#the way Kendall can give life to new worlds and different characters personalities

[t-tomuras]

Seriously like the raw talent and SKILL this app holds I cannot even. I NEED people to understand reblogging so others can experience what so many talented users this site has

[morrisxn02]

{HARRIS DICKINSON, 21, MALE, HE/HIM} Is that EDWARD MORRISON? A JUNIOR originally from MANHATTAN. They’re THE PROUD ELITE on campus, but even they could get blamed for Greer’s disappearance. 

tl;dr: eddie responsible, pragmatic, methodic but he is also frustrated that he still hasn’t found his path in life and is too scared to live life the way he wants to without disappointing his family. i feel like, right now, he’s at this crossroads where he wants to be young and find his path and have fun, but he is too scared this will put all the great things he has in jeopardy.

-– the basics:

full name: edward rufus morrison nicknames: ed, eddie, rufus (if you want to annoy him) + whatever your muse desires age: 21 birthday: march 13th, 2002 birthplace: new york city, new york major: computer science + literature gender: cisgender male sexuality: bisexual

stats - pinterest board - playlist - wanted connections

multimedia character inspirations:

henry winter (the secret history), dickie greenleaf (ripley - 2024), julian fromme (these violent delights), art donaldson (challengers), declan lynch and richard gansey iii (the raven cycle/the dreamer trilogy), kendall and shiv roy (succession), logan dellos (westworld), nate archibald (gossip girl), mahdi (blocco 181)

background:

middle child of the morrison family;

grew up as the family's perfect little golden boy;

his parents always deposited in him the expectations of one day taking on the family business;

was always sort of a conflict mediator at home, which is one of the reasons why his parents love him so much;

always enjoyed reading and studying;

didn't have any big issues growing up aside from sporadic ideological conflicts with his parents;

spent a year in france as a part of an exchange program in high school;

personality:

kind of nihilistic;

matured way too early so he kind of just wants to be young and dumb for a while but will not allow himself to be happy bc he feels like being his dad's ideal of a man is more important;

very creative and artistic;

on the outside he's a conformist, on the inside he's super liberal. he refrains from dabbling in politics, though bc as aware as he can be abt his privilege, he would never give up the nice things he has;

roy-siblings coded: he will do anything to impress an unloving parent because there's no drug more powerful than parental validation

can be very practical when he needs to be, but is usually very much the opposite

he is very VERY lost in life, very frustrated, very unhappy, thinks he's trowing his life away and regrets like 75% of his life choices;

he can be a bit selfish and narcissistic;

thinks he's smarter than everyone;

cannot muster up the courage to confront his family about anything so he can often be found looking forlornly at the horizon wondering abt everything his life could have been;

headcanons

fatally allergic to hornets. he WILL die if he gets stung

loves videogames;

kind of an art/history nerd;

annoying film-bro that carries a mubi tote around and has a criterion channel subscription (also hit him up if you want to borrow any criterion collective exclusive releases);

would have been an actor in another life. LOVES shakespeare;

eddie is kind of closeted with his bisexuality, mostly bc he feels like his parents might start looking at him differently (a few ppl know and he doesn't make a point of hiding it but he won't openly label himself as queer, it's a weird thing but you know where i'm going with this right)

also LOVES winter sports like and is an amazing tennis player but doesn't care much about other sports;

mildly near-sighed

slightly allergic to polyester (as per a collective gc decision lmao)

other tropes: princely young man, gentleman snarker, byronic hero.

RELATIONSHIP TO GREER: Most of his life, Greer was like a best friend inside of their home. Someone with whom he shared most of his fondest memories, like summers in the Hamptons, Christmases in the Alps, and Halloweens at Disney World. Yet, when you grow up in a Succession-esque household, there are certain unspoken rules about loyalty and comradery. Siblinghood was always a game – fun, for the most part, but competitive and always marred by the inevitable awareness that there was always a great deal at stake and that one could end up finding himself on the losing side. Luckily, for most of their lives, the Unfavorite gracefully assumed that position – which neither he, nor Greer ever questioned. But Edward knew that there were always boundaries to his relationship with the golden girl, there were secrets to be kept from her, lies to be told to appease her, because he knew – as his twin did – that Greer would gladly throw any of them under a bus coming in at full speed if she knew that would expand her advantage in their parents’ rankings.

HOW THEY EMBODY THEIR SKELETON TROPE: The linen shirts, the tailored suits and the cashmere sweaters attest to his love of all things fine and luxurious. Edward is the stereotypical Barbie of northeastern rich men: his favorite sport is skiing; he loves a good glass of premium aged scotch; and his go-to Holiday getaway is quick trip to Europe. All this privilege makes him a little out of touch with reality. Sometimes he just doesn’t get the so-called “small pleasures of life”. And all this luxury at his full disposal might make him appear a little too self-assured. He doesn’t do it out of malice or hatred of the less privileged, though, he just loves his life too much not to be all-in in it… 

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: tennis, sailing, writing club, fencing club

[oooohno]

love letters for your moots self ships?

Oooh this is so cute! I’m not sure if these are love letters per se but this is how I see their love 💕

@burnishedcrown Jas & Byakuya are like a fairy tale couple to me - the stuff happy ever afters are made off. They have quite opposite characters but I think that’s really want makes them work so well together! She makes sure there’s no stick up his ass & that he learns how to enjoy himself & Byakuya helps her calm down & focus. They are superb at bringing out the best qualities of the other & making sure their chaotic traits are a bit more under control lol. Also they have the best vacations together - it’s like they thrive extra well when they explore the world together & make new experiences. I also fully believe that Byakuya sometimes gets lost in watching Jas go about her day & cannot get enough of taking in all of her reactions 💗 if I had to assign them a kiss it would be one to the inside of the wrist.

@ohtokki Laura & Akiteru are partners in crime who happen to be so madly in love & 100% made for each other. When I think about their selfship it has to be based off of Laura’s best friend’s older brother stories! They have always been in love with each other it just took them some time to fully realize it & once they did it’s like a damn broke. I absolutely believe that they go on the cutest dates & even the most mundane activities feel like an adventure when they are together (like going grocery shopping & making it feel like a treasure hunt) 💗 their assigned kiss is one to the corner of the mouth (bc they are always teasing each other & it’s such a playful spot).

@kuroosdarling Aimie aims & kuroo are THE power couple. They are each other’s safe heavens after looong stressful days at work and are so good at building each other up so they can go out the next day to kick ass. Their love to me feels like a never ending well of support - it’s like they click on a different level which makes them so good at reading the other person & knowing what they need. They are also quite competitive which gives them such good chemistry too & they definitely tell the other one of all the office gossip (Kuroo thrives on gossip lmao) 💗 their assigned kiss is one to the neck, right below the ear.

@bagladyk K & Osamu are my comfort ship! They scream comfort & warmth to me bc they always try to make the other person feel looked after & taken care of. They are so considerate, thoughtful & attentive and I think their love is all show - a warm meal to wake up to, a surprise visit at work, a new apron with larger pockets to keep love notes in, a warm towel ready for you when you get out of the shower. It’s all these small things that accumulate to make the other person feel so incredibly desired & loved & these two have absolutely mastered this 💗 their assigned kiss is one to the cheek (especially mid chew when osamu cannot contain his adoration for Kate bc he thinks she’s adorable when she eats his food).

@kitashousewife Heids & Kita are soulmates - love at first sight, it struck them like lightning & they instantly knew they were made for each other. And over the years their love is only getting greater - they are constantly learning to love each in different ways & are growing together as a couple but also individually! You can definitely see their love in the life they have created for themselves & how after all this time they still put in the effort to make the other person feel loved & appreciated - consciously loving each other is like breathing to them 💗 their assigned kiss is one on the back of the ring finger (I really wanted to say on the mouth but I could see kita subconsciously seeking out heids ring finger bc he always knew that he’ll propose to her).

@strawberrystepmom Kendall & Natsuo are so incredibly dear to me & they are the epitome of intense (but not suffocating) love. I imagine them having such a domestic relationship - like a week in of dating, natsuo has already bought a second toothbrush for Kendall & is keeping a list of all the things she needs so he can fully stock his apartment to meet all her needs. He wants her to move in ASAP so they can watch all the romcoms together & eat breakfast for dinner. Also I 100% believe they regularly have discussions over made up scenarios (like ‘would you still love me if I was a worm’) and Natsuo will absolutely take this very seriously & will come up with the most elaborate answer to completely eradicate any feelings of doubt - they know to read between the lines & are so good at communicating. I also firmly believe that Natsuo likes to watch Kendall sleep bc he doesn’t wanna be apart for even a second 💗 their assigned kiss is one to the forehead/ hairline (he likes to sniff Kendall’s hair & he thoroughly enjoys the way you look up at him afterwards).

[pagebypagereviews]

Discover 20 Must-Read Books on Social Justice: Transform Your Understanding of Equality, Justice, and Human Rights In a world that constantly grapples with issues of inequality, human rights abuses, and social inertia, books on social justice serve as invaluable resources for creating meaningful change. These 20 must-read books offer diverse perspectives and critical insights into the systemic problems that plague our society, ranging from racial injustice to gender inequality, economic disparity, and beyond. Whether you're an activist, an academic, or simply a concerned citizen, these books will equip you with the knowledge and empathy required to advocate for a fairer, more equitable world. The significance of these works cannot be overstated. They provide the historical context needed to understand present-day inequalities, offer compelling stories that humanize abstract concepts, and propose actionable solutions for achieving justice and equity. Through these pages, readers gain a deeper appreciation of the complex interplay between different forms of oppression and the ways in which society can move towards a more inclusive and humane future. Reading these books isn't just an exercise in intellectual curiosity; it’s a vital step towards solving the entrenched problems that hinder social progress and human rights for all. 20 Must-Read Books on Social Justice Plot Many social justice books revolve around narratives that challenge existing societal structures. For instance, "The Color of Law" by Richard Rothstein explores the history of racially segregated housing in America through meticulously detailed accounts and court cases. Similarly, "Between the World and Me" by Ta-Nehisi Coates is a powerful letter to his son that addresses the complexities of black identity and systemic racism in the United States. Rachel Held Evans' "Inspired: Slaying Giants, Walking on Water, and Loving the Bible Again" offers a personal exploration of faith and social justice, highlighting stories of marginalized communities within religious texts. The plot of "Anger is a Gift" by Mark Oshiro is set in a high school and deals with police brutality and systemic injustice through the lens of a teenage protagonist. Characters Social justice literature often features complex characters who embody the struggle and resilience of marginalized communities. In "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander, the 'characters' are real-life individuals affected by the U.S. criminal justice system's racial biases. Alternatively, in fiction like "The Hate U Give" by Angie Thomas, the protagonist Starr Carter navigates the challenges of racial identity and activism following the police shooting of her childhood friend. "There There" by Tommy Orange features a cast of interconnected Native American characters living in Oakland, whose lives converge at a pow-wow. These characters each experience unique but shared struggles related to cultural identity and historical trauma. "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson focuses on his journey as an attorney with clients on death row, illustrating their humanity and the injustices they face. Writing Style The writing style of social justice books is often direct and emotive, aiming to engage the reader's empathy and awareness. For example, "Evicted" by Matthew Desmond employs a journalistic style, blending detailed reporting with narrative storytelling to highlight the personal and systemic aspects of housing instability. "Hood Feminism" by Mikki Kendall uses a conversational and urgent tone to discuss intersectional feminism and its often overlooked issues. Some authors, like Ibram X. Kendi in "How to Be an Antiracist," adopt an educational yet personal approach, integrating autobiographical elements with scholarly analysis. In contrast, "So You Want to Talk About Race" by Ijeoma Oluo employs a clear, accessible style aimed at making complex racial issues understandable for all readers. Setting Settings in social justice books can

range from urban neighborhoods to rural communities, reflecting diverse issues and cultural contexts. "Just Mercy" predominantly takes place in the Southern United States, where systemic racism in the criminal justice system is particularly entrenched. "The Color Purple" by Alice Walker, set in the early 20th century American South, explores the life and struggles of African American women within a severely oppressive society. "The Underground Railroad" by Colson Whitehead reimagines the historical setting of pre-Civil War America with elements of magical realism, creating an alternate history that underscores the horrors of slavery. Conversely, "Nickel and Dimed" by Barbara Ehrenreich is set in various American cities where the author undertakes low-wage work to reveal the struggles of the working poor. Unique Aspects What sets many social justice books apart is their ability to combine personal narratives with broader social critique. In "Sister Outsider," Audre Lorde merges her poetry and essays to create powerful discourses on intersectionality, race, and feminism. "Stamped from the Beginning" by Ibram X. Kendi offers a comprehensive history of racist ideas in America, distinguishing itself through detailed, scholarly research combined with accessible writing. Another unique aspect is the use of multimedia formats or hybrid genres. In "Citizen: An American Lyric" by Claudia Rankine, prose poetry is used to explore the nuanced everyday experiences of racial microaggressions. Similarly, "March" by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell is a graphic memoir that blends visual art with narrative to depict the civil rights movement. Social Justice Books Books on social justice span a wide range of topics, each contributing uniquely to the discourse on equity. "White Fragility" by Robin DiAngelo discusses the defensive moves white people make when challenged racially and how these behaviors maintain racial inequality. "This Changes Everything" by Naomi Klein tackles climate change, asserting that capitalism is fundamentally at odds with the planet's health, thus calling for systemic change. Furthermore, "Redefining Realness" by Janet Mock provides critical insight into the transgender experience, intersecting issues of gender, race, and socioeconomic status. "Invisible Women" by Caroline Criado Perez exposes the data bias in a world designed for males, highlighting the often invisible systemic inequalities faced by women. Equality Books Books focusing solely on equality aim to address and rectify disparities across various societal dimensions. "Equal Means Equal" by Jessica Neuwirth argues for the necessity of the Equal Rights Amendment to secure equal rights for women under U.S. law. "We Should All Be Feminists" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie presents a compelling case for feminism based on personal experience and cultural critique. Another notable work is "Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race" by Reni Eddo-Lodge, which dissects the history of systemic racism in Britain and its present-day implications. "Equal is Unfair" by Don Watkins and Yaron Brook controversially argues against economic equality, providing a libertarian perspective that sparks critical debate on wealth distribution and social policy. Justice and Equity Justice and equity-themed books often delve into the legal and structural mechanisms that perpetuate injustice. In "Unequal Justice" by Chad Flanders, key considerations of criminal law and their societal implications are examined. "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander is a seminal work analyzing how mass incarceration acts as a contemporary system of racial control. "A People's History of the United States" by Howard Zinn offers an alternative historical narrative focusing on the struggles of working people, people of color, and other marginalized groups. "The Warmth of Other Suns" by Isabel Wilkerson chronicles the Great Migration of African Americans from the South to Northern and Western

cities, exposing the systemic inequalities that prompted this mass exodus, and the ongoing challenges faced in new environments. Human Rights Human rights books often take a global perspective, highlighting both local and international struggles for rights and dignity. "Half the Sky" by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn sheds light on the oppression of women and girls around the world, advocating for gender equality as a human rights issue. "The International Human Rights Movement" by Aryeh Neier traces the historical development of human rights advocacy and its impact on global policies. "American Prison" by Shane Bauer gives a harrowing inside look at the American penal system, based on his undercover work as a guard in a private prison, revealing human rights abuses. "No Friend but the Mountains" by Behrouz Boochani, written clandestinely on a phone from within an Australian detention center, exposes the inhumane treatment of refugees and asylum seekers. Social Change Books on social change often function as both diagnoses of societal problems and blueprints for action. "Rules for Radicals" by Saul Alinsky is a classic manual for community organizing, offering strategic insights into building grassroots movements. "Daring Greatly" by Brené Brown encourages embracing vulnerability and courage as catalysts for social change. "The Shock Doctrine" by Naomi Klein examines how governments and corporations exploit crises to push through controversial policies, advocating for resistance and resilience among affected communities. "Beautiful Trouble," a compilation edited by Andrew Boyd, provides a toolkit for creative activism, documenting successful tactics and strategies from global social movements. Social Justice Books Pros Social justice books offer a comprehensive understanding of societal issues such as racism, sexism, and classism. They provide readers with the historical context and current challenges related to these issues, often presenting narratives that are overlooked. This can foster empathy and critical thinking among readers by exposing them to diverse perspectives. Consequently, readers are more likely to become socially conscious and proactive in advocating for marginalized communities. Cons While enlightening, social justice books can sometimes present information in a manner that may feel overwhelming or polarizing. The depth and complexity of the issues discussed might be challenging for some readers, especially those unfamiliar with the subject. Additionally, these books can occasionally come across as preaching to the choir, failing to change the minds of those who might benefit most from reading them. Readers may also face fatigue from the constant focus on social issues without clear solutions. Equality Books Pros Equality books aim to provide a balanced viewpoint on the necessity of equal rights and opportunities for all. They often highlight the disparities in various sectors such as education, employment, and healthcare, offering insights into systemic inequalities. These books serve as crucial tools for educating the public and can be instrumental in formulating policy changes. They also reinforce the importance of equity and fairness within society, prompting action toward meaningful reforms. Cons Despite their positive intent, equality books can sometimes be critiqued for offering a one-dimensional view of complex issues. They can inadvertently ignore nuances related to intersectionality and may not fully capture the varied experiences within marginalized groups. Additionally, such books often focus heavily on problems without sufficient emphasis on actionable solutions, leaving readers with a sense of helplessness. Finally, they might be less engaging for readers who prefer more narrative-driven content. Justice and Equity Books Pros Justice and equity books provide deep dives into legal and ethical frameworks that govern fairness and justice in society. They often include case studies and legal precedents that make complex concepts more accessible.

These texts are invaluable for students, policymakers, and activists looking to understand the intricate balance between justice and equity. They help readers grasp the importance of reforming justice systems to be more inclusive and equitable, offering practical insights into transitioning theoretical principles into practice. Cons These books can be dense and highly academic, which may deter casual readers. The specialized language and legal jargon used might be difficult for a layperson to understand fully. Additionally, the complex nature of justice and equity might make the books feel theoretical and distant from everyday experiences, reducing their immediacy and practical relevance for some readers. The focus on legal aspects can also overshadow emotional and human elements, making engagement challenging for a broader audience. Human Rights Books Pros Human rights books are pivotal for raising awareness about global injustices and human rights violations. They often incorporate firsthand accounts and case studies that highlight ongoing struggles for basic human dignity. These narratives can be powerful in galvanizing public opinion and mobilizing action. Such books educate readers on international legal instruments and advocacy strategies, empowering individuals to engage in human rights activism, and contributing to a more informed and compassionate society. Cons Because human rights books frequently deal with harrowing and graphic content, they can be emotionally taxing for readers. The focus on severe human rights violations might also create a sense of despair and helplessness, making it difficult for readers to see paths toward positive change. Moreover, the global scope of these books might make it challenging for readers to connect the issues to their local context, potentially reducing their relevance and practical applicability. Social Change Books Pros Social change books inspire and motivate individuals to challenge the status quo and work toward societal improvements. They frequently combine historical accounts with modern examples of successful movements, providing both context and actionable strategies. These books serve as blueprints for organizing and leading change, offering valuable lessons for activists and community leaders. Their optimistic and proactive tone often energizes readers, fostering a sense of agency and the possibility of meaningful impact. Cons On the downside, social change books may sometimes offer an overly simplistic view of complex societal issues. They can be critiqued for not adequately addressing the systemic barriers that make lasting change difficult. Some readers might find these books to be idealistic, lacking practical and realistic steps for grassroots implementation. Additionally, the focus on pioneering figures and large-scale movements might overshadow smaller but significant local efforts, reducing the perceived attainability of social change for ordinary individuals. FAQ What are social justice books? Social justice books focus on issues related to equality, human rights, and the systemic barriers that prevent marginalized groups from achieving equity. They aim to educate and inspire readers to understand and address social injustices. Why should I read equality books? Reading books about equality can broaden your understanding of different perspectives and experiences. They often provide insights into the struggles faced by marginalized communities, helping to foster empathy and drive social change. How can reading about justice and equity make a difference? Reading about justice and equity can help individuals recognize and challenge systemic inequalities. Knowledge gained from these books can empower readers to advocate for policies and practices that promote fairness and justice. What are human rights books? Human rights books cover topics related to basic rights and freedoms that every person should have, regardless of their background. These works often delve into the history, theories, and real-life cases of human rights violations and advancements.

What is social change literature? Social change literature includes works that address how societies can evolve to become more equitable and just. These books often explore successful movements, strategies, and individual stories that have contributed to significant societal transformations. Are these books only for academics or activists? No, these books are for anyone interested in learning more about social justice, equality, and human rights. They are often written to be accessible to a wide audience, including students, professionals, and general readers. How can I find trustworthy sources for these books? Look for books published by reputable academic publishers, authored by experts in social sciences, or recommended by well-known advocacy organizations. Reviews from credible sources like academic journals and established media outlets can also guide you. What if the content is too challenging or upsetting? It's natural to feel challenged or upset by the content in social justice books, as they often deal with difficult subjects. Take breaks if needed, and seek discussions with others who are also interested in these topics. It can also be helpful to balance reading with self-care. Can children or young adults read these books? Yes, many social justice, equality, and human rights books are specifically written for younger audiences. These books use age-appropriate language and examples to help children and young adults understand complex issues. How can I apply what I've learned from these books in real life? Start by incorporating the knowledge into everyday conversations, participating in community activities, or supporting relevant causes and organizations. Advocacy, voting informedly, and continuing to educate yourself and others are practical steps you can take. In conclusion, "20 Must-Read Books on Social Justice" is an essential compilation for anyone committed to understanding and advancing the causes of equality, justice, and human rights. This carefully curated list offers invaluable insights and perspectives that illuminate the complexities of social change and the ongoing struggle for equity. Each book featured in this collection serves as a powerful educational tool, providing historical context, personal narratives, and theoretical frameworks that are crucial for comprehending the multifaceted issues surrounding social justice. From the examination of systemic racism and economic disparity to the exploration of gender inequality and LGBTQ+ rights, these books cover a broad spectrum of critical topics, ensuring a well-rounded understanding for readers. One of the principal benefits of delving into these works is the opportunity to learn from the experiences and wisdom of activists, scholars, and marginalized voices. Books like "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander and "Between the World and Me" by Ta-Nehisi Coates offer compelling critiques of institutional oppression, while titles like "Sister Outsider" by Audre Lorde and "Untamed" by Glennon Doyle provide personal reflections that inspire and challenge the reader to think more deeply about their role in fostering social change. Moreover, this collection underscores the importance of intersectionality, highlighting how various forms of discrimination—whether based on race, gender, class, or sexual orientation—are interconnected and must be addressed holistically. By engaging with these texts, readers gain a more nuanced appreciation of the systemic changes necessary to achieve a more just and equitable society. Aside from broadening intellectual horizons, these books also serve as catalysts for personal growth and activism. They encourage readers to reflect on their own beliefs and behaviors, fostering empathy and motivating action. Whether you are an academic, a student, or simply someone passionate about social justice, this compilation offers the knowledge and inspiration needed to contribute meaningfully to social change. In a world where injustices

are still pervasive, "20 Must-Read Books on Social Justice" is a timely and necessary resource. It not only educates but also empowers, providing the tools and insights required to challenge the status quo and advocate for a more inclusive and equitable world. Reading these books is more than just an intellectual exercise; it is a vital step toward becoming an informed and active participant in the collective effort to achieve justice and equality for all.

[anileahvictoria]

Adam Kendall from My Little House on the Prairie.

Cutie Mark: Adam has always had a fascination with law and thought about becoming a lawyer many times, but ultimately decides he could do more good as a teacher for the blind. His cutie mark was inspired by the saying that justice is blind, so the scales of justice represent balancing his love for the study of law with his responsibilities as a teacher, and husband, and the cloth is Lady Justice’s eye covering that makes her blind, just like Adam is.

I accidentally referred to Little House on the Prairie as My Little House on the Prairie, and this fan art was born. More on that later, It's time for a rant. Adam is my favorite character from the series until I got mad and left the fandom cause they did this beautiful man dirty, so It’s time to rant about it.

#1. The Romance. The romance between Mary and adam was totally out of the blue. When Merry goes blind, she's shipped off to blind school, and her teacher is this capable, intelligent and hard-working young man named Adam Kendal. His teaching still is very much tough love, and he doesn't take crap from his students. Mary starts as a reluctant, uncooperative, self-pitying, closed-minded student doing things like throwing her things across the room. Adam handles all this brilliantly, saying stuff like: if you're gonna make a mess, your gonna clean it up. Doesn't baby her or pitty her AT ALL. Exactly what she needs. After a few months, Mary's attitude changes drastically, and she's thriving thanks to Adam. But when Adam sits her down to teach her some piano, she has a moment of self-doubt: 

Merry: I could never learn...

Adam: I wish you would forget about that. Some of the greatest writers and composers in the worl were blind.Have you ever heard of John Milton? 

Merry: Well of course. He- he wrote Paradise Lost, one of my favorite books.

Adam: Well, he was also blind. Now, do you want to play the piano or not?

Merry: There wouldn't be enough time. You know my family's coming to take me home. They'll be here in a few days.

Adam: It's been a long time, hasn't it, since you've seen your folks?

Merry: It seems like a lifetime. Adam, I'm so scared. I mean... I know I'm ready to go home... But here it's- it's easy, and I've always got you to help me.

Adam: Merry, you can't depend on me forever. And I'll be leaving too. 

Merry: Where are you going?

Adam: To Winoka, to start a new blind school.

Merry: Why didn't you tell me?

Adam: I don't know. It just never came up. 

Merry: Then I'm glad I'm going home.

Adam: Merry, it's not that much different out there. Not really.

And now it gets all angsty:

Merry: Yes, it is. I wouldn't expect you to understand. How could you? 

Adam: Mary...

Mary: The world isn't like the Burton school for the blind. It... It's a huge, dark place filled with... hidden obstacles and... strange sounds and voices coming from faceless people. Even you. I've never even seen you. 

Adam: Well then look at me. 

... And then they start feeling each other's faces and, correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure blind people don't actually do that...

And then it gets randomly and weirdly romantic...

Mary: What color are your eyes?

Adam: Blue.

Mary: Your hair?

Adam: Brown.

Mary: Thank you Adam.

Adam: ...What do you look like, Mary? Ive never seen you either.

Aaaand more face touching.

So apparently, they're a thing now. I'd understand if Adam fell for her cause she looks like a literal angel (seriously, no girl has any business looking that gorgeous), but Adam's blind too. So he's going ultimately off of personality, I'm guessing. And when he first meets Mary, she is not a pleasant person. Yes, she does improve quite a lot, but what makes her any different than all the other students he's taught? It certainly isn't their age, cause Adam's 22 and Mary's 15 (back then, I guess it wasn't a big deal). Also, It creeps me way out that her teacher falls in love with her. The man who spends most hours of the day alone with a vulnerable teenage girl falls in love with said girl AND THEN asks said girl to work for him at his new school in a busy city away from her family where it would just be Adam, Mary, one old man who lives on the top floor, and a few students, not to mention Mary would also be spending the nights there... It's a good thing this isn't that kinda show cause there's a million different ways that could've gone... But because this is Little House on the Prairie, nothing happens, and Adam asks Mary to be his wife soon after she moves in.

#2. Regaining his Sight And Becoming a Lawyer.

This really makes me mad. When Adam gets his sight back and sees the faces of all his friends and, most importantly, his wife for the first time. It's beautiful and wonderful and heaven knows the man deserves a miracle like that, BUT his whole character changes. He goes from a responsible teacher and loving husband who knows who he is and where he's meant to be, to an ambitious young man who would rather chase his dreams of becoming a lawyer than take care of his responsibilities to the school he started, the children he teaches, and the wife he loves. I can understand wanting to go and see the world and do things you couldn't do before, but sighted or blind, he has responsibilities. Mary is kinda left in the dust when Adam makes all these new sighted friends and drags her along to all his fancy lawyer parties while he plays games, runs around laughing and talking, and leaves Mary sitting in a chair all by herself. Like, he doesn't even consider how she must be feeling! He doesn't try to include her in conversations or introduce her to his new friends; she's just a pretty thing that sits there to be cared for. And the thing is, this is exactly what Adam was afraid would happen to him when Mary thought her sight was returning a few episodes ago! Now Adam's new fancy friends get him an opportunity to take some fancy tests to become a lawyer and Adam, without a second thought for Mary, goes off to take the test, not evening considering who would run the school if he passed and became a lawyer. Then some bad stuff happens, and he can't make it to the test, and I'm all relieved cause we all know he belongs with his wife teaching at the school and now he'll see things clearly and get his head off the cloud and onto the here and now. But nooooo, this whole time Mary is hoping he'd fail (and so am I), but when she sees how heartbroken he is, she goes and has a talk with the professor and convinces him to let Adam take the test. He finally relents, and Adam passes and becomes a lawyer, giving the school away to a wonderful woman who teaches there. This whole thing is treated like he made the right choice when he obviously isn't! Not I blame this on the time period the show was made in. Back then, a man had to be ambitious and provide for the family and leave the teaching and such to the woman, so back then, it was a good thing he went off and became a lawyer, but still, I'm mad. Correct me if I'm wrong, but when Adam hands the school over to the lady, Mary no longer teaches there, which means that Adam has taken away Mary's dream of teaching on top of not spending nearly as much time as he used to with her and (though he doesn't realize it and I don't think anyone brings it to his attention cause men are supposed" to do all the work) doesn't let her do things for herself.

#3. He's Fictional.

This one makes me the madest. At first, I turned a blind eye to all these flaws cause I assumed Adam Kendall was based off an actual person, like most characters in the series, but noooo. They made him up just for the tv series. This means his romance with Mary WAS totally random, and Mary staying in the same building as he did BEFORE they were married WAS the writer's choice, and Adam regaining his sight and leaving his wife and school in the dust WAS ALSO THE WRITERS CHOICE! AND he was basically just made to me Mary's husband because Mary doesn't marry or have children in real life. So yeah, my favorite character's development went down the drain. But oh well, that's what we have fanfic and fanart for, am I right? Oh wait, this show is old. No one's made any good fanart/fanfic. K, I'm gonna go cry now. Bye

Also, if anyone has a different opinion or point of view, please tell me about it. I'd love to go back to loving this character, so please change my mind 🥺. 

[melchron]

Nightmare Time Episode 3 Thoughts

I usually save this for the end of my thoughts but I have to say this now. OMG MATT DAHAN!!! I WILL NEVER NOT BE IMPRESSED BY HIM! Usually with the episodes I catch 1 or 2 motifs but I swear I caught everyone this time. And they all fit so well. My attention was evenly split between the music and the story this time. It was so freaking good. Matt deserves all the awards like omg.

I think this is the least laggy the theme has been. Good job going all out for the last one!

I said to my mom "Did Shashona record this video?" and she did!! Great cinematography Shashona!!

I also pointed out the Tim's daddy mask. I said "Aww he's wearing a mask for his son!". I guess my mom got confused and forgot Tim's name because she thought I was talking about Dylan's (nonexistent) son.

THE DRILL PRESSES!!

LEX AND ETHAN

I kind of already knew this but I love that Ethan knows cars. I just likes that he has a hobby.

Lex cares about Tom so much I love it.

WHY DID JANE TRY TO KILL ETHAN?!?!?!? TOM DOESN'T WANT TO MAKE LOVE TO HIM!!!! DID SHE HAVE SOME PERSONAL REASONS LIKE WHY!?!??!

That Lexthan interaction was so cute. I love how he saw she was super sorry and scared and he just stopped being mad and comforted her. They are so cute I can't handle it!!

KENDALL!!! Ok so through out this whole thing I know everyone was excited for their favorite character to come back but I really just wanted to see Kendall again. I guess after BF I assumed we would never see her again because I couldn't see them working with children becoming a normal thing. But when the original cast announcement came out I got so happy to see her name. So I was super excited to see her.

Her covering her hair with a beanie looks better than the wig

UNCLE PAUL I'M SOFT I CAN'T HANDLE THIS!!!!!

Cineplex Teen is like Larry from tawog. I guess we should start calling him Obnoxious Teen then. Until we get a name.

I love that Tim immediately likes Becky. Wish I could say the same for my stepparents.

Santa Claus Is Going To High School bb. Also I want to hear the rest of that song. Also also how many wigs does Lauren own?

TONY GREEN

Why must they make love to this movie everytime? Can't we simply just watch it and make fun of like normal people? That way Tim can enjoy it too.

Good for Jane for making sure her son doesn't have to eat disgusting school lunch. She gets good mom points.

Aww Becky reassuring him he's not a Dummy

Becky is like really horny this episode. Honestly Tom's into so go ahead girl

JAIME IS JANE

OK OK OK SO Jane said they were driving home from her parents house. Which means they were still alive when Jane died. That was only a year and a half ago so the Perkins parents might have died more recently than we thought. It's like Spring of 2019 right? So Jane died around Fall 2017. I don't remember if this was said in the show (it probably was and I'm saying nothing new) but I think Black Friday takes place about a year after her death. Tgwdlm took place October 2018. They have to have died only a few months before then. How long had Emma been in Hatchetfield before tgwdlm? Maybe there is a possibility we can see a flashback of an interaction with her parents depending on how long it's been. Also that means Emma lost her whole family in the span of a few months omg. And Tim lost his mom and his grandparents in that time. I want to see how they grieved with all of that. Also I know I'm crossing universes here but Emma also almost died the same day Jane did. Some strange force must really have it out for the Perkins family. Good on Emma for surviving like a champ.

Ok so I thought they went scouting for girls because Jane didn't want the man she loved to have to devote the rest of his life to a car. I thought she was trying to help him move on. She was getting good lover points but those have since been redacted.

Jane is definitely bi and I love that for her. I don't care if she tried to kill her new crush. It was new enough for it to mean nothing.

GREENPEACE GIRL

Tom does look like a creep ngl

Jane reminds us she's a car a lot. Like girl we get it.

No. No. No. NO NO NO NO NO NO NOPE! We're not talking about it. I don't want to. I stared at James the whole and honestly same dude. I saw Nick in my peripheral vision and loved/hated that he was laughing. RIP to me watching this with my mom. RIP to Kendall. Actually rip to everyone who had to sit through that. RIP to Jaime and Dylan for having to perform that. RIP to the cursed rehearsals. Matt and Nick seriously took the time to sit down and write that. What the heck you two?!? This made me more uncomfy than the entirety of mamd and Ted's character combined. I wish I was exaggerating. Maybe this was just me but it felt longer than it needed to. The relief and worry I felt when Tim walked in is a feeling I can not explain. Glad he was clueless.

Tim sweetie I love you but SHUT UP

Jane is crazy and Jaime is doing such an amazing job at portraying that.

Yes Tom. Because grave digging is way crazier than possessed cars.

I asked my mom why the didn't just go grave digging for Jane's body but my mom said the body is probably all rotted and gross so that explains that.

Why didn't Becky just go inside? If she went far enough I doubt Jane would have been able to hit her even if she managed to break into the house. Also let's assume Becky's house had an upstairs. There, perfect safety.

Did Becky seriously die in the same woods as Stanley?

Ok so I thought the tree thing was a reference to little Irish girl Becky from the Black Friday sk10 stream. But now it seems like something more serious and bad happened so I'm curious.

DID JANE GET TOM ARRESTED?!?!? It seemed like she could drive herself at that point. Why not let him get out and get Becky yourself? Is this that self confidence thing Tom talked about?

Is she really about to have her son be obsessed with Ms. Becky for the rest of their lives or is she gonna tell him?

This next episode made me physically jump twice. I say literally a lot but I promise you I'm using it correctly when I say I literally jumped.

KENDALL'S SINGING

I saw the thing about the ukelele being a bday gift from the cast so this was super sweet

Ok personal time. My grandmother's name is Pamela and my mom decided to permanently cut ties with her a few months ago due to her abusive behavior. Me and my sibling are still allowed to talk to her whenever we please but we haven't seen her as much as we used to. I got kind of scared watching this with my mom because I was scared this would trigger something. She didn't say anything and I didn't want to bother her about if she was fine so I didn't say anything. Anyway this just kind of hit different for me.

JAIME'S RANGE OMG

"I want to be alone with my man." Ms what are you about to do to your Tv?

DON'T GIVE HER BEER

Duke seems chill. I like him.

LEX AND ETHAN GOT ARRESTED!?!?!? FOR SELLING HER PILLS!?!??! THAT SHE TOLD THEM TO SELL!?!?!? I HATE HER!!!

Does Ms. Foster have a type or is being male good enough?

Hannah's 14? I thought she was the same age as Tim. I could have sworn in the BF commentary track they said she was 9 or 10. Did my brain make that up?

How does Kim change her hair so quickly? She did this in episode 2 too? I could never. I am very impressed.

Curt and Kim talking over the phone while standing shoulder to shoulder was funnier than it should have been

Ms. Holloway is cool. YAY MOSTLY GOOD WITCHES

How does Ms. Holloway know? I need a backstory please!!

Ok so I saw Jon in his cape and thought he might be the with. But then I saw James in his cape I y'know stopped thinking that. Anyway I'm obsessed with Jon and James in capes. Kind of wish Corey had one too.

OH I JUST THOUGHT THIS AS I'M TYPING NOW ok so that tree she was talking to at the beginning was one of the tree people. I'm embarrassed it took me this long to realise it.

Hannah is way too calm about these talking trees and sometimes spider ladies. I respect that.

There was a lot of black and white theming in this episode. More than normal. It makes me more curious about what exactly Hannah's connection to it is.

Hannah almost died in her own mind. I was kinda hating Ms. Holloway in this moment because she forced Hannah to go into her mind. But I know she had to so I'm cool with her again.

THE STARLIGHT THEATER

Did she really say just don't be scared next time? Like miss some actual advice would help.

CAN MS. HOLLOWAY'S MIND LEAVE HANNAH ALONE?? Like I know you didn't get the reaction you wanted out of her but you're seriously gonna give up and go for a little girl instead. Pathetic.

"What's shakin', Banana?" That was the first time I jumped.

WIGGLY

What exactly is that 6-legged girl? I wish we had a visual. Also how couldn't Ms. Holloway help her? What was her issue? Npmd you got anything for me?

Wiley. Just seeing him come up. That was the second time I jumped.

Also everyone already said this but props to Joey for his commitment. Shaving in between episodes like omg sir you didn't have to go all out for this. But you did and I appreciate you for it. Also HE KEPT THE JACKET?? WHAT!??! Just fully committed to this character go off Joey!!

Usually I would laugh at stuff phasing through the green screen but this just made it creepier.

HOLLOWAY AND WILEY/WILBUR BACKSTORY PLEASE

But also I love how the script had him listed at Wilbur above his lines. I remember Nick called him Wilbur once in the commentary track (possibly by accident) but it's nice to have it in cannon. I don't remember I any of the characters called him Wilbur because I'm so used to seeing Wilbur and Wiley used interchangeably but this was just nice to have canonized.

DUKE PAY ATTENTION!! FREAKING USELESS RIGHT NOW!!!

Dang Wiley she was already being choked in the physical world you didn't have to choke her in her mind too calm down

YAY MORE DOLLS

NICK I WAS KIDDING ABOUT AN APOTHEOSIS DOLL

Is the mouth one (I see we've named him Nibbly. Good because his full name is too long to type out) gonna be the npmd villain? The pick color theme seems cool.

ANGELA'S TRANSITION THOUGH!!! Omg she switched roles seamlessly. And her voice too!! Go off Angela.

MARIAH IS WEBBY

This is random and unrelated but I never noticed how big Mariah's eyes were before.

So Webby and the Doll Gang are all siblings? I find it interesting that the were described to all where black. And Webby's color theme is white. Like how the good and bad ukeleles were white and black. This might sound really dumb see as we don't have a 100% accurate visual of the black and white but I wonder if Webby ever left would it be 100% black? Like if Wiggly went through the portal would it become a little less black? Does this make sense? Also I'm starting to see the black and white as less of a bad place. Its starting to see more ominously neutral.

Hannah's favorite show is He-Man no I do accept criticism.

Ms. Holloway is a nerd. She saw Hannah make the reference and was like "Huh. I f she likes He-Man maybe making this hat a reference will make her like me." She would only know if she watched the show. But then again she seems to be stuck in the 80s so maybe she just thinks that's what's popular with the kids.

MS. HOLLOWAY PLEASE GET LEX AND ETHAN BACK

AND ANOTHER GREAT SONG TO END IT OFF

This episode was......a lot. So much happened. Loved all of it. I am scared of Nick and Matt's minds but also incredibly grateful for them. As usual everyone's acting was top notch.

I love this episode.

Also I'm just gonna say it. Jon ruined Nick's season one reveal.

[queen-of-the-avengers]

It’s What Family Does

Characters: Carol Danvers x Barnes!Reader, Bucky Barnes

Word Count: 1,567

Warnings: fear of being rejected (for being gay), mostly fluff

Summary: Your relationship with Carol isn’t exactly known, and she encourages you to tell your brother despite your fears of being rejected.

Squares Filled: date night jar for marvelfluffbingo (1st card) // drugged for @hc-bingo​ // siblings for @ladiesbingo // if you want a thing done well do it yourself for @as-the-saying-goes-bingo​ // carol danvers/captain marvel for @ladiesofmarvelbingo​ // tucking their hair behind their ear for @fluffbingo​ // grocery run for buckybarnesbingo (1st card) // boarding school for @marvelbingo​

Author’s Note: If you have any requests, please send them in! This is unbeta’d and any and all mistakes are all on me.

Feedback the glue that holds my writing together

Tags at the bottom

Your mother and father were never there for you like your brother was. He’s the one you can always count on to be there. He’s the one who took care of you since he’s ten years older than you. Your parents often told you how you were not planned and a surprise, but James treated you like family. When he turned 18, he was out of the house and left you with your parents. You were 10, and since their star child was gone, it wasn’t a good time for you. They neglected you so much that they thought sending you to boarding school was a good idea.

To them, it was. To you, it was one of the worst things they could have done. By then, James was already getting enlisted into the army, and you were left to defend yourself against every single person at your school. Students, you could handle just fine. It was the teachers you had to be worried about… especially the Dean of Students.

She was the meanest of them all and would often humiliate the kids if she saw something she didn’t like. She’d go around to the different classrooms and observe for a while. If she saw something a kid was doing and she didn’t like it, they would be in a world of pain. You bet she just liked to pick stuff out on the spot just to get at these kids. You were miserable there.

When you finally had a chance to write to your big brother, he took you out of the school immediately. When you enrolled, you put your brother down as your emergency contact instead of your mother. He saved you from three and a half more years of hell. He let you stay in the apartment he was staying at while he went off to active duty once more. Whenever he got off, he’d come back into your arms since you missed him so much.

It broke your heart when you found out he died. Your whole world shattered around you. It’s how HYDRA was able to find you in the first place. You became reckless and got yourself captured. Yes, it was your fault you went through worse hell than the Dean of Students. You’d take her over the torture you endured while with HYRDA. When you found out they were keeping your brother and what they did to him, you were enraged. They wanted him to fight and kill you, but he took one look at you and he was able to beat whatever mind games they had over him.

That’s how strong your bond is with him. It’s been like that ever since you could remember. It’s even stronger now since you and James were free of HYDRA and everything else. The only thing you had a problem with is new enemies trying to take over the Avengers and break them apart. Recently, you had to go save your brother from a drug lord who wanted to use his abilities for his drug cartel.

It’s one thing to mess with James, but it’s another thing to bring you into it. People should be more afraid of you if they mess with him and vice versa. You lost him once, you weren't going to lose him again.

“James!” you screamed when you entered the place he was being held.

“Yeah, scream louder. Make sure they know we’re here,” Carol scoffed.

“He is my brother. I am not going to let anything happen to him. You find the men, I’ll go save my brother,” you decided and left on your own. Carol knew there was no getting through to you when your brother was involved. She left in the opposite direction since she can handle every man that threw themselves at her.

Luck was on your side since the first room you looked into contained James.

“James!” you rushed over to him.

“Y/N?” he muttered.

“I’m here. You’re okay. God, what did they do to you?” you muttered.

“I’m okay, it doesn’t hurt,” he whispered. The serum inside his body prevented him from being affected too much. HYDRA’s drugs were way worse than whatever these drug lords had with them.

“Still, come on. We’re going to get out out of here.”

“We?”

“Carol’s with me. Come on,” you huffed and got him to his feet.

He and Carol didn’t get along at first, but it’s important to you that they do now. Carol is the love of your life, and it would be a shame if your brother didn’t like her. He’s very protective, and he often imagined you being with a nice man and settling down. He doesn’t even know you’re into women. You and Carol started dating only a few months ago, but still. He should know who’s in your life.

“He’s going to take it well,” Carol says and grabs your hand.

“I hope so,” you sigh.

“Where is he?”

“I sent him on a grocery run. I need more time. I panicked.”

“Would this get your mind off it?” she asks and pulls out the date night jar you two made a long time ago. You never got to use it since there was mission upon mission to keep you busy.

“I forgot about that,” you chuckle.

She reaches into the jar and messes with the wooden sticks before pulling one out. On one side it reads, “cook dinner”. Carol knew nothing of the sort, but luckily you learned at a young age. The skill never left you even after all these years.

“You can’t cook to save your life,” you laugh.

“Yeah, but you can. Show me. I’m a quick learner,” she smirks.

“This is going to be a disaster,” you smile.

You and Carol walk into the kitchen to get food started. Actually, it’s not a bad idea to cook dinner since James could join you when he gets back. You did give him a pretty long list and Tony’s credit card. He might not be back for a while which gives you more time to tell him of your girlfriend,

While you are busy overthinking, Carol gathers the ingredients for something simple: spaghetti. You give her the simple task of boiling the noodles while you start on the meatballs. This is something you often made for you and James whenever he came back from the war.

“Let me help with that,” Carol states.

“You sure you can handle it?”

“I can handle it just fine,” she scoffs playfully and grabs chunks of meat in her hands.

You watch with a smile since it’s clear she doesn’t know what she’s doing. She skipped a few steps and went straight to making the ball.

“Carol, sweetie?”

“Yeah?”

“You’re doing it wrong.”

“I had a feeling I was,” she laughs. “Show me?”

Instead of doing it for her, you wrap your arms around her waist from behind to tell her what to do. After mixing the breading that is going to be used to coat and hold the meat together, you intertwined your fingers with hers to begin mixing everything together.

“If this is what cooking is, I kind of like it,” she smirks.

“Y/N, I’m home!” James calls out.

You immediately stake a step back away Carol and grab a towel to clean your hands of the meat and other gook. He walks in the kitchen with bags in his hands with most of them resting on his metal arm. He can’t feel how heavy it is, plus, he knows it can hold a lot of weight. T’Challa made sure to make him a sturdy arm.

“Oh, hey Carol.”

“Hi,” she nods.

She catches your eye and motions them to your brother. This is the time to tell him about you two. If you want a thing done right, then do it yourself.

“Look, James, I have something to tell you, and I should have told you when it happened, but I didn’t know how you were going to react. Carol and I are dating. We have been for a few months. I know what you’re going to say. I know you’ve always wanted me with a nice man, but Carol is something special. We just connected in ways I didn’t realize were possible. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you,” you sigh.

“Are you happy?” he asks after a while.

“So happy. She makes me very happy,” you say while looking at her.

A piece of her hair fell in front of her eyes, and you reach over to tuck it behind her ear. She gives you a wide smile when you cup her chin with her thumb.

“Then I’m happy for you.”

“What?” you ask, turning to face him.

“I’m happy for you. It’s not a secret you’ve been smiling more, and now I realize why. You should have told me when it happened, but I’m glad I know now.”

“Thanks, James,” you whispered.

“Do you want to have dinner with us?”

“It’s spaghetti.”

“I’d love to,” James hugs you tightly. “Plus, I need to know if she’s suitable for my baby sister.”

“James!” you whined.

He is only teasing, but you’re glad he knows. There is nothing you can tell him that would make his opinion of you change. He loves you with all his heart and can learn to love the person you do.

If you want to be tagged, add yourself to this document! If your tag doesn’t work, find out why!

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[queen-of-deans-booty]

Drops of Jupiter

Characters: Jensen Ackles x Reader

Word Count: 1,810

Warnings: minor mentions of psychological abuse in relationships, fluff at the end

Summary: You finally reutrn home after a longtrip around the world. You miss your best friend, but he may miss you more.

Beta: she wants to remain anonymous

Squares Filled: drops of jupiter by train for spnsongbingochallenge (2019 card) // road trip for @spngenrebingo

Author’s Note: If you have any requests, please send them in!

Feedback the glue that holds my writing together

Tags at the bottom

One thing I hate doing is saying goodbye to the love of my life. She doesn’t know she’s the love of my life, but it’s not like I can just tell her that. She has big dreams to travel the world and experience many cultures and try different kinds of food from their native place. I’m stuck on the set of Supernatural, and while I love my job with all of my heart, it kills me that I can’t give her what she wants.

Each time she comes back, she’s changed in some way, but I know the woman I fell for is still underneath all the tan skin and sun-kissed hair. I want to tell her to stay with me, but how can I take away her dreams? I'm nobody, and I can’t give her the world right now. I can give her my world, but I don’t think she wants that.

Now that she's back in the atmosphere With drops of Jupiter in her hair, hey, hey She acts like summer and walks like rain Reminds me that there's a-time to change, hey, hey Since the return of her stay on the moon She listens like spring and she talks like June, hey, hey Hey, hey

She’s finally back. We stopped filming for the week since the director needed to go to the hospital where his family is. I offered to direct, but he had a set vision for these next few episodes that production will pick back up when he gets back. Y/N is back in town, and I know she’s going to tell me all about how she loved the places she visited. I offered to meet her at a coffee shop, which is where I’m heading now. I can’t wait to see her even if she might be a different person.

She’s there when I arrive, and I can’t help but stare at the person she’s become. Is it weird all I see is the girl I grew up with? The girl that used to invite me to her sleepovers because I didn’t have many guy friends of my own? I wasn’t allowed to sleep in her room per her parent’s request, but that didn’t stop her from coming to me. We all slept in the living room because she didn’t want me feeling left out.

Now she’s here, and I can see the physical change. She looks brighter, happier, and I wonder if meeting me was something she felt like she had to do. Her hair is brighter, her skin is darker, and she wears the clothes from her many journeys across the world. She looks warm and bright, but all I can think about is how graceful and beautiful she can be. She resembles rain for being so delicate and gentle.

“Jensen!” she calls my name once she sees me. I force a smile on my face and head over to her. I give her a tight hug, and I can tell she’s lost a lot of weight. I don’t know if it’s a good thing or not.

“Wow, you look amazing,” I compliment as we take out seats.

“I would hope so. I didn’t spend a whole week at Barbados for nothing,” she laughs. She immediately digs in deep about where she’s been and what she’s been doing, and I try my best to listen to her. All I can focus on is how dreamy she looks when she talks of these places.

She would never want to stay here in Vancouver with me. Why would she when she’s experienced the world?

But tell me did you sail across the sun Did you make it to the Milky Way to see the lights all faded And that heaven is overrated?

“Are you happy?” I ask.

“What do you mean?” she wonders and takes a bite of the salad she ordered when she got here.

“Is the world everything you thought it would be?”

“And more!” she exclaims. “I never thought I would ever see such beautiful landmarks! I mean the beaches are so clear, the people are so nice, and the food is delicious! I don’t know why I didn't do this sooner!”

She tells me all the reasons she loves traveling, but she never mentions the people she’s with. I know she went on her own, but she must have made friends along the way. All I’m hearing about is nature and how good the food is. That’s no way to travel. I’ve tried going to places by myself, and it’s never as fun as going with someone I love. It’s why I love going to conventions with Jared, Misha, and the rest of the cast. It’s about making memories with the people you love, not about the places you visit.

She can be just as happy here with me if she can only see I’m the one she should be with.

Tell me did you fall from a shooting star One without a permanent scar And did you miss me while you were looking for yourself out there?

I’m nowhere near perfect, but I think I can offer a lot more than she’s expecting. I have a great job if she’s interested in money (which I know she isn’t). I make her laugh, which is kind of important, in my opinion. I see the pictures she posted on her social media, and the smile she shows is not nearly as big as the one she has when I’m with her.

I feel as if she looks at the world through a corrected lense, and only sees what she wants to see. I’m real, I’m here, and I have scars that will be there for the rest of my life--emotional and physical. There are no lenses that can cover them up. I don’t know if that’s what scares her, but I don’t know how to tell her that these scars made me a better person.

Did she even miss me while she was out there, living her life? Did she meet guys and have fun with them while I’m back here wishing I was with her? Can’t she see how much this is affecting me? Or does she not care at all?

Now that she's back in the atmosphere I'm afraid that she might think of me as Plain ol' Jane, told a story about a man who is too afraid to fly so he never did land

While I have been around the world for conventions, I don’t really have any experiences from those countries. I go there, talk in front of groups, maybe sing, and then it’s off to the next country. I don’t really get time to myself to explore and make my own memories. Does Y/N think I’m too boring for her? Does she want someone as adventurous as her? I can be adventurous, but my job comes first. Supernatural is ending soon, so maybe after I’ll have some time for myself. Will she still be here when it’s over?

I guess the one thing I’m afraid of is her traveling, meeting new people, and telling them of me--the guy she knew back home who is too afraid to actually do something with my life. I don’t see myself as that kind of guy, but whenever she rolls into town, I can’t help but see that. Will I ever be good enough for her?

Can you imagine no love, pride, deep-fried chicken Your best friend always sticking up for you Even when I know you're wrong Can you imagine no first dance, freeze-dried romance Five-hour phone conversation The best soy latte that you ever had, and me

“Did you even miss me at all?” I blurt out, interrupting her story of how she went surfing with strangers she met in Australia.

“What?” she asks, her voice softening.

“You know, you travel all around the world, and I am so happy for you. I am so unbelievably happy for you that you get to do what you’ve always dreamed of doing. But don’t you miss me? I sure as hell miss you. I wasn’t going to say anything, but I don’t think I can do this anymore, Y/N.

“Don’t you miss having deep-fried chicken with me in my trailer? How we challenge each other who can finish the bucket first without throwing up? Don’t you miss the way I stick up for you in arguments I know you’re wrong? I still do it anyway because I love the way you smile and giggle when you’ve won.

“Don’t you miss the way we would dance together at Supernatural parties. That first dance when your heart pounds in excitement and nerves? What about the five-hour phone conversations we would have when we couldn’t sleep at night? You know, I haven’t heard your voice in over seven months because you’re up with I’m sleeping and vice versa.

“Don’t you miss the way I would bring you your soy latte that I know you like? I never got it wrong, and I don’t think people in Italy or Russia knows you the way I do. You can travel around the world and see all these great places, but they don’t have me. Don’t you miss me? Because I miss you every damn second of my life, and it kills me to see you so happy without me.”

“Jensen,” she whispers as a tear fell from her eye. I fear I’ve gone too far and ruined whatever we had left, but she gets up and joins me on my side of the booth.

“I miss you more than you realize. These places are no fun without you. That’s why I try to do all these fun things so I can forget how much I miss you. But, I stay alone in my hotel room every night and just cry because you’re not there next to me. It’s why I left early and came back. I don’t want to do this without you.”

“I can't go anywhere until filming is done. I have conventions in the summer, the cast and I need to go to.”

“It doesn’t matter. Anywhere with you is an adventure. You are what makes it fun. I’m sorry I didn’t realize it sooner, but I’m realizing it now. I love you so much.”

“I love you too,” I struggle to get out because of how emotional I am. I waste no time and cup her cheeks. She meets me halfway, and I finally get to feel what her lips are like, how soft they can be, and what they taste like. The woman I used to know is coming out of her shell, and I’m proud of myself for finding her. She is nowhere near done experiencing the world, but she’ll wait for me to see the rest.

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[dvp95]

quiet on widow’s peak (11)

pairing: dan howell/phil lester, pj liguori/sophie newton/chris kendall rating: teen & up tags: paranormal investigator, mystery, online friendship, slow burn, strangers to lovers, nonbinary character, trans character, background poly, phil does some buzzfeed unsolved shit and dan is a fan word count: 3.1k (this chapter), 35.5k (total) summary: Phil’s got a list of paranormal experiences a mile long that he likes to share with the world. Abandoned buildings, cemeteries, and ghost stories have always called his name, and a particular fan of his has a really, really good ghost story.

read this chapter on ao3 or here!

Phil hates taking public transit anywhere that he hasn't memorized a route and the inevitable issues with it, but he's not about to ask his parents for a ride to the city. In fact, he ducks out of the house with nothing but a 'be back later' tossed over his shoulder. His stomach is making unhappy noises the entire ride to the Rusholme area, and he regrets not putting a cereal bar or something in his bag after his parents went to sleep. He supposes that he could have braved breakfast and his parents' disappointment, but he desperately did not want to deal with that so early in the morning.

He's grumpy from lack of caffeine and food by the time he tumbles into the coffee shop, but he can't help his mouth from curving upwards when he sees Dan behind the counter. They're handling a customer, but their face lights up when they make eye contact with him, like they thought he wouldn't show. Phil gives them a little wave and drops his stuff on an armchair by the cozy fireplace. He's planning on being here for a while, he might as well stake his claim on the good seat now.

The fact that the chair has an unobstructed view of the counter isn't on purpose, but Phil can't pretend he isn't happy about it. He takes his jacket and scarf off, waiting for the stranger to go away so he doesn't have to hem and haw over his breakfast choice with an audience.

Phil should probably be using this time to look at the drinks on the chalkboard menu or the fresh pastries in the case, but he's too distracted.

It's been a day. A single day. Less, even, since it hasn't been a full 24 hours. And yet his eyes keep drifting back to Dan like it's been ages since he's seen them. Their eyes are lined thickly with what looks like black ink and their lips are shiny, but their face is otherwise bare. Phil wouldn't be able to clock the lack of makeup at all if he hadn't woken up beside Dan's clean face and accidentally memorized it.

Finally, the customer leaves, and Phil is free to approach the bar without feeling like an idiot. He gives Dan a sheepish sort of grin as he sidles up, only now looking at his options.

"Morning," says Dan, in that vaguely cheerful customer service voice. They push their sleeves up to their elbows like they need to be doing something with their hands, and Phil gets distracted again by the new shade on their nails and the shape of their forearms. "What can I get you?"

"Uh," Phil says eloquently. "Coffee. And food?"

Dan's smile twists into a smirk and they look like they're barely holding back laughter. "Funnily enough, we do those things here. Do you know what kind of, uh, coffee and food you want?"

It takes all of Phil's self control not to flip Dan off or tease them right back. He wouldn't bother holding back, normally, but there's a man with a 'manager' nametag working the espresso machine and the last thing he wants is to get Dan in trouble. Phil turns his attention to the menu again. He's retaining just as much nothing as he was before. "Uh," he says again. After a moment of thought that lasts far too long, Phil ends up shrugging. "Surprise me?"

"Sure," says Dan. Their eyes are sparkling, and Phil finds that just as hard to look away from as the glitter that had been on their face before.

"I'm kinda lactose intolerant," Phil informs them, just for something to say that he doesn't have to think too hard about. "And I like sugar. Like a lot."

"I can work with that." Dan shoos him away with their big hands, still smirking. "Go on, go sit down. If we get busy back here I'll call for you, but I can probably just bring it over."

Phil glances at the manager. "You sure?"

Dan follows his gaze, brow furrowed in slight confusion, and then rolls their eyes. "Yes, I'm sure. Gabe doesn't give a shit if we talk to our friends as long as we get our work done. Right, Gabe?"

"Whatever," Gabe says, almost monotone in how little he seems to care.

"It's fine," says Dan. "Go. Sit."

Phil doesn't have much of a choice but to go take up camp by the fireplace. He takes out his phone and checks in with his friends to make sure they got home alright and to subtly see if any of them are mad at him. He doesn't like the idea of them feeling like the whole weekend was a bust - even if it kind of was - and he likes the idea of them being irritated with him even less. He's having enough trouble with the reality of his parents being unhappy with his choices.

The last thing he needs is for the other important people in his life to be feeling the same way. He fields PJ's concern and Chris' flirting and Sophie's helpful links to sleep paralysis theories with relative ease. He doesn't care about his own problems with the Wilkins place or the situation he's put himself in as much as he cares about what his best friends think.

The fact of the matter is, Phil knows he can't do this forever. He doesn't need his parents telling him that. He likes what he does, more often than not, but it's getting harder and harder to keep pushing himself into a routine that he might have outgrown by now.

He has so many ideas. There are so many stories he wants to tell and far too many different ways he could be telling them. He wonders if he keeps going back to other peoples' ghost stories because it's easier, safer, than putting innermost parts of himself out there for public consumption. Luckily, his friends aren't pushing him yet. He imagines it's only a matter of time before they notice that he's just going through the motions.

Even so, he doesn't like hearing things from his parents about his wasted potential. He doesn't need them to say what he's already thinking about all the time.

"Hey, you still on Earth?"

Phil starts a bit and almost drops his phone. Dan is standing there, setting a steaming mug and a cinnamon roll on the rickety end table at Phil's elbow. They smile at him and he smiles back, just a little embarrassed about zoning out so drastically.

"Sorry," he says, immediately reaching for the mug. "Haven't had coffee yet."

"What a tragedy," says Dan.

"It is," Phil insists. He takes a big gulp of the drink, ignoring Dan's protests that it's too hot. The mix of chocolate and cocoa hit his tongue and probably scald it, but Phil isn't about to start waiting for his drinks to cool down now. He hums happily and fits both hands around the mug to leech its warmth. "Oh, this is good."

He doesn't think he's imagining how pleased Dan looks by the compliment, but he manages to half convince himself that they're just proud of their barista-ing skills.

"Thanks," Dan says happily. They shift their weight from one foot to the other and pull their sleeves back down. Phil wonders if they're actually getting warm and then cold again, or if they just don't know how to act when their hands aren't busy with something. Phil notices that the shop is more or less dead - there's a trio of students with earphones in and textbooks open by the window and Gabe obviously continues to exist behind the counter, but it's not at all the same vibe as spending a late morning in a Brighton Starbucks. Phil has done that many times, and all it ever manages to do is make his anxiety worse.

He doesn't feel like that here, like he's taking up space and not moving fast enough. He feels like he's allowed to loiter here as long as he wants to, as long as he keeps buying coffee and doesn't distract Dan too much. It's nice.

"Are you just gonna stand there?" Phil asks.

Dan's cheeks flush a bit, more obvious without the glitter and skin-like paste - Sophie might have called it foundation, once, but Phil thinks that's probably a house term and not a face term and he hadn't actually been listening closely.

"Well, yeah," they say with a tiny shrug. "I can only sit down for a bit at a time until my breaks, but Gabe doesn't care if I hang out over here. I just gotta look busy."

"Okay," says Phil. He waits for another couple of seconds before he gently adds, "You don't look busy."

Something in Phil's stomach twists when Dan blushes deeper and starts pretending to organize the trinkets on the mantle. He wonders how much of Dan's insistence on moving around is because of where they are and how much of it is their inability to sit still. It's unfortunate how cute Phil finds them. He really shouldn't.

He decides to put off this line of thought, again, because he's got a cinnamon roll and an unfortunately-cute person to focus on. He's not going to think about how many times he's already procrastinated this budding crush. He eats and drinks and makes idle comments about where certain things should be and generally winds Dan up a bit. They only manage to sit still for a couple minutes at a time, even though they need to help a total of customers twice more before Phil needs a refill.

The drink Dan brings over this time is a different colour than the mocha, and Phil sniffs at it suspiciously before taking a sip. He was raised well, so he doesn't spit it out, but it's a close call. Dan seems to see something on his face, because they throw back their head and cackle a bit.

"Okay, not a dark roast guy," they tease, reaching for the mug like they intend to give Phil something else entirely. Phil pulls it out of their reach and shakes his head.

"No, hey, I'll drink it," he huffs. "Just point me to the sugar. I need a gallon of it."

--

Phil doesn't actually get much opportunity to talk to Dan in the handful of hours he sits around the coffee shop, but that doesn't surprise him very much. He gets comfortable with his laptop, legs tucked up under him in increasingly pretzel-like ways, and passes the time by editing the footage they do have. It isn't much, and that almost frustrates him enough to walk out and get the soonest train south, but every time he reaches that point, Dan is there with their big smile and another experimental drink in hand.

He's never really considered himself picky when it comes to hot drinks, since he likes his coffee instant and his tea weak, but Dan is quickly changing his mind about that. Most of the things Dan brings him are gross or just not something Phil would ever voluntarily order again, and Phil starts to think that he's probably the problem here.

"No more," Phil whines when he sees Dan making another mug of something indistinguishable.

The students in the corner have left, although Phil can't remember when, and Gabe is in the back doing... something, so he doesn't feel self-conscious talking across the small shop. At this point in the day, it's just him and Dan.

Dan laughs loudly and shakes their head. "This is for me, you big baby," they say. "My shift is done. I figured I could have a drink, if that's quite alright with you."

"I suppose that's fine," Phil grins. He saves all his work and shuts down his laptop, stretching his legs out for the first time in ages. He's gotten up to pee enough times that Dan probably thinks there's something wrong with him, but he's been in a bit of a research vortex. "Thanks. For, y'know, letting me come hang out here."

"Sure, anytime," Dan says. They sound sincere about it, not like they're just saying so.

"What do I owe you?" Phil asks, digging around in his bag for his wallet. He doesn't have all his equipment with him or anything, but his laptop bag is still cluttered with a bunch of nonsense he doesn't actually need to carry around.

Dan rattles off a number that doesn't sound correct at all, so Phil adds another bill to the pile before heading to the counter. Dan opens their mouth like they're going to protest. Phil isn't exactly in the mood to argue, so he just walks back to his chair without a word. He hears a loud, exasperated sort of sigh behind him, but then the sound of the cash drawer opening. Dan ducks into the back room for a couple of minutes and when they come back they're out of uniform and holding a travel mug with Pokémon all over it.

They're dressed more comfortably than Phil has seen them before. A dark hoodie that's clearly a couple sizes too big is hanging off their frame, falling somewhere around their thighs. It's a different shade of black than their leggings, but Phil doesn't think it matters to them. Their curls are a bit ruffled from being under a cap - still looking as soft as Phil remembers, though.

"Hi," Dan says, grinning a bit hesitantly as they sit in the armchair across from Phil. They hold their travel mug close to their face like it's a shield, but it's no use. Phil already saw the pink tinge of their cheeks and won't be fooled into thinking it's from the heat.

"Hey," Phil says, resisting the urge to hide his own smile behind his hand. "That hoodie looks so comfy."

Dan looks down, as if they'd already forgotten what they threw on. "Oh, yeah, it really is. I basically need pyjamas for this lecture or I'll be grouchy all day."

"What class was it?" Phil asks. He realises that he doesn't actually know what Dan is studying. Then his brain tumbles further down that rabbithole, because there's a lot he doesn't actually know about Dan. They've spent so much of their new friendship just talking about Phil's job and all the nonsense that comes with it.

"Human Impacts on the Biosphere," Dan says with a wry smile, like they know exactly how little Phil knows about the topic.

"You're studying biology?" Phil asks. Dan shakes their head, but they don't laugh or anything like Phil's question is a stupid one. He feels like it probably was.

"Environmental science," Dan corrects him. "But it's a biology class, so you're not far off."

"That's really cool," Phil says sincerely.

Dan blinks a few times in quick succession, and the fluttering of their long lashes is hypnotizing. They seem surprised that Phil is taking an interest, or maybe that Phil finds science cool. He doesn't know anything about it, really, but that's never stopped him from being interested in a topic. Especially when someone who actually knows what they're talking about is walking him through it - like Sophie with her experiments or PJ with his junkyard sculptures. Phil doesn't have to have a working knowledge of something to enjoy talking about it.

"Really?" Dan says, that familiar skepticism behind their sparkling eyes.

"Save the planet and all that, right?" Phil guesses. He must have guessed right, because Dan gives him a smile brighter than the fire beside them. "Yeah, I don't know much about it, but it sounds cool. What year are you in?"

"Third year, ready to be done with it."

Phil remembers what that was like. He also remembers all over again that Dan is twenty-one, like the fact had been simmering just under the surface until now. It isn't that Phil is drastically older than them or anything - more like he's nostalgic for an age he didn't even like all that much when he was experiencing it.

Things were their own kind of screwed up in Phil's third year of uni, but at least he still had... hope. Hope that his parents would come around to the hobby that was slowly starting to make him money, hope that he'd find a guy who liked his particular brand of weirdness, hope that he'd be able to do something with his life that he enjoyed. One by one, those hopes started to feel further and further away until he was here, turning twenty-six in two months and with nothing but a moderate-to-severe anxiety disorder and a couple thousand quid in his savings to show for it. He never even found a guy who'd put up with him for longer than two dates. He wonders what sort of hopes Dan has right now. He tries not to wonder how long it's going to be before they, too, start to feel like it's useless.

"Are you okay?"

Phil shakes himself out of his own thoughts, meeting Dan's eyes again. They're so warm and lovely that Phil feels a bit better just looking at them.

"Yeah," he lies, starting to pack up his stuff. "Just hungry, y'know. Teatime."

"Oh, right," says Dan. They look a bit startled, but whether that's from Phil's abruptness or the time of day, Phil has no way of knowing. "That makes sense. Want me to walk you to the bus stop?"

That sounds nice. Then Phil remembers what's waiting for him at the other end of the bus ride, and he shakes his head. "No, uh. I was thinking about getting dinner in town." He looks down so he doesn't have to see whatever Dan's expression does when he adds, "And I'd love company, if you... want."

"Do I want to have dinner with you?" Dan repeats, like they aren't quite sure if that's what Phil actually said. Before Phil can answer, though, they're already talking again. "Obviously, yes. There's a great sushi place down the street if you like sushi, and if you don't like sushi there's other good restaurants all over the place, like there's -"

"I love sushi," Phil interrupts before Dan settles into yet another ramble. He's too nervous to look Dan in the eye again, even with the positive reaction. "Let's go. My treat."

[dr-spencer-reids-queen]

Find Out Yourself

Characters: Spencer Reid x Reader, Derek Morgan, Emily Prentiss, minor characters

Word Count: 1,108

Warnings: fluff

Summary: After coming back to the BAU from your year-long travels, Spencer takes notice something you did often while away. Then his imagination begins to wander...

Author’s Note: This is the July 29th fic “Tan” for the 30 Day Writing Challenge. If you have any requests, please send them in! this is unbeta’d and every mistake is all on me.

Feedback the glue that holds my writing together

Tags at the bottom

The last year has been probably one of the best years of your life. You got to travel for work, spend time tanning at the beach, solved crimes for different divisions around the world, but the one thing you missed dearly was your best friend, Spencer Reid. It was hard not seeing his face every day since you’ve grown feelings for him. Sure, you two talked whenever you could, but with the time differences, it was hard to find the perfect time to sit down and really talk.

Even though the last year has been great, it was coming to an end, and you were on a plane back to the BAU in Virginia for good. Traveling and being with other divisions were great, but you told Hotch not to send you out anymore since you really wanted to stick with the BAU for a while. He understood since you’ve been with them for nearly ten years so he understood why it was hard to be away from everyone, especially Spencer.

Everyone knew of your feelings for him and his for you. They could see it in the way Spencer’s eyes lit up when he gets a call from you, the way he speaks about you when you’re not in the room, how they all knew you would have more gifts for Spencer than everyone else, and how much you spent time together. Hotch put you and Spencer together almost always because he knew how well you two worked with each other. He didn’t want that going away, and it seemed to be a good thing for the team so he let it run by itself.

Maybe coming back from a year-long trip might be enough for either one of you to confess. If you looked at yourself from a year ago, you wouldn’t see the delicious new tan you’ve acquired in many different countries. Your hair was brighter and longer, your skin was smoother and looked younger, and you may as well be a whole new person to someone who hasn’t seen you in so long. The team at the BAU will definitely be surprised at the new look you’re sporting.

As soon as you landed, you easily found the car that Hotch sent to you so that you could drive to the office. They would have met you at the gate, but they were currently on a case, so you understood why he only sent a car. The drive from the airport to the office was long, but you finally made it. Judging by the cars in the parking lot, the team was currently inside the office, but you didn't know how long they’ve been there. If they had just gotten back from a long case, then they would be all exhausted to make proper greetings, but you at least wanted to see them. Making your way up to the office, the first person you saw was Derek who was talking to Emily as they held their things in their hands.

“Miss me?” you grinned as you opened the door. Both heads turned to you, and they smiled as they made their way over to you.

“You look great!” Emily grinned as she hugged you tightly.

“Damn, Y/N, time away did wonders to your body. You look like a whole new person,” Derek joked as he gave you your second hug.

“Did I hear Y/N’s name?” Penelope asked as she rushed out of her office. Once you two made eye contact, she squealed loud enough to cause Rossi, Hotch, and JJ out of their offices, and Spencer out of the break room. When he first made eye contact with your body, his eyes widened.  He hasn’t seen you in a year, and even though you sent pictures, it doesn’t compare to having you here in person. Everyone from the team greeted you with smiles and hugs while Spencer hung back so his greeting could be a bit more personal than the others.

“Where’s Spencer? Tell me he didn't already leave for the night,” you asked, not having seen him yet.

“Right here,” he said from behind you. Turning around, you couldn’t help but take off to him as your body was craving any kind of touch he was able to provide. His arms caught you as you jumped into his arms, a big smile on your face.

“I missed you so much,” you whispered.

“I missed you too. Probably more,” he chuckled truthfully.

“I doubt that,” you said as you pulled away from him.

“Look at how much they love each other,” Emily whispered to JJ.

“I know. Come on, we can talk to her later. Let’s give them some privacy,” she said as the rest of the team dispersed back to where they came from.

“I can’t wait to hear what you’ve done this past year.”

“I can’t wait to tell you. I have gifts for everyone as well and don’t tell the others, but I have more for you,” you giggled. As you pulled your body away from his, the thin straps of your shirt fell down which exposed your shoulder and the fact that you didn’t have any tan lines. That sight alone brought many different images to Spencer’s mind about why you don’t have tan lines.

“You got tan,” he observed as you pulled up your sleeves.

“I did.”

“You don’t have any tan lines.”

“Is there a question in there, Dr. Reid?”

“N-No. I would just expect tan lines.”

“You know, there are ways to tan without getting the lines. Do you know how Doctor?” you flirted as you pulled your purse closer to your body.

“Yeah, I do,” he whispered.

“If you’re wondering if there are tan lines on my body in places you can’t see, well, I would just have to tell you to find out for yourself. Get where I’m going with this, Dr. Reid?” you grinned as you turned around and walked away from him. He was contemplating your sincere offer of having him stay the night, and when he made eye contact with Derek from across the room, his friend gave him a single nod which was enough for the young genius. He quickly picked up his messenger bag before quickly following you to the elevator.

“Wait up,” he said as you held the doors open.

“Good choice Spencer,” you grinned as they closed.

“Are there r-really no tan lines on your body?”

“Why? You like to picture me tanning naked?” you laughed.

“N-no, I just meant--”

“Spencer, I was teasing you. And like I said before, you’ll just have to find out for yourself.”

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[learned-foot]

For the ask thingie: Fandom : Succession Ship : Reylo Character: Tony Stark 😎

Getting to this a bit late, sorry!

Succession

Favorite character: Roman Roy, my favorite dysfunctional fuckoff. 

Least Favorite character: Honestly, every character on this show is great. I really feel that. Most hated is for sure Logan. But in a love-to-hate way.

5 Favorite ships (canon or non-canon): Roman/Gerri, Roman/Gerri/Tabitha, Tom/Greg, Marcia/Rhea, Tabitha/Willa.

Character I find most attractive: There are many women on this show who are smokin hot, and Stewy is objectively the hottest guy by far IMO, but if I am being perfectly honest about who I am most attracted to, it is Roman. I don’t even know.

Character I would marry: Tabitha, the only sane and maybe somewhat moral person. Also, she is so pretty

Character I would be best friends with: Also Tabitha. 

a random thought: Kendall isn’t my favorite character, but if Jeremy Strong does not win an Emmy, so help me. His performance is utterly unbelievablely good.  

An unpopular opinion: Shiv has never been a favorite of mine, though she does have the best outfits.

my canon OTP: Gerri/Roman.

Non-canon OTP: I don’t really have one, as much as just being totally interested in lots of different combos. Esp. between the women.

most badass character: GERRI.

pairing I am not a fan of: Logan/Rhea. I hope they didn’t actually sleep together.

character I feel the writers screwed up (in one way or another): NONE THIS SHOW IS PERFECT was my first reply. But actually, I do think more could have been done with Lawrence. Maybe he’ll come back into play? But I expected him to have a bigger role in Season 2. His disdain for Kendall gives me life.

favourite friendship: How can it be anything but Tom and Greg? Though Roman and Kendall win for my favorite sibling relationship. But “friend” is not the right word.

character I want to adopt or be adopted by: Please, no. I would like to stay as far away from these people as possible. 

Reylo

when or if I started shipping it. TLJ. As soon as the soulbond kicked in I was a gonner. (I liked the idea in TFA, but didn’t actively ship it)

my thoughts: THEY ARE GREAT. Best canon hero/villain ship since Spuffy. I love how Rey never bent an inch for him, but still felt that connection. I love how well they fight together. Just all of it.

What makes me happy about them: That they are canon! His fucking smile when they kissed.

What makes me sad about them: That Ben is dead. It makes me sad both as a shipper, and because I think redemption via death is the least interesting way to go.

things done in fanfic that annoys me: I don’t read enough fic for them to have thoughts on this.

things I look for in fanfic: I like canon based fic when I do read it. Love me some h/c.

My kinks: Hurt. Comfort. Femdom. 

Who I’d be comfortable them ending up with, if not each other: Kylo/Ben, no one. Rey or bust! Rey deserves to be happy though, so in a world where he is dead, I’d be happy to see her with Finn and/or Poe and/or some nice lady.

My happily ever after for them: Resurrection, somehow, and then going off to teach a new, better kind of force use together.

Tony Stark

How I feel about this character: He’s the best. Top 10 favorite characters ever, for sure.

All the people I ship romantically with this character: Peter Parker. Pepper in canon, though I have some thoughts about how I don’t think they really make sense longterm. Bruce post-A1 but not really after IM3. If I weren’t so devoted to Starker Tony would probably be my fandom bicycle, but I am, so mostly it’s just Peter.

My non-romantic OTP for this character: NEBULA. Tony + Nebula BroTP forever. Though I also love Tony + Rhodey and Tony + his bots. 

My unpopular opinion about this character: I think his death worked and am not bothered by it.

One thing I wish would happen / had happened with this character in canon: I wish he had left a video message for Peter that we got to see.

my het ship: Tony/Pepper.

my fem/slash ship: Tony/Peter. 

my OTP: TONY/PETER. 

my OT3: Huh. Don’t really have one. Though I’d down for Tony/Pepper/Bruce post-A1. 

my crossover ship: Tony/The Tenth Doctor. I really want them to meet and snark at each other and rub each other the wrong way but also admire each other and bang one time.

my kink: Iron Man Suit kink 5ever. 

a head canon fact: Part of the reason Tony has such bad boundaries with Peter/ideas about how much responsibility Peter should have is he went from nanny at 14 straight to college. He literally has no idea how teens normally transition from childhood to adulthood. None.

[rpgmgames]

September’s Featured Game: Ghost Hospital

DEVELOPER(S): Lev, Kip, Rose, Tredlocity, C, Bittersweet ENGINE: RPGMaker MV GENRE: Adventure, RPG WARNINGS: Anxiety, Body horror, Implied child harm SUMMARY: Ghost Hospital is a game about anxiety, depression, despair, mental rock bottoms, and, of course, ghosts. You play as Robin, a twelve-year-old girl who has an anxiety disorder and is very much alive in this hospital meant for beings that are not alive. Frankly, her anxiety was already bad enough before she landed in a hospital full of dead people, the still-shambling shells of ancient ghosts who try to take her down for a sweet taste of life, and the hospital directors hellbent on keeping her contained, and more importantly, away from the reason she's REALLY there. Thankfully, you have your new friends Jay and Sarcastic Ghost- Jay is a ghost about your age, and still a very new arrival to the hospital, and Sarcastic Ghost…well, he's an amorphous blob of a ghost, who talks a lot despite not having a mouth.

Download the demo here!

Our Interview With The Dev Team Below The Cut!

Introduce yourself! Lev: Hey, my name is Lev! I'm an artist and storyteller, and though I've wanted to make games for a long time, this is my first serious attempt! Most of my work is about my experiences in mental illness. Kip: I'm a freelance artist being allowed to write cheap jokes in ghost form. Rose: I'm a freelance writer and editor for the game! I also work on dialogue and story drafting. Tredlocity: My name is Tredlocity! I do some character designs and writing in the game! C: c / ghoul is a character designer, comic artist and Halloween enthusiast. They're currently apart of several indie game teams and are writing the webcomic, This Dark Forest of Ours. Bittersweet: I'm Kendall (AKA Bittersweet), and I'm the resident music person (one of two, technically, but the other left the project unfortunately.) This is my first (and thus far only) major soundtrack composition project, but thus far, it's been a satisfying one!

What is your project about? What inspired you to create your game initially? *Lev: Ghost Hospital is a game about anxiety, and the game was born out of an idea to put someone in the shoes of someone with clinical anxiety and depression without going for the prototypical 'horror game' or 'walking simulator', giving more game-friendly, practical narrative and gameplay examples of how it effects people.

How long have you been working on your project? *Lev: The game started development in late 2016 as a thesis project for college. At its inital completion, it was more of a beta or proof of concept than a demo- in its current state, it's far closer to what we have envisioned for the final project.

Did any other games or media influence aspects of your project? *Lev: Absolutely! The biggest influences are OFF, Yume Nikki, and Sweet Home, and a lot of Gameboy Color graphics and aesthetics- namely, Pokemon GSC and the GBC Zelda Games.

Have you come across any challenges during development? How have you overcome or worked around them? *Lev: RPG Maker is a versatile engine, but still fairly restrictive, so getting all the effects I wanted to work was challenging. Mental illness and real life have been taking a toll on development time, too. Getting things to work took teaching myself some javascript, and after being in serious development for this long, I've found ways to motivate myself to keep working. Having other people checking in on you helps, too.

Have any aspects of your project changed over time? How does your current project differ from your initial concept? *Lev: In its very first inital pitch, it was much closer to Yume Nikki, being more atmospheric and serious. At some point in character and world development, though, I couldn't bear to make it a stoic adventure, and with most of the stuff I already take inspiration from, it's hard for me to not put jokes into the media I make, anyway.

What was your team like at the beginning? How did people join the team? If you don’t have a team, do you wish you had one or do you prefer working alone? *Lev: At the beginning, it was just me working on everything. The first people I brought on board were my concept artist, Kip, my writer, Rose, and my musician, Bittersweet. I can't do music on my own, and I knew from word go that I wanted this to be the kind of game with a strong story and a lot of unique NPCs.

What is the best part of developing the game? *Lev: Call me biased, but the most fun part is making the art for it. It's hard for me to motivate myself to keep working if I'm just using default placeholder sprites, I have to make new NPCs to keep myself interested. It's not the most convenient, but it's fun to do, and it actually really does help with my workflow.

Do you find yourself playing other RPG Maker games to see what you can do with the engine, or do you prefer to do your own thing? *Lev: Oh, absolutely. RPG Maker games have a bad reputation for being very cut-and-paste, and there's a lot of those out there. But it just takes a bit of effort to make yourself and your game stand out, and it can be done absolutely beautifully! The latest one I've played was Hylics, completely surreal and wonderful.

Which character in your game do you relate to the most and why? (Alternatively: Who is your favorite character and why?) *Lev: Robin is a sort of proxy character for myself, so...I'm a bit biased on her. I love Jay a lot, too, he's kinda the friend I wish I had in elementary school when all this first showed up, haha. *Tredlocity: As someone who faces anxiety on a daily basis, I relate to Robin a lot. Though I would say my favorite character is Jay, since he can shoot plasma and has blue hair. *C: I'm partial to Coop [upcoming character], not just bc I designed them but bc I love big sister types. *Rose: I also relate to robin and jay! i try to control my anxiety while remaining positive and hopeful about situations. *Bittersweet: As an anxiety-riddled person, I relate immensely to Robin. However, my favorite character by far has to be Carna. (There's another character I'm particularly looking forward to when the full version of the game is released, though~)

Looking back now, is there anything that regret/wish you had done differently? *Lev: Honestly, there's a few things I wanted the game to be able to do at the start that I wasn't able to make happen. I spent a LOT of time trying to get it to work without having to go in and code it myself, and I wish I'd been able to take a step back, remind myself that this is my first serious project, and just stop worrying so much about what, in the end, would've been a minor detail, anyway.

Once you finish your project, do you plan to explore the game’s universe and characters further in subsequent projects, or leave it as-is? *Lev: Chances are I'm gonna leave it alone, but if I go back, I HAVE had a bit of a 'Ghost College' AU where they're exploring a haunted old library on their college campus instead of being trapped in a ghost hospital. It'd probably be cool as a point-and-click adventure, but it wouldn't exactly be a canon exploration of the postgame.

What do you look most forward to upon/after release? *Lev: I'm actually working on a few other projects, so being able to work on those more freely would be great, especially considering I'm really bad at keeping my own limits in mind, haha.

Is there something you’re afraid of concerning the development or the release of your game? *Lev: Mostly, I'm afraid that making a game about a subject like this, as a minority and with other people in my team that would be considered minorities, that releasing this game to the mainstream public would get me a lot of negative attention from people who think that people like us don't belong in the gaming sphere. It's pretty nerve-wracking, but after the positive reception of games like Undertale and SLARPG, it's getting easier to convince myself that I should be more afraid of people just generally not liking the game, haha.

Do you have any advice for upcoming devs? *Lev: Have someone to work with! DEFINITELY have someone to work with. Even if it's just a friend to bounce ideas off of or someone to ask if you've been working on the game, having someone else involved helps a lot. And specifically for RPG Maker- if you can, replace your default font with a different one. It's a minor detail, but it goes a long way towards making your game feel more original. *C: Always have a backlog of different projects. I have about four or five ideas constantly on rotation so I don't burn myself out on just one. *Tredlocity: My advice for any creatives is to start small, and just get it out. Feedback is a great motivator, and the only way to get better at something is to keep doing it! *Rose: I think some good advice is to write a few drafts of whatever it is you're working on in order to see which version you'd like to continue! let your work have different scenarios and situations based on various elements you insert or take out of a story, game, or other piece. *Bittersweet: Don't pressure yourself to a dead-set deadline. I know, you want to get this project out eventually, and if you're on a roll with development then all the power to you, but if you're struggling, don't let it burn you out. That's just unhealthy.

Question from last month's featured dev @toxicshroomswamp: How do you feel about your main character(s)? What piece of life advice would you give them? *Lev: I love my main characters, I love them like my own children. I would probably tell Robin that she'll learn to handle everything, it won't be so scary forever. I'd tell Jay that stopping for a minute and thinking is way more important than it seems. I'd tell Sarcastic ghost to shut up.

We mods would like to thank Lev, Kip, Rose, Tredlocity, C, and Bittersweet for agreeing to our interview! We believe that featuring the developer and their creative process is just as important as featuring the final product. Hopefully this Q&A segment has been an entertaining and insightful experience for everyone involved!

Remember to check out Ghost Hospital if you haven’t already! See you next month! 

- Mods Gold & Platinum

[kolbisneat]

MONTHLY MEDIA: May 2019

Here’s how I spent the month of May!

……….FILM……….

John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum (2019) I don’t think I was mentally prepared to get right into the violence and the film doesn’t ease you into any of it. If anything, I found this chapter to rely on the combat more than the previous two and by the end, I was a little numb. Still a great film and perhaps I’ll feel differently on a second viewing. For now, I’d say it’s very good and has like...10 minutes too much fighting.

Bridesmaids (2011) Always great but in watching this I realized what makes the improv stand out from other films: the underlying storytelling. While there’s lots of back and forth between characters that are funny, it’s usually doing something else at the same time (showing characters competing and in conflict with each other, showing the casual report between friends, etc.) The humour never feels like it’s there because the movie is a comedy, but that we’re watching funny people live their lives. It really works.

Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile (2019) So I admit that I know only a surface level of info about Ted Bundy and what he did. With that in mind I found it frustrating that the movie took the perspective of “did he or didn’t he?” I get that the film’s perspective was that of Liz Kendall but then I wanted more concrete proof that he did it (not seeing the crimes, but through evidence in the courtroom). The one bit they did show (the teeth marks) felt flimsy and was undercut by Bundy’s rebuttal. I just didn’t vibe with the coy approach.

……….TELEVISION……….

The Magicians (Episode 1.01 to 1.09) Having read the books, I had no interest watching a series that also centres around Quentin. Only after friends told me it doesn’t revolve around him did I try it out and it’s great! The casting is still a little too CW for me (you can tell if a character will eventually play a major role based on how conventionally attractive they are) but the overall dynamic works. The magic is still dangerous, the fighting is still petty, and the world is still as complex as the novels.

The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (Episode 2.08 to 2.09) So ep 8 (with the mandrake) is peak Sabrina for me: a little horror, a little melodrama, and a fairly contained episode. Perhaps I’m longing for a different type of television but I really want this series to become something in the vein of Buffy where there’s a monster of the week and perhaps it all ties to a bigger plot. The season finale was fun and I mistook the Phantom of the Opera song for a current top 40 hit so...I’m out of touch in a whole bunch o ways.

Queer Eye (Episode 3.01 to 3.08) Ugh what a great season.

Life in PIeces (Episode 1.01 to 1.04) It’s starting to grow on me. The format works well though I’d say their consistency (even within a single episode) varies. Maybe I just need more time with the characters but so far I’m just luke warm to it.

……….READING……….

Saturday Night Ghost Club by Craig Davidson (Complete) Without giving up too much of the story, this is a heart wrenching read and one that is foreshadowed by the tone and content of the first chapter (a skill I really appreciate in both literature and film). It’s dark and light and human and really left an impression after I finished it.

Hawkeye by Matt Fraction & David Aja Omnibus by Matt Fraction, David Aja, Matt Hollingsworth, Chris Eliopoulos, and so many more (Complete) Seeing Avengers:Endgame made me long for a Hawkeye that I liked and in rereading this, I found what I needed. I cannot say enough kind things about this run. It’s singular and small in its focus and the art/direction is phenomenal. It at times feels gritty and grounded, and yet has a real spy thriller vibe to the overall tone. If you can get your hands on the omnibus then do it. It’s human and heroic and good-spirited and funny in a dry, world-weary way and Kate Bishop is a wonderful foil to Clint Barton (and vice versa).

Sabrina by Nick Drnaso (Complete) Oof what a read. I knew the book dealt with the aftermath of a woman’s murder, but I didn’t realize it would be such a reflection on the modern media landscape. It deals with conspiracies, allegations of fake news, death threats, and the general paranoia that victims endure after a tragedy. This video essay says it all better than I could.

Be Prepared by Vera Brogsol (Complete) Charming and personal and while I don’t have many experiences with camp, I do feel a deep connection with a protagonist that never quite succeeds at fitting in with the “in” crowd. It’s a great all-ages read and is beautifully illustrated and I can’t say enough kind things about it.

Adventures of a Japanese Businessman by Jose Domingo (Complete) Just fantastic. I picked this up after a glowing review from my friend and it didn’t disappoint. Silent and surreal, the series of unfortunate events told across each 4-panel page is a masterclass in setup and resolution. There are tiny 2-3 panel arcs happening all over and it truly rewards rereads. I loved every minute of it and can’t recommend it enough.

Ragnarök Volume 1: Last God Standing by Walt Simonson (Complete) It’s fun to read a comic about Thor and it not be the Marvel version: the mythology is a little different (closer to the myths), the tone is a little different (Thor and the gods have lost and Ragnarök has happened), and I’m sure there isn’t as much editorial influence since it’s wholly the creator’s vision. It’s fairly self-serious and the overall vibe is fairy 70s Heavy Metal, and it all works. Not necessarily my go-to tone, but it’s good at what it does and is refreshingly different.

Domu by Katsuhiro Otomo (Complete) Just fantastic. Akira was always a little overwhelmingly big (though no less impressive) so this smaller, more intimate story was right up my alley. It’s creepy and kinetic and beautiful and a really good read. It’s hard to come by in print, but if you can find it then I defo recommend.

……….AUDIO……….

Dedicated by Carly Rae Jepsen (2019) You know what? This album is a lot of fun and very good and you should check it out. I really wish it kept the energy of the first couple tracks all the way through, but I really just can’t hold every artist to the level of Andrew W. K.

……….GAMING……….

Curse of Strahd (Wizards of the Coast) What I love about this group is they often spend so much time discussing who is in charge of the money, avoid conflict with a ghost that is trying to kill them, and yet really want to pursue the mystery creature that was rummaging around the pantry two sessions earlier. Also they’re still in a haunted house with ominous chanting and undead everywhere.

Maze of the Blue Medusa (Satyr Press) The party has started to explore other parts of the maze (now moving away from the Lich-haunted gardens) and continue to find countless unsettling beasts and creatures. A couple near death experiences but overall, they’re doing well.

And that’s it! As always, I’m keen to hear your suggestions for what the read, watch, hear, and play next!

Happy Friday.

[shutterbug-12]

Succession S2E2 Thoughts

Overall: 

Much better than the terrible agony that was the first episode. 

I still want to wrap Kendall up in a hug and transmit some life into him by osmosis. Shiv...I’m sorry, but I know a lot of you really love her, but I...really don’t. I have some sympathy for her, because she is the person made by a very hostile father and a very hostile world. And there is an element of me being biased towards Tom (although I will admit--will list--all his horrible qualities; I’m just glad he has a decent handful of redeeming ones), but Shiv is a pretty cold person (and yes, I would say that about Logan as well, and Roman--them especially--so I’m not calling her cold simply because she is a strategic, smart woman. But I feel like she has the capacity to be a decent person, with a decent heart, but she will never allow herself to be that kind of person. And that’s the tragedy of her for me. 

Her and Tom’s relationship is, in my view, incredibly unhealthy and fucked up. It’s a one-way street, and they could really be so much better, but...I don’t think they ever will be, unless Tom somehow...takes over, but *snort*. Talk about a clown running the circus. Whew. But yeah, as long as Shiv has so much power skewed in her direction and she doesn’t hesitate to use it and hold it over him, theirs will not be a relationship composed of equals, but Tom will continue to think, in his demented brain, that somehow they mostly are? King and Queen? No, no, Tom. Nice try. But you’re not on that level. It’s true that I see very small, slivers of moments when they need each other, but I...have seen...honestly, I can’t remember seeing one moment where it was clear that Shiv really loved him, just that she needed him. And those are very different things, at least for me. My dream scenario is that Tom can work up the nerve to leave her and be with someone who actually deserves him, but...that’s a different show, certainly not this one. So I suppose I’ll have to sit back and watch this trainwreck. 

Actually, I find it interesting to see the relationship between Logan and Kendall, and Shiv and Tom. They are very parallel in some big ways. Logan and Shiv are both very dominant, both dictate the terms of the relationship, both steer it, manipulate the other person at will, are both strong-willed and strategic but can be cruel, and both place their own interests above everyone else’s. They’re the controllers. Kendall and Tom, at least in this season so far (Tom has always been), are the submissive ones, the yes-men, acting at the behest of their counterparts, both very insecure about their relationships with those counterparts, although, granted, Kendall has passed over into dead-eye territory, where Tom has some life left. I can see how being in their position might be at times comforting, not having pressure on them, kind of enjoying the freedom that being submissive and simply obeying offers. And, really, in the dynamics of both relationships, I really feel for Tom and Kendall. Shiv is, of all the children, most like her father, and was from the beginning, but I think she’s leaning more and more that way, which...is a bad way to lean if you want to cling to some part of your soul. So I...am a bit worried about both Kendall and Tom, but I know something’s going to give at some point. In some way. So I’m...interested. 

One last thing: what made this episode so much better than the first one, for me, is the attention paid to the absurdity of the characters and their lives. That is the glory of the show for me. When it tries to get me to truly sympathize too hard with characters who, by and large, are not very sympathetic, I...am very turned off. Because we’re talking about uber-rich douche-bags who only care about themselves and their power. The only sympathetic characters (and even the moments when sympathetic characters have sympathetic moments and aspects) are ones who show motivations other than power grabs and greed. BUT, when the show highlights the absurd nature of...this entire palace drama? It’s at its height. Its at its best. This episode had a ton of that, and I was very grateful for it. The Vaulter dude was always a great vehicle to highlight some absurdity, and he came through here. Greg, of course, highlights the absurd aspects of Tom and the Roys in general. Connor himself. Amazing. The absurdity bouncing around in this episode made it so, so much better than the first one. 

Overall, B+ episode. 

As I watched: 

Oh, yay, the theme park! Been looking forward to seeing these parts. 

Beavis and Crackhead. Nice.

Aww, MM, you’re getting gray and it’s so...weirdly cute. Damn it. Also I can watch you try to get popcorn out from between your teeth with your tongue all. day. long.

Hmm, Logan listening to Shiv. Roman sees what’s happening. He’s not as stupid as he seems. Which we knew, but it’s nice to see. 

Mondale! And the Mondale voice is back! Tom & Mondale might be my favorite friendship on the show. 

The amount of time Shiv spends looking at her phone instead of talking to and listening to her husband is...pretty fucking sad. She LITERALLY walks away from him when he’s talking. Cool. 

“It’s not really a thing.” UM. WUT. No it’s a huge thing. One partner wanting to fuck other people, while the other one clearly doesn’t really want to is...a huge thing. And not talking about it is going to make everything worse, but sure, okay, continue thinking it’s not really a thing. 

Oh god, it’s kind of painful, how hard he’s trying to...rationalize that he’s okay with everything about their relationship. And trying to like...show he’s ready all the time, always down to fuck, just in case she was wondering. Heh. You can see the insecurity just coming off him in waves. 

Ha. I’m sorry, writers, but...an American wouldn’t say “cheeky” like that. Someone needs to check the British-isms. But it’s nice to see even a show like this mess up. ;) 

I mean, yes, this is a drool-worthy penthouse, but settle down Tom, or I’m worried you’re literally going to start fucking the sofa.

One of these days, Tom is going to actually...not roll over like a submissive dog. Maybe. 

*sings* Tom and Greg, together again, wheee! Tom and his punching bag. Tom, you better watch out, because at some point the bag is going to punch back. 

Um. Tom. I’d go easy on the creepy sexual metaphors. You can’t quite speak with the...disgustingness of Roman. Please stop trying.

LOL Name me one principle. Although, god, this is the ugliest side of Tom. How willing he is to compromise himself for advancement. He’s honestly...kind of a whore sometimes. And it’s his least appealing aspect of his character (his most appealing, of course, being his handsome, handsome cute face). 

By the way, non-Americans, real Americans don’t throw around this many “fucks.” And we don’t constantly speak in sexual metaphors. Granted, I’ve never been among these kinds of...terrible people, but still. 

OMG, her name is actually CYD PEACH?! Wow. No wonder you’re a badass bitch. With a name like that, who wouldn’t be? 

I kind of like this news lady, talking to Tom like the moronic asshole he is. Her sarcasm is just oozing out of her and I love it. This was such a great scene. 

Rough first day, Tom. But, hot damn, is he actually motivated to do...real work? Color me interested to see how this goes. 

Gerry, you’re amazing. You might be one of my favorite characters. 

IPAs that looks like run-off at the car wash. Ahahahahahha. Great line. 

OF COURSE CONNOR HAS AN EMAIL BULLETIN. Actually, Connor might be one of my favorites, too. He represents the most what I like about the show. The absurdity of it. It’s when the show strays too far away from pointing out absurdity that it gets...not nearly as enjoyable. 

Another great example of the absurdity: The conversation between Roman and Connor about the president. 

Ha, yes, Roman invited you to dinner because he’s learning your game, Shiv. He’s learning, against all odds, how to 

You did a thing. Mazel Tov. Another great scene with Roman and Tabitha. 

Oh, Tom, baby, you’re so nervous to...talk to your wife. Heh. That’s kind of sad. And ahahahhaah, you still think you’ve even in the uh, line of succession (too on point?) for CEO. Oh, Tom. You idiot. And, Shiv, you are...you don’t think Tom should get the big job, please. Come on. I wish she’d...be truthful about how much she wants it, at least with Tom, JFC. But honestly isn’t really in her vocabulary, so... ALSO, RAWR. Let me say how SHOCKED I AM that Shiv gets turned on when she thinks about herself being powerful. She gets off when she literally has Tom by the balls. Shocker. Shocker. 

AHAHAHAH, GREG’S APARTMENT SHOPPING. YES. LOL. THIS IS GREAT. Greg is the best. AWW, DID KENDALL JUST GIVE GREG AN APARTMENT? AWWWW, KENDALL! Aww, that awkward hug was probably the most physical affection Kendall’s had in...a long time. LOL. OMG KENDALL WANTS TO BE BUDDIES WITH GREG. YES. 

Oh boy. The most awkward dinner in history. Tabitha is so chill. OH NO, TOM AND TABITHA ALONE IN A ROOM. YOU SHOULD TRY SWALLOWING SOMETHING. OMG JKFDL;AJFKLAFJKSA;KJFDL. AHAHAHAHA. YEEEESSSSS. I like when the relatively powerless characters make a cutting power move. 

NOTHING IS WRONG WITH HIS BODY. DON’T YOU, EVEN. 

Okay, seriously, y’all stop making fun of Tom so hard. Jfc. My heart is going out to him here, honestly. Tom can be a dick sometimes, but this is cruel stuff. 

OMG OMG OMIG OGMD OSALJFSAL;FJSK TOM I’M SO PROUD OF YOU. I’M SO, SO PROUD OF YOU. FOR TELLING SHIV TO FUCK OFF. YES. I’M SO DAMN PROUD OF YOU. DKFLS;FJDKSAOMGGGGGGG. It’s nice to see the tiniest hint of backbone. 

Oof, this is what Tom and Shiv call “talking”? Meh, yeah, Shiv, you need him. You need a stable presence. You need a loyal sounding board. You need a yes man. Their relationship is so fucked up. Yiiiiiikes. They’re pretty much the WORST at open, real communication. 

Oh, boy, oh, boy. Poor Greg. Kendall, you dick. Making this your drug party. Ugh. I’m so fucking disappointed in you. (I’m still pulling for you, though.)

Guh, yeah, the scene in the car with Shiv and Gil...these kinds of scenes really show Shiv’s ugly side. (And Gil’s for that matter.) People needing the upper hand. People shitting all over each other. People needing to be right. 

Logaaaaaan, you’re such a dickheeeaaaad. A manipulative, awful dickheeeaaaad. Although, what a great line: make yourself at home. In...daddy’s office. 

Jesus, Kendall, you need a real car, man. 

AAAAH, IT LOOKS LIKE THE HUNTING EPISODE IS NEXT. AWESOME. 

[fashiontrendin-blog]

Kieran Culkin's Shirt Is Off

https://fashion-trendin.com/kieran-culkins-shirt-is-off/

Kieran Culkin's Shirt Is Off

When Kieran Culkin first started reading the script for “Succession,” he wondered whether it had been sent to the wrong person. The HBO powers that be originally thought he’d be a good fit for the character of Greg, a bumbling nitwit who gets high in his first scene and spends the rest of the first season failing to sidle his way up the ladder of a massive media and entertainment conglomerate owned by his great-uncle, Logan Roy.

Almost from Greg’s first line, Culkin knew he was wrong for the part. “He’s already a lot younger than I am, and just the voice ― I was, like, this is not me. I am not right for this.”

When I met Culkin at a small restaurant in the Noho neighborhood of Manhattan last Monday, it was just as clear to me as it was to him that he’s too old to play a character like Greg. But something in the Roy family’s dark saga held Culkin’s attention anyway. He said he kept reading the script, which follows the foibles of the billionaire Roy clan as its individual members vie for power within. A few pages later, Logan’s overconfident third son, Roman, appears, led into a meeting by a man hired explicitly to burn sage.

“Hey, hey, motherfuckers!” Roman proclaims to a room full of his father’s business associates.

“And I was, like, ‘Oh, who’s this fucking guy?’” Culkin said.

Culkin eventually got the part of Roman, an incompetent and lazy man-child who believes he wholly deserves the title of chief operating officer, even though he has little interest in doing any of the work that comes with it. Among the many nefarious faces that make up Logan’s Waystar Royco empire, Roman stands out as perhaps its most cynical ― a ratings-obsessed media executive motivated solely by profit. At one point, in his interpretation of corporate disruption, he takes off his shirt in a meeting, flexing and joyfully screaming “Blood!” at the thought of layoffs. During another, he gleefully tells his sister about a new viral video that is “evidence of precisely the kind of disgusting, liberal, metro butt-love that makes our viewership angry enough to buy pharmaceuticals.” To Roman, nothing could be better.

Culkin can’t say exactly what drew him to the morally depraved heir, described by his father as a “moron” and his brother as a “walking fucking lawsuit.” But it’s not hard to imagine some small part of Culkin was intrigued by the idea of playing such a sneering member of a media empire.

After all, Culkin’s distaste for the tabloid industry is beyond well-established. (“No matter what’s written there, it’s a total lie, even the person’s name, lie, lie, lie, lie, everything’s a lie,” he once told New York Magazine.)

But let’s not lump Culkin into that hyperpartisan Level 10 “FAKE NEWS” category of 2018 American paranoia. Mostly because when he told me “Now it’s a thing, ‘fake news,’” and I said, jokingly, “Fake news. You’re a believer,” he got nervous and pushed out a quick “no,” immediately realizing the millions of different ways such a quote could be aggregated, recirculated, quoted out of context and otherwise misinterpreted. You can almost see it now, can’t you? “Kieran Culkin Joins the Chorus: Media Is ‘Fake News.’”

Culkin’s distrust is of a more justifiable form, born out of a lifetime of his surname showing up in headline-grabbing tabloid fodder. From the moment his parents, Kit “The father from hell” Culkin and Patricia Brentrup, entered into an ugly, obsessively covered custody battle to when the National Enquirer proclaimed his eternally famous brother, Macaulay, had “6 Months to Live” in 2012 (he’s still alive), Culkin’s last name has served as a way to move and make paper ― the most intimate moments of his life repackaged as factually questionable entertainment content to sell ads against. 

Ron Galella via Getty Images

Macaulay and Kieran Culkin at the fifth annual American Comedy Awards back in 1991, just months after the release of the blockbuster hit “Home Alone.”

“There are things that are out there in the world as fact because it was written in print that are just completely false. My brother did not divorce his parents. They did not fight over his money,” he said. “But that’s out in the world as fact.

“I learned at a very young age to be, like, ‘Oh, I get it: It’s bullshit,’ shit that’s written in print.”

In person, Culkin ticks most of the boxes of adulthood: In his 30s. Takes his coffee black. Enjoys talking about his favorite East Village dives. Married five years. Nice watch. Clothes that fit. Hair slicked around his head just so. Like Roman, Culkin drops a “fuck” or “shit” every ninth word or so, as when he said to me, “Hold on, I’m going to eat the fuck out of these pickles. You say something for a minute, ’cause I’ve got a mouth full of shit.”

But no matter how many fucks he lets out ― and by my count, he let out around 25 over 40 minutes ― Culkin remains stuck with a membership to the official Former Child Actors club. Macaulay, or Mac, if you’re in the know, was always the main draw ― history’s most famous kid actor without a drink named after him. But Kieran was there too, in “Home Alone” and “Home Alone 2.” He found himself on the stage of “Saturday Night Live” before the age of 10, and schmoozed with Jay Leno on “The Tonight Show” before his voice dropped.  

Which is probably why ― and here I’m guessing ― Culkin might have been a bit annoyed when HBO suggested he audition for Greg.

But after 10 episodes of watching Culkin-as-Roman take part in his family’s imperious game of human chess, it’s hard to imagine the actor playing anyone else. If Jeremy Strong ― who plays Kendall, Logan’s cocaine-addicted second son ― is the show’s tragic star, Culkin is its nervous energy. There’s something in the way he pushes out a phrase like “What a pathetic beta cuck,” or belittles doctors and waiters alike.

What sealed Culkin’s interest in his character came in the first episode during a family softball game, when Roman points to a kid on the sidelines, the son of the site’s groundskeeper. Everyone grows quiet as Roman whips out his checkbook and starts writing a check for $1 million. Hit a home run in their game, Roman tells the boy, and the money is his. For the child and his family, it’s a potentially life-changing moment. For Roman, the child is nothing but a momentary subhuman toy to mess with and cast aside. After the child is tagged out at home, Roman can’t control his laughter. “I’m sorry, I can’t give it to you,” he says as he tears up the check. It is a degrading, truly awful moment of television.

“Oh, I get it,” Culkin remembered thinking, “he’s a fuck face.”

When Culkin filmed the scene, he embodied evil, letting out a cackle so cruel it sets the show’s moral compass for the remaining season. Culkin himself is not sure where his ability to play somebody like that came from.

“Being able to connect to some degree, not in a positive way, with these characters is odd to me because I don’t know the multimillionaires, I don’t know the super-rich, yet I know assholes like that,” he said. “I can’t even quite specifically pick out who I know that is exactly like that, but it’s weird that you can still, for me, relate.”

“Succession” suffered from a slow start, only truly hitting its stride around Episode 6, when Kendall leads the board in a tense vote of no confidence against Logan, who’s recently suffered a stroke, unleashing a sequence of events within the Roy family that are both comical and horrifying.

Culkin owns up to that. “The first three episodes to me, it’s not like they’re unwatchable,” he said, “but it’s not quite the show yet.”

Which, according to him, is fine. Some shows don’t grab you on first watch, and one in particular in his opinion: “I probably shouldn’t even say this on record. The example I have is actually [the British comedy] ‘Peep Show,’” which was coincidentally also developed by “Succession” creator Jesse Armstrong.

But the first season of “Succession” gained enough momentum before concluding Sunday evening for HBO to pick it up for another season ― making this the first time Culkin has ever been part of a television show that made it to Season 2, according to his IMDB page, a small victory in his more than two decades on-screen.

Culkin’s most acclaimed role came in 2002, when he earned a Golden Globe nomination for his role in “Igby Goes Down.” But that time the victory led to a full-blown existential crisis.

United Artists via Getty Images

Claire Danes and Kieran Culkin talk at a coffee shop for a scene from “Igby Goes Down.” Culkin entered an existential crisis after the film and took a breaking from acting. 

“[I] found myself at the age of 20 with a career I never chose, [and I] freaked out,” Culkin said. “I think everybody around that age has some sort of crisis. Usually, it’s like a straight-up ‘Oh, I don’t know what I want to do.’ Mine is, ‘I don’t know what I want to do with my life, yet here I am doing it.’”

Culkin took a break before eventually returning to acting, mostly because he wasn’t sure what else to do. “I was just sort of doing it in the meantime,” he says now. He took parts in movies like “Lymelife” and “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.” Did two episodes of “Fargo.” Performed multiple versions of a stage play he loved, Kenneth Lonergan’s “This Is Our Youth.” In 2014, he was still apprehensive. “I often think about getting out of this job, but I’m terrified that there’s nothing else,” he told The Daily Beast.

Since then, Culkin said, something clicked. He remembered coming home from work one day and thinking, “Oh, I think I’m actually enjoying this.”

“I think I know what I want to do now,” he said to himself. “I think I should do this.”

Now deep into his 30s, Culkin has established himself as a stronger and more serious actor than the “essentially retired” Macaulay ever did. And in Roman, Culkin has stumbled upon something as special as it is sinister. TV Guide described Roman as “the very definition of the hate-f―k,” but he’s probably more accurately categorized as sexual overcompensation personified. He tells his brother that his “face is drowning in pussy,” despite the fact that his various partners claim he rarely wants to have sex. He masturbates to his office view of New York City while a string of emails piles up behind him. (“It’s to gain some sort of control,” Culkin surmised.)

More interesting than his sex life, though, is Roman’s complex relationship with his manipulative and emotionally abusive father. While most people want to prove their competence to the people around them, “Roman, for the most part, doesn’t give a fuck about that,” Culkin said, adding, “If his girlfriend says, ‘No, but you did a great job,’ it’s like: ‘Fuck you. Don’t patronize me.’” What he wants, Culkin said, is his dad’s approval: “That’s the only person that can get him, the only person that can look at him and make him nervous.”

Logan does exactly that when Roman prepares to stand against the tycoon in the vote of no confidence. With his father staring down at him, Roman can only muster a meek “maybe” before he slouches into his chair like an admonished child and votes with his father. Thanks to Roman, Logan lives to fight another day atop his dynasty, while Kendall is forced, temporarily, to surrender.

Earlier, in Episode 2, Roman finds himself watching as the world repackages his family’s tragedy into viral content. He and his family are huddled together in a New York hospital, awaiting information about their famous father’s deteriorating health post-stroke, like characters in a Gothic novel, when Roman starts scrolling through Twitter. His sister, Shiv, asks what people are saying.

“Eh, rumors, you know,” Roman replies matter-of-factly. “Some of Twitter says he’s dead ― and also a good deal of rejoicing at our father’s potential demise.” He notices a short video of the “South Park” kids yelling, “Oh my God, we’ve killed Logan! We’re bastards!” and asks an employee to “find out who these fuckers are and report them or screen grab their shit.”

When Culkin’s own father was hospitalized after suffering a stroke in 2014, TMZ, The Daily Mail, Perez Hilton all repackaged the tragedy as well. The National Enquirer pounced, too, running a headline that read, “Macaulay Culkin Rejects Dying Dad: ‘Rot in Hell!’” But unlike Roman, Culkin wouldn’t have been sifting through Twitter. “That would never be something that I would do willingly,” he says of social media more generally. “Because already at a young age, there was a public perception of me.” 

Francis Apesteguy via Getty Images

Kit Culkin, Macaulay Culkin, Kieran Culkin and Patricia Bretnup pose for a photo one month after the release of “Home Alone.” The father is now estranged from his children. 

Like Roman, however, Culkin and his siblings have a less than ideal relationship with his father. By all accounts, they have been mostly if not entirely estranged from Kit ever since their mother won custody of the children in the 1990s. Patricia, the mother, claimed during the custody battle that Kit had been abusive, and Culkin’s brother Macaulay has continued to do so throughout his life.

“He was a bad man,” Macaulay Culkin told comedian Marc Maron earlier this year.

When I asked Kieran Culkin if he has spoken with his father recently, he answered with two no’s so quickly that I couldn’t bring myself to ask a follow-up question, only saying, for reasons still unbeknownst to me, “Fuck ’em.”

“Fuck ’em,” Culkin agreed. “I’ll go on record: Yeah, fuck ’em.”

After a lifetime of his last name being splattered across the front pages of tabloids, Culkin seemed ready to move on from the controversies that have dogged him since he was a child actor with moppy hair and oversized clothes. That’s not him anymore.

What we’re looking at instead is Kieran Culkin, age 35 ― no longer a Greg and fully embracing life as Roman.

[flairmagazineblog]

Weekend Watches- If You Have Already Watched Everything on Netflix

Everyone loves TV, and watching television is one of the most universal pastimes. With the plethora of shows available in every genre, it is hard to decide just what to devote your precious time to. Nothing is more aggravating than sitting down for some rest and relaxation to realize you don’t know what to watch. Like most of us, you have probably watched everything on Netflix already but don’t worry, we have put together a list to help you out. No spoilers, we promise! 

New and Highly Recommended 

Mare of Eastown- HBO: It is hard to find an HBO show that isn’t addictive but Mare of Eastown has lived up to all of the hype surrounding it. Featuring an all-star cast of Kate Winslet, Jean Smart, and Guy Pearce the show centers around Mare Sheehan (Kate Winslet) who is a small-town detective with a big city attitude. As she investigates the murder of a teenage mother, viewers quickly realize just how many wires are crossed in this small town and that being a hero can take its toll. 

Cruel Summer- Freeform: What happens when you mix teen angst, a forbidden romance, abduction, and courtroom drama? Cruel Summer follows the lives of two American teenagers over three summers in the 90s skipping from one timeline to the next leaving viewers desperate to know exactly who is guilty and who is full of lies. Beware, do not read anything about Season 1 before watching as even a hint will give away the explosive finale.

Old Characters, New Shows

Intelligence- Sky One: Almost everyone in the world has seen every single episode of Friends and if you are a mega-fan then you will be happy to see Ross Geller, I mean David Schwimmer in a new and hilarious role in the British comedy, Intelligence. The sitcom centers around an intelligence team fighting cybercrimes in the UK with Schwimmer being an ousted NSA agent who is begrudgingly assigned to be the American liaison. Hilarious cultural misunderstandings abound and even if you could care less about government offices or cybercrimes this show will make you laugh out loud. 

Why Women Kill- CBS All Access: Depending on how old you are you might remember Lucy Liu from the legal drama show Ally McBeal or the Charlie’s Angels Films but the Asian-American bombshell is back with an incredible dark comedy-drama called Why Women Kill. The first season follows three very different women across different decades who are only connected by their shared address. The Pasadena mansion where the show is set provides the backdrop for the three women to find out that their husbands have been unfaithful. Who will end up dead? You will have to watch to find out. 

Reality-TV 

KUWTK Final Season- E! Network: It is hard to believe that the franchise that launched the Kardashian-Jenner family into infamy started fourteen years ago with season 1 of Keeping Up with the Kardashians on E! If you are a die-hard or a part-time fan that’s okay, Season 20 is the perfect way to say goodbye. Filled with fights, family trips, law school, and reconciliations; S20 is filled with nostalgia, to say the least. Hot tip, the season ends with a two-part interview with Kris, Kylie, and Kendall Jenner, and the power-trio of Kim, Khloe, and Kourtney Kardashian. Bravo’s Andy Cohen is the perfect person to ask the hard questions and let us tell you—tea is spilled on all the hot button topics from the last fourteen years and it is piping hot! 

Shahs of Sunset- Bravo: This reality show follows the lives of Persian-Americans as they navigate life in sunny Los Angeles. Think along the lines of KUWTK or Jersey Shore but more…Middle Eastern. The crew is connected by their heritage and decades-long friendships but that doesn’t mean that each episode isn’t filled with sugar spice and things not-so-nice. Shahs is now in its 9th season on Bravo, so if you haven’t been familiarized with Reza, GG, Mercedes, Mike, Nema, and Destiny in the first 8 seasons…well, you better start binge-watching. 

Side-Splitting Comedy

Hacks- HBO Max: Jean Smart serves an incredible performance as Las Vegas comedian Deborah Vance, serving Joan Rivers vibes and an addictive plot. The show tells the story of an odd mentorship between a 25-year-old writer and the legendary comedian who is self-centered, brutally honest, and fabulously rich. The Boomer vs Millennial subplot makes the show absolutely hilarious. 

Chad- TBS: Maybe the craziest concept on TV is dressing up a beautiful Persian woman as an adolescent boy but somehow the hilarious Nasim Pedrad has pulled it off. Nasim transforms herself into Ferydoon “Chad” Amani the very socially awkward, unfiltered, and hysterical 14-year old whose sole mission is to become popular. More than being a fantastic show, Pedrad who is the star, writer, and producer has created a space where Middle Eastern families on TV can just be, well, normal. The show is revolutionary in that it showcases the everyday lives of an Iranian-American family without venturing into politics or religion. Chad might make you cringe or laugh but the representation is absolutely necessary.

Binge-Worthy Dramas

Handmaid’s Tale- Hulu: Dystopian drama has reached its peak with Handmaid’s Tale based on the book by the same name by Canadian author Margaret Atwood. The plot is not for the faint of heart as the show is set in a dystopian society that was once the United States but after a civil war, Gilead established rule and installed a fundamentalist theocratic dictatorship. Forced to live as second-rate citizens and unable to handle money, have jobs, or read the women of Gilead are the protagonists of this dark story and will make you rethink almost everything. 

The Chi- Showtime: The south side of Chicago is known for being poor and violent. This is no exaggeration, the city has been given the nickname “Chiraq” a mix of Chicago and Iraq due to the high level of violence. The show The Chi presents a coming-of-age drama series that shows the world through the eyes of the varied characters who are linked to one another through community, life, and love. Rather than hyperbolizing the lives of the Chicago residents, this show takes a deep dive into the everyday realities of multiple generations thanks to the brilliant writing (and Emmy award-winning) Lena Waithe. 

Weekend Watches- If You Have Already Watched Everything on Netflix was originally published on FLAIR MAGAZINE