#the closest we get is a mention of malcolm in a note

[stop-breaking-my-heart-dragonage]

DAV: elven gods are trying to destroy the world with a really, really bad blight, there are darkspawn, venatori, antaam, and goddamn archdemons, and the south sounds pretty fucked too--

Me: is Carver okay?

DAV: the world is literally on fire right now

Me: right

Me: but is Carver Hawke okay?

[crowdvscritic]

crowd vs. critic single take // THE LOST WEEKEND (1945)

Photo Credits: IMDb.com

What’s one weekend away? For an alcoholic, torture.

Struggling writer Don (Ray Milland) is dreading a trip with his brother Wick (Phillip Terry), who monitors what he imbibes. He keeps a covert stash in the crannies of their New York City apartment, but it won’t be easy to sneak it out of town alongside his brother and his girlfriend Helen (Jane Wyman). Part belligerence and part willful ignorance convinces him perhaps it’s best not to go at all. A weekend spent only with himself—and a few fellow bar patrons—would be better.

CROWD // One of the reasons I love movies is they’re the closest to time travel we’ll ever get. Like Harry Potter dunking his head into the Pensieve, a screen always reveals more than the filmmakers intended because it's a literal portal into the past. The Lost Weekend’s portrayal of alcoholism feels melodramatic today, borderline heavy-handed, but in 1945, The New York Daily News called it "the most daring film that ever came out of Hollywood.” Turner Classic Movies notes it had a special relevance in a year when soldiers were returning from a traumatizing war, and it was “the first to treat drinking seriously and not play it for laughs. Gone were the inebriated Nick and Nora Charles of The Thin Man movies.” Just a few years later in 1949, Gone With the Wind author Margaret Mitchell died when she was was hit by a drunk driver. When Malcolm Gladwell explored it on his podcast Revisionist History, he observed, “The fact that his drinking might have been the reason he was speeding somehow didn't seem to occur to many people... but in the mentality of the time, the driver was irrelevant. He was as unlucky as the victim." All that to say, how we feel about alcoholism has changed in the last eight decades. 

Though the context feels foreign today, the characters do not. If you’ve ever known someone struggling with crippling mental health issues, watching Helen and Wick waffle between support for Don and total exasperation will feel too familiar. You’ll also recognize the truth in Don’s statement that there are two versions of himself—the one who would love to be a writer, and the one who believes he’s a failure. One version wants to be the man Helen deserves and a responsible brother who pays the rent, but the other cons and manipulates them, even swiping the maid’s paycheck for his habit. (Writer/director Billy Wilder would create another unstable, manipulative character in Sunset Blvd., but Norma Desmond would add a sinister edge.) Even if The Lost Weekend doesn’t feel congruent with modern depictions of substance abuse, it’s still moving because its heart is empathetic to those struggling as well as their friends and family. 

POPCORN POTENTIAL: 7/10

CRITIC // That success is largely thanks to the cast. In another film, Don could have been a villain or comic relief—here is treated with as much care as Milland took in preparing for the role. His commitment is an early example of the strategy many Best Actor hopefuls still take today, volunteering a physical transformation to become this character. In addition to changing his diet to lose weight, he took the initiative to stay in Bellevue Hospital for a time (where some of the film was shot, though Bellevue later regretted it) to experience their treatment of alcoholics. Though he was unsuccessful at achieving drunkenness, he was successfully mistaken as public day drinker by acquaintances who were gracious enough to mention it to the press. Without Milland, Matthew McConaughey might have still lost weight for Dallas Buyers Club, Brendan Fraser might still have gained weight for The Whale, and Leonardo DiCaprio might still have gone through the tortures of The Revenant, but perhaps Milland's win is the source code for actors going to extremes to show commitment to their craft. 

In addition to nominations for editing and cinematography, Billy Wilder won his first Oscars for writing and directing The Lost Weekend. (He’d already lost five times, including for Ninotchka and Double Indemnity, and he’d win four more for Sunset Blvd. and The Apartment. Yeesh, what a career!) A Best Score nod brought to the tally to 7 total nominations, though that’s less impressive when you know the Academy recognized 47 nominees in 3 different music categories for the year of 1945. (The following year each category was narrowed down to the traditional five.) 

One more indicator of the Ghost of Oscars Yet to Come: The Lost Weekend is the first social issues drama to win Best Picture. Previous winners danced around what is now a staple during Awards Season, but Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans and Grand Hotel were really slice-of-life character dramas, The Broadway Melody and Going My Way were really musicals, and It Happened One Night and You Can't Take It With You were really comedies, although all six of those titles were conscious of money, class, marriage, and religion. The Lost Weekend is the first winner about everyday people facing a present day challenge not set during war or a historical period. For the first time, the Academy affirmed the value of a "small" story with its highest honor, giving dignity to people and concerns that could be mistaken as unimportant.

ARTISTIC TASTE: 9/10

[autumnmobile12]

The Vampires in Castlevania

Vlad III Dracula Ţepeș (Impaler) was a real person.  He was a Wallachian voivode who was born sometime between 1429 and 1431, and he died in 1476.  The exact manner of his death has been lost to history, but the common belief is he was beheaded in battle and his head was sent to Sultan Mehmed II in Constantinople as proof of his death.

As for Bram Stoker’s Dracula, some historians are starting to doubt the prince was the actual inspiration for the famous vampire.  One of the reasons for this is Stoker was a very thorough note-taker, but none of his notes for writing Dracula mention Vlad III or any of his lifetime achievements/atrocities.  So it’s possible Stoker only chose the name ‘Dracula’ because he knew it translated as ‘son of the Devil.’  Further reading - Dracula: Sense and Nonsense by Elizabeth Miller.

Carmilla is the name of a lady vampire in the novella Carmilla by Sheridan le Fanu, a story that is actually older than Stoker’s novel.  It features a lesbian relationship between Carmilla and the protagonist, Laura, and was written as a criticism of the Victorian view of women, specifically repressed sexuality.

Varney also comes from a book.  Varney the Vampire or The Feast of Blood was a penny dreadful written by James Malcolm Rymer and Thomas Peckett Prest.  (I haven’t read this one all the way through, but there is a scene where Varney is struggling to get over a garden wall, and I think that’s hilarious.  Not exactly apex predator material.)

Varney:  You think you have me stymied, don’t you.

Trevor:  No, I think a garden wall has you stymied.

Lenore is the name of a German poem written by Gottfried August Bürger.  It’s about a woman named Lenore who curses God because her beloved did not come back from war, so Death kidnaps her to reunite them, effectively condemning her soul for eternity.  It’s not about a vampire, but the poem has had a hand in influencing vampire literature.

Anyway, does anyone else really want to see Lenore cheering Trevor on in the last battle?  Or stealing the knife and ending Death herself.  Cause I do now.

The closest thing to a vampire in Viking folklore is the draugr, although this creature is more of a restless ghost than what we think of as a vampire.  They haunt the graves of the dead and guard the treasures they acquired in life by driving humans insane, drinking their blood, eating their flesh, and other nasty things.

Side note:  I’m really curious as to what led Godbrand to becoming a vampire.  Immortality didn’t really play a huge factor in Old Norse culture since the Vikings believed a glorious death in battle was the one and only way to go to Valhalla.  Other deaths that were deemed shameful or unworthy landed you in Helheim, which I really need to address further in a separate post.

Japan also doesn’t have an exact vampire equivalent, but they do have some yokai spirits that have vampire-like characteristics, including but not limited to:

Nukekubi:  A flying head that detaches from its human body at night and attacks people to drink their blood.

Rokurokubi:  A similar creature to nukekubi except the head doesn’t detach but rather travels from the body via an elongated neck.

Nure-Onna:  The ‘drenched woman’ is a large serpent with the head of a woman that drinks blood.

Personally, I would have loved to see Cho’s head fly off to attack someone simply to see Sypha, Alucard, and Trevor briefly panic.

[soulcluster-moved]

since working out how Kaitlyn would fit into Three Houses/Fodlan is now on my brain, here we go (it’s long and rambly sorry)

I mentioned briefly before that I think the Amells would be from the Adrestian Empire. This is because that while the Free Marches themselves are very Alliance-like (independent cats, basically), Kirkwall itself has a dark history. It’s known as the City of Chains for a reason: it was originally a slave outpost for the Imperium. Kirkwall is also shown to be deeply cursed, with blood magic a much higher occurrence there and demons basically running rampant, due to the amount of blood sacrifices and other horrors that occurred in the city’s past. The Band of Three codec notes in DA2 even talk about how the city’s veil is thinner and was purposefully made that way by the Imperium. A lot of this reminds me of how TWSiTD perform their experiments.

Additionally, the Amells were very much about appearance and didn’t want their daughter (Leandra) to mix with a mage and introduce more magic to their line, which was part of why the Hawkes had to flee in the first place. 

Overall, Adrestia just gives me more vibes for Kirkwall specifically. So I can see that being where the Amells are from. Of course, Leandra does not stay in Kirkwall, she and Malcolm flee to start their new life in Ferelden and be free. 

Now, Ferelden, if I had to compare it, actually gives me Faerghus-vibes. Faerghus is said to be a rough area and there’s an emphasis placed on learning fighting early. There’s also the whole knight culture and system over there. Ferelden is often joked about being a ‘backwater’ country and being ‘barbaric’ cause of their more hardy way of life, and they’re historically a more militaristic society due to its history with the Almarri tribes. There’s also a strong ‘lord and vassal’ vibes because the bannorns swear loyalty to the arls, who serve the teryns, who serve the king. And definitely a big knight system (Orlais has Chevaliers but overall I think Ferelden’s system is closer, as even commoners can become knights but only nobles can became Chevaliers). 

Ferelden and Faerghus have several differences of course, but I feel they’re the closest approximation if we’re comparing the two games. (at least for me, I can also see Ferelden = Alliance vibes, but overall I just like Faerghus more)

So what this means for Kaitlyn is that her mother is from the Adrestian Empire but (likely due to some kind of social thing) she and Malcolm left there to start their family in Faerghus, where they became farmers. Kaitlyn was born first and then the twins, Bethany and Carver. Kaitlyn and Bethany are still magic inclined. I still need to work out why her parents left the Empire ?? cause there’s history there in DA that affects the family, but I’m kind of hand waving it for now (part of me wants to say Malcolm made some kind of deal to do work for a noble for the coup OR something related to TWSiTD, but magic is not viewed the same in Fodlan as it is Thedas so idk yet). I also think Malcolm could’ve died in the plague that killed the Queen Consort too.

Carver I can see wanting to become a knight and thought about the officer’s academy, but they’re poor af. There is no like... 1:1 for the Blight and the absolute upheaval it causes to the Hawke family, but I think I could pin it on Carver signing up as a mercenary for some company and while he’s away, Bethany is killed by bandits, perhaps (there’s really no darkspawn to work off of here). 

I don’t really have all of the details yet cause it’s such a complex mess (and it’s late) but I have this sort of idea of condensing the events of DA2′s Act 1 to how Kaitlyn gets the money and recommendations to attend the Officer’s Academy. That may not be the ultimate goal at first, and maybe the idea is that Carver can attend afterwards, but he ends up dying before that happens (as the Deep Roads expedition is where that tragedy occurs). Fighting has never been Kaitlyn’s thing but attending the Officer’s Academy could help set her mom up long term and provide for her in a more stable way (and Kaitlyn will do anything for her family). So she goes.

And then part way through the school year, Leandra dies somehow, and welp...

I kinda want to keep Kaitlyn being there when her siblings have horrible things happen to them, as it impacts her so much. She’s unable to save Bethany, Carver, or her mother, and it just breaks her to her core to have to watch them all die. Leandra in particular is a big ol OOF, but I don’t know if that can be replicated.

That’s all I got for now but maybe I’ll get more ideas later

[thegirlwhohasnochill]

The Disease of Addiction

Euphoria Special Episode Part 1: Rue (Recap & Review)

Before I begin my official review of this episode, I would like to preface my thoughts with a bit of a primer about spoilers and trigger warnings. The show covers a range of topics from addiction to mental health. Still, I specifically want to warn anyone reading that I explicitly talk about and mention the topic of suicide in my review. If this is triggering for you in any way, please, don’t read ahead and take care of yourself! Okay, that’s it; I hope you enjoy my thoughts, and please let me know if you have any feedback or comments for my review and things I can change or fix in the future.

Where to begin with such a loaded episode...we knew the format and style of the episode would be simplistic based on the current realities of filming amidst a pandemic and what we saw to be a scene from Season 2 that the creator Sam Levinson expanded upon. Zendaya herself let us know that the episode's storytelling method would be vastly different from what we’ve already seen on the show. The format and simplicity of the episode, in contrast to the loaded dialogue and content of the scenes, are perfect. The camera takes you right into the middle of these conversations with Rue and Ali. But before we can even dive into what they talk about, we have to address the elephant in the room that is Rules. The episode begins with what is probably one of the most gut-wrenching sequences I have seen on the show. Because we know the reality and truth of their current predicament, Rue’s peppered kisses across Jules’ body and her tight squeezes and hugs from behind Jules evoke a strong sense of loss and pain for the viewer. The sheer intensity of the physicality of Rue’s affection for Jules is so overpowering and overwhelmingly present, we can almost feel the imbalance in their relationship through the screen. There is something to be said for the harsh reality of Rue’s dependence on Jules being reflected even in such a non-objective dream-like sequence. And yet, even in Rue’s wildest dreams and happiest stupor, she does not imagine the sobriety of her future. To me, that is indeed the crux of her character and the essence of this episode. Ali himself says, “The point is your sobriety.” And while it may feel like a focal point of discussion, the conversation flows in a way that seems to bounce back and forth between the two like a simple tennis match. It is easy to follow between Ali’s most potent clearest convictions about how the world works and Rue’s drug-addled hazy perception. The inherent contrast between their mental states and the different points of life in which they are both standing hit the viewer at alternate moments.

But we know Rue is not sober even as she lies to Ali and stumbles out of the bathroom, the shaky camerawork conveying her recent use. She is wearing the same shirt from the dream but has her signature hoodie on, her messy curly locks running down her back and glassy eyes staring straight ahead. The scene moves from her imagination of life with Jules to her lies about use. Her eventual admittance to being a high-functioning user happens as quickly as the conversation moves from sobriety to faith.

So I might be biased and hence don’t think I am incorrect in admitting that Zendaya has never given us a bad performance in her life. Even as she lies to Ali’s face and he is quick to call out her apparent contradictions, the faint slurring of her voice and her glazed eyes tell all. As striking as the conversation is, it feels even stranger for me to admit I felt comforted by Rue’s confession to thoughts of ending her life. And even as she admits to the darkest moments in her mind, Ali’s face and reaction are an even better neutralizer for what would generally be such an alarming thing to say to someone you barely know. As they continue to discuss her eventual relapse and all the reasons behind it (including racing thoughts encompassing “all the things I remember and all the things I wish I didn’t”), the viewer can envision the sequence of events that was shown to us in the finale - her fights with her mother and sister, her first time using when her father was fast asleep, her father’s death, her sister finding her after her overdose.

As much as I would like to quote the entire episode, I have to say Ali’s monologue about the idea that none of us are born evil and that society views mental illness and addiction as a personal moral failure rather than an overarching system many of us are incapable of overcoming, to be one of, if not the most decisive moments of the entire show. The line about coming out of the womb with “a few wires crossed” but still a beautiful baby girl eventually messing her way up through life struck a chord in me. I didn’t ask to be born this way. I don’t feel in control of my mind or the way it ever seems to work. And I’m always going to be a bad person. The disease of addiction and mental illness lets you - no, it makes you - view everything you have ever done in your life as not a consequence of the way your mind works, but as an active choice, you have consistently made, as you screwed up everything you’ve ever loved, and let down everyone you have ever cared about. The disease is not you as a person or even the way you think, and yet it is powerful enough to feel that way. Almost like the rapid cycling between mania and depression, the disease flips between, making you feel like the most powerful, invincible person alive and the absolute scum of the earth. There is nothing in between.

Ali’s backstory and his monologues about his change in faith from Christianity (when he was previously known as Martin) to Islam and the world's revolutions were fascinating. Side note: I did think the line about women converting to Islam was unnecessary, but I digress.

Rue’s understanding of the Narcotics Anonymous program's steps was the perfect way to bring in the conversation of faith. As she mentions her difficulty in coming to terms with the idea that there is greater power in charge of her behaviour and the way she surrenders herself to drugs, Ali chimes in with, “You don’t believe there is a power on Earth greater than Rue.” She disagrees and continues quoting and citing different sources she believes to be omniscient and great. And I absolutely agree with her. To me, there is no greater power than the source of art, the music that keeps me going, that feels like it’s the only thing keeping me from stopping the blood pumping through my veins. I understand Rue. But I also understand Ali. And yet, when Rue goes on to talk about the inexplicable workings of the world, my heart stops. There is no reason. There is no reason for the absolute pain and loss and suffering I’ve experienced, for the trauma I’ve witnessed and endured. For the absolutely horrifying things, the people closest to me have lived through. It is merely chaos. There is no reason I wake up every single day, regretting the fact that I did indeed wake up and that I am alive and breathing. So I Understand Rue. But Ali’s monologue about the moral arc of the universe and the unfathomable ways in which life and history line themselves up, to open our very eyes to the realizations we come to daily, is overwhelming. And yet, while he is waxing poetic about the intricacies of the world, we can see Rue’s exhausted eyes glaze over further, still unimpressed. “Maybe I’ll start a revolution like Malcolm X or something”, she quips back. But Ali is quick to counter; revolutions are no longer revolutionary.

Life as we know it is hypocrisy and foolish symbolism, only emphasizing his point about the universe's ridiculousness. Does any of it have meaning? Or is the meaningless void just another puzzle piece in a picture we will never get to see? There is also something to be said about Rue’s facial expressions as Ali continues his train of thought about her “generation”. As we often do when we hear our elders dismissively brush off our many concerns, she almost rolls her eyes. But he is listening, and he knows. “You think you’re out here fighting a revolution, and Bank of America is on your side? Give me a fucking break.” He’s not wrong. His speech reminds me of the masses of teens on TikTok creating video content specifically catered to an audience with an aesthetic that glamorizes the image of a revolutionary teen hero. But instead of a blazing bow and arrow, it is the common cell phone and a punchy soundtrack filtered through digitized audio. What would typically come across as preachy in any show catered to teens is, in fact, poignant. It also reminds me of how self-aware Euphoria is, knowing it’s guilty of falling into the same trap it accuses the viewer of doing.  

You have to commit to bettering yourself, Ali essentially tells Rue. And to me, that is the most inherently human struggle we will ever face in our lifetimes. As long as we exist, we have to face the idea that each day is, in fact, not going to be easier than the last. And when he tells her that he believes in her and that the hope of her success (that may one day come) should be greater than the failure of her current demise holding her back, I want to cry. I keep thinking about that edit of Rue to this is me trying by Taylor Swift.

The music of the song that Jules has texted to Rue swells, and it is easy to get caught up in the angst of the moment. It accompanies the words, “I miss you.” And if it wasn’t for Ali’s conversation with his daughter as background noise, one would simply soak in the gut-wrenching pain of their separation. The juxtaposition of Ali trying his absolute best to cling to his family as Rue continues to isolate herself from her loved ones and push herself further into the abyss makes my heart physically hurt.

Ms. Marsha’s spell-binding words of wisdom about sobriety and relationships compared to Rue’s tired exhaustion imminently displayed on her face make the viewer a little wary of what comes next. Her misunderstanding of a juvenile relationship with Jules is made clear when Ali confronts her about the fact that the two of them never had a real conversation about their feelings for one another. Rue’s distrust in the idea that things will eventually work themselves out stems from the fact that she feels disappointed by how her loved ones have left her so far. She eventually spirals into this negatively destructive way of thinking. She cognitively recognizes and justifies getting left behind because she thinks and believes she deserves terrible things in life. She lists examples of past deeds to further cement her argument. But Ali counters back with the simple statement that “Drugs change who you are as a person.” Regardless of her actions, he believes she is still a genuinely good individual while she argues that she is absolutely not. My favourite part of this whole conversation and the entire episode is the manner in which Ali questions Rue’s negative cognitive patterns. Her brain and mind essentially excuse bad behaviour by convincing her that she will never be a good person. Hence she can never forgive herself, and thus, she will continue to remain in this cyclical pattern. Our actions may be inexcusable, but they do not line up with our intentions. The inevitable human struggle is not whether we are fundamentally good or bad, evil, flawed or perfect, but if we are (and again, not to quote my other favourite show, The Good Place) trying to be a better person than we previously were. If we recognize that our actions are wrong and we are capable of experiencing remorse and regret for said actions, who's to say we are entirely incapable of change. This reductive polarizing, and dismissive way of thinking is characteristic of the brains of most people living with a mental illness. Our outside influences, such as drugs, can all be contributing external factors to how we conduct ourselves through life. Ali’s short bit about redemption and human beings deeming actions unforgivable forever can easily be paralleled to direct conversations we have online about “cancel culture”. The phenomenon of dismissing and reducing someone to their mistakes instead of allowing them to grow from them is a nice sentiment. Still, if we do not truly take accountability into action and witness no real changes or remorse, we can quickly get stuck in that cycle. Even if our beliefs do not line up with our actions, drugs can eventually change that. The belief system we hold so dearly, the convictions we strongly feel, can all be washed away by the simple use of drugs, Ali explains as he tells Rue about his family background. His experiences with abuse and his eventual hypocrisy as he plays the role he always feared in his family leave the viewer speechless. As we watch him tell his tale of regret, there is no woe or sorrow in admitting he is or isn’t a fundamentally good or bad person, just the thought of his attempt to change his ways that impacts the viewer.

As the viewer waits with bated breath to see what comes out of Rue’s mouth next, it is not a surprise (to me personally). Rue has no intention of staying sober because she has no intention of staying alive much longer. Ali asks her why she feels that way. She responds with her sentiments about the cruelty of the world. Ali understands. We truly are living in dark times, witnessing truly horrific events, and the fact that we even have the capacity to care any longer is indicative of our will to stay alive. It doesn’t make much sense when you think about it, but when you are so sad, so grief-stricken by the news, by the world’s turn of events, by the mere thought of witnessing more tragedy that you cannot bear to be alive any longer, it means that you are deeply invested. Invested in the way things will turn out even if you do not personally believe you want to participate or even be privy to being complicit in a system that does nothing but churn out pain, anger, and hatred. When I was at the lowest point in my life and attempted to end my own life, I was overwhelmed by the goings-on of the world. As emotionally drained as Rue is, a part of her still cares. She wants her sister and mother to know that she really tried. Just as I wanted and still want my parents and friends to be okay without me when I do eventually leave this earth. Of course, I care about what happens to them. The idea that suicide or suicidal ideation is inherently selfish is so contradictory to the reality of how suicidal individuals genuinely feel. It is the opposite. We care more than most, and we care to the point that it hurts to extend another moment of kindness to ourselves amid all the chaos and madness of the world. But still, we try. We do our best. Ali believes in Rue. He has faith in her.

The entire episode ends on a melancholy note as Rue and Ali depart the diner with Rue wistfully staring out the window as he drives her home. Ali loves his conversations with Rue and vice-versa. The fact that two people can be sitting at a diner alone on Christmas Eve talking about the beauty and cruelty of the world and everything ranging from politics to addiction to suicide to love to family and anything in between goes to show us that humans will always find a way. The fact that two people struggling and suffering from addiction can find their own way about and amidst the chaos of the world and still have these meaningful conversations about life and existence tells us that ultimately, Trouble Don’t Last Always.

[sophiexwrites]

A Gift from the Ghost King

Inspired by this awesome headcanon from @give-nico-a-gun, thanks a ton for the inspo! It’s come to be a long-ish one, 2.2k words.

Trigger Warning: Mentions of Christianity and needles, but not in the medical context... it’s really just harmless and sweet.

Setting: General Riordanverse/PJOVerse with canon/established Solangelo.

Mentioned couples Christmas sweaters from the shop (link).

Note: because most people recognise American-English more than normal English, I’ve decided to go American this time, like dropping the u when I have to and using ‘sweater’ instead of jumper so that no-one gets confused (fingers crossed I do it properly).

Nico and Will, for all their opposites, had one major thing in common: they were raised Christian. Neither were quite sure why, since their mothers were well aware of the Greek pantheon of gods rather than a monotheistic one, but they supposed their childhood communities wouldn’t have taken sweetly to the change. 

Which meant the emo teen wasn’t focusing on Halloween this October, but on Christmas. Already. What do you get someone who claims to have it all? 

Talking to his friends didn’t help much. Most of them suggested medical equipment or a simple day off; there were even a few jokes about sunscreen that Nico didn’t quite understand. Those of them who knew Will better said they were buying him new arrows, notebooks or trinkets to fit his sunny-surfer-dude aesthetic - those were great ideas but Nico couldn’t copy them. Will knew him well enough to tell whether it was Nico’s idea or not. The pale teen scowled, wondering why he even asked. He was completely stumped. 

Until early November, that is, when Will began to drop hints. Nico only realised it when when his boyfriend convinced him into a store just to look at their collection of couples Christmas sweaters, covered with sickeningly sweet messages and nicknames.

"Aww. look Neeks - this one says ‘Don't go bacon my heart’!" Will laughed a laugh that turned Nico's cheeks to bright red, pointing at the sweater closest to them. It was attached to another one, reading ‘I couldn’t if I fried’, along with a drawing of a fried egg reaching out toward the other’s bacon.

The hints came a few more times before Nico swallowed his pride and decided to learn how to make one from scratch. Why DIY? Because everything Will did for Nico was done himself: from writing and playing his own music (nevermind how Will’s voice was definitely not winning X-Factor material), to the fake Mythomagic set full of realistic depictions of the gods, or the admittedly adorable summertime picnics with more food and baked goods than Nico could ever eat. Nico felt it was time to return the favor, and step one was learning how to knit.

It started clumsy and full of holes. Nico seemed to have a talent for dropping stitches. The section he was working on started too tight, then so loose that it was almost falling apart. After two weeks of constant secret practice, however, along with more YouTube tutorials and undone rows than he was willing to admit, Nico made something basically shaped like clothing. 

But it was just regular, boring clothing. Of course, Nico knew Will would be overjoyed at just that, but this was the first Christmas the couple planned to spend together, at camp. It was time to go big or go home.

Long story short, Nico swallowed his pride again: this time, to ask his step-mother how to embroider. He was met with suspicious glances and wary questions before Persephone began cooing in delight.

“Oh, that’s the cutest thing! Who knew you could be so soft?” She giggled, already rushing around for threads, test fabrics and needles. “Though I suppose you take after your father, he’s secretly a big softie, y’know - now, are we doing patches, appliques, or diving in the deep end and sewing right onto the yarn?” Nico had a rule not to dive into anything, but with Christmas soon approaching he had to learn fast. Somehow, too, he had to keep it a secret from Will. By December 10th, he’d pretended the wide-eyed needles poking out of his cabin floorboards were totally a prank from Cecile, and Hazel definitely left behind the scrap of paper filled with wobbly cursive last time she visited... Will simply hadn’t noticed. Nico was just glad his boyfriend didn’t have time to read what was on the paper before he snatched it away; that would have ruined it all.

Christmas came quickly, fronted by sleepless nights of embroidery and fingers full of pinpricks for Nico. But he was glad to have it done by Christmas Eve, all wrapped and stashed under the black tree in the Hades Cabin. Usually, he would be spending the night alone, but tonight a warm Will-shaped bundle of joy hugged him while they slept. Nico could only hope he would be as happy the next morning.

“Is this one from you?” Will asked, voice quiet with hidden excitement. Nico nodded, too nervous to speak, pulling at his plain hoodie. The wrapping fell away as Will teared and tugged, soon left left cradling a lump of fabric. “This is... beautiful, Nico!” The nervous boy’s chest sagged in relief, smile stealing onto his face as Will threw off the sweater he was wearing and donned the new creation, spinning around in his rush to the nearest mirror.

“Do you like it?”

“Oh Gods, Nico, of course! Did you make this? Thank you so much!” Will held it up before putting it on, gifting Nico with a laugh like soft rain pattering down on a warm summers day as he read the words out loud. “Significant Annoyance? That’s perfect!” Nico laughed with him, glad the nickname was still well-received, as the teen slipped it on.

He was the greatest model Nico could have asked for. A narrow frame showed off the fabric well: a stunning blue, deep and bright at the same time. Nico thought he’d chosen it because it was cheap, but when Will put it on he realised it’s because it matched the doctor's eyes perfectly. The body of it fit well, even if the arms were a little loose, which made Nico glad he hadn’t painstakingly added rows upon rows of purled stitching for a cute pattern or edge. It wouldn’t have been worth the struggle - the embroidered words were centerpiece enough. They spilled across Will’s chest in a haze of silver, grey and white; threads mixed and blended in the way Persephone had learn from Athena herself. The 20 letters had taken ages to get right, but to see them coupled with Will’s pure joy and excitement as he studied them in his reflection made all the effort worth it.

Needless to say, it beat Will’s gift to Nico that Christmas... which may or may not have been a good thing, because Will’s competitive nature soon swarmed up, and he was already making a gift of his own by the New Year.

“Kayla!” He rushed, panting, into the Apollo cabin from the infirmary. “Please tell me you know where I left my other needle?” Will held a lonely knitting needle in his right hand, pointing it at his half-sister.

“Laundry pile.” She replied, waving behind her towards said pile. It was mainly full of denim and orange cotton, but Will managed to extract the pale wooden tool after some digging. “Why, are you making something again?” It had been years since Will had done any knitting, having been taught by Malcolm Pace of the Athena Cabin during Will’s first few weeks at camp, so Kayla had every reason to be curious. 

“Yep.” Will fell onto his bed, after fishing out a ball of yarn from under it. “You know the sweater Nico made me?”

Kayla laughed, sitting up straight. “The one you’ve been wearing almost every day since?” 

“Yeah, I want to make him one too.”

“What, for Christmas next year or something? Are you just going to hand it to him now?” His head was bent too far over his busy fingers to see as she raised an eyebrow at him, but he knew her sass too well. 

“Oh, totally. You know me, just can’t wait to be organised and do everything in advance.” He grinned down at his work, shaking his head slightly with concentration. He didn’t want to drop a stitch, after all. “It’s his birthday on the 28th, I’m going to give it to him then.”

His sister aww-ed in delight, deciding (for once) to leave him be so that he could get it done on time. Will appreciated that, because he had a lot of work to do in the coming month - or, rather, 27 days.

Will certainly worked hard in those four weeks. Between shifts at the infirmary, general camp stuff and counselor responsibilities, he barely had time to himself let alone keep spending enough time with his boyfriend to make everything seem normal and knit him a sweater. Much like Nico had, he considered just buying one ready-made or getting someone else to help him, but he was eager to do it properly. So, it was a relief after sleepless nights and busy days that Will was finally finished with the sweater three days early; only the embroidery left. But Will was tired and had already misspelt half the terms on his latest patient file, so he had to keep it simple.

GHOST KING 👻  He finished, snipping the end of the silver-white thread. Will held it up to Kayla and the light, dusting off any last threads. “What do you think?”

“Ghost King...” Kayla read, a small smile on her face. “With a tiny ghost, too! That’s adorable, Will.” She wandered a little closer, inspecting the gift in the light cast from the sunrise. “You used a template, right? Because you can’t draw, and your handwriting has never been that good.”

“Geez, Kayla, no need to be so harsh.” Will smiled, clearly joking. “Of course I did, it’s got to be perfect for tonight.” It was already Nico’s birthday; Will stayed up all night to finish on time. Kayla knew this and sighed, deciding to make her brother get some rest.

“I’m covering your shift today, you need to sleep before you have your date tonight.” She decided, swinging Will’s bag over her own shoulder and giving his weary face a last look. “Seriously, sleep. I’ll make up some worthy excuse and tell Nico, he’ll understand.” Will protested for only a moment before yawning, and flopping down onto his bunk.  A sleep couldn’t hurt...

He woke up near sunset that day, almost time to meet Nico. It was a rush for him to get ready and properly awake, but he made it to the woods just as the sun disappeared below the horizon. 

“Will!” Nico waved from the edge, a small look of worry on his face. “I was, um... beginning to think you wouldn’t come.” He admitted, and Will felt his face burn in shame for making his boyfriend worry, even a little.

“Of course I’d come, I just slept in all day. Sorry.” He said, and they wandered a little deeper into the woods, searching for the clearing. Nico insisted it was no problem, which made Will feel more at ease. He was still excited, however, to show Nico what he made (the gift was hidden in his bag, with food for the birthday picnic). 

The two made their way into the clearing in content silence, Will secretly itching to see Nico’s reaction to his gift. But he remained as patient as he could, happy to enjoy Nico’s smiles, quiet laughs and stories, enjoying his birthday together in the peaceful way Nico loved. In fact, Will (and Kayla, but she was sworn to secrecy) was the only demigod at camp who knew it was the Italian boy’s birthday - all Nico’s other friends were off in New Rome or the mortal world, after all. It made for far less stress on Nico’s half: he didn’t want random people wishing him a happy birthday all day. No, Nico di Angelo was perfectly joyful to spend the night with his Significant Annoyance under the stars, especially when he surprised him with a gift.

“Here you go.” Will said, presenting a soft package wrapped in black paper with tiny ghosts. The Son of Apollo bought it specially for that, and the remaining roll would stay unused in his cabin except from wrapping Nico’s other gifts: so he was relived to see the other boy smile ever so slightly. 

“Thanks, Will.”

“Don’t thank me yet, you haven’t opened it!”

“Okay, okay!” He almost laughed, ripping the paper to reveal an equally dark sweater. “Wow, did you make this?” Will hummed in excited agreement, watching Nico unfold and hold it up to the moonlight. 

“Oh my Gods.” He read the words and for a moment Will thought he was going to hate it. But then Nico laughed - no, giggled -  a clear, pure sound cutting through the crisp air like a knife through cake. “It’s pretty cool, thanks Will.” The compliment wouldn’t seem like much to an outsider, but Will knew it meant a lot. Nico turned to look at the blond with his dark brown eyes, plain and simple in a way Will could get lost in forever. They were creased at the sides as he smiled, a true smile with his eyes that Will enjoyed so much. He looked good, too, with the well-fitting black sweater on, small letters and tiny illustration embroidered on the neckline. 

“Stop staring.” Nico suppressed a smile, going red as his boyfriend shook his head slightly before looking Nico in the eye again.

“Aww, but you look so cute!”

[bettyxinez]

Nothing Left To Give

chapter four • smile

Kat didn't mention her DID until two weeks after that, and Malcolm found himself thinking about her more then he probably should have.

And Kat knew it too. They had been getting closer and closer and she could tell how curious he was. Over the span of the 7 weeks they had become friends, and Kat was confident in saying he was one of the closest friends she ever had, so much so that even some of the Others wanted to meet him.

Driving each other to and from the precinct was becoming a regular occurrence, and he slowly revealed more and more about his past, opening up to her much quicker then she was to him.

"So thats what you're trying to figure out? If the girl in the box is real and who she is?"

"Yeah. Funnily enough, trying to solve a murder where the only evidence is unreliable memories is kind of...hard."

"I understand that. Not the murder part, but everything else."

His curiosity had been temporarily put on the back burner while he told her his story, but now it was at the forefront of his mind.

She noticed almost immediately. She kind of felt bad about it, and was planning on telling him when the time was right.

The time never seemed right.

And when it did, she couldn't bring herself to talk about it. So she eventually just waited for him to bring it up.

He was in her apartment again, looking at some of the pictures on her wall and laughing as she told stories of the people in them.

He noticed quickly that none of them were members of her family.

"What about your family?" He asked, before he even realized the can of worms he might have opened by doing so.

She tensed immediately, turning to look at him.

"We don't... talk."

Malcolm looks up at her, noticing for the first time that she was taller then him.

"Do you mind if I ask why?"

She sits down on her couch, tucking her feet underneath her. Malcolm sat next to her.

"They didn't believe me when I told them what was... happening... to me."

His breath hitched. His mind reeling from the possibilities of what that meant. He supposed that he could ask. They had gotten a lot closer, and if she didn't want to talk about it, he could wait longer. No problem.

"And... what was happening to you?"

She looked away from him, eyes widening for a split second, and then she slowly took a deep breath.

This was it. He had asked, and she didn't know if she was ready.

She could dive head first into telling him and risk freezing in the fridgid water, or stay safe and dry, but risk putting a wall between her and Malcolm.

She decided to just take the plunge.

"...bad things." She whispered. And even just thinking about it, her brain was assaulted with memories, and she already felt herself slipping.

"Bad, bad things...hurt... it hurt."

She screwed her eyes shut, fists clenching. Her nails dig into her palms and she sucks in a breath.

Malcolm watched, letting her set the pace, but his brows were furrowed in concern. He knelt down in front of her and offered his hands. She took them with a crushing grip.

"...hold on... someone..." her breath hitched.

"Someone's here. Sorry." Malcolm watched in both worry and fascination.

"Its... okay. Take your time." He responded.

He knew what was happening. She was doing what she had told him was "switching". One of her alters was coming. He was very curious, but he was also fearful as to what would happen next.

Would he ruin everything? He hoped not.

Kats eyes unfocused for a second, and then she stopped.

She looked up, eyes blinking.

She continued staring for a second and looks around.

When he heard her voice, he didn't know what to think.

"...I was told to not like... pretend to be Kat."

Malcolms eyes widen, and hes taken aback. Her voice sounds so different. A touch lower, and with a strong Essex accent, her words somehow a mix of dramatic and lazy sounding.

"Uh... yeah. Who is this?"

"Has she told ya any of our names?"

"...No. But I've never asked. Wanted to go at her own pace."

Kat-whoever- nods at that, looking down at their clothes.

"What the fuck is this? Kat I told ya not to dress us in a skirt!"

He looks at the person in front of him.

"You don't like skirts?"

"Nah. Its not my style. I'm Haven. Primary protector and ex-prosecutor. Basically means I didn't used to be a great person. I'll explain more later if I feel like it. Its my job to protect us, and my job to judge whether someone is safe. You seem to be okay for now."

He was at a loss for words. He was given almost zero warning, however he assumed that she wasn't either.

"So what 'ave you said to set 'er off then?" She said, glaring. It was so weird, he thought, how her entire demeanor has changed. Man or woman. Or whatever. He didn't even know.

The glare on her face looked so unnatural, like it didn't belong there.

"We sort of got onto the topic of her past. And then... you came out." He said.

"Sorry, who exactly are you? You specifically. Not just your role." He said, confused and cautious as to where to go from here.

"Are you askin' what I look like?" She responded, the way she holds herself that of a completely different person.

"Maybe. Or just who you are. What you like and dislike, your interests."

She stares at him, tilting her head.

"Well for one thing, my skin is a bit darker then this, Kat is atrociously pale. I've got short, curly black hair and freckles."

He tries to imagine it, but its hard. He's looking at what he knew as Kat, but now, she's someone different.

Haven continued talking.

"I've got sort of big eyes. Small nose. Thick eyebrows. Big-ish lips. I look like I'm mixed race, but I don't like to think of myself as that because I will never relate to the struggles of being black and I will never be fully emersed in the culture. The body is Korean, and I don't think it's appropriate to be say that I'm mixed race because my actual real life body is not."

Malcolm nods. He could understand that.

So Haven, he noted, was a rambler.

"Im an integrated alter. I used to be three people. I have the memories of three different people and I remember them all separately. I have access to all the memories and trauma, so don't fuck with me." She says the last bit with a bit of sadness and anger.

Haven was really closed off, he thought. She looked at him with a fierceness he couldn't describe, and soon, he found himself noticing all the differences between them. The more she talked, the more she became her own person to him.

"I have just a few things to say to you before I go back inside-"

"Inside where?" Malcolm asked, cutting her off, suddenly very confused. More then he already was.

"Back to inner world. We have a whole world inside our head. We all live in an apartment building. Well not all. We have a cave, a pool, a forest, other stuff. When we're fronting, we're sitting in the lobby. I sound insane when I say that, but its true."

She shrugged.

Shes right, he thought.

It did sound insane.

And if he didn't already know a bit about the disorder, he would have called her out.

And some would say the same about his mental health problems.

So he believed her.

"So... you protect Kat?"

"Yes. And everyone else. Its my job. I was the first one made, the first one to take it instead of her."

His brows furrowed at that.

"What does that mean?"

She looks up at him.

"It means that when fucked up shit was happening to us I took her place so she didn't have to deal with it."

He thought about that. Fucked up shit? Like what? Did it have to do with his father? He shuddered at that thought.

It had taken him almost every ounce of willpower to not ask Kat about it, but he figured could ask Haven. So he did.

"Does the name Martin Whitly ring a bell?"

She stood up then, and dragged him up by the collar of his shirt, eyes intense and angry.

"How do you know that name?" She asked through gritted teeth, voice low.

Struck a nerve, then.

"He-He's my father." He said. Her eyes widened and she threw him onto the couch.

"Have you seen him recently? Don't lie to me I swear to God I will know."

He was taken aback. Things had taken a 180 faster then he could even process what was happening.

Struck a big nerve, then.

He could tell the truth, but what if it ruined their friendship?

Or he could lie, but she said she will know. That would probably ruin their friendship even more...

Before he can even stop himself:

"Yes."

She sits down then, eyes clenching.

"You have to take me to him."

He stands up, fists clenching.

"No. Absolutely not." He couldn't let his father ruin their friendship. He wouldn't let him.

"Either you take me to him or I go myself."

"You can't."

"I'll find a way." Her eyes glinting in determination. He suddenly got the feeling that she wasn't joking.

He took in a shuddery breath, hands shaking.

"Fine."

_______________________________________

Haha no proofreading here we die like Eve.

Like and comment yall. These chapters take a while to write and always have between 1,400-1,900 words and I would really appreciate it if this story spread a bit.

Thx yall.

[celtics534]

Covert Love: Everything Has Changed

And here we go, as promised chapter 1 of Covert Love! @gryffindormischief​ and @thedistantdusk​ have been helping me with this fic so I just wanted to thank them! 

A little background: a magical AU. Harry never went to Hogwarts so he doesn't know any of the Weasley’s.

Also Read On: FF.net or AO3

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"Potter!" Jamison's deep Irish accent echoed through the room. Harry stood up to look over his cubicle. His detective chief was standing in the doorway to his office, his eternal grimace in place. 

  "Yes, sir?" Harry pushed in his chair, knowing full well he was not coming back to his desk anytime soon. When Jamieson had that tone, it meant Harry was gonna be gone for a while. 

  The look on Jamieson’s face suggested Harry’s premonition was correct  before entering the room. Excitement and nerves started jumbling in Harry’s gut. After months of desk duty, Harry was ready to get back out there. 

  Desk duty hadn't been his idea, but after the way his last case had ended, his boss had taken him away from active duty. It was fair, and the logical part of Harry agreed with his boss’s decision but that didn't make it any easier to be stuck doing paperwork. 

  Jamieson was already sitting behind his desk when Harry entered the office. He didn't look up from his work as he gestured at the chairs in front of the desk. "Potter, take a seat."

  Harry did as he was told, remaining silent. Jamieson preferred questions at the end of his briefings, and Harry was not going to chance being removed from the case due to speaking before being called upon. It only took a moment for Jamieson to finish his paragraph. He put his quill aside on the desk before lacing his fingers together, creating a bridge to rest his chin on.

  “You ready to go back into the field?” That was Jamieson for you, direct as a well-cast stunner. Jamieson just needed to know the basics. Are you fit and able? Good, then it’s time to get back to work. 

When Harry nodded, Jamieson studied him for a moment before he echoed Harry’s nod. “Aye.” He pulled a folder from underneath a pile of parchment. He handed Harry the file. “In there is the description of the individual who you’ll be protecting.”

  “Protecting?” Harry asked as he flipped open the manilla envelope. The front page held a basic profile. Ginny Weasley. Chaser for Ballycastle Bats. Threatened via numerous letters and notes left in her locker. 

  “Yes, I’m going to be sending you in to remain near Weasley. I want this to be a covert operation, in hopes of catching the perpetrator. If they have been leaving the notes in Weasley’s locker they have access to the changing room—”

 “Which means a player, staff, or security guard for the stadium may be involved.” Harry finished as he continued to read through the notes. “These are rather -- tame, all things considered.”.”

  Harry looked up in time to see Jamieson nod. “We have seen much worse, but if you noticed, there is a definite obsessional undertone. Mentions of knowing where her home is and where she shops. If I had to guess, I’d say we’ve got a stalker of some sort.”

  “No doubt about that,” Harry agreed, re-reading the line about how easy it would be to fly up to her fifth-floor flat. “So we’re getting involved because of the insinuation that one of her staff may be entangled in all this?” 

  Jamieson’s lips twitched in the closest thing he had to a smile. “I knew I hired you for a reason. Yes, that is the main reason, but I also happen to be mates with her brother Bill. We were in the same house and year at Hogwarts.” His brow quirked. “You didn’t go to Hogwarts, right?”

  Harry nodded absentmindedly, his focus back on the letters in hope of finding any indicating phrases. “My Godfathers homeschooled me.”

  “That’s right. Well, Bill asked me to check into this as a favor, and I can’t say no to the man who just named me the godfather of his next daughter.” 

  The obvious fondness in Jamieson’s voice surprised Harry. He’d never imagined his captain as the touchy-feely type, but it was obvious his affection for his friend and his family was great. Harry wisely chose to keep his observations to himself, figuring his tough as nails boss wouldn’t appreciate the callout. He flipped through the pages of Ballycastle staff.  “Fair enough. Do any of the suspects stand out more than the rest?”

  “Ah, well, we don’t have much information on the actual situation.” 

  Harry stopped mid-flip. When he looked up at Jamieson he noticed a pink tinge around his ears. “What does that mean?”

  Jamieson took a deep breath, his chest rising. “The only intel is public knowledge, or what Bill has provided.”

  “Wait.” Harry couldn’t quite contain his surprise. “Are you telling me we’re going in blind?” 

  “Not blind, per se.” Jamieson scowled as he rubbed the back of his red neck. “I mentioned you’ll be undercover, yeah?”

  “You said covert.”

  Jamieson raised his hand. “Exactly. You were almost signed by a professional quidditch team, if I’m not mistaken.” 

  Harry nodded slowly. He had gone to the league tryouts a few years back, but decided to decline the offers, instead taking the advice of a trusted friend and enlisting in the Auror academy. “I played seeker.”

  “And that is exactly the position that has opened up for Ballycastle.” Jamieson gestured to the folder still on Harry’s lap. “Their current seeker, Malcolm Kalvin, was seriously injured two days after their reserve seeker Philip Henson quit.” 

  It only took Harry a moment to read the notes on both of the Bats’ seekers. “Henson left to go be with his family in America and Kalvin has periodic memory loss.”

  “That’s right. Which means they are having an emergency trial on Friday.” Jamieson scratched the stubble along his jaw. “When was the last time you flew, Potter?”

  “Uh -- I’d guess maybe last week, maybe the week before.” 

  “Well, the rest of this week you’ll be doing nothing but flying.”

  Harry’s mind needed a moment to comprehend everything his boss was telling him. “So I have two days to be at a professional level?” 

  Jamieson waved off his concern. “We’ll get you into tip-top shape. Bill knows Oliver Wood from Puddlemere and he’s agreed to come work with you.” 

  “Sir—” Harry wanted to object that even with one of England’s best keepers there was no way he was going to be selected for the squad, but Jamieson interrupted him. 

  “Potter, I know you, and when you set your mind to something… you don’t stop until the end. It’s one of the reasons you’re my best detective.”

  Harry was stunned into silence. Never before had his chief given him such a compliment. “Thank you, sir.”

  Jamieson waved him off again. “Now, let’s discuss Miss Weasley. You read her profile?” 

  Nodding, Harry flipped back to the starting page. 

  “Good. Now, she will be unaware of your mission. Same with the rest of the team. I need you to stay close to her. Befriend her. I want it to be inconspicuous that you’ll be around her often.”

  Harry nodded. It couldn’t be too hard to find a topic to bond over with a professional quidditch player. “Who is my contact?”

  “Bill Weasley. It will be easy for him to around Miss Weasley so you’ll report any important findings to him. He has been staying around his sister’s flat at night, so really we just need a day shift.”

  “Okay.”

  Jamieson laced his fingers in order to rest his chin again. “Any question right now?”

  Harry thought about it. He knew his purpose, target, contact…  “When you say undercover, what’s my backstory?”

  “Ah, that’s the easiest part. You’ll be Harry Potter, who changed his mind and decided to re-tryout as a professional seeker. You can craft any tales you want to tell people, but I’d advise keeping it close to the truth.”

  “Easy enough.” Harry took a deep breath. “Then I have nothing else for now.” 

  “Good.” Jamieson stood from his chair, offering out his hand. “Thank you, Potter.” 

  Harry grasped his boss’ calloused hand. “I’m happy to help.” 

  “I knew I picked the right man.” Jamieson released his finger. “Now, dismissed. Wood should be here within the hour and you need to give your remaining paperwork to Finnigan.”

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  Harry clutched the handle of his Firebolt as if he was afraid the broom would fly away without him. He’d forgotten how intense tryouts were, and he was saying that as a member of one of Ireland’s most elite auror squads. And it wasn’t even over yet! He’d made it through the first three cuts, which had left only himself and one other bloke, and now they were going to have a one on one seeker battle. 

  His fingers felt numb as he forced himself to loosen his grip. It wouldn’t do him any good to let the snitch slip out of his fingers because he’d lost feeling in them. 

  “That was an impressive feint earlier,” a voice spoke behind him. Harry turned and was face to face with the most gorgeous smile he’d ever seen. Add that to an adorably freckled nose and hypnotic brown eyes, and Harry’s mind went completely blank. He was certain that if breathing it wasn’t integrated into his hardwiring, he might have stopped.  

  The woman, or goddess, pointed up into the sky. “I saw you feint past McNabb when he was coming for you. Most can’t get past him.” 

  Harry discreetly used his free hand to pinch his leg, hoping the pain would jolt his mind back into making coherent sentences. “Uh - Thank you.”

  Her smile became sympathetic. “Nervous about the one-on-one?” 

  “Y - Yeah.” Harry was happy to have any reason other than the truth for his incompetence. He cleared his throat. “Yeah, I’m not sure how I’ll match up against the titan over there.” He jerked a thumb over his shoulder at the bulky man stretching before his flight. 

  “Oh, I’d say you have it in the bag,” said the red-head, waving off his concern. “And if he gets too close…” A wicked smirk curled on her lips. “Just ask him to spell his name, and you’ll have a twenty-second head start.”

  “Is his name that difficult?”

  “If you think Jack Smith is a challenge, then yes.”

  Harry snorted. “That does sound very complex, but hasn’t he been spelling it his whole life?” 

  She shrugged nonchalantly. “You’d think so, but after watching him struggle to write it on the sign-in sheet this morning…” She shrugged again. “Anyways, your name is Potter, right?”

  “And I know how to spell it.” Harry wanted to pat himself on the back when his joke made her laugh. Instead, he held out his hand. “Harry.”

  Her grip was strong in his. “I’m Ginny.” 

  "Ginny, as in Ginny Weasley?" Harry blurted before he could stop himself. 

  She laughed. "Glad to see my reputation precedes me." 

  Harry couldn't get his mind to wrap around it all. This was Ginny Weasley, his charge. She didn't seem like the kind of person you'd want to threaten. Ginny was too nice and funny for the kind of shit to happen to her. Then again, he might just be biased because she was the most attractive woman to ever talk to him… 

  "Harry?" Ginny waved a hand in front of his eyes. "Did you get lost there?" 

  "Huh? Oh, sorry." Harry forced himself into his work mindset. A little warning in the file would have been nice. Why Bill didn't include a photo of her… he could have prepared himself! No! Harry couldn't allow himself to admire her beauty, no matter how attractive her smile was. She was his ward and nothing could happen between them. The sooner he got that through his head, the better. “It’s just a lot to take in.”

  “Oh yeah! Ballycastle stadium is quite a sight.” Ginny looked across the perfectly cut grass, her smile serene. “It’s one of the many reasons I choose the Bats.”

  “What are some of the others?” Harry praised himself for his casualness. This was what he needed to do, these were his orders:To become her friend. And  that was done not by fawning over her, but by keeping things smooth and easy. Having simple, friendly conversations. 

  “Ireland’s lush green fields.” Ginny didn’t miss a beat as she started ticking off fingers. “Not being the only red-head for twenty kilometers, and don’t get me started on my passion for a good Irish ditty.” 

  “I’m guessing that means you know some good places to relax with a pint and music?” 

  “You could say that.” Ginny leaned in closer, and Harry was floored by a scent so intoxicating words were lost on him again. It was like she’d combined the sweetest-smelling flowers in the world and added something indistant… so indistinct he couldn’t  describe it in words. “How about this; after you’ve signed your life away to the Bats, I’ll take you out for a pint or two. The first shout on me.”

  “Th -/” Harry cleared his throat. “That would be amazing. But wh -- what if I don’t get signed?”

  Ginny’s hand came up to pat his shoulder as her lips twisted into a doubtful smile. “Then Coach Nessa really does hate the team, because why else would he want to the torture the team with that brainless brute?” 

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  “One Kilkenny Ale for you, and one Harp Lager for me.” Ginny set the glasses down on the table. Harry took his drink with a quick thanks. He was still in a shocked state. Signing to a professional quidditch team would do that to you. No matter what Ginny had said before the one-on-one flight, Harry really hadn’t expected to win. But Ginny had been right. Harry had flown circles around the larger man.

  Ginny raised her glass. "Welcome to the team." Harry followed her lead, taking a large gulp. Ginny put her drink back onto the table. "So, I'd say it's about time I get to know my newest teammate." She placed her elbow beside her glass and rested her head on her hand. "What do I need to know about you, Potter?" 

  Harry hated how -- for lack of a better term -- turned-on he was from just the look she was giving him. It wasn't necessarily flirtatious, but rather intense , and made him feel as if the rest of the world didn't exist. 

  He took another quick sip of his pint before answering. "Uh -- not much, really." 

  Ginny rolled her eyes. "I doubt that. A guy like you --" Ashiver ran down his spine… that damn look !— "has something interesting about him. Maybe like where you learned to play like that? I know it wasn't Hogwarts, because I'd remember you."

  Part of Harry, the part that was a glutton for pain, wanted there to be more to her words. He wanted her to admit he hadn't gone to Hogwarts because she found him too attractive to forget. There was also the desire for her cheeks to darken with a pretty flush because she was nervous, and not just appear darker in the flickering of the faint pub light.

  Harry ran a hand through his hair. "We —I guess I —learned from my godfather, Sirius." 

  "With a name like that, I'd guess he had a serious side." Ginny laughed at her own joke, which was too endearing.

  "Hardly. The man can't stop himself from making a joke. Being raised by him was an interesting experience, to say the least." 

  Ginny lifted her head off her hand and tilted it slightly to the side. "You were raised by your godfather?" 

  "Yeah." His hand unconsciously came to rub the back of his neck. He'd never liked talking about his past. People always got awkward when he explained what had happened to his parents. Not that he could blame them. Death was always awkward. "My parents they -- er -- died when I was one." 

  Harry prepared himself for the oh I'm so sorry or that's horrible. Instead, Ginny reached across the table and took his free hand. She didn't say anything, just squeezed his fingers. Warmth spread from her touch. Normally, Harry would retreat from the conversation when his parents were brought up, but for the first time in a long time, he felt like he could talk about it. 

  "It - They were murdered by an old friend of theirs from Hogwarts.” His throat always closed up every time he said those words. Harry could see the surprise in Ginny’s eyes, but she still didn’t say a word, letting him be in complete control. “Peter, their friend, joined a gang and his leader knew my parents had money, so he and Peter went to go rob my parents. Things went -- South in the end.”

  “I’d say things were South from the start.” Ginny twisted their joined hands so she could rub her thumb over his palm. 

  To Harry’s surprise, he laughed. “Yeah, you could say that.”

  “So your godfather raised you after that?”

  He nodded. “Sirius and Remus, actually. They were both friends with my father, but Sirius is legally my godfather. Remus is now a teacher up at Hogwarts, and Sirius owns a muggle motorcycle shop.” 

  “Really? You don’t hear about many wizards starting muggle businesses.”

  “Sirius has always loved bikes. He told me it started just because his parents hated anything to do with muggles, but then he realized how interesting they were. And after what happened to my parents -- Sirius said the muggle world was a nice break from it all.” Harry realized how dry his throat had become and took a deep drag from his pint. 

  “And I’m guessing he knows how to ride them?” Ginny was still looking at him as if there weren’t twenty other people in the pub, as if there weren’t  an entire world outside that front door. It sent shivers down his spine. 

  “Yeah, and he taught me.” 

  Ginny’s grin became wider and a little mischievous. “ Really ?” She slid her hand out of his, Harry instantly bemoaned the loss of her touch. She linked her own fingers together in a praying stance. “How long do I have to beg for you to take me on a ride?”

  “You -- you wanna go for a ride?” 

  “Hell yeah! I’ve never met anyone who actually knows how to drive a muggle vehicle.” She waved her hands in excitement.“My father works for the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office in England, and he’s gone on and on about motorbikes and automobiles. He’s also obsessed with aeroplanes, but that’s another thing entirely.”

  Harry couldn’t stop staring as Ginny eagerly chattered. She was...amazing wasn’t a strong enough word.  “I’d love to take you for a ride sometime.” 

  Ginny beamed at him. “Awesome! When would you be free? Tonight?”

  “Well, night time isn’t the best time.” Harry paused, going through his mental calendar. “We have practice all week, but I should be free next Saturday. Maybe go sometime in the morning?”

  Before Harry could comprehend what was happening, Ginny had risen from her chair and her arms were wrapped around his neck. “That’s perfect, Harry! Thank you!” 

  Her flowery scent filled his lungs, making his mind lose connection to the rest of his body for a moment. When he finally came back to his senses he stuttered his response. “O -- Of course. Any time.”

  “I’m gonna go get you another pint,” Ginny proclaimed as she drew back. Harry watched her practically skip across the room. He let out a long breath. Harry knew when he was in trouble. Self-preservation had always been a strong skill of his, and at that moment, he knew he was in way too deep. Yet, he had no desire or will to evaluate the turbulent situation. No, instead all his mind could do was think of was ways to get Ginny to wrap her arms around him again. 

  Fuck, he was in so much trouble… 

[aion-rsa]

Marvel’s WandaVision Episode 6: MCU Easter Eggs and Reference Guide

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

This article contains WANDAVISION spoilers through episode 6, possibly beyond, and for the wider MCU.

It’s Halloween in Westview, and WandaVision is going all out. From the most comics-accurate looks for Scarlet Witch, Vision, Quicksilver, and even Wiccan to an eerie “Wicked Witch of the West” getup for Agnes, this episode isn’t messing around with its pop culture references. Oh yeah, and the whole thing feels faintly like an episode of Malcolm in the Middle, too!

Let’s get to work, because there’s a lot to unpack on WandaVision episode 6…

Halloween in Westview

The episode’s title is “All-New Halloween Spooktacular!” which on its own already sounds like the kind of cover blurb you’d see on an issue of Marvel Comics. Marvel in particular is known for using the “All-New!” designation, sometimes in titles for the books themselves.

The first issue of the second The Vision and the Scarlet Witch series from Marvel Comics took place on Halloween night, so the pair have a history of canonical adventures around the holiday. That story had absolutely nothing to do with the events of this episode, though.

Sitcom Influences

The format and intro are definitely supposed to resemble Malcolm in the Middle, which began in January 2000. Tommy and Billy both break the fourth wall to talk to the viewer just like Malcolm (Frankie Muniz). The theme song practically tells you to stop questioning the reality of Westview and just enjoy what’s going on. How very Mystery Science Theater 3000 of them.

We wrote more about the sitcom influences of episode 6 here.

Pietro, Peter, and Quicksilver

Nope, nothing complicated about the whole Peter/Pietro/Quicksilver thing at all. Nothing we had to write an entire article about to try and make sense of, nossir.

The recap makes sure to show Avengers: Age of Ultron footage just to drive home that we have two different versions of Quicksilver here.

Interestingly, Peter’s speed effect is very much how his power was represented in Age of Ultron, not how it was in the X-Men films. He seems to have at least SOME of the memories of MCU Pietro…assuming that’s who he is in the first place.

Tommy says Billy is afraid that Uncle Pietro is a vampire. Well, we do see him in an undead form later on, so close enough! Plus there’s a strong chance that he represents an entity that’s trying to siphon energy/magic from Wanda.

Pietro is quick to point out that he has the “XY chromosome.” Any excuse for him to announce the letter X, considering which version of Pietro we’re talking about.

He mentions “‘Uncle Peter’ to the rescue.” The Evan Peters version of Quicksilver was referred to as Peter Maximoff.

Pietro dresses as the comic version of Quicksilver, as does Tommy, who has the same powers (while claiming to be dressing as the cooler twin, a slam on both Billy and his mother).

At one point, right before Pietro and the kids run off, Tommy describes something as “kick-ass” and Wanda repeats, “Kick-Ass?” out loud. The movie Kick-Ass starred Aaron Taylor-Johnson (the MCU Quicksilver) as the titular character while Evan Peters (the other Quicksilver) played his best friend.

Pietro and Tommy say, “I feel the need for speed!” The quote is from 1986’s Top Gun. Also, Tommy’s superhero name in the comics is Speed, so there’s that. If we stretch realllllly (unnecessarily!) far, we can connect the upcoming Top Gun sequel to Marvel, as it stars Miles Teller who played Reed Richards in Josh Trank’s woeful Fantastic Four reboot.

Wanda lashes out at Hex Pietro when he is cavalier about Vision’s fate – “It’s not like your dead husband can die twice.” The taunt is super cruel and doesn’t feel like something either version of her twin would say. Wanda’s violent reaction certainly speaks volumes about just how attached to this manifestation of Mr. Maximoff she is – not very.

Wanda doesn’t seem to fully trust this version of Pietro, who knows a suspicious amount about what’s really going on here. He’s asking a lot of painful, pointed questions she’s not ready to address.

Peter’s tattoo says “MoM” – Multiverse of Madness, Mother of Mutants, Magneto’s Own Mutants, or a red herring? We’re sure the internet will have fun theorizing regardless.

That You, Mephisto?

Some of Uncle Pete’s exclamations have strong Mephisto energy “Unleash hell, demon spawn!” “The kids need a father figure” “Damnit, if Westview, New Jersey isn’t charming as Hell…” Has the rumored Marvel Comics villain behind all this integrated himself in the The Hex passing as Pietro? We shall have to see.

The town’s theatre is called the Coronet. Classic poem ‘The Coronet’ is written by an English metaphysical poet called Andrew MARVELL. It’s about a dude who knows the sins of man led to the death of Christ. He tries to make a new crown for Christ’s head in a bid to atone, but finds that there is sin in this too, as the devil is entwined in it and therefore he might achieve some glory with this new creation. Fitting.

Wiccan and Speed

Billy and Tommy are starting to resemble their comic book counterparts more and more. Billy in particular is wearing his “Wiccan” costume from the comics, and Tommy continues to conform to his “Speed” color scheme…except when he dresses like his Uncle Pietro as Quicksilver.

Ellis Avenue

Ellis Avenue is an odd reference. Warren Ellis has written many, many comics, but nothing of note with the characters involved in WandaVision. The closest thing would be Marvel Ruins, a dark, cynical, horror version of the Marvel Universe where everything went wrong. Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver had very minor appearances in there.

The closest other thing would be Nextwave: Agents of H.A.T.E., a probably non-canonical series that teamed Monica Rambeau, Machine Man, Boom Boom, Elsa Bloodstone, and The Captain teamed up to fight…lots of weird shit, to be honest…including several reality altering threats.

Agnes

In her daze, Agnes mentions getting lost, with Vision pointing out that she supposedly grew up in this town. Agnes also talks about making a “wrong turn.” This might have something to do with Agnes’ claim in the first episode that she didn’t actually come to town until AFTER Wanda and Vision had (jokingly citing a visit from her mother-in-law as the reason).

Agnes’ crazed laughter goes perfectly well with her witch costume, giving off some wicked Wizard of Oz vibes.

Agnes’ license plate number is either DA1 B2C or 0A1 B2C. Whichever it is, this is an incredibly generic plate number, either a nod to the artificiality of Wanda’s overall illusion or perhaps an indicator that Agnes is creating this as something that looks “fake” in order to further blend in. Which brings us to…

Is it possible that Agnes is “faking” her confusion here and in episode 5?

Similarly, her “naughty” sweatpants had a rather sinister, possibly demonic, font to them, didn’t they?

Scarlet Witch

Wanda describes her Halloween costume as a “Sokovian fortune teller” while dressed as her comic self. Vision is also his comic self, but is identified as a professional wrestler.

Vision

Vision is apparently supposed to be dressed like a Mexican wrestler, but c’mon, even though it’s no longer era-appropriate there was a Honeymooners-esque “Man From Mars” joke right there!

When Vision collapses to his knees on the ground with his cape blowing in the wind, the shot is composed much like his death scene in Avengers: Infinity War. Wanda’s magic is again the culprit of his demise, albeit unintentionally this time.

Vision showing how selfless he is again – even as he’s being ripped apart he’s trying to save the people of Westview instead. Another pure reminder of Vision’s introduction in Avengers: Age of Ultron when he proved he was worthy enough to wield Mjolnir.

Vision apparently has no memory of being a member of the Avengers, which is certainly strange.

Thanks to Wanda, Vision is an Avenger Disassembled!  Get it? Anyone? No?

The Yo Magic Commercial

Yo Magic is a yogurt snack, but the commercial has a real strong Shark Bites vibe. Shark Bites were terrible, you probably would have died too if that was all you were allowed to eat on a desert island.

“Snack on Yo Magic!” MIGHT indicate that someone or something is feeding off of Wanda’s deal here, or perhaps she is channeling the mystical energy of someone even stronger than herself to keep The Hex alive.

There’s yet another reference to the Infinity Stones in this commercial. This ad features a kid alone on a desert island who grimly ends up looking like ol’ Red Skull on Vormir – he’s the sole (Soul) survivor. There’s no doubt in our minds these commercials are all about both the stones and horrible moments from Wanda’s past.

Cataract

SWORD director Hayward’s top secret project “Cataract” included experiments on Vision’s body, as revealed by Darcy. A cataract is “a cloudy area in the lens of the eye that leads to a decrease in vision” – has Hayward weaponized Vision? He’s definitely up to something nefarious.

The Cataract is also one of the stages in X-Men vs. Street Fighter and Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter.

Westview

The town motto on the altered billboard when the Hex expands is “Westview: Home is Where You Make It.” This was less visible on the earlier version, although the juxtaposition of the old and new billboards calls to mind the “Twin Pines/Lone Pine” sign from Back to the Future. 

The Coronet theatre’s marquee features The Incredibles (2004) and The Parent Trap. The former is about a superhero family who retires to the suburbs, and the latter is about reunited twins! Both properties are owned by Disney. The Incredibles have often been likened to the Fantastic Four, and in September, 2019 director Brad Bird publicly shot down rumors that he was in the running to helm Marvel’s First Family reboot. The voice of Frozone/Lucius Best in The Incredibles is none other than Samuel L. Jackson aka the MCU’s own Nick Fury! It’s likely that The Parent Trap in question here is the 1998 version, given the time period. This would help place this “era” of Westview somewhere between 1998 and 2004.

Wanda expands The Hex to save Vision, sucking in most of SWORD and Darcy, too. Since we now know that when you are enveloped by the barrier it changes you on a cellular level, Wanda could accidentally be creating a range of new superheroes. How much bigger can The Hex get as Wanda’s anger grows and how many people will it affect?

Monica Rambeau

Darcy unveils evidence that Monica’s DNA has been altered by crossing the barrier of The Hex twice. It seems like she’s well on the path to becoming her superpowered comics counterpart. WandaVision is turning out to be our longform superhero origin story for Monica Rambeau! Of course, Darcy has also now been pulled through the barrier – will she be affected in the same way?

Darcy and Jimmy Woo

Monica and Woo are off to meet her “guy” who will help them – who will it be? We have our theories.

Darcy is seen wearing a Mickey Mouse watch when she’s hacking into Hayward’s files. Probably no need to point out this Disney connection!

Among the names of the people who drop down when Darcy is emailing Jimmy Woo:

James Gadd – works in post-production at Marvel Studios

James Alexander – a visual effects producer on WandaVision

Back in episode 4, Darcy referred to the other people she was travelling with to the SWORD camp as “the full clown car.” The joke pays off again in episode 6 when a bunch of SWORD gets sucked into The Hex and turned into clowns.

As far as we know, Jimmy has still not identified the Westview man in witness protection he’s been searching for since episode 4. This mystery will survive another week. What if it’s…Pietro? Nah. Unless…

Random Marvel and Halloween Stuff

In the background, one kid is dressed as an off-brand Sub-Zero from Mortal Kombat. The first Mortal Kombat came out in 1992, fitting a more ’90s aesthetic.

Someone is dressed as Jason Voorhees, and his sweater is striped like Freddy Krueger’s, the peanut butter to Jason’s jelly. The iconic slashers faced off in 2003’s Freddy vs. Jason, so it’s a mash-up that suits the time period.

Wanda tossed Quicksilver over some fake tombstones. One of them is for Janell Sammelman. Janell Sammelman worked on WandaVision as a first assistant director.

Pietro and the kids are shotgunning “Kane Cola” which on the one hand sounds like it could be an “extreme” ‘90s/early oughts drink like Jolt Cola or Surge (remember those ridiculously stupid commercials?), but with all the X-Men teasing they’re doing, maybe Garrison Kane was a soft drink magnate in the MCU before his powers manifested. No? Ok.

Could Wanda asking about the kid in the orphanage who “had the skin thing” be a reference to maybe another mutant kid? Former Brotherhood colleague Toad?

One of the houses is made up with a sign that says “Macabre Mansion.” They’re …probably not referencing best-forgotten Marvel villain Madam Macabre or similarly obscure Moon Knight villain Dansen Macabre (get it?).

During a flashback, Billy and Tommy are shown playing Dance Dance Revolution, which came out for home consoles in 1999. Also, in their room, on the right, is that Dogpool? A dog doll colored in the style of Deadpool?

cnx.cmd.push(function() { cnx({ playerId: "106e33c0-3911-473c-b599-b1426db57530", }).render("0270c398a82f44f49c23c16122516796"); });

Wanda closes apps (people) to reduce load times. Or maybe they’re video game NPCs. In any case, it’s disturbing.

The post Marvel’s WandaVision Episode 6: MCU Easter Eggs and Reference Guide appeared first on Den of Geek.

from Den of Geek https://ift.tt/2MSPA85

[allronix]

Salty asks: 1-27.

Assuming this is the fandom of your namesake. 

1. OTP that I just don’t get. Probably Sam/Tron. Not to say some folks can’t REALLY fucking rock it (see the “We Are Pilots” verse), but it takes a lot of work. Their only meeting in canon was in a duel to the death with the Program being brainwashed and crazy, and Sam has very little if any reason to even like the guy, even in a post-Legacy setup. 

2, Fandom OTP I only BroTP:  Probably Tron/Ram. Ram had too much chemistry with Flynn, and Tron was single-minded enough about Yori to put his deity on hold. While I can very easily see group marriage as a normal part of Program society, it’s not something I can see in canonical circumstances. 

3. Unfollowed someone over a fandom opinion? Nope. But if they trash my faves, I hope they can back up their dislike with a very good argument. 

4.  A NoTP for my fandom. Not touching Sam/Alan with a 10-meter Rod Primitive. The age gap for one, the paternal role Alan took for two, the fact Lora is not dead in this timeline third, the fourth is the possibility of OT3: Shall We Dance making this ship even more brain-breaking.

5. Has fandom ruined a pairing for me? Not in this fandom, but I’ve avoided the hell out of some shows because I saw the fandom for them was such a big ball of crazy that I wanted to avoid it like kryptonite. 

6. Has fandom made me enjoy a pairing I previously hated? I’m not sure if it’s a good thing, and I’m not sure I’d call it “enjoy,” but there are some Clu/”Rinzler” fics that almost make the whole thing come out as something marginally less squicky and more interesting than “sadist and his sex slave.” 

7. Anything I used to like but dislike now? Y’know, I kinda used to dig Flynn/Alan slash. But after I realized I could make a drinking game out of them (take a shot if they mention Lora, chug the whole thing if they mention Jordan - stay sober the whole night), they lost a lot of appeal. I’ll make an exception for “Shall We Dance” scenarios. Heck, I love Shall We Dance because it’s a very different matter if Lora’s aware and on board with the whole thing. Heck, if someone upgrades it to an Ot4 of “Shall We Dance With Jordan,” then I owe them a six-pack of top-quality beer or cane-sugar soda and my enthusiastic gratitude. 

8. Anon hate? Yes. Received it. But over politics, not fandom. It’s to be expected. The Galaxy Rangers list used to have “don’t talk to Allronix about politics” as one of the bylaws. 

9. Most hated character? Probably Pavel. He’s such a transparent slimeball with little in the way of interesting motivation. Tesler? While he’s a nasty piece of work, there’s wiggle room to argue that he’s doing what he’s doing for the good of the system and doesn’t like doing what he does. Sark? Incredible ham and definitely one note, but David Warner plays the best creeps ever.  (He out-creeped Malcolm McDowell, that’s near-impossible) 

10. Most disliked arc. Probably the Isos. I’m still not sure what they were, or why they were special or what was so great about them, or how they would change everything, aside from the implication they were partly biological. Which is great and all, but the way it was handled has an “organics rule, synthethics drool” vibe that is pretty insulting when everything else in the franchise shows that the Programs are just as capable of love, hate, morality, humor, and free will as the humans who built them. 

11. Unpopular character I like that the fandom doesn’t? I just had to have the bad luck…or the good luck…to latch on very hard to the Tron 2.0 characters. Good luck in that it’s unexplored territory. Bad luck in that I seem to be the only one who writes Mercury, or Crown, or I-No. 

12. Unpopular arc I like the fandom doesn’t? 2.0 again. What got me about it is that the 1982 and Legacy films dealt with malevolent AI who were cruel of other AI and wanted to extend the cruelty. 2.0 inverted it; the uncorrupted Programs were, with very few exceptions, wanting to protect themselves and their home. The corrupted Programs were driven insane by a User who embraced the worst parts of the role. And then you had F-Con who planned to crank that up even more so that they could rule both worlds from the shadows. It really needed to be explored more, as it was a great start. 

13. Unpopular opinion about a character: Sam Flynn kinda spooks me. He has no reason to be merciful or benevolent to Programs. As far as he saw, his dad believed in them, and they stabbed his dad in the back, kept his dad away from him, tried to kill him, tried to kill Quorra, killed all of Quorra’s people, and eventually killed his dad right in front of him. And he’s taking over command of a software company with barely any time to process that trauma.  It’s probably not going to end well for the Programs unless something intervenes.

14. Unpopular opinion about the fandom: They have very little interest in reclaiming the female characters from the margins, and that’s quite frustrating. Quorra and Paige get some fics here and there, but even those petered out. Yes, this fandom is VERY heavily skewed male, but you’ve got Quorra, Paige, Mara, Gorn, Lux, Yori, Lora, Gem, etc. in Legacy canon, and some great potential with Mercury, Ma3a, and Eva Popoff if you import from 2.0. I was hoping to see at least SOMEONE write up a fanfic about Jordan. What kind of woman could handle a brilliant, cheerful, crazy ball of energy like 80′s!Flynn?  

15. Unpopular opinion about the canon: Legacy is very difficult for me to watch. Even though it totally brought the whole thing back from the dead, it’s just frustrating to watch. Not to say everyone didn’t bring their A-game to it, but it took everything that made the first film so much fun and destroyed it, ending up as a depressing waste where everyone loses, and Dillinger Jr is just waiting in the wings to cause even more trouble. 

16. If I could change anything about the canon, what to change? Tron 2.0 totally happened. It would not be hard to come up with a workaround for Ma3a that keeps Lora alive. There’s probably about three or four ways I could come up with other than the made of crack one I’ve got going in my fics. 

17. Instead of X happening, I’d go with Y: If you want something other than “instead of 2.0 being thrown out the airlock, it’s part of canon,” I would have loved to see Sam get rescued by Bartik’s crew (Bonus points if Yori’s running the damn thing) and then meet up with his dad and Quorra. That way, there could have been a little more complexity to the Grid situation and a way to avoid the whole “Programs are evil!” thing Legacy ended up with.

18. Does not shipping something ‘popular’ mean you’re in denial and/or biased? Shipping, IMO is shorthand for schools of character interpretation. Someone who ships Quorra/Sam is going to have a different take than someone who ships Quorra/Zues, or Quorra/Paige. They’re all looking at the same data, but the interpretation of the data is going to vary.   

19. One thing I dislike most about my fandom: It’s a back alley of the 80′s that its own company barely wants to admit they did. This makes canon and newcomers a little hard to come by.

20. Purest ship in the fandom. Tron/Yori was my first OTP. They’re still my OTP, because 82!Tron was such a sweet, earnest dork and Yori was such an adorable, sneaky badass. Post-Legacy? It’s going to be one heck of a climb no matter which guess you take about Yori’s fate (And seriously? Morgan got gypped), but having those two limp off into whatever digital sunset there is would be the closest we get to a happy ending that’s canon-compatible.

21. Crack ships? A crack ship for the sake of a crack ship is a “no thanks!” But there are ships that look like someone did them on a three-drink dare that actually manage to work. I’m thinking to KOTOR fandom where someone made a REALLY awesome case for Canderous/Bastila that should not have worked and totally did. 

22. Popular character I dislike: It’s not so much “dislike” as “I’m not sure what to make of them.” Really wanted some development on Sam. Quorra got Evolution and a nice episode of Uprising, but Sam…he’s still a bit of a blank to me. 

23. Unpopular character I adore:  I especially latched on hard to Jet Bradley after reading the Ghost in the Machine comic because he had clearly done a lot of thinking about what being a User means in that setting, and was bringing up points no one else bothered with. As such, he makes an excellent foil and walking deconstruction fleet while still being, ostensibly, one of the good guys. 

24. Would I recommend Tron to a friend? Only with a ton of disclaimers. This was made in the EARLY 80′s, by people who apparently had no fucking idea what they were doing, and Disney probably signed off on it while under the influence of something. But the combination ends up as something inexplicably brilliant and probably launched thousands of computer animation careers and hundreds more IT careers. 

25.   How would I end it? I’ve got fics in mind for it. I kitbash 2.0 and Legacy shamelessly. The ending I have in mind? Well, Alan and Lora end up giving up their lives in analog to rebuild the Rome Flynn started. Jet ends up dedicating his life to serving the Programs and goes a bit native. Mercury and Tron act as the primary “knights” of Alan and Lora. Sam and Quorra handle much of the rest in the analog world, slowly trying to open up the world and make it ready for the revelation of the digital one. And Yori runs a reformation of the Program religion so that they are prepared to accept the Users as fallible beings who are still powerful, but less “worship as deity” and more “we depend on one another - don’t screw it up.” 

26. Most shippable character? Probably Flynn. I can see him as a fellow who would (prior to the coup) enjoy himself and his opportunities to the fullest, including trying anything twice sexually. 

27. Least shippable character: Probably Esomond Baza. He’s a coward with so little self-esteem, self-respect, or a moral compass that he needs a few months of therapy before even thinking of a date. 

[captainwhogotthecanary]

For I Think I Still Love You (Do You Mind) (8/16)

Oh, hey, look, I finally got around to the original drabble (albeit slightly edited for flow and context) that started this whole thing.

This chapter starts out a bit fluffy and then goes downhill from there.

Continued thanks to Tavyn for ongoing feedback!

Read on AO3 if you prefer.

Leonard wakes when Sara does the next morning, and there’s a minute in which they’re both very aware of how they’ve slept. Neither of them moves, but Sara can tell by his breathing and by how still he is that he’s awake. His arm is around her, and she’s turned to face him in her sleep. Her head is tucked under his so that they’re both partially on the pillow. One of her hands is under the pillow, and the other rests against his chest.

“You should go,” Leonard says, his voice rough with sleep or tension or both, his fingers a warm, insistent presence against her back.

Sara presses against his chest, scooting back far enough to look at him. “I’m going,” she says. “Just gimme a second.”

He watches her while she wakes up, which admittedly doesn’t take long with him so close, their mingled scents around her, his eyes on her face like he’s memorizing her. He seems to sense when she’s awake enough for something resembling conversation.

“You shouldn’t come back tonight, either. Not unless something big happens, such as someone finding out I’m here.” His face is a little too neutral as he speaks.

“Those are valid points,” she says, letting him take that as agreement and getting out of bed before she can do anything stupid. “I’ll lock the door on my way out so you can go back to sleep.”

***

Sara ignores his advice, of course, but she does wait until later than usual to show up at his place that night.

He opens the door before she can finish picking the lock. He stands there, blocking the doorway, arms crossed over his chest. “You really shouldn’t show up at 3 a.m. and expect me to open the door.”

“I didn’t, clearly,” she says, waving her little metal tools before putting them away.

“I thought we agreed you wouldn’t show up unless I’d been found or something big had changed. Has something changed?”

Sara puts her hands on her hips. “No. And I thought we agreed you’d tell me not to come, but I’d do it anyway.”

She’s starting to wonder whether he’s actually serious, and she has a sinking feeling in her gut until he smirks. He’s playing her, the ass.

“If there weren’t any changes,” he drawls, ignoring her latter statement, “that means someone found me, but I don’t think you’d be alone if that were the case.”

Two can play at this game. She drops her hands to her sides. “I tried to sleep,” she says, and she had, sort of, to pass the time before coming over, “but I just started thinking about the team and how I can’t really talk to any of them.” She feels a stab of guilt for the attempt at manipulation until she sees he’s still smirking.

He doesn’t buy it for a minute.

Still, his expression turns mock serious. “Fine. I suppose you can come inside.” He pauses before reaching out a hand. She takes it slowly, and he gently pulls her in the house before letting go and shutting the door behind them. “Come on, Sara. Let’s get some sleep.”

***

The next night, she comes ready with an excuse.

“Ran away from a fight, had a tail. It was safer to get here than to get back to the ship. Mind if I crash?”

It becomes something of a thing. She shows up, makes up a wild tale explaining why she needs to sleep there, and he humors her, latching onto the excuse as if it’s valid.

“I got in a fight with the nerds when I lied and told them I didn’t like Star Wars. They banished me from the ship.”

“I got lost and this is the only place I could think of.”

“My bed was too soft, and I needed a ratty old mattress to sleep on.”

“Nate took over my bed and turned it into a pool table since I wasn’t using it.”

She doesn’t even notice, at first, when the casual contact that’s become almost normal in the bedroom starts spilling out into the rest of the house. There’s handholding on the way to the bedroom not infrequently. There’s a hand on the shoulder after a hard day for one or both of them, an absent trail of fingers along a back as they pass. Most of it’s Sara initiating, sure, but not all of it.

It’s when she wipes his face during a shared meal and he doesn’t react that she really notices, realizes just how much they’ve been touching.

It scares her.

The time away from Leonard, time spent with the team, is getting more and more back to normal. She’s established a rapport with the newer team members. She and Amaya find at least a little time together most days, and she teases Nate mercilessly, his good nature making it easy. She challenges Rip when he needs it, listens to him when it’s what’s best for the team, talks to him alone when he’s clearly getting pushed too far.

And yet, there’s an undercurrent there. The longer everything goes smoothly, the more she’s sure the end is coming, and soon. Something’s wrong, and it’s not just that so much is going right. She feels more than a little sympathy for Leonard, back at the Vanishing Point, when he knew shit was going south and couldn’t do a damned thing to stop it.

There’s no new information. Nobody else on the team has noticed the changes in time, and per Gideon’s instructions, Sara hasn’t talked to them about it. The waiting is increasingly getting to her, and it doesn’t help that hiding Leonard’s existence feels worse the closer she gets to the team.

She pushes the fear and guilt away during the day, when she’s doing what she needs to, when she’s being a person again, but it creeps in when she waits for the time of night that it’s safe to visit Leonard.

And then when she’s actually with him, it all sort of fades away. It’s not like any of the problems actually stop. Sometimes they’re worse, like when she lets herself think about what, exactly, is at stake; she feels a sort of panic she’s never felt before, like the potential loss is more than she can handle, more than she’ll survive even after all she’s been through.

But then she looks at him and remembers he’s here, and she hasn’t lost him, and that she’ll do everything in her power to keep it that way, that he’s not exactly going down again without a fight.

In all, it’s one of the hardest times of her life. Laurel’s still gone, Leonard’s back but with so many limitations, and Sara’s hiding something every minute of the day, information she knows is vital and relevant.

It’s also one of the best times of her life. She hasn’t slept so well since before the Gambit, even if it’s only a few hours some nights. She hasn’t had a place that felt like home in ages, either, and now she has two; the Waverider and Leonard’s.

So she waits. She waits for a change. Mostly, she knows, she waits for an ending, an end to the hiding, an end to her current way of life, for better or for worse.

***

“Despite the recent recalibration,” Rip announces one day, “Gideon’s readings are again inconsistent with what they should be. We have to consider that there’s an aberration we need to deal with here, in this time, in Central City.”

Sara feels her heart sink. What if it’s Len? It shouldn’t be, not if Gideon’s blocking him out, but maybe that’s why the ship doesn’t know what the problem is. She glances at Mick, who gives her the tiniest shake of his head; they shouldn’t mention Leonard, shouldn’t worry about it, not yet.

Rip brings up a map of the city, zooming in until he’s showing a smaller area, covering just a quarter mile radius. She exhales as she sees it’s several miles from Leonard’s hideout, and she sees Mick relax, too.

“I don’t exactly know what we’re going to find,” the captain continues, “only that at this point, the disturbance is registering as large enough that we should be able to find it with little trouble. We’ll head to this area together, and then we’ll split up. Everyone will be wearing their communications devices, so if you find what we’re searching for, you will inform the rest of the team.”

They disperse to suit up, and Sara corners Mick.

“It’s not him, right?” she whispers after making sure everyone else is out of earshot.

He shakes his head. “Don’t think so. Boss wouldn’t go to that part of town. Used to have a hideout there; he’d end up running into someone he knows that way.”

Sara nods. “Okay. I still wanna check on him after this, early as we can. Maybe this has something to do with all the time changes he’s been finding.”

Mick grunts. “Depending how this plays out, team might be restless tonight. I won’t be able to join you.”

“That’s fine,” Sara says, quieting when she hears footsteps. “We better get ready.”

The team makes it to the center of the temporal disturbance and splits up. Sara starts in the direction that is closest to Leonard’s place; if she and Mick are wrong and this does have something to do with him, she wants to be the one to find out.

Sara’s only been looking for a few minutes when she hears something that sounds wrong, the type of footsteps that don’t belong in this shady, rundown part of town.

“Hello, Sara.” The slick voice is familiar, and she knows even before she turns that she’ll see Malcolm Merlyn. She tightens her grip on her staff as she confirms it.

He isn’t alone. There’s another with him, and Sara recognizes the overly bright hair and eyes of Damien Darhk. A third person is just out of sight in the deep shadows cast by two buildings, just an impression of careful movement, but faced with the man who had her killed and the man who killed her sister, she simply makes a note not to forget the additional opponent. Any thought of alerting the team to what’s going on is missing as she gives her full attention to the two in front of her.

“Merlyn. Darhk. What are you two doing here? And how are you”–she looks at Damien–“not dead?” Oliver had gotten a message to the time ship when Laurel’s killer had finally gotten what he deserved. It had helped, some, but it had also taken away Sara’s hope at her own revenge.

“We’re here to fix time,” Darhk says smoothly, his tone one of complete belief that what he’s doing is right.

“Hope you don’t mind,” Merlyn adds, grinning at her as his eyes burn with hatred.

“Hard to fix time without a time ship,” Sara says, shifting her weight as subtly as she can. Her League training isn’t going to be as much help with these two as it usually is.

Darhk’s voice is even as he responds. “How convenient that we’ve got a way around that.”

They have access to time travel? That might explain how Darhk is back. No matter, though, because–

“You can’t use time travel if you’re already dead,” she growls, but before she can attack, Merlyn holds up a hand, dark amusement reaching his eyes this time.

“You haven’t said hello to our other member yet,” he says lightly. Sara focuses back on the shadows behind them as he continues. “That isn’t very polite, is it, Captain Cold?”

What?

“No, it isn’t.” The familiar drawl hits her hard; she can’t help but react positively to his voice, and yet, there’s something very wrong about the timing of it. There’s something even worse about the absolute lack of affection in his tone.

He steps out of the darkness, and there’s no doubt that this is Leonard Snart. He’s wearing a parka, one she hasn’t seen in a long time, the hood up, light reflecting almost sinisterly off his goggles.

“Len?” Her mind races as he walks confidently toward her, cold gun in hand, and she barely registers the other two melting away into the shadows. How is Leonard here? Why is he here? Why is he with them?

Any illusion she’s entertaining that he might be the Leonard she knows is dashed when he sneers at her. “Hello, Canary. We meet at last.”

I’ll be posting updates Mondays and Fridays, so you’ll have another update in about 4 days. In the meantime, let me know what you think? I got pretty emotional writing this.

[sharifs]

Twitter’s 280 Character Update Breathes New Life Into The Platform #280Characters

Social Media Innovations & The Future Of The Digital Economy

“Will this new feature prevent Twitter from sinking and effectively giving it some new wind under its wings?”

Twitter’s Big Upgrade

Though a character limit extension had been rumoured almost since the inception of Twitter, I personally thought that if they had not rolled it out yet, it was probably never going to come. However recently, as many others may have noted, we began to witness certain celebrity accounts being able to write Tweets longer than 140 characters, and so beta testing had already begun.

Yesterday, November 8th, 2017, The character limit extension was launched for all Twitter users, making it the new default for the platform. This can be perceived as a dramatic change considering the very long and drawn-out period of uncertain anticipation for such a possibility. To be honest, I wasn’t convinced it would be available to the rest of us even after I witnessed celebrity accounts Tweeting up to 280 characters.

Now it is trending on Twitter, #280Characters, you can search that out to see all the excitement for yourself. As a longtime Twitter user since around 2010, with my account @HonourableHappy, it is a big change to me indeed. For new Twitter users however, or those considering coming on, it may actually be a massive incentive to get deeper into the platform. This is all occurring at a time when Twitter’s future began to look uncertain with its popularity maintained yet plateauing in the past year or so. However with continued activity and support from special interests, Twitter has kept Tweeting and flapping its wings tot he next horizon.

Will this new feature prevent Twitter from sinking and effectively giving it some new wind under its wings? Personally in a social media landscape where your main popular choices are an easy to use but complicated beast which is Facebook, a heavily image-focused trendy platform like Instagram, the video focused juggernaut that makes it hard to rise in ranks, Youtube or the realtime posting from “somebodies” to “nobodies” and everyone in between giving you the closest touch point to major celebrities, public figures and online influencers from the perspective of immediacy due to the real-time nature of the platform.

That is why Twitter is still a popular news source as events can be recorded on the fly with requiring live video or audio feeds to do it. However now live video is part of Twitter with the acquisition of Periscope, another wise move by Jack Dorsey’s company. This is in direct competition with every major social media platform, all of those already mentioned, have also been pushing for the live video movement, with new massive competition coming out of a blue ocean with Twitch, focused specifically on gaming, something Youtube has addressed with “Youtube Gaming.”

Clearly competition is fierce on the live video front for these giant robots, however Twitter has always been the most “live” platform considering one can literally see a Tweet as its posted at that very second. That is why, even after plateauing and the negative connotations given to Twitter due to the amount of dramatic flame wars between divided peoples and major players in the public all the way up to high level business property owners down to status quo politicians, from everyday people young and old, professionals, specialists, and managers to entrepreneurs, influencers and celebrities. Everyone has a voice and a chance to rise up, making it a fair and vibrant platform.

Melting The Sugar-Coating

Twitter of course is not without its dirt beyond giving a voice to the highly unpopular president of the United States, Donald J. Trump, just as well status quo politicians like Hillary Clinton with a heavily documented record of pathological lying and insider corruption and those that vehemently support each completely, Twitter has just as well been accused of censorship. This was actually admitted recently by Twitter, in regards to hiding tweets hash-tagged #DNCLeaks and #PodestaEmails. Moreover I have personally experienced censoring first-hand years before that when I tried to share a live leak featuring an interview with Edward Snowden soon after he was exiled from the United States. It was an interview with a German television program and showed Snowden to be an intelligent and honest individual. He has simultaneously been described by prominent American authors like Malcolm Gladwell in The New Yorker this way:

“… Snowden did not study under a Nobel Prize winner, or give career advice to the likes of Henry Kissinger. He was a community-college dropout, a member of the murky hacking counterculture.”

Though I love Gladwell’s concepts in “The Tipping Point” and find his fascination for the unusual in the highly recognized valuable, his parallel hold to establishment pecking order without question can be extreme in such cases. Gladwell just as well is no stranger to tweeting a lot himself, and I’m sure he will make good use of the 280 character limit. Just as well Trump will no longer have to Tweet twice to get through one message. More importantly however you and me have more reason to be on there and be our own influencers or to learn latest ongoings of what’s happening around the world from realtime texts to live video.

Why Twitter Still Has A Future

Since the existence of Twitter is in the interests of the CIA, the FBI, major news organizations, public figures, A-list celebrities and all kinds of consumers and professionals, I knew Twitter would still be around for another few years at least, but with bold moves like these, keeping the integrity of what keeps it distinct and relevant while still increasing its accessibility for everyone with these new features, I foresee Twitter potentially lasting even longer than that. If we go by the 7-year itch rule, Twitter has managed to remain relevant past 2013, 7 years after its 2006 launch, meaning it has overcome one large make-or-break time period already. Implementing Nassim Nicholas Taleb’s concept in anti fragility that what has lasted longer up until now is likely to last longer from today, Twitter’s 11 years as an outlet may indicate that it has yet another 11 years to at least, especially after seeing some serious moves and a consistent interest not only by fans and elites but by the top people inside of the social media disrupter’s company.

Open-Source Trends Towards The Future Of The Digital Economy

With all that being said there is still a danger, not only for Twitter, but just as well the other mammoths, Youtube and Facebook (which are now in a heated match for attention) due to the exponentially growing trend of reports of censorship and attention throttling through algorithmic filters not only by users of these services, but via admission by those companies themselves. That is why newer platforms that pride themselves in free speech and open-source culture such as Minds.com and Gab.ai have been multiplying their user bases notably within the last year with Minds.com founded in 2015 growing from over 1 million users in 2016 to now over 3 million users and growing. If today’s dominating social media websites and apps don’t take note that, just as the great majority of Americans no longer trust the mainstream media’s reporting on the truth the public will just as well grow wise to the dark side of social media, selling user data to corporations, influencing users politically and towards corporate interests, essentially being complicit in gaming the system just as major media outlets have been accused of for decades.

Furthermore, newer sites like Minds, have been built from the ground up so work snappier and feel more modern than platforms like Facebook. In top of this with an integrated points system for participating, that allows you to invest in advertising without hang to spend a cent, is definitely a win-win model that the more well-known social sites would be foolish to ignore. Pushing further with the oncoming collapse of the banking system with the advent and flourishing of crypto-currency including bitcoin and many others due to advancements in block chain technology, and not only would the interest of Mark Zuckerberg and Jack Dorsey start to shift from cash to crypto hurting the influence of those that want to buy or control the information dissemination towards those most invested in block chain technological innovation, it also help new platforms like Minds shift the economy to the our digital open-source system that bitcoin, ethereum and multiple equivalents provide.

Ironically these newer lesser known platforms are actually ahead of the the current leaders in this regard due to a built-in credit system, while China’s government has been concurrently trying to take social media in the exact opposite direction, creating a ratings system to judge the “value” of its citizens. The reason I put the word value in double-quotations is just as is the massive evident issue of “who will watch the watcher” and “absolute power corrupts absolutely” how can authorities be trusted to ensure the best outcomes for all people when there is no authority to ensure the quality of their decisions above them? That is why the most powerful societies today are founded on freedom, and the more they are self-governed with common sense (even if it is not always so common) the more these systems can actually be sustainable in a viable way, because no matter how much authority or power a party holds, if you don’t have the minds of the people, you have nothing.

As the world is waking up, becoming more self-aware and conscious of the truth, instead of a negative trend towards meaninglessness, sadness and hopelessness, with the right implementation of these empowering developments, consciousness can only be increased and connections mobilized  towards a brighter future than ever before, from small changes like being able to Tweet a bit longer to big innovations like earning crypto currency through positive societal influence through social media, Twitter’s slogan puts it best “It’s what’s happening.”

For a one-on-one consultation on current online marketing trends in the educational space, you can sign into the Production Hackers consulting form bringing you a newsletter on how you can qualify.

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[caredogstips]

Stanley Kubrick and me: designing the posting for A Clockwork Orange

Philip Castles airbrushed artwork features on book extends for David Bowie and Pulp but his lurid imagery for A Clockwork Orange abides his most notorious work he recollects his love with the director

Philip Castle indicates me into his front room to assure the naked lady on her knees next to the family piano. The plaster statue is battered and unstable and diverting yellow with day, but I would recognise those teats anywhere. This is one of the nude statues that serve as furniture and serve up boozes from their breasts in the sinister, darkly funny opening panoramas of Stanley Kubricks 1971 cinema A Clockwork Orange. There was me, the hell is Alex, and my three droogs, that is Pete, Georgie, and Dim, and we sat in the Korova Milkbar trying to even off our rassoodocks what to do with the evening.

In Kubricks pessimistic lampoon of British youth culture, Malcolm McDowells futuristic ultraviolent mod antihero adjusts the situation in voiceover as the camera washes back from him and his bowler-hatted, white-codpieced droogs, taking in one pornographic bronze after the other, just like this one I viddied with my own attentions, O my brothers, in Castles house.

Aladdin Sane cover with Philip Castles teardrop. Picture: Michael Ochs Archives/ Getty Images

The curators of Daydreaming with Stanley Kubrick, an exhibit of artwork motivated by Kubrick with labour by Mat Collishaw, Michael Nyman, Jane and Louise Wilson and many more, were understandably frantic to acquire it. But its much very vulnerable to move, remarks Castle, who offered up his own work instead to Somerset House in London, including a new portrait of Kubrick.

The story of how Castle came to own an original prop from the Korova Milkbar is a glimpse of the scholastic precision that became Stanley Kubrick one of cinema greatest auteurs, a perfectionist who sought to sculpt every aspect of a film even its publicity.

Castle is a poster and album report artist whose glossy, sometimes lurid airbrush painting form you have witnessed even if you dont know it. His act straddles from the teardrop oozing from David Bowies shoulder blade on the covering of Aladdin Sane in 1973( in his vestibule hangs a periodical signed by Bowie) to portraying Pulp for the treat of their 1994 book HisnHers. He too generated the hilariously over the top 1950s-style sci-fi poster for Tim Burtons Mars Attacks.

The opening background of A Clockwork Orange.

Yet Castles finest hour and perhaps the reason Bowie, Pulp and Burton later wanted to work with him saw right at the start of his job. As a postgraduate from the Royal College of Art at the fag end of its age as the residence of British pa cover, he placed an ad for his illustration work in the Evening Standard. He got a call from none other than Stanley Kubricks publicist, inviting Castle to the directors home north of London to discuss a posting for Kubricks new film.

Kubrick by this time was the most worshipped English expression filmmaker in the world, celebrated for Lolita, Dr Strangelove and 2001: A Space Odyssey. Hed been living in Britain since the early 1960 s and toiled almost entirely from home. He did everything in the house, remembers Castle. The striking stuff was that all the doors were locked. They were all shut tight. They were great dog lovers and were scared stiff the dogs would run out and fade. There were signs on everything: Keep the door shut. I guess they had so many parties going through. It was just curious, something you wouldnt expect.

Its exceedingly pointy … Philip Castles theatrical sign. Picture: Allstar/ WARNER BROS/ Sportsphoto Ltd ./ Allstar

The director looped up his latest film and they watched it, with Castle taking notes and attaining sketches in a Basildon Bond notebook that he still has. Its blue-tinted sheets are filled with sketches of bowler-hatted ultraviolence Kubricks new cinema was an icily sardonic vision of stylised havoc and dehumanising penalty accommodated from Anthony Burgesss 1962 novel A Clockwork Orange.

Castles little notebook establishes, amazingly, that he came up with what is today considered to be one of the classic movie posters of all time practically then and there. One change was that he tried initially to fit his attracts of a brutal searching Malcolm McDowell holding a glinting bayonet over a bronze of a kneeling nude inside a giant word A.

This becomes a parted pyramid in the final form of the poster, which is covered in Castles hyper-pop colours against a grey background with a slogan that attracts no pierces: Being the escapades of a young man whose principal fascinates are assault, ultraviolence and Beethoven.

Eyes dominate the posting. As well as Alexs gazing deadly attention there is a swimming eyeball refer to his medicine, in which his eyes are pinned wide open as he is forced to watch murderou films and Nazi information. Yet what grabs you most is the glisten blade that seems to leap forwards in 3D. Its very pointy, as Castle modestly applies it.

Kubrick wanted to shape every aspect of the movies receipt. He had people going to the cinemas where it was going to be shown to make sure that the screens were clean, recollects Castle. It was in the same spirit of absolute verify that Kubrick sent his sign designer a effigy from the Korova Milkbar so he had been able to portray its features accurately. On the decay figure in Castles lounge rests a bowler hat. This too is an original prop from the film given to him so he could get the arc of its brim just right.

Allen Joness Chair( 1969 ). Photograph: Yui Mok/ PA

Art crowds A Clockwork Orange. The sexist furniture in the Korova Milkbar is inspired by the art of Allen Jones. Kitsch nudes hang in the houses Alex and his droogs infest. He dedicates a slaughter utilizing a marble carve of a penis. The visual world-wide of the movie is a grotesque homage to 1960 s pop art and it is arguably the last great pop prowes masterpiece, an apocalyptic consummation of “consumers interests” imagery of modern life that started with Richard Hamiltons posting Just what is it that prepares todays dwellings so different after all, so pleading? in 1956.

It was logical that a movie so richly designed is advisable to take art into the cinema hall and on to the streets. Kubrick and his team published a lampoon newspaper, The Clockwork Times, for which Castle established some of his best studies lurid paints of epitomes from the film that dwell on its copulation and violence. He has a photograph of his young house proudly constituting under a huge billboard version of his poster on a London street. Yet the strong publicity campaign in which he played such a center duty backfired.

A Clockwork Orange was a smacked but its reception was a real repugnance indicate. Narrations of real-life Clockwork Orange gangs crowded the British newspapers. Kubrick was accused of inducing slaughter and his moral anecdote was accused of debauchery. The director himself censored A Clockwork Orange from British screens. For a long time, until its rerelease in 2000, the sole likenes apart from a few stills that returned British film love a sense of the form and menace of A Clockwork Orange was Castles potent poster.

Castle in his Full Metal Jacket helmet. Photograph: Steve Mepsted

He carried on working with Kubrick and the pair stayed pals, even after the director rejected his sign for Barry Lyndon in 1975 because it was too joke. Their closest collaboration was to come on the Vietnam war film Full Metal Jacket, for which Castle coated a helmet with a peace token and the scrawled statements BORN TO KILL. Kubrick was interested in details such as how it would look in black and white in a single line of a neighbourhood newspaper. Perhaps still scarred by the Clockwork Orange debate, he also went Castle to try an alternative design for Asian markets because he was worried the US helmet would get vandalised.

Yet the artists rememberings of Stanley Kubrick are warm. One daylight the administrator phoned Castle out of the blue. What strange request would it be?

He mentioned: Would you like to buy a puppy?

Daydreaming With Stanley Kubrick is at Somerset House, London, until 24 August.

The post Stanley Kubrick and me: designing the posting for A Clockwork Orange appeared first on caredogstips.com.

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[junker-town]

6 NFL free agent signings we want to see in 2017

Eddie Lacy to the Patriots? Adrian Peterson to the Raiders?

Some free agent signings are destined to change the trajectory of a franchise. Peyton Manning and Reggie White were the missing pieces that returned the Broncos and Packers, respectively, to glory. Drew Brees turned the Saints from rudderless also-ran into a world championship club. Curtis Martin jumped ship from the Patriots to become the Jets’ all-time leading rusher.

But for every natural fit, there are several more missed opportunities that made sense on paper but never came to fruition. Barry Sanders never left Detroit, instead choosing to re-sign with the team that shackled him to a 1-5 postseason record. Larry Fitzgerald’s unwavering loyalty to Arizona prevented him from playing in wide receiver Xanadu with Tom Brady and the Patriots. Franchises can share the blame for these missed opportunities, as well; Miami passed on signing Brees in favor of luring Daunte Culpepper to South Beach.

The 2017 free agent class doesn’t have any surefire Hall of Famers like Sanders, Fitzgerald, or Brees hitting the market, but there are several impact players who could be the difference between a potential revival and spending January packing up the locker room. Pro Bowlers like Dont’a Hightower, Calais Campbell, T.J. Lang, and Alshon Jeffery could all find new homes this spring with teams eager to get a head start on a winning campaign.

Some of these contracts will make total sense. Others will leave what looks like a perfect fit on the table to sign with teams that look like anything but an ideal landing spot. Here are the deals SB Nation’s NFL writers want to see most.

Eddie Lacy to the Patriots

LeGarrette Blount had a major role in the Patriots’ last two Super Bowl seasons, but while he scored a league-leading 18 touchdowns in 2016, he also ran for just 3.9 yards per carry and will be 31 years old next season. Even though the team can likely bring him back to the fold on a one-year contract — especially considering how poorly his last deal outside of New England went — Bill Belichick is no doubt considering a contingency plan at tailback.

The Patriots don’t typically spend money on runners, but Lacy’s unimpressive last two seasons in Green Bay have driven his value down. New England has a pair of effective backs under contract in Dion Lewis and James White, but neither is the pile-driving, hard-nosed runner that Lacy is at 235+ pounds. Lacy is more than just a dynamic ball carrier, though; he caught 77 passes his first two seasons — years in which he also ran for more than 1,100 yards.

Lacy brings injury concerns, but at just 26 years old he could be set to bounce back and regain the form that made him a Pro Bowler as a rookie. He may not fit the Patriots’ typical free agent standard, but if the price is right he could be an upgrade, or an insurance policy, for an aging Blount. With just $3 million invested in tailbacks for 2017, the time could be right for New England to make an investment.

Likelihood of signing: Low. Both Lacy’s agent and Green Bay head coach Mike McCarthy have told reporters the Packers are interested in bringing the burly runner back. If his price is low enough for New England to pounce, it’s likely low enough for the Pack to retain him.

Logan Ryan to the Packers

Green Bay strikes back at New England’s theoretical swiping of Lacy by upgrading a position of dire need in 2017. The Packers ranked dead last in passing yards allowed last fall and 27th in opponent passer rating thanks to a secondary ravaged by injuries. Veteran Sam Shields is now gone, and while young players like Quinten Rollins and Damarious Randall have potential, Green Bay needs a steady presence to tie the team’s coverage together.

Enter Ryan, who started 27 games the past two seasons while recording 25 defensed passes in that span. The 2013 third-round pick teamed with All-Pros Malcolm Butler and Devin McCourty to form a top-10 passing defense -- though the Patriots were rarely tested by high-level quarterbacks last fall. The free agent corner hasn’t missed a game in his NFL career, which would be a boon for a Green Bay team that only had one cornerback, Ladarius Gunter, play in all 16 regular season contests last fall.

Likelihood of signing: Medium. The Packers rarely make a big splash in free agency, but have rarely been as deficient at one position as they were at corner last fall. Ryan will command a big salary as one of the best free agent defensive backs on the market, but at 27 years old, a big investment could be worthwhile.

Mike Glennon to the Bears

Three quarterbacks split the starting quarterback job for the Bears and they collectively threw 19 touchdowns with 19 interceptions. The most disappointing of the trio was Jay Cutler, once anointed the franchise quarterback in Chicago after the team made a big trade to acquire him from the Denver Broncos. But that deal never worked out as planned, and Cutler’s days with the Bears are almost certainly through.

Glennon may seem like an odd solution to that problem, considering his 5-13 record as a starter, but some believe he’s ready to be a big-time player for a team. His former teammate, Dan Orlovsky, said that after spending time in practices and games with Glennon he believes the 2013 third-round pick is a “starting QB all day long.”

And considering the price range Glennon is expected to be at, NFL teams believe the 6’7 quarterback is a starter, too. Charles Robinson of Yahoo expects Glennon to receive a contract that averages about $14 to $15 million per year. While that sounds like a ludicrous amount for the Bears to pony up, it wouldn’t even put him in the top 20 highest-paid quarterbacks in the NFL.

Giving Glennon a deal similar to the one that Brock Osweiler received in 2016 could give the Bears a promising, 27-year-old option at quarterback who doesn’t break the bank and could receive an even richer deal if he proves his worth.

Likelihood of signing: High. There’s already a lot of smoke and the rumors could be the sign of a real fire. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport says the Bears plan to make a “major push” for Glennon and Chicago is the quarterback’s “preferred spot.” There aren’t many teams that need a quarterback more than the Bears, and the team has more than $50 million in cap space to make the deal happen.

Terrelle Pryor re-signing with the Browns

Pryor was the Browns’ leading receiver last year, and he made it clear that he wants to remain in Cleveland and help Hue Jackson improve the team. That’s why it’s a little perplexing that the Browns appear to be willing to let him walk in free agency.

It wasn’t just that Pryor was Cleveland’s top receiver, racking up 1,007 yards and four touchdowns in 2016. No other receiving option on the roster came close to Pryor’s productivity last season. Tight end Gary Barnidge was closest, with 612 receiving yards and two touchdowns.

Pryor did this in a season that featured six different quarterbacks throwing passes for the Browns because of consistent injuries. One of the six was Pryor, who completed five of nine passes for 41 yards.

A sticking point for Cleveland was Pryor’s asking price, which is around $10 million per year. The Browns were reportedly willing to pay about $8 million per year, but they also have about $102 million in cap space available. Being stingy in this situation makes little sense.

Likelihood of signing: Medium. It makes perfect sense for the Browns to get something done with Pryor, but they had the opportunity to tag him or apply the transition tag, and they didn’t do any of those things. They shouldn’t let Pryor walk over $2 million per year, but as Mocking the Draft’s Dan Kadar noted, losing Pryor would be “a pretty Browns-ass way to start the new league year.”

Adrian Peterson to the Raiders

Maybe the biggest name on the market, Peterson isn’t going to get paid like it — not at age 32 with a lengthy injury history that includes a knee surgery which sidelined him for most of 2016. He’s shown superhuman recovery ability in the past, but there’s no doubt that the end of Peterson’s career is on the horizon.

If he ends up leaving the Vikings, he’ll likely want it to be with a contender with an offensive line much better than the Minnesota’s, which made way for the NFL’s worst rushing attack in 2016.

The Raiders can be that team. Prior to a whole bunch of injuries that derailed Oakland’s 2016 season, the team was a Super Bowl contender and boasted one of the most intimidating and powerful offensive lines. If Peterson has anything left in the gas tank, the Raiders’ inexperienced running back corps could use the addition.

Likelihood of signing: Medium. Peterson reportedly likes the idea of playing for the Raiders, but he’s really not calling the shots at this point. It will depend on if the Raiders believe there’s tread left on the tires and if the price is right, although Oakland should have no problem picking up any amount.

Alshon Jeffery to the Eagles

Despite missing a good portion of 2015 due to injury and four games in 2016 thanks to a PED suspension, Jeffery could still have a long future in the NFL. The wide receiver spent his first five seasons in the league with the Chicago Bears and a less than ideal — and reliable — quarterback situation. Even still, he was able to secure two consecutive 1,000-yard seasons and a roster spot in the 2013 Pro Bowl.

The Eagles are in a precarious situation offensively and need to bring in some young talent around quarterback Carson Wentz. With current targets that include Nelson Agholor and Dorial Green-Beckham, Philadelphia had the fifth-highest drop rate in the league last season — not to mention an aging and injured group of running backs. While the team will add some depth during the NFL Draft, they still need to make some moves in free agency to revive the roster.

Jeffery played under the franchise tag in 2016, worth $14.599 million. And while he’ll likely be looking for similar money moving forward, that would still be in the Eagles’ price range and a good bailout option for Wentz downfield.

Likelihood of signing: Medium. Jeffery could benefit from having a steady quarterback to work with, and Wentz desperately needs some dependability at the receiver position. The Eagles reportedly tried to trade for Jeffery midseason in 2016 to avoid a free agency bidding war, but didn’t end up coming close to a deal.