#netflix or amazon series please

[kyndaris]

When the River Meets the Sea

I don't tend to hype up books or signal boost ones I like too much but, as you, dear readers know, there is a series I've stumbled upon in recent years that I am most enthusiastic about. Why it isn't a TikTok darling is a mystery to me. The cover is GORGEOUS, the plot a work of GENIUS and the characters are some of the most lovable I've ever set my mind's eye on. Don't even get me started on the world-building!

The work of fiction, of course, is none other than the Rook and the Rose trilogy by Marie Brennan and Alyc Helms. AKA M.A. Carrick - the pseudonym they chose to write under.

From the moment I cracked open the first book and stepped in the city of Nadezra, I was spellbound. Quickly, I came to love the world within those 600 or so pages. But if I have to shout out one character who resonated strongly with me, it would be Ren.

Hers is a story many may know. An orphan with no name trying to eke out a living in an unforgiving city.

While many fantasy authors these days tend to make their protagonists thieves or assassins or royalty in disguise, Marie Brennan and Alyc Helms went a different route. Yes, Ren is a thief and con artist but she isn't a character living on the fringes of high society. Instead, she throws right into the political machinations of the gentry and find a way to put her name onto a noble family register. Along the way, she makes new allies, finds love and gets adopted into a loving family. And all through the use of her silver tongue and skill at pattern-reading.

As such, she's a refreshing protagonist when so many are either hyper-sexualised (although she isn't afraid to use her feminine wiles to her advantage) or turned into another stoic caricature of what people think a strong female protagonist has to be. In all honesty, it's probably how she relies on her wit rather than brawn to win battles that won me over.

The city of Nadezra, too, is a the perfect microcosm of many issues our current world faces when it comes to the divide between ricfh and poor, white and black. True, the Vraszenians are more akin to gypsies rather than, say, African-Americans or Indigenous Australians but their struggle is similar. Nadezra, after all, is the holy city of the Vraszenians, conquered by the Liganti (a light-skinned race with many of their attitudes reflecting that of the Western European gentry although their names were very Italian-esque).

In the history of the world, it was the Tyrant King who first took control. Though he died centuries ago, the city of Nadezra, has, however, remained in the hands of the Liganti. Their control of the city remaining tight due to the influence of special medallions charged with the power of a Primordial.

While the third book in the trilogy, Labyrinth's Heart, manages to resolve these issues by the end, I thought it poignant the authors made it clear the racism and institutionalised disadvantages the Vraszenians faced hadn't completely vanished overnight. House Traementis, while being more open-minded to befriending Vraszenians and granting them contracts was still trying to unlearn many of the prejudices they held.

Still, the fact Ren is of mixed heritage and that she saved the city numerous times with Vraszenian, Liganti and mixed blood Nadezrans allies was an important step towards equality and making a fairer multicultural society.

It also helped this was a fictional fantasy novel where such problems can be more easily resolved. Nevertheless, I liked the inherent message within that diplomacy rather than violence is the key to navigating differences. Of course, for it to work, both parties need to approach the thorny issue of past grievances in good faith. Nothing would get done if people held onto old grudges instead of setting such things aside. That isn't to say compensation shouldn't be paid to those that have suffered.

I'm sure in the world of Nadezra, there is still many things that will need to be addressed but I'm also appreciate of the fact the conflict between the two races wasn't so black and white. In fact, the extremists among the Vraszenians were also a threat Ren and her allies needed to manage.

But while racism and the impact of one's cultural and socio-economic status play large roles in the narrative, I felt the crux of The Rook and the Rose trilogy, was the theme of family. If anything, given it's a trilogy with three main characters it revolves around, I'd say it was a fitting theme given the Tricat numinatria represented family as well as the number three in the world's lore.

And who would have thought this fantastic story would all come from the two authors playing a table-top role-playing game?

Certainly not me!

Which is why I would like like to see these books being boosted more on social media. Be it BookTube (thank you Reads with Rachel for showing off Mask of Mirrors) or Booktok. After all, can you imagine this wondrous and colourful world being turned into a TV adaption? Just the set dressing and costume design has me salivating given how much attention Alyc Helms has given.

Now that Shadow and Bone and its spinoff Six of Crows has been cancelled, what better faux European world to have fun in? When you also mix in the brooding Rook and the scheming Vargo, the cast of characters are set. The Rook and the Rose is one part Game of Thrones, one part Bridgerton high society (at least, I assume that's what Bridgerton is all about. I've never watched it) and one part Lies of Locke Lamora/ Six of Crows. Viewers would get to see the inner workings of the nobles and how Ren manages to disrupt their very conservative views by showing off her arms without sleeves! And then, maybe in the same episode, we could see how the other side lives as Ren dons the disguise of a szorza to figure out why children are disappearing in the city.

Heck, you even have the terrifying zylzen to be your creepy CGI enemies Ren and her allies will have to do battle with!

And then in the second season, you get to enjoy a nice cruise on the river before the plot embroils us all into a secret cult!

It just makes sense!

Throw in the very liberal view when it comes to LGBTQI+ relationships and you have a WINNER!

Please, anyone, if you're a TV producer, I'd really like to see the Rook and the Rose as a television series. Can you just IMAGINE the playground the writers could have with this world and setting? It's CRIMINAL not to adapt it to the silver screen.

Anyways, that was my many cents take on a trilogy I stumbled upon at my local Kinokuniya and immediately fell in love with at the first sight of the cover. And while I'm sad Ren's story has come to an end, I would like to dive back into the world Marie and Alyc have created to see what else the world has to offer.

Like Seteris!

Or whatever adventures Alsius might be having in the Realm of the Mind.

I'll miss you, Mr Peabody.

Someone, anyone, please draw me a picture of a green spider wearing gloves. I beg of you!

[the-mehlwurm]

PLEASE RECOMMEND ME MOVIES (OR SERIES, I DONT REALLY CARE) BECAUSE I WILL HAVE THE APARTMENT TO MYSELF FOR 2 DAYS SO I CAN WATCH ANYTHING I WANT IN THE LIVING ROOM. ILL BE ABLE TO WATCH TV, GET THIS, ON AN ACTUAL TV! BUT I DONT KNOW WHAT TO WATCH.

[my-secret-shame-but-fanfiction]

At This Hour

Jonathan Levy x afab!Reader • Rating: 18+ pals Masterlist• ao3• want to be tagged? | request info • Kinktober 2024 Masterlist • Day 24: On the counter

Summary: You look after Ava while Jonathan goes out on a date.

A/N: Thank you so much @thexsanctuaryx for betaing and being so lovely! <3

Warnings: neighbour!reader, mentions of the reader liking horror films/Terrifier, reader also has a cat, p in v sex, cream pie, fingering, please let me know if I have missed a warning!

Word Count: 2554

Jonathan knows he shouldn’t be doing this. But he just can’t help himself. 

The date had been a bad one, pointless in fact. He should have ducked out after the first ten minutes, no five. 

But he’d stayed and now it was nearly twelve fucking am by the time he got home. He should really go to bed. Get some sleep. 

Instead, he was talking to you, and drinking coffee. Oh, three am him was going to be pissed.

“I’m sorry I kept you so late,” Jonathan pushes his glasses higher. “Please, you got to let me give you some money.”

You shake your head, raising your hand, “Oh, no, no, no, you letting me pinch your netflix and amazon password for the last four months is more than enough.”

He chuckles, fiddling with his mug, “Yeah, but that’s just being neighbourly.” 

You scoff. “It is not, Jonathan.” 

Your friendship had started about seven months ago, when Jonathan had taken in a grand total of eight parcels from fedex on your, and your roommates, behalf in one day.

After collecting them, you’d apologised profusely, and baked him a banana cake. Panicking when you gave it to him that a, you didn’t actually know if he was allergic to anything, and b, that he actually liked bananas. 

Luckily he did.

Your friendship had grown when his car wouldn’t start one morning, and you’d given him a lift to work on your moped and picked him up after. Plus you’d got your friend’s cousin’s, uncle’s ex-colleague to have a look at his car and sort out the problem. 

He’d bought you lunch and looked after your cat if you had to go out of town. You watched his daughter if he had to work late on the days he had her. 

Originally, this hadn’t been his weekend to have Ava, hence why he had a date. A very, very bad date. 

“Come on,” he smiled at you, that horrible brilliantly blinding smile that leaves you weak at the knees, “usually you’re just with her for what, forty five minutes? An hour, this was nearly four.” 

You giggle, “I can’t believe you didn’t just politely leave.”

“I am a man of faults.” 

You laugh harder, “Look, I like Ava, we watched a series of R rated horror films and I made sure she ate her weight in sugar without brushing her teeth.” 

He grins. “I’m sure I would have had a better time with you guys here.”

You shrug, “Well, you can join us next time. We’re going to watch Terrifier.” You tease.

“Ugh,” he shudders, “Don’t tell me you like those kinds of films?” 

You can’t stop from smiling at his dramatic reaction. “What? You don’t?” 

He pulls a face and you giggle.

“They’re fun!”

“They are not.” He takes a sip of his cooling coffee, trying to nurse it as long as he could.

“They are.”

“All blood and guts.” He screws up his face, putting it on a bit for you.

“But the prosthetics! Plus it’s not real.” You say playfully. 

“Freaky.” He shakes his head. “Too much for my old heart.” 

You snort. “Jonathan.”

“What?” He smiles.

“I know what you’re doing.”

“What am I doing?” 

“You just want me to tell you how young you are.” You rest your chin on your hand as you look at him.

He pauses and then nods rapidly, “I do actually, and you have to, it’s the social contract.” 

You giggle, “Well, I’m not.” 

“That's unfair.” He says in mock outrage, making you laugh harder. 

“Fine,” you hold up your hands, “You’re very handsome.” 

He pauses, looking at you for a moment. “I said you had to tell me I was young, not beautiful.” He teases, expecting you to throw a comment back at him immediately. 

But instead, you pause. For a moment, it’s almost funny how you freeze. 

“I…” You swallow, your mouth dry. Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck.

“It’s okay,” he quickly covers, “I’m just teasing, it’s fine.” 

You smile weakly, your skin burning. You get up quickly, nearly knocking your mug over in the process. Fuck, fuck, fuck.

“Sorry, I, erm,” you pick up your mug, and then his, “Let me, erm, I’ll put them in the dishwasher.” 

You turn before he even has a chance to say anything, rushing over to the other side of the kitchen, putting the mugs on the counter.

Jonathan stands quickly, calling your name, “Hey, it’s fine, really. Don’t worry,” anxiety cuts into his chest, leaving his ribs bare. He walks behind you, accidentally bumping into you as you turn. 

“Sorry,” he grabs your arm to steady you and himself, his heart thudding so hard in his temples he’s sure he’s going to burst a blood vessel. 

You glance at his eyes nervously, breathing hard. “I…”

“I didn’t mean to embarrass you.” He says softly. He should put his hand down, stop touching your arm. “I was just teasing.” 

You nod, “I know, I… I’m sorry.” Your insides squirm a little, trying to find a way out to escape this awkwardness. 

“Don’t be,” he breathes, leaning a fraction closer. “It’s always nice when someone beautiful calls you handsome.”

Your brain glitches, static for a moment, rebooting.  

“Beautiful?” You repeat.

“Beautiful.” His mouth says before he has any say in the matter. “And kind, and funny, and wond-”

You wrap your arms around his neck, pulling him closer to you and kissing him deeply. He groans into your mouth, pressing you back against the counter.

It takes him a moment to catch up with his body, to figure out this is actually real, not some well used fantasy he plays out behind his eyes in the shower. 

You pull lightly at his hair, moaning softly when he licks into your mouth and pushes his legs between yours. He rocks against you, his cock quickly hardening in his trousers as he presses against the seam of your jeans. 

Part of him wants to pull back, to not push things, to not rush. But the much louder voice in his head laments at how long he’s been holding back, how long he’s been thinking of you while touching himself with a lubed hand. 

You gasp as he kisses along your jaw, his beard tickling your skin as he sucks at your pulse point greedily. God, if he could just get you to make that noise one more time.

“Jonathan,” you moan softly, pressing yourself closer to him and pulling on his shoulders, needing to rid the fraction of space between you.

He growls, nipping at your neck and nearly coming on the spot when he hears how needily you call his name. “Can I take these off?” His words are nearly lost with how he sucks on your skin, barely able to move his mouth back more than a centimetre. He pulls at your top, your trousers and you nod hastily. 

His groan at your confirmation makes you shiver. He practically tears your clothing from you, pushing and pulling the material away as if it personally offended him, before he hikes your right leg up around his waist and urges you up onto the counter. 

He sucks your breasts into his mouth greedily, quickly going from one to another, like a child in a toy store unable to choose his favourite. While he presses his thumb to your clit and strokes his fore and middle fingers through your folds. 

He groans deeply at the wetness he finds, rocking against you as he pushes inside. 

You gasp, biting down on your lip to keep yourself vaguely quiet as you cling onto his shoulders with one hand and the counter with the other. 

He strokes gently, pressing rhythmically against your walls as he toys with your clit and you sob, practically clinging onto him for dear life.

Pleasure builds dizzyingly fast in your belly, threatening to pull you down with every stroke. You moan in his ear, lightheaded, just about gathering yourself together to whimper his name. You weren’t prepared for this utter onslaught, for him to be so determined to pull you apart piece by piece. 

Spikes of sensation buzz along your skin, twisting and building. 

“You’re going to make me come,” you sob, shocked at how quickly your body is ready to fall apart. 

“Fuck yes,” he growls, sinking his teeth into your collar bone before he licks up your neck back to your lips. It’s hot and wet and messy, his tongue in your mouth to quiet your sobs  as you pulse and gasp, coming violently around his fingers. 

You shake in his grip, breaking the kiss to bury your face in his shoulder. He works you through it, stroking and pumping until you feel like liquid in his hands. 

“God,” he groans, kissing your forehead and breathing hard. He takes his fingers out of you slowly and shoves them in his mouth, moaning wantonly at the taste. 

When you manage to pull back a fraction to look at him, you can see his glasses have steamed up. You giggle and he grins around his fingers, taking them out with a pop to kiss you. 

You run your hands through his hair, shivering as he presses close once more. 

“Do you?” He starts at the same moment you speak - “Can I?”

He chuckles, nodding for you to go first. 

“Take these off.” You mutter, pulling at his jumper. He moves back a fraction, letting you pull it over his head and snorting when his glasses get caught in the neckline. He whips them off, placing them on the side, his curls wild. 

Jonathan bites his lip as you unbuckle his jeans, helping you by undoing his fly.

“Can I fuck you?” He groans, kissing your cheek and jaw, each glide of his tongue makes your body sing. 

“Please.” 

He growls, barely pushing his jeans and boxers down his thighs before he’s taking his heavy cock in hand and pumping himself a few times. 

You take a cheeky look down and bite your lip. 

He grins, “Like what you see?” 

The line would make you giggle in any other situation, but now your mouth is watering. You nod rapidly. 

“Oh,” he chuckles, spitting in his hand, “So that’s what makes you lost for words, I get it.” He smears his saliva over the head of his cock before he presses closer, guiding the tip to your folds. 

“You’re really-” You whine, gasping as he notches at your entrance and just glides inside. Your fingers dig into his shoulders, your body bucking unthinkingly as he pushes deeper. 

He groans deeply, sighing like this is his first drink of water after a long hot day. He slides his hands to your inner thighs, spreading you wider as he eases in.

“Jonathan,” you gasp.

“I know, I know, fuck, you’re so tight.” He lightly rocks his hip, sheathing himself in the last few inches. 

You whine, licking into his mouth when he kisses you hungrily. He thrusts experimentally, easing out a fraction before he pushes back in. 

“How do you like it?” He mutters against your lips, his voice strained with the effort of holding himself back. 

“I don’t mind,” you manage to say, your voice barely there. 

He snorts, moving one of your legs to wrap around his waist again as he takes hold of your hips in a firm grip. “Tell me if you want something.” He groans, pulling out and then plunging back in. “Want to make you come again.” 

You nearly shriek, throwing your head back and managing, somehow, to keep your voice muffled as he sets a brutal pace. 

He bucks into you rapidly, shaking the cutlery on the drainer by the sink with every deep thrust. The toaster jumps with every buck of his hips into yours. The sound of your slick echoing as you coat his cock.

“You look so fucking hot when you come,” he groans. “So fucking wet.” He pounds into you, sweat beading in his hairline, the way you grab at him and whine setting his blood ablaze. 

His pubic bone smacks against your clit with every thrust, his cock rolling against your walls and pushing impossibly deeper. 

Something in you wants to break, needs to snap and flood out as he keeps rhythm, your body moving in time with his desperately. 

You bite at his neck, sucking a love bite into his skin and shivering when he tenses and growls. He pulls you back a fraction with one hand on your jaw, his eyes so dark, and licks into your mouth like you hold the secrets of the universe. 

You whimper, so needy for anything he’ll give - and he’ll give you everything. 

Pleasure pulses in your core, makes your pussy flutter and you’re so close you can taste the sweetness on your tongue. 

“Jonathan!”

“You gonna come on my cock? Gonna make a nice creamy mess?” He groans, his balls tightening. “Want to feel you, please.” 

You gasp, sobbing silently as your orgasm is ripped from you. Pleasure explodes along your nerves, wiping out any other thought as he drowns you and revives you in the same instant. 

“Shit.” Jonathan’s hips stutter, his mouth open as your walls squeeze and suck him deeper, milking him for every single drop. He comes with a deep groan, emptying rope after rope of hot, thick cum inside. 

He clings onto you as he finishes, hazy for a moment with the strength of his orgasm. 

You breathe hard, he can feel your heart beating rapidly in your chest. 

Lightly he sucks on your neck, licking the salt from your skin. He kisses your temple. “You okay?”

“I don’t think I’m gonna be able to walk for a week.” You tease, exhausted, and he chuckles.

“I’ll wait on you hand and foot while you recover.” He smiles when you look up at him, stroking your cheek as he kisses you softly, reverently. 

“Honestly, was that alright?” He mutters, a pang of worry settling under his ribs.

You snort, and kiss him deeply, stroking your fingers through his beard. “Fucking amazing.” 

He grins. “Do you want to do it again sometime? Maybe in a bed after I’ve bought you dinner? I’ll even watch that Terrifier film with you.” 

You giggle and nod. “I’d like that.” 

He tries to help you down, but you end up helping him. His jeans have twisted around his calves and he nearly falls to a heap on the floor. 

“My hero,” he mutters as you pull them off and kiss his thigh. “We’re lucky Ava didn’t wake up when we were… can you imagine me falling over is the thing that actually wakes her? She’ll need therapy for years after seeing her dad naked on the kitchen floor with his jeans around his ankles.”

You clap your hand over your mouth to stop your fit of laughter and he grins as he helps you back to your feet.

“I love hearing you laugh.” He lightly touches your cheek. “Do you want to take a shower?” He gives you a cheeky smile. “With me? You can stay over… if you want, I mean. No pressure.” 

You smile and nod. “I’d like a shower. With you. And sleep over.” 

He grins, wrapping his arms around you. 

Thank you for reading!

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[crazykuroneko]

So, Where to Watch AMC Interview with the Vampire?

Surely you have seen gifs of AMC Interview with the Vampire and wonder where you can watch it. Of course you can 🏴‍☠️, but unfortunately in the world of streaming, numbers matter to keep the show afloat. So, here is Where to Watch IWTV aka WtW IWTV. This list will be updated from time to time 😉

WATCH PILOT EPISODE ON YOUTUBE FOR FREE (USA or with 🌐)

Listing STREAMING services only. Ctrl+F to find your country. (or click for direct links here)

Free (ad-supported or otherwise): 🆓

VPN-friendly: 🌐

Need to make free account (with fake address): 📝 (details under the cut)

All have two (2) seasons available unless otherwise stated

IWTV also has an Uncut version. It means no cuts for commercial breaks (✂️) or censored curses(🙅🏼‍♀️).

Trigger warnings for IWTV can be found here

• AMC+ : USA 🌐✂️🙅🏼‍♀️ (Every Sunday at 3 AM ET), Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Spain, India

You can sign up to AMC+ with VPN, non-American CC and American zip code. They'll fail to bill you, but you'll still get the 7-day free trial to binge watch. OR you can do this email trick to get more trial.

AMC+ is also available as a "channel" on Amazon Prime (USA, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand), Apple TV or iTunes (USA, UK, Canada, Australia, India), Roku or YouTube TV in some countries, so try to search there first

• Amazon Prime ✂️🙅🏼‍♀️ (w/o having to buy AMC+ subs): Latin America, India

• Amediateka: Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan (censored)

• ABC iview 🆓 🌐📝✂️ : Australia

• BBC iPlayer 🆓 🌐📝✂️🙅🏼‍♀️: UK

• Canal+: Austria, France, Switzerland (only Austria gets 2 seasons)

• CosmoteTV: Greece

• Crave: Canada (S1 only)

• Hoopla 🆓: USA (S1 only, US library card needed)

• MagentaTV+ : Germany

• Moviestar+ : Spain (S1 only)

• Netflix: USA (S1 only)

• OSN+ : Middle Eastern and North Africa

• Paramount+: France

• Sky Go: Ireland, UK

• Sky Show: Switzerland

• Streamz: Belgium

• TVNZ+ 🆓 📝 (haven't tried with 🌐): New Zealand

Disclaimer: I don't condone the use of VPN and fake address. HOWEVER, the series isn't available in almost most part of this world 😭. So, this is done with the purpose of giving the series the views it deserves instead of giving them to 🏴‍☠️. If your country is listed above, please support the show 🙏

For BBC: UK VPN on, sign up, Google UK zip code and add it, yes to TV license. You can turn VPN off after the episode loads.

For ABC iview: Australia VPN on, sign up, pick Overseas. You can turn VPN off after episode loads. Works on the app as well.

Check reply for VPN I used.

Feel free to reply or message me if you fail to stream it and if there's any info I missed or got wrong. Also, feel free to share this list with anyone!

Special thanks to Ari for always keeping us updated with the news on the show

[tippenfunkaport]

Today Variety (see above) had an article naming Heidi Schreck as the new writer for the live action She-Ra series at Amazon that was announced back in Sept 2021 and, after seeing dozens of terrible takes and people who are fans of the Netflix's She-Ra and the Princesses of Power (2017) freaking out, let's talk about this, shall we?

Disclaimer that I do not have any insider knowledge of this project specifically, this is just my educated perspective from my experience with IP and TV.

First and foremost, I will believe this project is actually happening when it is showing on my TV and not a moment sooner. Let's just say that.

Now assuming it IS happening, here's what you should understand...

IP is usually use it or lose it. If Dreamworks wants to keep the rights to make She-Ra content, they very likely must have something in active development or risk listing it. If Netflix isn't willing to make more of the animated series right now, then the Amazon deal is all they have or give She-Ra up entirely. 

If you're an SPOP (2017) fan, you're in favor of Dreamworks retaining the license over losing it because, so long as they have it, the door is always open for more of our SPOP in one way or another. This reboot doesn't negate the possibility of a continuation of the animated version or vice versa. (Fans of frequently rebooted properties like TMNT and MLP would be happy to tell you about how there's been content for multiple gens at the same time.) It's not like the new version erases the old. If anything, a reboot often makes it more likely you get content of a past gen because of renewed interest in the property as a whole.

"But what if it's sexist trash!" The biggest fear people had about this reboot was that it would be some male gaze disaster made to please the worst kind of people who hate all kinds of diversity. Obviously, we'll see what we get, but the fact that they specifically got a feminist playwright as the writer is a big thing should alleviate some of that fear.

"But will it be gay????" I've seen lots of freaking out that Adora's going to kill Catra and marry a man on her grave and other equally unlikely fears. And the fact is: We don't know if it will be gay! With this writer, the gay door certainly isn't closed, but that doesn't mean it's open either. But honestly the real question you should be asking is: will it be explicitly gay? Because the rainbow homo-eroticism is baked right into She-Ra OG so even if we don't get an explicit same-sex kiss on screen... it's likely still gonna be pretty gay.

Even a bad or infuriating reboot will revitalize the fandom and bring new fans to SPOP (2017) AND increase the chances of continuation. Say the new show is terrible. Say they annoy everyone by giving Catra and Adora a supercorp queerbaiting thing and then never make it canon or make Catra and Hordak in love and everyone is mad. (Which I feel obligated to point out is *extremely* unlikely as this is literally still Dreamworks' show. They are the same people that gave you the gay. They are keenly aware of what their audience wants so, even if they are reluctant to make it canon, at the least they are probably going to tease it.) But even in the worst case scenario of the straightest possible version of She-Ra, what are people going to do if the new show pisses them off? Turn back to She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, create more fanworks, interact with what's already there, keep the fandom alive for everyone. You want that!

"Well SPOP (2017) was perfect and they should never be allowed to make another version of She-Ra again unless it's just like the thing we just got!" Wow, where have I heard something like that before? Oh yeah, that's exactly what the nightmare chuds said about Netflix's She-Ra and if they had gotten their way, we wouldn't have had this show we love. So maybe take a nice deep breath, chill tf out and look at that fact that there is no reason yet to see this announcement as anything other than a good thing for both this new reboot and the animated version's future.

[gentlebeardsbarngrill]

12/05-06/2024 Daily OFMD Recap

TLDR; Rhys Darby; Taika Waititi; Con O'Neill; Vico Ortiz; Nathan Foad; Kristian Nairn; Samba Schutte; David Fane; Nat Faxon; Alex Sherman; Guz Khan; Minnie Driver; Netflix on Bsky; Fan Spotlight: Ruby Deluxe Raleigh; Love Notes

= Rhys Darby =

As usual, lots going on with our Pirate Captain! He was out in Portland for two days and had a blast!

It looks like Sketch Fest has added a second show at the Gateway Theatre on January 22nd!

Rhys also ran into a fan who's been coming to shows for years!

Source: SF Sketch Fest / Instagram

= Darby Daily Doodle =

The epic continues!

Source: Rhys Darby's Free substack

= Taika Waititi =

Taika's been very busy too, as per usual! More pictures from his Koko Foundation appearance!

Source: My Beautiful City

This is just a quick picture of Taika from one of the recent Letters Live performances! Not sure if it's new or not but it's new to me so I wanted to share!

Source: Letters Live Instagram

Next up, Belvedere Vodka did some BTS with Taika! You can watch the video here.

Source: Belvedere Vodka Instagram

Taika and Jemaine's show, What We Do In the Shadows is up for 4 Critics Choice Awards! Best comedy series, best actress, actor, and supporting actor in a comedy series! Check out the Article here.

Source: Choice Awards

= Con O'Neill =

Con sent a shot of himself after he made it to Columbus!

Did you know he's got even more swag up on Stands? Now there are Hand signed autographs of THAT scene in s2! Check it out! Hand Signed Autograph on Stands.com

Source: Con O'Neill's Instagram

= Joel Fry =

Joel is going to be joining Ncuti Gatwe, and Nicola Coughlan for this years Doctor Who Christmas Special! check out the trailer below!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Doctor Who (@bbcdoctorwho)

Source: BBCWho on Instagram

= Vico Ortiz =

Some New S2 BTS from Vico! Buttons Character vs Buttons the Stuntman, Nathan and Ewen and Con giggling? Vico spoils us! Check them out on Vico's Patreon.

Source: Vico's Patreon

= Nathan Foad =

Nathan also sent out an arrival photo once he got into Columbus!

Souce: Nathan's Instagram Stories

= Kristian Nairn =

Same with Kristian! they love letting us know when they arrive places!

Source: Kristian's Instagram

= Samba Schutte =

More BTS from Samba's Advanced Chemistry Movie! Thank you as always to the writer, Alec Moore for sharing them! I realize they don't have Samba in them persay, but I thought they were pretty cool-- and Alec is a huge fan and support of OFMD! If you have seen the film and haven't reviewed it yet on amazon, please do! I know they are still looking for reviews here!

"When I saw the @advancedchemmov.bsky.social art department's collection of props that they brought to life from my crazy imagination, I literally teared up. And then Samba-- literally teared up for a scene. The difference is he was acting. "

Source: Alec Moore's Bsky

= David Fane =

Awhimai Fraser, David Fane, and Temuera Morrison were very busy interviewing at several AUS & Aotearoa NZ press junkets!

Source: awhimai_fraser instagram

An interview with ScreenRealm with about their favorite songs in Moana 2!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Screen Realm (@screen_realm)

They were also interviewed by Draw Your Box about Moana 2 and they got to discuss some Cricket for a bit!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Alicia Vrajlal (@leeshiev)

and just for fun, I couldn't resist sharing David Fane laughing so giddly, you can really hear Fang in there.

Source: awhimai_fraser's Instagram

= Nat Faxon =

Our fantastic Swede, Nat Faxon is joining the cast of the (US version of) Ghosts Season 4 as Alexander Hamilton!

Source: Variety

= Alex Sherman =

Our sweetheart writer, Alex Sherman, is campaigning for a really amazing cause. He's created a fundraiser to help sponsor a free 1 week camp for kids who've lost a parent, sibling or caregiver. They've reached their goal, but it can't hurt to help kids in need if you're interested. Alex was a counselor there in the past and he continues to support these kids <3

https://give.experiencecamps.org/fundraiser/5933654

Source: Alex Sherman's twitter

= Guz Khan =

Guz just taking silly pictures with friend Haroon Mota!

Source: Guz's Instagram

= Minnie Driver =

Minnie was out slaying after her bout of Pneumonia!

Source: Minnie's Instagram

= Netflix on Bluesky =

Netflix officially joined bluesky back on the 3rd, and our resident Skyrates-- or whatever it is we're calling them these days-- started in the adoption requests again! If you have a Bluesky and you'd like to join the fun, remember to add the hashtag #OurFlagMeansDeath, #SaveOFMD, #AdoptOurCrew!

== Fan Spotlight ==

= Ruby Deluxe Raleigh =

There's been a request by several of our crew members to help out this wonderful gay bar in Raleigh. If you have some time this Saturday December 14th, at 9 PM and you're in the area, would you be kind enough to help out? "Hey friends! Ruby Deluxe, the gay bar that hosted our Calypso's birthday meetup at Galaxycon Raleigh, is asking for some help to stay running. If you can, consider making a donation or spread the word (or come through if you're local!)" Links to Socials

Source: Kate on Bsky

== Love Notes ==

Hey there lovelies. I really am so late on this one, I'm sorry. It's been a lot lately. I know it has been for a lot of you too. I don't wanna hold this recap up any longer, so here's some love notes from SelfLoveRainbow <3

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Dominee Calderon (@selfloverainbow)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Dominee Calderon (@selfloverainbow)

Source: SelfLoveRainbow Instagram

[flanaganfilm]

Since House of Usher is your last Netflix series, are you moving to another platform/studio? Will there be more Flanagan shows? (Please say yes)

Yep, we left Netflix to enter into an exclusive deal at Amazon for television.

[startrekprodigyfan]

Star Trek Prodigy is one of the overall highest rated Star Trek series to date. It was saved by dedicated fans who campaigned hard to get Netflix to pick it up. Everyone who worked on the series has been excited and wanting to do more. Season 2 of Prodigy is one of the current best selling Blu-Ray DVD sets on Amazon. The show has been seen by and reviewed more positively in one month than in the 2 years since it was initially debuted. Like I cannot begin to tell you how hard it was to drum up interest in this show back during Season 1, and now it’s one of the most favorited Trek series in this current batch of Star Trek revitalizations.

Maybe I’m just feeling optimistic in the first time in years but… how could this NOT be a win for Netflix to pick up? This seems like the perfect storm of profitable for them. I really hope Netflix is smart and orders at least one more season. Please! 🙏

[oobbbear]

You got me hooked, where did you read Dead Endia? Also how long is it? Thank you and love your art!!

HELL YEAH!

It’s a 3 part graphic novel, took me only about 2 days to finish and a couple more days to finish the Netflix series (dead end paranormal park)

I read book 1 in the library and bought 2&3 from Amazon, there’re of course free versions of it you can find online, but please if you can go support the creator :]!

The price of 1 book is 14~16 USD and the kindle version is 10 USD

Amazon link: (USA) (CAD)

There’s second hand listings sometimes so if you want a physical copy but cheaper that’s the way to go

I think it’s a reasonable price the book is 200+ pages

HAVE FUN READING!!!

[insanityclause]

EXCLUSIVE: One year ago we told you that a second season of John le Carré adaptation The Night Manager was quietly being developed under the codename Steelworks.

Now, Deadline can reveal that the BBC and new co-pro partner Amazon have gone big on a supercharged two-season order of the thriller, with Tom Hiddleston returning to lead, Hugh Laurie coming back as EP and with a new director in I Hate Suzie’s Georgi Banks-Davies. A third season has also been greenlit. David Farr returns as writer and Stephen Garrett is showrunner.

The Night Manager Season 2 will begin filming later this year and will pick up with Hiddleston’s Jonathan Pine eight years after the explosive finale of Season 1, going beyond the original book, which was written by the celebrated British writer in 1993. Additional plot details are being kept under wraps and there is not yet confirmation as to whether EP Laurie’s Richard Roper, who was last seen in the back of a paddy wagon driven by arms buyers who were not best pleased with him, will return to star. Hiddleston will also EP and will discuss in more depth on tonight’s Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Produced by The Ink Factory in association with Character 7, Demarest Films and 127 Wall, and in co-production with Spanish partner Nostromo Pictures, The Night Manager Season 2 was sold to Amazon by Fifth Season. The first was co-produced with AMC.

New director Banks-Davies, a BAFTA-nominee who takes over from Susanne Bier, has credits including I Hate Suzie, Garfield and upcoming Netflix series Kaos.

The Night Manager Season 1 was a huge success, watched by millions and winning multiple BAFTAs, Emmys and Golden Globes including best actor for Hiddleston. Also starring Tom Hollander, Olivia Colman and Elizabeth Debicki, it followed Pine – who ran a luxury hotel in Cairo – as he attempted to infiltrate the inner circle of Roper’s crime syndicate after being hired by Foreign Office task force manager Angela Burr.

The first season was commissioned more than 10 years ago and the show has since been remade in India, lapping the UK version by swiftly having a Season 2 greenlit for Disney+ Hotstar in May last year.

Simon Cornwell and Stephen Cornwell, le Carré’s sons who run The Ink Factory, said Season 1 proved “a landmark moment for the golden era of television – uniting on-screen and behind-the-camera talent at the top of their game – and an audience reception which was beyond our wildest imagining.”

They added: “Revisiting the story of Pine also means going beyond the events of John le Carré’s original work: that is a decision we have not taken lightly, but his compelling characters and the vision David has for their next chapter were irresistible.”

Amazon MGM Studios Head of Television Vernon Sanders said: “We are elated to bring additional seasons of The Night Manager to our Prime Video customers. The combination of terrific source material, the wonderful team at The Ink Factory, a great writer in David Farr, an award-winning director in Georgi Banks-Davies, as well as the talented cast truly make the series the full package.”

Hiddleston said: “The first series of The Night Manager was one of the most creatively fulfilling projects I have ever worked on. The depth, range and complexity of Jonathan Pine was, and remains, a thrilling prospect.”

BBC content boss Charlotte Moore added: “After years of fervent speculation I’m incredibly excited to confirm that The Night Manager is returning to the BBC for two more series.”

The Night Manager series two is created and executive produced by Farr, based on the characters created by le Carré. Additional executive producers include Garrett for Character 7, Banks-Davies, Laurie and Hiddleston; Joe Tsai and Arthur Wang for 127 Wall; Stephen and Simon Cornwell, Michele Wolkoff, and Tessa Inkelaar for The Ink Factory; Adrián Guerra for Nostromo Pictures; William D. Johnson for Demarest Films, Nick Cornwell, Susanne Bier, Chris Rice for Fifth Season and Gaynor Holmes for the BBC.

[joannasteez]

pretty self explanatory. likes, comments, and reblogs are always appreciated. ENJOY!

in the “other works” link you can find other fics written for mayans mc, the punisher (marvel netflix series), the last of us, and the boys (amazon series)

all fics can also be found in the “joannasteez” tag

MULTI WRESTLER COLLEGE AU

are you still in love with me (cm punk)

ROMAN REIGNS

lavender based whispers in the villa | whispers in loud places nsfw alphabet fall, for me with me, the world is yours stay, please sing, just for me crying, laughing, loving, lying tanks of blood strong! shameful goodbye

JEY USO & CODY RHODES

to the victors go the spoils

CM PUNK & CODY RHODES

starship pain

CODY RHODES

edge adore almost blue

CM PUNK

sweet things heat headcanon some are made like this the aftermath

DAMIAN PRIEST

conejita | 2

EDDIE KINGSTON

sage

THE UNTITLED SERIES (stand alone's)

untitled one (roman reigns) untitled two (cody rhodes & roman reigns)

200 WORD CHALLENGE

with the sun (eddie kingston) citrus (roman reigns) vices (cm punk) just a dream (roman reigns)

OTHER WORKS

[cowboy-hunter]

when the party’s over | n.w. 18+

nancy wheeler x gn!reader

Warnings: NSFW, Minors DO NOT interact, jealous nancy, drug usage (cannabis), oral (n receiving), alcohol consumption, a few ocs (Wayne & Delilah are based off the protagonists in the Amazon series "Wayne". Ayla is based off Cirilla from the netflix series The Witcher. p.s. I recommend both these shows they are *chefs kiss*), angst, smut (if that wasn't obv), possessive nancy, thigh riding, reader gets slapped and pushed, minimal editing (if you notice any mistakes... no you don't :) bottom!nancy, Top!reader

“Yeah, I’m just gonna go smoke, I’ll be right back.” You whispered into Nancy’s ear as she chatted with some friends from her classes. She nodded and smiled kindly, her eye’s trailing after you as you headed to the back of the house.

By then you’d forgotten whose house you were in all you knew was that it was overwhelmingly crowded and reeked of booze. you walked through the kitchen and out towards the back yard where a few people you recognized were gathered around a bonfire, Robin waved you over with a delighted grin and you chuckled as you pushed the backdoor open, just then you noticed a woman with ashen blonde hair cradling her knees and sniffling with her face buried behind her legs.

You paused on the way out of the admittedly impressive enclosed porch reasoning with yourself as you hesitated in your step before turning on your heel with a displeased sigh. You couldn’t very well just pretend not to see her huddled in the corner curled in on herself so you walked towards her, your steps light, you stopped a few feet away and crouched down in front of her, whoever she was.

Unsure of how to approach the situation and truthfully a bit anxious and begrudging to interrupt the woman’s tears you tapped her shoe softly with your index finger. She flinched, her head popping up to reveal watery emerald eyes, the low light and her slowly dilating pupils made them look even deeper, as if you could fall right in.

She was pale and wearing an aquamarine long sleeve pulled over her thumbs, the only darkness about her was the sadness in her eyes and her neatly kept dark eyebrows. “What?”

Your eyebrows shot up at the venom in her tone. Okay so maybe she was darker on the inside rather than the out. You gathered yourself and cleared your throat before speaking as she avoided your gaze her stare hard and when her eyes did lock with yours she looked terribly bothered and insipid. “You okay?”

She rolled her eyes at you. “Does it look like I’m okay? Actually, I’m amazing nothing says I’m having fun like crying alone at a party.”

It was your turn to roll your eyes. “Sassy, I like that.” you smirked before gesturing with a finger to your chest and introducing yourself. “What’s your name?”

The woman untucked her arms from around her knees and brought them to rest across her chest as her heels slid, lowering her guard slightly. “Ayla.” She answered shortly.

Your knees grew tired of your crouched position so you lowered yourself so you were sitting on the cold wood in front of her. “Nice to meet you, Ayla.” You watched her brush her long ashen hair behind her ears a hint of color blazing her cheeks at the sound of her name on your tongue. “Why are you crying? And please don’t tell me it’s over a boy.”

Ayla avoided eye contact and you sighed knowing the answer by her avoidance. You dusted off your pants as you rose to your feet.

“If he’s making you cry he doesn’t deserve your tears.” You mutter and offer your hand to the girl. She takes it.

“Do you smoke?” you asked her as you began leading her to the backdoor but not before you shrugged off your zip-up hoodie and threw it over her shoulders. She nodded. “Good, let me introduce you to some friends of mine, they’ll make you forget all about whatever douchebag you were crying over. You smirked at the girl and it widened into a grin as you saw a small smile graced her lips as she wiped at her cheeks with the sleeve of your hoodie.

You held the door open for her and followed closely behind introducing her to Robin, Eddie, Wayne, and his girlfriend Delilah. You offered Ayla the last open seat which she gratefully took as you started chatting with your friends, being sure to include her in the conversation. Soon enough she was giggling at your jokes and antics, her head light as a cloud. Robin gazed at you with amusement as you went out of your way to entertain the new girl despite your natural introversion.

Robin grabs Ayla’s attention as she passes the joint to her while you roll a blunt on your rolling tray. “What’s your major?” She asks the blonde. you perk up, looking up at the girl from your seat on the dirt as you lick the edge of the tobacco leaf.

“International Relations, With a minor in Communications.” Ayla replied confidently and you smiled softly as you sealed the blunt.

“So she’s a politician, nice.” You replied appreciatively.

She smirked and shrugged as she hit the joint before passing it to you. You inhaled from it letting it hang between your lips as you took fire to seal the blunt you just rolled before passing it to Del (delilah) to light and add to the rotation.

“What about you?” Ayla asked Robin as she tugged your black hoodie tighter around her petite frame.

“Film.” Robin answered shortly as she kicked at a rock in the dirt.

You smirked before the blonde turned to you her eye’s indicating she wanted your answer as well.

“I’m a Criminal Justice major.” You answered your voice raspy from all the smoke as you stared at the bonfire enraptured.

“Lawyer?” Ayla asked.

“Criminologist.” You answered with ease.

Ayla turned to Eddie and he grinned sheepishly. “Dropout.” He stated with a shrug.

Wayne answered Criminal Justice as well, and Del answered Social Work.

The conversation flowed smoothly and soon you found yourself high out of your mind and complaining about the numbness in your asscheeks. Ayla rolled her eyes and stood up mumbling something about taking her chair and some other words you couldn’t hear. You took the offered seat and sighed in relief before the blonde plopped down into your lap and the conversation continued to flow.

…

About an hour later Nancy was sober and tired searching for you in the front yard after calling your phone to no avail. She headed to the back and her eyes narrowed as she caught sight of you with another woman perched in your lap. You were facing away from her but Robin caught her intense glare and her eyes widened. “Y/N, I think Nance is looking for you.” She slapped your thigh one too many times in warning, your head that was lolled back shot upwards as you lifted the blonde from your lap and rose to your feet.

“Nancy?” You asked Robin and she nodded.

Just then you felt a tug on your sleeve and you turned to lock eyes with a disgruntled Nancy.

She eyed you for a moment, scanning your features, before rolling her own eyes, easily able to tell you were high out of your mind, her glare shifted to the blonde.

“Who are you?” The brunette questioned quite rudely her eyes zoning in on the oversized, and admittedly expensive, black hoodie draped over the blonde’s shoulders, her lip nearly curling up in a sneer.

“Hey, hey. Be nice.” You mumbled your eyes half-lidded and red. “Nancy, this is Ayla, my new friend. Ayla this is Nancy my… uh.”

The two of you never managed to put a label on just what type of relationship you two shared so it was no one’s surprise when you hesitated.

“We’re leaving.” Nancy demanded.

You nodded softly as she tugged down on your collar bringing you down to her height as she rose on her tiptoes to reach your ear whispering, “We’ll talk about this in the car.” She let your collar go and held out her hand as you straightened up.

You stared at her blankly, your cheeks heating up as you reached into your front pocket and pulled out your car keys dropping them into her palm. Nancy’s eyes shifted back towards the blonde, looking her up and down. Nancy’s blue eyes lingered on your hoodie draped over the blonde’s shoulders. “You wouldn’t mind giving that back would you?”

Ayla gulped before shrugging the hoodie off. Nancy took it from the girl’s hands with a tight-lipped polite smile. “Thanks, It was nice to meet you.” She turned back to you and tossed the hoodie into your chest. “Grab your shit and let’s go.”

You barely caught your hoodie shrugging it back on as the brunette strutted away, hips swaying as she walked. Eddie snorted before the entire group broke out into a fit of laughter. You groaned as you shoved your rolling tray and weed in your book bag snatching your blunt from a bent at the waist Robin who was laughing hysterically. “Shut up dicks.” You pouted and threw your bookbag onto your back.

“Y/N’s in trouble.” Wayne snickered, you flipped him the bird as the group fell into another fit of laughter.

You turned towards the blonde who was smirking slightly.

“I’m sorry about that, It was really nice to meet you, I’ll see you around campus, yeah?”

She nodded, waving off your apology. “Don’t worry about it, if you were mine I’d want to keep you on a leash as well.” The blonde ruffled your hair as you pouted.

“I am not on a leash.” You argued, causing Delilah to snort.

Nancy, standing in the distance watching you hover, jingled the keys above her head. “Let’s go!” She demanded impatiently, jarring you into action as you stumbled over your feet and jogged off toward the brunette.

Leaving Eddie behind you with his tongue hanging out of his mouth as he panted like a dog mocking you and once again making the rest of the group burst into laughter.

You groaned in embarrassment, your cheeks hot as you caught up to the brunette as she walked to where you parked your car. You tugged the door open for her before rounding to the passenger seat to sit down. She reached across and propped the door open for you even in her state of irritation. When you were safely inside she locked the doors and stared blankly out the window making no move to start the car.

The silence was tense and you shifted in your seat with your lips pursed shut afraid to further aggravate the brunette. You heard her sniff the air before she growled and rolled down the windows. “You smell like her.” She mumbled. Your eyes widened as you lifted your shirt to your nose not smelling anything so you lifted your hoodie and sure enough there was a hint of vanilla lingering on the fabric.

“‘M sorry.” you muttered, though it sounded more like a question, your high brain not comprehending the gravity of the situation. Nancy scoffed at your apology, shoved the key in and started the car not even looking at you.

“For what?” She asked, already knowing the answer.

“I…” You hesitated.

“I thought so.” She chuckled dryly as she rested her elbow on the open window and leaned her head into the palm of her left hand.

You rolled your eyes and let out a huff of your own as you crossed your arms over your chest.

“Are you gonna tell me why you’re mad or are you gonna keep being a passive aggressive brat.” You confronted after a few minutes of pure silence. All this tension was ruining your high.

.

Nancy shook her head, her eyebrows rising as her jaw clenched. “Shut up.” she commanded.

“No.” You retorted, your friends teasing driving you to press on. “Why are you even upset, hmm? Is it because of Ayla?”

Nancy inhaled slowly, an attempt to steady her racing heart. She was becoming aggravated. “You know why I’m upset, if not you must be dumber than I thought.”

You scoffed, and nodded your head slowly. “Pull over,” you demanded, voice rough.

Nancy rolled her eyes and kept driving.

“I said, pull over the fucking car.” You stated firmly.

“No. You’re stoned.”

“Nancy, I swear to god if you don’t pull over I will jump out while it’s still moving.”

Nancy turned to eye you incredulously, but upon seeing the dead look on your face she sighed and relented.

You climbed out of the car and slammed the door shut. You were on that long two way road surrounded by forest on all sides. You started walking, the chilled night air brushing against your cheeks as you walked at a fast pace.

“Y/N, just get back in the car!” Nancy cried out from the open window, nearly whining.

“Tell me what I did wrong.” You called back.

Nancy’s jaw clenched, the hot ball of fury in her stomach burst as she climbed out of your car and jogged after you, her hair blowing in the breeze.

“You don’t get to be upset.” Nancy claimed as she grabbed your wrist tightly. “She was sitting in your lap for fuck’s sake, She was all over you, I can still smell her perfume on you right now.”

Nancy crossed her arms as goosebumps rose on her skin, she tried her best to shield herself from the cold. You watched her carefully.

“And she was wearing your clothes. Who is she? How long have you known her, have you two been… Are you…” She trailed off and you shrugged your hoodie off attempting to wrap it around her shivering frame.

She, without thinking, pushed you away. Her hands shoved your chest making you stumble as she tossed the hoodie to the floor. “Are you fucking kidding me?” She questioned, her eyes wild and accusatory.

“I’m sorry for trying to help.” You grumbled snatching your hoodie up dusting it off before throwing the material over your shoulder.

“You aren’t helping! Tell me, have you and Anna–”

“Ayla.” You corrected and Nancy lost it.

The usually cool and collected brunette’s pupils dilated in fury. Her cheeks grew red and then her hand rose, a pale blur was all you caught in your peripheral before your head whipped to the right.

your left cheek was stinging, ear ringing, and your eyes watering as you cupped the side of your face her hand had just come across. The skin burning hot under your touch as she shook her hand out, her eyes wide as she trembled from the cold and adrenaline, astounded by her own actions.

She cradled her sore hand in her other squeezing it to apply pressure to the sting. You turned back to look at her, your eyes darkened, your cheek caught between your teeth, something you only did when you were… unsettled. Heart pounding and jaw clenched your own madness bubbling to the surface as the earth fell silent.

No words were exchanged, the silence stiff in the air. Nancy’s lips fell open, her plan? To utter a much deserved apology but you never gave her the chance and that look on your face made her cower… on the inside of course but cower nonetheless. A sudden jerk from you startled her enough to make her flinch.

You pounced, like a panther.

Your hands cupped her cheeks as you planted a harsh kiss on her lips forcing your tongue into her mouth as you pulled her into you. Nancy’s legs nearly gave out from under her but you kept her pressed tightly to your front walking her backwards until her back met the door of your car.

You finally pulled away from the kiss with a sigh as you kept her pinned to the side of the car. her chest heaved under the material of her short dress. “I just met her tonight. She was crying so I wanted to make her feel better.” You took the time to explain before attaching your lips to the brunette’s neck.

“Sh-fuck. she was sitting, your lap, why?” Nancy struggled to form a coherent sentence as you slipped a leg between her thighs.

“I was sitting on the ground and my ass started to hurt so she offered the seat, I didn’t know she was gonna sit in my lap and I wasn't thinking. ‘M sorry.” You apologized with a pout before running your teeth over her carotid reveling in the tachycardia you could feel against your wet lips.

Nancy let her head loll back as a breathy moan left her lips, her panties dampening as she grinded on your thigh,

“Hoodie?” She asked and you rolled your eyes, a low grumble rumbling your throat. Journalism majors and all their questions.

“I don’t know Nancy, the girl was cold and crying i was trying to comfort her, fuck. If I’d known you’d be this pissed I’d have left her alone.”

Nancy hummed as she rubbed herself just right on top of your thigh. You pulled away and reached around her tugging the door she was pressed against open and jarring her in the process.

Nancy pouted. Her cheeks flushed, her eyes dark under the street lamp as she glared at you before walking under your arm and climbing into the driver’s seat.

You sat in the passenger and breathed as you eyed her. Her pale thighs pressed tightly together as she shifted the car into drive and pulled back onto the road. “My apartment?” You asked and she nodded curtly.

“If you think I’m letting you out of my sight after seeing that girl hanging all over you, you are out of your mind.”

Nancy dragged you by the sleeve of your shirt into your apartment, whipping you over to the couch in one fluid motion before she straddled your thighs and cupped your cheeks with her cold fingers attaching her lips to yours as she grinded into your lap humming her delight.

Your hands found her exposed thighs rubbing the smooth skin gripping at the plump flesh as you met her passion with ferocity. You swallowed her moans eagerly as your fingers ran beneath the hem of her dress.

The brunette hummed then took hold of your wrists and dragged your wandering hands around to her ass. She’d never admit it aloud but she loved the feeling of your long fingers squeezing at the mounds of flesh.

She never had to admit it of course, cause you already knew.

Your hands tightened around the flesh, your nails digging deliciously into the pale globes and thin cotton just how she liked. Your grip forced her hips forward as her lips tore away from yours with a soft moan, her back arched. Your eyes fell to the string of saliva connecting her lips to your own before they zeroed in on her swollen pink lips, her breath fanning across your face, warm and fruity.

“So pretty.” The praise fell from your lips with ease.

Nancy’s eyes slid shut as she took in a deep inhale through her nose.

You slipped one of your hands lower on her ass until your fingers grazed her panty-clad core.

“You still smell like her.” Nancy whined as her pretty blue eyes connected with your’s.

You hummed in acknowledgment a slick smirk gracing your swollen lips. “Yeah? How about we change that then?” You mumbled.

Nancy met you with a smirk of her own, her eyes full of jealousy and something more carnal. The brunette stepped off of your lap and gestured with her eyes for you to get on the floor.

You slid from your seat until your ass met the oak flooring of your apartment. You leaned back against the foot of your sofa and rested your head on the cushions with a lazy smirk.

Nancy rolled her eyes as she slid her wet panties down her legs before stepping forward, her legs on either side of your body. When she was within reach your hands found the back of her thighs as she bunched up the skirt of her dress, her knees pressing into the couch cushion on either side of your head as you let your mouth fall open practically drooling at the sight of her slick cunt pretty and pink as she gripped the back of the couch with one hand. The other moved to lace her fingers through your hair tugging you into position and forcing a moan from your lips as you stuck your tongue out just in time for her wet cunt to meet your open mouth.

A desperate moan left the brunette's lips as she began riding your face, fuelled by her own possessiveness. She wasn’t polite about it, she was using you for her own pleasure and you were loving every second of it as her pussy rubbed against your tongue.

You stiffened the wet muscle and penetrated her with practiced ease causing her grip to tighten in your hair as her back arches. “Oh! Fuck!” She cried out as you curled your tongue to brush against the rough patch inside of her.

You placed your hands on her lower and mid back for support as she arched into your tongue. You licked and slurped up everything she had to offer until her thighs were trembling against your ears, her moans shaky and desperate as her muscles spasmed uncontrollably the closer you worked her toward the edge.

You opened your eyes to get a good look at her and what you saw made your eyes roll back as a groan rumbled from your chest up your throat.

She was perfection if you ever saw it, her slight frame flushed from her chest up, her lip caught temptingly between her teeth. Her head leaned against her forearm, her stomach clenched over and over whenever you brought your tongue out of her entrance and laved her clit. her chest heaved as she tossed her head back letting out a loud moan as she tugged on your hair again her eyes rolling back, your name rolling off her tongue.

“mine.” you heard her whisper as her fingers scratched soothingly at your scalp realizing how tightly she had been gripping the strands. You rolled your eyes and pressed your mouth into her harder just to hear her breath leave her lungs.

She didn’t disappoint. a gasp caught in her throat as she felt you suck her clit into your mouth and flick it with your tongue. “… god. you’re too good at this…” She whimpered breathlessly.

You hummed in acknowledgement of what she said, the buzz sent a shiver down her spine. “…oh, please!” She whimpered.

You smirked, realizing just how close to the edge she actually was. She got like this, needy and pleading the closer she got to cumming. It was your favorite part. a privilege to experience, even more of a privilege to make fun of afterwards.

The way her cheeks would flush red as she put her head down hiding behind her hair and tried to kick or slap at you to get you to stop.. Or better yet, when she’d bother you too much in one day while you’re out with her usual group of friends. Then when you went to make fun of her sounds, her whimpers, she’d flush like a firetruck, immediately shriek, and slap a hand over your mouth, or chest whatever was in reach really while scolding you and telling you to ‘cut it out.’

You were distracted. You knew she could tell, she’s always been perceptive in that way.

You gasped at the feeling of a harsh tug on your hair. pain emanating down your spine, pleasure boiling in your core.

“Focus, please.” Nancy demanded breathlessly.

Her eyes dark and desperate, her eyebrows pinched.

You nodded and did as she asked. You tilted your head back and slipped your tongue into her entrance again letting the brunette use her canting hips and your nose to stimulate her clit while you focused on massaging her walls and lapping straight from the fountain.

“Oh!” She cried, her face scrunching in the way that it only does when she was on the brink. You could do this all night long, you were in your own little piece of heaven, just surrounded by everything Nancy.

She tasted like peaches, everything about her sweet like syrup and bitter like liquor. Entirely intoxicating. You pulled out again and lapped at her folds shifting from flicking to sucking at her swollen pink clit, your fingers plunging into her in one smooth motion the mixture of her arousal and your saliva making her walls slick and forgiving despite the abrupt intrusion.

She cried out. her thighs trembled as her hand slapped against the couch cushion before her fingers tightened around the material gripping at it for dear life. her spine curled into a perfect arch that you wished you could see but you settled for trailing the fingers of your unoccupied hand down the indent of her spine.

Your fingers scissored inside of her stretching her and brushing against her walls demandingly. Her pussy stuttered against your face, and pulsed around your fingers. tightening, impossibly so.

you sucked and licked at her cunt so perfectly, your fingers stretching her just how she liked. “I’m c-close.” She breathed softly as her thighs trembled along with her words.

Her voice was soft like rain and hot like a sauna when it hit your ears.

you shifted your arm from behind her. her knees dug deeper into the sofa cushions as she rode your face like it was her job. your hand slipped beneath her dress to rub at her abdomen, crawl across her waist and up her ribs before settling on her breast. your long fingers slipped beneath the cup of her bra and caught her nipple between your middle and ring finger rolling it as you gripped at her breast.

Nancy’s hand shot up to cup your hand in her own over the material of her dress and bra keeping your hand firmly in place her fingers squeezing atop yours forcing your own pliable hand to do the same underneath hers. Her breath caught in her throat as she rolled her hips over your face harder and faster. “Oh- fuck.” her voice trembled and pitched.

You moaned at the telltale signs of her release coming to a head. her walls clamping around your fingers hot and dripping onto your cheeks and chin, her demanding hold on your hand that was gripping her breast, her panting breaths and arched spine, her soft breathy moans that you knew would turn feral and heated any second now.

You curled your fingers precisely inside of her as you pulled them out only to shove them back in. her walls clamped around you. Your forearm strained as did her voice. she let out an abrupt, loud, and whiny moan.

“Fuck! Right there!” She panted between moans of your name.

as your fingers kept hitting that same spot your tongue flicked and sucked at her clit. Nancy rocked her hips desperately as her moans grew in volume and succession, your name falling from her lips frantic and hot.

Your eyes widened as her’s slid shut her jaw dropping and her hand coming to grip the back of your head pressing you closer to her. Your eyes are dark. her scent is heady and intoxicating just like her taste. Your fingers are drenched and slipping in and out with no resistance. you were utterly enraptured. Held.

When her head tilted forward and her eyes fluttered open, crossed at first, before they focused on your own. Her baby blues hazy and wide as her lips opened in a demand. “More.”

Your eyes rolled back in pleasure before you pulled your fingers out of her slipping your third finger in by itself to get it wet. Her pussy welcomed it easily. You meddled inside of her before slipping the finger out as her grip tightened in your hair, her patience running thin as it usually did. you shoved three fingers inside of her slowly but firmly filling her. scissoring them to create enough space in her grasping molten heat.

She gasped her eyebrows scrunching up her cheeks flushed her lips swollen and red from her chewing on them.

“Like that?” You asked smugly.

Nancy nodded frantically before removing her hands from your hair and trailing them down your face before shoving two fingers into your ajar lips. Your eyes squeeze shut as you gag slightly at the intrusion, her slender fingers pressing down on your tongue.

You toss your head back and relax your throat as she begins fucking her fingers in and out of your mouth at the same time you are filling her pussy with three of yours. “mine.” she whispered possessively as her gaze held yours

You fuck into her harder your fingers curling and stretching almost wildly as you hollowed your cheeks and sucked on her dainty fingers. Nancy groaned, her stomach clenching and unclenching.

You nipped at her fingers when her eyes fluttered shut drawing her gaze back to yours. “I-ungh…” She interrupts herself with a grunt as the sensations overwhelm her your cheeks hollowing around her fingers as she pins your tongue down. or so she thought until your tongue twitched before sliding between her fingers and around each one over and under, “fuck, you’re talented.” she panted as your fingers kept up their rough pace while your tongue laved at her digits.

You smirked curling your fingers inside of her sopping wet pussy harshly and repeatedly causing the brunette to quake and tremble her fingers hastily slipping out of your mouth as her pussy came to rest back over your lips her saliva slick fingers reached down to part her folds for you in a ‘v’ as she settled her clit back on your tongue shakily. You then watched her hesitate before taking the fingers into her own mouth. You groaned against her cunt your own hips arching up at the erotic display as you sucked her clit between your lips and pounded your fingers into her spot over and over until she was a moaning, grunting mess.

Repeated pleas fell from her lips alongside your name. mumbled around her own fingers before she slipped them from her mouth and gripped the head of the couch as her high crashed through her, she stiffened atop you, still and silent, her jaw slackened, her fingers turned white from the force of her grip on the cushion her other hand fell back to your head to hold you in place. She swayed as she finally cried out. her back arched, she pressed her pussy further into your mouth, and her thighs threatened to clamp around your head like a vice. Then came the shivers. her jaw clenched shut again as she all but growled out her ecstasy. she picked her movements back up her hips canting wantonly against your face painting you in her slick, filthy and divine.

The shivers wracked her body. like rain to the surface of the ocean she trembled with each flick of your tongue against her clit, gasping and whining when your suction never let up. The grip in your hair began to pull, attempting to separate you from what you deemed to be your own life force. you slipped your fingers from her hot cunt, covered in her cum wrinkled and wet to the touch, and wrapped your arms around her thighs like a vice pinning her to your face as you gathered your own limbs beneath you.

You planted your sneakers firmly into the hardwood before carefully flipping your positions so the brunette could rest against the couch. you pulled away for a mere second and smirked devilishly up at her before you let your eyes fall to her swollen pink cunt. her clit twitched under your scrutiny.

Relief crossed your lover's face as you pulled away to examine her. her slender fingers stroking through your hair affectionately. Her relief was short-lived as was her affection.

You let your tongue fall out of your mouth and lapped at the bundle of nerves as Nancy tried to squirm away, her voice whiny and high pitched as she spoke your name.

“…Baby, please. I can’t—”

You wouldn’t hear it. You took the fingers that had been inside of her and shoved them into her mouth pressing down on her tongue much like she did to you minutes ago. A glint in your eye that projected your bad intentions.

Her eyes squeezed shut as her throat tightened around the tips of your manicured digits as she spluttered and gagged. you settled your supporting fingers around her jaw as you lapped at her cunt with a flat tongue. You began to slowly thrust the fingers in and out of her swollen pink lips at a steady pace groaning as she finally caught up to your actions and began sucking on the fingers as you lapped at her cunt and thighs cleaning her up. when you finished you pulled away kneeling at her feet and rested your head against her thigh as you brought the digits out of her mouth and to your own smirking around them as you sucked her saliva and what was left of her arousal from your fingers like you just finished a feast.

“Oh god.”

You removed the fingers from your mouth and ran them down your neck before letting your hand fall limply to your own thigh. you rested against her until she came back down to earth and she… she watched, observantly as a lazy smile graced your face and your red eyes slid shut your cheeks smeared with her arousal, your chin dripping with it. “What do I smell like now?” You asked opening one eye as your peered up at the brunette before rising to your full stature only to bend at the waist and hover, no, loom over her letting your scent waft towards her as you adjusted her thighs till they were closed and fixed her dress. You straddled Nancy carefully, your long arms boxing her in on the plush sofa.

Nancy wrapped her arms around your neck to draw you in for a kiss but you stopped short tilting your head forty-five degrees your eyes dark and warm as you gazed at the brunette expectantly.

She rolled her eyes as her fingers played with the baby hairs at the back of your neck. She leaned forward and grazed her nose against the skin of your neck.

You couldn’t fight the shiver that ran through you at the feeling of her breath on your skin, her nose warm from her flush as it grazed against your sensitive skin.

Nancy sniffed softly only smelling herself the vanilla perfume of the stranger, a mere basis of your now pleasant musk. The brunette sighed, contentedly pecking the skin before leaning back to slouch against the couch with satisfaction written across her features. She smiled softly before a giggle bubbled up in her throat.

“You smell like sex.” She breathed her voice airy and raspy from all the noise making.

You smirked and cupped her jaw drawing her into an affectionate kiss tonguing her down before releasing her and stepping off the couch. “Shower?”

“Not just yet. C’mere.” Nancy pouted, making ‘grabby’ hands at you causing you to chuckle as you settled beside her and let her crawl into your lap burying her face in your neck.

You sighed content to rest here with her for a moment… but you should’ve known. You should’ve seen the possession still lingering in her gaze. but you didnt, so when her lips sealed around your throat and her teeth dug sharply into the skin, when she applied strong suction to the front of your neck just beside your windpipe you were caught off guard and consequently you grew lightheaded.

“Ah!” you cried out as she marked your skin harshly.

You felt her lips pull up in what you could only assume was pride as she muffled her pleasure at the sound she drew from your throat with another love bite just centimeters removed from the last.

You gripped her hips hard, letting her work through her possession and insecurities in her own way, not complaining once as she stripped you and marked your entire torso with constellations of her claim over you.

A/N: thanks for waiting, and thanks for reading

[astrarobotica]

If you feel burned by the Amazon series, please please please give Ikebukuro West Gate Park (2000) a chance!

Ikebukuro West Gate Park (sometimes confusingly shortened to IWGP) is a live action drama that was adapted from a novel in 2000. There's also a more recent anime adaptation that I have admittedly not watched. I only found out about this series last year while randomly browsing Netflix. What I found was the most Yakuza-adjacent media I had ever seen; the closest thing to Yakuza without literally just being a part of the franchise.

Essentially, the show follows Makoto, a young delinquent who, along with his friends, becomes entangled in the crimes, mysteries, and strange problems of the town he lives in. While Makoto himself is not a criminal, he finds himself in the center of the local gangs problems. Most notably, Takashi, AKA King, the leader of the G-Boys, is a sort of friend/rival to Makoto, and has an unpredictable, yet likeable personality.

It's a bit difficult to adequately summarize the show; it has so much going for it that a basic plot synopsis doesn't do the show justice at all. Unfortunately, I can't find any trailers or clips on YouTube that sum up the show either, in English or Japanese.

The show's tone is incredibly similar to Yakuza; there's a fairly serious over-arching mystery occupying the central plot, but the show is almost just as much of a comedy as it is a drama. Each episode has a mostly self-contained subplot, usually involving Makoto reluctantly getting dragged into someone else's problem to help sort things out. When the show isn't being serious, it's incredibly goofy, and it balances this back and forth very well.

Beyond that, this is perhaps the most stylish television series I've ever watched. The editing, the cinematography, the music, the costumes... every bit of it is dripping with end-of-the-millennium style and intentionality, in the best possible way. I don't know how to describe it other than distilled late-90s underground subculture. The closest thing to it would probably be underground music videos from that era. There's just nothing like it.

The whole time I was watching this series when I found it on Netflix last year, I couldn't help but think that it had to be at least a partial inspiration for Yakuza. That might not even be the case, but it's indicative of how much they have in common. I would be surprised if anyone who loves the Yakuza games didn't find this show at least somewhat enjoyable. So please watch it. It's still on Netflix, and probably other Japanese drama sites as well. Just do it. Watch it. Do it. Do it. Do it.

[arcticclimes]

I didn't realize it's only like $25 for a year of 200 GB of Google Drive storage space... My bluray mkv rips total out to a little over 100 GB...

OBVIOUSLY (for legal reasons, in minecraft) I don't condone pirating blah blah blah BUT even if you have a legal copy of The Terror as like a Netflix subscription or the purchased series on Amazon you still can't actually USE those files for making gifs, edits, etc and even freezeframing through/screenshotting is half impossible.

tl;dr please let me know if enough people would be interested in this to make it worth getting all this set up >.>

[lewis-winters]

I was just curious but do you have any recs for period dramas about the philippines? I want to expand my period drama watching and im not quite sure where to start

Oh, the monster you've unleashed. YES I do have so many period dramas from and about the Philippines. Unfortunately, not all of them might be accessible to you if you're outside of the Philippines. Some of them are found on Amazon Prime, Netflix, and MUBI though. I'll make sure to put a lil note next to each film if they are. Also! these vary in genre (meaning: not all of them are war films, and some of these are horror films-- because this is me we're talking to, heh). I also have copies of some of these and will make a lil note next to each film if it's available for sharing, though I'll only give the link via DM. Please note, however, that they are all either in Tagalog, Bisaya, and/or other local Philippine Languages and not all of them have subtitles!

I also have very nuanced relationships with all these films, since Philippine History was my undergrad of choice. But to keep this post as brief as possible, I'm not going to talk about them at length. Though I will be including trigger warnings. Also note... some of these movies kinda suck HAAHAHAHA but I had way too much fun watching them so like. Please don't tell me they suck, please. I love them too much.

Also tagging @emmylynnaa because I promised her a similar list.

This is sorted by eras in Philippine History. Enjoy! (under the cut because it got long):

Spanish Occupation Era (1565 to 1898)

GomBurZa (2023) – A film following the GomBurZa, the three native Filipino Roman Catholic priests Gomez, Burgos, and Zamora executed during the latter years of the Spanish colonial era. TW: period typical violence. Furthermore, this is a Jesuit produced film so like. Once again. Take it with a grain of salt.

Jose Rizal (1998) - Jose Rizal's life and works are recounted through a series of non-linear flashbacks which reflect on various aspects of his life - as writer, propagandist, lover, friend, brother, doctor, and the man that inspired a revolution. Available on MUBI. TW: depiction of sexual assault by a priest. I also have a love-hate relationship with this film because on one hand, literally shaped my love of history. On the other hand, it is the MOST idealistic depiction of Jose Rizal ever + very historically inaccurate in many places, please watch this with a grain of salt.

Maria Clara at Ibarra (2022 – 2023) – A series about a girl from the 21st century who is magically transported into Jose Rizal’s famous novels Noli me Tangere and El Filibusterismo (you know, the novels that helped spark the Filipino Revolution against the Spanish). The synopsis sounds cheesy but trust me, it’s very good. Available to watch on the GMA official webpage. I just don’t know if you can access it outside of the country. TW: rape, abuses of the Catholic church, period typical violence, abuses of Spanish colonialists. A personal favorite—the costumes? Divine. And the character arcs are also really lovely. Helps you understand Philippine contemporary culture, too.

Katipunan: TV Mini Series (2013) – A mini-series depicting the creation of the Kataastaasan Kagalang-galang na Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan (or the KKK—no, not the white supremacist group; that’s unfair, by the way, we did it first), the revolutionary organization founded in 1892 by Filipino Nationalists against Spanish Colonialization. Available to watch on the GMA official webpage. I just don’t know if you can access it outside of the country. TW: depictions of rape aftermath by Spanish soldiers, period typical violence, torture, graphic depictions of a corpse. This is a personal favorite of mine.

Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis/A Lullaby to the Sorrowful Mystery (2016) - Andrés Bonifacio is celebrated as the father of the Philippines Revolution against Spanish colonial rule. This eight-hour epic examines this myth, undertaking an expedition into history through various interwoven narrative threads, held together by an exploration of the individual’s role in history. Available on Mubi. TW: it is literally eight hours long. But that’s Lav Diaz for you. I love him, but oh my god is he an acquired taste.

Ang Kababaihan ng Malolos (2014) - The saga of the 20 Filipino women who petitioned for the opening of a school in a time when women weren’t given the chance to do so.

Ganito Kami Noon... Paano Kayo Ngayon? (1976) – Set during the end of Spanish colonization and the start of American colonization. After his mother's death, the simple-minded and naïve Kulas (Christopher De Leon) begins his much-awaited trip to Manila. On his way to Manila, he mindlessly takes on the mission of retrieving a friar's son and bringing him to the friar's residence.

Mallari (2023) - A horror film chronicling the deeds of the first recorded serial killer in the Philippines. This film spans decades, all the way up to present day. It's kinda stupid. Like. Really stupid. That's ok. We watch it because we want to see Piolo Pascual and JC Santos covered in blood. TW: oh my god so many bodies and so much gore.

Filipino-American War and America Occupation (1899 – 1940s) (this era has the best films, actually, if you want a place to start and start strong? start here)

Amigo (2010) - A local leader of a small Filipino barangay must decide whether to keep the peace with the American troops occupying his village or join the insurgency with his brother and son. TW: racism, sexual harassment, graphic depictions of corpses, gore, period typical violence.

Heneral Luna (2015) - Set during the Philippine-American war, Heneral Luna follows the life of one of Philippine History's most brilliant soldier, General Antonio Luna, as he tries to lead his countrymen against colonial masters new and old, and to rise above their own raging disputes to fulfill the promise of the Philippine Revolution. Available on Netflix. TW: short scene depicting the aftermath of sexual assault, period typical violence, and graphic depictions of a corpse. Again, one of my favorites. I have so many happy memories of this film + the fandom it birthed! I miss it sometimes.

Angelito (2018) – The short film that bridges both Heneral Luna and Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral, depicting the brothers Manuel and Jose Bernal – Antonio Luna’s aides-de-camp – and their youngest brother Angel, two days before the General’s assassination. This film you can find on Youtube!

Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral (2019) – The sequel of Heneral Luna, this film follows the story of Gregorio 'Goyo' del Pilar, one of the youngest Generals during the Philippine-American War who fought in the historic Battle of Tirad Pass. Available on Netflix. TW: short scenes of torture, period typical violence, and graphic depictions of a corpse. Again, a personal favorite for the same reasons stated above. Though it’s not as strong as Heneral Luna, I gotta say.

Ang Larawan (2017) - In a musical tale about standing together against materialism, two impoverished sisters anguish over whether or not to sell a painting, the final masterpiece by their recluse father. A bitter struggle for survival against betrayal set in pre-World War II Manila. A personal favorite, oh my god. This film. Oh my god, this film.

World War 2 and its aftermath (1940 – 1950)

Quezon’s Game (2018) - In 1938, Philippine President Manuel L. Quezon, military adviser Dwight D. Eisenhower, along with other notable figures, set out to rescue Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi Germany. Quezon simultaneously deals with a relapse of tuberculosis. Available on Amazon Prime. TW: talk of genocide and short scenes depicting the murder of Jewish people by the Nazis.

Tatlong Taong Walang Dios (1976) - A woman falls in love with a Japanese soldier during the Japanese Occupation in the Philippines; the whole town turns against her. TW: rape. Think Malena.

Oro, Plata, Mata (1982) - Set in the Philippine island of Negros during World War II, it tells the story of how two hacendero families cope with the changes brought about by the war. TW: rape

Kusina (2016) – Her kitchen. The silent witness to the life and love of Juanita. It is her sanctuary, the place where she creates dishes for her family, friends, even enemies and strangers. Through cooking, she gets to know the people around her. TW: violent child birth, death of mother in child birth, sexual harassment by Japanese soldiers. This spans multiple decades, all the way up to Martial Law.

In My Mother’s Skin (2023) - Stranded in the Philippines during World War II, a young girl finds that her duty to protect her dying mother is complicated by her misplaced trust in a beguiling, flesh-eating fairy. Available on Amazon Prime. TW: body horror, gore, explicit depictions of a corpse, period typical violence.

Markova: Comfort Gay (2000) – A coming of age drama film loosely based on the life of Walter Dempster Jr., the last surviving Filipino “comfort gay” (male sex slaves for the Imperial Japanese Army) from World War II. TW: CSA, wartime systemic rape, rape.

Comfort Women: A Cry for Justice (1994) – The story of how two sisters and the rest of the women of Sta. Monica are forced into sex slavery by Japanese soldiers during World War 2. TW: wartime systemic rape, rape, and period typical violence.

Seklusyon (2016) - In 1947, a group of deacons (aspiring priests) on their last week of training are sent to a remote monastery to live in seclusion for seven days to protect them from the devil, who on the last few days of training attempts to break the will of deacons to make them reconsider their choice of becoming priests. During their seclusion, a little girl named Anghela, believed by locals to be a living saint because of her healing abilities, appears at the monastery seeking refuge. Available on Amazon. TW: pedophilia, gore, body horror, Catholicism, religious horror.

Corazon: Ang Unang Aswang (2012) - A psychological thriller film detailing the psychological breakdown of a woman struggling with infertility in post-war Philippines. If you want to see women go feral, this is fun.

Martial Law (1970 – 1980) (actually, you know what? I lied. This era is the era with the best films. God, these are CLASSICS and are the ones that’ll help you understand contemporary Philippine culture the most; definitely start here)

Manila, sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag (1975) - Júlio Madiaga, a 'provinciano', arrives in Manila to search for his beloved, Ligaya. TW: coerced sex work, sexual abuse. Once again, a Filipino cinema classic.

Insiang (1976) - After a teenager is raped by her mother's boyfriend, she sets out to exact revenge on anyone who has hurt her. TW: I mean. It says it right there. Though it’s not actually shown on screen, it is very heavily implied. She doesn’t die in the end, if you’re wondering.

Dekada ’70 (2002) - A middle-class Filipino family struggles to survive in the era of dictatorship. This is a fucking classic in Filipino cinema. Available on MUBI. TW: sexual harrassment, discussion of torture, depictions of wounds and beatings, period typical violence. Martial Law was rough.

Aparisyon (2012) – A psychological drama film set in early 1970s, where the story about the nuns in the period immediately preceding the declaration of martial law by Ferdinand Marcos. The film’s director, Isabel Sandoval, is a transgender woman and an absolute visionary. Her other films Senorita (2011) and Lingua Franca (2019) are also very good, please check it out. All films are available for streaming through the Criterion Channel. TW: rape, religious trauma, period typical violence, Catholicism.

Lihis (2013) - Set in the 70’s during the darkest hours of Philippine History, we follow the story of two young NPA warriors who find themselves entangled in a web of frustration, despair and victory as they fight not only for democracy but also their love for each other. Available on MUBI. TW: Infidelity.

Barber’s Tales (2014) - In a rural town in the Philippines during the Marcos dictatorship, the newly widowed Marilou inherits the town's only barbershop from her husband- a business that has been passed down by generations of men in her husband's family. With no other means of support, she musters the courage to run the barbershop.

Dahling Nick (2015) - Dahling Nick is a docu-drama exploring the life and works of National Artist for Literature Nick Joaquin, who only accepted the National Artist Award on the condition that the Marcos administration release a well-known writer who was being unjustly detained during Martial Law. I love Nick Joaquin. He’s shaped my understanding of the Magical Realist genre far more than any of his contemporaries have. This film is notoriously difficult to get your hands on, so I suggest going to read his anthology by Penguin Classics called the Tropical Gothic instead!

Respeto (2017) - Hendrix is a poor aspiring rapper who wants to make a name for himself in the underground rap battle scene and gain respect in the community. After attempting to rob a second-hand bookstore in the neighborhood, he is discovered by the owner, Doc, an old poet with a haunted past as a dissident. Not necessarily period, but definitely has its roots in Martial Law.

Liway (2018) – A film about the kip, a young boy growing up in a prison as the son of anti-Marcos dissident Cecilia Flores-Oebanda, better known as Commander Liway, during the waning days of the Marcos dictatorship. It is currently streaming on Youtube!

The Kingmaker (2019) - is a 2019 documentary film written and directed by Lauren Greenfield, featuring the political career of Imelda Marcos with a focus on the Marcos family's efforts to rehabilitate the family's image and to return to political power, including her plans to see her son, Bongbong, become President of the Philippines, and the alliance that Bongbong and Imee Marcos established with Rodrigo Duterte in his bid to win the 2016 Philippine presidential election. Available on Youtube! if outside of the Philippines, use VPN.

1980s – 2000s Philippines

Misteryo sa Tuwa (1984) - The fortunes of three impoverished friends and their families abruptly change after an airplane crashes in a nearby mountain.

Alpha Kappa Omega Batch ’81 (1982) – A psychological drama film depicting the titular fraternity's harsh initiation of new batch members as seen through the eyes of pre-med student Sid Lucero. TW: hazing, torture, psychological torture. It’s fucked up, actually.

Himala (1982) – During a total eclipse Elsa, a young girl from rural Philippines, allegedly witnesses an apparition of the Virgin Mary on top of the hill where, as an infant, she was found and adopted by Saling. Said visions change her life and cause a sensation hysteria in a poor, isolated northern village in the midst of drought. TW: rape, religious fanaticism, religious trauma.

Adela (2008) - The story of Adela, which takes place in the span of one day, is a heartbreaking story of a woman who longs for the company of her loved ones. This isn’t actually period. This film just breaks my heart. And of course, it has acting legend Anita Linda in it. How could I not recommend it?

Now Showing (2008) - Rita is named after a famous American movie star whom her late, former actress grandmother once adored. She lives in one of Manila’s oldest districts with her mother and aunt. Years later, she is still the same girl enamoured with television, now tending to her aunt’s stall selling pirated DVDs.

Elegy to the Visitor from the Revolution (2011) - A woman from the end of the 19th century visits modern day Philippines and observes three interwoven stories: that of a prostitute, a group of criminals and a musician. This is another Lav Diaz one. It’s long.

K’na The Dreamweaver (2014) - K’na is a young woman coming into her own in the mountains of South Cotabato, where the T’boli live, overlooking the majestic and mystical Lake Sebu. She is part of the royal family of the South bank of the lake, part of the clan that was banished from the North Bank centuries ago after what the elders call The Great Betrayal. At a young age, K’na, is trained in the art of weaving the T’bolit’nalak. The design of the t’nalak fabric comes from the visions granted by Fu Dalu, the goddess of abaca, only to deserving women who become dreamweavers. K’na’s grandmother, Be Lamfey, is the village’s last master dreamweaver. When Be Lamfey dies, the gift of dreamweaving is passed to K’na and her father, LobongDitan, decides to put an end to the warring clans of Lake Sebu once and for all by arranging a marriage between K’na and Kagis, the heir to the throne of North bank. Meanwhile, K’na has fallen in love with Silaw, a childhood friend whose family supplies the finest abaca fibers to the dreamweavers. Silaw leaves love messages for her by tying bits of abaca thread to a tree outside K’na’s window. As the marriage grows near, a revolution brews among those who do not believe in the union of the two royal clans.

Smaller and Smaller Circles (2017) - Two Jesuit priests, Gus Saenz and Jerome Lucero perform forensic work to solve the mystery revolving around the murders of young boys in Payatas, one of Metro Manila's biggest slum areas. While dealing with the systematic corruption of the government, church, and the elite, the two priests delve into criminal profiling, crime scene investigation, and forensic analysis to solve the killings, and eventually, find the murderer. Available on Netflix. TW: child death, talk of child sexual abuse at the hands of the Catholic Church and at the hands of teachers, graphic depictions of a corpse, film also triggering to folks who suffer from claustrophobia.

Billie and Emma (2018) – An LGBT coming of age story set in the mid-1990s featuring two teenaged girls Billie and Emma as they grapple with topics such as sexuality, family, religion, unplanned pregnancy, and the uncertainty of the future.

[kelliealtogether]

This is why I shouldn't look in tags:

I also deeply recommend the Opal short story, however, I don't recommend pirating from an author who very nearly didn't have a series picked up by her publisher because of piracy. I don't recommend pirating from any author.

There are many other ways to read Opal:

It's included in the paperback edition of The Raven King (the US version, at least), which you can score a used copy of on Thriftbooks for less than $8

The ebook is available starting at $0.99 from various international online retailers including Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and Apple Books (and even Amazon Kindle if you want to throw money at Jeff Bezos)

It's available from libraries through Libby and Overdrive in both ebook and audiobook format

Pirate from Disney. Pirate from Netflix. Pirate textbooks. But please don't pirate from authors whose livelihoods rely on readers purchasing books or checking books out of libraries. Unless their books are selling serious volume à la Stephen King, many authors scrape by on royalties, and if you love an author's work and want them to be able to continue writing, pirating their books isn't a good option. ✌️