#the love for the cast characters and the setting!!

[idkdudethisisntpermanent]

Blurred Lines

jenna ortega x female reader

summary: You and Jenna, best friends and actresses, are cast as lovers for the first time, tasked with bringing a romantic chemistry to the screen. But as scenes unfold, the lines between acting and reality begin to blur.

word count: 2.1k

a/n: This was actually the first Jenna story I wrote!

————

What are you thinking so hard about? Jenna asks plopping down in the director's chair next to you.

After being best friends for years, you and Jenna have finally gotten the opportunity to work alongside each other on your latest film Lovestruck, a romance film where you two are playing the lead couple.

You. You wanted to say, but you were 8 years too deep in the friendzone to truly say what was on your mind. "Just the next scene," you smile at her tiredly.

Her eyes light up, "I've been looking forward to this scene for so long!  God just look at that view Y/n!  I'm so jealous of Lalya," she sighs, referencing the character she's playing in the film. "Just who wouldn't love to be confessed to here," your co-star finishes looking over at you with sparkles in her eyes.

When your manager gave you the script for this project, you could only laugh at how much the story paralleled your situation with Jenna.  You were playing Quinn, a girl who has been in love with her friend for years, but couldn't do anything about it.  Eventually the mixed signals and watching the one she loves be with others got too much, and Quinn angrily confesses by the lakefront during a sunset; the view Jenna was fawning over just a minute ago.

You could only wish that the aftermath of any potential confession of yours could resemble the one in this film. Layla ends up reciprocating Quinn's feelings and it's a happy ending.

Unfortunately the universe isn't as perfect as an angsty teen romance, and is rather a sick minded individual who gets a kick out of meddling with people's lives. For years you and Jenna have auditioned for the same projects to play friends, enemies, even sister's but why is it that the one project both of you manage to land is this one?

"Y/n/n!"

Startled, you look over at the girl who's been trying to get your attention for all this time while you zoned out. "Y-yeah sorry. You're right. It would be a dream to be confessed to here."

She hums and stands up before placing a hand on your shoulder looking intently into your eyes, "I'll see you on set after the break, hope you bring your A game Y/l/n," she winks with a smile before walking off.

Jenna walks over to Andrew another actor working the film and immediately starts laughing and touching his arm in conversation.  You couldn't help but roll your eyes, but you also couldn't tear your eyes away from the scene that always happened to unfold in front of you.

It hurts you beyond belief watching your best friend interact flirtatiously with other people. Having to hear about rumoured boyfriends and especially having her not deny them. The mixed signals you got from the girl wasn't any help either, like what was that hand on the shoulder just now? The wink?!

You walk away trying your very best to calm yourself down before your big scene. Jenna frowned as she watched you walk away and towards your personal trailer.

————

The director calls everyone to set and has prepared to shoot the big confession scene. The crew helps you and Jenna find your places and fixes up any imperfections in your clothing. As you stand before your co-star you're hit with a strong wave of emotions. The 20 minutes you spent in the trailer wasn't much help, and now as you watch Jenna who is looking at you curiously, you make a realization.

You may never confess to Jenna. How could you? This friendship was the greatest you've ever had and you were aware of the fact that friendships like this one, don't come easy. It would be insanely stupid of you to confess your love and single-handedly lose a gem like Jenna completely. The more you thought about it, the interactions between Andrew, the rumours with Percy, and countless other boys, the more helpless you felt. There was no way she could feel the same.

"You okay?" the gentle voice you've come to love speaks.

You're silent.  She looks at you with her big doe eyes that you've come to love, but at this very moment you hate so much.  The concern in her eyes is pushing you off the edge.  You hated it.  You hated how her caring nature has only gotten you falling tenfolds harder. Why does she have to be good to me, why does she torture me like this you ask yourself.

"Y/n/n."

You look away, refusing to look into her eyes, scared of the emotions you'll find in them, scared of finding out how much more you could fall in love with her in this moment, so you settle on the view of the sunset.

The director begins a 10 second countdown to cue in the start of the scene and you're still looking at the sunset pondering. This may be the only time that you'll ever speak the words of a confession to Jenna. Yes, to her it'll be you performing the script, Quinn speaking these words, but she doesn't have to know that you will mean all the words you speak with every fibre of your being.

A light smile plays on your lips as you think about the performance you're about to give and how it should get you nominated for all the acting awards in existence. The lines of Quinn and Y/n have blurred, and you are playing no character other then yourself.

You won't be acting.

"Action!"

The scene begins and you start marching away from Jenna like the script told you to.

"Wait- Stop!" Jenna says frantically grabbing on to your arm.You roll your eyes, shrugging her off and continue walking.

"Why do you insist on hurting me?" She shouts, following the script.  You stop walking and pause.One beat. Two beat. Just like the script instructed. You turn around, glaring at her with more intensity than the script demands, "Me? Hurt you? That's rich coming from you."

Jenna hesitates, caught off guard by the seriousness in your voice, but quickly recovers, staying in character.

"Yes you asshole! I invite you to the lake house, and all you do is ignore me!"  Groaning into your hands, you speak your next line.  "Layla. You're joking right?"

"No Q, I'm not.  Do you even care about me?  It's my fucking birthday, and you're acting like I'm not even here, sulking in one of your moods and embarrassing me in front of my friends!"

"Then what am I?"

"What?"

You laugh, running your hands through your hair, struggling to keep your emotions in check.

"If those are your little fucking friends, then what am I to you?"

Jenna acted taken aback like she was supposed to, "My friend? My best friend? I don't know that's not the point! Wh-"

You cut her off, "But it is the point!"

You break the script.

You blink hard, letting the tears that were building up before the scene fall down your face.

Jenna had a look in her eyes that you've never seen before it was confusion and something else you couldn't pinpoint. Being the amazing actress that she is, she improvs her next line, so the scene can get back on track.

"Here you go again not wanting to address the real issue," she rolls her eyes.

You decide to stick to the script with tears streaming down your face. "I can't keep doing this anymore Layla," the words carrying the weight of years of hidden feelings. "Watching you with them, pretending I'm fine when I'm not. I can't just be your friend anymore."

Jenna's eyes widen, her character momentarily forgotten as she registers the raw emotion in your voice. "Quinn... what are you saying?"

You take a deep breath, letting it all out, the pain, the frustration, the love. You're about to do it and you hope that just for a second your performance will blur the lines for Jenna. "I'm saying that I'm in love with you, and I have been for a long time. And it kills me every time I see you with someone else, knowing I can't be the one to make you smile like that."

The silence that follows is deafening. You can feel your heart pounding in your chest, waiting for her response, both in character and out of it. The director's voice seems far away as he doesn't call cut, letting the scene play out naturally. For a moment you start to think that Jenna has forgotten her line, she's supposed to say, "For how long?"

But she goes off script.

She takes a step forward so she's only a foot away from you and takes your trembling hands (that you didn't even realize were shaking) in her own, an attempt to calm you down.

Jenna, as Layla, steps closer, her own tears glistening in the fading light. "Why didn't you tell me sooner, Quinn? Why did you let me go on thinking we were just friends?"

Your voice cracks as you respond, "Because I was scared. Scared of losing you, scared of ruining what we have. But I can't keep pretending anymore."

Jenna reaches up, gently cupping your face with her hands, her touch warm and soft. "You idiot," she whispers, her voice trembling. "How could you not know? How could you think for even a second that I didn't feel the same way?"

Her words hit you like a ton of bricks, and for a moment you forget that you're on set, that this is all supposed to be a performance. It feels too real, too raw.

"T-then what about everything I see? All those guys?" You say staying true to the script, but you couldn't hold your tongue and add, "The rumours? The interactions I always see?"

Jenna clearly seems taken aback by your addition to the script, and opens her mouth and closes it, at a loss for words.

You can't help yourself and continue, "Do you have any idea what it's like to watch you with other guys? To see you flirt with everyone else and feel like I'm just...invisible?"

Jenna's heart races as she realizes the depth of your feelings, the lines between the script and reality blurring completely.

Jenna continues, the rest of the scene now being pure improv. With tears in her eyes, "I wasn't trying to hurt you...Q. I wanted you to notice me. To see me the way I see you.

You freeze, your heart pounding in your chest. Jenna's voice is trembling, her gaze locked on yours, and for the first time you realize she's not just playing a role. She's confessing, right here, in front of everyone.

"I've been in love with you for so long," you get out through tears, "But all I've ever seen is you with them... like I don't even exist."

The shorter girl steps closer, dropping the last remnants of her character. Her hands reach up to cup your face, her touch gentle and filled with unspoken emotion.

"I didn't know how to tell you, Quinn. I was scared, so I tried to make you jealous, provoke you into action, hoping you'd finally do something. I-I was hoping you'd see how much I care. How much I...love you.

Your breath catches, your heart pounds in your ears, and you break character completely not caring anymore, in a trembling voice you ask, "You really feel the same way?"

Jenna nods, tears spilling over as she smiles, a mixture of relief and vulnerability in her expression.

"Yes, Q. I've always felt this way. I was just too scared to admit it... but not anymore."

You blink, struggling to process what's happening. This wasn't in the script—none of this was. But it's real, and it's happening now.

You smile through the tears, "Then let's stop pretending, Jenna. No more games... I'm yours if you'll have me.

Jenna lets out a small, tearful laugh, pulling you into a tight embrace. The cameras are still rolling despite your name drop, but none of that matters anymore. She pulls back just enough to look at you, her eyes shining with a love that's no longer hidden.

"I've always been yours. Always."

In that moment, you lean in, pressing your lips to hers in a kiss that's filled with all the years of longing and love you've both kept hidden. When you finally pull away, you're both breathless, tears of happiness mingling with the raw emotion of the scene.

The director calls "Cut," but neither of you moves, still lost in each other's eyes. For a moment, the set is silent, the crew unsure if they've just witnessed the best acting of your careers or something far more real. But you both know the truth—and it's better than any script that could have been written.

[girlfromthecrypt]

I haven't posted to this account very much (or at all, really), so I figured I'd update you guys on the state of Such Happy Campers and Press Play. I don’t want to talk about the incident that led to me putting SHC on ice because it still rather upsets me, but honestly, I think it was a good decision. I was grieving the “loss” of SHC for a while, but I can't help but believe I made the right call. Continuing on under the circumstances would have drained me and likely taken me right down the road to writer's block.

Furthermore, and in hindsight, I find writing Press Play a lot more fulfilling right now. All my life, I've only ever written horror, so Press Play has been a wonderful breath of fresh air. It feels cathartic writing about struggles I myself have experienced, and it’s so easy to write about music. I love music so much, and I didn't realize how fun it could be to combine this with my passion for writing. You might have been able to tell from the sheer difference in word count between Press Play and SHC, but it's been so much easier working on this somehow. Also, I do believe SHC wasn't all it could have been. I only want to put out my best work, and I don't think SHC was quite on par with Press Play.

But what about SHC, you may wonder. Or you may not, but I'll address it anyhow. I have recently had an idea for what I might turn the original SHC into. It's only a vague outline right now and I won't turn it into anything more until I'm done with Press Play (I have learned that I can't really write several IFs at once, I'm not C.C. Hill), but I figured I'd let you know that the SHC characters aren't gone forever. My idea would involve the entire SHC cast, though some names/appearances/personalities may undergo changes. Also, I might exclude Anita because she was, admittedly, my least favorite to write and might not fit in with the new setting. Other than that, the IF would explore an interesting alternative to the SHC narrative— for example, the character equivalent to Basil Laurier would actually be a practicing lawyer in this one. Another prominent change would be the inclusion of Sawyer Wright-Garcia as a full RO. They’re the only one I actually have a clear mental image for as to where their story would go, and it is… nuts.

Without spoiling too much, the plot and setting would be very different. It'd be horror, except it'd start out very unassuming, light-hearted and sitcom-y, only to then spiral. I feel like I'd enjoy causing that kind of whiplash. Anyhow, that's that. I hope that if you liked and perhaps miss SHC, this post helped at least a little bit.

[idonotbitemythumbatyou]

transcript:

Sidding (sic) El Fadil Enjoys Controversy

Deep space nine has been everything Siddig El Fadil expected and more, mostly because the young actor expected absolutely nothing at all.

"It’s really the first thing I’ve ever done in terms of serious serial drama work in America so I didn’t know what to expect." Says "DS9's" doctor Julian Bashir as he relaxes in his trailer on the paramount pictures lot Before the start of a long day.

"'Deep Space Nine' is setting the norm for me, this sort of very surreal norm" he says in soft British tones.

"It’s not a real norm, you know. I’m going to be spoiled and screwed up when I leave this show because I didn’t know what I should expect. It has all been very weird and wonderful for me."

Since "DS9" debuted in January 1993 the character of Bashir has wielded a lightning rod of fan criticism.

Bashir is a brilliant interspecies doctor, fresh from Starfleet Medical Academy, but he’s also young brash, naïve, arrogant, overly gung ho and experienced, and often quite annoying – traits not commonly displayed by any trek character much less a series regular

when the show began, Dr. Bashir was a bit of a nuisance. He had a mad crush on Dax (Terry Farrell). He always seemed to be getting in the way of O’Brien (Colm Meaney), and Kira (Nana Visitor). And he was frequently at the receiving end of Stern fatherly advice from commander Sisko (Avery Brooks).

Though Bashir has done some growing up, fans are still in the process of getting used to the character.

For his part El Fadil, who turned 28 in late November, enjoys the controversy.

"I love it," he says with a big smile. "It was a completely intellectual choice to do it the way we have.

"when I’m at conventions. Some people say hey this guy is really a jerk. What are you going to do about it?'

"Do you know any jerks? you probably know one or two and now the TV world knows one too

"if he’s a jerk" El Fadil says, "he’s not a terminal case, not a hopeless jerk

"He’ll grow grow as he learns, like all of us, and I’ll have the unusual privilege as an actor to make that happen over the years."

A handsome dark-skinned man with jet-black hair, El Fadil was born in the Sudan, Africa, and moved with his family at age 2 to London, England, where he was reared.

After a traditional British education and a year at university college at London El Fadil worked at a men’s clothing shop for two years before pursuing a career as a stage director.

That, in tern, led to acting lessons.

Not long after, he landed a role as a Palestinian in a British six-part miniseries called "The Big Battalions" (1991) which has yet to air in the United States.

A short while later he was cast in a secondary role as King Faisel in another British television production called "A Dangerous Man: Lawrence After Arabia." (1991).

Rick Berman, the executive producer of Next Generation and co-creator (with Michael Pillar) of Deep Space Nine happened to see "A Dangerous Man" on PBS at the time he was creating "DS9" and at first considered El Fadil for the role of commander Sisko

Then, when Berman discovered that the actor was just 26 years old, he invited El Fadil to fly in from London to audition for the part of Bashir

The rest is "Trek" history

"It has been a tremendous opportunity for me," El Fadil says with enthusiasm. "Our cast is really terrific. I love Los Angeles. I’m dating someone very special and I have made a few good friends.

"All in all, I’m having a really great time"

December 1993

[queenshelby]

The Peaky Role (Part Three)

Pairing: Cillian Murphy x Reader

Warning: Age Gap, Best Friend's Dad

Several weeks later...

For weeks, you had been rehearsing lines in front of the mirror, the images of your character swirling in your mind. Learning your lines wasn't difficult for you but the weight of the role pressed on your shoulders.

Your character was not like you. She was outgoing and bold, confident enough to challenge Thomas Shelby in ways you could only dream of off-screen. She was also cunning and sly, weaving her way through the grit and charm of the Peaky Blinders' world.

You, on the other hand, were shy and reserved in nature but, then again, so was Cillian, whom you had known for many years now as your father's friend and your best friend's father.

He was an introvert, just like you and, if he can pull off a role like Thomas Shelby, then so could you, even if the method took a little extra courage.

After unpacking your belongings in the small, modern aparthotel room in Liverpool, not far from set, the weight of anticipation settled in your chest. You glanced at the clock on the wall—time ticked closer to your induction and costume fitting.

You had a shower quickly and grabbed a bite to eat at the small café downstairs, the aroma of fresh coffee swirling around you. Each sip brought a mix of comfort and anxiety—fueling your resolve while your mind raced with thoughts of the approaching filming.

Eventually, you were picked up by a Margot, who was one of the set assistants. Only Cillian had his own assistant and Margot pretty much looked after everyone else in the cast.

Her energy buzzed in the cramped car as you made your way through the city, past factories and quiet streets that would soon be transformed into cinematic scenes.

“Are you ready for this?” Margot glanced at you through the rearview mirror, a playful smirk dancing on her lips.

“Ready as I'll ever be,” you replied, attempting to sound more confident than you felt.

Margot chuckled softly. “That’s the spirit! Just remember, the cameras love a little nervous energy. It makes everything more authentic.”

You nodded, though your stomach twisted into knots as a wave of apprehension washed over you. Stepping onto a set filled with crews and cameras always felt like jumping into the deep end without knowing how to swim.

Arriving at the studio, the place buzzed with life. Crew members hustled about, the chatter of directors and actors blending into a symphony of ceaseless energy. Y

"Lets get your costumes fitted first, then we’ll move onto the induction," Margot chirped, guiding you through the chaos.

As you walked past trailers and lights, you felt your heart race. Each step drew you closer to the heart of the production.

Inside the fitting room, racks of clothes hung like statues, waiting to take form on whoever wore them.

"Wow, these are quite revealing," you muttered, eyeing the delicate fabrics and elaborate designs of the costumes that would define your character.

But then again, the way your character dressed didn't suprise you. You were portraying a prostitute after all, and the wardrobe reflected that with its daring cuts and bold fabrics.

“Just wait until you see the whole look,” one of the dress makers said with a gleam in her eye. “You’re going to own it.”

With a hesitant smile, you stepped into the fitting area, surrounded by mirrors that reflected a multitude of yous, each one more nervous than the last.

“Let’s start with this,” the dressmaker offered, holding up a deep emerald green dress that seemed to shimmer under the bright lights.

“It’s stunning,” you breathed, imagining how it would embrace the curves of your body and the way it would flow as you moved.

“Let’s get you into it,” the dressmaker urged, practically bouncing on her toes in excitement.

As you changed, your hands shook slightly, both with nerves and anticipation. Sliding the fabric over your skin, you caught glimpses of yourself in the mirror—transformation flickered with every turn. The dress hugged your form in all the right ways , accentuating the contours of your waist and the length of your legs. You couldn’t help but smile, the thrill of seeing yourself as the character momentarily eclipsing your nerves.

“Absolutely breathtaking ,” the dressmaker exclaimed, stepping back to take in the full effect before pinning some needles into the fabric.

"Now, I will get this fixed up for your first scene while you get your hair and make-up done, Love," she said as she jotted down notes, her enthusiasm infectious.

You stepped out of the fitting room and into the adjacent space where stylists prepped the cast for filming. The scents of hairspray and makeup clung in the air like a veil, transforming the atmosphere into a creative whirlwind.

“Over here!” a stylist called out, waving you over. She had a warm smile and shoulder -length blond hair that bounced with her every movement.

"Name's Lucy," she introduced, pulling you into her orbit as she began examining your hair. “Let’s get ya ready, alright?"

You nodded and, much to your suprise, you hair was about to look a whole lot different than before. Lucy knelt beside you, her hands already beginning to assess the strands.

“You have gorgeous hair, but I think a darker shade will fit your character better,” she said, fingers weaving through your strands with the finesse of a painter choosing colors for a masterpiece.

“Are we thinking black or just a few shades darker?” you asked, trying to gauge the vision she had for you.

“Oh, we’ll go for a dark chocolate shade,” Lucy decided, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “It’ll deepen your features and give that sultry vibe your character needs.”

Once the dye settled in, you could already envision the striking contrast it would create against the deep green of your dress.

Lucy worked deftly, mixing hues and chatting effortlessly, drawing you into the whirlwind of her passion for her craft.

Once done, she started styling and pinning sections of your hair back into soft waves that cascaded delicately around your shoulders.

"The character needs to look approachable yet glamorous,” she instructed, her hands a flurry of activity and you simply nodded in agreement, not knowing what else to say.

Your make-up followed straight after, in a seamless transition, a rhythm now established as Lucy effortlessly transformed you into the embodiment of your character.

“Let’s emphasize those cheekbones,” she declared, brushing a warm blush across your skin with the precision of an artist applying the final touches to a canvas.

Finally, after what felt like hours of delicate adjustments and color choices, Lucy tilted your chin to face her, her eyes scrutinizing your look with a practiced gaze.

“Perfect. Just perfect,” she confirmed and you were stunned yourself.

“Wow, I hardly recognize myself,” you marveled as she handed you a mirror. Your heart raced at the reflection staring back at you—a woman, not a girl anymore.

The transformation felt surreal; the character you had been rehearsing now lived in front of you, daring and vibrant.

“Absolutely ready to take on the world,” Lucy said, grinning widely at her handiwork and, just as she began to tidy up the area, the doors swung open, and Cillian strode in, exuding the calm confidence that came with years on film sets.

"Holy moly,” Cillian exclaimed, his deep blue eyes widening as they landed on you.

You barely had time to react before he swept closer, inspecting the transformation with a mixture of admiration and curiosity.

"You look... different," he said, his brows lifting with genuine surprise.

You laughed, trying to shake off the nerves. “I think it helps when a small army of stylists attack you like this,” you joked, glancing over at Lucy, who was putting away her tools with a satisfied grin.

Cillian chuckled, before taking a seat next to you, knowing that it was his turn next.

"Well, the dark hair suits you, I think," he said, his voice steady but warm, as he leaned back in the chair.

“Thanks,” you replied shyly, brushing your hair behind your ear, suddenly conscious of every detail. The weight of his gaze made it hard to focus, every compliment feeling heavier today.

"Your hair suits you too," you murmured, glancing at the subtle gray streaks that framed his face, each one a testament to the man he had become over the years.

"You mean the grey?" he laughed, thinking you were mocking him.

“Yeah, it suits you,” you replied, gathering your courage. “You look distinguished. Thomas Shelby has never looked better.”

"Well the haircut is better this year. So that's probably it," he grinned, running a hand through his hair, settling into the banter. “No offence, Lucy," he added, glancing at the stylist, who laughed softly, waving it off.

"None taken. I just follow instructions," Lucy replied with a wink, stepping back to allow Cillian room to settle into the chair as the stylist approached him with an array of products.

"I see you later, on set," you said, offering him a wave as you rose to gather your things.

"Yes, see you shortly," Cillian replied, his eyes lingering on you for a moment longer, the warmth in his gaze wrapping around you like a familiar blanket.

As you stepped out into the bustling atmosphere of the studio, a sense of purpose ignited within you.

You had your induction now before reqturning to the dressmaker to get fitted out once more, in readiness for your first scene with Cillian in less than half an hour.

Going over your lines one more time, you settled into a quiet corner of the studio. The set buzzed with anticipation, and you could hear snippets of conversation as crew members moved about, adjusting lights and cameras. You pulled out your script, the pages slightly worn from your repeated reading. The words became a lifeline, grounding you in the chaos swirling around.

Then, your call came from the assistant director, cutting through the ambient noise like a siren.

You made your way on to the scene, where you would be alone with Cillian, except for the director and camera team of course.

The scene you had to play out was a flirtatious one set in a smoky but empty bar in London, the air thick with intrigue and whispered secrets.

Once on set, the atmosphere wrapped around you like a heavy cloak. The dim lighting contrasted sharply with the bright overhead lights that illuminated the set, casting long shadows that danced along the bar.

Cillian walked in, talking to the director as they both approached you. By this time, you were standing around like a lost puppy, simply waiting for instructions.

Cillian turned toward you, gently smiling. "Are you alright?" he asked with a knowing glance, his deep blue eyes searching yours.

“I think so,” you replied, smoothing down the fabric of your dress, suddenly conscious of the way it hugged your form. “Just a little nervous,” you admitted, feeling the warmth creep into your cheeks.

Cillian gave you a reassuring nod, a subtle camaraderie built through years of knowing each other exploding into a moment of understanding. “Everyone gets nervous. Even I do," he said, his tone steady and genuine. The director joined in, signaling for both of you to get into position.

“Alright, this is a new scene, and I want to capture the tension between you two,” the director explained, gesturing with his hands to illustrate his vision. “Cillian will approach you here at the bar and start a conversation," he explained. "Now, remember to maintain an electric connection. The minute you lock eyes, it’s going to be sizzling. Let it build, okay?”

You nodded, absorbing the direction, excitement intertwining with anxiety.

As the director stepped back, the crew shifted the lights, casting a warm glow over the set that would soon encapsulate your characters.

“Ready and action," the director’s voice echoed through the space, shattering the tension as Cillian slid effortlessly into character.

He strolled toward you with a swagger, the confidence of Thomas Shelby sewn into every movement and the energy of the scene pulsed through the air like a live wire.

“Mind if I join you?” he asked, leaning against the bar, an easy smile playing on his lips as his eyes locked onto yours.

“Depends,” you replied with a teasing lilt, mirroring his casual stance, running a fingertip along the edge of your glass.

“On what?” Cillian’s voice dropped into a low, velvety tone, his gaze steady.

“On what kind of trouble you’re bringing with you,” you replied, raising an eyebrow and daring him to match your playfulness. Cillian smirked, leaning in slightly closer, the air around you charged with the tension of unspoken possibilities.

“Only the kind that gets people talking,” he purred, a glint of mischief dancing in his eyes as he leaned closer, drawing you into the magnetic pull of his character. "My name is Thomas Shelby and you would have heard of me taking over your mistresses' establishments," he explained with a confident tilt to his head, his voice smooth as the whiskey he would undoubtedly claim later.

“I’ve heard a few rumors,” you replied, tilting your head knowingly as well, allowing a playful smirk to escape as you feigned nonchalance, after which you adapted easily and the conversation flew almost effortlessly between your characters.

Unfortunatly, when the scene became more heated, an unexpected wave of nerves washed over you. The flirty banter felt electrifying, but as Cillian leaned closer, nearing the end of the scene, the reality of the situation sunk in.

He reached up and caressed your cheek, a gesture meant to convey both intimacy and intrigue. His fingertips sparked warmth against your skin, sending your heart racing and, almost instantly, you forgot your next line.

A cold tide of panic washed over you, the words slipping from your mind as you stared up into his piercing blue eyes. The world blurred around you, leaving only the weight of his hand on your cheek and the warmth emanating from him. You could feel the rest of the crew watching, the camera zooming in, the tension thickening in the air as silence enveloped the set.

“Cut!” the director’s voice sliced through the moment, pulling you back to reality. You blinked, shaking off the dizziness that had clouded your thoughts.

"I am so sorry," you stammered, your cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

Cillian stepped back, a knowing smile on his lips. “It’s alright. It happens to the best of us," he said, his tone light-hearted, though his eyes held a glimmer of understanding.

“Let’s take that again,” the director advised, a kind smile on his face as he stepped forward. “Remember, you’re confident. It ’s all about the connection. Let it flow naturally.”

You took a deep breath, nodding as you pushed your nerves aside.

Cillian’s gaze softened, comforting yet piercing at the same time as you took a deep breath, brushing the warmth of the moment aside.

“Ready when you are,” he said, a subtle challenge lacing his tone as he squared his shoulders, slipping back into character with an ease that set your own nerves at ease. The familiarity of him grounded you, and you inhaled deeply.

The director signaled for everyone to reset. As the crew shuffled around you, adjusting equipment and softly murmuring between themselves, Cillian stood by, a steady presence that made your heart race for all the right reasons.

“Just remember, you’ve got this,” he whispered, his voice low enough for only you to hear, the warmth in his tone a soft balm against your lingering nerves.

“Thanks, I needed that,” you replied, your smile finding its way to the surface, brightening your expression as you steadied yourself for another go at the scene.

The atmosphere shifted as the director set the stage again. Lights adjusted, cameras refocused, and the crew settled into a silent rhythm, anticipation hanging in the air like the haze of smoke from the imaginary bar you inhabited.

“Action!” the director called out, his voice echoing through the dimly lit set, snapping everyone into a focused intensity.

Cillian moved towards you with deliberate ease, the air around the two of you thickening with anticipation as you picked up on the last ten seconds of the scene as instructed.

This time, you remembered your line as Cillian engaged with you, leaning slightly closer than before while, again, caressing your cheek.

Just as directed, his thumb then moved over your your lips with a gentle touch, igniting something electric between you.

Your heart raced as his thumb brushed against your lips, the warmth spreading through the air like wildfire.

You reached for his hand that was caressing you holding it in place before opening your mouth, just as directed.

“Your kind of trouble sounds about right,” you teased, feigning confidence that masked the flutter in your chest.

Cillian’s eyes darkened, the playful banter morphing into something deeper, which is when your tongue slipped out, brushing against his thumb almost instinctively.

"Hmm," Cillian murmured, his voice dropping an octave, a mix of surprise and intrigue flickering in his gaze as he processed the unexpected intimacy of your gesture.

Your actions were scripted, and yet, he did not expect the spark that flared between you, igniting a tension that shifted the dynamic of the scene entirely.

You too registered the moment caught between the lines, the air charged with emotions that had little to do with acting.

“Cut!” The director’s voice rang out, sharp and firm, breaking the spell that wove around you both. The silence that followed felt heavier than before, the weight of the moment lingering like smoke after a fire as the crew began to shuffle about, exchanging glances as the tension dissipated into the air.

You blinked, momentarily dazed, as Cillian stepped back, processing the unexpected intensity of the moment.

The director hurried over, a smile spreading across his face. “That was great! Just the right amount of tension. I felt the connection," he said and, much to his own disapproval, Cillian felt it too. He felt a connection that surpassed simple acting.

“Thanks, I think we were both just in the moment,” you said, somewhat shyly glancing at Cillian, trying to measure the charge that still lingered between you, searching his eyes for any hint of what he felt.

Cillian shifted, a thoughtful expression crossing his features as he ran a hand through his hair, the gray strands glimmering under the studio lights.

“Yes," he then simply agreed , his voice steady, yet a flicker of something deeper danced behind his eyes.

Tags:

@sunbeamseas @saint-ackerman @oatmealisweird @naxxsstuff @amanda08319 @r-m-cidnah @elysiannook @cillshot @infireddabdab @tastycakee @harrysbestiee @lilybabe22 @adalynlowell @henrywintersdearestgirl @ietss @thatgirlthatreadswattpad @ryiamarie @axionn

@nela-cutie @futurecorps3 @delishen @nosebleeds-247 @thirteenis-myluckynumber @gills-lounge @hjmalmed @lost-fantasy @tiredkitten @sidechrisporn @smallsoulunknown @charqing-qing @hopefulinlove @aporiasposts @shycrybaby @me-and-your-husband @hjmalmed @lacontroller1991 @galxydefender @aporiasposts

@galxydefender @hunnibearrr @saint-ackerman @lunyyx @gentlemonsterjennie1 @ihavealotoffandomssorry @nadloves @lost-fantasy @nolucesn@mcavoy-girl @hjmalmed @bloodybagels @obeyme4life @richiesgroupie @blushykiss @tatumrileyslover @teawithsatanx @orijanko @rhaenyra4ever @xcinnamonmalfoyx @budugu @nadloves @kmc1989 @bloodybagels @obeyme4life @richiesgroupie @smailaway @sophiaaguirred @blondie-22 @hagarsays @leighla3 @meadows5 @randomcreator-09

[bimbo-baggins17]

Coming Home: Leon Kennedy

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CW: MDNI!! noncon, bootworship, implications of stalking, possible minor re4 spoilers?, mentions of blood, cum, afab anatomy, no use of protection, lmk if I forget anything else. You are responsible for your own media consumption

AN: Eeee my first time writing on here for a character that isn’t played by Hayden Christensen!! Not proofread! Likes, reblogs, and follows are always appreciated! Hope you enjoy! <3

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The gravel crunches under Leon’s heavy boots as he makes his way up your driveway, mumbling under his breath. The last mission had too many close calls. Way too many. He couldn’t shake the feeling of almost dying multiple times.

That’s why he’s here, trudging up your front steps and digging his lock picking tool out of his pocket, still muttering to himself. Originally his plan was to keep an eye on you from a distance until he saw the most perfect opportunity to reveal himself. But again, being so close to death, having that parasite forced inside of him, his only thought was you. He knew what he had to do when he got home.

The lock clicks and he pushes the door open, stepping inside and breathing in the familiar scent. Your scent.

Usually Leon steps through your place slowly, admiring each little trinket you owned, every picture you had on the walls but this was not the case. He stomps through like he lives there, he knew the layout well. He welcomes himself to your fridge, taking a beer off the shelf and heading to your living room where he plops down on your recliner. Letting out a long sigh, he pops the tab, really he prefer bottled beer but beggars can’t be choosers. Maybe he could convince you to get his favorite next time.

You’re just getting home, exhausted from work and planning on taking a nice hot bath to help unwind. You slip your shoes off at the door before setting your bag and keys down on your counter. But then you hear it, the faint hum of voices from your tv. Surely you turned it off before you left this morning, right?

You make your way into your living room and come to abrupt halt seeing a man sitting in your recliner. Your heartbeat instantly picks up, hammering like a rabbit’s in your chest. “Uh..”

“It’s about time you’re home.” He huffs, polishing off the last bit of his beer.

“What are you doing in my house?”

Leon sighs, “God, I missed seeing your pretty face.” He responds completely ignoring the question, looking up at you again, the tv casting a glow on your face that made you seem even more ethereal to him.

That only serves to confuse you further. You didn’t know him. “Who are you??”

He just shakes his head, his eyes tracing over every inch of you once more. Oh how he’d missed you, and loved being able to see every inch of you up close in person. Not just from a distance or through a screen. “It doesn’t matter,” he stands up and your eyes follow him. He practically towers over you where you stand.

Your body starts to tremble slightly from his intimidating presence. “You need to leave.” You attempt to keep your voice from wavering with fear.

Leon tuts and shakes his head, “Now why would I do that, sweetheart? I just got here.” He reaches out and caresses your cheek gently with the backs of his fingers.

Immediately you bat his hand away which earns a growl of frustration from him. He pulls his hand back, clenching it into a fist, “That wasn’t very nice.” He mutters.

You scoff in disbelief, “I don’t care, you’re in my home. I’m calling the police.”

His eyes narrow as he watches you reach for your phone. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” He warns.

Ignoring his warning, you pull it out, shaky hands trying to pull up the emergency call button.

Easily he closes the small distance between you both and yanks the device from your hand, slipping it into his pocket. “Nope none of that. Can’t have the police ruining our fun before it starts.”

You swallow thickly past the lump forming in your throat as you stare at him. In a split decision, you take off towards the front door. Leon isn’t surprised, rather annoyed. He lets out a long sigh, “I can’t just get one moment of peace.” He grumbles before taking off after you.

His boots thunder against the floor behind you, quickly gaining on you. The door is locked and you know you wouldn’t be able to undo it in time before he caught you so you quickly turn to your kitchen. Maybe you could grab something to defend yourself with and buy some more time.

You scramble to pick up a knife out of the knife block on your kitchen island. Easily there’s about 5 feet between you now. Leon sees you with the knife held out to him from across the granite top and he chuckles.

“What? You think you’re gonna stick me with that?” He clicks his tongue, “You can do much better than that silly little thing.” To prove a point he reaches down to the knife holster on his leg and pulls out his hunting knife, flipping it into the air and catching it to prove a point. “Here. I’ll even give it to ya.” He mocks, sliding it across the countertop to you.

What was going on? Shakily you reach for it and hold it, the weight feeling foreign to you.

“There ya go. Much better, yeah?” He slowly starts to step around the counter. Each step he takes towards you, you take one back, making him circle you.

“Stay back.” You warn, the blade still pointed in his direction despite your shaky limbs.

He laughs again, “You know, you’re cute when you threaten me but I’m honestly growing tired of this rather quickly. I just got back from an exhausting mission, so why don’t you do me a favor and just cut the tough girl act, mkay? Put the knife down and just come here.”

“You’re insane!”

He tuts and shakes his head once again at you, giving you a mock pout, “Insulting me? That’s not very nice.” He then lunges towards you but you quickly (and stupidly) throw the knife at him instead of stabbing. It thankfully connects but just barely, nicking his cheek by his eye. “Ow, you little bitch.” He seethes, hand reaching up to dab at the blood already coming out.

You see your opening and go for it, taking off towards the door again in a full sprint. This only makes him more upset.

You reach the door and as your going for the lock he catches up to you, one hand gripping into your hair and shoving your head to hit against it, “I risked my life and this is the thanks I get??” Leon tightens the grip in your hair and throws you down onto the floor. “Ungrateful bitch.” He spits the words out, wiping at the blood on his cheek with the back of his hand. “Couldn’t just play nice, could you?”

Leon grabs you by the ankles and drags you across the floor back to your livingroom. You try to dig your nails into the ground, attempting to claw away. Anything. But it’s no use. He presses one of his boots against your back, keeping you pinned to the ground. He bends down close to your ear to whisper into it. “I’m feeling rather generous tonight so I’ll let you make it up to me and maybe, just maybe, I’ll go easy on ya.”

What did he mean?

He takes his foot off your back and brings it down right in front of your face, “Kiss it.” He instructs simply.

Your eyebrows pinch together, “Wha-“ you try to sit up but he quickly stops that, bringing his other foot to your back once again, pinning you down more firmly against the ground.

“Kiss. It. My shoe. Show me you’re sorry.”

When you don’t immediately jump to do so, he adds more pressure, forcing the air from your lungs. It was a silent threat. Hesitantly, you stretch your neck out to be able to reach the toe of his boot, pressing your lips hesitantly to it.

He tsks, “You can do better than that, sweetheart.”

Fearing retaliation, you try to add more enthusiasm as you press more kisses to the leather of his shoe.

“There we go. Not so hard, hm?” He praises, “Could use a little work but I’ll let it slide this time.”

The boot is pulled off your back and you swallow thickly, turning your head to look over your shoulder at his looming figure. Your whole body was shaking. Was that all he wanted?

Before you can say anything, he’s hoisting you up off the floor and placing you on your feet, “Up you go.”

“What..what are you gonna do to me?”

Your question is ignored as he nudges you down the hall towards your bedroom. Your footsteps are anything less than graceful, stumbling and bracing yourself against the wall for support as he keeps shoving you.

Leon lets out a breath through his nose, savoring how your scent was stronger in your room. And now he was finally in here with you. Not alone, sifting through your drawers which was something he’s done countless times before.

He turns to you. “Strip.” He orders.

Your eyes start to water and you make no attempt to listen to his instructions.

He wasn’t a patient man, especially now. “I said strip.” To punctuate the word, he rips your shirt easily, letting it slip off your body, earning a gasp as you flinch. “Do the rest yourself or I won’t be so nice.”

With a sniffle, you hesitate but then shakily reach behind yourself to unclasp your bra. You hear him suck in a sharp breath at the sight of your bare breasts finally in front of him for real.

“Atta girl. Keep going.” He feels the familiar strain in his pants.

His gaze doesn’t leave you as you reach for the button on your jeans, undoing the fastenings before you ease them down your legs.

“So beautiful.” He murmurs, his tone laced with adoration, his eyes taking everything in. The slope of your breasts, the curve of your hips, the meat of your thighs. He wanted to reach out and touch you, spend hours memorizing your body but he was selfish and needy. That would wait for the next time he decided to pay you a visit.

“On the bed.” He nudges your shoulder once again towards the mattress.

Your body trembles, unwilling, but you knew this was something you couldn’t get out of. You’d have to see this through.

His eyes are laser focused on you as you crawl onto the bed, letting out a hum of approval. “Hands and knees.”

Swallowing past the lump in your throat, you follow his orders, positioning yourself onto all fours in front of him. He lets out a breath seeing your body splayed out in front of him. Waiting, even if unwilling.

You bite down on your bottom lip when you hear the jangle of his belt., sucking in a sharp breath at the feel of his fingers trail down your spine, large hand resting on the small of your back.

“So beautiful and all for me.” His tone was almost reverent and it made you nauseas. “I’ll try to be gentle. No promises though.”

Leon spits into his hand before working it over his shaft, collecting some of the precum already beading at the tip and combining them together into a makeshift lube.

He steps up to where you’re presented before him, letting go of his cock to spread your cheeks apart. “Oh sweetheart.” He breathes out, taking in your pretty pussy.

The seconds feel like an eternity as you wait for him to do something, already anticipating what he was going to do. You try to keep your cries quiet so he doesn’t hear them.

Leon lines himself up, running his tip through your folds, bumping against your clit as he does causing you to shiver despite the disgust you feel. “Please don’t.” You whimper, one last feeble attempt to stop this before it goes any further.

“Shh.”

Slowly he eases his tip into your unwilling hole and he hisses out. God you were already so tight. You cry out as he forces more of himself inside. “It’s okay.” He tries to soothe you while he pushes more of your length into your gummy walls.

The resistance of your cunt only fueled his desires as he sinks the rest of his cock in until he’s fully sheathed. “Jesus Christ you’re squeezing me so tight.” He grunts, starting to rock his hips into you.

He wanted to be nicer but he couldn’t hold back. Not when he’s finally gotten you like this. Leon snaps his hips into you, pounding into your poor pussy.

Your cries are loud and almost make him feel like he should stop. He did feel guilty. At least partially. But you should understand, he was a man with needs and whether you were aware of it or not, you had become his home.

“Stop! Please stop! Just stop!” You wail.

Gritting his teeth, he reaches for your head, fingers gripping tightly into your hair and yanking your head back. “Stop fighting me,” He growls, “Just take it.”

He releases his grip from your hair in favor of shoving your face down into your comforter, muffling any sounds of discomfort or protest. Couldn’t he just get five minutes of peace?

His formidable cock continues to plunge deep into your pussy, finding spots that haven’t been reached before and making you feel so incredibly full.

“Can’t say you don’t like this,” He grunts, “Can feel how you’re gripping me.”

Leon feels the familiar build up growing stronger in his lower belly, the need to cum consuming him as he continues to rut into you.

Without warning he sinks himself fully into you, keeping you locked in place with a tight grip on your hips as he spurts his hot load deep in you. He whines pathetically, eyebrows scrunched together in pleasure.

The only good thing is that you assumed the worst was over. That is until he’s working his hips in and out again.

“Please no more.” You whine, trying to look back at him but again he shoves your face into the mattress.

He’d keep you here all night if it meant forgetting the horrors he’d been subjected to most recently, taking it out on your poor cunt.

“You’ll shut up and take what I give you.”

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Taglist!// @kllyslutz @diorvalentina @fresitaskywalker @moonlight-tyler @halfm00nchild @julxstrawberry @padme-urlove @hearts4sammonroe @naberriess @valyna27 @supersoldatbarnesstuff

Let me know if you want to be added or removed!

[thecoolerliauditore]

saw you mention gender for a bit - i wonder why grian is feminized so much? it's of course because of the feedback loop of fanon but how did it snowball so much? it would be funny if it's from him using the alex player model

I'm probably not the guy to ask for this just to be clear right off the back. I love observing fandom trends but I'm just not keeping an eye on Grian stuff more often than not. Grain (lol) of salt, blah blah blah.

So first off I think we should tackle what "feminized" means in this context because I can see that argument being made for both the default-ish generic young anime guy grian I have in my head when I think "fanon grian" and. well. arianna griande and the like (I'd argue cuteguy falls into this latter category)

I'm gonna start with the first one and use my own Grian as an example because I think he's pretty much as standard as you can go in the former category, and that's more or less on purpose. Pictured here in all of his tiny anime twink glory (next to Joel and Cleo who are also meant to be pretty short!)

So while I can't read the minds of other Grian artists, I can offer what went through my head when I designed mine and try to have a guess at how much other people thought the same.

First things first I do think this specific brand of Grian is "feminized" -- if you compare him to the CC. The goal at least for me was more to communicate youthfulness than femininity, but those traits tend to go hand in hand with male characters due to them having pretty much the same features (no facial/body hair is a big one).

Artists in this fandom tend to swing on the younger side, and people tend to base their designs unconsciously (or consciously tbh) on themselves or media they like, the latter being very likely to be media aimed at their age group and thus having a cast of characters around their age. Doesn't help that most popular animated things are made for younger audiences, so chances are most people are basing their art styles in media where the casts age range is 12-25.

For me I do think most of my designs have a little bit of added in youthfulness/femininity unless I Really want to get across age/masculinity. It's a lot easier to separate the 30 year olds from the 40 year olds if the 30 year olds look a bit closer to 20, doubly so when most of the stuff I like (and thus reference from purposefully or not) has casts full of 15 year olds. Alot of this also applies to the other younger men in my designs aside from Grian, like Joel who's next to him.

But Joel is still drawn with stubble and a bit taller than Grian, so what gives about Grian specifically?

For me personally, I draw everything with the Life Series in mind, especially Third Life in Grian's case. And the character who Grian plays off the most in that series, especially in Third Life, is Scar.

While I do think the aforementioned age factor also impacts a lot of Scar designs (as well as younger artists' tendency towards shyness when drawing muscles), I think most people see Scar's masculinity as a key trait of his. I think I'm kind of unique in that I take descriptions of their appearances ingame as somewhat canon (e.g. Scott being canonically referred to as "handsome") but Scar really lays it on thick with "Hot Guy" and the abs and so on that it's pretty much screaming for acknowledgement when you're designing him.

Grian is also short irl and this even gets mentioned by Joel in the first WL episode, so it made enough sense to me that should be something exaggerated with Desert Duo's designs to make them look better next to eachother.

This is also maybe getting a bit into headcanon territory but when I think Grian I don't necessarily think predator or brute force, I think of him setting his traps and giggling maniacally and manipulating what he wants out of people with his words instead of his sword. And him just being like. a little gremlin thing compared to his Big Strong Man partner in crime whilst also, actually being arguably the more dangerous of the two feels harmonious.

If we do a layer deeper into headcanon land, I've also always seen him as more frail and physically weak due to Martyn's concern for his safety and his own more anxious nature in 3L as one of the first players to really consider having to defend himself -- if you're dropped into a death game arena and you're the smallest one there, you would naturally be a lot more nervous than the big guys and come off as more "insane" for wanting to set up seemingly unnecessary defenses or striking first. (<-- this is why I don't talk about Grian much btw all of my thoughts regarding him are seeped in headcanons lol)

Alot of Grian artists are also Desert Duo artists and while they might not be operating by the same logic I am I have to assume there's some common points.

I've seen this meme used a lot when people make fun of other peoples DD art and it's almost always people with very little self-awareness. it's funny to me (and this probably could be its own discussion about queer tropes and xenophobia, but whatever haha funny it's literally them so true so true.)

One final note on this is I think this specific brand of twink Grian might be dipping in popularity? I've been seeing a lot more Grians that are chunkier or entirely throw out his anime-main-character-ness by making his glasses or curly hair heavily exaggerated. Which is cool I especially loveeee the more cartoony puff ball grians that have gotten more popular. Idk if it's necessarily in response to the anti-twink-propaganda or if it's just a new stage in Grian design development as we get further away from the Third Life Desert Duo meta, but it's fun and I think speaks the feminizing not really being an intentional trait and more of a consequence of other things.

As for CuteGuy/Griande I can't really offer as much insight since I don't really get the appeal either lol except that I think it's fun in the way drag is fun.

I think what a lot of people need to remember when they ask for more masculine designs is that masculinity irl is often synonymous with less customization. Alot of it is practical (like short hair obviously you can't style like long hair) and especially outside of queer circles a lot of it is just gender roles -- alot of men will refuse to wear literally plain mens t shirts if it's an eye-catching colour.

There's a great Derek Guy interview where he talks about how men tend to misunderstand what "fashion" is and how most cishet men actually care deeply about fashion. He makes the example of offering two pairs of jeans -- one is a regular pair of blue jeans that costs fifty dollars and another is free of charge but happens to be pink, and how most men despite "not caring about fashion" will go for the fifty dollar blue jeans.

If you want an example of mens fashion and its "boring" aesthetics made more to fit into a crowd than to stand out, just go on instagram and look at pictures of the Empires CCs together and watch the guys get absolutely mogged. This isn't me calling the men badly dressed (in fact I've actually noticed before that CC Joel is like. super well put together) but more of a statement on how womens clothing is designed vs how mens clothing is designed.

I know where my eyes go first, at least. (self indulgent note: Pearl is kind of an exception to the rule for reasons but I cannot say lest I betray my own moral code. however my eyes go to her first anyway because she is stunningly beautiful she could wear a potato sack and it'd work)

And while I don't agree with this sentiment (I actually loveee menswear deeply it's. a thing), in the world of fandom artists who typically are big fans of the gay gay homosexual gay and more into high-decorative, sexier stuff, clawing at any ounce of femininity that these men exhibit is probably an opportunity hard to pass on. This also happens with Jimmy on occasion I think, with stuff like the maid dress. And Ariana Griande is like Drag Drag, not just a dress but a whole persona, so that in combination with feeding into yaoi tropes for popular ships like Scarian and Grumbo, I'm not surprised there's such a gap between actual screentime and fanmade content.

Also is Griande even like. That popular anymore? I also don't think I've seen CuteGuy all that much unless it's DDVAU stuff specifically.

I'd be interested to hear my artist friends comment on this too since again I feel like I'm not the right person to ask lol. Take this as an invitation to yap I would be fascinated hearing your perspectives.

I also think his popularity and younger audience might be playing a big part in this especially in conjunction with the first point about drawing characters younger-looking but this is getting fairly rambly already lol

Go follow the menswear guy (@/dieworkwear) on twitter if you're interested in menswear btw he's very insightful and funny

[accio-victuuri]

it’s been a while since i’ve shared my recent reads! so here’s what i have picked up in the past months. felt inspired cause i’m really enjoying the story i’m reading now, w/c i initially picked up as a manhwa but i’m impatient so i switched to the novel. it’s called the hunter is gonna lay low or the hunter wants to live quietly. it’s such a gem! cause it starts of pretty simple and funny then the author manages to put in the plot and well, it’s plotting. lol.

if you like systems/dungeons, cast of characters, time travel, mystery and the most delicious slow burn then this is for you. i hope this gets animated at some point cause it’s so good! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 this is the only novel on the list so it’s pretty special that the story led me to WANT to read the source.

i’m literally listing what i’ve read so yeah. and pretty much a v short reaction to it cause there is a lot (53). it’s a mix of ongoing and completed works at the time of writing and when i read it so i’ll mark that too.

1. Sweetie, Sweetie, Sweetie - this title is so misleading cause you would think it’s a modern story full of sweetness when it’s not. this deals with kingdoms/royalty, superpowers — and isekai.

2. How my Daddies Became mates (completed) - first foray into mangas because i most prefer manhwa/manhuas — i know, sacrilege. but yeah, it’s a cute story of two dad telling their kid how they met and fell in love. It’s so wholesome! a short read when you feel tired of all the toxic bl stories. 😂😂😂

3. Unintentional Love Story (completed) - pick this up! it’s so good! slice of life kind of vibe and falling in love in a small town.

4. Someone like You (completed) - this was something i started before and went back in now that it’s completed.

5. Isekai no Sata Wa shachiku shidai - i don’t really go for Mangas but this one pulled me in! I love myself some isekai plot. it’s just sad that no one has updated the translation for so long so that may put some people off in picking this up.

6. Bend over Backwards (completed) - corporate slave x international model. if you like this kind of dynamic then go ahead. Only 40 chapters plus a bunch of side stories so this kind of thing is a good choice.

7. Dinner with a Vampire - pretty obvs with the title.

8. Mister Wonderful teases me

9. Romance but not Romantic - omegaverse! the kind where the omega needs the alpha but initially hated him.

10. Be, Be. - omegaverse with modern royalty!

11. Smoky Nectar 1 - a short read that continues to a part 2 and it’s good ✌🏼

12. Smoky Nectar 2

13. Reincarnated to Devil King Evelogia’s World - this is so uniquely unhinged that it became. endearing. No. I swear. I haven’t read anything like it. I love it tho. Maybe some people will find it over the top but it’s now one of my personal faves.

there’s an animated version of it if you wanna start with that just to see how cute they are lol.

14. Bullying the Dog - an MC who didn’t get much love then he meets the ML who shows him what it’s like. it’s so somft.

15. Bittersweet Martini (completed) - i’m gonna cheat here and copy/paste the first comment on this story cause i think it perfectly describes the story: “If you're looking for a casual pleasure read with a green flag story with heavy flirting, which leads to a lot of blushing but also deals with a more serious topic towards the middle, without leaning too much into the drama, then look no further.”

16. Over the Paradise - guideverse with zombies!

17. Hero vs Villain - what happens when the supposed hero and villain become friends and fall in love? this was so nice!

18. Night of London - vampire and werewolf pairing! come on! Let’s gooooo! 🙌🏼

19. Kill my love - omegaverse and assassins!

20. Turning - Another work that i would most likely pick up the novel version cause it’s that good! Regression theme! ❣️plus the setting is they are in a kingdom where people have powers.

21. The Moon is coming to me - I have already talked bout this before and it’s one of my absolute faves! I didn’t know the Manhua was released! So i was so happy to enjoy it in that form. The translation for this is very close to the end so pick it up!

22. Cozy Obsession - transmigration where the MC knows how the story goes so he is trying his best to change the ending.

23. Summertime (completed) - one of my favorites! love it when friends become lovers and some may say the ML here is manipulative but i wanna say in a good way. lol. anyway, it’s classic, atleast from the MC’s side that you’ve known this person some time and that summertime everything has changed.

24. My way with you (completed) - gonna cheat again with this one by pasting here what someone commented: “LISTEN UP GUYS this one has everything: healthy happy relationship, supportive friends, trauma and healing, mysterious past connections, beautiful men, hot af smut, 100% consent, cutest lovey dovey couple, NO drama, NO “misunderstandings”, NO second ml, NO annoying interfering side characters. You will cry, but because it’s just so good.” 💯

25. Netkama Punch - i haven’t finished and progressed much as i would like tho i know a lot of people have this as their favorite! I will get back to it! The premise of hidden identity and online gaming is one of my fave so i will surely pick this up again.

26. Through the Years - i haven’t finished this yet but it’s a lot of people’s fave

27. Fools (completed) - disillusioned guy meets excitable puppy 🤍

28. Moonquake (completed) - a very unique concept. people on earth have powers and then some of them decided to rebel and live in the Moon. Our MC is one of the best ones on earth and is supposed to bring down the leader of the rebellion. but you all know what happens, they fall in love! AHHHHH! and i have to say the art in this too is exceptional.

29. Men’s wear store and the Royal Princess (completed) - this may be weird for some or slow / not enough action lol. i enjoyed it tho! the MC cross dresses and finds someone who loves and accepts him!

30. Ex Hot Neighbor (completed) - a story that centers around a misunderstanding! MC thinks he can’t date the neighbor cause he’s his friend’s ex. but nope!

31. Forest Sea (completed) - A good and solid fantasy story. Please give it a try! The whole birds vs snakes thing was kinda weird at first but the author made it work.

32. When you were asleep - this hasn’t been updated in a while and it’s so sad because the art is topnotch! the plot is good too, especially the dreamscapes but there’s still a lot to discover cause we wanna know what happened in the past. Why is MC even having these dreams and all that.

33. Beum & Go’s Unholy…. - still ongoing and read few chapters

34. Spring, the color of love (completed) - what a wonderful story. Oftentimes, as a reader, you have that sense of boundary with the narrator. But this one — you can feel and understand what the MC is thinking and going through. even tho i haven’t experienced what he did, i can totally get it. this is one of those tropes where they fall in love during their school years and some misunderstanding happens, they meet again years later and try again. something i would love to re-read even if there are parts of it that hurt. and it’s just proof that if something is meant to be, it will come back to you.

35. Keep Holding On (completed) - a short and sweet read with friends to lovers trope!

36. Wolf in the House (completed) - i am so late with this cause i feel like every list has this story as one of the best. I have to agree! it’s so good! tho i have to say i’m more attached to the second pairing. this one is a perfect mix of fantasy, action, comedy and romance. A solid recommendation!

37. Touch within the Abyss (completed) - AAAAAHHHHHH! a hitman x blind cinnamon roll! read it now! please! it’s so sweet! their love and care for each other is so pure 🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹

38. 99% in love season 1 (completed) - from bestfriends to lovers in the cutest way! they start fake dating and it leads to more obvs.

39. 99% in love season 2 - their college life and this one has smut scenes!

40. Alpha Trauma ( novel ongoing ) - if you know Omega Complex then you might be aware that this is a sequel of sorts but follows the second lead’s love story if you may. Everyone loves Dohyun so i’m one of those happy readers who is happy that he gets his own story, tho the POV in this is not his but his Omega. If you like ABO and campus setting then this may be for you.

41. Soul Sealer’s school life - The MC is the soul sealer who has to do good deeds to prolong his life, then he meets the ML who has a strong spirit in him. It’s a perfect blend of fantasy, comedy and not so much romance as of the moment. The art is 💯 and i really like to see where this goes!

42. Guidance with Benefits - still ongoing and read few chapters

43. Chiguha Kuna Kisu (completed) - if you like a short read that will make you have overall good vibes then this is it. school setting, two cute boys, a fortunate miscommunication and starting a relationship. it’s so good and made me want to look for more mangas! 🤍

44. Spicy Milk Candy - yandere but in a good way. that’s all i’m gonna say.

45. Ruby Red wo Kamikudaku (completed) - i’m just gonna add the summary below but it’s truly a unique read!

Akane is an Omega who can see people's pheromones as multicolored "crystals”. During his school days, when he was lonely because of his peculiar constitution, he meets Makise, a school nurse teacher. 5 years later, they are miraculously reunited, but Makise has a secret

46. Yume Nara Doko Made Yurusaremasuka (completed) - corporate slave x young policeman. 6 chapters of sweetness!

47. Sparkling Baby (completed) - this is supposedly a sequel for the second lead, but i haven’t read the first story. I just love how the MC/ML first met and then made a mark on each other as strangers — but it wasn’t there time yet. and so they meet again later and navigate their lives together. What attracted me to this story is how the MC changed because of love. For years, he had this sense of what he think is love and looking back, maybe it didn’t work out because love isn’t supposed to be like that. What he found with the ML is real and why it feels different.

48. Ashita kimi no mono ni shite (completed) - this so wholesome! school setting and friends to lovers. quiet boy x cool guy

49. Koibitu Keiyaku chu ni suki (completed) - friends to lovers! fake dating. and well, look at them. so precious together:

50. Camboy Bunny (completed) - i think the title says it all. A delicious read!

51. Beyond the Memories - AAAAAHHHHHHH! the story in itself should be sweet and fluffy but the author manages to squeeze in the undercurrent of there is something wrong. as a reader, there is something big that we don’t know and once it comes out — all of it will be shattered. it looks like there is some sort of regression and MC doesn’t know this but the ML does. The question here is when his memories will come back and will he forgive the ML. We are not in that part yet with what’s available right now so i’m excited!

52. Private Call (completed) - another omegaverse.

53. Senza Replica - guide/esper. very few chapters out and something i will go back to.

I read everything except the novel at BATO. 🫶🏼 covering my may-october 2024 reads.

[itsclydebitches]

RWBY Recaps: Vol3E1 "Round One"

Hello, everyone, and welcome to a new collection of RWBY Recaps!!

This is a unique project in that instead of writing purely for my own entertainment, these recaps are part of the Fandom Trumps Hate auction (you can check them out here if you're interested in learning more). Specifically, these recaps are a gift for the lovely Kae who requested some meta on the earlier Volumes, or work that focused on Ozpin and/or Ironwood. I figured that Volume Three would touch on all those requests and, frankly, it's an era of RWBY that I was already interested in covering. Volume 3 was a turning point for RWBY's tone and overall mythology and I'm eager to see what I think of it in 2024, after six additional seasons and a rather chaotic overhaul.

(If anyone is reading this from the future, one of the reasons why it took me so damn long to get the first recap out is because finding official streams of RWBY has become a fool's errand as it changes ownership. Fun!)

Anyway, the game plan is simple: cover all of Volume Three at an undetermined, though hopefully steady-ish pace from here on out. Technically, the deadline for our FTH fandowrks is at the end of 2024, however, I absolutely plan to continue this series past my 5k promise. As always, this will be a RWDE-focused meta (though I'm eager to see how much nostalgia carries me through the season), so if you Don't Like; Don't Read.

Everyone got that? Great!

Now, indulge me for a moment and cast your mind back. It's October of 2015. Pizza Rat is a tumblr icon, Left Shark still reigns, and everyone is arguing over whether a dress is gold and white, or blue and black (it's the former FYI ;). Amidst such quality memes RWBY begins airing again on the 24th, presumably bringing with it another season of stellar choreography and simple, if entertaining conflict. Team RWBY has just helped contain a massive breach courtesy of Cinder's machinations, Torchewick is in Ironwood's custody, the White Fang is falling under Salem's puppeteering, Penny has revealed her android identity as well as her supposed fate to save the world, the girls are beginning to acknowledge the responsibility of their chosen career path, and the mysterious Raven has been identified as Yang's birth mother. All in all, RWBY has a lot to play with going into its third season.

It's notable then that we open peacefully. The viewer is treated to a number of environmental shots to set the scene, including one of the forest with its iconic falling Fall leaves. Ruby is positioned at the edge of a cliff with her signature rose petals drifting behind her. Stylistically it fits the scene, though from a literal standpoint it also implies that she used her semblance speed to get here. Given the momentary reveal that she's speaking to her mom, that's a rather heartwarming detail.

Sidenote: has anyone given any thought to cliffs in this series? It only occurred to me recently how often they show up, often during character milestones. Here we have Ruby talking to Summer for the first time, her (bodiless) grave situated at the end of a cliff. The Beacon initiation involves chucking the kids off a cliff and seeing how they fare, an action that is the catalyst for the group's introductions/growing dynamics. Shooting Oscar off the edge of Atlas solidifies Ironwood's turn from anti-hero to outright villain. Though I'm far from a fan of this scene, Ruby's (ridiculous) near-fall off the cliff during the fight with Cordovin preludes her (supposed) growth in leadership as she stands up to Qrow. Penny lets herself fall from Amity after sacrificing herself to get it up into the air. Then, of course, we've got the girls falling off of Ambrosius' bridge, taking them to a world where - execution aside - the intention was for them all to go through major developments: Ruby is literally reborn, Jaune experiences a lifetime of struggle, Yang and Blake finally admit their feelings, and Weiss... gets over her whole country being destroyed?

Idk, we'll have to come back to that one.

I clearly don't have a big takeaway here, just the acknowledgement that this is a visual RWBY gravitates towards. Might do a whole side meta on it some day...

Anyway, as said we realize quickly this is Summer's grave with her name carved into the headstone along with "Thus kindly I scatter." Notably, she also has her rose motif there and it's likewise prominent on Ruby's belt in this scene. Looking back, we can see how RWBY did a better job at the start of sprinkling in these significant character details before, you know, dropping them completely and then attempting a rapid-fire resurrection. Meaning, I would have bought into the emotion of Ruby giving her pendant up in Volume 9 if we'd gotten these moments consistently throughout the story's run. It wouldn't take much, just a reminder every couple of episodes to maintain the momentum. Give Ruby a scene where she explains that this rose was left by Summer before she disappeared and she's treasured it ever since. Show a flashback where we learn that it was really left behind for both girls and Yang handed it down to Ruby when she was old enough to keep track of it. Give us a minor conflict where it's lost during battle and Ruby unnecessarily endangers herself in an attempt to retrieve it (perhaps in Volume 8, setting up that the object itself is not as important as the intangible love it represents). Hell, keep it lighthearted where Yang gets Ruby something rose related at the gift shop, Nora tucks a Rose into her hair while wandering the wilderness, Qrow gives the pendant a cheeky flick while talking about how Ruby's as stubborn as her mom. My point is there are a million ways the show could have built towards that scene in Volume 9 - ways like showing us that rose on Summer's gravestone - but the show dropped the ball halfway through.

Here and now though, Ruby begins catching Summer up on everything that's happened to her since she started Beacon, which serves as a useful way to catch the viewer up too - both those who, for whatever reason, may have started RWBY with Volume 3, and those who just need a hiatus refresher.

Ruby is delightfully awkward here, a personality trait that I think becomes more forced as the series goes on. She jokes that she hasn't gotten kicked out of Beacon yet - while doing that cute little rock on her heels thing - and says that she's able to "keep [Yang] in line" by being on the same team. She follows that up with, "...that was a joke" which is just quintessential Ruby to me. Love it.

She recaps that Yang has grown a lot as a fighter since Summer left, the rest of their team is made up of Blake and Weiss, together they form Team RWBY and yes, that's as confusing as it sounds. She's stopped bad guys and met some "odd" teachers, including Ozpin.

(THAT'S MY BOY!!!)

Looking back, this is actually a fascinating couple of lines. At least, I think they have the potential to be fascinating if RT had followed a clear writing path. Ruby wonders again why Ozpin let her into Beacon early, but shrugs it off under the assumption that he'll tell her one day. "You know how he is."

Yeah, I do, Ruby. Do you?

We already knew from their initial interaction that Ruby knew who Ozpin was - she recognizes him on sight - though him posing the question implies that he never visited Patch post-her birth. At least, not recently enough for Ruby to have formed a memory of them meeting. I can only assume then that she's heard enough about him from Tai and Qrow to a) be sure of his identity (any promotional material/news about Beacon would have helped with that too) and b) believes strongly that her impression of him formed since entering Beacon aligns with what her parents presumably said about him: "You know how he is." The fact that this is in reference to Ozpin's secret keeping makes me wonder how often that came up around the dinner table. Did Tai ever express frustration, a la Ironwood, that they're clearly being kept in the dark about things? Did Qrow ever dodge the girls' questions about where he's been because he can't be honest about his spy activities, aligning Ozpin's reputation with secrecy by virtue of working for him? The casualness with which Ruby shrugs off Ozpin's secrets to Summer heavily implies that Ozpin's cagey history is both well known to the family and accepted.

Honestly, I would have loved to see this woven into Ruby's core characterization, perhaps even an extension of her "simple soul." Give me a girl who is intrinsically accepting of people, including their need to keep certain things close to the chest. Teammate deliberately kept her faunus identity under wraps? Friend hides the fact that she's an android from the whole world? Ruby accepts them. Ruby gets it. The fact that Ruby does, canonically, accept their duplicity without so much as a blink is, I think, one of the reasons why I expected her of all people to be more sympathetic towards Ozpin's hidden identity. We can argue about the girls' right to the truth via participating in this war till the cows come home, but at the end of the day Ozpin's secrets are intrinsically tied up in his family, his history, and the trauma surrounding both. Let the others get mad, prioritizing information over personal motivations (that does fit their characterizations well, with Blake perhaps being an exception), but Ruby? The show has never been willing to commit to the kind of dark story that would result in a 180 character growth - endlessly forgiving protagonist becomes jaded and cynical as she experiences The Horrors - and little moments like this one further emphasize to me that Ruby, specifically Ruby, is uniquely suited to helping Ozpin not just fight, but finally finish this war. It should never have been (just) about her talent with a scythe, or even the rarity of Silver Eyes. The Gods wanted Ozpin to unite humanity and here's a young woman who unabashedly loves everyone that the world tends to despise: secret keepers and drunk uncles and faunus and Schnees and scary androids. Ruby should have been the emotional bridge!!

Okay, I swear I'm not going to make this series a rehash of my issues with the later Volumes lol. Inevitably some things are going to crop up though.

Moving on, Ruby mentions that Tai is here too and the viewer gets to see his avatar for the first time, albeit from a distance. In keeping Summer updated on her... husband? Wait, were they married? Well, in keeping her updated on her partner, Ruby says that, "He's, you know... Dad," which, unlike the Ozpin line, is just plain funny. Sure, most of her talk is very exposition-y and absolutely functions as a soft lead-in to new content, but that's not to say a story should ever put absurd dialogue in a character's mouth simply for the sake of the viewer. That is, Ruby should never say, 'Oh, Tai is here! You know, my Dad?' because the person she's talking to, Summer, knows damn well who Tai is. Television has actually gotten better about this as a whole. Once upon a time a medical drama would have the doctor yelling, 'Her skin is turning yellow - she's jaundiced! Her liver is failing!' to ensure that the viewer understood precisely what 'jaundiced' meant, never mind how absurd it was for a professional to be shouting that among their peers. (Granted, medical dramas as a whole are absurd. I say that with love.) Despite RT's general inexperience, RWBY belongs to an era of televised storytelling where leaving certain things unsaid is par for the course.

Here, the unspoken information is what it means for Tai to be, you know, Tai. We don't really know who Tai is yet- personality-wise, I mean - so Ruby's comment functions more as a way to set up our expectations rather than to connect with us in agreement. We now expect Tai to be the kind of guy who does things to make his teenage daughter sigh and go, 'That's Dad...' and we, presumably, look forward to seeing that.

Granted, the three things we do know about Tai at this point in the story consist of:

He's a fellow Huntsmen (which is an insane job)

He let his daughter join Beacon two years early to also become a Huntress (also kinda insane but I support him)

He maintains a relationship with said daughter and daughter Sr by sending them their dog in the mail (do I really need to say it?)

Based on that I suppose we can guess as to what Tai is like lol.

He calls Ruby away so they're not late for the match and she sends a last message to Summer over her shoulder: "It was good to talk." As we transition, a murder of crows flies across the sky. Or is it an unkindness of ravens? I can barely tell in real life, let alone when they're animated blobs, but either option works well enough given the upcoming revelation about the Branwen twins.

Cutting to the arena a little time in the future, the viewer is treated to some establishing shots that, while simple, are honestly pretty cool. I believe this is our first introduction to Atlas' floating environments and showing a bit of Beacon Academy in the background helps give us a sense of scale.

This event is clearly popular, with the stadium absolutely packed with people (even more are trickling in from ferrying ships) and, to RT's credit, they did a bit of work to convey diversity in this world. We see a decent variety of skin tones as well as faunus characteristics, to say nothing of the cool designs many of the competitors will get. Beyond the main cast still being overwhelmingly white, I'd say the biggest issue here is the lack of body diversity, what with everyone having the same, stick-thin figure. Yeah, RT is clearly using the same base model copied a hundred times and I'm very aware of their previous status as a small, independent company, but such visuals nevertheless stand out in a series that's been pushing a minority plotline for three seasons.

The camera swoops down to follow Team RWBY in the midst of a battle which, again, is staged in a way that's clearly meant to catch up/invite in new viewers. It's very trailer-esque as each shot lingers on Weiss, Blake, and Yang for a moment before finishing with Ruby, complete with a twirl of Crescent Rose. This is the show visually reminding you of what it's really about. Sure, we might have started with Ruby speaking peacefully by a grave, but at the end of the day RWBY is the story of a team engaging in combat situations.

Oobleck and Port are announcing the event and Oobleck throws out his standard "Doctor" when his title goes unacknowledged.

You know, I started RWBY nearly a decade ago. Four years ago I secured a PhD, so I feel that now.

Port provides another handy info dump for those "just now joining us." AKA the viewer who has no idea what a Vytal Festival is, but this is as good an excuse as any given that people are still entering the stadium. Simply put, all the Kingdoms' huntsmen schools are competing as teams first, then as duos, then as individuals to determine the final winner who will have achieved "victory for their kingdom!" Age and year are irrelevant, which makes perfect sense given the nature of RWBY's combat. You've got young prodigies like Ruby and people who sneak into Beacon like Jaune, and though the other schools/years probably don't have as much drama going on, the variety of semblances, weapons, dust use, and personal experience really makes this anyone's game. A first year might easily beat a fourth year if they won the genetic lottery with their semblance, or a student from School A might trounce someone their age from School B, depending on how much their school has sent them into real combat situations.

Given all that, I kinda wish the Festival had developed the other Kingdoms more, given that it's the perfect opportunity for the cultures to learn from one another and/or butt heads. In a perfect world, one where RT had some sense of where their story was going, I would have loved to see:

Strong development of Vacuo's citizens, especially given that it will be the focal point of Volume 10 and possibly the end of the series (if we ever get that...).

Though the gag that Weiss excepts strict, militaristic fighters from Atlas only to get Neon is funny, that 'Don't judge a book by its cover' lesson really doesn't align well with what Volume 7 and 8 try to push. Better, perhaps, to set up Atlas' dictatorship tendencies before swinging hard in that direction (and I'll get into how what we do see doesn't make the cut).

How Remnant's racism gets displayed in a highly public competition. Do Blake and the other faunus face more discrimination now that they're in the public eye? Do asshole citizens challenge wins because no way did a faunus beat that human?

How different schools approach training their huntsmen. Specifically, everyone seems to abide by the four-person team structure, so why would this competition eventually highlight duos and individuals? It seems counter to what Beacon, and by extension all the other schools, are trying to promote. This setup would make more sense if we were shown that different schools have radically different curriculum. Maybe it's eventually 1v1 because Vacuo's individualist, survival-based culture teaches huntsmen to fend for themselves; teammates are just another liability. Maybe Atlas, being militaristic, prizes safety in numbers and has students train in groups of six rather than four. Maybe Mistral is incredibly semblance-focused (a way to develop Neptune's phobia rather than just making it a gag; a fighter who can't or won't use their semblance is considered effectively useless) and if you can negate that aspect of their style somehow, you find they're lacking severely in weapon-based combat.

Again, I know that RWBY, particularly early RWBY, only had so much time per episode, but looking back it feels like there are a lot of missed opportunities in this world-watched event. None of this is even taking into account Cinder sneaking into the school, or Penny being outed as an android. If any RWBY rewriters are reading this, the Festival is a potential goldmine of characterization and cultural development. If you're going to write random RWBY books, write some about that!

One moment of cultural significance that is shown though is the Atlas security hovering around the arena. They mostly keep to the background, without any single appearance being obtrusive (yet). This is one of those moments where (some) fans look back and say, "See? Ironwood was always a controlling, military-obsessed bastard," but the reality is that this is incredibly tame by real world standards, to say nothing of the realities of RWBY's fantasy world. Regardless of how you feel about the, uh... motivations behind the security in your country (because that's a whole other conversation), you expect there to be some level of professional oversight when that many people are meeting in one place. That's a reality we have to work with, which includes all the potential pitfalls, biases, manipulations, and accidents that come with any large-scale endeavor. Toss in the fact that RWBY's security is designed to defend against man-eating monsters and I'm honestly surprised it isn't presented as dystopian here. Meaning, we easily could have been given a story where people are comparatively safe from grimm in modern day Remnant and the security functions primarily as outside control and/or a fear-mongering tactic. It's not that security is inherently unnecessary, but those walls have done a damn good job for the last generation or so, so why is James so insistent on populating this festival with his probably not-needed robots? Seems sus 🤔.

As it stands, grimm DO attack people on the regular (that was kind of a big part of last Volume's finale), security IS necessary (according to many other council professionals once James raises the issue), and it's arguably MORE necessary now - during the festival - because there are so many potentially negative emotions just waiting to crop up. Instead of "Seems sus," the reaction to having defensive robots around is more, "No duh." At the very least RWBY might have had the characters react to the security with suspicion/fear, even if that doesn't totally track with the rest of the worldbuilding, or better yet, demonstrate that there are major issues with AI leading the charge (robot mistakes kid in grimm mask for real grimm and fires a shot!). Granted, we get that through the hacking at the very end of the Volume, but here and now the Atlas ships seem to be used primarily for transporting viewers, the crowd is fully at ease with these guys, and — as we'll see later — the prospect of additional security in the form of AI is greeted with enthusiasm, not wariness, simply because it will keep real, breathing people off the front lines. Those are all important things to keep in mind when you consider whether a) The show took a very sharp turn in Volumes 7-8 or b) The show capitalized on a long established, slow burn plotline.

(Psst the answer is 'B')

ANYWAY, Oobleck is yelling about the "Spectacular spectacles on which to speculate on!" and I love him all the more. While he and Port narrate we get some non-animated shots of people viewing the Festival from around the world, though frankly it doesn't do much to help RWBY's worldbuilding. Some people watch the fights from a camper outside, others are in a minimalist apartment, still others are in what's basically a bar... if you're looking for intriguing backgrounds to drum up interest in the world outside of Beacon, you're not going to find it here. The presence of various faunus individuals is really the only thing that distinguishes these settings from a show based in the real world.

Onto the fighting! (It's about time :p) The girls are facing off against Team ABRN (pronounced "Auburn") from Haven and they're decent for a couple of one-off characters. I like the design of the girl with the skateboard - Reese - and how her weapon, the board itself, gives her a lot of flexibility in battle. Since it functions as a hoverboard she has a lot of maneuverability, she can use the board as a shield, a projectile, adapt its abilities via Dust, and - of course - she can pull both sides apart to duel wield the guns. Looking at all that flexibility, it is a little lame that she 'loses' that particular encounter with Blake by slipping on the ice, but then we're not really supposed to care about these characters. They exist solely to get us hyped for the battles to come and give a quick primer on how those battles will work. AKA, now we've learned that the battlefield itself has hazards the girls must circumvent.

Blake is cute here though. She's so concerned and I'm like yeah, girl, that looked like it hurt 😬

This whole exchange has that same vibe: one of casual playfulness, which makes perfect sense given that this is supposed to be a fun competition. They're exhibition matches, not real attempts to take the other team out (which is why Yang's supposed act later in the tournament will be seen as so heinous). The guy with the pink hair (Nadir) full on pouts when Ruby successfully traps him in a block of ice and, of course, we have the classic "Got your back!"/"My BFF!" lines in response. The girls are enjoying themselves and that's so damn wholesome to see after all the tragedies - plot and writing-wise - of the later Volumes.

Team ABRN are able to make a bit of a comeback and - *gasp* - the girls have to actually think creatively/combine techniques in order to get the upper-hand. Blake successfully tricks Reese with a clone and catches her in the midriff with a quickly timed ribbon, cleanly knocking her out of the ring. It's here that we learn a team member can be eliminated via leaving the bounds, or having their aura dip too low (remember when that was a thing?) I know I just said there's teamwork, and there absolutely is here, but it did stand out to me how Blake just like... disappears after this moment? I mean she comes back, but it's clear RT wanted each girl to have her moment in this battle, despite the fact that any member who successfully defeated their opponent would be rushing off to help the others. That should be a near defining win condition - defeat one opponent and suddenly it's a 2 vs 1 situation for someone else - but that expectation falls by the wayside until the fight's final moments.

It's a good fight though. Not the greatest by RWBY standards, but it was no hardship to rewatch for this recap either. Weiss pulls out an epic ice hand that ensnares two of the members, now rolling chaotically across the arena, and clearly she thinks this is the end of the fight. However, Arslan — the monk-type who favors hand-to-hand combat (or the one with the "Eastern martial arts influence" according to the RWBY wiki...)— simply rolls her eyes, plants her feet, and shatters the ball with a single hit. Gotta admit, it's pretty cool.

Of course, Team RWBY still comes out victorious in the end. With all of Team ABRN now in one place, the girls have one of those lovely mind-reading moments and pull off a coordinated attack, allowing Yang to sucker-punch them all out of the ring. Again, it's nice to see that kind of teamwork, as well as the adorable way they all stand there, mildly shocked that they won.

I'll take that over the brazen, cocky confidence they've gained any day.

The only thing I'm kinda iffy about regarding this fight is how Team ABRN feels a little less like a full-fledged team to me, and more like a faint Team RWBY echo. It's most noticeable in the Yang vs. Arslan sections where you've got two yellow-coded, hand-to-hand snarkers facing off. Blake and Reese both feel like the cool, alternative style members of their teams, and then you've got the Weiss-Ruby duo trying to overtake the Bolin-Nadir duo. It's admittedly a subtle familiarity that lessens with each example, but it stood out to me in the re-watch; like Team ABRN only exists to give Team RWBY someone vaguely similar to overcome. Which, granted, they do. These are not characters we're going to follow as the series progresses, so in most respects they've done precisely what they needed to do and in a way that looks cool and feels entertaining. So this isn't a criticism, really. More an acknowledgment that RWBY is a series with limits and if we want to know more about these characters/flesh them out beyond their paralleling characteristics, we'll have to do that ourselves in the fanfic.

As Ruby jumps into the air in a victory celebration, we PowerPoint slide cut to the festival later that day where she nearly collapses, asking if anyone else is starving.

Yeah, child. You just made it through a physically intensive battle in front of an audience while existing as a teenager. Of course you're hungry. Blake's stomach gives a giant, embarrassing growl in response and Weiss sarcastically bemoans the fact that there's nowhere to eat at the food-focused festival. Good times, good times.

Ruby: "It's okay, Weiss. I forget about the fair grounds too."

Before they can grab lunch though Weiss declines a call from her father and an old 'acquaintance' suddenly shows up.

Emerald.

You know, kudos to Katie here because Emerald's laugh and, "Good to see you, Ruby" sounds so fake to me now. It just oozes, 'I secretly hate you but am pulling out all my acting skills to convince you otherwise' energy. Obviously RWBY has a host of villains/antagonists that have done a plethora of heinous things, but there's something particularly skin-crawling to me about seeing Emerald in retrospect. Part of it is the deception. I don't know about anyone else, but I personally would prefer a villain who's upfront about their nature from the get-go, rather than one who pretends to be my friend before stabbing me in the back. The first scenario just lacks the same emotional punch, you know? Though the other part of it is, of course, knowing where everyone ends up. Beacon will fall. Ozpin will "die." Pyrrha will actually die, and our heroes will be sent out into a war they're in no way ready for. Yes, Salem is our ultimate Big Bad, yes Emerald has her sympathetic moments and does a heel-turn into "good guy" territory four Volumes from now... but I think the fandom often forgets that she willingly and actively participated in this horror show. This isn't someone just along for the ride because their crush manipulated them, this is someone with a working brain between their ears who has PLENTY of time to consider the ramifications of this and still went, "Yeah, I'll lie my way into orchestrating a massacre."

All this hindsight angst is interrupted by the joke (and I use that term with great reservation) that Ruby must have dropped her wallet because "Girl pockets are the worst!" Sorry, but that has such cis-guy-trying-to-relate-to-women-and-failing-miserably energy to me. Like yeah, I also hate the super small/outright fake pockets that they often sew into women's clothing and I too have smiled at women promoting pockets as part of their independent brands... but somehow hearing the RWBY writers reference it just doesn't land. It's not #problematic, just cringy.

Emerald butters them up a bit by complimenting their fighting and Weiss notes that they haven't seen Emerald's teammates in action yet. We cut to their battle where they dominate the other team, complete with a disguised Neo showing her real eye color before she knocks the competitor out. "[They did] really well," says Emerald in the fakest humble tone ever heard.

Ruby invites them all to lunch and Emerald - clearly horrified by the prospect - dodges by claiming that her teammates are too socially awkward for a meetup. In her defense, Mercury is in the process of randomly sniffing a boot, so although this is absolutely just an excuse, she's also not wrong. Like, at all lol.

Fishing for more info, Emerald asks who's moving onto the doubles round and it turns out that Team RWBY voted for Weiss and Yang. There are three things that I love about this moment:

They voted. Yes, Ruby cheekily tries to make it sound like this is all coming from her genius as team leader, but at the end of the day they decided as a team who would represent them. It's a small detail, but those stand out so much more now that we have Ruby vocally and angrily calling the shots.

(This is a ridiculous side-note I'm 99.9% sure I've mentioned before, but every time I talk about Ruby's intense form of "leadership" in the latter Volumes, I'm reminded of Rick's, "This is not a democracy!" in The Walking Dead. If you know, you know.)

They chose Weiss and Yang. From both an in-world and meta perspective, it's actually a little surprising that Ruby isn't representing them. As established, she's team leader. The team is named after her. She's the protagonist of the show. She's also, canonically, a prodigy wielding an insanely deadly weapon. Yet it's refreshing as a viewer to have a new duo taking the spotlight and within the story-world this choice reinforces Point #1: They're a team and no matter how individually talented any one member may be - or even what titles they hold - they are, at the end of the day, all on equal footing. Why shouldn't Yang and Weiss represent?

The way they both respond to this reveal is dang cute. Weiss' "I will happily represent Team RWBY" while curtseying to Emerald vs. Yang's "Yeah! We're gonna kick some butt!" while slamming her fists together. It's a great contrast and shows why these two might have been chosen. Though powerful on their own, their styles and personality are different enough to compensate for any flaws.

With all that out of the way Emerald rejoins Mercury and her smile immediately drops. She's disgusted at having to get all buddy-buddy with them, but "Orders are orders." She has this classic villain moment where she expresses shock over how they're just so happy all the time and I'm like oh, honey. Darling. Morally misaligned baby girl. Just give it a few Volumes.

We cut to Team RWBY at lunch and aRE THE BOWLS SUPPOSED TO BE THAT BIG?

I recalled that they were big as a visual gag, but not half the girls' size. Honestly? Great choice. I too want to live in a world where you can get insanely giant noodles a millisecond after you order them.

Deviating from the others, Blake nods at the seller dude and receives an equally giant bowl filled with fish. You know, I really wish RWBY had done something with the faunus' animal traits rather than turning them into an endless joke. The concept of a god merging humans with literal animals and then, generations down the line, cat-people being influenced by cat instincts as well as human instincts (because remember, we're animals too) is actually really interesting to me... but navigating the racial implications of that takes a level of nuance that RWBY was never interested in exploring. So we're just left with a Blake who is fish obsessed and chases laser pointers and hates dogs and we're supposed to laugh at all that, rather than buying into her teachings that many people use these traits to dehumanize the faunus.

Anyway, Weiss shows off a bit and pays for all their food. At least, she tries to. Turns out her card has been declined, which is more than a little confusing to her given that she was "barely into [her] monthly allowance." Hmm, could that possibly have anything to do with her ignoring her father's phone calls? Surely no one knows.

Luckily, Pyrrha shows up and offers to pay instead (it's nice having a famous BFF, huh?), but like... what were the girls' initial plans? None of them were expecting Weiss to pay, yet they act like Pyrrha is saving the day by showing up, implying that they don't have the money to cover their meal. The shop guy even takes Blake's fish away, leaving her despondent. So what? Were they planning to eat and just worry about the bill later? Actually, that sounds exactly like something these chaotic preteens would do lol. Yang especially. She was introduced while "buying" a drink before destroying the whole dang bar.

Speaking of teenagers, they all finish their bowls with the kind of appetite only seen in 14-71yos. Although, it was a near thing for Jaune. He's very close to barfing (callback!) and Nora encourages him to "aim it at the enemy!"

She continues ragging on him for a bit, failing to come up with any compliments while hyping up her team. Pyrrha is a world-renowned fighter, Ren is basically a ninja, she can bench five of herself, and Jaune is... Jaune. Nora also doesn't include him in her secondary list which implies that Jaune a) hasn't trained as much (or, more realistically, hasn't gotten as much out of it) as the others, b) doesn't possess an "awesome" weapon, and c) is still frequently yelled at by Glynda.

Poor Jaune. I don't say that very often anymore, but he's going through it here lol.

All of this leads to Nora spiraling at the possibility of them losing. This includes the oh-so-causal drop that she and Ren "have no parents and no home left to go to" which is a HELL of a thing to throw out in a comedically framed breakdown. I mean, being orphans is sad enough, but "no home left to go to" won't be explained until we learn that their town was basically wiped off the map, so damn.

Team RWBY reassures them that a fight with actual rules is nothing compared to what they've already been through. You know, the murderers, extremists, and sociopaths. "Oh," gushes Ruby, "imagine what it'll be like when we graduate!"

As Port and Oobleck call Team JNPR to the arena for their match we cut to Emerald and Mercury settling in to enjoy the festivities. In retrospect, this right here is a really nicely composed shot:

It tells us that Emerald is serious about going through with this destruction (again, she's no manipulated damsel), but she's not getting the same personal enjoyment out of it like Mercury is, as showcased by the smirk. The focus remains on them with Team RWBY framed in between. This is the villains' Volume. They're going to win. Our eyes follow the soon-to-be champions not of the festival, but the battle, while our heroes are literally and metaphorically trapped between them. Finally, Yang is the only one who looks back. We won't know this for several episodes, but she's at the heart of their plan and has every reason to cast the almost-but-not-quite-worried glance over her shoulder. Subtle foreshadowing, how I love thee.

It's shit like this that makes my brain go, "It used to be good! RWBY used to be fun AND occasionally insightful! Those overworked animators were uplifting a mediocre story and the result was good!!!"

As they take their seats who should show up but Cinder, casually using her semblance to pop a kernel of popcorn (power move). "Even if you know how a story ends," she says, "that doesn't make it any less fun to watch." True that! I mean, she's talking about knowing that Team JNPR will be moving on because they need Pyrrha to murder Penny, but I agree with the sentiment outside of that context.

Actually, do they ever explain how they manipulated the fights? I mean, they obviously entered and are winning their own battles and we know that Mercury will be staging his injury with Yang... but here Cinder makes it sound like she's pulling strings in every match. Toss that onto the list of development I would have liked for this Volume: what precisely are they doing behind the scenes? I'll have to pay careful attention going forward to make sure I don't miss anything because right now all I can recall is them looking at Penny's blueprints (presumably obtained via Watts).

Team JNPR's area is randomized into a forest and mountainous land before the battle commences. We end on that cliffhanger, complete with the superhero-esque freeze shot.

And that concludes the first episode of Volume 3! As well as my first recap in a long while. If you've followed me at all you'll know that work has been my personal Big Bad the last two-ish years. Given the scope of my responsibilities and the energy they extract, I simply don't have the time or means to write the way I used to. However, I feel like if I can muster up the willpower to finish this on tonight of all nights (people reading from the future: check the posting date and you'll understand), then I must be getting a little better at carving out writing time in my hectic schedule. All hail self-improvement!

On that positive note, everyone have a wonderful night. Or at least try to. Seriously. Text a loved one, treat yourself to a favored snack, do something that feels fulfilling. Take some deep breaths and I'll see you for the next one.

~Clyde❤️

[your-local-simp-writers]

Ashes of Affection

Word Count: 1610

Warnings: None

Idia Shroud x Fem!Reader ︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶

The crisp autumn air danced with the scent of fallen leaves and the faint hint of caramel apples as Halloween approached Night Raven College. Orange and purple lights twinkled around the campus, casting playful shadows that flickered like ghosts in the fading daylight. Pumpkins adorned doorsteps, their grinning faces glowing in the twilight, creating a festive ambiance that filled the air with excitement.

You made your way toward the Ignihyde dormitory, your heart fluttering at the thought of spending time with Idia. You had both agreed to take a break from studying to enjoy the Halloween festivities, and you couldn't wait to see what he had planned.

As you approached his door, you paused to admire the decorations he had set up. Cobwebs stretched across the corners of the doorframe, and a few mischievous plastic spiders hung from the ceiling, creating an eerie yet charming vibe. The faint sounds of video game battle cries emanated from within, mixing with the occasional giggle from passing students in costume.

With a gentle knock, you pushed the door open, revealing the organized chaos of Idia’s room. Cables snaked across the floor like vines, and various gaming posters adorned the walls, each telling a story of epic adventures and battles fought. The air was filled with the comforting mix of popcorn and the sweet smell of candy.

Idia looked up from his screen, his eyes widening behind his signature blue hair and glasses. “Y/N!” he exclaimed, a hint of surprise coloring his voice. “You came! I mean, not that I expected you not to come. I just thought maybe—” He fumbled over his words, cheeks turning a light shade of pink as he gestured to the mess around him. “Sorry for the mess. I was in the middle of a game.”

You stepped inside, laughing softly. “It’s fine! I love your setup. The decorations are great! It really feels like Halloween in here.” You admired the makeshift haunted house he had built from cardboard boxes, complete with fake bats and a strobe light that flickered eerily.

“Thanks!” Idia said, a shy smile creeping onto his face. “I thought I’d make it a little festive. Halloween is my favorite time of year, even if it’s mostly just me gaming in the dark.” His fingers danced nervously over the controller, the excitement evident in his demeanor.

You settled down on the floor next to him, your heart warm at the sight of his enthusiasm. “What are we playing today?”

Idia’s face lit up with enthusiasm. “Oh! It’s this new RPG that just came out! You get to build your character from scratch, and there’s this Halloween-themed event where you can unlock spooky outfits! There are monsters and magic and… oh, you’ll love it!” He shifted in his chair, excitement radiating from him as he leaned closer, eager to share every detail.

As he explained the plot and the intricate world-building, you noticed how his nervousness seemed to fade away, replaced by the confident glow of someone sharing a passion. The way his eyes sparkled made your heart flutter, and you couldn’t help but smile at the passion he displayed.

The hours melted away as you both played, laughter echoing in the room when Idia would dramatically react to in-game events. His animated expressions—eyes widening in shock or his mouth forming an exaggerated ‘O’ of surprise—made it impossible not to feel a connection with him. You found yourself leaning into his shoulder, sharing the comfort of the moment.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, the room was illuminated only by the glow of the screen and the occasional flicker of the strobe light, casting soft shadows that danced across Idia’s features. You felt a warmth bloom in your chest, the kind that only grew when you were with him.

“Y/N,” he said suddenly, his tone shifting to something more serious. He paused the game, his eyes locking onto yours. “There’s something I need to tell you.”

Your heart raced, a mix of curiosity and anxiety bubbling up inside you. “What is it?”

He took a deep breath, a hesitant smile creeping onto his face. “Everything I do for you isn’t because I feel obligated. It’s because I love doing it.” He ran a hand through his hair, visibly nervous but determined. “I love spoiling you, making you happy. It makes me feel good, knowing that I can make you smile, or laugh, or turn your frown upside down.”

You could feel the sincerity in his words, your heart swelling as he continued. “I want to give you the world, sweetheart. I want to show you way more than that, but the world is all I got. All I can offer.”

His vulnerability was captivating, and you felt a mix of admiration and affection. “Idia, I…” you started, but he interrupted you, his voice lowering to a whisper.

“I don’t know how to kiss, but let me kiss you, and I’ll do it just right.” There was a raw honesty in his expression, and the earnestness behind his words made your heart flutter even faster.

You cupped his cheek gently, feeling the warmth radiate from him. The world around you faded into a soft blur as you stared into his eyes, which reflected a mixture of excitement and fear. “You’ll figure it out,” you whispered, your voice barely audible. “Just trust your instincts.”

With that encouragement, Idia leaned in, hesitantly closing the distance. Your breaths mingled, the moment stretching out like a melody before you both finally met in a soft kiss. It was gentle at first, almost like a question, but it quickly deepened as he found his rhythm. You could feel the heat radiating from him, the warmth of his emotions wrapping around you like a comforting embrace.

When you finally pulled away, both breathless and wide-eyed, you couldn’t help but laugh. “That was… amazing!” you exclaimed, your cheeks flushed with happiness.

“Really?” Idia’s voice was filled with disbelief, his cheeks matching the hue of a sunset. “I mean, I didn’t mess it up completely, right?”

“Not at all!” You grinned, feeling buoyant. “You kissed me like a pro!”

He chuckled nervously, scratching the back of his head. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

With a playful glint in your eyes, you leaned closer. “Just imagining a love life with you makes me sick,” you teased, the warmth of the moment wrapping around you both. “In the best way possible, of course.”

His expression shifted from surprise to pure delight, a genuine smile breaking through his typical shyness. “Sick? In a good way?”

“Exactly! I’m just saying that being with you feels like a wild adventure, and I’m all in for that!” You leaned back, your heart feeling light as a feather.

“Then let’s be adventurers together,” he said, his voice low but filled with resolve. “My love, I would burn down the world if it meant I could be in your arms. And I would spend the rest of my life with you rising above the ashes…”

The sincerity in his voice sent shivers down your spine. You knew in that moment that this was just the beginning of a beautiful journey together.

As the night wore on, the two of you shared stories and dreams, laughing and teasing each other. The connection between you felt electric, alive with possibilities. You nestled closer to him, resting your head on his shoulder as he resumed the game.

“Do you think you’ll ever get tired of me?” he asked, a hint of worry creeping into his tone.

“Not in a million years,” you replied, your voice soft yet firm. “You’re stuck with me, Idia. I like your quirks. I love the way you can get so passionate about things that light you up.”

He turned to look at you, his expression softening. “I’m really glad you think that. I never thought I’d find someone who understands me like you do.”

The vulnerability between you deepened, wrapping you both in a cocoon of intimacy that felt like home. You stayed up late into the night, sharing hopes and dreams, the world outside fading away as you lost yourselves in each other’s laughter and warmth.

As the evening came to a close, you stood at the door, feeling a mix of reluctance and anticipation. Idia followed you, his hands stuffed deep in his pockets as he shuffled beside you.

“Same time tomorrow?” you asked, glancing up at him, your heart fluttering at the thought of another day spent together.

“Of course!” he replied, a wide grin breaking across his face. “I’ll have something special planned for you.”

“Now I’m intrigued,” you teased, leaning closer as you reached for the doorknob.

Idia’s expression turned serious again, and he stepped forward, grabbing your hand before you could open the door. “Y/N, I mean it. You make me want to be better. You inspire me.”

Your heart swelled at his words, and you squeezed his hand gently. “You’re already amazing, Idia. Just be yourself. That’s all I could ever ask for.”

With a final smile exchanged, you stepped out into the cool night air, the stars twinkling above you like a promise. As you walked away, the distant sounds of laughter and the crackling of bonfires filled the air, reminding you that the Halloween festivities were just beginning.

You glanced back at the Ignihyde dormitory, the warmth of Idia's confession lingering in your heart like the glow of the pumpkins outside. Halloween had become a night of magic for you, one filled with the spark of new beginnings and the promise of love growing amidst the flickering lights.

[deviiancetv]

Cinema Starview Presents: It Really Was Agatha All Along

I’m such a lover of the occult, witches, mystical beings and all, so Agatha All Along was a real treat to watch. As someone that loved The Craft, Practical Magic, Halloween Town, Wizard of Oz, Twitches, Hocus Pocus (sorta), AHS Coven, and many other witchy fictional stories in modern day media, this series falls right in line as a potential new comfort show to watch during spooky szn.

I’m not gonna lie, I still hate the name of this show, they could’ve came up or chosen a better name, but that’s not what’s important. Let’s just talk about how well this show was as a return to great storytelling from Marvel, cause they sure as hell have been flopping HARDCORE lately.

For starters can we just give it up to Kathryn Hahn!! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 Kathryn is an amazing actress, her comedic timing is something of perfection. Her role as Agatha Harkness is both cunning, calculated, snarky, and yet deeply flawed and caring to her core. Her connection to Billy at the start of it all at first made me think Joe’s character was gonna be a mix of Nicholas and Billy, but Joe Locke being Billy makes a lot more sense. I loved how her story was both tragic and also had lots of depth to it.

I never did watch Heartstopper (don’t plan to) but he definitely fits the role. I think casting Kit Conner as his other half, Hulkling, would be THEE best casting decision and I hope they do that!! As for who Tommy will be, we’ll have to wait and see but I think Tommy will be introduced in that Vision series or maybe even Wonder Man?? And now that Ghost!Agatha and Billy are a team, I’m intrigued to see what adventures they get themselves in when finding Tommy

Might I add that Billy’s room is full of so much pop culture references!!! Like I’m jealous and I definitely need his room as my moodboard template.

I think I say this for everyone, that Aubrey Plaza kills it everytime in her roles. Her monotone and slightly edgy vibe is what makes her great for shows like this. Her role as Rio/Death was very poetic — the phrase “Death comes for us all” is so cryptic and yet so true. It’s the same thing with change being the only constant in life, and life is full of so many deaths and changes, but also there’s so much growth and birth happening all the time. I’m sure we’ll see Rio again, maybe if they FINALLY introduce Mephisto she could act as a henchmen or bounty hunter of sorts for him.

As for the other witches, Alice’s story was sad, but it didn’t feel fully developed as the other witches. Patti LuPone’s role as Lilia is soooo poignant and wispy (as they say). I love Patti’s roles so much, she’s become a favorite of mine over the years and her portrayal of a divination witch was phenomenal. Sasheer Zamata taking on this role was very interesting, I remember her time on SNL and to see her in a dramatic and whimsical setting like this was a nice change.

I’m just so glad her character Jen was able to be unbound by the spell Agatha placed onto her (as well as the cultural significance that represents). In a way, Jen was a final girl given everybody else died, Billy and Rio don’t officially count since they had grander importance than Jen does in terms of the MCU, but good for Jen. I hope we see her again someday.

This show was a nice return to form for Marvel. I’m not the biggest fan of how they treated Wanda in Multiverse of Madness, but I love the creepy supernatural factor that comes with this area of the MCU. I hope they keep it up, but by the looks of it, I’m sure there gonna be more mediocre content until we get to the end of this Multiverse Saga, however this was a nice break in between.

Jac Schaeffer has done it again ✨ they need to give her a raise and make her in charge of the supernatural sector of the MCU.

SCORE: 8/10 ⭐️

[hollowed-theory-hall]

Hello, what's your opinion on Rita Skeeter and the prees on the wizarding word?

Like, Rita Skeeter as a character — I love her. I think she's lots of fun, and I always found her incredibly entertaining. She's actually one of the smarter characters in the series and isn't given nearly enough credit for how many things she gets shockingly right (when she cares to write the truth and isn't just after a good story, but even then she's hilarious).

Like, I'd buy her books 100% just for the entertainment value. Like, I wish in the set of the Hogwarts library books like Quidditch Through the Ages and Fantastic Beasts we also had the Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore, as in, the whole book.

That being said, like all the press in the Wizarding World, she's crocked as shit.

I mean, The Prophet publishes whatever the minister & Wizengamot tell it to publish. There isn't really freedom of the press since all the large newspapers (yes, even Witch Weekly to a degree) are authorized by the government and push whatever agenda the government wants to push.

Year 5 (and later year 7) are the most glaring examples of that. With Fudge and the ministry going all: "there's no war in Ba-Sung-Se" on Voldemort’s return during Harry's fifth year. Tbh, the moment the official government-founded newspaper started publishing with the intent and purpose of discrediting a 15-year-old more eyebrows should've been raised by literally everyone. Like, no self-respecting would do what they did unless they're lying/hiding something big. (Like, no self-respecting politician with actual power who's secure in their position would do the shit Fudge pulled in year 5. That's like, classic desperation, and grasping to his little remaining power with the skin of his teeth moves. Like, these are moves you do when you know your time's up)

How easy it was for the Death Eaters to take over the press and the ministry is another example of how authoritative the Ministry of Magic, and by extension its press is. They regulate everything from what spells you're allowed to cast, the education, the exams, and travel (portkeys and floo networks can only be set up through a ministry office + apparition license), they regulate the importation and deportation of goods, and almost all of the population works in the ministry or with the ministry in some capacity. They then, of course, control the press completely and the Prophet only publishes what the ministry allows it to publish.

Yes, Rita criticized the ministry after the attack at the Quidditch World Cup (rightfully so, might I add) but that was allowed criticism. You don't see how much control the ministry has over the press when it's business as usual because Fudge knows a story like this would only require a performative slap on some random ministry official's (that isn't him) wrist. It's criticism that affects nothing and doesn't require anything from him, nor does it undermine him personally, so it is allowed. But the moment the ministry needs the Prophet in line, it falls in line. I mean, we see in OotP when Rita doesn't fall in line with the new orders she gets fired:

none other than Rita Skeeter, ex-journalist on the Daily Prophet and one of Hermione’s least favorite people in the world.

(OotP)

(I would give the ministry credit that running a private newspaper like the Quibbler at least isn't illegal. That being said, the bar is at rock bottom).

[hotwaterandmilk]

Wedding Apple voice project announced

It has been a while since the original story of Ai Tenshi Seiki Wedding Apple wrapped up Tap Novel and since then, there hasn't been anything to really report about the series.

But out of the blue last month, an official Twitter/X account for the series opened. Yesterday, it was announced that a voiced version is underway with no other details available beyond the five love angel voice talents.

All five announced cast members are performers affiliated with MusicRay'n as part of their third generation of seiyuu. Internationally, they're all probably best known for their voice work on IDOLY PRIDE. Their roles in Wedding Apple are as follows:

Asahi Ringo/Wedding Apple: Tachibana Mirai

Naeba Sakura/Wedding Cherry: Hinata Moka

Yukishiro Tsubaki/Wedding Camellia: Miyazawa Koharu

Kirino Ayame/Wedding Iris: Aikawa Kanata

Mukasa Ran/Wedding Orchid: Natsume Kokona

The tag "#ウェプル" has also been adopted by the official account, so there's now an official short-hand way of tagging such a looooong title too (I guess we'd say "Wepple" in English, but err, there's currently no equivalent tag for international audiences).

That's all the news that's currently available, though I'm sure that will change as recording progresses and we get more details about how the project will be released.

While I found Wedding Apple dragged at times (compounded by the story's protracted delivery method), there's definitely a sense of nostalgia looking at the Twitter/X account and seeing the series proclaimed as being by Tomita Sukehiro, "the father of battle heroines".

I really do hope this voiced version of Wedding Apple helps lift the story to new heights and new audiences.

Edit: If you're completely unfamiliar with Wedding Apple, you can check out my original post about its launch back in 2021. The series is a "spiritual successor" to the original Wedding Peach franchise starring new characters in a modern setting.

[lovecolibri]

It was never more clear than in last night's episode that KR truly only thought of Buck as "big dumb pretty boy" who was around to be the hot guy on the arm of literally whatever woman they could find so long as it was a woman.

Season 7 has some sins to atone for, but I have tried somewhat to offer it the grace I give season 4 for being a short season shot on a last-minute time crunch and under covid restrictions. We didn't see much of Buck in season 7 and most of what we saw was internal, not a lot of emergencies, though the ones we did get felt more balanced and purposeful to moving the main characters along than we had seen in awhile.

But 8x01? 8x01 was Firefighter Buckley at his absolute best and GOD I have missed him! He was silly, he was spouting off bee facts, he was thinking outside the box and saving lives with his ideas, he was gently communing with the bees, he was gently bullying his work husband partner into being a honey trap for bees, he was having an RSD episode and acting out against the injustice of how everyone is being treated because they're supposed to be a family, he got reprimanded for his ideas but didn't let it stop him from doing it again and again because he KNOWS he can save people!! I just- Firefighter Buckley!!!! 😭😭😭

There is a reason Buck was a fan favorite and we got to see everything this week from his giant kid energy, to his deep anger at injustice, to his stalwart co-parent energy with Eddie and having his back, to his ADHD brain coming up with fun facts and useful solutions.

He wasn't dumbed down for the sake of a joke (fully incorrect info on sperm donation after saying he did tons of research (that the writers clearly did not do) so they could get some cheap masturbation jokes), he wasn't the butt of the joke (lightning killing me gave me math powers because he-he i'm dumb and they don't have a plot for me to deal with it in a meaningful way, we're waiting for a LI to "fix" me, I'm calling every woman I slept with to see if I satisfied them) he was SMART, and CARING, and FRUSTRATED he can't save his family from the abuses they are suffering from and it all just felt so GOOD, and RIGHT, and true to who the Buck the audience fell in love with is. No wonder Oliver said it was the best episode they have done in years. I might have to agree.

[lackadaisycal-art]

I'm getting so sick of major female characters in historical media being incredibly feisty, outspoken and public defenders of women's rights with little to no realistic repercussions. Yes it feels like pandering, yes it's unrealistic and takes me out of the story, yes the dialogue almost always rings false - but beyond all that I think it does such a disservice to the women who lived during those periods. I'm not embarrassed of the women in history who didn't use every chance they had to Stick It To The Man. I'm not ashamed of women who were resigned to or enjoyed their lot in life. They weren't letting the side down by not having and representing modern gender ideals. It says a lot about how you view average ordinary women if the idea of one of your main characters behaving like one makes them seem lame and uninteresting to you.

[poirott]

AGATHA CHRISTIE'S POIROT 1x06 "Triangle at Rhodes"

[nemmet]

world’s greatest vampire hunters!! 💪🧅