#off the top of my head the christmas special is a good example of this

[parme-san]

"squidward doesn't like hearing spongebob cry" is something that i don't think is ever explicitly said in the show but i feel like it's one of those things where once it's pointed out to you you can't miss it. i feel like it's probably called back to repeatedly because of pizza delivery, not only because the climax of the episode is so iconic but because as the first episode centered around squidward and spongebob interacting it serves as a kind of blueprint for their relationship.

[shipcestuous]

Given that we are now in the latter half of the 25-day Christmas countdown, are there any Christmas movies (or other pieces of media) that you think have good incest shipping potential? I’m actually struggling to come up with many; I prefer sibling/sibling, whereas a lot of Christmas stuff deals with parent and young child dynamics, nonrelated romantic couples, or siblings with age gaps so wide they don’t appeal to me. Is the Folgers commercial all we have?!? Lmao.

Hi Anon,

Apologies for taking so long to answer this, but hopefully it's not too late!

I am an aficionado of Christmas movies and I can confirm that the ratio of really shippable siblings in Christmas movies compared to regular movies is strangely low. You would think a time with families getting together and lots of focus on family would yield more, but no. I can honestly say that the list of Christmas movies I enjoy watching mainly for bro/sis shipping is incredibly short.

I did not include any of the Hallmark-type Christmas romances in this list because the canon love story always totally overshadows everything else, but you do actually see some great bro/sis relationships in the movie, but in the background. It's fairly common for the male romantic lead to be really involved in his sister's life (or she's really involved in his) and be an A+ uncle. It's common enough to be a trope. But those all bleed together so I would never be able to come up with any titles.

Siblings who are young:

All I Want For Christmas

Unaccompanied Minors

The Santa Clause 2

All Mine To Give

There's canon, but not endgame, stepcest in a Christmas movie called Siblings involving teens.

Adult siblings:

The Family Stone

The Fitzgerald Family Christmas

Office Christmas Party

A Christmas Carol is worth mentioning. Most versions make it clear how important Fanny is to Ebenezer, though she is dead in the present.

Also, I haven't seen it, but I've heard that the new show The Santa Clauses has shippable siblings.

Also, I'd like to add The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special to this list, though I think it qualifies most closely as an episode of a series rather than a movie. But it has great bro/sis stuff.

You should also take a look at this tag, where I've made similar lists like this in the past. And I drop Christmas stuff into this tag, when I remember. Or you can just use the search, which works well for this query.

Also, checking out Christmas episodes of TV shows with siblings is a great way to get Christmas-y content. There's a big age gap in this one so you probably wouldn't like it, but the iChristmas episode of iCarly has great Carly/Spencer content. The Middle has Christmas episodes, for example. Most sitcoms do. I wish I had a better list of those off the top of my head.

If anyone has suggestions, please reply!

Good luck finding something, Anon!

[soir-rouges-esprit]

xxviii.e: The Viper, Yeah yeah yeah … You know I'm grateful and will never be able to repay that, NOW GO ON … GET!!!. She walked off into the bedroom, and shut the door, all while slowly peeking and grinning big the whole time doing so. After the door shut, I quickly rushed and put the chocolate and the last surprise in the fridge … *Phew* … thought she was gonna see and that would have rained it all. Then I get everything from my bag and lay it out wide on her island countertop … I then rush and prep some utensils needed which takes me five or so minutes (things were unorganized as the Imp tends to make things) bowls, mixer, open the bag of flour, etc … then … finally … I call out to the Imp. Alright! … come on out. The door slowly opens, and she peeks her head out, she notices the kitchen packed with ingredients “Woah!? Ok ok … are you cooking for me!?” Well come here first, get a better look … and we are gonna cook together! She walked fully out of the room and into the kitchen, I immediately noticed she had done her hair within that short time away (Astonishing personal record of hers) with a little white raven hairpin that I had gotten her for Christmas, that was symbolism of her and her new kind of light in my life, that she had held her hair up with. I was a little taken aback, considering the short amount of time It took her to transform, but also just how … stunning she was, with so little. She was wearing a somewhat loose gray t-shirt … clearly no bra … and light purple short shorts that rode basically up to her ass … It was … distracting. “Oh … my … GOD!!! … Are we making fucking pizza margarita??” … Yes. She did a little Imp dance while smiling and laughing. “YES!!! Oh my god ok ok … are we using the oven?” Pizza oven up top, actually “What the fuck … ok, I see you really did plan this.” Yeah! Of cour- … wait what do you mean? You tryin' to say I’d fu- she put her finger to my mouth “SHHH No more talking! … more Italian cuisine thank you.” We start by whisking the all-purpose flour, sugar, yeast, and salt, while adding some warm water and olive oil and stirring until the dough just begins to come together. “You know … this is quite special … I don’t just share pizza margarita with anyone you know?” Oh yeah? I scraped the dough onto the floured countertop M prepared, and started to knead it for about three minutes. And … why is that huh? Thought you of all people would try and take any moment to get in some pizza, and share your very opinionated mind on Italian cuisine. “Opinionated would be falsely assuming what I’m saying is an opinion … when they are merely facts. For example - ” AUGHT … no no … not yet there asshole, keep that till later when I can stuff my face with pizza goodness. The dough finishes, I then put it into a large bowl that has been lightly doused and spread in olive oil, M covers it in plastic wrap, and we let it sit for about two hours. Once done, we go up top, and preheat the pizza oven to five-hundred and fifty fahrenheit, then come back down and stir together the pureed tomatoes, minced garlic, extra virgin olive oil, pepper, and salt. M pats down our mozzarella with a paper towel to remove extra moisture, then take out the dough and put it on the floured countertop again, let rest for ten minutes. Then M sprinkled the pizza peel with a tablespoon of semolina and dusted it with all-purpose flour, then I gently spread the dough to roughly fit the pizza peel by eye … then I moved it to the pizza peel. Then we both, brush the dough lightly with olive oil, about a teaspoon, then add about half a cup of tomato sauce onto the dough spreading it and leaving about half an inch of border wall, then we sprinkled a tablespoon of parmigiano-reggiano cheese onto the sauce, while also evenly spreading about six and half ounces of mozzarella while spreading a decent amount of basil leaves onto the top of the pizza. Then we go up top to the preheated pizza oven with our pizza delight, place the pizza in and … [To Be Continued]

[twallarts446-001]

Package an Egg paper

When I first learned what this project was, I was very excited and eager to start. I wanted to do something super “out there” and initially might have gone too far. Somehow, I got to the thought of a gas station even though looking back it wouldn’t be quite right for the project. When I got home, I started looking but couldn’t find anything that was just right. As I was explaining the project to my friend, I used one of my Christmas candies as an example but then I had ideas swarm my head. I plan to Repackage and Design Sour Patch Kids for both commercial use and a special package for the movie theatre. I think the main problems with the current design are that the box is mainly Yellow and doesn’t really portray watermelon clearly and the watermelon text at the bottom doesn’t help much. It has a lot of distractions and text making it hard to understand what it is if you are walking down a store isle. Growing up these were one of my favorite movie theater candies to have and the worst part was the packaging. Inside is a loud plastic bag that holds all of the candy which made me embarrassed whenever I wanted another piece and made noise during the movie. Now that I am older, I don’t care to eat the whole box and don’t have a good way to reseal the box to bring it home. The main audience for this candy is mainly people that go to the movie theater but also includes kids, holiday gifts, adults, or anyone that likes candy. Most of the consumers will most likely be spending their money on other candy, movies, toys, and the usual day to day supplies. Sour patch is owned by mondelez international, who also owns many big-name brands. Oreos, chips ahoy!, belvita, ritz, Cliff, Cadbury, Triscut, Toblerone, Tate’s bake shop, and many more. However, Sour patch kids is the only sour candy brand that they own. That means Mondelez international only had one brand to make a profit off of sour candy. Last year they made $223.6 million and when I did the math it is roughly 45 million boxes, family packs, and shareable size packages sold. Sour Patch kids’ largest competitors are war heads, troli, sour punch, air head xtreme, juicy drop, and sour skittles. While some of the other brands might make good profits, sour patch is the highest ranking out of them all. Since there is such a large customer group currently I feel like changing the design won’t be a big problem since most people are already buying for the brand anyways. Mondelez international’s mission statements are “empowering people to snack right” and high quality ingredients, in a way that enables people and the planet to thrive.” I see mondelez as a Creator archetype since their goal is to create the perfect product our of quality ingredients. Sour patch kids is their most playful brand so it tends to slip away from the professional side of mondelez, Which is why I feel like sour patch itself if more of the Rebel archetype since they break norms with their goofy and playful marketing. 

My plan of improvement:

In terms of the packaging, I think it would be smart to reorient the box vertically so when the box is being used the design still shows easily. I also think that would help with my idea for the resealable end. If I add folds into the sides of the box it makes it where the box can fold closed. I want to take it one step farther and add a zip lock end for people to carry it around without spilling or getting stale. The box dimensions would stay almost exactly the same but come together at the top, this would allow for me to make deeper boxes for family size or shareable packs. For the Movie theatre If we remove the plastic bag inside and instead insulate the inside of the box with plastic, it would both remove extra steps to enjoy your candy as well as making it quieter for the movie theater. If I make the package a cylinder it would be able to fit inside a cup holder and even have a lid that comes off making it even easier to grab a piece during the movie without the hassle. The design of the packages needs to be simplified and more watermelon oriented. I think changing the outside of the box to a green color for the watermelon packs and having the inside of the box red would be a nice touch. Adding a die cut through the front of the box for consumers to see the candy could make it seem like a more special candy. I am very excited to see where this project goes and how it changes along the way!

[kikyan]

You’re my favorite Human (Yandere Izaya x F! Reader x Yandere Shizuo)

Before ANY of yall say anything, I wrote this as a birthday special to an online friend I once had. If Izaya and literally anybody else sounds OOC, it’s because this was written back in 2018/2019 after I watched Durarara!! For a bit of background info, I first watched Durarara!! back in middle school when a friend admitted to liking the anime and well I decided to watch too. This show was too complex for my small ass mind so I dropped it. Then I met my online friend (we are no longer friends) who would always comment on Quotev where I was most active at the time. Well, I literally only picked up this anime again for said friend and the birthday request. I wrote this immediately right after the show so if it sucks ass, there is a reason for it. Anyway’s I promise to give them justice if I manage to write my spooky Slasher AU’s for them. Also if you somehow end up managing which ‘slasher’ Shizuo and Izaya fit I’ll write you a special one-shot within my guidelines for your birthday/Christmas depending on the time constraint. Here you go, for the curious peeps!  This story branches off to two endings, Izaya ending w/ Smut and a Shizuo ending because I became a hardcore simp over that man and will literally do anything he tells me to. Regardless, I will edit the links and such for their appropriate endings! This story is also unedited so. . .have fun IG 

ALSO THE READER IS A FEMALE BECAUSE THIS WAS A BIRTHDAY REQUEST THAT A CERTAIN SOMEONE DIDN’T LIKE SO YEAH FUCK THEM, BUT THEY WERE FEMALE AND WANTED THAT SO JUST REPLACE SHE/HER WITH THE PRONOUNS YOU FEEL MOST COMFORABLE WITH!!!!! I ALSO DIDN’T KNOW HOW TO WRITE BACK THEN SO YOU’RE A GENERIC MC WITH A STUTTER PROBABLY 

God I sucked at writing fics so much back then. . .

"IZAYA!!" 

The blonde man proceeded to pick up the red vending machine stationed outside a random building, preparing to lance it at the black-haired male he called Izaya. 

"S-Shizuo!! It's not worth it!! Calm down!! Um- I know! I'll make some tea for you to calm down just please drop the vending machine!!"

"NO, I CAN'T! AFTER SEEING THIS PIECE OF SHIT I'M ALREADY FUMING WITH RAGE!" 

"Shizuo!! Please!! Milk! Yep, milk will surely calm you down just please Shizuo!! You're attracting too much attention and you don't like violence right!!" 

“Throw it Shizu-Chan. Or are you too weak to hold it anymore.”

"IZAYA!!!" 

Shizuo turned away from the (h/c) individual as he began to grip a stop sign before removing it from the ground and began to run towards Izaya. 

" Shizuo stop!! Geez, Izaya please refrain from edging him on! Shizuo don't give in! You're better, in fact, you want to be better!! You want to be stronger to have more control right!! Well. . . Don't give in!!" 

At the sound of this Shizuo stopped before tossing the stop sign to the side and grabbing the (h/c) haired individual and dragging you off with him. 

Looking back, the person Shizuo was dragging turned around to look back at Izaya before stopping in their tracks and bowing apologetically. 

" I'm sorry Izaya for the commotion we caused, but I hope you understand that Shizuo is a bit difficult but I'm sure he can change! You too izaya, you seem to try to edge him on and that reflects poorly on you! So please Izaya, I hope you understand too!" 

" Oi (Y/N), what are you apologizing for?" 

Smiling softly at Izaya and giving him a shy wave (Y/N) turned to face Shizuo and continued to answer his question.

"Well, I mean I didn't stop him from edging you on!" 

" I swear you really are the most optimistic, apologetic, and kindest person on this planet. You are one of a kind." 

Laughing softly (Y/N)  turned to Shizuo as they began to reply, " Thank you! It means a lot to me Shizuo!" 

Walking alongside Shizuo, (Y/N) proceeded to make small talk unaware of the lingering dark eyes upon her figure.

~~ 

"(Y/N), I swear I can't figure you out. No matter what you do or what happens you always apologize to everyone. Even that damn Izaya!" 

"Well, Shizuo I like to be positive!! Besides, I'm sure second chances must be given!!" 

" Hmph. Even those who commit the worst of crimes?" 

"Well, I'm not the one entitled to forgive them for crimes committed against another, but I believe if someone truly wanted to, someone could change." 

"Oh?" 

" For example, you! I mean you've gotten several chances, haven't you? You have a stable job, although you can get quite violent, you have friends, and you are trying your hardest to change! So, I feel like anyone could change!!" 

"Hmph. You forgot something. . ." 

" I did?" 

" Yeah, I also have the best person next to my side, you, (Y/N) (L/N)." 

" I-I-I-I u-um S-sh!?" 

" Heh, you get flustered all of a sudden and it suits your personality. I wonder how I got stuck with someone like you (Y/N). . ."

~~

Bodies were lying around Shizuo in the school field as he huffed in rage and looked to the side to see a (h/c) haired female with (e/c) eyes looking wide at the scene that laid before them. 

" Hmph, what are you scared?" 

Shizuo asked as he looked at the female before looking a bit confused as he noticed the expression on the girl changed. She was smiling and shook her head before answering his question. 

" Nope! I mean what you did isn't good but I'm sure you have a reason! Besides, I feel like deep down you regret it. I mean, although you are pretty violent, you probably don't want to be right?" 

"I... .hmph. Stop being odd and spouting nonsense." 

As the female turned to the bodies she bowed apologetically and began to speak. 

"I'm sorry! I apologize for his behavior! He doesn't mean it! He regrets it! Besides, you guys should know that violence isn't acceptable so please apologize for your actions as well! Fighting isn't acceptable!!" 

"HUH? WHAT THE HELL? WHO THE HELL YOU APOLOGIZING TO?" 

" W-w-well I am apologizing to them and you!! I mean you didn't mean too!! Besides, fighting is wrong! Both parties were at fault so I must apologize for it!" 

" WHY THE HELL DO YOU WANT TO APOLOGIZE? YOU DIDN'T DO ANYTHING!"

"W-w-well!! They are knocked out and can't speak, plus you won't apologize, you want to but you can't bring yourself to!!"

" OKAY BUT WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?" 

"I-I’M SORRY!! I DIDN'T MEAN TO BOTHER YOU BUT I THOUGHT THAT WELL I-?!" 

"NOW WHY ARE YOU APOLOGIZING?!" 

 "I'M SORRY! I DIDN'T MEAN TO-!?"

"STOP APOLOGIZING!" 

"I'M SORRY! AHHH I KEEP DOING IT!" 

"YEAH. NOW STOP!" 

"I'M SORRY I'LL TRY! WAIT-" 

"OH JUST SHUT UP!" 

"I'M SOR-!?" 

"STOP APOLOGIZING! GOD DAMN IT!" 

"I CAN'T IT'S A HABIT!" 

"Geez, troublesome woman." 

" Ahhh!! What time is it?!" 

"Why the hell are you asking me?" 

"Crap I think I missed my train! Now I have to walk home! Wait, that's fine! I missed gym class to help the teachers so this will count for my exercise! Of course, I shouldn't feel down!" 

" You're unusually optimistic. I'd be pissed as all hell if that happened." 

"Well I think everything happens for a reason and besides, you need to see the bright side of everything! Anyway, I need to go! I have to walk for about maybe 2 hours till I arrive home and I do have homework to complete! I'm sorry for being a bother but I hope to see you tomorrow at school!" 

"Wait." 

 "Yeah?" 

"Let me, let me walk you home alright." 

"B-b-but!?" 

"LISTEN IT'S MY FAULT YOU MISSED THE TRAIN SO LET ME WALK YOU HOME DAMN IT!" 

"Ahh okay okay! I'm sorry for bothering you but thank you!!" 

"Yeah, yeah just stop apologizing and don't start again." 

"Alright! By the way, what's your name?"

" Shizuo Heiwajima. Yours?" 

" (Y/N) (L/N)!" 

As they began to walk side by side (Y/N) began to laugh as she asked Shizuo questions upon question leading to Shizuo answering them and laughing as he realized, maybe having someone not fear him, was a good feeling. 

"Hey, Shizuo?" 

"Yeah? What is it?" 

" Wanna go for Russian sushi?" 

Looking down at the girl Shizuo gave his usual smirk before responding happily. 

" Sure, why not?" 

~~

"Hey, Shizuo?" 

" Yeah?" 

Turning around he met with the female who became his best friend and possibly his crush. Smiling softly he turned to give her all of his attention despite the number of bodies surrounding him in the field of his high school. 

"Well, I was wondering if you wanted to um, well. . ." 

"SHIZUO! I have someone I would like to introduce you too!~" 

" Huh?" 

Shizuo replied in his usual tone as to be turned to meet the faces of the young boy with glasses, brown hair and grey eyes whom he quickly recognized as his friend Shinra Kishitani but the other boy, had dark hair and matching eyes he did not. 

"What do you want Shinra?" 

"Oh? Am I interrupting you and your girlfriend~" 

"Girlfriend?! I-I-I’m j-just a friend!?" 

Shizuo looked to the side but quickly locked eyes with the boy. Shinra looking at Shizuo quickly turned to introduce the other boy. 

"His name is Izaya Orihara! He is in the same year and class as us!" 

Upon looking at Izaya, Shizuo quickly launched an attack towards him before Izaya leaped out and grabbed his knife before slicing Shizuo across the abdomen. Shizuo looked down noticing the wound before looking back at Izaya. 

"S-s-shizuo?! Are you okay? Oh, I'm so sorry this happened!!" 

"(Y/N) it's fine and stop apologizing! You didn't do anything wrong! Besides, it was him, Izaya. . ." 

"Oh? Come on Shizu-chan I haven't even done anything. . ." 

"I'm sorry!! I apologize that Shizuo charged at you and hurt you! He tends to do that a lot, but I apologize on your behalf! Shizuo, I apologize that Izaya cut you! I'm sorry I couldn't stop him from cutting you and possibly distracted you. So please, violence is not the answer! Izaya and Shizuo I apologize and I hope you may make up and be best friends!!" 

"Eh?" 

"(Y/N) YOU DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WRONG! STOP APOLOGIZING FOR OUR MISTAKES!" 

"I'm sorry! Ah, wait u-u-um well I know you both didn't mean it!!" 

"Here we go again. . . (Y/N) STOP APOLOGIZING, ON TOP OF THAT TO THAT GUY!" 

Shizuo was pointing at Izaya with a hint of disgust written across his face as Izaya looked dumbfounded for a split moment before asking, "Wait? You serious?" 

"Huh?" 

"Did you just apologize for something you didn't do?" 

"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to bother you!" 

"I-, well it seems this took an interesting turn of events. Well, goodbye Shizu-chan, (Y/N) right?" 

"Y-yeah. . ." 

Shizuo stood in front holding his arm protectively (Y/N)  as Izaya twirled the pocket knife in his arms in a strange direction before smiling and whispering a small, “Interesting. . .” 

As Izaya turned to leave, Shizuo muttered a small “ That bastard makes me so damn mad” before turning to (Y/N) realizing she had something to say before you were both rudely interrupted by Shinra. 

“ Hey (Y/N) what did you want? You had something to say before that damn bastard arrived.” 

“ O-Oh I-I did. . . um, Shizuo I wanted to ask if you wanted to miss the last train again and... .walk me home, and get Russian sushi with me. . .” 

“ Is that your way of asking me out on a date?” 

Teasing (Y/N) slightly she turned red upon hearing that before nodding her head softly. With a sigh, Shizuo smiled and dragged the smaller female by her arm before muttering a “ finally you asked” causing the female to turn even redder at the comment. (Y/N) ran a little ahead and turned back to smile at Shizuo before whispering “ I love you Shizuo. . .” 

~~ 

Walking to the shared home that Shizuo and (Y/N) have, (Y/N) grabbed a small jug of milk before handing it to Shizuo scolding him for getting violent, but congratulating him on holding back and not letting Izaya get to him. 

“ I don’t know what I would do without you (Y/N), I mean it . . .” 

“ I’m just lucky this happened when we were walking together and not when you were working. Izaya can be a bit extreme but I’m sure he means well!!” 

“Heh, you always look on the bright side, don’t you?” 

“ Exactly!! Looking on the bright side is exactly what brought us together!! I mean after you dropped me off at my house we got to be great friends, that's also when you confided in me your secrets and feelings. Then you began to realize that I didn’t fear you and truly cared for you. Then we went on a date, and became a couple! Dating for a good 5, 6 years?” 

“ Yep, luckily we still love each other.” 

“ I won’t ever stop loving you Shizuo, because you accepted me for who I am. Now it’s time to let me accept you for who you are. . . I mean I already did but you can’t get it through that thick skull of yours can you?” 

“ What do you mean, I understand.” 

“ Yet, every time you encounter Izaya and I’m not around you come home quite sad and always ask me if I would ever leave you. Shizuo, I would never leave you.” 

“ Well yeah but. . .”

“ But?” 

“ You’re right. I should head to work. See you later (Y/N). Take care and don’t do anything strange.” 

“ I wouldn’t do anything you wouldn’t do.” 

“ That worries me.” 

“ I’m just going to talk to Celty or just hang around the park! See you later Shizuo!” 

“ Hmph. Later and don’t forget that I love you.” 

“ I should be saying that but of course! Love you too and later!” 

Shizuo smiled at the girl before heading off to visit Tom his friend and employer. They had another client that refused to pay up and Shizuo was going to “pay” him a visit to ensure he did. (Y/N) locked the door before going on her phone and texting Celty. 

‘ You busy Cel?�� 

‘ No, not really. Why do you ask?’ 

`` I just wanted to see if you wanted to hang out and chat.’ 

‘ Sure. I’ll pick you up and we can head off to the park. That fine?’ 

``you read my mind Cel. Alright, I’ll get ready.’  

(Y/N) changed into a new set of clothing before waiting on the couch for Celty to pick her up and head to the park. Celty and (Y/N) got along well as well, (Y/N) always saw the bright side. When she and celty were close enough, originally being introduced by Shinra, Celty confided in her about not having a head and (Y/N) offered some light on the subject. 

“ Well, head or no head  I think you’re perfect just the way you are. For example, you can still do pretty much everything right? Aside from taste but still Celty! I think that is what makes you unique I mean, if you think about it, only those people who truly love and care for you will accept you no matter what. Take a look at Shizuo, he believed everyone feared him, but I didn’t. I love him! Just like I love you Celty! I accept you for who you are and you will always be celty with or without your head! So cheer up, I don’t like seeing my friends sad!” 

With that, a new friendship was born leading (Y/N) to be best friends with the fearsome headless rider. 

< - - - - - - - - - - - - > 

KANRA HAS JOINED THE CHAT

Kanra: Hey guys! I have a question about a specific person. 

Setton: A person? Who? 

TarouTanaka: Agreed. It’s quite rare to see you not having information on anyone. 

Kanra: Precisely, which is why I must know. Do any of you know a (Y/N) (l/n)? 

Setton: (Y/N)? Not personally but I’ve heard rumors. . . 

Setton: There’s not much I know about her, but I’ve heard rumors of her being in the Dollars.

Setton: Besides that, I’ve also heard she’s Shizuo Heiwajima’s girlfriend and possibly future wife.

TarouTanaka: Shizuo Heiwajima? As in THE Shizuo Heiwajima? Do you know the violent one? 

Kanra: That’s so scary!! Who would put up with him? 

Kanra: *Gasps* you don’t think. . .

TarouTanaka: Think what? 

Kanra: You don’t think she’s using him do you? I mean, having a strong boyfriend has its perks right? 

Setton: She’s not that type of person.

Setton: From what I’ve heard, at least.

Kanra: Oh? You seem to get a bit defensive. Are you sure you don’t know her? 

Kanra: I mean, think about it. What is so special about Shizuo that would lead someone like her to love him? 

Kanra: Honestly, I think she could be using him after all I’m sure there are more people that someone like her could pick from. 

Setton: Well everything is just based on rumors, but I doubt she’s a bad type of person.

Setton: Love has always been a confusing matter. All that matters is that they like each other for who they are.

Setton: It’s not our place to make assumptions.

Kanra: Love is indeed confusing. 

TarouTanaka: I agree with Setton, I am sure they love each other for who they are. Is everything alright Kanra? 

Kanra: Yes, but it still stumps me on how little information we have of his girlfriend. Not only that but we have little information on the relationship as well. Has anyone seen her? Know what she looks like? 

Setton: I’ve only heard a vague description of her: (e/c) and (h/c). I could pass her on the street and not even know.

Setton: But I’m sure she’s just a private person. We should respect that and try not to dig into her life.

Kanra: Oh fair maiden will I ever see you?

TarouTanaka: You sure you aren’t trying to steal his girlfriend? 

Kanra: ^ 0 ^ Never! 

Setton: This has been an interesting discussion and all, but I’m needed elsewhere.

Setton: Later.

< - - - - - - - - - - - - - > 

SETTON HAS LEFT THE CHAT

Kanra: Well I better head out too, later Tarou! 

TarouTanaka: Later! 

< - - - - - - - - - - - - - >

KANRA HAS LEFT THE CHAT.

TAROUTANAKA HAS LEFT THE CHAT. 

THERE IS NO ONE IN THE CHAT. 

A figure began to ponder and look outside with a pair of binoculars as a female with (e/c) and (h/c) walked by. 

‘ Oh? I think I should properly introduce myself to the fair maiden’ 

~~ 

The young girl walked out of her house ready to speak with the dullahan. Upon seeing the headless rider the young girl waved her hand signaling the rider. 

“ Celty! Over here!” 

The rider began to make its way to the female before hugging and typing away on its phone. 

“Oh good, I was worried I arrived too early.”

“ Nah! Even if you did, you would have more time to look around and notice life at it’s finest!” 

“Oh Y/N, still as cheerful as ever, huh?”

“ Oh, you know it! Now let's head to the park! I want to see Ikebukuro at its prime time at night!” 

“Of course, but as we’re walking let me ask: How’s it going between you and Shizuo?”

“ Well. . . I-I-I I think it’s going great! He isn’t getting as rowdy and violent so I think he is changing a little bit! He ended getting me a gift, a necklace to be exact for our 5th anniversary! It says his name! He also has one, one with my name!”  

“I’m glad to hear you guys are going great. I’m sure that nothing could ever break your relationship, right?” 

“ Exactly! He and I have never had a serious argument! Maybe a little scolding but it’s fine like this! I always end up congratulating him in the end! He is the sweetest! Every time he comes home he asks me if I love him which makes me sad because I hope he knows I do! However. . . he always ends up spoiling me in love! The real question. . . is how is it with Shinra?” 

“Oh. . . Well, you know how he is. We’re as close as we can ever be, especially now that I’m more accustomed to the whole headless thing. That doesn’t mean I’m not looking, though.”

“ You will find it Celty! I know for a fact you will find it! I’ll help you when I have time! Hey look it’s the park let’s find a bench!” 

[park bench scene]

“You know, Y/N, I heard that you and Shizuo were considering getting married. Is it true?”

“ Well, I-!?” 

“ Well, Celty! I didn’t know you were here? (Y/N) too! What a surprise too! Do you mind if I sit with you guys?” 

“ Well, not really! Feel free to sit Izaya!” 

“ Interesting, now continue what were we talking about?” 

“ Well, Celty asked about my marriage to Shizuo!” 

“ So it’s true. . .” 

“ Yeah! Celty we are! Sometime next week we were going to look for dresses!” 

“That’s wonderful Y/N! If you need anything, I’m always available to help.”

“ Of course!” 

“ Same here.  . . a wedding between Shizu-chan and (Y/N) seems interesting. . .” 

“ So (Y/N), why are you with Shizu-chan? What’s the catch?” 

“ Pardon Izaya?” 

“ I mean, why would someone like YOU be with someone like HIM? What are the perks of having Shizu-chan as your boyfriend?” 

“ Perks?!” 

“I know that you and Shizuo have an on-going rivalry, but should you be asking Y/N questions like that?” 

“ I was just curious Celty! Besides, do you have the answer?” 

“ Well, there are no perks.” 

“ Huh?” 

“ I love Shizuo, not for his strength or perks. I love him because he was kind to me. He accepts my optimistic side, even though it can be quite annoying and I accept his violent tendencies! He is doing so much to change and I will support him from now on! When we met, he kinda beat the entire team on the field and I apologized for the both of him! He got confused and I apologized for my behavior and we kinda got into a mini battle of him asking me to stop apologizing and well my apologizing even more! Nonetheless, I missed the train, but it gave me a chance to talk to him and as you can tell he walked me home! Since then, a steady relationship! So it’s not about the benefits, it’s what we feel for each other that motivates us!” 

“ Interesting. . . “  

“ I agree Y/N, it’s about love, not benefits. Might want to save a speech that profounds for your wedding though.

“ You’re right! Oh, I’m sorry Izaya for ruining the surprise!” 

‘ Interesting. . . she isn’t like every other human, she doesn’t seem to lie, hide things, and seems to be honest. She seems to be optimistic. Hmph, interesting that she isn’t like all the other humans I love, she’s different and I can’t wait to see her face, her entire being change as I pull the strings from behind! (Y/N), you are quite interesting, you are like my special, no my favorite human and I need to see your reactions to everything... .’ 

“ (Y/N)?” 

“ Ah, Shizuo! O-over here!” 

“ Celty’s here too and-?!” 

Shizuo stared at the black-haired male with such anger raging within them as he let out a growl before examining the area. 

“ IZAYA! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE?!” 

“ It’s a park? Am I not allowed to visit one?” 

“ IT’S WHO YOU’RE WITH THAT MATTERS! (Y/N) DID HE TOUCH YOU OR HURT YOU IN ANY WAY?” 

“ N-no! Shizuo we were only just talking! Besides, Celty was here with us! It was all friendly talk!” 

“ Celty, take (Y/N) and go to Shinra’s place. I’ll meet you there once I finish killing this bastard!” 

Typing away Celty nodded showing her phone with the message being, ‘Of course. Be careful before doing anything crazy, but please hear Y/N out first. Learn a bit about the situation before jumping into anything dangerous.”

“ Oh my Shizu-chan!~ So you are dating her. Isn’t that interesting. . . I say though it’s shocking, to say the least, that someone like (Y/N) would fall in love with you. Someone as fragile, beautiful, delicate, and forgiving like (Y/N) with a violent man as yourself, well I’d be damned!” 

“ I’m sorry! Izaya, I apologize for Shizuo’s behavior as he ended up attacking you without hearing my part, which I still have yet to say! However, I apologize on your part as well Izaya as you didn’t mean anything by chatting with us, but you asked some not so nice things. On the bright side, you know the truth and know that Shizuo isn’t a bad person!” 

“ (Y/N) . . .?” 

“ Shizuo! Celty and I were chatting when Izaya approached us, we were just talking! He didn’t hurt me, besides Celty would have put him in his place before I would have! Please believe me, Celty tell him the truth as well!” 

“Of course, there was nothing suspicious going on. Just a regular conversation full of small talk. Nothing shady or malicious between us and Izaya.”

“ Tch. Fine, but still take her to Shinra. I don’t want this bastard to find out where we live. I still want to kill him. . .” 

“ S-Shizuo! It’s fine, we don’t need to go see Shinra!” 

“ Aww, Shizu-chan you’re scaring her!~ Besides, what if (Y/N) doesn’t want to leave? You’re her boyfriend but you aren’t her owner. Besides, why do you get to keep her all to yourself, as you know I love humans, I can’t get enough of them! But she, she is quite interesting, as all humans I love her as well but aren’t you pushing it Shizuo chan?” 

“ Keep that damn mouth of yours shut!” 

“ I wonder, how long will it take you to screw up your relationship with her like you always do. Have you even proposed to her yet? Being the violent person you are you probably used someone's body as a foot stand before asking her to be your wife!” 

“ NO! That’s wrong! He proposed at Russia Sushi! We went out to eat as it was also our first date! See, even Simon took the picture and hung it in the dining area! You can see Shizuo’s fist but that was because he was embarrassed Simon took a picture and well he snapped, see how red he is? I’m the one crying in the background while holding the ring! It’s even my lock and home screen!” 

“ YOU DON’T NEED TO GO THAT FAR! WAIT-HE HAS IT HANGED? I NEED TO KILL THIS MAN FIRST THAN YOU DAMN IZAYA!” 

“ NO NOT SIMON! WAIT SHIZUO!” 

Running after Shizuo, (Y/N)  turned around one last time before bowing apologetically and smiling at Izaya before running after her fiance. Celty typing away on her phone showing it to Izaya. 

“Be careful about what you say around Y/N. I know what you’re trying to do and I advise you against it. It won’t end well for either of you.”

“ Whatever do you mean Celty?” 

“I’ve seen the way you look at Y/N; the way you observe her with that calculated glee in your eye. Even if you do separate her from Shizuo, she wouldn’t be happy with someone considered a homewrecker. She’s too optimistic for her good, she’ll easily forgive you, but she would never be able to forgive herself for hurting Shizuo. If you truly value her like you say you do, don’t try to meddle in her personal affairs.” 

“ I want to see every possible reaction from her, so this is quite tempting. Besides, Celty why do you care much about her? I love humans and I’m not willing to share, (Y/N) is no exception.” 

“Y/N is the best person I know. She’s kind no matter what and brings hope and joy to all of those that she comes across. She deserves to live the best life she can, one filled with no despair or tragedy. You need to learn to respect that and move on.”

Celty, displaying her anger towards Izaya, revved her motorcycle upwards causing several people to look in worry and walk away to avoid getting hit. Izaya stood unamused with his smug grin as he watched Celty chase after the couple to take them to Shinra. 

“ Celty, it’s a shame. All humans will experience despair no matter what, even our darling (Y/N). It’s just how long will it take for her to fall into despair that’s the real game and who the one pulling the strings will be.” 

Izaya began to walk away only to stop at Russia sushi and was quite intrigued by the photo that was taken. As he began to examine the image he saw (Y/N) smiling with tears rolling down her eyes as she turned to the camera holding the ring Shizuo had given her. On top of that, he saw Shizuo, quite red ready to punch Simon for taking the picture. 

“ Well well, seems she was telling the truth. I guess he didn’t screw it up.” 

“ Izaya, I heard about what happened.” 

As Izaya turned he was met with Simon the dark-skinned Russian who began to speak in his native tongue signaling that this was a private conversation. 

“ Simon, how’s it been?” 

“ Don’t ruin it.” 

“ Ruin what Simon?” 

“ Shizuo and (Y/N) found happiness here so don’t ruin it.” 

“ Oh? What makes you say that?” 

“ (Y/N) is special, the unpredictable happens around her but that doesn’t mean you should ruin what they have for the sake of your entertainment.” 

“ Special huh?” 

“ You like her don’t you? Leave her with Shizuo, she is not meant for you.” 

“ You see Simon, you’re right she is special but she isn’t Shizuo’s. I believe her to be one of the few people who aren’t on this playing field. She, like all humans, belongs to me. I won’t let Shizu-chan, Celty, or even that damn Saika blade have her.” 

“ Izaya, I know you don’t like losing to Shizuo but that does not mean you have to ruin this relationship. For once, let it go.” 

“ It’s Shizuo who needs to let her go.” 

With that Izaya left the place before walking away thinking about the girl. Since he met her years ago he realized how forgiving and optimistic she truly was. It shocked him, every human he met would be the same and oh so predictable. Shizu-chan and Simon would be the unpredictable ones spicing up his entertainment but (Y/N)? She was the most unpredictable one of them all. She took both sides of an argument and attempted to find a solution and she would keep Shizuo in check something that no one could do. On top of that, (Y/N) forgave anyone and you could never guess what she would say next, but her actions were always surprising. As he entered his workplace he was met with Namie Yagiri who looked at him in disbelief. 

“ It’s late where have you been?” 

“ Ah, Namie I was out with Celty and (Y/N) (L/N).” 

“ (Y/N) (L/N)?” 

“ Shizuo Heiwajima’s girlfriend, well fiance but not for long.” 

“ What do you mean, not for long?” 

“ Well you see, I intend to steal her away.” 

“ You never seem to bother with people’s love lives anyways. Why now?” 

“ (Y/N) (L/N) is a fascinating human! Here on this board, Shizu-Chan is the king and (Y/N (L/N) would be his queen, but the queen is one of the few people with free-range movement, in other words, the most powerful piece, nonetheless all are useful but the queen is the one who defends her king. If the queen is removed you’re pretty much set to fail and the king is left weak and ready to be dethroned. So, Shizu-chan is only strong with his queen, but this fascinating human being should be next to me, her God!” 

“ So you want to use her-!?” 

“ No! You’re not getting the picture! I am going to take the queen and leave her next to her god’s side! ME! With Shizu-chan weak I’ll simply kill him and fully take (Y/N) (L/N) as mine!” 

“ I thought Shizuo provided you with the most entertainment. . .” 

“ (Y/N) makes up for both of them, I don’t need Shizuo when I have his queen. . .” 

~~ 

“ Shizuo! Wait!” 

Shizuo was walking faster while dragging (Y/N) behind him as they proceeded to go to their house after staying at Shinra’s. 

“ What for?” 

“ I’m sorry for embarrassing you in front of Izaya. . .” 

“ I’m fine, as long as it was you I didn’t mind.” 

“ You sure?” 

“ Of course, now let’s go home. I’m tired.” 

‘“O-Okay!” 

As they entered the home in which they both own Shizuo immediately grabbed (Y/N) as he held her close before asking her yet again, “ Do you love me?” 

“ Of course silly! I wouldn’t marry someone I don’t love! I love you to the moon and back Shizuo and I wouldn’t change that for the world! No one and nothing would ever split us apart Shizuo! You accepted me for who I am, now it’s time you realize that I accept you for you!” 

Cuddling closer with the (h/c) hair colored female he blurted out something that made her turn red upon hearing it. 

“ I want a baby.” 

“ A WHAT?!” 

“ A baby. I hope to be able to be a father once we wed.” 

“ W-w-w-w-what g-g-g-gave you that idea?!” 

“ We are both at a young age, once we marry I feel like we should have a child. I won’t rush or force you but I think we would be great parents.” 

“I...OKAY! Of course! After we marry, we can have as many children as we can!” 

“ W-Wait you serious?!” 

“ Of course Shizuo, because I love you to bits! Just like I will love this child, I'll make sure you both know how special you are to me!” 

“ I do wonder how I found someone like you (Y/N). . . I love you!” 

“ I love you too Shizuo!” 

As they both fell asleep in a lovers embrace Shizuo was reminded of how much (Y/N) loves him and was also reminded that she will never leave him. Izaya was wrong, (Y/N) loves him for himself and as Shizuo sighed in relief as he cuddled closer to the female, not being feared, but being loved was a great feeling, the best in the world. 

~~ 

“ Now. . . what should I make for dinner? I should make Shizuo’s favorite meal, but that means that I need to go shopping. Oh well.” 

(Y/N) pulled out her phone before sending Shizuo a quick text saying how she would be stepping out and would be home soon. After getting an, ‘alright. Be safe.’ text she immediately set out to the store. As (Y/N) was searching through the ingredients she came across a hand reaching for the same one, the last one. 

“ Oh, I’m sorry! You can take it!” 

“ No, no that fine! By all means, take it.” 

“ Izaya... .?’ 

“ Ah! (Y/N)! Isn’t that wonderful? I wanted to speak to you!” 

“ Same! Just let me finish shopping and I’ll go with you!” 

“ Here! I’ll help, by the way! Feel free to take it, I don’t need that ingredient as much as you do.” 

“ Thanks! Are you sure you don’t want it though, I’m making a meal for Shizuo but I can always go to other stores! If you want it you should take it! On the bright side, I can get my daily walk in by going to other stores and I might be able to browse through other items I may need!” 

“ Oh? A meal for Shizu-chan? Then, by all means, take it. I wouldn’t want to make him upset.” 

“ Thank you Izaya! You really care for him!” 

“ Well, I wouldn’t say that. .  . “

“ Well, we should get going! I think I got everything I needed!” 

Walking to the park in silence was a little awkward until (Y/N) lit up at the sight of ice cream. 

“ Hey Izaya, look it’s an ice cream truck! Do you want some? My treat!” 

“ Actually, it will be mine! Which one do you want (Y/N)?” 

“ (F/F) please!” 

“ Of course!” 

Upon getting the ice cream ( Y/N) desired and Izaya getting one for himself they decided to sit on a bench and she continued speaking with Izaya. 

“ Izaya, I have a question.” 

“What is it (Y/N)?” 

“ Well, why do you like edging Shizuo on? You know he is trying his hardest to change, wait, is it to push him? To see how much he needs to improve left?” 

“ You really are optimistic aren’t you? Not exactly, you see Shizuo tends to act differently from the rest. . . he truly is unpredictable so I just want to see every possible reaction from him. Just like you?” 

“ Me? I hardly think I'm unpredictable, I feel like you could read me easily.” 

“ You can’t and that’s the best part. I truly love all humans (Y/N), they are just so interesting! In the end, they all act the same yet it’s so exciting!” 

“ Interesting. You like the unpredictable more though right! I do too! It’s like a book, if you can predict the way it ends then it isn’t all the fun. However, if the book ends with a plot twist and catches you by surprise then it is fun! Every new day, every new day is something different for me! I feel like, when you look at a new angle you end up seeing things you’ve never seen. This could easily impact what you think or what you do! That’s what I try to do to make my day more interesting!” 

Izaya looking at her with insanity swirling his eyes grabbed her hands causing her ice cream to fall before laughing. 

“ You understand me! You see what I see! You truly do deserve to be next to your god's side! Tell me (Y/N), you’re very forgiving, aren’t you! Every god needs to judge and punish the sinners, BUT THEY ALSO NEED TO FORGIVE! THAT MY GODDESS IS WHERE YOU COME IN! WITH YOU BY MY SIDE, WE COULD TRULY RULE OVER THESE HUMANS! JUST AS I LOVE HUMANS, THEY SHOULD LOVE ME TOO! THAT INCLUDES YOU (Y/N), DO YOU LOVE ME?” 

“ I-?!” 

“ That’s enough!” 

Turning to Celty who began to write furiously fast on her phone shoved it in front of Izaya as he skimmed the words that were written. 

‘Shizuo is on his way, leave if you don’t want your ass kicked. I told you to leave (Y/N) alone! For once, listen to me!’ 

Celty grabbed (Y/N) and led her to the motorcycle before writing on it explaining that Shizuo was around the area and was planning on picking (Y/N) up from the store. Celty mentioned that she too was around the area and that she was asked by Shizuo to help him look for her as well. Nodding, (Y/N) turned around to meet Izaya smirking, despite all she smiled at him and bowed before apologizing. 

“ I’m sorry Izaya! I hope to talk to you soon and I apologize our time was cut short. I’m happy that you told me a little about yourself Izaya as I told you I like to see both perspectives before saying or doing anything. On the bright side, although our time was cut short I realized that you trust me a little and bothered to open up a bit! So I'm glad!” 

Indeed Izaya found his Goddess, she forgave all and will forgive all. Smiling a bit he turned and wished her good-bye before plotting a plan to take her from Shizuo forever and make sure his goddess was with him all the time. Besides, even if he committed a crime, his goddess, (Y/N) (L/N) would forgive him. 

(Y/N) was riding with Celty until they found Shizuo in which he expressed his concern for the female. He examined the ingredients and smiled realizing what she was planning on doing before ruffling her hair. 

 “ I still have a little bit of work left but I'll make it home in time for dinner.” 

“ Of course! I’ll get started on dinner right away!” 

“ Alright. See you then, oh (Y/N).” 

“ Yeah?” 

“ I love you.” 

“ I love you too!” 

~~ 

Getting out of the shower, (Y/N) proceeded to dry her hair with a small towel wearing (F/C) shorts and an extremely overgrown shirt, more importantly, it was Shizuo’s bartender shirt that he allowed her to wear. It fit more like a dress but no one was complaining. 

“ I better get started on dinner, Shizuo is going to arrive any minute!” 

Proceeding to get the ingredients (Y/N) was washing the vegetables when she heard a click signaling the door was open. 

“ Shizuo I’m not done with the meal-... Shizuo... .?” 

Examining the living room she noticed that the door was opened but no one was in the room with her, that was until she heard a familiar voice from her right ear. 

“ Good evening, My goddess. . .” 

“Iza-!?” 

With that Izaya knocked out (Y/N) cradling her in his arms before making his way to him home with the young girl, his Goddess.  

~ 

“ Wake up sleeping beauty~” 

Izaya was poking her cheek repeatedly hoping for the young girl to awaken sometime soon and luckily she did. 

“ Izaya, w-where a-am I?” 

“ Why you’re in our home my goddess~” 

“O-our? Goddess? Izaya what’s going on?” 

“ You will be living with me from now on~ You see I explained it to you, I love humans my dear (Y/N), you are no exception. However, unlike all the other humans you have an interesting personality and you are quite unpredictable making each new day exciting and something to look forward to! Someone like you should be by my side ruling alongside next to me! Just as I adore humans, they should adore us, as they should!” 

“ I-Izaya I’m sorry but it’s late and I need to get to Shizuo before it gets too late-!?” 

“ You aren’t getting it! You aren’t going back to Shizuo! You belong to me! Besides, Shizuo is weak right now! I could easily get rid of him!” 

“ He isn’t! Shizuo is quite strong! I know for a fact that he can overcome anything! Now, please let me go before I-!?” 

“ You aren’t seeing the big picture (Y/N) and it saddens me. You see the queen is the strongest piece in chess. Shizu-chan is the king and you by right, are his queen. If we take the queen away, the king is set up to fail. Haven’t you realized, everyday Shizu-chan asks you if you love him and to never leave him? Coincidence I know? I always make him doubt of this reality because without you Shizu-chan would be a violent monster! Think about it, you’re the only thing that can hold him back but you aren’t by his side! Shizu-chan does not want to be feared but he thinks it’s a fantasy, someone like you being in his life that he just needs to confirm if you love him too!” 

(Y/N) gasped when she came to notice her fiance's true feelings. Feeling down, (Y/N) looked to the side to examine the board Izaya kept close to see if she could find a pattern or attempt to figure Izaya out to create a plan.   

“ In fact! I think he is worried sick trying to find you, but he won’t! Even if he does, he doesn’t have the right to take my Goddess away!” 

In the meantime, Shizuo was frantically searching for where (Y/N) could be. When he arrived home he came to see the door open and no sign of (Y/N) causing his anxiety to spike up at the thought of losing you forever. Having enough he texted Celty and even the dollars home page alerting all members to keep an eye out on a female with (H/C) and (E/C) as she could be in danger. 

“ Celty! Have you found her yet?” 

“ No.... but I think I know where she is. I hope she isn’t though. . . “ 

“ Spit it out! WHERE THE HELL IS SHE?!” 

Shizuo was running out of breath as he looked at Celty with desperation as he saw her type away with incredible speed, but the answer both shook him and angered him to the point of no return. 

“ I think she is with Izaya. If so, we must hurry!” 

“ Of course! Leave this to me. . . I think it’s time that bastard met with his fate.” 

Shizuo walked away with anger as he began to prepare his fist to execute the man who stole his fiance.

IZAYA ENDING w/SMUT

SHIZUO ENDING

[thatscarletflycatcher]

Jane Eyre 1983: Total Eclipse of Jane Eyre

(1996)

(This belongs to a -hopefully- series of "reviews" of Jane Eyre adaptations, in which I'll attempt to explain -and by explaining, understand- how each of them, through filtering and transformation, becomes a character study and a commentary on the novel itself.)

Disclaimer: I only read the novel once I was done with most of these adaptations, which colors my opinions on them, as does the fact that, while I found the novel engrossing and the characters interesting, I didn't fall in love with it; that makes me less attached to the text of the original story and less averse to changes in adaptation.

The technical aspects

I always think it is unfair to judge older productions in terms of the technical accomplishments of the present; a lot of the stuff cannot be helped (though, certainly, I won't deny it influences one's emotional reaction). That said, in terms of what 80s British tv could produce... compared with series like Pride and Prejudice (1980) and Sense and Sensibility (1981)... it is definitely not the best that could be offered at its time, in terms of sets and camera work.

Top to bottom: Pride and Prejudice (1980), Sense and Sensibility (1981), Jane Eyre (1983)

The music is more or less the standard of the time, not much to say there.

Not being an expert in costumes, I cannot say much about them in detail, but they were nice to look at, specially those of Mrs. Reed and Miss Temple, and the lace work of collars and such. Costumes are used effectively to convey character and plot points (for example, the upgrade in the Lowood uniforms after the episode of tiphus).

I also really liked that we are allowed to see Jane's hair getting messy from time to time, it was a nice touch.

The Script

One of the things that surprised me was that I went in with the idea, as I had read here and there, that this adaptation was a play by play of the novel, and that this was one of its assets. While it is true that it covers the most of all modern adaptations, there are some things, even important things, missing or changed.

- On the very first episode, Jane's choosing school over going over to possibly poor relations is omitted;

- Betsy's ghost stories are nowhere to be seen.

- At school, there's a scene added where Helen is given a letter to carry around her neck, and in a fit of passion, Jane burns it.

- Mr. Brockelhurst's family is omitted, as is his wealth, which makes him just overzealous rather than being avaritious, hypocritical and sadistic.

- Jane going out and forgetting Helen Burns, and her goodbye and death, of all things is omitted.

- Jane seeing Rochester the morning after the fire.

- Jane's artistic pursuits are dropped beyond Rochester seeing her drawings (there's no drawing of Rochester during her stay at Gateshead, nor crossed portraits of herself and Blanche Ingram) and only reappear briefly when they are needed for the discovery of her true surname.

- Mrs. Fairfax believing Mr. Rochester and Miss Ingram were going to marry as a given.

- There's no shopping at Milcotte.

- Christmas happens before Jane's inheritance is revealed (there's no remodeling of Moor House).

Not saying that all these choices are bad, they are just changes that challenge the notion of the play-by-play adaptation.

There are also some strange choices, for example:

- Having the girls at school be very chatty and lively which seems to contradict the way hunger, discipline, and lack of proper clothing were emphasized in the novel.

- Jane cutting Bessie short when she tries to tell her about the fate of the Reeds. John complaining about having to carry boxes is... I get it is a joke, but it's not a very good one, and the set up and pay off are too far apart that I think it does get over most viewers' heads unless they are maratoning the series.

- Mr. Rochester himself putting out his bed fire while Jane looks terrified from the side (in this Jane suffers from the damisel-in-distress varnish such female characters got in 70s and 80s adaptations --thinking as well of Margaret Hale in N&S75').

- There being a whole day gap between Rochester telling Jane that he found her a position in Ireland and his proposal.

- Cutting to Rochester at the height of Jane's "Do you think that because I am plain..."

- The omission of the "give me my name, call me Edward" line. HOW????

- Rochester having no hurry on his way to Church.

Leisurely strolling to Church with one's bride, as one does when one fears someone will stop us.

- Jane's writing to Mr. Eyre is ommited, so the first time audience have no idea how the wedding was discovered at all.

- As many of the adaptations of the time do, the ending does rush to its conclusion (we don't get to see the scene of Jane coming back from Church and telling Maria that Rochester and her are just married) though a little less than usual).

I know many people condemn voiceovers altogether, but I don't think they are always an evil, and in this case, they make sense and are not overkill (except close to the end, where Jane narrates the opposite of what she ends up doing. While it is in the novel, it is very distracting in an adaptation).

Characterization

- Bessie, Mr. Lloyd, the Reeds, Miss Temple, I found excellent... and we got a dark haired Blanche Ingram! And she is every bit as haughty as she's meant to be!

- Mr. Brockelhurst was too old, though in figure he did fill the most important aspects of the character.

- Starting a trend that followed most adaptations afterwards, Mrs. Fairfax is a rather tall and almost sophisticated woman, instead of a small, kind, but not very bright little old lady.

- I found Helen Burns to be a little too stiff, even in book terms. She does correct Jane in the novel, but there is a far closer proximity to the treatment Miss Temple gives her, than that of, for example, St. John, who manifests a lot of piety as well. Helen Burns' piety is a kind and merciful kind of piety. Besides that, a lot like Rochester, Helen in the books is an ADHD icon and I am sad that it never transpires into adaptations.

- Adele is characterized as a somewhat spoiled child, but without any of the sensuality she has in the novel, which I think is an improvement.

- Handsome Mr. Mason in his tight, tight, tight breeches was very good.

It's a miracle he can stand in those.

- St. John Rivers. This is one of the highlights of this adaptation. This St. John is in appearance and manners, as close to the novel as it gets, in my opinion. A truly inspired portrayal, perfect balance of beauty and cold fascination.

- Diana and Mary are as good as they can be considered that they did not have much of a personality to begin with on the novel.

- Bertha Mason. The series appeals mostly to not showing her, but she does get a voice (she screams "I hate you!" to Rochester before she jumps off the roof). She is disheveled and prone to hysterics, but shows human intelligence. While her symbolic parallels with Jane are not portrayed, at least the most common pitfalls are avoided with this character, so, all in all, well done (we are not moved to either feel for her or against her).

- Young Jane, even if she has the canonical outbursts, is an expressive, mostly sweet pretty girl.

- Older Jane is consistent with the character of her younger self; spirited, expressive, but also mostly sweet and caring, with a newfound sense of self that keeps developing throughout the series, but never the proud woman, too proud to take Rochester's jewelry, beg or to have her pride wounded by Rochester's remarks on her work.

- Timothy Dalton, I have seen, is considered by many, many, the best Rochester around. While I can say his acting is very improved since Wuthering Heights, I didn't find him that extraordinary.

Though Jane is the main character of the novel, Rochester is certainly the most enigmatic one. Finding a balance between his anger, despair, childishness and intelligence is a very hard task. In this adaptation in particular, his anger and cleverness are highlighted, sometimes played to the extreme of almost humiliation and wickedness, which makes his demeanor and pranks even less forgivable. This, compounded with the absence of character growth after the fire at Thornfield makes of this Rochester one I have a very hard time getting past.

Character dynamics

This is where things break for me in this adaptation.

Jane and Mrs. Reed

By making of young!Jane a sweet pretty girl, we are deprived from one of the reasons (unfair, but reason in the end) why she's mistreated by Mrs. Reed: she's a plain girl and an all around silent, observant child, with an otherwordly air. Her jealousy of Mr. Reed's affection is also omitted.

Jane and Helen Burns/Miss Temple

While it is a little more distant that in the novel, these relationships are portrayed with enough sympathy and time for them to stand out.

Jane and Mrs. Fairfax

Jane, and here comes the reason for the title of this post, is eclipsed at Thornfield, mostly by Rochester, but by Mrs. Fairfax as well. When we meet Adele, it is Mrs. Faifax and not Jane the one to tell her no when she asks to dance or go outside. We do not get a sense that the only spiritual equal Jane finds at Thornfield is Rochester; if anything, she is at the level or below Mrs. Fairfax.

That's not what I'd call a little old lady.

Jane and Adele

This is one of the weak spots, as we never see Jane teach Adele! They barely even interact!

Jane and St. John

These two actors play off of each other beautiful and it is a pleasure to watch, not in a shippy sense, but the dynamic is kept perfectly, the intensity of their opposite personalities, and the evolution from Jane's boldness about the Rosamund affair to the gradual suffocating influence of St. John's personality on her (though it never reaches the extreme it does at the breaking point in the book).

'Cause you are hot and you are cold... what do you mean that's not how the lyrics go?

Jane and Rochester

Whenever Dalton's Rochester is onscreen, he eclipses Jane, because the characterization ends up painting him as more interested in putting her down than in drawing her out. Consider, for example, their first chat: when he tells her "hurts your pride", it is disconnected from any reaction on her side, which makes it look like an unfair reproach; he more or less throws her her portfolio when he asks her to take it away. On their second chat, his prodding, as she doesn't answer, comes across as something akin to bullying. At every turn Jane seems to scramble trying to understand and manage the situation at hand, and when she does succeed, she barely does it.

Someone could say "ah, but that's the actress problem!"... yet it is not. Once Rochester is out of the picture, Jane recovers her stature, she even holds her own very well playing against St. John! She becomes interesting to watch and follow. While I don't 100% blame Dalton, as it might have been just as well a problem of direction, the result to me is two actors acting past each other, two characters that are not living on the same wavelength, and when those two characters are your main leads that's a problem; when the novel tells us that Rochester helps Jane flourish, but the series shows him dwarfing her, that's a problem. This shows the most on the scenes where Bertha is revealed (Bertha and Jane are not even allowed by blocking to make eye contact or be put on the same frame) and Rochester tries to persuade Jane to stay with him (we don't get the line of Jane saying that she should respect herself). Both scenes are heavily focused, by script and camera, on Rochester rather than Jane.

In fairness I also have to say that there are points in which they seem to click well:

- The first time Jane asks him how his ride went and he quips about her bewitching his horse

- When he tells her she might have terrible vices, she raises an eyebrow and he gives her an "okay, I pushed that too far" look.

- Jane's return to Thornfield from Gateshead.

- Their embrace the morning after the engagement.

My favorite bits from this adaptation:

- Mrs. Reed being afraid of Jane.

- Any scene where Mrs. Temple is in.

- The fortune teller's sequence is great, not only by being there, but for Rochester in drag

- Mason and Rochester's meeting and goodbye conversations.

- Older Georgiana and Eliza

- Every scene St. John is in (seriously, he's that good).

- Jane and Hannah.

- Mr. Rochester calls Mr. Briggs for his help.

- Jane visits the burned down Thornfield Hall.

Summary

While I didn't suffer this adaptation, and was engaged mostly for the last episodes, there are aspects, beyond the technical that make it, in my opinion, not a very enjoyable adaptation. While the dynamic between Jane and Rochester is broken, and Jane eclipsed by him, the more complete telling of the story, specially when it comes to Jane's childhood, and the excellent development of the Moor House part of the story make it worth a watch.

Last Notes: themes

At the top of the post I spoke about finding themes, messages and interpretations.

This adaptation of Jane Eyre, I believe, works under the message that sometimes a story is just a story. Ommissions, additions and changes in characterization don't seem to follow any clear pattern; there doesn't seem to be moods, sensations, messages or ideas from the book that the writers and director choose to highlight or thread. The portrayal of Bertha, I think, is the most clear example of this point. Is she good, is she bad, how is the audience supposed to feel about her? The series doesn't say. How does Jane's traumatic past affect here? Doesn't say. What are the arcs of these characters? Unsure. How do characters like St. John or Rochester relate to each other? What are the lessons to be learned? Doesn't say. Jane Eyre 1983 wants to be just a story, and just a story it is.

[btsandvmin]

Jimin is REALLY REALLY SWEET AND FLIRTY with EVERYONE. Even to his friends outside BTS. But aside from what they said in the song Friends, why do you think what he and Taehyung has is EXTRA special?

I mean, for me personally I think there are a lot of things. Sometimes big and sometimes really really small. I can’t really go through every moment over 7 years to show why I think Vmin is more special. It’s also of course not to be ignored that I have a clear bias for Vmin’s relationship that can affect my perception a lot.

Here is one example where Jimin directly says he doesn’t think the other members will fully understand his and Taehyung’s relationship and why Taehyung cried while reading his letter to Jimin. Of course this is a very personal letter and something just between them, but it’s a moment that shows that Vmin’s bond is something even the two of them has pointed out as something the other members might not fully understand. So, how can we as outsiders even completely understand the weight behind Vmin’s bond?

But if I just put it into a very short list of general reasons without going into detail I really don’t have to say much and you will likely be able to think of several more moments yourself outside the examples I give.

On the top of my head here are some of the reasons I find Vmin special:

They label each other as soulmates, this is one of the closest things you can refer to another person as and they have on top of this used many other expressions to describe their relationship that seem to make it special like Jimin saying “you are more than a best friend, you’re my savior” or similar statments. Especially from Taehyung with his “my one an only best friend” or “I only have you” tweet moments. Something he has stated loudly in front of all the other members, who seemed to just think that it’s obvious that Tae would pick Jimin above anyone else in the group.

Their bias towards each other. Now this is really something that might be my exaggeration, but in a lot of moments it just seems like they give each other a lot of special treatment. From Taehyung seeming biased towards Jimin on his weverse post to Jimin constantly praising Tae for basically doing nothing but excisting. For example how Jimin in Festa 2020 highlighted Tae as the winner of most handsome face even though JK had won the same title more recent than Taehyung. Not to mention for example how they often express a want to sleep together. They seem fine to share with all members, but seem to choose each other if they can and have definitely expressed a want of sharing with each other the most.

They are very emotionally attuned and attentive towards each other. From what I can see for example it seems they use the phrase “I love you” the most amongst the members. Jimin do express it a lot but if you look at compilations I think we likely will find that he says it to Taehyung the most. We also have them noticing each other like how Tae bought the needle and thread for Jimin in Malta.

The other members have many times pointed out how close Vmin are and how special their relationship is. This is BTS who are already super close and like a family coming to say Vmin in particular are even closer. This has been consistant through many years.

Even people outside of the members have often noted on the closeness between Vmin, everything from their own Big Hit staff crying about “Friends” to people who doesn’t know BTS saying they were “all over each other” behind the scenes of filming the ON performance. There are many examples. Basically people often seem to comment on both their physical and emotional closeness.

The songs. I know you asked besides “Friends” but it really can’t be ignored just how much this song says and alligns with other things Vmin has said about each other, like wanting to stay together after BTS. Not to mention we have at least 4 o’clock and Taehyung’s Christmas song as well that show just how much Jimin mean to Taehyung.

Typically romantic gestures towards or with each other. It really happens a lot between Vmin, like sending finger hearts, holding hands for no reason or other things like Jimin giving heart shaped balloons to Taehyung and saying “this is my love for you”. I made a whole post about Vmin acting very similar to the couple in The Notebook (HERE), and there are way more examples even beyond that.

The way they protect and stand up for each other, even Namjoon telling us they have excuses for each other “No way Jimin did this” etc. It’s the way Jimin stayed behind when Tae and Jin had an argument to the point that Jin got annoyed, or how staff called Jimin over when they noticed Taehyung was crying.

How the other members somtimes seem to leave them alone (when Vmin got to be paired up twice in Malta when Tae showed up) and in some cases even give off the feeling like they are intruding (like Hobi when Jimin and Tae are doing roleplay in the kitchen in BV4).

It’s the way Vmin so often express wanting to do things together, sometimes just to do it together. Like Jimin doing the same things he already did in Malta but he wanted to share them with Taehyung. Or how Jimin goes with Tae to horse riding but doesn’t even ride a horse. Or how Tae literally says he won’t do the bungy thing unless Jimin does it at first.

It’s the way they keep saying they will get closer and how they clearly put in so much effort into their relationship. How they stated in 2013 that they were best friends, or in 2016 that they were 100% in closeness and yet keep talking quite often about getting closer or how they “weren’t close yet” when speaking of the past. Mind you that Tae wrote the “I only have you” tweet in 2014 and said before debut that he would love for such a friend like Jimin to debut with him. And yet, here we are, looking over 7 years how they just seem to get closer and closer and now have a song about how strong their relationship is and how they consider each other soulmates.

And on top of that we have the moments that might not be uniqe to them but still show a lot of love and intimacy, like their skinship being very intimate and how much they pay attention to each other in general and give each other compliments or shows appriciation for each other. We know 95z is love, and it can be seen both in their interactions, statements and reactions from other people around them. 

Basically all members obviously has a very strong bond but Vmin have a lot of things they do more often or that seems to indicate they are perhaps even more close than other members. I probably even forgot something, because I just wrote this on the top of my head. And there are just so many things between Vmin that I think makes them special it’s going to be hard to name them all. Of course none of these things have to mean Vmin are a couple, but I do think it shows how important they are to each other and how special their bond is to them and in the eyes of people around them.

Thanks for the ask. I hope you found this a good read because Vmin’s love for each other is honestly so wonderful. Vmin are for sure very special, and no matter what their relationship is I don’t think that can be denied.

[jobrookekarev]

23 & 29

23) Who thinks they are not good enough for the others love? and who’s more afraid of loosing the other? Who thinks they keep messing up, only for the other to tell them they don’t need to worry?

In the beginning, Jo worries that she is not good enough. She mainly worries that things between her and Alex will fizzle out or they'll break up and she'll be left without a place to stay. She really loves Alex, more than she's ever loved anyone else. For the first time in her life, she has a good healthy relationship and she doesn't want to lose him. Sometimes when they fight she'll tiptoe around him or try and stop the fight by giving in to him. After he realizes what she's doing he’ll make sure to communicate with her. He tells her that just because they fight doesn't mean that he doesn't love her or that they're going to break up. After a few months, Jo becomes more secure in a relationship. Soon they're able to even playfully fight knowing full well that at the end of the day they’ll fall asleep in each other's arms knowing that they love each other.

Like Alex can't even sleep on the couch for the whole night when they fight. If she banishes him to the couch or if he gets mad and goes there himself, they’ll tossed and turned for about 20 minutes. Then Jo will ask him if he wants to come back to bed with her and he'll jump up and crawl back into bed with her. Yet, as he cuddles up to her she'll remind him that their fight isn't over. Still they fall asleep wrapped in each other's arms and by morning they aren't fighting anymore.

Alex on the other hand is definitely worried that he's going to mess it all up. All of his past relationships have been messed up or not as serious as this and his divorce with Izzie is still something that lingers in his mind. He worries that he's going to be too much for Jo and that she will get tired of him and leave. For example, he first time she get’s sick she insists on going to work and it reminds Alex of when Izzie went back to work after she recovered from her cancer. She pushed him away when he tried to care for her and he doesn't want to make that same mistake. So he doesn't hover over her and lets her go to work. Halfway through the day, Jo comes up to him and asked to be put on his service. She thought that he say yes and would cover for her and let her nap in an on-call room. However, when he refuses to, she's confused and goes back to where she was working in the ER. At the end of the day the little cold that she had is now full blown illness and she's pretty much dead on her feet. Alex come to pick her up and take her home, but he’s still distant. Once they gets home Jo changes into pajamas and comes downstairs where he’s sitting on the couch. She stands in front of him blocking his you to the TV and asks why he's been so distant today and if he's really that afraid of her germs?

Alex: “It's not that. It's just that I assumed you wanted to tough it out. I’m not your parent and I’m not going to take care of you.”

Jo: “What if I wanted you to take care of me?’

Which surprises him and he gets that dumbfounded look on his face.

Alex: “You wanted me to take care of you?”

Jo throws her hands up in frustration: “Yes!”

Alex: “Oh.”

Jo: “Look you don't have to necessarily hover over me, but I wanted you to put me on your service because I knew that you would let me take it easy. I thought that maybe you let me sneak away to an on-call room and take a nap. I wanted you to take care of me a little bit, because no one's ever done that for me before. When I was a kid none of my foster parents cared about whether I was sick or not. I thought that you might at least care enough to notice that I was having a hard time, but I guess it's silly. I’ve been taking care of myself for years and I don't need someone to take care of me.”

Then she turns to walk away and Alex immediately gets up and wraps his arms around her and he picks her up. Jo's a little surprised and asks what he's doing and he says that he's going to take care of her starting with putting her to bed. So Alex takes her upstairs and tucks her into bed, before he goes and he gets cold medicine, tea, her favorite soup, and puts a cold washcloth on her head. The next day he insist that they both stay home from work and he takes care of her.

And Alex loves taking care of her. It makes me feel needed and useful. He can do something for her while she’s sick, rather than just watching it happen like when Izzie was sick or when his mom had a menial break or when his dad drank. And Jo loves being taken care of. The next week when Alex has inevitably caught her cold, Jo takes care of him and doesn't protest no matter how much of a baby he is.

Okay I might actually write this.

29) Who does some crazy stunt to try and impress the other and who ends up driving them to the emergency room after it backfires?

I know it's fall but I have a Christmas idea, so it's Christmas 2020 they're very first Christmas with both of their girls. Although Luna is still in the hospital and Helena is only 10 days old. They both want to make their first Christmas with their daughters special. Jo's 10 days postpartum and on Christmas day she'll only be a month postpartum. Most days she barely has time to take a shower, much less plan a big Christmas or anything. What Jo wants to do for Christmas is just get fried chicken, go to the hospital with Alex and Helena and spend a couple of hours with Luna, let the girls open presents or in Helena’s case dangle and new hanging toy above her head, take a family Christmas photo, and be in bed by 9:00pm.

Alex on the other hand is trying to plan the biggest Christmas event he can. He's already got a long list of Christmas gifts for the girls and for Jo and he's planning to coordinate with Meredith for a big family Christmas dinner. On top of that he wants to completely decorate the house and put up lights. He’s also trying to support Jo and care of Helena, so he hasn’t showered since.. well since Helena come home from the hospital. He’ also doing all of the cooking, while neither of them are doing any cleaning or laundry. Lucky Meredith and Link come over twice a week to help them.

So the first weekend of December, after Meredith comes over to help Jo and the baby he goes to the store and picks out millions of lights and a couple of blow-up Christmas displays, some candy canes for the walk way, and a thing to sync the lights to music. After he spends why to much money he home. After Meredith leaves and Jo and Helena take a nap he goes outside to put up the lights. Jo of course, knows nothing about all this. She thinks that he got ONE single blow up snowman this for the lawn.

So bare in mind that the only Christmas lights that Alex has ever put up, is a string of lights across the wall on the nurse’s station at the hospital. So there he is on their roof for the first time putting up Christmas lights and of course he underestimates how hard it is. He reaches a little too far and ends up teetering off the ladder and falls.

Jo here's the crash and runs outside to see Alex in the bushes with a ladder. She absolutely freaks out thinking that her idiot husband killed himself. So she quickly helps Alex up and figures out that he's fine except that he most likely broke his arm. Then she screams at him that he could have killed himself and what was she supposed to do if he died? And that if he ever scares her like that again she would divorce him?! Then of course she wraps her arms around him and kisses him because she's so glad that he's alive. 

So they get Helena in the car seat and drive to the hospital where Alex gets a green and red cast. While Link is lecturing him, Jo and Helena go up to visit Luna to tell her about how much of an idiot her Daddy is, but how he was so excited for her first Christmas. From then on Jo insist that Alex pay professions to put up the lights each year. 

However that doesn't stop Alex from completely going overboard and planning elaborate Christmas light displays and soon their house is one of the best in the whole neighborhood and is even featured on TV as one of the best Christmas lights house displays in Seattle. And every year Luna and Helena, and later Edith and Quin, get told the tale of how their father fell off the roof as a cautionary tale to never use the ladder without supervision.

Okay I am definitely going to try and write this for Christmas.

[jaehyunspeachparty]

1.15 Christmas special

warnings: This story contains content that could be problematic for one or the other. Among other things, the story may contain content about sex, rape, late pregnancy, relationship with a large age difference, and others. Just because it's in the warnings doesn't mean these topics will appear, but they will definitely be covered in the story. The content of the story is fixed and doesn’t change. If you don't feel comfortable with these topics, then it's okay if you don't read the story. I just write down my ideas here and I just enjoy writing about life. The fact that some things in life are not rational or weird for some people is also part of it.

Miga opened her eyes and saw how Hyunjin was still asleep. She had stayed in the dorm that night ... the night before Christmas. Hyunjin invited her to watch Christmas movies and at some point she fell asleep on his shoulder. Not much has happened between the two. A couple of kisses, but everything else was innocent. She was still torn between him and Jaemin. But since the last time, she thought, that Jaemin had written her off. And she trusted Hyunjin, she had told him everything, he knows what she had to go through and he was patient. It was all a new experience for Miga. Men have never been so patient with her, especially when it comes to sex. But Hyunjin and Jaemin made no demands of her. Jaemin in particular always rejected her inquiries. Miga looked at the clock and was startled. It was 11 o'clock in the morning and she had to get home quickly because it was Christmas today. "Hyunjin ... I have to go." She shook him gently and then sat up. "Noooo ..." He turned to the side and hugged her hip. Miga had to smile and she stroked his hair. "It's Christmas. I have to go to my family." Miga kissed his head and then got up. His other members were still asleep or were also away to visit their families. "You're not from Seoul. Aren't you going to see your family?" Miga then asked and got dressed. "No ..." Hyunjin bowed his head and suddenly became very serious. Miga looked at him surprised and asked why he was hiding something from her. But Hyunjin thought again that she told him so much and he can now show a part of him to her. "My mum and sister died when I was very young." He didn't like to talk about it and didn't want that she feels sorry for him either, so hardly anyone knew that about him. "That means you don't have a family?", Miga asked worried and she couldn't imagine what it is like. After all, she had always lived in a big house with three brothers. "I have a father, but he's ... sick." Hyunjin grabbed his forehead and struggled with himself. "Hey, would you like to celebrate with us. If I explain that to Mum, she'll be glad to have you here." Miga sat down next to Hyunjin and looked at him worriedly. "And your father? Your offer is very sweet, but it's really okay." Hyunjin kissed her gently and smiled. "Okay, but call me when you're feeling lonely." She stroked his chest and Hyunjin nodded. She looked at him and he suddenly started smiling. "What is?", She asked and then Hyunjin pulled her back to her and kissed her. "I can't believe that you are here, that you are talking to me ... that you are kissing me." He touches her lips again and he didn't want to let go of her again. "Don't always say that." Miga shook her head and stroked his cheek. "I don't want to go, but Mum and Dad will go nuts if I'm not at home in time." She kissed Hyunjin one more time and then set off.

Sunoh videocalled Chichi who was still in Japan. He missed her more and more every day and he wanted so much to visit her. He was used to seeing her every day, spending time together and suddenly his day was so empty. And he was also worried about Chichi. Over time, he discovered that her roommates were bullying and terrorizing her. Chichi didn't say that, but he already noticed it. But now she was alone and he could talk to her in peace. "I wish you were here," Sunoh said with a sigh and he leaned into bed. "Me too." The girl looked so sad it almost pained Sunoh. And then suddenly she started crying and Sunoh found it so difficult to just watch her and not be able to do anything. "Please don't cry," he said desperately and was torn. "I'm sorry," she looked guilty at the floor and wiped away her tears, but Sunoh didn't want that either. "Chichi ... I just don't want you to be sad." Sunoh's heart was really broken and he wondered when the next flight to Tokyo would be. "Don't worry. You make me happy," she said then and smiled again. Sunoh's heart started beating wildly and he was so close to trying again and admitting his feelings to her. "Chichi ... I've wanted to tell you for a long time that I ..." "SUNOH!" Suddenly his door opened and his two little brothers came into his room and lay down in bed with him. "Haven't you heard of knocking yet?" He asked a little annoyed. "Hello Chichi," said the twins at the same time and grinned cheekily. "Hello Geon, Hello Kiwoo", she said and was happy to see the little ones again. Sunoh rested his head on the blanket and sighed. He wanted so much to confess his feelings to her and someone always intervened.

Later, when Miga returned home, Jaehyun decides to watch a Christmas movie with the children while you cook food for the family. You wanted to have some peace anyway, because you are on the phone with your sisters. "Are you at home?" Miga suddenly received a message from Jaemin. She quickly picked up her phone before her father saw it. "Yeah, I'm watching a Christmas movie with my dad and brothers." She answered him quickly before anyone became curious. "I'm standing in front of your house. Are you coming out for a minute? I have a present for you." Miga was surprised. With Jaemin it was always high and low and she never knew what to expect next. But that was something she found kind of exciting too. "Sooah just wanted to bring something over. I'll go out for a minute," Miga then lied and got up. "We don't press pause," said Kiwoo and grinned cheekily. "We watch the movie every year, I think I know what happens next." Miga rolled her eyes and then walked away quickly. She quickly put on her shoes and her coat and left the house. She immediately saw his car, which was black and elegant, and the windows were also tinted so that you couldn't tell who was inside. Jaemin was pretty famous, after all, and wanted privacy too. Miga then quickly opened the door and sat in the passenger seat. Jaemin looked good. His hair was styled, he was wearing a white shirt and his top button was open. "Hey," she said gently and Jaemin looked at her. "Hey," he greeted her quietly and turned to the side. He was so stunned from her. She looked so good and Jaemin found it harder and harder to resist her. The age difference was difficult, but why she was Jaehyun's daughter too? It was just too much. But she was perfect for him. He bit his lip and tried to keep his wits about it. "I didn't know you had anything for me." Miga grinned and leaned her head against the brown leather of the seat. You could see how Jaemin was struggling inside, he thought day and night whether he should go to her, after all there was always the danger that Jaehyun could see him. "I saw it and thought it is perfect for you." He suddenly took out a turquoise box and handed it to her. Miga accepted it in disbelief, because she saw immediately that this was something from Tiffanys. "Jaemin this is ..." Words couldn't help her and she hoped it was just a key fob or something. "If you don't like it, it's not a problem," he said uncertainly and Miga first pulled down the white ribbon and opened the box. And when she looked at the inside, she could hardly believe it all. It was a bracelet made of pure diamonds. The setting was gold, in the middle was a diamond flower and everything was surrounded with further diamonds. Miga didn't even want to imagine how much it cost. "Jaemin this is ..." She still had no words. "Don't you like it?", Jaemin asked immediately concerned and Miga shook her head. "It is wonderful." She could hardly take her eyes off the diamonds. She had worn expensive things before, for example for a photo shoot, but she had never owned anything so expensive. "I'm glad you like it." Jaemin looked relieved and watched her reaction closely. "But Jaemin, that's way too much." Miga lowered the box and now looked at Jaemin. "It suits you and that is the most important thing," he said very modestly, pretending it was a cheap plastic bracelet. "Jaemin I didn't know ... I have nothing for you now." Miga felt incredibly bad. After what had happened, she thought that he didn't want anything to do with her anymore. But at that moment he leaned forward to her and kissed her. She was surprised, because she hadn't expected it anymore, but she enjoyed it. Jaemin's kiss was so passionate, so intense. She felt his tongue and his did a wild dance with hers. Jaemin kissed her like he was making up for the days when he couldn't kiss her. She closed her eyes and felt his hand come to rest on her hip so he could pull her closer to him. Unfortunately, car seats weren't ideal for being that close. But Jaemin was kind of happy about it too. Over time, it became harder and harder for him to resist her, especially since they also made a drama together. "You are the best present for me," he then whispered and almost couldn't believe how open he was with his feelings. Miga looked at him with big eyes and she was so happy inside that he felt that way. She was about to say something, but suddenly Jaemin's phone rang. He made a short phone call and when he was finished he sighed and turned to Miga. "I have to go. My mum is waiting." He then smiled gently and stroked Miga's hand. "I should go before whoever wonders where I am." Miga smiled and enjoyed his touch. And just before she got out he pulled her to him again and kissed her goodbye. Completely in a trance, she got out of the car when she suddenly saw you. You went outside to throw away the trash and you knew this car. "Was that Jaemin?" You ask your daughter in surprise. "Uh ... huh? In the car? So yeah, that was Jaemin." Miga stammered these words to herself and didn't quite know how to face you. "What did he want?" You ask further, because it all seemed strange to you. "I still had to sign something about the script," Miga lied and hoped that you wouldn't ask any further questions. "Couldn't your father bring you that?" You ask further. "Um, no. Jaemin saw the producer today and quickly brought the document over." Miga got hot because she doesn't like to lie to you. You've always had an open and honest relationship, but everything has been difficult between you for a few weeks. "Aha", you don't quite believe her, but now there was no point in forcing her to tell the truth. Still, you decide to keep an eye on the whole thing. Miga then quickly ran to her room, lay down on the bed and looked at the diamond bracelet. It looked so elegant and so classy. She couldn't believe Jaemin gave her something so expensive. She was interested in how much it had cost, so she did a little research on the Internet. It wasn't long before she found it on the Tiffany website. The diamonds were 18 carats and cost a total of KRW 25,300,000. Miga stared at the piece of jewelry and suddenly no longer knew what to think. You may have thought it cost KRW 1,700,000. But that was insane. How could she have accepted that?

providentia masterlist

daddy jaehyun masterlist

[chilly-me-softly]

Every Little Thing’s Gonna Be Alright • Chapter 20

Chapter 1 - Chapter 2 - Chapter 3 - Chapter 4 - Chapter 5 - Chapter 6 - Chapter 7 - Chapter 8 - Chapter 9 - Chapter 10 - Chapter 11 - Chapter 12 - Chapter 13 - Chapter 14 - Chapter 15 - Chapter 16 - Chapter 17 - Chapter 18 - Chapter 19

Evelyn waits with folded arms for Lucas to arrive, her right foot not stopping tapping against the floor. As soon as her mother had made her aware of what had happened, annoyance had sprung up inside her, growing stronger and stronger. She couldn't believe it. Yet he'd seemed to agree when they'd talked about it days before, had agreed with her that being alone with her mother still didn't seem like a good idea. That more time was needed, testing the waters. She had left relaxed about that at least, but it turned out she had put her trust in the wrong person. Once again.

She jumps from her seat as soon as the doorbell rings, opening the door and finding herself in front of him, his lips widening into a smile as soon as he sees her. Evelyn remembers to breathe as her mother had suggested only moments before, before letting him in. And she takes one last look at Ben quickly passing by before closing the door to the room behind her.

Convincing everyone to stay out of it had been hard especially since they were all still there in the house, but Lucas was her problem and it was up to her to deal with it. No matter what would happen in there or the screams they would hear, until she came out or specifically asked for their help none of them would be welcome inside those four walls.

"How was your trip?" he asked her as he sat on the edge of her bed, his gaze moving around the room before focusing on her.

"I'm sure you know I didn't ask you here to talk about that" she replies harshly at which he shifts his gaze to the cot a little further away from them.

"Listen Evelyn-"

"What's wrong with you? I just asked you for one thing"

"Yeah we always have to do everything you say. Like I'm some kind of puppet you can move around at your pleasure" the boy stood up abruptly approaching the window and putting a few more inches between them while Evelyn froze for a moment, leaning against the desk, quickly recovering though.

"Excuse me? You don't seem to have put up much of a fight"

"It's because... just how much longer are we supposed to go on like this?  With me constantly under examination and you..." the boy runs a hand through his hair in frustration.

"With me what? Thinking about my daughter's sake?"

"No you only think about yourself, that's the point! If you really thought about our daughter's sake... you would've done differently"

"Are you for real?" Evelyn scoffs even more incredulously, "You washed your hands of it as soon as I told you I was pregnant. I spent months alone thinking about how things would go, then you come back tell me a few sweet words and hope everything goes back to the way it was?"

"When are you going to let this go? I can't do this"

"Well then do something to make me change my mind!"

"You won't let me!" Lucas emits a guttural sound before crossing the space between them and standing in front of her, their chests rising and falling rhythmically and her stepping back but finding herself even more trapped against the desk.

"Let's start again. Let's put it all behind us" he murmurs, laying a hand on her cheek, shifting his gaze between her eyes and her lips as she shakes her head slightly, swallowing hard.

"I can't"

"Please Eve, please" his face gets closer and closer, he believes she's finally given in when he sees her close her eyes, their lips only millimetres apart. But in no time Evelyn sighs pushing him away.

"You can't do this. It's not fair" Lucas allows himself to be moved by Evelyn's hands pressing his chest lightly, allowing her to put a considerable amount of space between them again.

"Ever since you came back I've never given you false hope. I tried to be open but I was clear, you could come back into her life but not mine"

"Isn't that the same thing?"

"No, no it isn't. We are two completely different people, you are two completely different people to us. And I can't live a life for my daughter, I have to be happy for her to be happy with me"

Lucas sighs going to sit back down on the bed taking his head in his hands. He looks genuinely torn and Evelyn looks at him unsure of what she should do. She doesn't want to keep feeding whatever is going through his mind, but in the end she chooses to approach him anyway by crouching down in front of him.

"Lucas... what's going on?" she places her hands on his knees moving a thumb over the fabric of his trousers, "you can tell me"

There's no need for a lot of words though. She just needs to see his face when he finally pulls his hands away, his red eyes and trembling hands. Evelyn's eyes also fill with tears as she nods knowingly, biting her lip to keep from giving in just then.

"You're free Lucas. But this time... it will be forever. You won't get another chance" her hoarse, trembling voice, full of emotion, comes out in a whisper as she looks up at him, "I can't do this to her again"

Evelyn closes her eyes, not wanting to see what happens next. Her words clashing with what she expects will actually happen.

"I'm sorry" he croaks leaving her a light kiss on one cheek before running out of that room, leaving her on that floor in disbelief and confused and broken again.

-

A week later that day, she had found a letter in the mailbox. She'd ripped it in two as soon as she'd seen who it was from, but from inside that envelope a necklace had fallen out. Lucas wasn't used to wearing jewellery of any kind but she'd recognised that necklace, it was one of his favourites. If not his only one.

So she'd put that piece of paper back together where she finally had some explanation. He wrote that he hadn't meant to make fun of her, that he admired her because in spite of everything she fit into that world and made it seem simpler than it really was, while he simply couldn't see himself as a father. Not yet and maybe never after that. In general it had served to put that chapter aside forever or at least until her little girl would have been old enough to understand it all. She had therefore hidden it with the other stuff without telling anyone, thinking it was better that way.

Evelyn hadn't given too many explanations about the moment after everyone had seen Lucas run off visibly upset. It was as if from the moment he'd closed that door behind her, something inside her had snapped too. She didn't care, or maybe she felt so many things to just erased them all and made her feel one big emptiness inside. And everyone in the house seemed to be waiting for her to burst out at any moment.

But she had rolled her sleeves up and got on with her life. She had no power in the decisions and lives of others, everyone does what they feel and it's only necessary to find a way so that whatever happens does not affect us so much. As absurd as it sounded given her history, she would stop dwelling on things too much. If we give too much importance to something or someone it will sooner or later end up hurting us, on the contrary if we don't expect anything, it might surprise us.

It was a first step, it needed a lot of work but she had to think about the present. She was going to choose her battles from that moment on, spending energy only on those who really deserved it. Her daughter, her family and Jack for example.

Time had passed slowly but also so quickly, taking away the last days of the year and starting a new one. Now, more than ever, it was time to make new resolutions, make room for new things and try to do better, always.

That time in their household had always been very chaotic, trying to fit everything in with Ben's busy schedule was always a challenge. But that was what she liked the most, it wasn't a specific day that was special but the whole period. The atmosphere created when everyone got together. It didn't matter if it was two days before Christmas or if it had already been, if they had spoken the day before or if they hadn't heard from each other in months. That day had the power to relax her in a way nothing ever could in her life, and between the confusion and the chatter, time passed without her noticing.

But if so far she had only had to deal with one busy agenda, now there were two of them. Jack had the same or even more workload than Ben and on top of that there was the distance factor.

They had seen little of each other, spending together a day here half a day there at the earliest possible opportunity, time that always seemed to pass quickly when they were together. Seeing each other like this, always in a rush, was in a way worse than not seeing each other at all. Having a taste and nothing more only left a bitter taste at the end of the day.

So one evening out of nowhere she made a decision. She had been lying in bed reading a book, Cece already sleeping soundly, when her mind had started to wonder. She and Jack had agreed that they didn't want to spend another rushed day together just because they had to, he'd have an away game anyway and she'd want to spend her daughter's first Christmas with her family now more than ever.

And she had smiled as she closed the book, occupying the next few hours filling a suitcase with things that she, and the little one especially, might need for a short trip but still with no clear return date for the time being.

She got this feeling in her chest, a mixture of happiness and excitement that would make her jump and clap her hands and laugh uncontrollably for no apparent reason. She hadn't felt this way for so long, she had to admit, and it felt good.

She forces herself to get some rest and in the early hours, after feeding Cece, she heads over to Ben's. The boy sleeps on his side and immediately lets out a sigh as she shakes him lightly.

"Ben" she strokes his hair, crouching down in front of him as he opens his eyes slightly, "I'm going to Jack's. I'll get the car okay?" he mumbles something sketching a smile and closing his eyes as she smiles leaving him a kiss on his cheek before packing up the last of her things and leaving. She leaves him a note on the table for some extra reassurance, just in case, before getting into the car taking one last look at her little girl in the rear view mirror and finally driving off.

----

Hi everyone, I hope you like the chapter. I just wanted to tell you that I've decided about the bonus chapters I was telling you about last week to write them down and publish them at the end all together so as not to create too much confusion x

Tag: @alexajanecollins @emwritesfootball @rosie7703

Chapter 21

[formerprincewille]

I was tagged by @pamouche and @borborai in this and I finally gotten around to doing it. Thanks so much!

Fav wtfock s3 things: honestly I could go on for hours about my love for this season it’s One of my favorite things to exist in the entire world. I have re-watched it so many times and it always leaves me feeling so happy. Some specifics: Robbe IJzermans, sweet sunshine, love and light of my life, I would throw myself in front of traffic for that boy I love him so much. He captured my heart in a way few ever have. This boy. He’s just such a caring and compassionate person. He’s got his little shit attitude, and he’s definitely a tiny brat, but he is also so full of love to give. I love that he’s not flashy. He’s not somebody that a lot of people are going to notice in a crowd. He’s overlooked by everyone, including his friends. But when you get to know him you see how remarkable he is, because few people are that genuinely good. And the way he grew from hurt and lonely and angry and afraid to happy and confident and not only accepting but proud of who he is makes me cry happy tears. He’s just the best. But the other best is the yin to his yang, his beautiful, wonderful, cool, bold, funny, sweet, and completely dorky art hoe of a soul mate, Sander Driesen. When I think of what my ideal Even would be, he is it. His heart is just right there for everyone to see and he doesn’t hide it. In fact he’s extra about showing it. He’s also vulnerable and needy and feels so very young to be going through such large struggles. He makes me laugh and cry and I would dive in front of the Skam France car for him as well. Love that kid so much. Sobbe. Do I really need to say it? Holy shit they are everything. Soulmates, best friends, loves of each other’s lives. Their chemistry is so good that it doesn’t even exist in this stratosphere. It’s otherworldly. The love that they feel for each other is tangible. They’re one of those couples that when I look at them I think “now those two are going to make it”. You can just feel it. They also somehow manage to hit on so many beloved fanfic tropes but remain realistic because it’s actually canon. Like when couples in fanfic will call each other pet names but it’s rare you actually see it in canon. But sobbe is like hold my beer and goes all out with it. The way they express their love to each other is exactly what the other one needs. Sander is loud end boisterous and goes all out to make it clear to Robbe and everyone else on earth how he feels about this boy. He gives him things to make him feel special and he’s full of affection for him. Robbe is also extremely affectionate, he tells Sander what he needs to hear to feel safe and loved and they love spending time together. Their love is a balm for one another that soothes them both. And it’s clear that neither of them need the other more nor ever did. They both needed one another and met at a time in our lives that they were both in pretty low places and were exactly what the other needed. And they always will be. Sorry, getting emotional again. They’re the otp to end all otps. 🥺 The Soundtrack. I love every single song on the soundtrack. All of them, and I listened to the soundtrack so much on my Spotify that my entire top songs of 2020 were made up of wtfock s3 songs. They not only have excellent musical choices, but they are all placed within scenes so well that they perfectly complement what is happening in the narrative at any given point. Casa Milan and Zoenne and Robbe aka Flatshare Fam. I want to live there. It is so warm, it is so inviting, and it is filled with such love. The support that Robbe got from Milan, Zoë, and Senne was unmatched. I don’t know where he would’ve been without it. Could you imagine if he had had to live with his dad? How differently his story could’ve ended up? Especially with Milan, having someone not much older than he is who has gone through a lot of the same things he has. He was such a big brother figure and mentor and I’m so glad Robbe had that.

Fav clip: Scuse me I’m not picking just one so Dinsdag 16:31, Zaterdag 09:41, Woensdag 21:21, Mandaag 11:03, Zaterdag 08:44 and Woensdag 16:36

Fav scene: Their Vrijdag 21:21 reunion, morning after, ohn/mbm, singing to a shoe, the hotel scenes, and the grocery store. I’m not really sure of the distinction between a scene and a clip 😂

Fav shot: Oh god don’t make me choose. Their hands in Dinsdag 16:31 is a big one. The dual mirror shots of Robbe after Milan tells him about gay pride before the attack to him bruised and battered after. When Robbe is kneeling down beside Sander in Mandaag 11:03. The shot of Milan, Robbe, and Sander playing the pandemic game all cozy by the Christmas tree. Any shots of Robbe and Sander making heart eyes and/or kissing. Any close ups of Robbe’s face and eyes bc Herbots, man. Good god he’s amazing.

Fav kiss that Robbe initiates: Woensdag 21:21, Dinsdag 07:27 and Woensdag 17:21

Fav kiss that Sander initiates: Zaterdag 09:41, Dinsdag 16:31, and Vrijdag 21:21

Fav Sander dialogue: Can I say everything? Okay okay, I’ll give some examples. “Wow, that’s expensive!” “You and me, a hundred percent forever, in every universe.” “I’m holding onto you and I’m never letting go of you.” “🎵Ground control to major Tom. Circuit dead there’s something wrong.🎵” “Are you going to leave me behind?” (🥺) “Zero stars on booking.com.” “The moonlight was shining down on you and I knew immediately ‘he is the one’.” “Get ready to be mindblown!” “All the way or no way.” “Take it or leave it, eh?” “You could try bribing the teacher.” “Robin.” Also literally everything he said during wtfockdown because there’s not a moment where he isn’t iconic. But a really special moment, “Just because other people are close minded doesn’t mean that you should make your world smaller.”

Fav Robbe dialogue: “You touched me and I’ve never felt something like that.” “That kiss was really *head explosion noises*.” “Not in this universe.” “Sander, there is something between us. I love you.” “Jawel.” (I just love the way he says it, it’s so fuckin cute). “Fuck Chernobyl.” “Always.” And of course, his verse in eenvoud.

Fav hug: Mandaag 11:03 when Robbe holds a crying Sander. Also, does the spooning and cuddling in the hotel scenes and Dinsdag 07:27 count? Because I love that. Also Woensdag 17:21. Or really anytime Robbe is being a clingy koala. And we can’t forget his hug with Milan after he tells him about the attack. He really needed that comfort.

Fav 21:21: Nope. Nah in all seriousness they just hit different. Woensdag is my favorite in terms of clip alone because from beginning to end it is just so beautiful and perfect. The music, the tunnel, the pool, the kiss, just absolutely gorgeous. But at that time everything was still really new between them and the aftermath of that was rough. Vrijdag is my favorite clip in terms of what it means for Robbe and Sander. The clip itself is shorter, but it has much larger impact in terms of sobbe’s relationship. It’s not just their first time physically, but their emotional declaration to one another as well. It comes with a commitment. Also them falling off the bed laughing is the greatest thing ever. They are so HAPPY. So basically my answer is both, just in different ways.

Fav Sobbe instagram pic: Why are all these questions so mean? Okay- their first one together obviously because along with Robbe’s caption it’s just a showing of their love being official. But also the grocery cart pics for their 6 month anniversary. The grocery store pic in Ardennes getaway. Robbe’s bday pics of them embracing they’re SO HAPPY omg. And of course, we cannot forget the pic posted for Sander’s birthday. It is absolutely perfect. I love it so much.

Fav song/scene pair: I have a few- both examples of wildfire obviously, past lives in Zaterdag 09:41, and rebel rebel at the grocery store. But I have two more that are not at all happy clips but are two of my fave clips regardless: life on mars/zaterdag 21:43 (that scene is impeccable along with its followup which I consider them a pair but LoM only plays in the first one) and I found/zondag 15:12 (my god I love that scene it’s brilliant).

Fav message between Sander and Robbe: Woensdag 12:45 when Sander sends Robbe the sketch of them and talks about that kiss earlier being Chernobyl. Also everything during wtfockdown but especially “I love you so much Robin.” “I love you too. So damn much.” But honestly they had so much adorable banter during those clips we were truly fed.

Fav banter on Instagram: lmaooo they’re always so thirsty on main you could pick a million examples. I will say I loved their back and forth about emojis on their anniversary.

I will tag @onzeziggy @everyone-has-their-story @bowieexaminprogress @sanderxrobbee @ayellowcurtain and whoever else wants to do it. This was fun!

[gameofdrarry]

Wizards Hearts Recs: Hogwarts Eighth Year

Wizards Hearts was a four-month-long Drarry reading fest. Players were given a playing deck of 52 tropes, and were asked to find 52 different fics to read and comment on to fill their decks. To prevent the same few fics from being read, fics were restricted to only being used for the game three times before being considered ineligible for further points. The tropes and submissions list can be found here.

Check out the masterlist of fics for this trope below the cut!

📜 The Standard You Walk Past by bafflinghaze Rated:  Mature Words:  46202 Tags: Hogwarts Eighth Year, Some Homophobia in the Wizarding World, Romance, Friends to Lovers, Fluff, flangst, Angst, SO MUCH FLUFF, And a bit of sap, Legilimency, Dreams and Nightmares, Slow Build, Prejudice Against Slytherins, Roommates, Redeemed Draco Malfoy, Minor Hermione Granger/Ron Weasley, Minor Lucius Malfoy/Narcissa Malfoy - Freeform Summary:  On returning to Hogwarts for their Eighth Year, Headmistress McGonagall decided to room Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter together. She may have hoped for a leading example of house unity; the other students fully expected insults and fights. But nothing happened. That was, until Harry sleepwalked into Draco’s bed. Translation links available inside for Indonesian, Chinese, Korean, Russian, Thai, Spanish, and Portuguese ❤️ Read on AO3

📜 Montaigne Aspirations by countingcr0ws Rated:  Mature Words:  16681 Tags: Harry Potter Epilogue What Epilogue | EWE, Hogwarts Eighth Year, Post-War, Head Boy Draco Malfoy, Head Girl Hermione Granger, Good Draco Malfoy, Hufflepuff Common Room, Hufflepuff Draco Malfoy, Draco Malfoy Needs a Hug, Harry Potter Has Long Hair, Discussion of Abortion, discussion about consent, Mutual Pining, Hufflepuff Harry Potter, Hufflepuff Hermione Granger Summary:  Draco’s been trying to be nothing but upstanding since you know what. Between crawling into places every day (oh, the woe) in his new yellow tie, avoiding heterosexual threats to the proper development of his young homosexual self, and being exhausted by how high maintenance Gryffindors are, Draco’s eighth year is still a lot better than he had initially expected. ❤️ Read on AO3

📜 Only Fools Fall (For You) by welpslytherin Rated:  Explicit Words:  6212 Tags: Hogwarts Eighth Year, Harry Potter Epilogue What Epilogue | EWE, The Great Lake | The Black Lake (Harry Potter), Skinny Dipping, Pining, Fluff and Angst, Anal Fingering, Anal Sex, First Time, Mutual Pining Summary:  It’s the summer of '98 and a certain blond Slytherin has amends to make and feelings to get over. Featuring skinny dipping, a bold Harry Potter, and a blushing Draco Malfoy. ❤️ Read on AO3

📜 Pinned! by whileatwiltshire Rated: General Words:  4193 Tags: Fluff, Fluff and Humor, Harry Potter Epilogue What Epilogue | EWE, Hogwarts Eighth Year, Pining Harry Potter, Pining Draco Malfoy, Mutual Pining, Oblivious Draco Malfoy, Draco curses a lot in this! Summary:  What's your game, Potter?" he asked calmly as Potter's face floated an inch away from him. After their second proximity incident, Draco had taken special care to note the specky git's whereabouts and behaviour; watching him with the corner of his eye whenever he could. And in his observation, he had noticed that while Potter did fumble around like a blind fool without his glasses, not once, once, did he pull anyone as close to his eye level to confirm their identity. It was only Draco. Only him. And Draco needed to find out why. Or, Five times Draco got pinned to the wall by Potter, who was surely, up to something. ❤️ Read on AO3

📜 Take All That You See by GallifreyisBurning Rated:  Teen and Up Words:  19666 Tags: Hurt/Comfort, Angst with a Happy Ending, Enemies to Friends to Lovers, Mutual Pining, Homophobia, Homophobic Language, Bullying, Boys Kissing, First Kiss, Coming Out, Leaked Sex Photographs, Off-Screen Reference to Gore, Redeemed Draco Malfoy, Draco Malfoy Has Panic Attacks, Lucius Malfoy Being an Asshole, Disowned Draco Malfoy, Supportive Harry Potter, Minor Seamus Finnigan/Dean Thomas, Hogwarts Eighth Year, H/D Sex Fair 2020 Summary:  Draco Malfoy has only two goals for his eighth year are Hogwarts: 1) stay as invisible as possible, and 2) get enough NEWTs to be accepted at a university abroad and get the hell out of the UK. Everything is going according to plan until he is unceremoniously outed by the Daily Prophet and subsequently disowned. Finding himself the unexpected focus of unwanted attention and harassment, he is suddenly dependent on the good will and protection of the last people he would have expected — Harry Potter and his gang of do-gooder Gryffindors (plus Luna Lovegood). With his world turned upside down, how will Draco make it through the rest of the year? And worse still, as he grows closer and closer to Harry, how will he get out with his heart intact? ❤️ Read on AO3

📜 For every question why, you were my Because by HugsandButterflyKisses Rated:  Explicit Words:  59924 Tags: Harry Potter Epilogue What Epilogue | EWE, Hogwarts Eighth Year, Coming Out, First Time, Mutual Pining, i'll update as we go on dw, harry is a lil clueless but hes got the spirit, Sharing Clothes, Masturbation, Slow Burn, Shower Sex, Halloween, just a lot of shenanigans by the slytherins Summary:  Harry expects his final year at Hogwarts to be simple. Go to class, hang out with Ron and Hermione, and most importantly, no threats of dying. It seems fate, and the Slytherins, have other plans. or The Eighth Year fic where Harry and Draco can't seem to get rid of one another. But...maybe neither of them mind all that much. ❤️ Read on AO3

📜 White Lies by cassisluna Rated:  Teen and Up Words:  171013 Tags: Slash, Homosexuality, EWE, AU, Mutual Pining, Pining Harry, Pining Draco Malfoy, Hurt/Comfort, Potions Accident, Hogwarts Eighth Year, Hogwarts Era Summary:  Draco drinks a potion that makes him know if a person is lying, and Harry, apparently at fault that Draco is this way, is forced to 'help' him with the effects of the potion. For the first time, they deal with each other with no lies to hide behind. ❤️ Read on AO3

📜 knickers in a twist by technicolourbeat Rated:  Explicit Words:  86461 Tags: Hogwarts Eighth Year, Reconciliation, Smut, Crossdressing, Boys in Skirts, Bottom Draco Malfoy, Top Harry Potter, Implied/Referenced Self-Harm, Semi-Public Sex, Riding, Topping from the Bottom, Draco Malfoy in a Skirt, Rimming, Lace Panties, Anal Sex, Oral Sex, Public Sex, Harry Potter Epilogue What Epilogue | EWE, Secret Relationship, Fuckbuddies, Shameless Smut, Sexual Roleplay, Fluff and Humor, Porn With Plot Summary:  Draco loses a bet to Pansy and Blaise which leaves him wearing a skirt for a whole week. Harry discovers something about himself. ❤️ Read on AO3

📜 Blue Roses and Other Impossible Things by Cassiara Rated:  Explicit Words:  40283 Tags: Enemies to Friends to Lovers, Homophobic Language, Angst, Fluff, First Time, Bottom Harry, Top Draco Malfoy, Hogwarts Eighth Year, POV Harry Potter, Virgin Harry, Happy Ending, Slow Burn, Bad Flirting, Loss of Virginity, Podfic Welcome, Pining, Getting Together Summary:  After Harry saved Draco from the Room of Requirement there was a moment when Draco gave Harry a look. Harry didn’t know what to make of it, and he had a war to fight so he ignored it. Now though, they’re back at Hogwarts sharing a dorm and Harry is obsessed with seeing that look again. ❤️ Read on AO3

📜 In the Midnight Blue by xanthippe74 Rated:  Teen and Up Words:  5508 Tags: Hogwarts Eighth Year, Christmas, Light Angst, Developing Relationship, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD, Anxiety, Dreams and Nightmares, Flying, Hopeful Ending, Winter, HP Wireless Festive Minifest 2020, Songfic Summary:  On a Christmas Eve broom ride over Hogwarts, Harry shows Draco that he’s braver than he thinks. ❤️ Read on AO3

📜 Owl Was Well by fencer_x Rated:  Teen and Up Words:  66823 Tags: Post-Second War with Voldemort, Hogwarts Eighth Year, Hogwarts, Animagus, Animagus Draco Malfoy, Owls, Snarky Draco Malfoy, Snarky Harry Potter, Snark, Draco Malfoy & Pansy Parkinson Friendship, Sexually Adventurous Blaise Zabini, Humor, Toilet humor, POV Draco Malfoy, Invasion of Privacy, Brief Mention of Animal Death(s), Fighting, Minor Injuries, H/D Erised 2020, Slow Burn Summary:  Draco Malfoy is not an owl, really he isn’t. He simply assumes the shape of one on occasion when he wants to find a bit of privacy—a goal entirely thwarted because Harry Potter doesn’t understand you can’t just grab any old bird from the Owlery and force it to send your missives and deliver your packages. ❤️ Read on AO3

📜 The Nightmare Club by Elle Gray (Elle_Gray) Rated:  Explicit Words:  85072 Tags:  Post-Second War with Voldemort, Hogwarts Eighth Year, Tropes, Banter, Slow Burn, Humor, Trials, Light Angst, Sentient Doors, Male Friendship, Friendship, Misunderstandings, Pining, Jealousy, Jealous Harry Potter, Jealous Draco Malfoy, Accidental Voyeurism, Voyeurism, Forced Proximity, Snarky Draco Malfoy, Sarcastic Harry Potter, Smut, Sexual Fantasy, Masturbation, Blow Jobs, Frottage, Coming Out, Oblivious, Drinking, Drunken Shenanigans, Feelings Realization, Secret Relationship, Fake/Pretend Relationship, Herbology, Herbology Class (Harry Potter), Plants, working together, Veritaserum, Cuddling & Snuggling, Spooning, Pajamas & Sleepwear, Tea, Nightmares, Hurt/Comfort, Panic Attacks, Awkwardness, Minor Harry Potter/Lisa Turpin, H/D Erised 2018, Community: hd_erised, Bisexual Harry Potter, Bisexual Draco Malfoy, Mental Health Issues, supportive friends, wanking, Harry in a towel, Minor slut-shaming?, Feel free to podfic this, Fanart also welcome, remix to your heart's content, tell me about typos you find as well, Gay Mentor Charlie Weasley Summary:  Hermione and Ron are going back to Hogwarts to do N.E.W.T.s, Ginny isn't. Harry hasn't decided, until he has, in front of the Wizengamot and now he's responsible for Malfoy as well. A tale of enemies who learn to get along, get it wrong and get it on. Everything is purple, some things are on fire and no-one is sleeping properly. But don't worry, there's tea! ❤️ Read on AO3

📜 Read All About It by Samunderthelights Rated:  Teen and Up Words:  3247 Tags: Drarropoly: Founders Edition - A Drarry Game/Fest, Epistolary, The Owlery (Harry Potter), Secret Relationship, Drarry, Letters, Hogwarts Eighth Year, Boys In Love, Self-Acceptance Summary:  The story of a budding romance between two young men, told through letters found in the Hogwarts Owlery. ❤️ Read on AO3

📜 Adventures of a Suicidal Gentleman by GallaPlacidia Rated:  Not Rated Words:  47794 Tags: Angst, Angst with a Happy Ending, Grief/Mourning, Suicidal Thoughts, suicidal Draco but he's fun about it, Hogwarts Eighth Year, Draco and his new best friend Misty the house elf, Draco is trying to keep his shit together, Pining Harry, Down and Out Draco Malfoy, It's less harrowing than it initially appears, Veritaserum Summary:  Draco wants to kill himself, but he's trying not to be dramatic about it. Harry wants to sleep with Draco, but he's trying not to be obvious about it. Misunderstandings! Pining! Grief! Self-loathing but in a kind of charming way? Feat. Misty the house elf who takes shit from no one, an Astoria who has her own mysterious aims, a Draco who is determined to use humour to get through things, and a Harry doesn't know what he wants, except maybe to touch Draco's pretty face. ❤️ Read on AO3

📜 Sincere Gratitude from the (Heart) Mouth by _Melodic_ (Sae) Rated:  Mature Words:  1049 Tags: Blow Jobs, Semi-Public Sex, Public Blow Jobs, Dubiously Consensual Blow Jobs, Smut, Fluff and Smut, Gratuitous Smut, Plot What Plot/Porn Without Plot, Porn, Porn with Feelings, Redemption, Oral Sex, Getting Together, First Time, POV Harry Potter, Hogwarts Eighth Year, Post-War, Hogwarts Express, Alternate Universe - Hogwarts, Hogwarts Era, Confessions, Romantic Fluff, Humor, Fluff and Humor, Fluff, Fluffy Ending Summary:  Harry Potter knew, of course, that everyone was grateful to him for defeating Voldemort and basically saving the world, but he didn’t quite expect the way some of those would go about expressing their gratitude. ❤️ Read on AO3

📜 Black Me Out by JBankai89 Rated:  Mature Words:  43928 Tags: Graphic Depictions of Violence, Trans!Harry, FTM Harry, Romance, Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Mild OoC, Transphobia, Hate Crime, ron & seamus bashing, EWE, PostWar, Hogwarts Eighth Year, References to Mpreg Summary:  Since his first day at Hogwarts, Harry has had a secret. Not even his best friends knew, and returning after the war for his seventh year, Harry is looking forward to a nice, quiet, Voldemort-free year. What he hadn't expected was Ron and Seamus discovering his secret and reacting violently to the news, nor did he expect his old school rival suddenly showing romantic interest in him. ❤️ Read on AO3

📜 Try to Change by meshtams Rated:  Teen and Up Words:  1567 Tags: Hogwarts Forbidden Forest, Hogwarts Eighth Year, Boys In Love, Love Confessions, Getting Together, Fluff, Musician Draco Malfoy, Song fic??, Gay Draco Malfoy, Bisexual Harry Potter, Tattooed Draco Malfoy, POC Harry Potter, try to change by mother mother Summary:  Harry hears music coming from the forbidden forest, and naturally has to investigate. ❤️ Read on AO3

[miedemabc]

Miedema Volkskrant interview

Interesting interview with Vivianne Miedema in the Dutch paper De Volkskrant, December 29th 2020.

She is the socially-minded top shooter among women's soccer players. Vivianne Miedema (24) has been an ambassador for War Child, which cares about the suffering of children in war zones, for a year now.

Vivianne Miedema is the top marksman in the English women's league with an average of one goal per game: 53 goals in 52 duels. The striker of Arsenal and Oranje is the face of the English league. These days in London they recognize her on the street. 'If I turn on the TV, there's a good chance I'll see myself within five minutes.' With a laugh: 'That's why the TV is off now. But I also enjoy it and I'm in a position to make women's soccer bigger. I take that opportunity.'

Miedema is a self-confident, young woman with self-mockery and ability to put things into perspective. 'We are also frustrated that no one can come to our matches, that I can't go home for Christmas, but that's all part of it. We have to set the right example.'

What is it, one time not going to Holland, compared to the situation of teammate Jennifer Beattie, who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer? She had surgery and immediately said she wanted to play soccer again. 'We are supporting her as best we can.'

Miedema let the year 2020 come to mind. In the beginning, when corona had just broken out, you saw solidarity everywhere, fighting for a better world. Now it's more me me me again. It's just a difficult situation for everyone.'

Black Lives Matter While soccer lay dormant for a time, sport raised its voice against injustice. 'Black Lives Matter, for example, in which America and the United Kingdom are leading the way. We still kneel before games. Soccer is a great example where everything and everyone can come together. You see that in our team as well.'

She knows that men's soccer is more diverse. 'Women's soccer is several years behind. In youth leagues you see more and more mixed, dark teams. That development is positive. At Arsenal we don't have any dark-skinned players at the moment. Ten years ago it was unthinkable for many black families to allow their daughters to play soccer. In the next ten years that's going to change.'

A lot has changed since Miedema made her entrance into professional life as a girl. 'Nobody expected the growth of women's soccer to be so great. That also has to do with developments in the world, with women power. That movement is also helping us. At the same time, the level is rising, while we still have 100,000 steps to take. As for myself, I have an excellent income and can save easily. Girls in the Netherlands, and also in England, don't earn much yet and often have to do something on the side.

That is going to change, she thinks. It continues to grow, especially with three consecutive tournaments three years in a row: Olympic Games, European Championship and World Championship. That's great. Becoming more visible. Take the Champions League: the NOS broadcasted it for the first time via a live stream. Until recently it was nowhere to be seen. If that changes, it's easier for sponsors to get on board, to get recognition.'

Matches in the English league can be seen on the app FA Player, on BT, commercial TV, and sometimes on the BBC. 'We have world stars running around in the Dutch national team these days. That's inspiring for young girls. It's up to us routiniers to bring youngsters in and make them feel comfortable to be able to give as many players a good future as possible. I don't play soccer for money. I also pass that on to young girls. If you base your choices on that, you have forgotten who you are and what you are playing soccer for. Money should never be the driving force.'

Fit and hungry The 24-year-old Miedema remains fit and hungry, no matter how hypothermic she celebrates her goals. Six months without soccer, from March to September, has done her good, after all those double years with club soccer and internationals. With friend and teammate Lisa Evans, she took the car to Scotland, where Evans is from.

We spent four or five months there. Switching off from soccer for a while. I've never enjoyed exercises in the gym and running so much. That says it all. I play soccer because I like the game. Tactically I just want to be good enough that you don't have to run alone. But during the lockdown it was the only option, to not have to sit inside.

'Lisa was my pt, my personal trainer. We were super fit for the new season. In Scotland we had so much freedom. We went hiking, walking. Soccer, tennis, padel. For six months it was a normal human life.'

She started studying: for the Uefa B trainer's diploma, plus a master's in Football Business. That's the first time since she left for Germany as a 17-year-old to play soccer at Bayern. 'I never had the energy, the will and the time to study again. Now I do, and it's fun.'

Constantly broadening her horizons is one of her goals. For example, she has been an ambassador for War Child for a year now, which cares about the suffering of children in war zones. She already noticed during the World Cup in France (2019) that children were following her. I already loved War Child as a child. My mother was an assistant mother at school. Of course I could play a little sport. At every charity run it was up to me whether we raised enough money.

My mother made me aware of the fact that we in the Netherlands, I in any case, have a good position, and that in the rest of the world it is not so easy. During the World Cup I was in my bubble, but after that I saw pictures and movies. Sport is a distraction for many children, which allows them to eliminate suffering and have fun.'

She was previously with the Dutch national team in South Africa, where the team visited townships in Cape Town. 'When you see how much fun you can give children with sport, you want to do it as often as possible. I will never forget how two girls of about 9 years old ran up to me afterwards and wanted to hug me, as a thank you. That was so special, they didn't have to think about danger or violence. With War Child I hope to make a nice trip.

Gigantic response By necessity, in 2020 she was an ambassador who stayed inside. 'Online I was able to do a lot. Movies, videos with examples of exercises. I get a huge response from all over the world. Not only from children, also from parents, from people who like what I do. For me, recording a video like this is a small thing and I can make a lot of people happy with it. Stretching, moving, playing soccer, playing sports. And sometimes get to interact by putting everyone else to work.'Children also take initiatives by raising money. 'It's nice to see kids showing social agility, especially now that we have to keep today's youth somewhat in check and steer them in the right direction.'She laughs a little at that term, youth of today. 'If you are a part of something, you are all in it together. That's why I play soccer and I don't play tennis. Kids push each other to do the best they can for other kids.'Now the season is back in full swing. She is top marksman of all time in the English Premier League and was recently chosen again in Fifa's team of the year. European champion, second in the world. And then she still has a soccer life ahead of her. 'I would like to say that I will continue for another ten years, but you never know. I would prefer to stop at my peak.'Again with a laugh: 'I've broken quite a few records, so maybe I'm already at my peak. But I'm definitely not someone who wants to continue at the highest level if I can't take it anymore. I also hope that people around me will then say: Viv, it's not sitting out anymore, please, stop it.'Miedema bettered Nikita Parris' British goalscoring record in October, with the difference that her predecessor scored about one goal every two games, while Miedema needs one game for a goal.  'I can only run out, but above all I want to help the team. One hundred goals for the national team would be very nice.' She is on 70 and is the all-time record holder. Most of the goals I can still remember. They are all in my head.'

https://www.volkskrant.nl/sport/topschutter-vivianne-miedema-voetbal-niet-voor-het-geld-leer-ik-jonge-meiden~b27b2994/

[carewyncromwell]

“Trusting desire -- starting to learn -- Walking through fire without a burn! Clinging a shoulder, a leap begins: Stinging and older, asleep on pins --

So here we go...”

~“I Should Tell You,” from RENT

x~x~x~x

Erik Apollo had never seen his guardian Carewyn Cromwell more scared than the night a rogue swarm of dementors descended on their neighborhood and she rushed home to find Orion protecting Erik with his Abraxan Winged Horse Patronus. He would also never see her quite that scared again, for the rest of his life.

Once Orion and Carewyn had walked Erik back home, Carewyn immediately rushed around, gathering blankets and bundling Erik up in something like a blanket burrito, and then steered him into bed while she made him some hot chocolate. While Carewyn rushed around, Orion quietly sat at the foot of Erik’s bed and gently encouraged him to take slow, deep breaths. Even though the nearly-thirteen-year-old wizard really wasn’t the sort to meditate, Orion was patient, and he eventually wore the boy down enough to steady his breathing by the time Carewyn arrived with the hot chocolate. Orion then got up and headed to the living room so he could leave the two alone to talk.

Erik slowly lifted the mug up to his lips and took a sip. His light blue eyes hadn’t met either Orion’s or Carewyn’s gaze once since they walked him home, but the hot chocolate did seem to bring some of the color back to his freckled cheeks.

“Better?” asked Carewyn.

“Mm-hmm.”

“Good. Make sure you drink all of it -- chocolate is a good antidote, when dealing with dementors...”

Erik bowed his head and didn’t answer. Carewyn tilted her head slightly to the side, trying to read his emotions. She could sense discomfort -- shame.

“Erik,” she said slowly, “I’m proud of you, for having wanted to help. It was good of you to want to protect the Muggles who live on our street. But dementors aren’t something you can fight back with first-year spells -- ”

“I had to do something,” snapped Erik.

“I understand that -- ”

“No, you don’t understand! I had to make them go away! I couldn’t just stay locked up in here, listening to that toad Umbridge and Rowle and -- and -- ”

Erik choked on his words. Despite the anger in his voice, it was clear to Carewyn that it was an expression of hurt more than anything -- like a snake biting someone after being stepped on.

Carewyn’s eyes softened with sad understanding. “...They made you remember your mother.”

Erik bowed his head again, shutting his eyes tight to try to obscure the pain in his features. Her red lips coming together solemnly, Carewyn reached out a hand to trail it through Erik’s blond bangs gently. Despite how prickly he was, Erik didn’t pull away.

“How could the Minister just let them loose?” he whispered bitterly.

“He didn’t have much choice,” said Carewyn. “Minister Shacklebolt didn’t want them as the guards of Azkaban any longer...and I agree with him, they shouldn’t be there. But the dementors were positioned at Azkaban for a reason, however shaky it was. The Ministry thought to give them a purpose and food source that would keep them contained somewhere far away from both Muggles and wizards alike. So now that that’s off the table, we’re right back where we were three hundred years ago, trying to figure out what to do with them.”

Erik’s light blue eyes flared with hatred. “Wipe out the lot of them -- that’s what they should do.”

Carewyn sighed. “Easier said than done, I’m afraid. Drink up, now -- don’t let it get cold.”

Erik did as he was told and took another long sip. Carewyn considered her ward for a moment before speaking again.

“I’ll have to send an owl into the office...but I’ll be working from home for the next week or so. Until the Dark wizard that released those dementors is caught...I don’t think it’s safe if you’re here on your own.”

She offered her best attempt at a smile.

“...Fortunately, since Christmas is on the way, that means we’ll be able to have some fun celebrating it around my case work. Did you have anything special you wanted to do this Christmas? Any traditions?”

Erik shrugged. “Not really...”

“Well, at the very least, we can go to Diagon Alley and do some shopping together.”

“Must we?”

Carewyn bit her lip to hold in a laugh. Erik grinned mischievously despite himself as he finished his hot chocolate.

“...Ms. Cromwell?”

“Yes, Erik?”

“Those things you and Amari cast...the winged horses made of light...what kind of spell was that?”

The memory of Orion’s and her matching Patronuses once again made Carewyn’s heart swell in her chest.

“...It’s called a Patronus Charm. It’s a magical shield created by a powerful, happy memory, which takes the form of a different creature, depending on the person who casts it. It’s not an easy spell to cast, but it’s the one sure-fire defense against a dementor -- because it doesn’t have any sorrow or pain that a dementor can feed on.”

Erik frowned. “So Patronuses can look like other things?”

“Yes. Sometimes they look like magical creatures, but more often, they take the shape of an animal that reflects something about the spell’s caster. Wendy’s is a unicorn and Jacob’s is a hippogriff, for example...but Jae’s is a fox and Talbott’s is an eagle. I’ve also seen dogs, cats, lions, rabbits, bears, dolphins, swans...even an elephant.”

Erik turned the knowledge over in his head. “So there’s a lot of different kinds, then.”

Carewyn nodded. Erik looked at her, tilting his head to the side.

“It’s kind of amazing you and Amari have the same one, then, if there are so many...”

Carewyn’s eyes flickered over her shoulder toward Erik’s bedroom door, which had ended up slightly ajar.

“...It is,” she said very softly.

Carewyn held out a hand so she could take Erik’s empty mug from him and got to her feet.

“All right...you should try to get some rest. Chocolate helps a lot, but some peace and quiet and maybe even some sleep should help you fully recover. I’ll be up the rest of the night, so whenever you feel hungry again, you can come on out and I’ll make us something for supper. Or breakfast, depending on how late it gets,” she added with a wry smile.

“Don’t you mean ‘early?’” asked Erik with another mischievous grin.

The smile then slid off his face, making it look more serious.

“...Ms. Cromwell...I want to learn how to make a Patronus. Will you teach me?”

Carewyn paused by the door and considered Erik carefully.

“It’s very advanced magic -- many full-grown wizards are never able to cast one. It won’t be easy for you to learn, or for me to teach...”

Her almond-shaped blue eyes softened.

“...but if you’re determined, then I’ll do my best.”

Erik looked relieved. He’d clearly thought Carewyn might say “no.”

“Thank you, Ms. Cromwell.”

Once Carewyn had put Erik to bed, she closed the door to his room, casting a few silencing charms around it so that she wouldn’t have to worry about Orion and her disturbing his rest with their conversation. Then she washed out Erik’s mug in the sink, put it in the dishwasher, and headed into the living room where Orion was waiting. Carewyn found him meditating with his legs crossed on the couch, and decided not to immediately disrupt him. Instead she primly placed herself down on the couch beside him and watched him, taking the time to gather her own thoughts. After all...it wasn’t every day you found out that someone shared your Patronus. Carewyn wasn’t the type to believe in fate or predestination, but...knowing they had something like that in common...that their souls were that similar, when she’d been so resigned to the thought that she could never be everything he deserved...strangely it brought her some comfort.

“How is he?”

Carewyn blinked as she came back down to earth. Orion slowly opened his eyes -- his expression was very calm and his gaze very gentle.

“Better,” said Carewyn.

She rested her arm on the arm of the couch and trailed a hand through her hair.

“...He didn’t just come out to help the Muggles. The dementors...made him hear things, from his past, even while they were outside.”

Orion nodded, his eyes glinting with solemn understanding. “With how many of them there were...I daresay to someone with emotional scars, particularly fresh ones, such an aura could be stifling.”

Carewyn nodded too.

“I’m just so lucky that you were around,” she said softly. “If you hadn’t been there to protect him, I don’t know what I would’ve...”

Her voice trailed off, lacking the strength to finish the thought. Orion extended a hand and, after a brief hesitation, rested it on top of hers in her lap.

“You couldn’t have known what might happen,” he murmured gently.

“I should have,” said Carewyn in frustration. “I knew when I took on those cases, I’d be opening myself up to death threats -- I’ve gotten plenty of them through post....I should’ve known they’d try to target the ones I care about, just like R did -- ”

“You placed very strong protections over this flat. No Dark wizard could have gotten inside -- even the dementors couldn’t.”

“But my shields still couldn’t protect Erik from them! He was still affected by them...I should’ve been able to -- ”

“Carewyn,” Orion cut her off.

His level, patient voice betrayed a slight edge, even as his hand migrated up her arm to cling to her shoulder, steering her around so as to make her face him properly.

“You cannot plan for everything,” he said quietly, his voice still unusually firm. “You’ve done everything one could humanly do, to protect and care for Erik. You love him with all of your fire, and that shows in your actions. That’s more than enough, and better than can be said for most people. ...Please don’t hurt yourself like this.”

There was a silence. Carewyn stared into Orion’s eyes -- the galaxy-like depths were endless and unwavering, but something in the back of them...it was like they were beckoning her closer, wanting her to drown in them. She could sense something imploring and concerned, but also something soft, caring...longing. There was a flash of memory: herself as a sixth-year student, walking down the halls with her long hair and uniform in disarray and her eyes lacking all light or hope -- “I know the beasts we fight are different, but...”  --  the first time Orion and she ever held hands, the day of the Quidditch Cup Award ceremony --

Carewyn hadn’t realized how they’d subconsciously moved closer together, while staring into each other’s eyes. She broke eye contact at last, her red lips curled up in a weak smile.

“...And here I thought I was supposed to be the one who’s talented at Legilimency,” she said sardonically.

Orion’s lips curled up in a wry smile as his hand slid back down her arm and returned to its place on top of her hand. “Don’t worry, you still are. Your inner fire is just too blazing for me not to feel its heat, Carewyn Cromwell.”

“Or you just know me too well,” said Carewyn.

Her gaze came down to rest on their joined hands. She slowly shifted her hand so that she could wrap her fingers around Orion’s wrist and hold it. Orion stiffened ever-so-slightly at first, but after a few seconds, he tentatively tried to mirror the gesture, brushing his own fingers along her wrist so he could take it in return. Carewyn looked up at his face and their eyes met -- although Orion’s face appeared as calm as ever, there was something almost shy coming off of him.

“Orion...”

Carewyn bit the inside of her cheek. She had trouble meeting his gaze head-on -- her eyes had flitted down to his lips.

“...Your Patronus...how long did you know? How long did you know that it’s...?”

Orion now seemed to be the one having trouble meeting Carewyn’s eyes. He turned his face away, his grip on her wrist shifting slightly the way a horse might nervously pad the ground with their hooves.

“...Since the moment I first saw yours.”

Carewyn was taken aback. “That long?”

Orion’s Adam’s apple bobbed up and down in his throat as he swallowed. He bowed his head, his eyes moving into the shadow of his bangs.

“...I’m sure you’re wondering why I didn’t say anything, back then,” the Star Chaser said softly. “To be honest...it’s something I’ve asked myself for years. I had reasons, of course, but even just repeating them back now...I daresay McNully would’ve graded them with very low percentages.”

He exhaled quietly through his nose in a sigh. Carewyn gave his wrist a light squeeze to try to comfort him.

“At the time, I was simply enjoying the moment, spending it with you,” he continued. “You were up and about, largely healed and in good spirits -- and in that moment, the thought that you and I shared a Patronus couldn’t distract from that. Instead it...enhanced the feeling. Gave it nuance. Not only was I happy to be with you...but I was seeing you more clearly than I ever had before. It was like seeing a beautiful wild horse from the distance for years, before finally getting close enough to recognize it as a unicorn.”

He glanced at her out the side of his eye.

“...I told you...that I’d thought we were alike before, didn’t I?”

Carewyn nodded, her lips spreading into a slight smile. “Yes. It seems you were right about that -- more than I realized.”

Orion tried to smile back, but it came out rather weak and hesitant.

“I knew we were kindred spirits the year we first met, Carewyn Cromwell. I knew that for all of our differences, you...saw the world the way I did. Wanted but a small piece of that world to call your own, as I did. Sought the freedom to live a peaceful, modest life, as I did. Guided and supported others, but only shared all of yourself with a special few, the way I did. And I confess, that’s not something I can say for much of anyone. And yet, even with that...it took seeing your Patronus for me to even consider looking at you with any sort of...stirrings.”

Carewyn couldn’t completely bite back a laugh. “‘Stirrings?’”

Orion’s cheeks darkened with a slight flush.

“I cannot call them feelings,” he said almost defensively, “that’s too strong a word. And...we were flying in different directions -- you toward the Vaults, me toward the Magpies. Neither of us could have changed direction at that time, even if we’d wanted to, and neither of us should have. We’d both worked too hard, put in so much tenacity in the quest for our ‘gold,’ to afford to get distracted so close to the end. Especially when...all there really was between us...was an old wives tale.”

Carewyn’s eyes became a little smaller and sadder as she squeezed his wrist again.

“Orion,” she murmured, “there has always been more than that. There’s been respect...faith...caring. And...”

Wendy’s advice rippled over her mind.

“Let him make that choice to love you, whatever it might look like. You’ll never know if it’s meant to be if you don’t ever ask if it could be.”

With a swallow and a light flush, Carewyn raised her free hand up to Orion’s cheek. When her fingers met his face, Orion gave a slight start -- as gently as she could, Carewyn cradled his cheek in her hand, using the contact to coax him to look at her.

“...I hope you know those things have only grown since.”

The softness of her voice and the beautiful caring rippling in her eyes were enough to make the tenseness in Orion’s shoulders ebb away completely. Within a minute, he’d melted, his own hand coming up to rest on top of hers on his face and his eyes fluttering closed as he savored the warmth and softness of her touch.

“Carewyn...” he exhaled.

He took her hand on his cheek, holding it as he brought it down under his chin and squeezed it tight. When he opened his eyes again, they were full of longing.

“…I have…nurtured this bud in my heart…longer than I have ever admitted to anyone – including myself. But when we collided again, during the War, that bud only served to grow further…and then bloom into a blossom so strong and beautiful that I could never hope to hide it…however ashamed I am that I denied it the sunshine and attention it deserved years ago. I’ve wasted…so much time, trying to stifle it…trying to be happy with what was in front of me, rather than chase what my soul was clearly aching for. All because of my own inner doubts -- because of the reluctance I felt, in the face of making a choice between the dream I’d been fighting for for so long…and the chance of a new dream I’d never imagined. I realize I have been a coward, Carewyn Cromwell – something you have never been, from the moment we first met. I don’t know if someone like that could be your soulmate – if I could ever live up to the standard that word entails...especially when your standards are so very high…but most assuredly, you are a special woman, one I will never know the likes of again…and I love you, all the same.”

The words made Carewyn’s heart feel like it’d swollen to a size too big for her mere rib cage to contain. Her eyes crinkled up to make room for the smile of pure joy that conquered her face and she gently rested her hand over Orion’s heart.

“You don’t need to worry about my standards, Orion Amari,” she said with blazing emotion in her eyes. “I...don’t know if I can be everything you need or deserve...but the way I feel about you, at least...I promise, you won’t ever have to doubt that.”

And in a fluid movement, she’d swooped in and placed a chaste, searing kiss to his lips. It only lasted a few seconds before she pulled away, so it was rather short. Too short, it seemed...for after Carewyn had withdrawn, Orion -- his black eyes flooding with a kind of emotion Carewyn had never seen before -- reached out both hands to cup her face and tilt her head back up so that he could kiss her again, more gently and deeply than before. When they broke apart again, both sets of eyes, blue and black, were sparkling.

“I’m sorry,” said Carewyn with a weak smile. “I’m afraid I’m a bit out of practice.”

Orion smiled fully, handsomely, as he trailed his hand along her cheek to brush her short ginger hair behind her ear.

“I would be happy to train with you, my dear Abraxan.”

[jaskierswolf]

The Christmas Elf (pt.3/5)

Read the rest on AO3 and tumblr - Geraskier fic featuring Christmas Elf!Jaskier.

____________________

“Where on the holy star have you been, Jaskier?” Poinsettia snapped, her face was redder than the trimmings on her hat. “And with the Christmas Spirit, no less! What were you thinking?!” She squeaked indignantly.

Poinsettia was unusually tiny for an elf. She came up to Jaskier’s shoulder, even with her hat and her bell. Her hair was bubblegum pink and she had eyes like a chocolate reindeer, but Jaskier was well acquainted with her short fuse. She was a lot of anger bundled up in bells and sugarplums. Jaskier had still been a young elf when Poinsettia was appointed head elf by Santa. She’d been lighter back then. Spirit was still used freely back then and the elves had been the joyous singing delights that the humans thought they were. More recently the North Pole had been rather dour, and Poinsettia was the perfect example of that.

Jaskier rolled his eyes and pulled the snow globe out from behind his back.

“Just saving the North Pole Realm, you know, business as usual. Wow, thanks Jaskier.” He mimicked her squeaky voice, seriously how had she ever become head elf? “Oh, no. No problem at all. Just doing my duty, boss!” He bowed dramatically and presented her with the globe. “My lady.” He winked and licked his lips.

She gasped and snatched the globe from his hand. He smirked and stood up to watch her as she gazed into the snowy landscape trapped inside the globe. He tilted his head and brushed his fringe from his eyes and he saw a shimmer of Spirit glow under her fingers.

“But how?” She whispered as if speaking loudly would drain the Spirit from the globe. She gripped the globe in one hand and with the other she created a small flurry of snow flakes that danced between her fingers.

Jaskier shrugged. “A happy accident and a little bit of love.”

Poinsettia scoffed. “Love? Jaskier, we’re Christmas elves. We don’t fall in love.”

Jaskier put his hands on his hips and snorted indignantly. “Oh yeah, and who told you that?”

“Well everyone knows that.” Poinsettia insisted.

“I don’t.” Jaskier grumbled and tossed his fringe. “In fact I know the opposite to be true, dear sister. We can and do fall in love.”

“I have to tell Santa.” She muttered to herself, holding the globe to her chest, and scurrying off towards Santa’s Grotto.  

“Oh hey now, hang on!” Jaskier yelled and ran after her. Filavandrel’s lute slipped off his arm as he ran and he stumbled as he tried to stop the precious instrument from clattering to the ground. “Oh no you don’t!”

He cradled his beloved instrument in his arms and then looked up. Poinsettia was gone.

He frowned and stuck his tongue out, picturing Santa’s Grotto in his mind. When he was certain he had it, he let the Spirit loose and he was lost in a flurry of snow. When it cleared Santa was peering down at him.

He was not the jolly old man that kids thought he was, not at that moment.

“Jaskier!”

“Hello Santa, old friend.” He mumbled and gave him a wave. “Fancy seeing you here.”

“You just frost hopped.” Santa pointed out. “Care to explain?”

“I, well, it was an accident.” He spluttered. “I may have, sort of, stolen the snow globe.”

Santa nodded as if he’d expected this answer. “You travelled to the realm known only as the Continent.”

Jaskier gaped at the old man, nay the legend, before him. “How?”

“The snow globe is ancient magic, Jaskier. It is linked to me no matter what form I take.” Santa said gravely. “From the old gods, to St. Nicholas to Santa Claus. I know where the snow globe is throughout time and space.”

Jaskier let out a stream of syllables that should have been words.

“You have done well, little buttercup, but there is sadness in your heart?” Santa’s voice was all warmth and cinnamon sugar.

Jaskier couldn’t believe it. He wasn’t actually angry!

“I, umm, well, yeah.” He admitted. “I’m afraid I think I left part of my heart behind, sir.”

“Then what are you still doing here, elf?” Santa laughed his famous hearty ‘Ho ho ho’ and shoved Jaskier fondly.

Jaskier stumbled a little and squeak. “Wait what?”

“You returned the snow globe full of Spirit. Now off with you! Take a reindeer and go!” Santa chortled.

Jaskier was still staring. “A reindeer?” He repeated.

“Your heart is waiting. Come back in Winter. I have no doubt you’ll have plenty of new winter tales to share with humanity.” Santa pushed him gently from the Grotto. “I trust you have enough Spirit stored to enchant a reindeer, but be a good fellow and leave Rudolph. I won’t admit to playing favourites but he’s my favourite.”

“Yes Santa.” Jaskier mumbled.

“Oh and Jaskier!” Santa called before he could leave. “Take this.”

Jaskier watched in awe as a large snowflake formed in Santa’s hand. With the other hand, the old man gently tapped the top point of the snow flake and it burst into a flurry of snow. When the snow flurry cleared there was a second snow globe. It was barely a quarter of the size of the original but it was definitely a snow globe.

Jaskier whistled a low drawn out note and carefully took the tiny globe in the palm of his hand. “How did you do that?” He asked.

Santa just winked and tapped his nose. “Away with you, young elf.”

Jaskier grinned and turned on his heels. He conserved his Spirit and ran off towards the stables, waving to Poinsettia as they crossed paths. She was still gripping onto the original snow globe for dear life as she ran to the Grotto and seemed quite surprised to see him running in the other direction.

“I’ll see you in December!” He called. “I have to go!”

He didn’t wait for a response.

By the time he reached the stables he was panting heavily, and his lungs and legs were burning. “Oh fuck.” He grumbled and leant against the nearest stall. Rudolph’s red nose butted him in the head. “Oi!”

Rudolph’s nose didn’t glow like it once had but maybe this year with the return of Spirit, it would shine again.

The reindeer snorted and Jaskier scratched him behind the ears. “I’m not allowed to take you, dearest Rudolph, but I’ll be back in time to pack the sleigh. I promise!”

In the end he chose one of the younger reindeers, one that hadn’t yet been donned with golden bells and one of the special reindeer names.

“I suppose you need a name.” He said fondly as he stroked the reindeers feet, the Spirit pouring from his fingers over the hooves.

The young reindeer huffed.

“I shall name you… Greg!” He announced with glee. “A far better name than Roach. Who calls their horse Roach?”

Greg whacked him over the head with his small antlers.

“No?” Jaskier pouted. “Oh fine. How about Pegasus? You will be flying after all.”

Pegasus seemed to quite like that and nuzzled against Jaskier’s shoulder.

“Ok then.” Jaskier sang. “Are you ready, sweetheart?”

Pegasus snorted again and Jaskier hopped on his back.

“Ho ho ho!” Jaskier laughed in his lower register, trying to impersonate Santa. “Merry Christmas!!”

Pegasus shook his antlers but kicked off the ground and they were off. Jaskier wasn’t sure how Santa or the reindeer knew the way between realms, Jaskier normally got distracted by the stars whizzing past his head when he was on the sleigh, but Pegasus seemed to understand exactly where Jaskier wanted to go and soon enough the now familiar stars of the Continent faded into view.

He grinned and stroked the reindeers neck. “Good boy, Pegasus. We’re home.”

________

Geralt had barely made it out of town before there was a surge of magic and blinding lights. He drew his sword without thinking and pointed it at the twinkling lights on the path in front of him. The only thing that stopped him from attacking was the strange jingle of bells.

Jaskier’s bells.

But it couldn’t be Jaskier. The elf had only just left him to go back home. The empty feeling in his chest was proof of that, a dull ache that wouldn’t go way no matter how many healing potions he took.

He scoffed. How had the bastard managed to get under his skin so easily? It had only been a few months, but he was so unlike anyone Geralt had ever met. So open with his love and affection that Geralt had let his guards down before he’d even noticed.

The lights in the sky grew brighter and Geralt snarled, holding his sword steady towards the crackle of magic.

To his great surprise a reindeer came barrelling into him. He dropped his sword and leapt to the side of the path, rolling to break his fall.

“Fuck!” He cursed and he scrambled back to his feet, only to be knocked down again by a jingly bundle of green and red.

“Geralt!!” Jaskier cried happily.

He scowled but wrapped his arms around Jaskier almost instinctively as he lay on the hard ground.

“You’re back.” He hummed not quite believing that Jaskier was there in his arms.

The way the elf had been talking, Geralt had assumed Jaskier would have been away for months, at least until after winter. Apparently winter was a crazy season for the Christmas elves, but here he was, back on the Continent.

“I’m back!” Jaskier agreed and pulled back from the hug just enough to stare down at Geralt with light shining in his eyes.

Geralt furrowed his brow. “Thought it would be longer.”

Jaskier pouted. “And I thought you’d be pleased to see me.”

Geralt scoffed. He was about to pull the elf down into a kiss when they were interrupted by a long set of antlers forcing their way between them.

“Oi!” Jaskier grumbled and pushed the reindeer’s snout away. “Pegasus no!”

The reindeer stamped its hoof and Geralt heard Roach’s answering huff.

“You have a reindeer?” He asked incredulously.

“I’m a Christmas elf, Geralt! How many times do we have to go through that? What else what I have, a motorbike?”

Geralt frowned.

“Oh never mind, you won’t understand.” Jaskier answered Geralt’s unasked question with a jingling wave of his hand and then helped pull them both to their feet.

“I am glad you’re back.” Geralt admitted and smiled faintly at the way Jaskier seemed to light up with his whole body. “Just wasn’t expecting it so soon. I almost ran you through with my sword.”

“Nonsense!” Jaskier rolled his eyes and swatted Geralt’s arm. “You wouldn’t hurt me.”

“Hmm.” Geralt agreed, not on purpose at any rate.

“And Santa was proud of the work I’d done here. He sent me back to keep up the good work. Ooh look!” Jaskier pulled a miniature snow globe from his pocket. “I even have my own personal snow globe now.”

Geralt peered at the tiny globe. The scene in this snow globe was different. The original globe had had a small village of tiny snow covered cottages and even smaller figurines of people running in the streets. If Geralt didn’t know better, he would have said that this one was a miniature Kaer Morhen, but that was impossible. Jaskier had never seen Kaer Morhen. Geralt was certain he hadn’t even mentioned his home or the other witchers.

“What’s that?” He asked as he poke the glass.

Jaskier shrugged. “Some old castle. Something Santa picked out I guess.”

Geralt frowned. “Hmm.”

“So where to, witcher?” Jaskier grinned as he hopped astride his reindeer. “What adventures do we have in store? What ballads will I be writing next?”

Geralt grunted and mounted Roach. He didn’t answer Jaskier’s question. Truth be told he didn’t know where they would be heading next. He would follow the path until he found a town with a noticeboard or Destiny intervened.

“Come on, Roach.” He kicked his horse into a trot, knowing Jaskier would follow.

What he wasn’t expecting was for Jaskier to fly, literally fly, past him in a blur of sparkling glittery light, laughing melodically?

“I’ll race you!” He trilled from a couple of feet above Geralt’s head.

Geralt had no hope in winning against a magical reindeer but it was a race. He loved races. Roach loved races. He groaned and spurred his mare on. “You’re on.” He growled and they both sped off towards the horizon where the sun was just beginning to rise. 

[fly-pow-bye]

DuckTales 2017 - The Absolute Best!

After doing the least best this series has done, it's time for a much, much harder list to put together: the absolute best episodes of DuckTales 2017. I am not going to lie: this was hard to put together. Anyone could guess that based on how I once planned to have this list alongside the worst list and that did not happen. I can also see myself forgetting about other really good episodes of this show. However, after days of pondering, I believe I have a good list here.

Same rules as the last list.

It has to be an episode of DuckTales 2017. No shorts, even if the shorts combined can make up a full episode.

With this list, I have to say something bad about each of these episodes. Not necessarily the worst part of the episode, but a bad part nonetheless. These are going to be more nitpicky, but it is only fair to prove the constant that there is no such thing as a perfect piece of media and it is a decent challenge for me.

This is my opinion and my opinion alone. There are episodes I didn't like as much that a lot of people did. The last list should be a huge hint at that.

Alright, let's begin.

10. Jaw$!

I mentioned this episode in my Least Best as the better example of the show establishing the relationship between Lena and Magica De Spell. It establishes Magica De Spell better than either of the episodes that featured her before this one. One was a tease put in the very last minute of the episode to show how Lena is going to be far more important than the "cool new goth girl", and the other was the Terra-Firmians episode that used her as a way to improve what would otherwise be a not-so-good filler episode. This one is a far better example, and it's not just because a money-shark is a lot more interesting and threatening than a bunch of cutesy rock creatures.

It also has a B-plot about Scrooge's Board of Directors scheduling an interview to improve his PR, and hilarity ensues when Scrooge has to defend his zillionaire antics when a shark made of his own fortune is causing havoc throughout the town. Glomgold also makes an appearance during this, which only makes it better. Along with some neat Jaws references along the way, this is not an episode to miss.

Bad thing: They really did not want to mention the obvious plot hole of the kids being able to go into the money bin. This was long before F.O.W.L. began their plans against Scrooge or even the 87 cent problem, but still, one would think this would be one of the most highly secure places at Killmotor Hill considering all of his enemies. Considering I didn't particularly love the Impossibin episode, as much as I love the idea of it, it might be for the best.

9. The First Adventure!

Going from an arc from season 1 to an arc from season 3, though some may argue the F.O.W.L. arc has been happening since season 1. Anyway, this is an episode that brings back the younger Donald and younger Della that was first seen in "Last Christmas!" in their first adventure with their Uncle Scrooge. It's very interesting to see the similarities between their first adventure with Scrooge and the first adventure with Huey, Dewey, and Louie.

Even though this does give good development to the arc, arguably even bigger characters in this episode are Bradford Buzzard and Black Heron, as this episode details the origins of the Fiendish Organization of World Larceny. Their antics throughout this episode are very entertaining, with the plot toying with the dynamic of the more chaotic evil Heron and the more lawful evil Buzzard. With all it all ties together, I had to put the First Adventure on this list.

Bad thing: The sense of time in this episode is odd. We get a title card showing that it's the 60's in the opening scene, and yet there is very little suggestion of any passing of time between the opening scene and the scenes that I assumed took place in the 80's.

8. Quack Pack!

It would be too easy to just put in episodes that are important to any of the various story arcs that went throughout this series, so here's an episode that could be taken out of the series without harming anything. However, it is still a very memorable episode of the show, where the cast of characters have to be in this weird sitcom. There's also a mystery element, as there is a culprit to why these characters are in this sitcom world.

I really like the whole meta element, with the characters picking apart all not only the clichés in sitcoms, but sitcom production as well. I also really appreciated the "special guest", another sitcom staple, being a character from a different Disney Afternoon show with some great references to it. Quack Pack turns out to be the antithesis of the show it was named after; it's not dated, it's really funny, and it realistically portrays how freaked out these characters would be if they saw those weird hairless apes.

Bad thing: I wish they did more with the concept of this world being made up by someone who was locked away from the world since 1990. Maybe not references to the era of Disney that gave us "Gotta Be Gettin' Goofy", but more jokes about how the 90's were different from now. They kind of ignore this, as if they only mentioned 1990 because of the DuckTales movie they were referencing.

7. Last Christmas!

Wait, a Christmas episode in a Top 10? I have my reasons for including this one. It's not just because the idea is pretty great, as it uses the very tale that inspired Scrooge's entire character in the first place. Obviously, we already had one of the best cartoon renditions of A Christmas Carol, and this episode does not try to recreate that. Instead, we get a different tale, mostly featuring Scrooge and Jiminy Cricket, er, the ghost of Christmas Past, going back to the past to experience a good Christmas party. If only we can do the same, like Dewey accidentally does in the episode.

This was also the first time we also got to see a young version of Donald, who, in this episode, is voiced by none other than the late, great Russi Taylor. It was almost like having one of the siblings from the old show interact with one of the new ones. This is also the first time we got to see and hear her outside of a painting, and it's heartbreaking and yet understandable when we get to the scene where Dewey has to say goodbye. It's a good scene, and they weren't afraid to even throw in a joke that does not ruin the moment.

Bad thing: No, episode, this is the Scrooge they were looking for. Were they trying to make it seem like Scrooge was always a hero and not a miser who would deserve getting three ghosts to visit him with that line? I don’t buy it.

6. The Ballad of Duke Baloney!

Got to pay some respect to Scrooge's arch-rival with an episode that really shows off his character, which is a bit ironic as this is an episode about him getting amnesia and getting a brand new, at least to us, persona named Duke Baloney. Amnesia episodes tend to be a dime-a-dozen, and anyone could predict this new persona is not going to last, but the way this episode develops is actually much more interesting. This is the episode for Glomgold character development, with dream sequences, flashbacks, and a great scene in the ending that takes place in a storm that he may or may not have made up in his head. I may not have given a lot of his episodes high-rated reviews, but this is easily not only one of his best appearances, but one of the best episodes of DuckTales 2017.

Bad thing: The dream sequence really subtly implies that Duke Baloney is about to become Glomgold again. How? By having him outright say "this gold, it's GLOOMING onto me!" ...okay, I'll admit, that was a stretch for a bad thing, but with a dream sequence with subtleties, that took me out of it.

5. The Last Crash of the Sunchaser!

I called this episode "the best episode of the series so far" when I reviewed it, a pretty late episode in a season with lots of good episodes, I would say that's a good sign that this one was going to be a shoo-in for at least the Top 10. What I love most about this episode is that it gives a little more humanity to the legendary Scrooge McDuck. Sure, this was shown a bit in "Woo-oo!" and "Mount Never-Rest!", but I felt this episodes was one of the best examples of that. Throughout this episode, he sees himself as this legendary figure, as everyone sees him, and he ends up failing to live up to those impossible standards by crashing in a plane in a way where they may not survive.

Much like Quack Pack, there's no traditional villain like Glomgold or Magica. Eventually, this leads to Scrooge finally bringing up his biggest failure: his loss of the Spear of Selene and a certain relative that was piloting it, and it is one of the biggest emotional moments of the series, both in and out of universe. It's one of the most important episodes in the series, and it is also one of the best.

Bad thing: The Last Crash of the Sunchaser is a neat title, but it doesn't really fit the episode. The Sunchaser will certainly crash again. At most, maybe it could be referring to Scrooge crashing down to the lowest point he gets to in the series, but that's not the Sunchaser's fault.

4. Moonvasion!

My big hot take: the season 2 finale, the best of the season finales in my opinion, is not the best episode of the series. However, it is very close. It's actually kind of funny; I had plenty of criticism against the build-up to his finale, especially the Louie Inc. plot that led to an episode that was just kind of lackluster to me, and of all the, some alien commander from the Moon who thinks the Earth revolved around his "planet" wasn't exactly as threatening as an all powerful witch or the scheming businessman who knew Scrooge's every move. Okay, when I put it like that, the alien does sound more threatening, but trust me, even Bradford had his moments.

The biggest thing about this episode is the sheer scale of it. It really did feel like every major player in the series had a part in this, from Scrooge and the nephews, to Dijon and Amunet, to the new Darkwing Duck, to Donald and Della, to even the Greek pantheon! Oh, and Glomgold, too, in what may be his finest moment in the series! It really does feel like a finale for the series, and I say this even if I felt The Last Adventure was a great one as well.

Bad thing: In hindsight, this would have been a good time for the Terries and Fermies to come back. They're in the earth! That episode wasn't bad because of them.

3. Let's Get Dangerous!

I'll tell you a secret: I did not watch Darkwing Duck as a kid. It was just DuckTales '87, and even then, I did not remember a lot of episodes of that. This show was made for people who did not grow up with DuckTales '87, because they were not even alive. Though there are parts of this episode that can be appreciated by those who were familiar with the heroes of the Disney Afternoon, I will still say this episode works very well as its own superhero movie. That is what it is, really!

This special is the true continuation of another episode, though we saw this defictionalized-within-the-fiction Darkwing Duck in the Moonvasion, and it may as well be a pilot for a Darkwing Duck reboot that spins off from this show, with its villains, its origin stories, its sidekicks, and its memorable catchphrases. It all works very well. Who knows where the new Darkwing Duck reboot will go, though I would at least imagine that they would eventually get to certain Darkwing-related plot threads that never got resolved.

Bad thing: Outside of using a few cliche moments to extend the episode that end rather predictably, in the attempt to make Darkwing Duck as cool as he wants to be, the regular cast essentially become jobbers in their own show.

2. What Ever Happened To Della Duck?!

It's the question everyone wanted to know ever since Dewey said the last line in the first episode: what ever happened to Della Duck? This is one of the more artsy episodes of the show, focusing on one duck on what she assumes is a barren moon until she finds a monster that seems to do nothing but impede on her quest to get someone to save her. It does heavily expand from there, to the point where we get to see some more new characters, one who I thought was going to be way more important than the other. I decided to call that guy "General Not Penumbra", and that name could still be fitting as an insult.

This episode would be made or broken by how good Della is, and this is a very good episode for her first voiced debut as an adult. We did get to see her in the IDW comics, but this episode is where her character is developed. Throughout the episode, she has elements of her kids and especially her brother Donald. While there are future episodes that develop her further as a mother who wants to make up for all of those years she missed, one of the biggest defining moments is right in this episode, where she sings a version of the Capcom game's famous moon theme. An amazing episode all around.

Bad thing: Do I have to? Uh, flares do not work on the Moon? No, seriously, I can't think of anything worse than that.

Honorable mentions from each season:

The Shadow War! - An excellent way to end Season 1 that would only be topped by the Moonvasion.

Nightmare on Killmotor Hill! - A dream episode that really works with the concept, especially how Lena is the one involved with it.

Double-O-Duck in You Only Crash Twice! - This is an action packed episode where Launchpad really shines.

And now, #1:

1. The Duck Knight Returns!

Yes, I decided to put the prequel episode to Let's Get Dangerous as higher than the big Darkwing Duck episode, and part of this may be a little bias on my part. While it was not the very original intention of it, Fly Pow Bye started as a project to review a reboot, so of course an episode about Darkwing Duck, a fictional show within the fiction, getting a dark and gritty reboot would be right up my alley. We have Launchpad, a Darkwing Duck superfan, reacting to how they're going to ruin Darkwing Duck. We got the conflict between what the big studio execs wanted Darkwing Duck to be and Dewey's version of it. Finally, we have the conflict between Jim Starling, an obvious reference to original Darkwing Duck voice actor Jim Cummings who is even voiced by him, and his replacement, who appears to be some guy named Drake Mallard.

A lot of these plots converge in very interesting ways, with plenty of twists. Drake Mallard, the guy Launchpad was trying to replace with the original, turns out to be very worthy of the role by also being a superfan! Dewey's version has dancers, just like that Batdance music video! Okay, maybe that last one isn't that great, but it does not overstay its welcome. And, of course, Jim Starling ends up causing a huge cliffhanger that, despite the show being over, we will still be hanging from. We can only wonder what was going to come next, but I do not have to wonder what the best episode of DuckTales 2017 is.

Bad thing: I can't really think of a bad thing for this episode, but I can say that it is odd that there's no real transition from "TV character" to "real hero". It does help that it's not the TV actor that ends up becoming Darkwing, but "fanboy of TV character turning into a real hero" is just as much of a leap, even with an incompetent hero like Darkwing. I would also consider the show never following up on this episode's cliffhanger a bad thing, but that's not this episode's fault.

How does the whole show stack up?

It is an excellent modern take on the Disney Ducks. Opinions may vary on how this will compare with the original, since it is very much a modern take, with a different style of humor than the one from the original or the one in the original comics. Anyone who loves shows like Gravity Falls will be right at home here. Any fan of the original comics or the original cartoon may balk at some of the creative decisions made with the characters, but I would say it pays some good respect to them.

Oh, and before anyone asks, no, I am not going to give a rating for the whole series. I've already imposed a 10 image limit on myself, and since I grade on a relative scale, the average is always, in theory, going to be in the middle. It's a good show, that's what you're going to get from me.

And that's it for DuckTales 2017. Hurrah for Disney and Clan McDuck. Bye.

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