#smoking sandman husband

[anoddopal]

[Screenshot taken from this post!]

LMAO FACTUAL AND ACCURATE--

Picture a vision of B.uggy with a pillow under his hand, rapping on the door to Bun's dwelling- Only for a very disgruntled Cr.ocodile and Mi.hawk to answer the door. 😬

🐊 + 🗡🍷: "Really Buggy? Again?"

You did the right thing Jinx, his 🤡 ass needs to suffer a little.

[anoddopal]

@mothlover69

I said what I said, and I am right

[haveyoureadthisfanfic]

Summary: It starts when Desire drags his ass out to a fetish party in Brixton when he would rather have been tucked safely away in his studio. It starts with a few hits of MDMA, an unwise promise, and a conversation over heard in the smoking section. It starts with a man named Robert who smiles like the sun, takes takes him in hand and takes him apart, one piece at a time. Look, Dream knows he's a mess, in almost every way, but he just came out to Torture Garden to ostensibly have a good time. He didn't intend to have every aspect of his existence turned upside down, inside out, and unraveled. Yet here he fucking is.

Author: @dancinbutterfly

Note from submitter: Just let this fic take you for the ride, it is masterfully done.

[thenightling]

The Satanic Panic (the unwelcome 80s throw-back)

Everything from the 1980s has made a come back. From LP records replacing CDs, to films like Beetlejuice and Ghostbusters. And literature like The Vampire Lestat (published in 1985) and Neil Gaiman's The Sandman (1988). And Broadway musicals based on 80s movies. Even skinny jeans for men made a come back. And late 80 Goth fashion. These are all great, fun, Nostalgic things. But... something else made a come back. The infamous Satanic Panic. If you're unfamiliar with the 80s Satanic Panic it wasn't all about thinking there were Satanists everywhere. It was sort of a blanket term for a rise in anti-semitism, anti-witchcraft, homophobia, and a weird surge in ped0pheila paranoia. When you think of the 80s Satanic Panic you think of the religious zealots burning Dungeons & Dragons tabletop role playing game manuals or thinking they hear Satanic messages in Heavy Metal albums or the extremely ignorant claiming that non-Abrahmic religions (or even Judaism) are actually worshipping Satan. I saw this make a disturbing comeback just yesterday when someone joined my The Sandman Facebook group with the rant that The Star of David is actually a Satanic symbol and has nothing to do with David. If you didn't grow up during The Satanic Panic you may have entirely missed the Ped0phelia aspect of it, which may have been worse than the claims that Satanists were / are secretly everywhere. It was a leap in logic that the Satanists are up to evil, and what is more evil than the sexual abuse and exploitation of children? So people started to imagine there were ped0philes everywhere, running daycare centres, or eccentric ex-boyfriends. Or LGBTQAI+ teenagers who came out of the closet were suddenly suspected of being a ped0 because if the person isn't straight, a very ignorant "friend" or family member might suddenly decide that the gay person is attracted to everyone of their gender, including children. The impact of the 80s Satanic Panic can still be felt. Innocent people, including Day Care Center owners, were convicted and couldn't get their verdicts over turned for decades. A bad breakup and a few whispers in her ear could lead to a mother believing the worst about her ex-husband without any evidence. There were cases of children being coached without the coachers even realizing that's what they were doing because the adults asked the children so many times in so many ways about sexual abuse that they were sure must have happened, that the kids just started saying what they thought their parents or grandparents wanted to hear. This was the era of "Stranger Danger." And it never quite stopped.

The ped0phelia paranoia is particularly strange. Do NOT take this to mean I am claiming Ped0phelia doesn't happen or isn't a real threat or that victims who come forward should be ignored. No. However, Q-anon revived this paranoia with things like "All Democrats are secretly ped0philes." "Hillary Clinton leads a Ped0phile ring." "The ped0philes in Washington and Hollywood are using the blood of children to unnaturally retain their youth. As far fetched as that sounds, people believe it. There was even that one guy who was so convinced that there was a secret dungeon under a pizza parlor that he showed up heavily armed and when he found out there was no basement he surrendered himself to police. Former rock star turned Hollywood composer, Danny Elfman, was recently accused of decades old sexual harassment but because of "catchy" headlines lots of people seemed to think he must have r8ped someone. Some people even dusted off his old Oingo Boingo song, "Little Girls" as proof of his perversion even though the song was actually intended to shame and call out Hollywood executives who would take advantage of underage girls. It wasn't the smoking gun they seemed to think it was. It was an anti-sexual abuse song. Much like how in the 1980s Pat Benatar's "Hell is for Children" (an anti-child abuse anthem) was mistaken as Satanist / pro-child abuse somehow... (Lyric comprehension / media literacy is haaaard). For over thirty-years we have lived in the comfortable myth of "Ha, people were silly in the past!" and then it started to happen again. People saw Satanists and ped0philes everywhere again in a strange spike in social paranoia, perhaps as a subconscious (and very bigoted) rebellion against the social changes happening such as more LGBTQAI+ rights and openness. You might think you're immune because you're a democrat with an open mind and statistically usually the people who fall for these things are... well... Qanon... But you are not immune. Anyone can fall for these sort of things. If you ever decided someone "looks like a pervert" because of how they dress, or you have started to humor the gossip and rumors about your "creepy neighbor"... maybe stop and remember it was "Normal" and "reasonable people" who took part in the Salem witch Hunts.

If you know someone who sees Satanism everywhere that isn't pious Christianity or a smaller non-Abrahamic religion, than know that it's not that big of a leap in logic for them to start making sexual (particularly ped0phile) accusations. I dare say this is even tied to the conservative anti-trans movement sprinkled with accusations of "grooming." This is one 80s fad I wish would die... again.

[anoddopal]

It was over for Cr.ocodile the very moment he looked out the window from where he was seated at his desk, and saw Bun lovingly giving his congregation of Ban.anawani scritches on their heads.

[anoddopal]

@mothlover69

Men who will kill for you

[jaxteller87]

Amber in Dreamland

Jax had taken the kids to his mom’s so I could finally get a much-needed break. Between illness and school, this mama was beyond grateful for the quiet. I was lying on the sofa with full intentions of catching up on my reading. Donna had given me this book called Battle Royale she told me to check out. I was a fan of The Hunger Games, and apparently, the book she gave me was one of the inspirations behind it. However, anytime I lay on that couch with the intention of reading, I end up just drifting off to dreamland instead.

I had just rolled in with burgers and sweets to surprise Donna, but she was busy. And then he walked in— Jax Teller, the one who got away.

“Hey there, Kemp. Long time no see,” he smirked.

That smirk. I’d been immune to a lot when it came to this man, but that smirk could still make me melt like butter in a warm cast iron pan.

“What brings you back to town?” he asked, sitting down beside me.

“Oh, nothing much, just selling my parents’ old place. It’s time, you know…” 

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a burst of light, and then this little girl came running toward him.

“Daddy!!”

“There you are, squirt!” he said.

“Where’s Mama?”

Jax smiled. “With Grandma.” His teeth were so white that they glowed pleasantly.

“And who is this?” I smiled at the girl.

“Mary,” she beamed.

I glanced out the window to see Tara and Gemma walking towards the shop.

“Did you tell Daddy we’re ready for our little trip?” Tara smiled.

“No, Mama, I didn’t…”

“The club blew up the other day. Well, part of it, anyway,” Jax whispered.

There it was. The violence. Tara was always more suited to this life than I ever was. I don’t know how much truth there was to it, but the word going around says Tara has a body count of her own— and I’m not talking hookups. Apparently, she strangled Ima, one of the girls who used to work for Luann, for getting too cozy with Jax. Whether or not Tara was responsible is uncertain, but Ima’s dead body did wash up on the beach with hand marks around her neck. 

All I know is if Jax were my husband and that Ima skank started getting too comfortable around him— I’d like to think I’d do the same thing as Tara— allegedly, of course.

The next thing I knew, I found myself sitting at the town bar, taking some time to catch up with Donna while Opie was away somewhere with the kids.

And there he was again— Teller, sitting right beside me with his beer and that familiar smile. The scent of cologne and cigarette smoke was a comforting mix I never thought I’d like— let alone miss.

“The life we could have had if you’d come to NY with me after my parents passed,” I mused aloud.

“So, Kemp, how’s life going?” he smirked.

“Good. Work’s good. I have a boyfriend who treats me well. Life’s nice and quiet.”

“But he’s not me,” he added quietly. “What about you besides the club blowing up?” he asked, sipping his drink.

“Eh, it’s okay, I guess. A wife, a kid, everyone’s happy, everyone’s healthy— what more could you ask for?”

“Amber, I gotta ask you something, if that’s okay.”

I nodded.

“Do you think we get it right in the next lifetime… if you believe in that sort of thing?”

“I hope so,” I admitted.

We talked for a few more minutes, and then he left, kissing me on the top of my head. “I love you,” he whispered.

Suddenly, the ground beneath my feet began to tremble, and before I knew it, I was shaking from side to side. All the people I was just talking to had disappeared. The bar, the clubhouse, the living room— all gone. Looking around, all I could see were blue skies and big puffy white clouds— and then there was me—  falling through it all. 

“Babe?” a familiar voice called out from the Heavens. “Amber?” It said my name.

“Huh? What?” I woke up on the sofa to Jax gently shaking me awake. I still had the copy of Battle Royale propped open on my chest. Page 7 was as far as I got, apparently, before I lost my standoff to Mister Sandman and fell asleep.

“Amber, honey,” Jax said softly, “you were having a bad dream.”

“Wait a minute,” I said, sitting up and looking around the room. “This isn’t a dream, too, is it?”

“I mean, it’s my dream— as in, I’m living the life I always wanted. I have you, and we have kids— and a dog with two cats,” he explained.

“So this isn’t a literal dream then? Is it real?” I tried to sit up, but my back was a little stiff— probably from falling asleep on the sofa again.

“Darlin’, this is reality, and you’re stuck in it,” Jax smiled and kissed my forehead. “Sorry, love.”

“Oh, good,” I said, grabbing his face and kissing it all over.

Later that night, Teller and I were snuggled up together in bed. I told him about my dream— it wasn’t a bad dream; it was more like a ‘right person, wrong time’ scenario— kind of like how Marvel Comics did the old What If series; like what if the Fantastic Four never got their powers, or what if Hulk was intelligent but his human counterpart, Bruce, was more of the neanderthal. My dream was exactly like that— what if Jax ended up with Tara. Usually, these dreams leave me in tears, but not this time. 

“Well, I gotta ask,” he murmured, nuzzling my neck. “Do you believe in the whole ‘multiple lifetimes with a person’ thing?”

“Sometimes I do, sometimes I don’t,” I chuckled. “On a bad day, I think, why would I want to come back here? But on a good day, sure, maybe I’d come back one day. If it’s true, then yes, I think you’re one of those people who’s been in my life every time, just in different roles.”

“Well, if it were up to me, you’d be my wife and baby mama every time,” he laughed.

“Is that so, Big Papa?” I cooed, snuggling closer.

“Yup,” he chuckled, giving my ass a playful slap. “Careful. You know what that does to me.”

“I know,” I smirked. “The kids are away, so the parents will play,” I teased.

“Should I get the genie costume out?” he joked, kissing my neck.

[mejomonster]

Yall weren't lying about Tantai Jun being a Disney princess type

He reminds me more of Regina Mills from Once Upon a Time though like

1. Disney princess but not planned for a happy ending but instead to become like or crueler than those who hurt him

2. He's already past Regina at that age, he killed a dude with a wasp! (Phenomenal btw)

3. The crow is basically conditioning him to give up his body and soul to the devil inside when hes at his worst life moment???

4. I hope we get to see SOME earlier flashback where it shows when he started talking to the devil thing smoke face guy about giving it himself when he's ready to die and gain power. Like was a 2 year old him oddly comforted by that once upon a time? Or a 4 year old him afraid, but over the years he realized the "devil he knew" who said exactly what it'd do to him and how he would benefit would be WAY better than the current people hurting him? Was he gently coaxed a little more every year until the face finally put death on the table? I want to know how he got to the point of being convinced to give himself to it when he dies. Also! Maybe it wasn't even there as a child, it's not part of his devil bone, and it's actually an outside entity enticed by his Very Compatible Devil Body to want to possess him. In which case how did he get convinced to trust it. Also HOW is rhe crow involved. I love the crow! It's like 1 part Disney princess companion but the evil henchman ones instead, and 1 part the crow from Sandman.

5. I love that he is actually already with a plan. It's not actually take it until dead. It's "die on my own terms and gain magic power and emotional numbness and get worldwide revenge" if he DOES wither away, and in the meanwhile figure out what to do next while alive. (Which I mean yes ouat went Wild with the writing but in season 1 some old notable things I remember was a Snow White who had her own plan, just in general the vibe of even if a damsel imprisoned people were generally thinking about what to do) I appreciate that Tantai Jin is smarter than just waiting to die as plan A.

6. Love Susu? I love? I love that she's fulfilling this typical Heroic Good Xianxia Heroine role but like. Idk the role feels written FOR AN ADULT. I don't know how to explain just.. often xianxia will start with a teen girl heroine. An innocent one who doesn't know about sex and crushes much yet, or the idea of actual political marriage and dynamics is irritating to her even if her parents had one etc. Susu immediately sees her clan (and the world?) die so she's not innocent in the sense of no destruction yet, she is aware of the outcome and the stakes and a heroine with total awareness of WHY she must succeed. She's already a skilled fighter, and though she loses her powers as a mortal, her knowledge means she's still more competent then the cultivators in the human realm she runs into, aware of how to handle demons, aware of how to judge people's strengths and weak points, she's more like watching a sect shi-jie save the world than the usual younger disciple setting out. Not quite a sect elder, but someone already established with skills and years of practice and competence and awareness of the stakes she faces. I love that while we don't know her personal romantic past yet, that adult feel of her carries into her treatment of marriage and family. She can judge the family she transmigrated into logically instead of taking it personal like she's really the human now... instead of making enemies with the sister or being apologetic she can try and be level headed, she can use the cruel reputation of the human to help her when needed, or shift her political weight for positive change. She is aware to get background info on people instead of floundering trying to adapt. She is not shy around a supposed husband and her only awkwardness with Tantai Jin IS REMEMBERING WHAT AWFUL STUFF HE DID TO HER LOVED ONES which is fair and a response that's expected. She's not worried to be flirtatious or blush, she can jump into "this human spouse ordered him around and hurt or was solely able to protect him" role and not be bogged down by a shy or awkwardness of like "Oh how could i/I don't love him/I shouldn't see him so intimately blah blah" (which is probably partly why she was cast, bai lu plays very straightforward and not shy or hesitant in The Legends even when she is playing basically a young somewhat naive xianxia hero). It's just like. Refreshing (for my tastes in a show anyway lol) that our heroine feels like an adult with experience trying to save the world. I didn't realize how much I enjoy when lead characters don't blush and act all shy and worried about politeness until I get lucky with finding them (xuanji was innocent xianxia hero girl but honestly her lack of Care for such usual behavior was also nice)

7. I love enemies to loverssss

[beobhcm]

SANDMAN FANFIC: IS THIS A DREAM, OR IT’S JUST HALLUCINATION?

Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/56595925/chapters/152466406

Pairing: Dream/Desire, Original character/ Desire.

Summery: After Morpheus's funeral, Desire had a mixed feeling about their brother's death. They attempted to kill him many times since they knew his deepest desire was to be in the sunless land. But deep down, Desire was confused. They hated him, and also felt sorry for him, for what he had been through. Now, he has gone.

Long ago, since Dream had rejected Desire's love, they had created a figure, Hallucination, who looked exactly like him. Then they abandoned their own creation because they knew it wasn't Dream. Hallucination had been waiting for billions of years to get revenge on Desire, and he finally had a chance.

CHAPTER 1

Dream had gone, or they might say Morpheus had gone. Their late brother, the Dream they had been fighting and meddling with in millennia had gone forever.

“If we had not been family, we could have had nothing to do with each other, and both our lives would have been enriched. Instead, we were siblings, and it was unfortunate.” Those were the words Desire spoke in Morpheus’s funeral, such cold and sarcastic words which did not fit the mournful scene at that time. Normally, people would disapprove this, but since everyone in this family already knew Desire too well, knowing that they were the cruelest and the one hating their brother most, it turned out to be very normal to the family members. As the boat carrying Morpheus’s remain started floating on the river, making it way around the world one last time, Desire stayed silent, they kept their charming smile, then lighting up another cigarette. They smoked during the ceremony, watching the smoke slowly flew then vanished in the air, just like the boat as they knew it would also disappear with Morpheus when it stopped its journey somewhere.

The same thing used to happen with their beloved twin sister, Despair, long ago. Their feeling was much different, so was their reaction towards her death. Desire had locked themselves in their domain for months after attending her funeral. They curled up inside the eyes of the threshold and thought. No one could ever guess what’s really in their head since Desire’s thoughts were always private, but their family knew full well Desire’s feelings must have reached down to something, something that no word was able to describe as they accidentally summoned their sister without using her sigil. It was the first time they met the new Despair. She was a little different, paler, quieter than the former one, but she was sweet, caring, and so…desperate. Though it took a long time for them to get used to it, she had become their most beloved sister anyway, and no one in this family could be as closed as they were.

The Endless had welcomed the new Dream. A slim man in white with the white cloak, white messy hair, and he looked exactly like the former Dream. Except he did not seem depressed and miserable as the old Morpheus. He was calm and chill, but sometimes acted like a 3-year-old kid. It was not surprised because he was really a child whose name was Daniel. He was a child created in the Dreaming when Lyta Hall dreamed of her dead husband, which made Daniel no ordinary. That was the reason why Morpheus had chosen him to be his successor. An anthropomorphic personification or a concept would never die, it only transferred from an individual to another one, to hold and represent it. Desire acknowledged this rule as they learned their twin was always there, she only changed her form into something new, but she was still Despair after all and Desire had eventually accepted it. The man in white had an emerald on his necklace, which contained all of the former Dream’s memories, so basically, he was still the same Dream, right?

No, this Dream was not the Morpheus they knew- Desire thought...

Weeks later, Desire did not mention a single word about the funeral. They stayed emotionless though sometimes their twin sister reminded it. She might not intend to speak, but it was her ability to reflect every creature’s misery. Every Endless could not go against their own nature, Desire neither. They were the concept of wanting and needing. Desire walked on the street, passing by houses, clubs, then bars, casinos, those places were full of passion. They could feel the deepest desires in our hearts as they liked to play with us, making us fall into Despair’s domain. Desire had always been this way since it was their own function, and Dream was their perfect target. Despite having meddling with Dream for countless time, they also helped him to fulfill his desire once. The sunless land… He got what wanted already, although those were not their doings.

The thoughts in their mind were cut off as an invisible force dragging Desire without giving them a microsecond to figure out, then teleporting them with the speed of light. It was a call from the universe and they found themselves get immersed in such tough mission. Desire landed on a strange location, not a planet in the solar system but an unnamed star among millions of new born stars, which none creature had discovered them yet. No sign of life there, no water, only surrounded by crimson rocks and dust. And the man in white, Dream, was standing on a cliff. The strong wind blew away the sand. His hair, his white coat was floating in the air, and his hollow eyes were observing something.

“Brother dear. Lovely to see you.” Desire was expecting him to show his annoyance towards their presence.

“Greetings, sibling mine.” Dream greeted back. “The universe is sending its message and seeking helps from us.” The man spoke with serious tone. He only focused on the mission as he explained his plans to Desire. The galaxy was bright and colorful as usual due to the circle of creation, in which stars or planets were born and destroyed, the new would replace the old one. But there was an area completely covered in darkness and none creation or destruction occurring in that part. Dream saw an unidentified ebony thing miles away from them, an anti-life force, it was definitely the one causing these irreparable damages. The abyss of ruin, unlike the Vortex, it would slowly get everything decayed on its path, even the circulation won’t be able to fix and recreate them anymore. If they did not stop this instant, the universe would soon end faster than it should have lasted.

“Let me guess. You are going to work alone and I’d better not get involved in. Am I right?” Desire smiled sarcastically while crossing their arms, but the image of the man in black briefly appeared in front of their golden eyes making them pause for a second. “…Morpheus?” They suddenly said the name.

“I don’t have the honor to be given that name.” Dream denied. “Sincerely, I haven’t found a proper way to deal with our problem. Two Endless working together would be better than one.”

“What? I don’t mean to…” Desire was confused right after hearing his answer. Dream asked them to be his companion? Maybe this universe would be doomed earlier than they thought.

“I mean… You, wish to accompany someone else?” Desire widened their eyes.

“I shall seek for help whenever I need. I called for your help a long ago and you did fulfill my desire.” Dream recalled that incident which astonished Desire. In the past, when the Endless were in their early age, Dream, Morpheus used to face three ancient gods and he was imprisoned in his own domain. He had called his brothers and sisters but no one answered since they were all too busy, only Desire replied his call, unfortunately. Desire gave him a woman, a lover, Alianora. Dream and her had escaped from the prison, then successfully killed the old gods. Right, he had Morpheus’s memories. They should not be surprised about it.

“I bet this will be a total disaster if we both get our hands in.” Desire made any excuse they could think of. “Urgh, forget it! I’ll go anyways. Don’t get me wrong, I am not trying to help you. I do what I must.” Desire seemed to be a bit annoyed but they finally accepted to work with him.

“I am grateful for it, my sibling. Let’s head to the place as fast as possible. We don’t have much time left.”

He was really not Morpheus. The moment he asked them to come along made them feel weird as hell. Except for the incident he had just mentioned, Morpheus would surely work by himself and never bothering to call anyone in his family to give him a hand, not to tell Desire was his lifelong enemy but he did not hesitate asking them to do a favor? Fine, he was not Morpheus, why should they question that?

On their way to the abyss, Desire had a dejavu while walking side by side with Dream. Their feet transformed into the cat paws without their noticing. They had the cat ears on and their tail was wagging with the flickering fire at the end of the tail. These feelings were such familiar, and then, the man in black reappear, replacing the white man entirely. It led Desire to an extreme confusion. At first, they thought it was just an illusion or something else, but why do they feel like they had experienced this before? Was it a flash back of the memories buried inside their head? Why couldn’t they remember it? Why did the image of their late brother keep showing to them, despite how hard they tried to shook their head to get rid of?

The two siblings decided to rest on a planet. Desire was a little tired so they wanted to take a quick nap, but the thing caught Dream’s attention was they were acting like a cat, then turned into a giant cat, licking their paws, purring, rolling up themselves as though they were a huge fur ball.

“You are disguising me?” Dream smirked as he recognized they were in the form of the Dream cat.

“What? No!” Desire had no idea why they did these silly stuffs. During their trip, Desire had encountered so many strange hallucinations. But they put their problem aside to concentrate on the bigger problem. The more they went closer to the abyss, the more danger Desire could sense. If they were not careful, they would be devoured in the black hole and had the same fate as the part of the universe which had been destroyed. They indeed needed a back-up plan, and Desire knew what could help them.

Their father’s toy, the Sacculum…

[idontcarejustletmelive]

Bad Movie Decisions

Monstrous (2022)

This one scores lower than I'd usually accept on IMDB (4.7) but it's Christina Ricci- how bad can it be? As ever, spoilers may follow...

Guess based purely upon the blurb: the monster is the husband or CR herself.

00:18 It's a Chicken Soup for the Soul production. Strap in, folks.

01:34 CR is the monster. 100%.

02:29 I admire the ambition to make a period piece. If the twist is it isn't in the 50s, I'm going to kick off.

03:14 The kid's a little creepy weirdo, but I'm gonna assume that's a red herring.

03:50 "He's buried in there somewhere." to describe a kid allegedly sleeping in the back seat... Kid's dead, she killed him, movie solved. If this is what we're dealing with perhaps this one deserves the rating...

05:54 She said the house is like a dream and now they're playing Mr Sandman. 🤔

06:26 And now a mysterious black and white photo of a beautiful woman. This is ticking all the Bad Movie Decisions boxes.

08:54 I should buy a dress with underskirts. They look great.

09:35 It's Cody's real mum! Cody's real mum is an evil mermaid!

12:33 This whole thing feels like Charlie trying to tell Mac and Dennis the plot of a movie he half remembers and fully didn't understand in Always Sunny.

16:50 I'm not generally an advocate for putting kids on sun beds, but

18:39 " Goodnight, sweet prince". Isn't that generally what you say to people who are dying? 🤔🤔

20:11 A rip in the previously spotless sofa? Almost like the house's appearance is... a dream? 🤔🤔🤔

21:40 Well is this monster water or smoke? Make up your mind, film!

23:45 Witchy Grandma wishing she could take a young CR 'back to a simpler time' while they're both wearing suspiciously era-agnostic clothing.

27:55 If the boy is dead/imagined/whatever we should NOT be getting this much of his POV.

28:45 Now the monster's a raggy zombie thing?

30:20 Tentacles now?!

40:19 Her magazines are mysteriously spotted with age despite being new? What in the Shutter Island could this possibly mean?! 🫨

44:43 Everyone thinks they can make The Babadook, but not enough people stop to ask themselves if they should.

53:18 How stupid does this film think we are?

1:07:23 Very stupid, apparently.

1:11:09 WHY DID WE GET SO MUCH OF THE KID'S POV? WHY DO PEOPLE NO LONGER UNDERSTAND BASIC NARRATIVE CONCEPTS?!

1:17:13 Christina Ricci and the kid are both doing a fantastic job here. Nothing wrong with what they're doing at all. It's just everything else.

1:19:21 All right, just leave it at that film, and we can salvage something from all this.

1:21:55 Okay, so you could see the twist from space (just once I'd like to be wrong about these things) but they at least showed restraint at the end not spelling out every detail in excruciating depth. That alone deserves a few brownie points. I'd say 4.7 is close, but it has enough merit to take it to a solid 5, putting it firmly in the BMD sweet spot.

*Pats film gently* That'll do film. That'll do.

[banancrumbs]

a night in a club through hob’s memories, in the dreaming!

[anoddopal]

@mothlover69 @shadow-feather

YEAH GUYS THANKS

THANKS A LOT 😡

POV You're me and you just gave your friend a new F/O to gush over

[elena-mayfair]

Endless Dream - Epilogue

Paring: Morpheus x f!reader, Sandman x f!reader Warnings: none Summary: It all began with a Witch who dreamt nightmares every night. Then she met Dream of the Endless and her life changed forever. She went on a journey through horrors and fears, through doubts and pain, but also through love and devotion. This is how their story ends. Word count: 1.2k Note: Gifs are not mine, credit to the authors.

Series Masterlist Part twenty: The Calling

***

Caroline had always wanted to be an actress. She had dreamed of it since she was a little girl. She dreamed of performing on Broadway, she dreamed of the big stage, of the spotlight. She dreamed of inspiring people through art, telling stories. She never had much support. Her parents thought it was foolish, naive. They told her she should come down to earth, stop dreaming, go to college, find a normal corporate job. She, however, never stopped dreaming. That day, for the first time, she discovered strength in herself, discovered the courage to reach for her dreams. She smiled, opened the door, and stepped confidently into the building. The sign on the door read "Audition."

*

Jacob did not like school. There were bullies in the school, they did not leave him alone. He was small, skinny and didn't talk much. Although he dreamed of standing up to them, he never found the courage to do so. After all, they were bigger than him, they were stronger than him. However, that day was the first time Jacob didn't run away when they started threatening him. For the first time, he didn't show fear when one of them lunged to strike him. He just gazed bravely, staring them straight in the eye. He did not scowl, did not show weakness. From that day on, they never bullied him again.

*

Rebecca was afraid when her husband came home drunk. She would hide in the kitchen pretending to be busy, hoping he would leave her alone. She dreamed of leaving but was afraid. She was afraid she wouldn't be able to raise two children alone. She was afraid that by leaving she would harm the kids. But she knew she couldn't live like that. That day, when she heard the sound of the opening lock, she felt determined to face him. She felt the strength to tell him she was leaving. She did not flee to the kitchen. She was not afraid. However, as soon as he stood in the doorway something changed. Her husband was sober. Her husband stood in the doorway with a bunch of full flowers and glistening tears ran down his cheek. "I don't want to be like this," he said and pulled a 24-hour beginner's token out of his pocket, "I'll fix it." From that day on, her husband never touched alcohol again.

*

John Constantine was not a man who regretted many things in life. Yes, he made mistakes, yes he was full of flaws and he was the first person ready to admit it. John, however, did not tolerate failure. Not in others, not in himself. But was it a failure that through his neglect he was possessed? Was it a failure that through his possession he led to the death of his only friend? A death that in the end led to the birth of a new force, a new being, a new power.

Inhaling slowly the thick cigarette smoke, he felt determined, not to let anything like that happen again. Failure or not, he had no intention of ever having a demon possess his body again. Cursing under the pain of the needle being driven into his skin, he watched as the antipossesion symbol appeared on his skin in black ink.

He smiled feeling that strong feeling of determination. That force to act. He knew that his friend had not abandoned him. He felt her presence in every decision he made, felt her influence in his every action. He knew she was happy. And in truth, the only failure was that of Lucifer alone.

*

All determination left David. He could feel only emptiness, consumed by despair. The strength he had felt earlier, which had guided his steps, was gone. He felt weak, powerless. Locked in a glass bottle, trapped, with no way out. Thrown to the bottom of an abyssal trunk. Left alone with emptiness. Forgotten.

*

In the Dreaming, peace reigned. Each day the sun rose high in the clear blue sky bringing warmth to the spring awakening early. Bringing new life, new dreams born of Determination and the Dream. Each night the moon and stars adorned the endless blackness of the sky. Spreading magic to the entire kingdom and all its inhabitants. How much strength Determination drew from the Dream, how strong the Dream became when Determination built him up endlessly. The Kingdom flourished, driven by the mighty power of Endless beings.

But even the stars shining in the sky were nothing compared to those that Determination saw in the eyes of the Dream as they danced amidst blooming fields of lavender under the cover of night. Like two shadows, enveloped in black. They danced so close that they shared a breath, danced as if they longed to become one. He kissed her lips red as blood, tasted the sweetness from her warm lips, relished at the delight of her scent, the closeness of her skin, the brightness of her eyes that flared with storm light every time she twirled with laughter in his arms.

"I would follow you down even through the gates of hell," Determination trembled as Morpheus drew her close, "I would save your soul, I would make you whole…" he sounded as if he sought forgiveness from her.

"I know," she replied with a kiss, "I know beloved."

"If you hadn't returned I would have declared war on Lucifer and the hosts of the armies of Hell," he continued, "I would not back down, I would shatter Death's crown I would bring you back to life."

"But I came back," she smiled, "I tied my life to yours, my fate to yours. How could I not come back to you."

The universe hummed a song for them and they whirled on amidst the purple and green. Stars danced in her hair each time he spun her around only to draw her back close to him.

"Do you love me as you loved me Dream?" Determination asked, "I am me, yet different. That girl you loved died. I don't know who I am now. Not yet."

"You are my strength, my hope, my dream," he replied and the stars in his eyes ignited with love, "I love you as you were and as you will be. I love you endlessly," he embraced her more tightly wrapping his cloak around her and the stars shone with something new, something unknown to her.

"I am all yours…" she whispered brushing her lips against his and he saw no shadow of hesitation in her. Only devotion, only love stronger than death, determination stronger than doubt. Pure strength burning with a blue glow in her eyes.

"Marry me…" came out from the depths of the night, "Marry me, my beloved. Be my wife, my queen. Be mine in dreams and in nightmares and I will be yours wherever you go."

"I desire nothing more…" the light shone in her eyes as he drowned out her laughter with a kiss, "Wherever our paths take us I wish to walk on them with you. Experiencing my new life with you. I never want to be parted from you again. I am yours in eternity."

" Endlessly?"

"To the end of time and existence."

~~The End~~

~~***~~

Author note: And this is how their story ends. I am kind of sad and happy at the same time. Sad because the story is over. Happy because the story is over! Because I finished it, wrote it, didn't lose my enthusiasm or let the worries of everyday life drive me away from writing. Because thanks to you my verve has not been extinguished. I will miss it. It has become a huge part of my life. And it has given me more than you can imagine. You, all of you, have given me so much. Your responses, your engagement, your feedback, your comments, you guys have restored my dreams. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart. I hope you found this story and its ending as satisfying as I found writing it. Thank you to everyone who stuck with me to the end.

I will miss it, but as my favorite author likes to say, "There is always another secret." ;)

So for now I wish you all a very fond farewell. Until next time.

~~***~~

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[anoddopal]

Today marks my one year anniversary with Sir Cr.ocodile!! ;u;

[megalony]

What have you done

This is yet another Morpheus (Sandman) imagine, not requested, but I hope everyone will like it and feedback is always amazing. Thank you all for the comments on my Sandman imagines so far.

Taglist: @lunaticspoem @butlegendsneverdie​ @langdonzvoid @jennyggggrrr​ @rogmeddows @radiob-l-a-hblah @rogertaylorsbitontheside @chlobo6​ @rogertaylors-lipgloss​ @sj-thefan​ @omgitsearly​ @luckytrashgooprebel​ @scarsout​ @deaky-with-a-c​ @killer-queen-ofrhye @bluutac​ @vousmemanqueez-blog​ @jonesyaddiction​ @milanosaurus @httpfandxms​ @saint-hardy​ @7-seas-of-fat-bottomed-girls​ @mrsalwayswritex​ @rogerina-owns-me  @hellsdragon​ @im-an-adult-ish​ @crazylittlethingg​ @allauraleigh @onceuponadetectivedemigod​ @ceres27​ @avyannadawn​ @dreaming-about-fanfictions

Masterlist

Summary: Morpheus and his wife have to go to Hell to get his helm back and an accident happens.

Enjoy.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This wasn't a domain anyone would wish to rule.

With a deep sigh and a heavy chest, (Y/n) tried to keep her eyes focused on the crumbling path at her feet, making sure she didn't fall from the ledge they were walking round or stand on any remains buried beneath her feet.

At least in the dreaming the surroundings were pleasant to look at, the greys were glittered with stars in the sky and diamonds beneath the feet. Dark blue mixed in with the blackness, creatures of all colours painted the realm and so many of the valleys and fields used every colour imaginable.

Deep down beneath the surface, hidden away from the rest of the realms was Hell. The black colours were thick as fog with hues hanging through the air and smoke that got in the lungs and never seemed to cease. The sky was dark with tinges of blood red and smoke, reflecting the fires that merged throughout the realm. Bodies of those who had served their eternal time were built into the ground, the mountains, the stones, everywhere was the remains of those who were sentenced here.

The purpose of this realm was something (Y/n) could understand, but actually being down here witnessing it made her conscience uneasy. How was someone to rule this realm eternally? How slowly did time pass down here compared to up in the dreaming or the realm of Desire? Even Death was a brighter soul than any down here and her job made time fly away.

A shudder ran down (Y/n)'s spine at the thought of being here any longer than necessary.

Her purpose was to give people love in their lives, no matter how big or small. She gave feeling to every human being on the planet, just as Morpheus was connected to them and gave them inspiration and dreams. Neither of them were suited to even walk in this realm, even if Morpheus' look did make him blend in down here.

Relief sagged at (Y/n)'s shoulders when she could see the palace just further ahead of them. It was such a trek down here since they couldn't just turn up using the sand, they were Endless, they needed to be invited into another Endless' realm and that meant making the long walk to get into Lucifer's Kingdom from the doors at the start.

Moving her focus, (Y/n) kept her eyes on her husband instead of her feet, her attention raking over the thick velvet padded coat he was wearing that swayed and fanned out behind him in the breeze like a train on a wedding dress. His hair didn't move half as much as his coat but each strand was going its own way in the hot breeze from the thousands of fires created all around them.

"Venus!"

The breath (Y/n) drew in became a sudden rock in her throat, an obstruction she couldn't budge which caused her to cough and freeze at the same time.

No one had called her by that name for thousands of years.

There were many names for each Endless, Morpheus was mostly known as Dreamer, King of Dreams or the Sandman. (Y/n), for her duty and job of creating and destroying Love, was known by most humans to be Aphrodite. But there were some beings that related her to Venus- especially when it had been the time of the Romans. But no one nowadays knew she had been known by that name, a name she didn't associate with anymore.

No words could pass the lump in her throat even when her mind started to scream when a hand reached through the metal bars on her left and grabbed her wrist tightly. The mountain they were walking round had a passageway inside leading many on a trek down into the depths of Hell.

Some paths led people on their path to redemption, some were on an endless walk to nowhere, others were endlessly walking through fire or falling through the flames. Whoever was holding onto her now was not on a good path.

A frown etched itself onto Morpheus' stoic features causing his brows to furrow and a darkness to form behind his eyes.

His head slowly twisted to the left to look over his stern shoulder as his hands clenched into fists at his sides and Matthew stopped flying above him and perched down on the floor at his feet.

Who was calling his wife by that name? Who here in Hell was even wanting to talk to his wife?

"Venus, please, please set me free! Save me!"

"That's not within my power."

With saddened eyes, (Y/n) tried to work out who this being was who was holding onto her like a lifeline. It was a human, not any sort of God or creation or external being, but if the humans passed away then the Endless lost their connection to them. This human had been dead a long time, her features were deteriorating, wasting away from her journey along the scorching stones and through the pits of fire in Hell.

There was nothing (Y/n) could do to take people out of here, that wasn't what she did nor what she should be doing. If people were here, it was for a reason.

"Forgive me-"

The woman's gritty yet desperate voice cut off when a hand landed on top of her wrist and clenched it tightly. Morpheus wasn't surprised that she didn't recognise him, no one really looked at him and thought of their dreams or nightmares, it was a blessing to him to be able to walk amongst them and not be noticed. (Y/n) on the other hand, was the embodiment of Love, people loved in different ways but they always knew when the Goddess of Love was around them.

They saw her how they imagined her so they always recognised her.

"Forgiveness won't set you free, there is no end to eternity." Morpheus' voice wasn't harsh, it was soft and rather soothing as if he was trying to send the woman into a slumber to calm her down.

He uncurled her fingers from (Y/n)'s wrist before taking his wife's hand and gently tugging her closer, signalling that they should keep walking.

"What we do... it shouldn't end with humans being down here."

(Y/n) leaned her head against Morpheus' arm and curled her free hand around his lower arm, attaching herself to his side for both their comfort. They brought love, laughter, imagination, ideas and beyond to all who had their dreams and love. (Y/n) couldn't see how their efforts would have an ending like this, with people burning down in Hell for an eternity or for a hundred years or more. They didn't inspire and push them just for them to come down here.

"We give them the inspiration, the emotions and drive, it's up to them to wield it as they choose."

Morpheus hated to think that some of his best creations could lead a human to be wandering down here. But after a while, it was best to see things how they were, humans had their own free will. Dreams and Love may push them in certain directions but they will always do as they see fit.

Darting her eyes to her left, (Y/n) looked up at Matthew who slowly lowered himself down until he was able to hop along with the couple when they entered the kingdom. He didn't like where he was, he'd never been down here before and had been hoping he never would of had the chance to.

"Hello Dream- oh, and (Y/n), what a surprise this is." The smile that flooded Lucifer's face made (Y/n) shiver internally. It looked so crooked, so sugary sweet and fake all at once, it was almost revolting how hard it was for her to try and seem pleasant when she was appalled. It was also unnerving that her attire was unnaturally white, it made her stand out to her people and her servants that she was the one in charge, this was her domain. But it looked so wrong, the only splash of neutral colour in this realm was her.

Morpheus clearly didn't like the way Lucifer looked his wife up and down, she was searching for anything she could see and use as a weakness and this was her realm, everything was to her advantage here.

With a gentle yet possessive manner, Morpheus moved his left arm that was holding onto (Y/n) until he had her standing behind him. There was something in the air that told him this was a hostile environment. He knew it was going to be hard to get out of here with his helm but he had his ways and he had to get it back.

"This is no special visit-"

"Oh, have you come to join forces then?"

Morpheus couldn't help but let a smile slip onto his face at those little words. The amount of times he had been asked to join forces with such a place as this and every time the answer was always no. His feelings on this matter were the same, this was no realm he wanted to be joined with. The dreaming was joined to Love and that was the only connection he was ever willing or wanting to make.

"I have come because my helm of state was stolen from me, and I believe one of your demons has it."

"Well, which demon? Name it, and we will have it brought here."

She knew very well that Morpheus didn't know which demon had stolen it from him, all he knew was that his helm was here and he was going to get it back and take it with them to their realm.

He had had enough of the games Lucifer liked to play, it wasn't fun nor was it entertaining when he had things to do and places to be. Reaching into his pocket, Morpheus pulled out the small, itching bag of sand and crouched down to the floor. A smirk pulled at his lips as he slowly poured a reasonable amount of sand onto the marbled floor before standing back to his full height and standing in front of (Y/n), hiding her from Lucifer's sight.

The demon soon appeared in front of them all with the helm in his arms, though (Y/n) couldn't see him properly with her husband standing guard in front of her. She knew why he was being so possessive down here.

Hell wasn't a place (Y/n) liked to be for last time she had been down here, Lucifer hadn't played fair and had let one of her demons hurt (Y/n). She had only just managed to get out and make her way back to the shore of the Dreaming realm, washing up on the sand merely weeks before Morpheus had been captured. He thanked his stars that he hadn't been captured when it had happened.

"Dream, darling you don't have to do this." Reaching her hands up (Y/n) placed them on Morpheus' shoulders as she whispered the words against his neck. He didn't have to play this game with Lucifer, there were other ways they could get the helm back.

"Well Dream, he has chosen me as his champion... you know, you could have your wife as your champion-"

"And have her attacked by your mongrels? Why don't I send your demon-"

"Dream! Win this and get your helm back, I'm fine." (Y/n) pressed her lips to Dream's neck, feeling the muscles tense before relaxing beneath her touch. She couldn't have his anger getting riled up, it had been hard enough before to stop him from coming down to Hell after she'd been hurt. A fight right now when he was in a vulnerable position of needing his helm wouldn't make things any better.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

She cheated.

She wasn't playing fair and she was about to hurt Morpheus so she could win the game and keep him down here in Hell. All this because one of her own people was a thief and couldn't have the will to give up what he had taken. Something which the demon clearly didn't know how to wield anyway.

"Mistress-"

"Matthew don't call me that." (Y/n) hissed back at the raven who took it upon himself to perch on her shoulder as not to talk and distract their master who was at work. She couldn't have him calling her that, it made her sound like an old wench or someone having an affair or the likes of that.

"My Queen?"

"Oh please don't." A shiver ran down (Y/n)'s spine and her lips curled in distaste. She wouldn't be able to have Morpheus calling her that if she could hear and see Matthew saying it too. It sounded wrong coming from the raven who only had the right intentions at heart.

"Call her out, the game will end won't it?"

"She won't let us leave, cheating or not."

(Y/n) shook her head more to herself than Matthew before she crept forward towards the pair. They were absorbed in what they were doing, to them the room was darkened in a sheet of black and all they could see was the other one trying to become the victor. (Y/n) was unnoticed as she sneaked around to the python that was slithering closer to her husband.

She knew this trick. Lucifer's python would poison Morpheus and let his guard down so that she could win the game and he would have to stay here.

"My Lady don't!"

Matthew flapped his wings at his sides in utter panic just as the word 'hope' passed through Dream's lips. Without hope, there would be nothing, eternity could not beat hope for what would eternity matter if there was no one to live through it? Life would not continue without a sense of hope and strength.

Morpheus could feel his strength and health returning to him by the second as he slowly rose to his feet, a smirk playing on his rouge lips while his eyes focused on Lucifer who had officially lost the game.

He wasted no time in snatching his helm back from the demon who was still unwilling to part with it simply because he had managed to take it and now claimed it as his own. The small smile of victory was present on Morpheus' face as he spun on his heels, looking over at Matthew before looking at his wife, surprised to find that she had been standing behind him.

"Love? What's the matter?" He didn't like the look in (Y/n)'s eyes which were almost drowsy like they were drowning in the sea.

Her lips were pressed tightly together and her hands were scratching up and down her arms which were trembling. Why was she shaking? He had won, there was nothing to fear, everything had worked out just as he knew and thought it would. There was no way Morpheus would wager his soul to being down here in Hell if he thought he wouldn't win the game and get out of this place again.

Leaning to his left, Morpheus set down the helm near Matthew before he advanced towards his wife with narrowed eyes and a stern expression on his lips.

"Love?"

The corners of his lips twitched when (Y/n) held her hand out towards him as if he wanted to smile but couldn't bring himself to out of panic. His fingers gently cupped the back of her hand and smoothed over her soft skin before he tilted his head down to try and see what she wanted to show him.

Blood.

"T-the snake..." (Y/n) knew he would know what she meant, the snake Lucifer conjured up had to be something that she tried to use against him to win the power game. It didn't take a genius to know that the snake had been poisonous, even if Lucifer had gotten rid of it now before Morpheus to see it as (Y/n) wasn't the one who was supposed to be bitten.

"What have you done?!" The words roared from his lips like a beast escaping its cage when his head twisted round to look at Lucifer who was stood near back to the window. Her expression was a mix of defeat and smugness, not knowing which expression to show as either way something was going to happen now.

"Sir, she needs help, we have to leave."

Matthew rose from his feet, his eyes briefly managing to capture his Lord's attention before Morpheus was struggling in his pocket for the pouch of sand he had hidden there. The remnants flowed through the cracks between his fingers before he thrust them in the direction of the demon who first stole his helm.

"Oh, Dream,"

The words 'Sleep in eternal darkness' rattled past his lips before he turned to look at his wife.

It was clear she wasn't well, her head had become too heavy for her to hold up on her own any longer and all (Y/n) could do was allow her head to flop against her husband's chest and her body to fall into his arms. Even subdued by illness like this, Morpheus found that she still looked the embodiment of grace and beauty. But she was Love, she could make the dying beautiful and the most evil look like pure heaven to the right person.

Morpheus crouched down to his knees with (Y/n) encased to his chest, one arm around her waist and the other resting on her back so he could sprinkle sand around them both to take them back to their own realm.

"This isn't over." He spat the words with as much venom as he could muster before the sand engulfed them and he was cuddling his wife to his chest, keeping her safe and still until they were on the tiled floor of the hospital that rested at the edge of the realm.

"Alright my beloved, you'll be okay soon."

Doing his best to hold her up, Morpheus stood to his feet and tried to keep (Y/n) upright in his arms but it didn't seem to be going so well. He had no chance to look round for a doctor before her trembling fingers were latching into the collar of his shirt and yanking it down towards her to get his attention.

His head rolled down in her direction before he shuddered at the sight he was faced with. A steady flow of blood was trickling down from her nose, coating her lips in what looked like red paint that smudged when her hand swiped against her skin. The puncture marks on her hand were swelling and turning dark shades. But splatters of red flew out along the floor and coated Morpheus' clothes when (Y/n) coughed, spraying blood as she did so.

The slightest, quiet moan she let out made his heart squeeze and rip in half in his chest. She was in pain, she was hurt and ill because he had allowed her to go with him to Hell. Well he was going to make Lucifer pay highly for what she had done this time.

(Y/n) closed her eyes, curling up against her husband when he effortlessly scooped her into his arms, resting his lips to her temple before whispering something against her skin. Whatever he said did the trick in sending his wife into a meadow of red flowers and diamond blue lakes so she could rest while he took care of her.

"I've got you, my beloved."

[anoddopal]

I am very mentally healthy.

Fun reblog game to end the year?

If you're someone who has gained more then one new F/O in the year of 2023,,, who was the first character you added to your F/O list in 2023? and then who was the last character you added in 2023?

I'll go first 😁

p/roship dni