream holiday song, “Christmas in Hollis” almost wasn’t recorded. According to The Source, D.M.C. expressed his apprehension about the project to fellow group members, Rev. Run and Jam Master Jay. “Nope. We’re not doing it. That’s what they try to do to hip-hop. They commercialize you and try to make you corny,” he reportedly said. Fortunately, the trio reconsidered and celebrated the single’s 33-year release in November.

16. Stevie Wonder “Someday at Christmas”

Released in the midst of the Vietnam War, “Someday at Christmas” delivered a hopeful message filled with social and political themes. Stevie Wonder imagined what life could be without conflict and with the possibility of a “world where men are free.”

17. The Supremes “My Favorite Things”

“My Favorite Things” recounts The Supremes’ most memorable wintertime moments and how they recall them to fight through bad days.

18. The Temptations “Silent Night”

There are many renditions of this time-honored treasure, but The Temptations’ cover of “Silent Night” is now the standard. The Temptations Christmas Card was a unique release because it gave each member of the legendary group the opportunity to lead a popular Christmas song.

19. TLC “Sleigh Ride”

TLC put a unique spin on music  for the festive season with the release of “Sleigh Ride.” The lively single offered Christmas greetings and well-wishes for the new year in a way that only the trio could. The song, a mix of rapping and singing, appeared on the Home Alone 2: Lost in New York soundtrack.

20. Whitney Houston “Do You Hear What I Hear”

More than just an outstanding interpretation of the story of the nativity, Whitney Houston’s “Do You Hear What I Hear” made a lasting impact. It was featured on A Very Special Christmas benefit album, which raised money for the Special Olympics.

26 photos

Sent from my iPhone

[jellyfishdiet]

I feel so much prettier every day that I put effort in. Literally, it's actually so easy to break out of a binge cycle and get back into honeymoon phase or fitness or whatever.

Start by trying not to eat over your met the first week or two, lower it by 100 per week until you're at your goal. Stetch as deeply and thoroughly as you can for 5-15 mins a day. Go for a long walk, fast or leisurely as comfortable, 30 min per day a few times a week. Until you feel like you're a bit more limber, a bit less out of breath.

It's easier to have a range (1000-1400) and I can't recommend high restriction enough. Lower risk of long term damaging health issues, easier to hide it, lower binge risk, etc.

Note, I am not saying you won't experience negative side effects. Or you won't binge. Or you will hide it successfully. Ultimately that's up to you.

Eating healthy food, allowing small indulgence, taking vitamins, drinking plenty of water, and taking care of your hygiene will definitely help with avoiding negative health problems. If your calories are mainly junk food, you don't invest in your personal hygiene, you don't take multivitamins, etc - you're more likely to experience acne, bad breath/teeth, joint and bone problems, malnutrition, hair loss, etc.

Not binge eating is down to your self control and discipline. Pushing yourself is fine, but you can't jump from massive binges daily to eating less than 500 calories per day. Find what works for you, keep track of and avoid your binge triggers. It's actually extremely easy to cultivate self control and discipline babe.

Slow and steady wins the race. Don't compare yourself to that person on your tl who somehow fasts 10+ days on the regular, or eats less than 500 calories and never binges. It's not a competition and they're probably experiencing major health issues or their metabolism is dead. It's better to lose slow and keep it off, than end up binging and gaining, or killing your metabolism and being stuck in a four month plateau.

And if you have regular health checkups, or weekly therapy, or nosy parents, or donate plasma or whatever- do not lose too fast. Heath care providers and overly involved parents/partners/etc will sniff out your disorder faster than a drug dog okay. Don't brag about losing weight or restricting better or not binge eating as much. Keep it to yourself.

Be quiet about your small victories, and open about milestones. It's okay to celebrate losing 5-10 lbs if you're already bigger or struggling with weight, but if you're already skinny you're inviting sabotage.

I learned that lesson the hard way, celebrating victories in recovery only made my mother get jealous and purposely trigger me back into hard relapse. Jokes on her, it's up to me whether I relapse the good way (into my ortho/harm reduction phase) or the shifty way (emotional eating, binges, etc). She can make me hate my body and make those voices so loud, she can't control how I choose to react to them.

The same goes for any of you with toxic people in your life, whether they trigger you on purpose or accident, whether they're toxic or just don't realize their being shitty. Try to set boundaries where you can. It's hard, but you are worth it, especially if you think they aren't trying to hurt you on purpose. You've got to look out for yourself.

And lastly, no one can control how you react but you. If you avoid your triggers, work to shift your mindset, practice binge prevent techniques and harm reduction - I promise you will lose weight a lot faster than if you binge the first 20-25 day of the month and restrict the last 5-10. You can actually choose to stop binge eating at any time. I say this as someone who struggled with bed for 5 years. It took very little effort to unlearn binge eating habits. It took a few retries to get in the swing of it, but ultimately it took 3 months to unlearn 5 years of binge habits.

So what are you waiting for? Don't be afraid of failure or mistakes. You are capable of so much my friend. Just take it day by day. In a few months, you won't even recognize that person you were.

[darklovecat]

Tomorrow's outfit 🤍

Tomorrow our university's med students will do their yearly celebration. It's my first time participating in this sort of event and I am excited to join the celebration with my friend whom I haven't seen in such a long time, I am excited to finally meet and talk with her again, and we will have the chance to meet some of our distinguished faculty members. I also have a few friends that I haven't seen in a while and I am looking forward to seeing them again.

A simple white lace blouse.

I love this lace blouse, it is very feminine and it looks even more stunning in person. The fabric looks very delicate and like it will rip with just one abrupt move but the fabric is quite stretchy. The sleeves are transparent and I can't show my arms for religious reasons, so I'll just wear a white long-sleeved leotard underneath which is VERY convenient because I have a Pilates class tomorrow morning and I can just get changed within seconds. It will also be a little chilly tomorrow so the extra layer will provide me with enough warmth to get through the day. It's a dainty blouse and I just got it but I know that I will get a lot of wear out of it since it is so versatile and I know of a million ways to combine it.

A dark navy skirt.

My absolute favorite, I wear this almost every day along with my black pencil skirt. It's a staple in my closet, I throw this on and I look super polished with absolutely no effort. I always get compliments when I wear this even though there's nothing special about it but it fits me perfectly. My grandma bought me a ton of A-line skirts a while ago and I hate to say it but they are somewhere at the back of my closet now because they are the most uncomfortable skirts in the whole world and they restrict my movement, I always end up ripping them because I can't walk properly in them. This pencil skirt, on the other hand, is a whole different story - the material is extremely stretchy (it is 100% polyester) and it is pretty much impossible to rip, it fits me perfectly and enhances my body beautifully while still being modest. The skirt rides up so I'll have to wear sheer stockings underneath them and I have to go over it with my lint roller to make sure there is no fuzz.

A lilac chiffon hijab.

Most of my hijabs are chiffon, it's my go-to material because I like how flowy and lightweight it is, chiffon is very easy to work with and there are a million different styles. I have found a style that frames my face beautifully and suits my face shape perfectly and I do my hijab the same way pretty much every day. This color is muted and has a grey undertone and it looks very beautiful in combination with navy blue. My dad got me some silver hijab pins, they're a small detail but make me look a million times more put together, I need 4 pins to do the usual style and only 2 of them are visible so I just take the needles and put them to secure my scarf and make sure it stays where it is for the whole day (it never does). I will be wearing silver jewelry with this outfit so they're a nice touch and give me a more cohesive look.

Silver Jewelry.

All the clothes in my outfit have a cold undertone, so naturally I will wear silver with this ensemble. I will stack the Cartier Love Bracelet in Silver (thin model) with a basic diamond bracelet. I thought about adding Just un clou but I think that would be a little too much and it will not match the blouse. I am not really a big fan of Guess, and I don't own much from the brand but I love silver, I love butterflies and I am beyond obsessed with anything that is cute and classy and this watch ticks every box and it looks so adorable in person, I love it. I also wear earrings with my hijab whenever I can, they always need to be extra long to be visible over my scarf and I love the way they add some sparkle to my face, and how they swing with my every movement, it makes me look more vibrant and lively.

Lacoste Concept Zip Tote Bag. Tommy Hilfiger Ballet Flats.

Lacoste Tote Bags are ridiculously spacious, they fit everything you can think of but the handles are extremely thin so I am very hesitant about carrying some of my heavier stuff with me, I wouldn't trust it with my laptop or heavier books but it is extremely wide so it fits a lot of binders and notebooks with no issues and it does not damage the corners due to its width like my other bags, and you can just throw things and it is a convenient bag. The Tommy Hilfiger Ballet Flats are from Spring Season 2014 but you can't tell, they look like I just brought them out of the box and it's one of the reasons I love thrifting, you can find great prices for very low prices and they are of such great quality, the ballet flats are real leather and they do not look dated because it's a classic and timeless style.

[tamedgod]

five things you love about xiao & five things you hate about haru. go!

what i love about xiao;

his willingness to try new things; xiao is not even remotely shy about allowing himself new experiences on a regular basis. while it helps that he has money, the man tends to dabble in a lot of different things, particularly anything thrill-seeking. surfing, skydiving, cliff climbing — anything outdoorsy and exciting. he loves to travel and try new foods and seek new adventures. he's like a kid in a candy store, the world his playground. because of this he is very well traveled and learned, though he may not often display it to other people.

his self discipline; with his penchant for out of the box interests, there were some that his family had no taste for — and so when his parents weren't dedicating him to events and forcing him to attend classes for languages and arts, xiao would be very committed to learning the things he actually cared about. he has a strict exercise regimen and takes good care of his health, minus indulging in a bad habit once in a while. while his parents had him learn martial arts and how to shoot, he was very serious about dedicating his remaining time and effort to learning to wield axes and other more periodic weapons, namely the battleaxe he's known for after becoming the world eater.

his fearlessness; this could also be classed by some as foolishness, but there is very little that spooks xiao or causes fear responses within him. part of this is due to his arrogant nature — but he is 100% of the belief that if you're confident enough, you can get away with anything. he can be very persuasive and charming, and it helps that he is not afraid to tussle/throw down. he's already an imposing man at 6'6", but he is unperturbed at standing up to folks physically bigger than him, or folks with more power than him. there are many people that tell him this attitude and behavior will get him killed one day, but that doesn't put him off; if he's still alive after every time he's done it before, then to him he'll be doing it until the one day he does get killed. c'est la vie.

his cutting honesty; while this can be seen as both a good and a bad thing, this partially goes hand in hand with him not being afraid of others. despite his family's shady background and the nefarious things he tends to get involved in (of his own accord or not), xiao is almost an obnoxiously honest person. i love that he isn't afraid to tell anyone how things are or how he feels (with the exception of haru, because there's always an outlier), whether they want to hear it or not. if he thinks your plan is stupid, he's going to tell you. if he thinks you're annoying, he's going to tell you. on the other side though, if he thinks you're smart, or beautiful, or that your ideas are good? he's going to tell you. this is very much a coin flip, but it could be considered one of his better qualities.

his potential for change; while xiao may think he has himself all figured out, and that he's comfortable with the way things are, he really can be a magnet for change and self reflection. a lot of his behaviors and beliefs are a result of his upbringing, especially as the overlooked middle child. while there have been outside influences that are good to him, growing up surrounded by more negative influences has made the pendulum swing more in that side's favor. but his potential for growth is enormous, he just has to find his path.

what i hate about haru;

how long she can (and will) hold a grudge; while haru tends to be a rather kind person for the most part, when she feels she's been wronged you will know. haru presents a brave face to most, but because she never learned a healthy outlet for her more "negative" emotions, she struggles with putting down any of the pain and resentment she feels towards others, and so even after a month, a year, even five years... she won't forget what you did to her. she'll be so cold and callous to you that it would shock those who know her kindness and her typical personality.

her judgmental and self righteous nature; her ability to hold a grudge, of course, is just a side effect of the root issue — haru's stance on the infamous moral high ground. haru has a strong belief system in what is right and what is wrong, and it can sometimes be very black and white despite the world being every shade of grey imaginable. while she may not openly fight you on those beliefs as xiao might, you can bet she'll cast judgement and treat you accordingly by keeping her distance. once she has made this judgement call, it is difficult for the person being judged to claw their way out of that hole she's mentally place them in. haru can be a very rigid person, and so it can be difficult for her to look past another's mistakes, even if they've been vouched for. the moral high ground can become shaky for her, however, when she's forced to take a closer look at herself.

her tendency to self isolate; because of her limited ability to process her honest emotions, haru tends to stay very private about when she's overwhelmed or needs help. she would rather seclude herself and isolate than let others know that she needs help with whatever she may be going through. because of this, she struggles with burnout from the overstimulating emotions, as well as the stress of her work and her unprocessed trauma. she puts on a brave face that many don't tend to look past, but the signs are there if one looked closer — refusing to go out with friends, leaving others on read, talking less, eating less. to her, these feelings will eventually pass, and so she just swallows them down like a horse pill until some energy returns to her.

her inclination to follow rather than lead; while many see this as haru being "flexible" or "going with the flow", she more so struggles with doing anything she perceives might "rock the boat", and so finds it easier to just act more agreeable to others' plans than to offer her own ideas. this in contrast with her moral-centric nature can sometimes lead her to become very frustrated with herself, in turn causing her to internalize even more of her feelings. this habit has also exacerbated haru's inability to make decisions, her fear of causing conflict making her defer to others in many cases. **in her main story verse, this becomes even more amplified due to haru becoming a driving force in the resistance.

her naivete towards reality; while haru tends to behave more maturely to the public eye, to those who are better acquainted she can be very naive and childish in her beliefs about how the world should operate. she harbors strong feelings of sadness about being unable to help everyone around her, whether it's because she has no money to give or just can't be anywhere and everywhere all at once. part of the reason she joined overwatch was to have a wider reach and be able to help more people, feeling a sense of obligation in doing so. she feels deep shame and guilt when she can't help everyone around her, a result of growing up a caretaker to her family due to their difficult monetary situation. she places a lot on her shoulders, causing a childish resentment to form in regards to how "unfair" and cruel the world can be.