#so you mel only enjoyers may enjoy this too
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Mel Medarda Portrait (Arcane)
Ngl, I had quite a few moments of scratching my head while drawing her, such as her hair, such as her tattoos (?), and her face isn't perfect either 😓
I definitely want to draw her again (from the front) sometime in the future to get her features right that way :)
But hey, I hope she is recognizable at least! Even though it's been a bit since I finished Arcane S2, I keep thinking about it xd
More yapping under the cut about my shipping feelings~
I saw this, probably at the Jayvik tag honestly? But I spend like 5 seconds thinking about this and then went: "damn, alright, maybe-"
Spoilers, but...
When she had her scene with Jayce in S1, it felt odd to me? I wasn't sure why tbh xd I really liked her, and I also liked Jayce back then too, but something was off! Damn, I should rewatch season 1 so maybe I can figure out why it felt weird xd But yeah, as quick as I am to ship two characters I like in general, I didn't ship them. I was like "huh, okay, doesn't matter" Anyway, I have been in Jayvik HELL since finishing S2 bc "what do you mean 'In all timelines... In all possibilities only you can show me this' 😭" Like SIR, I have shipped characters before for way less than ✨cosmic neck-grabbing and forehead-touching as we become one with the universe with my bro✨before 😭😭 So YEAH, I was so confused about why I didn't ship Mel and Jayce! Especially when I first saw Mel my jaw dropped. My poor bisexual heart holy shit- I mean surely you know since you read this far, but she is, dare I say, the most beautiful person in that show?? (ofc for me, she is haha) And I am a huge Viktor simp.
Sooooo, someone help me? How does this brainrot stop, idk 💃💃
But until I have it, I will keep making art that I hope you'll enjoy <3
#mel medarda#mel arcane#mel fanart#arcane fanart#arcane season 2#arcane s2 spoilers#stylized#fanart#digital fanart#artists on tumblr#digital artwork#art#my art#dawnbirdwhistle#jayvik mentioned#honestly half the post under the cut is about them#im sorry if you dont like them#that's why I put them under the cut#so you mel only enjoyers may enjoy this too#I like all of them tbh#again. as a bi girl I was not okay when Mel appeared on the screen for the first time#I hope you accept my offering to Mel Nation
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Arcane SFW & NSFW Headcanons! (f!reader, AFAB!reader)
Including: Vi, Caitlyn, Maddie, Mel, Jinx. (Disclaimer: I will only write SFW for Jinx, as her age is not fully confirmed.) This is so much longer than I meant for it to be. Enjoy!
WC: ~3k
JINX | SFW
Jinx, who still doesn’t really know how to navigate relationships… at all. She’s shy and hesitant at first, entirely unused to the genuine connection and love. All she’s ever known is what feels like transactional affection, despite what Silco may have actually felt towards her.
She isn’t too comfortable with physical affection at first, a little wary that you’re out to hurt her. But, she’ll show her appreciation for you through handing you gadgets or trinkets she makes/finds.
As she grows more comfortable with you, she’ll finally start to open up and lean on you (literally and figuratively.) She’ll start to ramble about anything and everything on her mind, almost unaware that she’s actually doing it.
She’ll paint your nails to match hers, even including the same little face she put on her prosthetic.
She LOVES to braid your hair, and will take every opportunity to do so. Despite her hands being a little calloused from her tinkering, they’re still surprisingly soft and gentle as she rakes them through your hair.
She is a genuine sweetheart! While she might come off really intense or a little wacky sometimes, her love for you bleeds through entirely. It’s obvious to almost everyone how much she loves you.
She loves watching you play with Isha or talk to Sevika, tearing up as she watches her own happy little family form after so much tragedy.
She hugs tightly, and I mean TIGHTLY. She’ll squeeze you to the point of almost feeling like your ribs are gonna crack.
VI | SFW
Vi, who is such a sweetheart. She wears her heart on her sleeve every second of every day. Prison may have hardened her when it comes to confrontation or battle, but she is like a puppy with you.
If she continues working for Caitlyn, she spends her money well. She gets both of you a nice apartment and takes you out on sweet little dates at least once a week.
If she relies more on the bets and money from her pit-fighting, she’ll still do the same. While the apartment isn’t nearly as lavish, and the dates aren’t nearly as nice, she does everything in her power to make her as enjoyable as possible.
She prefers when you keep your hand wrapped around her bicep, rather than actually holding hands.
She lets you paint her nails and do her makeup as you please, enjoying the lovely grin the spreads across your face as you do it.
Absurdly gentle with you, always keeping a soft hand on your waist. Despite how rough she is with other people, her hands would never do the same to you. (Unless you ask for it ;))
When you patch her up after a particularly rough fight, she’ll mutter a quiet “Thank y’baby.” And press herself closer to you, craving your space and comfort.
She is a little difficult to get to communicate properly, almost never having been listened to before. With enough patience and kind words, she’ll eventually crack and begin to trust you as she becomes more vulnerable.
She lovesss to bury her face into the crook of your neck as she tightly wraps her bandaged arms around your waist, pressing a few gentle kisses to your shoulder and neck.
She’ll tear up a little bit as you press gentle kisses to her tattoos, and especially the scars she adorns from her time in prison.
Not to mention that she is definitely obsessed with you.
NSFW
This might be a hot take, but I definitely see Vi as more submissive than dominant. Whether she’s fighting crime or other people, she definitely spends most of her day keeping everyone in check.
So when she’s writhing against the bed and moaning for you to just touch her, you find it extremely difficult to not give her exactly that. She loves when you’re able to take her out of her head entirely, finally giving her the space to relax and to just not think for a bit.
While she might be submissive, she still definitely likes to top. She likes knowing that she’s making you feel good and thrives off of the praise. So when you mutter a quiet “That’s my good girl.” She has to temporarily stop and get her shit together so she doesn’t cum on the spot.
She goes feral whenever you pull her hair or scratch down her back and arms, letting out a literal whimper.
As you straddle her lap and begin to ride her into oblivion, she’ll paw desperately at your hips and thighs. She’ll eventually reach up to grope your tits and mumble incoherent compliments, talking about how pretty you are and how good you feel. She especially likes it when you tighten your hand around her throat, hearing her own choked whimpers leave her mouth.
On the uncommon occasion she decides that she does want to be dominant, she’s still not very rough. Unless you explicitly ask for a meaner hand or words, she would never do it on her own.
Her favorite position is definitely doggy, she likes watching your ass bounce back against her hips as she smacks it and grips your hips tightly. She’ll keep one hand in between your shoulder blades, and the other next to your head as she drills into you.
She’ll pepper sweet kisses along your cheeks and lick the tears off, almost ecstatic at the fact that she has fucked you so good you started crying.
She loves sloppy kisses and sloppy head, moaning against your pussy as she nearly devours you whole, digging her hands into your thighs. She whines as you tangle your fingers into her hair and tug, feeling her own arousal begin to leak in between her thighs.
She is so good with aftercare, too. If she had been a little rough on you, she’ll kiss all of the bruises and scratches that she left and mutter quiet praises. She’ll wipe you down with a damp towel, giving you a quiet “‘M sorry, baby.” As she soothes the towel over your sensitive clit.
CAITLYN | SFW
Caitlyn, who takes after Cassandra in the way that she is a little stern with you. She doesn’t like it when you venture off without her, or at the very least someone else.
She’s a little socially awkward, so you tend to take the lead at the galas or other social events she’s expected to attend. She likes when you keep an arm around her waist, or holding your hand. While most people are there to see her, you often lead the conversations anyway.
She loves when you show up to her office, your presence immediately forcing her posture and face to soften. Being in her position puts a lot of paperwork in front of her, and stress on her.
Whether you dance, play a sport, or perform in any other way, she will show up every single time. She’s running behind on a mission? She’ll finish it in record time so she’s able to make it for at least half of your show.
She’ll let you sit on the edge of her desk as she works, or will pull up another chair so you can sit next to her and read your own book or tinker with a little project.
She loves when you have to raise up on your toes to kiss her, chuckling as she pulls away each time you get close enough to brush your lips together. She’ll wrap her arms around your waist and pick you up off of your feet as she presses her lips to yours.
Once you guys are able to wind down in your shared apartment, she pulls you into her lap and holds you tightly. She’ll press gentle kisses onto your cheek and shoulders, telling you how grateful she is for you and how much she loves you.
She will always appreciate when you make tea or cook for her, coming up behind you and wrapping her arms around you from behind.
She’ll take you out on little dates when she has the time, but otherwise prefers to take slow walks with you through her garden.
While she may be a little stern, she absolutely adores you, and trusts you with her life.
NSFW
Don’t get me wrong, she is so, so sweet. She’s doting and attentive, and will do almost anything you need from her. But you will work for it, no questions asked.
She’ll put you on your knees and make you beg for whatever you want. She’ll bind your hands behind your back with a new silken rope she bought and coo down at you, stroking her thumb over your bottom lip. She’ll coax your mouth open and feed you two of her fingers, grinning as you accept them sweetly.
It’s quite obvious she can get prettyyyy freaky. Like we saw how she reacted when Vi spat on her cheek. I’d say that extends towards you, as well. She likes forcing you to keep your mouth open, and tongue flat against your bottom lip as she spits onto it, giving you a “Swallow it sweetheart, be a good girl.”
I wouldn’t say that she’s a stone top, but she definitely prefers to give. I definitely think it comes from wanting to be in control and dominant. She differs from Vi in the sense that she doesn’t want to be out of control, ever.
Her long legs and overall strength gives her such a huge advantage over you. She loves to fold you over and press your knees to your chest as she fucks into you roughly. She does love to keep you on top, guiding your hips as you bounce on her strap, licking and sucking into the sensitive skin of your collarbones and boobs.
I don’t think she’d be someone who is super into degradation, but she might mutter something along the lines of “You’re such a pretty whore for me.” As she tangles her fingers into your hair and pulls your head back, forcing you to meet your own reflection in the mirror.
Any time you guys fuck, she will always remind you of how good you are. She nips at your ear and purrs, “That’s it pretty girl, you take me so well.” She mumbles, sucking a mark onto the side of your neck.
She takes aftercare very seriously, knowing that sometimes her treatment can take a toll on you. She’ll untie you slowly and work out the kinks of your tense joints, pressing kisses along the red marks the ropes left. She wipes the sweaty baby hairs from your forehead and presses a gentle kiss to it, helping you sit up. She’ll hold you for a bit and reassure you, murmuring quiet praises. Once you’re settled down, she’ll run a warm bath for both of you.
MADDIE | SFW
Maddie, who is such a sweet, sweet girl. Her enthusiasm for everything around her is extremely contagious. She does her absolute best to make sure there is a smile on your face every day.
She finds a way to balance her job as an enforcer and her relationship with you. While it’s a bit of a struggle sometimes because of how demanding Caitlyn can be, she puts in 100% of her effort to make it work.
She prefers to stay inside rather than going out, pulling you next to her on the couch as you cuddle up and turn on a few movies or a show to binge. She likes when you put your legs over your lap and she can idly trace her fingers along your legs.
She likes cooking and baking a lot, always making an excessive amount of food that you guys really can’t consume by yourselves.
She’ll give you pancakes with a smiley face made out of chocolate chips and strawberries, pressing a kiss to your head as you dig into the breakfast.
She writes you notes every morning before she leaves for work and sticks them on the fridge, always containing some kind of compliment and an “I love you.”
She loves to write poetry as well, it’s her favorite way to express her love and gratitude for you. Which means that words of affirmation is definitely her love language, but physical touch is a close second.
She loves going on bike rides around the city, especially when you get to the large botanical gardens and parks. She’ll pull over and buy whatever drink you’d like and a pastry, both of you settling on a bench in the park.
She likes to point out all of the cute animals that prance around the area and gets extremely excited when they come over to you guys.
NSFW
She is utterly enthusiastic every time you guys get intimate. I wouldn’t say that she’s inexperienced, but I definitely think she does still get a little nervous sometimes. She’s just absolutely infatuated with you and your pretty face makes her blush.
She lovesss to makeout. Like, she would rather do that over having actual sex. She’ll straddle your lap and hold your jaw or thread her fingers through your hair.
When you guys do fuck, it’s a bit more vanilla compared to the others. She doesn’t strike me as an overly kinky person, but I feel like she does still have a few interests.
She for SURE likes to give head, it’s probably her favorite pastime tbh. She will beg for you to ride her face regularly, moaning into you as she wraps her hands around your hips.
Give her a little bit of praise and she’ll do anything you ask of her, especially if you call her pretty.
She loves, loves, loves to ride your thigh. Something about it is so exhilarating, especially because she likes seeing the aftermath of it. She’ll happily lap her cum off of your leg, moaning as you guide her head with your hand.
She seems like the type to basically worship you, she would happily get on her knees as you grind yourself against her mouth with absolutely no complaints.
For sure adores seeing you in pretty lingerie, running her fingers over the lacy fabric as she kisses along the hem of your bra and underwear.
She’s definitely a bottom, like for SURE. She really likes missionary, especially when you pull her legs over your shoulders. The main reason she likes it is because 1. She likes to be underneath you, and 2. Because she still loves to look at you and kiss you.
While she doesn’t really like to top, she can still get a little bit of an edge to her attitude, teasing you as she nips at your neck and jaw. She’ll straddle your hips and press your back into the bed, slowly sliding her nails underneath your shirt and chuckle at the whines you let out.
Aftercare with her is really sweet as well. She likes to curl up in your arms and tuck her head under your chin as you pet her hair and press soft kisses all over her face. She likes to eat after as well, it helps her feel less shaky, so make sure you always have snacks nearby.
MEL | SFW
Mel, who loves so hard and sometimes really can’t control it. Her love is so intense it can truly be a little overwhelming sometimes.
She treats you with the utmost care and always makes sure that your needs are met. While being on the council does unfortunately consume most of her time, she does everything she can to make sure she is still as present as possible.
When she’s gone, she makes sure that there’s always a maid present with you, making sure that all of your needs are met when she can’t be there.
When she is, she always likes to have a hand on you, whether it’s on your thigh, waist, whatever. She loves to touch you, and it often soothes her racing mind.
Whenever you get sick or stressed, she pulls your head into your lap and will stroke her slender fingers through your hair. She’ll hum some kind of melody quietly and gently sway, lolling you to sleep.
She doesn’t like it when you get involved with politics or the council in general, simply wanting to protect you from the ongoing and unresolved issues.
She buys you new dresses regularly, always making you give her a little fashion show as you try them on.
Her kindness is unwavering, but there is a layer of intensity and harshness beneath all of that. One that is very rarely ever shown, and if it is, it’s towards her mother.
She does everything she can to keep you far away from her ties to Noxus, especially when Ambessa comes to visit. She’ll use every excuse in the books to keep you separated, knowing that you and Ambessa would likely not get along.
She loves to take long baths together, especially when they’re decorated with candles, bath bombs, etc. She’ll turn on the record player as you guys bask in the warm water together, soaking up the intimacy that is sometimes difficult to be had.
NSFW
She is the biggest switch that has ever been written in a TV show, like really. Her role is kind of inconsistent, and changes quite often. I don’t think she has a preference, but sometimes I think there are some things that can definitely influence it. Rough day at work and she’s irritated? You’re gonna get bent over her desk. If she feels utterly defeated, she’d rather you take the lead so she can ignore her problems for a bit.
Speaking of being bent over her desk, it’s one of her favorite things to do. She’ll gently push you forward, keeping a hand between your shoulder blades as she grinds against your ass. But she really only ever does this at her office at home, she tries very hard to keep your relationship away from work.
She loves when you take off her shoes and tights, kissing your way up her legs as you hike her dress up to her hips. She loves to hold onto your head as you lick and suck your way up her thighs, pushing her backwards onto the bed.
She highly enjoys straddling your face, moaning loudly as she grabs onto the headboard. She’ll grind her pussy against your mouth and whimper as you reach up to grope her chest.
When she’s topping, she likes having you in missionary so she can watch your eyes roll back and whimper. If she’s bottoming, she prefers to ride you because it makes it easier for her to rub against the most sensitive spots inside of her.
She likes to pull your hair, and have hers pulled in return, enjoying the control it gives both of you.
She loves to decorate herself in pretty lingerie and gold, tying your hands behind your back as she sways her hips around you before settling your lap. She grinds herself on your lap, grinning sadistically as you whine due to the fact that you can’t touch her.
She’s less intense with aftercare, mainly because she’s too tired herself to do much. Once you’re both wiped down, she’ll wrap herself around you and press a kiss to your head.
#maddie arcane#arcane#caitlyn kiramman#vi arcane#jinx arcane#caitlyn kiramman x reader#vi x reader#maddie nolen#mel medarda#mel x reader#jinx x reader#wlw post
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I really enjoyed Rogue, and it's been great to see so many people love it too! Time to write down my reactions.
I'll start with the negativite thoughts. This may be an unpopular opinion (though I know I'm not the only one to have it) but the Doctor and Rogue's romance could've been done a lot better. It felt like Gatwa was doing a lot of the heavy lifting chemistry and charisma-wise, and I was really confused by the Doctor winning Rogue's trust by simply doing an 'I am the Doctor' speech and showing a bunch of his other faces to a guy who already thought he was a shape-shifter. I really enjoyed the romance plot, it was really fun, but its premise and novelty were probably just as big a part of that enjoyment as anything on-screen.
Also, I continue to be a bit baffled about 'I have no one' being probably Fifteen's most common emotional beat after his introduction. Like, I'm glad we get to see him be more emotionally expressive (I like how much he's been crying, it makes a nice change to 20 years of the Doctor stoically looking into the middle distance while they repress everything). And I know that you have to work continuously on your mental health, there's not just a one-and-done fix (although I don't think that message is what the TV show has been going for). But it felt like 'I lost everyone' is specifically the attitude that got addressed in The Giggle. What was the point of giving Fourteen his contrived ending if it didn't even have the effect on the show that it explicitly said it was going to have ("I'm fine because you fixed yourself"), and the Doctor immediately went back to talking like it's 2008?
Anyway. Positives: Rogue was such a fun episode. Lots of fun banter (even if Bridgerton was namedropped perhaps once too many times). The last 15 minutes of the episode felt like it was really taking advantage of being right before the finale by making me worry about what was going to happen to Ruby. The reveal that she'd activated battle mode was very entertaining to me. And the ending was a little contrived (the molecular bond lets you exchange people?) but a friend of mine said that since it's a regency romance, "the plot doesn't need to be strong, just dramatic" and I think she's right. Oh and I loved how the Chuldur looked. Owls in regency costumes isn't something I knew I needed.
The decision to put Richard E Grant in the lineup of Doctors was bonkers, and I love it. I don't think there was much thought put into the decision beyond 'this will entertain the longtime fans,' but I guess you can now just handwave a lot of stuff with the timeless child theory (even though I think the Shalka Doctor makes as much sense being pre-Hartnell as the Fugitive Doctor does. They didn't have the phone box or the compassion yet, and I'll die on that hill.)
The next episode is the start of the series finale! And it might be the episodes of the season I'm looking forward to the least 😂 I've said it before and I'll probably be annoying and say it again, but I don't think RTD is very good at endings. His finales aren't all bad, but I'm skeptical and The Giggle sure lowered my standards even more. I also wonder if there's going to be much point in Mel being there this time. Despite all that, I'll be curious to see how the many arcs resolve/develop.
#my thoughts#I did enjoy it despite complaining for a few paragraphs here#I don't think any of this season has bumped off Church on Ruby Road as my favourite Fifteen episode yet#but I'll be very interested rewatching it all once its done#fifteen#ruby#rogue
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Mel's 2023 Reads 🎉🎉Tier List🎉🎉
F Tier
I would consider this tier the You Sucked Tier
These books all disappointed me in major ways. Some were just two short and underdeveloped whilst Insurgent was just a crime on humanity. It committed Character assassination badly and really underplayed abuse.
I was not the audience for the Leia book as its clearly for kids who aren't old enough too watch the Star Wars films.
Honestly I've had a pretty decent year F Tier is thankfully been minimal.
D Tier
I would consider this the Very Underwhelming Tier.
Sorry Marvel fans the Spider-Gwen comic would be higher if I didn't start with issue 5. It was cool okay I saw it at universal and went mine!! I also apologise to Good Omens fans. As a huge fan of the show I just didn't enjoy it. It works a lot better as a TV show. It was too crowded and I wish similar to the High Republic that there was individual pov chapters.
Allegiant I'm suprised I enjoyed it more then Insurgent but it didn't character assassinate Tris character but instead had weird new characters because the villians in the last book were defeated. I cried and the ending so therefore it belongs in D Tier. Old As Time was the most disappointing out of all of the Disney Twisted Tales I was expecting more. Some really good ideas that weren't fleshed out properly. I also found Belle really unlikeable in the first half of the book. I also wanted more Enchantress, her being Belles Mum was fascinating. Would still recommend though it has a beautiful message.
Again not bad for being one of the lowest tiers.
C Tier
I would consider this tier the Enjoyable But With Huge Flaws Tier.
The two books here I enjoyed but have too many major flaws holding them back. I'm suprised that there aren't more but then again 2023 has been a great reading year so I shouldn't.
Look I'm a new to the World of FNAF so I may not be able to accept weirdness. I also accept and respect The Creator didn't expect his game to be popular and as a result is new to writing but the second Fazbear Fright Book Fetch whilst improving on Into The Pits flaws had its own flaws to the point I couldn't put it further. Don't be angry FNAF fans.😰
I adored the Bullet Train movie and was super excited when I found out that it was a novel originally. But the outdated language, highly visible fatphobia and transphobia meant I couldn't put this any higher. I don't care the year it was published, call me a Snowflake but as a Trans Nonbinary Plush Sized person I do not want to read stories that mock my existence, so it's going in C tier. Still a really good story though.
I'm happy that most of my 41 reads ended up in B, A and S Tier
B Tier
I would consider this the Loved It But Could Have Been Better Tier.
Only six books in this tier again it's very surprising how many books have dodged this tier. I loved also this books but they had wasted potential and could have been better. They definitely would have been in A and S tier if they were.
I hope FNAF and Star Wars fans aren't angry at me but Darth Plagueis and Into The Pit absolutely deserve to be in B Tier. I loved Darth Plagueis as my first legends novel but the pacing was garbage fire. I would have much preferred a Trilogy where Book 1 is Plagueis's Backstory and Training With Darth Tenerbous till he kills him. Book 2 is Plagueis Grooming Palpatine to be his apprentice and then Book 3 takes place a few years before and then during Phantom Menace. It would have made the book feel less like 3 books squished into one. As for Into The Pit well, all three protagonists we're insufferable especially Millie in Count The Ways and the stories as a whole are to vague for me. The ending of Into The Pit had me scratching my head. I'm hoping I have a better time with the Tales Series.
As for the comics I haven't even Read Phase 2 yet so I was way too lost to properly enjoy The High Republic Adventures it also in genuine felt way to short. I loved Maz and Dexters appearances though. 2024 is looking to be the year I delve more into Doctor Who extended media with Big Finish having their first fifty stories free on Spotify but 2023 was a good start. Seventh Doctor comic was a pick up from the library and it was good but it also felt way too overcrowded with characters so in B Tier it goes.
I will come back to Plagueis someday and see how it goes but for now I'm super happy with my decisions.
A Tier
I would consider this the Amazing But Not Peak Tier. All the stories I really liked but they just missed a single step preventing it from being S Tier. Nine stories again which shocks me as it shows how generous I am.
Again hoping that fans of these novels are meant. I loved seeing my favourite prequel film turned into a Shakespearian play but unfortunately but unfortunately the source materials flaws stop this from being rated higher. It has however got me excited to read the orginal Trilogy Shakespeare plays.
Would have loved to put The Story Book Of Legends higher as well as it was very enjoyable and brought back alot of nostalgia for me involving Ever After High as it was basically my childhood but the world building is very nonchalant. It feels like if I hadn't been a fan of the orginal show I would have been dreadfully confused. I hope the next two stories in the Trilogy are less alienating when I get to them.
Bloodline and Spider-Man Hostile Takeover are definitely gonna be the most controversial. I loved Bloodline as a Leia Stan but I do not love Disney assassinating Leia and Han's relationship be like Satine and Obi-Wan. Leia even gave up being a jedi for her family. I just don't think that Han would listen to Leia and stay away whilst she's going through so much. Han would never be satisfied with only a video call. As for Hostile Takeover, Liss really messed up with one of the characters Anika she felt tropey and stale, only there to be Peter's over love interest option. Hostile Takeover is such a good Spider-Man story but Anika really let's down this book for me. Echo was written brilliantly I don't understand why Anika couldn't have been as well.
Congratulations to the books in A tier for coming very closer to S Tier though. 🎉🎉
S Tier
Welcome to the Peak Writing Tier it feels like I just give books the S Tier too generously but trust me when I say that these books have absolutely earned it. These books blew me away and are the reason why I've had to do a Tier list instead of a ranking. I'd mention all the books if I could but then this post would go on for hours so I'm just gonna mention three.
Claudia Gray dominated this year and has honestly become one of my favourite authors. The way she writes Leia is so masterful and awesome. Leia Princess Of Alderaan shined and hugely redeemed Holdo as a character for me. However as usual The High Republic lands on top as usual. Into The Dark By Claudia Gray blew my mind in all the best ways possible. It gave me a rollercoaster of emotions and I enjoyed the smaller cast of characters alot. Each character arc felt well done and hugely earnt. As a Star Wars fan I can say your missing out if you don't check out The High Republic in my opinion its so much better than the sequels cos all the writers actually sat down and talked with eachother laying out a clear plan. Peak Star Wars with amazing representation.
I got to go to my first authors talk this year and it was amazing. The Many Half Lived Lives Of Sam Sylvester is a book I wish I could have shipped off to younger Mel who had been bullied in High School for their Autistic traits and was so confused about their identity. Maya MacGregor is such a lovely person and a great author it was a privilege to meet them. They really did the queer Autistic community the representation we deserved. And their next book which I won an arc copy of was just as good. I will be following more of their stories in the future they deserve the hype.
Finally When Our Worlds Collided was an emotional book that brought out the rage in me. I hope this book gets put on the GCSE English curriculum and replaces the harmful stuff such as Of Mice And Men. As a lighter skinned biracial person I was heartbroken realising the struggles and injustices Black teens might face in the UK. I loved Chantelle, Jackson and Marc and how they managed to come together through tragedy and help eachother through their battles. So glad that I impulsively bought this July 2022. Everyone needs to read this especially if you are White. Read diversely people it's important.
Conclusion
Overall 2023 was a great reading year I'm excited to try dip into more nonfiction and fiction in 2024. I'm also listening to Doctor Who Big Finish this year which means my 2024 tier list will certainly be larger next year.
Here are my storygraph and goodreads if you want to follow me.
Goodreads: Melody Soundy
Storygraph: melsage1823
-Melody-
They/Them
#bookish#booklover#bookworm#book tumblr#star wars#star wars books#marvel#marvel books#marvel comics#star wars comics#doctor who books#doctor who comics#tier list#reading in 2023#reading#2023 reads#fnaf#fnaf books#five nights at freddy's#fazbear frights#bullet train#autism representation#autism
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Started a thing last night abt Coral and Melpomene's (or Mel, Melo, Po, because, let's be v real, it is not a modern name, picked it for the mythological figure theme, like w/ Jason and Thalia) and how they approach the world/how the world sees them.
Brief tangent: One way to explain their different vibes is that if Coral were able to feel her emotions, she would be better for it, but if Melo were able to feel her emotions, she would probably be worse. Not szpd related, but thought would be helpful because apathy/indifference presents a very monotone view.
But, anyway, in the meantime for those curious about the Neptune girlies and SzPD, here is how they match up to the DSM-5 description and criteria 👍
SzPD is defined by a persistent pattern of detachment from and general disinterest in social relationships, and limited expression of emotions in interpersonal interactions.
Pattern is shown by 4 or more of following criteria:
Little to no desire or enjoyment of close relationships, including those with family members
The first half of the "or" is true for both of them. Coral's derives from general detachment and never thinking much of people, where Mel's stems from social anhedonia (reduced ability to feel pleasure, in this case specifically derived from social interactions).
However, both of them do enjoy the close relationships they have - as much as they really can with their respective alexithymia (difficulty to recognize and understand personal emotions) and anhedonia.
Strong preference for solitary acticities
Yeppers to both, albeit more so for Mel than Coral, who defaults to solitude on instinct but can withstand social gatherings or spaces as long as she doesn't have to interact. Therefore she's much more capable and willing to participate in parallel play than Mel is.
Enjoyment of few, if any, activities
Point for Coral because of her severe anhedonia and alexithymia (RIP my girl) so! She gets very little pleasure from any activities, and can't tell the few times she might feel something. However, since she has no reference for what is and isn't enjoyable, she's content to do whatever comes along. She defaults to non-repetitive and solitary activities, or daydreaming!
Assuming few means less than 5, then 100% for Mel too. While alexithymia makes discerning joy hard, her definitive hobbies are swimming, knitting/crocheting, and daydreaming/writing stories in her head.
Note: Maladaptive daydreaming is commonly reported by people with SzPD. It's also been said that schizoids without MDD tend to have more complex and intense fantasies/daydreams than the average person's.
Lack of close friends or confidants, except possibly 1st-degree relatives
100% again to Coral! Her only "close" people are her mom and Percy. Does not apply to Mel as (provided I don't scrap that part of her backstory ofc) she has two close friends.
Apparent indifference to the praise or criticism of others
100% for both. Coral is too detached from every day life due to chronic depersonalization to even be interested in people's opinions of her. Mel doesn't care enough about people to be bothered, though repeated jabs or jibs at her expense will severely tick her off.
Note: This criteria is "apparent indifference". If you outwardly appear unbothered by praise/critique but inwardly are affected, it may still count 👍
Emotional coldness and/or detachment, or flattened affect
Yeppers again. Both of them are emotionally detached, but only Mel is also emotionally cold (although Coral can come across as emotionally cold). Coral has a flat affect. Mel's affect is blunted.
Note: Blunted affect is sometimes mistaken for or used interchangeably with flat affect. The difference is that a blunted affect is having a muted emotional expression, where range and intensity of emotion is significantly reduced. A flat affect is having no emotional expression. People with blunted or flat affects may still feel very intensely.
Additionally, said it before but wanna reiterate, the DSM-5 appears to focus more on how SzPD appears externally, and in more overt cases. There are common traits across schizoids not stated above, such as alexithymia, anhedonia, avolition, MDD, intense discomfort with emotional intimacy, etc.
#daughters of neptune#happy talks pjo#idk when or if I'll ever finish that other post abt them i started. depends on if i get distracted by smth else 😂#happy talks about his stories
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A Night to Remember
Includes: Viktor x Reader (gn) Tags: nsfw, finger sucking, gn reader, porn with plot, eventual smut, wholesome, pinning, viktor doms you yes, casual drinking.
Summary: Parties were never really your favorite thing; but giving into Mel's request, you decide to attend, and keep your lover Viktor some warm company. What is bound to happen when passion begins boiling between you two lovebirds?
"May the celebration begin!" The dazzling councilwoman exclaimed, before the room was consumed over a wave of glasses clanking together in unison. You found yourself sitting in one of the nearby tables, toying with the flowery petals that decorated the extravagant-looking centerpiece. "I thought you weren't coming." Butterflies fluttered inside of you as you saw Viktor quickly come down from behind the stage towards your table, and approached to kiss your cheek. "Never thought these kind of events were really your cup of tea." He sat down. "Well..
At the core, you've never been an enjoyer of social gatherings of this size and caliber. "I don't have a place there." You insisted to Mel as she rummaged through your wardrobe. It's not like it was going to work anyways; everyone, incluiding you, seemed to always give into her requests. The thought of her being some kind of sorceress with mind control powers has crossed your mind before, but you'd rather not focus on such impossible things this early in the morning.
Placing her hand close to your shoulder, the councilwoman gave you a comforting smile. "Well, I still think you should be present. Viktor's coming too, you know... And.. I believe you two are very fond of each other.. isn't that correct?" "I-" "Give it a chance, darling. You'll look just as beautiful as starlight." Medarda pulled a particularly elegant outfit from inside the closet. Adorned with a radiant smile, she posed herself on your left. "What do you say?"
"So you said yes, I presume..?" A snarky look emerged from Viktor's face as he turned around at you, to which, you gleefully responded to with the most extreme display of annoyance you have ever showed to anyone.
"What makes you think that, Vik?"
A chuckle escaped from his mouth. "Seeing you standing in front of me, looking as beautiful as you ever were." Your expression shifted into absolute embarassment; even though you had been together for a couple of years now, the thought of him going out of his zone ocasionally to surprise you with heart warming words still hit like a truck, especially in public.
"Viktor!" You exclaimed in shame as red shaded your cheeks. "Are you drunk?"
"Eeh." He shaked his head in disagreement. "Sudden experimentation often leads to the best results, and in our case-- I have to say, I quite enjoyed seeing your reaction." "Can't say I didn't like it either." As the sight of his amber eyes pulled you deeper into him, your lips quickly found way over his, sharing a loving moment in a chaotic moment. Suddenly, nothing else mattered. Not the speech, not the rest of the people. Only you two. Could this moment last forever, you would opt for it without a single thought.
"O-OoOh!" A small curse escapes your lips as both you and Viktor pull away from each other at the unpleasant surprise. "H-Hey! Jayce." You stammered in awkwardness, luckily, your lover was quick to back you up. "What brings you here?" A certain insecurity seemed to develop under his voice. The man gulped. "I- Uh, well.." He laughed. "I, I, DRINKS! Yeah, you guys, uh. Want.. drinks? THERE'S THE TABLE OVER THERE AND I-" A greater, much more, delicate presence took over the conversation.
"Come on now Jayce, stop nagging them." After Mel's gracious words, he seemed to retreat while mouthing the words "i'm sorry" in what looked to be a very funny display. The woman approached his ear and whispered something, which seemed to send the man flying accross into the bartending area.
"So sorry for that." Merdarda apologized. "Jayce can have very.. uh, wrong timings sometimes."
"At this point, I don't really mind him. He's fun to tease, although.. well we were pretty much in the middle of something very important." He approached your ear and whispered in a very low raspy tone. "Which we will continue later on, of course."
Jayce came back to the party with a tray of freshly-made martinis, leaving them over the table and sitting next to Mel. "A toast. For our future."
So, here you were; the greatest event of the year. The beautiful chandeliers adorning the ceiling seemed almost blinding-- on a good way-- which would probably make Mel happy. Hours passed, yet, excitement remained present in the atmosphere. "Vik, look what I found!" "Hm?" "It's an ionian treat. They say it tastes like magic." Overflown with excitement you screamed and shaked. "It's wonderful, isn't it!?" Viktor smiled at your beauty; not only was he admiring your emotion, but also everything you had brought into his life. Love, happiness, and a spark he never thought was still inside of him.
"But I want you to try it." You added, lifting the small treat and leaving it on his hands. "Me? Why?" The man questioned in surprise. "I thought you were.. excited to try it."
You rolled your eyes in irony. "I have something else in mind."
"Oh, alright." He obviously didn't understand what you suggested, but oh well. "It's.." He whispered as he surely made fast work of the tart. "It's sweet, and there's a hint of... anise?"
"Is it good?" "Yes, very. You have very, very good taste." "Can I try it then?" A smile formed around your face, as your hands seemed to reach out for his chest, pulling him closer against you.
You both resumed the interrupted fling from earlier, but this time, something was different; Viktor's moves seemed much more erratic, almost as if he had been holding it in for a long time.
"My.." He whimpered, just before your lips met his again, pulling you even closer to him as his slim fingers went through your hair with care. None of you cared anymore. Even if there's people around. Even if Jayce or Mel are looking from the corner of the room, it simply, did not matter any longer.
Your hand went down on his chest, down to his torso, as you slowly appreciated each one of his body muscles.
You both needed each other. More than ever. Right now.
And nobody was going to change that. As soon as the door of the spare guest bedroom closed behind you, Viktor leaned you against a wall, as his wild, uncontrolled kissed made his way down to your neck. "Ngh.. Viktor, I-" You moaned out, but he quickly put his index finger over your mouth. "Shh.." He whispered. "We don't know if there's people around here.."
You nodded, silently enduring the delicious sensation his handscaressing your chest caused to all of your body. You felt the tips of his fingers trailing around your chest from under your clothes, spinning circles around your upper body.
His lips were back against yours, and you felt the hotness of his breath melting your worries away as Viktor carried you over the bed. Completely laid down, the man began stripping your clothes away with such an attention to detail; starting with your underpants, and making his way into your underwear.
His hand reached between your legs, stroking you through the cloth, to which, he was shocked. "You're.. wet. This is.. for me?" He whispered. "I wonder... just how long... you had been thinking about it." Moving your undies to the side, Viktor began eating you out almost desperately, all while shushing you everytime he felt you got louder.
He pulled away. "Mind the sound..."He said once again, but how were you supposed to keep quiet, while you felt his fingers reach for your insides?
His tongue drooled over you, savoring every detail, every stroke, every slurp, with pure and unfiltered passion. By this point, his shirt had been unbuttoned, except for his tie, which was strangely kept around his neck. Spreading your legs wide open, Viktor climbed over the bed.
He invited you to take them off, to which, you complied, and as soon as you lowered the elastic, his big member flopped out; you could tell he was as hungry, and as needy as you were.
He began introducing himself inside of you; giving you time to adjust. By this point, it was impossible to stop the muffled moans escaping from your mouth everytime you felt how it throbbed, and how it pulled back and deeper with each of his slow thrusts. He was quite long, and you could swear, it was reaching places you never thought anyone else ever would, and you were fucking crazy about it.
As his thrusts gained more confidence and began ramping up in speed, a whine left your lips, to which, he shook in surprise. Two fingers from his left hand suddenly found their way inside your mouth, hoping it would help reduce the sound of your breathy moans.
Oh god. This turned you on more than he could have possibly imagined; the stimulation from his hips pushing into yours sent you spiraling into a storm of whines and moans, all which, were very faintly reduced by his slim fingers twirling inside of your mouth.
"I- I-." He moaned out, with the most of his efforts attempting to still nullify any possible sound, yet, it all seemed futile.
"I lo-love you!"
Pulling his fingers out of you, he pulled you closer towards him, getting one last kiss as climax finally reached bay; the combined sensation of his hot breath, his spasming d*ck inside of you, and your shaky legs; you both managed to end at the same time, together.
After a few seconds, Viktor pulled out of you, watching the entirety of his cum drip out of your entrance and over the bed.
Before words could come out of him, you pulled him into the bed alongside you. "Can I ask you something?" "Ask away, darling." Viktor responded. "What was the party even for?" "I have.. no fucking idea."
Writer's Note: And that's the end! I hope if you got all the way here, you enjoyed it! I love writing wholesome, yet... spicy things like these! I'm still looking forward for a full-on long Viktor story, but it will probably be a bit until it sees light. Gotta make sure it's perfect :・゚✧ I want to thank anyone who's liked/reblogged/or even just read my past works- It truly means a lot, and I want to say, thank you! Have a wonderful night.
#viktor arcane x reader#viktor smut#viktor x reader#viktor arcane x you#arcane smut#arcane x reader#arcane headcanon#viktor lol#jayce talis#mel medarda#viktor x you#league of legends x reader
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Hi! I have a question regarding feedback and writing that may be difficult to answer. If you don't have any advice it's totally okay to ignore! Basically my problem is I'm losing confidence in my writing. Logically I know I'm still a good writer but it hurts that confidence when I struggle for notes when I once got them with far less followers. I've tried the whole write for me thing and it helps but even so it's become a battle of I'm not going to write this well or even decent so why bother? I must be writing poorly if no one likes/interacts/etc. anymore is where my head jumps. This has been going on for months and months now. It got bad towards the end of SPN but it's only gotten worse. I've taken breaks, reduced the amount of content I put out, changed it, etc. But nothing changes. I can't even get myself to write for me anymore because I think it's not worth it. I know other writers struggle with this too but I'm starting to feel like it's impacting my enjoyment of writing. Do you have any advice for getting your writing confidence back?
Michelle here!
What you're talking about here is SO COMMON, lately. Seriously. I don't know a writer around here that hasn't expressed frustration about this at some point in the past few years. I chatted with Mel a bit, and I hope we've come up with something more than just "write for yourself" since you mentioned that's no longer working for you.
I'm going to attack this question like it's actually three questions.
Why is my audience dwindling?
How do I deal with the lack of feedback from my dwindling audience?
How do I rebuild my own confidence in my writing?
First, why is my audience dwindling?
The SPN Fan Fiction Audience is Shrinking
I put that in big, bold, red letters because I absolutely believe it's true. Especially here on Tumblr, the number of readers of specifically SPN fan fiction is shrinking. There are a few factors for this:
The "Best Stuff First" Tumblr Algorithm Disaster - This was the first time in my memory (I've only been here since 2015, so it's possible there might be earlier events I don't know about) that I started hearing about the number of notes on fics dropping dramatically. Everyone was urged to turn off the "Best Stuff First" option on their dashboard, but that didn't seem to help. Like all social media platforms, there are recommendations made when you're looking for something, and those recommendations are made up of posts that are already most popular. This leaves new posts by new writers in the dust to wither. (It didn't do anything great for even the most popular writers, either.) Only die-hard loyal fans and those the writer tagged could keep up with new content.
The Great Tumblr Porn Purge Suckfest - When the Purge happened, we lost a portion of readers who left Tumblr full stop. Whether they enjoyed the porn and missed it or got caught up in the mess of accounts that got deleted or shadowbanned or became nothing but pixels and couldn't deal with the fight for redemption, it doesn't matter. They left.
The Less Great Sucky Searching Snafu - Even before the porn ban, search functions just didn't work right on Tumblr as Staff tried to find quiet ways to keep porn from appearing on screens. The latest Apple App Apocalypse is just an extension of that. This means that even if you do everything right, your post still won't show up when someone searches for it for any number of reasons.
The Tumblr Tagging Malfunction Cluster - The fact that tagging people on Tumblr just doesn't work SO OFTEN just sucks balls. I don't know if anyone else is seeing this lately, but I've been getting a rash of notifications recently for posts from 2017! I obviously didn't get the notification at the time, so WTF Tumblr? FIVE YEARS??? It's terrible. Writers get tired of doing the work of tagging (though with the new post editor it's LOADS easier) and then readers still not seeing the posts. Library blogs and app push notifications have helped, but it's an adjustment.
The Show Ending Debacle - I think a lot of us knew that we would lose casual readers after the show ended, but we didn't expect the fandom-dividing ending that sucked a lot of loyal fans out of the fandom, too. (Personally, I'm not a fan of the last two episodes, but I love the other 325 --except maybe Bugs-- and the people behind the show, so I'm here for life.) I know of a few writers who lost the desire to write for SPN after the show ended, so I imagine the same is true for some readers. Even some of those that loved the ending may have left because it's just over. They're moving on to new shows and new fandoms and they just aren't interested in SPN stuff anymore.
The General Balls-Up Car Wreck That Is The World '20's Style - Some folks dove into fandom as an escape. Some folks didn't have that luxury. Life got hard, y'all. People dying everywhere can make fan fiction seem silly and inconsequential. We lost folks who suddenly didn't have time because they have kids who needed to be home schooled or grandparents who needed home care. Working from home on your laptop all day makes you really not want to spend more time on your laptop, even for fun stuff.
Did you notice what's NOT on this list? Your writing. Most likely, your loss of audience has absolutely nothing to do with the quality of your writing. There is a huge list of things you could be doing to lose followers (yelling at them, being rude, and stuff like that, but if you were, you wouldn't have ever had a following), and at the very bottom of the list would be anything to do with your actual writing.
Putting the rest of this under a cut since this is getting pretty long.
B. How do I deal with the lack of feedback from my dwindling audience?
There are a couple of options for you here: Work to expand your audience and focus on only a small portion of your audience.
Expanding your audience on Tumblr is near to impossible, but not completely impossible. There are still a couple of things you can do. (Side note: We are working on a series of posts coming soon that will go into some of this in more detail.)
Interact positively with your audience - Say thank you when someone reblogs your work. Go to their blog and reblog some of their work. Take requests. Something I haven't seen in years is to do a blog takeover by a character. (You take asks on your blog as an SPN character for a certain period of time. RP, in a way.)
Submit your stories to blogs that reblog for you like we do, or @dirtysupernaturalimagines. (Know of any other blogs that reblog fics? Let us know and we'll add them here!)
Join bangs and writing challenges - The admins who run these things will reblog the stories involved on their blog and you will get more exposure that way.
If you've already done all of that, then consider expanding to other platforms. Get an AO3 account. Set up a handle on Twitter for just your writing and interact with readers there. Find an artist to team up with (you can do this easily by joining a bang) and have them hype you on their Instagram or Twitter in exchange for you doing the same for them.
While you're working hard to expand your audience you can also narrow your focus to just a handful of people. Instead of looking for quantity in your feedback, look for quality. Find people who will honestly tell you whether they like your writing and make them your alpha, beta, or omega readers. Focus on what this core group of people say and consider anyone else who gives you kudos as icing on the cake.
3. How do I rebuild my own confidence in my writing?
So far, everything mentioned has nothing to do with your writing. That's because the loss of notes and followers and feedback probably has nothing to do with your writing. I doubt even Robbie Thompson could get notes in this fandom's current climate.
Most importantly, I'm going to repeat what I said above. Instead of looking at quantity of feedback, look for quality. Find people you like and respect, whose work you admire, and focus on them. Instead of judging your writing on numbers, which can have little to no relation to your writing skills, judge your writing based on how a handful of honest reviewers feel about it.
Also, consider writing for a newer fandom or in any other way switching things up. The Tumblr SPN fan fiction audience is dwindling, so find an audience that's growing and write for them. Getting feedback from a whole new set of people might reenergize you and get you back to your keyboard again.
I hope this has helped you out! If anyone else has some tips or advice, please reblog or reply with your comments! Sharing is how we all learn!
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I watched the new Doctor Who Episode.
as a disclaimer I stopped regularly watching Who sometimes toward the end of the Matt Smith years but from time to time something will pop up so I've been kept generally up to date on whats happening.
any ways The Power of the Doctor. Uh first of the actual plot felt like a 7 year old hopped up on too many pixie sticks watched 3 different Doctor Who episodes but didn't understand they were different episodes so is trying to tell you the plot of all 3 as if they all happened at once. It's a mess and does not work at all. But hey the "plot" was largely an excuse to get to the second half which had the fun stuff
I really enjoyed the mind metaphor and the Doctor getting to talk to themselves. I can't over say how much I appreciate Who not trying to CGI de-age any of the actors or recasting them with look a likes or any silliness. I like that it was not commented on mostly, I like that they trusted the viewers to be adults and understand that hey actors are people who age and it's been 30 to 40 years since these guys were the Doctor they'll look different and we love them and want to see them again.
The hologram Doctor becoming old versions of the Doctor was smart and I'm a sucker for old companions coming back. I loved seeing Tegan and Ace. The scenes between Janet Fielding and Peter Davison and Sophie Aldred and Sylvester McCoy were really good, particularly between Aldred and McCoy, McCoy is a really great actor who doesn't get enough credit and it felt like a good showing from them to show why it was so unfair they were the team that the show was canceled on back in 1989.
I will say while I'm fine with them recasting the First Doctor and David Bradley does a great job, having him there and not having recast the Second and 3rd Doctors feels a little unfair, if they're gonna keep using Bradley and the First Doctor it does kinda erase #2 and #3 because Tom Baker so overshadows all the other old Doctors and Davison, McCoy, McGann, and Colin Baker have been so game to show up in New Who, since Troughton and Pertwee are dead it does feel like their Doctors are getting overshadowed and forgotten.
Speaking of Tom Baker it would have been nice to see him in the mix, it was a little odd to see them keep jumping from First Doctor to 5th-6th-7th-8th. I get that Tom Baker is very old now and so he may have just not been up for it, and also he has a history of being difficult when it comes to getting him to do Who stuff, but it still would have been nice to see him give a few lines. Likewise if they could have gotten Eccleston I know for a long time he wanted nothing to do with Who but in the last few years he's softened up and started voicing 9 in audio adventures so it would have been great to see him. Also Matt Smith or Peter Capaldi it just felt a little incomplete to have the current Doctor meet the incarnation of her incarnations but only like half her faces show up?
I loved the Old companion support group at the end it was very cute, it was great to see old faces like Mel, Jo who is one of the all time greats, and the fact they reached back back back to the VERY start with Ian was it made me a little misty eyed no doubt. It would have been good though if they could have tried to get some New Who people in the mix other than just the current doctor's latest companions, a quick Captain Jack maybe?
also this is very much me, but if we're paying tribute to the companions, to the greats, to girls who grew up into tough women who never stopped saving the world even without the Doctor around. It would have been nice to see a tribute or a nod to Sarah Jane Smith, particularly since the show did nothing when Elisabeth Sladen actually died in 2011.
over all enjoyable, the plot was a mess, the evil plan didn't really make sense or work, but it was cool to see a bunch of old Doctors, old companions, and have one last fun spin around with David Tennant as the Doctor, particularly given the whole theme of the 13th Doctor clawing her way back because her time wasn't up and the 10th Doctor's last words were "I don't want to go" it'd be fitting that he never really moved on, which would have been cool to show if he was the only face that didn't show up talking to #13
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From the project of interviewing Stanley S. Bass about his experiences with Karezza techniques, The Life Science Publishing created the 2008 book Energy-Karezza. Here Dr. Bass tells the story of how, in his 30’s, he was on his way to become a celibate yogi through Brahmacharya, when he learned about reaching the same spiritual goal via Karezza & Tantra. He decided to try Karezza instead.
Even though his personal goal was spiritual, Dr. Bass soon discovered that women loved Karezza, and couldn’t get enough. When he started teaching the improved Energy-Karezza method to couples with marital problems, the results were astounding. Usually, within weeks, the couple had fallen in love again. Problematic marriages healed, becoming more and more harmonious and stronger with time.
Over time, over 50+ years, he not only gained experience concerning every aspect of Karezza/Tantra, but also – thanks to his energy-understanding, being an orthopathic doctor – developed an improved, more powerful & easy-to-learn, version. Traditional “Karezza/Tantra” can be difficult for men, but “Energy-Karezza/Tantra” is easy, and also gives more pleasure & prolongation..
INTRODUCING OTHERS TO KAREZZA
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Karezza is about one thing, the man has to control himself. It is so easy. I got so good at this control that I soon was able to go almost a whole year with no accidents. With very heavy sex - three times a week, four hours each session. It didn't take long to get to a high level of proficiency.
In a few months I was very good at it already.
It is very simple, it is natural. It is not difficult. Prove it for yourself, don't take my word for it. Try it out. The first time I heard about it, it was strange to me, so I tried it. It didn't take me long to get good at it. It was easier than I thought. In fact, I taught Karezza to a lot of friends, and everyone had success.
If one of them asked me, "how do I know if it will work?", I gave him a simple method of trying it. I usually said, "why don't you first try:
1. Don't have an orgasm quickly, but wait until the woman is finished, until she has had her enjoyment. Practice holding back for half an hour, for an hour, for several hours, if you can.
2. Then you'll see that your own orgasms are better; they are more enjoyable.
3. Also try having an orgasm only every other time you have sex.
Skipping one time. Every other time, try without orgasm. See how you feel."
With my sex students, those were my instructions, to begin with. These instructions summarize basic traditional Karezza. But these simple instructions could still be difficult for some men. They lost control (ejaculated) early, and were never able to do Karezza for a full hour.
Therefore, to make it easier, I gave my students some Energy-Karezza secrets. I asked them to improve their diet, and to avoid alcohol and all drugs. I told them not to eat before sex, because a man can not control himself after he has eaten. Why? Because then too much blood goes to the stomach.
Also, I gave very detailed instructions on the best movements in sex. I told them to move slowly, and explained how to move, so they wouldn't get too excited, e.g. sideways, in semicircles, avoiding the in-out moves.
For the premature ejaculators, I told them to give up salt, and to not use anything spicy hot, avoid hot peppers, stay away from spices, because this throws them out of control. And then I told them to use certain motions, slow motions, that makes it easy to control oneself. That's all.
Then the women will get the pleasure, because the men are controlling themselves.
For some men the pleasure was so overwhelming that they were still unable to control themselves very long, more than perhaps 45 minutes, even if their diet was good and they had high vitality. In these cases I think the solution is just doing it over and over. Sometimes men, just like women, may need saturation with lots of high-pleasure peak orgasms, before they can start with serious self-control and higher-pleasure valley orgasms. It may take months, but in the end they will get there.
I myself was never overly concerned with the clitoris or the G-spot, because the Karezza was so enjoyable and I was so good at it that a woman couldn't hold out long. If they wanted to have an orgasm, they could have it quick. Women enjoyed it.
The women were very happy. After beginning Karezza, it became unnecessary to calculate all this stuff. I never had to actually figure it out.
All I did was to function naturally, the way I felt like, without thinking about it. And it was right, for every woman. If one gets too mechanical about it, one becomes a dud. Then it is not real. Real sex has nothing to do with the brain, it has to do with feelings, true feelings and movement.
That's all. The brain is not needed.
From page 45 the Technique to Paradise.
🍎🐍🏖️
YAB YUM
What are you experiencing?
~ by yab yum
Be patient. At first you can't experience the orgasmic part of this process. Some get it on their first try and for some it can take years. Keep practicing with the exercise your teacher gives you. Even if you don't experience the orgasm, just the breath and energy circling alone is of great value. It will clear blocks so that eventually the orgasm can pass through you. Blocks can be experienced in many ways – crying, gagging, getting frustrated, resurfacing old memories. Just keep breathing. Visualize letting go of the "old" on the exhale, ringing out the "new" on the inhale. Energy levels will most likely rise and fall, like mercury in a thermometer. Tell your partner where it slipped. Your partner will encourage you to tap into your sexual center when energy is slipping. One of the main keys to learning this technique is KNOWING that it is possible.
(When asked if she had an orgasm, Sara responded 🙂
It was uninterrupted, uninterrupted… This was definitely something else, which I have never experienced so fully.
(Sara was then asked if there were any psychological changes.)
Oh yes, sure. From the point of view of spiritual practice it is always full of insight, a kind of insight that comes after, about how I am in ecstasy in my usual state, because it is obvious that the ecstasy is inherent in the body (level), of my being… and also of course this would affect my meditation. I am much more relaxed and receptive physically, emotionally and psychologically when I sit down to meditate…. I don't know what this has to do with anything, but meditation becomes very sexual, very physical, playing with all these hormones. Very often in my meditation there is a stage like deepening where it goes through something like lovemaking in a hormonal sense. I feel the heat and change of energy and so forth, and then it just cools down. That is when deep meditation begins.
It is absolutely blissful in ecstasy because the bliss is something I feel in the body. The ecstasy is something where the body is no longer. Energy goes up. His community. It is love. The transcendent, the energy feeling, transcends even the light that I'm talking about in meditation, and just went into the light.
One tree merges with another tree, the earth merges with the trees, the trees merge with the sky, the sky merges with the unknown...you merge with me, I merge with you...everything merges...differences lost, melting and merging as waves into other waves…an enormous unity vibrating, alive, without limits, without definitions, without distinction…the sage melting into the sinner, the sinner flowing together in the sage…becoming good becoming bad, becoming bad…the night turning into the day, day turning into night… life melts into death, death plunges into life again – then everything has become one.
This has changed my experience with sexuality forever… It has blown up things like this what you have about sex, the good feeling you get from sexual experience or trying to get. It broke that because it was so obviously about submission. It wasn't about me trying to do something. It was about not doing something, but rather receiving or allowing it, rather than doing and creating and making.
This is the most profound healing practice I have ever encountered. It has awakened me to realize that my body is often shut off from the bliss and ecstasy it might be experiencing. Through this practice I have come to learn that emotional pain occurs when orgasmic energy does not flow freely through my body and that there is an infinite flow of orgasmic energy available to me. It has taken me years to gradually release the tension and pain in my body and I still have areas of tension to unblock. The sensations can be different each time depending on my condition, sometimes there is a pulsating vibration and sometimes it feels like some kind of electrical current circulating through my genitals throughout my body. There may be tears of joy. My mind can be perfectly clear and it can seem like everything I feared has been resolved. When a certain area of tension is unblocked and the orgasmic energy circulates, there is always an amazing sense of oneness with the life being awakened.
Mel 40 Auckland
My teacher knew how to touch – and where to make contact – He knew places to touch that I didn't know about – and soon I was on my way to another place in another universe. I was in a trance of breathing and sweat and pleasure that so long and so dead do had gone – that I traveled through light and sound. I never knew that such an experience could be had without actually making love. When I finally climaxed and climaxed and climaxed, I couldn't believe I was having a sexual climax in the presence of someone other than my husband. I felt both excitement and a little embarrassment. Looking back at this moment, I would never have thought that having an orgasm for another man would actually be the "beginning" of this whole journey in Tantra
Emma S 35
Auckland
And this is the joy of Cosmic Spiritual Orgasm, because you disappear for a moment. That moment is very small, but its impact is immense. For a moment you are no longer the ego, you do not think in terms of 'I', for a moment you dissolve into the oneness of the all, you become one with the whole, you pulsate with the whole. You are no longer an individual… you are no longer limited to your body. You have no limitations, for a moment you are unlimited, infinite.
That is the meaning of Cosmic Spiritual Orgasm – that your frozen energy melts, becoming one with this universe, with the trees and the stars, and the woman and the man, and the rocks – for a single moment, of course. But in THAT moment you have a kind of consciousness that is religious, that is sacred, that is one with all things. – OSHO
Unbelievable! Some are very strong and some are wonderfully subtle. In general, the more time you spend building up the energy, the more powerful the sensations. You experience “electricity” throughout your body, hands, feet and lips tingle, and there is a sense of letting go and receiving at the same time. You will feel high, euphoric and light-headed. It feels very different from a clitoral orgasm (but it can happen at the same time as a clitoral orgasm). You see a seed sprout, flowers appear on a tree somewhere, the birds are singing – the whole phenomenon is sexual. It is life manifesting in many ways. When the bird sings, it is a sexual call, an invitation. When the flower attracts butterflies and bees, it is an invitation, because the bees and butterflies bear the seeds of reproduction. Everything seems to be divided into these two polarities. And life is a rhythm between these two opposites. Repulsion and attraction, coming closer and getting far… these are the rhythms.
Z
#awakening#tantra#unconditionallove#karezza#nirvana#moksha#yabyum#freedom#liberty#hypocrisy#john lennon#the beatles#Youtube
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Haiiii Meliiiii 🥹🥹🥹 OH MAI GOSH
I will not exaggerate if I say that the reason of my day going good — is you ! Honestly I want to say so much ..,but I feel like the words are never enough and i just want to express how much you mean to me and how much I do appreciate you❤️ I saw in the previous story that somethings in your life my not be going well.. And I just want to wish you the best day ever! Thank you for being my friend and thank you for all the love positivity you're given me and other people 🌸 you're an amazing person and I love you ❤️
Take care of yourself and thank you for the letter I really really really like everything that you do it's so inspiring and it's so amusing and it's so inspirational ✨ I really wish you all the best Mel (:
Share some other updates with your internship and how is everything going? ( if you feel like ) , anyway any time you want to talk or are you have a bad day your 🐱 anon is always there for you and I will be always sending only positive thoughts to you☀️🫶🏻
Okay so now that I'm done with the event, imma reply to the asks xD
Awww baby, you know you never have to thank me for writing for you, because I love doing that! You're so sweet for coming up with such adorable and nice words for me, it honestly made me so so so happy🥺
Yeah it was just a bad day, but thank you for checking up on me and wishing me well!! Today went well for me so I'm happy hehe. How are you doing though?? I hope you're having a great day too💖
And again, YOU DON'T HAVE TO THANK ME SKSKSKSKK. I really enjoyed writing for you!! And my internship just ended last week, it really was a very enjoyable experience tho! And thank you so much for the kind cheers bb, just know that I'm here for you as well😭😭
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Owen Moore x Reader
You and Owen go on a mission and talk (more or less) about feelings.
Word Count: 3,9K (how the hell did this happen?)
A/N: I did a thing. It’s the first thing I ever post anywhere, so I’m pretty anxious about it. It’s propably crap. And out of character since I changed the things I disliked about his character the most (and he never dates Mel in this). But I worked on it long enough, it’s not getting better 🙃 So anyways, here goes nothing
The ringing of your alarm clock jolted you out of your peaceful sleep. You groaned and squinted at the clock. It was just past 6 in the morning but Isaac had you and Owen assigned for a mission.
Ever since the Salt Lake Crew joined the WLF, you became friends with all of them. You were particularly close with Abby and Manny, spending lots of evenings in their shared apartment, drinking beer and watching movies with them.
You often wished you could have the same connection with Owen, or an even deeper one. You had always liked him. From the moment you saw him walking into the stadium for the first time, you had a bit of a crush on him. At first, you decided to ignore it for the most part and praying that your feelings would go away over time. Back then, he was still in a relationship with Abby and you were happy for them.
When they broke up with each other, you and Manny were there for Abby, while Owen decided to spend most of his free time in his aquarium or taking on more jobs outside the stadium. You knew that it was hard for him, because he still loved her even after they were done, but he respected her decision and didn't try to chase something that wasn't there anymore. And even though you longed to spend time with him and comfort him too, you ignored all your feelings and wishes concerning him.
With passing time, he spent more time with the Salt Lake Crew again and you noticed him getting his optimism for the world around him back, but you still ignored your crush on him. In the end, it was impossible that he liked you back in that way, right? Besides, you still hoped that the feelings for him would go away.
But the more years went by, the more you realized that your crush on Owen wouldn't just go away, in fact, it was getting stronger with every moment you spent with him. That's why in the last few months you decided that the best course of action would be to just ignore him to the best you could and not spend too much time alone with him, always scared that he would find out about your feelings.
No one from the Salt Lake Crew knew about this, and you hoped that it would stay that way. You could live with them trying to set you up with some random WLF-Soldier sometime or another, but you couldn't imagine living trough their teasing if they ever found out.
You sighed and slowly got out of bed, enjoying that so far you hadn't been assigned a new room mate after the last one just vanished and having the space all to your self.
You hurried to get dressed because you couldn't get away with being late for a mission again and you didn't want Owen to get in trouble too, if one of the higher ranking soldiers found out and told Isaac about it. Taking your backpack from it's place on the shelf, you made your way down to the cafeteria to get some breakfast. You just hoped it wouldn't be burritos again.
When you were on the bottom of the stairs, you met Manny. “Good Morning beautiful.” “Good morning Manny. What are you doing up that early?” He clapped you on the back and lead you inside the cafeteria, where a lot of other soldiers were already present.
“I'm going to do a special mission for Isaac with Abby. I heard you and Owen got assigned a mission together too? Well, at least you will stop ignoring him then. Do you have a problem with him? You always seemed to quite like him” You could feel your face grow red. Had you really been that obvious with trying to spend less time with Owen? “I'm not ignoring him. What makes you think that?” Manny chuckled. “It actually was Owen himself. As you know, we watched movies last night and he asked Abby and me if we knew why you have been ignoring him. You know, he seemed really sad about it.”
When you looked at him and saw him trying not to laugh out loud, you knew he was teasing you. You shoved his shoulder playfully. “Ugh, just shut up. I'm not ignoring him and I certainly don't have a problem to spent time with him.” Manny laughed out loud and excused himself to go speak with his father before his mission.
You got in line to get breakfast and got burritos (of course it would be burritos AGAIN) for yourself, Manny, Abby and Owen. When you turned around from the counter, you saw Manny jogging up to you from the other side of the cafeteria. He took his and Abby's Burrito and you made your way to the exit. Even from a distance you could make out Abby, who was talking to someone. Once you and Manny got closer, you saw that it was Owen. You silently groaned.
Of course your companion heard that and chuckled. “I thought you don't have a problem with him.” The two of them hadn't noticed you yet when Manny grabbed your shoulder. You turned to him. “Hey, whatever it is, I'm sure you can talk with him about it. He'd understand for sure.” “I don't think it's that easy, unfortunately.” You smiled at him sadly and turned around to walk the rest of the way to your partner for this mission.
When you were standing next to the pair, they turned to you and both wished you a good morning. You gave Owen his breakfast and bit into the burrito yourself. Abby and Manny went to retrieve their weapons and left you and Owen to yourself.
The silence between you grew more uncomfortable with every passing second until you couldn't take it anymore. “So, did Isaac tell you more about this mission? I only know that we were paired together.” “Yes, he told me. There were several sighting of infected half way to the TV studio. Leah and Jordan are driving up to the studio today, so they will take us along and pick us up again tonight, when they are finished with their business.” “Ok, sounds good.”
You tried to smile at him, but if his expression was anything to go by, you didn't succeed. After Owen finished his burrito, you picked up your weapons and went to the trucks where Leah and Jordan just finished up packing.
You greeted the couple and loaded your stuff on the truck. When everything was put in the right place, you sat down on the bed of the truck. Jordan was driving the truck and after a short moment, Owen joined him in the front, leaving you with Leah.
The truck started and you left the stadium. At first, the drive was enjoyable. You and Leah talked about everything that happened in the last time. But a few minutes before you reached your destination, she grew quiet and seemed to think about what to say to you.
After a moment of silence, she looked at you again and asked quietly, “Is everything okay between you and Owen? The mood seemed really awkward before we were entering the truck. And he chose to sit with Jordan and not with you. He has never done that before.” You sighed and wondered who else knew something was up. “No, there is nothing wrong. I'm sure that's just your imagination.” She looked at you suspiciously, but hadn't time to say anything else, since you reached your destination.
You climbed down from the truck and she gave you your backpack. Smiling at you, she said “May your survival be long.” “May your death be swift.” You shouldered your backpack and waited for Owen to join you.
Once Leah and Jordan were gone, the two of you walked over to the buildings where the infected were rumored to be seen. Owen was oddly silent. Normally, he was very chatty whenever you two would go on patrol or missions together, but today he seemed like there was something on his mind.
You stopped shortly before the buildings, enjoying the sun, who had finally risen over the horizon, before you entered the building after Owen.
On first sight, the building seemed empty. You didn't hear any screeches or movement, wondering if there were really infected. “Do you know how many infected were seen?”, you asked Owen, who was standing with his back to you. You waited several moments, but there was no answer from your partner. You walked over to him and shook his shoulder. “Hello? Anybody there?”
He blinked at you, startled as if he hadn't realize you were standing right in front of him. “Yes, I'm here. Why?” “I asked you if you know how many infected should be here. Because I don't see or hear any.” He shook his head. “No, I don't know. Let's go further in, maybe they just went to hide somewhere.” You looked after him rather stupidly when he suddenly started marching further into the building. You wondered if he really was that upset with you for not spending much time time with him lately or if there was something else bugging him. You jogged after him.
You spent the next three hours wandering through the different buildings, but there were no infected to be seen. Owen was still not very talkative and ignored your presence for most of the time. He only spoke to you if you asked him a question and even when his answers where clipped. You wondered what was wrong with him and if it was possible that you were the reason.
After searching for another hour without finding anything, you decided to take a break. The two of you sat down in the grass before the building, unpacking your lunch. You closed your eyes and enjoyed the sun for a bit. After a few moments you felt eyes on you and when you opened your eyes, you saw Owen watching you intently. He looked away and cleared his throat. After a few more moments of awkward silence, he finally talked to you without being prompted by you.
“Can I ask you something?” He seemed nervous to ask you. “Sure you can, Owen. You can ask me anything, but I thought you knew that.” He looked at you skeptically and continued. “Why are you ignoring me?” You felt all the color drain from your face and swallowed hard. “I don't know what your talking about. I'm not ignoring you.”
He scoffed. “Yeah, sure you're not. You declined all my invitations to spend time with me at the aquarium, we didn't have a movie night with just the two of us in months and you didn't even come to Abby and Manny last night. So, if you have a problem with me, just tell me. Or if you don't like me, just tell me too. But to be ignored by you hurts fucking much. I thought we were friends!”
“I...I don't have a problem with you Owen, and of course we are friends. Nothing has changed, I promise you.” He stared hard at you. “Then tell me why you're ignoring me. I want to know what's wrong.” You swallowed and thought feverishly about what to say until the silence between you grew awkward. “Owen, I can't tell you. It would change everything between us and you would hate me forever. I don't want to loose you because of that.”
He looked away and his expression turned cold. “Well, I'm certain you'll do that even without telling me. Nothing could be so bad that you can't tell me. I thought you knew that. Seems like I was wrong.” He sighed and you stared at the ground, feeling like ice took hold of your whole being and your heart shattered.
“Come on, Y/N, we still have infected to get rid of.” Owen's voice had a cold touch to it when he stood up and turned back to the building, not waiting for you to pack your things and follow him. “Owen, wait. I didn't mean it like that.”, you screamed after him, but he already vanished into the next building you needed to search.
You cursed and hurried to throw your things into your backpack and run after him. Inside the building, it was like he had vanished. You took a look around, seeing that the upper part was completely destroyed with the passing years. That left the lower part of the building for inspection. You turned to the stairs which led downwards, but couldn't even make it halfway there before you stopped short.
For a moment, you feared that the building was collapsing when the floor and the walls started shaking as if an earthquake took hold of it, followed by a loud crash and the screeching of infected. But as soon as the shaking started, it was over again.
When you recovered from your shock, you ran as fast as you could downstairs, coming to a sudden stop when halfway down the stair was covered in rubble. The small pebbles were soon turning into gigantic rocks of concrete, blocking you from going any further. It looked like parts of the walls and ceiling collapsed.
Owen was nowhere to be seen. Was he down here and lying under the rocks? The thought made you feel cold all over again and your heart felt like it was beating out of your chest with anxiety. You tried to calm your erratic beating heart and listened to your environment.
When you held your breath, you imagined you could hear gunfire and infected screeching behind the walls of rock. Imagining that Owen was alone with the infected on the other side, you panicked and tried to move the rocks and screamed out for him. “Owen? Owen! Please answer me. Are you ok?” You listened closely – but even after a few moments were was no answer.
Tears were streaming down your face, while you hopelessly tried to move the rocks. You rubbed with a hand over your eyes when you noticed something shiny on the ground between a few smaller rocks. You grabbed it and when you saw what it was, a fresh wave of tears started to well up in your eyes. It was Owens firefly pendant. You pressed the chain to your heart, and after a few moments put it into the pocket of your trouser. What were you supposed to do now? Behind the collapsed wall, everything was still silent.
Since you couldn't move forward, you decided to go search for another way into the lower part of the building. Maybe Owen was still alive, he was a skilled soldier after all. And if not, - well, you didn't want to think of this possibility. While you hurried up the stairs again and to the front of the building, you thought about your last conversation with Owen. It made you feel sick. You regretted that you didn't told him the truth. Maybe if you told him, he wouldn't have gone alone, maybe.... well, it certainly didn't do any good to dwell on it now.
Back upstairs, you looked around, trying to find anything useful. You spotted something that looked like a floor plan. Better than nothing. You jogged over to it and took a look at it. From what you saw, it looked like the building you were in and the building on the right had a shared basement.
You also noticed that were was another door to the basement in this building, but it was only accessible from the back. You decided to try the door on the back first and if that didn't work you would search in the other building. Looking out of the windows on the back, you realized it was going too far down to just jump. Hurrying out of the building and to the backside, you found the door rather fast.
You first stopped to listen to something, but besides the chirping of the birds, there was absolute silence. Reaching for the door handle, your heart started beating fast again. You pushed the handle down and tried to open the door, but it didn't open. Even giving it a few harder pushes didn't do anything, it was locked. Next, you tried to throw your whole body against the door, but it didn't do much, beside giving you a soar shoulder. “Fuck, oh fuck...” Gasping for air, you realized that you couldn't get to the basement here.
Anxiety was threatening to take over all your senses, but you swallowed it down and hurried to the other building and after a quick search you found the door to the basement. When you pushed down the handle, it was budging at least a bit. “At least it's only blocked and not locked...”, you thought to yourself while you threw your body against the door to create a gap large enough, that you could slip through.
The big metal crate that was behind the door made a sickening screeching noise when you pushed the door open and immediately you heard the screaming of several infected, all making their way to the source of the noise. Luckily, there were no spores to be seen. You ducked behind the metal crate, turned on your lamp and watched as a clicker and a few runners were running in your direction. You took your gun out of your holster and aimed for the clickers head. You needed two shots, but the clicker went down leaving you with the runners.
Startled from the noise, they were coming straight at you. You managed to dodge the first, killing it with a head shot. You barely managed to kill the rest of the runners, leaving you with barely any ammo, hoping that were wouldn't be much more of them.
In this part, the basement was cold and wet and on the floor was a thin layer of water, making every step you take echoing from the walls. You moved slowly, trying to make as few noise as possible, regularly pausing to listen for infected or other movement - but everything was silent. When you reached the end of the first building, all you found was a door, no Owen was to be seen or heard.
Reaching for the door, you could see how much your hand was shaking. Your anxiety was rising with every second you didn't find Owen. Hoping to finally find something, you opened the door, finding it unlocked.
The basement on the other side was drier, but it was dark, the shining of your lamp the only source of light. Carefully, you stepped into the darkness, screaming out loud when you suddenly stepped onto something. You looked down and saw that it was the arm of a dead infected.
Suddenly, you heard a quit voice behind you. “Y/N?!” You whirled around and there, sitting on the floor next to the door, was Owen. You hurried over, falling to your knees next to him, trying to shine your lamp over his body and feeling around for wounds. Your movement was frantic needing to feel his warm (alive) body under your hands.
It was only stopped when hands grabbed your wrists. “Hey, calm down. I'm fine, I promise you. Look at me, please. Everything's ok... are you crying?” That was the first time you realized the tears streaming down your face again. Owen let go of you hands and pulled you into a tight embrace, while you mumbled repeatedly “I'm sorry.” “Don't cry, please. I'm ok. I'm not hurt, not badly at least. Everything's ok. You don't have to apologize”
One of his hands started to stroke your hair, while you sobbed against his chest, clinging to him and never wanting to let him go again. After a few minutes, you calmed down enough to find your voice again. “I'm so sorry Owen. For everything. Especially for ignoring you. I didn't want to, but I didn't know what else to do. I don't want to lose you.” The hand stroking your hair stopped, grabbing your cheek instead and making you look at him. His thumb stroked your cheek while he stared you in the eyes. “Talk to me, please. What I said earlier still stands. Where is nothing that bad that you can't tell me. I promise.”
You tried to find the right words, searching for something eloquent, but your brain and your mouth didn't want to work together at the moment and all you managed was to blurt out “I'm in love with you.” Owens breath hitched, his hand glided away from your cheek and for a few moments afterwards there was complete silence. You looked down in embarrassment, feeling your cheeks heating up. Then, he started chuckling. Your brows creased, wondering what that was about now. “And that's the reason why you have been ignoring me lately?” He sounded amused.
You still couldn't look him in the eyes. “Yes, that was it. I didn't want you to find out and then not wanting to spend time with me anymore.”, you mumbled. Suddenly, you felt his hand under your chin, lifting your head up and making you look at him again. “You can be really obvious sometime, Y/N.” “What?! Why?” On his face spread a broad grin. Because I was trying to flirt with you for the past year. I can see now that that was not very successful.”
You stared at him in disbelief, not trusting your ears to really have heard that he said just that. Owen laughed quietly. Then he was leaning forward, pressing his lips first to your cheek and then to your mouth. It took a moment, but once your shock dissolved you happily kissed him back. For a few moments, there was only him and his lips on yours, you forgetting the world completely.
“Ok, I think we should get out of here, Owen. Leah and Jordan should be back shortly.”, you told him after a few minutes of enjoying his presence near you. “You're right, I want to get out of this basement. But you need to help me. I think the rocks broke my leg.” “But you said you weren't hurt!” You're voice was getting comically high. “I didn't say that I wasn't hurt, I just said that I wasn't hurt badly.” “You're impossible.”, you told him fondly, trying not to laugh.
With you helping him, you both made it out of the basement and sat down on a rock near the spot you would get picked up again. Suddenly you remembered the firefly pendant in your pocket. “Here, you lost that on the stairs.” You held out your hand with the pendant. Owen looked at it for a moment and then back up at you.
“Keep it. So you remember me when we're not together.” You looked at him full of wonder. You knew how important his pendant and his past with the fireflies was for him. “Are you sure? I know it's important for you.” “Not as important as you. Keep it.” He took the pendant from you and put it around your neck. In this moment, you couldn't be any happier.
#the last of us part 2#tlou2#owen moore#owen moore x reader#this is probably shit#but i don't regret it#or do I?#let's find out#my stuff
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Dancing with the Stars Season 30 PREMIERE!!!
Hey everyone. Welcome back! We are here for the monumental 30th season of DWTS. Can you believe it? It's wild. Tyra is back as host and she was much better than she had ever been last season. Len and Derek are both at the judges' table with Bruno and Carrie Ann. And I actually liked what Tyra had on. I also thought everyone but one person did a good job. Okay, so now, let's move onto the recap/ranking thing.
As we know, when we have this many people, I tend to rank the couples instead of trying to format an entire recap. The same will be true for this season.
1. Kenya and Brandon- Okay so let me get this out of the way. I have been watching Kenya on RHOA for about a decade and I do not like her character on that show at all. I'm gonna try my best to separate her character on there from how she is on here (which I hear is how she is in real life). I just wanna get that out the way so I don't have to deal with any claims of bias. That being said, this dance really stuck with me more than any other dance from Monday night. I think watching just how natural she was, seeing how much musicality she has and Brandon's choreo really blew me away. I was not expecting her to be that good. Her lines were gorgeous and I felt her hold was actually mostly good. She is one of two women that I felt really gave enough to their performance without going overboard. I'm very excited for these two for the weeks to come.
2. Matt and Lindsay- Another shocker for me! I saw that viral clip of Matt dancing on The Bachelor last year and I got so much second hand embarrassment from it that I did not have any hopes for Matt and rhythm. But listen. Matt shocked me. Lindsay actually got something out of him. So much so that I maybe feel like he's actually got potential to be good. He's gotta loosen up his hips and get that footwork together, but I'm actually excited for these two as well. And I was not expecting that.
3. Amanda and Alan- I wasn't shocked to see what these two did on the dancefloor as Amanda is a dancer and Alan has worked with a big dance ringer before (Heather). So I knew that they were going to be good. And they delivered on that end for sure. I thought her attention to detail was great (almost too good cuz it caused her neck to get wonky). The thing that made me really fall for them is that they are really fun together. Amanda also dances through the floor and not on top of it. So I'm happy that we will have one major ringer that really brings it this season.
4. Mike "The Miz" and Witney- These top 4 are here because they all surprised me the most of everyone and they were the most enjoyable. I think Mike (or The Miz, not sure how I'm gonna refer to him just yet) was shockingly good. Like good to the point that he could be a legit contender if he just works a little more on his technique and reigning in the energy. He's very charismatic. He's got the right attitude. And Witney seems to be working well with him. Actually, I'm seeing little bits of her partnership with Chris Mazdzer coming through. I'm liking what I'm seeing from these two and I hope they improve like I think they will.
5. Jojo and Jenna- So I really liked Jojo a lot more than I thought I would. I thought I would roll my eyes every few seconds, but I wasn't. And she made me actually enjoy Jenna as well? Hell is freezing over right now lol. Anyway, I thought this was a great dance. I don't think it was the best of the night score wise, but it was up there. Once Jojo reigns in all that energy, she's going to be great. That was her biggest issue for me.
6. Suni and Sasha- I really wish I could've put these two higher. But I just couldn't justify it. Suni might be the best technician on the cast this season (like most gymnasts have been). Everything move was excellence. Her transitions between each move was also really nice as well. I don't notice that too often but I noticed it with her and I really appreciated that. My issue is that she's not really performing right now. She's in her head and I just want Sasha to figure that piece out sooner rather than later. I want her to stick around and that's gonna be her Achilles heel.
7. TIE Jimmie/Emma and Christine/Pasha- I feel bad for everyone that got a tango on Monday. It's a terrible week 1 dance. I also hate that these two both got pop songs from 2007 to dance to. Pop songs that should not be anywhere near a tango. It just made for two really weird routines. That being said, both were able to show some strengths that will bode well for them in the coming weeks. Jimmie has a really solid frame and good posture. Christine has a very flexible back. I'm a little more worried for Christine than I am for Jimmie as far as fan support is concerned, but I think she'll be good this week.
9. Mel C and Gleb- I hate having to put Mel all the way down at 9th place. I love her and while I think she had some of the best technique of the night, I wanted more from her and I felt like she had more to offer. I can only blame Gleb's choreo for that. While it was fine, it just didn't make a statement to me. It fell flat. He's gotta step it up because Mel has what it takes to make it to the end. And I actually would want to see her there. But in this season, where everyone is at least good (well everyone will be after our first elimination), you have to stand out with the choreography.
10. Iman and Daniella- First of all I want to say that this dance was underscored. Iman needs to work on his feet for sure. That being said, he's got great control of his limbs, he's got great musicality and he can just legit dance. I think this could've been 1 or 2 points higher. I hope he can be a basketball player that makes it far. Also, I want to say that the tall and long men this season have great control of their limbs and are not afraid to move true to their size. That's really nice to see.
11. Cody and Cheryl- I definitely expected these two to perform a lot better than they did on Monday. I'll chalk that up to first night nerves and having a difficult week 1 dance. When Cody let loose, you could tell that he is a really good dancer. Even some of the more technical things showed off his experience. I fully expect them to come back next week with guns blazing. The one pro whose knowledge of the show rivals Derek's, is Cheryl. I think she knows that they may not be in the safest spot right now and that that needs to change, stat.
12. Melora and Artem- I thought this dance was good, but forgettable amongst a sea of other good to great dances. There wasn't anything that Artem or Melora did wrong. It's just that type of season. Melora is definitely a performer. And she's got some of the basics down really nicely. She needs to find her balance though. She lost it quite a few times during that tango.
13. Brian and Sharna- Okay, this is low. But it is not indicative about how I feel about them as a (dance) couple or how I feel about his dancing. I thought he did a good job. I think they're great together. I just didn't care for this foxtrot. And that's okay. They are only going to go up from here and I can't imagine them leaving anytime soon.
14. Olivia and Val- Olivia was good as well. However, she is kinda stiff. I also didn't really like Val's choreo. I don't have much else to say here. She didn't really make too big of an impact imo. I also hated the outfit that production put her in. It was so unflattering and looked like they threw a pair of curtains on her body.
15. Martin and Britt- This was the one bad performance of the night. And it was bad. I had heard rumblings of him not rehearsing very much and that was so obvious in that paso. I think it was smart for Britt to throw that talking part in at the beginning to minimize any dancing he had to do. But yeah, it was bad. I hate that I have to say this because I love Britt, but these two should go next week. I just can't take anymore weeks of this dancing when everyone else is leaps and bounds better already.
So that's it. Sorry I'm so late. I was going to get this up yesterday but I had a terrible day and said "fuck it" to work, school and this blog. Let me know what you all thought about the show and I will talk to you all soon!
#dancing with the stars#DWTS#kenya moore#matt james#amanda kloots#the miz#jojo siwa#suni lee#jimmie allen#christine chiu#mel c#iman shumpert#cody rigsby#melora hardin#brian austin green#olivia jade#martin kove#britt stewart#val chmerkovskiy#sharna burgess#artem chigvintsev#cheryl burke#daniella karagach#gleb savchenko#pasha pashkov#emma slater#sasha farber#jenna johnson#witney carson#alan bersten
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Written In The Stars CIX (Harry Potter xF!Oc)
Words: 4,144
Series’ Masterlist
Previous Chapter // Next Chapter
Listen to: ‘Better Me, Better You’ -Clara Mae & Jake Miller
Chapter Seven: Dolores Umbridge.
"First years line up over here, please! All first-years to me!" Professor Grubbly-Plank shouted over the noise.
"Where's Hagrid?" Harry asked anxiously.
"I don't know, but we'd better get out of the way, we're blocking the door," Ginny urged them.
"Oh yeah..."
"D'you think something happened while he was out?" Mel asked as they moved forward.
Harry shrugged. Both of them momentarily forgot about what was going on between them as they continued to talk quietly about Hagrid and where he could possibly be. When they reached the carriage, Harry stopped and stared at it strangely.
"Where's Pig?" Ron arrived quickly after them.
"That Luna girl was carrying him," Harry replied, turning to look at him. "Where d'you reckon —"
"— Hagrid is? I dunno– He'd better be okay..."
"Malfoy was being absolutely foul to a first-year back there!" Hermione appeared looking angry. "I swear I'm going to report him, he's only had his badge three minutes and he's using it to bully people worse than ever... Where's Crookshanks?"
"Ginny's got him," said Harry. "There she is..."
"Thanks! Come on, let's get a carriage together before they all fill up..."
"I haven't got Pig yet!" Ron said, Mel and Harry decided to wait with him.
"What are those things, d'you reckon?" Harry asked them.
"What things?"
"Those horse —"
"Here you are," Luna handed back Pig. "He's a sweet little owl, isn't he?"
"Er... yeah... He's all right," said Ron reluctantly. "Well, come on then, let's get in... what were you saying, Harry?"
"I was saying, what are those horse things?"
"What horse things?"
"The horse things pulling the carriages!" said Harry.
Mel stared at the front part of the carriage, looking at... nothing.
"What are you talking about?"
"I'm talking about — look!"
Harry grabbed Ron's arm and wheeled him about so that he was face-to-face with the winged horse. Ron stared straight at it for a second, then looked back at Harry.
"What am I supposed to be looking at?"
"At the — there, between the shafts! Harnessed to the coach! It's right there in front — Can't... can't you see them?"
"See what?"
"Can't you see what's pulling the carriages?" He said worryingly.
"Are you feeling all right, Harry?"
"I... yeah..."
"You don't look like you're okay," Mel frowned.
Harry just shook his head, looking more confused than ever.
"Shall we get in, then?" said Ron reluctantly.
"Yeah, yeah, go on..."
"It's all right," said Luna. "You're not going mad or anything. I can see them too."
"Can you?" Harry asked with concern.
"Oh yes. I've been able to see them ever since my first day here. They've always pulled the carriages. Don't worry. You're just as sane as I am."
"Lovely..." Mel murmured.
"Did everyone see that Grubbly-Plank woman?" asked Ginny once the carriage was moving. "What's she doing back here? Hagrid can't have left, can he?"
"I'll be quite glad if he has," said Luna. "He isn't a very good teacher, is he?"
"Yes, he is!" They all replied.
"Erm... yes... he's very good," Hermione said quietly.
"Well, we think he's a bit of a joke in Ravenclaw," said Luna.
"You've got a rubbish sense of humour then," Ron growled.
Mel felt anxious about being back. Most of the students were staring at her like she could burst into flames at any moment. She heaved a sigh, the girl was used to saying it every year but now she really had to get a grip. She wasn't going to give anyone the satisfaction to call her crazy, fickle, or whatever it was they deemed her to be. Ginny and Luna left to join their friends, when they sat down, Harry said grimly:
"He's not there."
"He can't have left," said Ron.
"Of course he hasn't," said Harry.
"You don't think he's... hurt, or anything, do you?" said Hermione.
"No."
"But where is he, then?"
"Maybe he's not back yet. You know — from his mission — the thing he was doing over the summer for Dumbledore."
"Yeah... yeah, that'll be it," said Ron.
"Who's that?" Hermione questioned.
"It's that Umbridge woman!"
"Who?"
"She was at my hearing, she works for Fudge!"
"Nice cardigan," Ron sniggered.
"She works for Fudge? What on earth's she doing here, then?"
"Dunno..."
"What d'you think she's doing?" Mel made a face. "Keeping an eye on my uncle, of course."
"No," Hermione gasped, "no, surely not..."
Professor McGonagall entered followed by a bunch of first-years. She remembered her first night there, and for some reason, that made her want to cry. She pushed it all deep inside just in time to listen to the hat's song:
In times of old when I was new And Hogwarts barely started...
The Hat continued on, until the last lines:
And we must unite inside her Or we'll crumble from within. I have told you, I have warned you... Let the Sorting now begin.
"I wonder if it's ever given warnings before?" said Hermione.
"Yes, indeed," said Nearly Headless Nick. "The hat feels itself honour-bound to give the school due warning whenever it feels —"
Nearly Headless Nick interrupted himself when McGonagall stepped forward.
"To our newcomers," said Dumbledore, "welcome! To our old hands — welcome back! There is a time for speech-making, but this is not it. Tuck in!"
"Excellent," said Ron with relief.
"What were you saying before the Sorting?" Hermione asked Nick. "About the hat giving warnings?"
"Oh, yes. Yes, I have heard the hat give several warnings before, always at times when it detects periods of great danger for the school. And always, of course, its advice is the same: Stand together, be strong from within."
"Ow kunnit nofe skusin danger ifzat?" said Ron.
"I beg your pardon?" said Nearly Headless Nick.
"How can it know if the school's in danger if it's a hat?"
"I have no idea. Of course, it lives in Dumbledore's office, so I daresay it picks things up there."
"And it wants all the Houses to be friends?" said Harry. "Fat chance."
Mel scowled at him.
"If you ask me, judging people because of their house is stupid. The hat's right, it does nothing but divide us. What if we have different beliefs half-way through? Are we supposed to just ignore that and never change?"
"Sorry, but it was you who said you'd refuse to be in the same house as Malfoy," Harry replied in annoyance.
"I was a kid when I said that," She retorted in the same tone. "It's exactly that childish mindset what Erick and I have to–"
"Ah, Flint," Harry rolled his eyes. "Forgot we're not allowed to breathe too hard around him..."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Well, now, you shouldn't take that attitude," said Nick, trying to break their argument. "Peaceful cooperation, that's the key. We ghosts, though we belong to separate Houses, maintain links of friendship. In spite of the competitiveness between Gryffindor and Slytherin, I would never dream of seeking an argument with the Bloody Baron."
"Only because you're terrified of him," said Ron.
"Terrified? I hope I, Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington, have never been guilty of cowardice in my life! The noble blood that runs in my veins —"
"What blood? Surely you haven't still got — ?"
"It's a figure of speech! I assume I am still allowed to enjoy the use of whichever words I like, even if the pleasures of eating and drinking are denied me! But I am quite used to students poking fun at my death, I assure you!"
"Nick, he wasn't really laughing at you!" said Hermione.
"Node iddum eentup sechew," Ron replied, his mouth full of food.
"Well done, Ron," Hermione scolded when Nick left in outrage.
"What? I'm not allowed to ask a simple question?"
"Oh forget it," said the girl.
"Hem, hem."
The small voice made several heads turn, Dumbledore cut his speech and looked to his right.
"Thank you, Headmaster," said Professor Umbridge in what had to be the most unsettling voice she'd ever heard, "for those kind words of welcome. Well, it is lovely to be back at Hogwarts, I must say! And to see such happy little faces looking back at me! I am very much looking forward to getting to know you all, and I'm sure we'll be very good friends!
"I'll be her friend as long as I don't have to borrow that cardigan," Parvati whispered.
"The Ministry of Magic has always considered the education of young witches and wizards to be of vital importance," She let out all of that at once. "The rare gifts with which you were born may come to nothing if not nurtured and honed by careful instruction..."
Mel knew right away where this was going. 'Careful instruction' meant putting a stop to whatever Dumbledore was doing according to Fudge's ideas. She hadn't thought about it before, but she wondered if she was about to have her private lessons cancelled.
Umbridge sat down once she finished. Dumbledore clapped, Mel was amazed at the patience he showed after such a clear speech of censorship.
"Thank you very much, Professor Umbridge, that was most illuminating."
"Yes, it certainly was illuminating," said Hermione sharing a grim look with Mel.
"You're not telling me you enjoyed it? That was about the dullest speech I've ever heard, and I grew up with Percy."
"I said illuminating, not enjoyable– It explained a lot."
"Did it?" said Harry in surprise. "Sounded like a load of waffle to me."
"Well, it certainly was a load of something..." Mel grumbled.
"There was some important stuff hidden in the waffle," said Hermione.
"Was there?" said Ron blankly.
"How about 'progress for progress's sake must be discouraged'? How about 'pruning wherever we find practices that ought to be prohibited'?"
"Well, what does that mean?"
"I'll tell you what it means. It means the Ministry's interfering at Hogwarts."
"We're no longer running on free will," Mel added, glaring at the short woman.
"Ron, we're supposed to show the first years where to go!" Hermione gave a start.
"Oh yeah. Hey — hey you lot! Midgets!"
"Ron!" Hermione exclaimed over Mel's laughter.
"Well, they are, they're titchy..."
"I know, but you can't call them midgets... First years! This way, please!"
"It suits her, doesn't it?" Mel smirked. "Finally found where to use her bossy nature."
Harry chuckled, and she realized that once again they had been left alone. It was a dreadful walk, not so much because of him, but because people were once again staring. At some point, Harry grew tired of it.
"Fancy taking a short cut?"
"Merlin, yes."
It took them longer to get to their tower, but Harry finally found an opportunity to talk to her.
"I was stupid to think things would go back to normal," He said darkly. "I know how it must've looked– Emerged from the Triwizard maze clutching the body... claiming Voldemort was back... then refused to speak about it, gave the whole school enough time to tell their own versions."
"There's no point on sulking about it," Mel replied. "You know how they are– Wouldn't have mattered... they think you're desperate for attention and I'm a nutter, so what? I have more important things to– Shit! We forgot to ask Hermione what the password was!"
They were staring at the Fat Lady, who didn't react kindly to Mel's swearing.
"No password, no entrance."
"Guys, I know it!" Neville ran up to them happily. "Guess what it is? I'm actually going to be able to remember it for once — Mimbulus mimbletonia!"
Once in the common room Mel spotted the twins pinning something up on the notice board, she marched up to them, not hearing the timid 'G'night' Harry mumbled to her.
"What's the matter? You look absolutely — oh for heaven's sake..."
Mel looked at the sign that Hermione had just noticed on the board.
GALLONS OF GALLEONS!
Pocket money failing to keep pace with your outgoings? Like to earn a little extra gold?
Contact Fred and George Weasley, Gryffindor common room, for simple, part-time, virtually painless jobs
(WE REGRET THAT ALL WORK IS UNDERTAKEN AT APPLICANT'S OWN RISK)
"Did you know about this?" Hermione asked her.
"Oh, yeah," Mel shrugged. "They told me their plans for this year..."
The girl decided not to mention she was also going to help them.
"They are the limit," said Hermione grimly, taking down the sign. "We'll have to talk to them, Ron."
"Why?"
"Because we're prefects! It's up to us to stop this kind of thing!" She huffed as they left the tower. "Anyway, what's up, Harry? You look really angry about something."
"Seamus reckons Harry's lying about You-Know-Who," said Ron.
"Oh, does he know?" Mel gave Hermione a knowing look.
"Lavender thinks so too," Hermione lamented.
"Been having a nice little chat with her about whether or not I'm a lying, attention-seeking prat, have you?" Harry muttered.
"No. I told her to keep her big fat mouth shut about you, actually. And it would be quite nice if you stopped jumping down on our throats, Harry, because if you haven't noticed, we're on your side."
"...sorry," He mumbled embarrassingly.
"That's quite all right," Hermione continued in a steady voice. "Don't you remember what Dumbledore said at the end-of-term feast last year? About You-Know-Who. He said, 'His gift for spreading discord and enmity is very great. We can fight it only by showing an equally strong bond of friendship and trust —' "
"How do you remember stuff like that?" asked Ron.
"I listen, Ron," said Hermione.
"So do I, but I still couldn't tell you exactly what —"
"The point is that this sort of thing is exactly what Dumbledore was talking about. You-Know-Who's only been back two months, and we've started fighting among ourselves. And the Sorting Hat's warning was the same — stand together, be united —"
"And Harry said it last night, if that means we're supposed to get matey with the Slytherins, fat chance."
"Well, I think it's a pity we're not trying for a bit of inter-House unity," said Hermione crossly. "As Mel said, not everyone is so terrible, just look at Erick!"
"You two can adore that conceited twat all you want– He has both of you wrapped around his finger!"
"If I were you, I'd shut my mouth before I seal it shut," Mel scowled. "You know I don't care about the bloody badge."
Just as if to prove the boys' point, a bunch of Ravenclaws caught sight of her and Harry and hurried away.
"Yeah, we really ought to be trying to make friends with people like that," said Harry sarcastically.
"Hush!" Mel snapped. "I'll prove you two wrong..."
"Listen, I don't care if you insist on living in little fairyland–"
"This has nothing to do with fairytales, you idiot!" She hissed at Harry as they entered the Great Hall.
"Well then, what's your plan? Going to hire little dwarfs to sing us songs about friendship like Lockhart did?"
"You'll have to eat your words by the end of the year– It'll be as if the articles mentioning me never existed, everyone will want to be my friend, you'll see... I know how to win people over now."
"Because you're so patient and polite?" He said with heavy sarcasm in his voice.
Mel was so angry she had to bite her tongue so she wouldn't yell at him in front of everyone. She refused to talk to him for the rest of the morning.
"Dumbledore didn't even mention how long that Grubbly-Plank woman's staying," Harry commented as they sat down to have breakfast.
"Maybe..." said Hermione.
"What?"
"Well... maybe he didn't want to draw attention to Hagrid not being here."
"What d'you mean, draw attention to it? How could we not notice?"
"Harry!"
"Oh– Hi, Angelina."
"Hi, good summer? Listen, I've been made Gryffindor Quidditch Captain."
"Nice one," Harry smiled.
"Yeah, well, we need a new Keeper now Oliver's left. Tryouts are on Friday at five o'clock and I want the whole team there, all right? Then we can see how the new person'll fit in."
"Okay," He said.
"I'd forgotten Wood had left," said Hermione. "I suppose that will make quite a difference to the team?"
"I s'pose. He was a good Keeper..."
"Still, it won't hurt to have some new blood, will it?" said Ron.
Mel caught him staring eagerly at Harry and she knew at once he was planning to try out. She definitely wanted to see how that would play out.
"Look at today!" groaned Ron as McGonagall handed them their schedules. "History of Magic, double Potions, Divination, and double Defense Against the Dark Arts... Binns, Snape, Trelawney, and that Umbridge woman all in one day! I wish Fred and George'd hurry up and get those Skiving Snack boxes sorted..."
"Do mine ears deceive me?" said Fred, arriving with George and sitting next to Harry. "Hogwarts prefects surely don't wish to skive off lessons?"
"Look what we've got today! That's the worst Monday I've ever seen."
"Fair point, little bro," said Fred. "You can have a bit of Nosebleed Nougat cheap if you like."
"Why's it cheap?"
"Because you'll keep bleeding till you shrivel up, we haven't got an antidote yet," said George.
"Cheers," Ron pouted, "but I think I'll take the lessons."
"And speaking of your Skiving Snack boxes," said Hermione, "you can't advertise for testers on the Gryffindor notice board."
"Says who?"
"Says me, and Ron."
"Leave me out of it."
"You'll be singing a different tune soon enough, Hermione," said Fred. "You're starting your fifth year, you'll be begging us for a Snackbox before long."
"And why would starting fifth year mean I want a Skiving Snackbox?"
"Fifth year's O.W.L. year," said George.
"So?"
"So you've got your exams coming up, haven't you? They'll be keeping your noses so hard to that grindstone they'll be rubbed raw."
"Half our year had minor breakdowns coming up to O.W.L.s," said George. "Tears and tantrums... Patricia Stimpson kept coming over faint..."
"Kenneth Towler came out in boils, d'you remember?"
"That's 'cause you put Bulbadox Powder in his pyjamas."
"Oh yeah– I'd forgotten... Hard to keep track sometimes, isn't it?"
"Anyway, it's a nightmare of a year, the fifth," said George. "If you care about exam results anyway. Fred and I managed to keep our spirits up somehow– and the Lady here helped us a great deal, even if we insisted we didn't need it."
"Yeah... you got, what was it, three O.W.L.s each?" said Ron.
"Yep," said Fred. "But we feel our futures lie outside the world of academic achievement."
"We seriously debated whether we were going to bother coming back for our seventh year, now that we've got —" Mel noticed how Harry's eyes widened and George stumbled over his words. "— now that we've got our O.W.L.s. I mean, do we really need N.E.W.T.s? But we didn't think Mum could take us leaving school early, not on top of Percy turning out to be the world's biggest prat."
"We're not going to waste our last year here, though," said Fred. "We're going to use it to do a bit of market research, find out exactly what the average Hogwarts student requires from his joke shop, carefully evaluate the results of our research, and then produce the products to fit the demand."
"I can't believe this is your last year," Mel pouted. "I can't imagine the school without you two..."
"Cheers Lady, you'll have us for a whole year before that happens!" George smiled.
"But where are you going to get the gold to start a joke shop? You're going to need all the ingredients and materials — and premises too, I suppose..." Hermione questioned.
Harry dropped his fork and dived down the table.
"Ask us no questions and we'll tell you no lies, Hermione. Mel gets it, she agreed to help us no questions asked."
Mel choked on her meal and grimaced, waiting for the blast.
"You're helping them?!" Hermione gasped.
"C'mon, George," Fred got up abruptly. "If we get there early we might be able to sell a few Extendable Ears before Herbology."
"I'm going to kill them..." Mel grumbled.
"Why would you do something like that, Mel? You know it's not allowed–"
"Well, 'Mione, because I broke my back for four years only to be merely considered for the prefect position! I think I deserve a break," She tried to sound as grumpy and serious as possible so Hermione would feel bad for her. It worked.
"What did that mean, though?" Hermione quickly diverted the subject. "'Ask us no questions...' Does that mean they've already got some gold to start a joke shop?"
"You know, I've been wondering about that," said Ron. "They bought me a new set of dress robes this summer, and I couldn't understand where they got the Galleons..."
Mel and Harry shared a look but she was still mad at him, so she did nothing.
"D'you reckon it's true this year's going to be really tough? Because of the exams?" Harry asked, trying and succeeding as well as her in distracting the others.
"Oh yeah– Bound to be, isn't it? O.W.L.s are really important, affect the jobs you can apply for and everything. We get career advice too, later this year, Bill told me. So you can choose what N.E.W.T.s you want to do next year."
"D'you know what you want to do after Hogwarts?"
"Not really," said Ron. "Except... well..."
"What?"
"Well, it'd be cool to be an Auror," said Ron.
"Yeah, it would," said Harry.
"But they're, like, the elite. You've got to be really good. What about you, Hermione?"
"I don't know," said Hermione. "I think I'd really like to do something worthwhile."
"An Auror's worthwhile!"
"Yes, it is, but it's not the only worthwhile thing," said Hermione thoughtfully. "I mean, if I could take S.P.E.W. further..."
"An Auror's not the elite, though," Mel had been talking about her future with Sirius and Emily during the summer, so she had everything planned. "You know who's the real deal? The Unspeakables. Those are really something..."
"I thought you wanted to be an Auror too..." Hermione commented.
"Thought you wanted to be a Magizoologist?" Ron raised a brow.
"She wanted to be all that," Harry said under his breath.
"I can be all of it," Mel brushed it off. "But Aurors are only good if they have the right intentions, like Tonks, Moody, or Kingsley. However, it would also mean working for the Minister, and that man–"
"The Unspeakables work for him too."
"Not really," She smiled. "All I know is that whatever I end up doing, it won't be under any stupid man's orders."
"Suit yourself," Ron shrugged. "That'll be hard to get, though."
"We'll see."
"Hello, Harry!"
It was Cho Chang and what was more, she was on her own again. This was most unusual: Cho was almost always surrounded by a gang of giggling girls; Harry remembered the agony of trying to get her by herself to ask her to the Yule Ball.
"Hi," said Harry.
Mel had to drown a very loud groan when she appeared.
"You got that stuff off, then?"
"Yeah– So did you... er... have a good summer?"
"Oh, it was all right, you know..."
"Is that a Tornados badge?" Ron asked abruptly. "You don't support them, do you?"
"Yeah, I do," said Cho.
"Have you always supported them, or just since they started winning the league?" Ron insisted.
"I've supported them since I was six. Anyway... see you, Harry."
"You are so tactless!" Hermione exclaimed as Cho disappeared around the corner.
"Dunno 'Mione, Ron has his moments..." Mel said in amusement.
"I only asked her if —"
"Couldn't you tell she wanted to talk to Harry on her own?"
"So? She could've done, I wasn't stopping —"
"What on earth were you attacking her about her Quidditch team for?"
"Attacking? I wasn't attacking her, I was only —"
"Who cares if she supports the Tornados?"
"Oh, come on, half the people you see wearing those badges only bought them last season —"
"But what does it matter?"
"It means they're not real fans, they're just jumping on the bandwagon —"
"That's the bell," said Harry grumpily.
Mel got up quickly, accidentally hitting his shoulder. She didn't stop to say sorry.
It wasn't that she disliked Cho. She didn't, especially not after remembering she probably still thought Harry and her were a thing. However, the way Harry would react around her compared to the sulky comments he'd send her way, or the way he would dismiss her ideas, that was definitely a good reason to be mad. After all those years of friendship, he was going to favour another girl!
Well, two could play the same game.
Next Chapter —>
Taglist.
@dee123ksha @vampiregirl1797 @siriuslysirius1107 @stardusthigh @mikariell95 @vernon-dursley @thesuitelifeofafangirl @tomshollandz @kylosleftbuttcheek @reverse-hxlland @bloodorangemoonlight @omiwashere @t-rexs-world
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5 underrated Richard Donner movies you need to see
https://ift.tt/eA8V8J
Richard Donner will forever be remembered as the filmmaker who created the blueprint for the modern superhero blockbuster with 1978’s Superman starring Christopher Reeve.
Yet that doesn’t tell even half the story of the Bronx-born filmmaker’s brilliant filmography.
Donner was in his late 40s by the time Superman came along, having made a name for himself in Hollywood two years earlier, with 1976’s suitably terrifying The Omen.
Prior to that, he was a budding director making the transition from the small screen to the world of cinema. Donner worked on everything from Gilligan’s Island to The Twilight Zone. Even then, it was clear he was destined for bigger things though, as anyone who saw “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet”, the iconic episode of The Twilight Zone he directed, starring William Shatner, can attest.
While a disagreement with producers ultimately saw him walk away from Superman II, the 1980s saw Donner establish himself as an incredibly versatile big budget director capable of handling everything from the epic family adventure fun of The Goonies to the balancing act of action and comedy found within the buddy cop antics of Lethal Weapon.
It was a skillset that drew admiration from the very best in the movie industry, including Steven Spielberg who was among the first to pay tribute to Donner after learning he had passed away, aged 91.
“Dick had such a powerful command of his movies, and was so gifted across so many genres,” Spielberg, who worked with Donner on The Goonies, said.
“Being in his circle was akin to hanging out with your favourite coach, smartest professor, fiercest motivator, most endearing friend, staunchest ally, and – of course – the greatest Goonie of all.”
Donner may not have had the same impact in the 1990s and early 2000s but he still enjoyed major success with the Lethal Weapon franchise and as a producer with movies like Free Willy and X-Men.
More importantly, the other films he made during that period and in the years between some of his biggest hits remain well worth revisiting or seeking out for the first time – starting with these five.
Ladyhawke
Coming hot on the heels of The Goonies and two years prior to Lethal Weapon, Ladyhawke represented another major departure for Donner. A dark medieval fantasy, it centred on Rutger Hauer’s mysterious Captain Etienne Navarre and his female companion Lady Isabeau (Michelle Pfeiffer), a pair of star-crossed lovers on the run from a vengeful bishop who has placed a demonic curse on their heads. While Navarre transforms into a wolf by night, Isabeau exists as a Hawk by day. Teaming up with petty thief Philippe Gaston (Matthew Broderick) they embark on a quest to overthrow the evil bishop and break the spell.
Something of a passion project, Donner had attempted to get Ladyhawke off the ground several times before finally getting the green light from Warner Bros and 20th Century Fox in the mid ’80s. The film then suffered another setback when Kurt Russell, originally cast as Navarre, dropped out during rehearsals.
That ultimately proved a blessing in disguise with Hauer going on to deliver arguably his best performance since Blade Runner. Not everything about Ladyhawke works – Broderick’s character feels a little too close to Ferris Bueller while the runtime could be trimmed down – but it remains a beautifully realised fantasy epic, full of memorable action set pieces, stunning cinematography and a spellbinding turn from Pfeiffer.
A box office bomb upon release, Ladyhawke has stood the test of time too, garnering a cult following as an authentic and fresh take on the sword and sorcery formula.
Maverick
Maverick is the film Will Smith must have hoped Wild Wild West would be; a funny, clever action comedy based on a classic TV show. Coming in an era when most westerns were deadly serious, Donner’s film also felt like a breath of fresh air and benefited hugely from a masterful William Goldman script that was both witty and unpredictable.
The latest in a series of films featuring Donner’s muse-of-sorts, Mel Gibson, this time out Mel plays Bret Maverick, a brilliant card player and equally impressive con artist trying to collect enough money to earn a seat at a high-stakes poker game. Along the way he is forced to contend with a fellow scammer in the form of Jodie Foster’s Annabelle Bransford as well as lawman Marshal Zane Cooper, played by James Garner, who starred in the original TV series.
While the glut of cameos from country music stars and the likes of Danny Glover can be a little distracting, there’s something wonderfully charming about Maverick with Gibson, Foster and Garner all on top form and boasting an undeniable chemistry that helps keep things entertaining.
The climactic poker game which sees Maverick face off against Alfred Molina’s psychopathic Angel is also expertly handled by Donner, who cranks up the tension as Maverick reveals his final, decisive, hand with a slow-motion toss of the final card towards the camera. A critical and financial success, Maverick has been largely lost in the shuffle since its release but should be sought out.
Conspiracy Theory
There’s something strangely prescient about Conspiracy Theory given the current predilection for such thinking on the internet at large. One of Donner’s most inventive and intelligent outings alongside Gibson, this time out Mel plays Jerry Fletcher, a New York City cab driver with a penchant for paranoid conspiracy theories.
Jerry’s life takes a turn for the strange when he finds himself being targeted by a set of shady government goons led by Patrick Stewart’s Dr Jonas. He quickly realises one of the conspiracies he has been promoting in his weekly newsletter (this was the ‘90s) is based more in reality than he thought. The question is: which one?
An engrossing thriller featuring Donner’s trademark dashes of witty humour, Conspiracy Theory is bolstered significantly by the presence of the ever-reliable Julia Roberts as a government lawyer with a soft spot for Jerry. Despite a lengthy run time, Donner also keeps the action moving along at an engaging pace while Gibson’s performance is just the right side of manic to keep you rooting for him.
A first foray into the kind of deep state conspiracy thrillers that were commonplace in Hollywood at the time, the film also boasts some genuinely striking moments, not least the sequence where Jerry undergoes “psychotic testing” at the hands of Dr Jonas, which wouldn’t have looked out of place in A Clockwork Orange.
Though it was a hit with audiences, Conspiracy Theory earned mixed reviews but appears increasingly worthy of reappraisal.
Timeline
Some movies are big, dumb but lots of fun. Timeline sits firmly in that category despite what many naysayers would have you believe. It’s a brash, simplistic sci-fi flick to rival the likes of The Core and Geostorm and thoroughly entertaining to boot.
The fact that it features Gerard Butler, as well as the late, great, Paul Walker only adds to that sentiment.
Walker plays Chris Johnston who, along with Butler’s Andre Marek and a team of fellow archaeologists travel back in time through a wormhole to 14th century France to rescue their professor, Dr Edward Johnston (Billy Connolly), who just happens to be Walker’s character’s dad too.
Based on a book by Michael Crichton, Donner had been in the running to direct Jurassic Park a decade earlier and jumped at the chance to adapt Timeline for the big screen. While filming went off without a hitch, Donner repeatedly clashed with Paramount Pictures in post-production and was forced to re-cut the film three times in a development that saw the release date pushed by nearly a year. The resulting edit did not sit well with Crichton either, who disliked it so intensely he stopped licensing his work for a few years after.
Whether Donner’s original cut would have earned better reviews or Crichton’s approval remains to be seen but what remains of Timeline is still a well shot, enjoyable sci-fi yarn with some neat medieval action flourishes.
16 Blocks
Donner’s final film also ranks among his most unappreciated. On the surface, 16 Blocks sounds like the perfect fodder for a game of buddy cop movie bingo.
It stars Bruce Willis as Jack Mosley, a worn-out NYPD Detective with a drinking problem tasked with transporting Mos Def’s trial witness Eddie Bunker to court. Problems arise when some of Jack’s fellow officers arrive to kill Eddie and prevent him from testifying. Eager for redemption, Jack decides to take the would-be assassins on and get Eddie to court on time.
A formulaic enough premise, 16 Blocks is emboldened by the fact it plays out in real-time with Eddie required at the courthouse by no later than 10am. In this sense, Donner found himself in new territory with an action thriller that thrives on a unique sense of urgency.
While the filmmaker is no stranger to the action formula, this setup sees him imbue events with a renewed sense of chaos, as Jack and Eddie fight their way through armed adversaries, busy crowds and bustling traffic, all against a cacophony of shouts, car horns and gun blasts.
Ostensibly a chase movie on foot rather than four wheels, the action traverses 16 blocks in 118 minutes and rarely lets up for a second with Donner proving a dab hand at balancing the action with the engaging back-and-forth between Willis and Def who are both understated yet effective throughout.
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Throw in the ever-watchable David Morse as the leader of the shady cops baying for Eddie’s blood and you have arguably one of the most underrated action thrillers of the early 2000s
The post 5 underrated Richard Donner movies you need to see appeared first on Den of Geek.
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A Bad Landing Destroys the Entire Trip
by Don Hall
You're on a plane flying across the country. The security check-in was a breeze. You were in the mid-section but as you board the attendant moves you up to the third row. The in-flight movie is one you've been dying to see and the flight is almost completely devoid of turbulence. It's a wonderful flight.
As you descend to land, however, the turbulence gets kind of insane. At one point, the oxygen masks pop out and upon hitting the ground, the front tire of the landing gear snaps off and you screech to a long, terrifying halt in the middle of the runway.
The flight is remembered as one of the worst, most traumatic experiences of your life.
I was severely late to the Game of Thrones party. Everyone in the free world (which is actually how Twitter feels until you realize how small a percentage of sentient humans use the app) was into it. Podcasts about it. Constant raving about it. I finally caved in and decided to binge the whole thing once the ending was in sight.
I loved it. Until the landing. The last five or so episodes were so rushed, so poorly thought out, and so sloppily put together (a Starbucks cup on the set of one of the most expensive and immersive televisions shows in modern history?) that the result seems to be a wholesale rejection of everything enjoyed breathlessly for years.
The very instant Twitter discovered the tepid ending, the uprise was evident. A huge flare-up followed by...silence. These days, if I ask someone I know was a whole hog GoT fan about Westeros, I receive a shrug and the quick response of bringing up a bad break-up from a disappointing ex.
My mom and dad loved Longmire. Effectively a crime procedural set in rural Wyoming and centered on a sheriff who reminded me of nothing less than my dad if he were a sheriff in Cheyenne country. Mom and I frequently (as so many do) recommend television and film that we think the other will dig, so I bit and jumped into the first episode.
Dana didn't care for it; I thought it had some merit if for no other reasons than I love Katee Sackhoff and Lou Diamond Phillips and firmly believe neither get enough screen time. I've spent my pandemic watching long form, episodic shows so the "Crime/Investigate/Solve the Crime" in one hour format was a step backwards but I liked Walt Longmire and I especially enjoyed the themes around white people co-existing with Native Americans. I can't recall too many shows that explore Life on the Rez in too much detail so this was new and interesting.
I binged some with breaks for six seasons. The first three were produced by AMC, the show was canceled then picked up by Netflix for three more. All in all, I spent a truly enjoyable 60 hours with Walt, Vic, Henry, the Ferg, Jacob Nighthorse, and Hector.
It was apparent that the writers knew the series was ending with Season Six, so they started wrapping things up in fairly tidy fashion. It felt a bit rushed but I was willing to go along with a lot of it until the last three episodes and then it took a shit. Like the writers all got high and told the interns to finish it up.
Now, despite digging 57 hours of the show, the last three hours prevent me from recommending it to anyone.
You decide to take your wife for a high-end meal at one of the super-swank restaurants on the Las Vegas Strip. It's beautiful and sexy inside. You are seated at a table with a view of the Bellagio Fountain.
You order and each course is better than the last. The liquor is top-shelf. The food is fresh and expertly prepared, each bite melting inside you mouth like nutritious gold.
The dessert comes and, unknown to you, the chef has left a solid chunk of dog turd in the center of it. You bite down on dogshit and instantly vomit into your wife's lap.
The dinner is remembered as the worst in your life. Your wife declares that she will never eat out again and you subsist on nothing but Ramen and canned soup for the rest of your life.
It is a fundamental truth that no matter how solid the ride is, if you can't stick the fucking landing, the landing is the only thing anyone remembers (except your mom because she loves you and will lie to you to make you not want to eat a bullet).
Endings are almost more important than the rest of the journey.
We all loved Lost until we didn't. We all reveled in Dexter until it blew chunks. Stephen King managed to create one of the scariest creations in fiction with Pennywise then made him a giant spider who is defeated by people taunting him.
Granted, one man's shit ending may be another man's perfect ending. I've read that the conclusion of War of the Worlds (the aliens are done in by germs) is somewhat like the ending of Signs (water kills them so why hop over to a planet covered in fucking water) but for some reason I love the first and despise the second. Maybe it's Mel Gibson?
Lots of folks hated the ending of The Sopranos but I loved it.
Whatever the case, a bad landing blows the entire ride.
You have ten years of a great marriage. Lots of love, lots of sex, lots of vacations. Compromises and laughter. Fights and reconciliations.
But the last year, she has an affair with a mutual friend that she’s cast in a bunch of shows with you and it ends badly.
No matter how good the good years were, you're see that marriage as a failure.
The ending is essential to the journey.
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V Watches MagiReco - Episode 12 Review
*Spoilers for Magia Record Anime Episode 12*
I have been waiting for so long to see this chapter animated, and at long last!!! This week’s episode finally touches upon the secret truth of magical girls and reveals Yachiyo’s mysterious past!
There are, of course, some parts I wish were handled a little better, but overall, I wouldn’t say it was too shabby ^^ I have a lot to say about this episode, both the good and the meh, so let’s go~ (Tumblr, please don’t eat my post again I IMPORE YOU.)
(Oh, for clarification, I’m still using the name “Meru” instead of “Mel”, since that’s what her name was before the game was localised in English. Both are acceptable, but I guess I’m more used to this spelling xD)
I personally really liked how they began the episode with Kanae and Meru at Mikazuki Villa. The rain and dark lighting and overall silence of the scene was really well-done. It’s a nice way to “tease” their characters before properly introducing them and their roles in Yachiyo’s story. I really don’t have much else to say, but I just really, really liked that opening scene hehe
Speaking of openings, the anime continues to come up with creative ways to bring in the OP, and this week’s was another really interesting idea that I enjoyed a lot! I was just beginning to wonder if they were going to skip the OP this week because there was so much to cover, but I really liked what they came up with, so hats-off for the creativity and originality! ^^
Touka’s lecture really did seem even more lecture-like in the anime, with the lecture hall and screen and her pointer. She’s like a tiny, overly-enthusiastic professor trying to force a reluctant group of students to listen to her haha x) That being said, all the special effects were done very creatively in a way that is true to the PMMM style. It’s not only some impressive artwork, but it also prevents the lecture from becoming boring, since it’s literally just “info dumping” and a whole lot of exposition (most of it essentially being stuff that most of the audience already knows, too).
As for Touka herself, I’m really liking the anime’s portrayal of her. She’s extremely cute, but in a strange way that almost seems suspicious, and with just the right amount of “annoying-ness” that keeps her antagonistic role without making her so obnoxious that you can’t even bear to watch her. Each of her moves seems calculated in some way, and the way she leaps around and twirls her umbrella really does make her seem like a tiny fairy or pixie, and I love that contrast between her supposedly innocent image and the immoral deeds the Magius (and the Feathers) have been committing. A+ portrayal so far, and I hope they keep that up!
I was a bit confused at first when Touka addressed Kanae as “A” (since we know that in the game, “A” is Yachiyo, and Kanae is actually “C”), but I guess they weren’t planning on going ahead with the A-F naming of all 6 characters and this was just a one-off, so fair enough. However, I was a little annoyed that they showed the first secret in “lecture form” and then repeated it once more in “flashback form” once they got on the car thingy. I really felt that they could have skipped that first part and just focused on the flashbacks, because they’re essentially wasting time by telling one of the secrets twice in an episode that already has a lot to cover.
And this brings me to possibly my main issue with this episode: too fast. There was a lot of emotion in these flashbacks, and while the anime did bring them out decently, I just feel that they could have been even better if they had just managed the pacing a little more ideally. The tragedy and feels were definitely there, but it could have been even better. Another problem with this fast pacing is that we barely got to know Kanae and Meru before they met their respective downfalls, with the only clues to their individuality being Kanae’s guitar and Meru’s Tarot Cards. It tells us something, but it’s not enough. The result is that it becomes a lot harder for the audience to feel anything for these characters’ deaths, and Kanae and Meru ultimately become plot devices that serve to move Yachiyo and the others along on their journey. Granted, they were always kind of plot devices even in the game, but at least we got to know them a little better before their deaths, and this isn’t even counting their personal Magical Girl Stories.
But aside from these issues, the rest of the flashbacks were very well, in my opinion :) We as an audience may not have felt much for Kanae’s death because we barely knew her, but Yachiyo’s trembling hand as she tries in vain to purify her friend’s broken Soul Gem, the terrific voice acting, that tragic yet beautifully drawn shot of Kanae lying soulless (literally) on the ground... That was some impressive stuff that actually made me tear up.
The battle scenes also saw a huge improvement this week! Still could be better, but they’re a lot more action-packed and exciting than the quick and easy battles we’ve been seeing so far. I also really appreciate the show of teamwork between the old Team Mikazuki, not to mention that Meru’s use of magic looked absolutely amazing!!! But I would have liked it if she spoke a bit more before Witching out, and I was especially disappointed that she didn’t get to say that line about how today was her lucky day because she got to protect Yachiyo. That line says a lot about her as a character to me, and it was a shame that they only gave her an extremely shortened/simplified (and almost unfinished) version of it here. But I guess this is only because I’ve played the game and have expectations of what I want to see and what I think should be done. Maybe someone who hasn’t played the game at all wouldn’t have an issue with this minor detail haha :)
(By the way, I totally called it and guessed that they were going to release Meru’s Doppel Uncap with the debut of her Witch form in the anime mwahaha >:D Pretty good timing, though, and I like that attention to detail!)
Kyubey is a little sh*t in any and every timeline, and I did enjoy seeing Momoko yelling at him, even though obviously he gives no effs. Another nice nod to the original anime by having Kyubey using the same line about young girls and Witches, too (or maybe he’s had to defend himself so many times that he has the perfect justification memorised to use when needed? xD).
The scene with Mifuyu and Momoko was also a really nice way to show the difference in their personalities, through just the way they respond to and take in all the tragedy and shocking information. I loved the way they animated Mifuyu’s Witch/Doppel moment, and it’s always nice to see a Doppel shown in the anime! Another thing I liked was the way Touka seems to “control” the scene as she pleases, rewinding it like an actual video and pausing on particular frames. It was too easy to forget that these are scenes shown in the Memory Museum, and little details like this remind you that these aren’t just ordinary flashbacks shown in anime and movies.
Yachiyo was as cool ever in the very few (present) scenes she got. I especially loved her confrontation with Touka and how she literally just thrusts her weapon in her face haha. And the way she just ignores Touka talking and smashes open a path and just goes in there herself on foot? BADASS. I LOVE YACHIYO.
And finally, about Team Momoko... A bit funny how Momoko was the one gearing up for the Big Talk but mostly just ended up standing there for the whole thing xD But anyway, I really, really loved Rena in this scene. It’s probably the first time we’ve seen her being so honest with her feelings by hugging Kaede and straight-up telling her how worried she was. It’s these small moments that really make me love Rena so much, no matter how harsh and prickly she can be most of the time. I really liked the scene in the game where she goes to Kaede’s place to comfort her (even if they ended up slapping each other lmao), because it really did show how much Rena cares for her friends. But this anime version was quite nice too and also does some good for Rena’s characterisation, so I’ll take it :)
As for Kaede... what happened to my sweet sunshine child? I’m not liking the dead look in her eyes and how she sounds like a zombie... almost like she’s in a trance? And also... what was with that line at the end? Did Kaede join the Wings of Magius? Is she brainwashed? Would that explain her strange behaviour and way of speech? If any of this is true, then this will probably be the biggest deviation the anime has done, and I’d be both scared and interested to see how they handle it lol.
So yeah, an interesting episode that could have been super impressive if it weren’t for some of the issues I discussed, but overall, still enjoyable and decently good :) I really think the majority of the MagiReco anime’s issues comes from the pacing. Which is understandable, because they’re pressed for time and there’s a lot to squeeze in. It’s just a bit of a shame that so many important scenes and moments don’t translate as amazingly as they could have due to time constraints :(
Next week’s episode will be the final one, right? I know nothing’s been confirmed, but I’m almost certain that there’s going to be another season/cour after this. (They wouldn’t just leave it hanging like that... right? O___O) My guess is that we’ll see Tsuruno, Felicia, and Sana join the Wings of Magius, Yachiyo split up the team, and possibly Iroha going up against the Rumour herself and declaring herself the leader. These are all really important plot points, and adding to the fact that next week will be the (season) finale, hopefully we can end it with a huge BANG! Will we see Holy Mami? Will we see Sayaka? Or will we perhaps see Kuroe, rounding up the season by going full circle and bringing us back to the hanging threads left from all the way back in Episode 1?
It’s almost surreal to think that we only have one more episode left of this season!!! Let’s hope that it’ll end in the best way possible (even if that means leaving us on a cliffhanger lololol) ٩(^ᴗ^)۶
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