#post two eps every weekend

[tiggyloo]

Gunna start posting to my stupid fucking lets play channel against beginning next weekend even if it FUCKING KILLS ME

[xstevex-world]

Steve Harrington’s favourite musician has been the same since he was 17.

He distinctly remembers hearing Chrissy Cunningham play in his car radio during his senior year, subsequently listening to nothing but her breakout EP for a week straight - and that was just the beginning.

He followed all of work for over the past 7 years: bought physical and digital copies of all her albums, watched every music video multiple times, read every interview, saved up enough while working weekend shifts at scoops to get tickets to her sold out shows in Indiana - he had so much merch that Jonathan Byers once joked that Steve could probably make a shrine to his idol.

He had even kept up during her hitatus, almost two full years of radio silence from the star, like she had disappeared off the face of the earth. It wasn’t the worst thing that had ever happened, but it didn’t help that it overlapped with him dropping out of business school to pursue a career in cosmetology and that final falling out he had with his father over his choice in education.

The day she came back felt like Christmas.

Her comeback announcement dropped on June 13th - and it wasn’t just a new post on social media or a candid shot online someone managed to snap.

It was a whole EP drop, 4 entire songs (and a music video) that he knew he was going to play on repeat after 716 days of radio silence.

That opened the floodgates for everything to start again: she went back on social media, thanked her fans for their wholehearted response to her new releases. She started doing interviews again: discussing her mental health and the impact of her mothers control in her life; her reunion with her best friend (and apparent ex) from high school; her label dropping her after it was found that her “momager” had embezzled a huge amount of money from said company, releasing her from her contract early and allowing her to find new partners, new producers, new projects.

She talks about how she’s never been happier, and Steve can’t help but beam at it. He can hear it in her music, how it’s going more against the grain of what’s popular, opting instead for etherial synths mixed with heavy guitars. She sings about heartbreak and moving on and being better than then the people who brought her down for long, now that she’s starting fresh.

Steve loves it, thinks some of the changes have something to with Eddie Munson’s name appearing in the credits of all her new material.

Truthfully, he got curious after someone on Twitter posted a screengrab of cameos made by Munson and his own bandmates in all of her new music videos. He thankful someone else made the connection, and although he’s not the biggest fan of Corroded Coffin’s music (apart from the collaboration EP they did with Chrissy: “CCxCC presents Satanic Slumber Party”, that was incredible), he would lying if he didn’t say he was totally enamoured by Eddie goddamn Munson.

Let alone the fact that he’s totally Steve’s type (big hair, bigger eyes, a complete dork with a heart of gold but who also looks like he would bite someone in both a feral dog and a “please take me to your bedroom right now” kind of way), the guy is a genius when it comes to music, spending interviews talking about the process of artistry and the importance of storytelling - even when they’re discussing songs about him, written by Chrissy about their break up, he’s still so passionate and witty, the two of them spending interviews bouncing off each other in a way that would rival his relationship Robin.

He’s fine, really, he knows logically this is just a celebrity crush that will pass if he stops thinking about it for long enough, but he’s certain that this could develop into one of those all encompassing obsessions if he doesn’t curb it now- and that’s exact what he does. He tries to put that energy into school, excelling more than he ever did in an academic setting. He meets up more often with Nancy, Jonathan, Argyle and Barb, inviting them over more often for dinner or drinks, sometimes even just because he wants to make a breakfast feast and need someone else to eat it.

It’s at times like this that he misses Robin, who only has about 6 weeks left of her internship in Paris - he hasn’t seen her in person since he went to visit her a few months ago during spring break. He wishes she was her to openly judge him over this, before rambling on about her own current hyperfixation or moaning about her lack of romantic adventures since she and Vickie broke up.

They still talk on the phone every afternoon (nighttime for her), ranting to each other about their perspective day and sharing any worthwhile gossip.

Tonight’s no different, he’s telling her about the current drama happening in his classes when Robin says:

“I met someone today.”

He’s ecstatic - in his opinion robin deserves the world and the fact she’s met someone on her own in a city where she has been finding it hard interacting with people outside of her placement is a miracle in itself.

She tells him more: how she met this girl that morning at café, acting as a knight in shining armour (Robin’s words, not Steve’s) when the girl got flustered trying to order her coffee in broken French; how she spent the day showing this girl around to her favourite shops and parks and museums; how they spent hours talking about everything and nothing; how Robin hasn’t felt this way about someone since Vickie.

“So then we had dinner at that Italian place, the one I took you to, and, Steve, oh my goddess, she has the cutest little laugh-“

“Did you get her name?”

“Oh, sorry” he can hear her move the phone from one ear to the other. “Yeah it’s Chrissy.”

Steve stops his pacing. That would be one hell of a coincidence, if it was Chrissy Cunningham. She is playing in Paris the following night, the penultimate stop of her current tour. (The very show that he had been tempted to go to, since he could stay with Robin. It absolutely wasn’t because Corroded Coffin was joining her for the European leg of the tour - acting as her band, as well as performing songs from their collaboration as the encore - something that did not happen at any of the American shows). It couldn’t be the same Chrissy that Robin had fallen head over heels for in the space of a few hours, right?

“Did you get any of her socials?” He asks, cautiously.

“Nope,” she answers, popping the p for emphasis. “I didn’t think to ask, because I’m an idiot and all that-“

“Robs,” he interrupts, trying to keep his voice steady. “You’re not an idiot.”

Her hears her laugh on the other end of the line, the same kind of self-deprecating giggle she uses when she’s nervous. He wishes he was there with her so she could see him roll his eyes at her, their main way of communicating their love.

“What did she look like?”

“Oh!” She exclaims as he hears her tumbling over something (knowing Robin, probably herself). “We took a picture together, hold on, I’ll send it over.”

His phone vibrates against his ear, so he brings it in front of him, putting Robin on speaker so he can see the photo.

And.

Holy fuck.

“Robin,” he says slowly, because he actually can’t believe it himself. “Do you know who that is?”

((Part 2))

[waayoutofline]

Murder On The Dance Floor (part 4)

(from the When the Cat and the Mouse Go For a Midnight Dance series) | Part 1 | Part 2| Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Marvel Masterlist

Pairing: Natasha Romanoff x F!Reader

Prompt: Vigilante!Reader x Agent!Natasha

Summary: Natasha isn’t having the best of luck in trying to bring one of the ex Hydras general down. You however may be able to assist her. Will you two be able to cooperate? Or is it your fate to always stand on opposite teams?

Warnings: Angst

WORD COUNT: 2560

A / N: I'm sorry for being so late with this update, uni is beating the shit out of me :´) I had a bit of difficulty in trying to piece the last parts of this sorry, as I didn't expect for it to be longer than three eps-- oops. However, we are near the end! I'll do my best to try to post the next part by next weekend :) Thanks for reading and have a nice day <3

***

It wasn't complicated with white, rich, narcissistic men. You could see it in the way their eyes draped over you—a glint of overconfidence merging with a sick sense of entitlement. It never failed to make your stomach churn in disgust.

You had once been under the control of disgustingly self-assured men like Ashford. Treated as a mere object designed for their sick interests. Still, overpowering them with their own foolishness came naturally, and a part of you found joy in trapping them.

It thrilled you, especially to see their terrified expressions morph into desperation just before their downfall.

But that familiar thrill didn’t come this time. Instead, a pressure on your chest weighed you down, an unfamiliar sensation that made your stomach twist uncomfortably. The exchange with Natasha had shaken you. It’s ridiculous, you thought. Since when did you feel bad for doing what you did best?

“I couldn’t help but notice your eyes back there,” you started, carefully positioning yourself in a way that exuded naivety. Your arms rested delicately in front of you, drawing his gaze to your exposed skin. You mentally huffed at his complete lack of subtlety in ogling you. “Is everything alright?”

Your voice was remarkably soft, contrasting with the heavy bass vibrating through the air. Each word was pronounced slowly, deliberately, with a hint of a slur as though you’d had one too many drinks.

“Oh, nothing bad, I assure you.” He replied, his grin oozing overbearing confidence. But that’s exactly how you preferred it—unsuspecting and malleable. “Quite the contrary.”

You giggled, brushing a strand of hair behind your ear. “I’m glad. I actually was…” You paused with overdone hesitance, fingers fiddling nervously with the edge of the tablecloth. “Never mind, I—”

“What is it, darling?” he interrupted, leaning forward as though entranced by your feigned shyness.

As if baffled by his encouragement, you stammered. “No, I… It wouldn’t be appropriate.”

His greyish eyebrows shot up, his body leaning closer, practically dangling on the hook you’d set for him. Got him. “Well, you’ve come so far. Might as well say it.”

“…Well, if you insist. I um fear I made a few mistakes when I felt your eyes on me. I just couldn’t help it! I’m such an admirer of yours.” you finally spat out, letting your expression shift into that of a star-struck teenager meeting their idol for the first time.

“An admirer, you say?” he teased further.

You resisted the urge to roll your eyes, instead nodding shyly and lowering your gaze in mock embarrassment.

“Yes, Mr. Ashford. Your reputation precedes you. I may or may not have gone to some of your… um…” You paused, letting the silence stretch just enough to make his eagerness blatantly obvious. You cut the distance slightly while looking around a bit. “Clubs. Just to see if I could catch a glimpse of you there.”

Your voice dropped lower as you spoke, but he still caught every word. You saw it in the way his grin widened, his ego practically swelling before your eyes. His expression darkened slightly when you mentioned his extracurricular activities.

“I appreciate a young woman like you taking an interest in my… enterprises,” he said, his tone thick with self-satisfaction. “But tell me, what do you expect to gain from this conversation, girl?”

He spat the last word as if asserting his dominance, but you didn’t flinch. Instead, you paused, biting your lip in what appeared to be reluctance. Letting him think he was in control of this interaction would ensure that you’d get exactly what you wanted.

“I don’t want to come off as too forward, but… I was wondering if maybe…” Your hand moved closer to his sleeve, your fingertips just barely grazing his wrist. Your fingers twitched, as if you were anxious to tug at his sleeve. “You could help me. You’re a man of experience. The guys my age just don’t… command attention the way you do. I could always learn from that. If you’d agree, you could give me my first—” You paused deliberately, smirking as you looked up at him through your lashes. “Lesson, after this?”

He chuckled, his grin widening, his eyes darkening with a twisted kind of amusement. “Ah, I do admire your boldness. But I hope you understand that if we were to have these… lessons, they’d require a certain level of discretion. And, well, closeness.”

He reached out, his hand catching your wrist. His grip was authoritative, disgustingly possessive, as though he already thought of you as his property.

“Let’s do this,” he said, his voice low. “How about you keep dancing with that little friend of yours for now, hmm? I’ll be attending the VIP party after this. Who knows…” He leaned closer, his grin widening. “Perhaps we’ll see each other there.”

You forced a bashful smile, nodding demurely as if flattered by his attention. Inside, you were seething, but you let none of it show.

“Oh, I’d love that,” you murmured, your tone soft and eager.

His grip on your wrist finally released, and you clenched your jaw to avoid pulling your hand away as if you had been burned. Smiling delicately on cue, you swiftly moved away, merging into the crowd. Your pulse quickened, but you tried to ignore the racing thoughts swirling in your head.

You would usually be more thrilled, knowing you had achieved your objective—a step closer to bringing down another disgusting individual for good. But the satisfaction was dampened by the heavy shadow of Natasha’s worried expression.

Funny. Usually, you would have felt euphoric at finally coaxing real emotion from her firm, steel demeanour. But this wasn’t as gratifying as you thought it would be.

Whatever this was—this ache enclosing your chest—it had to go away. You couldn’t afford to let it linger. After all, she depended on you.

The music resumed its usual rhythm, signalling that the final round was about to begin. Shaking off the nerves crawling over your skin like ants, you let out a sigh. But a presence behind you made it harder to settle yourself.

“Guess who just skyrocketed our chances to win.”  

Finally daring to turn around, you were met with her reluctant green eyes. She said nothing else, her silence cutting deeper than any snappy remark could. Flattening your smirk slightly, you accepted her offered hand and moved back into position.

The air swirled around you both, heavy with tension. Not your usual kind—the teasing dynamic you’d come to expect—but something sharper, almost suffocating. Trying to distract yourself from the unease, you focused on sneaking glances at Ashford over Natasha’s shoulder.

Even when he sent you a sly wink after speaking with Cole, the unrelenting heaviness didn’t lift. Natasha remained silent, offering no biting commentary or judgment. Her quietness made the unease sharper, more difficult to ignore.

But what her mouth didn’t say, her body did. Her movements were now sharp and constrained, a stark contrast to the almost goofy rhythm you’d shared earlier in the evening. Her expression was unreadable, her jaw set. Whatever flicker of worry or emotion she’d shown before had dissolved into a mask of cold professionalism.

“Natasha, I—” You started, the words clumsy and uncertain, unsure if you even should say something.

She cut you off before you could find your footing. “Let’s just get this over with,” she said finally, her voice not unkind but detached.

The words stung more than you wanted to admit. It's unfair, you thought. Ten minutes ago she was practically begging for you not to talk to him with utter worry in her eyes and now she was behaving as if none of that happen. If she didn’t want to care, then why dare to say nothing at all? Why mess with the dynamic you two had?

Fine. If she was playing this game, you decided, then you would too.

“The mission is the priority, right?”

You forced a smile, matching her tone.”Of course, Agent Romanoff.”

Her grip on your waist faltered slightly, her eyes lingering on yours for a brief second, but then she steadied herself, pulling you back into the flow of the dance.

After that, it didn’t take much. The last competitors, exhausted, crumbled under the pressure, their flashy styles dulled by fatigue. With Ashford’s support behind you, their disqualification came swiftly.

Honestly, you barely remember being called to the podium. The crowd clapped enthusiastically as Cole placed a tiara on your head and handed Natasha a large bouquet of flowers. A photographer called for a group photo, and you barely registered Ashford’s presence sneaking up beside you. The deliberate way he moved closer left no doubt about his intentions.

Your body tensed ever so slightly—a reaction you thought would go unnoticed. But this was Natasha, after all, and she wasn’t just anyone.

With a long stride, Natasha placed herself squarely between you and Ashford, leaving his eager hand grasping at nothing but air. Her body was as warm as ever as she pressed against your left side, her arm resting—almost protectively—on your shoulder. The sudden intimacy of the gesture stole your breath.

You could feel the heat radiating from her, the soft brush of her remaining perfume teasing your senses and making it nearly impossible to think of anything else. The weight of her arm was grounding, an unspoken claim that demanded attention without a single word.

It caught you completely off guard. Given her disapproval of your recent… choices, you’d assumed she would leave you to deal with Ashford on your own. But instead, she was here, firmly stepping in and ensuring the middle-aged man didn’t get any closer.

Some of the tightness in your chest loosened at her intervention, though the flutter of nerves in your stomach was an entirely different problem.

Shortly after, the dreaded VIP card was finally thrust into your hands—the culmination of the first part of the mission. At least it was over. You sighed softly, glancing toward Natasha.

Her eyes met yours for the briefest moment, something unreadable passing between you before she broke away. With a shared understanding, you both headed off in separate directions to change into something more casual.

The mission wasn’t over yet. There was still the after-party to survive.

***

“Got eyes on him,” Yelena muttered through both your comms, finally returning. You were confused by her disappearance, thinking that Natasha wouldn’t allow you to go unnoticed for even a moment. Still, you said nothing. “South entrance, on the balcony.”

Twirling your margarita, you subtly glanced in the direction. Hmph, for being so wanted, he sure was… rather disappointing to look at. His red hair was slicked back with what seemed like an entire bottle of hair gel, his eyes reddened (clearly affected by the unrelenting smoke surrounding him), his beard slightly unkempt, and his suit was overdone. He wasn’t very tall either—Natasha was easily a head taller than him.

So, he wasn’t the charismatic type of renowned criminal. You could work with that.

“Oh, I see him alright…” you answered, your mind already racing with all the tactics you’d need to make him talk. As if on cue, Natasha’s voice cut through.

“Raven, for the love of God, stand down. We must proceed carefully.” She reminded you, making you huff in annoyance.

“Yeah, I know, careful. Got it.I can be that” You swore you could feel Natasha arching brow rising at that. Still, you did managed to follow their plan. Rather boring if they asked you, but effective.

The two of you had to eliminate his guard team without causing any commotion, using Yelena’s assistance. Afterward, Yelena would cut all the electricity, and that’s when you would swoop in, distance him from the crowd, and take him into custody.

The first step wasn’t really complicated. Perhaps it was from the years of fighting alongside each other, but Natasha and you moved as fluidly as you did on the dance floor while incapacitating Horvat’s security team. One of you would divert attention, and the other would take someone down. It was almost like a dance of sorts, the two of you working in perfect tandem.

With a flick of your wrist, you spilled the drinks on the last two men at the bar, making them more susceptible to Natasha’s sneaky spider bite. You almost flinched when they were hit, remembering the sting of them too well. The two of you caught them just before they hit the ground, casually draping them over your shoulders as if they were just two random drunks who’d had too much to drink.

Natasha said nothing as you positioned them suggestively, one on top of the other. At her inquiring gaze, you just shrugged with a mischievous smile. “What? Look around! People are both making out and passing out.”

Before you knew it, the area had mostly cleared, which should make it easier to get to the former Hydra general without much resistance. It was almost going to good when the light and the music were shut down, Natasha slipping to Horvat’s side and pretending to be one of his guards to take him to “safety” in between the slightly panicked crowd. You meanwhile parted the way, opening one of the backdoor exits so the three of you could slip away though the stairs.

Maybe it was the exhaustion from dancing all night that caught you both off guard, or maybe it was the eerie silence in the absence of Yelena’s usual sarcastic commentary after she cut the electricity. Whatever the reason, neither of you expected to be ambushed by a full squad of heavily armed men just as you reached the exit.

The cold night air bit sharply as you and Natasha froze in place, her grip on Horvat reluctantly loosening. He laughed, unsteady and throaty.

“Did you really think I wouldn’t recognize my own guards?” Horvat rasped, his almost unbearable, scratchy voice grating as he stepped into view. Glancing over his shoulder, he sneered, “It’s going to take more than this flimsy plan to take me down, Black Widow.”

You managed to hold back a scoff. Excuse him? You were here too!

“Dispose of them,” he barked, gesturing to his guards. Then, catching the rising guns next to him, he added, “Jesus, do it quietly you morons! The last thing I need is the entire Avengers team on my back. Just do enough damage to teach them a lesson.”

With that, he turned and was escorted away, leaving you and Natasha surrounded. Your eyes met hers, a mutual understanding passing between you as you positioned yourselves back-to-back almost immediately.

“I never thought I’d see the day,” you said, amused, as the guards advanced with electric gauntlets and other shiny gadgets. “Black Widow and Raven fighting side by side? Please.” You snickered, shifting into a defensive stance.

Natasha hummed in response, her tone cool but slightly teasing. “Just try to keep up.”

You smiled faintly as the familiar spark of your usual banter flickered back to life. Perhaps not everything was ruined after all.

“Oh, you’ve got it twisted, Widow,” you shot back with a smirk, echoing her words from earlier that evening. “You’ll be the one trying to keep up with me.”

It could have been the wind, but you swore you heard her chuckle.

Time for the second dance of the night. 

[drunkkenobi]

Well. This is the weirdest one of these I’ve ever made.

I’m not going to rehash the wank from the Watcher TV announcement. You all know what happened. I am standing by my assertion that this streaming platform is the only way they’re going to stay afloat because YouTube is just not the place for them or anyone else making videos that aren’t just of one person in their house. (nothing against those folks, it’s just a completely different business model)

Anyway.

First up, here’s how Mystery Files season 2 did. It did well, with each ep hitting a million fairly quickly, but it didn’t do as well as season 1. Not significantly worse, just not as high. (two weeks after season 1 ended, the average per episode was 1.854 and for s2 it’s at 1.194million) Of course, the two weeks since season 2 ended have been fucking insane so it’s impossible to say how much of that is a factor.

I will say that views between last week and this week are down overall, but that’s expected. If someone has paid for the streamer and you want to rewatch Ghost Files or whatever, you’re going to watch it ad-free on the app you pay for and not YouTube for the most part. Also it’s very possible people are just not rewatching stuff right now for their own personal reasons, which is fine. I also just don’t think it’s something to worry about.

For better or worse, the Goodbye YouTube video is the best opening weekend Watcher has ever had (and will have?) on YouTube.

Watcher lost around 100k subscribers over The Announcement but, again, if people are paying them directly now then this is kind of a non-factor. For posterity, they’re at 2.84 million subscribers today.

I’m not sure what else to say this time, tbh! It felt like a good time to make one of these with MF season 2 being over but YouTube viewcounts are just…not going to be important anymore for Watcher so there’s not much to say about them. Finding out that a million views only nets between $10-30k has been very eye-opening to me about how piddly the revenue from YouTube is for a production studio like Watcher. The shows they want to make just cost more than they can make off of there. It’s that simple. No one has to like that fact, but that is the heart of all this.

Also, with all of that being said, I think my time as a spreadsheet gremlin is coming to a close. I’m going to keep up with it for a few more weeks and probably do one last round-up for every single video’s views, but with Watcher moving away from YouTube as a business model, there’s little reason to keep up with these. I’ve been making these updates less this year anyway because of a job change and I was losing my steam for it a bit too, so the timing feels right. Like I said, this won’t be my last viewcount post, but maybe second-to-last? And who knows, maybe I’ll check in when Ghost Files premieres but the counts will mean so much less now that the videos will premiere with a month delay from the streamer. We’ll just have to wait and see how the wind blows on this.

Thank you all, as always, for reading, reblogging, replying, liking these posts. Y’all are the reason I’ve kept up with it for four years (and my own nosiness but having encouragement helps!). And don’t worry, I’m sure I’ll have some other spreadsheets to share in the future of Watcher fandom. (I have…so many) So, until next time, thanks again. ❤️

[brasideios]

I was tagged by @asneakyobserver thank you! 🤍

It’s been a while since I did one of these, and as my brain is baked from *waves hands* everything in my life atm, why not.

Last song: Listening to The Fire by Vincent Lima (because @ainulindaelynn mentioned the EP and her musical taste is S tier)

Last book: All the Birds, Singing by Evie Wyld. Literary fiction. It had such an interesting structure, and the word craft was excellent, though unfortunately, I didn’t much care for the story overall.

Last show: I rewatched the mini series of Pride & Prejudice (1994) with my mum sister & SIL last night, and it is still brilliant and enchanting. I love Lady Catherine so much. She’s utterly dreadful. Miss Bingley also.

Last movie: recently got my hand on an external disc drive for my computer, so I’ve been rewatching my old DVDs. Last was Human Traffic. I used to watch it religiously every weekend for like, half my twenties. It’s still fun and pure nostalgia.

Last thing I looked up: the release date of RDR2 as my brother and husband were bickering about it. (2018, if you’re curious)

Fave colour: Green always green - but I love all colours (no ugly colours, only ugly contexts).

A beautiful relationship in my life: My brother. He’s 16 years younger than me, but we get along so well. We have three major shared interests - music, assassin’s creed, and history. We talk a lot. He’s a bit of a loose nut but I love that for him.

Current obsession: Ubba Ragnarsson of AC Valhalla, his relationship with (male) Eivor, and just… the post-game fanfic I wrote about ‘em, would like to continue, but don’t want to continue. But am continuing in my head, irrespective of whether I ever put it on paper.

Looking forward to: my house being sold. The last couple of weeks have been incredibly stressful. If things work out, it should settle on my birthday (at the start of Feb) but in the last two days, there have been a few hiccups that have my anxiety spiking something fierce. I just cannot wait until I don’t have to think about it ever again.

Tagging with no pressure as always: @mini-uzzy @ainulindaelynn (since I tagged you anyway lol) @bloodfathers @krankittoeleven and anyone else that feels like it.

[fayedartmouth]

Well since it’s okay please share some info about your upcoming projects sorry but im too curious and excited for my own good and i genuinely love your work read every single one in only a week

Well, in truth, I have like 20+ fics that are technically WIPs, all in various stages of development and completion.  I tend to get way more plot bunnies than I can write, and my WIPs range from rough concepts to like 30k words or more.  So it's just a wide range.

As per usual, I can't shut up, so the details are below.

For the record, some of those WIPs I really really love.  Like I have a whole series of Shoupe and preseries JJ that I'm super excited about (their first meeting, the first time Shoupe realizes JJ's getting beaten, JJ taking all of Luke's pills as a teenager, and a few more).  I have one very well developed with a preseries JJ getting kidnapped by one of Luke's associates and Luke blowing off the ransom (spoiler alert: it goes badly for JJ).  And I have a few now completely AU takes post S3, one with Rafe getting revenge on the Pogues by going after JJ (forcing him to take an overdose of drugs, and it's so convincing that almost everyone believes he did it himself) and a Sarah and JJ as siblings fic.  That's just a sampling.  There are so many more that I can't even remember them all.

One idea that just got hold of me this week is an AU with JJ and John B in the military.  There are a few other takes on this on AO3 that intrigued me, and the brothers in arms thing could be so fun to play out with those two.  And I mean, the whump. I may have wrote a few scenes....

However, the fics that I'm actively writing right now.  I'd say there are four (beyond the car accident fic I'm posting snippets of and the town council AU I did a snippet of last weekend).

1. Best of a Bad Deal part three.  This one is still in the works though technically kind of on my backburner.  I have completed quite a bit of this fic, which spans five-six years after JJ goes into remission.  I think I have a cohesive narrative at least through the third year with a lot of bits and pieces completed after that -- including the ending, which I really love.

2. My long fix-it.  I have been actively plotting this with woudsohfiv and currently have probably 70k done.  It starts around the mid point of S4 and maintains everything we see in canon -- but adds a secondary plot that manages to subvert it completely.  LOL, I don't want to spoil too much, but it heavily involves Luke.  The Pogues will still (mostly) think JJ is dead while JJ hits absolute rock bottom.  This fic is planned to be the first of a series.  We've been a little ambitious with our plotting and have sketched out plots for three additional fics.  The second one will really dig into JJ facing his trauma and dealing with his family heritage and Goat Island.  I'm really excited about this one!

3. I write fics for my friends for Christmas, and this year, I have two friends getting JJ fics.  The first one is for woudsohfiv, and she requested an AU of the S1 ep where Barry robs the Pogues.  IIn this take, JJ goes for the gun and gets shot for his trouble -- and the Pogues are faced with the reality of what they were willing to risk.  My goal is to make it eventually fit back into canon, however.  It's probably 15k in and is maybe half done.  It will (hopefully!) be done for Christmas.

4. For my other friend, I'm going on one of her favorite tropes:  seizures.  It's a fic set in that happy 18 months of Poguelandia 2.0 where the Pogues get sick -- and JJ ends up getting very, very ill.  This one is a pretty simple straight up sick fic where the Pogues have to confront that they're not quite as together as they thought they were, and wherein John B and Kiara have to face the reality that JJ isn't really as okay as he seems to be most of the time. Again, my goal is to finish this by Christmas, and I think I can pull it off. This should be relatively short hopefully in the 10k range.

Feel free to ask more questions or specifics! I'd even post snippets if you wanted. I only do completed fics on AO3 but I'm a lot looser here.

[tapingthedative]

THE EXTRA LENS (or Glenns)

So, early on I chose to include The Extra Glenns' shows in the google sheet listing all Mountain Goats live shows (pinned post) and where to download them.

Why did I make that choice?

if you're unaware of The Extra Lens (formally The Extra Glenns), it's a collaboration between John Darnielle of TMG and Franklin Bruno of Nothing Painted Blue. The project pre-dates The Mountain Goats but the majority of their known live shows are often partially also Mountain Goats shows. There are 23 shows Extra Glenns shows listed on the wiki, 12 of them are also Mountain Goats shows.

So, Because it's a John Darnielle project, there are so few known Extra Lens shows, and half of them are also Mountain Goats shows, I opted to include those shows on the list.

...But before the list, I hadn't listened to The Extra Glenns. And now I've only heard one.

I do wanna dive into them, but every time I consider it I think "I'll do it once I account for their live stuff and see what unreleased songs we do and don't have"

And now I've done it. Of the 23 shows (which are either fully Lens or partially), 10 of those shows have a recording of every Glenns song from it somewhere on the internet. 10 of them have none. and three of them have only a small portion (two of them have 1 song, one of them has two.

I'm not gonna list those shows in this thread because that would make it much longer. But I will list their overall catalogue real quick.

First off, in rare early versions of the TMG tape Transmissions to Horace, there are 7 songs from The Extra Lens back when they were The Extra Glenns. four of which did not get re-released somewhere

those four are:

Greasepaint Friday

The Moon (outside of the Horace tape. it was played live in '95 and '98, both of which are on the internet)

Sliding Down the Right Pathway

Bird on the Wire (a Leonard Cohen cover)

someone has posted that Horace tape to the internet archive

These recordings apparently pre-date The Mountain Goats

After that, they released 8 songs to 7 compilations from 1992-1996, an EP called Infidelity in 1993, and 2 albums. The first album was released in 2002 and is called Martial Arts Weekend. The second one is called Undercard and came out in 2010. Both have 12 songs apiece.

So, it looks like everything is accounted for. I can dive in. Right?

wrong.

There are four songs of theirs that have only been played live.

All Frosting has been played three times, two of which can be found online.

Alpha Aquae has the same situation

Brilliant Disguise has been played twice, one is online.

...

...

and then we have Going to California. which has been played once. the lyrics are online and there is no recording. it's the only lost Glenns song.

The google sheet is a constant reminder that we don't have everything, I wish we did but we're not entitled to everything. However, I am disappointed.

I did the research on these unreleased/Horace songs and I was getting excited "Wow, we have everything" and then we got to the last one... and it's gone. If Going to California were the first one, I would probably feel relieved that we are only missing one song.

but, that's everything Lens. I'm gonna dive in and let you folks know what I think.

If you've gotten this far, track 7 of this taping is the origin story of The Extra Glenns. it's hilarious. Sorry about the clapping and the whistling lessons, that part hurts like hell.

one day I'll find a good signoff.

[cleolinda]

Weekend Links, March 17, 2024

My posts

We have had another Trespasser Weirdness Incident at my house, so. Suffice it to say that the Hot & Vintage Movie Women tournament is my primary coping mechanism at this point, and bless @hotvintagepoll for all their work. All 257 polls are up, although many of them have already closed on a rolling basis these last two weeks. Hedy Lamarr vs Sonja Henie was the very last one, and it is a blowout like I have not seen since the time I asked if people throw away their movie theater trash. I think round 2 starts a week from Monday? I would like to apologize for reblogging every single poll, except that I’m not the least bit sorry. 

I posted propaganda several times--sometimes just because a contestant didn’t have much and I wanted to chip in (still in play: Juanita Moore and Martha Sleeper). But I also showed up specifically for Norma Shearer, Claire Bloom, Tallulah Bankhead, Deborah Kerr, a little bit for Joan Fontaine (poll here), Julie Christie (on my mom’s behalf), Gene Tierney, Paulette Goddard, and Ava Gardner. My loyalties will shift as we see who progresses, but I'm wearing the Ava jersey at this point.

Reblogs of interest

A couple of serious links:

The Jewish filmmakers who won an Oscar for The Zone of Interest, a Holocaust film, used their speech time to condemn what’s happening in Gaza. (It helps to read the quote as “as men who refute {their Jewishness and the Holocaust} being used as justification.” “Refute their Jewishness” jumps out weirdly at first glance and confused people.)

I can’t tell if the JKR defender/Holocaust denier in this ask knows they’re lying or just really didn’t know that transgender health books and surgery did, in fact, exist, and that the Nazis targeted them. If you need photographic evidence for future discussions, here you are. Side note: Don't believe everything your favorite childhood author tells you.

Posts that are not serious links or hot lady polls:

Of course, this week we celebrated the Ides of March. (Happy birthday to... Chocolate Guy Amaury Guichon??) Featuring:

Southern Mark Antony

If Mark Antony was Gen Z

“Oh not you as well, Brutus!”

Also, happy birthday this fine St. Patrick’s Day to Hozier, who was on the Wiggles once, and has a new EP coming out this Friday. Please join me in not being the least bit normal about it. 

The bredlik that the Fairy vs. Walrus debate needed

“Started tone matching my Iraqi corner store guy,” bless everyone involved

A fanfic summary that will hit you like a brick to the face

“Intrigue, Ink, and Drama Grip the Fountain Pen Community”

The Arthur Conan Doyle approach to fic comments

The Kate Middleton Mysteries (”The extent to which this is not Philip Marlowe’s problem is unbelievable”)

Noted power couple/chaos elementals Merchant Ivory

Help improving color in your art

Doggust 2023: the art of Jonathan Wesslund  

Video

Honestly the best part of “I’m Just Ken” at the Oscars for me is Margot Robbie fighting for her life not to laugh

This domino project is honestly really upsetting to me, lmao (THE TIME IT MUST HAVE TAKEN!!)

Death: the bees told her

Puma chirps

A seal’s relaxing ice bath

The sacred texts

The reason we celebrate the Ides of March on Tumblr

Happy birthday to the Old as Balls gifset

A cat’s dating profile

Personal tag of the week

pixel art, because there are some incredible artists on here.

[hils79]

Hils Watches Mysterious Lotus Casebook - Ep 24

His little pleased smile when he tells Fang Duobing to dig up the body and he just does it without question or complaint

Well, I knew the missing body parts were an important clue but I didn't have 'the guy who was chopped into pieces actually died from a snake bite' on my bingo card

It was framed!

Fashion isn't a crime, Fang Duobing (I mean in this case it was to conceal a crime but still)

Holy shit every time I think we're at the end of the case there's another twist!

"If you're going to dramatically throw yourself off a cliff please don't land on me." I love him

I think Fang Duobing is starting to love him too

I'm going to be sad when Di Feisheng gets his memories back and they stop calling him A-Fei. I've got used to it now.

Cool motive. Still murder.

Mood

Oh my god is anyone on this island not involved in shenanigans (or dead)

Someone always asks, and Li Lianhua is just waiting for it so he can show off how smart he is

Yes, roast him Fang Duobing

The irony that Di Feisheng removed a signal to his sect, because he doesn't know that's where he's from

This is the least black and white case of all the ones they've solved but okay

Someone mentioned this on one of my other posts and it's a good point. She's been in this place for two months. How has no one noticed she's missing? A princess getting kidnapped is a pretty big deal. The guy whose island it is seems pretty well informed on what's going on in the world, to know which interesting people to invite to his island each year. Surely he didn't want to risk people looking for a missing princess turning up at his door and ruining his slave mansion and opium business. It just doesn't make sense.

This is about to get awkward in multiple ways. "Hi, yes, I bailed on our engagement. Also, this is my boyfriend."

I love that whoever is voice dubbing her has changed her voice now that she's revealed herself as the princess. It's like when Prince Adam turns into He-Man and his voice suddenly becomes deeper.

He pretends he doesn't give a shit but look at him smiling at the happy ending

Right, I'm away fro the weekend to visit my sister so there will be no more liveblogs from me until Monday. I have the day off so I might be able to squeeze in a couple of extra episodes 👀

[baronessblixen]

Hi! Big fan here😊! If you're still taking prompts: Mulder being obviously jealous with Scully and Sheriff Hartwell in Bad Blood, thank you!😊

Thank you, sweet anon! Here it is. A post-ep for "Bad Blood" obviously. A jealous Mulder, an attempt at humor and the hint of angst may be found here. (wc: 1,349)

Tagging @today-in-fic @xffictober2023

Fictober Day 30: Feelings You Can't Hide

Buck teeth.

He can’t believe Scully is into overbites when- no, he’s not going down that road again. The same thing happened last year when Ed Jerse showed up. Not that Mulder ever met the guy, but he’s seen pictures. What a funny twist of fate that Sheriff Buck Teeth and Mr. Tattoo look like they could be related. His Scully has a type. And Mulder is not jealous. At all.

He reminds himself of that fact every two seconds, lest he forget to smile and not make another biting remark. Whatever his feelings are, Scully deserves more. That’s the reason why he pushed her towards the Sheriff in the first place. A mistake he now very much regrets. He should have known. He of all people, who’s been seduced by his own vampire before. Whatever happened – and either Scully doesn’t remember or doesn’t want to tell him – she’s still wearing the sheriff’s coat.

And he’s still not jealous at all. Not even an iota. Well, maybe a bit. A fraction. He glances over at Scully, almost disappearing into the coat, her hands in the pockets. His blood coils. It’s anger, he justifies. That guy could have done god knows what to Scully. The hospital cleared them both. There was nothing wrong with them.

Mulder winced internally when rape kits were prepared, bu they haven't been touched in any way. There’s not a scratch on either of them. Scully’s theory is that they were drugged so that Sheriff Hartwell and the others could disappear. He thinks she’s right, but so far all he’s done is nod along.

“Are you gonna keep wearing that thing?” He doesn’t mean for it to come out as harsh as it does. Scully musters him, obviously trying to understand what’s wrong with him.

“No, of course not,” she says. “It’s just warm and it’s cool in here.”

“You can have my coat,” he says, taking it off.

“Mulder, you’re gonna be cold.” Except he feels warm. Hot, even. Boiling almost. “Take it,” he says, sounding like an asshole. He hears it, and judging by Scully’s puzzled expression, she does, too. Still, she takes his coat, slipping out of the other one. Mulder can breathe more easily.

Scully giggles when she holds up the sleeves, her hands barely peeking out. The sound opens something in Mulder. He watches her out of the corner of his eye, her sight causing a pandemonium of emotions inside him.

He can no longer deny it; he is jealous. Whether it’s a vampiric sheriff, a psychopathic asshole, or a seemingly normal-looking doctor in a hospital. Scully deserves to find a nice man – emphasis on nice, and not blood-sucking or murderous – and here he is, trying his best to prevent that from happening. Because what if she does? What if the next guy they run into is exactly what she’s looking for? Sweet and kind – someone Bill Jr. will be friends with. Someone who’ll whisk her away on weekend trips where the scariest situation will involve preventing a sunburn.

“Mulder, I asked if you were ready to go home.” Scully is squeezing his arm, her eyes narrow with concern.

“Am I ready?” he asks. He's not ready at all to do this. To consider the possibility that one day - and maybe soon - she could be gone. Because of some guy who can give her everything Mulder can't.

“Are you sure you’re okay? Did they check your head?” She runs her fingers through his hair and he doesn’t have the heart to tell her that they did check him for head trauma and that her way of checking is more of a caress than anything else.

“My head is fine,” he says finally.

“It better be because I’m not facing Skinner alone.” He gives her a look that he hopes is reassuring.

*

He hasn’t stopped thinking about it. About his revelation. That’s why when they talk to Skinner, he’s only half listening, reiterating everything Scully says.

“This is your story,” Skinner says, glancing at both of them across from him. They share a quick look before they nod.

“That is essentially… exactly the way it happened,” Scully says slowly.

“Except for the part about the buck teeth.” The room falls quiet. He knows he shouldn’t have said it, but he hasn’t slept well these past few nights. Last night, he dreamed about a hat with big white teeth following him around, trying to bite him. Skinner sighs, rubbing his eyes, and for once Mulder gets it. Scully’s eyes are on him and he feels them burn into the side of his face. This isn’t over for him, no matter what Skinner is about to say.

“You’re dismissed,” their boss says, directing his attention elsewhere; a clear sign that they should leave. Mulder stumbles over his own feet in an attempt to get out of the office. Scully, however, is at his heels. How she can keep up with him might be the greatest conundrum of them all.

“What was that?” she hisses once they’re in the elevator, on the way down to their office.

“What was what?”

“Why do you keep insisting that he had buck teeth?”

“Why are you always attracted to idiots?” Another thing he knows he shouldn’t have said. “I’m sorry, I-… I haven’t been sleeping well.” It’s a flimsy excuse and the fire in Scully’s eyes doesn’t dissipate.

“You’re one to talk, Mulder. This was unprofessional. In front of Skinner. It’s bad enough when you made fun of it before but in front of our boss? What were you thinking?”

“I wasn’t thinking.”

“I’ll say. Why are you so obsessed with what he looked like?” He owes her this. But first, he’s saved by the bell. The elevator door opens and Scully steps out first. He follows the click of her heels until they’re in their office where she leans against the desk, her arms folded in front of her.

“I’m waiting,” she says, her eyebrows raised.

“I was just surprised,” he explains. “That you’d be interested in someone like… that.”

“Like what, Mulder?”

“He wasn’t the brightest bulb, Scully. You must have seen that. I thought you’d be more, um- I thought maybe you’d go for someone who’s more…”

“More what?” she asks.

“Someone who’s intellectually on your level.”

“Like you?”

“I didn’t say that,” he replies too quickly and he sees the corner of Scully’s mouth twitch.

“I may have thought that Sheriff Hartwell was nice enough looking,” she says, sounding almost bored. “I wasn’t planning a life with him. And you just- should I remind you of Detective White?”

“Who?”

“Oh, come on. Or Bambi.”

“Bambi was a scientist,” Mulder says defensively.

“Yeah, she was,” Scully mumbles, looking away. “Either way, I have to deal with you being… interested in other people way more often than the other way around. And I don’t ascribe them physical attributes they don’t possess. So what was that?”

“I’m sorry, Scully. I truly am. I was just-,” he looks at her. Can he say it? Can he admit it to her? If he admits that he was jealous, what will happen next? They’re not there yet. He can admit it to himself, but he’s not ready to face the consequences of his feelings.

“I was insensitive. I was worried your feelings for Sheriff Bu- Hartwell might interfere with the case.”

“That’s it?” she asks and he nods, looking down at his feet. “You’re sticking to that story?” He lifts his head to look at her. She’s not believing a single word.

“Admit he didn’t have buck teeth.”

“What? He did!”

“Admit it, Mulder. Or tell me the real reason.”

“Fine,” he says with a sigh. All he has to do is say it. Simple words. ‘I was jealous, Scully’. How hard can it be? He, the defender and searcher of the truth, is shying away from it.

“I- he didn’t have buck teeth. Happy?”

“It’ll do,” she says, before she walks right past him and out of the basement office, making him wonder what exactly she means by that.

[astonishinglegends]

Ep 300: The Astonishing Legends All-Star Holiday Special

"Christmas is the season where you buy this year’s gifts with next year’s money."  -- Unknown

Description:

It’s the fifth Year of our annual Astonishing Legends Holiday Special, and we’re back with our crew from last year. We all love getting together this time of year to reflect on everything that went right or wrong over the past 12 months and consider what parts of our collective reality have eroded and what parts have solidified. Join us as we celebrate the friendships we’ve built along the way and the joys of working together across the paranormal and real spectrum. It’s a perfect way to kick back, relax, and embrace the holiday spirit with us. So grab your favorite drink and cozy up as we share some fun tales and look ahead to what 2025 has in store. Everyone’s welcome!

Reference Links:

Donate to Habitat for Humanity at habitat.org

Find all things Jim Harold at JimHarold.com

Micah Hanks’ programs at MicahHanks.com

The Debrief is a news site providing a public venue for credible reporting on science, tech, and defense news, with an eye for the cutting edge science and technology of tomorrow, at TheDebrief.org

UAPSightings.org – “A public resource for sightings of unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP)”

Allison Jornlin and AmericanGhostWalks.com

Join Ed and Chris with thei Scared All The Time podcast – scaredallthetimepodcast.com

Visit Miranda Merrick and Mr. Darling at The Midnight Library – midnightlibrarypod.com

Peruse Richard Hatem’s Paranormal Bookshelf at richardhatemsparanormalbookshelf.com

Paul Gledhill’s British Paranormal Podcast – Anomaly – anomaly.co.uk

Susan Lambert Hatem and Sharon Johnson and their 80s TV Ladies podcast – 80stvladies.com

Jerry and Tracy Paulley of Hillbilly Horror Stories

“Former BBC radio presenter Howard Hughes dies” from BBC.com

Suggested Merch:

CLICK HERE to purchase prints and merchandise from Star Wars’ first ship designer, Colin Cantwell, at ColinCantwell.com!

There are still nearly two dozen exclusive prints of his amazing work available for purchase. Head over to colincantwell.com, and use the Promo Code DROID for a 15% Holiday Discount! And here’s why it’s special — each purchase helps support the TSJ Foundation’s mission to inspire youth in STEAM fields: Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math.

click here to Donate or to Habitat for Humanity – habitat.org

Donate to the middleway conservancy!

Click HERE to donate and help keep the historic village that is the home of the wizard clip alive!

From the Astonishing Legends Network:

Find us on YouTube!

Click this text to find all Astonishing Legends episodes and more on our Youtube Channel https://www.youtube.com/c/Astonishinglegends

Join us on Patreon!

Click HERE or go to patreon.com/astonishinglegends to become one of our Patreon members and receive exclusive offerings, like our bonus Astonishing Junk Drawer episodes (posted every weekend the main show is dark) commercial-free episodes, and more!

SPECIAL OFFERS FROM OUR SPECIAL SPONSORS:

FIND OTHER GREAT DEALS FROM OUR SHOW’S SPONSORS BY CLICKING HERE!

CREDITS:

Episode 300: The Astonishing Legends All-Star Holiday Special V. Produced by Scott Philbrook & Forrest Burgess. Audio Editing by Sarah Vorhees Wendel of VW Sound. Music and Sound Design by Allen Carrescia. Tess Pfeifle, Producer and Lead Researcher. Ed Voccola, Technical Producer. Research Support from The Astonishing Research Corps, or "A.R.C." for short. Copyright 2024 Astonishing Legends Productions, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

[forseokgyu]

Seventeen’s Mingyu on His Personal Style, Being a Dior Ambassador and That Calvin Klein Campaign

The 27-year-old K-Pop star is ready to 'Spill The Feels' on his big year in the world of fashion: "I've learned that outfits can be a channel to express myself, but it doesn't equal me in and of itself."

BY NICOLE FELL | NOVEMBER 8, 2024 5:00PM

Mingyu of Seventeen in Dior. COURTESY OF DIOR

It takes mere seconds of scrolling through K-Pop fan spaces online to stumble upon Seventeen‘s Mingyu.

The 27-year-old rapper, a member of hit K-Pop boy group Seventeen, is an online favorite for his charming personality and cool Instagram posts. Seriously, social media account Pop Base has to presumably break out a dictionary every time he posts a photo.

Seventeen is in the midst of the U.S. leg of their “Seventeen [Right Here] World Tour,” hitting five cities including two stops in L.A. Before heading out on the road, Mingyu chatted with The Hollywood Reporter on Zoom, taking a break from his hectic rehearsals for the tour and the 13-member group’s latest EP, Spill The Feels.

“It’s currently 11:00 a.m. in Korea, and my entire body is aching,” the rapper cheekily tells THR of the preparations for the album and tour. Mingyu explains the rather intricate schedule of preparing for tour, releasing the album, performing the concert in Seoul.

Mingyu (left) with fellow Seventeen members Joshua, Dino, and DK last week at The Empire State Building in New York City. PHOTO BY EUGENE GOLOGURSKY/GETTY IMAGES FOR EMPIRE STATE REALTY TRUST

The tour wraps in L.A. this coming weekend, where the group will perform two sold-out shows at BMO Stadium. It’s an exciting weekend for the group. Today, Mingyu’s bandmate Joshua, an L.A. native, accepted a certificate of appreciation on behalf of Seventeen from the L.A. City Council. The group also has a major pop-up planned in the city for the tour’s finale.

In the midst of an already booked and busy year for Seventeen, Mingyu has dipped into the world of style. Earlier this year, he secured a brand ambassadorship with luxury fashion house Dior. In a social media post announcing Mingyu’s new role, Dior referred to him as “the perfect embodiment of Dior’s aesthetic.” He also starred in a new Calvin Klein campaign, showcasing his range in a variety of denim looks.

Below, Mingyu opens up about his own personal style onstage and offstage, his style inspirations and how he feels about his viral Dior Paris Fashion Week appearance.

How would you describe your style at the moment?

I’m a sportsperson. I like working out, and I’m also an energetic person, and my job is a singer who dances on stage, so I think I tend to go for casual outfits and comfortable outfits.

How do you feel about your onstage style versus your offstage style? As you said, you’re a bit more casual offstage, and onstage your style is, presumably, a bit more exaggerated.

I think it’s very difficult to compare my style onstage and offstage. Like you said onstage, obviously, you have to be full of glitz and glamour. Whereas, offstage, I tend to go for styles that don’t really stick out and is understated [but] is uniquely me.

How do you feel your style has evolved over the years?

To be honest, I think earlier in my career, right after we debuted, I think I used to overdo things because I was really eager to show myself and to show off what I had. I think I was in the process of discovering who I was. Whereas, now, I have learned, I found out that what fits me best is things that are casual and natural. I’ve learned that outfits can be a channel to express myself, but it doesn’t equal me in and of itself. But, even now, there are days when I feel like I want to reach for flashy, showy outfits.

Mingyu of Seventeen for Dior. COURTESY OF DIOR

You had what is fair to call a viral moment at Paris Fashion Week at the beginning of this year with the Dior show. Do you remember what you were feeling in that moment? How were you feeling after seeing that your appearance got such a good response?

Fashion week is a thing that I’ve always longed for and wanted to be a part of since I was very young. I was more than excited to be there with the Dior team, and I think I enjoyed every moment. I had a great, fun experience, from the moment I entered, until the moment I left after the show was over. It was an honor because I know that it counts for a big part of Paris’ culture. After learning that the video went viral and that I was coming under a lot of attention, I was a little shy and embarrassed. But it was a very inspiring experience because watching the show and thinking about what were the creative thoughts and processes behind each of the outfits and what kind of significance each of the garments carry was very inspiring. It was almost like watching an exhibition, so I think I would like to say that every little part of the experience was very exciting and inspiring.

Congratulations on the ambassadorship. Why do you feel Dior was the place for you in that space?

Dior has been one of my favorite brands since forever with its casual, its simple, yet natural, graceful and glamorous vibe. In that way, this is something that the brand Dior, and I have in common. Realistically speaking, I think the day that I went to the Dior women’s collection… I mean, that moment was not just an inspiring moment for me, but a good starting point for both of us.

What are you hoping comes from the ambassadorship? Do you have something that you’re really hoping to do while you’re an ambassador for the brand?

The number one thing that I’d like to do right now is to go to the men’s collection show. This time around, I went to the women’s collection. I’ve done a lot of photo shoots with Dior, and I made sure that I wear a Dior at important occasions, but I haven’t been to a men’s collection yet. I haven’t met Kim Jones (creative director of Dior Homme) in person, so I would love to meet him and talk about his creative process. That’s number one for me right now.

It seems like a rite of passage for celebrities to do a Calvin Klein campaign. How were you feeling when you found out you were going to do one? What were you excited or nervous about going into it?

It’s very difficult to say what exactly because the whole thing was exciting, and I felt nervous and excited about the whole thing. I think that Calvin Klein is a brand that everybody, regardless of age, loves and enjoys. I know what a strong presence the brand has in front of the general public, so I was really nervous about whether I could be the best fit for the brand, and whether I could embody the identity of the brand properly.

Do you have a favorite moment from either the shoot or after? Did anyone in your life react when they saw the photos?

When we were doing the photo shoots… showing some skin was something that was very unique to me this time around. There were a lot of staff there on set from the global Calvin Klein team, which was also a little nerve-racking, but exciting. They were very kind and encouraging. I tried to be cool-headed and think about whether I really was doing well objectively. After we were done with the photo shoot and the campaign, it was a little strange, but very exciting to see it be playing around, not just on people’s mobile phones, but on billboards and all the department stores all across the country. It was a very, very rewarding experience. I had a great time. But I haven’t seen the billboards or the ads in person, but I’ve heard a lot about it, so I’d like to go see it in person one day.

Mingyu of Seventeen for Dior. COURTESY OF DIOR

Do you have someone that inspires you in terms of fashion?

I think I’m inspired by models who are working overseas because I wouldn’t call myself someone who really packs a lot of personality in my style. I’m also inspired by NBA basketball players, what they wear to the court. I consider outfits as a piece of art, and I love imagining which outfits would be the best choice at a fancy dinner or when I go to the traditional market because I believe that there are outfits that can really highlight that moment and add an extra layer of energy in certain points in time. I try to imagine myself in different situations depending on the outfit.

Do you have anything you’d like to say to Carats [the name for the group’s fanbase] at the moment or just as you’re getting ready for this next chapter?

We are going to celebrate our 10th anniversary soon. We have been dropping a new album every year. We’ve been touring, going on tours a lot as well. So, just going forward, we just want to keep paying attention to the smallest details when it comes to our albums and promotions.

And to the fans, Carats, who have been sending us a lot of love and support, I just want to say that we will try our best to pay back all the love and energy through great stages and performances.I just want to see them and reach out to them as regularly and frequently as possible, so, even if we get to see each other for one hour, and I have to get on a 30-hour flight, I wouldn’t hesitate to do that because I love them so much.

[udovaintomyheart]

Ways you can help get Shadow and Bone S3 + Six Of Crows Spinoff

Stream Shadow and Bone S2 on Netflix:

this is the most obvious and yet time consuming way that you can help. it is rumored that Netflix values completion rate, hours watched, rewatch rate, and number of new viewers. This means it would be best if you could get friends and family who might not have seen the show before to watch it all the way through.

If that isn't possible, the next best thing we can do is stream! This means to watch the second season all the way through, start to finish. You don't have to physically be watching of course, you can have it playing on a device in the background as you work, clean, cook, ect.

Ideally, the volume on your device should be more than half. You can use headphones if you don't want to hear the sound, or place it in a different room. Just remember to check up on the device every 2-3 hours to make sure it is still playing the show.

From my experience, Netflix will stop the season at the beginning of episode 4 if you haven't been jiggling the mouse or adjusting the volume, brightness, ect. So, I just change the subtitles or brightness every now and then to make sure Netflix believe I am actively watching the show.

How to stream on PC/computer:

Go to Netflix.com (you can use the Netflix app but you won't be able to mute the tab if you do it that way)

Choose Shadow and Bone S2 Ep 1 and let your device play through it. You want the sound on the Netflix tab itself to be higher than 50%.

Now that you have it playing, you can mute the tab on your device (I use Google Chrome but, I'm sure other browsers allow you to mute as well!)

To mute the tab:

right-click the tab, and then you will see "mute site". go ahead and click on that.

Tablet/Phone:

Go to the Netflix App

Click on Shadow and Bone season 2 and start from episode 1 at the beginning.

Because there is no way to mute the tab, just use headphones or put the device somewhere if the sound bothers you.

You might also want to keep your device connected to a charger as it can drain the battery a little.

please continue to stream shadow and bone! and start if you haven't already.

TV:

Go to Netflix on your remote/application

Play Shadow and Bone s2 all the way through

This is best if you are cooking or something where you can hear the show from the other room and can click "continue watching" when need be.

Other ways to help:

Say you are unable to stream, that's ok! There are other ways you can help Netflix know that we want Shadow and Bone renewed for a third season and a Six Of Crows Spin Off.

Use hashtags! Rumor has it that Netflix cares most about Twitter, so please use that platform the most if you can. (I know that is a tall ask haha) Here are some super important ones:

#Shadow and Bone

#Six Of Crows Spin Off

#SOC Spin Off

Talk about it on Social Media:

Whatever platform you use, please share Shadow and Bone content, like, comment, put the posts on your stories, make edits, talk about the plot, what you liked, what you didn't, just talk about the show!

Join the watchparty:

This is more like a blend of the two ways to help. Kanej Breakdown on Twitter hosted a watch party on April 1st and 2nd and it went super well! The idea was we all watch using a Google Chrome Extension called Teleparty (you can also just watch the episodes listed for that day at that time if you don't have PC/ Google Chrome) and tweet using the hashtags listed above. This allows so many tweets to be sent under those hashtags, and gets it trending. They are hosting another watchparty today as well as this weekend.

We want to stay as high as possible to finish out these 28 days (important for Netflix's renewal system) so, please, please if you are able STREAM!!

[frannsmain]

prisma hashtag of the day: let’s go back to the start

#saveprismalaserie 🤍💎

reminders:

• the hashtags are mostly used on x (which is where the fandom mostly is) and are changed every two days to try to get them trending. if you can’t join us there you are still welcome to share them and use them wherever you prefer!

• the prisma streaming party starts again today after the weekend break! we’re watching ep 6 of season 2 starting at 8 pm italian time. to comment you can use the #prismastreamingparty hashtag and the hashtag of the day.

• remember to comment down all prime italia’s ig posts (even if with just the 💎 emoji!). an article just came out about how insane it is that fans are still commenting after almost 20 days since the announcement, claiming that a reaction like that was never seen for an italian show. we’re not going unnoticed!

• you can also react to prime italia’s posts on their whatsapp broadcast with the 💎 emoji! here’s the link to join ttps://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029VafPU4uGehEMfP0hWm0Z

• remember to share the petition with everyone you know or could potentially be interested. the link is pinned in my account. we just reached 25.100 signatures🫶🏻 we’re so proud of ourselves

• some fans made some flyers templates to print and hang around your city! here are some

• i am taking all of the campaign’s infos and graphics from our official campaign account on x: @hereforprisma. follow them for all the official info in italian!

[pragmatic-optimist]

This week's theme: Rec a 'gateway' fic - a fic that you read and it was so good it lead you to read multiple works by the same writer.

The rules: Tag a fic and explain why it was a gateway fic / what you liked about it. Then tag some people to see what everyone else is reading. Spread the love! I'll do the round up on Sunday again, so if you're still recc-ing on Saturday, no pressure. Please tag @welcometololaland or #fic rec friday so I can compile the masterlist!

*****

Very excited about this week’s theme because the first fic of an author you read is a little bit like watching the pilot of a TV show that has several seasons, but you’ve only just found it. So you fall in love, and before you know it, you’ve blinked and spent 12 hours binging as many eps as you can. It’s a great feeling, to chase the same elixir of magic in each story someone has written. There are several fics I could mention here, but I challenged myself to choose fics purely from memory because otherwise I’d be here all day looking through my bookmarks. 😂

911 Lone Star

No Right to Love You by @reyescarlos: If you’ve been following me for a while or if we’ve had conversations about our all-time favorite fics, then you’ve read/heard my unhinged praise for No Right to Love You. It is not an understatement to say that this story was my whole personality for the entirety of April 2021 lol. This canon-divergent season 1 finale fic is truly epic and filled me with so many feels (so much yearning!). Kim posted it one chapter at a time over the course of a weekend, and when she posted the final chapter, I was standing in line at the grocery store when I saw the AO3 notification and proceeded to let out a loud yelp of excitement. There were looks.😂 This story and Kim’s writing were worth the public embarrassment, I just love it so much. 🙌🏾 It was my first Kim fic, and I immediately inhaled everything else she had written for LS.  

Begins at Sunrise by @iboatedhere: Ah, Begins at Sunrise. I’ve read so many of Rae’s fics over the last two years, so it’s really fun to think back to the first fic I ever read. TK and Carlos have the “who are we to each other?” talk on a spontaneous beach getaway because Carlos can’t deny TK anything, and their conversations/interactions here are so Them™️. Also, it’s all just very romantic and there’s a beautiful thread of vulnerability that runs through each scene, tugging at your heart. Given that it is a story set in season 1 circa ep 1x10, I appreciate it was written from Carlos POV and gave us some insight into his headspace after TK got shot. He was so in love already. There are a lot of single lines in this fic that pack an emotional wallop in the best way. As soon as I finished reading it, I hit the subscribe button so fast, and every AO3 email notification I’ve received sharing a Rae original has been a joy. 

All Along There Was Some Invisible String Tying You to Me by @tkstrrand: Alternate first meeting AUs are always a lot of fun because I love the notion that these two people will always find one another no matter what. AJ’s dual POV, ER Meet-Cute for TK and Carlos is a personal favorite. The story is lovely, with TK worried about Owen after accompanying him to the ER and Carlos (a stranger at first, also at the ER worried about his partner) stepping in to offer TK kindness and conversation and then eventually both realizing they don’t want their time together to end (and as the reader, you realize you don’t want your time with this version of them to end either). I loved this one a whole lot, and I am grateful it led to me finding more of AJ’s work! 

Red, White, and Royal Blue

Before This, After That by @orchidscript:  

I have a rule about not reading WIPs because I’m just not the most patient person when it comes to waiting for the next chapter (know thyself, etc). So I wait until the entire story is posted, and then I dive in. BUT every so often, a fic comes along and makes itself the exception to my rule. Before This, After That is the most recent exception. I adore this fic—it’s a great example of why I enjoy reading AUs. I love seeing how a writer captures the essence of the characters as individuals as well as the heart of their relationship and translates it into a brand-new world. This AU does it seamlessly with Alex and Henry. There are certain parts of this story that really feel inspired by Henry’s line from canon, “I thought if someone like that ever loved me, it would set me on fire.” Alex is hired to help Henry recover, but he realizes it’s more than just recovering from an injury, Henry needs to be brought back to life. [insert metaphor about Alex’s presence kindling Henry’s motivation to live]

I love how Alex shows care for Henry. There is a scene early on regarding Henry’s pain meds, and through a conversation, Alex swiftly resolves it. It’s a short scene but a really lovely moment. Henry feels so seen and heard in a way that he clearly hasn’t been since being hurt (or maybe ever). The whole exchange made me 😍😭🥹. The slow burn of this fic is fantastic, and I have also really enjoyed the interactions between Bea and Henry and (gasp) even Phillip. Lol. I am eagerly awaiting the next chapter, and as I wait, I’ll be reading more of orchidscript’s catalog! 

*****

Open tag to anyone who has a gateway fic that lives in their mind rent-free, please share (and tag me so I can add more fics to my marked for later lol). 

[iantimony]

yay tuesday is back

return of tuesday! i had two weeks in the UK which was very fun but i am definitely vacationed out - i miss my routine. longer trips like that are only fun towards the end if you have a home base that isn't just a hotel room.

listening: newest coral bones ep is very chill. it's only three songs and they're all very vibey but i think my favorite is 'seatac'. i wish they were still posting on bandcamp. alas.

SeaTac - Coral Bones

also got back into listening to the altogether - their album 'when we were kids' is very travel-coded to me for some reason, it was on loop my entire train ride from london up to edinburgh. (i'm also pretty sure brian david gilbert of all people is featured on this album haha)

Billy & Anne - The Altogether

finally, i saw st. vincent live in london this past weekend!!! it was a really good concert, lots of fun, interesting venue. she's definitely got an insane stage presence. the opening act (heartworms) was fun too, my brother and his friend weren't interested and described it as 'moody goth bullshit' and i was like well. that is right up my alley. you boys enjoy the bar im gonna go be moody and goth. it was good!

i think if i do standing room tickets again i need to invest in some platform shoes, at least two or three inches, because some of that was a struggle to see Anything ... i did manage to find a spot where i had a decent little corridor between heads to see the stage, however i was directly behind a guy in a bowler (?? fedora?? idfk) hat and his boyfriend who kept moving around and dancing (fine) and gyrating (also fine ?? i do not consider st. vincent particularly gyrate-able music but what do i know) so i also had to do some leaning side-to-side to see around them. one of her songs has a line about jumping off the london bridge and the way they both looked at each other and pointed gleefully at themselves while going "meeee" was very funny. i bet they're on tumblr, they had the vibes. hello gay guys at the london st. vincent concert, if you're reading this.

reading: i read 'when the angels left the old country' by sacha lamb in the two days that i was alone in edinburgh before my brother came! it was good, speedy read, i enjoyed the characters and overall conceit well enough. probably not on the to-buy list, i'd just rented an ebook for my trip.

some miscellanous articles from my pocket emails:

How to Coexist With a Belligerent Catbird by Caitlin Gibson (<3)

The Last Kid in Ninth Grade Without an iPhone by Liz Kreiger (this was relatable as a kid whose parents did Not let her get anything more complex than a flipphone for emergencies until i got myself one as a senior in high school and i think i was better off for it)

The Case for Doing Laundry Every Day by Rebecca Onion (insane, IMO)

watching: mostly fallow, did watch one of the dunmeshi eps that came out when i was gone with the boy yesterday and will probably watch the second one tonight.

i have Opened the jenny nicholson star wars hotel video, not yet watched, but saw in my patreon emails from friends at the table that the tablefriends did a related episode on their star wars podcast, which, i then noticed like [leo decaprio pointing meme] xeecee spotted in the credits for the cover art ?? i'm not surprised they are aware of each other but i thought it was funny

playing: fallow! completely, for once! no ttrpgs, no video games, etc. i guess i played a Lot of solitaire on my flight back from the uk, maybe that counts lol

making: i did a lot of sketching on my trip! i made a watercolor travel journal that somehow doesn't have enough pages so i'll have to rebind it but oh well. no watercolor pics for now but i'm excited to share those as i go! in the meantime, some sketches i did in the east princes street gardent, the scottish parliament, and the victoria and albert museum in london respectively:

i think once i finish the travel journal ill try to do a higher quality scan of it and upload a pdf somewhere, i feel like that will be fun.

eating: ough i ate a lot of good food in the uk. mostly the non-british food unsurprisingly but i Did have some really good fish & chips moments. last meal of the trip especially we got a recommendation from one of my brother's friends who goes to cambridge and ouuuugh that shit was So good.

misc: it's good to be back ... now i'm back in The Grind (work) but i don't mind it. despite the jetlag i'm feeling refocused and excited to get moving on stuff again. i liked a lot of stuff about the uk (trains, vibes) but i also did not like some stuff (why are the cold meds So weak there lmfao) and overall i'm glad to e home :)