#she's an alpha and i love her but lawd lol

[zemissinglinkus]

Currently having the debate of if I should get another cat (and if they should be a kitten or adult) cause the old princess is very bored

[toonqueen]

Duckvember Day 22: Loved Duck

I was gonna try to draw Gene and Faris looking cute on a motorcycle but I have failed. I’ll try later maybe. Instead I picked a song from each of my shipping playlists. SOME CHARS I don’t have a full shipping playlist for them but I have shipping songs on their character playlist if that makes sense lol.  TUMBLR will only let me post 10 links at a time so I will reblog this with more links and info. Next part coming in a second!

Duck Revenger  x Alpha (Nega Donald and Nega Uno)

So I have a headcanon for Negaverse Donald and Alpha would still kinda be heroes. But of course, being the Negaverse, they have more edgy drama. Also Uncle Scrooge is evil and they have to deal with that. 

Duke L’Orange x OC Gallery 

Gallery belongs to @fluxchix

This is actually from a playlist I made for a story that took place wayyy in the future where Gallery is resurrected by magic and Duke’s been alive for a good thousand years (also because of magic.) LOOK it’s a long story. There was space travel and mysteries it was great okay. 

AND THEN here’s a normal shipping song I always think of them with: 

Faustina (OC for Ducktales/Darkwing)

GOD her shipping playlist just has so many good songs in it to pick one is hard. It’s not having her shipped with anyone in particular just how she does relationships lolol. Lot of the songs make her sound worse than she really is I swear. >_>  Two for her

Also this song this has gore:

Non Gore version: 

Fethry x Poe (Ducktales 2017)

So I ship these two for my headcanons for 87/comic blend universe. Poe and Fethry in that universe don’t start being an item until Magica and Gladstone have been together for awhile. I don’t really have a playlist for that ship because there isn’t really any drama to it to have a playlist lololol. For 2017 I have Poe being an active villain so of course more dramaaa. This playlist has a lot of Raven based songs but the main one I picked to show is just a nice angst with a twist ha.

Gene x Djinn

Oh lawd I’ve been trying to fill their shipping play list for more happy songs because MOST of their story is happy. It’s just easy to find songs for when that ONE bad thing happens. (*cough* Merlock *cough.)

Grimstone (Nega Gladstone) x OC Sheldrake Netta

My headcanon for Nega Gladstone is up to stuff with @cataradical OC’s Sheldrake. But they are both bastards so their playlist is full of bastard love songs. 

[shimmershae]

My thoughts on Episode 3--Hunted.

 Most of you lovelies already realize this, but my thoughts tend to zig and zag quite a bit, lol.  So.  To save some of you the headache and spare you from seeing spoilers you’d rather not see yet, I’m again placing them behind a cut.  

First things first.  I have totally turned into Yvette Nicole Brown with her TWD notebooks, lol, and I’m not even sorry.  I just felt like it would be fun to go back when the final episode is in the books and see how well my thoughts from these early episodes line up with what I’m feeling when we say our (not-so) final goodbyes.  

But that’s enough about that. Let’s get to this thing.  

It really is insane how very much I love Melissa McBride.  Just hearing her doing the previously on TWD recap voiceover makes me ridiculously happy.  

Cole!  Dude!  We hardly knew ya.  

Not gonna lie.  That first shot of Maggie in all the chaos reminded of a shirt I’ve seen.  It says--”Well, well, well.  If it isn’t the consequences of my actions.”  

I have to hand it to Angela and the rest of her team.  These opening scenes--on all 3 episodes--have been BOMB so far.  They really hook you in right away.  At least IMHO.  

I realize I’m behind the game on this little tidbit, but how much do I adore the fact that Dog is now in the opening credits?  

Okay.  Alexandria might look like it’s been on some kind of post-apocalyptic bender but all our girls are looking beautiful as ever.  Maybe it’s Maybelline, lol.  

I love to see Kelly and Carol still gravitating toward each other.  It really speaks to each woman’s heart.  Carol wants to make amends so badly and Kelly just has the most lovely, warm, forgiving heart.  

Carol’s point about Alexandria still needing the horses to help with the heavy lifting and pointing out the walls and rebuilding won’t matter quite as much if they’re limited by their  hunger and what they can physically lift on their own isn’t wrong.  But I’m sure the same viewers that were okay with Daryl and Co. going out on Maggie’s suicide mission (using the same reasoning) and saying it made sense for the bigger picture will pretend not to recognize that the same element is there in Carol’s desire to go out there and look for the horses.  You know.  Because it was Carol’s idea and not that of their fave(s).  

Aaron, Man.  Or maybe I should say Angela.   You just had to put a pit of dread in my belly mentioning Buttons like that.  RIP, Buttons.  You deserved better.  I’m still traumatized.  

Look at all the babies bonding.  Look at RJ getting to sit at the big kid table.  

“My mom always comes back.”  She damn well better.  Those babies need her.  Until she does, though, Uncle Daryl and Aunt Carol (and Aunt Rosita and everybody else) are going to be there.  

Anyway.  Poor RJ.  He barely ever gets any lines, lol.  

Hershel and Judith are obviously the mini-adults in this group and baby Rhee is already more cynical and jaded than his sweet daddy was until they reached Alexandria and the wheels started to come off.  

So.  Does Maggie just think everybody’s already dead here or what?  Hmm.  

You know.  Any building can be creepy AF when the lights are off and it’s dark, lol.  Any building.  

So much darkness so far this season.  I’m going to have to invest in some blackout curtains.  I just know it.  

Where are all those stairs leading?  Why am I thinking of Hitchcock?  Am I mixing up my scary, suspenseful movies?  Probably.  

Of fucking course, Maggie dropped her flashlight.  Thank goodness she had that lighter at the ready just before Ghost Face Reaper took a swipe at her.  

Is that Father G with a screwdriver impaled in his thigh?  Listen.  These people deserve a Mega Bottle of pain killers and a week just vegging out in a soft, luxurious bed.  

All these horror movie tropes.  Some of them are cheesy, yes.  But I’m totally here for it.  

LMAO.  That’s it, Maggie.  A good old punch in the nuts works every time.  

Alden really is having a terrible, horrible, no good very bad day.  

Negan is still Negan.  Self-serving and looking out for number one.  But I believe the man really does feel the group is his group too.  He’s like that long lost, sketchy uncle nobody wants to acknowledge much less invite to the dinner table, but that bond?  However thin?  Is there.  

I am both hating that Maggie is being forced to work with the man that murdered her husband (my baby Glenn) and finding it fascinating the lengths she’s willing to go to survive.  This your plan, Angela?  

Rosita and Carol!  How sad is it that the last really significant scene I can remember the two of these women sharing was way back?  Before Rick and Co. attacked Negan’s outpost and Maggie and Carol were subsequently taken?  If only the show had done more of these kind of scenes.  

How much do I love all the girls working together?  Gimps would never.  They’d all be stuck back at Alexandria minding the kids and the community.  

Shallow aside--Rosita is so pretty in this scene.  

Rosita being worried about Carol honestly makes my heart hurt, because it’s about damn time more of them actually did.  Her saying Abraham is trying to tell her something in her dreams is interesting.  Angela sure loves her dreams, doesn’t she?  

Where are Daryl’s dreams, hmm?  No.  Seriously.  I guess they want to give some viewers plausible deniability until the bitter end.  

“Really?  We’re just gonna go toward the screaming?  Cool.”  Hahaha.  You know.  Even the smart people in horror movies sometimes bite it, Negan.  Just saying.  Maggie really does need to “stop running up the staircase” when she could just run out the front door though, lol.  

Poor Duncan.  I think you could have been another Tyreese, Jerry type for me.  

WTF does this show have against horses?  Those poor creatures.  

Kelly is totally me right now.  I’d be freaking inconsolable.  

Carol needed that hug.  Thank you, Magna.  From the bottom of this tired fangirl’s heart, thank you.  

Why give us that beautiful, golden shot with the horses when you’re planning to stab us through the heart later and twist the knife.  Oh.  Yeah.  That’s exactly why.  

Oh snap!  Father G’s delivery when he tells that Reaper “I’m not.  God isn’t here anymore.”  Cold as ice.  

Judas.  That the Reapers’ work.  Or.  Damn.  Either way, that’s harsh.  

Back to what Alden was saying.  All these oprhaned children.  Who’s going to take on Adam if he dies?  That poor kid has had a rough go of it.  Knowing that, makes you wonder what Alden was thinking volunteering for the suicide mission.  

Omigosh.  There went Agatha.  Terrible way to go.  Right, Beatrice?  

I’m sobbing.  Carol with the horse.  That hurt my baby so much but she hurt herself for her family the same way she has been doing since the Prison.  Melissa Mcbride?  When she cries, I cry.  Every effin’ time.  Aaron being there just made it hurt more.  But at least someone was there to see how and really take in how she continues to break pieces of herself off to keep her family as whole and safe and happy as she can.  

Rewinding a minute--that Magna and Carol conversation.  I get Magna’s reasoning too.  I do.  But Angela is just making everything so dire right now so that the sun when Connie is ultimate found shines a ltitle brighter.  

Those babies know they’re eating horse.  I could never.  

That’s got to be a different Coco.  She’s even smaller.  But she’s gorgeous.  

Fucking finally.  Angela having the other characters notice after an eternity of being blind to it, just how much Carol sacrifices of herself for them.  It’s so long overdue and I imagine Rosita’s even more worried for Carol now.  It’s a shame it’s taken 11 seasons.  My baby’s had blood on her hands trying to keep her family safe and whole and happy and fed for a long damn time.  So heartbreaking watching her try to scrub the blood away.  

Sweet, sweet hug that Kelly gave Magna.  She’s such a sweetheart kid sis to all of them, isn’t she?  

Interesting place of refuge.  A gutted church.  A visual symbol, Angela, of where Maggie and the rest of our people are now perhaps?  

“It’s easy for you, isn’t it?  Being reckless with sombody’s life...”  Maggie.  Maggie.  Those words would have hit so much harder if we hadn’t spent the majority of the last 2.5 episodes watching you ignore sound advice just because it came out of the mouth of somebody you (justifiably) hate.  

But will Alden be there when Maggie and Negan get back?  That is the question.  Or will he eventually Lucille himself?  

That little bit of lineup Negan music to remind the audience of Negan lovers and sympathizers that he once took great pleasure in murderously swinging a bag at people’s heads was a nice, subtle touch there.  Like agree with her or not, Maggie  is literally left to rely  on the hope, however small it is, that Negan has changed just enough that he won’t try to finish a job he taken on years before--killing what’s left of her.  

Oh lawd.  Next episode sees the return of a character literally nobody asked for.  How excited am I not?  

Dog better not be harmed or so help me.  

Now for Angela’s weekly explanations of WTF she/there were thinking because they been doing this plausible deniability thing so long some people out there watching with biased, muddy stan glasses can no longer separate head canon from canon.  

Is Maggie worried at all about Daryl or does she just assume his superhero powers are in full effect in this episode?  

“You can’t really say it wasn’t going to happen anyway.”  Not Angela pointing out that simply laying the blame for literally everything bad that ever happens at Carol’s feet isn’t the answer.  Say it louder for those in the back.  Alpha was going to do what Alpha wanted to do.  

“There is love there.  There is respect there.  However, there’s also frustration...”  You damn skippy.  Friendships and human relationships are complex AF.  Like Carol. She’s honestly one of the most complicated characters on this show and any show, IMHO.  That’s what makes her so memorable and such a lightning rod for discussion.  

I know I might be in a minority, but I really feel like they need more of those little scenes between the kids to keep things real.  

Kang saying she always feels like she’s going to get murdered in a staircase or parking lot is relatable, funny, and sad all at the same time.  It’s a girl thing.  

Why is Carol’s story giving me Dark Knight vibes?  Like I feel like she’ll gladly shoulder the burden of their distrust, their hate, or their judgment as long as the hard choices she makes keeps them safe.  And she’s still ultimately going to come back to save their asses even when they forsake her.  Just like Bruce Wayne/Batman.  Am I reaching too far, lol?  Because sometimes I do that.  

Anyway.  This is the third episode of the season and the third episode in a row that I mostly enjoyed.  I don’t know if I’m just so relieved and happy to have all the characters and my show back or what, but overall?  I’ve been pleased with the episodes and found something to love in all of them.  

There’s a much stronger horror vibe woven throughout Season 11 so far.  I feel like it’s a return to the roots of the show and I like that.  Literally none of the characters are making perfect choices and this viewer is here for it.  My only complaint so far is there hasn’t been enough Carol but what we’ve been given has felt like a gift and significant in a way that Gimps’ version was not.  Also?  I really hope the trend of the ladies working together and supporting each other continues because they rule the TWD world, lol.  

Hope you enjoyed at least some of my TWD word vomit.  

Until next episode.  

[wingcinna]

Heeeeyyyyaaa Cinna!!

I've gotta surprise for you!!! So I had no idea that you and I have kinda went through some similar negative life experiences (i won't bring them up because they're super personal), but it makes me feel good to know that we're both fighters and we both continue to draw and stuff 😭😭😭

Okay lemme stop being emotional... okay okay.😭😭🥺🥺🤧🤧

So I made some OC's for your babies Vesper and Iah!!

So Noelani is for Iah

She's a newly turned werewolf who has no idea how to "werewolf". She wasn't turned willingly either. She was walking home from her perfume/cologne shop where she got attacked by a Alpha wolf. He actually left her for dead, leaving a nasty slash on her shoulders and chest. She's really self conscious about it too. She turns every full moon, but she also turns whenever she can't control her anger or fear. She met Iah at a food festival... well, she "felt" Iah's presence there and she knew she had to meet him. She would've been attracted to him regardless of his Lycan blood, because she thinks he's handsome and a beautiful being inside and out. When she turns, she's very territorial and protective towards him. Iah and her pets are usually the only ones that can calm her down. She's terrified of hurting him when she's a werewolf, but she'd literally never hurt him... if anything she'll lick him to death lmaoooo. She was a very touchy, passionate type of lover, but now she's hesitant to make too many bold moves without asking his permission first, again, because she's afraid of her own strength. But she comes around... eventually 😉

Now Quinnie is for Vesper.

She's a shapeshifting demon, and she's excellent at making mirages and trickery. You can probably find her lounging in a tree when she's not investigating crimes (she's a bounty hunter). She has a big ass snake tattoo on her left arm and a huggggge back tattoo (that I haven't finished yet lol). She loves to eat and cause some mischief. Ya girl gets "in heat" once a month... lawd help Vesper when she does... she always treats him to whatever he wants afterwards though lol. She met Vesper on one of her jobs, and it was love at first sight for her, but she'll never admit it. She's a lot like Cheshire cat, but more seductive. She ALWAYS has heavy-lidded eyes, they barely get any wider even if she's surprised or angry. Her sensitive spots are her ears and her tail, especially the tip. Kiss or nibble on any of those areas and she will be putty in your hands. Likes walking around barefoot most of the time. Loves styling and taking care of Vesper's luscious locks, sometimes wants them to match lol. She has sharp teeth too, but she learned to disguise them with her abilities... you can catch them sticking out if Vesper throws her off her guard or if she's too stressed. Likes licking/kissing Vesper's freckles/beauty marks because why not? She doesn't have any herself, which is partly why she gets tattoos. She's playful, caring, and really enjoys cuddling with him.

SCREAMING!!! I love them 😭💗 thank you Remi!!! 😍

[murfeelee]

Give Me a Fandom and I’ll Tell You....

Saw a bunch of these on my dash, and decided to do a bunch in turn!

SPARTACUS

Favorite Male Character: Nasir (my smol little cinnamon roll~! :3), and Agron (my sexy beast from the East of the Rhine <3)

Favorite Female Character: Lucretia (Lucy Lawless was the reason I started watching the show in the first place; Xena’s my bish). I liked Mira, too.

Least Favorite Character: Illythia, that nasty skank

Favorite Ship: NAGRON, DUH!!!! <3

Favorite Friendship: The entire quartet: Spartacus, Crixus, Agron, Gannicus

Favorite Quote: This is too hard, there were so many good 1-liners from almost all the characters. I’ll go with, “My place is beside you“ -- effing weak rn, Nasir, same! <3

Worst Character Death (if any): The finale effed me up; everyone died (except Nagron! ^0^). You know it’s coming, cuz duh, they lost the war and the crucifixions along the Appian Way is a real thing that happened in actual history, but man, that was grim. U_U

This made me so happy you have no idea Moment: Other than Nagron surviving the war like the boss BAMF gay battle husbands they are? IDK, maybe Glaber and Illythia getting their comeuppance in S02.

Saddest Moment: Agron crying over Spartacus. And Duro. And his own crucifixion. (Dan’s really good at heavy scenes.) And Naevia’s death (I was crushed, I really wanted her to make it.) And Nasir’s rare freak out moment when he flipped on Castus, that was painful.

Favorite Location: Lucius Caelus’ temple in S02. All those times Agron blasphemed against the gods, and it ended up being a temple that became the rebel base. :P And in S03 he kept doing it! XD

TEEN WOLF (I hate this show, it makes no sense)

Favorite Male Character: Stiles Stilinski (of course~!), and Peter Hale (YEAH, I said it, sue me!) Stiles and Peter are also my two favorite former villains, as the Nogitsune and the Alpha.

Favorite Female Character: Kira Yukimura (I miss her!) and Erica Reyes (I miss her, too!)

Least Favorite Character: Malia Tate (for so many reasons, let me count the ways....) Why does SHE get to stick around, yet actual good female characters/actresses keep leaving the show!? >_>

Favorite Ship: Sterek is Eternal, regardless of Jeff Davis pooping on everything with his crap writing and crap plots

Favorite Friendship: Stiles and Scott, Derek and Boyd

Favorite Quote: “I’m 1000 years old; YOU CAN’T KILL ME!!!!!“ (Dylan, you go boy~!)

Worst Character Death (if any): Boyd. That was effed up. I hate Jeff Davis. That was EFFED UP! Jeff Davis is NOT a gift!

This made me so happy you have no idea Moment: Them announcing that 6B would be the last season. Stiles’ reunion with everyone after being Erased in 6A. And his real name finally being revealed by his dad! :D

Saddest Moment: Other than literally all the good cast members being killed off or put on a bus, leaving us with garbage? All the touching Stilinski Family Feels with Stiles and his dad. <3

Favorite Location: Derek’s loft

SHADOWHUNTERS

Favorite Male Character: Magnus Bane is my aesthetic!

Favorite Female Character: Izzy Lightwood

Least Favorite Character: Clary Fray. The actress is terrible, that fake ginger hair terrible, the incest is terrible... (but at least that was fixed, lol).

Favorite Ship: Malec is trying to make me die of feels, wtf

Favorite Friendship: Izzy and Simon (SizzyFTW! Endgame Sizzy!)

Favorite Quote: “We all have our THINGS“ -- Izzy, never was a truer word spoken on this show..... 8)

Worst Character Death (if any): People keep boo-hooing over Jace, but that doesn’t count; he was only dead for like 5 seconds. Imma go with Ragnor Fell. #GoneTooSoon!

This made me so happy you have no idea Moment: Laaaaawd~~~! That wedding scene!? THAT WEDDING SCENE. LAWD! ^0^ And the song playing in the background was perfect; gave me shivers. The way Magnus just stomped in there like a boss!? That eye contact!? OMG

Saddest Moment: The whole Magnus-Valentine issue and that Agony Rune, Valentine’s massacre of the Downworlders at the Institute (that was effed up), everyone’s reaction over Jocelyn’s death (poor Alec!), Simon having to endure that awkward as hell kiss in the Seelie Realm.

Favorite Location: Magnus’ penthouse

GAME OF THRONES

Favorite Male Character: Tyrion Lannister since Day 1 (Peter Dinklage is 200% superb!)

Favorite Female Character: #TeamDanyFTW!

Least Favorite Character: Cersei Lannister, that psycho wench. I hope she’s pregnant with a dwarf. I kid you not, I hope her little incest baby ends up looking just like Tyrion, and she goes ballistic and tries to kill it, and Jaime gets to see just how EVIL this heifer is and come to his frikkin senses. 

Favorite Ship: Dany & Drogo, of course. Arya & Jaqen H’gar, sue me. Arya & Gendry (yay, he’s back!) I need Arya to get some lovin’, seriously.

Favorite Friendship: Jon & Sam, Dany & Missandei, Tyrion & Bronn

Favorite Quote: Winter is Coming! All of Dany’s soundbites: Fire cannot kill a dragon, Fire and Blood, Drakarys, etc.

Worst Character Death (if any): HOLD THE DOOR. Nedd Stark. Kahl Drogo. Poor little Rickon didn’t deserve that. The Red Wedding. Plus, that awkward moment when you realize Bran is nuts.

This made me so happy you have no idea Moment: The Purple Wedding (Olenna you flawless HBIC!!! - Cersei’s face! XD *knee slapping goodness*). That Bolton twat getting eaten by his own dogs gave me life. Every time Dany says Drakarys is a BAMF moment. Every time Sam saves the day. The Arya vs Brienne fight was DOPE!

Saddest Moment: HOLD THE DOOR. Nedd Stark. Kahl Drogo. Poor little Rickon didn’t deserve that. The Red Wedding. Plus, that awkward moment when you realize Bran is nuts.

Favorite Location: All the exotic places in the East/Essos: Qarth, Mereen, Astapor, Pentos, etc. I like Dorne, too, but that’s in Westeros.

As usual, I tag all you lovelies out there!

[katalytic]

Raw or Smackdown?

See, if I was not sleep-deprived, this would be an easy answer, and we could go on with our lives after I replied with one or the other. BUT since I got like… two? three? hours of sleep, and I tend to ramble when tired, I’m going to reply to this with A Very Long Post about my (very jumbled) thoughts on each show. Click on the “Read More” to, uh, read more (unless you’re on the mobile app – whoops).

Raw:

Since the brand split, Raw has had this issue where they either pull the trigger on a story line too early OR they let a story line limp to its sad conclusion, thereby ensuring no one gives a fuck by the end of it. However, in the past few weeks (since WWE has been “on the road to Wrestlemania”), they’ve gotten better at letting stories breathe while still adding a couple of new wrinkles to keep things fresh.

Please let this be the start of a trend and not something that stops as soon as Wrestlemania ends.

The Universal Title looks deadass like Lord Zedd from “Power Rangers” after a bedazzling accident.

Raw has my very favorite wrestler, Sami Zayn. Unfortunately, being a Sami Zayn fan right now feels like what it felt like being a Chicago Cubs fan in 2014 – you knew good things were around the corner, but can we see at least two wins strung together? Why Must I Suffer Like This?

Raw also has my other favorite wrestler, Bayley… whose character has suffered since joining the main roster, in my opinion. However, if WWE pulls off the Sasha Banks heel turn and shows how Sasha has slowly been manipulating Bayley this entire time, all will be forgiven.

Sasha Banks returning from her injury and decking Dana Brooke in the face was what cemented my wrestling fandom.

Can we talk about the women’s division, though? Because there are literally only four women they’re using in the division on Raw right now: Charlotte, Sasha Banks, Bayley, and Nia Jax.

Alicia Fox is busy having messy relations with Noam Dar.

Emma became Emmalina for a hot minute before she was “lol nah” and disappeared back into her cocoon or whatever.

Dana Brooke is JUST NOW getting out from under Charlotte’s thumb. This is a story line that should’ve been done ages ago.

Paige’s neck is, like, dead or something.

There are probably other women I’m forgetting because I haven’t seen them, like, ever.

Like, why? Why just these four?

Also, Nia Jax seems like a lovely person in real life, and I dig her in-ring character. But she does entire promos through her nose, and her theme makes me go “(dismissive wanking motion)” every time I hear it.

The first time I ever knew what a Seth Rollins was, he was returning from injury and then screaming at the crowd for cheering him. Iconic.

That’s probably why I didn’t really buy into his whole “yes I am a babyface now” act until he did his in-ring interview about his new knee injury. He just seemed like a snotty brat acting out because Mom and Dad had a new baby to dote on up until that point.

The whole Kevin Owens/Chris Jericho friendship thing went on for way too long but the Festival of Friendship was worth all of it.

Chris Jericho… what a goddamn delight he was this year. I’m going to be sad when he leaves to tour with Fozzy after Wrestlemania.

I’m glad Kevin Owens is being Actually Evil again.

I can’t believe it’s taken them this long to finally figure out Roman Reigns’ sweet spot as a character (tough as nails, dismissive of the old guard, doesn’t really give two shits about the crowd booing him because he knows what he’s about), but I’m glad I’m here to witness it. Now don’t fuck this up.

Because oh lawd before this Roman Reigns’ characterization was… A Mess. The less said about his reign as United States Champion, the better. Let’s all just… agree to forget this happened?

(I still want him to admit that he misses The Shield and that’s why he keeps everything vaguely Shield-like AND why he was so quick to be friends with Seth again.)

The tag team division is another mess. The New Day seem like they’re finally back on track in new IDGAF personas now that they don’t have the weight of the longest championship reign in tag team division history!!11! holding them down. But everyone else? Yikes.

Except, weirdly, Sheamus, who is actually pretty fun now.

Enzo Amore and Big Cass probably suffered the most out of everyone in the tag team division while The New Day were busy making history. (The whole storyline with Rusev and Lana? Let’s never speak of it again.) I used to look forward to them, but now, their music hits, and I stare off into an invisible camera like I’m on “The Office.”

Listen. I appreciate what Stephanie McMahon has done behind the scenes, and I get that her character on “Raw” is supposed to be an asshole. I understand. But I still want someone to hit her with a chair.

Triple H looks like he needs to take a dump. Like, all the time. He has permanent dumpface.

Come back to me, Finn Balor.

SmackDown:

SmackDown, to me, has been the more coherent and consistent of the two brands since the brand split. I think that the one thing that people were touting as its detriment at the start of the brand split – the smaller roster – actually turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Less characters means less working parts you have to shuffle around for stories to work.

Of course, the smaller roster means that you had the same four dudes vying for championships at the start of the brand split, but to the writers’ credit, they’ve been expanding that pool a bit.

The Randy Orton/Bray Wyatt story line. I mean, fucking hell. Did anyone expect it to be, like, good? Who knew Orton getting his head split open like an overripe melon during SummerSlam would lead to this? Shout out to everyone involved for being completely invested in it and taking even the most ridiculous parts of the story deadly seriously, because any sort of wink and nod to the audience would ruin it.

The Miz is the greatest heel on either brand, and it’s not even close. He even got me to feel sorry for Dolph Ziggler for a minute, there. Genius.

I know a lot of people still don’t like John Cena, and after watching older episodes of Raw and SmackDown on WWE Network, I can understand why. But the Meta Cena of this past year is the best version of John Cena possibly ever. 

Also, Nikki Bella coming out to save Cena three weeks in a row makes my heart flutter. LOVE IS REAL.

The women’s division needs more women, but at least they’re using everyone in the division.

I would vote Alexa Bliss as WWE Rookie of the Year if there was such an award. (Is there such an award?) Yeah, she’s still green in the ring, but her character work has been fantastic to watch. A sneaky-good NXT callup.

The tag team division is a mess on this show, as well. American Alpha won the titles and then went a month without having to defend them. That’s how much of an afterthought the division has been.

Hopefully, the Usos winning the titles last night will help. Their heel turn has been one of the few bright spots in the entire division this year, so I’m hoping that’ll help elevate things.

Dean Ambrose growing a beard was a significant highlight for WWE this year, as far as I’m concerned. Now he doesn’t look like a baby with a combover anymore.

AJ Styles is probably one of my favorite characters in WWE right now. He’s like the Cool Old Guy crossed with the Only Sane Man who’s also Wrong Genre Savvy. Like, he’s the one dude on this show who sees it as an actual athletic competition and cannot comprehend the chicanery that surrounds him.

Take him calling out Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon for giving Randy Orton a match against him to be in the main event at Wrestlemania. Yes, on LITERALLY ANY OTHER SHOW, he would be completely right about how COMMITTING ARSON should not somehow grant Randy Orton a chance to be anywhere else other than jail. But he doesn’t realize he’s on a TV show about a wrestling show. Like, you shared a locker room with a an undead zombie wrestler AND a mystical cult leader, both of whom can teleport, my guy. That’s fine, but arson – ARSON is where you draw the line. Okay, buddy.

And then, when he sort of figures out that, hey, the rules of the outside world don’t matter on this show, he manages to break the ONE RULE he shouldn’t have: attacking a McMahon. And he still gets kind of rewarded for it (if you think having to carry Shane McMahon through a match where he is guaranteed to attempt to destroy himself at least once is a reward – which, honestly, it is, in WWE-land).

After all this, you’re probably wondering “So… Raw or SmackDown?” tl;dr: Raw has more of my favorite wrestlers, but SmackDown has the story lines I’m more invested in.

[jlswainsboro]

Trial and Temptation by Author Ruby Lionsdrake Mandrake Company Series: Book Two

SCI-FI DELIGHT !!! Title: Trial and Temptation Series: Mandrake Company Author: Ruby Lionsdrake Designation: Book Two of Series, Full-Length Standalone Sci-Fi Romance, NO Cliffhanger Genre: #sciencefiction #romance #action #adventure Reading Platform: Kindle Edition My Rating: Five Delightfully Entertaining Stars***** Jackpot! I've found another great author to add to my list of favorites! This is my first time reading Ruby Lionsdrake but it certainly won't be my last! I love, love, love romance and adore science fiction, but throw in a generous serving of pulse-pounding action, thrilling adventure along with a sprinkling of snarky humor and I'm in heaven! And Ruby Mandrake just delivered the perfect combination in Trial and Temptation, the second riveting release in her popular Mandrake Company series. Granted, I sorta started out of order by reading Book Two without realizing it was the second of the series but no problem, each of the books are full-length standalones and can be read in any order. However, I did race back to Amazon and picked up Mercenary Instinct, the first book of the series, so I can read it next and then resume reading them in chronological order. Trial and Temptation is an exciting, imaginative, fast-paced exceptionally well crafted, well written and well edited science fiction romp filled to the brim with action, adventure, danger, humor and romance. The narrative is beautifully written in the third person with clearly defined his and her perspectives from the two protagonists, handsome mercenary Commander Gregor Thatcher and beautiful former freighter pilot and hopeful new mercenary, Valerian Calendula. Neither Gregor nor Val are your traditional hero or heroine but I fell head over heels for both. They were not your typical lovers either...you know...love at first sight...meeting and instantly falling into lust and love. In fact, these two unlikely lovers met ten years earlier when Val entered the Galactic Conglomeration as a cadet and Gregor was Lieutenant Commander Thatcher, her academy instructor....her very arrogant, pompous, know-it-all instructor. And apparently he hasn't changed a bit, so get ready for some fireworks with these two. They were the cutest couple ever and absolutely perfect together, playing off each other brilliantly. The entire dialogue was smart, sexy, at times funny, well executed and flowed effortlessly. I was immediately drawn into the story by the snark and attitude of the strong, sassy Val who was determined to secure a job as a mercenary in order to make enough money to bail her brother, Yarrow, out of trouble but was so afraid she might fail since her former academy nemesis, Commander Thatcher, would be the one to decide if she could pass muster and become a permanent employee of Mandrake Company. Val was an absolute delight and poor Gregor was far from your typical charismatic alpha male hero. Poor thing...he was totally clueless when it came to wooing a woman but I have to give him an A+ for effort. Once he set his mind to the task, and, of course, put it on his list, he's determined to win the heart of cadet Calendula. And yes, the brilliant Commander had a list for everything! lol.... No spoilers from me but I will say if you enjoy thrilling well-written science fiction loaded with danger, drama, action, adventure and steamy romance, then Trial and Temptation is most certainly the book for you.

Did I like this book? No, I LOVED it! I was immediately drawn into the story and once I started, I couldn't stop. I read well into the wee hours of the morning; I simply had to discover, do they or don't they, and I was not disappointed!  Would I recommend it? You bet and I am but only for adult readers since there are some steamy love scenes included. Will I read this author again? Abso-freakin-lutely! As a matter of fact, as soon as I finish this review, I intend to devour Book One, then hopefully pace myself on the three other books in the series. And the most important question of all, was I entertained? Oh lawd, yes! Totally and completely entertained. I loved it! Fabulous entertainment and an awesome read.

https://www.amazon.com/Trial-Temptation-Mandrake-Company-Book-ebook/dp/B00OM12RWM/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1486425177&sr=1-2&keywords=mercenary+instinct