#nicole watches the good cop

[wyzzze]

One (slightly horrifying) thing I've learned from playing ZZZ is that the staff is VERY good at making characters that look one way but act in a completely unexpected way that has the ability to charm me.

For instance, before I started playing, I thought I wouldn't like Nicole. I thought she was going to be an overly shallow, snotty type that would be very "ohoho~" and annoying in a tropey way. And..she is "ohoho~" af but she's actually in a very delicate balancing act of being an absolute queen and a huge girlfailure and she steals the show whenever she's around. She's indeed vaguely all of the things you expect her to be but she does it in such a...charming way that she has me laughing and I'm ride or die w her now.

I didn't expect to like Lucy either! I thought she'd just be a normal tsundere but the one thing I've always really hated about typical tsunderes is their inability to be reasonable and how out of pocket they can be and Lucy...isn't like that. She's actually super reasonable and she sorta drives that ship. Calydon as a faction balances her traits out so well that when she barks orders it's like "ok yeah finally someone with common sense 😌✨️" if anything. She's still a princess-y tsundere but she missed the one trait I can't stand and that's kind of impressive to me tbh.

I didn't expect to dislike Seth per se but I didn't expect to like him that much either...he's a cop (his biggest sin) and he's...peppy. Which...isn't a sin...but it makes me (who is fucked up and evil) soooorta wish for him to uhh. break. 😇 Just a little bit! As a treat!! But he got me too okay....like fuuuck whatever! Whatever!!! Wet sad catboy with No Friends and his family problems that keep making him say "is my family normal? 🥺 it's normal right?" whateverrr!!! Just get in the car, loser!!! 🤧 god!!

I didn't think I'd like Harumasa! I have complete trust issues with characters that look like him! I expected him to be more of a ~sunshine on the outside but dark on the inside~ yandere-leaning kind of trope based on looks. But he's actually one of my favorite character archtypes instead...he's literally a sleepy guy with a billion nuanced problems and a fucked life. My favorite fucking food!! I owe you an apology, Mr. Harumasa!! I wasn't familiar with your game!!

But perhaps the most surprising twist of fate is me liking Wise. Like, I did NOT have high hopes for this boy, okay. I was NOT a believer. I didn't expect either one of them to have that much personality. When I first saw Wise's design with my working eyes I thought ZZZ devs fucking hated him. I thought he was going to be stale bread in terms of personality.

But like, Look! Look at us now!!

He's like a brother to me.

On god, the other day I blocked somebody for saying he was ugly with no love in their voice.

This game is so dangerous is what I'm saying bc the writers know how to get me to like characters that I have an allergy for. I am a Hateful Hateful person and it just keeps happening. They're like my little meow meows now, watch out or it could happen to u!

[kwamiwayzz]

Class of '09 - Jeckole Starter Fic Recs

I saw a post on Twitter earlier asking for fic recommendations for Class of '09 and thought this would be an easy place to start. Disclaimer, most of the ones here are Jeckole since it's pretty much all I read.

Notes are my own thoughts and feelings and don't completely give a full overview of the plot, if at all. You'll just have to check them out yourself ;)

drinking lightning by strictlypudding - If you were a newcomer in the Co09 fandom and wanted to search for the most Kudos'ed fic out of all of them, this would be the first to pop up and I can see why. It's a pretty good starter fic for anyone getting into Jeckole's dynamic and the author's prose when I first read it was top notch.

We're too hot to be best friends without sexual tension by Memeframe - This is a series of Jeckole fics compiled of 8 one/two-shots that follow Nicole and Jecka from high school up to adulthood. When I first read this, I had a fun time and thought the author captured that Co09 flavor when writing Jecka and Nicole's dynamic together.

(more below)

Fuck Life, Fuck the Universe, and Fuck Everything by Progman - I might be biased when giving my thoughts on this because I read it during a time when this VN threw me back to a time I do not like to revisit, but this fic slow-roasted me while I was marinating in my depression and I love the banter and dialogue wrote not just with Nicole and Jecka, but also among the other characters as well. This fic explores more of the growing codependent nature between Nicole and Jecka as well as do a deep dive on Nicole's depression. I also really liked the slow burn of how her being on meds made her slightly less fucked up, but still emphasized that it didn't completely fix her.

Inscriptions by Kayleen756894 - Similar to the one above by Progman, Inscriptions by Kayleen absolutely fucking decimated me then put me back together. As others have mentioned in her comments of this fic, it feels like a crescendo that just keeps getting better and better. For those people who really love the take on Nicole's character not actually being a sociopath and more of someone who's suffers from extreme depression, this is definitely the fic for you.

Jeckole by Anonymous - This is a series of one-shots (some related, some not) that are about Jecka and Nicole in various settings. Currently, there are about 6 works in it, and I unfortunately don't know who the author is since they left themselves as anonymous, but I love the way each one is written. For someone who's looking for more light-hearted, easy-going Jeckole one-shots, this could be a good place to start too.

Youth Without Youth by WorthlessPlant - Another Jeckole series, but by AO3 user, WorthlessPlant. I had fun reading these when I needed something light-hearted. There's only 2 works in it, but it follows a scenario where Nicole and Jecka adopt a kitten and raise it together.

Astraphobia by Doodlenova - Oh, if I remember correctly, this was probably the very first Jeckole fic I read when first getting into Co09. I really love this fic and it's take on how the gunshot from the mall cop in Re-Up affected both of them (through a simple thunderstorm). There aren't too many fics out there that take into account how Nicole would be functioning after getting shot in the leg, so this was a nice treat along with Jecka coping with the aftermath of watching her friend nearly die.

Shared Values by Progman - This was written after Flip Side, so you might get an idea of what's going on and how the direction will be steered the farther you read. It starts off slow, almost angsty, but once it gets to a certain part, the vibes and energy just amps up and goes back to that usual Co09 snappy dialogue and humor that I, personally, thought could've fit in the actual game.

Nothing But Poison by VeezChaos - If you love angst and no happy endings for Jeckole, this is the fic for you. I had to emphasize that in the beginning for anyone looking for more fluffy, leaning more on the happy-ending side of things. But I personally thought this fic was written well when exploring the descent of Jecka's mental state after Nicole takes her own life.

So Long, Goodbye by SCP_Stella_Eva - I really liked the scenario for this one, especially since there aren't many fics out there that really go over Nicole's feelings and relationship with her dad before he killed himself. Despite taking place while both Jecka and Nicole are both adults, the dialogue between them still maintains some of that flavor of their younger selves.

And that's it so far. I've read way more than this, but the list would've been way too long, and I did specify this was more of a starter fic-rec list. I haven't read some well-known ones yet like MentalCrit09's Nicole-Divergent series since I'm still catching up on Progman's series. I have read Nothing's New by eklpx but since it was Explicit, I was planning on making a separate fic rec list that only has NSFW works (whenever I'm not lazy lol).

Anyway, hope this helps for those just getting into the fandom :0

[escapingrealtiylovinginsanity]

Rewind, Remix, & Replay Jay & Kim 6x5

You can read the rest of the series here

This one is pretty short but it should hold you over. I’m so excited to write the next four chapters. I have big ideas! That being said it might just be one chapter next week.

The team had all gotten together for brunch. Trudy was celebrating her twenty-five years as a cop. Playing two truths and a lie was always fun and competitive when it was a table full of cops. “And go,” Trudy sat back in her seat waiting to see what the tables consensus was.

“Okay, Dickin’s don’t do Karaoke so that’s the lie.” Kevin is confident and Hailey points at him agreeing with his words. But Kim shakes her head dismissively thinking she knows her mentor better than that.

“No definitely not. It’s soccer. The woman hates moving.” Trudy scoffs at the comment crossing her arms over her chest. Her sharp eyes watched the way that Kim leaned into Jay. Their chairs were pulled close together and his hand was resting on her thigh with her hand on his forearm absently caressing it with her thumb. The familiarity spoke of a long relationship in its natural movements and shared looks.

Jay laughed, “Yeah, there is no way you play varsity soccer in high school.” The table continued their roasting. The team was in high spirits and the last week had been running smoothly. The tension between Jay and Adam had faded along with his impressive shiner. They all lingered even after they finished eating, enjoying the company and teasing of one another.

Jay got up to order another mimosa for Kim at the bar. It was a Saturday and they may have another round if they were going to be there for a while. A shadow fell over him. “You want another drink Sarg?” When Trudy didn’t respond he turned to look at her. Her gaze is still on the table the team is sitting at.

“I haven’t seen her that happy in a while.” Jay’s blue eyes followed her gaze to Kim. She had a huge smile, and Antonio said something that made her throw her head back and laugh. The sound brings warmth to his chest. It’s infectious and makes him smile too. “Don’t screw this up, Halstead. That is my girl, you better take care of her. I promise you, you won’t find better.”

Jay turned to fully face her. Her eyes held a seriousness that he matched. “I know. I have every intention of keeping that smile on her face.” Life was finally settling down. Work was back to normal. Everyone was getting along and had fallen back into a seamless understanding and camaraderie.

Kim’s sister had spent two weeks in rehab. Zoey had been staying with Kim and in turn with him. The pair didn’t sleep apart well anymore. Nicole had gotten out and was more like herself. Zoey had gone home. A peace in Kim that had been missing for too long had returned. She seemed lighter. Less worry furrowing in between her eyebrows. “She is my girl too.” Trudy gave him a short curt nod of acceptance. If Jay didn’t know any better, he might have thought she had teared up a little.

“Good because I like you, Halstead. I would hate to have to kick your ass.” Jay couldn’t contain his bark of laughter. “I mean it Chuckles. You hurt her and you’ll pay the price.” It wasn’t the first hurt her and I’ll kill you spiel he had gotten but he did not doubt that it was the most dangerous. And that was saying something considering he had gotten it in various degrees from Kevin, Antonio, and Voight. Kim was well loved in the team and the men within were protective of the females. Apparently, that protection was limited to outside the group. Jay didn’t mind it though. Honestly, he was happy there were so many people who cared about Kim. If that meant he had to deal with a little more third-degree he would take the tradeoff.

“I do not doubt it. And if I do- I'll let you.” A silent understanding passed between the two. It was broken by the bartender setting a bright orange drink on the bar. Jay pulls out his wallet fishing out a few bills before handing them to the server. “Thanks, man. Her next drink is on me too.”

“A Bloody Mary,” Trudy told the man who nodded and pulled a short thick glass. Jay laughed as he shoved his wallet back into his pocket.

“I should have guessed.” He tapped the bar top before grabbing the drink and heading back over to the table. Trudy kept facing the bar but watched in the mirror. She watched as Kim turned in her seat as Jay approached her, their fingers grazing as she took the glass from him. She watched Kim’s chair slide closer after Jay sat down closing the distance between the two of them. Her hand went to his thigh as he threw his arm over the back of her chair.

The bartender set her handsomely garnished drink on the bar as he spoke, “Ah, to be young and in love again.”

[tropes-and-tales-archives]

Whistle Down the Wind, Chapter One

Word Count:  1372

TW:  Pining, unrequited love.

AN:  Part of a series.  The series masterlist here.

You were late.  Again.

Practice had run over (again), and so you found yourself sprinting down the street (again), your violin case banging against the side of your leg as you dodged around pedestrians, hollering apologies over your shoulder when you ran into anyone.

Luckily, it was only Sunday at lunchtime, so you probably would still get a table even if you were late.  Unluckily, if you were late again, Sonny would never let you hear the end of it.  Luckily, you were just sprinting with your violin and not, say, your cello or your keyboard.  

Unluckily, you hadn’t seen much of Sonny since he got himself a girlfriend.  So you tried to maximize your time with him when you could get it.

You had been friends with Dominick “Call me Sonny, everybody does” Carisi Junior since college.  You had gone to school with his younger sister Bella, and she had quickly adopted you and made you a member of her family.  How many holiday breaks, how many weeks each summer had you spent in the Carisi household on Staten Island?  Too many to count.  And while you loved Bella like a sister, it had taken even less time to fall in love with Sonny.

Who, sadly, did not seem to return the sentiment. 

You pushed the thought out of your head as you jay-walked and then entered the restaurant.  Sonny was already there, and when he saw you walk in, he tapped his watch in an exaggerated manner before standing up to wrap you in one of his patented hugs.

You allowed yourself to melt against him for a briefest nanosecond, breathing in the scent of his cologne and soap, before you pushed yourself away, stashed your violin, and shed your coat.  Sonny pulled your chair out for you, and your flashed him your winningest grin as you sat down across from him.

He looked good.  He had finally shed that ridiculous mustache that made him look like an extra in a 1970’s porno, and his hair was swept up and gelled to perfection.  He was wearing his grey Henley and the jeans that looked perfect on him.  He crinkled his eyes at you and grinned back.

“I know I didn’t just see you jay-walking,” he said by way of greeting.  

You rolled your eyes at him and scanned the menu.  “Don’t be such a cop.”  

He picked up his own menu.  “Over 6,000 people died in pedestrian related accidents last year,” he said, his voice stern.  “I’d hate to see you go out that way.”

“I plan on dying tragically while rescuing my family from the wreckage of a destroyed sinking battleship,” you replied, dead-pan.

Sonny snorted by didn’t reply.  That’s what the two of you had originally bonded over: movies.  Bella didn’t have the attention span for movies – especially indie ones – so there were many summer nights in college that you found yourself on the Carisi rec room couch, curled under Nonna Carisi’s crocheted blanket in the frigid AC, watching some Wes Anderson or David Lynch (or once, very uncomfortably, a Harmony Korine film) with Sonny.  The first movie you had watched together had been “the Royal Tenenbaums.”

The two of you ordered lunch and then caught up.  He told you about his new stint at Manhattan’s SVU and his classes at Fordham Law.  You told him about the multiple gigs you had with your music – your cover band, your work at weddings, your growing portfolio of producing work.  He told you about his parents (bored empty nesters), you updated him about yours (bitter divorcees who lived halfway across the country).  Then you came to the topic that made your stomach turn with jealousy.  Significant others.

“How’s Nicole?” you asked, keeping your voice level and nonchalant.  

Sonny swallowed his bite of food.  “She’s good,” he replied.  He wiped at his mouth.  “We’re good.”

You nodded.  “That’s good.”  You focused on your plate, pushing the remains of your chicken piccata around. You could feel Sonny watching you, but you didn’t want to look up at him.  You had met his girlfriend exactly one time, at a Carisi family dinner. Nicole was the opposite of you: polished in perfect makeup and perfect clothing that fit perfectly.  She obviously went to the salon regularly – she didn’t have visible roots (despite Bella snarking to you once that Nicole wasn’t a natural blonde), and her nails were polished to a high shine.

In your meaner moments, you would reflect that she wasn’t very nice – she spent that dinner stealing glances at her phone, and she didn’t talk about anyone but herself.  But you tried to be happy for Sonny.  If he was happy, you were happy.  You could deal with the bittersweet feeling of being invisible.

“So everything��s good then,” Sonny teased, and you looked up to see his bright blue eyes twinkling at you.  “What about you?  Seeing anyone?”

You gave half of a shrug.  “Nah.”  You pushed your plate aside and flagged down the waitress for the bill, which Sonny snagged from you before you could get it.  He put down some cash and replied.

“You shouldn’t be so picky,” he said.  “I’m sure you could find someone if you didn’t have such high standards.”  You winced at this unintentional barb but tried to cover it up with a smile.  Of course you were picky – of all the people in New York City, there was only one Sonny Carisi.  And he was unavailable.

“You’re right.”  You stood up, put your coat on, grabbed your violin, and waited for him to follow. “The next time a guy with a rapey vibe hits on me after one of my gigs, I’ll just be less picky.  Thanks for the official advice from Sex Crimes.”

Sonny snorted as the two of you walked out of the restaurant, but he looked serious as he turned to hug you goodbye.  “Be careful out there.”

You hugged him back awkwardly, shielding part of your body with your violin.  Between both of your busy lives, you never got to see your friend anymore.  Lately, you only had time for these quick lunches before each of you went back to your separate lives.  

When you had graduated from college, you had moved to Manhattan to start your musical career, and Bella had stayed behind in your college town to wait for her boyfriend Tommy to finish his stint in prison. Sonny was a new detective, and the two of you spent a lot of time together, watching movies and cooking for each other when the other was busy.  

But as many times as you fell asleep on his couch, it never progressed beyond friendship, and your time together waxed and waned depending on if Sonny was seeing anyone.  And lately, any free time that Sonny had was spent with Nicole.  He had cancelled and rescheduled this lunch three times before it actually happened.

So you only hugged him back halfheartedly. Because you could feel him pulling away from your life more and more, and when you were nestled in his arms, even in a friendly hug, it reminded you of what you didn’t have.  Of what you’d never have.  

You pulled away after a moment, then smiled up at him. It made your heart ache to feel that you were losing him, but you could always channel that pain into your music. Maybe sell it as scoring to some sad romance movie where the woman dies at the end and the man walks away into the rain when the end credits start.

“See you around soon, stretch,” you said, trying to keep your voice light.  “And thanks for lunch.”

“Sure thing, kiddo,” he replied.  He chucked you on your shoulder, then turned and walked away.  You watched him for a moment, enjoying the sight of those jeans that really did fit him perfectly.  Once he rounded the corner and was out of sight, you checked the street both ways and jay-walked towards your own apartment.  

Because you weren’t joking about using your heartache for your music.  The sharp sting of your unreciprocated infatuation would make for a great string piece, and you already were composing the main theme in your head.

[canmom]

thinking about Deus Ex Human Revolution because I stumbled over its soundtrack in my game OST folder.

it got good reviews in its day but with hindsight it's not really remembered as a great game to endure the way the first one did. there is stuff to praise - art direction for example - but equally, you can criticise plenty: the clumsy handling of the 'augments' theme, the shallow orientalism of the China chapters, the watering down of the immersive sim elements. the clumsy outsourced boss fights and the rubbish ending.

if it's remembered today it's mainly for the "i never asked for this" meme, and the 'Icarus' trailer.

watching it again in 2024, the soundtrack is doing a lot of the work of carrying this. most of the dialogue in this trailer is really corny cyberpunk-isms, and a lot of its visuals are blatant riffs on Ghost in the Shell, Appleseed and Blade Runner (though I'll credit that it has a great sense of mechanical design in its robots and stuff). but the opening visual motif - the Renaissance dissection tableau transitioning into the flight of Icarus - is just the right level of pretentious for a game like this. that, combined with the wordless vocals rising and falling around the synth line, does so much work to sell the idea of 'this is grand and important'.

cyberpunk has a pretty specific sound associated with it - the electronic sounds are obvious, but in some of the best remembered cases it relies on contrasting the human voice and old school percussion against those synths, typically in some unusual vocal style that is likely to be unfamiliar to viewers - most notably Indonesian gamelan in the Akira soundtrack, and Bulgarian choir in Oshii's Ghost in the Shell. the other major genre touchpoint, Blade Runner, does not generally use vocals in the same way, but still plays the synth off against percussion sounds. in the simplest terms, it's a contrast of 'natural' and 'unnatural' right? what humans were and what we're becoming.

here we're not importing quite such an unfamiliar sound, but we have a lot of long, held notes by a solo singer (either Ariel Engle or Andrea Revel going off Soundcloud, but I'm having a hard time figuring out the specific credit). it's not unrelated to what Emi Evans was doing with the 'chaos language' in NieR, and indeed to the sound that J'Nique Nicole would bring in the sequel there. I really like wordless vocals, the human voice is such a versatile instrument and brings so much texture.

against that the synth here is actually keeping things really simple. it's mostly just repeating phrases, often simply arpeggios. I haven't really learned enough to keep track of the chord movements here, I'm sure someone more well-versed in music theory could easily take them apart because I doubt it's doing anything overly complex. but it's in a minor key, it's gradually rising for the first half of the track, dropping a bit every so often so it can keep climbing for the most part... and then the final third introduces a second synth line with a slower descending motif - goddamn it's literally just the Icarus metaphor again isn't it, rising and then falling? but it's not too obvious with it, like it doesn't climb all the way back down.

against that the trailer plays a montage of General Cyberpunk Stuff, notably Adam killing people in sicknasty ways, robot limbs doing robot limb stuff, newscasters with interesting fashion sense, and protesters getting gunned down by cops. the weakest parts are the ones that refer to the game's plot and aren't just pure vibes tbh.

that trailer wrote a lot of cheques that the game couldn't really pay, but it is interesting to look back at it with a more analytic eye. it makes me wonder how to really get that human voice texture in music I make. I mean the obvious answer is 'learn to sing', and I'm working on that and making progress, but my voice is pretty testosteron'd and inevitably that limits my range. vocaloids are great but mostly for a different kind of sound. ah well, I'll figure it out. the erhu at least has a sound that's pretty close to the human voice, so maybe that can be the ingredient I need to get that Atmosphere(TM).

[darukee]

At least she'll be gorgeous forever

tw: Suicide, Rape briefly mentioned, Major character death, Spoilers of Flipside. This one is following THAT ending where Nicole fucks Jecka's life by being a foot whore with Jecka's Dad . . .

Jecka has been out a while. After yelling at Nicole about how the brunette was doing feet stuff with her dad, she rushed to her room. No more sounds were heard, as Jecka’s Dad voice kept Nicole occupied. She was having some fun, having so much control over the situation. After Jecka refused to share her money maker job with her, she felt like she had to pay it back somehow.

And she did. Stepping on her dad. Sounds reasonable.

“I’m so fucking done with this”, in a shaking voice, were Jecka’s final words.

After some time, Nicole knocks at Jecka’s door after interrupting the “feet section” she was having with her Dad:

— Jecka? Are you there? I was starting to think that what I did was maybe too much. I mean, you deserved it, you were like, a bitch not sharing your money maker career with me, but I can let it pass now that I fucked with your life–

As Nicole opens the door, she sees a terrifying sight. Her eyes widen. Jecka is lying down at her bed, in lingerie and jeans shorts. Lots of percs by her side. An entire bottle, spread against the mattress. And there lies her cold and stagnant body. There is a note by the bed. Still a bit in shock, Nicole grabs the note and reads it.

“Is this perspective?

Remember when you were like 12 and watching some shitty Law and Order rip off show?

There was always an episode where the cops interview a hooker from the scene of the crime, and she was like this bad neighborhood ornament, like, had no story beyond. 

‘Yeah, I was sucking dick and heard a gunshot.’

And then you barely think about her. 

You watch it like that's just supposed to be the stupid whore character. 

Like that's her thing. It doesn't even come into your mind. You just passively think, oh, I'll never be her. 

But then you grow up to be gorgeous. Get handouts for it. Your parents get divorced, your friends move away. You need drugs and money and money for drugs. 

And are these excuses or justifications? You tell me. I told myself I was a sex worker, not lazy, pathetic, desperate — a ‘sex worker’.

Sex worker felt a lot better than whore, but it didn't change the reality. 

Reality is, I was just another stupid whore. I was a dumb, stupid, fucking foot whore. So laugh all you want. Forget about me all you want. 

But at least I'll be gorgeous forever.”

— … Damn Jecka. You always know how to make me feel bad. At least you died pretty hot… As you wanted to, i guess.

She walks around for a few seconds. Her hands feel her pulsation — none. Then, she looks around.

— Where did you put your cigarettes? I really need one right now.

Nicole roams throughout the room a bit more, finding some cigarettes on her bedside table, with some adderall.

— Yeah, I’ll be taking that. I mean, I told you I wanted to kill myself first, but nooo, you had to take that from me…

Nicole lights up a cigarette, gulps down an adderall and walks out of the room after walking around for some good minutes. 

She goes to the dad’s room.

— Hey, I still have some good 5 minutes with you here! — he yells.

Nicole puffs some smoke.

— Rules changed. Your daughter killed herself.

— W—What? That bitch—

Staring at the smoke, Nicole reflects on her words. Jecka was really dead. Her only friend is lying down, coldly, all because she couldn’t let it slide.

— … Crap… — for the first time in a long while, guilt can be felt on her expression.

Without even hearing his words, she just leaves the house. No goodbyes, nothing. She would be back at the funeral though. 

.

.

.

.

Two weeks later, at school, she finds herself roaming through the halls, until she is stopped by Emily.

— Don’t you have any classes right now? I’m pretty sure you skipped enough to actually repeat a year…

— Since when have you talked to me in free and spontaneous will?

— It is not like you have anyone after– Emily interrupts herself — I mean…

— … — Nicole sighs —Talking about Jecka’s suicide is not a taboo, cunt. 

— I see you are coping really well with it… — the blonde answers sarcastically.

— Well, she was your biggest client, are you not affected at all?

— She payed me $5 a week for adderall, if that’s is my biggest client I would rather be raped by the homeless guy down the road.

— I just don’t care about classes anymore. Jecka was the only thing that tied me to this place. The only thing bearable. — she stops herself for some seconds — And, fuck, she is gone. She is gone because I did what I do best. Being a shit friend.

Nicole stops again, but returns:

— You know what? I hate you. I hate everyone who goes here. Every man is a fucking pedophile and every girl is just unbearable to talk to. And she used to buy most of my drugs, so I am out of it too.

— Bitch, I literally sell drugs. Just buy from me.

— I do not fucking care! — she yells — Jecka ’s dead because of me and I killed the only thing that kept me sane in this stupid place. I’m killing myself, goodbye. — she walks away, ignoring everything around her.

— Damn, I lost that client too… I’m going to see if Kelly is interested in some adderall. — Emily turns her back and goes in the opposite direction.

Nicole walked through the hall, aiming for the exit, when she was interrupted by the mentioned, Kelly, who was going to class.

— Aren’t you supposed to be in photography right now?

— Yeah, change of plans, I’m killing myself now.

— Oh, cool. Is this because of Jecka?

— I have no fucking idea, my dad killed himself! I have a lot of excuses!

— She was nice, and hot. I miss her.

— … I miss her too. — Nicole sighs in clear honesty.

— Sorry for asking, but how did she die?

— Oh, I— Uh— I— Was… Uh… Engaging with her dad?

— DID YOU FUCK HER DAD????

— No, but somehow this is better than that I did

— …You are really fucked up… — Kelly says, almost in pity.

— Tell me something new. — and then, she walks out. Nicole walks out of the school, without looking.

And then, she stops in the middle of the street, noticing lights.

[theveganearper]

Wayhaught AU Fics

I LOVE Wayhaught AU fics. Don’t get me wrong, there’s something great about fics that involve canon. I enjoy the variations of Nicole as a cop fics, fics with revenants, that involve the curse in some way, etc. But there’s something about a good ol’ random AU fic that does my soul good. It’s probably because you can picture these 2 characters in such a vast amount of roles.

You can put them in high school, college, coffee shops, libraries, museums, gyms, office cubicles, you name it and it’s just good! I feel like it’s because when people write canon fics that they try to stay true to the source material as far as the lines put into the story or just following canon and filling it in. We know what happens, right? We watched the show.

So to be surprised with some random outta nowhere AU that we didn’t ask for but needed is just so nice sometimes. It’s so good. Any time I think I’ve read all there is to read, a random little fic named, ‘Double Cross’ pops up on my Twitter feed. The possibilities truly are endless which makes AU’s both fun to write and read.

What’s your favorite Wayhaught AU that you’ve read before? Lemme know!

[falle-ness]

FAVORITE FIRST WATCHES OF SEPTEMBER

picking up the cordial invite of anyone to do the game by @anyataylorjoys

I tag @thetudorslovers @streatfeild @randomprivateer @ainvege @zizzlekwum @katarinas-redemption @trishvaylar and anyone who wants to

I'm very chaotic when it comes to watching movies - I never know if I'm gonna end up rewatching a movie I've watched 20+ years ago (because I don't remember any of it), watching exclusively someone's filmography, or just pick a random movie.

It's been mostly Jackmantember XD

Paperback Hero (1999) – it's what I'd call a classic romcom. Just look at the premise:a local truck driver secretly pens successful romance novels using his best female friend's name who's a badass pilot. Things got complicated when a publisher gets into his small town in the middle of nowhere with an offer... It's perfect for an evening watch. Light, funny, hilarious, and comforting.

Reminiscence (2021) – a post apocalyptic sci-fi-ish neonoir with a twist. Reviews are mixed, but I'd recommend you watch it yourself. I liked it, and it hit just the right spot at that time, and honestly, made me cry. If you liked the Black Mirror episode about erasing/rewatching memories, you'll probably like this movie, too. Definitely not the kind of a movie to watch if you want to turn your brain off for the evening—there's too much stuff going on, but the pacing is really slow, almost dragging... But, again, I needed something like that.

Swordfish (2001) – wild 00s thriller I can't believe I've never watched before lol. Hot men, hot women (bisexual disaster alert), covert ops, tons of money, spies, hackers, shadow/puppet governments, conspiracies and whatnot... Gimme all, gimme moar. I don't care if some say Hugh Jackman wasn't believable here as a hacker. I actually like his version of a hacker more rather than a glassed-geeky stereotype that keeps popping up everywhere. And yeah, for those who care, it's 00s, so beware of 18+ and dubious consent and whatnot.

Prisoners (2013) – I know the director D. Villeneuve because of Sicario movies, and I can't believe I've never bothered to watch this. Villeneuve's movies are something between a chokehold and smothering. So I knew what I was getting into, but this was before Sicario, so I was curious to see where he started. This is not an easy watch. It starts off a beaten premise—there's two small girls missing, there's a cop who tries to do a right thing, and there's a father who thinks that trying is not good enough. From this point forward, the movie peels off the layers of the seemingly 'decent' neighborhood and its folks. It's a very unsettling movie, with a raw, gut-crushing performance from Hugh Jackman.

The Interpreter (2005) - yay, not a Jackman movie. This is a solid typical for 00s with its style and pace thriller about an interpreter for the UN who hears something she isn't supposed to (something on a very rare African dialect she knows) and becomes a target. Nicole Kidman as an interpreter and Sean Penn as the FBI agent tasked to protect her have quite interesting dynamic.

Australia (2008) - You either like Baz Luhrmann style or you hate it. I'm not his fan, but this epic saga about an Englishwoman who inherits a ranch in northern Australia was a revelation. Jackman here is a drover—the guy who droves cattle, horses, etc., to another location for a small commission. There are too many themes raised—racism, colonialism, the WWII, and the greed and betrayal. And how to stay human where everyone seems to have lost humanity. It's not easy to watch because the pacing is quite slow, and it's almost 3h, I think? But it'll leave its mark, trust me.

[girl4music]

WYNONNA: “Out already? Didn't even have time to send flowers.”

BUNNY LOBLAW: “It was just a fancy faint.”

WYNONNA: “Yeah, the cat made a bed in your ass crack.”

BUNNY LOBLAW: “The doctor said I'm fine. I'm as healthy as an ox.”

WYNONNA: “With the cankles to match.”

BUNNY LOBLAW: “Listen. I am just here to tell Officer Haught that despite the day's events, she will not be getting my support.”

WYNONNA: “She saved your life, you incorrigible bitch.”

BUNNY LOBLAW: “Perhaps. But she does not belong here in Purgatory. She is not our... people.”

WYNONNA: “Are you a xenophobe or a homophobe?”

BUNNY LOBLAW: “Why pick just one?”

WYNONNA: “Even though it was against her best interest, Nicole did the right thing. She always does the right thing, no matter what. That's the kind of person who should be Sheriff.”

BUNNY LOBLAW: “I'll keep that in mind.”

WYNONNA: “No. Bunny... shouldn't we talk about what really happened today? What's really got your pearls all twisted?”

BUNNY LOBLAW: “I don't know what you're talking about.”

WYNONNA: “What you saw. Because you saw something, didn't you, Bun Bun?”

BUNNY LOBLAW: “It was just a dream, a terrible dream. Like the one where I'm on the cruise ship with all the shirtless... Portuguese sailors.”

WYNONNA: “Okay, there's a lot to unpack there. But no... you weren't dreaming. See, you think you want to know the things Nedley's been keeping secret. You don't. That monster you saw today, it's just... the tip of the iceberg.”

BUNNY LOBLAW: “Iceberg?”

WYNONNA: “If you don't back Nicole for Sheriff, I am sending that monster and all of his demon friends... to your house.”

BUNNY LOBLAW: “You can't and you won't.”

WYNONNA: “Oh, bless your cold, withered heart. You think you could handle another "fancy faint"? Then Nicole Haught's gonna be the next Sheriff. Okay? Have a lovely day.”

BUNNY LOBLAW: “I need to get to church.”

WYNONNA: “You gotta book yourself that cruise.

*she turns around to see Nicole stood at the doorway*

How long have you been listening?”

NICOLE: “It would've been rude to interrupt.”

WYNONNA: “Naughty Haughty.”

NICOLE: “How's your head? Because... I feel like I can hear space and time. Hair of the dog?”

*opens two bottles of alcohol, hands one to Wynonna*

WYNONNA: “Officer Haught. At work?”

NICOLE: “Well, some rules are made to be broken.”

WYNONNA: “Huh. Maybe you would be a good wife.”

NICOLE: “Ah, thank you. But you're not my type. You cheat at drinking games.

*they laugh and Nicole holds out her bottle*

Truce?”

WYNONNA: “More than a truce. A win.

*they clink bottles*

You know, I used to think you were an outsider too. And that things would get too demony and you would... go and leave my sister with a broken heart.”

NICOLE: “Wynonna, I love her.”

WYNONNA: “Ew.

*smiles*

Also, you better.”

NICOLE: “And I love you, too. I mean, I know it's terribly unfair and sometimes I really get... jealous, because you get to be...”

WYNONNA: “Get to be what?”

NICOLE: “You.”

WYNONNA: “You know, you're staked to this land, same as me. You never had a choice.”

NICOLE: “What do you mean?”

WYNONNA: “It wasn't Black Badge who saved you from the Cult of Bulshar massacre, Nicole. It was an idealistic local cop.”

*pulls out a photograph of a younger Sheriff Nedley with his arm around a young girl - Nicole as a child*

I’ve said it before. While I really do not like that they had to blackmail Bunny to back Nicole for Sheriff when Bunny shouldn’t even be a part of what they do because she’s a discriminative asshole, I understand that it’s in character for Wynonna to do that for someone she cares about and will defend. So the sentiment of the latter outweighs the former. She could have just let Bunny make the remarks she did and sent her on her way, letting her believe whatever she wanted. But no, she layed into her because she knew that Nicole deserves to be Sheriff next election. And the fact Nicole was stood there watching the whole exchange and never made a move to intervene shows how much she appreciates the support from Wynonna even if that support was a threat towards Bunny and could land them in even more trouble.

It matters. It’s not something I would think of to do myself, but it matters because it’s Wynonna and Wynonna always does the crazy thing for love. Nicole understands that and knows this is just Wynonna’s way of helping her. So she doesn’t stop her and instead just lets her potentially create more chaos.

They’ll cross that bridge when they come to it.

If it comes to it.

Then there’s the other part to this conversation where they sit and drink and relate to each other, and Wynonna reveals that while she is cursed to stay in Purgatory to fight Wyatt’s revenant demons, Nicole also had no real choice about who she would end up becoming in Purgatory either. Meaning it’s not just because she’s dating Waverly why she’s in the show. And I really love that they included that because it simultaneously gives Nicole purpose as her own character within her own individual arc and gives her representation and development beyond just being a love interest but also tells us that she always was - is - meant to be with Waverly and as part of the team because she has ties to the supernatural life too that she can’t just leave behind because she’s “abnormal”.

Combined with the former scene and conversation - this is the creator and cast/crew basically telling us that being “abnormal” or an “outsider” isn’t something we ever choose to be. It chooses us. The only thing we choose is to accept and embrace it…

Or not.

Maybe it’s just me reading into the narratives and themes a bit more than I should with this episode but I think it’s clever that the writers combined a narrative about being unlucky and having to work through the hardships of that with someone else we don’t always have common ground with and a narrative about acceptance and support from that someone when we’re being discriminated against for being too “different” to belong in a place we had no real choice to be part of the social community of in the first place.

We get the hand that we are dealt and we deal with it because that’s the only thing we really can do to survive somewhere non-inclusive. And if we happen to find people within that social community that are just as much of an “outsider” as we are even if they were born and bred in it then we are lucky and we are worthy and we do deserve to be treated with respect no matter how “not our people” we are perceived as.

And this is how I interpret this episode and these couple of scenes. It might not be the intention. I could be entirely wrong about what the writer intends it to represent. But I’ve never been one for canon anyway.

I’ve always made up my own lore and narrative when watching TV art/entertainment and I really miss show creators that accepted and encouraged this and gave you enough room to interpret any of it any which way you want and choose so that it could be so much more meaningful to you each time you engaged with it. I didn’t think TV shows like this existed anymore. But I’ve been pleasantly and gratefully surprised with ‘Wynonna Earp’ and other stuff I’ve recently watched.

I hope that streak continues when I watch Arcane. Shows that put the storytelling first have my heart even if I might be entirely wrong what story that is. It doesn’t really matter because I don’t deal in canon. I never have and I never will. That’s how I watch shows.

Art is and should be in the eye of the beholder always.

[01turnkill]

2024 Media Post Time - Master

15. Class of '09

Class of '09 So for reasons I think should be too obvious I kinda thought Kylar was hot as fuuuck. Yeah it's probably because he's a rapey white racist homophobic fratboy type who I would want to get shafted but you know how it is with me... If he's too nice I need him gone, if he's too horrible I need him gone. Fuck him up. Good thing he gets his legs ruined twice (the roof and the meds mixing) and or dies, and you know how I feel about guys I like dying. Not a big deal but persistent thought in the back of my head the whole time...

So a couple of friends talked about this game and I was hand sewing gloves and doing whatever so I had some time to watch it and also since it's fully voiced I could put it on in the background and pay attention entirely. I would have considered playing it but my computer is still broke and I hate my phone.

It's about Nicole, after a messed up upbringing moving to a new school, gets immersed in drug addiction, needing to never be sober, teen life and interacting with some of the worst people in the vicinity. It's described as an anti-dating sim since Nicole brings her negative manipulative energy into every relationship she's in. Like the unappetising flavour of a cantaloupe...

Teenage girls walking a tightrope over a pool of hungry pedophile sharks and white boys. Amazing voice performance from all the characters. The men sound stupid, the girls talk like junkies in a teen drama show and very realistic too, and the teachers and half of the guys talk like anime or South Park characters.

Another story to me where the women are very humanised and the men are like objects from top to bottom. I was even surprised there were so many different male tropes to choose from.

The story with Emily is very beautiful and makes a lot more sense than some of the others. Emily gets attached to Nicole, goes off her meds and her unregulated self proves to be more dangerous than Nicole wants to take seriously. I think this route is a situation where Nicole is less of the aggressor. Emily gets unhealthy attached to Nicole to the point where she's violent at every chance and at the end thinks they only have one choice left and it's dying together.

Another favourite was Nicole seducing Hunter to get revenge on Megan and I guess I like that one because it was kinda hot in ways 'steal your man' story. She gets Hunter to write stuff on his body and send photos of his dick and whatever. But he's also a Christian and I guess has no sense of mind about this kind of stuff. Proves Nicole quite the schemer and then she sends everyone his nudes and Megan finds out and it ruins her life and her relationships with men for the future.

The art style makes me laugh. It's so anime that it feels satirical and I guess it's meant to? I used to love these satirical VNs years ago, Kusoge and a few others. Never got enough of them so I have some nostalgia for this presentation. Women with the dewdrop eyes and wrists thinner than a piece of paper and then there's all the geezers.

There's the original game, simply Class of '09 and then Class of '09: The Re-Up and I watched both. Original is her first year in this new school and Re-Up is the second but they're quite different. The first seems really edgy for sure. School shooter, lots of suicide, racist cult, Mein Kampf mentioned etc. Re-Up gets edgy with Nicole being shot by a cop, her mom dying after they abuse her last pill, and burning down a gay girl's house. I guess it's pretty comparable but a lot of the endings felt more artful and made more sense. Less outlandish than the first game. . Nicole is also a little less cruel in the original. In Re-Up she really comes into her own, is a lot more divisive and shit stirring like I think a lot of her drama and predicaments are self made as opposed to being something she walked into. I think her voice performance is also more fierce and impressive in Re-Up.

These days the edgy stuff doesn't matter to me but I thought some of it was funny like all of the pedo teacher's dialogue and line delivery. Also laughed so hard at Kylar being hospitalised and the EMT looking for his big gulp jug and the dialogue in general is funny I was always laughing. The situational comedy is a little less frequent in impressing me but in Re-Up I think it's a lot better. Karen skeeting scene, at the sex addict rehab, all of that.

I think it's pretty good and really well written but I dare not call it peak or life changing or anything like that but it has given me some stuff to think about especially for writing a more realistically based story (even though it's clearly exaggerated) there are some truths to be seen. I guess you can tell the writer clearly loves South Park.

[merrychristmasfaith]

TV Shows Watchlist

TV Shows:

Tom Jones

(Adaptation of the classic novel by Henry Fielding.)

Downton Abbey

(Maggie Smith, Hugh Bonneville & Elizabeth McGovern star in Julian Fellowes’ hit series, a glittering period drama following the lives of the aristocratic Crawley family.)

Lost

(After Oceanic Airlines Flight 815 crashes down, the survivors are on what seems to be a deserted tropical island. Their survival is threatened by a number of mysterious entities, including polar bears, an unseen creature that roams the jungle, and the island's malevolent inhabitants.)

The Forsyte Saga

(Damian Lewis & Gina McKee lead this sexy & powerful period drama about three generations of the upwardly mobile Forsyte family at the turn of the 20th century. Based on the novels.)

Death Comes to Pemberley

(Adaptation of PD James's bestselling homage to Pride and Prejudice. Elizabeth and Darcy, now six years married, are preparing for their annual ball when festivities are brought to an abrupt halt.)

The Lost Flowers

(After losing her parents to a mysterious fire, nine-year-old Alice Hart is raised by her grandmother June on a flower farm where she learns there are secrets within secrets. But years on, an unearthed betrayal sees Alice forced to face her past.)

The Miniaturist

(THE MINIATURIST, the debut novel by Jessie Burton, has become a publishing phenomenon. Selling in over 35 countries, it stormed to the top of the bestseller lists in both hardback and paperback. Winner of the New Writer of the Year, overall Book of the Year in the National Book Awards and Waterstones Book of the Year, it has now reached an audience of almost a million readers.)

Little Dorrit

(Andrew Davies's adaptation of the classic Charles Dickens tale of hardship and struggle in 1820s London. The Dorrit family has spent years in a debtors' prison due to the financial mess in which father William (Tom Courtenay) managed to land himself as a youth.)

The Tenant of Wildfell Hall

(Powerful, haunting and disturbing, Anne Bronte's classic story is as unforgettable as those of her more famous sisters. In a remote village on the Yorkshire moors, a beautiful widow and her son move into the near-derelict Wildfell Hall. Befriended by a handsome young farmer, she remains mysteriously silent about her past and why she is afraid - until she becomes the focus of village gossip.)

Black Work (i'm not sure this has the best reviews but i think Sheridan Smith is a really good actress so thought i'd try it? it's a murder mystery)

(Sheridan Smith is a grieving cop in this fast-moving police thriller. When there are unanswered questions around the death of her husband, can PC Gillespie hold it together?)

The Suspect (again idk how good the reviews are but i love Aidan Turner lol)

(Tense thriller starring Aidan Turner as a psychologist with a secret. Does his glowing career, media profile & family mask a different story? Five-part series airing now.)

Truly Madly Deeply (idk why this is listed under TV shows i'm 99% sure it's a movie)

(A love story and a quirky ghost story starring Juliet Stevenson and Alan Rickman.)

Cilla

(Sheridan Smith stars as the hit singer in this lively biopic. Chart "our Cilla's" rapid ascent, from hanging out with the Beatles in Liverpool, to new-found stage stardom.)

Big Little Lies

(Based on Liane Moriarty's bestseller, this subversive, darkly comedic drama series tells the tale of three mothers of first-graders whose seemingly perfect lives unravel to the point of murder. Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman and Shailene Woodley star.)

Pretty Little Liars

(Set one year after the disappearance of Alison, the manipulative queen bee, the one-hour drama revolves around four 16-year-old girlfriends — Aria, Spencer, Hanna and Emily — who each receive taunting messages suggesting Alison is watching them. Linked by their former bond and the panic and confusion the messages cause, the estranged friends are reunited, though each girl has her own secrets.)

Leonardo

(A compelling look at one of the most restlessly brilliant men of all time, Leonardo gets inside the mind of the genius, showing the drama behind his art and exploring a tantalizing murder-mystery.)

Desperate Romantics

(All six episodes of the BBC period drama series depicting the turbulent lives of four young artists in mid-19th century London: William Holman Hunt (Rafe Spall), John Millais (Samuel Barnett), Dante Gabriel Rossetti (Aidan Turner) and Fred Walters (Sam Crane).)

Sharp Objects

(Based on the bestselling novel by Gillian Flynn ("Gone Girl") and directed by Jean-Marc Vallee ("Big Little Lies"), this limited series stars Amy Adams as a journalist who returns to her hometown to cover the apparent murders of two preteen girls.)

Howards End

(The Schlegel sisters are two independent and unconventional sisters seeking love and meaning as they navigate an ever-changing world.)

Gentleman Jack

(Sally Wainwright adapts the extraordinary life of Yorkshire landowner Anne Lister.)

The Undoing

(In this HBO limited series based on the book You Should Have Known by Jean Hanff Korelitz, a successful therapist, wife and mother tries to survive in the wake of a spreading and very public disaster.)

Thirteen

(Tense psychological drama about a woman freed from a cellar after 13 years in captivity.)

Sanditon

(First-class fictional retelling of an unfinished novel by Jane Austen. A spirited young woman moves to a sleepy seaside town, and it's not what she expected.)

Tipping the Velvet

(Nan journeys from a simple provincial life by the sea to the margins of society in 1890s London, where she finds she is a wanted, and wanton, woman… When Nan, a young innocent oyster-girl from Whitstable, goes to a music hall for the first time, she embarks on the journey of her life.)

War and Peace

(Leo Tolstoy's epic story of life, love and loss in nineteenth-century Russia.)

Vanity Fair

(A period drama series adapted from William Makepeace Thackeray's classic novel. Olivia Cooke is heroine Becky Sharp, who attempts to claw her way out of poverty and scale the heights of English society; against the backdrop of the Napoleonic Wars.)

Bridgerton

(As a new crop of debutantes yearns to become brightest of the ball, a wallflower with a double life finds her light amid secrets and surprises. )

Miss Julie

(Daughter of the manor Julie breaks off her engagement only to fall for one of her staff. A romance that begins innocently ends in a tragedy.)

My Lady Jane

(Are you ready for an epic tale of true love, high adventure, regicidal maniacs, deadpan heroism, devious intrigues, swashbuckling swordfights, a soupçon of magical realism and oodles of yearning, banter and undeniable chemistry? Of course you are. Welcome to My Lady Jane.)

The Woman in White

(When Walter Hartright, a young drawing master, encounters a spectral woman dressed all in white on a moonlit road on Hampstead Heath, he is drawn into a web of intrigue that will transform his life forever.)

Deceit

(Niamh Algar shines in this gripping true crime drama about a controversial honeytrap. In 90s London, a mother's murder sparks a police investigation that spins out of control.)

The Fall

(Gillian Anderson stars in this dark & twisty thriller about a London police officer who is sent to Northern Ireland to review an unsolved murder case. When Stella Gibson arrives, she realises that this case might only just be getting started.)

Kidnapped: The Chloe Ayling Story

(The victim no-one believed. Held captive on a modelling job in Milan, Chloe's nightmare didn't end with her release - the media frenzy was just beginning.)

Deadwater Fell

(When a devastating house fire rocks a close-knit community - was it a tragic accident or something more sinister?)

Paranoid

(The sleepy town of Woodmere is devastated when a local doctor is murdered in a children's playground in broad daylight.)

Midsomer Murders

(World-renowned murder mystery series set in the idyllic Midsomer county. Inspector Barnaby and his young sergeant probe an alarming number of suspicious deaths in the community.)

Killing Eve

(Being recruited by an intelligence agency puts Eve in the direct path of Villanelle, an assassin. Though the mission is to kill her, the two women find themselves strangely drawn to each other.)

[raesnovelsblog]

Synopsis from IMDB:

Two witch sisters, raised by their eccentric aunts in a small town, face closed-minded prejudice and a curse which threatens to prevent them ever finding lasting love.

My synopsis: 

Sisters have to evade the police after killing an abusive man with the help of their aunts, the mom’s that shunned them, and magic.

My review

I adore this movie. I haven’t watched it in awhile and there were parts I either completely forgot about or didn’t get upon initial viewing. All the actresses brought their A game. I especially loved seeing Margot Martindale. She makes everything better. It’s one of those movies that barely passes the Bechdel test, but is still a strong female centric movie. 

Rating : 9/10

Haven’t watched this movie in a long time.

Love the nod to witches just being misunderstood ladies that knew how to have a good time.

Ah the look of fear on their faces, warms my heart. What did they think would happen when they messed with a witch?

The little versions of them are adorable.

I remembered they lived with their aunts, but I forgot it was because their mother died too.

That poor little bird. It didn’t do anything.

Young Nicole Kidman looks like fun.

Why do they always cut their hands like that? That has to hurt and feels like it would take a long time to heal.

Faith Hill! I loved this song.

I’m obsessed with Sandra’s outfit. Minus the rain boots.

So is the family line also cursed with twins and/or only having girls? Because that wasn’t mentioned.

Digging this soundtrack.

I don’t see what Gilly sees in that guy. 

Her pleases are breaking my heart.

Oh my god, that’s little Evan Rachel Woods.

If you have to drug your boyfriend to go see your sister, that’s probably not a healthy relationship.

See Sally picked up on it too.

Margo Martindale! I love her.

“The nudity is completely optional, as you well remember.” Ha.

He really is a bad guy.

Jilly came up with the plan. Of course it failed.

The man held a gun to your head and that’s the best slap you could give him?

“My wife.” Damn, that movie ruined that phrase.

Digging a grave in the rain has to make it extra difficult.

Midnight margaritas sound like an awesome tradition.

I used to think it was just because they were drunk that they said all of that, but now I get that it was the dead guys' influence.

The aunts singing that song is beyond creepy.

Someone left the bottle on the porch and you drank from it? The townies hate you. I’d be afraid one of them left it with something inside.

Has no one noticed how fast the rose bush is growing?

Poor little girl. I’d be traumatized if I saw a man that no one else could see. Witch or no witch.

Her not being able to lie to him is adorable and awkward.

He murdered another woman? I didn’t remember that part at all.

The townsfolk are truly awful.

If that boy has chickenpox, should he be around the other children? 

Her and the cop have good chemistry.

He went from interrogating to making out really quickly.

The cop has seen a few magic related things, but seeing a ghost rise out of a woman is hard to brush off as something else.

He’s having a hard time adjusting, but he didn’t hesitate with the badge and I give him props for that.

“I wished for you too.” I actually awwed.

I love her using the phone tree.

I love the look of awe in the daughters’ eyes when she lit the candle with magic.

Margo looking around trying to figure out the words - priceless.

Gilly hitting that invisible wall was a good effect.

The power of women. 

So she’s not afraid that he’s only there because of magic anymore?

I want her dress.

When the town thought they were witches, they were scared of them. Now that they know they are witches, everyone’s cool?

I love that the littlest one jumped up into the cops arms. At least you won’t have to worry about the kids not liking the new guy.

[kwamiwayzz]

Aurawra21 had this on her Twitter about Nicole and Jecka hating new and old things

and I just thought about some convoluted-ass mess they would get into because they’d refuse to pay for any streaming subscriptions (this would take place in the 2020s). All their other friends, especially Ari and Kelly would tell them to just pay for Netflix because they’d be able to watch any shows/movies they’d be into, but Nicole would just say fuck that and Jecka thinks it’s a waste of money anyway because she knows those things pull all the good stuff off their platform after a few months or so.

Nicole and Jecka probably wouldn’t even go look for “vintage” movies/shows because that stuff would be inflated on eBay. The last time Jecka looked for an original box set of Smallville, she saw it was up to $200 (I actually don’t know what it would go for now lmao) and thought, fuck that. So, then Nicole starts pirating everything online and saves it on a hard drive for her and Jecka to watch. Emily is one of their few friends that agrees that subscriptions are worthless and helps Nicole pirate everything.

But then one day, the feds see an abnormal amount of TB being downloaded and saved at their address and they think it’s (that stuff that could REALLY get you in trouble). They break down their door, and Jecka isn’t home to witness all that go down because Nicole is the only person there and gets arrested. The only reason she willingly goes to jail instead of hiding out or manipulating the cops is because 1) pirating shit is what got her brother in trouble and she does NOT want that comparison; and 2) the accusations of downloading cp and be seen as a pedophile are enough to make her want to eat a bullet like her dad — so, she just takes the jail time.

Jecka ends up visiting her in prison from time to time, but still refuses to pay for a Netflix subscription to watch shows/movies. She also thinks paying for Spotify Premium is for losers.

[escapingrealtiylovinginsanity]

Rewind, Remix, & Replay 6x4

You can read the rest of the series here

This chapter took on a life of its own. But I like the way it led me. I hope you all do too. <3 On that note- nobody come for me.

Kim was slumped over the table peeling the label off the beer in front of her. Trudy watched her with concern. They had been going for a latte, but after sitting in a car and feeling the emotions roll off her, Trudy quickly decided they needed something stronger. They had ended up at a table at the back of Molly’s bar. “Did I just end my career in Intelligence?” Kim ran a hand down her face. “Voight was so furious. He threatened to bury me. And I don’t blame him. I can’t believe I did something stupid.”

Trudy caught Herrmann's gaze and gestured for another round. He nodded in acknowledgment as he eyed the younger cop who seemed to be in the midst of a downward spiral. “He will get over it- he knows you are a good cop. But even good cops make mistakes. Voight understands that he just needs time to cool off.”

“I knew the detective exam was coming up and Brennan was giving me all this praise. And I just… I just wanted my work life to be good. Something to be proud of. My personal life is…” Kim pressed her lips together trying to gather herself as she blinked back the tears that sprung to her eyes. “Well to be completely honest it’s been a complete shit show.”

Trudy watched as Kim ran a frustrated hand through her hair tugging at her locks and she felt her worry grow. “Nicole has been on a spiral since her rape. She was really struggling at the beginning but at least she was trying. She’s flatlined now- totally given up. Won’t leave her house. I helped as much as I can-I'm still trying to help… You know she won’t even answer my phone calls anymore? But Zoey? She calls me almost every day. She’s been staying with her dad more. She says that it’s been okay. I wish I believed her."

Herrmann sets down a Sour Cherry Gin in front of Trudy and a Long Island in front of Kim. Kim looked up at him, she hadn’t ordered another drink. Herrmann put a comforting hand on her shoulder. “Looked like the two of you could use something a little bit stronger. Rough day on the job?” Kim twirled her straw around her cup and then took a long pull. Herrmann took notice and immediately changed the subject to something safer. Something he was hoping would bring a smile to her face. “So, I heard you and Halstead are shacking up.”

It had the desired effect; Kim couldn’t help the smile pulling at her lips. It made Herrmann breathe easier knowing she had a strong man to help support her through whatever she was going through. “Yeah, been together for a while now.”

“I’m happy for you guys. Jay is a good man. He will treat you right- and if he doesn’t just let me know and I’ll take care of it for you, alright sweetheart.”

“Thanks, Herrman,” Kim gave him an appreciative smile. Herrmann might not have known about Kim’s lack of a father figure but when Molly’s opened and became the go-to place for the blue bloods he unconsciously started to fill that void. Not by overcompensating something she had lost but just through the consistency of being there, listening, and caring. Kim thought about the missed calls on her phone. Calling her dad was a mistake- she wasn’t ready to talk to him or deal with their issues yet. Especially not when life was like this.

The older man sighed wistfully, “It’s a shame about his old man. Losing a father that young.” He shakes his head, “Is he holding up, okay?” Kim pressed her lips together before she took another long pull of her drink to give her time to figure out how to answer. Jay was pushing through but he has not been as unaffected by his father’s death as he wanted people to believe. He went through phases of being distant and withdrawn to irritable and angry. Will issues with the FBI and his CI status had also contributed to Jay being on edge lately.

“He is working through it.” Kim offered vaguely not wanting to say something Jay wasn’t comfortable with.

“I’d say,” Trudy pulled a cherry of the stick that had come with her drink. “He laid Ruzek out today.” Kim sighed downing more of her drink as Herrmann whistled sharp and low. “Left him with quite a shiner.”

“I’ve seen Halstead fighting with a perp at a scene. He is not someone I would want to go toe to toe with. He has a mean swing.” Chris looked between Kim and Trudy, “Alright if you’re going to make me ask- I will. Halstead has good control over his temper-What did Ruzek do to deserve his wrath.” Kim shook her head rolling her eyes and taking another strong pull of her drink.

“Adam needs to learn not everyone wants to hear his commentary.” Kim had been trying to warn Adam to back off with his “jokes” for days. Jay's patience was already running thin because of his nearly consistent fighting with his brother. She was honestly surprised Jay had put up with them for as long as he did. Kim didn’t catch the comment he made but she could still hear the distinct thwack of Jay’s fist hitting Adam’s face.

“Ah,” Herrmann felt the pieces click into place. Kim had been engaged to Ruzek so there was history there. Add the fact that Adam tended to put his foot in his mouth and push on things he should let go of and Jay’s need to protect those he cared about- It painted a pretty clear picture of what had probably gone down there. Herrmann’s name was called and he nodded his head to them, “Well you ladies let me know if you need anything else.” He patted Kim on the arm before heading back to the bar.

They finished their drinks but didn’t linger at the bar for much longer. Kim had calmed from the alcohol but exhaustion was written on her face. Trudy knew the girl needed a good night's sleep, some time to process what had happened, and support. Kim didn’t notice that she had been driving her to Jay's apartment instead of hers until she was parking in front of the building. “Try to get some sleep. I’ll see you tomorrow, Burgess.”

Kim only hesitates for a moment before letting herself in the apartment. Her eyes find Jay on the couch. He has showered recently and has his sweatpants and a black T-shirt on. Kim thinks for a moment about talking to Jay about the ride along, Kendra being there and her lying about it to the board, her hiding that she knew Kendra had seen the shooter, and Voight's threats to bury her. The thought exhausted her even while his passionate words from months before about always having her back echoed in her head. How would Jay view her if he knew the truth?

He looks up his blue gaze catching hers. Jay shifts on the couch. Kim’s dark eyes were half-lidded with alcohol consumption. Kim had been upset since he took a swing at Ruzek. Jay had taken his stupid little comments in stride for the last two weeks but he had hit his limit and then some. Ruzek needed to learn when to shut up. Now Kim was pissed at him. He flexed his fingers. The knuckles of his right hand were bruised and slightly swollen. It caught Kim’s gaze as she headed for the kitchen. “I’m not going to apologize to Ruzek, he had coming it today. He has for a while. He needs to learn when to keep his opinions to himself and his mouth shut.”

“Okay,” Kim’s agreement was monotone as she stopped in front of him putting the ice pack she had grabbed from the fridge on his battered knuckles. All Kim wanted was the reprieve of his soft mattress and sleep. “I’m going to go to bed.”

“I shouldn’t have brought it into work.” It was as close to an apology as he was willing to give at the moment. Kim paused in the hallway turning to look back at her boyfriend. “Things should be settled now though.” Jay wanted to talk things out with her. But he felt a glimmer of insecurity in her being so upset about him. Did she still harbor some feelings for Ruzek?

“I’m glad you boys finally got it out of your system.”

[noeljpenaflor]

Watching THE OTHERS

An excellent ghost story with a twist you should see coming but don't...

As you see from the date, I saw this the day after 9/11 to in an empty theater besides myself. It made the movie much scarier to me.

Nicole Kidman's brittle performance is heartbreaking at times, considering the arc of her character.

There are a few dead spots, but it's easy to forgive them.

Over the years, the story still resonates so you're not just watching it simply for the twist, even if it is a good one. Too bad one of the movie's best scares got ruined in the trailer.

6 Horror Movies That Would Make Karen Call the Cops or Ask to Speak With the Manager (LINK below)

Click Here For An Otherworldly LINK!

[watching-pictures-move]

Movie Review | Copkiller (Faenza, 1983)

So you have Harvey Keitel as a police detective who co-owns a secret apartment with another cop, who has a violent streak, who views weakness with contempt, who covertly keeps a coloured bandana underneath his ankle holster, and who has some tension with the other cop's girlfriend, perhaps out of some kind of sexual jealousy. And you have Johnny Rotten, or I guess we can use his real name, John Lydon, who has some kind of probably sexual fascination with Keitel ("Something gentle about him, something almost maternal, despite his tough guy act"), who is interested in sadomasochism, judging by the pinups he keeps in his apartment, who is maybe running around killing other cops while dressed like a perverted postman. Lydon inserts himself into Keitel's life by surprising him at his apartment, nonconsensually involving Keitel in his kink (although I guess he may have done that too to all the cops he might have killed), and with his masochism and Keitel's sadism, they fall into an extended torture-themed domestic relationship, that's maybe complicated by the presence of that pesky other cop and girlfriend.

Which sounds like one kind of movie, and I guess it does work on that level, but it's directed with a certain distance that gives this a much weirder energy than you'd expect. A lot of the time characters are observed with shots framed wider than you'd expect, so they look smaller compared to their surroundings, letting us watch them like insects as they navigate their environments, the most obvious differences in dynamic being Keitel on the streets (some nice early '80s New York texture; I think I spotted Doctor Butcher, M.D. on a theatre marquee) and Keitel at the police station (at one point nursing a brutal hangover) versus Keitel at home. And Keitel especially seems to initially dial down his emotions, although I suppose by the time he's beating the hell out of Lydon they've been sufficiently unleashed. Which makes sense as they're kinda, sorta making each other complete. Or are they?

If you're wondering how Lydon fares as an actor, I'd say he does pretty well. He has a similar dialed down live wire energy as Keitel, albeit more (overtly) kinky and twinky, and holds his own against the veteran actor. Plus he has a ridiculous bohemian outfit (beret, coloured sunglasses, striped blazer) and later sports a slicked back look that places him in the same lineage as Mick Jagger in Performance. Plus there are good performances from Nicole Garcia and Sylvia Sidney, who are the real only sources of warmth in this movie.

Also, fun fact: this is also known as Order of Death, and Public Image Limited was at one point supposed to do the soundtrack, which is how the song of that name eventually came to be. But instead we have a pretty groovy score by the great Ennio Morricone full of beeping bass and other interesting sounds.