#still undecided about posting Thomas more

[lab-trash]

How did you come up with Douglas' boyfriend Thomas?

I honestly don't even remember? I know i wanted Douglas to have a bf but didn't love the selection from the shows; I kind of wanted it to be just... a guy.

Nothing super special about him. Not a superhero, or villain, or genius. He's just some dork who works at a hardware and electronic parts store.

And he's supposed to be like... the contrary of Krane and Giselle. Someone who's genuinely interested in Douglas, not in his technology or intelligence.

Thomas is also a reset for him. Someone who doesn't really know his past (he does learn, of course) and doesn't really care.

I remember the first words that Douglas says to him is "I know what you're thinking, but don't worry, I'm a good guy now," or something like that.

[queenmelancholy]

hiii about your tags on this post - I was thinking of the deleted scene from S1 or whenever:

I actually can't think of any other times he talks about his mother? This one seems to be in past tense, but which one were you referring to?

Oh I was referring to the conversation between him and Matthew in the trenches near the end of S2E1.

THOMAS: What would my mother say, me entertaining the future Earl of Grantham to tea?

MATTHEW: War has a way of distinguishing between the things that matter and the things that don’t.

I think this is the only scene where Thomas mentioned his mother on screen. I got the impression that he meant if she heard that her son was serving tea to a future Earl in such intimacy, she would be proud of him. The fact that past tense was used here could be because it was a hypothetical scenario (because his mother didn’t know this, and he didn’t plan to tell her in writing either), rather than because she was dead by that time.

So from my first watch I just thought his mother was still out there alive, but they didn’t really keep in touch. She didn’t care enough about her son, and Thomas had long given up on attempting to get her attention (even when he was about to die in the bloody war!).

Then I read about the S1E4 deleted scene later with this impression in mind and I just thought he talked about his mother as she used to be when he and his sibling(s) were children. Past tense was used again because he was talking about how things were in the past, that she merely attended to her children when they were ill while neglecting them at other times. She was not likely to do the same in 1913(?) when her children had all grown up (or so Thomas thought).

But now I think of it again and the use of past tense can also be explained by the simple fact that his mother is dead. Or should I say I was always confused, but I’m more inclined to believe she was still alive as it would be much more interesting. To think about how Thomas was perhaps distancing himself from his family (not just his father) quite actively by not contacting them, while imagining what they might think of him if they knew what he was doing now. It’s kind of like hedgehogs craving for warmth. He’s afraid to get too close to them and get hurt, but he wants their love so much it makes him miserable.

But again I am never sure about the state of Thomas’ mother. Perhaps it’s purposely made ambiguous because Julian Fellowes wasn’t sure when he wrote the script and wanted to leave it undecided for any future plot points. One thing I’m sure is that I should’ve paid more attention in English classes haha. But at least we discover that his mother could be an interesting topic to discuss too, who would have guessed? Please, tell me what you think :)

Oh, I’ve also found a similar discussion on Downton Abbey Wiki. You can check it out if you’re interested.

[heartofstanding]

I have fairly strong ideas about how each of the Lancastrian siblings look in my head. I can even pull out a table I made somewhere with eye colour, hair colour, height, and who they most resemble. Some of it is based on what little surviving evidence there is for what they looked like (I've got a post about this for everyone but Hal here). Some of it is just a gut-feeling (Hal looked the most like their mother) or the symbolism (Thomas being blond ties into his image as the golden boy).

But the one that stumps me is Philippa.

Here's a breakdown of how the siblings look in my head:

Hal - black hair, dark eyes, tallest, beanpole, looks like Mary, full lips

Thomas - blond hair, grey eyes, slightly less tall than Hal, beanpole but a bit broader than Hal, looks like grandmother Blanche.

John - black hair, grey eyes, taller than his father but shorter than his brothers, broad and study, looks like John of Gaunt, has a marvellous nose.

Humphrey - black hair, dark eyes, tall, less broad than John but not as beanpole-ish as Thomas, looks like Mary and Hal, thin lips.

Blanche - blonde hair, dark eyes, petite, looks like grandmother Blanche but with Mary's height, the prettier of the two girls.

Philippa - tall and thin, less pretty than Blanche, probably grey eyes.

This might look like I don't care about Philippa or I haven't been thinking about her to develop much sense of what she looks like. The problem is that is I think about her too much and keep changing my mind. At first, I was determined that Philippa did not look anything like her mother. It was too big a burden to place on her. She had been the baby that Mary had died giving birth to, that was enough of a burden to bear without her looking like Mary. Besides, I was attached to the idea that Hal was the child that looked the most like Mary.

At first, I imagined Philippa as having an in-between hair colour. Neither blond nor red nor brown but a shade between one of those two. I was writing a (still unfinished) fic about her leaving England and wanted to emphasise her uncertainty, her sense of inferiority. I, of course, gave her sibling issues - which is why she is "less pretty" than Blanche. Blanche is, to her, perfect. Blanche is blonde, petite and beautiful and Philippa is not these things. Philippa is not-blonde, tall and gangly, and she doesn't feel pretty. Blanche could easily stand in for their grandmother in The Book of the Duchess, could easily be the heroine in a medieval romance.

Then, I started liking the idea that she was dark-haired, like she's depicted in the stained glass window in Vadstena Abbey (it was made in the 1890s so it's obviously not a source on how she actually looked). It would make the difference between the two girls more pointed, going back to the old dichotomy of blonde/brunette and in a culture that tended to default to blonde as the signifier of idealised female beauty, it would add to Philippa's sense of not-pretty - albeit in a way that confirmed her identity as part of her family, since three of her brothers are dark-haired. But, I thought, Philippa still should not and thus would not resemble her dead mother beyond having the same hair colour.

Then, I thought about making her red-haired or auburn-haired. Her father was said to have had "russet" hair when his tomb was opened in the 19th century which means that he and some of his children might have had red or auburn hair. It's impossible to know for sure: red pigment can decay slower than other hair pigments and we have few contemporary images of Henry. The most reliable, his tomb effigy, gives no hint of the colour, while most manuscript depictions are generic images of kings, with blond-brown hair. There is some reason to believe illuminations that accompanied Jean Creton's account of Richard II's deposition, La Prinse et mort du roy Richart, are reasonably true to life and they depict Henry with dark-brown hair.

I digress here - I'm also undecided about Henry's hair colour. It doesn't really matter. We can't find a way to determine specifically what Henry's hair colour was, we have reasonably reliable pieces of evidence that conflict. As for Philippa, her hair colour could be anything. There's no evidence for it - at least as far as I know.

So it is possible that Philippa had red or auburn hair. I like the idea of Philippa being marked out as distinct from her siblings and that it heightens her sense of alienation from her siblings. She was the youngest, she probably saw very little of her elder brothers, and they might have seen each other as distant objects, and she did not even look much like them. Hal's dark hair is repeated in John and Humphrey, and Thomas's blond hair in Blanche. I also like the potential gothic symbolism in Philippa having red-tinged hair and feeling as if her mother's blood had stained her.

Then, I returned to the idea of Philippa as being dark-haired, but with a twist: what if Philippa did resemble her mother?

See, my feeling is that she was very much like Hal in personality (as much I put them on opposite ends of the competent/disaster spectrum). She was a talented, efficient and beloved queen, much in the same way Hal was a talented, efficient and beloved king (I'm comparing their contemporary reputations and their general legacies, not the revisionist historical debates about Hal's legacy). They were both notably pious. I imagine them both as being hardasses with depression. So, I started thinking that it would be cool that Philippa and Hal looked like each other which meant, in turn, that she looked like their mother (because you can pry the "Hal is Mary's male twin" headcanon out of my cold, dead hands). Which further deepens Philippa's alienation or misery - no one says she looks like her mother, they say Hal looks like their mother and she knows she looks like Hal so therefore she looks like their mother but no one says so, as if they're ashamed of her or she's not really like their mother in some vital way. Or they do and it makes her feel bad in a different way.

Mostly, though, I don't think this fully works and that's because I tend to see some (certainly not all or even most) of Henry's issues with Hal extending from Hal's resemblance to Mary and I can see his parenting of Philippa getting gnarly should she resemble Mary as much as Hal does. Of course, it's not the same. The other issues Henry has with Hal far outstrip his issues with Hal's resemblance to Mary and are often gendered. Hal is his heir, his replacement; Philippa is the daughter he will marry off to make an alliance or put into a convent. As it is, it's hard to tell how much Henry saw of Philippa. She and Blanche seem to have been raised away from their father's household, both when he was Earl of Derby and when he was King of England, and possibly only came into contact with him on rare and special occasions. Both left England in their preteens and never saw Henry again. So any stressors that might have come from Philippa (or Blanche) growing up and asserting her own individuality in contrast to Henry's memories of his dead wife she resembles were avoided.

It's an interesting thought, though, of what kind of father Henry would have been had his daughters remained in England with him, at least for a little while. And there's also the other what-if: what if Mary had lived?

I digress, again.

I've tended to consistently think of Philippa as "not-blonde" but lately that changed as well. Maybe pushing Philippa and Blanche to act as opposites is more of a cliche and not actually that good of an idea, particularly when their difference becomes a brunette/blonde divide. Maybe all of my attempts to wring symbolism from Philippa's hair colour muddies the waters too much. Maybe it's better not to make her resemblance to Hal or her contrast to Blanche so plain. Maybe it's better not to make her sense of alienation from her family so obviously visual but to ground it in the emotions. She looks like she belongs but doesn't feel it.

Maybe she's blonde, like Blanche, but still feels tall and awkward and unpretty next to her. Maybe she doesn't look like Hal at all but there's still a sense of similarity because of their personalities. Maybe she doesn't have the one hair colour none of her siblings have but still feels alienated from her siblings.

I like, too, the possibility of exploring the idea of Blanche and Philippa as twins - not literal twins, but frequently lumped together as the girls. I like the possibility of an allusion (albeit anachronistic) to The Virgin Suicides or Picnic At Hanging Rock because Philippa, like Blanche, is another doomed blonde. She tries to escape it but it gets her in the end, both dying too young and in fairly similar ways.

I still don't know what hair colour my Philippa has. I only know is that I like all possible variants.

Hair colour is basically just aesthetic, sometimes with a dose of symbolism, unless we have historical evidence. And, as far as I know, from what information is available in English, we just don't know what colour Philippa's hair was. The good thing, I suppose, is that Philippa is so obscure that there is no real discourse about what her hair colour should be and even no discourse about what her personality was like (at least in English; there could be debates raging in Danish, Norwegian and/or Swedish history circles, I just have no way to know) for hair colour stereotypes to really come to play. I can choose what I want with ease. Except it's the same problem: I like all the options.

---

I was going to finish this post by encapsulating the different options in a few short sentences. But after a few goes, I started feeling that they were ungainly and overly dramatic. I know that it doesn't really matter, I can play around and write Philippa as blonde, red, auburn, brunette, etc. hair and decide which fits best for which story. But there's part of me that longs to feel what I feel when I talk about Humphrey having dark eyes or Blanche having blonde hair. As if this option just feels right. Instead, every option feels possibly-right, possibly-wrong.

But, in the meantime, for those who made it this far into my grumpy exploration of a silly question, a poll.

[nickywhoisi]

I’m looking over my old post where I finally got around to Thomas the Gem and Friends au, and I really need to clean that up a little better. I’ll put the cast list and short blurbs here, then separate the chapters as their own posts, and make character bios and tidbits as it’s own post too. Less clutter, more creativity! Things have not been so great again, even at my hometown, but it’s somewhat manageable, and I’m no longer flipping my lid as much. Things have been...quieter. Phew.

Also, I’ve been having a lot of trouble deciding gem types for some characters, Like Edward and Percy. Would you guys be cool with giving me suggestions? I would really appreciate the help. Same goes for any characters I still haven’t even listed yet, there are so stinking many characters in Thomas how can I remember them all hheehuuuuuuu

[fn: Bold is for characters who are completed and ready for the story. Italics is for characters whom are still in the process of editing.]

Thomas - Kyanite 5.1 - With a sparkle in his eye, Kyanite is always trying to prove his capability and uniqueness, tackling more things than he can handle at once. He can easily get impatient and even fancies teasing others. It seems he’s caught between wanting to be liked by others and wanting to get even with them when they’re rude. Will he ever become mature? [fn: his plot arch is very similar to Phos during the beginning, except spoiler, he actually likes the scholar job and he's good at it. he also probably writes nasty opinions about them in his little notebook fngnfngnghnggnh the little shit]

Percy - unknown green gem (there are literally too many choices help) A gem who always seems to have his small head in the clouds, [] is a gem who likes to busy himself with small odd jobs, to be useful. He seems so harmless and naive, yet glimpses of a more insightful and aggressive lad seem to slip out on rare occasions, and he can fight beasts well, just like the others. Perhaps this is why he and Kyanite seem to get along so well? They both are very childlike indeed.

Lady - Gold unknown mohs level because she's made of flexible liquid gold material - Despite her small size, Lady Gold is the wise and patient leader of the gems, and she does everything she can to keep them all safe. She cares so much for them all, and the air about her is friendly and elegant, yet faintly sad. Her ability to change shape with the flexible gold inclusions she has is revered by all, as she is capable of reaching out for everyone’s hand at once, should they call out for help. What danger is she keeping them from? Things seem rather peaceful...

Edward - undecided gem (possible Turquoise, but I am leaning towards a deeper blue, help out our best boy)

Gordon - Blue Diamond 10 - A proper, no-nonsense gem, Blue Diamond is the second-in-command under his Lady, and works tirelessly to keep the gems’ home in perfect order. The work is hard, and he is all the harder, having since grown from his pompous days into a regal maturity, and is now a strict leader in his own right with an icy piercing gaze. He is one of the strongest and most handsome around and is part of the “Top 3 Cuts”, with Verde and Red. He is the strongest of them all, and is unfazed by any stressful situation. It is not clear if he truly holds an unfeeling distance towards the other gems, or if he simply has trouble opening himself up...he seems to exude both demeanors at once. Despite this, even he has admirers, which comes with the territory of being at peak physique. His reserved and mannered elegance, even when pushed to anger, makes him seem attractive no matter what. His response to the adoration is currently unknown, as he is a master of pokerface. [fn: he still carries some huffy pride, and has spent a while being Henry’s protector, but has to learn how to be more chill around everyone. Unlike Bortz, whom some of his arcs are based off of, he does prove more collected about certain matters all on his own.]

James - Red Zircon 9.5 - Find a mirror, and you will find Red Zircon admiring himself in it long before you’ve even arrived. He is one of the strongest and most handsome around and is part of the “Top 3 Cuts”, with Dia and Verde. He will not hesitate to chat with you, mostly about himself and his accomplishments, along with flaunting his coiffe and pure red leg pattern, which he designed himself after getting surgery. There truly is no other gem like him, and he won’t let you forget it! Underneath the suffocating vanity and cattiness when crossed, there is a proud heart that will fight off all sorts of trouble for his loved ones. To say nothing of how he fondly puts on a show for his adoring fans, and he really does have them! His Zircon and Painite(black and red) marbled body is a work of art and his natural flirtatious charm can leave an unprepared gem desperate for breath.

Henry - Verdelite 7.5 Often found basking in the glow of the forest, Verdelite is one of the strongest and most handsome around and is part of the “Top 3 Cuts”, with Red and Dia. He wasn’t always this strong, however, and is only so because of a special surgery he underwent to be fused with green diamond. So he now has a much sturdier body, but still retains a wariness of dangerous situations. He would hate to be weak again. But on a good day, he’s doting towards the other gems and his beloved plants. There is a subtle sensuality to him and his doe eyes that makes some gems fawn over him easily, and it doesn’t help that he recognizes this and keeps playing coy about it. [fn: he will kinda echo White Diamond’s arc a bit, with not wanting to be in Gordon’s shadow and whatnot, but he diverges in other ways so it’s not copypasta]

Toby - Dravite 7

Harold - white gem (oh! help our other best boy get a gem type)

Bertie - bright red gem

Duck - Duftite Emerald 7.8

Diesel - Hematite Rose 6.5 or Voltaite?

Donald and Douglas - Almondine 7.2

Mavis - something black and yellow

Daisy - Despujolsite

Boco - Duftite Alpha

Scotsman - dark green gem

Oliver - GreenDemantoid 6.8

Toad - dark grey gem

Bill and Ben - orange yellow gems (omg the chaos beans need your help decide a gem for them)

Rusty - Andesine or Zincite, is one of the gems on the winter cleanup crew, tasked with managing weather damage and cleaning off snow and ice

Bulgy - red and yellow gem Derreck - dark green and yellow gem

Duncan - yellow gem Stepney - mustardy yellow gem

Proteus - Pale Yellow Spodumene 6.7 the very first gem after Lady...and the first to um...hm

Glynn - Red Garnet mohs? The second, and the one who lasted the longest

Elizabeth - dark red gem

Duke - Amber Chalcedony 7

Skarloey - Unheated red orange Sapphire "HeatSaph" 6.3

Rheneas - Unheated red orange Sapphire "RedSaph" 6.3

Bertram - Brown Onyx 6.5

Smudger - Dark Green Natural Chrysoprase 6.6

"Freddy" - Moonstone 6.3

Falcon - Lapis Lazuli

Stewart - Malachite

Ferguson - Labradorite

[remosdeerica]

Batshit AU Part #1: The Bio Kids

(Yes I have actually decided to call this the Batshit AU. I already have a series of one shots [there is only one so far, lol.] called Assorted Batshit on Ao3 so I figured I'd just keep going with the name.)

I have been posting a lot of stuff to do with "my Batfamily" or "my version of events" so I figured I'd go ahead and make some long ass posts about what I would love to see in the Batfam's future but know I will never get (but that's why fanfic exists so I guess I'll live)

Now there isn't going to be any clear timeline to this because I plan to write different fics in regards to these particular chain of events and when or how things happen might change depending on the plot. But it starts with the question asked by Random Joe many posts ago:

How many kids do you have, Mr. Wayne?

Well to answer that question:

Legally: 7

Biologically: 5

Emotionally: Anyone under the age of 25 that is within a 50ft radius (I'm mostly kidding but lets be honest, it's kinda true).

Now if that math doesn't make sense to you (as most math doesn't make sense to me), fear not! I shall explain!

So Legally we have as follows: Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, Cassandra Cain, Tim Drake, Duke Thomas, Damian Wayne and Helena Wayne.

These are the obvious few.

Now we get into Biologically and things get a bit more complicated. For this category we have: Damian Wayne, Terrance McGinnis, Athanasia al Ghul, Matthew McGinnis, and Helena Wayne (I put them in order of their ages and added colours if you wanna skip my ranting and get to the goods).

Now for those of you who may not be as obsessed with Batfam lore as I am; yes all of these characters are canon (in some timeline anyway) and you are welcome to google them. But just be warned that I take canon and make it my bitch so almost nothing you read about them on their wiki-pages or wherever you look for your info will really matter (besides Damian but even then I take creative liberties). But I love Easter eggs so there will be plenty of those.

Damian and Helena are pretty straightforward. We know where Damian came from and Helena is just the result of Selina and Bruce finally getting their shit together.

Terry, Matt and Athanasia are a bit more complicated.

Terry & Matt: These two cuties were the unfortunate victims of an experiment called the Batman Beyond project. A project that was put into motion by A.R.G.U.S. after Bruce "died" (was lost in time) as a way to make sure that the Batman legacy lived on (as if he doesn't already have a million children for that).

Warren and Mary Singer were lead scientists on the project but after finding out what exactly it was that A.R.G.U.S. was doing with the "failed attempts" (they were killing them) the couple stole the toddler subject BN9-12 (Terry) and infant AC7-30 (Matthew) and fled (I made the numbers up on the spot don't read too much into them). They changed their names to McGinnis and raised the boys in Gotham City (cause that was a good choice...).

Unfortunately, their old lives eventually caught up with them and Mary and Warren were killed. Terry (around 10-11yrs old) took Mattie (around 7-8yrs old) and ran, his parents having taught him some skills in case something like this ever happened. The boys lived on the streets for many months before running into Tim Drake (i.e. Batman) who later adopted them (because when faced with black haired blue eyed orphans there is only one thing for a Batman to do).

[Side note: Tim doesn't know the boy's origins at this point.]

Athanasia: After Damian's death at the hands of the Heretic, Thalia went insane (more insane?) with grief and as a result decided to have another child with the left over.... substance.... shall we call it.... that she had acquired from Bruce all those years ago. However this time she intended to keep the child safe where they couldn't be hurt by either the League or Bruce (as if Thalia wasn't the main reason Damian was dead... but whatever. I have mixed feelings about Thalia).

When Athanasia was "born" (taken from her birthing pod, as one is) Thalia locked her away Rapunzel style in a secure location. Never allowing her outside for fear that she would be discovered by Ra's spies and killed.

For 8 years Athanasia grew up in relative luxury inside her bedroom, learning history, politics math, writing, and anything else Thalia thought she needed to learn. But Thalia never taught her how to fight (haven't quite decided her reasoning for this so just go with it) and as a result Athanasia is a very quiet, gentle child (basically the opposite of what Damian was like at her age).

Thalia never told Athanasia about Bruce. Since she wasn't created with the intent of being the heir to anything, Thalia saw Athanasia as only hers and therefore deemed it unnecessary for Bruce to know of her existence.

But she did tell her of her older brother; Damian (what Thalia told her is still undecided and will probably depend on overarching plots).

The rest of Athanasia's story is still in the works but essentially Damian eventually finds her and brings her back to Gotham with him. But although she acknowledges Bruce as her father, she lives with and defers to Damian (and Jon depending on the situation) as her caretaker.

So here is Part #1 of the Batshit AU!

Next Part will probably be about Dick and Jason's child situation that I've hinted at. I'll link it once it's done. :)

[wizisbored]

right im rearranging the sk ghosts au again because series 3 happened and i have more thoughts

just kinda matched up the characters in terms of Vibes

mike and alison - paul and emma

pretty much same setup as mike and alison except that emma has far less patience for the ghosts bullshit. many a time paul has walked into her just absolutely losing her shit at a completely empty room.

aaand ill be sticking the rest under a cut because Long

lady button - linda monroe

a high class lady like fanny but also some kinda priestess? still a prophet? idk im still figuring it out but wiggly was still very much a Thing in her life and as well as telling emma that a LADY does not use such language she is also trying to introduce her to her Exciting New Religion.

captain - mcnamara

quite similar to the captain but less repressed. constantly wanting to give yet another talk on the fundamental truths of love and the human heart. also badgers both paul and emma to wear watches despite the fact that only one can hear him.

robin - zazzalil

robins a smart guy under all the funney caveman jokes, and so is zaz. she keeps coming up with inventions that already exist and trying to convince emma that stone-age technology is the best solution to whatever problems shes having. peoples reactions to this tend to range from finding it funny to being annoyed by her. deep down shes just desperately trying to prove shes not obsolete as a prehistoric inventor.

kitty - keeri

just wants someone to hang out with / blindly follow. hangs out with emma because shes a new friend who hasnt gotten tired of being followed yet. also pals with zazzalil because a lot of the time she doesnt think to point out that her new ideas have already been done.

mary - charlotte

mary but with more Sadness. some tension between her and zaz because yknow. Fire. somehow managed to sneak a waterskin of alcohol to her own execution. its a long-standing debate between the ghosts as to whether the alcohol a) is actually able to affect her, and b) even stays in her stomach long enough to have any effect before getting teleported back to the skin like thomas’ letter.

pat - jemilla

was running a wilderness survival / bushcraft camp on the grounds when there was a yet-undecided-upon Accident. was initially interested in zaz because of the whole wilderness thing, but jemilla pointing out the recklessness in her stories often led to squabbling so their relationship is now a little tense for now :)

thomas - hidgens

doesnt have the romantic ambitions of thomas (partly because hes like twice emmas age and partially because im just not a fan of that trope), but is instead convinced that emma is in fact very interested in his musical persuits and wants to hear about them. she does not.

julian - ted

maybe not an mp, but thinks himself just as important. all the female ghosts apart from charlotte strongly dislike him but he hasnt noticed. have you seen that post saying alison should start just walking through julian whenever hes being shitty? yeah that. if he gets to far into emmas personal space she will wave her hand through his face.

humphrey - bill

just a Nice Dude who happens to be in two pieces. when emma tells paul about him hes constantly worried hes going to step on (in?) bill’s head and hurt him, and encourages her to get a ghost to put it back on. bill appreciates the concern despite the fact that paul would have no clue if he had trod on him.

plague pit ghosts - tto family

died of dysentary. just kinda vibing in the basement. also, sww insisted on adopting hannah at some point so shes there too.

jemima - hannah

sings what if tomorrow comes instead of ring around the roses. as mentioned, lives in the basement with the dickrats. mostly stays down there to avoid linda - she hates the woman for reasons she cant quite get into words, as well as the wiggly doll.

dante - a wiggly doll

kinda terrifying. hes a little bigger than an official wiggly doll, with glass eyes, and looking disturbingly like taxidermy despite not being a real animal. emma is the only living person who actually knows what the hell this weird old cuthulu-looking stuffed thing in the house is, since linda has lectured her about him multiple times. shes told paul as well but he is very confused about it. thing is, practically everyone who visits the house has their own theory about what the fuck that nightmare doll is, and emma has to nod and 'yeah maybe' along while linda rants in her ear about her dark god.

pidgeon - the duck

pretty much the same as the pidgeon except for the fact that zazzalil keeps going back and forth on wether it should be considered sacred (a few thousand years and all this ghost stuff has got her kinda confused about her spirituality/relegion)

[hughiecampbelle]

Emotional Whore (Thomas Shelby Oneshot)

Character/s: Thomas

Word Count: 1,008

Tag List: @dontdowhatisayandnobodygetshurt @myriadimagines @lilyswritings @encounterthepast @death-of-a-mermaid @lotsoffandomrecs @woahitslucyylu @obsessedunicorn24 @thedarkqueenofavalon @fangirlsarah16 @theshelbyclan @captivatedbycillianmurphy @creativemayhems @soleil-dor @thegirlwithoutaname87

A/N: Ahh I'm sorry I've been so lacking in posts and writing!!! I thought you all deserved a non-therapy fic lol and though this was not at all any of the ideas I was planning on writing, it just sorta happened :P I don't hate it, but I'm definitely not as proud of it as other pieces. It's not my typical style, which feels a lil weird. Still, there are some lines I like a lot! This is as close to smut as I think I'll ever get, so I hope you like it! Thank you for being so patient with me and my lil break. It means the world!!!!!! Feedback is always appreciated 💜💖💜

Gif Credit: @nofckingfighting :)

FIC MASTERLIST PART ONE. / PART TWO. / PART THREE.

WANNA BE ADDED TO THE TAG LIST?

Original sin. Not an act against god, but yourself. Going against every instinct, every moral standard you hold for yourself. A moment of self destruction, weakness, a lapse of judgement. Blinded by the gleam of a razor, a decision too enticing, too moronic not to give into. You spoiled him. Let him think he was the one in control, that he had power, that this could be anything more than a kiss, a touch, a fuck. Sweet boy, playful, but he should have known better than to fall for someone who'd rather not sink so low for him. He was the one on his knees, after all. You had ambitions, goals, wants and needs outside of being someone's emotional whore. Believing himself all powerful, all knowing, you would have thought he'd seen the signs soon enough. A life ahead of you left undecided, with no rules, no expectations. Human nature. Someone who'd shared enough nights with faces without names, this was no different.

This was another place to pass through, another person to become and shed when the time was right, another body sleep beside, nothing more, certainly something less.

Hickeys painted cross his neck. Kisses running down your back, between your thighs. Biting, nibbling, giggling between sheets, beneath the shirts you pulled off, discarding all your worries and fears, forgetting too quickly about your responsibilities. It was never supposed to last this long, go on as long as it did. An accident, the first time. A mistake. Slipping from his sheets the next morning, quiet as you could, returning before the sun peaked above the rooftops, wanting nothing more than to wash the smell of him off you. Your boss. The same man who signed your checks, at least for the time being. Taking his phone calls. Passing messages. Learning his schedule, his day to day. Pulling you through the front door, pressing you against the walls. Funny. You would have thought he tasted nothing more of whiskey and hellfire, his words nothing but blown smoke. Sweet nothings in your ear. Curious hands. Nothing but hungry, starved, willing to do anything to make your night.

It was nice, really, to be so wanted, mourned, silently searching the empty space beside him, especting your naked body, but it couldn't happen again.

Until it did. In his office. His bed. His shower before work. The back room. The fucking kitchen. Too many places, too many times a second to dress, to make yourselves presentable. Telling him what he wanted to hear, what he needed to hear. Needing to be pleased, praised, feed his ego before you could get what you wanted. Never what you wanted. A fling, something without a label, no strings attached. It was never a trick, a sceme, merely something dragging on, half alive waiting to die. Things like this, it made you stupid. In the heat of it all, made words trickle from your mouth, from his, that shouldn't have been said. Too used to getting his way, for the world to bend over backwards for him, you had to be the one on top, shoe him the only one in control of this was you. Put him in his place before it got away from him any further.

Two different realities.

One of passion, love, something more. Deranged. Almost felt sorry for him. Fooling himself, causing more pain than ever intended, slicing himself up with his own razors so willingly, so blindingly. The other, something to pass the time, to make things a little less lonely and a lot more exciting. Reality. It was never meant to be anything more. You knew who he was, what he did. You saw a man very different leave the bar than who walked in. How the glass smashed between his fingers, how he bit the bullet, chewed the barrel of a gun if he had to, the cold of his skin when the air changed. More enemies than friends. A wait list instead of a hit list. Too many bullets for a single body. You knew better than to play with fire when all you wore was gasoline. He could pretend to be careful. Thoughtful. Genuine. But he'd light his cigarette with the burning flesh of you without a second thought. Keep your distance. Never get too close, no matter how close you were. Not for a second believe the things he said. Rehearsed. Effortless. How many times had he moaned those same things? To how many unsuspecting bodies?

Catching eyes, attention. If it wasn't those eyes, it was his stride, that wicked look, or that egocentric way of thinking. Whatever it may be, it was a trap. A web they found themselves caught in before they even realized, believing he truly loved them, that they weren't his flavor of the week, that a man who had everything really needed them in his life. Show him how it felt. To be screwed over. A glimpse of what he put them through. Never taking no for an answer, he'd have to learn to sit and beg. This wasn't the place for you. Not the home, or the job, not a place you wanted to settle, to set root. You warned him, you'd be gone before he knew it. In the blink of an eye, and yet he was naive enough to fall. Tripping over himself, banging his head on the way down, catching it on a sharp corner. Believing sex was love, and love was sex. Try all he wanted, you knew the ins and outs of him. You knew him better than he knew himself. What would make him crumble, struggle to breathe, what made him tense, his jaw lock, what made him melt between your arms.

You never meant for it to happen, but you were glad it did.

Let him know what it felt like to be on the receiving end. Lord knows how many he left freezing in their sheets, believing what they had was anything more than a kiss, a touch, a fuck.

[outoftheframework]

the batkids and college

~this fic assumes a world where all of the kids attended some sort of college~

DICK GRAYSON

Lives in a triple with two other guys he met online

Their room has a blue theme and is littered with Batman and Robin nicknacks 

He keeps the room pretty tidy for the sake of his roommates

Sends written letters back and forth to Alfred every week

Turned down an offer from the gymnastics coach who saw him messing around on a slack-line around campus

 Insists on paying a portion of his tuition rather than rely all on Bruce’s trust fund for him

Has a summer job as a camp counselor

Works on campus at the university coffee shop

Is a radio personality on the campus station

BARBARA GORDON

Literally had her pick of Ivy Leagues, but decided on a smaller university in the Gotham Area

(still an amazingly academic school)

Created a club for disabled students to socialize and advocate for the community

They led to the installation of two more entrance ramps and specialty elevators around campus and are still going strong

Gets her homework done while multi-tasking as Oracle

Continuously shows up men in the computer science field who doubt her abilities

Her dad will often show up at of the blue to her dorm room for lunch

(she’ll act annoyed but she really loves catching up with him)

JASON TODD

Got a full-ride to a Gotham University based on his entrance essays alone

Is involved in a plethora of service and social justice clubs

Lives in a single but will leave the door open and talk to anyone who walks by

Teaches defense classes for all ages as a side-gig

Sneaks a dog into his dorm and never gets caught

Started out mostly keeping to himself, but as he started opening up he quickly gained a large group of friends

Is an English/Literature major 

CASS CAIN

She is very academically inclined, but is not fully comfortable living on campus just yet 

She lives in the manor and commutes to her classes

She is majoring in ASL and volunteers as a teacher’s aid at the Gotham School for the Deaf

Sits in the front row for every class and gets to know her professors well

Is either wearing a baggy sweatsuit or designer outfits, there’s no in between

but she’s always a style icon 

Once kicked a guy’s ass for following a girl back to her dorm after a party

Becomes infamous on campus

TIM DRAKE

This boy is perpetually 17, but in this universe he finally makes it out of high school (and boy is he happy about that) 

Chooses a college outside of Gotham, but still close enough to run back in case they need Red Robin

Skateboards to classes

A style icon, but kinda in the opposite way of Cass

Think his cutoff tees with long sleeve shirts underneath, neon shorts, borrowing from Kon’s closet, etc.

Didn’t know there was summer reading but still aces the quiz 

Is undecided for the first two years

DUKE THOMAS

Attends the same college as Babs

She gives him a whole speech about the best places to eat, where to hang out, which professors to requests, etc.

He uses this information and his outgoing personality to become literally the most well known man on campus

A staple at any of his school’s sports games

Leader of the fan section at basketball games (wears face paint and distracts the other team during foul shots)

Bruce attends every “parent’s weekend” that his school has, and Duke takes him for an in depth tour every time

“And here we have the library where I once got kicked out for forgetting to plug my headphones in and accidentally blasting Lizzo and- hey! my best friend threw up in that trash can one night!”

Global Relations major with a minor in Human Rights

STEPHANIE BROWN

Takes a gap year

Travels around with the Peace Corp, branches out as Spoiler, and mostly tries to find her calling

Ends up with like a triple major, a minor, and a few certificates in varying subjects

Considers joining a sorority for like .2 seconds at the club fair

Starts writing an advice column for the school newspaper instead

Her column takes off and soon she has too many questions to answer. 

(she starts a blog to give more advice to students)

Her dorm room is plastered in purple

DAMIAN WAYNE

Honestly, he wasn’t so sold on the idea of college when the time came around

He thought he was educated enough and wanted to focus solely on eventually taking up the Batman mantle

Dick eventually coaxed him into trying it out for at least a semester in order to give him a more balanced life

And this was the best thing ever to happen to Damian

He was standoffish to his roommate at first, but the other boy started not to take “no” for an answer 

He dragged Dami to ice cream, club fairs, floor game nights

And eventually, Damian started admitting to himself that he enjoyed having a social aspect to his life

Founded a program where students can train service dogs on campus

Batman can wait another four years. Because right now, the former Robin is finally just Damian.

Whooo I’m leaving for college in two days! Just a heads up that I may be a little slower on posting/getting through asks this upcoming week because of orientation and starting classes and such. But I’m totally not giving up on this blog in the slightest! 

Keep sending in those asks; I love to hear them! I’m slowly working through some older AU asks :)

Commissions are open for pieces of writing customized for you! Check out this post!

what are your college headcanons? are you excited for the new school year?

[thegreatlibraryfangirl]

An easy one and a hard one for that ask me a question - the peafowl for 002, and Glain for 003!

002 | send me a ship and I will tell you:

when or if I started shipping it.

AHAHAHAHA ''IF''

Frustratingly I don't have a specific catalyst or date, but I do have a range, and it's somewhere between January 2019 and March 2019. I think, I believe, I conjecture, that what happened was @rosalind-of-arden got me thinking about kinks, at which point I fell straight into Khalila with a harem lol, and then ended up realising how much fun Dario could be to (hurt) ahem to write.

my thoughts:

*waves vaguely at entire blog* OK, no, removing all the kinky bullshit and headcanons, in canon I love the intensity of what we see.

What makes me happy about them:

THEY LOVE EACH OTHER SO MUCH. But I also love that Khalila doesn't let him get away with being, well, Dario. They fight several times on page, and I like that we get to see that as well as the declarations of love and marriage.

What makes me sad about them:

As I have mentioned many a time, I really do believe they would benefit from not immediately getting married, and would in fact be prime candidates for a 'Our lives are so different now' break-up post canon. Followed by getting together again, of course. I just can't write it because NO. HAPPY BABIES.

Things done in fanfic that annoys me:

Lol guys don't you wish we had a fandom big enough for this and the next question? A trend I've seen many times elsewhere that I wouldn't like: treating Khalila poorly as an obstacle for Jess/Dario. I also personally would back button immediately any interpretation of Khalila which downplayed her independence in the relationship (Note, I still neeeed someone to write me sub Khalila, this is not that).

Things I look for in fanfic:

Just them. Gimme. I get very happy when other people write them.

My kinks:

AHAHAHAHA. Have 10,000 words of meta.

Who I’d be comfortable them ending up with, if not each other:

Jess/Dario!

Khalila/Thomas. Also AU Khalila/Morgan.

My happily ever after for them:

Married and throwing lavish kinky parties and still working hard on being in love ♥ I am eternally undecided on kids. Maybe one. Maybe.

003 | Give me a character & I will tell you

How I feel about this character:

I love Glain! She's the most honest character, I think, and she's not afraid to stop her friends being idiots. Her relationship with Jess is just ♥ ♥ ♥

All the people I ship romantically with this character:

Zero, I headcanon her as aroace - aromantic and asexual.

My non-romantic OTP for this character:

As already stated, it's definitely Jess&Glain. I've toyed with the idea that she lives with Jess and Thomas post canon. I am however very fond of her relationship with Santi, and Wolfes occasional understated show of love for her too. (well it was understated until fucking sword and Pen and 'you're precious to us' jfc my heart)

My unpopular opinion about this character: can't think of one.

One thing I wish would happen / had happened with this character in canon: I would have liked even more Khalila friendship! Smoke and Iron was great for that. I would also have liked more interaction with Dario, and something resolved with her relationship with Morgan. Sword and Pen kind of upped that, oh dear, Morgan brought her back to life and then she accidentally created the circumstances for Morgan's death. Like... That's too much to process.

My OTP: platonically, guess what, still Jess&Glain.

My OT3: Idk, Jess&Glain&Thomas? Jess&Glain&Khalila? Lol, glain&troll&botha??

[fdd700]

Accepting Deceit Part. 3

@ab-artist

WARNING; Sympathetic deceit, a brief mention of blood

Logan liked to think of himself as impartial, not caring about which direction Thomas chose to follow as long as he obeyed the rules and his choices made sense. He thought himself easy to please as well. He wasn’t like Roman, who needed to be rewarded for his actions, or Patton who needed to know everyone was happy with his decision, or Virgil, who just seemed to need constant validation that he wasn’t messing up. He just needed self-gratification and that was enough.

However, he had recently been forced to accept that maybe - maybe - he was a bit headstrong when it came to making decisions that he may be - a slight chance - that he tended to ignore the others. And maybe thats why Deceit left him out. Or maybe it was because Deceit was just afraid of logic because he was literally the exact opposite of what Logan stood for-

But that couldn’t be proven so he wouldn’t keep himself awake at night. 

But he was surprised when Virgil approached the three of them about giving Deceit a chance. He had some logical arguments and he was even more surprised when Roman - yes, Roman - was suddenly in Deceit’s corner. Logan wasn’t mad, per se, but he wasn’t happy. Patton was always too forgiving and easily trusting so Logan couldn’t count on him to have a logical and thoughtful debate on th subject.

So, naturally, he turned to Virgil.

“But I’m just confused, you are -were more than hostile towards him at the start and frequently told him that you didn’t want him around. What’s changed?”

“I never really realised what I was doing. In a way, I responded to the aggression he gave me, and us in general. The only difference was, my aggression came from spite and meanness, he came from his vulnerability,” Virgil explained. “Plus, I treated him as you all treated me at the start. I thought to ice him out would make it easier but it just brings down a lot of feelings onto him that he doesn’t deserve.” 

“But thats the thing, he has also been mean to us, and you can argue that it was out of vulnerability but that still doesn’t exclude his actions and he has to be held responsible,” Logan said.

“But does it excuse our actions?” Virgil asked. Logan blinked at him. “Uh, I’m awful with words. uh,, does him being mean to allow us to be mean back? Like, if someone pushes us, are we allowed push back? Because, if he has to be held responsible, then so do we.” Logan didn’t have a response to this.

“I suppose you make a valid point.”

“Wait, I just shocked Logan into silence? Logan ‘I-always-have-something-to-say’ Sanders got shocked into silence,” Virgil teased before he heard someone calling his name. “Probably princy. He has run out of villains.” 

Logan was somewhat clearer on the situation. But he still wanted to talk to Deceit. He seemed to be targetting Logan - excluding him, not allowing him to voice his opinion. He wanted to understand why, seeing as Roman, who actively tried to fight Deceit many a time, had turned around and was now on his side. He would consider talking to Roman, but he seemed to be busy recently. He would go to Patton, but he as so blinded by his emotions. The thought made him shudder.

So he decided the best person to understand the actions of Deceit was, well Deceit. So, that’s where he headed.

-x-

Logan had been down at the dark side’s rooms once before, and it was purely accidental. If you were to consider where the sides lived as a corridor, then Roman, Patton and himself were at the opposite end, Virgil was somewhat in the middle (both metaphorically and physically. Though his room had previously been in the dark sides corner, but as Thomas’ view of him moved, his room did as well, hence as to why he was in the middle) and then the dark sides were at the end. Of course, it wasn’t just one long corridor, but for the sake of simplicity, that would be the best way to describe it.

He continued on his route, thinking over what he would say to the other side. He knew it was important to not get (A) Physically, (B) Emotional or (C) Defensive. Upon reach the side’s room indicated but their emblem carved onto their door, he went to knock but found the door open. He was about to knock anyway, he understood how rude it was to enter a room unannounced even if the door was unlocked, but was stopped by the sound of cries. Through the crack in the door, he noticed deceit sitting with his back to a dark wall, his knees to his chest and tears running down his face. Upon further inspection, he noticed the walls were covered in sentences. The sentences themselves were horrible things, insults, jeers, backhanded compliments, the list went on. Logan, upon realising that even if he did enter the room to help that he would be unsuccessful in calmer the other down, slowly retreated. He had no idea what these phrases meant. Had Deceit written them on the wall? It seemed like a very depressive thing to do, and they clearly had been bothering Deceit, so he couldn’t have done them. Logan figured he has to ask one of the few people who might know. Virgil.

“Well, they’re, uh,” Virgil said, thinking through his words. “They’re things that have been said about that side. It only seems to appear in the dark sides area though. Like, for example, when I was still the villain to you guys, all the mean things you said to me came up on the wall.” Logan nodded, signalling he understood. “So, those things, well they’re things we’ve said and thought about Deceit, whether it's to him, or behind his back, they’ll appear.”

“But only the negative ones?” Virgil nodded. “So when we talked about you-”

“Yeah,” Virgil said, awkwardly shifting in his chair. 

“All of them?”

“All of them.”

-x-

“Family meeting?” Patton asked, looking at Roman who shrugged.

“Thats was glas- sorry, Logan said.” Patton just smiled. 

“Alright, Kiddo, thats for letting me know. Have you told Virgil?” Roman nodded. “Well, then let's get going!” As all four of them were seated Logan stood.

“So I’ve called this meeting talk about Deceit.” A tense cloud seemed to sweep over the room. “As I’m the only undecided party-” 

“Bu Patton-”

“-doesn’t hate anyone and will openly accept all of us.” Patton smiled and nodded. “So, I’m what I’m trying to say is that I agree with all you. I think we need to do something, and soon.”

“Yes but what?”

“We need to begin to help Thomas change his viewpoint of Deceit and the dark sides in general.” There was a decline in the tenseness of the room. “But we need to do something now, and I have an idea.”

-x-

The rapid knocking on Deceit door made two thing flash through his mind

1) Someone was here to kill him

2) Someone was here to annoy him.

Turned out to be a mix of both, as he opened the door to see Patton, who waved at him cheerily, Virgil, who gave him a half-smirk, Roman, who gave him an awkward smile filled with love, and Logan who had his usual unreadable expression but soft eyes.

“What-”

“You’re moving.” Logan cut him off. “Roman, you help him pick out clothes, Virgil, you grab the duvet and pillows and Patton-”

“Hug deceit?”

“No-” But Logan noticed that Patton was already hugging the side. Deceit blinked, looking like the group packed up his stuff.

“W-why?”

“Your wall. I can’t stand you just looking at it and thinking its true. So, we’re taking you out of here for now. Virgil’s got the biggest room space, so you’re gonna stay with him.”

“But the others-”

“We’re working on that.” There was silence as tears slipped down Deceit’s good eye.

“Why are you doing all of this?” There was a stop in movements as they looked at each other.

“Because we’re a family, Kiddo,” Patton said after moments of silence. “And we don’t leave anyone behind.” With that, the work resumed. Patton left deceit to help pack any knickknacks the side wanted. Logan made him over to the side, handing him a tissue. They both stood in silence, as Deceit regained control over his emotions and Logan looked at the trio packing up his things.

“You’re not a monster.” Deceit’s head whipped to the logical side. “You did bad things, yes. But so as Virgil, and he’s not a monster. I’ve done things I’m not proud of, all of us has. And I’m not saying it'll be easy, but we have to try.” Deceit nodded and Logan, never one for physical contact took Deceit hands and squeezed it for a moment before letting go as if to say ‘you’re not alone anymore’. But Deceit smiled and nodded in reply. ‘I know. Thank you’

Original post / one / two / three / four / five

[pontsalin]

Au masterpost

With summaries and links for each! 

There may be aus that I’ve never talked about before, so if you’re interested in hearing more about them, shoot me an ask about it (you can also ask me if you want to hear more about an au I’ve posted about)!

Quirk au (crossover with BNHA)

@ask-vigilante-virgil

Summary: Virgil is a vigilante, fighting the crime at night with his best friend Remy. Everything is fine until Virgil gets caught in something much bigger than he thought.

Info about their quirks:

Virgil, Logan, Patton and Roman

Remy

Deceit and Emile

General info about them (desktop only)

Read from the start (desktop only)

Ships: Eventual LAMP, established remile, eventual RED, past sleepxiety

Tw: Morally grey Patton, unsympathetic Remus, sympathetic Deceit

Monster au

Summary: In a world where monsters exist, but are feared by humans, Logan and Patton create a school for fantastic creatures, to make a safe space where they can learn to control their powers and get a proper education.

Design of the main sides

General infos about them

More lore infos about them

Tag: monster au

Ships: Eventual LAMP, originally analogical and royality, but has been built to be more prinxiety + logicality

Tw: Morally grey Roman, Morally grey Deceit

Shugo Chara au (crossover)

Summary: Thomas wakes up with three eggs in this bed, each one representing an hidden desire. Then a fourth egg. Then a fifth egg? What?

Their design + the backstory

Tag: Shugo Chara au

Ships: None

Somewhat swapped au

Summary: Swap au + Highschool au where the sides are swapped but still keep a part of their canon character. 

Who’s swapped: 

Virgil/ Patton

Logan/ Roman

Remy/ Emile

Deceit/ Remus

Their designs

Tag: Somewhat swapped au

Ships: Slow burn LAMP, eventual remile, platonic demus

Tw: Sympathetic Deceit and Remus

Gem au (crossover with Steven Universe)

Summary: Roman, Logan, Patton and Thomas form the Crystal Gems, defending the Earth against the odd.

Their designs

Tag: gem au

Ships: Eventual LAMP

WlW au (genderbend au)

Summary: Human au where the sides are girls.

Their designs + their body types here

Tag: wlw au

Ships: Prinxiety, loreceit, remile

Tw: Sympathetic Deceit and Remus

Sun and Moon au 

Summary: Au where the sides are spirits of a specific thing, and Thomas is a kid curious about them.

Their designs

Tag: Sun and moon au

Ships: LAMPD, remile, eventual Remy/ Emile/ Remus

Tw: Sympathetic Deceit, morally grey Remus

Fnaf au (crossover)

Summary: Each sides are animatronics living in a circus and entertaining kids.

Their designs + a bit of their story

Tag: fnaf au

Ships: None

Tw: Morally grey everyone

The Greatest Showman au (crossover)

Summary: 

Roman:  P.T Barnum

Patton: Charity Barnum

Logan:  Phillip Carlyle

Virgil:  Anne Wheeler

Deceit: Jenny Lind

Ships: Royality, Analogical

Tw: unsympathetic Deceit

Ghostbusters au

Summary: Logan and Patton are two ghosbusters, catching the troubling ghosts.

Their designs + backstory/ plot

Ships: Eventual moxiety, eventual logince, past anxceit

Spider Virgil au

Summary: Deceit being a snake, and Remus an octopus, so Virgil being a spider (more precisely a chilean rose hair tarantula) would be fitting, right?

Art

Ships: Undecided

Gaming au

Summary: Logan is twitch streamer, Patton has a gaming channel and Virgil and Roman owns together a gmaing channel too. Damien is their editor.

Details of their channels

Ships: Slow burn DLAMP

Tw: Sympathetic Deceit

Witch au

Summary: Logan enters a school for witchcraft and gets to meet other witches, and learns that science and magic are one and the same.

Ships: Undecided

Angel/ Demon au

Summary: Virgil tries to summon a demon, but an angel tries to prevent him from doing it. He’s now roomate with the two of them.

Art

Ships: Prinxiety, eventual moxiety, undecided

Golden soul au

Summary:  Soulmate where your dreams are linked to your soulmate(s). You can't remember their face or name, but when you wake you got golden dust where your soulmate touched you. (Original post)

Roman and Logan are soulmates, except Roman lives in Europe while Logan lives in America. They barely get sleep at the same time, and for the longest time thought the two of them didn’t have soulmates, until Patton (Logan’s friend) shows Roman’s youtube channel to him.

Ships: Logince, moxiety, RED

Unconventional pets au

Summary: Virgil likes pets that aren’t universally loved. He likes spiders, frogs, snakes, mantis etc.

His dads (Logan and Patton) try their best to support him, but Patton’s fear of most of those pets isn’t ideal. Virgil gets to meet another snake lover, Dee.

Logan and Patton are also trying to fix their gay crisis, since they’re both crushing hard on that cute genderfluid baker down the street (Roman).

Ships: Anxceit, established Logicality, future morolo

Tw: Sympathetic Deceit and Remus

Secret Identity au

Summary: Heroes need to hide their faces to preserve their identity. Shenanigans insues.

Powers: 

Logan: Can create portals on flat surfaces

Patton: None. Masters white weapons.

Roman: Invisibility

Virgil: Can control the weather, and has a small orb that changes shape depending on his mood (sad= rainy etc.)

Deceit: Animal shapeshifter

Remus: None. Is the voice that co ordinates them in the mic.

Emile: Blood bending

Remy: Can go into other’s people dreams

Ships: Logicality, Remus x Deceit x Virgil, Roman x Remy x Emile

- Hero! Logan and Hero! Patton make out after the fights, but Logan can’t stand Patton irl.

- Deceit and Remus are dating, and Virgil is very jealous of Remus. Though he really likes the voice that talks to them during fights.

Tw: Sympathetic Deceit and Remus

Creepy au

Summary: Logan is a curious kid. Patton is always smiling. Roman has many friends. Virgil will never leave his brother’s side. Four outcasts dealing with supernatural stuff.

Logan is a young scientist with a lot of motivation.

Patton is a new demon.

Roman sees dead people.

Virgil has a plush possessed by a demon.

Ships: None

Cryptid au

Summary: Roman has a youtube channel where he does urbex with Virgil (bfu style), and make rant videos about how cryptid are beautiful and he’d love to date one. 

Plot twist. Virgil is mothman, and sticks with Roman to protect him since he has a very bad luck and attracts every bad spirits.

Logan has a youtube channel where he debunks myth (from the flat earth to supernatural stuff). He does not believe in anything supernatural, except that his best friend Patton is a fae that has claimed him.

Ships: Prinxiety, Logicality

Mermaid au

Summary: Roman is a human who has always been fascinated by the ocean. Little does the know that his mother was the same.

Roman: Human

Remus: Octomaid

Deceit: Human

Logan: Octomaid

Virgil: Shark mermaid

Patton: Seal mermaid

French Highschool au

Summary: Highschool au happening in France because I’m tired to see every highschool au being in the US.

Logan: S, overworks himself to the point of doing burnouts because he needs to be the best.

Virgil: S,  is ahead of pretty much all classes due to his anxiety. Often beats Logan during tests.

Roman: S, pressured by his parents to go in the scientific course, doesn’t work but still gets good grades. He hates himself each time his executive dysfunction makes him not working.

Patton: ES, tries his best, works a lot but still struggles to get more than average grades.

Deceit: L, average. He gets average grades and work an average ammount of time. He’s the stereotypical L that smokes and is bad at math.

Remus: Redoublant, gets the new school system, struggles to work.

Emile: Biology / science and life of the Earth teacher

Remy: Math teacher

Thomas: French Teacher

Ships: Analogical, roceit, intruality, remile

Patton’s design

Doodles (second and third pics)

Ships: Logince, moxiety, demus

Steampunk au

Summary: The high and middle class live on a floating island, unknowingly (or not) abusing on the people living on the ground.

Deceit: Originally from the lower city, he’s one of the few that knows how to travel down (or up).

Remus: Son of the King, does not know anything about what’s happening bellow. Deceit conviced him to go to the lower city.

Roman: Son of the King, knew what was happening in the lower city, and escaped many years ago. Presumed dead. Patton’s fiancé.

Patton: Comes from the lower city, managed to go on the island as a courtesan. Went back down with Roman when he escaped.

Virgil: From the lower city, one of the greatest engineer of the Kingdom. Made Patton’s prothesis, Deceit’s monocle and his own fake eyes.

Logan: Middle class, works as a cop chasing people escaping the island. Constantly running after Deceit.

Ship: Dukexiety, Royality, Loceit

Sudden Monsters au

Summary: The sides gets transformed one after the other as monsters. A great excuse to talk about feelings and overcome fears.

Virgil: Drider (half spider)

Deceit: Naga

Remus: Octomaid

Roman: Mermaid

Logan: Centaur (but half unicorn)

Patton: Werewolf (is always an humanoid canid, but gets violent during the full moon)

Ships: Moxiety, undecided

Eldritch au

Summary: Virgil meets the monster under his bed. He is actually really sweet.

More talk there

Ship: Dukexiety, eventual Logince

Lost kids au

Summary: Virgil and Remus run away from the orphanage they were in, and decides to sleep in an abandoned house. The creature (Deceit) living there decides to take care of them.

Rpg au

Summary: The sides meet on a mmorpg and creates a team.

Roman: Tank, werewolf 

Logan: Long range dps, elf

Patton: Summoner/ necromancian, human

Virgil: Healer, spider specie

Deceit: Rogue, snake specie

Remus: Short range dps, human

Ships: Established moxiety, slow burn lomus, roceit

Alien Runaway au

Summary: Logan is a scientist working in a space station. An alien arrives, badly injuried. The crew saves him, and keep him safe until he gets better. His name is Roman, and he’s willing to talk (with ASL) only to Logan.

Roman, Remus, Emile and Deceit are aliens.

Logan, Virgil, Patton and Remy are human scientists.

Marvel au

Virgil is Natasha 

Patton is Cap 

Logan is Bruce 

Roman is Thor

Deceit is Loki

Remy is Tony

Ships: Undecided

Overwatch au

May be a crack au. Idk I was just in a ovw mood when I made it.

Roman: D.Va

Logan: Symmetra

Patton: Mercy

Virgil: Reaper (following the theory that Reaper is infiltrated in Talon)

Deceit: Moira or Roadhog

Remus: Junkrat

Fusion au

Summary: Fusion au where the fusions are piece of chess

Doodles

Souleater au

I do not know yet, but it’s somewhere in my mind

Sherlock au

sherlock - virgil

watson - remus

moriarty - roman

irene - patton

mycroft - dee 

lestrade - logan

[aadhiskanmani]

As the title suggests this is my movie rec list.These are the films across industries and  stuff i feel needs more recognition and love. It is all a mixed Bag, Mixed Genres, Mixed reasons to suggest them right from the quality to acting to cinematography to story etc.. to critical acclaim Etc you get the picture. Now not all of them are like Blockbusters or like wah wah highly acclaimed though majority are but still i feel more people need to see them so do give a try. I love these films and i am proud of them so here it goes in no particular order.

p.s These are more recent films say last 2,3 yrs and the list doesn’t include films that are still in theatre like Uyaare, super deluxe,athrian,lucifer  etc 

Template is as follows the Titles include links with subs. Now they are msotly links for well known streaming giants so should not be an issue with majority but i will try to find and add alternate links too. Also will be adding lil synopsis detail of film and then in italics what i thought of it and why one should watch it just random thoughts kind of thing. we will see how far this will go because i have 30 titles approx to add LOL so i will have to break this post in parts and i might get lazy and forget to add my thoughts. we will see LOL

So Let’s Begin :)))

Part 1:( will break it in 10′s caz otherwise it is too much to post in one post )

Vikram Vedha |Tam | *R.Madhavan,Vijay Sethupathi:   Police officer Vikram is on the hunt to capture Vedha, a gangster. But when Vedha voluntarily surrenders himself, it challenges Vikram's perception of good and evil. [you should watch this one for it’s smart writing, superb characterization and wonderful performances, the intrigue factor keeps you hooked till the end and Not a trace of Maddy and Vijay in the Cgaracters of vikram and vedha they are truly those characters., Also i heard this one is in the process of getting remade in bollywood so watch it before it is ruined forever. IYKWIM... i will leave it at that because this isn’t the post for details on remake hehe

Geetha Govindham|Tel| *Vijay Devrakonda, Rashmika Mandanna: (the drive link will not open in the app from phones, use a PC):  A 25-year-old virgin searches for love. Super cute rom com and a feel good film. Music is really nice and basically a laugh riot or well i laughed a lot lol. 

Vada Chennai |Tam| *Dhanush,  Andrea Jeremiah,Aishwariya Rajesh |alt link |  A proficient carrom player sets foot in the world of crime and joins forces with local gangsters to settle their feuds. However, he decides to take them down when they plan to wipe out his locality. A perfect beginning to the triology,Truly enthralling, Truly an epic Gangster drama, it is built layer by layer and sucks you into the world of anbu and company right away. Dhanush is in his best form and andrea in her grey character is also surprsingly good. this gangster drama i actually loved like anything and this genre is really not something i enjoy mostly it has to be really good for me to enjoy it 

Njan Prakashan |Mal| *Fahadh Faasil,Sreenivasan |alt link|  Prakashan aka PR Akash is a typical Malayali man who aspires to lead a luxurious life without too much effort. As he tries to achieve this aim, a few insignificant figures walks into his life.

holds up a mirror to Society, simple,cynical, skeptical, thoroughly entertaining and teh one that makes you smile, also Fahadh plays the role of the guy we love to hate and then love so perfectly. but hey that is hardly a surprise i mean when is he not Excellent?.

Sairat| Marathi|* Rinku Rajguru, akash Thosar: {on netflix as well} Upper class Archie falls in love with a lower caste son of a fisherman, Parshya. Watch this one for it’s realistic approach and rawness. this one deals with a wide range of themes right from class system to the struggles of a young couple when they try to settle into a daily life to more dark themes such as honor killings but an epic film. it is so hard to explain in words how good it is and why one must watch this one. Just the honesty the passion of filmmaker shines + the music. one big thing about this film was how normal looking everyone  was they had realistic locations average looking cast but MAN THIS one makes you smile, laugh,cry, be sad, feel the pain like anything .the usp is the innocence of leads and the love story is so endearing Unfortunately this is also the original of dhadhak which isn’t even a speck of dust in terms of quality and basically rips everything that made sairat what it is from it and is a glossy totally non practical remake and devoid of any emotions + with terrible casting Loll.  Also this is my only Marathi entry on this list.

Ente Ummante Peru |Mal| Tovino thomas,Urvashi:| Alt link  The life and journey of Hameed to find his biological mother and how his life changes when Aisha comes into his life. Just Heartwarming would be my comment on it. this is again something one has to watch and experience to know why this one made it to the list. it is hilarious at times yet has some very tender moments. Tovino is a sweetheart as hameed and aisha amma is Lovesuper lovable and warm. this one just kinda engulfs you into it’s warmth. 

Majili |tel| *naga chaitanya, Samantha:  A former cricket player nursing his wounds of a failed relationship takes up the task of training his ex-lover's daughter and in the process discovers his feelings towards his wife and her unrequited love for him. I personally didn’t care for the first love story as it is very typical and clice But it is post the entry of sam where the film becomes worth making it to this list , simple and the one that makes you count your blessings and just be thankful to have someone who loves and supports you like sravani does for purna..  Chay and Sam’s chemistry is off he hook and they make it worth it totally. 

Arjun reddy| tel| shalini, VIjay devrakonda : alt link   Arjun Reddy (Vijay Deverakonda) is a Surgeon and the topper of the college. He falls in love with his junior, a Tulu girl (Shalini), who is four years younger to him. Due to some unfortunate incidents, they break up. How life takes them forward forms the rest of the story. A gamechanger in Telugu industry no wonder it has reached the cult status. it’s not like i haven’t been raving about it from past 3 days even more than before because the butchering in form of the remake hurts But wow What a revelation Mr Derakonda was in this and He rightfully won a Best actor award. Just Like sairat this one rises way above the script due to the acting of vijay and that honesty in the script and film making. idk it is hard to put in words for me but when you see these films you see how passionate the makers were while making them and the heart and soul they have put in the film just shows and touches you so hard.Now this one is 18+ so TW drugs, alcoholism and a lot on innuendos and banging hehe. BUT and i can’t emphasize enough IT IS WORTH EXPERIENCING IF YOU ARE A FILM LOVER. This is the one which leaves you in the undecided category or well it had left me in that do i love it? do i hate it? i was so confused until my rewatch and i have finally came to conclusion that i love it. this is like you can love me hate me but you can’t ignore me and it stays on your mind a lot longer then the 3 hrs runtime after you are done because you are in that wait what is my actual verdict hehe. Also i haven;t seen a more accurate depiction of a toxic relationship on desi screen where one is so obsessed and self centered that it becomes really hard to survive around him 

Thadam|tam| Arun vijay    The murder of a youngster creates confusion among a few cops when they find out that the one accused in the crime has a look-alike!.  Thadam has an intriguingly written flow of events that begin from the pre-interval point and the film maintains the suspense factor till the end. The lead actor is fab in his dual role it is hard to tell which one is which and who has actually done the crime but mind you int he beginning it is a little confusing as it keeps goign back and forth between the bg stories of 2 guys but the viewer isn’t told that it is actually dual role so i was like wait how come one min he is rich and in love with oen persona and next he is in slums doing thefts lol. anyway... 

Peranbu\Tam/Mal |*Mamooty  A story about a father who tries to understand the struggles of his disabled daughter Paapa. The plot highlights the journey of how he becomes a better man while he comes to terms with his child and her special needs. This one is Just purely about a father’s love for the child and how far a father can go for his child.

An Honorable mention to BAAHUBALI2 which requires no intro or anything from me to persuade one into watching it It is SELF EXPLANATORY.  

Phew OK i am calling it a day..... Part 2 will be posted soon... I am more then excited to  hear from you guys and your thoughts on these films plz do tag me if you post your reviews and your thoughts. i worked really hard on this so i will be more than excited to know if it was worth or no... I have so much more quality content in the queue and am super excited to share that with ya fellas..... it gives me great Joy to share the love for movies and a lot of satisfaction that all this FIlm nerd thing is coming to some use to others and i take a lot of pride in the fact that i am kind of is a film nerd hehe. Happy Viewing,,,,,,, 

[ridiculousn3sswrites]

Friday - Student Council Pt. 1

*Lafayette x Reader

*Summary: Everyone takes ASB way too seriously. Alexander’s budget proposal is up for a vote in a week and Reader is one of the only undecided votes. Both sides are trying to win her over.

*Warnings: Language. Let me know if I missed anything.

*A/N: Posting this with 1% left on my laptop, I’m literally racing against my battery to post this lol

Part One || Part Two || Part Three || Part Four || Part Five || Part Six || Part Seven

**********

You had to admit, you kind of hated being in ASB. Well, you liked some things about it, but now there was the fact that everyone in ASB took it way too seriously this year. It was once your class got in charge of ASB that the factions really started showing themselves. Sure, there were always little cliques, but your class really made that worse. You tried to stay out of most of the partisan issues, but they always pulled you in one way or another. You could tell that the ASB adviser, Mr. Washington, definitely hated the factions, but it wasn’t like he could outright ban them without having a completely different issue on his hands.

“You know, you should really consider Alexander’s budget proposal,” your classmate, John, told you. You rolled your eyes, knowing that John was just trying to get his friend’s proposal passed. Alexander needed a majority vote and right now, Thomas and his crew was really standing in the way of that. It was stupid and petty to put everyone through this just because Thomas didn’t like Alexander; Alexander would just have to write a new proposal if this one didn’t pass. He was the treasurer, it wasn’t like someone else would be able to make a new proposal.

“I told you guys, I haven’t had the chance to look at it yet. I’m not just going to blindly vote for something I haven’t read yet,” you replied as the two of you made your way to the ASB room.

“Alexander told me to tell you he’d throw in a couple hundred extra from fundraising efforts to the events committee if you vote for his proposal,” John quickly added, trying to make up your mind before you even got into the room.

“That sounds an awful lot like bribery, John,” you told him, brow raised. Sure, you were the head of the events committee, and you could definitely make a couple hundred stretch quite a ways, but it didn’t feel right taking a bribe for a proposal you hadn’t even seen yet, let alone read it. “Tell you what, voting happens next Friday. I’ll read the proposal over the weekend and see what I think of it. I’ll get back to Alexander before the vote.”

“All right, cool! Alex just wanted me to ask you before Jefferson and them got to you,” John said with a bright smile. You let out an exaggerated sigh; you should have known that they were trying to drag you into the partisan stuff again. No matter what way you voted, you were bound to piss someone off.

“You guys know I don’t want to get in the middle of all that. Both of you guys have very valid points sometimes,” you told him. “I just want to see what’s in the proposal before I agree to anything.”

“Yeah, but you like our group more,” John joked.

“I’ll give you that. Thomas can be an asshole sometimes,” you agreed, walking into the class. John followed close behind, and you didn’t miss the thumbs up he gave Alexander as you walked over to your unassigned assigned seat. You had to keep yourself from rolling your eyes, knowing that Alexander probably thought that he won. While you could admit that Thomas and his gang could be annoying and condescending, you didn’t want to vote for Alexander’s proposal without reading through the budget. There’d be the time before the vote where Alexander would have to give a summary of the budget, but you still wanted to look at it in detail.

When the rest of your committee came in, Eliza and Peggy Schuyler, you immediately turned to confer with them before Washington got to the classroom. After all, he had to come from his normal history class to the ASB room so that bought you a few minutes after bell. “All right, guys. John told me that Alexander promised an extra couple hundred from fundraising to the events committee if I voted for his budget. I already know you guys are voting for his budget, but I still wanted to get your input on this,” you told them.

“That could go a long way when we’re planning senior events,” Eliza replied with a thoughtful look. “Definitely make things better than a movie night where you gotta pay for snacks if you want them.”

“Exactly,” you said. “The only thing that bugs me is the fact that it sounds a lot like bribery. You guys know how I am.”

“Yup, you don’t want to vote for anything unless you’ve fully read the proposal,” Peggy said. “You’re reading through it this weekend, right?”

“Yeah. Alexander’s driving a hard bargain for the budget this time around, so it must be pretty important to him,” you commented, looking over to Eliza. She nodded.

“He stayed up way later than usual getting it done. I was calling him the night before and fell asleep on the call, but when I woke up the next morning he’d just finished it,” Eliza told you. “Laf already read the budget, hasn’t he told you anything about it?”

You shook your head. “I like reading these things. If I wanted a summary, I could just wait until voting next week.”

“You know, you and Laf really are a good match for each other. I mean, except for the part that Laf doesn’t take a side because he’s actually friends with Jefferson and them. You don’t even like them,” Peggy commented.

“I don’t like picking sides because even if I’m friends with you guys and Alexander and them, I still don’t want to get on Thomas’s bad side. You know he could make everything hell if we try to pass any events outside of the dances,” you explained yourself. “You gotta pick your battles, and I don’t want to pick the wrong ones with Thomas, especially since he somehow managed to become class president.”

As though he’d heard you talking about him, Thomas looked up from his conversation with James. “Hey, (y/n), could you come over here for a second?” Thomas called out across the class. You softly swore before getting up and walking over to him.

“Thomas, James,” you greeted as professionally as you could. Even though everyone in the class was teenagers, your manners with Thomas and James were definitely more formal than with anyone else in the class. They were already snakes willing to do whatever was needed to get what they wanted, even if what they wanted was to just mess with people who’d gone against them in the past. You hated it, but it was a game you were forced to play if you didn’t want to get on their bad side.

“Listen, we know your vote’s undecided at the moment, and we want a chance to persuade you to vote against Hamilton’s proposal,” Thomas said.

“We’re willing to offer our support on nearly all events your committee will propose for the school year, within reason,” James continued.

“I’m going to stop you both right there. I’ll tell you the same thing I told John and Alexander: I’m not promising my vote to anyone until I have the chance to read over the proposal. I won’t have time to do that until this weekend, and I give you my word that I’ll have a decision made by sometime next week,” you explained.

“I’ll admit that I can respect that,” Thomas replied with a nod. “I’d just like to remind you that it’d be unwise to make enemies, especially since your committee is responsible for the major senior events this year. It wouldn’t do well for our graduating class to hate you.”

You had to roll your eyes at the thinly veiled threat. It almost made you want to vote for Alexander’s proposal purely out of spite. You could tell James figured the same thing by the withering glare he gave Thomas. Thomas merely shrugged before dismissing you with a slight wave of the hand, making you roll your eyes again as you walked back to the events committee. “Thomas may have just swayed my vote. Not in the way he wants, but he definitely swayed it.”

“What happened?” Peggy asked, leaning forward as you took your seat.

“James offered support for nearly all events we want to hold this year within reason, I told them I wasn’t just going to vote based on bribery, Thomas threatened to impede stuff on all major senior events if I don’t vote against Alexander’s budget proposal,” you explained. “He’s trying to ruin me if I don’t go along with his vendetta against Alexander.”

“I’ll have to ask Angelica about it, but I’m pretty sure you’re one of like three votes that can push Alexander’s proposal into a majority. Thomas is probably scared of Alex’s proposal getting through with minimal backlash,” Eliza told you.

“I just really want this day to be over already so I can just go home and read this stupid proposal so I can make up my mind about it,” you huffed.

“Wait, so you’re not coming to the movies tonight? Laf already said you guys were going,” Peggy asked. You let your head fall to the table, the group’s plans to go to the movies completely forgotten until now. You’d hoped you could just spend the night reading the proposal and then tell people your decision by Monday, but of course you had prior engagements to interfere with that. “Hello? Are you dead?”

“Okay, yeah, we’re going. I just completely forgot because I want to get this budget mess out of the way,” you replied as you straightened back out. “What time are we meeting up?”

“Don’t worry about it, I’m picking you up,” your boyfriend appeared, wrapping his arms around you. “I was worried you were about to cancel on all of us.”

“I was about to so I could read your friend’s budget proposal,” you said, turning slightly to look at him. You pressed a kiss to Lafayette’s cheek, drawing a noise of disgust from Peggy.

“Alexander’s proposal can wait for the night,” Laf told you.

“He better not bug me about it when we meet up,” you replied. “By the way, I’m still going to need to know a time so I can be ready before you pick me up.”

“Of course. I’ll tell you after school,” Laf said just as Washington finally walked into the room. Those few minutes after bell that you normally had before Washington got into the room felt like an eternity this time around.

“Sorry I’m late, everybody. I was stopped by Vice Principal Adams in the hall and he wanted to know when ASB would be officially up and running for the school year,” Washington explained as he called the class to attention. “Remember, in order for that to happen we have to agree on a budget. The vote on Hamilton’s proposal happens next Friday, make up your minds by then.”

Thomas looked at you pointedly as Washington spoke and you had to physically stop yourself from rolling your eyes. You knew that you were one of the only people undecided in the room, along with Aaron Burr and Maria Reynolds, and everyone else knew it too. Thomas made sure you knew you needed to make up your mind and fast. “Jefferson, would you like to say something before we begin planning the introductory pep rally?”

“Well, I’d like to remind everyone that Hamilton’s current budget proposal may need to be revised before it’s actually worth anything,” Thomas replied.

“Hey!” Alexander immediately went to speak up. He was already halfway out of his chair with just that one word. It wouldn’t be the first time Thomas and Alexander nearly got into a fight over student council things.

“Hamilton,” Washington cut him off with a stern look. Alexander glared as Thomas, but took his seat anyways. You really just wanted this class to be over already so you could just hang out with your friends after school and then finally get to reading Alexander’s budget proposal. “All right, we need to start planning the rally. We really want to wow these freshmen so they’ll want to join ASB later on.”

**********

Permanent Tag List: @spidey-pal

[brightwellboy-blog]

Update

By the end of this week, I’m going to be visiting family, and I won’t be back until August 10th. School for me starts on August 20th, and I have a lot of homework for Pre-AP and AP classes due by then. Because of this, I want to finish my homework by the end of this week, which means I can’t be on this blog much for the time being. Now, this doesn’t mean I’m not posting stuff for the fan event. I’ll still be writing (because car trips are long and uneventful). So basically I may not be around much on Tumblr, but you’ll still see me for the fan event.

Now that the boring personal stuff is aside, here’s my updated plans for the fan event before I leave to do more of my homework.

Sunday: Epherma - The chat fic. One chapter is done! It’s short, but it gets the introduction and setting across. I may add on to it when I go back to edit, and I also may post more chapters throughout the fan event, depending on how motivated I am.

Monday: Ships - The Wolfe/Santi Rome fic. I have the outline set up, and it’s actually looking much easier than I thought it would be. This one’s more of a character study and introspection-type fic, with bits of fluff in it to flavor the massive amounts of angst I’m sure I’ll write for it. This one will have only one chapter.

Tuesday: Glain And Thomas - This is the one I ran out of ideas for, but I have a solid plan for it now. Rather than “Thomas gives Glain an automata horse” idea, I decided to have them discuss their families together instead. I’ll come back to the horse idea later. This is also only one chapter.

Wednesday: Languages - The Dario fic. This one may have multiple chapters, as I’m still undecided on if I want to include more people in it. I also changed the plot up a bit. Instead of Dario’s nicknames for people, I want to go a little more abstract with the languages and show how Dario communicates love to the pack without Khalila/Dario smut, which I know @thegreatlibraryfangirl is working on. How people communicate love is different, and I thought it would be fun to explore that.

Thursday: AU - The zombie fic. This will be the first au, and will definitely contain multiple chapters, although I won’t post them all at once. I won’t reveal too much about this one since I want the details to a surprise, but I will post a sneak peek when I have one!

Friday: Challenge - The cyberpunk fic. I debated for a long time between this and the modern/mafia au, but this one came out on top. Changing the setting from steampunk to cyberpunk is a BIG challenge, mainly because of the little details I forgot about. Certain things, such as the Obscurists and the Iron Tower, are things that can’t really be incorporated into a universe where the technology is quite advanced, so this one requires a lot of heavy lifting in terms of worldbuilding and plot. And since this is a rewrite of all the books, the entire concept will contain multiple chapters and fics.

Saturday: BTS - It’s not just a k-pop group, it’s a worldbuilding nightmare. This one will be a geography lesson in the guise of a fic because I can’t rest easy without knowing the details of the worldbuilding.

All of these will be posted on ao3 because I do have an account with no fics on it.

Anyways, y’all enjoy your day, and I’ll be back to post some teasers sometime this month!

[thefutureisplywoodbikes]

The “My Top Films of 2018″ post positively no-one has been crying out for

Hi friends, it’s been a while.  I’ve been meaning to do a little monthly film round up / review thing for a while now (A suggested enterprise that I should say I have received specific encouragement for) but it felt a bit weird starting in the middle of the year so maybe consider this a warm up for that.  I HATE spoilers so rarely read any kind of detailed review for anything I feel inclined to see until after I’ve watched it, so the usual format here will be a sentence whether you should bother to go see a film, a few films that might have a similar feel of characteristics if you’re still undecided or looking for more of the same, and finally I might give some extra details or specific opinion.  If you’re a spoiler pedant like me you might want to skip this last part but I imagine most of you will be OK.

As what follows are what I consider the best films of the year, it should be a given that I suggest you seek them out and watch them.  If you can’t be arsed with or don’t want the details and discussion, of which there’s a lot below, skip down; I’ll put the list near the bottom, along with a selection of other highlights that didn’t make the cut.

Anyway, onto the business at hand.  To qualify for my long-list films had to be new releases that I’ve seen in a cinema this year.  I’ve not counted any Netflix or Amazon fare, or any classics, some of which obviously are some of the best films I’ve seen in the cinema this year, but you shouldn’t really need specific encouragement to go see Rear Window, Once Upon a Time In The West or The Apartment if you get the chance.  I did have a solid 10, but had forgotten something important, so you’re getting a top 11 and a best of the rest section instead.  

11 (also 10)

- You Were Never Really Here (Lynne Ramsay)

- A Woman’s Life (Stéphane Brizé)

Two very different films share 10th place.  You Were Never Really Here is a bruising tale of a damaged person not so much seeking redemption as just getting by.  Set in contemporary New York, it features a superb central performance from Joachin Phoenix and is beautifully shot by Lynne Ramsay.  Has a similarly feel, in terms of the editing at least, to her earlier film We Need To Talk About Kevin.  There was a lot of talk about this being a modern day Taxi Driver which is an understandable comparison given the subject matter but might unfairly raise expectations if you’re not careful; it isn’t and it isn’t trying to be.  It does however have a bit of a Paul Schrader feel to it so if you enjoyed First Reformed this would be worth a look.  Currently on Amazon Prime, if you’re not boycotting Bezos.

A Woman’s Life I saw pretty much solely on the strength of how much I liked Stéphane Brizé’s previous film, The Measure of A Man which covers similar territory to I, Daniel Blake but with considerably more subtlety and sharper focus and is for me more successful for it.  An adaptation of Guy de Maupassant first novel, Une Vie, the story as the title suggests, takes you through the life of a woman in 19th Century France.  It‘s a slow, measured and intelligent film, sympathetic, naturalistic and moving and slyly shines light on the inherent cruelty of the pervasive limitations of the patriarchal society of the time.  Not sure what to recommend for comparison since it was early in the year I saw it and I don’t think I’ve seen much else like it.  If you’re a fan of Bresson give it a look.  If you enjoyed Jacques Rivette’s The Nun maybe.  If you liked Barry Lyndon but think it needs toning down in terms of flair and mood.  Tolstoy was a big fan of the novel if that floats your boat, Mostly I’d say watch Measure of a Man and maybe track this down if you liked that.

9 

Let The Corpses Tan (Hélène Cattet, Bruno Forzani)

From the Brussel-based French duo behind Amer and The Strange Colour of Your Body’s Tears, if you’ve seen either of their earlier films you’ll have some idea of what you’re getting here.  It’s not going to be to everyone’s tastes; if you want a straightforward plot, narrative resolution or ultimately to fully understand what the fuck is going on, you’re in the wrong place, but if you like the sound of a pristinely crafted and gorgeously shot amalgamation of spaghetti western and Poliziotteschi aesthetics, this is likely very much up your street.  If you liked Mandy as a film that is effectively an homage to the mood a variety of 80′s films, I think this does similar for a different period more smoothly.  If you’re not sold by now I’m not sure what else to say but you can watch it on Amazon Prime if you’re curious.

8

Lucky (John Carroll Lynch)

On paper this shouldn’t be as good as it is.  Not a lot really happens.  It’s competently shot but not visually exceptional. It would seem to unashamedly be a vehicle to showcase the enduring charm of Harry Dean Stanton in a role that I would be astonished if i were to discovery it wasn’t written specifically for him.  And yet it’s HUGELY endearing.  It’s sweet without ever approaching being mawkish or saccharine.  Stanton is an irascible, charming and poignant delight as a man doing his best to defiantly maintain his independence while coming to terms with his encroaching mortality .  David Lynch is less convincing as a man bereft after his tortoise has escaped from the garden, yet still it all kinda works and has context.  If you’ve liked Harry Dean Stanton in anything else, but particularly Paris, Texas.  You’ll likely enjoy this.  If you’re a Twin Peaks geek, liked The Straight Story, St Vincent (As in the 2014 Bill Murray movie), Mystery Train or maybe even On Golden Pond you’ll likely be OK too.

7

Filmworker (Tony Zierra)

You’d be forgiven for not knowing who Leon Vitali, the subject of this film, is.  Some of you with better memories may place him as the actor who portrayed Lord Bullingdon in Barry Lyndon, likely because at some point you’ve looked him up after watching his superb performance wondering whatever happened to him.  What you’re unlikely to be aware of (unless you’ve already seen this) is his immense contribution to, and sacrifices for, the work of Stanley Kubrick, an ongoing commitment that will likely persist until his dying breath.   

In awe of the auteur on the set of Barry Lyndon, he effectively abandoned his acting career at the moment it was set to take off, to work with Kubrick in whatever capacity he could, over time becoming his most trusted, and woefully overworked, assistant.  There is a sense that this a tale of one man being exploited in another man’s ruthless pursuit of their vision, which in part it is, but Vitali’s devotion is effectively religious and so he commands more respect and admiration than pity for the extent he has given over his life to his passion.  If you like Kubrick, have seen and loved any on his films at the cinema, on video, DVD or blu-ray you have a responsibility to see this, because it is extremely likely that Leon is the man who has personally checked the prints and colour gradings to ensure they are precisely as they should be.  It should also be a reminder that there are hundreds of thousands of others unsung who’ve had a hand in making the films you love.

If you’re a film geek, serious cineaste or fan of any of Kubrick films but particularly the last four (Barry Lyndon, The Shining, Full Metal Jacket, Eyes Wide Shut), you should see this.

6

Lady Bird (Greta Gerwig)

At heart Lady Bird is a simple story, very well told.  It has suitable faith in its script to keep things simple and in doing so delivers 95 breezily delightful minutes of cinema.  I saw this immediately after having endured The Shape of Water (Superficial, predictable, indulgent, emotionally-manipulative dross, with some insultingly shallow politics shoe-horned in to bolster its credibility) so the contrast may have inflated my enjoyment but after that, this was a breath of fresh air.  It has a lean, clever script flawlessly delivered by it’s stellar cast, led by primarily by the equally excellent Saoirse Ronan and Laurie Metcalf but also featuring Timotheé Chalamet and the reliably remarkable / remarkably reliable Lucas Hedges in supporting roles.  The result is a film full of well-rounded, flawed and relatable characters.  The depiction of teenagers seem particularly sharp; the traumas of negotiating the trials of burgeoning adulthood are treated sympathetically but you’re also shown achingly absurd moments of pretension that’ll likely spark a pang of amused recognition in anyone over 20.

If you liked 20th Century Women or Greta Gerwig’s other cinematic outings (I don’t think I’ve actually seen many others but it stands to reason.) you’ll likely get a kick out of this not really sure what else compares suitably.

It’s a nice film.  Give it a go if you haven’t already.

5

Phantom Thread (Paul Thomas Anderson)

The latest offering from Paul Thomas Anderson, Phantom Thread is a curious creature and a bit of departure for the director, stylistically at least.  On the surface a dry tale of a celebrated English tailor discovering a new muse and lover and the shifting of power and negotiation of compromises as their relationship develops, I’d say the real meat here is in the subtexts but I don’t want to prejudice your viewing with my half-baked theorising so I’ll say no more.  Visually sumptuous, pristinely photographed and with a deliciously acerbic and quotably witty script, you also get a trio of marvellous performances from Daniel Day-Lewis, Leslie Manville and Vicky Krieps in the lead roles.  A wry treat for all who like seductive subtlety at a steady pace and one that’s sure to benefit from repeat viewing.  (I’ve yet to rewatch myself but am keen to and in the course of writing this list I’ve been compelled to bump it up a few spots and suspect it may well have faired better if I had)

If you’re a PTA fan you’ve likely already seen this but if you need specific prompting I’d say it’s closest in spirit to The Master, but it’s still more idiosyncratic among his output than similar to the others.  If you like the barbed charm of the writing of the films of the British New Wave, or Pinter’s script for Losey’s The Servant you'll also likely find this worth your time.

4

Climax (Gaspar Noé)

Despite it's place here, I have a hard time recommending Climax. Watching it was possibly the most queasily unnerving experience I've ever had in a cinema, which is entirely it's intent.

Following the events that unfold one snowy evening at an isolated rehearsal hall where a group of dancers having a final night party fall victim to an LSD-spiked sangria, what starts out as a mesmerising display of dancing skill and exuberance slowly shifts into a hellish, decadent descent as innermost fears and desires surface and are enacted.

The film is technically spectacular, largely composed of a single twisting shot that woozily drifts among the action and skilfully approximates the helpless intoxication of the characters. Prior to this the film opens with a series of interviews with the dancers, shown on a tv flanked by videos and books, the theme of which would appear to be transgression in its various forms. It's a simple, smart device that foreshadows events to come but also lays out the story's influences and inspirations. The overall result is the sense that experience you receive has been carefully and precisely crafted, something all films obviously aim to do but that this actually delivers, extraordinarily well. Even when things slow and drag in the last 20 minutes (which they undeniably do) you feel like you're being made to endure the comedown of the preceding proceedings. It's not going to be for everyone and I'm not sure the visceral unease of seeing this in the cinema will translate to small screen viewing, but it's a brilliant affecting piece of cinema for those prepared to brave it.

If you didn't like Enter The Void, you're probably not going to like this but if you did, you probably will. The content isn't necessarily especially graphic but there's a sense of callous disregard and cruelty that made for uneasy viewing for me at least, similar to the darker moments of Henry Portrait of a Serial Killer or Man Bites Dog. You probably know by now if you're gonna watch it or not, so let's move on.

3

Utøya: July 22 (Erik Poppe)

Not to be confused with the Paul Greengrass Netflix film (Which went into production a year later than this then stole it’s working title) Utøya: July 22 is the second film on this list to centrally feature an extended tracking shot.  This one was shot in one interrupted take and, much like Climax, is a harrowing film elevated by the directorial decisions that informed and shaped its creation.  

Unfolding in real time the film shares the experience of Kaya, a teenage girl attending the summer camp on the Norwegian island of Utøya during the 2011 terrorist attack there.  It’s a heartbreaking watch.  Less generous reviews suggest it to be manipulative, others, which I am obviously  moreso inclined to agree with, feel that the films choices place the victims in the forefront of the story and in doing so highlights failings within the usual handling of such events on film and more broadly in the media, failings which, while I haven’t seen it, I have heard the aforementioned Netflix film is guilty of. While the characters in this film are fictional, their stories are based on the testimonies of survivors and survivors were heavily consulted both during the writing of the script and the filming.  The terrorist is not named and is only shown once in the distance which, given the intention of his murderous assault was to draw attention to himself and his toxic political views, is very effective at both resisting unwitting complicity in advancing these aims and preventing the victims and the horror of their experiences from being shifted into peripheral significance.  They are not merely a notorious individuals tragic statistics and  they, or any other victim of mass murder, should never be allowed to be seen in such terms.  This film has been painstakingly and thoughtfully constructed to honour them and the gravitas of their suffering and is intelligent and powerful film that deserves far greater attention.

It feels somewhat ridiculous to offer comparative suggestions for this one; it’s not an enjoyable viewing experience, so if you’re not already moved to watch it maybe you shouldn’t bother.  If you’re still undecided this does feature perhaps the most effective and emotionally involving uses of the single shot proximal viewpoint, a technique employed in a number of titles of recent years (Birdman, Victoria, The Revenant, Gravity etc.) that I’ve seen.  It something which Son of Saul was celebrated for, where the intent was similarly a claustrophobic immersion, but which, in that instance, I found somewhat distracting.  This succeeded for me where Son of Saul did not.

2

Cold War (Pawel Pawlikowski)

I still haven’t seen Pawlikowski’s previous film Ida but the strength of esteem that it garnered led me to see this without knowing anything about it.  (And if you really want to enjoy it, you should skip the rest of this and do the same.  Actually you should do that anyway, because I likely create an unreasonable high expectation by the end of this.)

The film covers a love story as it unfolds and transforms over the space of 20 years under the shadow of the Cold War.  At various points the romance is  frustrated either by the ubiquitous demands and expectations of the Soviet state apparatus or by the lovers diverging fates negotiating it.  Given the tale is loosely based on the story of his own parents, one would be forgiven for fearing this might be a melodramatic tale of predictably plucky triumph, but the nuance and complexity of the central relationship, challenged as it is by not only external forces but internal conflicts, has a suitable quantity of bitterness and disappointment to feel like a truthful portrayal.  It’s refreshingly unsentimental, as is the depiction of life under totalitarian rule and in some ways this is as much a film about the potential for lives to be crushed by oppressive regimes as it is about loves ability to resist them.

Also of note; the film is gorgeous.  The black and white photography is pristine throughout and subtly shifts with the films location.  The soundtrack comprises  Eastern European folk and 50s Jazz and, with music forming a central role in the plot, the scenes where it features most heavily stand out and are at times breathtaking.  The acting too is great with Joanna Kulig proving a particularly enchanting screen presence.  It’s a manifoldly beautiful film.

If you still need persuading (though you really shouldn’t, because by this stage I’m just over-egging the pudding) if you liked Ida obviously this’ll be up your street, if you’re a Tarkovsky fan in general you’ll likely appreciate some of the framing and pacing here but if your especially fond of Ivan’s Childhood (And if you’re not you probably should be) the look and feel of this should prove particularly appealing.  

1

Shoplifters (Hirokazu Kore-eda)

It’s unlikely that I’m alone in placing this at the top of my list.  I don’t think I’ve spoken to anyone who hasn’t liked this film.  Most have loved it.  This is very rare.  In fact, if you haven’t yet seen this, don’t bother reading further, just go see it in the cinema while you still have the chance.  (I don’t want to hear any shit about spoilers or whinging about missing it.) If you’ve seen any of Kore-eda’s other recent films (with the possible exception of The Third Murder) you will have had some idea of what to expect with this.  He is a master of tender, low-key tales of everyday life and the drama contained within.  Our Little Sister was my first encounter with his work and was my favourite film of 2016. It features the intertwining lives of three sisters who live with their grandmother and the half-sister they effectively adopt when their estranged father dies.  It’s a simple, wonderfully uplifting film that unceremoniously shows you the progressing lives of a loving family in rural Japan.  After The Storm looks at another family, this time in Tokyo and more fractured and dysfunctional but still observed with compassion and though flawed, prove deeply sympathetic and relatable.  In Shoplifters we are again presented with a family, this time a gathering of humble misfits and miscreants predominantly bonded by solidarity in the face of poverty, hardship and neglect.  Their love for each other is evident in their actions but as the film progresses it is brought into question by figures of authority and more broadly a society that though unwilling to help them when in need is more than prepared to judge and condemn them regardless of their circumstances.

This is both an overtly political film and a deeply philosophical one but fundamentally it’s an achingly sensitive and compassionate drama.  It brings to light rarely discussed economic disparity in Japan and the difficulties of those struggling to get by.  It examines what constitutes a family and questions the value of traditional familial and societal bonds when they don’t encompass a duty of care.  It lead you to reflect on you own fortunes compassion and morality.  And it does all of this simply by presenting you with a group of characters with complex stories.  Acts that might be considered otherwise outrageous are given suitable context to leave you entirely capable of empathising with the decisions to undertake them.

A devastatingly moving and humane film, this is beautifully shot, scripted, edited and brilliantly performed by a hugely talented cast.  An irrefutable masterpiece.  Must watch.

Right, below is a recap of the list then below that will be a list of notable highlights that made the long-list, for those of you not already bored shitless

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OK, welcome back slackers. Here’s the list.

10. - You Were Never Really Here (Lynne Ramsay)

      - A Woman’s Life (Stéphane Brizé)

9.  Let The Corpses Tan (Hélène Cattet, Bruno Forzani)

8.  Lucky (John Carroll Lynch)

7.  Filmworker (Tony Zierra)

6.  Lady Bird (Greta Gerwig)

5.  Phantom Thread (Paul Thomas Anderson)

4.  Climax (Gaspar Noé)

3.  Utøya: July 22 (Erik Poppe)

2.  Cold War (Pawel Pawlikowski)

1.  Shoplifters (Hirokazu Kore-eda)

And now for the best of the rest.  You should maybe try to watch these before reading the details too

The Rider (Chloé Zhao)

This was unquestionable beautiful and does an excellent job of showing the limitations of investing in an outmoded code of masculinity, in this instance that of the cowboy.  The amateur cast effectively play versions of themselves in the thinly disguised the story of lead actor Brady Jandreau’s struggles to adjust after a severe rodeo injury curtails his career and hopes. Why it’s not in my top 10: This is a cinematic love letter to Brady and while it’s effective in display the depth of the directors affection for him and his, admittedly very endearing, family, it’s less so as a means to convince you to share it’s viewpoint if, like me, you don’t share Chloe Zhao’s unquestioning sympathy from the outset.  Questions about animal welfare, the validity of cowboy traditions, practices and iconography in the modern world and whether that imported culture dominating life on a Lakota reservation can ever be anything but a toxic cul-de-sac, all go unasked and unanswered.

The Wild Pear Tree (Nuri Bilge Ceylan)

This probably should be in my top ten.  It’s absolutely spectacular.  Beautifully naturalistic and expansive in scope and ambition.  One regular customer at the cinema where I work said it authentically encapsulates the experiences of everyday Turkish life and so if that sounds up your street and you have a spare three and a bit hours to invest this is richly rewarding watch.

Why it’s not in my top 10: It’s just soooo long.  It’s 188 minutes but feels like longer, which I’d actually say is a good thing because it covers so much ground at such a measured pace you’re surprised when it’s over that you’ve experienced so much in such a, relatively, short space of time.  But it’s still exhausting.  While lengthy discussions work within the context of the film their inclusion teeters on the brink of indulgence and the main character, a youthful and arrogant would-be intellectual, is frankly a bit of a dick, and that’s a long time to spend in the company of someone you don’t necessarily like.  So in essence, while this is a masterpiece, it is a demanding one, and it’s because I found the physical experience of watching this to be more challenging than either enjoyable or invigorating that it slipped into the runners-up.  Once Upon A Time in Anatolia, which I rewatched earlier this year, manages to cover similar territory but still leave you enlivened so I was hoping this might do the same.

Leave No Trace (Debra Granik)

A well-paced, great looking and emotive little drama featuring exceptional central performance from Thomasin McKenzie and the dependably compelling Ben Foster as a father and daughter living on the margins of society in contemporary America.  Comparisons with with the work of Kelly Reichardt seem justified.

Why it’s not in my top 10: It’s a great film, I just personally think I saw at least 10 better ones this year.  You might feel otherwise.  (But you’d still be wrong)

The Miseducation of Cameron Post

I found this to be really sweet and engaging and similarly effective to Lady Bird in giving dignity and truth to the voices of youth.  It felt a bit like a modern day update of a John Hughes film (but with the startling misogyny and casual racism excised obviously)

Why it’s not in my top 10: It’s good, but not that good.

Marlina the Murderer In Four Acts

Indonesian.  Feminist.  Western.

What more do you need to hear.  A great little film that deserves a wider audience.

Why it’s not in my top 10: You’ve got the gist of this by now surely?

A Fantastic Woman 

I think this did a really good job in highlighting the various forms of conspicuous everyday cruelty that hinder the lives of trans women and more broadly the harmful prejudices that nestle within normative society.  The film is far from perfect and is not without it’s justifiable criticism; I have heard it said that this represents a CIS gendered persons idea of what trans experience is like rather than the reality and it is true that the central character is pretty much entirely defined by her victimhood rather this being a more nuanced portrait.  So, yes, it’s maybe more than a little melodramatic but the central performance of Daniela Vega is i think still suitably engrossing to warrant your attention.

Why it’s not in my top 10: and nor are the films below

Faces / Places (Agnès Varda, JR)

This was a really lovely film.  I tend to overuse the word charming (You’ll likely notice a bunch of equally overused synonyms of it where I’ve attempted to avoid doing so above.) but it’s really apt here.  This is a delightfully playful look at the collaboration and friendship of it’s creators, filmmaking legend Agnes Varda and photographer/muralist JR as they travel around France making work.  And that pretty much it.  It’s smart, fun and funny but mostly it’s nice.  Refreshingly and unashamedly pleasant.

This was one of 3 Agnès Varda films I saw in the cinema this year and I’m deeply disappointed both that I didn’t catch more but also that I’m so late in being introduced to her work.  The other two I saw were Cleo From 5 to 7, a truly stunning piece of work that effortlessly makes many of it’s French New Wave contemporaries look painfully austere, and One Sings, The Other Doesn’t, whose first 5 minutes alone are so deliciously, guilefully political as to make this, and discovering Varda’s films in general, one of my highlights of the year.  

While the ship has sailed for the folks of Manchester to catch the Gleaning Truths season, the lucky folk of London still have a chance to catch them all and suitable time to plan as they’re all showing in early 2019 at the Prince Charles Cinema.  I heartily recommend you do so (or at the very least see Cleo From 5 to 7 then see how you go) Link here.

Lastly I want to mention a trio of horror films that stood out this year.

Hereditary was hokey, divisive and derivative of a bunch of late 70′s horror but had a great cast, some surprising twists and I found it to be a great deal of fun.  Others did not.  The choice is yours.

Mandy was a more maniacally entertaining treat, again derivative but as it’s effectively an adoring pastiche of 80′s genre films it can’t be judged too harshly on those terms.  I still think Let The Corpses Tan covers similar territory better, but this has some spectacular visuals, a superb soundtrack and a gloriously unhinged Nicholas Cage to keep you amused along the way.

The new Halloween marked an entertaining return to for the long-suffering franchise and, pleasingly, a box office success but what I found most interesting about it were the sly touches in the screenplay that suggest changes may be afoot in Hollywood.  The key protagonists are all women, they’re surrounded by a parade of shitty men who show themselves to be either abusive, untrustworthy or impotent when the time comes to face up to the embodiment of senseless murderous misogyny, Michael Myers.  There was a similar vibe in Widows, and with both it was encouraging to see politics being injected into successful mainstream offerings.  Lets hope it persist.

Celebrated films I haven’t seen that may be notably absent above:

I’ve heard good things about both Wajib and 120 BPM but haven’t seen them, so obviously can’t comment on them.  Also I haven’t got around to watching Cuarón’s Roma yet.  Or Sweet Country.  I missed that one too.

Alternative facts

In the interest of fairness and balance and the spirit of sharing here’s an alternative top 10 from my learned colleagues at HOME: https://homemcr.org/article/top-10-films-of-2018-ushers-choice/ 

(Just because their reviews are more thorough and better written, it doesn’t make them right)

And a 2018 highlight podcast if you’re really keen: 

https://homemcr.org/media/the-home-film-podcast-special-2018-round-up/

Things I’m looking forward to seeing next year:

The Favourite looks deliciously vicious and entirely up my street so I can’t wait to see that.  Green Book I very much like the look of too and is an intriguing shift for Peter Farrelly that I hope pays off.  I also have high hopes for If Beale Street Could Talk, like the sound of Destroyer, the look of Vice and am intrigued by Burning.  Anyway that’s more than enough for now.  I’m gonna go do something else.  So should you.  See you in the new year.

[patriotsnet]

How Many Registered Republicans In Alabama

New Post has been published on https://www.patriotsnet.com/how-many-registered-republicans-in-alabama/

How Many Registered Republicans In Alabama

Most Democratic And Republicancounties In Alabama

In Battleground States, Newly Registered Democrats Are Outnumbering Newly Registered Republicans

Which Alabama counties have the most Democrats and which has the most Republicans?

It turns out even the Reddest of Red states has a drop of Blue.

24/7 Wall Street;recently used voting data and a review of current and historical representation in Congress to determine the political leanings counties across the country. That index was then used to determine the most Democratic – and most Republican – counties in each state.

Alabama is a solid Republican state but the analysis found pockets of Democratic support. For example, in 2012, 61 percent of Alabama voters opted for Republican candidate Mitt Romney, one of the highest shares the losing candidate received from any state. In Greene County, however, 85 percent of the voters cast their ballot for President Obama. What’s more, Greene County helped send a Democrat to the U.S. House of Representatives in each of the last five Congressional elections.

That’s enough to make Greene County the most Democratic county in Alabama.

And what about the most Republican County? There is a lot of competition for that title but the recognition goes to Blount county, according to;24/7 Wall Street. In 2012, more than 86 percent of voters cast their ballot for GOP nominee Romney, the highest share of any county in Alabama. Also, county residents are represented in the House by the 4th and 6th Congressional Districts, both of which are held by Republicans.

Welcome to Tuesday’s Wake Up Call. Let’s see what’s going on:

How Many Democrats How Many Republicans

I want to follow up on my last post regarding how variations in poll results are often due to differences in how pollsters construct their samples. The previous post talked primarily about whether pollsters were sampling likely or registered voters. Obama, I suggested, polled better among registered voters. ;Today I want to look at another decision pollsters must make: whether to weight their sample by party identification and, if so, what weights to use. We know that whether one considers oneself a Democrat or a Republican is the biggest single determinant of how someone will vote. Not surprisingly, people tend to vote for the candidate who shares their party identification. So a poll that includes 40% Democrats in its sample is likely to have more favorable results for Obama than one that includes 35% Democrats, all other things being equal. Ditto for McCain and variations in the number of Republicans sampled.

To see how this makes a difference, consider two ;respected national polls that came out yesterday. CBS/NY Times came out with their monthly national poll that has Obama up 49-44, with 6 undecided.

Rasmussen, meanwhile, has the race tied, 48-48% in its latest tracking poll.

I show you these numbers to give you an idea of what it means to weight by party.; But why does it matter? Compare the CBS weighting to what Rasmussen calculates when they weight by party.

Are You Surrounded By Democrats Or Republicans How Jersey Breaks Red And Blue In All 21 Counties

Here is a county-by-county breakdown of which political party rules in each of New Jerseys 21 counties and how much each party gained since this time last year.

New Jersey is a Democratic-leaning state, and its getting bluer by the month.

Democrats have registered voters at a faster pace than Republicans in the Garden State. But the GOP still maintains pockets of control in some counties.

Republicans are outnumbered by registered Democrats by nearly 1 million people , according to the latest statistics from the states Division of Elections. As of the end of September, New Jersey had 2,307,937 registered Democrats and 1,331,102 Republicans.

Over the past year, Democrats added more than double the number of registered voters compared to the GOP , according to the data.

However, registered Republicans outnumber Democrats in six of the states 21 counties, and there are a few other counties that are pretty evenly split. Also, Republicans out registered the number of new Democrats in six counties from this time last year, including in three counties where the number of Ds outweigh the Rs.

The largest number of New Jersey voters 2,378,040 to be exact have not formally claimed any party affiliation.

Twelve years ago, Democrats had a 290,000 vote plurality over registered Republicans statewide, said Ben Dworkin, director of Rowan Universitys Institute for Public Policy and Citizenship.

Also Check: Do Republicans Want To Cut Social Security And Medicare

Super Bowl Conservatives: Nfl Players Who Lean Right

While liberals might dominate the big screen, the sports world is another story. Unlike actors, almost every great quarterback favors Republicans.

Knowing how cozy last nights Superbowl quarterback Tom Brady is with President Donald Trump, you probably think Im talking about him.; After all, Brady has;publicly said;he and President Donald Trump have been friends for a long time , he has played golf with Trump many times, they have phoned each other many times, and he said in 2015 he hoped Trump would be elected president.

But Im NOT talking about Brady, not specifically. Im talking about the best quarterbacks in NFL history, an amazingly high percentage of whom are identifiably conservatives.

Who ranks among the Top 10 quarterbacks of all time?

Brady definitely does. So does Joe Montana, the best quarterback ever in the opinion of many experts until Brady and Peyton Manning came along. Brett Favre, who held most of the NFL career records before Manning broke them, is also considered among the top 10. So is Dan Marino, who held most of the career records before Favre broke them. You can also make a good argument for Fran Tarkenton, who held most of the career records before Marino broke them.

Ive just named nine of the approximately top 14 quarterbacks in NFL history. ALL of them are also openly Republican.

Future Political Leaders?

Listed alphabetically, the conservative quarterbacks are:

Joe Montana: Montana is a longtime GOP donor.

Family-Friendly Content

Post Office Republicans And The Goldwater Landslide

Following the end of the populist era, Republicans effectively competed in even fewer isolated hill counties, mostly in north Alabama. While the Reconstruction period saw their strongest voting base in the black belt counties, Republicans also relied on many north Alabama counties that had never been strong proponents of the instutition of slavery. They garnered support from a coalition of small farmers, blacks, labor, prohibitionists, labor, etc. Again, these were often voters primarily from counties across the northern width of the state like Lawrence, Blount, Cullman, Walker, Winston, and DeKalb counties. Many of these counties elected Republicans to local office or occasionally to the state legislature even as late as the 1920s. However, only;Winston County;reliably elected Republicans to almost all offices as the county had attempted to succeed from Alabama during the Civil War and has always been considered ancestrally Republican. During this period the Republican Party relied heavily on federal patronage with federal appointments during Republican administration in Washington for such offices as local Postmasters.

Read Also: Why Did Radical Republicans Impeach Johnson

Republican Party In Alabama

Jeff Frederick, University of North Carolina at PembrokeCivil WarAlabamaReconstructionslavesUnionistsDemocraticWorld War IIWilliam Hugh SmithgovernorDavid P. LewisGuy HuntDon SiegelmanThe Republican Party EmergessecessionMontgomeryBenjamin TurnerSelmaJames T. RapierJeremiah HaralsonDallas CountywaterwayrailroadKu Klux KlanRobert LindsayBourbonsPost-Reconstruction Republican PartyGreenbackersPopulistscoalBlack BeltBirminghamagricultureReuben KolbThomas Goode Jonessegregation1901 state constitutionAlabama Republicans and Presidential PoliticsNew DealDixiecratGeorge WallaceParty Realignment and Republican AscendancyJames D. MartinLister Hillcivil rightscottonWinton BlountJeremiah DentonFob JamesRichard ShelbyLurleen WallaceBob Riley’sRoy MooreRobert BentleyShelby CountyAdditional Resources

Number Of Registered Voters By State 2021

Voter registration is the requirement that a person eligible to vote registers on an electoral roll before that person is entitled or permitted to vote. Voter registration may be automatic or may require each eligible person to submit an application. Registration varies between jurisdictions.

Almost 92 million eligible Americans did not vote in the 2016 presidential election. Voter registration and participation are crucial for the nations democracy to function properly and for the US government to provide fair representation.

Low voter registration numbers and low voter turnout can be the result of several factors. To increase voter registration and participation, barriers to registering to vote, and barriers to voting must be eliminated, such as additional restrictions on identification forms and reforms to ensure all eligible ballots will be securely counted. Additionally, those alienated from the democratic process or discouraged from voting must feel that their voice is heard by their leaders and encouraged to participate in elections.

Some pro-voter policies that have shown to increase voter registration and participation are:

Automatic voter registration.

Read Also: Are There More Democrats Or Republicans In The Senate

A Group Of Friends And A Few Acquaintances Were Having A Politic Many Of You Guys Can Add It Up In One Minute So Please Tell Me:

Eric rauchway, professor of american history at the university of democrats seized upon a way of ingratiating themselves to western voters: There were nine new senators and a minimum of 89 new representatives , as well as one new delegate at the start of its first session. During this time, african americans were largely disenfranchised. Get more help from chegg. The us political parties, now called democrats and republicans, switched platform planks, ideologies, and members many although what happened is complex, in many cases there was no clean sudden shift, and some voter bases and factions never switched, you can see evidence of the. How many new democrats are there? Voter registration is the requirement that a person eligible to vote registers on an electoral roll before that person is entitled or permitted to vote. Voter registration and participation are crucial for the nations democracy to function properly and for the us government to provide fair representation. Republicans who worked with democrats were traitors in the war for seats in congress. Ive seen a lot where it says theyre a registered democrat . A group of friends and a few acquaintances were having a politic many of you guys can add it up in one minute, so please tell me: Republicans and democrats after the civil war. In the others, such as virginia, voters register without.

Alabama Republicans And The Populists

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By the late 1890s, a coalition between the Populist Party and the Republican Party often produced “fusion tickets”, that combined forces in several subsequent elections to win control of several of Alabama hill counties in this era. They were most dominant in Marshall, St. Clair, Shelby, and Chilton Counties. Between 1892 and 1932 Shelby County was usually closely contested under the leadership of A. P. Longshore. Marshall County elected Republican Thomas Kennamer in 1896 to the Alabama House of Representatives. DeKalb County voted in 1896 for GOP Presidential candidate William McKinley. Chilton County was decidedly Republican between 1900â1912, including electing Lewis W. Reynolds as a Republican Probate Judge in 1904 and again in 1916. S. J. Petree was elected as a Republican Probate Judge in Franklin County in 1910; C. C. Scheuing was elected Cullman County Sheriff in 1910; J. B. Sloan was elected as a Republican to the State Senate from a district made up of Blount, Cullman, and Winston Counties. In 1910, J. J. Curtis of Winston County became the first Republican Circuit Judge in Alabama since Reconstruction.

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Registration Surges Follow The Campaign Calendar

The election calendar also influences party registration trends, as key dates and campaign events drive interest in participation. For instance, a presidential primary or the registration deadline ahead of the general election can spark a flood of registrations. But sometimes this can create a disproportionate number of registrations from one party.

Consider the 2020 presidential primary. Democrats had a competitive race, which drove interest in voting in 2019 and early in 2020 among Democrats and voters who wanted to have a say in the partys nomination contest. Meanwhile, Trump was practically unopposed in the GOP nomination contest, so there wasnt the same motivation among Republican-leaning voters to register ahead of the primaries in the spring until we got closer to the general election.

Illinois: Error Registered A Possible 545 Noncitizen Voters

CHICAGO An error in Illinois new automatic voter registration system led to a possible 545 non-U.S. citizens being registered to vote, 15 of whom cast ballots, state officials publicly acknowledged this week.

Illinois Secretary of State Jesse Whites office, which oversees drivers licenses, said the data of 574 people who self-identified as non-citizens was erroneously forwarded to elections officials to be registered to vote. Election officials confirmed Tuesday that 545 of them were ultimately registered.

It was a computer error, White spokesman Dave Druker said Tuesday. We moved to correct it and contacted people involved.

As Illinois Republicans called for an immediate hearing over a serious breach of voter protections, election officials worked to determine how many of the registrations were indeed invalid. Over 150 registrations had been canceled, said State Board of Elections spokesman Matt Dietrich.

Dietrich said it was possible some people indicated that they werent citizens by mistake. When Illinois residents get standard drivers licenses, they have to confirm they meet the criteria to vote, certifying they are 18 and a U.S. citizen. Only those who meet the criteria are supposed to be sent to election officials for registration.

The 15 people cast 19 ballots in elections in 2018 and 2019.

It was not immediately unclear what would happen to the individuals.

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Party Registration Is Often A Lagging Indicator

A voters party registration is a strong indicator of who theyll support, but its not a guarantee. In fact, many voters registered with one party have actually been voting for the other party in recent elections but havent necessarily switched their registration to reflect the party they actually support.

Take Pennsylvania, for example. The once-Democratic southwestern part has shifted sharply toward the GOP over the past couple of decades. However, party registration figures havent necessarily reflected that movement as much as you might expect. For instance, Greene County along the West Virginia border voted for Trump by 40 percentage points in 2016, yet preelection registration figures1 show that party identification is split almost evenly, with registered Republicans and Democrats each making up 45 percent of the countys voters.

Part of whats going on is that many older voters in that region are still registered as Democrats, even if they back Republicans for most federal offices. Conversely, the suburban counties around Philadelphia in the eastern part of the state used to form the base of the state Republican Party, but even though that area has moved toward the Democrats in recent elections, some Democratic-leaning voters havent changed their party registration. In other words, big shifts in party registration sometimes tell us something we already know, and arent a signal of a new shift in attitudes.

Polling Data Shows Republican Party Affiliation Is Down As Independents Leaning Toward The Democratic Party Surge

Democrats have a nine-percentage-point affiliation advantage over Republicans at the moment.

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The GOP is losing its grip, according to the latest Gallup poll.;

The number of Americans identifying as Republicans or as independents who lean toward the GOP dropped to 40% in the first quarter of 2021, compared with the number of Democrats or independents leaning toward the Democratic party hitting 49%. And that nine-percentage-point lead is the greatest Democratic advantage that Gallup has measured since the fourth quarter of 2012, when former President Barack Obama was re-elected.;

Gallup routinely measures U.S. adults party identification and the political leanings of independents. The latest poll surveyed a random sample of 3,960 U.S. adults by phone between January and March of 2021. And while Democratic Party affiliation actually dropped by one point from the fourth quarter of 2020, to 30% where it has hovered for most of the past eight years the number of Americans identifying as independent rose to 44% from 38% last quarter. And this growing number of independents came at the expense of the Republican party, as 19% of independents said they lean Democrat, compared with 15% leaning Republican. Most of the remaining 11% of independents didnt swing either way.;

And several events have happened during those three months that could position the Democratic Party more favorably in voters eyes, the Gallup report noted.;

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Number Of Registered Voters In Illinois Exceeds 8 Million

Something about the 2016 election is striking a cord with the populace to make sure that theyre registered, said Ken Menzel, general counsel for the Illinois State Board of Elections.

With less than two weeks until Election Day, more Illinoisans are registered to vote since record keeping began in 1970.

Past Jumps In Party Affiliations

The bump in Democratic affiliation following Bidens inauguration mirrors that of former President Barack Obamas first term, Jones said.

That was really the high point that weve seen; kind of the 2006-2009 period, when really the majority of Americans either identified as Democrats outright or were independents but they leaned toward the party, he said.;Our data on this only goes back to the 90s, but its pretty much the only time we consistently had one party with the majority of Americans on their side.

Republican advantages, though rarer and more short-lived, followed the Gulf War in 1991 when George H.W. Bush was in office and the 9/11 terrorist attacks during President George W. Bushs term, according to Gallup. More people also reported GOP affiliation after the 1994, 2010 and 2014 midterm elections.

Whether the Republican Party can regain advantage during the 2022 midterm elections may rely on the successes of the Biden administration, according to Jones.

A lot of it is going to depend on how things go over the course of the year. If things get better with the coronavirus and the economy bounces back and a lot of people expect Biden can keep relatively strong approval ratings, then that will be better for the Democrats, Jones said.;But if things start to get worse unemployment goes up or coronavirus gets worse; then his approval is going to go down. Its going to make things a lot better for the Republican Party for the midterm next year.

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