#not to be confused w/ the one where they're all actors and the story is a movie lol

[capricioussun]

Hello

I just got slammed by an idea inspired by a much older idea I'd actually had for a music video for an ok go song years and years ago

An undertale au where each different part of the underground is, essentially, a different genre of movie? Maybe the ruins could be indiana jones-esque action adventure, and then perhaps Snowdin could be "seasonal romcom". Waterfall...probably suspense? Maybe suspense drama... And then Hotland could possibly be like a spy thriller? With the true labs being psyche horror. Not sure what New Home would be, since really that's mostly just the Judgement Hall and Meeting Asgore... Maybe classic detective noir?

But there could also be fun little like...pockets, maybe? Like going into Grillby's, it's suddenly an old western, or MTT hotel could be a musical, yk?

I'm thinking mostly just aesthetic changes, though the characters might be a little different, just sort of leaned into whichever genre their area is. I need to sketch some of this so bad

[jvzebel-x]

🦋

[hexhomos]

Sorry, I'm asking here because asks aren't on your doomreed account, but do you have any fic recs for them ? You and vinnies art have intrigued me 😭 they both seem like such wet cats in different ways, and I love that

help i didnt know asks were off fixed that now thank you... I have two fics i keep in my back pocket as like, exemplary distillations of their whole thing (one in college vs one of their usual superhero stuff,) these are;

Supersymmetry and Night Blooms

Rly good examples of their usual shenanigans, the second one is directly based on a canon comic issue that *feels* like fanfic by a prolific yaoi author, the first is set in a modern-time re-imagining of the fantastic four where they meet in a supergenius internship thinktank for gifted youngsters. There's other fics that are good but i think they might be super confusing without canon context! which leads me to my second point. After you read these fics...

A lot, and i mean A LOT of official doomreed stuff feels straight up like fanfic. Either because its so beautifully woven or insane in concept (doctor doom points a gun at the real life Jack Kirby and Stan Lee to get himself written back into reed's life in his 3rd ever classic appearance, in the 60's, THAT'S the bodyswap issue)

or because the literal authors themselves come out to say 'they're soulmates' or 'they're in love' and Im talking abt this:

(^joseph culp, the first ever doom actor from 1994)

(^fantastic four (2019))

I've got even more stuff under the cut!! AND recs!!! CLICK! v v v

(^jonathan hickman, author of arguably the best FF saga & Secret Wars (2015)!!!)

(^Cantwell, author of the Doctor Doom comic!!)

These are excerpts from the canon fantastic four book, DOOMGATE:

There's even an RPG INSTRUCTION MODULE based on the idea of an earth where Reed & Victor partner up in college, Reed dies a tragic death (via their lab experiments) and Victor assumes such a traumatized widow role in his honor that he grows up to be a golden hero and protector of earth LOL (still a bit nuts):

This is not even to touch on the breadth of all their comic issues and little moments together. Victor canonically delivers Reed's second child and he chooses her name! Shes treated like his child too and calls him uncle doom!!

...Victor even asks Reed out on candlelit dinner dates for a yearly Latverian holiday!

In fact, that's the great starter doom/reed issue i keep recommending: read [ My Dinner With Doom right here. ]

If you enjoy that, check out my [ broader post guide for doomreed reading. ]

Still on the fence? try out these single comic issues:

Doctor Doom:

*Fantastic Four (1961) annual 2 (Classic origin of Doom issue) *Some call it MAGIC (the introduction of Doom's struggle w/ the devil for his mother's soul)

Doomreed:

*Marvel Two-in-One (2017) annual 1 *Marvel Two-in-One (2017) #11 (2nd fic i linked is based on this!!!!!!!!!) *'Duel Intentions' short story *Doom 2099 (2019) *Fantastic Four #700 special *Shame Itself (noncanon satire mini)

Anyway I've had a lot of fun reading these series generally and their big, year-spanning arcs are incredible. People hype up Secret Wars for a reason, Hickman's fantastic four builds up a really compelling doom/reed epic of cosmic divorce proportions. And its about love! And Forgiveness!

[tealisa]

feels like some marvel fans took the criticism of the franchise+fans reducing Black characters to serve white chara's stories/reducing/degrading them into sidekicks/"XYZ is a Good Bro"/"therapist-ing"/etc & completely didn't absorb the actual meaning of the critiques and just decided that doing that to Black personages is fine when they make it a part of an interracial ship (with a white person)

like the way Black folks' critiques of the portrayal of Sam Wilson (both in comics + live action + fanworks) just does not get soaked up at all by marvel stans and instead they argue over which white person to make him an accessory to (Steve or Bucky or even Sharon/Nat). All while ignoring the one Black woman in the cap franchise (Misty Knight) who Sam's actually connected to like that and instead put on the misogynoir and treat the one(1) BW like an inconvenience (both by fans and sometimes even official material that they quote/mine for evidence to back up their misogynoir)

the singular Black woman gets treated w/o a single thought in the quest to decide which white character gets to declare Sam the Black Best Friend and/or interracial ship material. And these fans don't put on those goggles so much that they don't realize that Sam in canon isn't attached to those white ppl like that on the contrary they often ignore the antagonism in canon to instead drown in fanon

the only exception rlly is Sam's earliest comics during that (very poorly aged) era of marvel where he was truly treated like nothing but a sidekick to a white man, but for fans to ignore all Black folks' critique over the years of the racist writing in those comics to instead view the same writing as "ship material" is so strange to me & it rlly shows how much interracial esp w white prsnjs repeat racist ideas

the type of content and "interpretations" they put out, you can tell that these fans don't listen/care what Black folks' sentiments are on these portrayals of Black prsnjs in Marvel. they didn't see how much flack 2011-2019 MCU got for their token Black sidekicks to white men (with T'Challa being the only exception, there's a reason why every1 treated him like the 1st Black hero)

no wonder back in 2021 I saw a lot of these same fans get mad/annoyed when Black writers/non-stan accounts in general critiqued the terrible racial politics of the tfatws show. back then these same fans that seem to view Sam as interracial ship material got upset at Black folks "bashing" "Sam's show" when they pointed out the respectability politics and assimilationist and imperialist apologist politics.

they didn't get why Black folks critiqued the portrayal of Isaiah Bradley as a "bitter" Black man whose suffering at the hands of America get waived away by putting a statue of him in the Captain America museum. they were too busy pretending like they got a whole show dedicated to an interracial ship (even tho there where no shippy moments in it), and then got confused when the actors and directors expressed distaste at the ship + when the ship got "broken" up by having the characters be antagonist (just like they were in the show and b4 fatws too)

so many fans don't actually pay attention to Sam's canon portrayal bc they're too busy being weird abt interracial ships that they don't even understand the politics of the portrayal and why they get critiqued

then again, fans of a franchise named Captain America having a poor understanding of politics at best is not surprising, esp when finding half-not-horrible politics in that franchise is like searching for water in the desert, but it's funny (in a bad way) seeing ppl unironically repeat "Cap represents the good version of the US" + be weird abt the Blk prsnjs + be misogynoiristic at the one(1) BW + get confused at IRL Blck folks' criticisms abt the concept of cap... like wow, the propaganda really did a number on these people

I feel like this is the time to tell you I really don't read that much Cap comics (at least not yet, I really plan on checking out Sam's appearances later); my knowledge of these characters come from their appearances in Avengers books and the Brubaker run post Civil War. That said, go off (and I feel like I know exactly which posts you're referring to; but I didn't know to what extent they were representative of this problem -- cause I'm not on that side of marvel fandom). And I do think this tendency to sideline black female characters comes from the rooted mysogynoir present in today's societies, cause I myself can be blamed for doing that once or twice -- and I'm a black lesbian!!! But yes fandoms, SPECIALLY superhero fandoms and SPECIALLY marvel fandoms have such a huge gross tendencies to ignoring racism and mysogynoir and outright attacking black fans when we call it out. I've lost count of how many times I've said "hey btw Emma Frost is a character written to perform mysogynoir and it makes black women uncomfortable to see fans and creators approach her uncritically" and people at best blocked me or called me crazy or other insults at worst. It's why I'm trying the most to keep my bubble only amongst woc and my friends who I know are real allies.

P.S.: As a lit / language student engaged w/ activist movements it physically hurts me seeing the poor media literacy these people have and seeing them acting like they know what real political thinking and activism is because they read some mid comics written by white liberals who either also have no clue what activism and leftist thinking is, or are outright cops or worse

[electricprincess96]

Ep 3 of The Last Of Us was at least more interesting than last weeks episode. Ironic that the most fun I've had with the show so far is when I catch a glimpse of just how Joel was living his life the last 20 or so years. That being said they made one vital error that made me not be able to emotionally care about the characters spotlighted in this episode. They made Frank really unlikeable at the beginning and they rushed his romantic and sexual relationship with Bill. Like I get that in the apocalypse when you haven't seen another human being for a long time emotions can be heightened and the need for human contact can be so great that you aren't exactly going to be taking people out on 2 or 3 dates before you fuck them but come on ONE day? Not even a full day? For someone so paranoid like Bill I just couldn't buy that, at least give them a week or two. Also I didn't like how Bill seemed just so scared when they were about to sleep together for the first time (after knowing each other a couple hours maybe) like why the fuck was the actor told to play him that way?! It made me uncomfortable and made Frank seem like a predator and I didn't like it. Also Bill was right, Frank should not be using up his fuel just to mow the lawn and shouldn't have been inviting Joel and Tess to them without Bill's permission, just because it ended up working out doesn't change the fact it was a huge risk in the middle of the fucking apocalypse.

Overall though with some minor tweaks I'd have probably liked this episode more than Ep1 but because of the botched beginning to that relationship I ended up only caring about how Joel reacted to what happened to them because so far the only character I've managed to create any meaningful connection with is Joel. I feel like a better way to give us Frank and Bill's story would have been for Joel and Ellie to actually meet them in person first, let us get to know them through the characters we are meant to care about and THEN show us their story (and eventual joint suicide which I'm just gonna say it coupled committing suicide because one thing bad happens to one of them wasn't romantic when it was Romeo and Juliet and it isn't romantic now. Also bad case of bury your gays when one of those characters is apparently alive in the game so.....)

All that being said this episode was pure padding in a series that really didn't need it. The Last Of Us game is long. The cutscenes alone are almost 4 hours, that's almost 2 movie lengths, the season is only 9 episodes and they've already speedrun to getting Joel and Ellie meeting in Episode 1. Like I now know the creator who's helping on this show was the one with more or less full creative control of TLOU2 so he must really want to get to his story by Season 2 but considering I know most fans while they might like Part 2 most will agree its not as good as Part 1 (which is why Naughty Dog continue to milk Part 1 for all its worth) I figured they'd try to pass Part 1 out to at least 2 seasons on which case padding episodes like this would have been expected and necessary but they aren't. They clearly intend to finish this season with the end of the first game. They're apparently casting for Abby right now so next season is going to be Part 2 (poor Pedro Pascal they can't let his handsome face catch a break its either getting smashed in or hidden by a helmet these days).

Also why are they now telling us how many miles they are outside if x y or z place when in Episode 1 Joel and Tess just sort of teleport from inside the Quarantine Zone to wherever Ellie is without even showing us A. How they got there and B. Where Ellie even was in relation to where they started. Either locations and distances matter or they don't cause genuinely I laughed when Joel just appeared where Ellie was cause I was so confused I didn't know if they were in the same place this whole time or if someone had moved and we just weren't shown how it was all so bad it was comical.

Also what the fuck was Ellie doing to that Infected in the basement? Genuinely question like she's acting like one of the kids who'd burn ants it's quiet unsettling.

And lastly for the dudebros who'll tell me im a toxic gamer purist, I haven't played The Last Of Us. I understand changes have to be made. I'm not against Ep3 existing as I said I was at least less bored in this episode cause I decided I did actually kinda like Bill and thus what happened to him mattered to me. BUT I find it odd that such a short series based on quite long source material (I'm aware plenty of the gameplay material can't translate to television very well) needed padding but as padding goes this wasn't terrible.

[cesimnida]

[KDRAMA REVIEW] Our Beloved Summer

I am a sucker for slow-burn romances, angst and all that and this one is just right up my alley!!! If you love those things, I definitely recommend OBS for you! To be honest, my mind's a little clouded and I am not yet done crying as I am drafting this but I want to write this as soon as possible so I won't forget the feeling.

Note: I want this to be as spoiler free as possible but I might have spoiled some minor things.

Our Beloved Summer is one of my most anticipated dramas; Wooshik's acting got me ever since I saw him in Train to Busan and I really liked Dami's performance in Itaewon Class. I haven't watched The Witch Part I yet though but yes, I'm planning to watch it soon (maybe this weekend?). Initially, I expected this as a typical rom-com drama where they were high school friends whose relationship developed through the years and ended up as lovers in the present. Amazingly, adding up the ex-lovers trope SERIOUSLY SEALED THE DEAL FOR ME. However, I started the drama 3 weeks late because I was trying to finish another drama before committing myself to OBS. Since reading the plot, I was pretty sure that I won't be able to finish any other drama once I start this because I will be so invested in it. Turns out I was right and thankfully, I managed finishing my previously currently watching drama before starting it.

Watching Our Beloved Summer was such a treat because the story-telling and transition is so smooth even though we have two timelines - the past and present lives (or documentary) of Ung and Yeonsoo. Even with this, I never felt confused while watching which is a plus for me as I get confused with alternating timelines easily. Additionally, I LOVE the OSTs! The songs play just in time to make a scene more meaningful and emotional which was very effective in triggering my tears most of the time. I have also read the OST translations and I kid you not, being able to know the meaning behind the lyrics adds up to the emotional effect of the songs every time it's played in a certain scene. I never NOT cried hearing There For You ever since I read the translations, I swear! The lyrics are related to their story, it felt like they're Yeonsu and Ung's letters for each other. It was such a wonderful feeling being able to watch a drama that can make you feel like you are also involved in the story because watching Our Beloved Summer made me feel like I was watching Ung and Yeonsu’s story behind Ji Ung's lenses.

Dami and Wooshik went above and beyond my expectations! The ✨chemistry✨ was over the top, their micro-expressions and the little details they add in their acting (e.g., those on cue tears, facial expressions, little adlibs, etc.) made a big difference and they definitely owned Yeonsu and Ung. They made themselves as their characters and it's hard to imagine different actors playing the roles they played in this drama. Actually, the supporting characters did a stellar job as well! This is why I really liked the ending: they gave their friends and family their well-deserved spotlights in the last episode! Honestly, this is one of the best endings I have ever watched, they wrapped it up so beautifully I'm so speechless, all I did was cry happy tears.

Our Beloved Summer is not just about ex-lovers meeting and falling in love again but instead, it's a tale of two individuals finding the path in confronting their fears and past that haunts them, being able to overcome these with the help of the people they love most and of course, themselves. It's about acceptance of past mistakes, forgiveness and growth. They also perfectly showed that healing is a painful process but it isn't impossible to overcome if you have the right mindset and a good set of support system - that quality is better than quantity and communication is always the key. And most importantly, it showed us the beauty in finding a love you thought was lost and it taught us to trust the process - that there's always a chance in discovering what you truly want for yourself and being happy again.

It's heartwarming to see the relationship and dynamics they have with the people around them. Even though small in numbers but it is of good quality - just what they needed. It made me realize that having just the right amount of people you can trust is the life I wish to have. Having these people around and sometimes telling them what they needed to hear allowed them to grow outside their comfort zones and realize, albeit later than I expected, how lucky they are for having them in the good and bad times of their life. Being able to witness their journey was such a ride and I'd love to experience it all over again by re-watching it!

Thinking of it, the plot is simple but it was written and executed so beautifully and will most certainly stay in my heart for a long time. The way they showed us the different love languages being present in the leads' relationship added a different kind of intimacy to the scenes, it's such a wonderful thing to watch. The journey was full of tears, happy and sad, but definitely worth it! My only complaint is that I thought this was a rom-com but why do I feel like I cried most of the time? Lol. But still, 100/10!

Thank you OBS team! That was a good run. I'll probably have a hard time watching a new series so I'll just bask into the OBS greatness for now.

[scoups4lyfe]

I personally don't hate daiji or any chara really on Revice really but man For me i wish we spend more time with daiji/kagero before get that episode 26 fight because sad to say the fight feel flat to me unfortunately, it feel very rushed especially Daiji is become background chara too much after he become KR live... we rarely have episode that focused on him after he become KR live....

So my conclusion is, i wish i know kagerou or Daiji more before this fight

o hoooo~

I always like listening to other people's opinions on things, especially if they're completely different from my own LOL!!

My friend Nacho almost A L W A Y S has the exact opposite opinion or reaction or experience than I do when it comes to media (books, movies, tv) --- like they are 100x harsher.

But its always legit? I'm like "oh, wot?" And see tHAT'S it. THAT"S one of the reasons why I respect people's opinions. I learn a lot from another's person viewpoint. (Mostly that I'm wearing rose-tinted glasses LOLLLLL)

Anyways I said all that but I'll argue debate for

Revice Supremacy

perhaps till the end of time;;;; or until Revice disappoints me (lMAOO)

See -- I can understand why the fight could seem a lil sudden -- ain't even gonna lie to you bro, I NEVER expect any of the sh#t revice throws at me. I always go in like

See but what usually

/doesn't/

surprise me is the character psychology. And this is because.... idk I feel like I know Daiji, Ikki, George, Julio and Olteca like the back of my fking HAND bro. Better than, probably.

[Then again I'm insane and have spent my time going through episodes bit by bit analyzing idk. Whatever my mind could *PING* on the analysis-writer-intentionality detector. ]

Right, right. So for me, although the pacing is speedy and they're always throwing punches left and right...when you go back and rewatch knowing what you now know......watch or look for the little things.

Daiji's reactions. Things they say or do blah blah blah. And you'll find how the devil is rlly in the fking DETAILS here.

I get it. A lot of you feel like you came to watch a long distance marathon, but instead is an 800 meter sprint. Like if the runners also showed up ready for long-distance thennn it's gonna be wonky as hell. But the Revice pacing is fine because its perfect for the story (imo). The runners sprints are all sprinters.

Y'all just walked in with the wrong field guide. (LOL)

Everything. And I mean E V E R Y T H I N G is there when you're really paying attention. Vice attacking like a child and confusing everyone for a good amount of episodes?

That's because we didn't have the context that Vice represented Ikki's stolen Childhood. So OF COURSE he acts like a child. He is one. (And that makes the sh#t he says FUNNIER. Because Ikki is literally duking it out with his 4 -8 yr old self lmaOOO)

Likewise Daiji was fking oFF his gOURD from episode 1, and then it just. Got. Worse.

Like major props to the actor or the costume team or both or whatever but pre-episode 5/6 --- Daiji looks soooooo fking iNNOCENT.

And now he's been banned from like eight circuses for smashing all their funhouse mirrors

Now I am ngl to y'all. The reason why it all clicked for me (Ikki's entire character psychology --yada yada)

Is becaause 1) The evidence is fking CAKED in there. It just took me till episode 10 to see it (L O L)

2) My friend Nacho actually lived Ikki's backstory. The only difference being that Nacho is more self-reflective than Ikki is (lmao). So not a single thing Ikki does surprises them.

And y'know, hilarious, because I lived Daiji's backstory LOL! Like the resemblance is un-fking-canny y'all.

Nacho is legit like:

"Yeah Ikki's grown a lot, and that's good and all. But since I've been in his position I know exactly where he is at mentally rn and he still has a looooooooooooong way to go. ://"

and for me y'know I recognize where Daiji is at but in more of a conceptual sense. Because y'know me and Daiji obv have our branching-off points. My character arc went something like this:

Daiji ---> Olteca (pre-cult) ---> Olteca (cult) --> George. --> Kagerou

The final evolution. :DD.

Yeah so below the cut -- I write more nonsense about Kagerou and Daiji's focus in Revice and why although I see where y'all are coming from, I honestly think what we've been given has been pretty solid. Esp cause I trust the writers to deliver what they need to for the last half of the show. So

へ‿(ツ)‿ㄏ

For a Kagerou/Daiji focus episode after he became live; I tech don't really mind it. Like yeah once it got to like episode 20 I was like 'ok? OK? KAGEROU?? KAGEROUUUUU???' Cause it was about time for the other shoe to drop.

The thing is, Revice as a narrative -- yes Ikki is the main character, but his siblings are SO. Integral to his identity (and vice-versa) that it feels more to me that when it focuses on Ikki; you learn ton of sh*t about his siblings. Like in Ikki's first major growth (ep 13 <33) Ikki fking TRUSTED both Daiji and Sakura.

Let them handle their own battles. And that's- that's a BIG fking STEP for him.

But at the same time, doesn't this also tell you a lot about Daiji and Sakura? Sakura was going to fight anyways, she didn't care if Ikki popped around. Daiji did.

During that pause where Ikki made his choice of trusting or not trusting --- Daiji is fking FASCINATING. The way he desperately looks back at Ikki -- this is EVERYTHING.

If Ikki stayed, Kagerou prolly would've been back to lighting fires and fratricidal plans. But he /trusted/ Daiji and left.

Likewise, Kagerou pops out that episode when Olteca hurts him. This brings out Kagerou. Again, this tells a LOT about Daiji. The trigger for Kagerou was his p a i n.

I could wax poetic about Revice all day. But I needa reblog episode 27 lmaooooo. Sorry for writing such a long bunch of nonsense for your opinion ask LOL.

I guess all I was trying to say was: I see where you're coming from. But I think it would help to shift the lens a big. Don't focus on what is not happening -- but what it SAYS about the characters when those things aren't happening.

[sanstropfremir]

all the points u made were the exact reasons prowdmon got a low score 😭. re: the vocalization aspect, the crews and mcs were confused and thought it was random. some sharing, did the guy even dance? however, monika explained that dancing isn’t simply just moving. but it’s an expression. it’s an art form used to move the audience’s emotions. so they wanted to make use of the mc’s acting abilities (his job is an actor) and had him do that.

also, the crews and mcs felt like he wasn’t incorporated into the routine well where he was mostly in the background as opposed to being the main attention of the crew. which i was hm?? like the points u made, i thought he was the best one that was incorporated (along w hook). esp in the beginning with the other members, it felt so natural and smooth.

SCREAM i can't believe this it's too funny but also so disappointing lmao

ngl i'm not surprised those were the criticisms, prowdmon definitely focus more on pushing the artistic boundaries of what they're doing rather than being content with just doing a well-danced routine. monika is absolutely right and smart to have utilized that mc's actual skills as an actor (which i had kind of suspected that was his day job), and she's also right to say that dance is an expression of emotion because it is. the old old adage in musical theatre is that when the emotion of character becomes too much for speaking that's when you sing, and when the emotion for singing becomes too much - that's when you dance. that's why in old hollywood and midcentury musicals there are dance breaks that are these big bombastic and separate numbers from the songs. hell, the dream ballet from singing in the rain is a perfect example of this, which just popped out of my queue in possibly the most well timed coincidence ever. or even why the 'dream ballet' is a function in musical theatre at all (it's characteristic of agnes de mille's choreography; i think it originated in oklahoma, but it also appears in brigadoon). or something like shall we dance from the king and i, where the dance is both as a structural function of the story and plot point. dance + movement are the strongest methods of expressing emotion because the emotion has to be strong in order for you to get to the point where it ceases to be enough to be expressed verbally or with facial expressions. monika's recognition of that but also the verbalization and defense of that logic is proof that she's a consummate artist and it's also extremely sexy of her.

[rusty-tetanus-nail]

[Gunshots] Through Your Heart

a The C*W Sniper x Reader fanfic

The story of how You finding your One True Love finally released the Jackles Tapes™.

Author’s Note: If you actually read this fic, I will judge you.

It's the first non-virtual con since the finale and you've paid half a month’s rent to see the monkeys on stage awkwardly talk their way out of giving the gays what they really want. You've long since lost hope of anyone so much as acknowledging Cas' confession, but as long as Jensen keeps his sexy silence intact you're at peace with that. 

The fandom knows what's up anyway, even if the C*W tries to silence everyone involved with the show. You chuckle, remembering that one time when you opened tumblr and everyone was talking in riddles about [gunshots]. It took you at least an hour to figure out where that particular meme came from, but that's just season 16 for you. The confusion is half the fun. Of course the fandom would come up with the most ridiculous explanations as to why the cast and crew aren't allowed to validate Hellers, instead of just facing the reality that they all don't get it and have wrong opinions about things.

You open yet another nondescript brownish looking door, trying to find your way back to the panel hall. Whoever thought colour coding every single signpost and door instead of just using letters and arrows to point the way deserves to be fired. 

You take a deep breath to calm down and look at your phone.

"Fuck!" You curse out loud. You're so late. The main panel has already started and you're still utterly lost with no one nearby to ask for directions.

...not that you would ask for directions. You shudder. Egh people. 

You hear a faint cheering coming from behind the dark wooden door at the end of the deserted corridor. Bingo!

You run across the hallway, so ready to see the convention madness for yourself and open the door with a grin.

Instantly, the cheering grows louder and then subsides, leaving room for someone to speak. You look around confused. You can hear the panel just fine, but you’re not in the main hall.

Cautiously, you take a step forward. No that's not quite right. You are in the right room, but in the wrong place. Instead of being on the ground floor looking up at the actors on the stage, you’re on a balcony of sorts, hidden away near the ceiling. From here you can see everything. The whole crowd of fans, the stage. It's not the first row seat that you paid the other half of this month’s rent for, but it’s a nice view nevertheless and feels far less claustrophobic than downstairs with all the people around you doing their best to give you a headache. Maybe you'll just stay here and enjoy the rest of the show. No point in missing more of it than you already have.

You lean against the railing and watch as a staff member gives the microphone to a nervous looking fan. You cross your fingers, silently cheering them on, hoping they'll get through this in one piece.

The fan starts to talk and from the corner of your eyes you see something move. Startled, you stumble forward over the railing and for a moment you're certain that this is how you die.

A hand grips you tight by your several layers of flannel and pulls you back onto the floor of the balcony saving you from certain death.

You look up in a daze and see the silhouette of your saviour illuminated by the ceiling lights standing over you holding a sniper rifle. Somewhere in the distance you hear the fan continue their question ignorant of your almost death.

Your saviour moves with practiced ease back to the railing and aims their weapon at the people below. 

Shit. This can’t be happening. You try to get up and stop them from whatever they're about to do, but when you reach the figure and grab their wrist it's already too late.

"So about the Cartwright Twi-" [gunshots]

The fan falls to their knees and is carried off as someone on stage lets out an uncomfortable laugh and makes a joke about fainting. You watch the proceedings in shock, still gripping the sniper's wrist.

"What did you do?" You bite out, more harshly than you intended. In the back of your mind you know you should probably run away instead of arguing with the assassin, but there’s just something about them that makes you feel safe and unthreatened.

"My job." A gruff voice replies and as they turn you finally catch a first proper glimpse at the sniper's face. You let go of them almost immediately.

Oh no. They're hot.

The sniper pulls their wrist close to their chest and strokes the parts of their skin that your hand previously occupied. And odd knot forms in your stomach. You take a step closer and they shift away unused to the presence of another person.

You try to reach out again, but think better of it. You don’t want to scare the beautiful person in front of you. Your hand falls down limply to your side and the sniper follows your movements with their eyes still refusing to look directly at you.

You open your mouth to ask who they are, but you get interrupted when Jensen starts speaking. Instantaneously the sniper is all business again, aims their rifle and-

“Actually I think Dean is b-” [gunshots]

Jensen bends over and starts coughing violently, his sentence hanging forever unsaid in the room.

The sniper lowers their gun and looks emotionlessly at the scene they just caused.

“You’re-” You start, but the sniper holds up their hand to stop you.

“Don’t. Just go and pretend you never saw anything or I’ll shoot you as well.”

You shake your head.

“No. I don’t think you will.” Taking a chance you close the distance between the both of you and take the sniper’s free hand, intertwining your fingers with theirs. Their breath hitches as you touch them and they lower their eyes, but don’t move away. You take it as a good sign.

“You’re the C*W Sniper, aren’t you?” You whisper astonished. “I can’t believe you’re real.”

A fan with a faintly Spanish sounding accent is given the microphone. With their free hand the sniper reaches down and pulls out a gun from their thigh holster and- [gunshots]

What was once an almost unnoticeable accent is now unrecognizable word salad. Everyone laughs and writes the incident off as the fan simply being nervous. You frown.

“This isn’t right.”

“They’ll be able to speak again in a couple of minutes.”

You tighten your fingers around the snipers hand and try to unsuccessfully catch their eyes.

“Still doesn’t make it right. You didn’t even know if they’d mention anything about-”

The sniper aims their gun at you.

“I have my orders.”

Your eyes finally meet for the first time and the previous argument is forgotten as the world around you bursts into vibrant colours. 

“What the f-”

This isn’t possible. You’ve always been severely colour blind. People don’t just randomly heal from that. You shouldn’t be seeing any of this.

The sniper's cold eyes grow warm and mirror your own in wonderment. They look around before settling their eyes back on you and a soft “oh” escapes their lips.

“You’re my soulmate.” Their rough voice takes on a heart wrenching tone and you shake your head disbelievingly.

“No. Soulmates aren’t real. They were made up for fanfics.”

“That’s what the CW wants you to think.” The sniper says with a sad smile and breaks eye contact again. “The CW’s reach and power is far greater than anything you could possibly imagine.”

You cup the sniper’s face with your free hand and softly stroke their cheek with your thumb, almost entranced at the new connection you made with the not quite stranger in front of you. The sniper closes their eyes and leans into your touch. Your heart starts pounding and you wish for the moment to never end.

“You should leave.”

“Not without you.” You reply not missing a beat, trying not to get distracted by the sniper’s full lips and delicate features contrasting their hard battleworn exterior.

“I’m not safe to be around. I’ve hurt people.” The sniper turns around and lets go of your hand, but you hold on tight, too scared they’ll disappear as suddenly as they entered your life. Clutching their hand tightly, you pull them close and swirl them around forcing them to face you.

“I don’t care.” You say resolutely. “Whatever hold the C*W has on you, we’ll figure it out. Together.”

The sniper shakes their head and looks frantically over to the stage where Jensen is about to give his phone to a staff member.

“I- I can’t. I have to- I have nothing else but this.” They aim their gun at the stage, but you gently push their raised arm down. Your sniper doesn’t resist, but their hands are trembling. They’re scared, you realise. They’re scared and they need you.

“You have me. Please, I promise. Everything will be alright. Let me take care of you.”

The gun falls to the ground and the sniper lets themself be enveloped into your embrace. You hold them tightly as they fall apart in your arms and wait patiently until they stop shaking all the while whispering sweet reassurances into their ear.

“It won’t be easy.” They mumble against your shoulder and straighten up to look into your eyes. “The C*W will want to eliminate us. I’m not their only assassin.”

“Let them come. We’ll make them regret ever messing with us.” You say with a wicked grin and your sniper grins back with tears in their eyes.

You throw your arms over your snipers shoulders and lean your forehead against theirs.

“I’d really like to kiss you now.”

“Yes please.” The sniper says, almost breathlessly and you capture your soulmate’s lips for the first time. 

Fireworks explode in your soul and the crowd cheers as the Jackles Tapes are finally released and played on the big screen behind Jensen and Misha, who take the opportunity to ask every minor to leave the room as they’re about to reenact the secret good ending of Supernatural.