#not too far into it yet but Michael seems like another chaotic mess of a character and I'm here for it

[fkmarrycill]

Cillian and his full-lipped potty mouth 💋🤬😌, reblog if you agree

[strangedreamings]

S3E3 (spoilers abound)

I knew that was a dream, it was too romantic. But good, Colin needs a wet dream or two about Pen. It's sad that it takes this to get him to realize he's attracted to her but hey, whatever works.

So Gregory didn't break his arm from being in the balloon like everybody guessed, interesting. Still chaotic, but not in the same way.

Colin, please, promise me you'll never play poker -- you couldn't bluff convincingly if your life depended on it. I'm glad Hyacinth is supportive of Pen, even if Eloise isn't.

"Must be rich, must be handsome, and he must be of high rank." John Stirling is an earl, one of the upper ranks of the nobility. Just saying...

Philippa really is dim. Let's hope that in her and Prudence's case, intelligence skipped a generation and any kids they have inherit Portia's brain. She's not perfect but she's leagues smarter than those two.

Mrs. Varley says Pen has a visitor and I assume it's Colin or Debling. It's El and my response? An out loud "What the fuck?"

Oh, El. She's maturing (slowly) but she's not ready for them to be friends again yet. Maybe by the end of E4? And can I just say that I LOVE that blue dress Eloise has on? She looks lovely AND SHE HAS HER FLOWERS BACK! So, the show's costume designer was holding back her flowers until she became more herself, got it.

Pen in a park and everyone's talking about her. Ugh. Honey, none of them are worthy of you. Take note of who's talking down about you now and when you're on top, see which of them kisses your ass. They're the ones to avoid like the plague.

God, I love weeping willows, they're like natural gazebos. And this one is HUGE.

Sorry, Pen, but the tulle in your hair looks stupid. It looks too much like you accidently left a curling rag in.

So now they're both nervous, so cute. Colin's world has been rocked to its foundations and he needs to find his footing all over again.

So, Debling is a vegetarian and a naturalist. He seems to prefer animals to people. Considering the ton, I can't say I blame him. Lady Cowper is threating to arrange a marriage for Cressida if she doesn't get married this season. No unconditional love there, that's for sure. Cressida, get yourself a husband whose estate is far from your father's and tell your parents the roads are bad, so they can never visit. That should keep contact with them restricted to letters and the Season.

I really hope this earl who just introduced himself to Francesca isn't John.

God, I love Alice. She's a sweeter person than the ton deserves. She's right about Colin being gallant, too bad he's only just starting to realize how badly he messed up.

Debling uses odd animal metaphors and his humor is a little whack but I like the guy. As long as he's honest about why he wants a wife, I'll support him. He's cute too. Beards were unfashionable during this era, so it's another sign that he doesn't care about what other people think.

Aww, Cressida. Yeah, your family doesn't support you at all. I'd ship her with Debling if they weren't so obviously wrong for each other. She does need a good man to marry her but I don't think she'll find him this season.

Oh, Colin, you are so far gone for Pen. Do something about soon, please, before you lose her forever.

I do not like Eloise's outfit. It looks like a modern business suit with an extra-long skirt.

I take it back, I think I do ship Debling and Cressida, but if what he's after is just someone to watch his estate while he's gone, I think she can do better. Still, isolation might be what she wants, who knows?

Eloise is third- and fourth-wheeling. I'd feel sorry for her but hell, she deserves this.

I just had to look it up -- yeah, "marriage whisperer" is a phrase that could have been used back then since "horse whisperer" was a phrase that was already in use. Still, it sounds too modern.

So, Lord Samadani's a marquess, not an earl. Is his first name John? Does he have a first cousin named Michael?

Debling, you're the one who insisted on this three-way conversation, figure out how to end it politely. Colin is so jealous. Do something about it.

Prudence's husband really is dim. She married him for his looks, didn't she?

Rescues all around. Debling's going to have to make his decision soon, this is getting ridiculous.

Another ball. A handsome man gives Violet her accidentally dropped glove. I assume this is the "unwanted" visitor Agatha was complaining about. Blood relative? Widowed in-law? He's the right age bracket for Violet, so that's good.

Cressida looks ridiculous and miserable. I have to wonder whose idea these gowns are -- hers? Her mother's? The modiste's? Whoever, they have no idea what they are doing. This one looks more like modern haute couture, and ugly haute couture at that.

Pen and Cressida in a literal race to Debling, good lord.

Okay, so Samadani is apparently not John. Good, he doesn't understand what Francesca's after.

BROTHER?! Interesting. He's hot. I love his voice and his thoughts on having grown children. Wow, if this is Violet's "gardener," she'll be fucking the brother of the woman who fucked her father. England really is a small country.

Who took a bunch of spoon handles and put them in Agatha's hair?

Agatha is in her own personal hell, I love it.

Is THIS John? He's not Scottish, going by what little he's said. Disappointing, but not the end of the world. Loves the quiet, understands that people need quiet, he's perfect for Frannie.

Shonda, Shonda, Shonda. Yes, a Lady can be a married woman HOWEVER, the daughters of dukes, marquesses, and earls are also addressed as Lady, so Benedict assuming Tilley is married is wrong.

This dance Tilley and Benedict are dancing looks like a cross between a waltz and a tango. I'm sure the choreographer was told to just give them whatever moves look best on camera.

Cressida really looks like she's going to cry. Ugh. I don't want her to suffer her book counterpart's fate.

Colin looks like he's about to kiss Pen in the middle of a crowded ballroom then in comes Debling to steal her away for a dance. Colin, please, move faster next time.

[buttherainbowhasabeard]

Promising Young Woman (2021)

*contains spoilers*

Revenge is a dish best served stone-cold sober…

Delightful and dimpled British star Carey Mulligan has had a successful career to date, playing alongside leading men such as Leonardo DiCaprio (‘The Great Gatsby’), Ryan Gosling (‘Drive’) and Michael Fassbender (‘Shame’). Despite not always being centre stage, many of Mulligan’s film choices have been eclectic in terms of genre, and it seems this winning combination of offbeat and orthodox have all led to her explosive lead role in the indie assault on the senses that is ‘Promising Young Woman’.

Carey is Cassandra Thomas, a 30-year-old whose promising career as a doctor went into a tailspin when she dropped out of medical school following the rape of her best friend Nina Fisher at the rough hands of their classmates. It’s implied that Nina – overwhelmed by what happened to her and the lack of support or investigative interference – committed suicide, and in the years since, Cassie has dedicated her life to avenging her friend’s death. Rather than continuing to try to take the claims up with police, Cassie turns unconventional vigilante and offers herself up as hot-mess boy bait, spending her nights fake falling-down drunk in bars and clubs to see and document how many men attempt to take advantage of her. Going so far – arguably stupidly so – as to let them take her home, Cassie abruptly reveals her sobriety to shock them into acknowledging and lamenting their predatory behaviour.

These scenes in particular are deliciously satisfying – that moment the self-proclaimed “nice guy” realises his unwilling date is more than aware of her surroundings and is going to confront him about them. The genius of these moments is in the power of Mulligan’s swift and drastic transformations. She doesn’t need to threaten or produce a weapon to take control, her stark sobriety is enough.

Making her feature filmmaking debut, director Emerald Fennell has had her fair share of femme fatale experience as head writer on Season 2 of TV’s addictive ‘Killing Eve’. Her love of strong, clever but chaotic women are all bundled into one with the creation of Cassie. She’s a Villanelle-esque sexy sociopath with a skewed moral compass, complimented by a noughties heavy soundtrack featuring a screechy orchestral remix of Britney Spears’ ‘Toxic’, a rom-com inspired routine to Paris Hilton’s ‘Stars Are Blind’, and DeathbyRomy’s cover of the Weather Girls’ ‘It’s Raining Men’.

‘Promising Young Woman’ could just as easily be called Privileged Young Men. With a narrative that draws on #MeToo, toxic masculinity and on campus rape culture and rituals, this is a film that is unapologetic about its subject matter and in your face about its opinions on it. There are not-so-subtle traces of trends that are played out in real life today, like dismissing women’s allegations to protect men’s reputations. Whilst Nina’s life was destroyed and her credibility doubted, male peers like perpetrator Al Monroe (Chris Lowell) and his sleazy friend Joe (Max Greenfield) were given glowing references, advanced to the top of their fields and became popular pillars of their communities, industries and social circles.

Although predictable for me, the eventual reveal of the one good man from Cassie’s past being complicit in Nina’s rape (her happy-to-take-it-slow boyfriend Ryan played by a charmingly goofy Bo Burnham), is a gasp out loud moment. Her world is once again shattered beyond repair when she realises the relationship that has made her happy for the first time in a long time was built on a lie (or to give him the benefit of the doubt, a very bad mistake). He is the first man she felt she could trust, be herself around, and fall in love with, but she discovers that underneath he was at worst, another one of the guys, and at best, an indefensible bystander.

You’d be forgiven for thinking ‘Promising Young Woman’ is all anti-men. Everything about it - on the surface and in the trailer - screams angry, bra burning feminist. However, it’s more nuanced than that and takes more of an anti-bad men, anti-bad women and anti-bad behaviour stance, as many of the movie’s female characters also have to confront the fact that their refusal or disinterest to speak up and call out abuse has enabled criminal conduct to set in, rot and spread. Cassie - an anti-hero herself - holds a grubby mirror up to the faces of the women from her college days with varying degrees of cunning and callousness, from feigning the abduction and pimping out of the University Dean Elizabeth Walker’s daughter, to tricking an inebriated former classmate (Alison Brie) into thinking she was unfaithful, or worse, sexually assaulted, in a hotel room.

Cassie’s methods are extreme and quite frankly mad, but her motives are steeped in an obsessive desire to do right by her friend and seek justice whatever the cost (the latter playing out in tragic but successful fashion in the finale). She is an intentionally entangled fly, luring spiders of all shapes and sizes to the centre of the web, daring them to do their worst. Most times she is well prepared, and even when it seems like she’s bitten off more than she can chew, another dose of vigorous vengeance is plunged in (even if it has to be done posthumously!)

Physically too, she’s a calculating chameleon. From pigtails, flowery blouses and flats for a girl-next-door look, to blow-job blotted lips, tight dresses and skyscraper stilettos to give off a late-night pick-up vibe, every element of her outfit is deliberate and devious. Dressed up in a wig the colour of a Rainbow Paddle Pop and sexy stripper nurse outfit in the film’s final act, Cassie is the literal sexual objectification of the promising young medical practitioner she could have been. Instead, she’s a practitioner of pain, turning Monroe’s bachelor party into her plastered patients.

Handcuffing Al to the bed upstairs, it looks like she’s reeled in her biggest fish to date. “It's every man's worst nightmare, getting accused of something like that,” Al cries, to which a deadpan Cassie replies “can guess what every woman's worst nightmare is?” But soon the tables turn when he breaks free, overpowers her and smothers her to death with a pillow. It’s a brutal and distressingly drawn-out scene, and it takes a while before it hits you that she really is dead and this is where her sad story ends. Joe and Al burn her body. It’s all over. Or so you think.

We cut to Al’s wedding, and as Juice Newton’s ‘Angel of the Morning’ plays, Ryan begins to receive scheduled texts from Cassie, taunting him from beyond the grave with a juicy contingency plan. Using Al’s ex-attorney Jordan Green (Alfred Molina) and his regret and grief over representing the wrong party to her advantage, Cassie had sent him incriminating evidence about Nina’s assault and her own demise in advance. “You didn't think this was the end, did you? It is now” the first texts read, as police sirens wail and officers emerge from the woods to arrest Al for murder. “Enjoy the wedding! Love, Cassie & Nina” the final messages say, followed by a perfectly placed winky face emoticon as Fletcher’s ‘Last Laugh’ cues the end credits. It’s a gratifying water cooler moment, bona fide badass yet bittersweet, but you’re still left wondering if it was all worth it.

‘Promising Young Woman’ could be cut from the same tortured heroine cloth as ‘The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’, ‘Kill Bill’ and ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’, with Nina and Cassie’s friendship rivalling ‘Thelma & Louise’. It covers a lot of taboo territories and topics, from slut shaming to consent and coercion, and evokes the harrowing Margaret Atwood quote “Men are afraid women will laugh at them. Women are afraid men will kill them”.

‘Promising Young Woman’ is not for the faint hearted, and anyone who fears the film may be triggering should stay well clear. It’s not always easy viewing and it’s not always fair, however it’s more than just a pitch-black comedy or clear-cut tale of rape-revenge. It’s a brave, bold and original satire with bite and brains.

4/5 stars.

[slashersins-abandoned]

house chores take forever and i hate them . and usually i sneak away a little too long and then forget about the chores and then that leads to problems . my attention span can be off and on . but jesus . these boys …

jason is a good boy , he does chores . sometimes . he forgets to pick up his clothes , forgets that they need to be washed and cleaned , he forgets about the dishes and eating entirely . usually the only chores he really remembers to do involve reworking and checking traps hidden throughout the camp . but give him a gentle reminder and he’s more than happy to help you with the house .

thomas was raised better than to ignore chores . while his are mostly heavy lifting , you’d be surprised to find that this boy does in fact make his bed every morning . he picks up and wipes down the table after meals , delivering all the dishes to his momma by the sink . he even tries to keep the basement somewhat clean . it’s not clean at all , but damn he tries . tommy’s chores are so much that you won’t really ever find him asking you to do the more domestic ones . but you will catch him watching you with a soft gaze as you bustle about .

bubba actually does cooking , cleaning , and butchering regularly . he fusses over the dishes and doesn’t let them pile up , trying to make the kitchen the cleanest place in the house . he’s chaotically organized too . so his room may seem cluttered and disarray but he knows exactly where everything is . like jason , bubba will help if you ask him . though he is very easily distracted .

brahms is spoiled . we all know this . he’s used to being taken care of . used to others cleaning his messes . and yet his room , the one in the walls is neat and organized . everything outside of his own private dwelling though is a bit different . the most he will do to help chore wise is put the dishes in the sink and put dirty clothes in the hamper . he won’t want to help and will probably get fussy if you ask too many times . you’re the nanny not him . the only other time you’ll see brahms take responsibility is if he did something rash and pushed you too far or hurt you by accident , emotionally or physically .

michael is a fucking mess . this man doesn’t care . he truly doesn’t . outside of the house , he may not leave a trace of his existence expect for a freshly bled corpse , but inside your home michael leaves a trail of blood and gore and mud . domesticating him takes him . it is like wrestling with a coyote who just ate and isn’t hungry but could go for another round of food . convincing him with treats . or promises of desserts . he’ll start doing the basics , but don’t expect much . michael is his own man . you just have to deal with it .

jesse pays people to clean . he doesn’t do chores , they’re taken care of . but even then , jesse is not a slob . he likes things to be somewhat clean , and if left alone in his home then he will keep it relatively the same as before the house cleaner went on vacation . that’s really all there is to say about this man ,

billy & stu are two of the messiest mother fuckers . they’re young and youthful and rebellious and boys and disgusting . stu is lucky that his parents can afford a house keeper and billy is lucky stu doesn’t care about tearing his place up and making it look like a tornado blew through . it’s best to be strict with these boys . there might even need to be some nagging . deny them something they want in exchange for all the empty bags of doritos and coke cans are picked up . probably the hardest of all the slashers to get to clean . lazy brats .

[ehehehelokidbyhiddles]

Episode 3 Thoughts

Just finished watching episode 3. Warning for spoilers. 

I really enjoyed this episode for the most part. I’m still not convinced that Sylvie is a Loki though. I just don’t get the Loki vibe from her. I actually have a few theories about her though. 

First one is that she only thinks she is a Loki. If you’re a Doctor Who fan, you might remember The Next Doctor episode where Jackson Lake thinks he is The Doctor but it turns out his memory was messed with. It’s a longshot but I think it could be possible. 

Another theory is that Sylvie is the little kid from the start of the season that Mobius gets the Kablooie candy off of. Another long shot and probably instantly debugged as I heard Cailey Flemming from The Walking Dead is supposed to play the young version of Sylvie but it would be a nice twist. 

A more obvious theory is that she is actually The Enchantress and has been fooling everyone all along. I think this is too obvious a storyline but you never know. I think at this point I’m just trying to think of reasons why she’s not Lady Loki because I don’t want her to be. 

I enjoyed the ‘team up’ between Loki and Sylvie for the most part. Tom and Sophia have great chemisty on screen and play off each other well. I do dislike the power imbalance where they are making Sylvie seem more powerful than Loki when all she does is her ‘enchantment’ trick. Until we see otherwise, I’m assuming that’s all she can do magic wise. 

In terms of the fighting, I’m disappointed that we have a continued trend of Loki not fighting like he usually does. If you look back at the other movies, Loki fights very swiftly and fluidly but in the fight scenes in the show, he seems overly clumsy (and yes, you can use the excuse that he was drunk in this episode but that doesn’t explain the 2nd episode). I did appreciate him using his powers during the fight though (something I would have expected him to do in Ep 2 when he had gotten his powers back from the TVA). It annoyed me a little that Sylvie was fighting a lot more Loki-like than Loki was though. When they were fighting together, they should have been more equally matched. 

I saw some theories that Loki has the time stone. From what I can tell (I haven’t watched the theory videos yet) they say that because he reversed the buidling that was falling. This theory doesn’t work because he would have reversed the whole scene if he had the time stone, not just the buidling. 

The singing! Oh my god, the singing! It’s so funny, the other day I was listening to I’m so Lonesome I could Cry from the I Saw The Light Soundtrack and I was thinking, ‘I really wish Tom would sing with his real voice sometime’ (Yes, I know he sang in the Pirate Fairy movie but it was very brief). My prayers were answered apparently. 

His voice was so beautiful on the Norwegian song. I never expected that he could sing that way but I’m pleasantly surprised. I don’t doubt the big nerd tried his best to get that pronunciation down pat too. I saw something that said Tom would be recording the song properly and I hope that isn’t just misinformation. I would love a full version to listen to because his voice (when he was singing seriously) was like velvet to my ears. When I was watching the scene, I have to admit it reminded me of the times when Michael Fassbender has sung in different languages. They have a similar vocal sound. 

Now, I left this until last because I’m still not sure how I feel about it. Loki and Sylvie. It’s a weird concept, isn’t it? I can already tell people are going to start shipping them, but they’re the same person essentially, aren’t they? Well, it’s all depending on the truth of her identity, I guess, and then, if she actually is a Loki, could that even work? Can you date yourself? 

I’m not boarding the ship just yet but even I could see the tension at times that could hint to something in this episode. I mean, that moment where she just crowds up on him, supposedly trying to use her powers on him, that was such a loaded moment. It was almost uncomfortable because of how intimate it was. 

I don’t know guys. What do you think of Loki and Sylvie? Do you think there could be any kind of romance there? Is it too weird?  In my opinion, I think that if she is Loki, it would be too weird (also far too chaotic to have Loki dating Loki). If it turns out she is not Loki then I think a romance could work. I can’t deny that a big part of me wants to see Loki in an actual relationship, purely out of curiosity for the most part. How would Loki be in a relationship? 

Anyway, there was, unfortunately, a lot of the silly stuff (totally agreed with Sylvie when she called him a clown, because this Loki that they’re trying to shove down my throat is a clown--most of the time, at least). I really liked that Loki seemed genuinely concerned and outraged that the people were going to be left to die. 

I can’t wait to watch the next episode to see how they get away from this apocalypse and what happens next. I wish we had more than 6 episodes to look forward to. Can we have some mischief and there be a surprise that it’s acutally 10 episodes? Ah, wishful thinking...

[slashersins]

Chores!!! Dont feel too guilty over taking breaks between em! Doubt our stabby boys are ones to do chores but the idea is kinda funny in my mind...

house chores take forever and i hate them . and usually i sneak away a little too long and then forget about the chores and then that leads to problems . my attention span can be off and on . but jesus . these boys . . . 

jason is a good boy , he does chores . sometimes . he forgets to pick up his clothes , forgets that they need to be washed and cleaned , he forgets about the dishes and eating entirely . usually the only chores he really remembers to do involve reworking and checking traps hidden throughout the camp . but give him a gentle reminder and he’s more than happy to help you with the house .

thomas was raised better than to ignore chores . while his are mostly heavy lifting , you’d be surprised to find that this boy does in fact make his bed every morning . he picks up and wipes down the table after meals , delivering all the dishes to his momma by the sink . he even tries to keep the basement somewhat clean . it’s not clean at all , but damn he tries . tommy’s chores are so much that you won’t really ever find him asking you to do the more domestic ones . but you will catch him watching you with a soft gaze as you bustle about . 

bubba actually does cooking , cleaning , and butchering regularly . he fusses over the dishes and doesn’t let them pile up , trying to make the kitchen the cleanest place in the house . he’s chaotically organized too . so his room may seem cluttered and disarray but he knows exactly where everything is . like jason , bubba will help if you ask him . though he is very easily distracted . 

brahms is spoiled . we all know this . he’s used to being taken care of . used to others cleaning his messes . and yet his room , the one in the walls is neat and organized . everything outside of his own private dwelling though is a bit different . the most he will do to help chore wise is put the dishes in the sink and put dirty clothes in the hamper . he won’t want to help and will probably get fussy if you ask too many times . you’re the nanny not him . the only other time you’ll see brahms take responsibility is if he did something rash and pushed you too far or hurt you by accident , emotionally or physically . 

michael is a fucking mess . this man doesn’t care . he truly doesn’t . outside of the house , he may not leave a trace of his existence expect for a freshly bled corpse , but inside your home michael leaves a trail of blood and gore and mud . domesticating him takes him . it is like wrestling with a coyote who just ate and isn't hungry but could go for another round of food . convincing him with treats . or promises of desserts . he’ll start doing the basics , but don’t expect much . michael is his own man . you just have to deal with it . 

jesse pays people to clean . he doesn’t do chores , they’re taken care of . but even then , jesse is not a slob . he likes things to be somewhat clean , and if left alone in his home then he will keep it relatively the same as before the house cleaner went on vacation . that’s really all there is to say about this man , 

billy & stu are two of the messiest mother fuckers . they’re young and youthful and rebellious and boys and disgusting . stu is lucky that his parents can afford a house keeper and billy is lucky stu doesn’t care about tearing his place up and making it look like a tornado blew through . it’s best to be strict with these boys . there might even need to be some nagging . deny them something they want in exchange for all the empty bags of doritos and coke cans are picked up . probably the hardest of all the slashers to get to clean . lazy brats . 

[storiesforallfandoms]

private ceremony ~ thomas shelby; peaky blinders

word count: 1155

request?: no

description: after some trouble with his men, tommy and his bride to be decide to have a quiet, more intimate ceremony before the chaotic one

pairing: thomas shelby x female!reader

warnings: swearing

i’ve been binge watching peaky blinders the past week and i just wanna write about thomas shelby so much. cillian murphy is the most beautiful man, don’t @ me

Tommy sighed heavily and leaned against the windowsill. He put a cigarette to his lips and struck a match to light it. He took a long drag and held the smoke in his mouth before exhaling.

Today was supposed to be the best day of his life. He was getting married to the woman of his dreams, he was always told a man’s wedding day was the best day of his life. And yet it was currently like every other day, chaotic as ever, except maybe ten times worse because he knew it wasn’t supposed to be like this. His family couldn’t stay civil just for one goddamn day just for him. They always had to be a mess.

Tommy ran a hand over his face in frustration. He was starting to dread his own wedding day, and the decision to get married at all. How could he possibly ask her to become a part of this life?

“I knew I’d find you here.”

Tommy looked up to see his beautiful bride to be, already dressed in her stunning white dress. He couldn’t help but smile, all his frustrations washing away just by seeing her.

“I’m not supposed to see you in that before the wedding,” he told her. “They say it’s bad luck.”

“Seems your luck is already bad today,” she told him, leaning against the windowsill next to him. She held her hand out for a drag from the cigarette. He passed it to her and she took a long puff. “Your family driving your insane?”

“As they always do,” he responded. “Couldn’t get their shit together for my wedding day.”

“Did you expect anything less?” she teased him. “You’re lucky my family are scared of yours, or else it would be twice as chaotic.”

"Arthur’s got some delusion in his head that because your father hasn’t spoken to any of them yet it means he thinks he’s better than our family,” Tommy said, shaking his head. “Dumb fuck takes things way too personally.”

“My father tried to speak to him before the wedding, Arthur nearly swung at him for whatever deluded reason. Dad nearly left right then and there, almost refused to give you his blessing.”

Tommy shook his head and rolled his eyes. He didn’t know what had gotten into Arthur lately, but he was having a hard time putting up with it.

He blew out another puff and put one hand on yours, intertwining your fingers. “I’m so sorry if my family ruin our wedding day.”

(Y/N) shook her head. She hated to admit that she had been questioning the wedding day as well. Of course she loved Tommy with her entire heart, and she had no doubts in her mind that she wanted to spend the rest of her life with him, but their wedding day was currently far from perfect, and it was really pissing (Y/N) off.

Suddenly, a smile spread across her face. “What if they don’t ruin our day?”

Tommy looked at her, confused. “What do you mean?”

She stood and took Tommy’s hand. He followed her from his room in his house out to the chapel where they were supposed to be wed. The two snuck into the chapel without anyone noticing.

(Y/N) led Tommy to the office of Jeremiah, the preacher that was to marry the two of them. He was reading over what he was to recite for the wedding when (Y/N) knocked. He turned and greeted the two with a smile.

“Ah, the soon to be weds,” he said. “Isn’t it bad luck for you two to be together before you’re wed?”

“We’re hoping to be wed a bit earlier than expected,” (Y/N) responded. “If you wouldn’t mind following me.”

Jeremiah gave Tommy and confused look as (Y/N) walked away. Tommy shrugged and responded, “She’s not telling me, either.”

“Come on!” (Y/N) called.

Tommy and Jeremiah followed her out the back door into the church’s garden. It was a beautiful day, sunny and warm. The flowers of the garden were freshly bloomed and, unlike the inside of the church, it was calm and peaceful.

(Y/N) stood in the middle of the garden and turned to Tommy, a smile on her face. “Let’s get married now. Our own private ceremony, just the two of us, and Jimmy.”

“Even with everyone already in the church?” Tommy asked.

(Y/N) nodded excitedly. “We can still have our ceremony for our families, but for our actual nuptials and our vows, let’s just have this one private moment before we’re swarmed by family.”

She turned to Jeremiah, “If that’s alright with you, Jimmy.”

He chuckled. “Of course, it’s perfectly fine with me. And I promise I won’t tell a soul.”

(Y/N) turned back to Tommy and extended a hand. “What do you say, love?”

He couldn’t get the words out fast enough. “I love you.”

She giggled and Tommy took her hand in his. Jeremiah started a shortened version of the wedding prayer, one that cut out the bible verses he was to read and the asking if anyone were to object, and went straight to the vows.

“Do you, Thomas Michael Shelby, take (Y/F/N) to be your lawful wedded wife, for better or for worst, for rich or for poor, in sickness and in health, till death do you part?”

Tommy looked down at his beautiful fiancée, unable to contain the smile on his face. “I do.”

“And do you, (Y/F/N), take Thomas Michael Shelby - ”

“You’re fucking right I do,” (Y/N) cut Jeremiah off. Both men chuckled at her enthusiasm as her cheeks turned a light shade of pink. “Sorry, Jimmy.”

“Well, this isn’t a traditional wedding at all, so cursing is allowed,” Jeremiah decided. “I now pronounce you husband and wife, you may now kiss the bride.”

Neither needed to be told twice. The moment the words were out of Jeremiah’s mouth, Tommy had his arms wrapped around the small of (Y/N)’s back and he was kissing her deeply and passionately. All the world around them disappeared and it was just the two of them. No fighting families, no overbearing brothers, no Peaky Blinders business to worry about. Just the two of them, husband and wife, finally wed.

They could've stood there all day, and just be happy with one another. Unfortunately, Jeremiah had to break the two of them up.

“Congratulations, you two,” he said. “I hate to break up this beautiful scene, but the two of you will have to go in soon. The wedding is supposed to start in a mere few minutes.”

They looked at one another. For the first time all day, neither of them were dreading the wedding. (Y/N) took Tommy’s hand on hers and kissed him once more before the newly weds entered the church for their big, more chaotic ceremony.

[talesofafangirlwithadvr]

SEPTEMBER PICKS

I don’t know about you, but this felt like a long month. I just looked back on my August post and that felt like another life. Putting together this list I couldn’t believe how much I was able to watch with the start of the semester. There was a lot of great ones, so let’s get to it!

Our usual spoiler warning....

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The Umbrella Academy

Umbrella Academy was a show that I started at the end of August. Many people I know were shocked I had never watched it and honestly I don’t know what took me so long. It was great and made even better by the second season getting released this summer. Now I had even more episodes to watch. 

I love how chaotic the Hargreeves are. The things that happen to them would only happen to them (if you know what I mean). I also love how they always put family first. Despite everything that’s happened to them. They might all be a mess (and honestly who isn’t), but deep down they love each other. For the first season I thought it was great how they formatted the plot. These characters were new to us and they didn’t give us all the backstory. (When you think about it we still don’t know how Ben died.) It made me continue tuning in and figure it all out. I always sensed Vanya had powers and I know it’s shocking that I wasn’t spoiled coming into the show so late. I liked the irony of the family essentially creating the apocalypse themselves by locking Vanya up.  Leonard aka Harold always felt shifty to me. I also liked the way they set up his story. Five and Klaus are definitely my favorites of the siblings. I love how Five is such an old man in a young kid’s body. The way they show his teleportation is really cool. The early scene in Run boy run, episode 2, is definitely one of my favorites from the whole show. The images paired with the song are chilling. Really nice job there. I love how Klaus’ power has been explored. We see more of it in season 2 and it’s something I wasn’t expecting. I love his and Ben’s relationship and I easily fell into the Klaus/Dave ship. We only got a slice of their backstory and I was already too invested. Season 2 took me a little bit to get into with the new setting, but after about two episodes I did. I really liked the plot and found it funny that there was yet another apocalypse. With that cliffhanger, I can’t wait to see where season three is headed.

Derry Girls Re-watch 

2020 felt like a good time to re-visit my girls in Derry. I wanted something familiar and funny and this was perfect. I just love this show. It makes me so happy after watching it. I’m so thrilled that we’ll eventually get a third season (even if it will be the last). This watch through I am noticing how many songs are in each episode. (Might help I’ve been watching it with subtitles.) There are so many bops. Sister Michael is always my spirit animal. She is hilarious! I also feel Gerry gets funnier as the season goes on. When he’s making the sandwiches at the funeral I crack up EVERY.TIME. I also love the seriousness of the show too. There are SO MANY great parallels. In the season one finale when the historical bomb goes off and the girls are shown at school unaware and just dancing with Orla it is so pure. Then we see Da put his hand on Gerry’s shoulder. Wow. It shows how the generations were affected. I will suggest this show to everyone no matter what they like to watch. IT IS THAT GOOD! So, why aren’t you watching it? (Or Re-watching?)  

Violetta Season 3

We can all rejoice! The third and finale season of Disney’s Violetta was released onto Disney Plus mid month. As someone who recently finished the second season, it was no surprise that I was ecstatic and wanted to watch it ASAP. This season is hands down the fastest one I have gotten invested into. Usually it takes me a bit to get into the new plot and characters. Because I’ve gotten so attached, I’m worried that means it will go downhill. I’ve heard mixed things about season 3. But let’s focus on the positives! There is so much music so far (both old and new songs). I am loving a lot of the new songs: En Gira and Armor En El Aire. I like how they started on tour and how they included actual footage from the real tour. Now they are in their last year in the studio (so I guess Seniors?). Lots of changes are already occurring including people leaving the Studio. Some are headed to Gregorio’s Art Rebel. I have to say that Gregorio has grown on me so much and now he is one of my favorite characters. I love his relationship with Diego and every time they call each other Papa and son. OMG it’s fantastic! So great to see them happy. This season we have a new teacher, Milton and I honestly can’t figure out what his deal is. Why is he so mean? I’m in episode 18 now and I am happy Leon and Vilu are still going strong. Obviously, they’re going to have issues (and they’ve already had minor ones), but it’s good to still see them in love. (It is adorable how they call each other Amor.) I also like that their “love triangles” seem to be misunderstandings right now. I’m in the VERY early stages of Fran and Diego and honestly I am so in love with them already. I’m going to fall hard for this ship. I know it. I am so tempted to continue watching spoilers, but I feel they’re not true spoilers if I can only find them in Spanish with no subtitles. ;) 

Sunshine on Leith

My journey through watching George Mackay films continued with Sunshine on Leith. This was a great choice and I highly recommend. The main difficulty is how to access it. I couldn’t find it fully anywhere online or through a streaming service, so I wound up purchasing it through Amazon and getting it as a UK DVD. This means you need a Multi-region DVD player to watch it. (I know. It’s weird that not all DVDs are the same.) Of course, I have one of these. I am a TV/Movie junky and love a lot of British programs that are unavailable to purchase in the US. I got it a few years ago also on Amazon and it was pretty cheap. I haven’t had any issues with it, so I highly recommend. 

The movie musical includes songs from the Proclaimers and takes place in Edinburgh. As someone who got to visit Edinburgh it was so cool to see the characters in places I’ve actually been. Before watching the film, the only Proclaimers song I knew was (of course) 500 miles. While watching I realized I actually new more and those I didn’t know I really liked. So, now I have a new playlist on my phone. Some are the original songs and others are from the movie (because I prefer their voices on some). What was cool to see was how not all the actors had the strongest voices, but could sing really well. I’m not sure if this was a purposeful choice or not. (I’d have to look more into it.) At times the plot felt a little rushed. Overall it was a fairly short musical, so that was probably why. Characters seemed to know each other really well really fast. So, if a lot of time would have passed I didn’t notice it. I can’t wait to re-watch the film. George Mackay in the cast brought me to watch it, but I stayed for a great story. (And of course I fell more in love with my crush on Mackay...No shock there :) 

I Am Not Okay With This

Netflix’s I Am Not Okay With This had been in my queue since the beginning of this year, but I didn’t get the chance to watch it till now....when I heard it got cancelled. [Netflix hit us with this news about a month back when they released that shows that were originally picked up were now getting dropped for a second season. I Am Not Okay With This and The Society were on the chopping block.] To make the comment everyone else already has, I am Not Okay With This. 

Despite knowing the show got cancelled, I still wanted to watch it. As I was watching Derry Girls, I wanted another show that was contemporary. I was very surprised to see how few episodes there were as well as how short they each were. It was a very quick watch because of this. While I expected this show to be contemporary with a touch of the supernatural, as Syd has powers, I was not expecting it to be so much more! This show blends so many genres and it does it so well. I honestly don’t know if I’ve seen it done before...at all. Which makes it hard to compare to some others. It feels like an Indy/Contemporary Coming of Age with both supernatural and thriller vibes. It even touches into horror-ish towards the end of the season. If only there was another season to see where it would go. And that ENDING! Is it bad I laughed? I think I did because I was not expecting it to go down like that AT ALL. Syd was a very dynamic main character and I really like how they had her explore who she truly is. Her and Stan’s friendship is one that I strive for. (Speaking of, where can I get a Stanley Barber? I need one in my life.)If you’re willing to be upset that the show got cancelled and there is no second season in the works, then I definitely suggest you just out I Am Not Okay With This. 

Enola Holmes

Man, I feel like I’m giving a lot of support to Netflix this month, but there was a lot coming out/ a lot in my queue so it makes sense. Overall, I would give Enola a 7/10. I had a lot of hype for this one (as it was one of my highly anticipated watches for September), which I think hurt my overall reaction. This doesn’t mean it wasn’t entertaining and enjoyable. I loved the female empowerment message as it was very strong. Millie Bobby Brown was fantastic and so charismatic as Enola. I loved the feature of her talking to us as well as giving some really great facial expressions. I am a sucker for a retelling (of any kind, but especially Sherlock Holmes), so I loved the concept and how they included a younger sister to the Holmes family. I know there has been some conversation about how Sherlock was portrayed and that’s not really Sherlock, but I had no problem with this (and I’m not just saying that because he was played by the dashing Henry Cavill). Honestly, Mycroft’s character bothered me more. I get that there had to be a “villainous” character (well other than the one in the mystery), but he felt a little too over the top. The movie felt a little too long at times and I still don’t like the reason for why her mother left and the conclusion to that plot. It did set it up as if there could be a sequel and I would definitely watch it. 

I would also like to add that I cannot get enough of the cast. Thanks to the YouTube interviews Netflix keeps uploading, I am falling more and more in love with this trio. They just seem like so much fun and I would love to be a part of this cast. They feel like siblings! 

Harriet

Another one in my watch-list for September can be checked off! Harriet has been a film that I have been wanting to watch since it came to theaters last year, but I felt like it came and went pretty fast. Luckily HBO just released it in the past month or so, which made me to tape it. I am so happy I did. 

WOW! Why didn’t I know about these facts about Harriet Tubman sooner? Why aren’t we taught these parts of history in school? I already knew she was amazing, and this just put her over the top. She did SO MUCH! It’s super impressive that she was a part of the Civil War and fought. Not only was this something difficult to do as a Black person, but also as a woman. I didn’t know about her visions, so that was something I Googled right when the film was finished. She never lost a freed slave in their journey to freedom. The list goes on and on how amazing Harriet Tubman was. This film showcases that so well and Cynthia Erivo is amazing as Harriet. (I have to start finding synonyms for ‘amazing’.) Her voice...WOW! Before watching the film, I have loved listening to “Stand Up,” but now afterwards it takes on a whole new meaning. Especially when you understand the direct quote from Harriet Tubman: “I go to prepare a place for you.” CHILLS! This film was nominated for multiple Academy Awards and it should have gotten one. WATCH HARRIET!

The Crimson Field

I’ve noticed that most of the programs I watch through Amazon Prime Video are mainly period dramas. So it was no shock that I would tune into The Crimson Field, a 7 episode series following the nurses and surgeons in France during WWI. As someone who is often more drawn to WWII, I am finding myself interested to watch more things involving the first World War (ie: 1917 and Tolkien). And this show was just what I needed. The pressure was on to watch it though, as it was only available through Prime Video till September 30th. Luckily with only 7 episodes this was an easy feat to accomplish, plus the first couple I marathoned because it was so good. As with any show it took a little bit to understand the setting and the cast, but I feel like I got to know them rather quickly, which made me invested to know what would happen next. I did find it strange that Prime Video only had access to the show for a month as it originally aired on BBC one and then PBS in 2015. The streaming service has programs older than that readily available to watch any time. 

The beginning of the series was definitely stronger in my opinion. I like how they gave breadcrumbs into people’s backstories, such as the main character Kitty. There was a lot of mystery there when we first learned she had a kid and then of her scandalous marriage. There are still a few things that I don’t 100% understand, but that might be because they thought they were getting a season 2 (but they did not). And with the way they ended the show it definitely had the feel. I enjoyed Kitty and Tom’s romance, but more at the beginning than at the end. With Tom’s character, I feel like they set him up as the super nice guy while Miles was the player, but then as the show progressed they decided Tom should have more Mr. Darcy traits and I just thought that was out of his character. Either way, I did still like him (and Miles) and could listen to Richard Rankin’s Scottish accent ALL DAY! It wasn’t until I looked up his IMDB that I made the connection that he is on Outlander now. Can you see the resemblance to him now? 

   Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Candace Against the Universe

And don’t we all just feel against the universe sometimes?

I know my range for this month is all over the place, so is it that shocking that I would add a cartoon to the mix. Definitely not...especially because it’s Phineas and Ferb. One of my favorite Disney Channel shows. Watching this film feels like FOREVER ago because it was so early in the month. I’ve only watched it the one time (because I don’t think it needs a second watch...I guess that tells you something), so let’s see how much I remember...

It’s been a while since we’ve had a new installment of Phineas and Ferb grace our screens and it was great to see the citizens of Danville once again. In a way, it felt like no time had passed. (And for them I guess it hadn’t because it always seems like the same summer.) It just felt like the moment for Phineas and Ferb. While I was really happy to see our beloved characters again, the plot of this film felt familiar. Very Queen of Mars. Now thinking back, it’s hard for me to relay what happens and I think that’s a good way to describe this movie. It was very familiar, and I wish they would have done more with it. I can’t even remember any of the songs (and that’s often my favorite part). Of course, it had all the classics antics and jokes. I love how Perry was helping out the kids and had to be very secretive about it. I always love a good Candace and Venessa team up. Dr. Doof was hilarious as usual and his pairing with the kids (specifically Isabella) was a great time. My favorite part was when they got meta and did the reverse engineering of their animation and then we saw the creators in front of the story boards. That was really cool and unexpected. Overall, it felt like Phineas and Ferb and made life in quarantine a little bit easier. 

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Well! That’s a wrap. These were some of my favorite picks to talk about (even if it took me longer than usual). I hope you watched some great stuff last month and continue to find new picks for October! 

[drakefanfiction]

The Ex Factor Chapter 19

Chapter 19

Raven's Pov

I spent the entire ride home trying to wrap my mind around this news. Not only did my doctor confirm that I'm pregnant, but she also let me know that I'm 6 weeks, which means Michael is the father. I knew that there was a chance, but deep down I was praying that this baby would be Aubrey's. We're finally back on good terms in our relationship and now this. It's like every time we take a step forward, the universe knocks us back three. I don't know how I'm going to tell him let alone, Michael. We ended in such a bad space, now this is only going to make a messy breakup even messier. Knowing that he still has feelings for me, it's going to be like pouring salt on an open wound.

I sat, parked in my car about a block away from Aubrey's, contemplating my next words. He'd been calling for the past hour and quite frankly, I don't know what to say to him. I'm always preaching about honesty and not keeping secrets, I'd be a hypocrite if I did the same. Although it's not like I can keep this one a secret for long,

"Just go in there, sit Aubrey down and tell him." I coached myself while staring into the rearview mirror.

After a minute or so, I started the car up and drove the rest of the way to Aubrey's. The gate opened, and I entered; here goes nothing. As I entered the house, I mentally prepared myself for every reaction possible; worst case scenario Aubrey kicks me out and tells me he wants nothing to do with me. The place was surprisingly empty, which was a good thing, but I didn't see or hear Cam either. What I did hear was Aubrey on the phone, engaging in what seemed to be a heated argument with someone. Great, just what I needed. I fully entered the kitchen, finding Aubrey standing by the island counter with a drink in his hand. Not wanting eavesdrop, I cleared my throat to make my presence known. Aubrey's eyes lifted from his intense conversation and found mine.

"Look, I gotta go, but I meant what I said. We'll talk about it later." He hung up the phone, not even saying goodbye and took a long drink, finishing the brown contents of his glass.

"Long day?" I asked, as I approached him and wrapped my arms around his waist from behind.

"You have no idea," Aubrey replied with uneasiness in his voice. He turned around in my arms and leaned down, giving me a kiss on the lips. "What took you so long today, I thought you were just grabbing lunch with Tiana?" He asked. This was my chance to tell him everything.

I let go of Aubrey, taking a step back to lean against the countertop. "Aubrey, we need to talk." I simply spoke, knowing that what we were about to get into was far from simple.

"Yes, we do. I actually sent Cam to hang out with Chubbs so we could have a moment alone." He responded, to my surprise.

"Okay, you go first." Aubrey took a deep breath, running his hand down his face. I don't know why but those mere actions made a lump form in my throat. Why was he so nervous?

"Well... you know that I love you and Cam more than anything," said Aubrey as he reached out, taking my hand in his. I nodded my head, letting him continue. "I don't want to keep secrets from you, especially since we're starting over. Therapy has taught us to be open, even if that means you stop talking to me, or want nothing to do with me... I just can't lie to you and hurt you again." His brown eyes bore into mine and I could see a genuine fear there; a fear of losing me which confused me.

"Aubrey, you're scaring me. What is it?" I asked, waiting for him to blurt out whatever it was. We've only been back together for a little over a month, I know he didn't cheat on me.

Once again, another deep breath left his lips. His hold on my hand loosened as his mouth opened to speak. "Ava's pregnant, and it's mine." He blurted out, looking me dead in the eyes. I paused for a second; next thing I knew, I was laughing. I know the Universe wouldn't possibly be that cruel to me.

"Baby, I'm not joking, she's pregnant," Aubrey responded in a very serious tone. I stopped laughing long enough to get a good look at the serious expression on his face. Just like that, I was speechless. "Your silence is killing me right now, please say something."

My hand slipped away from his, trying to process this information. "Aubrey, I don't know what to say... How far along is she?"

"16 weeks. I just found out not too long ago. I wanted to tell you as soon as I got the news, but Ava's been tripping. She doesn't want you to know or be involved, she's even threatening to keep the baby from me. That’s who I was on the phone with when you came in, but I told her that you’re going to be in my life and there’s nothing she can do to stop that.”

"Wow." Was all I could say. This was turning out to be a day of bombshells.

"Raven, I'm not losing you again. If she wants to go to court, we'll go to court, but I need you in my life... that's if you still want to be in it."

"I can't lie, this has me completely thrown off balance right now, but I would never want you to not be in your child's life, especially because of me. I see how you are with Cam, and I know you want more children--

"But I wanted them with you." Aubrey placed a gentle hand on my belly, not knowing that I have Michael's baby growing inside of me. This only made me feel guiltier than I already felt.  

"Aubrey, I know this isn't the ideal situation for us to be in, but shit happens. I love you and I'm going to stick by you for whatever happens next. Even if that means I have to deal with your baby mama drama." Knowing exactly how he feels right now, I couldn't bring myself to walk away from him. Especially after justifying to myself on the ride here that he wouldn't do that to me.

"I don't know what the hell I did to deserve you, but I glad that your mine." Aubrey stepped closer, leaning in to kiss my lips. When he pulled away there was a slight smile on his face. "I have to be honest, you're a better person than I am because I wouldn't be able to do it." He joked... I hope.

"Well, I mean it's not like you cheated on me. You were two consenting adults in a relationship." I reasoned, hoping he would see it my way and return some of my open-mindedness.

Shrugging his shoulders, he continued on. "I guess, but me personally, I know I wouldn't be able to deal with another man getting you pregnant; I haven't reached that level of maturity yet. That's why I don't deserve you." Aubrey kissed me once more, paying no attention to the disillusion on my face as his words sink in. I could literally see the panic leave him and relief settle in, but I couldn't quite say the same.

"So what did you want to talk to me about?" He questioned in wonder. I thought for a second, weighing my options. How am I supposed to tell him I'm pregnant by someone else after he clearly just said he wouldn't be about to handle it. My only choice as of now is to keep my mouth shut until I figure out my next move.

"I wanted to know if you booked the Marvel characters for this weekend? Cam's really excited about having the Avengers at his party." I answered, and Aubrey nodded his head telling me he took care of everything. So I lied. I know I'm making the wrong decision and I should tell him now while he's being truthful with me, but honesty is easier said than done, especially when it can potentially put a permanent end to our relationship. I just need time to think and figure out how to tell him.

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This was the last week of the promo tour for our film and I couldn't be more excited. For one, this morning sickness was kicking my ass and almost every smell disgusted me. Not to mention it was so awkward being around Michael. He was serious when he said he wasn't going anywhere. I was getting flowers and teddy bears sent to my house and almost every interview and photoshoot we had to do, which only made that one more thing I had to keep from Aubrey. He was adamant about knowing if Michael tries to cross any lines, but that would only cause more drama to my already chaotic situation.

Today we were in LA sitting down with an online blog, answering questions about Creed 2; all the while I had to smile and ignore Michael's covert attempts of seduction and subtle placement of his hand on my thigh. As soon as we wrapped, I flashed another fake smile to the interviewer, shook her hand and headed straight for my dressing room, while Alex followed behind me. When I got inside I noticed the newly placed black box of red roses on the vanity. Alex went over to the box and picked up the tiny card that was tucked away.

"I know you're getting tired of the gifts. One dinner is all I'm asking for and I'll let you go for good... if that's what you want." Alex read the note aloud.

I ran my fingers through my hair, letting out a frustrated sigh. "He just doesn't give up."

'Yeah, but it's cute though, in a stalker-ish kind of way." Alex smiled, smelling the roses. They were beautiful, but I knew I couldn't take them home with me.

"Alex, can you get rid of those for me?"

"Actually, my mom's birthday is tomorrow, do you mind if I regift these?"

"Be my guest." I shrugged my shoulders letting him take them. At least they weren't going to go to waste. Alex grabbed the box from the vanity and left the room to take the flowers to the car.

I needed a drink so bad, but since I can't, I decided that venting would have to suffice. Since Tiana is the only person I can vent to about my current situation, I grabbed my phone from my bag and sat down at the vanity to give her a call. It ring a few times, and just as I thought it was about to go to voicemail, she picked up.

"Hey, are you busy?" I asked, hearing heavy breathing on the other end of the phone.

"Nope, my afternoon class just ended. What's up?" She answered in an upbeat tone.

"My blood pressure. I swear Tee, lately, I've been feeling like my life is a mess and I'm just getting this adulting thing all wrong."

I could hear Tiana let out a sigh on the other end. "Is Michael still calling nonstop?"

"Calling, texting, sending gifts. I don't know what to do at this point."

"Raven, I know you don't want to hear it, but have you thought about abortion? Things are only going to get worse once he finds out you're pregnant and it's his."

"The thought did cross my mind, but it just doesn't feel right. I know I have to do something soon, but with the way things are going, I can't tell Michael I'm carrying his child."  

"What did you just say?" My head snapped around in the direction of the door, hearing a voice that I knew for sure wasn't Alex's.

Michael was standing there with a tiny stuffed pink rabbit in his hand, jaw clenched, eyes filled with questions that I knew were about to come spewing from his mouth. I swear my brain stuttered for a moment, as every part of my body went on pause to give my thoughts a chance to catch up with my mouth. I couldn't even form the words to say bye to Tiana, I just hung up on her.

"How long were you standing there?" I asked. Alex must've not closed the door all the way because I didn't even hear it open.

"Long enough to know you're pregnant. Is it mine?" Michael ignored my question, giving me one of his own. Knowing that the answer is about to change my life forever, I could only look away feeling a lump in my throat. He stepped closer to me, gently turning my chin so that I would look at him. "Raven, is this baby really mine?"

"Yes... it's yours." I hesitated with my response, not knowing how he would react.

Michael's hand fell from my face. He backed away from me, leaning his body against the wall. There was nothing but silence as he stared at the ceiling. Michael ran his hand down his face and then turned to me with a slight smile. "I'm gonna be a father..." As the words left his lips, his smile grew wider.

"Michael please, you have to understand that this is a very complicated situation. You can't tell anyone I'm pregnant." I begged him. The last thing I need is Aubrey finding out from Michael.

"I take it Drake doesn't know?" He questioned and then shook his head, getting his answer from my silence. "So what is your plan, wait until your stomach is poking out and have him thinking he's the father?"

"I didn't say that," I argued back, even though I had no clue as to what I was going to do.

"Well, what are you saying, because I'm not gonna--"

"Hey, the car is out front." Alex stumbled into the room interrupting our conversation. If I could feel the tension, I know he could. His eyes bounced back and forth between Michael and I. "Is everything okay?" He asked with a look of curiosity.

"I'll call you later. so answer your phone." Michael demanded, his attitude slipping through with each word. He sat the stuffed rabbit he was holding down on the vanity and exited the room. I sank back into my chair, while Alex looked clueless to everything that was about to blow-up in my face.

Aubrey's Pov

It was the day of Cam's birthday party and I was busy at Raven's, trying to get everything in order. The house was hectic, to say the least. Decorators were coming in and out, setting up his carnival in the backyard. Not to mention wild animals making all types of noise from his petting zoo. I don't know why, or how I let Raven talk me into this. She's been throwing up, off and on since yesterday so I've been doing most of the work. For a second, it crossed my mind that she might be pregnant, but that thought faded away when I remember that she's on birth control and chalked it up to bad Chinese food. Cam was spending the day out with his grandmothers while I got everything set up. Tiana and Chubbs came by to help, but they were doing more arguing than helping. I was readying to tell them to take that shit home.

Karris was checking on Ironman, who was the only Marvel character currently missing from the party. I paid for six Avengers, and six Avengers better be here. After I got finished stuffing these prize bags Raven wanted for the carnival games, I glanced up and saw Karris with her phone in her hand.

"I handled it. Ironman went to the wrong address, but he'll be here in 20 minutes." She reported.

"Thank you. The last thing I need is for Ironman to not show up." I looked up and saw Raven dressed in a black sweatshirt with Cam's picture on the front, ripped jeans, a pair of white Air Max 90s; and her hair was now curly which was a change from her bonnet and pajamas she had on an hour ago.

She stepped further into the backyard with her hands on her hips as she examined the work that had been done.  "It looks good out here."

"I told you I had it under control." I said as I walked over to where she stood. "You feeling any better?" I asked. The last time I saw her, she was curled up with a bucket next to the bed.

"Much better, thank you. Did the cake--"

"The cake arrived and it looks exactly like you imagined it," I assured her. Raven ordered a three-tier over the top cake that resembled a carnival. I'm surprised it made it here without any damages.

She nodded, but I could still see the wheels turn in her head. "Okay, what about the rides and the caterer? Did they--

"The rides are all up and running, I even had OB and Ryan test them out to make sure they're safe for the kids, and the caterers have all of the food set up over there." I pointed to a large white tent that had all of the food on display. I wrapped my arms around her waist, pulling her closer. "See, it's all handled. Nothing to worry about."

Raven smiled, finally giving up her micromanaging. "I will give it to you, you did a great job." Raven sighed and relaxed in my arms. "You know, seeing all of this is making me think about what our wedding would've looked like." I looked down at Raven in my arms and noticed her staring off in the distance. I guess all the planning she's done for Cam's party reminded her of all the wedding plans she was making four years ago.

"We can still make that happen. Why don't we just tell the judge we decided to stick with our marriage, then we can have that ceremony you always wanted."

Raven turned around in my arms to face me. "Honestly, I have thought about it, but I still think it's too soon to know for sure if we're actually ready to make this marriage a permanent thing."

"True, I didn't hear a no though..." I said with a grin, making her smile. Raven placed her hand on my chin, bringing my lips to hers. "The party doesn't start for another hour. You wanna sneak away a minute." I whispered in her ear, leaving kisses on her neck. She nodded her head yes, and I took her by the hand to lead us back inside the house for some privacy. There's a video I found in my phone that I've been wanting to show her, but Karris's voice stopped us before we could get a good five feet away.

"Uh-un, y'all are not about to leave me with Ike and Tina." Karris complained with her hand on hips. Raven and I both looked over at Chubbs and Tiana who was once again yelling at each other instead of blowing up balloons. We shook our heads, going over to separate them. This was the third fight I to break up today.

-----

An hour later the backyard was filled with a bunch of kids and their parents. Besides the crew and our family, I don't know who half these people are, but I do know that Cam is having a good time. He just got his face painted like Ironman and was currently dragging Raven to the dunk tank. Just seeing the smile on their faces made me feel like I was doing something right, despite everything that had gone wrong. When I found out that Ava was pregnant, I thought for sure that was going to be the end of me and Raven, but she surprised the hell out of me and stuck around. I'm so used to her running, so this is definitely a change. Now Ava wants me to come out to Toronto to be at the next couple of appointments, but I'm not sure how Raven is going to react to that. I haven't said anything to her yet, because this is all still new for us and I didn't want it to distract from Cam's birthday party, but it got me thinking. Once this baby comes, I'm going to be dividing my time between LA and Toronto, missing moments with both of my children. I never saw myself as being a part-time dad and here I am about to do it again.

"Aubrey, honey I left my glasses in the car, can you get them for me." My mom's voice interrupted my thoughts.

Her car was parked out front so I knew she didn't feel like walking to get them. I took the keys she held out and left the backyard, walking back through the house and to the front door. I opened the door to step out, but to my surprise, Michael was standing there with a gift bag in his hand getting ready to ring the doorbell. I know this nigga done lost his mind.

"You need to turn around and leave right now," I spoke, stepping in front of Michael. I know he doesn't think he's just about to walk in here right past me without it being a problem.  

"Nah, I'm cool. I'm here to see Raven. Now if she wants me to leave, then I'll go." Michael grilled me down. I know it's my son's birthday party and it's not the time or place, but the only thing I could think about is all the disrespectful ass text messages he thinks I don't know about. Everything in me was telling me to lay hand on him right here and now.

[vagrantblvrd]

A Higher Law (1/1)

Summary: Things go wrong more often than not when the Fakes are involved.

Notes: For Diveintothefuture who asked for Freewood and either the now or never kiss or being on the brink of admitting their feelings for each other but getting interrupted from this post. :D

AO3

Things go wrong more often than not when the Fakes are involved. Things like tripped alarms and trigger happy security guards. Some trick of weather that throws their careful plans off that crucial little bit that means the difference between a flawlessly executed heist and a chaotic clusterfuck of epic proportions.

Tonight its some kind of sport championship playoffs and guards who alter their patrol routes because they just need to catch an extra few minutes of the game here, another there, and now they're fucked because they failed to account for that.

One hundred percent fucked.

“You have that out for us yet?” Ryan asks, watching the choppers circling overhead through the security cameras.

Gavin yells something back, voice muffled and indistinct around the cables he has clamped between his teeth as he does his thing with the computers. Trying to find a way out of the building for them that doesn't involve going through the hordes of security guards swarming the building.

This was supposed to be a simple, quick little job. Go with Gavin to watch his back while he pulled files they needed for the next heist off of the computers here. Deal with whatever complications might arise, but no one had expected there to be any, which may have been the problem because they didn't come here expecting a fight.

They're both wearing body armor because Geoff's insistent they do whenever they go on job, even simple little infiltration ones like this, but they didn't bring any heavy weapons with them. Just Gavin's shiny little gold gun and the knives he keeps taking off Ryan like Ryan doesn't know, doesn't let him.

The same stupid little game they've been playing for years now. A give and take that amuses the rest of the crew as much as it bewilders them.

It started out as Gavin being a nosy parker, wanting to know what made the Big Bad Vagabond tick, who he was under the mask and the ridiculous face paint. It's settled into this, this thing between them. A poking and prodding and careful exploration of boundaries and limits that have changed over the years as they got to know one another, unspoken understandings.

And now -  

Well, now.

Ryan's no stranger to shitty situations like this.

He's built a reputation off being able to survive just about everything Los Santos has to throw at him and then some because he's bigger and meaner than anything else in the city. (He's not, though. Luckier than most maybe, but everyone's luck runs out at some point.)

They could put up a fight for a bit, take some of the bastards with them before they were overwhelmed by sheer numbers, and honestly, that's one of the ways he expected to go out. A last stand somewhere facing incredible odds, typical end for someone like them.

The thing is, Ryan doesn't want that. Not for them, not like this.

Gavin makes a frustrated noise somewhere behind him and Ryan -

He turns to look, sees Gavin hunched over his laptop connected to the computers here to dig through their files. Searching for a way out of this mess for them and apparently coming up blank. All too aware of what that means for them.

“Gavin.”

Gavin snarls at his computers, stubborn as anything as he digs deeper.

“Just a few more minutes, Ryan. A few more minutes,” he says, the same thing he's been saying for the past ten minutes, variations on a theme.  

“Okay,” Ryan says, watching a team of guards thundering up the stairs to the floor they're on. “You keep working on that.”

They have a little bit of time before the guards get through the security doors to them, reinforced and electronically locked and little enough barrier when it comes down to it.

Gavin stops typing, the room going silent for the first time since they holed up in here.

“Ryan - “

“Keep working,” Ryan says, checking his weapons.

Ryan's carrying his AP pistol and a few goodies he never really leaves home without. Enough to make a dent in the numbers against them for a little while at least. Maybe put them on the defensive long enough for Gavin to find his exit.

”Ryan.”

Ryan looks at Gavin, sees the look on his face and tries for a smile. Thinks he makes it for a moment there, but then Gavin's pushing away from the desk he's working at and stumbling towards Ryan, hands grabbing on to his jacket.

“Ryan, what do you think you're playing at, Ryan?”

Gavin's not stupid, far from it, but sometimes he forgets. Loves life so much that he forgets the Fakes aren't the good guys in this scenario, don't get the happy ending.

They're the ones who get gunned down in the streets by the good guys in the name of justice and liberty and whatever bullshit people want to attribute to them, like they're in the right. They get chased to the ends of the earth and put down like rabid animals because they don't toe the line, buy into whatever society expects them to be. They get desperate last stands where everything they've done doesn't mean a damn thing because the world's too big to fight against forever.

“Buying you time,” Ryan says, because it's a simple enough thing in the end, isn't it?

Do what he does best, hope like hell that's enough and knowing it won't be, not tonight, but trying anyway because he just can't not.

Gavin's glaring up at him, angry, furious, and at the heart of it, scared.

“You - “

And here's the other thing, flip side of this kind of situation. Bittersweet as hell, but the best he could have hoped for, given the life they live.

“Hey,” Ryan says, and this time he does get the smile right.

Sees Gavin's confusion in the moment before Ryan cups his face in his hands, and leans down to kiss him. Slowly enough that Gavin could pull away if he wants to.

“You stupid bastard!” Gavin says, and shoves him, hard enough that Ryan stumbles back a step. And then he shoves him again, harder, and Ryan's back hits the wall. “If you'd listened to a damn thing I've been saying, we just have to wait for the others to get here! Two minutes, Ryan! Two minutes!”

Ryan -

“What?”

Gavin throws his hands up in exasperation and shows Ryan his phone, screen glowing faintly in the dim lighting as he taps an icon.

  ”The fuck are you two morons doing?”

Geoff.

Geoff on speaker, sounding annoyed as all hell with the sound of chopper blades in the background and Michael shouting something indistinct, but no doubt insulting.

Ryan looks down at Gavin, and almost wishes he hadn't, because -

Well, first of all, awkward.

And second -

“Gavin - “

“You're a bastard,” Gavin says, hurt and something else in his voice. “You're a bastard, and I honestly have no clue why, but I like that about you.”

Ryan is very confused at the moment, because Gavin looks like he wants nothing better than to punch Ryan's face in, but he also sounds like he wouldn't mind kissing it better again afterward.

“Uh, thanks?”

Gavin's eyebrows go up in disbelief, and Ryan shrugs because he's not so great at this shit, okay? Give him a gun and point him at some poor bastard and he's great. Fucking amazing, even. Give him a British asshole and time to develop feelings for him, and he's a complete disaster.

Does things like do his best to bury the damn things deep, act like they're not there every damn day as best as he can because they're a liability in this business. Make people soft, get them killed. (Get the people who caused the fucking things killed.)

Which makes the timely arrival of the cavalry a definite relief, heavy weapons fire and pretty little fireballs as the security choppers go down in flames outside the building.

”Could you two not suck each other's dicks when we have to listen to it?” Geoff asks, sounding pained. ”Also, what floor are you on? I'm asking for a friend.”

Gavin breaks away from Ryan to give Geoff their location and a few moments later they see an Annihilator with NOOSE decals swing into view.

“Come on, you idiot,” Gavin says, grabbing Ryan's hand to pull him over to cover as Jack maneuvers the chopper to let Michael get a good angle on the windows to the office.

Gavin drops Ryan's hand when they duck under one of the heavy desks, eyes darting away from Ryan's.

“We should talk,” Ryan says, words awkward and unwieldy because those damn feelings again. “When we're out of here.”

”For the love of God, not now!” Geoff howls, as Michael shoots the windows out with a garbled battle cry.

Chaos and mayhem as usual for the Fakes, and it's finally starting to sink in for Ryan that there won't be any last stands for them here tonight. No final words, no heroic sacrifice.

Just these idiots in a stolen chopper and the flight home to the penthouse and the kind of luck that doesn't seem to quit no matter the odds.

Ryan laughs, desperate relief and even after all this time surprise that his – their  - luck has managed to hold out one more time. Sees it echoed in Gavin as he looks at him, mouth  pulled up into a small smile.

“Idiot,” Gavin says, soft and fond, and then he's the one pulling Ryan down for a kiss.

It's not perfect, no.

Not with the chopper hovering a few feet away kicking up wind and debris, papers flying haphazardly around the room. Geoff and Michael both yelling at them to get their asses in gear, fucking Christ, the threat of the guards still outside the office.

Noisy and messy and an overall disaster, but that's them, isn't it. Pair of idiots who live dangerous lives and still found a way to do the stupidest thing possible for people like them, develop feelings for one another and allow them to shape their lives like this.

“Yeah,” Ryan agrees, because he is an idiot.

Always has been, but he's good with that. Figures at the very least he's in good company here, might as well stop fighting it and embrace it.

[made-from-galaxies]

Here’s Why Black Widow Didn’t Get a Memorial at the End of ‘Avengers: Endgame’

(Major spoilers ahead for “Avengers: Endgame” and the whole situation with Black Widow aka Natasha Romanoff, but you probably already knew that given the headline)

The scenes in “Avengers: Endgame” that take place after the film’s climax are all about Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) and Steve Rogers (Chris Evans), first with the big funeral for Iron Man after he died to defeat Thanos and his army, and then with Captain America’s big retirement scene to close the whole thing out. They were the two main characters of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, so fine, whatever. But it still irks me that Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) got only the barest of mentions after she sacrificed herself in the second act.

If she hadn’t killed herself on Vormir so that Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) could return to the present with the Soul Stone, then they wouldn’t have been able to save all those people Thanos snapped, and then Tony Stark’s snap to wipe out all of Thanos’s forces wouldn’t have been possible. Her sacrifice mattered just as much as Tony’s did.

Also Read: ‘Avengers: Endgame’ – That Last Scene Makes No Sense

But when we get to the end of the movie, we get a big memorial for Iron Man with a huge number of famous heroes showing up to pay their respects, while Hawkeye and Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) hang out in the corner having their own private mourning ceremony for Natasha and Vision, who apparently nobody other than them — and Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo), I guess — cared about.

It would have been a great moment to elevate a character who always operated from the shadows, never getting the acclaim that Tony always received. The one time Black Widow stepped into the spotlight was at the end of “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” when a US Senate committee threatened to put her on trial. The people of the MCU finally had a chance to give Natasha the respect she was due, and they just didn’t.

On the commentary track on the home video release of “Avengers: Endgame,” co-director Joe Russo addressed this concern, and blamed next year’s “Black Widow” movie for the lack of a memorial for Natasha.

Also Read: ‘Avengers: Endgame’ – Who Is That Random Kid At the End of the Movie?

“People have asked why Natasha didn’t get the same amount of screen time post-death as Tony did,” Joe Russo said. “Well, Tony does not have another movie. Tony is done. And Natasha has another film. And Marvel Universe obviously does not have to move forward linearly anymore. But that character still has more screen time coming.”

So there’s your answer — Natasha Romanoff didn’t get a big memorial in “Endgame” because of the prequel movie coming out next May, whereas Tony Stark is not gonna be in the MCU again for the foreseeable future. Though they didn’t mention Vision specifically, there’s probably a similar reason for the lack of love for him after he died in “Infinity War,” since he’ll be back somehow in the “WandaVision” Disney+ show in 2021.

There is an interesting sentence in that answer, though, that caused a big exclamation point to pop up over my head, though: “And Marvel Universe obviously does not have to move forward linearly anymore.” Since the MCU has done multiple prequel movies that didn’t involve time travel, including the first “Captain America” movie that was the fourth film overall in this franchise, it seems incorrect to say that the MCU ever “had to” move forward linearly.

Also Read: ‘Avengers: Endgame’ – What Happened With Loki and the Tesseract?

To me, this implies that the “Black Widow” movie will be more than just another prequel like “Captain America: The First Avenger” or “Captain Marvel,” which took us to the past to set up heroes that would have an impact on the present. To me, the implication is something I have long suspected about “Black Widow”: that it will involve characters from the MCU’s post-“Endgame” present somehow.

But Marvel still has yet to confirm anything along those lines about that film. When they presented footage from the film at Comic-Con a couple weeks ago there was no indication that it would be anything other than a straight prequel — one that likely will set up a new player for future movies, like probably Florence Pugh’s Yelena.

We’ve got a while to wait before we find anything out about what the “Black Widow” movie really has in store for us. It’s nine months until the movie comes out, and it’ll probably be December at the earliest before we get a proper trailer. So sit tight.

All 58 Marvel Movies Ranked, Including ‘Spider-Man: Far From Home’

It’s hard to believe — and sad, too, if you like these movies — that “Spider-Man: Far From Home” is the last Marvel movie of the year. There’s no more on the calendar until Fox’s “The New Mutants” early next year, and given how many times that one has been delayed it may not be safe to assume it actually will be the next Marvel movie.

Anyway, the point is just we’re about to get into an extended hiatus. No more MCU movies, no non-MCU Marvel movies the rest of 2019. We’re getting a bit of a break from comic book movies, with only DC’s “Joker” origin movie left.

58. “Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer”

Just a nightmare. A total nightmare. There have been a number of bad superhero movies, but from the talking gas cloud the filmmakers cast as Galactus to Jessica Alba‘s dye job, this one transcends bad.

57. “X-Men Origins: Wolverine”

A totally chaotic stir fry of nonsense that tells the story of how Wolverine got his claws. Features an early version of Deadpool (also played by Ryan Reynolds) whose mouth is stapled shut, which should tell you all you need to know about it.

56. “Elektra”

That five minutes when they tried to turn Jennifer Garner into an action star went about as well as it should have.

55. “X-Men: The Last Stand”

Just a total mess, incoherent from the word “go.” After losing director of the first two X-Men films Brian Singer to the first Superman reboot attempt, replacement Matthew Vaughn gave way to eventual director Brett Ratner, who might have killed off the superhero genre entirely were “Spider-Man” not blowing up the box office.

54. “Fantastic Four” (2015)

There could maybe have been a good movie in here somewhere — the cast (Michael B Jordan, Miles Teller, Kate Mara) certainly warranted one. But this Frankenstein of a film is a behind-the-scenes horror story, and you can see it in the totally disjointed final product.

53. “Daredevil”

This was basically “Early-2000s: The Movie,” with Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner, Colin Farrell and Michael Clark Duncan as the main players. The cherry on top of this turd sundae was that damn Evanescence song.

52. “Fantastic Four” (2005)

Tim Story‘s first “Fantastic Four” is just sort of there, challenging you to remember it exists. With Chris Evans, who played the Human Torch here, going on to embody Captain America in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, that gets tougher every year.

51. “The Punisher” (2004)

This is the Punisher as a straight revenge thriller, and it’s not bad. Thomas Jane performs admirably, but the whole thing is missing that extra something that would have elevated it beyond standard genre fare. Setting it in Tampa didn’t help.

50. “Spider-Man 3”

Maybe the bad outweighs the good here, but Emo Peter Parker’s dance number remains one of the greatest single moments in any comic book movie, sorry, haters.

49. “Howard the Duck”

A notorious flop at the box office and, yeah, it’s not exactly “good.” But now, 30 years removed from its premiere, “Howard the Duck” is pretty fun as a relic of the ’80s.

48. “The Punisher” (1989)

Dolph Lundgren and Louis Gossett Jr. star in a low-rent ’80s grunge C-level classic. This one’s all novelty value.

47. “Ghost Rider”

For a movie starring Nic Cage about a dude who rides a Harley and turns into a flaming skeleton, this is a surprisingly mundane movie.

46. “The Amazing Spider-Man”

We may never figure out what went wrong with Marc Webb‘s Spider-Man duology, but his choice of Andrew Garfield to play Peter Parker is still brilliant. It just sucks that this movie doesn’t really make any sense.

45. “X-Men”

The beginning of the current wave of theatrical superhero movies, “X-Men” was kind of a cheapie and it showed. Novel at the time, now it just comes off as unremarkable mid-budget action fare as Fox was merely sticking its toe in the superhero waters. Timid.

44. “The Incredible Hulk”

It’s sometimes hard to remember that this one counts as part of the MCU, since it placed Ed Norton in the Dr. Banner role since inhabited by Mark Ruffalo in the “Avengers” films. It’s also hard to remember because it’s generally not memorable.

43. “Thor”

The fantasy Marvel movie is directed by Kenneth Branagh, who covers the whole movie in canted angle shots and theatrical stylings. It’s pretty boring, also, but at least it looks cool.

42. “The Amazing Spider-Man 2”

More of the same impossible-to-follow hack-n’-slash plotting from the previous movie, offset by Andrew Garfield continuing to be awesome and Jamie Foxx going way over the top as the big bad.

41. “Thor: The Dark World”

“The Dark World,” in contrast to the first “Thor” movie, is certainly not boring. If anything, it suffers the opposite problem, going so hard and fast that it loses substance.

40. “Blade: Trinity”

Starring a pre-Deadpool Ryan Reynolds basically playing a vampire-slaying Deadpool, throwing out one-liners like his mama’s life depended on it, this may not a “good” movie, but it sure is fun.

39. “X2: X-Men United”

A big step up from the first “X-Men” both in production values and quality, it still lacks much in the way of energy. Which is inexcusable when you’ve got Alan Cumming as the teleporting mutant Nightcrawler all over your movie.

38. “Spider-Man”

Sam Raimi truly assembled the prototypical superhero movie with this first entry in the “Spider-Man” franchise, in 2002. Like “X-Men” before it, “Spider-Man” is a bit underwhelming today, but unlike “X-Men” it was proud of its nerd roots.

37. “X-Men: Apocalypse”

Could have been a bizarre ironic summer classic if it were structured like a real movie and had any character development whatsoever. Instead it’s just a shot of visual adrenaline that I’ll probably want to revisit at some point — but not when I’m sober

36. “Avengers: Age of Ultron”

“Ultron” is frustrating for what it lacks — chiefly the feeling that it’s advancing the overall story arc of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But as with the first “Avengers” movie its weaknesses are overcome by great character work.

35. “The Avengers”

The story is a total mess, relying heavily on moviegoers’ memories of previous MCU films (if you didn’t remember or know coming in what the Tesseract was, hoo boy). But the novelty of the Marvel’s first big superhero team-up was irresistible, and director Joss Whedon balanced his ensemble expertly, giving everyone plenty to do so none of them ever fades into the background.

34. “Blade”

Pure B-movie trash, which is fine because that’s precisely what it aims for: bloody, crass, awesome. Blade, by the way, remains the only black comic book character besides Shaquille O’Neal‘s “Steel” to get his/her own movie, though Marvel’s “Black Panther” is slated for a 2018 release.

33. “Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance”

For the sequel, they tapped the “Crank” director duo known as Neveldine/Taylor. It was an inspired choice, because “Spirit of Vengeance” was exactly as nutty as you’d hope a PG-13 comic book movie would be. Shame that it was apparently stressful enough to break up the tandem of Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor.

32. “Captain America: The First Avenger”

A lot of folks like to complain that all superhero movies are the same. But this was actually a pretty good World War II movie, too.

31. “Guardians of the Galaxy”

Plot-wise, it never really adds up to anything, but the strength of the cast and the bizarre world they explore more than make up for it.

30. “Blade 2”

Beloved nerd Guillermo del Toro took over for this one and ramped everything up to 11. More vampires, more blood, more people getting sliced up — and of course baddies whose jaws can split open and swallow a person’s head whole.

29. “Big Hero 6”

Disney Animation Studios made a Marvel movie, and it’s really sweet. Sure, it’s the kiddie version of Marvel, but that doesn’t prevent it from being a wholly satisfying experience.

28. “Captain Marvel”

It’s fine, but “Captain Marvel” feels like a movie from before Marvel Studios really hit its stride in Phase 3 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Right now it’s a movie that seems very much out of place.

27. “Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 2”

An improvement on the first film, and an absolute delight from moment to moment — but it never quite coalesces into a coherent whole because so many subplots distract from the core story and rob it of its emotional impact. Would be a top 5 comic book movie if it had just reigned in the plot.

26. “Iron Man”

It was Robert Downey Jr.‘s reemergence on the big screen, and he’s flawless in this origin story that takes Tony Stark from billionaire playboy weapons manufacturer to billionaire playboy other-things manufacturer.

25. “Avengers: Endgame”

This movie is, frustratingly, far from perfect. In fact, it’s kind of a huge mess. But it’s also awesome and thrilling and hilarious and contains some individual moments that are perfect. I wish it was better, but with everything required of a movie that exists to wrap up 21 movies’ worth of story arcs, I’m glad it’s as good as it is.

24. “Hulk”

In 2003 the modern wave of superhero movies was still in its infancy, and Ang Lee — still the best filmmaker to do a comic book movie — got experimental with “Hulk.” And what he made was an incredible melodrama with visual stylings meant to ape comic book panels. It didn’t sit well with audiences, but “Hulk” remains one of the most compelling and interesting Marvel movies to date.

23. “The Wolverine”

This was, like, just a legitimately enjoyable melodramatic action movie. Sure, it turns into a video game boss battle by the end, but for most of its running time it’s just an actual movie. 

22. “Punisher: War Zone”

Whereas the previous “Punisher” movie was melodramatic and contemplative, this one is just murderous. And it’s awesome.

21. “Venom” 

How can anybody resist the pull of Tom Hardy doing comedy? This movie knows exactly what it’s trying to be, and what it’s trying to be is dumb and fun and nothing else. And it is extremely fun.

20. “X-Men: Days of Future Past”

Its time travel logic is a bit iffy, but “Days of Future Past” is still tremendously entertaining because, while epic, it’s not overly serious. As “Back to the Future” taught us long ago, you can get away with a lot of logical leaps if you strike the right tone.

18. “Deadpool”

In the angsty and angry times we live in, “Deadpool” is perfect. Aggressively violent and flippantly meanspirited, it’s the exact emotional release we needed.

17. “X-Men: Dark Phoenix”

The main series “X-Men” movies have never achieved any sort of greatness, but at least “Dark Phoenix” ends the whole thing with one of the best efforts of the bunch. And that sequence on the train in the third act is easily the best action sequence of these movies.

16. “Spider-Man: Far From Home” 

It’s frustrating that it doesn’t really deal with the immense fallout from “Avengers: Endgame,” but it’s still as visually creative as any movie in the MCU, and Jake Gyllenhaal’s Mysterio is an all-timer of a villain. Dude goes all the way out in this.

15. “X-Men: First Class”

The first “X-Men” movie that could be described as “fun.” It’s basically two movies crammed into one, story-wise, but director Matthew Vaughn‘s touch is so breezy and enjoyable that it totally works anyway, thanks in large part to a brilliant cast that includes Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence and James McAvoy.

14. “Spider-Man: Homecoming” 

Not quite the best “Spider-Man” movie, but still an absolute delight, with a cast full of scene stealers. Michael Keaton as the Vulture makes for one of the best Marvel villains ever.

13. “Deadpool 2” 

While you may get whiplash from the “Deadpool” sequel’s occasional very serious and emo scenes, the rest of the movie is thoroughly delightful, somehow managing to be even funnier — and more hilariously violent — than the original.

12. “Ant-Man”

“Ant-Man” represented a first for the MCU by being a straight-up comedy. And it’s a very good one, with a cast that’s perfectly suited for it. Aside from Paul Rudd who plays Ant-Man himself, Michael Pena is the true standout as Scott Lang’s best friend and former cellmate.

11. “Ant-Man and the Wasp” 

It’s ever so slightly frustrating that this one doesn’t fully integrate into the “Infinity War” situation, but even so it’s thoroughly a delight. Evangeline Lilly is so good at the Wasp that I’m retroactively irritated that she didn’t don the suit in the previous “Ant-Man” movie.

10. “Doctor Strange”

If it weren’t hamstrung with all the requisite elements of an origin story, “Doctor Strange” might have been the best Marvel movie ever. That’s the power of the astonishing visual imagination on display here. People love to talk about the nebulous concept of capturing some long lost childlike sense of wonder though the magic of cinema — “Doctor Strange” is one of the only movies I’ve watched as an adult that really accomplishes that.

9. “Spider-Man 2”

This is a movie that fully understands its main character and taps into what made him such a captivating figure for so long. Yeah, Peter Parker’s a superhero, but he’s also a college kid working a minimum wage job to make rent while also taking university physics classes. Peter buckles under the pressure, something we can all relate to.

8. “Iron Man 3”

As far as I’m concerned this is the “Iron Man” movie. Somehow, Shane Black was able to infiltrate the MCU and make a legitimate Shane Black movie with all the wit and raw humanity you’d expect from him. It carries exactly the sort of authorial identity we should want all these movies to have.

7. “Thor: Ragnarok”

A thorough delight. This might be the most fun we had at the movies in all of 2017, and so we can’t help but love it.

6. “Captain America: Civil War”

Multiply the two previous best Marvel movies by one another and you get “Civil War.” It packs the sort of emotional payoff all the disconnected Marvel movies can’t really provide. And as an action film it’s easily the best of the superhero genre.

5. “Avengers: Infinity War” 

You could certainly make the argument that “Infinity War” does not really hold up on as a complete movie on its own, because it kinda begins with the second act. But I don’t care. The culmination of this ten-year shared universe experiment should stand on the shoulders of the movies that came before it. The fact that it packs such a profound emotional punch, however, is what really makes it work.

4. “Black Panther” 

It’s held back a little by being saddled with standard “origin movie” issues — introducing audiences to the world of Wakanda isn’t a quick and easy task, and it could use an extra 15-20 minutes to flesh out the supporting characters — but still manages to be the most substantial superhero movie ever. It’s kind of amazing that Disney let writer/director Ryan Coogler make this overt a political statement — it’s the most openly political mega-budget movie I’ve ever seen . Also, while I’m listing superlatives: Michael B Jordan delivers the best performance ever in a superhero movie. Good lord.

3. “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” 

The best superhero movies, and movies in general, are the ones that are truly most human. And “Spider-Verse,” despite being animated, despite the wacky cast of Spider-People, despite the outlandish premise, is as real as movies get.

2. “Logan”

James Mangold’s small-scale western is a game changer for the entire superhero genre, daring to defy pretty much standard by which you expect these movies to operate. It’s just a great movie by any normal standard. Where “Civil War” elevated the genre, “Logan” opts instead to be something else entirely and we’re all the better for it.

1. “Captain America: The Winter Soldier”

The Russo brothers, who made their entrance to the MCU directing “Winter Soldier” before taking the reigns on “Civil War” and, eventually, 2018’s “Avengers: Infinity War,” really impressed with “Winter Soldier.” It’s a classic spy thriller with a superhero twist. And Robert Redford as the bad guy is a really nice touch.

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Decades of big screen Marvel adaptations demand a long, ranked list. This is that list

Source: https://opengeekhouse.com.br/2019/08/10/heres-why-black-widow-didnt-get-a-memorial-at-the-end-of-avengers-endgame/

[hatingwithfears]

Top 50 Albums of 2018: 50-31

I’m changing things up from how I usually compile my year end album lists, by writing reviews for every album, and then putting them in ranking based entirely off whatever score I gave it. Some of these articles are pulled from early reviews, ratings might have changed. (Because of Tumbr having a word count, here’s the first batch of albums, there will be a second batch, and a third just for my favorite album of 2018)

50. JONNY GREENWOOD- YOU WERE NEVER REALLY HERE

Another score from Radiohead guitarist comes only a year after Phantom Thread (a near perfect soundtrack that I didn’t include on last year’s list because I didn’t see the film until this year). While the film itself is one of the greatest works this year, thanks to Lynne Ramsay’s direction, the soundtrack does bang away at the same notes that other soundtracks have done, and also contains a few electronic moments that sound like light Radiohead. Greenwood’s work is tense, but it never goes over the edge into too dramatic, while also not being dramatic enough.

Rating: 8.0

49. RYLEY WALKER- THE LILLYWHITE SESSIONS

After already putting out one damn good album earlier this year with Deafman Glance. But this is Dave Matthews Band covers album. It’s their 2002 record Busted Stuff, an album where the original unreleased sessions are more famous than the album itself in fan circles. DMB isn’t treated as joke by Walker and the interpretations are at once respectful and innovative.

SOLID DAD ROCK

Rating: 8.0

48. CHRIS CORSANO & BILL ORCUTT- BRACE UP!

Disruptive, chaotic, off kilter playing that fires through 35 minutes and rarely lets up, this jazzy improvisational album from guitarist Bill Oructt and drummer Chris Corsano. The two have played live before, but Brace Up is their first album together. A few songs are taken from live shows, but most of what was laid out for the album was recorded over two days. Despite all the chaos that this album brings, the players are spot on, and show to be an equal match for each other’s talents.

Rating: 8.1

47. DAVID BYRNE- AMERICAN UTOPIA

It’s an adventurous album that’s still old-hat. Byrne sounds old, almost tired of all the shit, and that makes much of American Utopia the kind of album only someone of the age of Byrne could accomplish. The music is constantly upbeat, the lyrics themselves are downright weird at times. Usually, artists who last this long get stale and boring, Byrne clearly has no interest in slowing down and contemplating, the worry is still there. Some moments are too clean and polished (“Everybody’s Coming to My House”), or sound somewhat unfinished, not exactly rushed, but the production seems off from time to time (“Dog’s Mind” has some funny lyrics, although the music sounds poorly produced at times).

Rating: 8.1

46. ELVIS COSTELLO AND THE IMPOSTERS- LOOK NOW

Costello’s output has been brief over the past ten years, so a new album is really worth it, and Costello brings forth a collection of sixties inspired pop tracks that have some wildly, twistingly, intricate lyrical play that we’ve come to expect from Costello. Adding back Burt Bacharach for a few numbers, and Carole King on another works nicely too.

Rating: 8.1

45. THOU- MAGUS

On their fifth LP (the band has put out numerous split EP’s and LP’s with other groups over the years (it’s also their first for Sacred Bones)), Thou concoct an album that might be their best work yet. Heavy, sludge doom riffs, and the screaming vocals are here and stronger than ever. By letting many of these songs go on for as long as ten minutes, Thou show how far their brand of metal can go.

Rating: 8.2

44. JOHANN JOHANNSSON- MANDY

The soundtrack to Peter Cosmatos’s Nicolas Cage starring acid trip revenge film, Mandy, is the final work from Johann Johannsson. While it was put together after his death, much of the score was near completion. While a soundtrack, much of Mandy is a metal album at heart. Thanks to the metal aesthetic of the film, and guest work by Sunn o))) member Stephen O’Malley, Mandy is heavy and unforgiving when it needs to be, while also having some more shimmering, ambient moments too.

Rating: 8.2

43. JEFF TWEEDY- WARM

To coincide with his new autobiography (I haven’t read it yet), Warm is the first proper solo record from Wilco songwriter Jeff Tweedy. It’s a nuanced collection that has some really dark moments, sometimes darker than some Wilco stuff. Tweedy’s songs are, well, warm sounding, it’s a welcoming album that doesn’t clutter the landscape with too many ideas.

Rating: 8.2

42. TIRZAH- DEVOTION

This R&B artist’s debut album is filled with romance and heartbreak that’s become staples of popular song, some specifically with today’s soul music. These sentiments ring true thanks to Tirzah’s delivery, and equally to musical collaborator, Mica Levi (who’s film scores for Under The Skin and Jackie are some of the best in the genre). Levi’s work here takes some odd turns for pop music, there’s so much going on from one track to the next. Tirzah’s voice isn’t exactly centered throughout, or even clean. But it’s always done with clarity.

Rating: 8.2

41. JEFF ROSENSTOCK- POST-

Released at the very start of 2018, Jeff Rosenstock’s POST- is a funny emo pop rock album that brings up some very urgent anxieties about living in America, the seven minute “USA” has Rosenstock singing about being “tired and bored” and chanting “FU USA” in the same track. Anger runs through most of POST- but one of the stand out tracks is the ballad “9/10”.

Rating: 8.2

40. BOYGENIUS- BOYGENIUS

This EP shows up early on this list only because the damn thing is too short. This “supergroup” of Lucy Dacus, Phoebe Bridgers and Julian Baker was made as a response to the critics and others confusing them for each other. It’s a short six track effort that plays to all their strengths, but is quiet enough to not be taken too seriously.

Rating: 8.3

39. JANELLE MONAE- DIRTY COMPUTER

The sheer fact that Prince approved of what he heard from this album is enough.

Adding in Brian Wilson and Stevie Wonder, Thudercat and Pharrell to the mix. It’s an astounding simple album on the surface, but the stunning part comes from pointed the lyrics are about race, sexuality and the female body. While Monae’s other albums have been a little too pinned down by the concept, Dirty Computer doesn’t seem as constrained.

Rating: 8.3

38. SONS OF KEMET- YOUR QUEEN IS A REPTILE

This London quartet’s album serves as a sort of history, looking back at African music, bop, Latin jazz. With song titles that mention important black women throughout history (Harriet Tubman, Angela Davis), Your Queen is a Reptile could have ended up being too serious. Instead, the band’s massive sound (thanks to tuba, and deep drums) mixed with the really danceable sound makes for the most entertaining jazz record this year.

Rating: 8.3

37. ROBYN- HONEY

Robyn has always found a way for her pop music to stand apart from whatever else might be happening in pop, and Honey is a singular album that moves in a more natural way than most pop music right now. The eight year gap between albums (2010’s Body Talk was great too) is an oddity in today’s pop music, and the added weight of eight years of silence between albums should have been consuming, instead the album’s lightness is directly apparent, even on the break up opener, “Missing U”. None of the songs here end up crowded, even the (obvious) throwback track, “Beach2k20”.

Rating: 8.4

36. PUCE MARY- THE DROUGHT

On her new album Frederikke Hoffmeier continues the onslaught of unsettling noise music with The Drought, an album that’s somehow clearer than her previous album, but more haunting in the process. It’s a bleak, apocalyptic album that has some clarity in the vocals, but it’s a very daunting listen at times, like on the heavy repetition of “Fragments of A Lily” or the thick, gross atmosphere of “Red Desert”.

Rating: 8.4

35. MICHAEL BEHARIE & TEDDY RANKIN PARKER- A HEART FROM YOUR SHADOW

Sirens. Droning cello. High pitched ringing. Bells. Electronic buzzing. Choir samples. Repetitive samples and beats. Gross guitar samples. Thick, dark atmosphere.

(This album is a wild one that doesn’t have any direct theme, but the noise experiments and variety of the project are quite astounding to hear).

Rating: 8.4

34. KIDS SEE GHOSTS- KIDS SEE GHOSTS

A psychedelic kaleidoscope of a hip-hop album. Kanye West’s year has been tumultuous, confusing and downright angering. As a fan of Kanye’s music, there still has to be a degree of responsibly that Kanye should feel accountable for. In a way, Kids See Ghosts works a look at an artistic Kanye who allows others to come in, and let himself step off the spotlight just enough (this works on the damn good (but not great) Pusha T Kanye produced work earlier this year too). Kid Cudi is usually a garbled mess, but he’s fully utilized here.

Rating: 8.5

33. CLOWN CORE- TOILET

This 13 minute album mixes grindcore, elevator jazz, and techno. Plus, it’s all played by two dudes in clown suits. Plus, it was all recorded inside a port-a-potty. Plus, one member uses his penis to play keyboard on one song (even if it’s just one note). For being such a short album, it’s damn impressive the amount of skill and variety that went into what could have been a joke.

Rating: 8.5

32. PINEGROVE- SKYLIGHT

A shockingly quiet album that breezes by almost too quickly. Pingrove’s newest continues the emo-country sound that the band emulates. Over ten tracks the album never gets really loud, and some moments are almost too quiet, yet it works. The emotional impact of the album is oddly optimistic at times. That optimism feels rose tinted on some tracks (“Skylight”), and sincere (“Light On”).

Rating: 8.5

31. ONEOHTRIX POINT NEVER- AGE OF

A year after composing the soundtrack for Good Time (a very tense, original score), Oneohtrix Point Never’s newest album uses the harpsichord in some disordered ways, and by respecting the instrument and advancing it at the same time, tossing in R&B (really), and his usual high frequency beats. Age Of is a more collaborative effort, with ANOHNI, James Blake and Prurient showing up. While there’s some sort of grander concept behind Age Of, the music here shows OPN going in a more comfortable direction without loosing his sharpness.

Rating: 8.6