#now have to go look for a fanvid....

[rainintheevening]

EVERYONE LISTEN UP

New Peter and Edmund song has dropped, courtesy of @sailforvalinor.

'King and Lionheart' by Of Monsters and Men. I beg ya'll, go listen to it and think of them!!!!

[leverage-ot3]

no but the hivemind-like exchange between parker and eliot in the rundown job when they are pinned in the subway car and the bioweapon bomb is about to go off

in the beginning of s4 in the long way down job they went to great lengths to firmly establish that to some extent, parker and eliot think the same way. they are able to make those calculations, take those risks, do what needs to be done to protect the ones they love above all else

it’s what makes them them

and in that moment, the three of them are pinned down under the rage of a psychotic gunman and the bomb is seconds away from going off, which would mean thousands and thousands of people would most likely die and only they are the ones that can stop it.

and more importantly, hardison is there, right beside them, and he would die too if the bomb went off and that was something they couldn’t accept. not now, not ever. there is no plan m.

so eliot gives parker a look and a nod, and she kisses hardison for the luck she’s never needed before and they jump into action. eliot steps into the line of fire to cover parker (always, forever. ‘til his dying day) and she runs off to neutralize the bomb at the very last second.

hardison is horrified and terrified for them but it’s what they do, who they are, it’s what makes them them and parker and eliot have that same deep understanding to know that

[brionysea]

never more grateful for tumblr's chronological timeline than when i try to go on instagram and it's all suggested posts instead of anyone i follow

[moinsbienquekaworu]

How have I been in fandom for - going on 8 years (?) and not gotten into fanvids before?? All the association I could have been making.... All the memories.... All the composition and clever editing....

[stellewriites]

master list,, 18+ mdni

⟡ - smut ✷ - multi chapter

✿ - fluff ⊠ - dark fic

john price

toxic ex!john ⊠ ao3 link

john doesn't take no for an answer.

autistic!reader x john thoughts ✿ ao3 link

little snippets about what john would be like with an autistic partner.

already spoken for ⟡ ✷ ✿ ao3 link

when john gets an unexpected invite to his ex-wife’s wedding, he scrambles to find a suitable date to take with him to ward off old ghosts from his past.

john’s wife ao3 link

john’s wife isn’t common knowledge around base.

retainers aren’t so bad ✿ ao3 link

you forget to take you retainer out when you got to the pub

simon ‘ghost’ riley

online seller ⊠ ao3 link

you buy a second-hand sweatshirt online and the seller seems so sweet.

morning breath ✿

you’ve been dating butch!ghost for a while now

by the edge of the sun ✿ ao3 link

it’s easier said than done trying not to catch feelings for your new roommate, butch!simon

next stop, strapford station ⟡ ao3 link

your commute to work takes an exciting turn with butch!simon.

mango-meme.jpeg ⟡

he’s a messy eater.

johnny ‘soap’ mactavish

cbf!johnny ⟡

its cold, you should help a guy out.

trans!soap ⟡

soap asks for a favour from his lt.

2xl shirt (plus original post) ⟡ ✿ ao3 link

you put your foot in it during work one day when a customer sends in a complaint regarding your gym’s workwear sizes.

you keep johnny happy however when he comes in to make the return.

western horror ⊠ ao3 link fanvid by serastonins

a marriage of convenience becomes the complete opposite one fateful night.

an occasion of sin ⟡ ao3 link

your girlfriend, butch!johnny, gets an invite back home for easter mass and you convince her to take you along for the ride.

come on over, i’ll adore you

the two soaps meet and clash.

kyle ‘gaz’ garrick

firefighter!gaz ✿ ao3 link

after being tasked with looking after your neighbour's cat, you're left with no choice but to ring for help when the sneaky furball gets himself stuck up a tree - you can't complain at who comes to save the day however.

trade baby blues for wide-eyed browns ✿ ao3 link

After seeing your ex with his new partner in your local pub, you go outside for a smoke to distract yourself.

You bump into Kyle who manages to wipe the memory of your ex away completely.

‘nice guy’ kyle, part 2 ⊠ ao3 link

the lengths he'd go to to get in your favour.

and harmonise ✿

you and gaz discuss how you’ll make it work.

silver tongue, golden eyes

you accidentally steal from space pirate gaz and she has an offer you can’t refuse. sailpunk lesbians.

poly141

choices made in anger ⊠ ao3 link

Not one to often back down, you feel your shitty day get even worse when you spot a group of guys hovering around your car in the pub car park and storm over without a second thought.

It's far from your best idea and it certainly doesn't go how you'd planned.

poly141 summer thoughts ✿ ao3 link

the boys have a bbq and simon feels well-loved.

ghoap

the outsider to an inside joke ⟡ ⊠ ao3 link

You finally get your shit together and take that trip to Scotland that you’d always wanted. Finding a cheap shared apartment in the heart of Edinburgh was lucky, the host - Johnny - being such a sweetheart was just the cherry on top.

Johnny double booking the spare room, was a bit of a snag in your plans however, especially when the guy - Simon - was reluctant to go anywhere any time soon. Looks like you’d be sharing a room for the week.

ghost tattoo thoughts ao3 link

thoughts on what other tattoos simon might have and why.

tiger bread ✿ ao3 link

cuddling with your boyfriends never gets old.

every sort of day ✿ ao3 link

being ill isn’t easy, but it’s made easier with loving partners.

soapgaz

dog meat ⟡ ✷ ⊠ ao3 link

by chance you and your emotionally unavailable husband meet a friendly couple that invite you stay at their farmhouse in scotland. however the time spent there with johnny & kyle has you questioning if there’s a dark side to them you didn’t see before.

speak no evil au

minimum wage ⟡

you don’t get paid enough for this.

priceghost

so tenderly ⟡ ⊠

looking for a one night stand ends in a big surprise.

miscellaneous

a helping hand (cali’s nameless challenge) ✿ ao3 link

in class you get stumped by a word puzzle, but the handsome man behind you helps you out.

firefighter!laswell ✿ ao3 link

after setting off the fire alarm in your apartment too many times, you gain the attention of a hot firefighter.

keeping warm in winter ✿

a little thought about what the boys wear in winter at home.

fem!141 gym thirst traps

a little look into what the girls would send you while they’re hard at work

[note: i write with mid/plus size readers in mind, some fics have this explicitly stated/described whereas others keep reader's appearance body neutral. there are no other descriptors of reader made evident in the fics.]

amazing cod dividers by @/gildui

[ranchthoughts]

Happy marriage equality Thailand! 🌈

A few months ago, @colourme-feral came to me with the idea of cataloguing as many same-sex Thai QL proposals and weddings as we could. And today, to celebrate the bill passing the Senate (and the first post-bill-passing proposal and wedding), I'd like to share with you all our findings! Even though same-sex marriage has not been legal in Thailand until this year (hopefully things will be official in the fall), there have been quite a few same-sex proposals and weddings in Thai QLs throughout the years.

Big thank you to everyone who assisted on this project in some capacity (@airenyah, @bengiyo, @blmpff, @chickenstrangers, @dribs-and-drabbles, @nieves-de-sugui, @twig-tea, @waitmyturtles, @williamrikers) plus all the gif and fanvid makers whose work was instrumental in helping us double check everything (particular shout out to these gifsets by @apathetic-tortoise (1, 2) and this one by @gunsatthaphan).

🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈

We found 28 Thai QL shows which featured at least one same-sex proposal (the blue list below) and 15 Thai QL shows which featured at least one same-sex wedding (the green list below).

I was pretty strict with what counted as a proposal or a wedding for the purposes of this project. For example, characters who we know are married but whose wedding we don’t see aren’t counted (like Laws of Attraction’s Maya and Rose, or the unnamed Force and Book characters shown in a “Just Married” car in Vice Versa). There are many shows where there is a ring or someone gets down on one knee but the question is not exactly “popped” (Khun Chai, Star In My Mind Our Skyy 2, etc.), and there are even more shows characters talk at length about commitment and being together forever but there were no mentions of marriage or other details (like rings, etc.) that would specifically suggest it was a proposal (A Boss and a Babe, Ai Long Nhai, Be My Favourite, Cupid's Last Wish, Dark Blue Kiss, Something In My Room, Star in My Mind, Still 2gether, Until We Meet Again, 3 Will Be Free, etc.). Some of these moments might have been intended as a declaration of intent to marry by the characters and the show runners, but they weren’t conclusive enough to be included on this list. Furthermore, I think it’s interesting to see how many shows were, for lack of a better word, explicit in their discussion or portrayal of same-sex marriage (having the characters use the word marriage, showing weddings, etc.), despite being from a time before such a thing was legally possible. 

Note: I've listed the shows with the year they started airing for ease, even though some of them did finish airing in another year.

(see alt text for the full lists)

The Quick Facts

The first proposal and the first wedding in our data set both happened in Grey Rainbow episode 4, which aired on May 7, 2016. (though this is not exactly an auspicious wedding to start with, as those who know know)

12 shows featured at least one proposal and one wedding (Cherry Magic, GAP the Series, Grey Rainbow, Laws of Attraction, Love Syndrome 3, My Secret Love, Naughty Babe, Never Let Me Go, Tharntype Special: The Wedding Day, Two Worlds, Wedding Plan, and the Wedding Plan Special). 

4 shows feature two same-sex proposals (Cherry Magic, Love Syndrome 3, My Secret Love, and Two Worlds). All these shows also feature a same-sex wedding.

None of the shows in our sample had two same-sex weddings.

The Data Over Time

As you can see, generally same-sex proposals and weddings have become more common in Thai QLs over time, though of course there are more Thai Qls being produced now than in the earlier days.

Note: I'm only looking at shows which aired before the marriage equality bill passed the Senate, so the 2024 data does not include Wandee Goodday or OMG! Vampire. It will be interesting to see if and how the number of same-sex proposals and weddings in Thai QLs increases through 2024 and beyond now that it will become a legal reality.

It is also interesting to consider the production companies behind the shows in our sample. This sample includes 7 GMM shows and 5 Mandee/Domundi shows, plus 1-3 series each from other production companies like Idol Factory, MeMindY, Studio Wabi Sabi, Copy A Bangkok, Jinloe Media Work, TV Thunder, and M Flow Entertainment. In other words, GMM shows make up roughly 23% of the sample, Mandee/Domundi shows are another 16%, and other production companies comprise about 61% of the sample.

Main Couples vs Side Couples

There are 28 shows with proposals in the sample but 32 proposals, because four shows have two proposals each. 26 of these 32 proposals (81%) are between the main characters and 6 of them (19%) are between side characters.

Of the 15 weddings in the sample, 12 (80%) are between main couples and 3 (20%) are between side couples.

For interest's sake, I also broke this down for GMM and Mandee/Domundi. GMM has 7 proposals in 6 shows, with 5 main couples and 2 side couples popping the question; and 3 weddings (across 3 shows), in which 2 side couples and 1 main couple got married. Mandee/Domundi has 5 proposals in 4 shows, all between main couples, and 3 weddings (across 3 shows), also all featuring main couples.

🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈

And now here we are, after the bill has passed the Senate. Congratulations to the Thai queer community, and the happy couples Oyei and Cher from Wandee Goodday and Sen and Run from OMG! Vampire who are the first Thai QL couples to propose and to have a wedding (respectively) after Thailand's marriage equality bill passed the Senate! (The bill passed the Senate on June 18, 2024, and episode 8 of Wandee Goodday aired 4 days later on June 22, followed by episode 6 of OMG! Vampire on June 23.)

I can’t wait to see more same-sex engagements and weddings in Thai shows as we move forward.

[accio-victuuri]

for some reason this second section of songs are making cpfs go wild 👀

unlike the first set, which i think could have their cpns of their own but was really more of social/life commentary on xz’s side. these next ones, are superior. atleast to me. we don’t have the 3rd set yet so i can still be wrong. and i mean sweets aside, the 3 songs released today are instant favorites. i expect people to make bjyx fanvids with lighthouse as the bgm please do not disappoint me. lol.

what we first noticed was xz posting the qq links to the songs using a photo (p1). in it, you clearly see the hands of the watch point to 10 and 5 which is his bday. it made us remember all those times they showed off their watch with questionable numbers visible ( p3 and p4 because xz is not subtle at all ) . coincidentally, a 10:05 timed watch (p2) was also seen in wyb’s most recent NYE performance.

shut up you two. please. 😬

the title track of this section — DRIFTING’s concept sounds like it’s someone exploring an unfamiliar environment. which made is think of wyb’s recent show exploring the unknown. the choice of words and imagery he wants to show is also interesting. take note that xz wrote this song.

Lying on an island and waking up

The top of the cliff, tear it off and go with the flow.

while it’s pretty obvious that this means more than going out in the wilderness in the literal sense when you take the song as a whole — the fact that it fits what wyb has recently done is 😏. can someone please make a video too of ETU with drifting as the background. it would be perfect. thank you. to me, this is xz drawing inspiration from wyb’s experience and combining that to his own “exploration” and drifting in this world.

NOW TIME TO TALK ABOUT THE TRACK LIGHTHOUSE. Personally, it’s my fave and i think it’s the most romantic and bjyx-y of them all. 💕

first of all the imagery of a lighthouse and the sense of it being that only light you see amidst the storm. that no matter what happens, he can look at that. the timing of yibo posing with a light for GRA is making me overthink too. lol. also wyb’s album cover for twenty was a light bulb thing. that kind of symbolism really speaks to them.

and as for the lyrics lemme just leave this select lines for us to all cry about ok?

For whom to move forward? Even if there are thorns under my feet, I'll stay with you till the end.

Where is the storm now? I go against the wind I'm barefoot and go through the crowd…. An island in the dark, We must also go against the tide.

Run towards the lighthouse in the darkness. Even if it rains heavily, Let's go, let's go, we have to go home. Just live hard like this. I only see the lighthouse

The lighthouse in my heart. It will never go out.

songs can be interpreted in different ways and can go in a totally different direction from what the lyricist intended but i am understanding this in a romantic sense. not the cutesy kind of romance, but the one that has hardships, is not easy, but you know that you have each other. the lighthouse in his heart will never go out. in reality, their life is not easy. but they are stronger together. even if there are thorns under my feet i’ll stay with you till the end.

I CAN’T EVEN. AHHHHHHH 😭😭😭😭

and oh, talking about the rain and going home. more on the going home part, people are bringing back favorite line among cpfs from an LRLG contribution. supposedly said by yibo.

When I called, I said it was fine, but as I talked, it became like

🟢 : I want to go home. Come and take me home.

I was kinda nervous for track 8 cause that Bo. LOL. the song is also good but i don’t see much CPN from it. or maybe not yet. lol. i just hope they get to have time where they can have night walks together 🌙

-END.

[somfte]

Civil War

[video description: A Black Sails fanvid focusing on Eleanor, Mr. Scott, and Madi. Between clips of Madi and Eleanor discussing their past on the beach, there are scenes showing Eleanor and Mr. Scott's interactions, emphasizing how Eleanor fails to consider Mr. Scott's perspective, and the ways in which Mr. Scott is never able to lose sight of his position in society. The penultimate scene is Madi's speech to Woodes Rogers. As her speech escalates, sounds of chains clanking and being removed can be heard in time with the clicking of the knitting needles being used by Eleanor's ghost.

/end description]

Dialogue transcript:

Eleanor: You trust him? Flint. You've cast your lot with him.

Madi: What does it matter to you?

Eleanor: Before this war began, before everyone's roles changed, your father mistrusted Flint as much as anyone in Nassau did. I assume you were in some contact with him all that time. I'm surprised that his feelings didn't influence you.

Eleanor: For how long had he been secretly aiding them?

Flint: He began, he said, after the Spanish raid.

Eleanor: Did he say why he did it?

Madi: You were my sister. There is very little that I remember from when I was young, but I remember this.

Mr. Guthrie: Once upon a time Mr. Scott was my personal houseboy. Until he proved himself worthy of greater responsibility. That earned him an education which he then passed on to my daughter. And look where that's gotten me.

Madi: You were older. You were beautiful. I revered you.

Mr. Bryson: Mr. Scott, you sided with his daughter against him. You forgot your duty. You must have known there would be consequences.

Madi: When you were told that my mother and I were dead, I have to believe that it affected you. You had just lost your mother.

Eleanor: And what? Now you think you can just waltz back in here and pick up from where we left off like nothing happened?

Mr. Scott: Where else would I go? I belong to you. Chattel property of the Guthrie estate.

Eleanor: You… you know I've never seen you that way.

Madi: But if things were as I remember, my mother and I were your family, too.

Eme: He says…

Mr. Scott: I know what he says. He says in Nassau a slave can be free, get a job and a wage. Maybe for him. He's strong. A few others. The rest of you, don't kid yourself. You are cargo, in Nassau or otherwise.

Madi: And yet, through all the years thereafter that my father cared for you… counseled you, labored for you… he never told you that we were alive.

Madi: I was there in Nassau, and she's there. Eleanor is there. She is one of them now. I stood in Nassau and I realized when this war begins, it will have many different meanings, but to you this war is a civil war. You will have people on both sides of it. You will have daughters on both sides of it. And I want you to know…

Mr. Scott: [whispers softly] Only… you.

Madi: It would have been so easy to lessen your suffering by divulging the secret. And yet, he never did. Have you yet asked yourself why that is?

Madi: The voice you hear in your head… I imagine I know who it sounds like, as I know Eleanor wanted those things. But I hear other voices. [clicking sound] A chorus of voices. Multitudes. They reach back centuries. Men and women…and children who'd lost their lives… to men like you. Men and women and children forced to wear your chains. I must answer to them and this war… their war… Flint's war… my war…it will not be bargained away to avoid a fight.

Madi: My father didn't mistrust Flint. My father mistrusted all of you.

(for @built-on-sand )

[dotthings]

Finally!!! Some light and hope returns to S7. Made it through the Casless stretch to 7.17.

Some thoughts on Dean and Cas:

Dean's quest to save Sam leads him back to Cas. The mysterious breeze (we know who that is) shows Dean the taxidermy guy's card, and he tells Dean about Emanuel.

"Screw Cas" -- because Cas knocked down Sam's wall and then abandoned them, by dying, or so Dean thought, so Dean's still angry and hurt. Trying not to care, but he still cares

Oh the staring when they are face to face again. Dean cannot seem to stop staring at Cas. That's not me being poetic with a headcanon exaggeration, that's what's on the screen, I didn't make the rules.

Dean watches Daphne and Emanuel a little bit like how Cas watched Dean and Anna kiss. Less furtive. But the open-eyed wounded baby seal longing sense of wonder on Dean's face is stabbing me in the heart.

"What's your issue" -- how much time do you have Emanuel? Okay, in simple terms, Sam needs help. But the things Dean doesn't say is you!! you are my issue I loved you and you betrayed me and then died and I'm not okay I didn't want to lose you and I'm still mad but glad to see you again and I'm a mess and I've been angry grieving, that's my freakin' issue!!!

The golden-amber light washing over Dean and Emanuel's faces in the car. Light washing over Dean with Cas's return, first invented in S7.

Dean's treading carefully. He wants Cas back, he also doesn't want to disturb Emanuel's peace. And Dean's still upset and hurt and angry and not over it but also he's glad to see Cas again. Dean's going through it. And Dean can open up to Emanuel in ways he's not ready to with Cas. "You're angry...he betrayed you." "Yeah, well, he's gone....I used to be able to just shake this stuff off. You know. Whatever it was. Might take me some time but I always could. What Cas did--I just can't, I don't know why." YES I WONDER WHY THAT IS WHY DOES IT MATTER WHY DOES IT CUT SO DEEP "Well, it doesn't matter why." "Of course it matters." "No. You're not a machine, Dean. You're human." THERE IT IS. After a series of characters telling Dean to suck it up and deal, Emanuel is the one who looks at him and sees Dean's vulnerability and humanity and says it's okay. Some part of Cas is Emanuel, even if he has amnesia, it's instinct, it's things Cas wouldn't be able to open up and say, not at this point, but that he believes. Cas sees Dean even if he doesn't know himself right now.

"Now picture Crowley with his hands on harmless little amnesia Cas" -- soooo interesting how Meg tries to play Dean's worry for Cas into inveigling what she wants. She knows some things.

Dean's pissed at the idea of Meg using Emanuel and turning him back into "an angel sized weapon." He wants to do this carefully. He needs Emanuel to fix Sam, but he doesn't want Cas harmed or his peace shattered. This is Dean trying to let Cas rake leaves.

Dean also seems incredibly annoyed by Meg sidling up to Emanuel and trying to flirt. Protective. Jealous even.

"You just met yourself. I've known you for years." The way that's worded. Dean doesn't just say "I already knew you." He says for years. They've been through a lot. It's like Dean is feeling all of it.

Dean is finally persuaded, for Sam's sake, to let Emanuel break out the angel mojo, but he's reluctant. Knowing what this could do to Cas, the pain he'll experience if his memories return.

That SPN used Turn Into Earth by the Yardbirds, which was the band who became Led Zeppelin, for a music video montage of Cas's memories returning, where Dean is prominently featured in 98% of the images. ACTUAL THINGS SPN CANON DID. Making a Destiel fanvid and stuck it in an episode. Okay.

Where did Dean's anger fly off to? "If you remember then you know you did the best you could at the time." He doesn't think Cas is a bad guy. "Don't defend me." -- Cas has always taken responsibility for his screw ups. Always. And takes a lot on himself to atone. That is how the character has been and he's like that all the way through. And he comes back to fix it.

Dean pulling Cas's trenchcoat out of the trunk of the junker of the week and handing it to Cas. Dean kept it!!!! He didn't just stick it in storage, he moved it from junker to junker, for months, keeping the last piece of Cas Dean had left with him and Sam. The ep that aired isn't even as sentimental as the cut scene--the dialogue we saw in a promo "something in me always knew you'd come back"--yet it's unhinged enough as it is!!!!

"I should never have broken your wall, Sam. I'm here to make it right." Cas always tries to make it right.

Dean doesn't know what's going on as Cas walks over to Sam, and asks "Cas, what are you doing" a bit alarmed. Dean wanted Cas to fix Sam, and they both at first Cas could with just a touch to rebuild the wall, but the wall's crumbled. And there's only one way--for Cas to absorb Sam's Lucifer hallucination. It's Cas's decision, and it's done before Dean can even try to stop it. While Dean of course is glad Sam is okay--that's not how Dean wanted to get there.

At the time it seemed a bit cold that Sam and Dean parked mentally ill Cas at the asylum and left--we'd only just gotten Cas back on the show and he gets shoved off screen again. But there are contractual things--Misha was signed for a 4 ep arc. Looking at it in-story, Dean says he's worried they can't protect Cas, with all that's out there, between Crowley's demons and the leviathans, and Dean says they should leave Cas where he's safe. Watched over by one of their former enemies--but Meg is the only resource they've got who can do it and she's at least playing at being an ally and she does seem to like Cas. It's again Dean's version of letting Cas rake leaves, keeping him safe.

[ladyluscinia]

My hottest take from trying to delve into David Jenkins's interviews and piece together where he's going with this is that - for all he and everyone else are consistent about describing this show as a romance and a romcom (and The Muppets) - I don't think he finds the romance compelling??? At least, not the healthy endgame version.

Like, the one interview where he dropped that he was planning an unrequited romance in all those pitches of his until they shot the bathtub scene in 1x06...? Wild twist, but also it kind of makes sense.

Look at the comparisons he makes. Titanic (where Jack dies). Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (where both leads die). Shows like Insecure and Grey's Anatomy, where relationships get messy breakups constantly. He's excited about fanvids set to Olivia Rodrigo's "Favorite Crime". Writes an episode based on Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, a 1966 film of a play that attacks the concept of happy marriages. He mentions A Star Is Born repeatedly in reference to S2, a movie where the disaster marriage ends in suicide and heartbreak.

And even broad spectrum - he repeatedly explains that he's not compelled by pirate stories. Accuses the genre of being "creaky" and "hard to budge", and then claims to want to subvert it in one interview and shrugs about how "it's a pirate story" as reasoning in others. But the part he seems interested in...? Well it's the oncoming end of the Golden Age aspect, and also maybe the short and violent life of organized crime. He's drawing comparisons to mob movies and Westerns - two things I think we can say trend toward the bittersweet to tragic scale with endings. His examples certainly do.

I'm no longer surprised he was really compelled by the Edward and Izzy toxic divorce in S1 and the idea of doing an arc about "Can Izzy find himself outside of this toxic relationship?" only to answer "No." It seems right in his wheelhouse, tbh. Definitely enough that if he felt like Izzy ought to die due to vibes, I doubt he was looking too hard for an alternative.

For all his talk about "Can BlackBonnet put the work into this relationship?" I'm really getting the impression he thinks the more compelling answer is also "No." He likes the idea of a happy ending maybe, but he doesn't really seem into that as a story.

Now, he does seem to have gotten a crash course in "Maybe don't bury your gays?" and he's not lying about wanting to avoid the specific kinds of coming out and queer trauma stories - those are different kinds of tragedies - but I am... skeptical, perhaps, that the forced happy ending feeling of S2 will do anything but repeat in S3.

Just because, like, if I was scrolling these takes on a fic author's blog, I'd put majority odds on the main couple hanging in the final chapter, and I bet a happy sunset ending would come kinda out of nowhere...

Not really a recipe for satisfying, you know?

[dbda-gift-exchange]

If anyone wanted to sign up but didn't get the chance, now is your time! We are seeking pinch hitters for a few different requests which are currently unpaired.

So, what is a pinch hitter? They're a creator who steps in to fulfil an unmatched prompt in a gift exchange (such as this one). They are hugely important to exchanges and help to make sure that everyone can get what they're looking for.

If you're willing to be a pinch hitter for any of the below requests, whether or not you're already participating in the exchange: firstly, you're amazing, and secondly, please DM me or email elusiveellipsis@gmail.com! You will also be able to pick an offer from those currently unpaired, so you'll get gifted a work too. I'll update this post as requests are claimed, so check back on the original.

Request 1:

Tags: Monty, Charles, Humor, Friendship, Any Rating

Description: you know how monty and charles have this passive aggressive thing going on? i think it would be really funny to have something that focuses on that.

Request 2:

Tags: Charles, Monty, Edwin, Any Rating

Description: Monty and Charles grudgingly working together to help Edwin with something, it turns out they work really well together, not that they'll admit it

Request 3:

Tags: Any Character, Any Relationship, Any Rating

Description: Modern or Historical everybody is alive AU, any format

Request 4:

Tags: Edwin/Charles, Edwin, Charles, Pre-Canon, Case Fic, Getting Together, Flirting, Happy Ending, Idiots in Love, Murder Mystery, Any Rating

Description: Just Charles and Edwin being flirty dorks on a case and realizing they're in love, probably at the worst time possible because they are stupid

Request 5:

Tags: Edwin/Charles, Edwin, Charles, Fanvid, Any Rating

Description: For Edits: I'll take any and every Taylor Swift song, but honestly surprise me. Crack vids welcome

[cap-ironman]

2024 Cap-Iron Man Exchange Gifts unveiled on January 4

It’s the eleventh day of reveals! Each day we will be revealing gifts created by 2024 Cap-Iron Man Holiday Exchange and Community Gifts event participants. The gifts will remain anonymous until January 7, giving everyone a chance to enjoy the works and guess the identities of creators. (Remember, if you've got a work in the collection, please remain anonymous until after creator reveals!)

Here are today’s gifts!

★ Already Married for Cap Iron Man Community (MCU, 800 words)

Tony was ready to propose to Steve... too bad Steve's already married!!!

★ any way the wind blows for Cap Iron Man Community (MCU, video: 4:33 minutes])

a stevetony fanvid about expectations versus reality for the cap-ironman community ♥︎

★ Betrothed for Cap Iron Man Community (MCU, 500 words)

Tony hasn't spoken to Steve for over two years... Then he hears the news.

★ Cows are People too for Cap Iron Man Community (MCU, 1571 words)

Human-bovine milk was finally hitting the mainstream and Tony was going to revolutionize the industry. Stark Industries had been a pioneer in the field, supplying their dairy to military bases around the world decades before any company could compete. It had never been their main driver of profit, that had always been weapons, but it had been a steady one for as long as Tony could remember. Now that weapons were out—well, dairy was in, but first—a revolution.

★ A Gift with Breakfast for Cap Iron Man Community (Ults 1610, 300 words)

Jarvis isn't the one to deliver Tony his morning breakfast today.

★ i would stay forever if you say (don't go) for starkparade (616, 10743 words)

Tony never wants to lose Steve, and as far as he's concerned, relationships always end. Usually painfully. It's better to keep Steve as a friend (with benefits), then to risk losing him forever.

★ Imprints of his icy fingers for stellarstarkk (616/MCU, 8916 words)

“A Jaeger — you want me to pilot a Jaeger?” “Of course. You’re a Jaeger pilot. Don’t you want to pilot one? Don’t you want to go out there and kick some Kaiju ass?” Steve thought about it for a moment. The thought of losing another partner…it was almost too much to handle. But the feeling of being in control, of winning…it was too much to forgo. “Yes.”

★ Just Get Some Rest, Steve! (Please) for Cap Iron Man Community (MCU, 500 words)

Tony sits by Steve's bedside in the hospital as he recovers after a difficult mission. Turns out, the meds he and Banner developed for Steve have an unforeseen effect...

★ Lessons in the Multiverse for Cap Iron Man Community (MCU, 100 words)

This is why Strange dislikes working with the Avengers.

★ Mandatory Medical Leave for Cap Iron Man Community (MCU, 500 words)

Tony sits in the lounge, looking through his emails on his phone as he waits for Steve to show up so they can head off to the conference.

★ Military Influence for Cap Iron Man Community (MCU, 500 words)

Rhodey is worried about Tony. Has been for years. What Tony needs is some good old Military Influence in his life. ...Right?

★ New Year's Resolutions for Cap Iron Man Community (Marvel Adventures: Avengers, 2191 words)

Steve rescues tsums from a wet and cold alleyway. What can he learn from the new tsums about asking Tony out?

★ Right in the Ribs for Cap Iron Man Community (MCU, 200 words)

Pregnancy was painful, Tony discovered. It was obvious but ow!

★ Santa Stark for Cap Iron Man Community (Avengers Assemble, 100 words)

Steve is enjoying Christmas with the Avengers, and then Tony arrives...

★ Savage Land Discovery for Cap Iron Man Community (Noir, 1000 words)

Tony takes up traveling again after the war. His first destination is the Savage Lands.

★ Speak and Be Married for Cap Iron Man Community (MCU, 9167 words)

In a fit of rage and wanting to humiliate Prince Tony, King Howard offers Tony’s hand in marriage to the first person who will offer for him. Neither Howard nor Tony expect Steve Rogers, the realm’s most eligible knight, to offer.

★ there's a place (where we break the line) for xWinterDreamsx (MCU, 6293 words)

Steve and Tony's friendship is finally back on track, two years after the snap. Steve should know better than to risk ruining it with a reckless bet—but he’s never been good at holding back when it comes to Tony.

★ Tsum-thing of a Revelation for Cap Iron Man Community (616, 600 words)

Clint finds some Tsums in a dumpster and takes them back to the mansion.

★ Who's a Good Boy? for Cap Iron Man Community (616, art)

For Whomever put Tony/Capwolf Smut on the Community 616 Prompt List cuz I love Stony Capwolf and the world needs more of them 💕

To check out all of this year’s gifts (so far!), head over to the 2024 Captain America/Iron Man Holiday Exchange AO3 Collection.

When your gift is revealed, please be sure to comment and thank your gifter!

If you’re the creator of a gift that’s now been revealed, you can reply to any comments and stay anonymous — AO3 will automatically show you as "Anonymous Author" until the creator reveals.

Finally, you may want to change the publication date of your work to today’s date so that it shows up at the top of AO3's feeds. AO3’s guide is available here and we have a more detailed version here.

Happy holidays, and we hope you enjoy all of the revealed works!

♥ Your 2024 Cap-Iron Man Holiday Exchange and Community Gifts mods

[kuwdora]

Naked Vid Draft - VID OUTLINE: Losing My Religion (The Witcher Netflix, season 3. Ensemble & Ciri.)

My next installment of my Naked Vid Draft vidding process series: my fanvid outline.

This post is meant to show how I've (mostly) learned how to outline fanvids over the years and how I think about song choice for some vid projects. I used to do this kind of outline for every single vid and write it down in a text file and keep it in my folder to review whenever I opened the project. These days I just do all of this in my head now unless I find myself struggling mid-way through a project.

You can listen along or just skip below to read the lyrics and my notes to learn about how I see/hear/feel my vid in my head already. I haven't rewatched most of season 3 since the summer. I haven’t even created the project file or started making any clips for this yet. This vid lives in my head and in these notes. All things are subject change once I start vidding but for now this is what it is as I get my start on this project. I've chosen Bellsaint's cover of Losing My Religion for this vid which I'll explain in more detail under the cut.

By reading through the lyrics and my notes, hopefully you’ll also be able to see how I’m structuring the vid. Maybe you'll see the vid in a different way if you come back to watch a completed draft.

I’ve put the lyrics and all my line notes below the cut since this post is already quite long. And also this would count as spoilers for my upcoming vid. (This post is also accountability so I can keep my excitement up and start working on this vid!)

Some vid projects I go into it having a vague emotion or theme or even just a few clips that I know I want to use and that’s really it. Sometimes I barely remember any key visuals, just my “!!! I LOVE THEM!!” Feelings about the character. I just dive into the movie or episodes and I’m just throwing visuals down on the timeline and seeing what sticks. It’s just me having a good time fucking around with the characters feelings or the show’s visuals and it doesn’t really matter how it comes together or what I was thinking before I started it. Usually turns into something by the end.

Other vids, particularly my witcher vids, I have more specific ideas going into the project right down to clip choices and visual climaxes. Because everything Witcher-related is still the top of my fannish obsessions and always on my mind in some way. Dominates my fannish feeds and reading and discussing and etc etc. I have specific things I want to squee and think about with TWN and that ends up in my vids.

Reminder: this is a season 3 only vid so I will only be pulling visuals from season 3.

Song choice/vid concept origins/process notes:

I’ve been making single-season character study vids for Yennefer and Ciri and Fringilla since 2021. I’ve appreciated a specific female vocalist/singer-songwriter with Halsey and Claire Guerrero for the vibes and the lyrics. It’s a musical motif I hadn’t really intended on falling into so thoroughly for the show. But it feels good and right and I enjoy making TWN vids with that music. So it was pretty natural for me to want to vid season 3 again with that vibe/atmosphere in mind.

I really loved season 3 of TWN. What I was really excited to see was how all the events of Thanedd would come together, the Family of Destiny, and I was so excited to see this chapter of Ciri’s journey begin when she’s separated from everyone.

So it’s exciting to have this concept for a season 3 vid. I want it to be very Ensemble but also Ciri. I want to look at the struggle, at the pain, at the grief, and mayhem of Thanedd. While also being able to highlight some of the lovely moments between Ciri, Geralt, Yennefer on the run. And Jaskier also showing up to do his best to help protect Ciri and help Geralt and Yen.

REM’s Losing My Religion has lyrics and a mood that is really perfect for this. I don’t even remember how I circled around to this song, only that I did. I've always been more of a lyric-driven vidder and I love to dig in and think about lyrical associations and emotional beats on certain verses.

I’ve really gotten into vidding musical covers over the years. I find covers to be a really interesting way to take the familiar song and put a new spin on it. A way to add some layers to a fanvid and emphasize certain vibes/atmosphere. Transformative remix art. :)

I found this incredible cover by Bellsaint of Losing My Religion. Not only did I fall so hard for the arrangement and the female vocalist, she ended up sounding similar to what I liked about Halsey and Claire Guerrero that I used for my Yen and Ciri and Fringilla vids. Yummy musical motif. I don’t have thoughts or fleshed out ideas yet for all the lyrics and instrumentals. Like I said before usually once I start clipping and adding things to the timeline, I discover how shots from the season that relate to the emotions/themes/characters will fit into place on the timeline. It’s a fun time.

This vid is ultimately going to be about the grief and struggle and pain of Family of Destiny and how it all falls apart leaving Ciri standing in the rubble. With those those climactic events of Thanedd. Ciri and Falka and The Rats.

This will be a fluid POV. We’re starting with Geralt, moving onto Yen, then Yen and Geralt, then Jaskier, then our Thanedd villains and ultimately Ciri. Everyone is losing their religion.

Pardon the formatting. I've always just slapped lyrics down and write notes next to the line, nothing fancy.

VID OUTLINE: Losing My Religion TWN Season 3: Ensemble + Ciri. LYRICS + VID NOTES

[0:00] Geralt POV in verse 1

Oh life, it's bigger [Geralt with Ciri on the ferry, Geralt sad eyes about the weight Ciri carries] It's bigger than you [Ciri Child of the Elder Blood/ Tor Lara, Everyone wants Ciri?] And you are not me [Geralt sad/exhausted, maybe on the ferry or another safe house?] The lengths that I will go to [Geralt rushing to save Ciri, maybe in the belletyn labyrinth maze] The distance in your eyes [many choices for Ciri haunted eyes, still thinking of Ciri on Ferry looking out at the water] Oh no, I've said too much [Geralt talking to Ciri in Sherrwarrdfijifjs maybe] I've said enough [also a play on TWN Geralt not being talky philosopher/ but also more Geralt sad eyes when he’s trying to keep Ciri safe]

[0:31] Yen POV verse 2

That's me in the corner [fucking TWN putting Yen in the corner, inverting Dear Friend Letter writing, Yen being shut out of the safe houses] That's me in the spotlight [Yen trying to teach Ciri magic and/or Yen and Ciri at market to get portal to aretuza and Yen saving Ciri? Or Yen at Thanedd in the Spotlight. Spotlight of nascent motherhood though..hmm..] Losing my religion [Ciri being mad/frustrated/irritated at Yen, i.e. when Yen pulls her away from applegat blabbing about her visions. Or maybe Yen at Thanedd?] Trying to keep up with you [Yen and Ciri antagonisms at the bathhouse? / Ciri and Yen on the run at the market after killing guy in Keira’s portal shop] And I don't know if I can do it [That One Shot where Yen walks away from Ciri at the bathhouse, Looking Pained] Oh no, I've said too much [Yen snapping at Ciri/ maybe when Ciri blabbing to applegat, or another instance?] I haven't said enough [Yen beautiful face of grief at trying to do right by Ciri]

[1:01] Yen and Geralt POV. Previous two POVs were more about themselves and focused on Ciri. This section of lyrics makes me think of Yen and Geralt about each other - as well as Ciri. And the vocals are kind of layered in the song, it sounds like two voices. It makes me think of all the quiet tenderness of Yennefer and Geralt had in this season.

I thought that I heard you laughing [Yen and Geralt watching Ciri dance at belletyn] I thought that I heard you sing [Yen and Ciri on the lake ice skating, Geralt watching them, maybe also Ciri and Geralt piggyback ride. Trying to sing = Ciri trying to do magic and/or trying to be a normal girl with a family.] I think I thought I saw you try [Yennefer and Geralt looking at each other !!!!!!!!! Trying!!!! To do their best! when they’re camping near Sherwrararrward and belletyn and in the forest on the way to Aretuza.]

[1:16-1:27] Foreshadow/Transition. There’s an ominous ‘oooooh’ with the ominous music in the background here for these 11 seconds. Maybe Ciri and Jaskier watching Yen and Geralt in the woods? Or: will try to bridge a Ciri clip from previous verse to Foreshadow Ciri in the desert, ‘thought I saw you try’ try to do magic.. Trying to summon magic and getting all the visions of Fire and Death. Transition from Ciri + fire/power to vision!Jaskier’s horrific death, then cut to:]

[1:28] Jaskier POV

Every whisper [whispers=secrets, lies and subterfuge. Also: Jaskier rubbing his fingers while in the carriage with Philippa and Radovid. Whisper=small action, Jaskier pain/fire/Rience, and/or from Ciri Vision. What Jaskier will do to protect Ciri, implied heartache/what will he lose along the way.] Of every waking hour [Philippa getting in Jaskier’s face? Keeping him on his toes.] I'm choosing my confessions [Jaskier going to Radovid, Jaskier face of pain and empathy and/or Jaskier singing?] Trying to keep an eye on you [Jaskier and Ciri in the cottage] Like a hurt, lost and blinded fool, fool [Jaskier/radovid kiss, Jaskier looking hurt/betrayed morning after] Oh no, I've said too much [Jaskier singing Ciri to sleep? Jaskier worry morning after when she’s gone? Jaskier’s woogity face when talking to Radovid?] I've said enough [Jaskier’s resolve? Jaskier eyessss.]

[3:35] Thanedd POVs: Philippa, Dijkstra, Vilgefortz.

Consider this [Philippa bending Geralt’s ear about taking sides at Thanedd] Consider this, the hint of the century [Vilgefortz + Geralt + paintings, or walking. Vilgefortz epic stakes. Staff.] Consider this, the slip [I’ve always heard ‘the slave’ instead of ‘the slip’ which has made me stuck on Geralt as a slave to his neutrality, whacking the shit out of Dijkstra and breaking his knee] That brought me to my knees, failed [Dijkstra owtchies howling in pain] What if all these fantasies come [Vilgefortz letting scoia’tael invade? Or Redanian soldiers grabbing Geralt? ?? something] Flailing around [Vilgefortz staff + Geralt. Ciri Beach Running Thanedd falling apart/ ring of fire/but also I’ve done that exact layering/transparency before in previous season 3 vids but hmmmm…something.] Now I've said too much [Vilgefortz beach. Maybe staff thumps to the percussion here, beat beat beat Geralt beat, Geralt losing his neutrality religion, Geralt bleed, Vilgefortz smirk, but maybe Vilgefortz in Tor Lara with Ciri watching Ciri touch the monolith? always circle back to Ciri..... To help transition to:]

[2:29] Ciri POV - Ciri on the run / Ciri in the desert here. Layering Past Ciri with all the memories of Geralt and Yen and Jaskier with the pain she’s experiencing in the desert alone and she’s losing her mind seeing her mother and grandmother. MAYBE also layer in Vilgefortz’ mind warping False Ciri?? Who is Ciri? It’s all just a dream.]

I thought that I heard you laughing [Ciri having dinner with Family of Destiny? / more Ciri/Family - maybe a flash of Desert Falka Vision?] I thought that I heard you sing [More Ciri focusing on Yen and Geralt Trying to Do Their Best. Ciri and Yen in the market? Maybe another layer of Hooded Cloaked Falka?] I think I thought I saw you try [Ciri Family Feels/ action of Tor Lara? Yen and Geralt trying to protect Ciri?] [maybe this is a Falka POV verse?????]

But that was just a dream [Ciri walking at night - blue desert, overlays with Family of Destiny] That was just a dream [Ciri/Family transition/layering Ciri getting dragged on the ground by bounty hunters, or when she’s tied up in the tavern]

[3:09] Ciri POV That's me in the corner [Ciri in the darkened tavern vision with Falka] That's me in the spotlight [Ciri being circled by no-hood Falka] Losing my religion [Ciri + fire magic + visions + visions of death + Falka?] Trying to keep up with you [Ciri fighting alongside The Rats in the tavern? Falka’s fire and fury and rage in her expression in the tavern.] And I don't know if I can do it [Ciri to Falka in the darkened tavern] Oh no, I've said too much [Ciri stabbing the guy / Ciri dissociating to become someone she needs to be to survive] I haven't said enough [Ciri’s face after she kills the guy / tells the Rats her name is Falka]

Messy vid outline is messy, sometimes specific and sometimes ambiguous. Likely to change or have happy accidents along the way.

[thelostgirl21]

For @my-jokes-are-my-armour, just a tiny snippet from a WIP accompanying a fanvid I made (that has yet to have been released publicly), where Radovid and Geralt have their first heart to heart regarding their respective place in Jaskier's life...

-----

Once they’re sure the boys are going to be okay, the rest of the family manage to convince Jaskier to let them have their own turn getting properly introduced and being given the chance to build their own bond with his prince.

The most surprising, perhaps, is Geralt.

Radovid isn’t exactly sure what he’d been expecting because, until then, Yennefer had been this regular nurturing and mother-like figure often checking up on him with her magic, occasionally fluffing his pillows, fixing his covers, and watching over his sleep whenever they managed to convince a very stubborn and overprotective bard to go get some much needed rest, too.

Ciri had been that distinctive voice that had kept hovering around, and keeping Jaskier company whilst he slept, occasionally offering him a slightly shy and polite smile whenever he woke up and their gazes met.

But Geralt…  his strongest memory involving the man been the enraged growl that had managed to cut through the fog and the darkness that had been closing in on him, right before he’d suddenly found himself gasping for air – his throat raw and on fire – but blissfully able to breathe again.

Geralt had since been the more elusive of Jaskier’s companions – keeping a watchful eye from the distance, expression impassive, occasionally warning Jaskier that if he refused to listen to Yennefer and go rest, he’d personally come pick him up and physically shove him into bed himself!

Until now, he’d acted as the family’s guardian with a stoicism that one might expect from a seasoned warrior.  And, if he had to be perfectly honest, Radovid would have had to admit to having been slightly intimidated by him.

Not afraid – but out of all of Jaskier’s family, Geralt had been the one that had looked most like a figure of legend to him!  The famed Sandpiper’s powerful white-haired Witcher!

So, imagine his surprise when, the moment Geralt takes a seat next to him, he turns into that big soft fluffy white wolf that Jaskier had been talking about but that Radovid himself had yet to have personally encountered.  What immediately comes out of his mouth is a long list of things that one should know to take proper care of Jaskier.

“…often, during winter months, his feet really tend to get cold, even when sleeping inside an inn with a well-kept fire burning in the fireplace.  So, sometimes, I heat a few rocks over the fire that I wrap in a soft wool cloth and slide under the cover next to his feet…”

And, at first, Radovid listens – partly because he wants to learn as much as he can to be a good partner for Jaskier, too, but also because he’s way too stunned to do anything else!

Eventually, though, it dawns on him that Geralt sounds like he expects Radovid to replace him, and he says “You know that you’re one of the most – if not the most important person in the world to Jaskier – and I’ve no desire to take him away from you, right?”

And, while Geralt appreciates the sentiment – and agrees that their bard has a huge heart and that there’s room in it for more than a single person (actually, you could probably fit the whole Continent into that heart!) – he also knows that Jaskier ‘imprinted’ on Radovid in a way that’s a bit different than how he ‘imprinted’ on him when they first met.

Radovid is not ‘stealing Jaskier away’ from Geralt.  Jaskier is naturally drawn to him, seeking his presence, and bonding with him in a way that highly suggests that the king is the one member of their found family that the bard will be naturally seeking to build the bulk of his life with, and following around most often from now on.

And Geralt is okay with that.  Because Jaskier is going to continue to grow older, and his feet will only get colder, and although he loves going on adventures and seeing the world, eventually it might be a lot more appropriate and convenient for him to do so traveling by coach while having access to a warm, comfortable bed at night.

And if Radovid is genuine in his desire to improve the living conditions for the peasantry as well as the North’s relationship with the other races they are sharing the land with, then Jaskier will want to get actively involved.

Geralt can sense that the bard is simply entering a new chapter of his life and that Radovid is going to be right at the heart of said chapter.

In many ways, it feels right, too.  Radovid is human and roughly around the same age as Jaskier…  They have a similar perception of time and – assuming the Gods are kind – they might get to share and experience the rest of their lives together.

Of course, should anything happen to one of them, they can count on Yennefer and him – and probably even Ciri – to watch over the other for as long as they shall live.

And they’re not planning on simply walking out of their lives, either – far from it!

But there’s no need for Geralt to be right at the center of Jaskier’s life to still be a part of it.  Truth is, they’ve often lost sight of each other for a few months or years at a time in the past.  But, as soon as they see each other again, they feel as though they’ve never left each other’s side.

That’s how strong the love between them is, and Geralt doesn’t expect it to be something that will ever change regardless of how many others Jaskier might love.

The one change that Radovid does bring, however, is that Geralt will sleep much better at night knowing that, whenever they’re apart, there’s someone that genuinely loves him looking out for him.  Someone that truly appreciates Jaskier’s music and talents and shares his artistic sensitivities, among others.

Plus, Geralt knows that Jaskier sees Radovid as a person first, a poet second, and a king – or prince – third.  Same as he saw a scared child with the weight of the world on her shoulders when he met Ciri, and continues to treat her as if she’s a young girl needing love, guidance and protection rather than one of the most powerful beings on the Continent.

While the world keeps making demands from her, Jaskier is more interested in offering her a listening ear, support, and teaching her things.

People often expect kings and queens to watch over them and sacrifice for them, but very few of them wonder who watches over the kings and queens to ensure they don’t lose sight of themselves in the process.

What Radovid did, trying to foolishly stand between Dijkstra and Philippa and his people to protect them from their greed shows that he’s got the whole ‘willingness to make sacrifices for his people’ thing down.

He even took a knife to the guts in an attempt to do the right thing by stopping an innocent family from being robbed.

And, the moment they all realize how much Radovid cares, his people might attempt to take full advantage of that while forgetting that he’s only human, and thus demanding more from him than anyone would ever be able to offer!

Jaskier won’t let them forget, and most importantly he won’t let Radovid forget.

So, assuming they can manage to help Radovid reclaim Redania – and Geralt has no doubt they can – he will also sleep better at night knowing that those in power that do attempt doing the right thing and dare dreaming of something better for their people aren’t always punished for it.

Knowing that Ciri might become queen at a time where she won’t have to stand alone against bigger and more powerful kingdoms dominated by a thirst for blind power and greed!

Knowing that she, too, might continue to find people that will love and support her without letting her lose sight of herself.

Everyone deserves to have someone by their side that can see past what others needs them or are trying to push them to be...

Jaskier’s already made the whole Continent much friendlier to witchers than it used to be, brought him Yennefer, and Ciri…

All Radovid has to do is give him the signal, and that bard will rally his people behind their king, make them all fucking fall in love with him, have the elves, dwarves, and other races want to become his allies, and give him all the resources he needs to use his position for good.

Because Geralt can see how pissed off at Redanian nobility Jaskier is right now!  As far as the bard is concerned, they all let Radovid down by allowing Dijkstra and Philippa to rob him of his voice and refusing to listen to him.

And a pissed off bard like Jaskier, with a powerful voice that carries over seas and mountain, will make everyone listen whether they want to or not!

With Dijkstra dead, Philippa on the run, and that Duke’s son they put on the throne to use as a puppet in Radovid’s place, Redania’s nobility will either have to step aside and let Radovid walk right back in, or risk permanently losing whatever little influence they might still hope to cling to.

It'll be fine.  And if a realist like Geralt – with a tendency towards disillusioned fatalism – says it’ll be fine, then Radovid can trust that it will be.

And Radovid can see why Jaskier loves Geralt so much that he’d be willing to follow him right into hell, and then help him fight his way back out of it!

He’s a good man through and through, that’s spent his whole unnaturally long life standing between others and the monsters threatening them, while having one of the most noble, compassionate and gentle hearts he’s ever seen.

“I’ve once asked Jaskier if you knew how lucky you were to have him, but I think he’s lucky to be have you, too,” he finds himself saying.

Geralt’s instinctive mocking, disbelieving huff is so filled with guilt and self-hatred that it utterly breaks Radovid’s heart, and triggers an odd sense of righteous outrage and protectiveness in him.

Geralt’s mouth starts moving, but he immediately cuts him off.

“Jaskier told me about the mountain.  I know.  It doesn’t change anything,” he states firmly, head held high, fixing Geralt with a stare that’s uncannily authoritative and almost dares him – or anyone really – to challenge him.

And, for a moment, Geralt freezes.  Because he fully realizes that the person sitting in bed before him – recovering from a violent assassination attempt – is none other than the direct descendant of King Radovid the Great.

And that, the very first time he personally gets to witness him display the kind of inner strength and resolve that one would typically expect from such a king – the kind that leaves no room for dissent and sharply reminds anyone that would seem to have forgotten that his word in the land is law – it’s essentially to tell him: ‘Jaskier’s lucky to have you!  Now stop with your nonsense, and deal with it!’

And the worst part is that it’s working! 

That twink of a king – sitting in bed with probably still a fourth of his blood missing, looking like he’s ready to wage holy war on anyone daring to suggest that Geralt is not as good a friend to Jaskier as he’s royally decreed him to be – is actually making the crushing guilt he’s usually experiencing over what happened on that mountain want to bow down to him and quickly scutter out of his sight before it actually manages to draw out the king’s full anger!

The situation feels so surreal and absurd that, before he can fully realize what’s happening or have a chance to stop it, Geralt’s shoulders are shaking, and he’s starting to laugh…

And, just like that, Radovid’s scowl is loosening, and his shoulders are also starting to shake, too, and the two of them just end up laughing to tears together!

It takes a confused and almost alarmed bard – having been alerted by the unfamiliar sound of a witcher dissolving into a fit of laughter and rushing in to investigate to make sure he’s not suddenly dying or something – for them to finally manage to regain control of themselves.

“Just so you know, that king of yours is a bloody menace that will have the whole Continent bowing to his will in no time!” Geralt amusedly declares, wiping at his eyes.

“I try!” Radovid shrugs, while trying to catch his breath, still visibly sharing in Geralt’s amusement while obviously not knowing him well enough to fully grasp just how unusual the response he got from him was.

Jaskier, however, remains very confused and somewhat agitated. “Wait.  Hold on.  How did you make him laugh?  I never even knew he could laugh like that!”

“Huh,” Radovid answers noncommittally – and Geralt has a sense that Radovid is very intentionally choosing to use diversion, so Geralt will be free to enjoy the cathartic moment they’d just experienced without returning to that place of self-doubt and self-hatred by being reminded of the path that had taken them there in the first place.

Because he’s now slightly yawning and stretching like a kitten, burrowing himself back into the bed’s pillows, and lifting the covers as a clear sign that he’s tired and wants Jaskier to come and join him.

And, when the bard attempts to hold his ground, his prince decides to give him the kind of sad, imploring look that Geralt genuinely thought said bard was the only being on the Continent able to so expertly pull off!

“Oh!  I see how it is!  Just because you are lying there pouting – looking all adorably affectionate and tired – you think I’ll just drop the issue and jump right into bed to cuddle you instead, is that it?” Jaskier says, stubbornly crossing his arms over his chest and looking clearly unimpressed.

There’s a pause, where the imploring look improbably intensifies (how?), and then, very gently and quietly…

“…Yes?”

Jaskier gives him an exaggerated sigh and throws his hands up in the air “Alright okay, FINE,” making Radovid immediately perk up.  “Now scoot your pretty little royal ass over…”

They manage to maneuver themselves into a single bed, Radovid half sprawled on top of Jaskier, the bard tenderly running his fingers into his now shorter hair making the other man – wait, is he purring?

It’s pretty clear to Geralt that whatever they might still need to discuss will have to wait, but it’s okay – by the absolutely smitten expression on Jaskier’s face it’s rather clear that their bard is set on keeping him around for a very, very long time, so there will be plenty of opportunities for them to continue catching up!

[shipcestuous]

Okay, I come back with the third part of the ask! I have MORE amazing news, isn’t it great?

First of all, the best news for me is I have found yet another wonderful incest movie I have been looking for so long!!!! It’s called «Madame Solario». Hear me out, this is REALLY exiting, as it’s a French costume drama based on a book. Actually, there’s even an article called «“Saint Brother and Saint Sister”: The Motif of Fraternal Incest in Gladys Huntington’s Madame Solario» (here’s the link to the article https://dspace.uni.lodz.pl/bitstream/handle/11089/38892/PJAS_vol7_2013_Alicja_Piechucka.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y)

Here’s where you can watch the movie with English subtitles: https://tubitv.com/movies/100007671/madame-solario

Secondly, I went over your «Not available in English» list and tried to look for the subtitles. I actually had luck with some of them!

Der Kuss Meiner Schwester

Here are two links where you can download subtitles for this movie (it’s two different subtitles)

https://www.opensubtitles.org/en/subtitles/9593069/der-kuss-meiner-schwester-en (those are, I think, made by machine translation. I watched with them and they’re enough to understand most of the movie)

https://www.avsubtitles.com/subtitles.php?subid=16862&revid=20230717000859 (not sure about those, whether they’re made by human or machine, maybe a native English speaker would realize better than me)

Already after I found those subs, I stumbled across a comment on your wordpress under the post about this movie. I attach the comment in a picture, just in case if you haven’t seen it, because the user provides some information. (the subtitles they mention are the same as the ones from OpenSubtitles)

Syskonsalt

So, indeed, there are subtitles on OpenSubtitles for this movie: https://www.opensubtitles.com/en/subtitles/syskonsalt-2000-swedish-vhs-tvrip-xvid-movieboys-en  (Those, I assume, are made by a person)

Lunnye polyany (2002), also known as Les clairieres de lune

Once again I watched it before in Russian and I even have a fanvid about them! (promoting myself while I can lolz https://www.tumblr.com/familyromantic/705637767270531072/this-is-the-only-russian-film-about-incest-that?source=share) But now all of you can watch it too. I can say it is not a light watch and it has a dark, depressed atmosphere, but there is some sort of doomed love beauty as well. BUT I warn you that I have only seen the movie in a HORRIBLE quality, sadly.

Link to the subs: https://www.avsubtitles.com/subtitles.php?subid=18021&revid=20230827220208

Taboo: The Soul Is A Stranger On Earth

Three subtitles, but I glanced and they look the same lol (could be wrong)

https(:)//www.opensubtitles.org/en/subtitles/10009196/tabu-the-soul-is-a-stranger-on-earth-en (just delete the parentheses, I added them because Tumblr didn't like this link lol)

Additionally, not related to subtitles, but I want to let you all know I have Bror 2019 in HD if someone needs it (got it from a Swedish site with VPN). ALSO if any of the links I provided don’t work for someone or anything, I have it all downloaded, so contact me and I’ll send it to you. Or if you want to combine a movie and subtitles, I can do that too.

 I think that’s all, that was a long ask for real :)

[x]

Thank you for going through that not-available-in-English list! I'm pleased to be able to remove so many titles from it.

Do you happen to have any download links for Madame Salario? Having it on Tubi is so great but I like to archive the hard to find incest movies if I can just in case they get removed from streaming. It sounds like you do the same.

I did see that comment about Der Kuss Meiner Schwester. I downloaded the subs right away but haven't checked them against the video file I had. I didn't want to start partying until I was sure they fit and made sense and everything. I actually couldn't download the Syskonsalt ones originally but your link worked for me so thanks.

While we're on the topic, this movie, Yellow, is actually in English but has proven impossible find: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1588898/?ref_=nm_flmg_t_9_act. Has anyone managed to see, or better yet download, this one?

[gaywatch]

What are some ships/pairings/otps that have buried themselves so deep in your heart that you won’t ever be able to be anything but absolutely insane about them?

Like they are either constantly on your mind and you can’t shake them or you don’t think about them as often but when you do (or something reminds you of them) it’s like a punch to the gut and all the feelings come rushing back to you at once in an overwhelming way… I’m so curious because you obviously watch so many things and see a lot of connections between characters so I’m just wondering which ones have dug their claws in just a little too deep?

Okay, first of all, this is a banger question and a banger way to phrase it so good on you. <3

Any of the first five ships I ever had can make me feral at a moment's notice, and I could write an essay about any of them with zero prep time. My peak shipping period for all of them was high school and college, when my obsessive capacity was... particularly impressive. I made fanvids for four out of five (in one case I made 10+), fake trailers for a couple, and at least began writing a fanfic for four out of five of these as well:

Phantom/Christine (Phantom of the Opera)

David/Maddie (Moonlighting)

Jack/Elizabeth (Pirates of the Carribean)

House/Cameron (House MD)

Jareth/Sarah (Labyrinth)

This list alone tells you a lot about me, tbh.

Every single one of these come with the warning that you should never bring them up to me unless you're prepared for a highly intense and opinionated lecture.

And it's always difficult to compete with the formative stuff, right? They hit you hard at a hard-hitting age, that's a lot to surpass.

WELL.

I got into queer ships when I was 22, just out of college but still in the vital Young Adult stage, and long story short the rest of my life is quite literally all Star Trek 2009's fault. I saw the movie and (hilariously) got enough of a Kirk/Spock vibe that I wondered if anyone and the WiLd AnD cRaZy IdEa that they should be together or maybe that was just me and this was a Brand New Idea.

That gives you a good idea of how ignorant of queer fandom I was.

Anyway, fifteen-going-on-sixteen years later I'm drowning in queer ships but these ten in particular have some kind of cryptic Lovecraftian hold on my being despite the fact that as I've gotten older my appreciation for the fictional gays has grown wider, meaning it's usually less concentrated. So instead of having a list a mile long to answer your question, it still ultimately boils down to a top ten (in no order, don't do that to me):

Kirk/Spock (Star Trek: TOS)

Eliot/Quentin (The Magicians)

Lan Wangji/Wei Wuxian (The Untamed)

Kang Yohan/Kim Gaon (The Devil Judge)

Thor/Loki (MCU)

Holmes/Watson (Sherlock Holmes, Guy Ritchie films)

Lestat/Louis (Interview with the Vampire)

Shiro/Keith (Voltron)

[redacted] (redacted)*

Arthur/Merlin (Merlin)

Nowadays the big indicator that I don't just love a ship, I love a ship, is if I'm so compelled that I feel the urge to Make Something (huge mega ADHD bonus points if I actually do it), usually a fanvid or a fic. And that holds true for...yeah, 9/10 of these.

Every now and then I'll remember one of these and feel that obsessive urge to think about nothing else for like a month and fully re-immerse. But Gaywatch, writing, and DMing for my D&D group make that really difficult. They're always there, though, and if I can ever think of way to shove them into Gaywatch for the excuse to obsess I totally do. (Merlin, for example, came in a really strong second for a Patreon poll last year but didn't win. And I was like 'fuck it this is my house and I'll watch Merlin after the winner' because I'd been waiting actual years to watch it for the channel.)

So yeah, if any of these--even the First Five because I'm obnoxious--make it into Gaywatch content somehow, that is not an accident. (If you were looking for details about each one I'm legit not capable of that. It'd be paragraphs per ship at least and we'd never get out of here.)

*Redacted because purity culture froths at the mouth whenever this ship is so much as mentioned. If anyone ever asked me point-blank if I shipped this I'd tell the truth, but Tumblr specifically can make talking about the ship insufferable/impossible.