#the running in the woods perspective shot

[sil-te-plait-tue-moi]

why is twin peaks actually unsettling me like like im making this post after pausing THAT scene in the red curtain room place episode 3 because hello what the fuck is going on

[sjjareads]

JACKSON

you’re reunited with your husband in Jackson after twenty long years; pairing: pre&post-outbreak! joel x f!reader; warnings: GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION OF SARAH’S DEATH from perspective of her parents (you and joel), canon typical themes — death, injury (spinal) from gunshot, violence, explicit mentions of blood. EMOTIONAL ANGST

For the first time in twenty years, you were looking at your husband’s face. Watching his eyes take you in, drink you in, as if even blinking would render you gone once again, an impossible dream.

You had always been the most stunning sight in the world to him, but this was more — it was hope, you were hope, one he couldn’t believe, would not believe, until he felt the truth of it.

This couldn’t be.

He’d been crouched, arranging fresh wood in a crate while other men and women milled around him; there was laughter here, children running, a young girl not far from Joel’s side, too. By the way his shoulders lifted and fell, by the way he brought his sleeve up to wipe at his face even with the frigid cold air, you knew he had just been out on that supply run — getting wood for the fire. Knew by the tells of his body what he felt, what he meant, how he moved through the world.

And that was how you knew, beyond anything else you’d known in a very long time, that it was your husband you’d found so far from the rest of the forsaken world.

You’d only arrived last night. You hadn’t meant to be here at all. For the past twenty years, you’d survived by running with different groups; never staying too long, never settled, always heading for the next state, the next place. Searching, always, for the man who could not be dead. Who you would always search for. Of whom finding had been the only driving force behind every ache, each burning breath.

They hadn’t killed you the night they’d killed your Sarah, and the world had gone dark.

The bullet had missed your heart as it went through your back, but all Joel had seen was the blood, your limp body, the fire raging, a bright endless sea. He had carried your girl while Tommy gripped your hand tight, slipping, and ran — that had always been the promise: either one of you would choose Sarah, every time, without question. If it ever came down to that choice, it would be always your daughter.

That was the first and only night in fourteen years that the promise was tested.

It had happened in seconds. The four of you running, stumbling in blind horror at the fresh carnage. The bodies. Sarah shot, Tommy holding you back as you thrashed, and kicked, and screamed and screamed. Him letting you go, and you running on wind borne feet to your girl, to your husband that cradled her close to his body even as her blood seeped, so so much of that blood, your little girl’s blood, all over his shirt. His hands.

With you the other side of her, all you could do was lay her head on your lap, brush the hair back from her face and make promises you never could keep. Tommy was holding the line for you three, but even he did not see the next bullet.

A flash; a bright hot spear of pain in your spine, so white, its own lightening. A shout; Joel’s, then Tommy’s. The words: I’ve got her. I’ve got her. Being dragged up, shielded, framed by the body of the man who had become your brother; and over his shoulder, Joel’s eyes. The one wordless promise that was left.

Sarah.

He understood, and that nod of his chin as the tears slipped free confirmed it. Of course he understood. Whatever happened, he would stay with your little girl. For you both.

You didn’t know what happened next. You felt only that final moment looking at your husband and daughter; holding Joel’s eyes in their anguish at the moment you knew she was gone.

The explosion made its own white silence and you knew then only its heat. The sound so extreme that it was silent, that it became everything; that feeling of being wrenched, torn, of being flung through the dark world. You could’ve awoken years or hours later — you wouldn’t know for some time. Nor would Joel know for how long he searched for you on that dead plain, and found nothing. Had nothing.

Now, you saw in his eyes as the tears filled them, as shock made them wider, bolder. That colour you knew off by heart now such a deeper shade like the earth beneath frost; your favourite colour, thought to be lost to you. Revealed as alive, safe, okay.

All of those truths ratcheted through your body, and you could’ve gone to your knees right there in the snow. So close to everything, again. There had always been a string tied between you, an invisible tether, red, taut. It pulled now, your instincts both reaching only for the other, as he took that single half step toward you in the thick Southern snow.

Jackson — Joel was in Jackson, he was standing not six feet away from you now, and the force of that truth hit you in that moment like nausea, hard in the gut.

Your Joel. Your husband.

Joel.

With the same kind eyes and strong face, skin showing his age now in deep lines. The hair that was now streaked with more grey than brown, salt and peppered and meaning that he was alive. That he had aged, lived to age.

All this time, and he was still here.

You were both here.

A whimper from your lips, involuntary, a raw open animal sound, and he was moving — wood falling from his hands disregarded; broad, calloused hands you had known. Still knew.

The first moment of touch had you born again, both of you consumed, and renewed. The frantic movement of hands to make sure this was real, to feel enough of each other at once, impossibly desperate, new creatures that knew only how to respond to each other, to fall into that old easy rhythm your bodies once knew, and had shared. Still shared.

His hands at your face, yours bracing his arms. All real; that leather — all real. The man beneath it — real.

You were weeping, sobbing harder as he wept too, bodies heaving as they collided. His scent was the same as it had always been: leather, a dark warm smell. He breathed in your hair, your neck, and it was all you could do to breathe him in too. Clutching your arms around his back and holding him, home home home.

[milk-is-stable]

The Shoot From the Hip Hunger Games Day 1 - Remainder

The Reaping || Tribute Interviews || Day 1 - The Bloodbath

Content Warning: descriptions of violence, blood/injury, suicide and major character death

The Capitol anthem plays as the camera pans over the forested arena. Four cannon blasts echo through the arena, one for each of the four tributes who died in the initial Bloodbath. The cornucopia now stands empty, but there is still plenty of action to follow on the first day of the games. 

The TV frame splits into a multi-view screen showing a handful of the tributes as they prepare for the trials ahead. 

Sally and Chip, both tributes from District 12, have found one another in the forest and are working together to gather supplies. Meanwhile, Priscilla from District 7 and Inga from District 9 have also brokered a truce: Inga is helping boost Priscilla up a tree so she can gather fruit. Jimmy from District 8 has run into Jasper from District 4, and when they realize that neither of them have much in the way of tools or resources, they begin traveling through the woods together.

Other tributes begin the day alone. Janae (District 3) has found an isolated spot in the forest and is using a rock to file a fallen tree branch into a sharp point, and Janusz appears to have gotten lost in his attempt to follow Alexa, his fellow tribute from District 1, and is now wandering aimlessly through the trees. 

Julian (District 4) is still running, finally stopping when he finds a large rock outcropping to duck behind. He draws his legs close to himself, attempting to become as small as possible, and his breath comes in short, panicked gasps. 

Not all the tributes are content to merely gather resources. The camera cuts to a shot of Robin (District 8), who is running through the forest with his weapon out. It zooms out, revealing that he is chasing two tributes, Benjamin from District 6 and Johnny from District 3. As he closes the distance between them, he swings his mace and the blow catches Johnny on the shoulder. Johnny cries out, falling to the ground, but he rolls over and kicks at Robin’s legs as the smaller boy approaches. Robin stumbles, and Johnny gets back to his feet and staggers away. 

Benjamin is still running in the other direction, and as Robin gets back up he looks between his two targets for a moment, trying to decide which way to go. He turns towards Johnny, but before he can begin his pursuit anew, an arrow whizzes past him out of nowhere, embedding itself in a tree mere inches from where he was standing. Making a split second decision, Robin turns and runs after Benjamin instead, leaving Johnny to his injury. 

“Who’s there?” Johnny calls out, and Priscilla emerges from the trees, her bow in her hand. 

“You’re the one who has those future dreams,” she says, and Johnny nods. 

“Priscilla, what are you doing?” Inga asks, stepping into view after her, and Priscilla points at Johnny with the tip of her bow. 

“He can see the future. I think we should team up with him.”

“Sometimes I can see it,” Johnny adds, wringing his hands. “I mean, the dreams don’t always happen exactly like I see them–”

“But sometimes they do?” Priscilla asks, and Johnny nods again. 

“That does sound like a power I would want on my side,” Inga says. “Truce?” 

“...okay. Truce,” Johnny agrees, and the three of them shake hands. 

The camera view cuts back to split screen, showing four perspectives at once, though you cannot hear what is being said in any of the feeds. In the first shot, you see Caesar (District 2) approaching Jimmy and Jasper in the woods. They startle at first, but Caesar’s hands are out in an appealing gesture, and the three seem to be negotiating an alliance. 

The second feed shows Michael (District 7) receiving a parachute from a sponsor. He opens the package to reveal a small photograph of himself with a short blond man and a tall brunette woman standing behind him, their hands on his shoulders. He closes his eyes, and clutches the photograph to his chest for a moment before sliding it into his pocket and continuing through the forest. 

In the third feed, you can see Pinocchio (District 11)  crouching low in the bushes, watching Jimmy, Jasper, and Caesar intently. He watches as they divvy up the supplies that Caesar brought from the cornucopia, then he slips away. Looking around the woods, he goes up to a tree with a growth of vines snaking their way around the trunk. He reaches for the vines, but immediately winces and pulls back. A bright red drop of blood has appeared on his palm, and the camera zooms in to reveal that the vines are artificially enhanced to have long, barbed thorns that are hidden just beneath the leaves. Pinocchio looks back towards where the new alliance is gathered, then he takes a deep breath and starts carefully pulling the vines down from the tree. 

The fourth feed shows Marty (District 10) and Clarissa (District 6) fighting with one another. Neither of them have weapons, and Clarissa’s supply pack is torn open on the ground beside them. For a moment it looks like Marty has the upper hand, but he suddenly breaks out into a coughing fit, and Clarissa takes advantage of it to deliver a blow to his stomach that sends him sprawling to the ground. She rushes to gather her supplies, which includes a small, serrated blade. She looks back down at Marty for a moment, then shakes her head to herself and dashes away, leaving him hurt but alive. 

The camera cuts back to a fullscreen view and shows Hugh (District 9), who is walking through the trees with an armful of edible plants. The feed cuts to an aerial shot that shows Alexa approaching him from the south, and Peter (District 10) approaching from the east. Cutting back to Hugh, you see the moment that Alexa comes into his line of sight. He stops abruptly, his eyes trained on the axe in her hands, but she quickly shakes her head. 

“I’m not here to hurt you,” she says, holding out a hand. “I wanted to ask…you know so much about plants and the forest…would you be willing to team up with me? So many of the others are bigger and stronger than we are...I think we would have a better chance if we worked together.” 

Hugh immediately shakes his head, stepping back. 

“I don’t…no, I’m sorry, but no. I’ll stay on my own, thanks.” 

Hugh retreats into the forest, and the camera stays on Alexa as she watches him go.  Suddenly she freezes, turning her head towards a sound. She squints, and the camera view pulls in close to her so that you can see where she’s looking. A tall, gangly figure is visible through the trees, and Alexa lets out a yelp. 

She turns and runs in the opposite direction, and the camera pulls back, revealing the figure to be Peter. He runs after her, and for a moment the screen is a blur of passing trees and bushes as the two tributes run through the woods. 

Just as they break into a clearing, Alexa trips over a tree branch. Her axe flies out of her hands and she falls to the ground, letting out a scream of pain. She tries to get to her feet, but as soon as she puts weight on her left ankle it buckles beneath her and she cries out again. 

Peter catches up to her and pauses for a moment, catching his breath, and Alexa whimpers, scooting away from him as best as she can. 

“ALEXA!” 

Janusz runs out into the clearing, his eyes wide with panic. Peter turns towards him, surprise written on his face, but before Janusz can get any closer, Alexa shrieks:

“NO! Run, Janusz! Get out of here!”

“I cannot leave you, Alexa!” Janusz shouts, but Alexa shakes her head, her eyes brimming with tears. 

“RUN! PLEASE!” she begs.

Janusz stands frozen for a moment, his eyes locked with Alexa's, and she nods at him when Peter takes a step his way. Blinking away tears, Janusz takes a deep breath and spins away, running back into the forest the way he came. 

The camera cuts abruptly back to Pinocchio, who is crouching in the bushes several yards away from the perimeter of Caesar, Jasper, and Jimmy’s camp. Cupping his hands around his mouth, he lets out a long, low howling sound. 

The boys look up at the noise and Pinocchio makes the call again, a little louder this time. 

“Is that a wolf?” Jimmy asks, his voice stuffy from his broken nose, and Jasper frowns, tilting his head. 

“It might be? It’s hard to tell, it sounds far away.” 

"It doesn't sound much like a wolf to me," Caesar says.

Pinocchio howls again, even louder, and Jimmy nervously looks towards the sound. 

“It might be one of those engineered things they make. We shouldn’t stay here.”

“Hold on a minute,” Caesar begins, but he is cut off by a piercing shriek. 

“AAAAAAh! No! Get away! No! AAAAAaaaah!” Pinocchio screams, before letting out another howl.

“We have to go!” Jimmy insists, and he takes off running.

“Jimmy, wait!” Jasper calls, running after, and after a moment Caesar moves to join them. 

The three don’t make it far before Jimmy’s foot twists underneath him and he falls face forward. He lets out a scream of pain as he lands, and the camera zooms in to reveal  that he stumbled into a wide, shallow hole that was covered in a layer of vines…the very vines Pinocchio discovered with the artificially enhanced thorns. Jimmy tries to push himself back to his feet, but every movement only drives the thorns deeper into his skin and he flinches, unable to stand on his own.

"It was a trap," Jasper says, and Caesar curses.

“Our supplies!” he exclaims, and he turns and runs back in the direction of their campsite.

Jasper approaches Jimmy’s side and tries to help pull him up, but he is unable to do so without hurting Jimmy even more. He winces as he scraps against one of the thorns, leaving a long, shallow cut along his arm. Sighing, he lets go of Jimmy's hand and takes a step back.

“Don’t just leave me here!” Jimmy protests, but Jasper just shakes his head in apology before turning and running after Caesar. 

He arrives back at the camp to find Caesar holding his trident, a glare on his face.

"The food that Jimmy had is gone," he reports. "So is the hunting knife and our sleeping bag."

"So we were played," Jasper says, and Caesar nods.

“It was that kid from Eleven," he growls. "I saw him raiding our stuff, but he took off into the woods when he heard me coming.” 

“What are we gonna do?” Jasper asks.

A cannon blast signaling the death of a tribute, the first to be heard since the bloodbath, echoes through the woods. Caesar grits his teeth. 

“We’re going to get him back.” 

The camera cuts back to Janusz, who is still running through the woods as fast as he can. He reaches the edge of the treeline and finds himself at the top of a high, rocky outcropping just as the first cannon fires. 

Tears are streaming down his face as he doubles over, trying to catch his breath. 

“I’m sorry, Alexa,” he sobs. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry…”

The sound of a branch snapping makes him jerk his head up, and the camera zooms out to show Marty crouching at the edge of the forest, watching Janusz like a hawk. 

Janusz shakes his head, and he straightens. 

“No…no, I do not want to play this game anymore!” he says, backing away. His heel reaches the edge of the cliff and he freezes, looking down at the drop behind him before looking back to Marty. 

The other tribute leaves cover of the treeline and makes his way slowly towards Janusz, who clenches his fists at his sides. 

“I will not play this game anymore!” he shouts, before looking up at the sky, one final tear rolling down his cheek. “I’m coming after you, Alexa,” he whispers.

Closing his eyes, he holds his arms out to the side and lets himself fall backward. 

Marty stops and watches as Janusz falls, and a moment later a second cannon blast sounds. 

“Damn, kid,” says Marty, raising his eyebrows. “I didn’t think you had that in you.”  

The camera cuts back to Jimmy’s body lying tangled in the thorns. Pinocchio sits on the ground a few feet away, his eyes hollow and the hunting knife he took from Caesar's camp in his hand, blood dripping from the blade.

One more cut, this time to a zoomed in shot of one of the black jackets that the tributes all are wearing lying on the ground. One of the sleeves is torn off the jacket, and the camera pans over to a small, trembling pair of hands as they wrap the jacket sleeve around their ankle with the practiced care of someone who has done this many, many times before. The shot zooms out and you see Alexa, pale and shaking but alive, sitting with her back against a large rock. She finishes wrapping her ankle, then carefully gets to her feet and tests balance. She winces slightly as she puts weight on the foot, but she squares her shoulders and pushes onward, limping off into the trees.  

The broadcast will now break for commercial. Please tune in again soon to see what else will become of our tributes on the first day of the games!

— — —

Game Summary

Deaths:

Jimmy was killed by Pinocchio

Janusz was killed by himself

Kill Counts:

Pinocchio: 2 (Maria, Jimmy)

Inga: 1 (Jim L)

Caesar: 1 (Juliet)

Game Meta

Day 1 was a really interesting one! I was absolutely devastated that my boy Janusz was taken out of the running so soon, so I hope that I gave his death scene some emotional weight for you guys. Also a real loss to have Jimmy exit so soon, I know both of these boys are high on people's favorite list, but alas, I do not control the deaths.

I altered only one major thing for today: I had to make up something totally original happen to Johnny, since somehow my screenshot cut off what was supposed to happen to him. I chose to have him be involved in the fight with Benjamin and Robin for reasons that will become clear later in the games >:3

There are lots of little changes in regards to alliances that you may have noticed; specifically Alexa asks Hugh to team up which is not in the screenshots and Johnny teams up with Priscilla and Inga which is not on the list. Both are things that happen in Night 1, and I put them during the day so that I could set up having actual character conversations during the Night and not worry about getting them to agree to spend time with each other.

In general, I will be more flexible with the timeline of when characters interact with each other in terms of alliance forming, to make the narrative make more sense (this is also why Inga is involved in the alliance with Hugh and Priscilla even though the simulator doesn't mention that, it doesn't make sense with what her future actions are to not be part of this group. You'll see what I mean later).

Also, I want to quickly bring something up: This simulator also has a "tribute summary" at the end of each simulation that shows you who is alive, who is dead, and how many kills each tribute has. This is also where you as a creator can manually kill or resurrect any tribute, though I did not use those features.

I will NOT be using these summaries in the future screencap wrap ups, because they're not actually correct. The computer doesn't always tally things correctly, and thus my manual Kill and Death count will be more accurate (if you look at the table, you'll see that Pinocchio only has one kill and Caesar has 2...I think the simulator attributed Jimmy's death to Caesar by mistake). I just wanted to mention that for transparency's sake!

[blchrsworld]

my heart just can’t be faithful for long | billie eilish x fem reader

synopsis. billie and you have been arguing constantly for some time now. after a night out, she starts an argument and you can’t take it anymore.

cw. arguing, verbal fighting, breakup, mentions of cheating, toxic relationship, angst

soundtrack. cry - cigarettes after sex

length. short

The night started nicely as Billie and you went out to party for one of your co-stars all up until a fight erupted between the two of you.

“It doesn’t fucking matter Billie – I never paid any mind to him once tonight!” With Billie following closely behind, you quarreled as you strode into the kitchen and angrily set your Chanel handbag on the counter. With an irate expression on her face, Billie placed her hands on either side of the countertop and said, "You are so full of shit." Her blue eyes met yours.

For almost four months, you and Billie had been having fights on a regular basis. Billie first accused you of cheating on her with your close friend, Jacob Elordi, who was also one of your co-stars in a recent film. Billie would obsess over the friendship, envisioning the worst case scenarios.

The relationship was not ideal because of long distance, especially since you were working on new tv shows and movies while Billie was working on her next album.

The anger that shot through you caused your face to flush, and you detested Billie for having provoked such a reaction in you over such a baseless accusation. Your eyes began to burn and well up with tears.

You confess in a nervous tone, concentrating on your nails to divert your attention from sobbing, "Billie, I can't do this anymore."

“What?” Billie asked in a sharp tone, glancing up at you as she noticed how exhausted you appeared.

When you lifted your head to gaze up at your partner of two years, you knew it was time to part ways. For now, anyway, until you two resolved your differences. You looked at Billie with a knowing expression in your eyes as a tear raced down your cheek and fell onto the dark wood countertop.

You could have sweared at that very moment that Billie's life was flashing before her eyes. She began to recognize herself and felt hopelessness creep in.

“No.” Billie spoke in an emotionless tone.

“Billie this needs to st-“

"No, no, no." Billie reiterated, at which point you sighed haltingly at her manners and closed your eyes, considering your next move and how it would affect your two-year relationship.

Your brain was warning you against giving in to her because, after all, she was the cause of the teary-eyed, restless nights. You now had a different perspective on yourself because of her. You were unsure if there was a problem with you for her to question your commitment. Although your brain was filled with a deep hatred for her, there was always a small part of you that could not help but love her.

Your heart.

That was the aspect of you that people noticed the most that was not physical. No matter how much your mind tried to remind you of the harm Billie had caused you, your heart was unable to stop loving her.

What made your heart explode was the little things about your relationship with Billie that no one else would see.

Like when she would lay her eyes on you, she would always have that sparkle in them. Or the fact that you would run out of room in your house when she would bring you flowers three times a week just because. She was always your plus one and never sought to usurp your attention, no matter what premier you had.

You walked around the counter and put your hand on hers, saying, "It's the right thing to do, Billie," but she withdrew her hand.

"It's Jacob isn't it?"

You rolled your eyes and scoffed at the remark, but you could understand her point of view and chose to stay calm. At last, her puffy red eyes looked up at you, and you croaked, "It's not him Billie, or anyone at all, it's the fact that you can't trust me anymore."

"I can fix it, we can fix it," Billie said, her eyes sad, as you returned the look with a shake of your head.

“I’ve tried — for the past four months already,” you retort with a distasteful look.

You were tired of Billie playing the victim and needed to leave this relationship.

You had never felt anything like this before, as your heart began to slowly break. Your chest started to fill with air more quickly than you could handle. You tried to knead your chest to ease the pain by placing your hand over your heart, but it didn't work. You had to leave Billie as the agony got worse and make your way to the living room.

It was when your body began to relax on the back of a couch that you broke completely. You silently started to cry, and you did so for what seemed like an eternity until you felt two arms encircle your shoulders and firmly grasp you.

Knowing it was Billie, you attempted to shake her off of you like she was a parasite, but your body was too weak from crying, so you just sobbed more in frustration when you realized there was no way to get rid of her.

“I’m sorry.”

You were filled with even more pain when she spoke those words, knowing that no matter how hard she tried to change things for the better, it would never work out. Although your thoughts strayed to all of your previous arguments and how mentally exhausted they left you, you still wanted to think that she could change for the better.

Billie withdrew and longingly gazed into your eyes as you sniffed, "You should go."

"I can't live without you Y/N," Billie vowed.

You cupped her face, wiping a tear from her cheek with your thumb, and said, "It's what's best for the both of us—you and I both know it."

Billie gazed into your eyes for a considerable amount of time, and for a long moment there was silence—it was like you two were communicating only by making eye contact.

“Goodbye Y/N.”

You refused to give Billie a glance and instead focused on your nails until you heard the front door close, which indicated that she had left.

You slept with a cold spot next to you and an empty mind after that, hoping that Billie would eventually own up to her mistakes and return to complete each other's lives...

[ruins-of-tragedy]

RWBY's volume nine and how it broke and healed my heart. Took me too many days to get over the last season. This one was somehow better and worse at the same time.

- I remember Ospin mentioned a story. The Girl Who Fell Through The World. Was that foreshadowing? The teaser does act like it.

- The levels of absurdity this season's trailer started off with. Only to end on such ominous notes. Not out of the woods yet. Apparently going into them to get to THE TREE. Fuck.

- Who is the new narrator?

- The flashbacks to everything that happened on the way to Vacuo. From Ruby's perspective. Heart wrenching.

- Gods. Neo has several bones to pick with her. Trying to kill her as they go down?! Holy hell.

- A land with two suns. A beach. Some colourful leaves. And a Dodo?

- I honestly thought there would a Ghibli-like image when the mouse was pulling at the leaves of the fruit. My Neighbour Mousoro. ���

- The first 'what are you.' And it's from Little. Tell me someone calls him Stuart at one point. 😆. Little is ADORABLE though. No doubt about that.

- "I have seen plenty of cartoons." Ruby's explanation for knowing cats and mouse don't get along... Is there a RWBY version of Tom and Jerry?!

- YAYYYYYY! Blake and Weiss have met up. Will soon be kidnapped by mice I guess. About to witness a shot from the trailer. Vined up friends.

- OHHHHH. NO. Yang and Blake and Ruby don't know about Penny. FUCK.

- Weiss cheering for Blake as she tries to get her weapon. I am getting a little emotional. Look how far they have come!!!! 🥹🫶🏻✨

- Awwwwwwwww! The mice leader has heterochromia! CUTE!!!

- "Long, blonde hair. Looks kind of scary but isn't." / "But could be if she wanted to." Blake's small smile at THAT comment. AGHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

- Little, the trusty guide, is once again drooling in Ruby's cape.

- I cannot imagine what Weiss is going through right now. Having to reveal what went down with Penny. Gods. How are you supposed to give your friends such terrible news? Is she okie.

- This new Grimm like figure looks to be a cross between a Pokemon and the Xenomorph aliens.

- Yang is here! And throwing rocks at the adversary. I love her.

- When Ruby says Yang must have forgotten who raised her... 🥹✊🏻

- Little knows what's up minutes within meeting Yang. She is trustworthy. 💯

- Listen. The way Blake whispers her name after tackling Yang to the ground... Sounds almost like a prayer. A wish come true. WOWIE. Excellent voice acting!!!

- Gods. Ruby sounds broken when she says Weiss' name. Great voice work here too.

- Fuck. The leader is not alright. Are any of them. They are just kids. Who have now lost two dear friends.

- Awwww! Little is using a leaf to fan a fainted Ruby. That's so sweet. 💖

- The door opening from the 'R' of RWBY's logo to the rest of the introduction... I like it!

- From a cold resolute demeanor, to a neutral face, to a full-on sweet smile. Weiss has evolved.

- Fiercely uninterested. Purposeful determination. And now a great big smirk. Blake has come so far.

- A nice polite curl of lips, a playful smirk, and then a broad excited grin. Yang is more herself and better than ever.

- Holy shikes. Ruby is regressing. Happy. Seriously dogged. And now turned away.

- The ups and downs of this song are nicely contrasting. Whoa. 👏🏻

- Who is the shadow person walking ahead of the team?

- Ruby can't bring herself to keep up with everyone running in front of her. GODS. This volume is going to ruin me as well.

- Neo has a whole gang? Already? She does get stuff done. Huh. Wonder what trouble she will bring.

- Getting some serious Alice in Wonderland vibes. And the shadow kid who was leading RWBY has a shadow too. Another kid with big glasses. Huh. And that cat is above their picture. Hmmm. And Little is there as well!

- Penny's blood that's still on Jaune's sword. Just. 😭

- Little's exclamation of friends is giving me war flashbacks.

- Yang's deadpan declaration of her feud with a raccoon... 🤌🏻. The voice actors are doing so great.

- The Girl Who Fell Through the World. Foreshadowing confirmed. They are in the Ever After. Hopefully it will be a happy one. Aghhhh, who am I kidding.

- Ohhh. The kid they were following is Alyx. Alice in Wonderland. Alyx in Ever After... Honey, you are familiar, like my mirror years ago 🎶

- A knocked out Yang has RWB coloured stars revolving over her head. 😂

- Blake is really into Yang. So much so, she "continues to pun." 😆. Whoever wrote these subtitles deserves forehead kisses!

- You know it's bad when Ruby can't even bring herself to be optimistic for her friends. Weiss just shared her feelings of doom and Ruby couldn't open up. Gods. Is this volume going to be her last straw?

- That whole thing with Little living near the bridge... Blake was in her cat pose for so long. 😂🫶🏻

- So the queen of hearts is the king here? Or is it the red queen? This guy has the heart symbol but is called by the colour. Both?

- Yang laughing to herself at the pun Little inadvertently makes. 💖✊🏻

- Cute Jinxy raccoon. Who is conducting an auction. WoWie.

- Ruby doesn't have enough hope. Yeah. This one is going to hurt.

- Oh my Gods. It's actually Penny's sword?!?? Let her cry. The Rose needs it.

- Blake being concerned about the story and how their actions can have similar far reaching implications. Truly a bibliophile. ✨

- Ruby is sad, there is rain. Someone give her a hug. Please.

- Penny may not have had a funeral, but she received a wonderful eulogy. Thank you Rubes.

- Good Gods. Their leader is snapping a bit and throwing strays. Where is the fucking therapist.

- The forest they are at reminds me of Forever Fall from back in volume one.

- Weiss is not having a great time around the red prince. At least she has grown enough to ask if she used to be just as insufferable.

- Ruby and Little's butter is actually good grease for the red prince. Enough to get him to listen. LoLLL!

- WBY are cute chess players!!!! AGHHHHHHHHH!!!!

- Little is cheering for them all. CUTE!!!!

- Blake is blushing 'cause Yang is applauding for her. She down bad. This is ADORABLE!!!!!!! 🥹🫂💖

- The cat. It's eyes made a brief appearance and blinked when Ruby mentioned they are human. Huh.

- Red prince's family did not have a great experience with Alyx I suppose. The king isn't around 'cause of her, am guessing.

- What did the cat put in the prince's heart?

- Does Yang ever find out Ruby can carry people in her rose missile state? Even when they are not tiny chess-piece sized. Blake must have told her.

- The curious cat has met other humans. Coolio.

- So the Jabberwock is the Grimm-Pokemon being.

- Neo vs Jabberwock. Looks like Neo won. That illusion with multiple of her was quite nice. And scary.

- Weiss roasted the cat. Yang ate it up. 😆

- RWBY telling the curious kitty RWBY's story. Talk about meta.

- The way the cat speaks about Alyx learning her lesson... I doubt it's the same thing the books described.

- The leaves of this place look amazing.

- Is the cat trying to make them depressed? Intentionally triggering more hopelessness?

- Luminous neon garden. I want one of these.

- Another Oobleck-like psychological discovery arc? I think the doctor will like this caterpillar-bug guy.

- How a king winds up a prince. The red prince? Huh. The exasperated bug-pillar is all-knowing it seems. And he smokes. And pushes for answers.

- Weiss, Blake and Yang now know who they are. How much they have evolved. That was a wonderful scene. Defined by more than failures and crude simplicity and a name. Defined by more than just the parts of themselves. Gods. This is good. ✨

- Oh no. Ruby.

- Herb was actually helping. What did the cat do. Now the caterpillar guy is following the kitty's line of thoughts.

- Herb has left the chat. May not be the best thing to happen.

- Much talk of going away and returning either the same or differently. With purpose new and perhaps old. Sounds a bit like reincarnation.

- I don't know if Alyx actually wrote the story, but it's interesting that Blake is thinking about how much may have been left out. Historians and storytellers have the power and authority to say as much or as little as they want. To twist figures and portray things from 'supposedly' their perspective. That's why multiple accounts are important. Or we may be left with a skewed version of events true for no one.

- RWBY seperated. I don't like it.

- The lights went out. Penny's sword turned into Alyx's dagger? Also, who be this fine person. Beating down metal like in a forge. Me likey. Blacksmith mama.

- Summer Rose's weapon?!?!?? She was here?!?!???The fuck.

- Weiss snapped 'cause Ruby didn't get what she left to bring. The leader is stuttering and feels bad. Stop. When's the group therapy session happening.

- Ruby exchanged the nose hairs for her mother's promise? The rose emblem. No. Shikes.

- Jabberwalker growth spurt. Things are not looking good. Is the creature following Neo's orders now?

- The Rusted Knight is Jaune. He grows old. Have already seen the pictures. Clocks in the opening with him make sense.

- Neo Jabberwalkers. Oh fuck. Illusions that can be more.

- Weiss seeing the destruction left behind. Gods. Another reminder of Atlas. Thank you Ruby for helping her in.

- Awwwwwwwww! Jaune named his furry friend Juniper!!!! 💖

- Jaune's end sketch gives me some subtle Ironwood vibes.

- Just noticed this. All the episode titles have some form of the consonance figure of speech working within them. NOICE!

- Jaune travelled back in time. Accidentally. Wait. Does that mean the story with the "handsome" (according to Weiss) rusted knight stars him?!? Alyx met Jaune when she fell in?! Shouldn't he be more old then. IF time followed the same speed as it did everywhere...

- Awwwwwwwww! Jaune got a hug from Little as well. CUTE!!!!

- Ruby's reaction at Weiss calling Jaune "mature" must be studied. So should Weiss' small glance at Ruby before the leader begins speaking.

- Jaune has hardened. Ruby isn't okie. At all. Bad weather and poor attitude. This is fine. 👍🏻

- Alyx had a brother. Louis. Huh. Wait. Lewis Caroll?!

- A punderstorm. No Yang or Blake. AGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! I think I have seen this film before... 🎶

- "Must have had something bigger to work out." Hehehe :3

- They need to decide between Jaune and the cat. Ohhhhh.

- Oh my Gods. When Ruby passes one of those portal arch like things. Her mirror image towards the end. It's Summer. The fuck.

- Jaune sees Penny. Weiss, a destroyed Atlas. So the flowing water shows them things and people they feel conflicted over and can't let go?

- So, ascension bad. According to Jaune. Alyx definitely not great. She poisoned the rusted knight. Cat is feeding tree. Louis never returned. Huh.

- Not sure this is entirely right. Am going off the assumption Louis made it back, 'cause he was the author of Alice in Wonderland in our world. Perhaps he wrote the heavily edited story with Alyx. Herb's potion cloud showed her something about the future. Or she interpreted it as such. A betrayal maybe? So she became vigilant. Got rid of Jaune. Hmmm. RWBY had a different experience with Herb though. But it was interrupted by the cat. I guess I shall find out. Let's see.

- Listen. Yang only focusing on the Blake bit instead of the truths which help bridge the gap. Even though Blake didn't just talk about herself and it worked for her. Are you picking up what I am putting down? Yang. Lover girl. Blake is everything. AGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! 🫶🏻

- I am re-watching the Bumbleby kiss. Of course. And when it begins, the song starts building like it's climbing a set of stairs. Perhaps this is too dramatic of me, but the way it moves up and up and up... Sounds akin to triumphant angels ascending. Holy, somehow.

- Yang's eyes take on this bigger shine when Blake calls her extraordinary. And then Blake lays it all on the table. While Yang says what she feels, but behind a thinly veiled veneer of admiration and awe. It isn't just about her. Blake is that way with everyone. Gods.

- Blake is so ready to say it. Yang sees her and thinks, I love you. Wants to tell her. But can't bring herself to give those words her voice. Looks away.

- They are so in tune, it seems as if their thoughts are engaging in a conversation.

- Yang hadn't even finished when Blake chimes in.

- When they finally kiss, it's two voices. Yet one song. In sync, but still with words which echo their own seperate feelings and identities. 🤩👏🏻🤯💖✊🏻❤️‍🔥🤌🏻🌟🫶🏻🫂🏳️‍🌈🪩🌈

- I just. They are who they are. Good and wild and true and free. Together though, they are even more. Of themselves. And each other. What else can anyone want. 😍

- Flowers bloom as they finally take that step. Sapphics everywhere, this is what happens when we confess our true feelings. Stars shine. Everything is more beautiful. Our world is a better place. I refuse to accept a different answer.

- I saw it again. And when Yang declares Blake has cat ears, she moves them in response. 🥹

- At this rate am not going to finish the episode today. (And I didn't. 😅😆)

- The cat is a master at manipulation. Twisting words to suit their needs. Something is not right about them.

- Weiss had a slight blush when she was looking at Bumbleby kissing. Fruits anyone? 🏳️‍🌈

- Ruby squeaked. The actual mouse didn't. Little only gasped. LoLLL!

- Jaune confirms it's been a long time coming. Juniper loved that kiss as well. ❤️‍🔥

- Crescent Rose has entered the picture. Ruby is not okay AT ALLL.

- Another warning before an episode. This one with distressing themes. FUCKKKKK.

- Jaune is helping the paper pleasers. Awwwwwwwww! This is his town and he is their hero. And it's citizens have the names of his friends. 😭🫶🏻😆

- He isn't okie either.

- The paper pleasers and their situation is euthanasia and it's ensuing debate. Gods. Jaune. Therapy.

- Bumbleby fights so well together. Weiss and the rusted knight are handling the rest. Jabberwalkers, walk away!

- Ruby. Shikes. Jaune. No. None of them are alright. Is therapy not a thing in Remnant?!?!?

- I have been Ruby and I have been Jaune and I have been Blake too. Even Weiss and Yang. They got almost everything right. Fuck.

- New episode, new warning. Gods. Will I need another day to get through this.

- Ruby. Kiddo. Little is sad too.

- She is at Neo's place. Roman and her killed Neo's uncaring parents? Huh.

- Torchwick is alive. With a different voice. This is more tactical than an illusion. Neo has grown really powerful.

- The fuck. Penny and Pyrrha and Leonardo and Clover and Ozpin and Ironwood. Having a tea party. What form of emotional hell... Oh shikes. This is her gang from the opening. FUCKKKKKKK.

- Thank Gods!!! Little followed Ruby.

- Neo loved Roman. So much so, she wants to destroy Red. Smash her into smithereens. Death is too easy. Oh no.

- WHOA. Neo can't speak, but making the people Ruby has lost say what she wants to... FUCK.

- Weiss understanding what it may have been like for their leader speaks volumes on her own development and empathy. ✨

- Someone save this child. Please. This is so bad. How much more will you break her.

- I don't like what Neo is doing. But I can admit she is doing it well. Too well.

- Curious cat being bad curious. Wanted to break Rubes down. Little is trying to save her. Awwwwwwwww!!!!

- Little is dead now. I am dead inside. What torture. Ruby.

- She drank the tea. In front of... Oh my Gods.

- Neo has no purpose left. A new vessel for cat curious.

- I need to go for a walk.

- Summer Rose. Reading the story. Whoa.

- TINY YANG AND RUBY. SO CUTTTTTEEEE!!!!

- "What are you?" And we see a statue of Rose junior. Well.

- Paper Pleasers to Genial Gems. Is the red one the reincarnated version of the Ruby Paper Afteran? 🌟

- Wise Weiss and healing group hugs.

- I like the theme here. The person you are after everything goes down may not be the person you started out as. And that's okay. Survivors, of their own mind and otherwise, should get to choose.

- Ruby is Groot. And still alive.

- Even though I have conflicting feelings for Neo, her having no attachments left to tether her to Remnant... Heart wrenching honestly.

- So Louis did write Alyx's story. She never got to return. Curious cat went very bad.

- Neo's illusions are too good. Fuck. Catty Neo. UGHHHHHHHHHH.

- Red like Roses instrumental playing as Ruby chooses who she will be... 🤌🏻

- Summer backstory?!?? She used to wear the rose emblem. Awwwwwwwww!!!!

- Ruby saw that. Her mum leaving with Raven. Holy fuck. Raven will be called in for some intense interrogation when they get back.

- Alyx saves Jaune. 🫶🏻

- Cat out of Neo has a new makeover.

- Ruby is back!!!!! With Crescent Rose and her mum's emblem. While Red like Roses plays. AGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! ✨

- New version of Rubes. New version of her song. ❤️‍🔥

- Team RWBY turning into their colours while fighting the cat... 👏🏻🌟🤌🏻

- Neo bid farewell. I hope she finds peace.

- Little is now Somewhat. Bigger and has a cape. With a hood the colour of Yang's neckwear. The flowing leaf trail also has red accents. ✨

- Familiar. Like a happy dream. 😭💖🥹

- Louis immortalised his sister by writing a story she could have lived. The one he wanted her to. GODS. THAT'S. WOWIE.

- Wait. So the tree is the mother of the brothers Grimm?!?!?? They are from the Ever After. Huh.

- Curious cat was one of their creations.

- Balance. The way it's shown makes me think of Yin and Yang.

- From Brothers Grimm to Team RWBY. An ecosystem of equilibrium... 🤩

- Basically they met the grandmother of creation. Huh.

- Oh my Gods. It's Ruby's Red Riding Hood arc. Little. Meetup with grandmum. 🤯

- Practice random acts of kindness when you can. Little and Somewhat will agree with the sentiment.

- Awww! Alyx left one last act of selflessness for Jaune. He is young again! With a teenager's voice. LoLLL!

- Bumbleby stepping into the portal together. 💖

- They have arrived in Vacuo!!!

- So the Justice League crossover happens when they still attended Beacon?

- I always knew the question with RWBY wasn't if I would like it. Only a matter of when. And I obviously love it now. No one is surprised. It's one of my hyperfixations currently. A RWBY post a day keeps the demons at bay!

- Parting thoughts: The ending sketches have my heart forever. Must consume the miscellaneous stuff that came before during and after this volume. Then it's time to listen to the soundtrack without the videos 'cause I won't pay attention to the lyrics otherwise. Also, need to get RWBY on every possible platform and conduct many many many rewatches; once it's made available for international audiences. Looking forward to trauma bonding with you all in the next volume! Take care!!!

[casualya]

Dance with Astarion (rainy evening in the woods)

My Tav is a warlock bard, but she doesn't know how to dance and perform in public at all, hopefully Astarion can teach her how to move a little better 😅. --- Oh yeah, that's Wyll's scene, and I don't think that dance is really in character for Astarion, but I wanted to edit this scene with him. And I changed the location of the characters to be in the night forest. I love evening or night forest and I love seeing Astarion in the moonlight. I really miss the changing weather in the game. Here I tried to create the atmosphere of a rainy evening using Reshade preset - color correction, background blurs and rain mask. This rain looks fake, but I couldn't do anything better, sorry. I can't, unfortunately, make a script that can run realistic rain in the game. This effect doesn't refract light, it doesn't reflect light or color, it's just a mask, it's constant, if you change the perspective or angle of the shot, it won't change in any way either. I think to create a video with rain is better to use the effects of video editors, but to create screenshots this preset can be useful. I will be making it for uploading on Nexus. This mod must be used to have the effect of wet skin 💧- "Sweaty Crown Of Wet King"

You can see the full scene and description of the modifications on my little YT channel here.

[dynamicity-keysmash]

The Democratic party needs to stop using female candidates for human sacrifice.

That may be hyperbolic, but it is true that both female candidates for president were put forth in years with strong headwinds and rough political environments for the democratic party.

Hillary Clinton ran after two consecutive Democratic terms that left voters feeling uneasy about the nation's economic recovery. I don't think it's widely understood how difficult it is to win a third consecutive term for a political party. I think that if a more mainstream Tea Party Republican had been nominated instead of Trump, as was expected, Republicans would've even had a shot at the popular vote. After all, Republicans did win the congressional House popular vote in 2016. When factoring in a strong electoral college bias on top of the general national mood, it was never going to be an easy year for Democrats.

I do acknowledge that if Clinton had run a scrappier campaign with a central narrative more focused on working-class perspectives, she could've won. She was certainly a very flawed candidate, but my point is that 2016 was not a fundamentally easy political environment for Democrats in the first place.

Harris, on the other hand, was quite plainly fed into a wood chipper. It's finally a woman's turn again, just in time for her to enjoy a political environment in which 75% of the country thinks we're on the wrong track, the party's incumbent president has horrible approval ratings, and she has 3 months to catch up to an opposing presidential campaign that has effectively been weaving its narrative for 9 years. 2024 was an awful political environment for Democrats.

Given that the Democratic party has never nominated a female candidate in an election with a favorable political environment, It is an absolute tragedy that many are coming to the conclusion that Democrats categorically shouldn't run a woman in 2028, which is likely to be a highly viable election for the party. A woman definitely could've won in 2008. A woman likely could've won in 2020 as well. We cannot allow the Democratic party to continue to save fundamentally advantageous elections for male candidates and only give women a shot when the party's standing is shaky at best.

[sparkles-rule-4eva]

🎵 Whoooo wants a nice little short 'n sweet post-Prime one shot with Sonic and Tails and some angst and also fluff and cuddles and nightmares and sadness and cuteness and the implementing of that one headcanon from the post I made about Sonic getting more cuddly and clingy when he's hurt or upset??? 🎵

Sonic Prime - Healing Hugs

Something had happened in the cave with Sonic. Tails was absolutely certain of it.

At first, it had just been pleasant changes, pleasant surprises. Sonic had suddenly switched to being a 100% team player, had started paying attention to each and every thing Tails instructed, and seemingly communicated with Shadow just as the Ultimate Lifeform arrived out of nowhere to Chaos Control the Paradox Prism to who-knows-where.

Then there had been the more weird changes.

Every time Tails opened his mouth, Sonic would drop everything to listen to every word with laser focus, even if it was about something as simple as what he was going to get for dinner or some cool comics he'd read. He was giving a lot more hugs, too, far more than usual. Sonic used to be a lot more selective about physical affection, but now, Tails couldn't seem to get through 30 minutes of a day without his older brother scooping him up in an embrace, however brief. Not that he was complaining, it was nice.

He kept catching the hedgehog lying around in the grass, fingering the green leaves with utter delight in his eyes. Once he found him on the beach, sitting in a palm tree and singing some kind of pirate-y sounding song. Another time he found him wandering slowly around the woods nearby, talking to the flickies about how pretty the trees were.

Something was off, but Tails couldn't put his finger on it. From his perspective, he hadn't seen anything out of the ordinary happen during the battle in the cave, but Sonic's change in behavior made it painfully obvious something had.

Especially when the more negative changes started manifesting.

Not negative in a sense that Sonic was doing anything wrong. But he seemed . . . a little rattled. Some of his hugs were far more than just quick side squeezes. Sometimes he'd stare at Tails with an oddly pensive, faraway look in his eyes.

In bed, one night about a week after the cave incident, Tails found himself tossing and turning. These thoughts were driving him up the wall with how often they'd been occupying his mind lately.

He wanted so badly to sit down with Sonic and ask him what happened. He knew something had happened. But whether Sonic was willing to talk about it was another question entirely. He knew something was different, but he also knew his brother. Sonic didn't like uncomfortable conversations. If he felt unsafe, he would run.

Tails knew better than to confront him with questions that Sonic would likely not want to answer. If he'd wanted to tell Tails what was going on, what was different, he probably would've told him already.

With an exhausted sigh, Tails gave up trying to sleep and sat up in bed, casting a quick glance at the digital clock on his nightstand.

3:47 a.m.

Great. Even when I'm not working on a project, I STILL end up sleep-deprived. He smirked. At least Sonic can't get ticked at me this time, it's not my fault.

Speaking of the Blue Devil, he was right down the hall. Conked out on the couch, where he often slept. In fact, he'd been sleeping there every night for the past week.

Since he couldn't sleep, anyway, Tails slipped out of bed and crept down the hall, having memorized which boards creaked and which ones didn't. He half-hoped Sonic was awake so he'd have someone to talk to, but as he emerged into the living room, he saw his brother sound asleep, half-curled on his side.

Tails blinked and looked closer.

Sonic was asleep, but . . . he was also clinging extra tightly to his pillow. And he looked . . . incredibly stressed.

Was he having a bad dream?

Tails took a couple steps towards the couch until he stood right beside it. In past experiences where he'd found his brother having a nightmare, talking it out rarely helped. Sometimes even waking him up didn't help, either. He usually just wound up disoriented and panicking, and sometimes even ran off to deal with his feelings alone out in the wilderness.

Tails really didn't want him to leave. He also didn't want him to be alone.

He reached out and ever so gently placed his hand over Sonic's clenched fist, both ungloved.

One thing he had discovered about his brother during hard times like this was that he became more clingy. On the rare occasion he was visibly upset, he'd sometimes come up and just hug Tails without a word. When he was sick or injured somehow (and actually allowing himself to be taken care of), he tended to snuggle more. If he was in enough pain, he'd hold onto Tails as tightly as he could. Sometimes he'd do the same with their other friends, but Tails was always his go-to.

Not that it happened very often. Tails only knew these things because he'd known Sonic for most of his life. Sonic had raised him. He'd seen more of Sonic than anyone else had.

Now, he rubbed a finger over his brother's fist for a moment, then very carefully tugged the pillow out of Sonic's unconscious grasp. He set it softly on the floor, then carefully clambered onto the couch next to him, lay down, and hugged him tightly.

Without waking up, Sonic wrapped his arms around him in return and held him close, burying his face between Tails's ears with a barely audible whimper.

Tails could feel his brother's heartbeat racing, so he snuggled in closer and softly began to purr.

And, with time, he felt Sonic start to calm down.

A couple minutes went by, and his heart rate slowed down just a bit. The tension coiled throughout his entire body started to unwind, and his spiked-up quills lowered slightly in a more relaxed position. His ears were still kinda droopy, but he seemed a lot more restful than he had a few minutes ago.

Tails smiled, still bundled up tightly against Sonic. And his smile only grew wider when he felt his brother start purring, too.

There was something infinitely comforting about being held, about snuggling with his brother, the person who loved him to the moon and back. The person he loved in exactly the same way. For those moments, the very problems that had been keeping Tails awake half an hour earlier seemed to fade. He was here, Sonic was here, no words were spoken or needed, and they would be okay.

Tails slept soundly for the rest of the night.

-

The sound of flickies singing from the treetops woke Sonic the next day. He blinked blearily as his eyes came into focus, and he realized that Tails had joined him sometime during the night.

Once upon a time, waking up to find him right there had made him jump. It didn't anymore.

He smiled, carefully adjusting one hand so he could stroke his little brother's bangs and give him a tiny scratch behind one ear. Tails mumbled something unintelligible in his sleep, and snuggled closer in Sonic's chest.

He grinned wider. Tails hadn't been snuggly to this level in a while. Granted, he'd always been the more snuggly one of the two of them, but still. It kind of reminded Sonic of the first couple years he'd been taking care of Tails, when the kit was between 3 and 4 years old.

His smile faded a little as he thought of Nine at that age, still alone, still being bullied and hurt, with no one to save him and show him the love and care he deserved.

He could only hope that the other Shatterverse variants were showing him such kindness now. The thought that he would never get to see him again made his heart ache in a way he couldn't quell.

Sonic studied Tails's sleeping face, noting the intense similarities and differences between him and Nine. He wondered whether Nine had always existed even before the Shatter event, as a part of his little brother that Tails would never bring to light. Was it the same with Mangey and Sails?

A tiny snort escaped him against his will as he thought about whether Mangey's existence was an implication that a part of Tails just wanted to go a little feral. Sometimes he couldn't blame him.

His suppressed laugh had Tails stirring, blinking open his big blue eyes. He looked back at Sonic, grinning sleepily. "G'morning."

Sonic ruffled his bangs again, smiling as Tails giggled. "G'morning, little buddy."

Stop calling me that!

He froze at the memory of Nine's angry shout, and Tails clearly saw it.

"Are you okay?" he asked with a gentle, inquiring frown, slowly sitting up.

Sonic sighed as he sat up as well, leaning back to stretch, then pulled his little brother close again. "I've got a story for you, bud," he admitted, deciding it was about time to open up about what had really happened in the cave.

Tails gazed up at him with surprise, but then smiled and nodded.

"I'm listening," he replied quietly.

AO3 version

Did I come up with this while hugging a giant pillow during my nap earlier today? Maybe :3

I also maybe just really wanted to implement that headcanon somewhere teehee

[its-not-a-pen]

—Terracotta—

Ok so I visited xi'an during my trip back to china (3 months ago?), and this idea popped into my head during the 9h train ride back to shangdong. I am of course 100% projecting my own love of the terracotta army onto Qin Shi Huang, in reality he did not care for this pit of mud statues depicting lowly commoners. In fact, no one ever bothered to write about it and they were lost to history until 1974 when some farmers digging a well stumbled upon them. But it's exactly the reason I'm so fascinated by them. QSH's tomb has not been excavated, and although I have a running joke about cracking it open--mercury vapors be damned--none of the riches inside will ever enchant me as much as the chance to see the face of a person who lived during this time.

Notes under the cut:

#1

the title Qin Shi Huangdi means "First Emperor of Qin" and was given to QSH by later historians. He actually called himself the Shi Huangdi, "First Emperor", and that is the title I've gone with here.

in English the other kingdoms are translated as "states" (i guess to avoid confusion?) but in chinese they are very much kingdoms.

The terracotta warriors used thousands of craftsmen, many of whom were slaves from conquered kingdoms. From a storytelling perspective I thought it would be more streamlined if there were two main artisans who reported directly to QSH.

QSH's clothes are based on the overly complicated courtly regalia. which has 12 symbols that only the emperor is allowed to wear

Notice how this hat is ROUND at the front??? Well I CERTAINLY DIDN'T. HAD TO REDRAW IT!!!!!

the stripped shirt is based on this Chu woman figurine. Clothes were fairly unisex during this time and I thought it was a nice fit.

#2

Paperwork: writing was done on books made of bamboo slips. Anecdotally, QSH had an impressive work ethic and would read 100 bills every night.

Bronze Goose lamp: ok this is actually a Han dynasty lamp pls forgive me. I saw this bad boy at the xi'an history museum and it's bewitched me body and soul. The goose neck is hollow and connects to a reservoir of water in the belly, which minimizes smoke and cools the lamp.

QSH is remembered as a brutal tyrant and brilliant statesman, but I wanted to present a more human version of him here. Bored, tired and drowning in work he refuses to delegate. His new empire is balanced as precariously as everything else on his desk.

#3

The attendants standing behind him are holding little wood tablets called hu for taking notes. Their brushes are tucked into their hats/hair, inspired by Han dynasty custom. (You'll see me using Han stuff a lot. Their cultures were very similar to Qin, since it was only a few hundred years apart).

So I had a slight breakdown trying to find the correct hats for the eunuchs, and ended up redrawing everything the night I was due to publish. Closest thing I could come up with was a reference to a round-style Han Dynasty hat which evolved into this square Jin hat. Yes, this is a cry for help .

#4

the wheeled platform is 100% made up, I tried to come up with a plausible way of getting a bunch of figurines into the palace.

#5 & #6

Painted terracotta soldier

How were the terracotta warriors made

The General: Fun fact, I got to see this guy in person!

#7

The Epic Wide Shot was inspired by some Tang Dynasty terracotta figures I saw at the xi'an museum!

#8

THIS KNEELING ARCHER. ARGGGGG. He use to be my favourite guy. I even went into the pit and drew him IN PERSON. the archers inexplicably have their hair buns on the OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE HEAD. So because of him, I DREW ALL THE HAIR BUNS WRONG!!!! REDRAW!!!! PAIN AND SUFFERING!!!!

#10

Qin was famous for it's very long, thin swords. They were more useful as status symbols than actual weapons, as QSH knows from personal experience…

#11

QSH'S Tomb hasn't been excavated yet, but high levels of mercury have been detected in the soil, making the historical accounts of quite plausible.

[weebsinstash]

Ok so I kept procrastinating but I finally finished Masquerade earlier today and just. Oh my fucking god, kicking my feet, twirling my hair around a finger, giggling ,rewinding, smiling like a GOON, I have THOUGHTS

--Val's red coat is his WINGS and they're glorious. And not to mention he wears that like, slutty open chested black v neck underneath where he's lowkey showing off his nipples too, the slut. The gold heart belt buckle and the matching gold accented accessories too. Ugh. You can't say he doesn't dress up, and I really liked getting to see the full reveal of his body so to speak, the way his violet arms become black fingers, also is he, is he wearing like gold manicured claw cap things sometimes, why is he such a diva, he's so extra

--the Addict music video WASN'T just being artistic, Valentino's smoke CAN become physical actual chains and bondage and oh my gooddddddd I'm using this knowledge for EVIL purposes.

Boom! Sudden third eye opening moment, but remember that post I made about "Val who starts dragging you around on a leash because he's too much taller than you to keep leading you by the hand" ? His lower set of arms could totally hold onto you BUT I can totally see him using these chains all the time now, to drag you around and just restrain you and shit. Ugh. Just. Him having you completely immobilized and helpless and shaking like a chihuahua as he can run his fingers along you and whatever else he wants, listening to you gadp and squirm

-- ok I know the whole point of the poison music video was showing the horrible shit Angel is made to do and how he's dehumanized but like.... obviously, from.. a fetish perspective... you know what I think 😩❤️

Like you can't just show me a shot of Valentino having Angel in his arms and he's got all four arms wrapped around him in like almost an embrace, kissing, KISSING while they fuck. maybe I'm so shy but that's so... intimate, like, ok fuck my ass i guess, that's like sex, whatever, but kissing me on the MOUTH, let alone with tongue? you might as well be looking into my soul or something dofnofjfjg, not to mention Val biting his neck while they do it like you CAN'T me all of that and expect me to be normal!!!

--platonic yandere Husker with an alcoholic Reader though. He forces you into these weird little therapy sessions when yeah he still serves you drinks but he cuts you off when you're fucking plastered, like he enables you until you're having TOO much, amd by that point you're yammering with your loose lips and answering ALL His questions. Siiiiigh I can see him seeing how you're down on your luck and burying your worries and sorrows at the bottom of a bottle , getting so drunk you can barely sit up straight, and he starts getting protective of you, secretly following you to bars when you won't just get drunk at the hotel, making sure your drink doesn't get spiked, having to kick some ass to protect you and drag you home more than once

--i was such a fool. If Valentino is such a, quite frankly, perverted fucking idiot that he LICKS CHARLIE, fucking CHARLIE MORNINGSTAR upon first meeting her, he ABSOLUTELY does creepy shit to his darling day ONE. He CLEARLY has ZERO impulse control: he drinks, he smokes, he forces himself onto other people, he throws things when he loses his temper. He uses his power to be a bully and seeking unrestrained self gratification

--this is completely unrelated to everything else here but Zestial is hot in that like, antiquated charming eldritch evil kind of way. He seems like the sort of creature you could encounter deep within an enchanted woods, you're freshly dead and wind up in a bad part of Pentagram City and this TOWERING gentleman says some shit like "turn back child, there is no safety for you here". He's. He's sexy in that Neflix Castlevania Dracula way where there's an appeal in his age and his wisdom and his composure and just his full-on aesthetic and such. Like bro it's so easy to miss it but he's the oldest of the Overlords and he bowed in respect to Carmilla for what she did. He's chivalrous and loyal and just 👀 got my eye on him...

--bro watching Val manipulate Angel to get Charlie to leave fucking HURT and I've thought about Reader being in that exact scenario SO many times! Valentino is manipulating Angel to control you, and he's manipulating YOU to control Angel. Sure, he'll have Angel make you cry and chase you off so you don't get emotional and interfere with a shoot, or so that you don't sabotage whatever manipulated state he has Angel under at the time, but when you're off on your own drinking and crying and sobbing and feeling oh so horrible and pitiful, then Val is sibling up to you, cooing about, oh how MEAN Angel was to you, he didn't have to be so harsh to someone so sweet--

Could you imagine the fucking. Tiered angst and manipulation of Angel hurting Reader because Val pressured him to, and then Reader going off and getting drunk and being self destructive, and then at your emotional weakest Val is popping in to strike some kind of deal with you or fuck you or whatever, and then Angel blames himself, and here's Valentino, "that wouldn't have happened if you just did what you were told :3c" and Angel is even further under his control because now he's terrified he might "fuck up" and get you really hurt

--siiiiiiiigh imagine like drinking with Angel and you've been down there for like two months and you're idly chit chatting and, something something, you offhandedly mention something like "god fuck Val had me so fucking wasted I could barely sign my employee contract" CUE ANGEL IMMEDIATELY DROPPING WHATEVERS IN HIS HAND AND SHAKING YOU, "what do you MEAN you signed something??? You're just waiting tables, what did you SIGN???" And it turns out Val whipped out like ONE OF THE B I G "types" of contracts for you. God I really want some elaboration on how those contracts work and how Val or any Overlord strikes deals and even gains powers because it's very clear not everyone had the same level of abilities, and also lowkey the power scaling in Hazbin is kinda busted like not to be a dweeb but you've got people running around basically having Quirks

--ALSO THIS IS SO DUMB BUT I HAVE A COMPLAINT SIR. Valentino straight up says "no one watches porn for the dialogue" EXTREMELY INCORRECT BUZZER NOISE. When you've watched enough porn or at the very least you're hunting for a specific fetish, dialogue can be Duper important. You can see 20 different actors do the same scene BUT have a specific pair who, maybe used a specific line that stood out to you and made it unique and made it worth watching. You know for a long while there I was writing smut and feeling like I was doing the same descriptions over and over again and it kind of burnt me out and turned me off and that's when I tried to shift towards more emotional and environmental and thematic sorts of stuff

Listen all I'm saying is I have been ENAMORED like straight up with the idea of Reader becoming the fourth V because you become close to all the Vs and you have your own talents and they all like you and shit. You're able to pitch product ideas to Vox, even help him if you're a programmer or a coder or something, Valentino.... maybe you have magic hammer space pockets and can run him errands or you cook drugs or you're like a sexy bodyguard for him or, he just likes getting drunk and doing drugs with you, and Velvette is that #Bitch who you gossip with who likes to design new shit for you and bounce ideas off of you from time to time. Like the gradual slide of "oh we're all hanging out and they think I'm actually kind of cool," to "oh they keep inviting me to hang out. I feel special. I'm one of the cool kids. Maybe I even have fun powers and they encourage me to be mean and evil and its fun" to then "oh you're straight up shoving new clothes in my face and you keep using this one specific V nickname for me instead of my real name and I stg I don't have personal space anymore and I'm always being crowded by at least one of you literally 24/7"

God just. God. Just. GOD I AM SO WELL FED. I saw what Viv was selling and I got in line and I've finally gotten my food and it is FILLING, my craving for controlling obsessive possessive douchebags is sooooo sated right now 😩❤️

[kurithedweeb]

I went to a performance of Vivaldi's Four Seasons recently and let me tell you I've had such ideas about how each one applies to each of the Ro'Meave brothers. I saw like entire animatics while listening.

Spring is about all three of them: the first section is Vylad’s, upbeat, innocent. The second section is Garroth, much slower and more somber, almost mourning interspersed with moments of frantic energy like the first, about the night he escaped and was captured by the titan golem that guards the outskirts and released at the last minute after it saw flashes of Esmund, who created it. Zane in the third section where he almost mirrors Vylad but with a less jovial air.

The second section, the slow one, got to me especially. It reminds me very much of rain and it switches between slow somber pieces and bursts of almost frantic energy that follows a two-beat rhythm. In the beginning, Garroth is still the heir but he is becoming increasingly disillusioned with the idea that his allowing himself to be molded like this will do anything to save his family and has recently discovered he'll be married off without his input, and his planning his death is a slow and controlled process. There is a frantic burst where he believes he's been discovered, but the actual death is a calm, calculated affair, and the panic only sets in when he is running through the streets to make his escape. There is a brief, grieving respite in the sewers as he properly tends to the wound and it finally completely sets in what he's doing. If he goes back now, he'll be killed for real. So he goes out into the rain and he runs, and the frantic energy in the faster parts get more and more sad as he cries and his tears mingle with the rain, and there is this feeling right in the middle where it feels like something is approaching. Something massive. In the background of the shot, an enormous shape becomes visible, and though Garroth doesn't turn to look he knows what's coming, and he's incredibly worn out from what he's done. He wonders if he shouldn't have done this after all. He slows to a stop and lowers himself to his knees, and he curls into himself as one massive hand comes down over him and covers him from view. The hand slowly lifts, turns towards the camera, and reveals Garroth cradled in the center of its palm, so small by comparison. He finally lifts his eyes to look at it. They're face-to-face. In the reflection of the golem's eyes, we see Garroth, and the rain washes his image into one of Esmund.

There are flashes of Esmund seen from the perspective of the golem. Laughing and talking with his friends. Talking by the fire with his family. Gathering the materials for the golem. Sketching designs. Looking into the golem's eyes and smiling softly as a parent to a child, speaking to it though the words cannot be heard. Esmund, wounded and torn open emotionally, mouth opened around an unheard cry as he throws things off his workbench and collapses against its edge, shaking as he holds himself up with a hip pressed to it and a hand coming away bloody from his bandaged side. Esmund curled into his seat by the hearth, the flame so low as to nearly not be burning, exhausted even in sleep. Esmund in the golem's palm just like this, holding his hands to its face and laughing with the joy of creation. And Garroth in the same pose, grief-ridden and resigned. And in the last few beats of the song, the golem lowers its hand and it remains there with its hand upturned in the grass as Garroth flees.

Summer is Garroth. Shots of him traveling, ill and hurting, and finding his way to Phoenix Drop. The second section is him finding Zenix, first slowly integrating into Phoenix Drop and then following a blood trail out to the woods and finding a boy crumpled to the ground and covered in wounds, the camera pausing a completely three beats on his feeble form before the pace picks up again with Garroth crashing to the ground and gathering him up and getting up even as he shouts for help. Shots of rushing Zenix to safety and caring for him and taking him on as his apprentice. The third section is as Phoenix Drop begins to devolve under Malik’s increasing paranoia, in the final slow part Zenix looks upon the flames he set to Malik’s house. Summer ends as Garroth takes charge of the investigation and the village and gets more and more tired with each passing shot.

Autumn is Zane. It has a bit of a haunting beginning that quickly folds itself into jovial music you wouldn’t find out of place in any noble society party scene in a movie. This is what he was raised in, where he finds his power, his connections, and there are sharp moments that reflect that there’s something well-hidden beneath the high-society charm. The slower second section is the moments behind the mask when we can see a sliver of the true face of the boy beneath: one devout and calm and perhaps not so inhuman as he portrays to his subordinates. He holds himself to an ideal. There’s a segment at the end of the second section that reminds one of a steadfast love, and this is Zane bringing Janus into his embrace and his plots as a man who finds loyalty in affection and duty and a sense of self given by another. In the third section, he dons the mask and veil once again and this is when he gathers all his strings and seizes power, by the end standing as the undoubtedly most powerful man in O’khasis even if all that power is hidden in doublespeak and undertone.

Winter is Vylad. The first section is Vylad as a boy as he grows into his teens, reminiscent of his part of Spring but having grown into something else. As we near the second section, there is an undertone of unease as he realizes something has been happening without his knowledge. The upbeat tone of the first part sombers a bit as Garroth dies, and soon after picks back up as the plot against Vylad spirals into fruition: in the last few segments of this section he is running through the forest and fields. The second segment opens as he is being hunted and chased, strings plucked in tune with his rapid breaths as he finds himself pinned and stabbed and lying in the grass as his life drains away. For a handful of moments, he sees the afterlife. And as this section closes, he wakes in a body he no longer recognizes, feeling as though he has been stuffed into a broken doll. In the third section, he navigates his old-new body. He finds himself in the Nether, at the beck and call of the Calling and cruel commanders. He gathers his strength, and at the first burst of a frantic movement, he makes his daring escape. He is chased, and so near when he is caught. But he bides his time, shown in shots of him drawing on the walls of his cell and fighting anyone who comes near and slowly cutting his way through his bars until the second frantic movement crashes over him and he bursts from his cell, runs through the fortress, bulldozing past anyone he can. The portal is within reach. He bursts through it and does not stop, heart racing and breath coming quick as the day he died. He’s forced to slow eventually, and over a series of backgrounds that change with each repetition, he slowly falls to the ground. As the song comes to a close, as he sits defeated on his heels without even the strength to push himself to kneeling, there is a swell that inspires hope, and he looks up to Hyria standing over him at the edge of the Sacred Forest.

[thepastisalreadywritten]

The Princess of Wales’s intensely personal video message is packed with symbolism and carefully chosen imagery.

The three-minute video, shot by Will Warr, the couple’s favoured film-maker, in Norfolk last month, focuses heavily on the importance of nature and family.

It depicts the Prince and Princess, tactile and intimate; their three children, Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, nine, and Prince Louis, six, at the centre of their world.

The positive tone, the laughter and playful scenes, demonstrate that the Princess is looking to the future, hopeful that her darkest days are behind her.

The footage is framed around the theme of nature.

Since her cancer diagnosis in January, the Princess has found sanctuary in the natural world and is keen to reflect its importance.

She has previously spoken of “the power of nature” in maintaining both physical and mental health and the imagery reflects this.

The footage shows the Princess leaning against a tree, eyes closed as she looks to the skies, touching the bark of a tree as she gazes upwards.

In other scenes, she is walking through a field of wheat, caressing the sheaves with her hand, beaming as she holds a yellow butterfly before it flutters into the distance.

Nature was a key theme in June, when the Princess delivered an update on her health, revealing that she had “good days and bad days,” but was “not out of the woods yet.”

Her statement was accompanied by the image of her leaning on a weeping willow on the Windsor estate, again, taking strength and comfort in nature.

The joy and vitality conveyed in the latest footage is a far cry from the video message released by the Princess in March, when, seated on a bench alone looking pale and thin, she revealed that she was undergoing treatment for cancer.

The film shows the Prince and Princess interacting in a way never seen before.

The couple, usually intensely guarded in public, offer a rare glimpse into their private world as they lean on each other, kiss and clasp hands.

In various scenes, the Princess leans her head on her husband’s shoulder, they lie together on their backs, arms wrapped around each other laughing, and the Prince affectionately plants a kiss on his wife’s cheek.

In the video the Princess recorded in March, when she revealed she was being treated for cancer, she said that having the Prince by her side was “a great source of comfort and reassurance.”

She mentions him twice in her latest statement as she shows how much she values his strength and support.

Their decision to let the world in on such personal moments might also reflect the “new perspective” they say they have each gained from their cancer journey, perhaps now recognising that others relate to such private experiences and vulnerability.

The Prince and Princess have always made clear that family comes first.

Family life is at the heart of this video as the couple spend quality time with their three children as well as the Princess’s parents, Carole and Michael Middleton.

There are delightful shots of the family, arms wrapped around each other and laughing at the camera.

The children wield cricket bats, climb trees and run through the waves in the sea. They are shown playing cards outside and enjoying a picnic.

The images reflect the Princess’s recognition of the “simple yet important things in life, which so many of us often take for granted. Of simply loving and being loved.”

It is significant that the Middletons appear in one scene, playing a classic card game with the family around a dining room table.

The Princess is extremely close to her parents and they have rallied round in recent months to provide invaluable support.

Their inclusion in the video is a means of public recognition, a thank you for being there.

As an unprecedented glimpse into an idyllic family life, the footage is similar to that released by the couple in April 2021 to mark their 10th wedding anniversary.

That film, also shot by Mr Warr, showed the family in Norfolk, frolicking in sand dunes, chasing each other through trees, and collapsing on the grass in giggles.

Much of the footage is shot in an old-fashioned grainy style, which harks back to royal videos of old.

The late Queen and Prince Philip often captured family moments on camera or cine film, and the style chosen by Mr Warr is reminiscent of that footage from Royal family holidays at Balmoral or on the Royal Yacht Britannia.

The brief footage of the Princess driving a Land Rover through the Sandringham estate demonstrates that she is well enough to be back at the wheel and in control of her life.

It is also reminiscent of the late Queen and Prince Philip, who were often seen driving themselves around the royal estates.

The late Queen relished such independence, particularly in her later years.

A close-up of the Princess’s left hand on the gear stick shows she is not wearing her famous sapphire engagement ring.

[marchsfreakshow]

Sad Goodbyes [Tate Langdon]

Hurt/Comfort //drabble

Dedicated to my friend Sam, and his late ferret Nala <3

You are a RSPCA worker and mainly look after after animals a day or two before they get adopted, and Tate helps you say goodbye to a snow white ferret you've become attached to.

Another Tate fic, finally. This has been a w.i.p for ages, and I'm so glad I'm able to publish it. 🫶

Your Perspective

⊹˚.⋆ ₊꒷ᘏᘏ︶ଓ︶꒷꒦⊹˚ᗢ₊꒷︶ଓ︶꒷

I open the door, immediately placing the carrier down by my side. "Who's in there?" A voice asked. My eyes shot up to look at Tate. I smiled and closed the door before opening the carrier. A long, white ferret ran out, up the stairs, then sat on top of the first flight of the creaky wood floors. Tate's head wooshed around and grinned at the animal that was running around on the staircase. "You have a ferret?"

"Only for a bit. Nala is going to get adopted soon, so I'm spending a lot more time with her." I smiled back sadly and picked the carrier up again. Walking past the ghost boy, I jogged up the stairs. "Nala, up." I clicked my tongue and pointed to the other flight of stairs. The small ferret almost jumped all the stairs and went into an open door.

Tate followed me into the room and sat on the bed. "Do you do this for a lot of pets?"

"I guess so." I smile and place the carrier down by Nala's cage.

"You guess so?"

"Not every future pet owner lets me play with their new pets before they go to their new home. Too many sad goodbyes." I chuckled softly. I sat on my knees by the big ferret cage, opening the little doors and letting Nala run into it and jump around.

"She reminds me of you." Tate smiled, moving to sit by me crossed-legged. He kept his eyes on the ferret who was rushing around in her cage and playing with the small toys. "Full of energy, and always happy to be around others." The man's fingers weaved through two cage parts and wiggled, making Nala jump around.

"Sweet talk unfortunately won't make Nala stay any longer, Tate." I chuckle, kissing his cheek quickly. Letting out a little sigh, I got up from my knees, moving to the empty duffel bag. It took me a few seconds to open it, my eyes wandering over it slowly.

A few minutes of sullen silence went by before I heard the cage doors shut and footsteps behind me. Warmth spread over my back and arms wrapped around my stomach. "You can do this. You've done it before." He whispered, before resting his chin on my shoulder, staring at my shaky hands. "what makes this time any different?"

"...I really love Nala, I can't bear to let her go." I sniffled, turned on my heel and muffled my small cries into his jumper. He shushed me quietly and rubbed circles on my back. "I've never been this attached to an animal before."

"I know. I know..." We stood there in silence for a few moments as I softly cried. Eventually, I pulled myself away and wiped my eyes as I coughed. "I'll help you, okay? Tell me where to put things." Tate smiled softly. His hand rested on my cheek, meeting my glazed-over eyes.

I nodded and turned around, zipping open the duffel bag, and puffing it so it was bigger. Tate started to open the ferret cage, picking up the bigger toys and placing them on the bed. We started a line of picking items up and placing them strategically in the bag. It soon got filled up with toys, empty food bowls, bedding, everything.

"See, easy. All done." He reassured me, petting my hair. I laid down on the bed and sighed.

"It was the easy part. Getting everything put away is easy once you start."

I felt a kiss on my cheek, then kisses getting closer to my lips until I reciprocated his gentle touches. "I'm so proud of you, Nala is too." Tate smiled as I kissed him back, holding his face in my hands. "you'll be okay, I know you will."

⊹˚.⋆ ₊꒷ᘏᘏ︶ଓ︶꒷꒦⊹˚ᗢ₊꒷︶ଓ︶꒷

Tag: @babygorewhore @slvt4jamesmarch @taintandviolent @tatelangdonsweater

[usher-foundation-lincoln-branch]

Case 19981028H, Statement given by Jim Hall, October 28, 1998. Statement in regards to an old hunting rifle. Statement read and archived by Luci Dreme.

I’m coming here because I feel like I have to. I don’t know how much longer before I’m forced to do it again. I really don’t want to do it again. But when that thing makes me do it…well it won’t be an animal. 

It started when I found this old hunting rifle in a box in the attic. I assumed it belonged to my pappy, and I had inherited with the rest of the stuff in his cabin. And hunting season had just started so I wanted to go out and try my hand at using pap’s old riffle. When I picked it up it felt like any old gun to me. It was only when I went out into the woods that it started. 

The first day I went out there wasn’t much to find. I found a couple quail nesting about and that was that. When I fired the bullet, that’s when It began. The satisfaction of having killed. I had never felt that rush before. The second day I found some quail again, but no matter how many I slaughtered I couldn’t feel satisfied. The woods were a bloodbath, and I never once questioned why the gun hadn’t run out of bullets. The urge to kill only stopped when I found a rabbit and shot it dead. That was not the first time the woods were painted that dark carmine. By the end of that week I had a dozen pigeons, ten rabbits, two turkeys and one deer. Whenever I picked up that gun I could feel it again, the need to fire, to kill. 

Yesterday I couldn't find any game. That’s when I realized what this thing was. It had to take a life, or I would be next. I knew it somehow, that if it didn’t spill enough blood it would be me who would wake up with a bullet to the chest. That fear that I would be prey, that is what made me kill Donna. 

I loved Donna. She had been nothing but kind. We had been married for almost twenty five years, brought up a child. Ryan doesn’t deserve to know what happened to his poor mother. How she screamed when it struck her. The wicked glee I got when I saw her fall. That wretched feeling of finally ending the chase, of killing

I ran. But no matter how hard I tried I still couldn’t let go of that gun. So I came here. Because if anything, one of you knows how to stop this. But don’t get too close alright. If any of you get any ideas of taking my only defense away from me I swear I will-

Statement ended.

Jim Hall, huh? I looked into him before reading this one out. I prefer to know my facts first. The cops found out about what he did, and he ran. Was a serial killer for a few years, but eventually they caught up to him. His own son, what was it- Ryan. Right. He refused to visit him at first. Only came to yell at the security guards for letting Jim die after only a few months in jail. I tried to reach out to him, to try and get a statement on his perspective of the whole thing, to sniff out some more details, but he was…uncooperative.

We can’t know if this was a man giving into his worst thoughts, or if that gun was as potent as he said it was without more information. I mean, we’ve all had thoughts like that. But acting on them is different. God, if I could just get Ryan to interview it’d be-

They let out a sigh.

Can’t change that. Need to stop focusing on it. You’ve got work to do. Luci. There’s other shit to record, and you’ve got to finish up this recording.

They pause again, awkward silence overtaking the recording.

Right, well, I’m not sure how I’m supposed to end one of these- I’m sort of talking to no one. Not until someone decides to listen back to it. So, bye future employee, I guess. See you in the future.

[the-director]

Just watched 28 years later with a group of friends.

First: cinematography. It felt very connected to 28 days later with some of the off centered angles and such. I really like how it wasn't too caught up in only having shots visible/around the mcs. Like there would be some shots of the zombies running around in the wood, and it would be all reddened, as if we were in their perspective. But then there'd also be moments of like a close up shot to something burning when they'd talk about fire. And the shot isn't literally showing the fire they speak of, but just to show of what they're thinking of. Idk it's hard to describe, but I really liked it.

Spoilers below

Lore stuff: some may not like the whole "alpha" zombies and how the zombies are even still alive. But like someone else on tumblr spoke of, it makes sense that like a subsection of zombies would figure out that they need to eat and drink water in order to survive. Maybe not all of the zombies figured this out, but enough did for there to be the zombies we see in the movie. The alphas, are an extension of this, that the virus isn't a catch all or whatever. I think this makes sense, since to me I think the rage virus is moreso based on the neurotransmitters and like, the brain supplying chemicals. And the virus makes the brain supply chemicals that make the person act in a strange way and hijacks the brain or whatever. The strength of these alphas could be explained by them not feeling pain. Or something like that I don't know. I'm just saying. I find it believable. Im willing to believe it for the film to work.

I really loved the acting, Ralph Fiennes, Jodie Connor and Alfie Williams stand out the most to me. I really loved their scenes together, their dynamics, and Ralph Fiennes' character in general.

I'm fine with the pseudo retcon of 28 weeks later because like. Idk I think it's more interesting to have the virus purely be contained to the UK. Like the way hunger games only focusses on America and we'll probably never know what is going on in Europe, Asia or even Canada or Mexico.

I'm overall excited to see the next movie bone temple, but the ending we have now is also fine to me. Though I am a bit worried about that baby being a carrier...

[gmcostaart]

Drarry Fics that I've read

Sooo I got into the fandom about a year now and I obsessively read a bunch of fanfics (Ao3 is my second home fr )

Running on Air by eleventy7

Chapters: 17/17 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤 Sinopse: Draco is missing and Harry needs to find him. He thought it would be another boring work, but then it turns into a self-discover journey and revisiting memories. All time favorite, this fic changed my brain chemistry for forever

Dear Diary by AWickedMemory (TeddyLaCroix)

Chapters: one-shot 🖤🖤🖤 Sinopse: Harry finds a diary that writes him back. Cute and well written. If you need smth sweet and cozy to read, go for it.

Mental by sara_holmes

Chapters: 32/32 🖤🖤🖤🖤 Sinopse: Due to a spell Draco and Harry can read each other thoughts and things go crazy, emotional and cute at the same time. This one got me stay up all night.

The Ordeal of Being Known by louisfake

Chapters: 14/14 🖤🖤🖤🖤 Sinopse: Due to a curse Harry can't use your voice and Draco, a  Licensed Healer Legilimens, is going to help. It's like a time-travel fic but only through dialogue and revisiting memories, heavily emotional and overall well paced but for me the final chapters were a little bit rushed.

Then Comes a Mist and a Weeping Rain by Faith Wood (faithwood)

Chapters: one-shot 🖤🖤🖤 Sinopse: A cloud follows Draco everywhere and Harry comes to help like an umbrella. Overall cute.

The Lip-Lock Jinx by cassisluna

Chapters: one-shot 🖤🖤 Sinopse: Draco lost his voice and to recover it he needs a kiss from the person he's in love with. Drarry eight year fix-fic. It was cute, but a little forgettable tbh.

knickers in a twist by technicolourbeat

Chapters: 7/7 🖤🖤🖤 Sinopse: Draco wears a skirt and Harry can't stop staring or keeps his hands to himself. Just to boys going out and having a lot of fun in many different ways

Catch and Release by shealwaysreads (onereader)

Chapters: one-shot 🖤🖤🖤🖤 Sinopse: Due to temporary curse Draco and Harry need to stay close to each other. It's a forced proximity, forced cohabitation, only one bed trope fic with slow burn, and for me that was the best part of it.

Blue Boy by orphan_account

Chapters: 11/11 🖤🖤🖤 Sinopse: Draco Malfoy is a shy beautiful Ravenclaw boy who got attention of Harry Potter, the most popular boy of the Slytherin. The different and non usually personalities of them is what makes things interesting

Body Electric by shealwaysreads (onereader), tackytiger

Chapters: one-shot 🖤🖤 Sinopse: Due to a potion accident Harry and Draco swap bodies and the change of perspective is not the only thing they'll explore. I really liked this work but it felt smth is missing or not fully developed, specially, emotional part of the plot. It should have a second chapter tbh.

In Need of a Proper Hug by Faith Wood (faithwood)

Chapters: one-shot 🖤🖤 Sinopse: Harry turns into a Koala and keeps hugging Draco. Very cute but also very short.

 Floating by serikkun

Chapters: one-shot 🖤🖤 Prequel: Sparks by serikkun Sinopse: """Draco Malfoy, a visiting student from Durmstrang, couldn't believe he was Harry Potter's hostage for the second task."" I was in a hungry to find Drarry in this dynamic and it was ok, but I'd like to find smth longer.

Dear Cousin, Love Regulus by LLAP115, XxTheDarkLordxX

Chapters: 7/7 🖤🖤 Sinopse: Draco receive letters from his former cousin Regulus and starts questioning all his beliefs and family values, changing the course of the history and alliances. It's not a rewrite or time travel fic, a lot of majors events are summarize, though is interesting.

You And Me by bixgirl1

Chapters: one-shot 🖤🖤🖤🖤 Sinopse: Harry needs a calm and isolate place, Draco seems to be alone most of the time. Hogwarts 8th year, Slow burn, well paced, praise relationship dynamic.

The Importance of Being Draco Malfoy by poppyhills

Chapters: series rewrite (it's currently, covering the book 5 events)🖤🖤🖤

Sinopse: Hogwarts 3rd year; what if, instead of a scratch on the arm, Draco hit on the head by "the big bloody chicken" causing a huge memory lost that changes many aspects of Draco's personality. An unusually fic rewrite series. I love this 'new' Draco, he's just to silly that makes you laugh a lot plus it's amusing to see the Slytherin gang befriends with the golden trio. (It's sad that the author takes sooo loong for an update )

You've got the antidote for me by Kandakicksass

Chapters: one-shot 🖤🖤🖤 Sinopse: ""When Harry Potter unintentionally severs their soulbond before it can fully form, Draco Malfoy resigns himself to a slow death and decides not to burden Harry with a soulmate he's made it very clear he doesn't want. He's never been selfless before, but for Harry, he can try."" God that was painfully beautiful. Though it has a happy ending, the plot broke my heart in tiny little pieces, I'll never read this fic again.

Draco Malfoy and the Mirror of Ecidyrue by starbrigid

Book: 5/7 (currently reading) 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤 Sinopse: Through a magic mirror, Draco goes back to 1st year at Hogwarts as a child of 11 years old. This time he decides to make things right even if the process hurt. All time favorite time-travel fic. This was my first reading of time travel fic and rewrite series, tbh I never thought that someone would be capable of rewrite the whole story changing the perspective, it amazed me the creativity and love required to do this. All the characters are very dear to me, specially Draco I love him just too much; and the fact that Drarry is a slowwwwww burrrrnnn dynamic, makes this fic a work of art.