#that’s what the beauty of this show has been. we’ve been watching an unbiased telling of what Actually happened.

[macabre-crab]

“himimimimimimi book alicent would never!! book rhaenyra would never!! book rhaedkdkdndkskfndofntkdofndk-“

“History will paint you as a cold queen.”

YEAH THATS WHAT I FUCKING THOUGHT !!!!

[characteroulette]

Ace Attorney fave case list

okay so I wanted to write about my fave AA cases but in like. a weird award list sort of way. so I assigned each of my fave cases some top-tier totally unbiased awards!

(there will be spoilers)

(also this is just the main games. the AAI games, the Layton game, and DGS all should get their own categories) (and I haven’t played either DGS games yet)

//

Best Protagonist Showcase --

  > 2-4!! Farewell, My Turnabout!

This case has some great tunes and is a very, very good look into Phoenix Wright as a character. This is probably the best look into our playable character the games have ever given us. I mean, AAI2 got close, but seeing Phoenix struggle against both himself and the case (and Edgeworth) is just. *chef’s kiss* Perfection, I love it more every time I come back to it.

Best Prosecutor Showcase --

  > 1-4!! Turnabout Goodbyes!

This is still the only case we’ve gotten where you defend your rival prosecutor and it is very near and dear to my heart because of that. I feel like this is the reason why Edgeworth is such a popular character, because all of his angst and depth comes out here and it is amazing. Making a rival character like Edgeworth whom we learn about to this extent and can connect to so much? Genius. And we see babies!! That’s important to me.

Best Villain --

  > 1-5!! Rise from the Ashes!

Look you cannot tell me there’s been a better villain than Damon Gant. Chief of Police for two years after manipulating a serial killer case, making Edgeworth present forged evidence and throwing the Chief Prosecutor under the bus for it. He got too comfortable in his seat (as Von Karma did before him) and found out the hard way that committing a crime is a lot harder than it is to catch a criminal! (Also Phoenix really came into his own in this case, it’s beautiful.)

Best Assistant Showcase --

  > 6-4!! Turnabout Storyteller!

okay you can tell I’m a sucker for the chance to work with your prosecutor buddies because holy shit, the only reason I stopped hating SOJ so much was because this case happened (and it only gets better from here). It’s just so nice to see Blackquill adjusting to life now that he’s not on death row! Having friends he wants you to defend! And then GRABBING YOU UP IN A THREAT!! Holy shit words cannot describe how awesome it was to see that.

Best Bait and Switch --

  > 3-5!! Bridge to the Turnabout!

Oof okay so setting up the whole Dahlia mystery and then taking Phoenix out entirely for the first day of the trial?? Honest to goodness genius move, holy shit that was such a game changer for the series. This case has a lot of bait and switches happening, but that one. That one is my favourite.

Best Mess --

  > 4-3!! Turnabout Serenade!

This one was a real close call between it and 6-2 (or 3-1, if I’m being honest), but watching the concert video over and over again has the same vibes as watching the Blue Badger in 1-5 and therefore it wins out This case sucks on all logical levels, but it’s fun and I like the progression it takes for the characters, so it is the best mess hands down.

Best First Case --

  > 4-1!! Turnabout Trump!

Holy shit this one is such a gut punch, what a way to start off a game. First setting up the scene, in which it’s been seven years and Phoenix was mysteriously disgraced as a lawyer. Then it builds, giving us Kristoph being just a little suspicious, enough so that the player is steered towards suspecting him for the big reveal. And then!! The bloody ace!! The betrayal!!! This case is meant to throw everything you know about the original trilogy on its head and it does it so well that it’s just. The best.

Best Final Case --

  > 6-5!! Turnabout Revolution!

Listen okay 2-4 is so good and 3-5 is also great, but 6-5 really steals the show. First ever appearance of a Civil Case?? And it’s against Phoenix Wright??? Amazing. All the investigation beforehand exploring Apollo’s very mixed feelings on his foster dad?? Perfect. And then the investigation in Khura’in and the trial after!! Holy shit, this entire case was such a showstopper that I will adamantly tell you to please play SOJ if you, like me, skipped it because it was digital only.

(the mmd models are the only thing that I actively hate in this case, but your mileage may vary on that one. I personally think mmd models look so damn awkward anytime they show up and it just ruins any and all tension the scene is trying to set... XD)

                                             and, of course,

Best Turnabout --

  > 1-3!! Turnabout Samurai!

Honestly, this award could go to any case (and 1-2 is a close second in my heart), but seeing Edgeworth realise right at the end that Phoenix’s arguments are making sense, that he’s right, is just so good. I like this case a lot more than a lot of others do I think just for this reason alone. And all the Gumshoe friendship building is also important. Dee Vasquez deserved better.

//

....and that’s all I got! Try this out for yourself if you want, I like hearing people’s opinions and I’d like to see what all awards and reasons others might have for their own favourite cases.

[saundraswriting]

Interior Design Chapter 4: Accept

SUMMARY:You official declare your acceptance of the job for the Avengers, knowing it will be the biggest one you will ever work on. You start right away.

WARNINGS: None

NOTES: This is an everyone lives/no one dies, Living in the compound, Non Civil War compliant, No Sokovian Accords AU.

Previous / Next

"Oh my god. That was so fucking stupid." You facepalm. "You meet Sargent Barnes and that is what you say. Then recommend a houseplant." You smack your forehead again.

"Are you quite done?" Tony leaned against the wall arms crossed, eyebrows raised, a small smile hovering on his lips. You had dragged him down a ways to be out of sight from the others while you panicked.

"Mr. Stark! No, I am not done. I think I need to go. Right now." You sighed, leaning against the opposite wall, gently thumping your head on the wall.

Tony dropped his amusement very quickly, straightening. "Let me tell you something. That is the first time someone has touched Barnes in weeks. I have never seen someone hug him. Only Steve has been able to touch him, and even he has to ask to not startle him." Tony told you.

"You're right! I didn't ask. How rude and improper of me. I didn't trigger him did I?" Tony's words did not reassure you like he hoped, actually pushing you closer to true panic. You pushed off the wall turning to head back towards the kitchen. Tony threw an arm out stopping your progress. Youi looked at him, eyes wide and unfocused, cheeks flushed.

"Wait. Hold on. Listen to me, Ms. Psych-Minor-lady. A severely traumatized dangerous man let you in close enough to hug him. He was crying, yes but-" Tony was trying to calm you down. You felt terrible, a off the street civilian thinking you were entitled enough to just touch him and prattle on about what is best for him. Tony could see what you were feeling on your face.

"Crying?!? You yelped. "I made him cry??"

"But he was smiling too. You did good, kid. Also that plant idea was solid. Now let me show you to your room? I have your stuff in a guest room right now but that will be moved in a minute. I will give you a room here and an office on the business section as well. Now, the only empty room is in the hallway with Steve, Sam, Bucky and Shuri." Tony smiled at you trying to relax you. You peered at him suspiciously.

"I didn't do anything bad? I just...I don't know everything that has happened lately but what bit I do know just pulls on my heartstrings. I felt he needed some unbiased comfort. I would certainly want a hug after everything too." You wrapped your arms around yourself, shrinking in, still nervous you had overstepped a line. Then the rest of Tony's words registered. "Your giving me a room? That seems weird."

Tony laughed and puled you into a side-hug. "Kid, I have had my eye on you for a while. You are part of this team, especially if you have to deal with all our bullshit. But to get back on track. You aren't wrong about Barnes. We've all been treating him with kid gloves, wondering what little thing we say or do will push him over the edge. In a minute of meeting him, you showed everyone he is still human-one who has been very hurt and is still struggling to deal with it. He needs our support, not alienation."

"He looked so sad and tired, alone. I know what it is like to be alone, to have your family pull away when they should be there for you." You leaned into Tony for a moment, appreciating the hug for the offered comfort. "Now, Mr. Stark. How about you show me a room that I will be working on? I would love to see some visuals." You tried to change the subject to get away from your botched first impression with Sargent Barnes.

Tony nodded, accepting the subject change with grace. Tony and you came upon a room and he asked F.R.I.D.A.Y to open it. "!2 of these rooms including yours included. There are 8 that are for our more frequent flyers and Very Important Powerful Beings." The two of you entered, you stepping deeper into the room to look at the dimensions. "Several of the VIPB are people like King T'Challa of Wakanda or the Black Panther and Colonel Carol Danvers goes by Captain Marvel among others, Ant-Man and his friend The Wasp like to stop by a lot."

"Scott Lang? Hope Van Dyne?" You turned to ask. Tony was surprised. "I respect Hope for trying to help her dad undercover at the Lab and Scott is doing his best. He likes to put smiles on people's faces. He is good about being good." You explained. "This rooms are great. Spacious with lot of natural light. You also didn't limit options, the room can be oriented in any direction." You paced the room, using your arms as a measuring guide. "I will need to plan extensively with the full-time residents. I will need some serious backgrounds on the others. I wouldn't want them to be unhappy upon arrival. I will need to speak to someone about how to make a room fit for a king and princess." You mumbled to yourself continuing to walk around the room. Tony watched with a proud look, like a parent giving their child a present they love.

"Glad to see you enjoying yourself. We'll be getting dinner here shortly. We eat together and usually watch movies afterwards." Tony was speaking to you while leading you back to the kitchen by the elbow. He could relate to the distant look in your eye. He knew you weren't listening, too busy thinking and planning. He led you to the edge of the hallway and you stopped.

"Mr. Stark." You interrupted the man. He smiled knowingly. "I accept your offer. I am honored to work for you. I do have some small current projects but I should finish them quickly to give my full attention to this."

"That is exactly why I wanted to stay here. You will be able to balance everything easier. I don't want to take away from your inner city clients. Now dinner tonight is Chinese. What do you want?" You gave Tony your Chinese order, the two of you moving forward once more.

You sat down at the large kitchen table, propping up your tablet and opening your laptop. The design app you used had the update blueprints and layouts like Tony promised. He huffed a small laugh. "I will leave you to it for a while. See you later, Y/N." Tony left, you mumming distractedly.

You decided to start a fresh page of notes to work with the labeled blueprints F.R.I.D.A.Y installed for you. You build a list of the basic of what everyone would need, knowing that is where their personal taste came into play. You listed some style motifs and examples to help with the planning.

An hour later and you were clawing at your hair. 'How do I make individual room layouts open to change without doing, undoing and redoing all the work over and over until they like it?' You were obnoxiously tapping a pen against the table while you thought, you were staring at the kitchen zoned out when it hit you. "Magnets! I make a magnet image board. I use the specs of one room and the basics into magnets and then I can make their personal choices magnets to be movable!" You smacked the table energetically. You began frantically scribbling and searching for custom magnets. You figured that a decent sized board with a grid would be best, you can make your own with pictures and plain lightweight magnets. "I am going to need so many samples." You muttered.

"Hey, you ready for a break? Chinese will be here soon. As will some of the others you haven't met yet." Tony chimed from next to you. "You've been at it for like two hours now. I have been waiting for you to come up for air for a while now."

"I am a bit of a workaholic. Sorry. You have to be forceful to get my attention when I am in the zone." You apologized sheepishly. "This is very large undertaking, I wanted to get some thought in order before I got started." Tony waved off your apology and moved to the couch where Steve was already sitting.

The sight of him on the couch made another thought cross your mind. You left the mess on the table and walked quickly to the living room. You peered closely at the sectional in front of you. "Reinforced furniture." You commented. Captain Rogers and Tony looked at you in confusion. "Captain Rogers, can I borrow you for a moment?" You asked. He nodded and they both stood up. "I need you to lift this couch please."

"Um, sure." The good captain did just as you asked and you got down on the floor and looked underneath. Nodding a few time you got back up, "Thank you for the assist. You may put it back."

You went back over to your notes and began muttering and scribbling. "Thicker wood frames, metal brackets at joints, some metal supports?"

"You are...very welcome...Y/N." Steve and Tony looked no less confused.

"I will admit to being more confused than before." Dr. Banner spoke from next to Tony. You looked up at the new voices freezing at who you saw.

"Oh my god. #sciencebros." You breathed. "Dr. Banner, an honor to meet you." You spoke louder, coming up to shake his hand. "I needed to see the wear and tear on the everyday furniture. The frames need reinforced." The three men ah'ed in understanding. Any further explanation was interrupted by Clint and Natasha coming in arms fully loaded with bags.

"We come bearing gifts! Everyone ready to eat?" The four of you jumped to help, you scrambling to put away your stuff and get out of the way.

Moments later the Avengers that were there had settled to eat. You sat across from a silver-haired younger man, who sat on the left of a beautiful Burnette who had a man with red skin on her right. Clint. Sam, Steve, Bucky, Tony, and Natasha then filled the rest of the seats. You were trying to gather your courage to introduce yourself when the red skinned man spoke to you first.

"Hello there, Ms. L/N. I don't think we have been fully introduced." His smooth British voice eased your nerves slightly but also caught the attention of everyone at the table.

Previous / Next

*******************************************************************************************

Okay, here we go...time to get to the good stuff. Anybody want tagged? What are we thinking?

[female-overlord-3]

Bring Them Home 12

The "Wild Pony" in the room ao3

Prev - Next

We discuss her so warnings for Maria being mentioned and also get some communication between Alex and Liz! Season 2 is done and now it’s time to see what I can use from it :)

They're all at Max's house again and it's somewhat decided on what to do about Maria.

"We've listed all the pros and cons but if we're going to be honest it's whatever we prefer to happen that decides this." Liz casts a glance at everyone seated in Max's living room, almost a near identical scene from a couple days ago.

Surprisingly it's Kyle who starts the conversation of if they should bring Maria in or not, citing he wouldn't mind and she was used at the Gala but she might react badly to the truth about Rosa.

Liz agrees with him but Michael, Max, and Isobel are still unsure.

Cameron isn't as close to Maria so she offers her unbiased opinion of waiting until after Noah and Caulfield is handled to tell her.

Max and Isobel share a look, Isobel more conflicted on the idea.

"I don't know if I can go through what I did with Liz, the guilt and having someone mad at me again. Not that DeLuca has ever liked me." She tries to joke but it falls a bit flat with the slight fear she feels at repeating that whole process again, even if she knows it wasn't really her who killed Rosa that night.

Liz takes her hand squeezes it. "I'll help. This time you'll have someone who knows what Maria will probably be going through."

"I'm tired of keeping secrets but if she decides to do something about it, I don't want to have the extra worry added to all the shit we already have to figure out." He looks to Max then Liz. "She'll want her mom to be healed but we don't know if Max can heal Mimi or what will happen if people start asking questions of how she got better so quickly." Slouching against Alex he sighs. "Plus this thing we almost started before Alex and I talked. I don't want to hurt her but if we tell her than she's gonna get hurt." Alex's arm comes around to hold him around the waist in comfort and he sinks further into his side.

Kyle makes a frustrated face and groans. "So most of us are fine with it but also don't want to face the consequences of what telling Maria will be. Great."

Alex has remained mostly quiet until Liz gives him a pleading look for support.

"Does the pros outweigh the cons? We'd gain someone else to help, who stays pretty well informed, can provide another safe place to meet up, is incredibly intuitive, and being a bar certainly helps most of us who'll need it." He sighs and takes comfort when Michael covers Alex's hand on his waist.

"But we don't know how well finding out the truth will go and as Michael pointed out, she'll want Max to heal Mimi. I'm also not a huge fan of adding another person who could get hurt or used by knowing."

"She still could. Wouldn't knowing the truth be better, being informed and aware."

Alex knows Liz is right but there's still this tiny small part that doesn't want to have Michael near Maria. Not yet, so soon after finally getting Michael. He feels eyes on him and tilts his head to the left to meet Isobel's.

"We should take a break, take 5 to think over what we want." There's a collective sigh of relief and Kyle, Max, Liz, and Cameron disperse.

Michael shares a look with Isobel before giving Alex a quick kiss to the top of his head and going to join the others in the kitchen.

Moving a seat closer, Isobel extends her hand.

"I've been working on not puking and being in physical contact seems to be the easiest way, just a splitting headache."

Alex eyes it before nodding, taking her hand and then they're in her mindscape.

You don't want to tell her.

Alex nods and looks down at his hands.

Not now. It's too soon. I don't want to see it.

See what?

That there might be love in her eyes when she looks at Michael. That she'll have that same hopeful expression I've had and would've gotten the chance to be with Michael because I was too scared that being with me would hurt him again. That one of my best friends would lie to me like that.

Time changes people Alex. We try to hold onto the past, to what we had but sometimes you need to let it go so you can move forward. You need to face it now or it'll rot inside.

A finger pokes his cheek and they're back, Isobel quickly digging through her bag to take a sip from the travel bottle of nail polish remover.

"Thank you. As much as I don't want to, I needed the push." Alex gives her hand a squeeze and cheekily gives it a kiss when he feels a familiar weight settle at his free side.

"Honestly if you had to fall for a woman i'm sure Iz would absolutely be your type darlin."

Alex, now more settled and lighter from his talk with Isobel, pulls a surprised Michael into his lap carefully.

"If we bring Maria in then I need her to know you're mine. That you're my home and we'll do what we can to help Mimi, to make sure what happened at the Gala won't happen again." He looks up at Michael with determined eyes and a set jaw.

"You and I will talk to her. We'll ask her if she wants to know the truth; now, later or not at all. It's going to hurt and be difficult but we've gotten through enough of those that we'll be fine." Michael lean their heads together and a sense of calmness helps settle them. "Right?" He asks.

Michael nods and bumps their noses together. "Right. We're tough and durable as hell Alex. We can do this."

There's a small cough and a couple seconds someone complaining.

"Isobel let us back in!"

Michael and Alex break from their moment and look to Isobel who's looking anywhere but them, face somewhat embarrassed.

"I'm saving all of you from sheer sappiness. You should be thanking me!" She yells back as everyone returns and takes a seat, Isobel going back to hers.

"Ew I can see what Evans means. You guys are going to be that couple aren't you." Kyle bemoans but the teasing smile he wears makes the pair shrug.

"I've finally got Alex so you bet your fancy doctorate I'm showing him how much I love him." A sloppy kiss to Alex's cheek makes the man snort as his hold on Michael tightens.

"Guess we're just making up for our lost youth."

Alex smiles happily as he looks around, feeling somewhat safe to be like this with Michael but pauses when he gets to Liz.

There's a pained look in her eyes and she opens her mouth to say something before snapping it shut.

"Liz you have the thing I asked for?" She quickly nods and heads to the kitchen, some things still ingrained after living most of your life with a person.

Alex pats Michael's leg and gives a more chaste kiss to his cheek before moving him off. Michael's eyes shoot to where Liz left then back to him, an eyebrow raises in question if he should go with Alex.

A shake of Alex's head and the soft smile tells Michael to stay and wait causing Michael to pout but nod as he slumps back into the chair.

"Tell them what we decided and see what everyone thinks, I'll ask Liz."

"Ugh always make me do everything."

Alex just grins as he makes his way to Liz in the kitchen.

She's pacing the back and forth along the island but pauses when she sees Alex.

"What's up Liz? You looked like you needed to talk." Alex asks when she starts pacing again.

"I- It didn't hit me til now. How I didn't even realize is insane and it's been literal days I've seen it!" She rambles before taking a starting breath and stands to face Alex, the look of stubborn determination telling Alex that whatever she has to say is going to be hard for her.

"I'm a horrible friend." The statement makes him blink, not expecting it at all.

"Okay… why?"

"Cause I didn't have all the facts and when Maria talked to me about Michael and how she felt- how could I forget she told me that Michael was Museum guy and that you were in love with him!" Liz's hands fly out and shes back to pacing, missing the shocked and hurt face Alex makes. "She said she felt guilty because they slept together and then found out who Michael was to you but I told her she shouldn't, that she has no control over who she falls for because what's life if we don't fall right?" Her eyes are starting to glisten with tears when she turns back to Alex.

"I told her if she had feelings that it was okay and I hoped she'd talk with you because we're friends but she hasn't has she?"

Alex shakes his head but tries to calm Liz down. "No she hasn't but it's not your fault, you were right. You didn't have all the facts and you were trying to give her advice."

Liz throws her hands up in the air in frustration. "Alex I literally told her it was okay to be in love with Michael even though we both knew how much he meant to you for the past decade."

She grabs his hand and stares at him with tearful remorse.

"I didn't know but now I do and the love you guys have is- it just pours off of you! It's like watching the sun rise into a beautiful new day and I could've damaged that."

Some of her tears have fallen but now there's a smile on her face.

"You're both so happy and you deserve to be this happy! I've only gotten to really know Michael recently but the way he looks at you and how much lighter he seems, it's incredible."

Alex is somewhat speechless, mind still trying to process the good and the bad.

"So as much as I want to tell Maria and include her, for us three to band together and work toward being best friends before everything went to hell, we can wait til you feel comfortable. If you want to talk to her just about Michael then do. If you need me or want me to do it for you I will. I'm done being a shitty friend because you Alex Manes don't deserve shitty friends."

All Alex can do is bring her into his arms for a tight hug. He realizes now how much he's missed Liz, how fierce a friend she's always been even during those trying times of her being with Kyle then leaving for school. This is the Liz Ortecho he knows and loves. The closest thing to a sister he's had besides Maria

He lets out a watery laugh.

"Ya i'm not a huge fan of shitty friends but I've gotten to know some pretty decent people and one of them gave me a pretty good apology for something she didn't have much control over either." Alex sighs into the comfortable feeling of having one of his oldest friends close again, their relationship slowly but surely knitting back together.

"She didn't have all the information too and I'm not gonna be a shitty friend who keeps information. Michael and I are going to talk to Maria, ask her if she wants to know the truth about everything before we give her all the information."

Liz nods into his chest before stepping back and wiping her eyes. "If that's what you decided on then I fully support you. I'm serious though, you can throw me under the bus and I'll save you the pain of telling her. The alien stuff, what happened at the Gala. Michael. Everything!"

Alex rolls his eyes but smiles as he turns around.

"I'll let you know. Now let's get back to the others cause I've got my own whinny alien that is apparently impatient."

It's only now that Liz sees the way Alex's shirt is being tugged and pulled in the direction of the living room.

"Guerin's kinda needy." She jokes and latches into Alex's arms.

"Oh you have no idea."

[365daysoftododeku]

23rd November 2019

Author: CrzA

________________________________________________________________

Live Shows Can Be Deadly

Izuku doesn’t always listen to live radio talks while he’s out on patrol, but when he does, it’s always because of Shouto. Yes, they live together and see each other practically every day (there are always those times when their schedules are on complete opposite ends of the clock), but Shouto is Izuku’s best friend so it stands to reason that he would support him in any way he could. And that includes viewership in exclusive interviews. If anyone—Ochako—were to ask if it has anything to do with the fact that he has been pining for Shouto since they graduated from high school, Izuku would obviously tell them—her—that he has no such feelings towards his friend. You know, like a liar.

Ochako keeps telling him they’ve actually been dating for years, he just doesn’t realise it, and each time, he brushes her off with an exaggerated roll of his eyes and reinforcement that she’s ridiculous for even suggesting it. The thing is, despite the fact that he and Shouto are undeniably close, Izuku had never gathered the courage to go the extra mile and tell him how he feels. Part of that has to do with their line of work and with Izuku’s own standing in the Hero world, but it’s also in no small part due to his fear of messing up a really good thing. He doesn’t want to make things awkward between them when he feels so comfortable around Shouto.

Still, he doesn’t deny himself the pleasure of admiring him from afar, at least, and today is just one of the many examples of how he does it. Besides, things have been rather calm in the city these days, and Izuku only has one earbud in, his communications device still active in the other and ready to alert him to any emergencies that may arise. As he leaps from building to building, Izuku listens intently to Shouto’s smooth voice with a smile playing at his lips as he imagines the little pout he gets whenever he has to think about what to say.

Until very recently, Shouto hadn’t actually been allowed to give interviews without his PR person present, given his bluntness and overall aloof demeanour—Izuku had always found it rather endearing, to be honest, and he is sure the fans would feel the same, but it is what it is. So, Izuku is excited to hear his friend live, for once, without someone talking in his ear and feeding him ‘the right answer’ to whatever question may be thrown at him. He’s been doing great so far, in Izuku’s totally unbiased opinion, and he is already looking forward to the slew of cat pictures he’s going to get in the mail after revealing to the world that he is, in fact, very fond of kittens.

When the interview takes a turn for the slightly more personal, Izuku really isn’t surprised. People are interested in popular Pros’ lives in much the same way they want to know all about their favourite movie stars or musicians. And Shouto is undeniably beautiful, a heartthrob, if you will, and all of his fans are just itching to know his preferences so they can create all sorts of fantasies inside their heads. Izuku can’t really judge, all things considered, seeing as he pauses for a heartbeat at the sound of the next question out of the host’s mouth.

“So, Todoroki-san, what would you say would be your ideal type for a partner?”

In retrospect, Izuku should have probably waited to hear the answer before taking his next leap, but then again, he really didn’t expect to hear what Shouto says next, the fond smile evident in his voice and throwing him for even more of a loop.

“That’s easy. Hero Deku.”

To say that he was so shocked he missed his landing would be the understatement of the century. As it stands, Izuku ungracefully faceplants a stop sign when he trips on his own two feet the moment they hit the concrete down below, cutting off a loud curse as soon as he notices children watching him and instead dips into a crouch with a muffled shriek. His face turns all shades of read from both embarrassment and holding back multiple screams, some of them of joy, others of mild pain, most of them of complete and utter disbelief.

Unable to keep himself together, let alone keep listening to whatever the interviewer or Shouto say next, Izuku immediately tears the earbud out, already feeling his phone blowing up in his pocket with gods know how many texts. Smiling sheepishly at any civilians looking at him funny, Izuku casually takes his phone out of his pocket, rubbing the bridge of his nose when he sees Ochako’s name flashing right above his own PR agent’s, his mother’s and also Rei’s. Sucking in a deep breath and bracing himself for whatever’s to come, Izuku looks through the texts.

[Ochako 02:43pm]

Told ya. You owe me dinner now.

[Akagi Kazuha 02:44pm]

Please call me at your earliest convenience. We need to talk about your relationship with Todoroki-san.

[Mom 02:44pm]

Midoriya Izuku, why am I finding out that you and Shouto-kun are together through the news?

[Todoroki Rei 02:47pm]

Congratulations on the announcement! (ﾉ´ヮ`)ﾉ*: ･ﾟI was wondering when you would tell people.

So, apparently, Shouto’s mother gets to know about his supposed relationship before he does. Lovely.

Not even knowing how to respond to any of it right now, Izuku simply locks his phone and moves on to rubbing at his temples now. It takes about thirty seconds for everything to fully sink in, and as soon as Izuku gets a notice through his comms to get to the agency as soon as possible, he starts towards it as fast as his legs can take him, already sensing a myriad of cameras pointing his way.

After a quick talk with his PR agent and apologising profusely for something he is as much at a loss about as everyone around him, he is glad to be sent home where, if his extensive knowledge of Shouto’s schedule is correct—which it definitely is—, the reason for his turmoil should be lounging on the couch. That is, if he isn’t dealing with the backlash of what he decided to just announce to the world without any sort of previous warning.

And, because the universe is fair like that, when he steps through the door to their shared apartment, there he is, completely carefree as he eats a bowl of cereal while watching some cartoon on TV.

“Oh, hey Izuku. You’re home early.”

“Don’t you ‘hey Izuku’ me! This is how you decide to confess your feelings for me?! Through live radio?!”

“Confess?”

“Well, what do you call announcing to the whole of Japan that I’m apparently your type other than that?”

“Apparently?” Izuku throws his hands up in frustration, staring incredulously as Shouto narrows his eyes at him, brow furrowing with confusion. “She asked what my type of partner was. What was I supposed to do? Lie?”

“Yes! I mean—No? What do you even mean by that?” Izuku squeaks, his face so hot he almost worries he might actually spontaneously combust.

“Okay, so apparently everyone keeps saying I shouldn’t have done that. But I mean, it’s been years, whoever doesn’t see it is surely blind.”

Izuku blinks stupidly. “S-see what?”

“That we love each other.” Shouto deadpans and Izuku splutters, covering his face with his arms.

“Oh my god, you can’t just—how can you just—” He trails off into another shriek, turning his back to Shouto and curling in on himself.

“Wait… you actually didn’t know? Haven’t we been dating for a while? We even live together.”

“B-b-b-but we don’t—We don’t even share a room or a-any—what do you mean we’ve been dating for a while?!”

“I keep taking you out to dates.”

“I thought those were friendly outings!”

“Just the two of us? To romantic dimly lit restaurants with really expensive food? And that one time we went into the Tunnel of Love at the fair?”

“I didn’t—I thought that was just stuff you liked and—you never told me, Shouto-kun!” Izuku whines, facing his friend again.

Shouto purses his lips. “I thought it went without saying.” He shrugs, taking another spoonful of cereal to his mouth then speaking around the food. “I mean, we cuddle all the time, and even if we don’t share a room, I’ve slept with you plenty of times. We tell each other everything, cook meals for each other… The only thing we haven’t really done is kiss but I just thought you weren’t interested since you never asked.”

“Oh my god…” Izuku covers his mouth, feeling even more blood rushing to his cheeks. “We’ve totally been dating.”

“Well, yeah.”

“I can’t believe I didn’t notice.”

“And people call me dense.” Shouto snorts and Izuku points a very accusing finger at his face.

“Oh no, you don’t get off that easy! You should have told me!”

“I asked you to move in with me and you said yes.”

“That is not the same as saying ‘Izuku, I like you as more than a friend’!”

“I could have sworn I did.” Shouto hums thoughtfully, then shrugs once again before taking more cereal into his mouth. “Sorry. Well, you know now. Are things changing between us?”

“Well, I mean…” Izuku grumbles, gnawing on his bottom lip in a mix of annoyance and embarrassment. “You could kind of make up for all the time I spent pining for you without needing to, for one.”

“That seems fair.”

His apparent boyfriend crosses his arms over his chest after placing his bowl on the coffee table, leaning against the back of the couch as he tilts his head cutely. God damn it, he has no right to look that charming when he has just completely turned his entire world upside down. Izuku is sure his heart is actively beating itself into an early grave and Shouto looks like the picture of perfect calm.

“What do you suggest?”

“You mentioned that we haven’t kissed yet.” Izuku whispers shyly, clearing his throat and nonchalantly kicking at the air.

Raising a fiery eyebrow at him, Shouto lets a corner of his mouth quirk upwards for a split second. “That can be arranged, if you want.”

“I don’t want it, Shouto-kun. I demand it.”

“Fair enough.”

“Damn right, it is.” Izuku huffs, stomping all the way across the room and pulling Shouto up by the collar.

________________________________________________________________

Would you like your work to be featured in the 365 Days of TodoDeku Project? Apply here! (≧∇≦)/

[dannydevitosheight]

Steve Rogers Character Arc

I just saw Endgame 4/25 but I’ll queue this post for a later date so I’m not putting out huge spoilers so soon. And this post is not to say I hated Endgame. I really really enjoyed it. Experiencing all those incredible bad ass moments with a theater full of people who were cheering and clapping and as excited as I was...that's something special that's going to stick with me forever. And I'm grateful for it.

This post is about Steve Rogers in Endgame. And to a lesser extent, Bucky Barnes since, let's be honest, he had almost no role in that movie at all.

I just. Really really need to talk about this.

In part, so I can come to terms with this but also because it really hurts so much seeing so many people thinking Steve's ending was perfect and in character.

And before anything let me make this very clear:

I'm a HUGE Steve Rogers Stan and I want his happiness

I also wanted his character arc end to make some sense

I am also a HUGE Bucky Stan and yes,

I am A   H U G E Stucky Stan and I’m really genuinely trying to be unbiased.

Because, I knew Stucky was never going to be canon, but I’m still deeply deeply disappointed in how Steve’s character arc came to and end.

And it’s NOT just because he didn’t end up with Bucky. Although leaving Bucky like he did is a big part of it. It's not because of what I always wanted them to be. It’s so much more than that.

Watching Endgame was, hard, for so many reasons. There were so many wonderful moments like HOLY SHIT STEVE PICKING UP THE HAMMER. FUCKING INCREDIBLE. And some really fucking awful moments like Clint and Nat fighting over who is going to commit suicide and the softness in Nat’s voice before she let go. And of course...Tony. 💔

But Steve’s arc destroyed me. I’ve been a Steve Rogers stan since forever. Everything his character represents, comics or film, has made a huge impact on me. Always been on Team Cap in every version of Civil War. I’ve been in love with MCU Steve Rogers and his character arc. Until Endgame.

I’m not saying I don’t think he deserved to live a happy life with Peggy,

but...why did he need that?

The First Avenger: Steve rescued the 107th, to get Bucky back. 

Steve wanted to destroy Hydra, for what they stood for, but also because of what they did to Bucky. 

Steve, liked Peggy. Obviously. But what really was their relationship? A powerful attractive woman who kissed him one time? I mean, Steve buddy I get the initial boner but how much substance did their relationship really have in comparison to Steve's relationship to Bucky?

I don't even mean romantically. I mean if I had to choose between my best friend since childhood and a hot guy I've known for a few months...I would pick my best friend? Every time? Wouldn't you? And wouldn't that be a perfectly understandable choice?

But, moving on, in the end of TFA we obviously know Steve sacrifices himself for the greater good.

Avengers: Steve just, did what needed to be done.

He didn’t really have specific motivation at this time aside from his own strong morality and wanting to do the right thing.

The Winter Soldier: Steve has a hard time knowing what he’s fighting for...until he found out Bucky was alive.

After that, everything  was about getting Bucky to remember, and making Hydra pay for what they’d done. To Steve. To Bucky. Once his mission was complete, Steve dropped his shield for Bucky. He literally was going to let Bucky kill him, because he was that goddamn dedicated to sticking with Bucky until the end of the line. The ship doesn’t matter. This is just canon. Steve was willing to die. Just for Bucky this time.

This wasn't for the greater good. It wasn't to end Hydra this time. He already did that. He was literally willing to die...for Bucky, and Bucky only.

Also, for emphasis:

"Even when I had nothing I had Bucky."

"It's kind of hard to find someone with shared life experience."

(Not 20 minutes later who does Steve meet? Bucky, with pretty damn similar shared life experience)

"Then finish it. 'Cause I'm with ya to the end of the line."

Also, Steve has the hots for Sharon. Peggy's great niece. But he doesn't even know that. So like he just likes a woman that isn't Peggy. So. That's a thing.

Age of Ultron: Steve specifically states he doesn���t want a domestic life. After he has that weird stress vision about dancing with Peggy.

I don’t. UNDERSTAND. WHY. That was pART OF HIS CHARACTER ARC WHEN HE WAS JUST. GOING TO HAVE THAT ANYWAYS BUT OKAY.

Civil War: Steve literally did everything in this movie For Bucky.

"He remembered you, you know. Your pal. Your buddy. Your Bucky."

"He said 'Bucky' and it was like I was 16-year-old again in Brooklyn."

"Why did you pull me from the river?"

"I don't know."

"Yes, you do."

"I'm sorry, Tony. He's my friend."

And for the second time!!!!, Steve abandoned his shield for Bucky. I don’t know what else to say. He did it all for Bucky. I’m. Do you still think it makes sense for Steve to go back to Peggy? Shall I press further?

Oh right, remember how he buried Peggy in that movie, found out Sharon was her great niece and made out with her? Like. Okay. We all hated that but they were trying to say SOMETHING about Steve's love life. And it sure as hell wasn't that he was gonna leave everything for Peggy but alright.

Infinity War: Bucky was shown to be dusted first to show the tragedy and significance of this loss through Steve’s eyes. The Russos stated this. Steve sits in Bucky’s ashes. “Oh god.” 

Endgame: Steve literally doesn’t even talk about Bucky. Ever. He says his name once to shock his past self.

When everyone comes back, Steve and Bucky don’t even get to have a reunion. Tony reunites with Peter, and Doctor Strange. Rocket reunites with Groot. Okoye shows up with T’Challa and Shuri. Later on, Wanda and Clint have a moment, a call back to Age of Ultron. Why didn’t Steve reunite with Bucky? Or at least with Sam?! The whole movie was about those lost five years ago and Steve like doesn't even give a shit about both of his best friends coming back from the dead. In fact, the entire movie focused on Steve’s loss over Peggy, who died in Civil War. And yet he talks about being unable to move on from the loss of the snap? Are you serious? They don’t even allow or show ANY grieving over Sam or Bucky. We’ve already grieved over Peggy. He already moved on and dated Sharon. So why the fuck is SHE Steve’s focus and motivation again? Why doesn't he talk about Bucky or Sam AT ALL? Tony mentions "I lost the kid" Steve doesn't even mention watching Bucky die a second time. Like okay would have loved to see how he moved on from that and straight back into Peggy, somehow. But alright.

This literally came out of NO WHERE and SERVES NO PURPOSE other than to reduce Peggy's character to be a boner motivator for Steve and to prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that this entire time, Steve Rogers always has been and always will be a Straight Man.

In a story telling sense, it makes ZERO sense!! Steve’s character arc went from him being a morally strong self sacrificing fool to a deeply depressed man who didn’t want to be with anyone that didn’t have “shared life experience.” He found that. He found Bucky. The nature of the relationship doesn’t matter, it’s incredibly strong. That's been painfully obvious since TWS.

EVEN IF they were meant to be something like brothers, Steve should have stayed with Bucky. It seemed like the entire arc of both their characters was leading to them both getting rest together. Steve sacrificed everything in Civil War to save Bucky, so Bucky could start recovering and so that they could just, be a family together. So they could stop fighting and live quietly together. Chris Evans has talked so much about his character in conjunction with Bucky. How Bucky is Steve’s family. And Sebastian Stan has even stated the one thing that keeps Bucky from committing suicide is Steve. And Steve just. Leaves him. Leaves all of his family, who should arguably mean more to him than one girl he kissed one time in his past.

Is it a nicely wrapped up ending? Yes, I guess. But honestly, seriously, why was it NECESSARY? THERE were a millions ways Steve could still have a happy peaceful ending that didn't have to involve him leaving all of these people for one woman.

I feel cheated. This cut deep. I’m not going to lie. No interaction with Steve and Bucky expect a hug, repeated lines from TFA, and a pained, “I’m really going to miss you man,” from Bucky. We don't even get to see Bucky talk to Steve as an old man. That fucking hurts. We at LEAST deserved that.

Because he knew Steve was going to go back and marry Peggy. And that Steve was going to give up the mantle of Captain America. And I believe because Bucky told Sam to talk to Steve, Steve had already shared his intentions with Bucky before he went back in time. Which is nice but means nothing having it all happen off screen. I’m sure Steve wanted Bucky to be Captain America but he insisted Sam should take up the mantle. Probably because Bucky doesn't want to fucking fight anymore and was still recovering when he was asked to fight in Infinity War. Of course Steve wouldn't put this burden on him but why would he leave him? Steve was Bucky's closest friend, essentially his main support. Someone who could help him remember his old life and someone who could somewhat understand his trauma. No one else can be that person for Bucky. No one. Not even Sam. Sam wasn't there for Bucky's entire life. Steve was. And he just fucking left.

It's like. They gave Steve this arc across several films. One that broke down his faith in society and systems and pushed him closer to Bucky. And it's like. The Russo's (mainly) created this, really beautiful relationship between two men, two friends...but when it got too close to being possibly homosexual they had to drive a wedge between the two, one so wide there's no chance for any subtext to be there anymore, and no chance for us to assume Steve could be anything other than ramrod straight for Peggy and Peggy Only except Sharon That One or Two Times I Guess.

Steve Stans, wouldn't you say this ending is at least a little tiny bit unfair?! Have we all been watching the same movies? Going on the same journey with Steve Rogers? Regardless of your ships, you can't possibly deny the strength of Steve's bond with Bucky. How does it make sense for him to leave Bucky like this? How does it make sense for Steve to never mention him even once in Endgame?? WHY DOES IT MAKE SENSE FOR STEVE TO SUDDENLY REKINDLE HIS FEELINGS FOR PEGGY WHEN HE WAS SHOWN TO HAVE MOVED ON?!??

I literally. Don't. Understand. At all. How any of y'all. Can think. This makes sense?!

The Russo's Did Steve and Bucky Fucking Dirty in the End and Y'all Know it's True.

They queerbaited us. Okay. They did. They think having a gay extra makes up for it. Well it fucking doesn't. Because you know what else? I have one last thing. One last beef. The thing that really ripped my heart to shreds:

Remember, back in Winter Soldier, when Steve flirted with Sharon and she says "Oh and I think you left your stereo on?" And Steve is like oh thank you. And it's Fury playing a record on a loop. Remember the song? It was the only actual song on TWS sound track besides Trouble Man. It's called It's Been a Long, Long Time, and it's about lovers reuniting after WWII. That song plays just as Steve unknowingly meets Bucky for the first time since WWII. There is nothing to indicate Peggy in this scene. Fury plays the record. Fury gets shot. Steve pursues the shooter (Bucky).

And just before he does that, if you listen closely, with headphones, the song fades in and out at specific moments. These are the specific lyrics the sound designers chose to have audible enough to hear: "Kiss me once...long, long time...haven't felt like this my dear since...you'll never know how many dreams I dreamed about you...just how empty...without you."

The sound designers, editors, directors, make choices such as these to add depth to the film. These are the lyrics they chose from a song about lovers meeting after WWII during a scene were Steve (unknowingly) meets Bucky again for the first time since WWII.

And then they. Had the audacity. To end Endgame. With Steve dancing to that song. With Peggy. When they know what they fucking did in TWS. The sound design was very intentional. The scene they did that for was intentional. I can't possibly think of any other reason or way that scene and song would tie back to Peggy other than what that song is written about. But they KNOW that applies to both Steve and Peggy and Steve and Bucky.

The Russo's have been queerbaiting the fandom. And the more popular Stucky became, the more they tried to take it away from us. And when we pointed out how insanely strong and well developed Steve and Bucky's relationship was, they made sure Steve would never ever be considered bi again. They made sure to prove to us Steve's love for Bucky wasn't stronger than a sexual/romantic love for a woman. And in doing so they ruined Steve's character arc. They just did.

And before I get people upset with me, accusing me of hating Steve or wanting Steve to be unhappy...

If it was switched.

If Peggy and Steve were friends since childhood, if Peggy was kidnapped, experimented on, if Peggy was the Winter Soldier, if Peggy killed Tony's parents, if Peggy broke out of 70 years of brainwashing by Steve saying all of one phrase to her, if Steve gave anything and everything to save Peggy's life, to give her peace and just be with her again, if Steve resigned himself to letting Peggy murder him, if Steve abandoned his shield twice for Peggy, if you had experience the pain of Steve watching Peggy die not once, but twice right in front of him,

What would you call their love?

And what would you think if, after all that, Steve just decided to leave Peggy behind to spend time with Bucky? Wouldn't it hurt?

[considertheturtle]

Alias Grace Reaction: Episode 1

“The difference between ignorant and stupid is that Ignorant can learn.”

I fell in love with Alias Grace, the novel, earlier this year, inspired my love for the Handmaid’s Tale.

The novel is so beautifully written, and as such, despite the fact that it is not a long novel,  it took me nearly a month to finish just because I was hanging on every word, often rereading it to soak it in.

And then, of course, I had to watch the adaptation. So, I thought I’d do another round of life reactions to the show, similar to those I did for Handmaid’s. I’ve already seen AG once, so I already know its fantastic. And I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it since. Spoiler alert - Sarah Gadon is amazing. I don’t even have words for the things that woman can convey with the muscles on her face. 

Shall we begin? Cue music…

“And I wonder, how can I be all these different things at once?”

Is it possible that this sentence sums up the series in the first five minutes? So many characters who interface with Grace in this story struggle to put Grace into a neat category. Especially Dr. Jordan. And I have to admit, there were times, especially at the end where I found myself doing so myself. Not as much with Grace, who is far too complex for a category. But with other characters. More on that in future posts.

“I’d rather be a murderess, than a murderer, if those are my only choices.”

I’m struck by two things: One, the continuation of forced choice. Grace has no real choices in this series, only what she is allowed by those who control her. There is one exception, however. Her internal choices she makes remain outside of anyone’s control. And she is quite good at utilizing her intelligence to claim as much control as she can get.

Two, the early introduction to violence with the intercut flashbacks to Nancy’s murder. If we are to believe these are Grace’s own flashbacks prompted by various questions or thoughts  I feel it starts us off believing that she is guilty, for the cuts are crude and lacking in any empathy. But then, that would be putting Grace in a box again. 

Graces experiences in the asylum tear me up.  It was a time when psychology and psychiatry were not about helping patients, but rather learning and investigating, a fascination with the mind. With little respect for those who suffer.

“I’m not a dog, sir.”

And we begin the start of Grace owning Dr. Jordan. He comes in with this mindset of friendly, yet detached investigation. So much of his thinking in the novel is a struggle between all of the feelings he develops hearing about Grace’s life clashing with his belief that he needs to remain detached, unbiased, in order to do his work.

So he comes in with his apple, and his questions, and Grace sees right through it.

“Perhaps I’ll tell you lies.”

Grace’s transparency is at times is unsettling. It also lends to her credibility, despite the fact that she is from her own admission, an unreliable narrator.

“I thought, he wishes to go home and say to himself, I stuck in my thumb and pulled out a plumb, oh what a good boy am I.”

But I will not  be anybody’s plumb.”

I will say it now, and I will continue to say so probably five times each episode, Grace Marks is one of the most intelligent characters I’ve ever read. Also, we are only at the ten-minute mark and there’s already been so much to say.

“There are many dangerous things that take place in a bed.”

At its heart, Alias is a feminist work. Throughout the story, Grace does an excellent job of pointing out many of the differences between men and women. Many things, most men have no concept of, unless they’ve chosen to seek out female perspectives.

Am I a horrible person for being totally into the tension between Grace and Simon? I love so much her unwillingness to play along, to call him out on stupid questions. And his desire to be liked by her. That little segment beginning with ‘more than one way to skin a cat.” Grace is just having none of it. And I want to applaud. Sarah Gadon and Edward Holcroft do a beautiful job developing the tension between them, and the pacing of the dialogue, the quick, sharp tone in which Grace responds to his questions, trying to get under his line of inquiry. As a therapist, I appreciate clients who are as responsive as this. Grace is standing up for herself to say I am not just a subject for your amusement.  I am a person and this is my actual real life you are discussing.

Again, Grace with her transparent thoughts about thinking about pushing one or two of her siblings over the side. It paves the way to acknowledge she may have a violent streak. Or is she merely just being honest about her thoughts. And a realist about her circumstances.

Her poor mother. A woman who never had any agency. In the book, her mother got pregnant young and had no choice but to marry, despite her sister’s advice. And from that point, Grace never knew a time when her mother wasn’t pregnant.

LOL at Grace’s “I did not mean to offend your sensibilities.” Grace is steel. Simon, not so much. 

Yet still, I’m very attracted to him.

Perhaps the loss of her mother, watching her suffer, waking up with her dead beside her on the bed was Grace’s first trauma. Though who knows how many came before that. For a girl who was so young, those are images she’d never forget. Also having to toss her mother off the side of a ship, rather than having a burial. We come to realize Grace’s life is about survival.

That music though. String instruments always get to me.

I wanted to smack Simon when he ignored her comments about queer ideas, showed no empathy after her loss and just asked her to continue. A reminder that at least at this point, Simon is there for scientific purposes, to investigate, not to help. Simon would probably say something very different about himself. But he strikes me as a man on a mission, who fails to notice potential harms he’s causing along the way.

Her father, first of the many trashy men in her life. This leads to the first question, of all the men in this show, who has the most integrity. None of them are perfect (not that anyone is). I’m sure hoping no one votes for her father though because he’s the worst.

Mary Whitney!! “We will be revenged.” Hmmmmmm

“The difference between ignorant and stupid is that Ignorant can learn.”

It is possible that Mary Whitney may be the only true ally Grace will have in her entire life. I love their friendship so much. And seeing the absolute glee Grace feels being around her is such a nice break from all the pain she’s experienced in the past.

“When you write, I feel as if you were drawing on me. Drawing on my skin with the feather-end of an old-fashioned goose pen. As if hundreds of butterflies have settled all over my face and are softly opening and closing their wings.”

Whew, we’ve got some tension there.

“A feeling of being torn open. Not like a body of flesh, it is not painful as such, but like a peach. And not even being torn open, but too ripe and splitting of its own accord. And inside of the peach is a stone.

My take on this quote is the final summation of Grace’s feelings towards her current status with Dr. Jordan. Fascination, heightened sense of awareness, and fear that this dynamic may lead her to open up in ways which reveal things she may not want to reveal about herself. Grace can say what she wants about not caring about what other people think, but Simon laid his cards in the open. As long as she talks (and as long as he remains interested), she is safe from going to the Asylum. So she must talk, but at what cost?

Whew, we reached the end. What a powerful first episode. Margaret Atwood strikes again. It is clear that everyone involved in making this series has done so with such care. I can’t wait for episode two.

[mx-requests-forum]

[Fulfilled] Left Alone

Prompt: ChangHyuk + they're the only two left in the dorm and CK takes the opportunity to confess

Fulfilled by Moderator ReeLee~

Words: 1791

AO3 Link

"Have a good holiday, you two!" Hoseok calls from the doorway, waving at his only two dongsaengs left in the dorm now. His Santa hat flops to the side when he whips his head away, gleefully turning to face his week of freedom as he closes the door with a resounding thud.

Minhyuk and Changkyun glance to each other, a question hanging in the silent air.

What to do now?

The older chuckles a second later, turning and flopping down on the sectional.

"All alone, now~" Minhyuk says, a smirk painting his handsome features. The sight alone is enough to make Changkyun melt. It practically makes his heart stop mid-beat. Changkyun gulps nervously, muttering some excuse about having lyrics to write, and escapes from the room without waiting for a response.

Minhyuk only watches him go, amusement sparking in his eyes. Before, he’d been questioning his decision to not leave the dorm for the holidays. Now, after seeing the maknae reacting so nervously to him, he knows he’s made the right decision.

 I don’t know if I can do this, hyung…

Changkyun stares intently at the text he’d sent to Jooheon a whole two minutes ago. God, why has the older picked today of all days to take a century answering the simplest of texts??

Finally, just before the maknae sends another desperate plea for help, a new message comes in.

We’ve discussed this, Kkungie… You get alone with Minhyuk-hyung, tell him how you feel, and everything will be alright again. So, man up and do it. God knows the group has been suffering because of this…

He’ll say no, hyung. I know he will. Then it’d have just been better if I stayed quiet…

Changkyun-ah, stop that right now. You’ll do fine. Just… idk… plan something special and work from that. Pay for dinner, put on some music… Let loose a little ;)

Changkyun pauses, very much unsure if Jooheon had truly been the one to send that last text. His suspicions are confirmed at the next message.

Srry Kkungie… Kihyunnie-hyung stole my phone

You can’t say it was bad advice! comes a second later, only this time from Kihyun’s own phone. Jooheon answers back a second later complaining about the older butting in on a private conversation, to which Kihyun fires back a defense about having to because Jooheon had been ignoring him. Changkyun sighs exasperatedly, locking his phone and setting it aside. Of course those two were still together… They’ve been together for only a month, so they’re still in that honeymoon phase.

Changkyun just can’t wait until Jooheon gets put out by Kihyun’s incessant nagging and breaks up with him. He’s missed having his favorite hyung by his side…

The maknae pouts, staring up at the ceiling. He’s got to admit, Kihyun’s advice had struck a chord with him. Maybe if he were to order some of Minhyuk’s favorite pizza for dinner, and maybe put on some music… Maybe then he’d be able to get this thing off his chest he’s been hiding for months.

 Hours later, there’s a knock at the front door. Minhyuk glances up confusedly from the television, frowning at the unplanned interruption in his regularly scheduled programming. He’s just about to drag himself up off the couch to answer when Changkyun suddenly bolts through the room, flinging the door open, and flinging money into the stranger’s hands only to receive a pizza box in return.

Minhyuk’s heart just about flips over in his chest at the sight, and his mouth immediately begins to water.

“What’s this, Kyunnie?” Minhyuk asks as Changkyun walks over with the biggest pizza Minhyuk has ever seen in all his life in his arms. It smells delicious, all that cheese and bread and sauce mingling together to create the best of aromas.

“I thought you might be hungry,” Changkyun explains, a slight blush coming to his cheeks, "so I ordered us some dinner." Minhyuk coos, moving over to make room for the younger. He reaches over to pull at Changkyun's chubby little face, only releasing his grip once he's decided the maknae's whined enough. Then they dive in, all thoughts of teasing thrown aside by the sight of the fresh pizza.

 One thing any member can say about the other: when food is in the picture, you're sure not to get a peep out of anyone until it's all gone. Which doesn't take long, mind you, as all the members are used to starving themselves during promotions. Some don't even do it on purpose half the time. They're just all so busy they don't even think to eat until it's too late.

Once the pizza is sufficiently devoured, Minhyuk wipes his greasy hands off on his jeans and sighs contentedly as he turns his attention back to the television.

"That was a great idea, Kkungie," Minhyuk compliments, smiling a little as he watches Changkyun pick at the box nervously out of the corner of his eye. He's so cute when he's so nervous, the older can barely even stand it without kissing him right then and there.

"H-Hyung..." Changkyun mutters, chewing on his bottom lip. Minhyuk hums for him to go on, but the younger doesn't seem to be able to even look in his direction. Instead he looks over at the sparkling Christmas tree Kihyun had insisted they put up before everyone left in the corner, and then at the tea lights and holiday-scented candles he's sure Minhyuk had lit while he was hiding in their room. Kihyun is always sensitive to smells, and doesn't like it when Minhyuk lights things like this when he's around...

Of course, that could also just be because it's Minhyuk that's doing it, as he never has issue with Hoseok's different candles...

There's a soft tune playing on the television in front of them, and between that and the dim—some may say romantic—lighting, Changkyun suddenly feels a swell of pride within him. He returns his eyes to Minhyuk, smiling as he does so. The expression seems to lighten up the whole room, in Minhyuk's most unbiased (completely biased) opinion, and he finds himself smiling in return.

"Do you wanna dance, hyung?"

Minhyuk can't help but laugh at the seemingly silly question. But, he nods before he can talk himself out of it, deciding to go along with the maknae's suggestion. He stands, holding out a single hand only half-hidden by his overly-sized sweater. Changkyun's grin only grows as he takes it, and lets the older lead him closer to the hall where they'd have more room to sway about.

Changkyun can swear Minhyuk can hear his heartbeat as he's pulled close to the older's chest. He's suddenly very thankful for the dim lighting, as it helps to hide his growing blush at their proximity. The sounds of the emotional scene pour out from the television, and Changkyun can't help but gulp loudly as the male lead begins to pour his heart out to the beautiful woman in front of him. He licks his lips nervously, pulling away slightly mid-sway to meet Minhyuk's warm gaze.

"Hyung..." he murmurs, feeling the older's grip tighten on his waist. He takes comfort from the touch, using the pressure to ground himself in the moment. "Hyung, I like you. I like you as more than a friend, as more than a bandmate... I like you more than I know I should, but I can't help it." Minhyuk remains silent, just smiling down at his dongseng and showing no sign of having heard him. Changkyun frowns a little, wondering of the older had even listened. "I'm sorry if this affects our friendship negatively, or if you're angry with me because of this. But, I can't help it. It's how I feel, and—"

"Changkyun-ah," Minhyuk chuckles out finally, a hand drifting up to cup the younger's cheek. His eyes are shining brighter than any Christmas light Changkyun has ever seen, and the gaze leaves him breathless. "You don't think I know? I'm sorry to break it to you, but you're a very easy man to read. I could tell the moment you became attracted to me."

Changkyun gulps nervously, replaying all the times since he's come to the realization of his own feelings Minhyuk has given him side-glances, winked at him, made less-than-family-friendly jokes to him... He'd never dared to hope all that had been this beautiful man's attempts at flirting with him... Minhyuk's repeated laughter brings Changkyun's mind back to the present, and he playfully slaps at the older's chest.

"Why didn't you say anything, then?" he demands, pretending to be upset despite them both knowing how truly relieved he is.

"Because I knew you wanted to tell me yourself," Minhyuk tells him simply, shrugging. "I didn't want to take the moment away from you."

"I wish you had," the younger mumbles, his eyes falling to Minhyuk's sweater. "This was so nerve-wracking," he admits, earning another laugh from his hyung.

"Well then," Minhyuk says, his index finger hooking under Changkyun's chin and forcing him to look up. "Allow me to lift the burden a little~" He then leans in and kisses the younger, a swift, simple brush of the lips that makes the maknae's heart practically burst from his chest. He pulls back all too quickly for the younger's taste, earning an even bigger pout than before.

"You really think that'll make up for playing with me all this time?" Changkyun asks, already leaning up on his tiptoes to get closer to Minhyuk again. He goes in for only their second kiss, his eyes falling shut as he presses himself as close as he can get without knocking the man over with his body. Minhyuk laughs amusedly against the kiss, his arms dropping to loop around the younger's waist.

 The two wander back over to the couch, their lips practically glued to each other as they go. Their hands wander around each other's bodies, seemingly trying to map out every curve and slope they'd only glanced at before. They get to know each other better without words but with action, the drama still playing before them but long-forgotten.

 Eventually, the drowsiness from eating such a heavy dinner hits them, and they're left a bit breathless from their silent conversation. They still peck at each other's lips and skin, not wanting it to end, but with less of a curiosity than before.

They fall asleep like this, cuddled up together on the sectional, holding onto each other like their lives depend on it. When they wake up they can't tell for a moment if they're still dreaming or not, the events of the night before all seeming like a wonderful dream they never want to wake up from.

[ingridgovaninsights]

The Charlotte Chapters- Part 2

Fast forward three years…

Now I am nineteen. A lot has changed, but mostly silly little things- I keep my hair long now, I have a “real” job, I occasionally go out on dates. Life is pretty good. I started to go to college. It wasn’t great, but I felt happy I was doing something productive with my life and continuing to learn.

Elliott and I are still pretty good friends. We’ve made tons of memories- he got his license as soon as he was old enough, and we always just went out on adventures. Our signature thing was going for coffee. And it wasn’t like a typical activity- we would spend hours and hours in the coffee shop, talking about anything. Just random things. And we’d go for drives- long drives out in the country because it was so peaceful. We enjoyed showing each other songs and playing them over the BlueTooth- singing along and relating to the lyrics.

He was honestly the best friend I’d ever had. But that’s about as far as it went.

I knew Elliott was interested- he would flirt, he would sometimes share how I made him feel. And I’m too nice of a person to simply turn someone down, especially when that person is my best friend. He did know I didn’t feel the same way- but hey, you can’t tell someone how to feel.

That was the year that I met Ross. He was the stereotypical good looking guy, at least in my opinion. Bright blue eyes, a chiseled jawline even… he took great care of his hair. Not to mention he played guitar. I was smitten. What college-aged girl could resist pursuing someone so promising?

In hindsight, I know that looks aren’t everything… they’re far from that. I wish I’d dug a little more deeper when making my decisions.

We met each other at the college’s “video game club”, as if I wasn’t enough of a nerd. I hadn’t made any friends yet, so I anxiously went on my own; I remember being quite proud of myself.

For such a geeky club, there were a lot of people that decided to join. There were probably thirty or thirty-five people gathered around, mostly in small groups chatting about video games, I assumed. The demographic was mostly male… I was probably one of the ten or so females.

I noticed Ross because he was also standing awkwardly by himself. He was on his phone- or at least pretending to be on his phone- in the far corner of the room. His brown hair fell down over his eyes. How could he see like that?

When he looked up from his phone, he noticed me. I don’t think I would have approached him- I’m not the type to do that. I probably would have endured the evening alone, and then I likely would have never gone back. But Ross boldly made his way over to me, where I stood right by the door in case I needed to escape in a moment of panic.

“Hey,” he greeted me, grinning an extremely handsome grin, “you a new student?”

“I am,” I said a bit shyly. “I’m guessing you are, too.”

“Yeah. Wanted to kinda at least try to be a little social, you know?”

Oh, I knew. I had to put on a persona for a while, see if I could fit in anywhere, and once I realized it was just going to be like highschool all over again I could retreat to doing my own thing peacefully- at least then I could say I tried.

“This club seems silly,” I said. “Why does everyone take these games so seriously? Like, we’re talking about Mario Party here.”

Ross smirked. “You’re funny. Hey, do you want to leave this place and maybe go for a coffee or something? On me.”

He certainly knew how to make good first impressions.

***

Somehow things progressed. We had a great first “date”, if you’d call it that. We chatted about lots of interesting things, and we got to know one another. You know how first dates work. I was extremely awkward, but apparently he found that to be cute. We got along really well- probably because I so easily agreed with everything he said- but really, for the longest time we never had any arguments.

He took a pretty busy college program, which didn’t allow him for a lot of free time. This was probably our first “bump in the road”. And I suppose when I reflect on it now, this is where it all went wrong.

A few months into our “too good to be true” relationship, I texted Ross asking if we could hang out. I hadn’t seen him at all in a week, and he only lived five minutes away. In my mind, it didn’t make sense to me. If he had homework, couldn’t we do it together? That’s a coupley thing. Sort of.

Can’t… I said I don’t have time right now, He texted back. Maybe next weekend.

This really bothered me- two weeks without seeing my boyfriend? I understand in a lot of cases this is perfectly fine… when someone is on a trip, when you’re living long-distance for whatever reason… in that case, the time apart is expected. But I didn’t sign up for this, not when we went to the same college and our houses were practically within spitting distance.

I honestly can’t say he was entirely to blame, because instead of voicing my opinion, I responded simply with a “K”. It’s passive aggressive and doesn’t exactly allow for constructive conversation. What was I expecting him to say to that? Ross left it at “K”, and we held in that anger, that frustration.

For a while, it was fine. I could live with some rocky times, some space from my partner. But what I couldn’t live with were the bottled up emotions- I was still mad about the fact that my needs weren’t being met. And whose problem was that, exactly? Ross was never there, but at the same time, I could have just spoken up.

But I’m not sure it would have made a difference- when my uncle Sam passed away, Ross was absent and clueless about how to help me. I remember we were sitting in my backyard, drinking iced tea and watching Youtube videos, when my mother interrupted our good times to announce the terrible news.

“Charlotte, sweetie, I’m so sorry,” Mom said, looking at me with tears in her eyes.

Uncle Sam and I had never been overly close, but I always found we had a lot in common- he was a foodie, a thinker, he loved to read, and he barely talked to anyone. Whenever we did spend time together I felt like I could just be myself, and he admired that. I’d like to think relatives don’t pick favorites, but I’m fairly certain I was his favorite.

I wasn’t sure how to respond. I was mostly shocked, initially, so no tears came. But I rested my head on Ross’s shoulder, in an attempt for consolation, and I’ll never forget the disappointment he brought me.

He got up. As he rose my head slid off his shoulder. As soon as my mother left, that is. He brushed off his jeans, flicked his hair to the side coolly. Checked the time on his phone.

“I have to get going,” Ross told me.

And then he went home.

His discomfort with the situation was more important at the time than my grieving over my dead relative. How selfish does a person have to be to think that way?

But then again, in the end I was the one being called selfish.

***

Losing my uncle was really hard on me. Never in my life had I lost someone close to me other than my grandmother, and that was when I was quite young and it’s difficult to remember. But at nineteen years old, I was old enough and mature enough to understand that Uncle Sam really wasn’t coming back, and all those things I wanted to talk to him about were never going to be a conversation.

I didn’t have many people I could talk to. My family I suppose was an option- but I didn’t want to talk about Uncle Sam to Uncle Sam’s brother (my dad). That would probably just make my father more emotional than he already was. And if I told my mother or my sister, they would relay it to my father… so regardless, it would make more people upset than necessary.

I figured going to a third party would be the best, most unbiased approach. Elliott was still around. We often still went for coffee, and spent time together, but for the most part we had our separate lives. I texted him to visit my apartment so we could have a couple beers and play some board games, catch up a bit.

I never meant for anything to be interpreted as more than that. Two good friends having a games night, chatting about what’s new in our lives.

Elliott pulled open the box of Monopoly, and I cracked open a beer. It was one of those “craft beers”- far better than a simple Budweiser or a Coors Light. At the time I felt pretty sophisticated. Pathetic…

I offered one to Elliott, and he waved it off. “Got any coffee?”

Many people, except maybe night workers and other weirdos out there, would not drink coffee at eight in the evening. It just seemed like a backwards thing to do. But Elliott and I could agree that coffee didn’t have an effect on us anymore anyways, it was just another tasty drink. A hot cup of coffee, now that was cozy anytime of the day.

I got up from my place on the couch to turn on the coffee maker. A random thought, but out of the corner of my eye I always thought my coffee maker looked like Darth Vader.

Sometimes I got bored living alone in my apartment, and my imagination went wild.

There was a catchy tune playing on the radio. In fact, I recognized it was by The Tragically Hip. Elliott was a pretty big fan of the band. I didn’t know the particular song, though… but the lyrics were rather interesting.

Hey there coffee girl

Beautiful and disaffected

It was perfect ‘till

He came along and wrecked it

One night he’ll make you choose

I’m sorry, but he will

The hardscape or your shoes

When the moon’s behind the hill

It sort of resonated with me- one night he’ll make you choose. I turned up the volume, kind of looked to see if Elliott noticed the song playing. As I predicted, he was looking back at me.

“I’ve been meaning to show you this song,” he said. “You listen to the lyrics?”

“Yeah,” I said. “I can kinda relate.”

I placed the filter, scooped in a few piles of dark roast, and pressed start. I really liked the sound of the machine starting up. It was peaceful to me. It meant coziness was coming.

While waiting for the coffee, I sat back down beside Elliott and we started the game. I wanted to be the hat, he wanted to be the car. My beer was good- this one had a slight citrusy taste to it. A little bit of a pop to my taste buds.

I realized for the first time in a while, I was having a really good time. Why was it that I could have this much fun with my friends, but I couldn’t find enjoyment like that with Ross? Maybe part of the problem was that I hardly saw him… but who knows.

I missed my friends. And I didn’t have a lot of them. But when I started dating Ross I started to forget who I was as an individual. I mean, I knew deep down, but it kind of got lost in the confusion that was “us”. We did things together, or not at all. I stopped seeing friends. Ross didn’t make me stop seeing friends, let me make that clear… but he wasn’t exactly an encourager of free spirit.

Spending time with Elliott made me think about all the good times I was possibly missing out on- I used to love going shopping with Alexis, I always had a blast playing video games with Brad, Mike, and Brock. But I think somewhere along the line that became “forbidden”... why would someone in a happy, loving relationship spend so much time with guy friends? Well, that logic used to make sense in my mind…

“So why did you want to hang out tonight?” Elliott finally asked me. “Everything okay?”

It was a fair question- I didn’t ask to hang out nearly as much anymore. If we did, it was strictly for coffee for maybe an hour. That was it. He had reasonable inquiries.

I moved my little top hat over five spaces. I think the coffee was ready. “You know, Elliott, maybe I just wanted to see you. Wanted to see how you were doing. I mean, things aren’t so well on my end.”

In hindsight, maybe it was a cry for help. I still wasn’t over the death of my uncle; my family was grieving; I was struggling with anxiety every day; and to make matters worse my romantic relationship was failing. That one person that was supposed to love you and be there for you unconditionally, had so many conditions. And I knew that just wasn’t right. So why didn’t I leave?

“So talk to me- what’s going on?” Elliott asked. I could see concern in his eyes.

“Well as you know, my uncle died a couple months ago. And I know we were never that close, but I kind of wish we had been. I really looked up to him. And you know, I just wish Ross would sit and listen to me sometimes. Not just talk about basic everyday shit… I want him to listen when I tell him about something emotional, something deeper than books or videogames or the weather. But he just isn’t around.”

Elliott kind of raised his eyebrows as if to say, I’m not surprised, but he didn’t say as much. He simply said, “uh-huh,” waiting for me to go on.

I was on my second beer now, and being the lightweight that I am, I was already a little buzzed. Buzzed enough where I was just comfortable and light, so I could talk about anything on my mind.

“I missed hanging out with you,” I confessed. “ I miss having friends, and having fun. I don’t like feeling so… trapped. I don’t understand why I can’t get out; it’s not like I’m under lock and key or some shit.”

“I don’t know either,” Elliott mumbled. He got up and started towards the Darth Vader coffee machine. Fixed himself a tall mug. It was one of my favorite mugs- it had cats all over it.

At some point I realized I had drank too much. I knew I was in good hands, but I had taken it too far. Drinking felt good, though. For me at least, it gave me this euphoric feeling. I felt like I could do anything, or say anything, and I’d be happy. And why would being happy be an unhealthy thing?

I’d also had a couple of coolers- some funky lime flavored ones. Who knows? I really enjoyed anything with the flavor of lime. Mexican food with a wedge of lime squeezed over top, some flavored sparkling water, you name it. Lime flavored coolers? Great!

I mean, I wasn’t drinking too much in the sense that it would have some serious adverse effects, but it was probably my choice of drinks that was unfavorable. Apparently sugary, fruity coolers didn’t agree with my stomach.

We’d played almost a full game of Monopoly, and now we were on to video games. I don’t think Elliott even liked video games, but hey, it was nice of him to pretend to be having fun. I think we were playing Super Smash Brothers or something like that. I suddenly had to vomit.

I tried to stand up and the room spun around me. My stomach churned.

“I’m going to be sick,” I mumbled, clumsily trying to make my way towards the washroom.

Elliott quickly got up to help me. He guided me to the washroom, as a decent friend- a decent human being- would do for someone in need. I leaned into him for support. We were almost there.

What’s funny is that we were ninety-five percent of the way there- we were in the doorway of the washroom- when I threw up. Elliott jumped out of the way. I had spaghetti that night. There were chewed up, spewed up noodles on the cheap bathroom floor. After vomiting I stumbled and fell against the bathtub. Elliott watched from the doorway; I think he was a little frightened.

I was fine- those particular coolers just didn’t sit well with me. It felt a lot better to expel them from my system. I slowly got myself up off the ground, and latched onto Elliott’s arm for balance. I recall him saying he was going to put me to bed now. I would be more comfortable.

I lay down in bed and Elliott put the blankets over me. I rolled onto my side and vomited once more, then went to sleep. Elliott went home.

That is honestly the story. Honest to God.

So why do stories get mixed up in our minds? And why do we allow others to do that to us? When I retell this story, to anyone, I have to convince myself that I did not sin here. I have to force myself to believe that I am still a decent human being. Why? I know the story. Elliott knows the story. I never would have cheated on Ross.

But you’d be surprised at how well words can get twisted sometimes.

[listingmovies]

TOP 5 DISNEY MOVIES that still have meaning today.

Surely you remember how you used to watch animation movies in your childhood. First, you had to know from the start whose side you should be on. You didn’t care why, you just knew. But rediscovering a Disney Classic when grown up is something I highly recommend. You’ll watch it in a totally different light. Sometimes, you’ll even feel that the story (that you didn’t quite get when you were a child) actually sounds familiar in our times. In fact, I noticed that many children movies talk about a subject that we can still relate to today. So basically, we all grew up to these Disney movies (if you didn’t, you had a sad childhood) but why are they still contemporary?

Top 5 – One hundred and one Dalmatians (1961)

When Dalmatian puppies are abducted by Cruella de Vil, their owners must find them before she uses them for a diabolical fashion purpose. When watching the 101 Dalmatians at the age of 7, I clearly didn’t like Cruella. First of all, she was ugly. Our criterial choices were not that nuanced. Second of all, she wanted to kill those cute dogs. And that was enough for me. God, I hated her guts. But now that I’m older (a bit smarter too), I get that Cruella is bad because she wants the dogs’ fur. Call me crazy but doesn’t this sound like a vegan campaign to you? I mean, animals have really been the hot topic of the past few years. Fighting for animal pride seems like a priority these days, questioning the non-ethical methods within the meat industry, the beauty brands that test on animals, the clothing brands that sell fur, leather etc. I’m not against this movement of protest (actually, I would kill anyone who hurts my cat). In fact, the Pro animals community have interesting views about the relationship between children and animals. They claim that there is a reason children love animals so much and therefore enjoy movies that star animals. As they say, it is not right for the human being to want to hurt an animal and the innocent reaction of a child towards this cruelty is the natural, unbiased one. It is the one that is not influenced by society, the one that just follows the logic of Nature. And this is why it’s easy to hate Cruella, even when young. Because what she’s up to is, according to some people, counter-nature. Humans should not be against animals and protesters often use this argument to assess how unnatural it is to take part in the killing.

Top 4 – Alice in Wonderland (1951)

The movie is based on the tale by Lewis Caroll. On a riverbank, Alice spots a White Rabbit in a suit passing by, claiming that he is "late for a very important date". She gives chase, following him into a large rabbit hole. This hole takes her to the most delusional adventure, where Alice is subject to nothing else but hallucinations. To sum up: Kids, stay in school. Don’t do drugs. Now it hasn’t been clear what Alice had been taking. Probably LSD. But it’s rather interesting how a 5-year-old can believe such a story. He has no clue we’re talking about the largest and most dangerous epidemic phenomenon of our century. He just absorbs the story as if it was normal, while Alice is obviously…tripping. Still, what bothers me about this very down-to-earth interpretation of the tale is that I want to believe in this cooler funnier world Alice gets dragged into. And claiming that the only way to get to it is to be on drugs is rather sad. Can’t we pretend that Alice was a perfectly healthy little girl and had that much imagination without the help of any substance? This is why the movie is so compatible with our times. We live in a cruel harsh world. So why not imagine a Wonderland where everything is lighter? (Minus the annoying characters)

Top 3 – Robin Hood (1973)

It is based on a legend of the English Folklore, but uses animals as characters instead of people. The story follows the adventures of Robin Hood, Little John and the inhabitants of Nottingham as they fight against the excessive taxation of Prince John. So, in other terms, it’s about socialism vs capitalism. Which is basically what our world is about today. It seems like an endless debate too. We’ve been trying out different types of governments ever since politics were created. And so far, we still don’t know which is the ideal one. Stealing rich people’s money to give them to the poor might work in animation but I have a slight feeling it would be harder to put in practice. If Robin Hood proved to be an efficient proletarian, who practically brought the peace to the country, I don’t really see François Hollande pulling off a heroic act like that. I wish we could go back to Robin’s time where it was easy to solve poverty and unemployment. Can you imagine him making the world a Disney world? I wouldn’t want to miss Donald’s face when he does!

Top 2 – Mulan (1998)

The story is based on a Chinese legend. To save her father from death in the army, Mulan, a young maiden, secretly goes in his place and becomes one of China's greatest heroines in the process. Isn’t Mulan the best example of feminism among the Disney heroines? She is strong and feisty and proves to be the worth of men. I don’t know about you but this reminds me of a certain speech recently held at the UN. Two years ago, Emma Watson said at the launching of UN’s new feminist movement called HeForShe ‘’I think it is right that women be involved on my behalf in the policies and decision-making of my country. I think it is right that socially I am afforded the same respect as men.” Shame she and Mulan didn’t get to spend much time together. And however Disney-ish is the movie, I find it vital, in order to show the kids that women are capable of greatness too. In fact, there aren’t too many of those Disney heroines. Even though gender equality has improved, we’re still far from that goal, and Mulan is yet to be real. In fact, I believe we have a world full of Mulans, but how many of them have the chance to take action like she did?

Top 1 – The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)

The story is adapted from a novel by Victor Hugo, a notable French writer. He tells the story of a deformed bell-ringer who must assert his independence from a vicious government minister. His rebellion starts by helping his friend, a gypsy dancer, named Esmeralda who he secretly falls in love with. Esmeralda’s community is a group of gypsies who are just wandering about in the capital. When government authorities threaten to fire them, they demand asylum at the Cathedral of Notre Dame. It is sad how not much has changed, in Paris or any city of the world. Groups of refugees are still flowing from all over the world, escaping wars and poverty and risking their lives to be welcomed in a safer land. If their condition today is not comparable to Hugo’s 1831 novel, the situation is still not pretty. Immigrants from here and there are still bound to the same misery. I don’t see any of them banging on the doors of Notre Dame but they’re here, among us. And we try to ignore them while we’re getting off to a busy day. But they’re here.