#on that note; I'm not getting back into sam and max; this is just something I meant to post forever ago

[heloflor]

Was thinking a bit about how “The Devil’s Playhouse” has a lot more comedy than people make it out to be, and while especially thinking about “The Penal Zone” I realized this episode is actually very very very very gay. Like, I’m pretty sure it’s the Telltale episode with the highest amount of gay moments (205 is second on this list, what with Sam getting catcalled by a moleman, Max flirting with Mr. Reaperphone, the whole bachelor party, Peppers etc).

I think what I really like about those moments is that it’s a great example of normalization. The characters are incredibly casual about it, talking about gay relationships the exact same way one would talk about straight relationships, it’s really neat to see! Especially considering that this game was made in 2010, a whooping 5 years before gay marriage was legal in the whole US. It's crazy and great how much they were able to get away with!

(Screenshots of all these moments with timestamps (and quotes) under the cut. To have as little pics as possible, only a small section of each dialogue is taken. And to have a limit of two screenshots per pic max, some dialogues that are cut in two parts in-game have the second part pasted under the first. The timestamps puts you at the beginning of each conversation. All footage from NapalmX717 with the screenshots in chronological order of this video)

Max: “What can I say, Sam? Alien ships love to abduct me. It’s not my fault I look so probe-able.” (9:44)

Sam: “Nice work, little buddy! Make sure you wait three days to call, or he’ll thing you’re desperate.” (11:47)

Max: “Well, he IS pretty charismatic, Sam. And he’s from space, which is a plus. But you’re the only hairy, overweight, domineering control freak I need, Sam.” (20:38)

Sam: “I don’t need to go to another planet for a methane rich environment, as long as I’ve got you, pal.”

Max: “That’s really sweet and obvious, Sam.” (22:46)

Skun-ka’pe: “Perfect! Just the one I wanted to see ha ha ha ha!”

Sam: “Keep the hands where we can see ‘em, pal.” (23:36)

Max: “We could just give ourselves tongue-baths, like cats and flight attendants do!” (30:57)

Sam: “Why do we have jumper cables? Neither of us knows how to use them.”

Max: “It’s simple, Sam: the RED cable goes on the RIGHT nipple, the BLACK cable clamps to the…” (34:42)

Max: “Oh boy! Now I can finally set up my 24-hours adults-only naked bunny chat line.” (34:58)

Sam: “Toys...Toys… we must prepare… the toys….”

Max: “Well, that’s just a typical Friday night for YOU, Sam.” (36:45)

Flint Paper: “Oh. Well yeah, that could be it. I was thinking it was you, Sam!”

Max: “You think you know a guy. I’m not angry, Sam, just very disappointed.” (1:03:49)

(For context they’re talking about who might be Girl Stinky’s secret admirer)

Max: “I can’t lie to Flint Paper, Sam!” (1:05:20)

Max: “What kind of pretend mother would I be if I didn’t worry about our imaginary baby?” (1:10:31)

Momma Bosco: “Oh, it’s not all bad. I’m getting better at apparating. And now I don’t leave a trail of ectoplasmic slime behind every time I leave the room.”

Max: “That’s better than Sam can say.” (1:23:13)

Sam: “I’m not gonna rest until I find the guy who killed my partner!” (1:43:13)

Max: “Wow. I feel really very close to you now, Agent Superball.” (1:45:33)

Sam: “I don’t like the thought of you teleporting off without me, Max.” (1:46:33)

Max: “Sam, this is all so sudden! I… I don’t know what to say!” (2:07:10)

Sam: “I think one of us should try to smash through that window with his rock-hard, melon-sized head.”

Max: “And I think one of us should try the door, unless he wants to spend the rest of the day picking plate glass out of his partner’s fluffy white nether regions.” (2:17:00)

Girl Stinky: “Sam and Max? Don’t tell me Skun-ka’pe wants YOU guys to be his love slaves, too?” (2:24:48)

Girl Stinky: “Eww. He wishes. He’s SO not my type. You only have to date an evil gorilla once to learn never to make THAT mistake again.”

Max: “We’ve all been there, girlfriend.” (2:25:07)

Girl Stinky: “Gee, it sounds like YOU two should go out with him. Would you like me to give you guys some privacy?” (2:27:33)

Max: “You’re my best friend, Sam! I know you’d take a bullet for me!” (2:31:02)

Sam: “You keep coming up with creepy disaster scenarios that always end with you eating me, Max. It’s getting annoying.”

Max: “If you don’t like it, then stop looking so damn tasty.” (2:38:11)

Max: “Think of something quick, Sam. I don’t like the way he’s undressing me with his eyes.” (2:53:22)

[hermitw]

Ok that's it, this manga reread is showing hints from even the first volume, and I'm going to use early jjk panels to predict what's next. (so far there are 262 chapters out, I'm sharing panels leading up to the exchange event, but there are spoilers in my added text).

There will be more added later bc I can think of things from shibuya for example that rly spelled out the future and we just. Didn't notice. But for the sake of going in order...

First, we get this. Mummy Sukuna, arms around Yuuji, but Megumi's frogs. One has Sukuna's forehead mark (which is such a big hint why didn't I think that he could survive as sukuna's vessel). Though they are the same size, only the one on top looks like it's from bottomless well, the extended technique - it's interesting bc Sukuna is often referred to as "the fallen one", and the angel character we meet in the culling games.

Next, watching movies.

This drives me insane bc it EVEN SAYS SPOILERS but Gojo was prophecying his own death. He's called annoying more than any character, even in the author's notes.

Also (I'm not sure if this was just a translation coincidence) but Gojo telling Yuuji to stay frosty, and the theory that his domain will be like dry ice or a freezer or something. Personally I think that's too similar to Uraume, and Yuuji would have been a firefighter if he weren't a sorcerer, bc he was always the opposite of Sukuna. So I think his domain would be more like water.

To support my theory, Max Elephant deals with water and its colors match Yuuji. Also the symbolism of water in Jujutsu Kaisen makes sense to me here. Yuuji's been through a lot and he's spitting it back out. Dude began the series with very little cursed energy and he's been through a lot.

I said before that Yuuji is the ring bearer, and to be that is to be alone. But reading this panel again showed me that it's the scene where Frodo is calling for Sam.

And recently in the Manga, Yuuji was calling for anyone.

And then Gojo (or not) showed up when he wasn't expecting it.

Also Yuuji learning so many things quickly at this point kakxnxbkakdk

Also this panel hit me - - the three who were left in the fight against Sukuna.

[incesthemes]

hii! hope you are doing well this eve :] i was wondering if you had any thoughts or Themes you wanted to talk about in 2.20 what is and what should never be? it’s a very dean episode which is of course hook line and sinker for me but also its been microwaving in my brain since the gf and i watched it.. sniles

omg heyyyyyyy 🔥 i went to look over my notes for something to write about for this and with every bullet point i read i could feel my sanity slipping further and further away from me. this episode is completely nuts. i was going to just pick one little bit to talk about but instead i think i'm going to bite the bullet and write my definitive analysis of supernatural season 2 episode 20 what is and what should never be.

this is going to get long. sorry.

Supernatural Season 2, Episode 20: What Is and What Should Never Be—A Full Analysis

the thing that must always be said about supernatural seasons 1-5 is that it is ultimately a dialogue between independence and community, and sam and dean experience this push and pull through each other: will they choose to do what's best for them by reclaiming power for themselves (independence), or will they sacrifice power and personhood in exchange for the love of the brother (community)? season 2 is the second part of the "community" arc, where sam and dean move from estranged brothers into a codependent togetherness (which begins to fracture in 2x22 and continues through season 4). in 2x20, then, we as an audience expect to see the closest purity we can find of this community between sam and dean (at least, until the season 5 finale). it's through this lens that we can determine metaphors and parallel themes as dean engages with his dream world.

from the outset, i want to posit dream!sam as a representation of dean's individuality and independence, and john as a representation of dean's sense of duty to a collective. dream!sam is a creation of dean's psyche, and while normally him choosing sam would be a choice for community, here it is choosing himself, as dream!sam both is an extension of himself and attempts throughout the episode to persuade dean to choose a selfish, apple-pie life. john, though absent from the episode, is a daunting spectral presence: his premature death even in this dream world is a constant reminder to dean of the life he has been conditioned to accept as his duty. without a dream!john to counter these ideas, dean can only rely on his memory of his father to fill in the gaps. in a season where john has become an allegory for dean's very fate (and thus his duty), this is just a natural continuation of it, and won't be resolved until 3x10.

at the start of the episode, sam wants dean to pick him up so they can look at the ruins of the djinn's hideout together; dean turns him down, and sam is pretty dejected about this. at this point in the show, sam actively wants to be involved in hunting, but right now he's being pushed to the sidelines and into a research position. this recalls 1x04, which begins to elaborate the roles that sam and dean instinctively play when hunting: dean goes out and does the dirty work, while sam stays back and feeds him information. the roles, however, begin to shift slightly in 1x15, immediately after sam meets max in 1x14: he comes to view hunting as something virtuous, or rather something that can grant him virtue and save him from his fate as a monster. if he can save people through hunting, he won't turn out like max. from 1x15, then, we see sam take a proactive role in hunting, seeking out cases and pursuing them even to his own detriment. by 2x02, sam has all but abandoned his desire for a normal life and claims he wants to keep hunting. and now, in 2x20, sam is still trying to insert himself into the hunt. he no longer wants to be sidelined or even safe (recall 1x01: "you're just gonna live some normal, apple-pie life? is that it?" "no. not normal, safe"); sam wants to be in the thick of things, and here in this moment, dean rejects him.

dean rejecting sam can then represent him choosing the individual over the collective. he chooses to literally be alone while checking out the ruins, and he chooses to metaphorically distance himself from sam. therefore, as the final episode of sam and dean's honeymoon era (2x11-2x20), the conflict of this episode involves dean moving from an individual mindset to a collective mindset. he will over the course of the episode move from choosing himself to choosing sam.

this is cohesive with the rest of the season: there are several points throughout season 2 where dean expresses doubt or distaste toward the lifestyle, or an unwillingness to continue hunting (2x01, 2x03, 2x06, 2x09, and 2x10). his desire to quit hunting is at odds with sam's desire to continue hunting, and thus they aren't quite on the same page, and this remains an undercurrent of the season that presents in their conflicts.

as the climax of this subplot, this episode becomes to dean what 1x11 is to sam: dean must choose sam not as an innocent to protect but a partner to work alongside (see, too, the ongoing conflict of dean's fate: he must either kill sam or save him). within the ideal collective they are trying to carve out for themselves, they must be equals,and therefore, dean can neither kill sam nor save him, but forge a secret third option independent of john's (fate's) influence—see 5x22.

Dream!Sam Is Still Weird about His Brother

the first scene we see of dean's dream world involves him calling sam and bantering a bit with him. what's striking about this is dream!sam's reactions to dean.

these are not the expressions of someone who is still upset about his brother cucking him at prom. this initial introduction to dream!sam contradicts the very manifestation's later assertion that they are estranged. instead, it provides an initial suggestion that dream!sam is indeed harboring some unspoken feelings toward dean—that he wants to be closer than they allegedly are.

this becomes a running theme with dream!sam throughout the episode. while he is the one to shut down dean's advances, he is also the one who seems to yearn for a better relationship with his brother. when dean proposes they go "hunting" sometime, sam responds coldly, but he can't leave it there: he follows up with a much softer, kinder "get some rest."

later, when dean lies to dream!sam about his reason for rummaging through mary's silver, sam still follows his brother out of the house and climbs in the car and insists on going with him. this is shocking not only because it contradicts the fight they just had, but also because of the stakes involved: dean's lie to sam implies a certain level of physical danger, and yet he still goes along with it. dream!sam has no idea what he's walking into, and based on the goodbye dean gives him he has every reason to believe dean is going to die. therefore, in following along anyway, he is declaring a very strong, fatal devotion to dean. he has to face his own mortality and choose brotherhood anyway, in spite of their alleged estrangement.

and this is necessarily an act of devotion—dean only relents and allows dream!sam to come with him because dream!sam has devoted himself to his brother. his opinion about keeping sam safe, keeping sam innocent, flips the moment sam pulls the brother line out. dean, like (the real) sam, is moved by acts of devotion, and when they declare their loyalty and devotion to each other in unambiguous terms, it is always accompanied with a shift toward brotherhood (community) and away from their individuality (independence). and this is the moment where dean resolves the conflict set up at the start of the episode: real!sam wanted to go hunting with dean, and dean wouldn't let him. but through dream!sam's act of devotion, dean recognizes sam as an equal, not as someone to protect, and allows dream!sam to come hunting with him. it's a resolution of the honeymoon era, as dean reckons with the final residual threads of fate still binding him.

if independence is the path of fate and community is the path against it, then as sam and dean struggle against their destinies they must necessarily choose each other. dean, then, comes the closest he possibly can to completely defying his fate in this episode by finally coming to terms with sam's place in his life not as a duty and obligation but as his true equal and enmeshed life partner. this is a conflict that began with 1x18 and has finally resolved itself (only to promptly be undone two episodes later), and therefore sits very pretty at the tail end of the honeymoon era, like the topper on a wedding cake.

Dean Is Also Weird about His Brother

the halfway point in the episode is the scene wherein dream!sam reveals that he and dean are not emotionally close and that they don't talk to each other. until this turning point, dean had been hopeful about remaining in this fantasy world, but sam's rejection shakes him.

dean can't reconcile with this rejection, and as a result it fundamentally alters his perception of the dream world. it's from hereon that dean's doubts and struggle between independence and community (duty, here) come to the forefront of the episode.

at this point in the show, dean's fear of abandonment have become centered solely around sam. he has no other permanent relationship in his life, and so the only person who can abandon him now is sam. therefore, when dream!sam rejects him, dean's world begins to unravel. the rules of their codependent relationship (established in 1x22) demand that their relationship must be reciprocal, and the lack of reciprocity here leaves dean insecure and wanting. at first, this manifests as him trying to fix things with dream!sam so that he can remain in the dream world while also maintaining codependency with his brother—the best of both worlds. what dean wants is to have both individuality (a life free of hunting) and community (enmeshment with sam), but the show takes the position that these two things are fundamentally incompatible. dean's relationship with sam cannot improve in this world, and so he can only have one or the other.

this brings us to the graveyard.

as soon as sam rejects dean, the fantasy falls apart. dean is very soon shown all of the deaths and tragedies that had not been averted due to dean and sam's intervention. this is important because dean equates hunting with heroism (dean, until sam begins to echo him in 1x15, had been the only character in the show who verbally equated "hunting" with "saving people"), and so he simultaneously has to grapple with the loss of an identity he has used to cope with the traumas of hunting. if he isn't hunting, he's letting people die, and therefore he is no hero. he's just normal.

he does this grappling before his father's grave.

he speaks for john, proposing that john would want him to go kill the djinn and put everything right again. "your happiness for all those people's lives, no contest. right?" he asks: why does he have to be a hero? why do they have to sacrifice everything?

in dean's eyes, john is the ultimate representation of his duty. and because dean's duty is to a collective (whether it be his family or the society he protects through hunting), john therefore comes to represent the collective itself. regardless of whether dean's understanding of john is true to life, we come to understand his relationship to his father and the values dean has as a direct result of his parenting: saving people and hunting things is more important than individual happiness.

here we come to understand how this episodes functions as the dean equivalent of 1x11: dean, like sam in 1x11, is given the opportunity for freedom and independence, to pursue his own apple-pie life (interesting, though a topic for another day, is how the manifestation of dean's independence is a life free from hunting while the manifestation of sam's independence is a life entrenched in it). it's only through a clear act of brotherly devotion that dean returns to the collective, and an equivalent act occurs in 1x11 as well, taking sam away from his revenge and back into dean's arms.

dean then must make his ultimate choice between independence—staying in his dream world—and community—killing the djinn and returning to reality. in this same conversation, he chooses the collective. the sequence of scenes here is important: first, dean discovers he is estranged from his brother. second, dean discovers that all of his efforts have been undone. he lost his two identities in a very short period of time, and as a result there is nothing left in this world for him.

and so he takes a moment to grieve his lost individuality—as if burying it in the graveyard alongside his father—and he gears up to kill the djinn, and in the process destroy himself.

Fate VS Family

the thing is that dream!sam hasn't given up on trying to keep dean here in this dream world. this serves a practical purpose (the djinn wants to eat) and an emotional one, because sam, as dean's codependent life partner, has the unique capability of overturning all of dean's rationale and trumping all of his other relationships. so when dream!sam confronts dean in the djinn's hideout, he actually has the potential to sway dean away from his resolve. this results in a last-ditch effort to appeal to dean's desires:

because of sam's sway over dean, he is chosen as the spokesperson for his id. this is especially clever because this is also one of the only episodes in the series where doing what sam wants is equal to choosing independence, and therefore turning away from their relationship. it flips expectations and uses context to suggest that being selfish, remaining in this fantasy, can be a good thing.

unfortunately for dream!sam, dean has already chosen the collective. to wake himself up from the dream, he chooses to kill himself. the suicide can represent the destruction of himself (his independence, his individuality, his personhood, his desires, his dreams) in favor of the collective (his duty, his perceived heroism, his brother). he returns to reality with a new resolve and a diminished sense of self. most importantly, he returns to reality with a reaffirmed devotion.

his relationship with sam has transformed through this episode. once dean realizes that the fantasy world is only a dream, that the world outside of this still exists, he understands that he can't leave his real brother out there alone. nothing dream!sam says can deter him. ironically, this is perhaps due to the act of devotion dream!sam performed for dean, which solidified his own devotion to sam (the real sam) and thus had the opposite effect. it's ultimately because of sam (through the midpoint fantasy erosion, through the act of devotion, and through the realization that his real brother is still out there somewhere) that dean comes to thoroughly reject his own personhood. he chooses sam, and thereby chooses hunting, and through his own self-destruction he embraces a collective enmeshment with his brother in a life enslaved to their father's duty.

hunting is treated differently for sam and dean between seasons 1 and 2. sam's hunting is driven and purposeful, focused on an ultimate revenge that keeps pushing him forward. it's self-serving and violent, and it represents a strength and power that will ultimately corrupt him. dean's hunting, by stark contrast, is rather purposeless. he fights because he must, and because he has no other prospects. as such, one could even speculate that his relative dedication to specifically saving people is a value he invented for himself to justify a life he was forced into. like i said before, no other character really focuses on the heroism of hunting (until sam after 1x15, which is the next step in sam's season 1 journey to embrace The Family Business). dean is the one who focuses on the heroism of hunting; by contrast, the show itself positions hunting as its own form of monstrosity. even john, despite dean's insistence on his father's heroism, shows little intent toward saving people, focusing instead on hunting things and leaving sam and dean to do the saving (from what little we see of him and his hunting style in 1x20 and 1x21). dean is therefore at odds with the show's message, which again lends credence to the idea that dean's fantasy of heroism is simply his own. he is a character without intrinsic motivation because his desires lie outside of the world he exists in—he pines for an apple-pie life that he can never have, and he has no desire to hunt, himself.

because of this, dean's return to hunting is the destruction of this desire, and therefore his selfhood. he adheres to the collective and a fantasy of heroism. sam plays into this fantasy, too, at the end of this episode:

he has come to believe in dean's view of the world since 1x14, as he tends to adopt dean's worldview when he becomes insecure with his own (see also 1x22 and 2x13, for example). to them, then, there is the justification of heroism through hunting, and it allows them to cope with both their own traumas and their spiral into monstrosity.

this is also a direct contradiction to dream!sam's plea to get dean to stay with him: the real sam advocates for dean to abandon his independence, and in doing so return to him completely. both of them want to possess each other and belong to each other, and so dream!sam is an imperfect doppelganger at best. the real sam yearns for enmeshment, a perfect joining of two into one and the complete erasure of boundaries between them.

the episode ends with another act of devotion:

sam tells dean that he values their codependent relationship, which both assuages the insecurities introduced by the midpoint scene with dream!sam and reaffirms the devotion dream!sam displayed by coming along to hunt the djinn. they have achieved an equal partnership through an acceptance of each other.

this quote may be meaningful for sam, as well: when sam says he's glad dean "dug himself out," he might be (correctly) taking dean's return to reality as an act of devotion to him, which could also be why he's so comfortable giving voice to his own feelings (whereas typically to this point, he has waited for dean to make the first move, such as in 2x03, or his extremely awkward apology in 2x15).

through this episode they have both displayed their devotion to each other and their relationship and thus gained equal footing with each other. as such, they have achieved the climax of their honeymoon era and resolved their extant conflicts with each other by putting aside their individuality and independence to instead conform into each other, becoming their own two-person collective as opposed to just two brothers. it's the culmination of everything they've been working toward throughout season 2, ever since sam let azazel live in 1x22. naturally, this doesn't last for long, and the fissure that occurs between them in 2x22 sends them spiraling into wretched individuality that they can't recover from until the season 5 finale. but for a brief moment, sam and dean escaped their destinies through each other. they crawled under each other's skin and made a home there. they destroyed themselves in favor of the brother. and i think that's beautiful.

[lucky-clover-gazette]

prince's gambit highlights & annotations

chapter 19

indented text is from the book. some quotes have commentary, some do not. some comments are serious, and some are definitely not. most of them will only make sense to people who have read the series. and, like, there are spoilers. so please read the books first if you're interested!

also: part of the reason i'm doing such a close reading is to study cs pacat's style, especially in terms of how she does romance and erotica. there are "craft notes" that might seem weird, like i'm being redundant or restating something rather than analyzing, but those are more things that i want to remember/take away from the writing!

i'm going to tag these longer posts with "sam reads capri" in case anyone wants to read them all at once.

this is a google doc i wrote with overall content warnings for the captive prince series. it's not perfect, but i do think it's important to include.

He found he had put himself bodily in Guymar’s way. ‘No. No one goes in.’ Anger, irrationally, blossomed. Behind him was the closed door to the tower rooms, a barrier to disaster. Guymar should know better than to barge in and make Laurent’s mood worse. Guymar should have known better than to cause Laurent’s mood in the first place.

one kiss and he’s fully down bad. like these are max levels of damen down bad-ness. it took one kiss. holy shit dude. we went from “laurent knows everything and is always planning something terrible” to “you will NOT bother my poor little meow meow while he does his silent soliloquy”

‘This time, I want it actually kept clear. I don’t care who is about to get molested. No one is to come here. Is that understood?’ ‘Yes, Captain.’ Guymar bowed and retreated. Damen found himself with his hands braced on the stone crenellation, in unconscious echoing of Laurent’s pose, the line of Laurent’s back the last thing he had seen before he had put the heel of his palm to the door. His heart was pounding. He wanted to make a barrier that protected Laurent from anyone who would intrude on him. He’d keep that perimeter clear, if it meant stalking these battlements and patrolling it himself. He knew this about Laurent. That once he gave himself time alone to think, the control returned, reason won out. The part of him that didn’t want to drop Aimeric with a punch recognised that both Jord and Aimeric had just been put through the wringer. It was a mess that needn’t have happened. If they’d just—steered clear. Friends, Laurent had said, high on the battlements. Is that what we are? Damen’s hands drew into fists. Aimeric was an inveterate troublemaker with terrible timing.

this is so ridiculous damen you have laurent brainrot it is so funny how this has unlocked primal rage and determination in you that literal flogging couldn’t

but keep your head up king, this is the chapter where you get to smash

The idea of stopping, allowing himself a moment to think, was terrible. Outside, there was nothing, just the last hours of darkness, and the long ride in the dawn.

and no more laurent to smooch >:(

‘Watch over the Prince,’ he heard himself say. ‘Anything he needs, make certain he has it. Take care of him.’ He was aware of the incongruity of the words, of his hard grip on the soldier’s arm. When he tried to stop, his grip only tightened. ‘He deserves your loyalty.’

damen said “it’s MY turn on the projection”

His time as Laurent’s Captain had been short-lived. An afternoon. An evening. In that time they’d won a battle and taken a fort. It seemed wild and improbable, a hard-edged golden piece of metal in his hand.

also they’d kissed on the mouth. leaving out a pretty essential detail there damen

‘I’m sorry,’ he said. ‘Your servants brought me to the wrong rooms.’ ‘No, they didn’t,’ said Laurent.

pffft did they just know? i’m not sure when laurent could have asked them to do it. so they must have just assumed laurent wanted him there

‘I don’t want to talk about Aimeric,’ said Laurent. ‘Or my uncle.’ Laurent began to come forward.

uh laurent i don’t think damen mentioned the regent at all. i think you’re telling yourself to stop thinking about your uncle because you would like to fuck damen without ptsd making it weird

Laurent said, ‘I know you’re planning to leave tomorrow. You’re going to cross the border, and you’re not going to come back. Say it.’ ‘I—’ ‘Say it.’ ‘I’m going to leave tomorrow,’ said Damen, as steadily as he could. ‘I’m not going to come back.’ He drew in a breath that hurt his chest. ‘Laurent—’ ‘No, I don’t care. Tomorrow you leave. But you’re mine now. You’re still my slave tonight.’ Damen felt the words hit, but that was subsumed in the shock of Laurent’s hand on him, a push backwards. His legs hit the bed. The world tilted, bed silks and roseate light. He felt Laurent’s knee alongside his thigh, Laurent’s hand on his chest. ‘I—don’t—’ ‘I think you do,’ said Laurent.

laurent listened to “dead girl walking” from heathers musical on the way up to the rooms in preparation for this. also i love the mixed feelings here—on one hand, hell yeah laurent, let yourself have this, but also this is fucked up for you both, and you really should talk it out, and the fact that you’re demanding his abandonment before fucking him is concerning, like you only want to fuck if you know he’s leaving anyway, but i mean why not then, if he’s leaving, and you know he wants you, and this is the last night to do it…

also laurent knows damen wants this, and he’s not actually using the slave thing here. the only way he’s using it, is calling damen on what he said earlier that evening before the kissing. cashing in on it, in a way. it’s not exactly healthy but i wouldn’t say it’s like non-consensual or anything

‘What am I doing? You are not very observant.’ ‘You’re not yourself,’ said Damen. ‘And even if you were, you don’t do anything without a dozen motives.’ Laurent went very still, the soft words half bitter. ‘Don’t I? I must want something.’

ooof that hit a sore spot, i think. laurent very badly wants to both lose and take control right now, and sex is a way he’s both lost and had control in the past—lost control to the regent, and had it over damen back in arles. he’s trying not to think about that, about the reasons, and damen is trying to make him think about it, and also implying that laurent can’t just do anything because it’s what he wants or feels.

‘Laurent,’ he said. ‘You take liberties,’ said Laurent. ‘I never gave you permission to call me by my name.’ ‘Your Highness,’ said Damen, and the words twisted, wrong in his mouth. He needed to say, Don’t do this. But he couldn’t think past Laurent, improbably close. He felt each shifting inch that divided their bodies with a fluttering, illicit sensation at Laurent’s proximity. He closed his eyes against it, felt his body’s painful yearning. ‘I don’t think you want me. I think you just want me to feel this.’ ‘Then, feel it,’ said Laurent.

“i don’t think you want me, i think you just want me to feel this” is an INSANE and deeply true line. but also, i think laurent does want damen—HIS damen, not damianos. and this is the last night he can have his damen.

and maybe laurent enjoys your reactions, damen. ever think about that?

‘You liked this too, with Ancel.’ ‘That wasn’t Ancel,’ said Damen, the words coming out, raw and honest. ‘That was all you, and you know it.’

LET’S FUCKING GOOOOOOOOOOOO

The rise and fall of Laurent’s hand was like the slide of Laurent’s words, like every frustrating argument that they’d ever had, stymied, tangled up in Laurent’s voice.

great line. love how it ties the sex act to something deeper between them

Laurent held his former mood within him, constrained, and converted into something else.

horny and angry is not the ideal way for them to fuck for the first time, and for laurent to fuck for the first time since [redacted], but since when has anything been ideal for laurent (or damen, as of book 1)

He felt Laurent pulling back, pulling away, shuttering himself, trying but not quite able to manage a cool snap withdrawal. Laurent said, ‘Adequate.’

book 1: “Laurent turned to Damen. ‘Well?’ Laurent said. ‘Can you couple adequately, or do you just kill things?”

He’d caught Laurent’s wrist before, to hold him back from a blow, a knife strike. He held him now. He could feel the desperate urge for retreat. He could feel something else too, Laurent keeping himself apart, as though, this act being finished, he had no template for what to do. ‘Kiss me,’ he said again.

this is so good. it’s good for all the things damen knows, and all the things he doesn’t know. because he’s doing good here, even without the truth about the regent clicking. he’s helping laurent figure this out, confidently and compassionately, and showing him that he doesn’t need to retreat.

Dark-eyed, Laurent was holding himself in place as though pushing himself past a barrier, the tension in Laurent’s body still telegraphing flight, and Damen felt the shock with his whole body when Laurent’s gaze dropped to his mouth. His own eyes fell closed as he realised that Laurent was going to do this, and he held himself very still. Laurent kissed with a slight parting of his lips, as though he was unconscious of what he was asking for, and Damen kissed him back carefully, dizzy with the idea that the kiss would deepen.

see my previous comments about trauma and my appreciation for laurent as a romantic interest/lead

For a moment, looking felt like kissing, an exchange in which the distinctions of intimacy blurred.

"distinctions of intimacy blurred" is such a succinct way to summarize the way pacat writes the overall romantic arc. they do not need to be fucking to be fucking, and when they are fucking, they're doing other stuff too

It was not what Laurent had expected. He felt the slight shock of Laurent’s surprise, and the way Laurent held himself, as though confused as to why Damen wished to do this, but he felt the moment when surprise turned to something else.

“confused as to why damen wanted to do this” yeah that’s pretty typical for laurent

Damen allowed himself the minor delight of nuzzling.

fantastic line

He lifted his fingers to the tie that closed Laurent’s collar. He had been trained to do this, he knew every intricate fastening.

talk about setup and payoff...

Exposed, Laurent’s nipples were hard and puckered, the first tangible evidence of desire, and Damen felt a wild surge of gratification. His eyes lifted to Laurent’s. Laurent said, ‘Did you think I was made of stone?’ He couldn’t stop the rush of pleasure he felt at that, said, ‘Nothing you don’t want.’ ‘You think I don’t want it?’ Seeing the look in Laurent’s eyes, Damen deliberately pushed him back onto the sheets.

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

okay big turning point! probably the first major tell we’ve gotten of laurent being out of control of his reactions, AND he isn’t ashamed of it and asks for more!!! massive laurent (and damen) w!!!

Lifting a hand idly to the exact place above his head where Damen might have pressed it, Laurent gazed back at him through veiled lashes. ‘Like being on top, do you?’ ‘Yes.’ Never more so than at this moment. To have Laurent beneath him was heady.

they’re both having so much fun in different but complimentary ways. laurent enjoys what he’s doing to damen, damen enjoys what laurent is doing to him. they’re both getting something out of it, which i don’t think damen fully understood what he said that thing about laurent not wanting him, but wanting to make him feel. he wants it because it’s you specifically, dummy.

Despite the cool tone, he was aware of the extent to which Laurent was holding himself in place, allowing himself to be touched. Tension still glinted in Laurent’s body, like the shine on a blade edge that would slice you open at the wrong touch.

Damen let himself experience dizzily just how much he liked the idea of controlled Laurent betraying himself in salt flavoured need into his mouth. He touched it with his hand and encountered a texture like hot silk.

i like how pacat finds these ways to say what’s going on, but in a much more compelling and beautiful way than just “damen wanted to blow him” and “his dick was nice”

‘I am not going to reciprocate.’ Damen looked up. ‘What?’ Laurent said, ‘I am not going to do that to you.’ ‘And so?’ ‘Do you want me to suck your cock?’ said Laurent, precisely. ‘Because I don’t plan to. If you are proceeding on the expectation of reciprocity, then you had best be forewarned that—’ This was too convoluted for bed play. Damen listened, satisfied himself that in all of this talking there was no actual objection, then simply applied his mouth.

LOVE THIS. how complicated traumatized laurent trying to deflect is just washing over damen, he doesn’t care if it’s not reciprocal, he just wants to make laurent feel good. something laurent doesn’t understand or expect because sex for him has always been about making [redacted] feel good and that’s it. and laurent’s bitchiness here is so tenderly and funny and in character. he delivered a “precise treatise on cocksucking” in book 1, of course he’d regard this like a business negotiation

For all his seeming experience, Laurent reacted like an innocent to this pleasure. He let out a soft shocked sound, and his body re-formed around the place where Damen was giving his attention. Damen held Laurent in place, hands to hips, and allowed himself to enjoy Laurent’s slight, helpless shifts and pushes, the quality of his surprise, and the hard act of repression that followed, as Laurent tried to even out his breathing.

damen associates sex with happily giving and receiving pleasure, so he’s confused/surprised by laurent’s unfamiliarity with actually getting attention and enjoying himself

Laurent was, by far, the most controlled lover Damen had ever taken to bed.

damen a lot of them were slaves. coached to make you feel like a god. just saying

And felt it stymied. As rhythm built, Laurent’s body locked down, his responses repressed. Looking up, he saw that Laurent’s hands were fists in the sheets, his eyes closed, his head turned to one side. Laurent, out on the shattered edge of pleasure, was holding himself back from climax by sheer force of his impossible will.

again i say, i’m so glad to see someone like laurent as the love interest in a romance novel, holy shit

After a long moment Laurent said, with painful honesty, ‘I . . . find it difficult to let go of control.’ ‘No kidding,’ said Damen.

:) a really nice tension-breaking way to find a little humor in it all, made even lighter by damen’s lack of awareness re: [redacted]

‘You want to take me, as a man takes a boy.’

this is the first moment where i’m just like DAMEN. truly. how are you not guessing this. i get that it’s consistent with his character to not assume the worst, but oh my god

‘You make it sound simple.’ ‘It is simple.’

The words fell into a stillness between them. Laurent’s breathing was shallow, and his cheeks were flushed as he closed his eyes, as though he wanted to block out the world. ‘I want,’ said Laurent, ‘I want it to be simple.’

‘Yes,’ said Laurent. ‘But—wasn’t it—’ ‘Will you stop talking about it.’ The words were ground out.

oh he’s trying so hard to let himself have this. probably before he feels really ready but it’s his last night with damen so!!

For all his bizarre nervy tension, Laurent was indisputably eager, physically. Damen searched his blue eyes. ‘Contrary, aren’t you,’ said Damen softly, thumbing over Laurent’s cheek. ‘Fuck me,’ said Laurent. ‘I want to,’ said Damen. ‘Can you let me?’ He said it quietly, and waited, as Laurent’s eyes closed again, a muscle sliding in his jaw. The idea of being fucked very clearly had Laurent out of his mind, as desire competed with some sort of convoluted mental objection that really needed, Damen thought, to be dispensed with. ‘I am letting you,’ said Laurent, the terse words pushing out. ‘Will you get on with it?’

this is so well-written, both what’s in the lines and what’s in between them. it’s a sex scene but it’s also a masterful scene of dramatic irony and characterization for them both

He watched Laurent’s face, the slight flush, the fractional changes of his expression, his eyes wide and dark. It was intensely private.

of course he's in his own head. that's laurent, for better or for worse

He felt some sense that he needed to hold onto this, to hold it tight and never let it out of his grip. You’re mine, he wanted to say, and couldn’t. Laurent didn’t belong to him; this was something he could have only once. His chest hurt.

To get what you want, you have to know exactly how much you are willing to give up. Never had he wanted something this badly, and held it in his hands knowing that tomorrow it would be gone, traded for the high cliffs of Ios, and the uncertain future across the border, the chance to stand before his brother, to ask him for all the answers that no longer seemed so important. A kingdom, or this.

i don’t have much to add here. it’s being explained perfectly in the text. it's nice to be at this point of understanding with the characters and plot that things can come together like this, thematically, on the page.

[queen-of-deans-booty]

Thin Lizzie: Part Three

Pairing: Dean Winchester x Female!Reader

Word Count: ~1.4k

Warnings: canon angst and violence, extra angst, feeling broken and utterly helpless to the point of depression

Summary: What you think is a routine ghost case turns out to be much more. Amara is back and she is planning something but you're not sure what it is. You know one thing for sure: you might be in danger and are at risk of becoming the one thing you fear: the Scarlet Witch.

Season Eleven Masterlist

Author’s Note: For the sake of this rewrite, we're all going to pretend that the Lizzie Borden House is located in St. Louis.

x

Dean steps off to the side and calls his brother, leaving you alone to drown in your own thoughts. He will comfort you later but right now, Sam deserves to know what is going on here.

"Wait? Amara was here? How?" Sam asks when he hears what Dean has to say.

"I don't know but apparently, she's twelve."

"How is that even possible?"

"It ain't Wheaties she's eating, I can tell you that much," Dean scoffs.

"Meaning?"

"Len ain't doing so hot. I think Amara sucked out his soul. Y/N is freaking out because if she can suck out Len's soul, she can suck out Y/N's soul. All that fear of becoming the Scarlet Witch is back now."

"We should meet up. I'll head to Len's house. Someone's gotta tell him what's really going on."

"Yeah." Dean hangs up the phone and turns to Len. "Len, we're going to go outside and have a little chat. My partner is coming over here. Hang tight, okay?"

"Okay."

Dean takes you outside his house and waits there for Sam to come. Now that you're out of Len's earshot, you freak out to the max.

"She's gonna suck my soul out. What if that's what she needs from me? What if she doesn't want to possess me but wants my soul instead? She wants my magic and my magic is tied to my soul. God, I'm going to become like her, aren't I?" you cry.

"Y/N, calm down. You're not going to lose your soul."

"How do you know that? Please, Dean, do you know for one hundred percent certainty that she won't do that?" Dean doesn't have an answer for that. "See? What if I hurt our children?"

"Okay, listen to me." Dean grabs your shoulders and forces you to look at him. "You are not going to turn back into the Scarlet Witch. I won't let that happen. You gotta tell yourself that because you are my wife. I couldn't protect you from it then, but I can damn well do it now, okay?"

"Okay," you whisper.

"I need you to say it."

"I won't turn back into her."

"Say it like you mean it."

"I won't turn into her," you say with more confidence.

Dean pulls you in and kisses you. The kiss is short-lived when Sam approaches you two from the side.

"So, Amara's growing like a radioactive weed?" Sam asks when he gets to your side.

"Yeah, by stuffing her face with souls."

"Does that mean she's getting more power? For what?"

"I don't know. That tsunami's gonna hit us sooner or later. We'll deal with what we can deal with like all these spent shells Amara's leaving behind."

"You don't think Len's our Lizzie Borden, do you?"

"No, I don't think so. Except for seeing him at the B&B, he's been here all night. So, we can't kill him because he hasn't done anything yet."

"Dean, we don't want to kill him. We want to save people. Remember?"

Dean snaps his fingers and remembers their conversation from months prior.

"Right. The new rules. My question is why hasn't he offed anybody? I mean, it took Jenna all of walking downstairs to slit her grandmother's throat."

"I don't know. Maybe not everybody that gets their soul sucked out turns into a killer."

It'd be nice if I was one of those people.

"Or maybe he just hasn't got around to it yet." Sam shrugs in response. "I think the best thing is we stick close until we figure out how to help him out. Which starts with you telling him he's got no soul."

"Me?"

"Yeah."

"Why me?"

"Look at Y/N." You're almost in tears at the thought of Amara sucking your soul out. "She clearly can't do it and the only other person who has been soulless is you. You speak the language. He doesn't even know he's been hoovered yet."

"Okay, but you two have a better relationship with him than I do."

"You're better with the whole sensitive verbal message thing."

"There is no sensitive way to tell somebody their soul's been sucked out by a prehistoric tween! Even if Len does believe us, is that supposed to make him feel better?"

"Fine. He probably couldn't handle the truth right now anyway. He's a little fragile right now." Dean groans and rolls his neck to crack it. "Looks like we're babysitting a thirty-year-old man."

"There may be someone else Amara got to as well. The murders started right around the time Len saw Amara, right? Well, the wife of the last victim, Dawn Pensky, had this bizarre reaction to hearing her husband had died like she couldn't care less. It was kind of the way I felt the whole time I was soulless."

"Oh, yeah. You were one chilly droid."

You look down and try not to think how you'd rather be swallowed up by the Earth than be here. Anywhere Amara is, you don't want to be. You know what she's like. You had her inside your head for years. She tormented you and made you fear for your life and your children's lives. She is the reason you terminated your first pregnancy. She's not a good person.

"Anyways, the detective thinks she's in shock, but I think it may be that Mom lost her soul and picked up an axe."

Sam and Dean don't want Len going off the rails so they decide to bring him along when you go to question Dawn the next day, Len is coming with. You're stuck in the back seat with him while Dean is behind the wheel and Sam is knocking on Dawn's front door. No one answers the door and he looks back at the car where Dean puts his hands up as if he's impatient. Sam shakes his head and takes out his phone to call Dawn's babysitter.

"Hello?"

"Sydney, this is Agent Collins. I'm trying to find Mrs. Pensky. Do you have any idea where she might be?"

"Um, no. She, um, didn't mention anything. Dawn didn't want me to come over today."

"Sydney. You are a part of a Federal murder investigation. You do not want to hold anything back from us."

"Okay," she sighs. "There might be one place where she might be. Dawn has a friend, Nate. A special friend. Look, I'm not trying to get her in trouble."

"Do you have an address?"

She sends Sam the address who then gives it to Dean. The second you leave Dawn's driveway, Len starts babbling on about how he used to love so many things but doesn't care for them anymore. If he continues to talk, you're going to get a headache...

"Kitten videos, chicken and waffles, and eucalyptus scent. I don't care for it anymore. I used to swoon for dark, curly hair. Now, not so much. Do you think I had a stroke? Or maybe it's a brain tumor. What's really freaky is all the stuff that used to make my skin crawl now seems... eh."

Okay, maybe you're already here. Dean looks at his brother and mouths something to him but you're not able to understand it.

"I couldn't shake a guy's hand before. God, that wetness. Now, I could lick the sweat off a stranger's--"

You slam your hand on the back of the front seat and turn to Len with a glare.

"Shut the fuck up. Seriously. You're giving me a fucking headache."

Len frowns but does as he's told. He stays silent for all of two seconds before opening his big mouth.

"I'm serious. I feel weird, man."

You roll your eyes and get out of the car.

"Weird, how?" Sam asks.

"Like, something's hatching inside of me. Something dark... with wings." Sam and Dean look at each other knowingly and Len picks up on it. "What is it?

"Nothing."

"You looked at Sam like you guys know what's wrong with me!" Dean gets out of the car and Len slides to the end of the seat to look out the open window. Dean whips out a pair of handcuffs and locks it on his wrist. He clips the other side to the handle of the back door from the outside so Len can't go anywhere. "Hey!"

"You don't have a soul, alright? Amara sucked it out," Dean blurts.

"What?!"

"Dean!" Both brothers look at each other over the top of the car. "You wanna be a little more blunt?"

"How is that even possible?" Len asks.

"Look, the handcuffs are just so you don't get in trouble. We'll be back and then we'll figure out what to do with you."

"How do I get my soul back?"

"You don't."

Len opens his mouth to respond but nothing comes out. He leans back in his seat with a slight sigh.

"It feels good to finally know."

x

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[popculturebuffet]

How would you rank the Sam and Max episodes?

This is something I genuinely WAS going to do... but my massive workload and how tired I was at the time won out, a sign I was getting the cold i'm still fighting to finish my christmas reviews on time.

Anyways

Beyond the Alley of the Dolls: Is the clear #1. Recency bias is probably in play a TINY bit.. but it has all the jokes you'd expect, the most enjoyable puzzles in the series with me only having to use my guide occasionally, and genuine great tension and that climax is fantastic. While the season still ended on a high note, it's defintely the biggest and best ending of the trilogy. 2. The Mob the Mole and the Meatball: Season 1's best and honestly the best setting in the series.. and the latter games are none too shabby. It's just such a simple yet messed up concept: a chuck e cheese as a mafia front. Give those mafiso teddy bear heads and you have an outright classic. 3. The Tomb of Sammun Mak: The format bender really helped this one: the reel switching is the series best gimmick to shake things up and is a lot of fun. It's also their best asset flip, is packed with some iconic jokes and is charming as hell. 4. Situation: Comedy: While I loved these games from Culture Shock, Situation Comedy is where everything clicked: better puzzles, a great new environment to explore, great additions in mr featherly and two all time great bits: cooking without Looking and Subrban Cowboys (Their probably hiding a cow) It's only not higher up because it has that wonky as hell cow puzzle. I don't mind a long puzzle but I do mind when the puzzle is just "ask until you get the right question but we won't give you clues as to what the right answer are". It's fine if you can give wrong ansers and get great jokes, not so much in a loop but ot their credit the developers learned that lesson. Mostly.

4. The City that Dares Not Sleep: The touching, hilarous, and heartwrenching coda to the whole saga. The puzzles are a bit lighter, not hitting quite that good ballance of "Tricky but managable" and just being managable mostly. But it's still a standout conclusion to the best game in the trilogy.

5. Abe Lincoln Must Die!: This one like Situation Comedy would rank higher were the puzzles less frustrating or the hike back and forth from the street to the whtie house not tedious. That said while both of those can be grating... Abe Lincoln Must Die is just that funny. You have Max running for president against a giant stone abe lincoln, Superball's debut and of course the war song. I'm really disapointed the later games dropped musical numbers, as War and World of Max are bangers. I still listen to the war song regularly and probably will again just bringing it up here. 6. The Penal Zone: A brilliant start to their best season, a llittle lower due to that pigeon. Yes i'll never not resent the pidgeon pizza puzzle, as what the hell was that. But the chapter overall is fun, hilaroius and lets you get into the new groove of things nicely. Plus Max snorting at the penal zone's name will never not be funny.

6. Bright Side of the Moon: The most gorgeous chapter of the original game , with a grand set piece to close it out, a great villian reveal and of course... world of max. once again the song helps really boost this but it was a truly perfect ending to such a batshit season. 7. Night of the Raving Dead: IS a lot of fun. It has the worst puzzle in the trilogy, the dj puzzle, but damn if Jurgen isn't entertaning. Making a vampire lord an overly dorky scene kid was genius, and adding in that poor monster and of all people superball, and pulpy good flint paper and you have a stew goin.

8. They Stole Max's Brain: This one, like many is only so low thanks to one thing dragging it down: in this case the entire sammun mak act. I dreaded it going in and while it was better than I braced myself for it was still not great. You take my lack of love for stock ancient egyptian themeing (You can use it well but you have to work at it as it has cool astetics but is often used clusmily and sameily) and "The world is changed but only one person remember it plots" and i'm gonna have ab ad time. But the first two acts are so fun it compensates. 9. Culture Shock: Culture Shock is decent and is just above the bottom because while funny, a great start to the series and solid... the later chapters of both it's own game and the series as a whole really step it up. It dosne't help the main guests are the soda poppers who i've made my opinons of clear. Only specs dosen't make me want to kick his ass, to build a machine to kick his ass, to build an empire to house the machine to kick his ass!

10. What's New Beelzebub: Is solid. It's this low due to it's puzzles and the soda poppers reveal being VERY mid. I knew going in.. but that's the case with ALL the main villians and Hugh Blizz and The Narrator's reveals are way more effective: Bliss comes off as off from the start and the narrator is well set up whlie still being effective with an aamazing reveal. The Soda Poppers are just little weenies and them being revealed as the lords of the dammned isn't funny it's just.. what. You had Jurgen RIGHT THERE. The Soda Poppers really do ruin everything

11. Ice Station Santa: Starts well and has some great gags, torture me elmer is the best as is buster blaster

12. Chariots of the Dogs: Is fun, I just felt other chapters were better. But the payoff for the birthday and boscow do help this one up. The sexist humor not so much. Still has neat time travle 13. Reality 2.0: This one is only not bottom because it debuts the COPS. It gave us the COPS who rightly go on to play a bigger role in the next two games as the developers clearly loved them and so do I. It also has a fantastic finale, that graet mario joke and more I forgot, saving it from the bottom. But my god this one smells of "we ran out of time and needded a cheap chapter to make 6." I wouldn't be suprised if bduget is why the sequels are both 5 chapters instead as this one just.. asset flips to hell and isn't super fun about it. It TRIES but the digtial setting just feels lifeless. I think this one hasn't been helped by the sequels all having bigger more expansive sets, while this just feels half assed.

14. Moai Better Blues: has some frustrating puzzles like the cloud one, abe lincoln at his worst and that fucking surfboard minin game. Add in some mild racism and this one is just meh. The weakest chapter of them all. Some good jokes but that's standard for sam and max. What's not standard is that goodamn surfboard. There's a few good jokes but this feels like a mishmash of ideas rather than a more coherent chapter. Chariot Reused a lot but at least it was funny

[the-labyrinth-of-me]

I don't know if this has been discussed bc I'm kinda late to the party, but as I'm on my second playthrough now, this time with original English language, I just kinda got my theory confirmed when I played the Poet's Cinema section with Alan, and he meets the man in the suit who's tied to the chair, unmistakably Sam Lake (which I didn't realize on my first run as I didn't know how his voice sounds like back then).

Long story short: in order to get out of the dark place, Alan has to kill Sam Lake.

More under the cut - -

Alex Casey dies multiple times, in Alan's books, in Alan's drafts of Initiation, you name it. Aleksi Kesä dies in Yötön Yö, who's originally played by Max Payne/Alex Casey and in the end, again, Sam Lake. And the Alan Wake/Veikko Alen character "returns", which means that, in the end, Alan has to kill Sam Lake. Alan has to realize he's a fictional character, to break the loops and ascend upwards on the spiral. And that Sam made up that whole nightmare world. The dream logic - it's in Sam's mind. Everything. Alan dies at the end of each draft as a symbol of all drafts Sam canceled. All the years of writing Alan Wake 2, it's the creative process. To the writers out there - how many times have you deleted a word, a sentence, a paragraph, maybe a whole script? A whole document? Because you thought what you wrote wasn't good enough? Alan is the fictional manifestation of the creative process. But he can become real and escape that world. He just needs the Clicker. He ends up escaping the Dark Place, and finds himself in the Remedy Entertainment studios. He meets Sam. Maybe somehow even Ilkka. He has learned that Sam/Casey always dies and that he's the killer. He murders Sam, the Cult leader, the Grandmaster, Scratch, who has written Return, who's worshipped by the Cult of the Word, whose books they treat as their Bible, whose fictional murders they followed. (Edit: The creation killing its master, not the other way around. Which would be surreal in itself. But it's also kind of justified. Because, due to the great immersion, Alan kind of feels real. All the realistic sounds they recorded specifically for this game, the almost photorealism of his looks, a carbon copy of his physical actor Ilkka Villi, and you can even hear Alan breathe, pant, gasp. He's a well-rounded character, complex, flawed, human, he's married, he longs to be together with Alice again. He made many mistakes during his life, during Alan Wake 2, but he's not mean-spirited, he's a good guy underneath who happens to get in his own way and make things complicated for himself. But all of the above and the fact that he suffered for so long - he deserves to be free from the Dark Place, doesn't he? He's almost real, why not make him real?)

Alan meets Sam, who already knows about this since he wrote Alan Wake 3, of course (or didn't he? Did Alan manage to change the story and surprise Sam?) It gets very meta from here. Alan kills Sam, flicks the light switch and he's free. But it's still part of the story. Sam, of course, is still alive. And Alan dies when Sam decides to not continue Alan's story. Everyone dies then. Zane, Alice, Tim, Saga, the Old Gods of Asgard, each and every character. Doesn't Tim even say he has the feeling he's lost in a dream or abducted by aliens or something?

Maybe it's the weirdest shit you've read but for me it clicks into place. This whole dream logic thing and loops the main character goes through until the story is just right, until the author writes the final draft and the hero achieves his goal. The countless times the main character has to start over because the writer makes him do it. And it's not Alan who sits in the Writer's Room, in the end.

Yeah I might delete this later but I had to sort my thoughts. Had the "Alan kills Sam" theory for a while but needed that final cherry on top to settle it, and that scene with Sam, the deer mask on his face, being acknowledged as the Leader, that settled it for me. (note to self: always play remedy games in English original dub)

If you've reached the end, thanks for reading!

[brittanagirlcrush]

Something Different

Ok ... for some reason, sometimes the link works, sometimes it doesn't ... not sure if it's the link or FF.

You can find it on my ff page ... https://www.fanfiction.net/u/1642505/

A/N: I was listening to the radio and Dancing With a Stranger by Sam Smith & Normani came on followed by Don't Come Out by Dua Lipa.

Those two songs gave birth to this fic. I'm pretty sure it's going to be less than 5 chapters. However, those of you who've read The First Time Ever I Saw Her Face are well aware that I am not always in control of these things.

I'm not sure how I feel about this one but I think anything that comes after the epic that was TFTEISHF is going to feel a little anti-climactic(?) maybe? I don't think it's a bad fic. But I'll leave that up to you to decide.

For those of you who are wondering … Dreams Come True is on Chapter 23 but this little fic wouldn't leave me alone so you get this first.

Xoxoxoxo

Santana's latest relationship ends on a sour note. Just like her last three. Maybe it's time for something different. Rated M for language.

Xoxoxoxo

Chapter 1

xoxoxoxo

Santana Lopez growled as she read the text message from Max.

From Max:

3-10-17 4:26pm

Hey babe. Sorry, gotta cancel tonight. Big meeting. Gonna run late. Talk to you tomorrow.

She was done; Max had canceled on her three times this month and each excuse was as lame as the last. Big meeting? Bitch worked in the freaking secretarial pool at an ad agency. Santana scoffed and shot off her own text message.

To Max:

3-10-17 4:37pm

Enjoy your meeting. We're done here. Don't call tomorrow. You can stop by Sunday and pick up your shit – I'll leave it in a box by the door. Don't bother knocking. Don't wanna talk to you anymore.

She shut off her phone and tucked it into her bag. There was no way she was sitting home alone on yet another Friday night. Fuck that shit.

Santana Lopez was going out.

Xoxoxoxo

Santana walked into Club Xero at 10:35pm. Her phone, still off, was tucked into her cross-body bag. Heads turned as she walked in; she looked good and she knew it. Blood red dress, hugging every curve. Check. Three inch black heels. Check. Smoky eye makeup. Check. Blood red lipstick. Check. Hair lightly curled and flowing past her shoulders. Check.

She walked to the bar, ordered a shot of Jack Daniel's, took it, then ordered a rum a coke. She sipped at the drink, casually scanning the club. Her eyes fell on a brunette; a familiar brunette.

“Fucking bitch,” she muttered, shaking her head. If she had loved Maxine, been in love with her, she'd unleash her inner Snixx and cause a scene. As it was, she didn't care enough. The relationship – if you could even call it that – had run its course and she was over it the minute she sent the text that afternoon.

She resumed her scanning and her perusal came to a screeching halt on a tall, blonde woman dancing by herself in the middle of a crowd. The woman was stunning; Santana's breath hitched. She glanced at her half empty drink, shrugged, and handed it to the bartender, telling him she was done with it. She had to go meet the blonde.

She shimmied and sashayed her way through the throng of people until she was just on the inside perimeter of the circle that had formed around the sensual blonde. She'd only been there a moment when the blonde halted for a moment, her eyes restlessly searching the crowd for something; until they fell on Santana and a smile blossomed on perfectly pink lips. The dancer maneuvered her way over to Santana and held out her hand. Santana was immediately lost in ocean blue eyes.

She didn't hesitate. She took the hand and was pulled into the dancer's orbit. It took less than eight beats for them to be in sync; moving to the music and with each other seamlessly.

Time ceased to have any meaning as they danced; front to back, back to back, front to front. Shimmying, grinding, swaying. Never losing contact with one another. They were panting heavily and Santana motioned toward the bar, a question in her eyes. The blonde nodded and Santana led her through the crowd and to the bar.

“What are you drinking?” Santana asked.

“Orange juice, Peach Schnapps, and a shot of vodka.” Santana nodded and conveyed their order to the bartender.

She handed her companion her drink and took a sip of her own. She was just about to ask the blonde's name when her bicep was roughly grabbed and she was brought face to face with an angry brunette.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” Dark eyes flashed with anger.

Santana looked coolly at the bitch in front of her and wrenched her arm away from the other woman's grip. “I suppose I could ask you the same question but I don't care enough. If you'd read your text messages, you'd know that my whereabouts are none of your business anymore. How'd that meeting go, anyway?” Santana sneered and turned back to the blonde.

Maxine tried to get in between the blonde and Santana, causing Santana to snap. “Walk away, bitch. We're done. Go find whoever you came with and bother them. My new friend and I are enjoying a short break before we go back to dancing.” She angled her body so Max was blocked out.

“This isn't over, Santana, we'll talk about it later.” Max snarled and stormed off, leaving Santana shaking her head.

“I'm so sorry about that.” Santana told the blonde sincerely.

The blonde smiled and shook her head. “You wanna get out of here?” She asked Santana.

Santana nodded and the blonde took her hand and led her out of the club. Once outside, Santana started to hail a cab … then stopped herself. She looked at her new companion and sighed.

“I know this probably isn't what you had in mind when you asked to leave … but … do you think we could maybe go somewhere and, um, talk?” Santana shuffled uncomfortably; this was new territory.

The blonde watched her curiously before nodding and taking Santana by the hand. “I know this great all night diner about five blocks from here,” she told Santana as they started walking.

The walk was silent; not uncomfortable or awkward, just quiet.

When they reached the diner a tall, heavy-set man with thick salt and pepper black hair, mustache, and beard greeted them.

“Two?” He asked and, receiving an affirmative reply, led them to a booth near the back. “Sarah will be right with you. Can I get you something to drink?”

They both asked for water and coffee; the man handed them menus and went to get their drinks. After the drinks had been settled and their orders made, Santana turned to the woman.

“I know this is probably a little forward but … what's your name?” Santana grinned.

The blonde giggled. “Brittany S. Pierce.”

Santana frowned. “Britney Spears?”

The blonde laughed. “Britt-any. Susan. Pierce.” She said slowly, enunciating her name clearly.

“Oh. Gotcha. I'm …”

“Santana. I heard that woman call your name.” Brittany smiled.

“Yeah. Lopez. Santana Lopez.” Santana grimaced.

“You don't like your name?” Brittany brow furrowed in confusion.

“I don't like the woman,” she answered. “Full disclosure … I called it quits about nine hours ago.”

Brittany nodded. “I see. But you're still living together? Because we could have gone to my place …”

Santana sighed and shook her head. “No. I live alone.” She paused in thought for a moment. “There's this quote – it's attributed to Einstein but I'm not sure he actually said it – The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”

“See … I do the same thing; I meet a woman, we have an attraction, an energy exchange … whatever.” She waved it off. “We end up at her place or mine and we have sex. If the sex isn't good, we say 'thanks, see ya around'. If the sex is good, we make plans to see each other again. Then … two, three, six months later and I'm either getting cheated on or getting dumped. Repeat.”

She shook her head. “This may sound stupid but … you feel different … and I want something different. So, I thought, maybe … if you were amenable … we could try something different. Maybe get to know each other before we get naked?”

A grin broke across Brittany's face. “I, um, kind of really like that idea.”

“Really?”

Their food came and they started to eat.

A few moments passed and Brittany nodded. “Yeah,” she said, around a mouthful of eggs, “really.”

Santana grinned. “Awesome. That's … great.”

Brittany giggled. “So, Santana, what is it you do for a living?”

“I work for a small, independent music producer. I write songs, work in the editing room, sing back-up; kind of a gal Friday.”

Brittany's brow furrowed. “What are you the rest of the week?” She asked, a blank look on her face.

Santana was just about to explain when she noted the gleam in Brittany's eye. She laughed.

“And, what is it you do, Miss Britney Spears?” Santana asked, a twinkle in her eye.

Brittany laughed. “I'm a choreographer. I own a studio that trains dancers for music videos, Broadway, background … you name it, we do it.”

“Really? What's the studio?”

“C&P's Spotlight Stars,” Brittany answered.

“I've heard of you guys. We've used your company. Your dancers are really well trained.” Santana nodded.

“Oh, cool. What studio?”

“K-Bar and Chaz.”

“I love you guys!” Brittany's face lit up in recognition. “You pay on time, treat the dancers really well, don't over-work them to the point that they get hurt. You're awesome.”

Santana laughed. “Good. I'd hate to think that could end up being a deal breaker for us.”

Brittany laughed and they continued talking into the wee small hours.

“Hey, Santana …” they'd been talking about just about everything when Brittany hesitated.

“Yeah? What's up?”

“Um … I really like you. I, uh, I don't wanna be a rebound, you know?”

Santana smiled. “I didn't care about Maxine enough to rebound, Britt,” the nickname slipped free without conscious thought. “I liked her in the beginning, thought maybe it could become more … but,” she shrugged, “it never did. Then she started canceling plans at the last minute, making excuses … and I just gave up trying. There was no point since she, obviously, didn't care and I wasn't really invested anyway, you know?”

Brittany nodded and gnawed on her lower lip. “Are you … are you gay?”

Santana frowned. “That's an odd question … I was dating Max and I'm interested in you. I'm not sure I understand.”

Brittany huffed a sigh. “Okay, so, here's the thing. I know a lot … like a lot, a lot … of lesbians won't date bisexual women. And, um, I kind of identify as bisexual.”

Santana thought about that for a moment. She sighed softly and played with the food left on her plate, not meeting Brittany's eyes. “I have to admit to a certain bias against bisexual women,” her voice was quiet, “my first girlfriend … um, she said she was bisexual but I really liked her and I was naive enough to believe her when she said she liked me. We were together – in secret – for about three months before we had sex.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “It was my first time.”

She swallowed hard and shook her head. “I showed up at school the day after we made love for the first time – I say made love because that's what it was for me – and found a picture of me and her in bed together taped to my locker. Except … while you could definitely see it was me, you couldn't tell it was her. Only that it was a woman.

“I tore it down and went looking for her; she's the only one who could have done it.” She lifted her eyes and met Brittany's sympathetic gaze. “I found her … with her boyfriend. They laughed at me for being so stupid; they'd planned it from the beginning.”

“Oh, San …”

She shook her head. “That wasn't even the worst of it.” Santana angrily swiped at a traitorous tear making its way down her face. “She'd posted a video of it on the internet and made sure everyone got the link.”

Brittany closed her eyes and shook her head, a tear sliding down her cheek.

“My parents found out and kicked me out. My abuela disowned me. The only person in my family who stood by me was an aunt. It was hell. Everyone knew and I was harassed almost everywhere I went.

“She took me in, let me finish high school in Lima, then helped me move here for college and a fresh start.”

“I'm so sorry.” Brittany reached across the table and took Santana's hand gently in her own. “San,” Brittany waited until Santana's eyes met hers, “I will never hurt you like that. It sucks that she did that and I can understand you being a little wary but … bisexual doesn't mean unfaithful. She was a cheating bitch. My last relationship ended a little over a month ago because she cheated on me. The one before that … he figured out he was gay. My track record hasn't been the best but … I am not a cheater. I hope you'll give us a chance because, honestly? I like you. You feel different, too, and I'd like to see where this goes.”

Santana searched Brittany's face for any sign of deception or insincerity but couldn't find any. She nodded after a long moment. “Okay.”

“Okay?” Brittany raised her eyebrows.

“Yeah. Let's see where this goes. I really like you, too.”

Brittany grinned. “Good. Then, maybe I can get your phone number?”

Santana laughed and handed Brittany her phone so they could exchange numbers.

“Okay, so, I'm busy with friends tomorrow,” Santana checked the time and groaned, “today. But, how'd you like to have brunch on Sunday and then maybe come over and hang out at my place – maybe watch a movie or, I dunno,” she shrugged, “play a board game? Order take out for dinner?”

“That actually sounds great. I have to work tomorrow anyway. But … text me?” Brittany smiled shyly.

“Absolutely. Come on, my friends are going to be breaking down my door in about six hours. Where do you live?”

“Grayson near Two-Lane Terrace.”

“You're kidding?” Santana gaped at her new friend.

Brittany shook her head. “No. Why?”

“I live on Two-Lane near Fremont. We're practically neighbors.”

Brittany laughed. “Share a cab home?”

Santana stood up, left some money on the table, and offered Brittany her hand. They walked out, hand-in-hand and hailed a cab.

Santana got in and Brittany slid in next to her, laying her head on Santana's shoulder, never letting go of her hand.

Santana smiled to herself.

She had a good feeling about this one.

[shallowseeker]

Don't Go Into the Woods-watching:

Post-Peace of Mind is SO funny. We saw that Dean and Cas have been desperately tag-teaming, trying to support Jack and Sam for WEEKS.

(Dean, who probably needs rest from the whole Michael ordeal and Cas, who's got the looming Empty deal over his head. Both of them are worried about Sam, but especially about Jack. Sam remains oblivious, which we'll see beautifully on display here.)

We find Sam sitting in the kitchen in the dark...by himself:

Dean, who has apparently been up for AWHILE already, comes in to get some coffee. He throws some easy banter at Sam, and then checks on Sam, who makes this face at him when he asks if he's up for working:

<8]

Important note: It doesn't really occur to Sam to check on Dean here. Or Cas. Or Jack. Because Sam is ready to go, he assumes Dean and Cas and Jack are ready to go.

Sam is so stupidly puppy-dog happy, that's he's like YAY I'LL GRAB CAS. And Sam may be oblivious, Cas is stressed to the fuckin' max, actually.

We'll learn soon that Cas is stressed because he witnessed Jack's amorality re: the snake, and he's gone off to look for a hail-Mary to save Jack on his own.

Even though Cas's not said anything directly about the death of the snake, Dean senses that Cas is unsettled, which makes him unsettled, too, heightening his fears about Jack.

Sam-> ???? WHY???

*Hilariously, he's staring at Dean like HEY IS IT YOUR FAULT DEAN DID YOU FIGHT OR SOMETHING???*

This also gives big 12x19 vibes with Sam's whole: HEY WHAT IS WRONG WITH CaS I dOn'T UnDerStand????

Aside// Yay, another point in the Cas-is-a-known-stir-crazy category, because Sam and Dean both (mostly) accept his explanation.

Dean looks away from Sam for a second because yeah, he's bothered by Cas leaving, and he doesn't want Sam to know that. (Cas is the one who's co-supporting Sam and Jack right now; the one Dean has been leaning on.)

The funny thing is, even though he's not bothered in the same way, Sam's actually bothered, too. Cas is, after all, the one who was mentoring Sam most successfully about losing his army.

Dean sees Sam's reaction and moves to making an explanation for Cas's departure, taking up for Cas, "We all need to stretch our legs." And Sam drops it.

Sam-> ....ok fine. THEN JACK! :DDDDDDD

SAM-> Yeah this will be FuUuN! Work fixes everything and everyone:

{=D

DEAN: Uh...

I am trying to support you bro, but no.

SAM -> >=(

It does not occur to him that Jack might need time to adjust, too. Nupe.

DEAN: And I'm sure he's good, but Jack's got his mojo back. His powers have gotten us in trouble in the past-- the security guard. So I just want to make sure that, you know, he's right before we put him back out there,

And here we have the Dean-and-Cas anxiety on full display.

Something Sam isn't EVEN picking up on.

Not Cas's nervousness. And certainly not Dean's.

[ourstoriedinsight]

Audio Drama Sunday IV

Alright! Back again! Skipped last week as I went on a binge of Non-fiction history podcasts as is my occasional habit. This week however I resumed my audio fiction engagements with a fervor.

Edge of my seat week to week listens wise this was another win for @innbetween where I have to be a bit sneaky about spoilers since most y'all won't have access yet. This one gave me some chills as Max's character brought to mind some bosses I worked for in the past whom I am glad I am not working for now. Whereas previous adventuring parties were faster to making solid friendships of fate and circumstance this bunch remains first and foremost co-worker relationships which has opened the door wonderfully to working with themes of different types of ableism. I come from a decently cut throat industry myself and that whole "What good are you if you can't..." is a huge thing we need to talk more about as a society. Having party members we feel a little more gray about is a neat shift of dynamic too which I wholeheartedly approve of which has left me hoping either the arc carries everyone to a better wiser place ... or delivers some much needed kicks to the gems for bad behavior by way of catharsis.

My binge listen continues to be Spirit Box Radio where I have hit season 3 at last! The Host/ Creator/ Voice Actor of the show seems to be going through a testosterone based transition which I got to admit I am enjoying vicariously more than I probably should. My circumstances have taken a T transition off the table for me personally so when I encounter someone going through one I get fairly excited myself noting the changes. How deep Sam's voice will be by the end of the series is like an added bit of delightful mystery. On it's more narrative based merits however Spirit Box Radio continues to delight. There's an evolving ruminative quality to the story with leaps and bounds of development just when the slow drip of progress in the mystery starts to stretch the tension to the breaking point. Big changes in the status quo that then must be weighed and understood and considered starting the cycle anew. Pacing wise it's the cautious and moderate person's approach to danger which feels fairly true to life. It's something that works best in podcast format which makes it feel more fresh than the more common arc of act/react. Things must be digested in their own time and lately particularly I have been finding that slower pace is a welcome change from instant gratification.

Editing log of the week is fairy empty as I have finished the second draft of the season Finale and am taking a breather before doing the finalizing process. After this I get a nice two month vacay from all things audio to sharpen up my resolve for the next season and start making our backlog for the airing of season 2. I'm so close to relaxing I can feel it!

[thepeacockshallstrut]

Henry's Video Game Collection Wishlist

I like collecting trinkets and am always looking to collect additional trinkets. I thought it would be nice to write down what all I'm looking to obtain someday.

NOW DETAILED WITHIN: MOTHER 3, Octopath Traveler/II, Persona 3 Portable (the new releases), Pokémon Legends Arceus, Sam & Max Remastered

A WIP for now... ever growing, ever changing. Prices subject to an infinite increase until the eventual heat death of the universe. Let's dig in!

MOTHER 3 Deluxe Box

MSRP: 18,000 yen, or approx. $120

Market price: Enough to be somebody's rent payment

Image provided by STARMEN.NET.

I mean, what a beaut, right? Just look at her. I've longed for this extremely small Game Boy Advance with a minor difference in faceplate since I was a wee babe. (Or a sixth grader, I think.) Anyway, I remember the price on eBay being around $600 back then, and the price has gone up surprisingly not that much given inflation.

Speaking of, here's an interesting note about this item's retail price: the page on STARMEN.NET documenting this box around release put the cost of the item at "around $155." As suggested above, the value of yen in comparison to the value of the dollar has significantly depreciated in the past two decades. Also, accounting for inflation, 18k JPY in 2006 is about 20.2k JPY today... still closer to around $135 USD. Meanwhile $120 in 2006 money has the same buying power as $185 today, while $155 would be worth around $240 today. Depressing, right?

Looking around on Japanese listings, the price is about equivalent to US eBay listings... a small mercy if you ask me. I'm not sure how consoles like these ship overseas anyway, given the battery. Oh well.

Octopath Traveler - Wayfarer's Edition

MSRP: $90

Market price: $180ish with the game, $120ish without--though prices fluctuate pretty heavily

Come on, man. Comes in a little pop-up book. Ridiculous.

The box comes encased in one of those plasticky outer shells that scratch horribly, but it usually means that the box itself is in very good condition when sold secondhand. It's also not super clear in the promotional image, but the map of Orsterra is made of cloth.

Definitely lots of pointless trinkets here. Trinkets that I would just love to display. Hoo-ah!

Octopath Traveler II Steelbook (Switch ver.)

MSRP: That's a good question. I'm under the impression that you could get the Steelbook edition for an additional $10 when purchasing the game from select retailers.

Market price: $25 (game not included)

Prices for the game with the steelbook are ridiculous enough that I would advise just buying a secondhand copy of the game separately. I got my copy from a local game store for $35 and I've seen it for even cheaper online.

For those of you who prefer the Playstation versions, the PS4/PS5 steelbook appears more expensive on resale, but the games themselves are generally cheaper. Your mileage may vary.

In any case, it does pain me to forsake the Collector's Edition of this game, but the price just isn't worth it to me. $200 MSRP is already pretty steep. I would assume the included artbook does not showcase any work that isn't already present in the sold-seperately Octopath II artbook (well, actually, it sounds more like a Champions of the Continent artbook that happens to also have OT2 art in it, but that's besides the point), and the bust standees, while beautifully sculpted, are not my typical style of figure collecting... and they're not even actually metal! The box is indeed very pretty but I have to draw the line somewhere, and that line appears to stand around $300 cardboard. (The US release doesn't even get that damn tote bag...)

In any case, I love steelbooks. They're just too handsome. I've yet to find a fanmade OT1 one that I like, but maybe when that time comes it too will join my oddly-shaped collection.

Persona 3 Portable - Grimoire Edition

MSRP: $70

Market price: Something stupid, probably

I had actually intended on preordering one of these special editions back when they were announced... I just sort of forgot. Oops! Now I am subject to the whims of Limited Run aftermarket prices. Anything for such a pretty steelbook I guess.

I have mixed feelings about the full collector's edition for this game, AKA the "S.E.E.S. Edition." I think the thing I like most about it is the box it all comes in, which is generally a bad sign. I was very excited about the Evoker proplica until I realized it's only half of the gun trapped in the box forever... maybe I should just go hunt down that water gun. Regardless I'm not too torn up about passing that one up. (Well... except for the stupid briefcase box. I don't think it's a top-opener like the Scott Pilgrim CE was though. Which is just a shame!)

I guess I might also go for the "Grimoire Edition" of P4G if my pockets are feeling too heavy, but I'm not as jazzed about that game or its steelbook design. Also, I already ordered the collector's edition of Persona 3 Reload... it's too much, Atlus... it's just too much.

Pokémon Legends Arceus - Steelbook (UK Preorder Bonus)

MSRP: I think some shops charged an extra 5 quid for the steelbook

Market price: $25

PLA got some lovely preorder bonuses across the pond. Alongside this steelbook, depending on your retailer of choice, you could also get a Hisuian Pokéball replica or an Arceus statue (reminiscent of the HGSS preorder bonuses of old). Of course, you could also get the Arceus sitting cutie from the UK Pokemon Center, just like the US one... without the steelbook though? Alright. I do wonder if the UK release had the same supply chain issues for the Arceus plush as the US did. Anyway...

Lamentations about regional differences aside, I adore this steelbook! A lot of love in this artwork. The other Pokémon steelbooks, while cool, are mostly just cover legendaries but metal, or maybe gold... (and, frankly, some very ugly patterns on the inside of the box! Shameful!) It's OK though. PLA has had mercy on my soul.

I also think it would be super cool to get my hands on one of the SuMo/USUM steelbooks someday, if only for the novelty of having a steelbook for a 3DS game. Those resale prices though! Whew! Maybe someday...

Sam & Max Remastered

MSRP: $35 (standard), $75-80 (collector's), $5 (slipcover)

Market price: $50 (standard), $150 (collector's), $15 (slipcover)

These collector's editions are extremely cool historical pieces. Recreations of decades-old merch, wow! It's a shame I've never been able to get these retail price because Limited Run aftermarket is ridiculous. Still, I'd like to get my mitts on these someday.

My goal is to own all three collector's editions and display the three games in the slipcover. (Devil's Playhouse remaster coming soon! Any day now...)

Having the Hit the Road collector's edition would be cool but I'm not as set on it. If I had my way, I would start collecting the different physical releases of HtR/the original Telltale titles too! Restraint, restraint...

That's everything I can think of for now. I'll add more as it crosses my brainstream ^^

[the-anime-man]

What if Sig got to the Tome of Sealing first? AKA Tomo AU

hi again tumblr, please dont expect a whole lot from this blog, once again, but, i wanted to post like a little basic thing about this au i've had since 2021 now that i'm back into puyo again,

this is an au that Heavily relies on bits of fanon and headcanon to make it work cuz canon is puyo puyo is very fucking wishy washy but essentially, what if sig had checked out the tome of sealing from the library before klug was able to? (sorry if this is a bit scatterbrained, im not good at organizing my thoughts much,,)

(also please dont mind some of the art, im like an ok artist at best and some of this shit is from 2 years ago as well)

so like, as the absolute fucking nerd i am, i made like an initial google doc on this thing outlining most of the shit im about to summarize here (that i might link if someone asks at some point i guess idk) as well as a fanfic, didnt finish that though, i got like through barely a chapter before i stopped and then i got into sam and max but that's unrelated to now

ANYWAYS, the au is as it sounds, sig goes to precise museum and, guided by the voice of the crimson soul, finds the tome of sealing and checks it out (much to akuma's chargin,,) and then he checks out the book again,,, and again,,,, and a gain,,,, (you see where this is going)

but uh, why is it called tomo au? see im being a little shitter here and i thought maybe the crimson soul's memory would be a little shot after spending ages in a book so they might not remember their name and sig is like "you're my friend now so i'm gonna call you friend/tomodachi" but then he's like "that's too long i'm gonna call you tomo instead" so they just go along with it, for future reference, anytime i mention the crimson soul i'm gonna be calling it Tomo

wow that's really fucking big sorry,

sig has an immense attachment to tomo from the get go btw, he's like, i wanna say like 8 or so when he first gets to the book, so besides the obvious literal halvsies soul connection there's that childhood connection as well,

side note: they can speak to each other cuz of that soul connection btw, it's my personal headcanon that after slug (canon strange klug/the crimson soul) can speak to anybody who they've possessed before as well as their other half, so in canon klug and sig can hear the book talk but in this au only sig can hear them

also, the reason why tomo doesn't attempt to take over sig right from the outset is A) they dunno where the unsealing objects are and B) sig is a child and uh, another part that i'm still trying to work the kinks through of is whether tomo decides to hold off on doing the fusion dance of their own volition or if because the cyan soul (which can speak to tomo, but only when sig is asleep cuz when sig is awake the cyan soul IS sig, nother headcanon sorry) decides it's too soon, they probably have memories of previous incarnations stored in there and know that eventually sig will start showing more demonic traits but not when he's baby

wow this is getting to be a lot but we're not even done cuz now i gotta talk about what this means about shit like fever 2 and such (y'know canon things and all)

boy tumblr just hates making images smaller nowadays huh,

so when sig starts showing signs of his heritage (i.e., a bit before fever 2 happens) tomo and sig start to hatch a plan to get tomo a body back! of course, tomo is omitting some things about how they're actually going to go into sig's body cuz at this point they've been together for a few years now and sig trusts tomo as like, a best friend i guess? something like that,

so sig is under the impression tomo is gonna be released and get their old body back and tomo is under the impression that as soon as the seal releases they'll enter sig's body, join back up with the cyan soul, and return to their original form,

so sig transfers over to amitie and klug's class, (tomo) overhears that lemres is coming into town with the items they need, and they steal the shit and head to the ruins to perform the unsealing

SPOILERS! shit goes wrong

ignore how shitty the ms paint art from a couple of years ago is, might change the hair to be more red in future art

for reasons (that i also need to workshop because to be honest originally it was a "whoever unseals it gets their soul swapped with whoever is trapped in the book" but like??? idk if that's how it should work when it comes to these two specifically), sig and tomo swap places instead of a fusion happening,

sucks balls for both of them cuz this is like the Last thing either of them wanted out of this tbh, sig obviously because well, trust got broken and ended up trapped til the artifacts are stolen (klug either swaps roles with amitie or sig, haven't figured that one out yet either) and tomo most certainly doesn't want sig trapped, as they wouldn't want anyone to experience the loneliness of being sealed away like they were (except klug, fuck klug specifically) (also the chronicles drama cd mentions that part of tomo's character in it so it works for my purposes)

this image wasn't necessarily specific to tomo au but i thought it would fit anyways, sorry it's a bit blurry my phone wouldnt focus on the damn thing properly

and after fever 2,,, i kind of dont have as clear of a story? or a plan? there's some tension between sig and tomo for at least a little while but sig eventually forgives them, as well i don't know how i would tackle something like sig's secret if at all?? but yeah that's the main shit to this au, sorry it's all so very long! this has been on my mind for a few weeks now and it was on my mind for months back in 2021, so i just have a lot i'm throwing out here into the wind, if you got this far: thanks so much for reading!

here's some bonus shit for getting to the end of the main shit:

tomo calls sig "little blue" sometimes, since he's yknow, younger than them and blue but calls the cyan soul their "other half"

if you couldn't tell from the first image, since sig has his bookbag, he carries tomo around in that, but if he's stopped somewhere he'll leave the book open next to him so tomo can see around (hard to see with the covers in the way)

sig was already probably ostricized for yknow, his autistic tendencies, the book did not help with that, but it gave him a trusted confidant :)

sig actually starts developing his demonic traits earlier than in canon due to his proximity to tomo, but not by much

klug has stolen the book before, both demon halves were not pleased with this and klug has not attempted to steal the book again

sig can supplement his own magic power with tomo's for an incredibly large boost, and tomo doesn't mind doing so, this gives sig almost the exact same amount of power as the full demon used to have and also changes his right eye to red

OH, both relevant to this au and my own interpretation: the full demon's name was wisteria, but neither sig nor tomo remember it until either are reminded of that

ok that's it go home now bye bye

[crimsonblackrose]

.

Poor Miggy looking for Sam.

And of course they're fighting. Sam, just listen to Tory would you. (I know she's having a rough time.)

Both Miguel and Robby need like body armor for the Tory Sam fights.

I also think it's funny that they keep doing this and it literally never works.

Sam yelling that Tory's been working with Kreese. Like a lot of conversation was listened to before Sam went on offense.

Oh hey at least both girls left without any damage, and neither Robby or Miggy got hurt, so actually progress.

I also like the way they meet up after both girls leave and are like wait did you know about this? No, no idea.

UGH it's literally been maybe 4 weeks max since Carmen is considered pregnant, the baby would not be that big. It for sure wouldn't have features.

Johnny wouldn't know that, but Carmen for sure would.

Carmen's doctor is Dr. Howard.

Johnny remembers where they parked, "Punch twice, p2"

Carmen says "Lawrence-Diaz" and Johnny likes it and cue Silver.

Silver got in on 3, quite possibly another hint of him being sick/dying or something.

"To congratulate you. What you and your partner have accomplished is a joy few get to experience." Johnny: Who told you about the baby.

Silver says he's doing everything for their future and his own, and tells Johnny to savor every moment before it's gone.

Which sounds like a threat, but I mean if he's dying it could be like Tommy's note.

Daniel wants to go to the portugese place on Laurel.

Louie wants to plan it and use it as an away to apologize for blowing up his car.

Reggie can hook Louie up with a free limo.

Johnny says there has to be dancing because Carmen loves dancing.

Louie told them to dress nice and he'll pick them up at 8, they don't all live together bud.

Anoush has a date.

Demetri to Hawk: Never let me miss a house party again.

Bert says he's friends with Stingray and stingray wouldn't lie to him.

Robby walking into Cobra Kai to apologize, Robby is so freaking brave. "I let you down. I turned my back on you. I didn't understand at the time but I realize now I was wrong. I shouldn't have just left.

Like he knows Silver kicked his sensei's ass, beat the tar out of Daniel. He knows Kreese was in prison, that his guy beat Stingray into a coma and was like yeah, I'm going to waltz in and tell his students I'm sorry for leaving them behind here.

Robby is a badass.

There is pain in this dojo because it's built upon fear, because this man is not your sensei, he is your enemy.

Tory shouldn't have nodded, Kim saw it.

Reggie's ride or die.

And this is Reggie:

Chozen has to remove all his weapons, he keeps sai's in his jacket pockets. But he'll at least get to pick them up again when he leaves.

Johnny looks around to see what he should order, sees a white claw, tries it, spits it out, says "It tastes like watermelon took a piss." and then shrugs and takes another sip

The LaRussos order a ketel martini, straight up, Macallan 18 neat and Chozen says no drink. He wants to stay ready in case Silver attacks.

Chozen orders a long island iced tea

Louie omg

Louie shows up with a tray full of shots "Oh, i've got shots kids" and gives this look to Johnny

when he says this stuff is strong, almost like a kick to the face.

They all cheer in Okinawan Karii

Stingray is hosting dungeons and dojo's games where he's the DM

he's the worst dojo master. Apparently, all of the party or at least most of the party died.

Everyone is gluten intolerant so he's not sure whose at the door.

His whole D&D group leaves past Bert.

Miyagi-fangs, oh this is a trap, you admiral ackbar-ed me.

Carmen points out that if Chozen was using fake weights wasn't he scamming himself out of money and not the villagers?

I like Daniel using Chozen's words against him. "No, I will get" in a very jokingly angry voice. Mimicking Chozen.

Amanda: That dance floor is calling my name. Carmen: Mine too. Amanda: Come and get it girl.

Carmen asks if Johnny is coming to dance with her but he looks at Chozen drinking his long island alone and tells her he'll catch the next one.

Dude truly knows what it's like to be alone, and probably to be an extra wheel with couples and doesn't want Chozen left fully alone.

Chozen asks Johnny how he's doing. Johnny: Honestly? I'm not sure.

Johnny says his whole life has been haunted by one stupid kick.

dodge it, block it, his life would be fixed. The kick wasn't the problem he had to stop focusing on what was behind and start looking at what was right in front of him.

Chozen says We are same. Both make mistakes. Both feel guilt for pain we caused. Now you have, uh, friends. family, children. I always wanted same things.

Ugh the thing that Terry started with Daniel but now stone. Someone please save her.

"it's solid stone, I will break my hand" "it will heal in time for the tournament"- Kim

Tory tries to leave, "I'm going home." and three of Kim's hench- sensei's literally block her path.

"I broke up with him because of this dojo you bitch." literally breaks the stone behind Kim. You go girl, but also owie.

"That must've been a hard decision."

They literally all leave Tory there curled up on the mat bleeding.

in another universe this was Stingrays D&D group

If I tell you what really happened he'll find out. I can't. It's not that easy you guys.

And then he realizes he can just tell a story instead. "I've been working on this new D&D campaign" and Miguel is like okay we don't have time, but Eli gets what Stingray is up to.

Stingray is a dwarven monk

and he pretty much says he'd give up everything he got if he could, after all the silver haired king nearly killed the monk. And his voice trembles when he says it and Bert I think catches how bad it really was.

Stingray wanted to be a proud and nobel warrior like Sam and Hawk but he's neither proud nor noble and not a warrior either. He's just really scared. He apologizes.

Sam leaves upset that she didn't get the info she needed. She's frustrated because if she had know, then the dojo wouldn't have had to close, maybe her and Miguel wouldn't have broken up. Just a lot of painful what if's.

Miggy pointing out that Tory telling them what happened must've been so hard. Sam doesn't know what it's like to be a part of Cobra Kai, but Miggy does.

Chozen's a good dude man. | Ah, that's putting it mildly.

Johnny tells Daniel that Chozen likes Kumiko and before he can continue Carmen pops up, says "No more talk, you're mine" and drags him towards the dance floor. "Gotta go." is all Johnny says clapping Daniel's arm on his way.

"I'm pretty sure they don't keep giant slabs of ice on hand Chozen."

"What kind of bar is this?"

as children chozen and kumiko played together in the ruins of king shō hashi castle. Chozen would hide and Kumiko would always find him. After Chozen's disgrace, he tried to hide from everything and Kumiko found him again, her kindness brought him back. She doesn't know how he feels. How he treated her, what he did to her. Unforgivable

Louie sees anoush, see's he's with Vanessa, Anoush tries to calm him down, Louie punches him in the face, Vanessa slaps him. Louie: You can do better than him, you're embarrassing the family. Anoush ducks down and charges at Louie.

Louie: Get your boyfriend off of me. Vanessa: I'm trying.

Daniel: Classic Louie. Limo, drinks, and some trouble.

Chozen: I'm glad I came here, but I made one big mistake, I should've taken you with me. (panic) okay bye.

Carmen and Amanda are going to take an uber home. Chozen has already dived into the limo yelling party time.

As a sketchy uber driver Johnny tells them to make sure it's an uber black.

Sam seeing injured Tory and then saying if you're having trouble with cobra kai i'd be willing to listen, tory lets her in.

Sam finally sees everything pretty much everyone has been telling her.

Her mom is now in a hospital bed. Previously she was in a bed with some machines but it was still a bedroom, now it looks empty of everything but the hospital bed.

The interior layout is different from before. I think this is the same interior layout as Johnny and Miggy's place

Kim wants Devon Lee to be the new champion.

I remembered being so tense the first time I watched this. With Silver saying he was going to take care of it, our party splitting into three. Amanda and Carmen on their own, Anoush and Louie finding out Reggie's not driving, the guys plastered but singing eye of the tiger. (Maybe they should do a rock karaoke night)

Daniel and Johnny realizing they're not there yet.

Lol i forgot they end the episode on Johnny, Chozen and Daniel realizing they're trapped in the back of the limo and don't know whose driving, can't get out and it's just careening so they keep slamming from side to side.

[j2memories]

EW Article (April 13th 2022)

Jensen Ackles on directing Walker and finally getting to work with the band Kansas

Plus: Check out exclusive photos of Ackles and Jared Padalecki with the group.

By Samantha Highfill | April 13, 2022 at 10:38 AM EDT

The Supernatural family lives on... in more ways than one.

Not only did Jensen Ackles reunite with his onscreen brother of 15 years, Jared Padalecki, to direct this week's episode of Walker, but when he spoke to EW, he was in the middle of another big moment: seeing the pilot of The Winchesters get made.

"I'm sitting in a car on set watching takes from the front seat," Ackles says with a laugh. "We just did a huge stunt." (For a Supernatural show, that sounds about right.)

This week's Walker will also feature a number of Supernatural Easter eggs — most notably, a performance by the band Kansas, whose "Carry on Wayward Son" became the unofficial theme of the show over the course of its 15 seasons. As fans know, Kansas was originally supposed to perform in the Supernatural series finale before COVID restrictions forced a rewrite. Now, Padalecki and Ackles have finally been able to make that happen.

Read what Ackles had to say about it and check out exclusive photos below.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: You've directed on Supernatural, but what was it like for you to walk onto a new set and take on that role?

JENSEN ACKLES: Well, look, it was still a friendly set. [Laughs] Jared had laid the groundwork of like, "This is my brother. I'm here because of what he and I built together." He gave a great speech to the whole crew, saying, "We wouldn't be here without the work that this guy did with me." I was vouched for by the commander-in-chief, so although I was a guest in someone else's house, it was a house that felt very welcoming.

You've obviously seen Jared play a number of characters on Supernatural, but what was it like to see him in such a different setting, playing a character he's said is more of a Dean than a Sam?

Funny enough, I feel like Walker is probably more like Jared than Sam was, not necessarily in actual character development, but just in mannerisms and reactionary things, the nuances of what Jared's doing. I think this feels a little closer to him, which is great because who knows him better than him? It was fun to get back into the shorthand with him with performance notes, with technical notes. I can even use a reference to a movie and he knows that I'm actually giving him a note. There's nobody else I can do that with. He and I have that, and we'll always have that. That's not something that fades away.

How did the Kansas performance come about? Did they just call you up one day and say, "P.S. We have Kansas"?

Basically, yeah. They were like, "We're writing that script right now, but we just found out Kansas is actually going to be in Austin playing one night and it happens to be three days before you start working." So I was in prep and basically they broke the main unit early on the previous episode so that they could do a full company move over to the Moody Theater in downtown Austin and we could set up and shoot, essentially, a rock concert. So I shot that while in prep, and then a couple days later we started rolling on principal photography for me.

How did you prepare?

I basically went back and watched a bunch of rock concerts to see how they were directed and then got with my DP, Peter Kowalski, who, funny enough, was the A camera operator from Dawson's Creek. I was like, "PK?!" And he was like, "Jensen?!" [Laughs] I think the first time I ever stood on a surfboard was his in North Carolina. So that was a great reunion, and he and I worked really well together. We spent half a day in the Moody Theater shooting a rock concert with Kansas as our subject. And they were awesome. They were like, "How many times do you want us to do it?" We were like, "Three times max," and they said, "We can do it three, we can do it five, whatever you need." They were so accommodating and so cool, as I knew they would be.

Did it feel like a full-circle moment knowing you almost had them in the Supernatural finale?

Yeah, and they were also really excited that they were getting to scratch an itch that didn't get scratched. I didn't know this, but they were literally at the airport and some of them were getting on a plane to come to Vancouver when they got called and told, "Sorry, COVID, we're shutting down." So that's how close we were to having that experience with them. The fact that we got to do that in any capacity felt like we got to scratch an itch that needed to be scratched.

This episode has a couple of Supernatural Easter eggs. Were those written in the script or was that more of a collaborative effort?

A little of both, but here's why: Katherine Alyse, who wrote the episode, knows Supernatural very well and essentially wrote a lot of Easter eggs. I was either like, "Oh, I can absolutely do that" or, "I can level that up." We definitely tried to pepper in the Easter eggs when we could.

Walker airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on the CW.

Link to the Article

[cellard0ors]

They're a united front now, but it doesn't mean they always agree.

"How about Harriet?"

"Ew. No."

Travis frowns, even as he continues to rub Laura's sore feet. She's over thirty weeks in and enormous. She's been moody and unhappy, but Travis has been doing his best to keep her spirits up.

He owes it to her.

While his absence is far behind them, he has no problem groveling until the day he dies if he has to. Laura loves him. She forgave him. She's having their baby.

He can do no less.

Still, "What's wrong with Harriet?"

"I don't know - Harriet Hackett just sounds strange. I don't like it."

Travis slows his rubdown of her toes and looks over his shoulder at her, "So...they're going to have my last name?"

Laura looks a little startled, as if she just realized what she said. Travis swallows, "Because, I mean...we-we just started dating..."

"No, yeah. No, I know..." She looks unsure now and he turns to her fully, "I mean...I'm okay with them having my last name. But, it does have a bad history behind it. We can go with Kearney if you want."

Laura's lips twitch, "Well, I am the alpha in this relationship..."

"Ha, ha." He returns dryly and she gives an official chuckle, "Seriously though, I think it's okay for them to have your last name. We can start a new history for your family name. A happy one."

She notes a gleam in his eyes and he clears his throat before going back to her feet. Laura remembers thinking Travis was really cut off emotionally.

Turns out that's not true.

If anything, he's brimming with feelings, his current one a cross between happiness, pride, and tears. Such a secret softie.

"Alright then. How about Alexander? If it's a boy?"

"Again. Pass."

She can practically hear him roll his eyes, "You haven't liked any of the names I've suggested."

"That's not true. I liked Sam or Samantha. I used to have a friend with that name in elementary school. She was great."

'Okay, so...one?"

"Oh," Laura now rolls her eyes, "Like you've liked all of my suggestions."

"I haven't shot any of them down."

"What about Max?" She asks with a smirk. It was tossed out as a sick, dark joke she knows she shouldn't have made, but did anyway. The look he shoots her now just reconfirms that.

Regardless, she feels she's made her point, and just as she goes to settle back down she feels it. It's a full ache in her back, a tug at her belly and she frowns, confused.

But then it comes again, stronger, and she gasps, shooting upright. Travis looks at her in concern and Laura gasps, "I-? I think I'm having contractions."

His eyes go wide, "What? Now?"

"Mm hmm." She hums, a hand on her stomach and then there's another deep yank inside, like a menstrual cramp, but far worse, and she cries out. Travis looks horrified, "It can't be! It's too soon!"

"Well something is-nngah!" Is how it ends, because the next contraction is even worse than the last and she feels a cold sweat break out all over her body. Travis immediately gets to his feet, "Okay. Alright. Let's go."

He helps Laura up and does his level best to stay calm. Years as a police officer, even in a backwater like North Kill, must have helped, because Laura appreciates how he manages to get her from the house to the car to the hospital without freaking out once

However, once inside the hospital, as staff starts swarming around Laura, it's clear Travis is an emotional trainwreck.

He wasn't wrong.

It is early for Laura to give birth and she knows this even as nurses and her doctor talk her down, tell her everything is going to be alright. Yes, she's earlier than planned, but they're going to do their very best to take care of her and her baby.

The pain has ratcheted up to unbelievable levels and Laura is doing her best not to scream and failing miserably. She's calling out for Travis and someone keeps telling her why he wasn't allowed in but she could care less.

Her frantic shouts and panic must turn some sort of tide, because soon enough he is in the room with them and she's gripping one of his arms and crying, screaming, the pain immeasurable.

Laura lost an eye. She turned into a werewolf. This hurts far worse than those two combined. Her throat is raw from her cries and Travis is repeating her name gently and pressing his lips to one side of her head and holding her back just as tight as she is holding him.

The doctor tells her to bear down and push and she does - again and again and it feels like it's never going to end, this horrible misery and she's frantic about how the baby is doing and if they're okay even as she grunts and keeps doing as instructed.

Laura feels blind, deaf, and dumb in the throes of her agony but she thinks she hears something about the baby's head or their shoulders or how they're coming out, but it doesn't matter, because on the next struggling push she feels an unbelievable release.

All the stress and pain that had been beating down on her nonstop suddenly seems to rise as does a thin wail with it. Her baby's wail.

Travis is still holding her, but no longer is his face buried in her hair. Instead he looks at the tiny wriggling mass the doctor is holding and the nurses are all talking in awed hushes as both he and Laura hear, "It's alright. She's here, she's here."

"She-?" Travis repeats and the doctor lets out a windy laugh, as if he'd been holding his breath, "It's a girl "

Travis nearly collapses into Laura, Laura into him as they watch the doctor take special care of their itty bitty child.

There's a lot of talk about how, while she was born prematurely, the baby should be in fine health with the proper care. How while she's a week or two early that's better than some cases, she might just need more check ups than most newborns and so on.

Neither Travis or Laura really care or listen because all that matters is that their baby is alive. She's alive and she's with them and it feels like it takes forever (considering the baby has to spend some time in the neonatal intensive care unit), but eventually mother, father, and daughter are all together and alone in the hospital room.

Their newly born child is swaddled up against Laura's bare skin, their head resting on her breastbone and Laura's looking down at her with pure love.

Travis too, can't seem to take his eyes off his daughter and he has one hand resting on her back, his palm practically dwarfing her whole body.

Laura looks up at him and says, "Luna."

"Luna?"

She nods, "Like the moon."

"Yeah?"

Laura sighs, presses a very gentle kiss to her daughter's head, "It's how we met. Under the moonlight."

"Hmm. Not the best of meetings."

"True,"Laura sighs, "But one of the best things in my life came out of it."

Travis can't help but give an exhausted grin, "Her, I take it?"

"Yeah " Laura admits, "But you too."

Laura weakly reaches out for him with her free hand and he takes it, gives it a squeeze, even as he nods, "Okay. Luna."

He edges closer to the baby and whispers to her, "Luna Hackett."

Laura gives him a sleepy smile and he returns it. Luna, fast asleep but very happy, is unaware of her parents' smiles. She is also blissfully unaware of what an unexpected gift she is.

But she'll learn soon enough in time.

The end

[pagerunner-j]

Some TLOVM new-episode notes, under a cut 'cause there's some great stuff here and I, uh, went on for a bit:

Not gonna lie, I was halfway expecting the theme to The Neverending Story after that Falcor-looking fucker flew by.

Watching an animated version of something I watched happen in person in a live episode is a damn trip. I feel like I should be sitting in a movie theater on Pico all over again...

Grog all torn up over hurting Pike: *tinysob*

Put...the sword...down....Grog...

Okay, putting it down in a rock will do. More dramatic than a pocket dimension, anyway.

Percy, stop trying to sound like an expert and get on with flirting with grass.

Hey! Laura found her best friend from the next campaign! Convenient!

Honestly, I'm kinda liking how they're shifting things around with Grog. Having this fit in with his whole "where do you get your strength?" theme works.

Hi there, Billy! Nice to hear you here!

Arta -- ahem -- Garmelie drawing dicks? Fancy that.

Vax, you're cruising for a bruising here, and by that I mean my palm across your face. Chill.

Ashley and Sam going full country twang: bwahahaohdearhelpme.

(it works, though)

Pikey made the Scan-man bluuuuuush...

PokéTrinket!

...I think I read this in a fanfic once.

(istg it's fucking pollen they knew what they were doing)

Diplomacy in action! About time.

Well, the boys are talking again. That's good.

"We are all just prisoners of our own anxieties...." Keyleth wasn't wrong about that part, at least, before the rainbow vomiting started.

Sylens, stop being an arrogant jackass and start being useful--oh wait. Wrong narrative.

Ripley consorting with dragons: *chef's kiss*

Twin angst incoming!

--

Syngorn is indeed pretty AF.

You don't want to tango with pixies, indeed. You might, on the other hand, want to steal their furniture for your dollhouse. *side-eyes Percy*

(yes, that was an actual thing that actually canonically happened in the campaign)

(I will love it forever)

Heh, I've heard THOSE lines before. Wink wink nudge nudge. Little sudden in this context, but I certainly can't complain that they're here.

can't complain at all

nope not me

VELORAAAA

Velora's owlbeaaaaar

Velora so cute

Troy sure does do a good job at playing a pretentious ass.

(cough)

Wilhand!!

And there we go with the namedrop. This time it pretty much worked.

stop giving Vex's character moments to Vax challenge 2k23

We're about a handsbreadth here from Miracle Max and honestly I can't really be mad about that part.

"You'll need to amend one name, though."

Watching that happen in person was so fucking satisfying, I'm not going to lie.

All right, I have notes here and there about how they're adapting this, mostly just because it's having to happen too quickly for all of it to land (the eps are short, what are you gonna do), but I love this conversation between Percy and Vex. They finally got to work in Percy making things for her, too!

"I gotta stimulate myself? Okay..." "Back it up." Sporfle.

Nice frog-to-not-quite-a-frog transition there. (Ribbit.)

Saundor, you creepy fuck. HANDS OFF OUR GIRL.

"Sweet, broken Vex'ahlia." I love that line and hate it in equal measure, and I want her to shoot him in the fucking faaaaaaaaace.

Hey, THERE'S that line I wanted her to yell at her father! Slightly different context here, but hey, I'll take it.

"My heart is someone else's." <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

"How do you fight a tree?" With FIRE. Seriously, this was one of Keyleth's coolest moments and best strategic decisions in the campaign, and I love that they're going for it.

"Twig dick." I say again: sporfle.

Okay, they're making this fight look absolutely badass.

SHE'S USING

PERCY'S

ARROWHEAD

see, this is how you do it

Stubby

Garmelie Artie, you little fuck.

(The traveler, hmmmm?)

(And thank god that was Matt. I mean, who ELSE could you cast?)

KILL BOX INCOMING

--

So the herd is fucking terrifying. Appropriately. But dang, this got grim in a HURRY.

Mythcarver has been so much more useful in this show than in the campaign that it's kind of hilarious.

One thing I love about this episode: Grog has, legendarily, an intelligence of six, but it's easy for the animated version of him to slip into all-doofus-all-the-time mode in the way the campaign never did -- in part because Travis is clearly so damn smart and you have him out of character as part of the picture. So it's nice giving Grog more depth here to do its part in balancing things out.

Pikelan cuteness: <3

Grog backstory! Grog and the gnomes! <3

KAYLIE

I wouldn't flirt if I were you, Scanlan

I mean: I really, really wouldn't

for reasons

Grog saving Wilhand is everything I hoped for.

In a word: ouch.

Dark-haired Pike! <3

I want to hug them both, okay? They deserve hugs.

....Scanlan, please, hit the brakes before you hurt yourself.

Good to see some tabaxi out and about in the world! Now please save the wee one.

"I swear, I know that voice!" Iiiiindeed.

Kevdak, you're an asshole, and you'd be nothing without your magic toys, and you know it.

"Your armor's not exactly the quietest." Oh, Pikey. Never the stealthiest, are we.

Scanlan, I'm not gonna say this again. COOL YOUR JETS.

Nice magic tricks, though.

saaaave the kiiiitttyyyyyyy

you're not doing this on your own and we all know it so listen to Pike okay

...all right, save the KILL BOX INCOMING for next week, but we're well on our way!