#scripted and prepared just to tailor to me

[firehandlerfred]

There are apparently two types of nintendo fans on twitter rn

"So it seems like you can switch music to the old version in the menu, that's nice and the animations are stellar and the ticking of the boxes is nice and clean an-"

Or

"YOU CAN LISTEN TO THE OLD MUSIC I ONCE AGAIN EXPERIENCE HAPPINESS NINTENDO NEVER MISSES"

So from what I gathered, the nintendo direct announced 4 remakes and a sixth DLC?

Cool cool cool yeah no fantastic

[lunargrrrl]

Lights, Camera, Magic

Agatha Harkness sits in the director's chair of some of your favourite movies. Your world suddenly turns upside down when you're invited to audition for her latest screenplay, "Witching Hour".

Chapter 16

director!agatha harkness x fem!reader | slow burn | power dynamics | eventual smut | oh and agatha is a top in this, ofc | praise kink | smut | thank you all for your patience | i'm really bad at posting on tumblr

Dinner is served in a grand dining room, with elegant chandeliers casting a golden glow over the tables. Soft jazz plays in the background, mingling with the clinks of silverware and chatter. You glance at the set name placeholders, realising you’re seated slightly away from Agatha, opposite her and a few seats down, next to none other than Rio Vidal—the captivating woman you encountered on the roof terrace just moments ago. She exudes confidence in a tailored dark grey suit that perfectly complements her striking features and cool energy.

“I'm really glad I’m sitting next to you instead of some of these lizards,” Rio says, her voice light. “At least you know how to keep a conversation interesting. The last guy I talked to just wouldn’t stop bragging about his latest blockbuster flop.”

You chuckle. “I can imagine. It’s refreshing to talk to someone who’s real. I’m just trying to enjoy the moment and not get caught up in all the Hollywood nonsense. It’s all just… so intense.”

Rio nods. “Totally get that. It can feel like everyone’s just playing a part, trying to outshine one another. I mean, I love this industry, but sometimes it’s exhausting.” She glances around the room, lowering her voice. “I swear, if I have to hear one more person talk about their ‘vision’ for a film that’s been in development hell for years, I might just lose it.”

You laugh softly in reply as she leans in closer, a playful smile on her lips. “So, tell me, what do you do when you’re not charming the socks off everyone in this room?”

You take a sip of your drink, feeling the warmth of her compliment. “Well, the past year has just been so crazy, I don’t even know anymore. One minute, I was working for some tech company in my first job out of college, and the next, I’m here, auditioning for movies after some guy spotted me in a coffee shop. It feels like a dream that I’m just trying to keep up with.”

Rio raises an eyebrow, intrigued. “Talk about a plot twist. Honestly, I see why someone would want to scout you. It’s no wonder people can’t help but notice you.”

You laugh, feeling a flutter of connection. As dinner progresses, the conversation flows easily, filled with laughter and shared stories. As you chat, you can feel Agatha's gaze on you from across the table, her expression a mix of interest and something else—jealous, perhaps. 

That familiar, possessive gaze that refuses to leave.

-*-✨-*-

Dinner draws to a close as the servers begin to prepare the table for dessert. Rio is mid-story when her hand brushes against yours as she gestures animatedly. “And then I told him, ‘If you think that’s impressive, wait until you see my next project!’” she finishes, a grin on her lips.

You burst into laughter, and the moment is light. Friendly. But then, you catch Agatha’s eyes flicking toward you, narrowing as she engages with the heavyweight next to her, flashing a smile that feels a touch too flirtatious for comfort.

You try to shake off the discomfort, refocusing on Rio. “So, what’s next for you? Tell me about that project you’re crewing up for next year?”

“Oh yeah, it’s a new script that I think will turn some heads, I reckon you’d be a perfect fit for one of the roles,” Rio replies, her enthusiasm infectious. “It’s a dark comedy about—”

But your attention drifts as you catch another glimpse of Agatha, who is now leaning a bit too close to her companion, laughing a little too hard at something they say. Her fingers graze their wrist, and you feel a knot of annoyance tighten in your stomach.

You turn back to Rio, forcing a smile. “That sounds amazing...”

As you attempt to redirect the conversation, Agatha’s laughter rings out again, this time drawing out her iconic cackle, and you feel the heat of frustration bubble up inside you. You steal another glance at her, catching her playing with the producer’s fingers, and that’s it.

“Excuse me for a second...” you mutter under your breath, pushing back your chair with a noise that draws attention. You stand abruptly, not caring if anyone is looking, and storm away from the table, the air around you suddenly feeling too stifling.

As you pace towards the exit, the soft murmur of conversation behind you fades, drowned out by the thudding of your heart in your chest. You reach the elevator, and the doors begin to slide shut just as you take a breath to steady yourself.

And the second that the doors almost close, is the same second that a hand shoots out, catching the door and forcing it back open.

Agatha.

Your mouth goes dry, and your heart skips, responding to her presence like clockwork.

“Going somewhere?” she asks, her voice smooth as silk, laced with an undertone that makes your pulse quicken.

“I just needed some air,” you reply, trying to sound casual, but the way she’s looking at you makes it impossible to hide the tremor in your voice.

“Air?” she echoes, stepping closer, her gaze steady and piercing. “Why? You seemed pretty… relaxed out there with Rio.”

Frustration bubbles up inside you, and you do your best to hold your composure. “And what about you? I saw you flirting with that producer all dinner.”

Agatha tilts her head, an amused smile dancing on her lips. “Flirting? Hardly. I was simply being professional, and sometimes you need to play into their hands in this industry.” Her expression furrows as she steps even closer, the air between you thick with electricity. “But I’ll admit, it’s adorable how you think you can tease me and get away with it, pet.”

She continues, leaning in, “Two can play at this game, sweetheart. Do you think I didn’t notice the way she looked at you? I think you were forgetting who you belong to.”

Your breath hitches at her words, the possessive undertone igniting within you. “Well, maybe I’m not so easy to claim.”

“Oh, but I think you are.” She steps closer, closing the space between you, “You just need a little reminder.”

Before you can respond, Agatha closes the distance between you with one swift, powerful motion, slamming you against the wall of the elevator. The cool metal presses against your back, causing you to gasp.

“Agatha…” you breathe, but she silences you with her lips, crashing into you with a fervour that ignites every nerve ending in your body. The kiss is urgent and demanding, her hands framing your face as she tilts your head to deepen the connection. You melt against her, responding with equal intensity, the frustration and heat of the moment fuelling your desire.

You gasp helplessly into her hot mouth as she brushes her tongue against yours, igniting a wildfire of longing that tears through you. Her kiss is a heady mix of passion and desperation, each sweep of her tongue sends shivers shaking all over you. You feel her breath hot and rapid against your skin, mixing with the soft sighs that escape from your lips.

Every second stretches into eternity as you lose yourself in her, the world outside the elevator fading into darkness. You explore the intoxicating taste of her lips, rich with the hint of the champagne you shared; the overwhelming strength of her hold wraps around you like a spell. You run your hands up her blazer, your fingers reaching and tangling in her long brown hair, pulling her even closer.

You want to surrender yourself to her completely.

A soft moan escapes your mouth, echoing in the confined space, and Agatha responds immediately, deepening the kiss. It’s as if she craves the sound, as if every whimper from your lips is a reward she cannot resist. Her mouth captures every ounce of your breath, each kiss a sweet torment that leaves you aching for more. She pulls your bottom lip into her mouth, teasingly grazing it with her teeth, sending a rush pooling through you that makes you whimper louder.

And the second that sound slips past your lips, is the same second that Agatha can’t contain the low, throaty sigh that escapes her.

Time seems to compress, each heartbeat reverberating in your chest, leaving you breathless and aching for more, as if every inch of you is ablaze—and only Agatha has the power to quell the flames.

And then, without a word, she reaches into her pocket, retrieving a sleek hotel key card. You manage to catch a glimpse of what it swipes on the elevator panel:

Penthouse Suite

Your breath catches.

Your heart thuds.

Every inch of you pulses at the implication.

Breaking the kiss once more, Agatha pulls back just enough to look into your eyes, her expression a mix of possessiveness and desire.

“It’s time to show you who you really belong to.”

Continue reading on AO3:

[ironunderstands]

I decided to take notes while I played through 2.3… so here they are

First Scene

-stellaron sealed when we were asleep apparently 

-was Sunday the one to tailor everyone’s dreams?

-dreamscape itself exists???

-march’s memories are weird as normal, tentacle tried to reach into her brain but found SOMETHING???

-we were asleep when this all happened and we woke up and immediately asked if it was a dream so something is already up oh boy 

Second Scene 

-firefly and silverwolf yay 

-firefly is still on the wanted list, as Firefly this time 

-it was a missing part of her life she got back 

-Silverwolf helps her out with not being able to move freely, giving her a way out of dreaming ig??? Helps her navigate through unbothered ?

-idk the mechanics of it if you can’t tell

-Miss Samuel as a fake name lmao 

-GENIUS SOCIETY IS HERE?? WHYYY?? HUHHH

-firefly’s script isn’t over yet (third death I assume?)

-“didn’t bring you back to hear an answer like that,” did SW think she already experienced the third death? On her second death was SW the one to revive her, as it seemed like she did that on her own in 2.2?

-yeah she hasn’t done 3rd death yet, and I assume the “unforgettable reward,” is *sighs* time with the Trailblazer 

-“How will I know if I don’t try?” Hmmm this confuses me 

-SW says she’s already made up her mind 

-ooh Kafka asks for some gifts LMAOO, fashionable as always

-to Oti mall I guess, isn’t that one of the people who expressed disappointment in Sunday?

-BLADE ADVICE? telling her to not get tempted, tempted by what?

-YAY SHE GETS NORMAL GIRL TIME THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I WANTED

-oat cakes for SW or Kafka or Blade? Aww Stellaron Hunter family bonding 

-oh is she trying to defy the script?

-adding new footnotes to her destiny, hmm

Third Scene

-TOPAZ POV

-I DIED OMGNDNAKDJKWJDD

-were are on the Radiant Felddpar ship 

-Family is there but “Big Boss” isn’t, I assume that’s Jade

-there’s music notes in the air? Robin?

-Topaz points out how weird this choice of location is

-ship belongs to Alfalfa Family

-npc we are talking to also thinks it should have been held in a more secretive area (Moment of Morning Dew)

-not serious enough atmosphere 

-something’s up definitely 

-Topaz thinks conference is just a prelude- whatever Family organizer wanted to assess the IPC’s stance beforehand

-she thinks they either have their own ambitions and want a preliminary agreement, or want to make the IPC back off, we shall see ig

-Big Boss is a her (definitely Jade), Topaz complimented, saying others must be cautious of her 

-tells subordinate Thomas to just tell the rest of her employees to stay focused on the task ahead 

-yeah it’s Jade, act shocked, also she’d get mad if he called her that 😭😭

-walking around time 

-there is music all around the ship 

-not very important but there are paper birds here too

-none of the important figures have arrived to the meeting room yet, so let’s look around 

This is just from looking around:

-why are there dream pools on the ship? I thought we were already in the dream?

-the torment eagle things are here too 

-and nightingale paintings

-Sparkles bombs, delightful 

-why is there a room on the ship that looks like Mishas room in the dream 

-it seems like the Family is already aware of the bombs and is looking for them based on the dialogue of the NPCs

-there’s a lost kid on the ship?

-so many doors are closed off

-absurdist clock fun 

-the quest is titled “All About Eve” like Eve from the Bible? Is that referring to Jade?

-exhibit that hasn’t been delivered yet

-Robin has instructed them to prepare some things but it seems like the Family isn’t ready yet?

Ok I’m gonna talk to the workers now

-ok talked to the one by Sparkles bombs and Sparkle started talking 

-Numby can hear her I think, I don’t think Topaz did

-yeah Topaz doesn’t know they are bombs that Sparkle hands out, apparently she was disguised as man- maybe Sampo?, uh no all the Buttons are in one place 

-somehow nobody pressed a button, I don’t believe that, the NPC also says that all guests are terrified of death, but like, how did nobody press it?

-yep we are in the dream bc she wants to feed Numby and questions the food quality in a dream

-Numby does not like Oat Cake Rolls

-Topaz will give them a better meal in reality

-so why is there a dreamscape pool in the dream 

-asks more about Radiant Feldspar, which is also owned by Oti Alfalfa, just like the store Firefly wanted to go to

-built an Amber Era ago, it sails across all 12 hours- so they are connected you just have to cross them I guess? Or like does it slip through dimensions 

-Topaz recognizes Old Oti, however what’s weird is that despite how she points out how well decorated it is, there seems to be a lot of stuff missing + Robin thing from earlier

-only prestigious guests are invited, so how did that Pepeshi get lost?

-Ship had been sailing since it was built but was halted due to the recent reverberation 

-reverberation aka whatever the fuck just happened in 2.2

-Family attendant repeats that everything has been resolved and the Charmony Festival had to be temporarily postponed 

-so it’s gonna happen on the ship now, and will also resume the ships voyage, so I guess that’s why Robin ordered some things and everything is a bit out of place

-However, why are they gathering Sparkles Bombs onto the celebration + meeting ship? Why not anywhere else?

-Talent Motivation Department mention 

-ppl still coming after Topaz for Jarilo I will kill them <3

-poor girl can’t get a break, JADE IS HERE

CUTSCENE SO MUCH HAPPENED

-Numby does not trust or like Jade at all

-Topaz is fucking star struck on her knees dying down bad gay gay gay 

-Jade commends her for the Jarilo project, saying the Express’s favor is far more valuable than the planet itself 

-Jade says Topaz can tell her anything, then holds out her Cornerstone as if Topaz would talk to it???

-hmmm

-“you can always tell me anything, remember?” Ah so they are close, and Topaz seems to trust her and vice versa, however I (and Numby) do not trust Jade so there is something sinister going on 

Alright cutscene yapping over

-Jade says to drop the title, that they are equals

-Topaz calls her a senior, but I think she just means in rank

-Jade wants Topaz to be at her best- upcoming negotiations leave no room for error

-true purpose of conference: Oti testing limits of 2 stonehearts before offical negotiations can commence, works in their favor bc it will cause future negotiations to go smoother if they can reach an agreement (this is obvious benefit)

-hidden benefit: demonstrates the Family isn’t all that united bc he’s meeting w them first on his own territory + taking control of Charmony Festival too

-they aren’t entirely influenced by the Harmony so their personal desires shine through, influential figures haven’t suppressed their own 

-with the Dreammaster gone, the Family has begun to fall apart slowly, seems like after 2.2 Oti took over 

-Jade taught her to Listen, test and strike, Jade teases her that she changed the order on Jarilo- Topaz’s personal experience  caused this (her seeing her past/trauma in Belabog)

-meeting time!

-meeting esteemed “supporting actor” hmm

-goal is to create an opportunity for IPC to enter Penacony- Aventurine made a small hole for them to enter, and they are going to tear it wide open

Some more looking around 

-the bombs/buttons are gone 😨 and so is that guard 

-was there a projector in that room (with the dream pool) before?

-diff family attendant at that spot before

Ok back to plot time

-oh this is the place where the divergent universe takes place (I started it a bit yesterday lol, oops), seems like that’s what the Genius Society will get a hold of at the end of this?

-Oti is a Pepeshi, and I really like his character model, he seems welcoming?

Looking around time again 

-the mechanism they use for the Divergent Universe is already there- did Ratio and Screwllum meet with Oti beforehand? Is that how he figured out Dormancy?

-some more locked doors

-Whales outside the window.. (Childe flashbacks)

-let’s talk to Jade before we see Oti

-oh we can’t it just makes us walk beside her

Conversation time

-Oti is hospitable, asks them to forgive him for the wait

-Oti is such a businessman that the Strategic Investment Department makes it a requirement to read his biography

-she’s trying to flatter him but I think Jade is also warning him that she and the rest of the department know everything about him and who he is 

-Topaz doesn’t seem to notice that though and praises him for single handedly building Penacony economy 

-Oti noticed Jade’s tactics I think

-he gets straight to the point- future of Penacony

-Oti questions wtf Aventurine was doing and why 😭, almost getting killed and for what?

-oh he figured them out LMAOO, yup that was for an opportunity 

-haha Jade says “fuck he figured us out” nicely

-she puts the pressure back on him, asking Oti how he would respond 

-he first admires her composure at being called out

-“Oti won’t sit idly by when faced with a greedy wolf,” is he referring to the IPC, Aventurine or both?

-offscreen negotiation

-seems he said something that offended Topaz and Jade, Jade says she’s all ears

-Oti says he requested this meeting to dissuade the SID from trying to lay a finger on Penacony

-asks them to back off before they lose face in the future 

-Topaz points out their fuck ups- Aventurine almost getting murdered and the Charmony Festival fuck up, that there are plenty of real issues plaguing the area

-Oti says they need to be more creative in the land of dreams 

-“My actions will help Penacony take a significant step forward by “self-listing” and going public!” What does that mean 

-Jade asks if he’s gonna bypass the IPC and go public on a universal scale (still don’t know what that means)

-rather than letting the IPC take hold, he’s gonna open the sweet dream to everyone in the universe- which is worded REALLY sinister if you ask me- is he gonna try and make everyone in it dream?

-he redirects and says that from today, anyone can become a shareholder in the Land of Dreams, and that’s the Path of Harmony he chooses

-Oti was aware of the Oaks family’s entanglement with the Order, calls them blockheads who prevented this from happening sooner

-Oti is thankful that the “reverberation” (Sunday and Order’s downfall) has allowed for the obstacle between him and his reforms to be eliminated

-publicize their finances so the universe still has faith in them + the Family remains confident in its future

-neither Jade nor Topaz seem happy about this, seems like they don’t feel as if they are on equal footing

-Jade asks Oti if he’s being waiting for Penacony to regain the spotlight, so if the IPC does anything, their actions will be scrutinized by trillions of people 

-asks them to consider their next moves carefully 

-Jade suggests they conclude the first half of their conference, and that they will respond on the behalf of the IPC later

-he just tells them to take their time (Oti is confident he is in control)

Scene 4- Trailblazer POV

-seems that meeting has concluded as Dan Heng asks if the Alfalfa Family had a meeting with the IPC

-Aventurine told them that to “return the favor”

-I wonder what happened in the meantime to get us here

-Welt points out that Penacony hasn’t changed much since the prison era, suggests that Penacony would rather invite the IPC to the table- on the surface to cooperate- but in reality to secure their own survival 

-which is why the Astral Express are now mediators, and Dan Heng doesn’t know who to stand behind

-Welt doesn’t trust the followers of the Harmony to be as innocent as they presume they are

-if either the Family or the IPC were to take control of Penacony, the efforts of the previous nameless to free it from that illusory hedonism would go to waste

-we were in a deep sleep apparently (uh oh)

-one of the dialogue options says that TB felt like they were in a really long dream 

-another asks where Himeko is

-Welt says their adventure in Penacony is reaching its conclusion

-After Ena’s dream shattered, Montour System’s branch of the Family took control of the situation, most members of the Oak Family fell unconscious? But their lives weren’t in danger 

-Gopher Wood, the previous Dreamaster was confirmed to be the mastermind behind everything, however we know that Sunday killed him. But didn’t he kill him in the dream? So how did gopher wood die in reality? Or did like, the power of the Order that Sunday must have used on him cause that, or did he step outside the dream to face Gopher, then go back in?

-Sunday will face a trial: the Family won’t disclose any further details 

-public perceived incident as an attack by evil forces targeting the Charmony festival, believing the Family had failed to safeguard the sweet dream which eroded their credibility significantly

-at least it has the least impact? Even if it’s far from what really went down 

-SIOBHAN IS BACK

-she says they will get over it

-“you don’t know who’s awake and who’s pretending to be asleep”- another ominous line 

-gives them a toast 

-trailblazer asks why she’s there again, Siobhan is just confused 

-asks when they will leave Penacony

-Welt says they will stay a bit longer, just not too long 

-she says this farewell is missing something 

-“maybe a special drink to honor those who are not here” oh yeah Gallagher is gone GONE

-To the Nameless resting in peace… and to Gallagher, oh he’s so gone

Walking around time again 

-everyone but Himeko is here 

Ok taking this many notes is exhausting and is lowkey killing my enjoyment 😭 so I’ll just leave the REALLY important stuff from now on 

-The Family claims the Oak Family used the stellaron to help sink everyone into Ena’s dream 

-others had their own delusional dreams 

-DH says the hidden dangers of the Order have always been within the Harmony, an issue that has persisted in the Family from the very beginning 

-more awareness makes this complicated 

-March has a button now too, says she was told the buttons will explode Penacony if pressed 

-himeko’s been up to something lately she will tell us at the festival

-Siobhan gives us another drink, saying it will “bring back the flavors of Penacony” which makes me believe it will help us get back here somehow 

-Welt is sure it will leave a lasting impression, hmmm

-she says if we happen to find Gallagher, to let him have a sip 

Scene 5: Jade POV

-Oti is tricky but there is still hope

-Jade asked Topaz to make a phone call offscreen, presumably to the express who agreed

-talking in code

-Jade asks Topaz if she thinks Penacony is worth it

-Topaz says yes

-Jade questions if this project is too bland for her

-Topaz says she would be here if it weren’t for Aventurine

-Jade pointed out she entrusted him with a cornerstone, which is as precious as life itself to finish this gamble 

-however Topaz points at out that Jade’s stone couldn’t have made it in without either of their cornerstones: and that the Jade stone allows Jade to see all desires that flow through the dreams to gain a bargaining chip in the negotiations: this must be the “harvest” Jade was referring to in 2.1, seems like this is her Cornerstone’s ability 

-Perhaps that’s why she held it up earlier? To allow Topaz to vent her feelings into the Jade stone?

-Topaz actually staked her Topaz’s stone for Jade’s sake, not Aventurine’s

-Jade is greatful Aven is alive, saying it’s the best outcome, Topaz immediately says they have strayed off topic

-Jade says she will go alone, instructs Topaz to meet “honored guest”- likely the Nameless

-Jade spots Robin

-turns out we were actually in the previously locked off rooms in the back of where we met Oti, he’s still there, and he’s wearing glasses? Was he before? We can’t talk to him tho 

-ah this also unlocked some more doors- it’s where the ship is captained, but the captains room is locked 

-Robin is preparing for Charmony Festival

-Jade lies saying she’s on her way to meet Oti really she’s just here for info before meeting him 

-Robins never met him, she says Alfalfa is respectable when it comes to business, but not necessarily in other respects

-Jade asks where Robin thinks Penacony is heading, Robin is hopeful, thinks Harmony needs new direction 

-“no permanent allies or everlasting enemies,”

-2nd half of negotiations- no Topaz this time

-Jade is gonna be meaner bc Topaz isn’t here you go manipulative queen 

-says Oti is not the only merchant who has seen the changes in the cosmic market over the past ten Amber Eras

-Jade declares that Penacony has no way of sidestepping the IPC and going public, that they can’t stop the IPC, the IPC will tear down and rebuild as they see fit

-tells Oti that if he doesn’t want to be a laughingstock and have everyone after him, he better drop his “pie-in-the-sky-plan” perhaps he was planning on using Sparkles bombs to take out the IPC ambassadors now that the protection of not being able to die in the dream is no longer there- or at least he has control over it

-Jade reminds him IPC controls more than half the news in the universe 

-says trillions of customers will receive a, “The Family’s protection for Penacony has expired. Any mishaps in the Dreamscape could result in permanent brain death,” message from the IPC if Penacony decides to go public

-threatens to make his entire currency worthless with how many contingencies the IPC has, Jade is confident she can pull it off, even from Pier Point

-she promises that the IPC won’t jeopardize the interests of the Family heads under Oti’s leadership if he gives up the plan to go public 

-they (IPC) want allies in Asdana, Jade says they can assist Penacony with financing, will acquire 30% equity shares from the Family, and in exchange will also help rebuild Penacony 

-Oti thinks it’s too much, and worried about the future 

-Jade happily says there are no guarentees- this is based on mutual respect- but the board of directors will consider the interests of the Family heads to some extent

-she points out this would be beneficial for the Family, and for him, if they both take a step back, also points out this will attract more customers like he wanted 

-as the head of the Alfalfa family, Oti accepts, seeing no reason to refuse, but as THEIR (Xipe’s) chosen one, he still needs one final answer (hmmm this is an interesting detail)

-talks about the rise of Xipe and fall of Ena, he asks why the IPC seeks to collaborate with the Family (Harmony) rather than the Order, who is far closer in ideals (Preservation)

-Jade says it’s about credit, saying that through the Preservation, the IPC can perpetually ensure credits value, meaning they have no need for the Order, as they have made their own, with Qilpoths “credit” being the heart of everything

-Oti understands this will eventually lead to the IPC taking control over everything 

-“this universe doesn’t need two types of Order” (Preservation and the Order)

-Oti says he’s convinced 

-code words from before come back in (shit I should have written them down, it was poison something, sweet dew, and apple something, sweet dew shows up this time per Topaz’s invite)

-unsurprisingly, it’s one of the Nameless: Himeko

-Astral Express will be shareholders? Perhaps this is so they can guarantee the future the Nameless wanted like Welt mentioned

-IPC gets 30%, gives 5% to the express to “honor the sacrifices and contributions made by the former Nameless to the Land of the Dreams,” which is A) true B) the real honor is the express now having a foot in the door to prevent Penacony from being like it was before

-Himeko is a member for the board of directors- what board? One in the IPC, or for Penacony, the Family?

-crew agreed to assist in reconstruction of Penacony, and commit to bringing the dreams of Penacony to other worlds 

-However, they really wish for the Harmony to not be distorted again, that tragedy must never occur again

-negotiations end, we (as Jade) will go to meet up w Topaz again 

-Jade believes the family heads will soon realize the situation, and that Oti’s agreement didn’t just represent their agreement, but the followers of the Harmony in general (this last part is only implied though)

-Topaz says she will handle the arrangements for formal negotiations 

-Jade allows her to- gives Topaz a sense of control OOOH THE MANIPULATIONNNNN

-Topaz is shocked bc big responsibility, but Jade interrupts

-she says that Aventurine initiated this case and Topaz was his project partner, but since he overplayed his hand (taking on a case he couldn’t handle on his own?) Jade got pushed to the forefront 

-OOH MORE MANIPULATION, Jade says she came here to help Topaz sort out the toughest issues, saying “I trust you’ll be able to wrap things up quite nicely, little Jelena,”

-Topaz’s objections immediately get pushed aside bc of Jades words, and asks Jade to give Diamond her assurance

-Jade tells her to not worry, Diamond has always trusted them, and Jade will put in a good word for her, and Topaz will get her position (P45) back in no time

-Jade claims her business is done so she’s gonna indulge in her own little hobby (I’m scared)

-which is opening a Bonajade Exchange branch on this ship, whatever that is, Jade believes the guests on this ship had or a wealth of valuable treasures tho 

-it’s a pawnshop, and Jade says she will leave, saying she’ll “see you around Topaz”

-Topaz has one more question, Jade gladly lets her ask, she asks about the dose of “bitter poison”, wondering how Jade got it (I’m guessing her Cornerstone), it wasn’t her cornerstone, a “lady concerned with the future of the Harmony” told her (maybe this is Robin? But it seems like that was their first meeting? Hmm) 

-Jade says she agreed to help her with something later (which makes me think this was Sparkle now haha), and that they can deal with it after they leave Penacony

-“that’s what ‘investment’ is all about”- the seeds of opportunity have already been soon and Jade simply gives them a little bit of nourishment for them to take root, afterwards all they (her and Topaz) need to do is wait patiently 

-like right now, and Jade’s final “guest” boarded the ship

I’m insane about this actually yall. TOPAZ CENTRIC STORY??? WHAT IF I DIED. Also I love the way Jade was written in this, they made her as manipulative as I wanted her to be, so yeah I love her THEY COMMITED TO THE BIT I PRAYED FOR TIMES LIKE THIS

Scene 6: Firefly POV

-she boards (rather sneaks onto) the ship, so I assume she’s Jade’s final guest 

-oh she’s heading to the pawnshop that grants wishes (it’s definitely Jade’s), perhaps to get those gifts she wanted earlier, or defy her destiny like she wanted to earlier?

-hey those closed off areas are unlocked W

-she spots TB, Robin is also there 

-there’s a nice banquet table for people in that room, we got a shot of it earlier during Topaz, Jade and Oti’s meeting, idk what line of dialogue it was for tho 

-Firefly overhears Robin saying that she will, “present a gift to the Astral Express on behalf of The Family as a token of gratitude for the Nameless’ contributions to Penacony”, asking for the staff to help her w the arrangements

-Firefly then asks how to get to the pawnshop, yup it’s Jade’s spot, she gets the directions 

-Silverwolf was gonna meet w the Genius Society? Why? Also apparently she mentioned Jade’s stuff earlier, I don’t remember that though, maybe I forgot to write it down

-we can look for the TB so I’m going to 

-TB is being a dumbass as ever and Firefly is amused 

-she wants to talk to us but Firefly wants to meet Jade first 

-we can’t go over there even if we want to

-Jade made her exchange in the dream pool room for some reason 

-asks Jade to call her Samuel

-Firefly says she wants to give up living, and that she’s willing to give up everything she has

-even Jade is gagged

-Firefly is like yup! Everything!

-Jade says she should turn around bc she’s not familiar with the term, “pawn” aka she’s betting quite literally EVERYTHING

-Jade says she doesn’t have anything of equal value to offer her

-Firefly is upset, says this shop must just be a marketing gimmick 

-Jade says she will help Firefly understand what she means, telling her to go and talk to the other customers, when she understands what “pawn” really means

-we see the TB being stupid again, this time w Dan Heng tagging along

-again she plans on catching up w them later

-first person she meets, Stacy, finally won a gamble w the blessing of Lady Bonajade

-there also seems to be way more guests on the ship 

-second person she meets, a Pepeshi named Dell, gets his crush named Dorothy to go out with him, implied that he wished for her to say yes

-ppl seem to be gossiping about a grey haired person, either Firefly or TB

-yup it’s TB

-someone has been hiding in the Moment of Sol in Penacony under a fake identity, proposing as a professor at Paperfold academy, apparently this intellatron (Walker) found him (idk who him is) with the help of an influential figure 

-ah this is unimportant this was just the wishes of the third person

-Firefly still doesn’t get it, but their wishes did seem to come true

-Jade said it was just to show the exchange was genuine, how she shows how all three of them gave up so much in exchange for their wishes, so yeah, glorified drug dealer, but it is an equal exchange, and Jade only encourages these people’s delusions, giving with the power of her Cornerstone for a hefty price

-uses their endless cycle of desires to get what Jade desires from their whirlpool of horrific decision making 

-Jade knows Firefly’s identity, and she asks Firefly if she’s really willing to give up everything, Firefly isn’t surprised though 

-Entropy Loss Syndrome was thrust upon all of the Iron Calvary in order to keep them fighting for Glamoth, and from falling into the wrong hands 

-Firmament Front is gone so those who know the secret and could cure the disease are nowhere to be found, but Firefly still wishes to continue her existence 

-Firefly asks if the IPC has a remedy 

-Jade just says there might be a silver lining and leaves it at that 

-Firefly realizes that she can’t provide anything of equal value bc nothing she owns has any meaning 

-asks Jade if she’s gonna ask her to restrain the other Stellaron Hunters for her survival 

-that’s not the case though, Jade acknowledges how remarkable close the Stellaron Hunters are, compares them to the Stonehearts, OOOHH LORE DROP

-Jade says like how the Stoneheart follow Diamond, the Stellaron Hunters are, “Traveling on the Path of Finality but struggling against your destiny, attempting to move in the opposite direction?”

-Firefly remains silent

-Jade hopes all of them will visit her pawnshop one day

-Firefly asks if she can see this as an invitation from Diamond to the Stellaron hunters behind the IPC’s back

-Jade says to consider it a person offer, not representing the IPC or SID

-Firefly says she will pass on the offer, but she has a question

-Firefly points out that SW could let the entirety of Pier Point know of this in seconds, so why would Jade ask this 

-Jade says it’s because she believes her and Firefly are the same

OH MY GOD STONEHEART PICTURE

-she believes the Stonehearts band together to get what they want, and have been invited by Diamond to join them whilst on their own journeys

-Jade says all stonehearts carry a void (ambition) that can only be filled from the outside 

-also omg Topaz and Aven look GOOOODD GRERRAAAA TOPAZ LOOOS SO FINE EEJFHJEJAKSKWS RAAAAA AVENNNNNNTURJEJNWKAND AAAA

-so Diamond promised them something, he divided the power of the Emanator of Preservation into ten pieces (for the ten stonehearts) and gave each of us a Cornerstone to fill that void 

-“Mortal flesh is fragile, yet my heart is unyielding like the monolith. For without this resolve, the way of the Preservation would fade into oblivion.”

-Jade says this pledge goes beyond a mere oath, it’s their collateral in exchange for the Stonehearts desires, and their future 

-whatever they gain from it will make the Stonehearts stronger, allowing them to achieve the great cause of the Preservation (what Diamond wants) when the war among the Aeons eventually comes (HUHH WHAT NOWW I MEAN WERE GETTING THEIR GOALS AT LEAST?!!)

-Jade tells Firefly to take her time 

-Firefly says she will, and says it’s shame that the pawnshop won’t give her what she wants, as her last attempt (death?) will end with “hope”

-Walker comes to give her his memories

Scene 7: Trailblazer 

-he points out how the meeting went smoother than expected 

-Charmony festival opening ceremony is starting soon

-AVENTURINE AND BOOTHILL?!!?

-Boothill threatening Aven jokingly but not jokingly, Aven brushes it off

-seems like they came to an agreement off screen

-he notices us + typical flattery, Boothill gives a normal greeting 

-Aventurine admits his words are nothing more than flattery and not genuine (at least due to the option I picked) 

-Boothill says to set aside the under the table stuff as to not spoil the mood

-Aven gives congratulations bc he can’t be there personally (he’s a hologram) to witness the crew getting celebrated 

-Aven says his job was just to give the IPC an opening, which he achieved (even if it was a mess

-Aven says he wouldn’t have been able to dig up such dirty information without the help of a “knowledgeable friend” HMMM IS THAT RATIO???

-Acheron still fucked him up though, and he admits this would have gone smoother had she not injured him 

-we thank Boothill, he’s like it’s nothing I’m a galaxy ranger it’s part of our duty, he’s happy Galaxy Rangers are making a comeback and asks the TB to pass on his regards to any Hunt followers he meets

-BOOTHILL STRAIGHT UP ADMITS THAT AVENTURINE IS GONNA HELP HIM FIND OSWALDO SCHNEIDER WHO HE HAS A SCORE TO SETTLE WITH??? HE ADMITS THAT!!? HUHHH, I mean he did say he’s not one to beat around the bush but still 

-Aventurine also talks about the feud between the Marketing Development Department (Oswaldo) and Strategic Investment Department (Diamond) is fairly well on wok, but he didn’t expect the Galaxy Rangers to get involved

-he thinks things are gonna get spicy 

-I wonder if the IPC knows about this deal between him and Boothill, I doubt it though, and I think Aven might be hiding this from everyone 

-this reminds me that he was deliberately acting like he hadn’t grown around Jade during their conversation in 2.2, which makes me think he’s planning to do something beyond just whatever he is gonna do with Boothill, or at the very least Aven wants to make things easier for himself by acting as if Penacony didnt change him 

-they wish the TB well, Avens hologram disappears 

RATIO.

EVERYONE PAUSSEEE

-he’s standing where the now activated Divergent Universe thing is AAAA

-it’s all over the screen/hj

-OK CALM DOWN BE SERIOUS 

-OFF THE BAT TSUNDERE - “your performance at Herta’s space station was… adequate, I suppose,” thats high praise coming from you hehehhehe

-“Hm, no wonder the gambler likes you so much.” HUHHH??! Can’t keep AVENS NAME OUT UR DAMN MOUTH FOR MORE THAN 5 SECONDS??? We didn’t even bring him up 

-“This individual is my responsibility during the trip. Hmph, nothing more than an errand from the Office of Academic Affairs,” the who of what now? Not the “hmph” and downplaying 

-tells the Trailblazer to take advantage of the opportunity the Charmony Festival provides 

-TB asks Ratio how he rates Aventurine, Ratio says that the IPC and Guild position them as strategic partners; but Ratio sees himself as a teacher, and like everyone in Ratio’s life, Aventurine as a student, Aven isn’t an ideal student, but not utterly obtuse. He remarks that the void inside of him (which could be referring to either the one mentioned as being filled by the Stonehearts or just Aven’s general lack of a will to live) cannot be filled by talent and knowledge. Ratio hopes he doesn’t turn into a philosophical zombie. Which I like that up, and it’s basically someone who behaves like a person but does not have a conscious experience. What I think Ratio is suggesting is that what Aventurine is missing isn’t talent or knowledge, but genuine connections with other people, goals, desires, a purpose, things that aren’t so material 

-TB teases Ratio, saying they thought he would make them get their act together, Ratio says that saying such a thing means we haven’t grasped the essence of learning, OH MY GOD HE SAYS EXACLTY HOW I BELIEVE HIM TO VIEW KNOWLEDGE SOMEONE SEDATE ME

“Acquiring knowledge aims to enhance living” I KNOW THIS IS A SIMPLE LINE BUT ITS LIKE AT THE CORE OF RATIOS PHILOSOPHY, HE WANTS TO SPREAD KNOWLEDGE TO HELP OTHERS GROW AND PICK THEMSELVES UP 

oh my god, that’s why Aventurine isnt his typical student, to improve Aventurine’s life, he DOESNT need knowledge or talent, so Ratio has to try other methods…

Forgive me for the person I’m about to become I fear 

-we say good by to him 😭😭😭😭

-“I detest noisy gatherings, as they intrude upon my thoughts.. What a waste of time” AUTISM!! BRO IS OVERSTIMULATED LEAAVE GO ELSEWHERE WHY ARE YOU HERE UR CLEARLY HAVING A BAD TIMEEEE

Alright bye Ratio onto the next one

-TOPAZ AND NUMBY??!?

-Topaz eco ship mention??

-ooh we ask her about her Cornerstone and if she can transform herself like Aven

-her ability isn’t as “visual”? So it’s not a transformation 

-LORE DROP; abilities of Ten Stonehearts are all different, some can even read thoughts and grasp desires (Jade), she warns us to be careful 

-Topaz is greatful for the timing in Belabog bc it let her and Bronya be friends 

-Jade convo next!

-I picked Sundays name and she went “not a bad name, just lacking in virtue,”

-she does her deal shtick, I’m gonna ask to revive Akivili 

-poor girl is dumbfounded, but she accepts 😭

-she asks for the tail of an animal and I think she asks for the tail of the cat in the stellaron hunters 😭

-sorry Akivili you aren’t returning 

-ARGENTI

-his lines aren’t voiced unfortunately 

-he’s talking about the beauty as always, saying we are already walking that path due to our virtue 

-apparently if an admirer of Beauty gets lost in the pursuit of power, they risk descending into “the Omen of Evil” a form that’s neither human nor beast 

-he compares this to Sunday; whose actions argenti believes were no different from the Omen of Evil, and that he lost his way along the path of righteousness 

-he wasn’t there at the final battle because Ena’s dream was too realistic and he couldn’t bid farewell to a fallen friend who had turned into a beast, so Argenti stayed within the dream for a while 

-he blames himself for not passing the trial of Beauty this time, and for hesitating, wishing to become more determined that ever 

-him and Sunday competing for who has more religous trauma LMAOO

Alright I’m done talking let’s wait for the opening now

-Firefly is here!

-we go over how wack the plot has been 

-she asks if we will be leaving again 

-I picked the idk option and Firefly says not to worry bc we are on the path of the Trailblaze

-Elio told Firefly that her journey will tell her how to live on and the rest is up for her to find out, and she will hunt for leads everywhere, including Penacony 

-TB says that no wonder she was investigating the Watchmaker, but even if she didn’t get what she wanted, Firefly says she get a deal from Jade

-we warn her not to make deals w the IPC bc they are shady

-Firefly is like no dw I didn’t do anything stupid or get anyone involved 

-she apologies for lying to us earlier about being from the Iris Family

-I accept it bc I’m not a cunt but I’m glad they allow you to turn her down 

-OOH FIREFLY’S STRUGGLE AT EXPRESSING HER EMOTIONS YESS HOYOVERSE THIS IS WHAT I WANTED GRRRRR

-uh oh bloodhound family is here 

-Firefly is sad and like “I guess we have to say our goodbyes”

-but she’s hopeful bc her “script” hasn’t ended yet- so they will meet again 

-TB is worried but figures she will be fine, we decide to check on her later after we attend the festival 

-we get a message from Firefly, saying she handled everything but she’s sad she won’t get to see Robin perform 

-Ceremony begins and Robin shows up

-March is fangirling

-Robin is eating as always 

-she’s like “yeah this has been crazy but hey we’re doing it now!”

-thanks Oti Alfalfa for his dedication 

-she’s like thank god it’s over

-oh she brings up the Watchmaker

-she gives a tribute to Misha/ Mikhal Char Legwork for laying the foundations of Penacony

-thanks him for allowing the Dreamscape to exist, that Penacony’s success is rooted in the Trailblaze that the Watchmaker brought with him and only by honoring that spirit can harmony be spread 

-everything is back on track, and Penacony’s family give the Nameless a token of appreciation 

-They give the ship to the Astral Express?!!? That’s a fun one, I think Robin pulled some strings for that one to screw over Oti for throwing Sunday under the bus

-she toasts the Harmony, the Trailblaze, the future of Penacony and the universe, and the generous Alfalfa Family Head, Mr. Oti Alfalfa

CUTSCENE TIME

-Oti is amused by Robins cunning

-he’s SPARKLE TIME

-she put a bomb in the ship and we got 10 minutes to find it oh boy 

Cutscene over 

-she gave us a map at least 

-HASTIEST GROUP CHAT IN EXISTENCE TO FIX THIS

-LMAOO

-this is great it’s bomb hunting time

-because the hounds are stupid and gathered everything spending 48 system hours to press all her buttons 

-it’s hidden among 999 dolls and the challenge is to find where the real one is hidden 

-Robin asks everyone not to panic and that they will prepare for evacuating 

-however the Oak Family has relied on the power of the Order for the guarantee that you can’t die in dreams, but since the Order’s blessings are lost, this bomb might actually kill people 

-everyone agrees to help

-Aventurine isn’t taking it seriously likely because he isn’t actually there, he’s like “Wanna bet who will survive this?” and Ratio’s like “k” bc he’s done w Aven’s shit and higher priorities 

-Black Swan finds 131 fake bombs, area gets evacuated 

-Boothill finds 217 of them with the help of the hounds and Ratio wearing his alabaster head, nobodies found it yet but nobody seems too concerned 

-Argenti finds 145 bombs but again, duds

-IPC found 329, but again, nothing 

-last one is in the cockpit 

-Sparkle rickrolls us

-it’s a bomb 

-they found the remaining dolls but nothing

-Sparkle gives the coordinates of the last, true bomb, and everyone agrees to gather there 

-TB finds Firefly standing by Sparkle’s bomb 

-Sweet Dream no longer has the Order’s protection and if it were to blow up there could be bad consequences 

-she says the design is unique and as if it’s been locked by some mysterious Path force

-nobody knows how to deactivate it 

-Firefly doesn’t think anybody there can fix it

-she says Black Swan might be able to teleport it, but Firefly found a note inside the doll

-a note that’s complete nonsense and says it contains a virus very dangerous to Memetic entities like BS plus a bunch of Bananas for some reason? It’s all very unserious 

-Firefly reminds us that she has three “deaths” in the Land of Dreams

-so this is the third time 

-we’re like nah ur not dying 

-Firefly says she’s not in the dream like normal people, she has a Stellaron Hunters special method (Silver Wolf) that let her to be in here , and it lets Firefly perform feats others can’t 

-as long as she can bear the pain of the memoria pressure, she will be able to dive into the primal Memory Zone and extend a lifeline to the Radiant Feldspar

-she’s gonna try and take it into the depths of the Dreamscape (Primordial Memory Zone) so nobody will get hurt 

-Firefly tells us not to worry and that SAM will allow her to get back safely if she lucky 

-determined to give this story a happy ending 

-Firefly reminds us of Acheron’s words, “The so-called impossible is merely something that has yet to happen..”

-the moment that could disprove the “impossibilities” hasn’t arrived yet

-Firefly has so many choices to make before her “death” in whatever form it takes, and she believes that when the moment arrives for us to make a choice, the answer to our end will already be in our hearts 

-“it is not destiny that shapes us, but we who shape destiny,”

CUTSCENE

Compare astral express and stellaron hunters like light and shadow and tied together 

-OH BOY SO MUCH HAPPENS

-Sparkle detonates the bomb early but it’s actually fireworks 

-she then bops us off the edge of the ship but Firefly catches and saves us

-it’s really cute tbh

-she reaffirms what we said, both that destiny is ours to choose and that the reason why life slumbers is because one day we will wake up

-there’s a little procession of scenes of everyone so far

-highlights being Ratio leaving and Boothill pulling out a gun due to Argentis yapping

-and Aven reminiscing in the place where he found himself again

-we also get a little peak at what Acheron is doing

-she put three flowers on the graves of the Nameless, officially saying by to them 

Cutscene over 

Scene 8; Acheron (although still from TB perspective)

-child wanted to put flowers down for the Nameless? I don’t really understand her first line in this 

-oh the child is Mikhail and the flowers are for the other two Nameless, and when he’s  gone someone placed one for him

-she says “your wishes will always be remembered by someone,” likely talking not just to Mikhail, but the audience

-Now Penacony has finally welcomed the dawn after the long dark night, even if the path ahead won’t be easy 

-“Tiernan, you can now go home”

-the Nameless are also preparing for our next stop

-we say goodbye to the old Nameless, Gallagher and Acheron 

-“in the Land of the Dreams, anything is indeed possible,” - March

-“History may not remember the names of the dead, but the stars will attest to their journeys, the first glimmer of light in the prolonged night often illuminates little, as it is fleeting and the darkness too vast. But because of this, people will remember: As long as something shines in the night sky, then when the first star falls.. countless more will follow, streaking across the horizon.” - Dan Heng, I loved his speech so I had to write it 

-they give a toast to the fallen Nameless

-“A toast to history that no longer remains silent, the passionate and courage’s pursuit, and a voyage that traverses the stars,”- Dan Heng ur COOKING

-we can talk to Acheron, and she calls it a fitting end to our story

-we say bye to Gallagher, who we don’t even know if he was a “living person”, callback to the 13 thing, an “enigmatic” character for sure

-at least our journey and his love for Penacony was real

-we toast him too, and using the drink that Siobhan made for him 

-“to all lies, and the singular truth,”- March 

-she also asks him to not speak in riddles if they ever meet again 

-we say bye to Micah, Welt apologizes for only now speaking to him, Welt asks what the people of Dreamflux Reef do now, many will continue to live there, and “those accustomed to being away will mostly have a hard time getting used to a life of darkness with their eyes closed,” Micah will also watch over the primal Memory Zone as the Order has faded 

-“Penacony’s nights are long, and there are many who are still far from a good nights sleep,”

-they still manage without the Sweet Dream

-toast to the ppl in Dreamflux Reef and their tenacity 

-we finally say goodbye to Mikhail, it started from the moment we met him and it ends by saying goodbye to him

-“just like a clock’s hands that turn round and round, the start and end of each day will always land on twelve o’clock- the advent of time moving forward,” - Himeko, it really is over isn’t it, honestly I wonder now is just what that dream pool and projector were for 

-the entire adventure started bc of Mikhail and it’s ending because of him

-“And then, a new page will be turned.”

-“To Penacony’s past, present, future… and the child’s unwavering dream unto death,”- Himeko

—“the Trailblaze can illuminate the way, but ultimately, the future of a world belongs to those who live in it,” - Dan Heng, just like Belabog and the Luofu huh 

-March has a strange feeling that she had a few stops ago that’s really strong this time, she talks about how many stories these three Nameless have experienced, and she compares them to the current Nameless and their own adventures, and that they lived the “every day” we do now

-but it’s all in the past, and TB says to her that we should live in the present, but that’s what March can’t get out of her mind

-she’s upset at that the Nameless then didn’t get their happy ending, but the TB now shouldn’t live through them, however since us (especially March) has witnessed their lives, their are special to us now, so she hopes their story gets a good ending when it comes 

-but what if those Nameless and us now aren’t special, and we won’t get a good ending?

-if Mikhail might not have had no regrets, how can we know we won’t? 

-“Then, what is this regret we feel in our hearts right now…?”

-Himeko assured that all of them are searching for the answer to this question, that against the backdrop of a cosmos, our lives are fleeting 

-however, even if the universe doesn’t remember the never ending Trailblaze, but people, and those who travel along the silver rail themselves will

-“As long as we remember, their stories (The Trailblaze) will never end,” OH MY GOD THIS MIRRORS WHAT BS SAID IN THE ONE TRAILER WHERE WE WILL CARRY OUR WISHES TO COUNTLESS STARS AAAA

-Mikhail answered this question himself, dying with a smile on his face even after his complicated life

-its meaning will be interpreted by those who come after us 

-it’s not the answer that’s important, but what we can learn from others answers 

-“This is what Trailblazing is”

-March tells DH to tell a dad joke to lighten the mood

-he won’t 

-it’s never a bad thing to reflect 

-we got a long way ahead of us WHOOO

-so it’s time to tell PomPom what we saw

-then prepare for the next stop

-time to say final goodbye to Acheron

-she asks if we remember our first meeting

-we reminded her of an acquaintance 

-because of the Self-Annihilators curse, what she thought was a familiar meeting was merely an illusion, attributing her feelings of that old friend to us the TB

-however you can ask if it wasn’t an illusion 

-Acheron says it’s improbable we ever met before, and there’s nothing left to retrace but Nihility 

-I can keep pushing 

-she doubles down, said this me and your memory of her aren’t the same person

Red Text oh my god

-“But some things will never change,”

-she just laughs in response 

-oh my god she’s talking about her past companions oh no her Kiana her Bronya noooooo NOOOOOOOOOO

-they didn’t achieve the outcome they wanted, but our sheer stupidity makes it feel like they never even left

-she talks about how things can seem so similar yet so different 

-Acheron has wandered alone, encountering “acquaintances” who’s silhouettes overlap with her past

-she asks us what we think her “Deja vu” means

-im going with “the wish to return to the past”

-she says all of our possible answers are incomplete

-it’s something that’s not external, but something that’s within us, an emotion spanning across time from a certain moment in our past to reach us

-every time we reminisce, we notice both the tiny but unforgettable things we leave behind, and the other things that remain constant throughout 

-that’s the summary of our lives, the proof of our shared path 

-within those small moments, those tiny regrets, we glimpse our own essence, and truly “exist”

-Acheron says to “set forth on your voyage without hesitation, Nameless, on the path of the Trailblaze”

-even if our ending has been predetermined (OOH CALLBACK TO 2.1 and 2.2 AAA) there are countless things humans cannot change 

-but before that, there are still many things we can do

SHES WORD FOR WORD REPEATING THINGS 

-“And because of this, the “end” will thus reveal a completely different meaning”

-“this is the meaning of ‘journey’” 

I AM INSANE ABOUT THIS ACTUALLY AAAAAAAAA

THE CALLBAKCS THE REFERNEFES I WAS RIGHT I WAS RIGHT FUCK ALL OF YOU I LOVR YOU ACHERONNNN

-“all those things, beautiful before, are still do now. And I believe… It will still bloom at the end of the Nihility, until we meet again beneath the sun’s rays,” OH MY GOD SHE HAS HER HORNS AND OLD OUTFIT SHES SO BEAUTIFUL 

AND WE ARE GONNA MEET AGAIN AT THE END OF THE STORY AAAAAAAA

Back at the Express

-Pom Pom is crying 

-Dan and March bickering 

-Pom-Pom started crying over the adventure, March has never seen them so sad before 

-now they are angry

-we caused so much chaos and threw the time-table off and if we keep acting like this the Express is gonna run out of fuel 

-well not really they are just masking their sadness

-we take a break in the next car while Himeko comforts Pom Pom

-we chat a bit, those three Nameless must have meant a lot to them 

-we don’t know shit about Pom Pom’s past lmao, but their emotions haven’t become dulled by the grind of time, and they still value every journey 

-we might actually run out of fuel bc due to our existence Pom Pom has had to delay the warp jump schedule 

-the express converts every “Trailblaze” into the energy it needs to run, like a perpetual motion machine

-we are using up fuel much faster than expected, and can only pull off two more warp jumps at most

-which means we must consider our next destination carefully 

-the two worlds nearest to us are the oceanic planet of Lushaka and the Agate World Melustanin

-we still need to vote 

-BLACK SWAN SHOWS UP

-Welts like ‘alright give us the juice’

-she overheard how the express obtains fuel 

-her suggestion could be the lifeline that saves everyone

-OH ITS THE DH = DF LINES YESS

-“those mired memories of yours”

-if the express needs a special trailblazing expedition to recharge its engine, then they should go to a world that even Akivili never even reached, and the express will never have to worry about energy again

-March is like “is that possible?!!”

-a world many don’t even know exists, hidden away by outside observation, only revealed by the light from the monitor of the Garden of Recollection

-fettered by three Paths, its destiny hanging in the balance 

-“The Eternal Land, Amphoreus”

NO THIS IS CRAZY THIS IS CRAZY BECAUSE THAT IS RATIOS HOMELAND SO HOW DID HE GET OUT FROM THERE, A PLACE NOT EVEN AKAVILI HAS BEEN ?!:!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAA

JADE SCENE?!!

YOOOOO

-she calls Sunday a child

-it seems like he tried to escape and got caught

-he thinks he’s gonna die

-his fate is entirely in Jade’s hands

-he wants the pretenses to be over and to just have time to talk 

-she’s glad he’s still a cunt 

-she came to fulfill Robin’s wishes, to offer a trade if he’s willing to accept 

-she talks about his oath between him and Robin of building a haven where everyone can attain peace 

-she asks if he would be willing to speak to her if there was a chance to fulfill that vow 

-Jade sets him free, tells him to see the world for himself

-Sunday doesn’t want to accept it though 

-however the trade is still up, and Jade is willing the wait for his answer 

-she gives him a word of warning 

-“Life is too short to miss out on golden opportunities”

And it’s over

Wow that was great 

OK! I will definitely not be doing this again because oh my god this made the quest take like 10 hours (most of the time was just typing it tbh 😭) made it far less fun than it could have been, however it also really helped me understand what was going on a lot; and I’ll look back on this if I want to remember the plot in 2.3

Overall I think it’s a really satisfying conclusion for Penacony, and any of the things I thought were weird kinda dissipated because they are minor nitpicks at best, and we did say Penacony would have to figure itself out from here

if you somehow decided to read all of these, I admire your patience lmao, and I hope you enjoyed all of the parts in which I started absolutely losing it

I recommend you don’t do this lmao, it’s more fun to just play through and look at the wiki later imo, maybe take more overarching ones after you have already completed a scene? This was certainly a learning experience at least

[warabidakihime]

Vicious Deceptions

Character: Actor!Toji Fushiguro x Actress!Reader | hollywood au Synopsis: Cunning minds entwined, weaving a web of treachery and desire. In a world of secrets and hidden intentions, their love became a tapestry of vicious deceptions.

Content warning: adultery, smut, profanities. minors dni.

*

The news of your movie's blockbuster success spread quickly, and the anticipation for the sequel soared. You, a renowned actress, and Toji Fushiguro, a confident and cool-headed actor, were in the middle of a script-reading session with your co-stars, preparing for the shoot that would begin in three days.

As you read your script, you felt a blush creep up your cheeks when Toji, sitting beside you, subtly moved closer. His mischievous grin hinted at something beyond the innocent facade you both presented to the world.

Pointing to a particular scene, Toji's eyes sparkled.

"It looks like we have a steamy shower scene coming up," Toji remarked, his voice bold and teasing. He knew exactly how to push your buttons and enjoyed the playful banter you shared.

Your eyes widened momentarily, betraying your interest in the intimate scene. You quickly composed yourself and responded with a clever retort.

"Quit acting as if this will be your first time doing a shower sex scene."

Toji chuckled, locking eyes with you.

"I'm not. I'm just excited. I can't wait to shoot this scene with you, Y/N. I can't wait to smack that ass in front of everybody."

"Focus on your script," you said, and for some reason, that was enough to appease your big brute of a leading man.

Your exchanges danced on the fine line between professional camaraderie and subtle seduction. Only the two of you were aware of the charged undercurrent, concealed from your co-stars, the staff, and the prying eyes of the media.

As the script reading continued, you and Toji engaged in insightful conversations that seamlessly intertwined with your characters' dynamics. You traded witty banter, your words carrying double meanings that hinted at a deeper connection.

Your interactions sparked curiosity among those around you, whispering of an off-screen chemistry that exceeded the boundaries of your roles.

Your gazes would occasionally meet, exchanging unspoken promises and shared secrets. The tantalizing prospect of bringing your hidden desires to life on the silver screen left both of you eager for the upcoming shoot.

As the session came to a close, the bustling energy of the studio began to subside. The other cast members bid their farewells, disappearing into the corridors one by one. With a gentle smile, you excused yourself, knowing that a whirlwind of magazine shoots and interviews awaited you.

Slipping away from the crowd, you found Toji waiting, his expression a mix of mischief and anticipation.

Glancing around to ensure no prying eyes lingered, you approached Toji with a knowing glint in your eye.

"See you later. Text me."

Toji smirked. "So bossy."

You rolled your eyes at his teasing, earning a chuckle from him and a resigned sigh.

"I know, I know. You know where to find me anyway; I gave you the passcode to my other penthouse, right?"

You chuckled sultrily.

"Of course you did. Now, goodbye. Let's talk later."

With one last lingering gaze, you both went your separate ways, diving headfirst into the demands of your busy schedules. The weeks flew by in a whirlwind of commitments, each day bringing you closer to the highly anticipated live premiere of your movie.

*

The red carpet stretched like a scarlet river, leading to the grand entrance of the premiere venue. Cameras flashed incessantly, capturing the splendor of the moment. There you stood, a vision in your elegant gown, each step a testament to your confidence and grace.

Beside you, Toji exuded dashing charm in his tailored suit, his ruggedly handsome appeal drawing whispers of admiration from the crowd. As you walked the red carpet together, your co-stars added to the aura, each radiating their own unique charm.

Amid the sea of well-wishers and photographers, your husband stood by your side, his presence not escaping Toji's notice.

Though masked by a smile, a hint of disappointment and jealousy flickered in Toji's eyes. You had promised him that you would leave your husband to be with him, but life's complexities had delayed the fulfillment of that promise.

Engaging in light banter, you navigated the crowd, stealing glances at Toji, who effortlessly mingled with guests and media alike. His charisma seemed to enchant those around him, amplifying the excitement of the premiere.

As the evening progressed, anticipation mounted as the cast and crew took their seats in the opulent theater. Sitting beside Toji, the proximity sparked an intoxicating tension.

With a hushed voice, he lamented, "It's a shame, isn't it? Our characters share such undeniable chemistry on screen, yet the same can't be said for our off-screen circumstances."

You met his gaze, intertwining your fingers subtly. "Patience, Toji. Between us, I'm yours."

Toji pouted, a rare sight, yet in your presence, he revealed new facets of himself. "Divorce the doofus already." 

You chuckled, "Let's enjoy the movie for now."

The lights dimmed, signaling the start of the film. As the familiar opening sequence unfolded, the tension between your characters came alive on screen.

And as you watched the story unfold, you couldn't help but wonder what the future held for you and Toji, both on and off the silver screen.

*

The film enchanted everyone in the theater.

The undeniable chemistry between your characters pulsed through the theater. Throughout the movie, both you and Toji felt a strong sense of pride within yourselves, as the two of you were ecstatic and relieved that you were able to give your characters more justice than you did in the first installment of the franchise.

Following the electrifying premiere, the theater crackled with anticipation and jubilation. Cast, crew, and insiders alike mingled, basking in the triumph of the film.

Amidst it all, Toji's gaze found yours, a glint of mischief sparkling in his eyes.

With a smirk playing on his lips, he leaned casually against a nearby wall, observing as you discreetly excused yourself from the group. Your husband, engrossed in conversation with your co-stars, remained oblivious to the brewing tension between you and your on-screen partner.

Taking a deep breath, a surge of audacity propelled you forward as you reached for Toji's hand.

"Toji, I need a moment. Come with me." 

Arching an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at his lips, Toji quipped, "Oh? And what mischief are you plotting now?"

With little time for preamble, you tugged him along assertively and led him backstage.

"Just come."

With your hand firmly in his, you guided Toji through the maze of hallways until you reached your dressing room. The anticipation hung thick in the air as you stepped inside, the door closing behind you, except you failed to close it all the way.

So whatever moment you'll be having with Toji, it can be easily detected by anyone who passes by the area.

Without wasting a moment, you settled on top of your vanity table, your gaze fixed on Toji with a sultry intensity. His eyes widened, a mixture of surprise and excitement dancing within them, as he realized the intent behind your actions.

You beckoned him closer, your legs wrapping securely around his waist and drawing him in.

The intimate contact sent a jolt of electricity through both of you as you felt his arms encircle your body, his touch both possessive and tender.

In the charged silence, Toji's voice broke through, filled with a mix of anticipation and mischief.

"What if somebody walks in on us?"

He says that, but he's already leaning toward your inviting lips while his other hand is holding the zipper of your gown. Wasting no time, you wrapped your arms around his neck and reeled him in for a heated kiss, holding little to no regard to the possibility of getting caught.

Of course, Toji was more than happy to oblige and responded to your advances enthusiastically.

In that intimate space, you both embraced the reckless abandon of the moment, knowing that the world outside those walls could never comprehend the intensity of your connection.

"Toji--" you moaned in his mouth as you felt his grabby hands caressing your sides and squeezing your supple skin. In return, you slide your hands up and down his sturdy chest, shamelessly feeling his abs through his silky dress shirt.

Toji's husky voice contributed to the music being made in that tiny room as he spoke, "You picked this skimpy dress to tease me, didn't you?"

"Did it work?" you responded cheekily, which earned you a dark chuckle from him.

"I wanted nothing more than to bend you over and take you right there and then, the moment I saw you emerge from your limousine."

"What stopped you?" You asked him

"Your husband killed my boner. I didn’t even know you were bringing him along."

You let out a sultry chuckle as you began to grind your hips against his, purposefully tempting his flaccid cock to spring back to life.

"We can't have that now, can we?"

A wicked smile played on Toji's lips, reveling in your audacious nature and feeling his desire grow stronger.

"Absolutely not."

In the dimly lit room, Toji and you shed your clothes with an eager urgency. Every garment fell to the floor, revealing your naked bodies to each other. Your eyes locked, filled with desire and longing. You closed the distance between you, your bodies pressing together.

The heat of your skin ignited a fire within, intensifying the need for each other. There were no inhibitions, only the raw passion that enveloped the room.

Your hands explored, fingers tracing every curve and dip, igniting shivers of pleasure. Each touch sent waves of electricity through your bodies, heightening the intensity of your desire. Time seemed to stand still as you surrendered to the intoxicating pull between you.

Breathless and desperate for more, you locked eyes with him, pleading silently for him to take you to greater heights of pleasure.

"Please, Toji," you whimpered, your voice filled with need.

Toji's lips curled into a mischievous smile as he reveled in the power he held over you.

His voice dripped with playful teasing as he responded, "What's the magic word?"

The teasing only fueled your need, making the anticipation unbearable. But you knew deep down that the wait would be worth it and that Toji's mastery of seduction would lead to a culmination of ecstasy unlike anything you had experienced before.

"Toji~ I don't have time for this."

The man towering over you could only chuckle in amusement, "You're such a brat."

Despite what he said, he immediately adhered to your request and placed his throbbing cock at your entrance, and then he slowly let himself in, filling you nicely and snugly.

Each thrust felt more incredible than the last. The sensations overwhelmed you, evident in the sounds of pleasure escaping your lips and the expression of bliss on your face.

You continued to cling to Toji as he continued to fuck you relentlessly. Moans, profanities, and loads of skin-slapping filled your tiny dressing room.

You were so lost in your little world that you didn't even notice your horrified husband watching from outside.

Normally, you would have been filled with horror and embarrassment, but an unexplained boldness washed over you. Instead of feeling shame or shock, you met your husband's gaze with a cold, unwavering expression.

Toji was right.

It’s high time you end things with your husband and finally be with him. You made a mental note to yourself that, after this, you would deal with your husband once and for all.

Time seemed to stretch as your husband continued to look at you and Toji, his eyes widening with surprise, and you could've sworn you saw tears stream down his face.

Obviously heartbroken by your blatant betrayal, but you remained undeterred, focusing solely on Toji and continuing to lavish him with your undivided attention.

With a mischievous glimmer in your eyes, you even went so far as to put on a captivating display.

And of course, Toji loved your little ploy.

A sly grin spread across his face as he decided to play along.

"Tell me, Y/N, who's making you feel good right now? Hmm? Answer me."

Your response was a fervent moan that escaped your lips.

"It's you."

A teasing glint danced in Toji's eyes as he continued to ravish you, his voice laced with desire.

"And what's my name, darling?"

"Toji," you moaned.

Toji rewarded your response with a playful smack on your ass, eliciting another intoxicating sound from you.

"Good girl."

That was the last straw.

With a shake of his head, your husband left the scene, but none of you were in the mood to care as the both of you were so invested in each other.

Toji's voice was filled with desire as he commented, "You're still so tight for me. Fuck."

You were unable to form coherent words in response, completely lost in the overwhelming pleasure he was giving you. Your focus was solely on the sensations coursing through your body, leaving little room for anything else.

He ran his hands along your sides, igniting shivers and goosebumps along your skin.

"You're doing so well," he praised, his touch adding to the intensity of the moment.

The pleasure was building rapidly, and then finally, that hot coil you've been feeling from within shot throughout your body, sending you into overdrive.

To enhance your climax, Toji increased the pace, sending waves of pleasure crashing over you. Every movement brought you closer to a mind-numbing state of ecstasy.

-

Later that night, after a few more rounds, Toji drove you home, a satisfied and triumphant smile adorning his face. The energy between you two was still electric, and the intensity of the night lingered in the air.

Upon entering the house, you were met with a somber sight. Your husband sat on the sofa, hunched over, his body language reflecting the weight of his emotions.

It was clear that he had been drinking and crying.

For a few seconds, you observed him, your expression void of any semblance of guilt or shame. In actuality, you're looking at him right now with pure disdain and maybe even disgust. 

The weight of your decision lingered in the air, as you knew what you needed to do.

Silently, you retreated to your bedroom, retrieving the divorce papers carefully stashed in your side of the closet. Each step resonated with resolve; your mind was steadfast in its decision.

Returning to the living room, you stood before your husband, the papers clenched in your hand. With a deliberate gesture, you slammed the documents on the coffee table.

Your voice rang out with finality.

"My signature is already there. I trust you'll have it signed by tomorrow. Good night."

With those words lingering in the air, you turned away to get ready for bed, but as you were walking towards the bedroom, you heard your husband mutter under his breath, "Whore."

With a smug smirk on your face as you continue to march back to your soon-to-be former shared bedroom, you responded in a sing-song manner:

"Remember to use a black pen."

[party-gilmore]

(Spoiler Free) Reasons Why "Violent Night" DESERVES to be the Breakout Blockbuster Hit of the Holidays

I haven't laughed that fucking hard or consistently through a movie in my fucking life. My throat and chest are both actively hurting right now from all the yell-laughing and the breathless wheezing I was reduced to by the midway point.

I knew it would be entertaining, but I was in no way shape or form prepared for it to be that good.

Seriously this movie was a technical masterpiece. Every single actor brought their A game. Every scrap of script was perfectly tailored to each character. The corniest lines imaginable on paper delivered with such conviction they immediately get launched into the stratosphere of Coolest Thing That Could Possibly Have Been Said In That Moment. The way Alex Hassell (Jason) did literally every facial expression he makes throughout the entire movie? But specifically how he looks at Alexis Louder (Linda) from behind the [SPOILER] when she's [SPOILER]? Effervescent. The COSTUMING???? The details in Santa's Coat ALONE I will be obsessing over for the next three months.

On a more technical side, the LIGHTING! Perfectly able to see everything even in dark rooms/scenes! The SETS? Full environments completely utilized! A masterclass in Chekov's Gun! Every single set-up had a payoff, and every single payoff had a setup.

And PRACTICAL EFFECTS!!! HHGNGDNWHNG some of the BEST blood work I've ever seen! And the prosthetics! Like, I know gory stuff hasn't been hit as hard by the Replaced With CGI curse as other genres but still it was so fucking refreshing and well done.

And the way the gore slowly ramped up!!! The gore and violence starts off a little light (comparatively) and just sloooowly and steeeaadily ramps up and up and up until it peaks PERFECTLY at the climactic moment! And the individual scenes themselves were crisp, perfectly timed, not unnecessariliy drawn out of lingered on for shock value - in fact, more often, they were kept short and quick to emphasize how fast these fights were moving, realistic and delightful little BURSTS of grotesquery and then already carrying you away to the NEXT swing and spray of blood! It kept the violence constantly fresh and fascinating, building not only momentum but the audience's tolerance/expectations to the cresting point.

Seriously I got so fucking worked up by how good and funny and action packed it was that I had to take off my fucking sweater and NOT (just) because of the shirtless Santa scene they put in there just for me.

HOOOOOOOOOOOOOO BUDDY holy FUCK. That scene. Th. The bloodiness and th. The [SPOILER] and the [SPOILER] and the girth. The thickness. The titties and the stomach and the little bit of overhang and the [SPOILER]. HOOOOOOO santa treated us GOOD tonight boys holy FUCK david harbour bless you bless you bless you bl-

-ahem- sorry anyways uhhhhhhh where was i...

I think that was pretty much it, without getting into blatant spoilery stuff. So. Fuckin uhhhhh watch this movie.

[jujumin-translates]

[A3!] Event | Devil Maid’s Holiday | Episode 8

Yuki: Sakuya and Muku, Taichi and Azami, Citron, and Arisu. Looks like everyone’s here.

Yuki: Alright, here they are.

*Paper rustles*

Muku: That’s…

Citron: Ohh, it is the costume rough drafts! You have already thought of this many new costume designs!?

Taichi: That’s insane, way to go, Yuki-chan!

Homare: You truly overcame the scene of carnage.

Citron: Yes! They are all the loveliest~!

Yuki: Obviously. I’ve double-checked with the client about the direction of the costumes and they’ve given me the okay, so I’m going ahead with this.

Yuki: Actually, let me explain things again. I told you guys that the play request the troupe got wasn’t gonna happen, but then Sakuya and the Director negotiated with the person…

Yuki: So now, they’re gonna remake their decision about requesting us to perform after watching our play.

Yuki: So I redesigned the other costumes to match the first costume I made because those are the costumes we’re gonna wear for the play. 

Azami: Gotcha. So I’m gonna hafta come up with makeup to match these.

Yuki: Right, by the way, you’re gonna be wearing that one, Azami.

Azami: Wh…

Muku: If you look closely, you can see each of our names by the rough sketches.

Citron: What does that mean?

Yuki: Because those are the costumes you guys are gonna wear.

Taichi: We’re the ones wearing these…!?

Yuki: I did the same thing I did with the butler costume ideas. I decided on the casting first because it was faster for me to decide on whose costumes to make by doing that.

Yuki: Each of the costumes is tailored to your body types, ages, and acting styles.

Yuki: I put a lot of the things I personally like into them, but I also put a lot of thought into them to make sure that they’d fit the people who’d be performing in them.

Citron: Even our ages and acting styles… That is amazing.

Yuki: I AM the one who made them, after all.

Yuki: That’s why I want you guys to wear these and for us to all put on a play together.

Azami: …Gotta be honest with you, I never woulda thought we’d hafta wear something like that.

Azami: But if that’s what you want, then I’ll hafta suck it up. Let’s put on a play and show them what we’ve got.

Muku: Yeah! I’ll do my best, too. I hope they’ll end up loving both Yuki-kun’s costumes and our play.

Citron: I will, of course, do that too! We will surprise the commissioner. And then we will turn them into one of our regular fans!

Taichi: We’ll def make them wanna commission MANKAI Company!

Homare: Just leave it to us. Let’s wear Yuki-kun’s splendid costumes and put on a play that’ll convince the other party.

Yuki: Alright, if nobody’s got any objections, I’ll get started on making them. …Right, Sakuya?

Sakuya: Yeah!

Sakuya: We don’t have much time before the client sees it, so let’s all divide things up and start preparing!

Azami: Aight, I’ll take the rough drafts as they are and start thinkin’ up ideas for makeup. I’ll check in with you again once the costumes are done.

Yuki: Sounds good.

Homare: Well then, I shall ask Tsuzuru-kun about the script. How about we slightly change the theme from last time? Does “Devil ✕ Maid” sound good?

Yuki: That is the general concept of the costumes, so that should be good.

Citron: You will also need costume materials. Muku and I will go shopping!

Muku: Yeah! I’m willing to help with whatever I can!

Yuki: Okay, I’ll send you a list later. It’s gonna be a lot, so are you sure you can handle it?

Muku: We’ll do our best!

Citron: If we need to, I can call the Itaru Taxi!

Muku: Wait! You don’t have to… I don’t want to be a bother…!

Citron: Should I call the Masumi Taxi then? Or perhaps the Chikage Taxi.

Yuki: Are you sure you’ve got it?

Yuki: …Well, whatever. I’ll start working on the costumes. Dumb Dog, you’re up.

Taichi: You bet! You’re finally relying on me!

Yuki: Quit yapping. You’re gonna be stuck working for the next few days. Be prepared.

Taichi: Hiie! I-I’ll do my best…!

Sakuya: If we do this… Then I’m sure we can get our play across to them…!

Yuki: Well, don’t just stand there doing nothing then. You’ve gotta help out too.

Sakuya: I’m… gonna talk to the Director and Banri-kun about the stage direction.

Sakuya: I want to show the client the actual stage as closely as possible using the equipment we’ve got…

Yuki: …This better be a success. Especially since you’ve been going on about things so recklessly. 

Sakuya: Yeah. We’ll definitely be up there standing on stage!

[ ⇠ Previous Part ] • [ Next Part ⇢ ]

[tavolgisvist]

‘We’re not really capable of ad-libbing,’ says John, ‘unless it’s among ourselves, and that’s too personal. I mean, I can count the people on my fingers who can understand what we’re about all the time.’ <…> ‘The trouble is,’ he says, ‘it’s only us who can write for us.’ He explains that his first line in the script is one he is supposed to say when Paul enters with an old man. ‘I’m supposed to say, “Uh, who’s your friend, Paul?” I wouldn’t say that. I’d just say, “Who’s the old crip?”’ <…> He wants to call the book John Lennon in his Own Write, a title suggested by Paul. I say that since he also plans to do sketches for the book it should be called John Lennon in his Own Write and Draw. ‘Right-hand draw,’ says John. I tell him that parts of his writing are very much like Ulysses. He says he has never read Joyce and the only influence on his writing that he knows of is Lewis Carroll. ‘I don’t go in for much of those culture things, like Paul,’ he says. ‘Just drop a name and Paul will go; I’d rather stay at home when I’m not working but Paul goes out to Harry Secombe and Lovely War. I suppose I should like those things, but I just don’t.’ <…> The Beatles have a few days free and Ringo has gone to Liverpool. It is now midday and George has just woken up. He wanders into the sitting-room where he is fitted for a suit by the Beatles’ tailor, Dougie Kingman. He then gets dressed and prepares to go out for lunch. Once in the street he keeps looking around for fans and seems both, annoyed and pleased when one of them finally asks him for his autograph in Park Lane. At lunch he tells about a television programme the Beatles have appeared on. The host, a Liverpool comedian called Ken Dodd, had said he was thinking of becoming a pop singer and wanted a ‘down-to-earth name’. George had suggested ‘sod’. After lunch he produces a copy of a contract the Beatles made in Germany. He is taking it to their music publisher to find out how much they are owed in royalties. He has been carrying it in his pocket for two weeks. Before that it lay in a suitcase in Liverpool and London for three years. A few days later John is in a taxi, passing a store that has a red night shirt in the window. He tells the cab to stop, goes inside, and asks how much the night-shirt costs. ‘Six pounds,’ he is told. ‘That’s a lot,’ he says, ‘but I think Cyn would like it.’ While it is being wrapped the clerk asks him to look at some jackets that have just arrived. He winds up buying three and a coat. The bill comes to £107, but he doesn’t have his cheque-book with him. The store presents a blank cheque but he can’t remember what branch his account is at.

(Love Me Do. The Beatles Progress by Michael Braun, 1963/1995)

Part (I), (II), (III), (IV), (V), (VI), (VII), (VIII)

[gem-femmes]

How to Subtly Push Back in a Negative Job Interview

My inspiration for this career guide is a hostile job interview a few years back. I fumbled it because I was unprepared.

At the time, I was taking a break from the family business (I've since returned full-time), going out in the world and doing my own thing.

I met this business owner at a gala. I had already been aware of the company's reputation as one of the best in their field. We hit it off immediately. It turned out they were looking for a freelancer with my exact skillset for an ongoing project.

I went in for an interview a few days later. I tailored my presentation to their company and needs, as I usually do.

I made an effort to prepare. Overall, I expected smooth sailing as I had already made a good impression at the event. I was armed with tons of relevant experience, skills, and portfolio.

Long story short, the owner was absent that day. I was interviewed by other senior staff who, much to my surprise, went for the jugular: a stress interview.

The problem was that we were discussing a freelance project, not a permanent position with the company.

In that context, the stress interview technique was misguided at best. It showed me that they didn't understand the freelance relationship and had unrealistic expectations. Working with this client would likely be a nightmare.

Freelancers have other options, and we are looking for clear, professional, and mutually respectful interactions.

That was definitely not the case.

I was just trying to get a feel for the project, but the interviewers seemed determined to neg me.

I was angry at myself for fumbling that interview.

Not because they didn't choose me for the project. The interview was a huge red flag 🚩, so I was no longer interested in working with them anyway.

No, I disappointed myself by being powerless, not knowing how to push back in a professional way.

I was clueless as to how to defend myself without burning bridges. The latter is relevant because I might eventually have to deal with that company again in our family business.

I vowed to myself that the next time this happens (because it will), I will be prepared. So I brainstormed some sentences to flip the script when it's all stick and no carrot.

💬 1. Ask Direct Questions

"I’m sensing there are some concerns here. Could you share what specific qualities or experiences you’re looking for that you feel I might not meet?"

Translation: Let’s see if you can back up your negativity with something concrete.

💬 2. Highlight Their Approach

"I’ve noticed this interview has focused a lot on challenges and potential negatives. Is there a particular reason for that?"

Translation: Why so serious? Let’s balance this conversation out a bit.

💬 3. Turn the Question Around

If they hit you with something overly harsh, try, "That’s an interesting perspective. How does your team typically handle situations like this?"

Translation: Let’s talk about how you guys deal with these issues. I’m curious.

💬 4. Reframe the Situation

"It sounds like this project has a lot of potential challenges. What support does the team offer to ensure success?"

Translation: If you’re so worried, how about telling me how you plan to help?

💬 5. Emphasize Your Professional Standards

"I always strive to maintain a high standard of communication and professionalism in my work. What’s the typical communication style within your team?"

Translation: Let’s make sure we’re on the same page when it comes to professionalism.

💬 6. Use Silence Strategically

After a particularly harsh question, pause before responding. Let the silence do the talking.

Translation: Silence can be louder than words—let them sit with their negativity for a moment.

💬 7. Seek Clarification on Their Concerns

"It seems like there are some strong concerns about this role. Could you clarify what the biggest risks you see in bringing someone on for this project are?"

Translation: Spell out your concerns. Let’s see if they’re really justified.

💬 8. Politely Challenge Assumptions

"I’m curious about the assumptions behind that question. Could you elaborate on what led you to ask that?"

Translation: What’s the real reason you’re grilling me here?

💬 9. Redirect to Your Strengths

"I appreciate the focus on potential challenges. However, I’d love to highlight how my previous experience with [specific example] directly aligns with this role."

Translation: Let’s get back to what I bring to the table.

💬 10. Exit Gracefully

"It seems like there may be a disconnect in expectations. I believe it’s important for both parties to feel positive about a collaboration. Perhaps it’s best if we reconsider if this is the right fit."

Translation: I have options. If you don’t see my value, I’m out.

Use these techniques wisely, and you’ll not only navigate tough interviews with grace, but you might even leave the interviewer rethinking their approach.

After all, your career is all about knowing your worth and choosing who you want to work with. ✨

[suchamiracle-does-exist]

Dear @faisonsunreve thanks for the tag. This was definitely a time taking task but so much fun to do. A true time travel to your watching history. To my surprise there are three French films and three Tom Hanks films included. 😄

A few comments about certain choices.

Favorite film of all time: The Thief of Bagdad (1940): The jewel of the film is Conrad Veidt’s insane Jaffar dressed up with the turban.

Best script: Some Like It Hot (1959): The story about two antihero musicians trying to make a living and avoiding gangsters by dressing as women and joining a female band and traveling to Miami is still unique to watch.

Favorite poster: The Empire Strikes Back (1980): Memories from the childhood. Darth Vader’s perhaps a little too epic posture promises you an emotional adventure and that promise will be fulfilled.

"I’ll watch it some day": Napoléon (1927): @missholson and I were introduced to this 6-hour biopic of Napoleon and we were stunned by the shots of the twenty-minute triptych sequence, where widescreen panorama is made by projecting multiple-image montages simultaneously on three screens. Blu-ray is waiting on the shelf.

Big personal impact: Elvis (2022): I wasn’t prepared for the narrative where female gaze and male vulnerability are allowed and validated.

You like, but everyone hates: Angels & Demons (2009): Don’t know today’s reception but when it was released the film was heavily criticized by the critics and the audience. I like both this and The Da Vinci Code (2006), but having more convincing characters, plot and hold for the entirety makes it better than the first one.

Underrated: The Ninth Gate (1999): Polanski is a very contradictory director for his sexual abuse charges, therefore it feels shameful to admit liking his films or considering his films to be valued. Many find Gate as a dull thriller. The film doesn’t rely on jump scares or gore but the mystery around the occult books and the things you can’t see. 

"Why do I like this?": Bachelor Party (1984): This is my favourite question of them all. I discussed with @faisonsunreve about on what basis you should answer this and does it reveal your true movie taste. The 80’s crazy comedy is a silly and out-dated genre and that is why the films of this era fascinate me. Bachelor Party is full of lame humor and over-the-top characters. Yet the storyline is versatile and entertaining. Young Tom Hanks embodies the past. 

Great soundtrack: La Cage aux Folles (1978): Ennio Morricone has said first he has to understand the film, the images, the story and the director’s intentions before starting to compose. I would like to know his study for Folles, because the soundtrack has such a humorous, characteristic and warm sound. 

That cinematography: Furiant (2015): I was balancing between Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011) and La double vie de Véronique (1991), but this short film stands out with the way the rural landscapes, the dimly lit rooms and the unspoken moments are visualized (and edited) by the producer, director, writer, cinematographer and editor Ondřej Hudeček.

Criminally overlooked: Angélique film series (1964-68): Yes, you could put almost any Conrad Veidt film here, however I chose this. I have been fond of Angélique films since I was a child. These spectacles tell the story of Angélique in the time of King Louis XIV of France. Romance, adventure, scheming with breathtaking soundtrack and costume design, beautiful Michèle Mercier in the leading role and the flashy way of speaking French offer us an exquisite interpretation from the 60’s. 

Favorite active director: Peter Strickland: I have seen only The Duke of Burgundy (2014) and Flux Gourmet (2022), nevertheless his style of using the aesthetics of Italian genre films and the intimacy he creates is just heartwarming.

Anyone who wants to make their own version, please do and let me know. 📼📀📦🔦

[and-its-with-one-l-bitch]

i NEED to see a titoshaundi proposal for the prompt thingy pretty pleasee 🫶🏻

Prompt 31 - Proposal - 1.6k words, post-SR2.

The linen curtains sway in the breeze behind them, the soft glow of twilight illuminating the rooftop balcony of the fancy hotel they're staying in. The Saints make big money, and now they spend big money, and Shaundi? Hell, she's a celebrity now, nothing but the best for her. She's dressed like you wouldn't believe, the curls of her hair tied back into a loose ponytail and her dress tailored to perfection. It's purple and shimmers in the low light as she leans back in her dining chair, a faint smile on her face as she watches Tito across the table they share. He's dressed nicer than usual, shoved into classy clothes that don't quite seem to fit his frame, too tight in the shoulders and too baggy around his waist, but he's clean and tidy and fidgeting with the box under the table. Shaundi loves to watch him. "You know, when you showed up here, it was a surprise," she begins, straightening in her chair and leaning towards him, "a good one. After all we've been through, dinner dates were not what I expected. You've changed." She remarks with something lingering between admiration and confusion. "What happened?"

Tito swallows, hard, and quickly runs the back of his sleeve over his forehead as a feeling of dread and anticipation settles in his chest. He's got to be cool. Taking a deep breath, he shakes his head and forces a smile onto his face, digging down into the same reserves that got him through all the shit with Maero to steel himself for what comes next. "Shaundi," he begins, reaching out for her hands and taking a hold of them harder than he means to, "you and me, we've been around this city too many times to count. Y- uh, you mean so much... to me." He stumbles over his words, laughs with a little frustration, and powers on. "I can't imagine facing the future with no- with anybody else." With sweaty hands, he picks the ring box up out of his lap and places it on the table, something still too tense about his posture. "I want to spend the rest of my life, no matter how long, with you." Tito says with a smile, and across the candle-lit table, she brings a hand to her lips, a single tear glistening in the corner of her eye. Pressing on, he opens the ring box to reveal an enormous, diamond-studded band, pushing the box across the table. "You've been with me through thick and thin, Shaundi. I can't imagine my life without you. Will you—"

"CUT!" Comes the bellowing voice of the director, booming through the megaphone he absolutely does not need and only adding to the migraine currently making Tito's head spin. The illusion of intimacy, however fragile, is shattered immediately. He grits his teeth and prepares to listen to the little man squeal. "What the fuck was that?!" The director snaps, hopping off of his squeaky chair as he comes waddling to the table. Glancing at Shaundi, Tito spots her rolling her eyes before dropping her chin onto her steepled hands. "It's meant to be emotional! Passionate! You sound like you're gonna puke!" Cries the director, his hands in the air like he's begging for God's intervention. Tito's jaw tightens in time with his fists, his face growing hot. He never wanted to get involved with this show - shit, he could have never heard about it again and been at peace, but oh no, he had to be a pest, had to keep showing up on set and picking on the producers, had to keep dropping in to make sure Shaundi was fine. She always told him she was when he called her on the phone. Funny how he never believed her. Guess his face became too familiar on set, gave the producers too many ideas, and with enough convincing from the star herself ("It'll do wonders for the ratings, Boss!") he relented and agreed to the stupid script. Turns out reality TV isn't all that real.

"I just... don't think it makes sense." Tito says through clenched teeth, every instinct telling him to lash out at the angry director in his face, but something about Shaundi's expression holds him back. She looks almost... sad. "Look, Stilwater knows me as a shit-head, right? You think a suit and some emotional music is gonna make them forget Shivington?"

The director waves the script under Tito's nose. "Showbiz, kid. You know that prick with the shiny hair, Josh Birk, hottest thing on TV right now? Guess what he did before TV? Not fuckin' charity work, I'll tell you that. You've got to sell the lines."

"I am sellin' the lines!" Tito protests, rising from his seat to stand over the director as he feels his temper flare. Thing is, he really is doing the best he can. Never was much of an actor, but these words? He'd mean them, in another context, maybe in another life, but here? Surrounded by cameras and vultures? He feels boxed in, prodded. Searching for an anchor before he starts to lose his cool in a more permanent way, he looks to Shaundi for help and finds her giving him a sympathetic look that begs for him to just give it another shot. Ever since she showed him that she's the brains between them - at least a dozen times by now - he's been loath to refuse any of her ideas, and the pleading in her green eyes does him no favors. Snapping his mouth shut with an audible clack, he straightens out his shirt and slowly sits back down. The director scurries back to his chair.

"Take it from the top, people!" Orders the spiteful little man Tito has quickly grown to hate, waiting for the crew to settle back into their places; Tito takes a little bit longer to settle down and pretend like he doesn't feel sick to his stomach, but then the cameras are rolling again and he doesn't have much choice. From the top. One more time. Play the charade just once more.

"Shaundi," Tito says through the same tight smile he had on before, "you mean... God, what am I fucking saying?" He mumbles, planting his palms on the table. "You don't even know how many times you've saved my ass. The world wants you wrapped up in a bow and put on screen but I fuckin' miss you. Have I told you that? I don't wanna lose you. I know I'm shitty at this stuff," he scoffs a little, "but you always let me get away with it. You do mean the world to me. I'm sorry I don't show that enough."

Shaundi's eyes are narrowed, but there's a tiny smile twitching at the corner of her glittered lips. Wildly off-script but finally feeling like he's making sense, Tito takes another breath to finish the scene, the scenario, whatever, when, "CUT! Jesus, is this amateur hour?" The director's in his face again, and this time Tito's really pissed off, whatever confidence he'd clawed back snuffed out by the reddened face of the shouting man and his megaphone. Shaundi looks defeated; she'd been invested too, maybe hoping for an end to the never-ending work day. The director raises the megaphone to his lips but doesn't get the chance to start yelling again, not before Tito has snatched the damn thing out of his hands and tossed it over the penthouse railing. It's a miracle the table and the director don't follow, with Tito grinding his teeth to keep from committing a serious crime on camera. He stands up and shoves the director out of his space, but stops short of storming off. He looks to Shaundi, still sitting pretty as a picture in her glistening dress but looking exhausted.

"I'm sorry." Tito says quietly, feeling the fight go out of him as his shoulders sag. She offers a wry smile as she stands up, brushing out any wrinkles in her perfect dress as she rounds the table. "I hate the cameras." Tito whispers as she gets closer, and she hooks his arm without a word. "Can we go?"

Shaundi gives the director an icy, arched-brow stare that quells any argument, but her disappointment and fatigue are evident in every movement. She pats Tito's arm and steers him past the cameras into the back of the set, finally letting out a heavy sigh once she's sure they're alone. "God, I need a smoke." She groans, letting go of Tito as she comes to lean against a wall, hands on her knees. She looks up at him through fake lashes and begins to cringe. "I'm sorry I put you through all that. I know the show pisses you off."

"No, it's just," he sighs, feeling awkward now that it's just them, "I'm not made for the celebrity shit. You're good, you know? You're a real... star?" He says uncertainly, the words uncomfortable in his mouth as he says them, but Shaundi just laughs. She looks a little brighter as she stands up straight.

"You wanna get outta here?" She asks coyly.

"Where you thinking?"

"You still got that shitty apartment in the Red Light district?"

"Sure. It's still got that mold problem, though." He says, and even if he doesn't realise it, she's got his defenses down again. He feels relaxed. Shaundi grins, grabs his hand and tugs until he's following obediently. Glancing up at him, she's smiling again.

"Perfect. I stashed some weed in your dresser a few months back. I don't wanna hear any hang-ups; you are going to smoke that shit with me, we are gonna watch a shitty movie on that busted television, and we're gonna forget about all this. You with me?"

Leaving the set and trailing behind her, fingers hooked loosely together, he feels in this moment that he'd do anything he was told. "Yes, Boss." He says with a dopey, lopsided smile. "Wait, my dresser?"

[pitaficionado]

Contrasts V

As I checked into the luxurious Sedona resort, a rush of emotions washed over me, a mix of excitement and an undeniable sense of longing. I thought about the intense encounters Derek and I had shared over the last few weeks—the whispered confessions, the stolen nights, and his admission that he loved me, which had changed everything. Since that moment, it had been nearly impossible to be apart from him for more than a few days. His absence felt like a physical ache, a constant reminder of the connection we’d built. The resort's elegance, the sweeping desert landscape—it all felt surreal, a stark contrast to the raw intimacy we shared. As I wandered through the grand halls and took in the breathtaking views, all I could think about was seeing Derek again, the thrill of the familiar waiting just out of reach, and the bittersweet knowledge of the vows he was preparing to make to another man.

As I unpacked in my luxurious room, I took stock of everything I’d brought: a sleek black tie outfit for the ceremony, the crisp white shirt and tailored jacket a stark symbol of the formal role I’d play in the upcoming celebration. But tucked carefully in the corner of my suitcase was something far more charged—a crumpled, sweat-stained wifebeater sealed in a plastic baggy. Derek had been asking me to wear it during our most intense nights together, and it bore tangible marks of those encounters: faded stains, remnants of his climaxes and the physical proof of the passion we shared, over and over. I held the worn fabric for a moment, feeling its weight against my fingertips, and a flood of memories came rushing back. It was more than just a piece of clothing; it was a quiet testament to our intimacy.

I looked over the wedding itinerary again, the elegant script outlining each carefully planned event, from the sunset vows to the grand reception that would follow. The entire weekend was meticulously curated, yet all I could think about was Derek’s unusual request—that I wear the lived-in wifebeater beneath my black tie attire, his silent nod to the world we shared beneath the polished surface. The thought of it made my heart pound; knowing that as he stood there, exchanging vows, he’d be fully aware of what I wore hidden just out of sight, the soft fabric steeped in the memories of our passion. It was our secret, woven into the day’s formality, a reminder of the heat between us amidst the spectacle, a quiet thrill shared only by us even in the midst of his grand commitment.

As I sat in my room, I thought of Derek’s other request: he wanted me to shower using the same brand of scented body lotion his fiancé regularly wore, then slip into my formal attire layered with his fiancé’s cologne. It was as if Derek wanted to blend two worlds—his soon-to-be-married life with the life we’d carved out together. The idea of wearing another man's scent, of letting it mingle with my own as it clung to the worn wifebeater hidden beneath the polished black tie, stirred a quiet thrill in me. It was almost like stepping into his fiancé’s presence, a closeness that was intimate yet distant, a subtle reminder that no matter how the day unfolded, Derek was somehow inviting me to share in his new reality, bound by layers only we could fully understand.

In the steamy shower, I lathered up slowly, my hands working over every inch of my hairy chest and spending extra time on my pits, the scent of the body lotion filling the space around me. I thought about the flimsy explanation Derek had come up with to explain my presence at the wedding—a casual excuse, something about a distant college friend reconnecting, just enough to pass without raising too many questions. The thought of it was almost comical; it was a thin veil over what truly bound us, an intimacy hidden in plain sight. As I rinsed off, I pictured myself stepping into the ceremony, my own body steeped in the scent of his fiancé, cloaked in formality yet carrying traces of the private moments Derek and I had shared. The whole plan was absurdly thrilling, an unspoken dare lingering between us, amplifying the anticipation of the day ahead.

Stepping out of the shower, still wrapped in the warm scent of Derek's fiancé’s body lotion, I picked up my phone to find a series of new messages from Derek. He’d sent several photos of himself getting ready, each one showcasing his progress as he slipped into his wedding attire, the formal lines of his suit accentuating his form. In every shot, he’d made sure to emphasize his pits—lifting his arms, letting me see glimpses of bare skin under the crisp shirt, with that familiar light dusting of hair. The way he posed was teasing, almost challenging, and I felt a surge of excitement at the subtle game he was playing. Even on this day, amid all its significance, he’d found a way to remind me of our connection, keeping me close even as he prepared to stand beside another man.

The last message from Derek popped up just as I was buttoning my shirt. “Sweating bullets from nerves,” he wrote, the anxiety of the day slipping through. But a moment later, another message arrived, this one more familiar, charged with that playful edge only we shared. “Better get ready,” he teased, “you’ll be tasting every drop of this sweat later tonight.” The words stirred a thrill that coursed through me, a quiet promise that even in the middle of his grand celebration, Derek’s thoughts were with me. As I tucked in my shirt, anticipation hummed through me; tonight would be ours, in a way that words couldn’t capture but his messages made achingly clear.

[jimmylustig]

4 Tips for Improving Your Interviewing Skills

4 Tips for Improving Your Interviewing Skills https://ift.tt/xAO2zwn Let’s face it: job interviews can be nerve-wracking. Whether you’re a fresh graduate or a seasoned professional, the pressure to make a great impression quickly is real. But don’t worry! With some preparation and practice, you can boost your confidence and increase your chances of landing that dream job. Here are four practical tips to help you up your interview game: Do Your Homework Before stepping into that interview room, ensure you’ve done your research. Dig deep into the company’s website, social media profiles, and recent news articles to grasp its mission, values, and culture. This knowledge will help you tailor your answers to show how well you’d fit in. But don’t stop there! Look up your interviewers on LinkedIn. Understanding their background might give you some common ground to build rapport. Remember to keep it professional—don’t bring up their vacation photos or anything too personal. Practice, But Don’t Sound Like a Robot You’ve probably heard the advice to practice common interview questions, and it’s solid advice. But here’s the catch: don’t memorize your answers word for word. Instead, focus on the key points you want to make. This way, your responses will sound natural and conversational, unlike reciting a script. A great way to practice is through mock interviews with a friend or family member. Ask them to throw in some curveball questions to keep you on your toes. The more you practice, the more comfortable you’ll feel during showtime. Master the Art of the STAR Method Use the STAR method when answering behavioral questions (the “Tell me about a time when…” ones). It stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result. Here’s how it works: Situation: Briefly describe the context. Task: Explain what you need to do. Action: Detail the steps you took. Result: Share the outcome and what you learned. This structure helps you give concise, relevant answers that showcase your skills and experience. It’s like telling a mini-story with a clear beginning, middle, and end. Ask Thoughtful Questions Remember, an interview is a two-way street. When the interviewer asks if you have any questions, don’t just say “No” or ask about salary right off the bat. Prepare a list of thoughtful questions that show you’re genuinely interested in the role and the company. Some ideas: “What does success look like in this role after the first 90 days?” “Can you tell me about the team I’d be working with?” “What are the biggest challenges facing the department right now?” These questions give you valuable information and demonstrate your enthusiasm and forward-thinking attitude. Bonus Tip: Body Language Matters While not a separate point, it’s worth mentioning that your non-verbal communication speaks volumes. Make eye contact, sit up straight, and smile genuinely. A firm handshake (if appropriate in your culture) can also make a positive impression. In the end, remember that interviewers are just people, too. They want to see the real you – someone competent, enthusiastic, and a good fit for their team. By following these tips and being yourself, you’ll be well on your way to interview success. Good luck out there! The post 4 Tips for Improving Your Interviewing Skills first appeared on Jimmy Lustig | Denver, Colorado. via Jimmy Lustig | Denver, Colorado http://jimmylustig.com August 06, 2024 at 05:48AM

[mafrah-mga2022mi6021]

Final script

[Note: The original Dascon and Pramila characters have been reimagined as childhood friends who grew up together. Pramila, Princess of the Nayakkar Dynasty in Madurai, India, is a young adult (16-18) with a passion for art. Dascon is the son of the French Chief Minister at the Palace] 

[Opening shot: The camera pans across the majestic Madurai cityscape, the golden hues of dawn casting a serene glow over the landscape. In the distance, a ship sails gracefully towards the harbor, its billowing sails catching the morning breeze. Seagulls soar overhead, their cries echoing through the air, as the camera zooms in on the grandeur of the palace nestled amidst the bustling city.]

[Cut to the chamber within the palace, where Pramila stands before an easel, lost in her painting. The room is filled with the soft glow of afternoon light, illuminating Pramila's delicate features as she delicately applies paint to the canvas. Her brush strokes mimic the gentle ebb and flow of the ocean waves, capturing the essence of freedom and adventure. Dascon sits nearby, watching her with admiration.]

Pramila: (wistfully) "I wish I could see the world as you do, Dascon. The thought of traveling sounds so enthralling, like chasing endless horizons. Just like those carefree seagulls. I can only imagine the limitless possibilities. The freedom to become anyone, anywhere…"

Dascon: (With a wistful smile on his face, murmurs gently) “Perhaps…one day, your highness”

[Pramila sighs, a sarcastic chuckle escaping her lips]

“Perhaps… But you’ll be off to Paris soon. 

[pausing for a moment, she added]

“And I’ll be married off by then (her tone tinged with resignation)

[Dascon's gaze, tinged with melancholy, lingers on her for a moment, as if he yearns to express something profound. However, before he can utter a word, the entrance of the queen disrupts his intention.]

Queen: “Ah, there you are, lost in your paintings as usual.” (She snatches the brush from Pramila’s hand) “Just look at you, a complete disarray” (Inspecting Pramila’s hands stained with paint) “These artistic pursuits are nothing but a distant dream for someone in your position” (She criticized, glancing at Pramila’s work) “You have much more important matters to attend to as you prepare yourself to be Queen” (She remarked, casting a menacing glance at Dascon)

Queen: “Now come along, the tailor is here for your fittings” 

[Pramila reluctantly obeys, following her mother outside]

[Dascon stands alone, his gaze lingering on the doorway through which Pramila disappeared. He turns towards Pramila’s painting with a sense of longing and separation]

[Cut to scene in the chamber where Pramila is getting her fitting done. Pramila is surrounded by bustling maids as they fuss over her, adjusting the elaborate fabric of her skirt.]

[Pramila’s expression is tense as she stands rigidly, her mind consumed by the weight of her impending marriage. Her hands clenched tightly at her sides as she struggles to maintain her composure amidst the flurry of activity]

[The queen enters the chamber with an air of authority as she assesses her daughter]

Queen: Pramila, you must stand still. This dress has to be perfect for the ceremony

Pramila: (frustrated) Mother, I cannot do this. I cannot go through with this marriage 

Queen: Don’t be absurd, Pramila. You know your duty to our kingdom. This marriage is of utmost importance for the stability of our realm. And I am fully aware of what is best for you. You cannot afford to be selfish here!

Pramila: (raged) Selfish? What about my happiness? What about my dreams? Am I just a pawn to be sacrificed for the sake of governance and tradition? All you’ve ever done is wander about, telling me what to do and what not to do. Like you know anything about what I want or what’s in my heart! 

Queen: Then what is it that you seek? Who is it that’s in your heart? Dascon? Do you truly believe he cares about you? Do you think he would come to your rescue?

[In the distance, the haunting sound of ship bells rings out, echoing through the port. Pramila looks through the window as she watches the ships begin to sail off]

[With hearing those words, Pramila’s expression hardens with hurt and defiance. Without a word Pramila turns abruptly and flees from the chamber with a surge of determination and rebellion. The delicate trinkets of her jewelry scatter on the floor as she dashes out of the chamber and down the stairs, her heart pounding in her chest. Her skirts catch on her feet, until they rip apart with each hurried step.]

[Meanwhile on the ship, Dascon glances back towards the palace, a sense of resignation and sorrow, but he turns around before he sees Pramila]

[Cut to Pramila as she reaches the edge of the port, she watches in despair as the ship begins to sail away, its silhouette growing smaller against the horizon. Tears stream down her cheeks as she realizes she’s missed her chance]

[As Pramila stands alone, her mother approaches as she places her hand on Pramila’s shoulder with a look of sympathy in her eyes]

Queen: “Let it go dear, some dreams are beyond our reach”

[Time jump - a year later]

[Scene: Marriage Preparations]

[Cut to The ship that sets sail, carrying Pramila towards her destiny in Sri Lanka. Through a montage of scenes, we witness Pramila being prepared for her impending marriage by a team of maids. Amidst the intense atmosphere, Pramila’s expressions reflect a resigned acceptance of her fate, and a sense of confinement.] 

[Pramila is gracefully escorted through the vibrant streets of Kandy atop an elephant, the bustling parade showcasing the essence of the city's cultural richness. Inside the opulent Kandyan palace, she walks through a grand hallway adorned with intricate artwork. Her gaze falls upon a painting depicting the vast ocean and soaring seagulls, evoking memories of her past desires for freedom. Recalling Dascon's words—"perhaps... one day, your highness"—she feels a surge of emotion. Turning away from the painting, her eyes meet Dascon's at the far end of the hallway. A look of surprise washes over Pramila's face as she locks eyes with him, their unexpected encounter evoking a whirlwind of emotions.]

[The end]

[fedine]

I have been pretty inactive lately because my grandfather has been ill, so I've been a 24/7 caretaker. On top of that,

I've been preparing to get married at the end of this month, which means tailoring thrifted clothes and making a shirt from scratch.

I've been self teaching computer/website programming/IT, and I've also been trying to write YouTube scripts in between all of this for some kind of creative fulfillment.

My friend is doing better and has a place to stay now, but her situation was stressing me out, and I had several sleepless nights worrying about her. If anyone reading this donated to her mutual aid, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. I have been meaning to make a big formal thank you post, but I haven't had the time or energy to write anything. Just know that it helped her immensely, and she now has a safe and warm place to stay. It's been a while since I've heard her voice so unburdened. It's a comfort to me.

I've been trying to find time to call my representatives and senators, too. The situation in Gaza has been breaking my heart, and I've been trying to spread news/resources any time I'm online, but it means I'm never in a blogging mood. I won't be able to make it to the protest today in the city two hours away because my grandfather needs me, and I still have a migraine.

It's been a while since my chronic migraines have been a problem. Grandpa made me so mad yesterday that I got a migraine and had to watch half of the Lord of the Rings Blu-ray directors cut at home to calm down. Migraine never really went away, so I've been hallucinating smells and tastes. Pretty mild, compared to previous spells. My sibling took over for me last night, but they have nerve damage in their foot and pretty intense depression so they can't stay long term.

Both of my parents had covid, but I managed to get vaccinated a few weeks ago, and my grandfather also managed to avoid it, so that's good. He has a heart valve replacement coming up (or he's supposed to, the doctors are certainly giving us the run around), and his lungs are already not doing great. Mom and dad are better now.

I will be going back in an hour or so to give him his medicine, make breakfast for him, and return to my post. I hope I'll have time and energy to exercise a little bit today.

Thank you for reading this. I just have a lot going on, and I didn't want to worry anyone about it. I'm safe and doing well, all things considered, I just have a lot on my plate. My future wife has been a big help to me.

[acquavergine]

March 2023

I started writing this subsequent story about “my days” after lunch yesterday, but got distracted because we brought home some boxes of books and photos from the storage garage and now we are literally up to our elbows in them.  

My days are always really different because I still haven’t settled into a schedule here. (After more than 2 years in this little town) Although a few weeks ago I started volunteering with a group of high schoolers who just moved to Italy from Russia, Egypt, Tunisia, Peru and Cuba. Every Friday we meet and have begun making “radio plays” (recordings on voice memos with silly sound effects) to help them (and me) practice Italian and come out of their shells a little bit. So at least now I have a recurring Friday obligation and that gives a slight shape to my weeks.

Otherwise I do a lot of food shopping and cooking. We live on a hilltop and don’t have a car so I can only buy a bit of groceries at a time. Plus I’m super picky: eggs from one place, greens from another, potatoes from another, fruit from another, etc.. It’s cute in a way because I can have those special and important brief interactions with the shopkeepers that make me feel less lonely (I really miss those brief interactions when I am in America). I pretend our kitchen is our own personal two seat bistro and keep it stocked like I would a mini restaurant. I archive recipes and cook seasonally and have *almost* 0 food waste! I also work on some personal writing projects (diary-like) and do translations of things I can’t find in English and read a lot. Books, magazines, scripts and substacks. 

I journey into Rome about once a week to go to the museum/cinema/theatre or meet friends for lunch or assist on food photoshoots, etc. 

The last week of April and first week of May I am volunteering on a farm near Florence to help with an event and their lavender field. 

I’ve also been taking a course on edible herbs for a few weeks.. For three Thursdays we met in an old cantina under the "new” church to review slideshows about the history of herb identification. This past Saturday and Sunday we went as a class “foraging” although there isn’t even a translation for the word forage in Italian, they just use the word for “gather”..

Of course I also take walks around the lake and in the woods, but much less than I did when I first moved here. The story of this town and the lake is really particular, but I should leave that for another time… We live in the house my husband inherited from his father so we don’t pay rent, but when my money starts to run out I come back to the states to do pop ups and catering with my friends and stash away my earnings. It's not ideal because of the conversion fees… but it’s kind of fun to go back and forth, and work for periods and have other periods that feel more free.

I realized recently that when I am here I am living what I would call a “modern day casalinga* life”.. Matteo goes to work in Rome everyday except Mondays, and I stay here, in the “historical center” and hang the laundry to dry on the balcony, do my daily errands, gather cicoria and ramoracce and other “poor herbs” to boil, prepare his lunch for the next day, and do under the table English lessons over video chat, the same way the housewives* of my grandmother’s generation would do tailoring or give injections of medicine for under the table extra cash. It’s a role I am still getting used to, but I don’t *not* like it. I feel bad when I leave him here for my little trips (or my long trips), which is different from how I thought I would feel when (if ever) I had a husband. (actually I never even imagined I would be in a heteronormative relationship..) In any case, he’s relieved when I have trips planned, because if I don’t I start to sulk.

Oh, another thing that takes some of my time, but not always, is when Matteo is working on a play (he‘s a director)… and I have fallen into the role of assistant director/stage manager the past handful of times… though I’m still waiting to direct a play myself and have him assist me, but the time will come. In the back of my (our) mind, we have the idea to return to the states and open a bakery that has room for a stage. I think it’s the only way we could both feel tranquil and be able to make a living/possibly start a family/have a creative outlet/work for ourselves.. but we’re still not ready to make the leap across the pond.

[sifwithagun]

I agree, those are probably the ones I would choose if I was downloading them individually. for convenience (I guess) I'm using a version prepared for Linux with a Wine wrapper that includes all the content ever released for the game. so yeah, every expansion. Most versions you find online are like this, and IIRC it's kind of a pain to uninstall content because of how the expansions are sort of stacked on top of each other

plus I'm potentially sacrificing mod compatibility without all expansions, and I am a prolific user of mods, so I don't exactly want to uninstall anything either. my only other choice is to use tuning scripts to excessively tailor the game to my tastes and make it not annoying lol. I've gone through this much trouble already so I guess I might as well. but since I've been playing 2 lately it just stood out to me how much less overbearing that game is about this kinda stuff

I found out ts3 runs good on steam deck and got it set up and tbh... it was always my favorite but I kind of hate it now I think? since I'm not buying individual expansions and stuff packs (they would cost over C$500 at $26 each + $26 base game, which $26 alone is frankly too much to spend on this game especially when TS4 is free to play lmfao) I end up using installs with everything included, which sounds great, but has the side effect of the game feeling like it's "advertising" itself to me constantly

I dont mean actual advertisements in the game, though there are certainly those, but like. new ~exciting~ expansion pack features. I'm not going on a fucking vacation to China to just to learn martial arts so my boss will like me more. I'm not going to Vita Alto's 17th holiday party in a row. I do not care about going to the future. get the fucking paparazzi out of my yard, I am playing a young couple and they don't even have friends and are at the bottom of their career ladders, why is one of them a celebrity, what is even going on. no, for the 200th time, Phillip, you're not divorcing your wife who you love and have a great relationship with and no other prospects because the game decided you are having a midlife crisis for the next three weeks.

and not an expansion thing but my sims have been abducted by aliens in the middle of the night five fucking times already apropos of nothing. just drop everything they're doing and run outside and get abducted. can't cancel the action. I feel like I'm going insane.

I realize most or all of these problems can be mitigated with tuning mods and various other tweaks but it's such a pain trying to get the game into a less annoying state that it doesn't even feel worth it. MC needs an "everybody shut the fuck up for a second" button or something idk