#they have that quirkiness that just feels at home with the Deer at this point | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

koogl001 · 2 years ago

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Is it ok if I can request Alastor headcanons about a female human s/o with angelic powers? Hope you have a happy new year!

One-Shots and Headcanons Masterlist

When Alastor visited the world of the living for his favourite hobby, hunting, he felt an out-of-this-world presence

A warm, inviting aura surrounded a tiny house on the outskirts of a small town

Your house, to be more precise

You were a human, that much was quite obvious, but then why did you emanate such light?

He found himself to be mesmerised, observing you through the windows as you took care of your chores, humming a gentle tune

You voice was irresistible, drawing him in like a moth is drawn towards a light

As you swept the floors, there was a strange feeling crawling up your back of someone’s eyes on you, but as you believed it to be safe in your small home, you paid it no mind

Ever since you were young, you had a certain power it seemed, to lure people in with your voice and almost hypnotise them, but as you were a very sweet soul, you never thought of using this power to your advantage, that would be manipulation

And oh, how you hated the concept of manipulation for its’ selfishness

There were other things too

You could have sworn you emitted a weak light when in the dark and could manipulate said light

And you had this almost protective aura around you? Or whatever it was, you couldn’t be sure, but it did help deflect negative and menacing energies

Your parents didn’t possess such powers themselves, so it wasn’t something hereditary

But then where did it come from?

The deer demon’s shadow made his way towards you cautiously as not to make you notice, reaching its arm towards your neck

But before it could grasp it, the mysterious aura melted its hand down to nothing, leaving it wailing in pain

When you head screeches behind you, you spun on your heel as if your life depended on it, because it might as well since you lived alone and stranger in your home = danger

You saw nothing however, were you hallucinating? Hearing things? Maybe you overworked yourself, or your mind was playing tricks on you?

Yeah, that was it

Leaving the light on in your bedroom for good measure, you succumbed to a deep sleep

To deflect his attack without even realising it with a power you yourself don’t seem to know how to control or know much about, now that was something interesting

And Alastor adored interesting, as it was a change from his life of sheer and absolute boredom

Hey, once you live (or are dead?) for as long as him, you’ve seen it all at some point, or so he thought at least

That protective shield around your body, it almost reminded him of an angel’s holy aura

So, how was he to approach and kidnap you without suffering the same fate as his own shadow, that was the question

Lucky him for obtaining some holy gadgets during the last Extermination

Those bad boys could be altered into nearly anything, cuffs included so if his hunch about you having some sort of holy power was correct, he would still be able to lock you up and use your power to become the ULTIMATE being

For the next few weeks, you felt the eyes on you nearly constantly, only disappearing when you went to sleep

You became so paranoid you refused to leave the “safety” of your residence and yet at the same time, you wanted to run far, far away till the eyes couldn’t keep up with you anymore

Alastor noted the unwillingness to socialize or, at least, leave your room and, as much as he hated to admit it, after observing you for so long he started developing feelings for you

Your voice, your cute facial expressions, your quirkiness, your grace, your loving heart, he wanted it all

But he knew bringing you back to Hell would make you a prime victim for your abilities

The world of the living wasn’t much safer though, after all the sinners were all once human

So, what he needed to do was take you to Hell and lock you up without anyone knowing of your existence, easy enough

Now, he’ll just have to prepare his home for your permanent visit

When you woke up in an unfamiliar bed in an unfamiliar room, your fight or flight instinct kicked in

And since there was nothing to fight, you attempted to flee

But the doors wouldn’t budge no matter how strongly you slammed into them, and the windows were barred up

You started hyperventilating as it seemed to your panicked mind that the room was shrinking

A gentle tap on your shoulder set alarms off in your head

You KNEW for a fact that you woke up alone in the room and you didn’t see anyone come in through the doors

“There is no need to be scared, dearie!”

A staticky voice said, as its owner kneeled down in front of you

“Alastor, pleasure finally meeting you sweetheart, quite a pleasure!”

He exclaimed, grasping your hand in a firm handshake, invading your personal space quite a bit

“Excuse the suddenness of this situation but I saw you in the living world and just couldn’t resist bringing you here!”

He kissed your hand in a gentlemanly manner, helping you up and hooking your arm around his as he led you towards what looked to be a very old-fashioned yet rather lavish looking living room

“Your exquisite singing was quite literally drawing me in, what the performance! Why I haven't been that entertained since the stock market crash of 1929! So many orphans.”

He sat you down, examining your very being

“Now then, I have a deal for you, dearie! Care to hear me out?”

Somewhere deep down you know there was no running from this, whatever this might even be, so shaking hands with this devilish creature, you sealed your fate

Well, living was overrated anyways

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hamadynes · 5 years ago

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I dunno if it’s just my bias coming into play here, but all the Ashen Wolves just feel like belong in Golden Deer House??

Claude, frankly, has the most interesting interactions with all the Ashen Wolves (at least in the main dlc and with the exception of maybe Hapi) cause he’s dealt with similar personalities already. And he and Yuri canonically get along well cause they’re both secretive mastermind types and I love it.

Even beyond his connection to Holst, Balthus has that carefree attitude that I could see fitting in really well with the Deer, and he and Raph would absolutely train together. He’d also probably very much like Leonie’s fiery can do approach to life.

Hapi is the single character I’d be able to see in any of the houses, but tbh she and Marianne bonding over their “curses” would offer up a lot of fleshing out for both of them. I could see her and Ignatz having a good support too. Also she mentions she was experimented on? She and Lysithea would also have an interesting support then.

Aaaaand Constance and Lorenz trying to out fancy each other only for her to switch to wilting flower mode and Lorenz getting all confused just sounds amazing.

#they have that quirkiness that just feels at home with the Deer at this point #AND THEY’RE ALL OUTSIDERS CLAUDE WOULD EAT THAT UP AND YOU KNOW IT #cf plays feth #feth ramblings

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cringeyvanillamilk · 3 years ago

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☕️If you had to place the black bulls in a squad that wasn't the black bulls, where would you put them and why?

Hello! I really appreciate the ask!

This concept has always been something I’d love to see more of since the possibilities are endless. I’m going to answer this prompt with the assumption that each member properly went through the magic knight exam and were chosen by a different squad captain. I’ll be explaining my thoughts in detail for each member.

More details under cut!

Crimson Lions

Asta: Crimson Lions

I think Asta’s determined and headstrong personality would work well within the Crimson Lions. The Crimson Lions seem to be a very disciplined and hardworking squad thanks to Fuegoleon’s leadership, which Asta would thrive in. I like to believe that Asta’s ambition of being Wizard King and outstanding fighting prowess during the exam would impress Fuegoleon enough to have him join his squad. Asta might also serve as a role model where it doesn’t matter what status or magic amount you have, as long as you work hard you are destined for greatness. This would align with Fuegoleon’s value. Also, Leopold would have a more consistent rivalry with Asta which would make him improve more quickly and effectively.

Zora: Crimson Lions

I think that Zora would be a refreshing addition to the Crimson Lion based on his more tactical fighting style and stance on the corrupted upper class. Having Zora would be a humbling experience for everyone. I think that Fuegoleon would appreciate Zora’s blunt and critical personality because it’ll only lead to improvement and growth. Although his pride may get repeatedly stomped on by Zora, he still values his words and learns from them. And since the Crimson Lions are most likely full of nobles, Zora will be an important key to not only showcasing that peasants are just as strong as nobles, but also point out each member's weakness. He may cause mayhem in this squad, but I think they’ll improve a lot with his presence. Zora would also respect Fuegoleon’s unbiased personality despite being a royal so he has no problem being in his squad.

Blue Rose

Noelle: Blue Rose

I specifically did not pick the Silver Eagles because I don’t believe that Noelle will consistently grow and improve in an environment where she will most likely be ridiculed or undermined. She needs to be in a squad where she can be empowered and supported by others. It’s because of these crucial factors that I think the Blue Rose is the perfect squad for her. Based on what we know about the Blue Rose, we have never seen any members discriminate against others based on class or skills (unless you’re a man RIP). I also believe that Charlotte would be a great role model and teacher for Noelle to look up to. Charlotte may also serve as a potential mother figure that Noelle probably wanted her whole life.

Finral: Blue Rose

This is basically a dream come true for Finral. A squad full of beautiful and strong women? He can finally die happy! Joking aside, I think Finral’s personality and spatial magic would meet Charlotte’s standards. Although Finral is a flirt, he is definitely not disrespectful towards women. Though his flirting may get him in trouble due to the “no dating men” rule, he can always be subtle about it like the other blue rose members. Who knows, maybe his attempts may appear charming to the other members. Finral’s spatial magic is also very reliable and makes him the squad’s favorite errand boy.

Green Mantis

Magna: Green Mantis

Magna’s small amount of magic might prevent him from being accepted by any other squads, but I think Magna’s grit and delinquent attitude might work well under Jack. Magna is no pushover and his willingness to fight might entertain Jack. And if Magna is extremely loyal to Yami, he might be the same for Jack which will stroke his ego pretty nicely. Magna basically went from mean looking captain to another lmao. And if I’ll be honest, Magna might be the key to the squad improving drastically. The squad honestly needs that toughness based on the weak-willed members we know so far from the squad. Jack would definitely leave Magna in charge of toughening up the members. They need it.

Luck: Green Mantis

The sole reason why Luck would join the Green Mantis is because of Jack. Out of all the other captains, Jack seems the most eager to slice which will peak Luck’s interest. If Jack can apparently cut anything, Luck wants to test his abilities and fight Jack. Luck already has a bad reputation and so he might not be accepted into other noble squads. Thankfully, Jack doesn’t care for reputation so Luck will be at home in his squad. It also helps that Luck is in the same squad as Magna since they seem to motivate each other to grow stronger. They’d make a good pair in toughening up the squad and entertaining Jack.

Nacht: Green Mantis

Now Nacht was very difficult for me to choose. Nacht would probably prefer to be in a squad where he can do whatever he wants and spy on the Spade Kingdom. With this in mind, I would put Nacht in the Green Mantis. This squad is one of the least noteworthy in comparison to the other squads and aren’t as formal or rigid. This becomes an advantage for Nacht since this gives him the freedom to do whatever he needs to do. If he were to disappear, the squad doesn’t have to know due to Jack’s lax leadership. Jack wouldn’t think much about Nacht’s disappearance nor would he care so it’s a win-win situation.

Coral Peacock

Charmy: Coral Peacock

I think Charmy would fit in with the Coral Peacock because of her versatile and powerful cotton magic. I like to think that Kirsch, specifically, would view Charmy’s magic as very beautiful. Her cotton magic is just like her personality, very adaptable and cute, so Charmy might end up charming Kirsch if she were to be a part of the squad. She may even be a possible little-sister figure that he’d end up doting over. Of course, Mimosa will always be his number one. Dorothy can also have a nice soft cotton bed to sleep on lmao.

Vanessa: Coral Peacock

I think Vanessa would be in the Coral Peacock due to being a fellow witch. Vanessa’s versatile and elegant thread magic would also fit with the Coral Peacock’s beautiful aesthetic. There’s no question that Vanessa would meet Kirsch’s standards because of her beauty. However, if Vanessa drinks a lot and casually wears her underwear around the base, Kirsch will suddenly become an overbearing mother. He would see such behavior as unbecoming of a beautiful person and would continuously lecture Vanessa to change her habits.This becomes an everyday thing. Being in the same squad as Dorothy can also lead them to have a closer bond due to their similar upbringing.

Purple Orcas

Gordon: Purple Orcas

It’s a big oof. Gordon would only be accepted into the Purple Orcas because of his poison and curse magic. Gueldre initially wanted Gordon to join him on his corrupted scheme, but after realizing that Gordon’s personality betrays his appearance, he (thankfully) dropped the idea. Now that the original purpose for having Gordon is meaningless at this point, Gordon would be left to do whatever he wants. Sadly, he might be lonely because the other members are too scared to approach him or even ridicule him. Thankfully, he might have someone from the Black Bulls to give him company.

Grey: Purple Orcas

Similar to Gordon, Grey’s transformation magic would be viewed as useful for Gueldre’s schemes. And just like with Gordon, Gueldre would realize that he can’t manipulate Grey into participating in his scheme and would give up on the initial plan. Once Grey is transformed, she is very unpredictable and might not listen to directions as readily. If she’s left alone, she might just transform into her other members and have fun. This is where she’d befriend Gordon and hang out together. They’ll keep each other company. Once Kaiser replaced Gueldre, they would both try and better the reputation of the squad. I can see both of them being more fond of Kaiser than Gueldre. A possible father-figure maybe!

Golden Dawn

Gauche: Golden Dawn

Despite Gauche’s past crimes, William would specifically choose Gauche because he is a reincarnation of Drowa. Gauche’s mirror magic could also be powerful in battle, but he’s definitely a controversial pick due to his criminal history and uncouth personality. Gauche would be the black sheep of the squad and he could honestly care less. As long as he receives his paycheck and spends it on Marie, he just wants to be left alone. No friends, no trouble. Alecedora and Langris will not vibe with Gauche. He isn’t afraid to shoot beams at them or anybody else. William promises that Gauche has the skill to live up to the Golden Dawn’s standards. He’s really stretching it for the sake of having him in the squad. Might try and get Gauche to improve his cooperation skills. And thus Gauche joins Klaus, Yuno, and Mimosa for mission and team building. It’s a wild dynamic.

Nero: Golden Dawn

If Nero were to join a squad as a bird, I feel like she would naturally join Asta’s squad since she likes to sit on his head. However, if she were to go through the exam as herself, she would probably be in the Golden Dawn. I’m sure Patri would at least recognize Nero and would want her by his side to keep an eye on her. Nero’s true identity will be unknown to the other members, but William will do everything he could to be close to Nero. Probably to investigate Nero’s goals. She might also be partnered up with Klaus, Yuno, Mimosa, and Gauche. Not gonna lie though, I was tempted to put her in the Silver Eagles because she’d fit the bird aesthetic.

Aqua Deer

Henry: Aqua Deer

Henry is a quirky man. A quirky man that Rill might find inspiration from! Henry might become Rill’s biggest fan because not only would Rill probably let Henry absorb his mana, but he’d show him his various art work. In return, Rill might like Henry because of his cool recombination magic! Each day his house might look different? That sounds like a potential art project in the making! Henry also attracts animals and so Rill will have a blast painting various animals that come by his house! Especially the birds! Probably the most light-hearted friendship.

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justafairytailofinnocence · 3 years ago

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Hello I was feeling quite down today, in fact I was well of course angry and yet sad. So I wanted to write my feelings down into this fanfiction to blow off steam.

A/n: there are times beileve it or not I don't think I'm a good writer and sometimes it's hard to write when people think your insane. When I write I do it with a passion and because it's my escape. I thank those that have given me the positive outlook on my writing.

I just feel insecure and sometimes I think im just a joke, why am I doing this?.

To all those writers that are having a hard time, your perfectly fine. Sometimes we aren't all perfect and people look down on us because we just have a bigger imagination then most. I know because I love coming up with stories to make people smile.

I don't even know why I'm posting this and tbh seems like a waste of time. But in my opinion I love hearing people's creativity and smiles of joy and happiness. It lifts me up to see that my writing can just make someone smile.

Anyways rant over its going to go on and your here to read the fanfic.

Stay well all of you and stay healthy 😘

About: I wanted to make it interesting and make the reader nerodivergant.

Jasper Cullen and y/n meet in the forest. She was quirky and unlike most people loved to read and write. She comes across jasper and the two have a funny interaction.

Jasper X reader❤️

The spaghetti vampire 🍝

"I was always like this, quirky and different it's just what makes me...well me"

I was a student at forks and even if it's not the brightest of all places it's got a home and a heart. I always admired the desolate atmosphere of the wet rain or the pine forest.

I love forests it makes me happy to just be alone with a book or perhaps just the smell of moss.

Since I was a young child I've always admire those with strengths of creativity and even kindness.

I however was different, sometimes fitting in was hard. No one understood the struggles and in social situations normally they would be annoyed.

I wouldn't deem myself an outcast exactly I just have a bigger imagination then most. My skills were of course reading and writing, sometimes I would love to write fanfiction Mabey even try to make a book.

The world can be cruel at times, most people hate me because of my weird intentions. Or my fascination for fictional characters.

I never understood what the girls say to me. Most of the time I was ditched or yelled at because I couldn't understand what they meant.

One day while I was walking in the forest I stumbled upon a young, handsome looking boy.

"hey, erm excuse me" I called out "your eating a deer-". I immidetly saw the sight of something gruesome yet amazing.

"what are you doing here?" The blonde vampire spoke to me in a furious tone. "Um I love waking around the forest" I smiled.

It was odd but somehow I felt safe with him. I felt connected and no longer did I feel like I was out of place. "I like your hair it looks like spaghetti" I smiled touching it.

"huh spaghetti" he sounded confused, "who are you". "Y/n, that's the name" I pointed to myself in a funny stance.

"um jasper pleasures mine" he smiled, it felt like he wasn't afraid of me. "Sorry about that, I must've scared you, I swear I could be a monster" I laughed out loud.

Jasper laughed along with me he liked my personality. "I could say that your eyes are like a sunset" he smiled at my compliment.

The two of us started talking for what felt like hours.

At the end it was nearly sunset "oh no I have to go but promise we can talk again jasper".

He smiled and nodded "yeah of course". The blonde vampire gave me a quick hug.

I will certainly come to the forest again.

Anyways that's all I have for now:

Ta Ta 💫

#jasper hale x y/n #jasper cullen #jasper x reader #jasper x you #nurodivergent reader #twilight oneshot #twilight fluff #twilight saga #twilight imagine #twilight headcanon

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petitelepus · 4 years ago

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25 Days of MTMTE Christmas, Part 25, Christmas Sweater

It’s Christmas Eve on Lost Light and everyone is all dressed up.

Merry Christmas everyone! I understand that this has been a hectic year and there are people who can’t celebrate Christmas like they would like to because of the Coronavirus so I hope that ‘25 Days of MTMTE Christmas’ has been lightening your dark nights and made you smile even the tiniest bit.

I want to thank my beloved friend @missykitty! She read every single chapter and edited them, gave me inspiration, corrected my spelling and choice of words because English isn’t my first language or even second. She made this story possible.

I want to also thank you all for reading and enjoying my stories. I write to bring joy to people and I have been extra diligent this year. I wish you all Merry Christmas and thank you for being so strong.

You loved the holidays! You always had. Christmas was the time of joy and celebration with loved ones. The exact things that you were missing from Earth. Here in space, in a whole other galaxy, you had found a new family. Your found family made sure that you had everything you ever needed or desired, and you loved them back with your whole heart. But none of them celebrated Christmas, so you felt lonesome and nostalgic for your Christmas traditions. You rode your hover scooter through the empty halls before arriving at the mess hall for dinner. It was a bit depressing that your Christmas dinner would be the same as any other day. You were shocked out of your thoughts when you realized that the mess hall was deserted. Where was everyone? You looked around in confusion. Usually, the hall would be filled with hungry Autobots around the clock, but now the place looked abandoned. You felt even more depressed at the thought of eating your Christmas dinner all alone. You despondently made your way to your usual spot. Your eyes widened in surprise at the sight of a handwritten note on the table. 'Come to the meeting room!' They didn’t forget about you after all! Aww, how sweet they were. You were curious about what they had planned for today. You couldn't help but smile excitedly as you picked up the note and left to go where you were instructed. You arrived at the door. You could hear voices coming from inside. Was everyone there just waiting for you? You smiled to yourself. You left your scooter at the side of the door, and pressed the buzzer. The voices inside halted instantly. You put in the code and entered. You were surprised to see that it was pitch black in the room. You clapped your hands to activate the lights. What you saw took your breath away. "Merry Christmas!" Everybody cheered. You were stunned at the sight. You were expecting to see your Cybertronian friends, but instead the room was filled with humans. Humans you didn't know. You weren't that good with people back on Earth, so just how bad you were going to be with them in space? You were about to bolt, but this short stocky man approached you. He was wearing blue shield-style sunglasses. Oh God, he had a Christmas sweater on. A bright red sweater that read 'He Sees You When You're Drinking' in white bold letters. You stared at his sweater. You absolutely adored so-called ‘Ugly Christmas Sweaters’. You didn't even know why for sure, but they were funny and quirky. You made it a tradition to check secondhand stores for rejected Christmas sweaters. When you were younger, you were teased for wearing them. Then they became popular, and even your former bullies started wearing them to ‘Ugly Christmas Sweater’ parties. You were annoyed about that, but at least now you could share your love of tacky things with others. "Hi, yes, we are happy you made it!" The man said happily in a voice you knew. You blinked. "Swerve, is that you?" "Yeah, it's me! Everyone is here also!" He said happily. He stepped closer to you. "It was mine and Rewind's idea to use our human avatars to make you feel at home. How do you like it?" Well, you were speechless and taken aback at how sweet their intentions were. You smiled and were about to answer the bartender, but then your eyes landed on him. "OhmyGod!OhmyGod! Oh! My! God!" You squealed. You quickly covered your mouth when you realized just how loud you were being. "I can't, I just can't...!" "What?? What is it?!" Swerve asked in a panic, fearing that he and others had messed up somehow and offended you. But you didn't respond. You ran straight to this tall woman wearing a beautiful purple Victorian-style dress. But it wasn't her you were squealing for. It was a toddler wearing a blue polar bear sweater with an actual crystal blue pacifier clipped to the material. The little guy even had blue sunglasses similar to Swerve’s. "E-Excuse me, Ma’am, bu-but could I hold your baby?" You asked barely keeping your composure as you looked at the little guy. The woman smiled slightly, and… Oh no, she was hot. She lifted the toddler out of the baby carrier on her chest, and offered him to you. "Hold him carefully,” she said.

You nodded as you took the toddler from her arms and pulled him close.

"Oh my God, you're so cute! Where have you been hiding all my life, you little cutie pie?"

Okay, you were totally baby-talking to the cutest child you may have ever seen. Your voice had probably raised an octave, and you weren’t worried about controlling the volume of your voice anymore. Maybe you sounded ridiculous, but your heart was mush and you had no shame.

"I'm not a baby, or whatever it is!" The child suddenly exclaimed. You blinked in surprise. You looked at the child carefully, and saw a light blue ‘T’ on the child's adorable sailor hat. And that voice...!

"Tailgate? Is that you?" You asked.

The child nodded. "Yes!"

"Oh, Tailgate..." You sighed in joyful surprise. Then you smiled even wider before hugging the mini-human. "You're so freaking cute!"

"Nooo…! I'm ferocious!" Tailgate cried.

You turned to look at the tall woman that had been holding Tailgate before. "Cyclonus?"

"That would be me,” she, no, he said. "You look amazing,” you said. "Thank you." You gave Tailgate back to Cyclonus, then turned to gaze at the rest of the holoforms mingling in the room. One by one, you recognized familiar features in these human forms. You jumped over to a tall young man, with a dark flame tattooed arm, wild auburn hair, and a handsome smile. He was wearing a short-sleeved sweater that read 'You Can Get On My Naughty List Anytime'. You grinned. "Rodimus! You look great! Very hot!" You joked, winking at him. "I know.” You giggled as Rodimus licked the tip of his digit and then pressed it to his hip, making a hissing noise. You turned to see a young lady wearing a dark blue sweater with so much text on it that you had to squint to see what was written there. 'Santa Saw Your Facebook Pictures, You're Getting Clothes And A Bible For Christmas'. Ouch. Only one mech would approve of a shirt like that. "Ultra Magnus, sir? Is that you?" You asked. The woman holoform nodded. You grinned and pointed at his sweater. "That sweater looks good on you." "Thank you. Although, I have no clue what this ‘Facebook’ is. I presume that it's a device or program that keeps records of criminals and persons of interest. That sounds like a good idea to me." You bit the inside of your cheek to stop yourself from laughing. Instead, you clapped. "Wonderful sweater. Truly." You moved on to the next mech and--Oh! Who was this big silver fox standing before you, tall and proud in a sweater that had 'Naughty' and 'Nice' with checkboxes in front of each… but the checkbox in front of 'I Tried' was the one that was check-marked. You barely paid any attention to the text, rather watching how the sweater was stretched across his broad chest and muscled biceps... "It's Megatron,” Rodimus butted in from behind you. You nodded mindlessly, almost in a trance as you ogled the former criminal. DAMN! IT SHOULD BE ILLEGAL TO BE THAT SEXY. The old man sighed, misinterpreting your look. "I was persuaded to use my avatar, and get some kind of ugly clothing that humans wear." "Megatron...! Wow…” you said, blinking like a deer in headlights. "Like WOW." "Yeah, yeah, we get it. So he is handsome for a human! So what!" Someone yelled. You glanced over your shoulder, and saw the most badass looking teen girl you had ever seen. She had long blue hair in pigtails, and an eyepatch over the left eye... "Whirl?!" You accidentally shouted. The girl, no, Whirl stopped pushing you away from Megatron. He struck a pose to show off to you. "Yeah, it is I, fleshie. Admit it - I look badass,” he said. You took in his dark blue sweater that read: 'Dear Santa, Define Naughty'. "I had spiked knee guards also, but Magnus said they were too much,” Whirl complained. You snorted. "What a tragedy." Whirl said some colorful words to you, but you laughed it off. You turned away, and came face-to-face with two men, one tall and dark-haired, and the other short and blond. You blinked and tilted your head, wondering who they could be. Then you noticed the camera in the blond man's hands. "Rewind! And Chromedome!" You exclaimed. They smiled at you in response. "How did you figure it out?" Chromedome asked. "Rewind's camera. Also, your matching sweaters." You laughed and pointed at their sweaters. Chromedome's said 'World's Okayest Elf' and Rewind's read 'I'm Not Short I'm Just A Tall Elf'. You smiled at them before moving through the crowd again, until you saw a man with glasses and carrot-red hair. He was certainly smart looking. You knew a few smart mechs, but you were sure you knew which one this was. "Rung! You look amazing!" The distinguished-looking man before you smiled and confirmed your guess to be right. Honestly? You would tap that ass. His sweater read: 'Santa Loves A Hot Cookie'. You giggled lightly. Then you noticed two smokin’ hot ladies that you recognized as Nautica and Velocity, and two hot men talking with them, likely Brainstorm and Perceptor. Nautica's sweater was bright purple and read: 'But First Let Me Take An #elfie'. Velocity's had a cat on it and read: 'Happy Hannukkat'. Brainstorm’s read: 'Santa Is Real In At Least 370 Alternate Realities'. And Perceptor...! Oh, Percy must have lost a bet or something, because he had a sweater that read: 'I Am Your Present', and there was an arrow that happened to be pointing at Brainstorm at any given moment. Finally, the last pair. You smiled when you saw them. Drift was a handsome young man with ink black hair. Ratchet was a scruffy-bearded man whose hair and beard were red streaked with white. Drift was wearing a sweater that said: 'While You Were Decorating The House I Studied The Blade'. Ratchet's sweater had a huge picture of Grumpy Cat that simply said 'NO'. You slowly made your way through the crowded room, making sure to say hello to everybot present. Besides being polite, you just had to check out all of the ‘Ugly Christmas Sweaters’. They were all amazing! You had never seen so many ‘Ugly Christmas Sweaters’ in one place! More than that, they all had been thinking about you, and how you might be missing human company. Just seeing them all gathered together made you feel like you were back on Earth for Christmas, surrounded by family and friends. You nearly cried at the thought. "Um, can I have everyone's attention?" You said, trying to raise your voice loud enough to fill the room. Every bot in a human disguise turned to look at you. You coughed awkwardly into your fist, then smiled tremulously, trying not to cry. "I just wanted to thank you all. For the amazing surprise. I love all of your sweaters – you all look great. You all are like a family to me, and I hope you feel the same way." Everyone cheered loudly. You blushed in embarrassment, but then Swerve rushed up to you, with Rung following closely behind in a more subdued manner. You smiled at both of them. "Thank you so much, you guys. I couldn't dream of a better surprise." "Oh, but this is just the beginning," Rung said with a mysterious smile. You blinked in confusion. "What?" "We just needed to buy some time while Lug and Anode finished at my place!" Swerve said. Lug and Anode…! You hadn’t seen them here at all! How could you have forgotten them?! Then Swerve took your hand in his to lead you to the next surprise. Everyone followed behind, laughing and whispering behind your back. When you entered Swerve’s, you could barely believe what you saw. Christmas decorations everywhere, gleaming and shining! You could even smell something delicious wafting in the air. "Don't tell me you cooked?" You asked in shocked disbelief. Just as you finished speaking, Lug and Anode came from the bar's backroom with their servos holding trays heaped with different Earth foods traditional for Christmas. There were also energon treats for your Cybertronian friends. Just when you were sure the party couldn't get any better, somebody put Christmas music on to play. You turned to look at the bots standing all around you. "Is it-Is it okay to eat?" Everyone gave you a clear go-ahead, so you began to take helpings of everything so as not to disappoint any of your friends that had worked so hard. Surprisingly, they had nailed it for most of the foods. Though the cranberry sauce was accidentally made with cherries, and the chocolate mousse was too sweet, they were still delicious. When you couldn’t eat any more, you thought that the good time would end there… but you thought wrong. Somehow Swerve had gotten his servos on the Cybertronian equivalent of a karaoke machine. Brainstorm and Perceptor had its files updated with all of the top hits from Earth. There were over 1,000 songs per country, so you had an overwhelming number of options. Some Christmas songs, both classic and new, were included as well. To start, Rodimus rocked the song 'The Phoenix' by Fall Out Boy. With that magnificent show of talent, charisma, and showmanship, others were then itching to get a turn of their own. Nautica, Velocity, and Rewind sang 'Bubblegum Bitch' together. Ultra Magnus sang 'It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas'. You insisted on singing a song called 'Do It For Her/Him' from Steven Universe with Cyclonus. The purple mech thought it was silly to sing a song from a human cartoon, but when he sang, he gave Tailgate meaningful looks. And you? You might have winked Megatron's way a couple of times. You were really enjoying yourself - the party was amazing. It was everything that you could have hoped for. Nothing could top this. Or so you thought, until you were asked to close your eyes and hold your arms out. "Guys, you aren't going to prank me, or do anything to me that will end up on Youtube??" You asked nervously. You heard a snicker from Rewind. "Don't worry! We won't!" "I can hear that camera rolling, Rewind!" You snapped. You jumped when something was placed in your hands. "Open your eyes." You opened one eye at first, then the other. You couldn't believe it. It was a sweater, unbelievingly soft, knitted in your favorite colors. Even better, in the middle of the oversized sweater was a large red Autobot symbol. You stared at it, eyes wide. When you finally raised your head, you had tears in your eyes. "Y-You're giving this to me?" "We had to pull some strings, and call in some favors, but yes." Rodimus smiled as bright as the sun from back home. "You're officially an Autobot now." You couldn't hold back your tears anymore. There was no greater honor than to be admitted to the Autobot order. You started to cry, but the tears were those of pure joy. You sniffled and wiped your face before looking at your dear friends. "C-Can I put it on?" They nodded, and you wasted no time. You pulled the sweater over your head, and then smoothed down your hair. The sweater was a few sizes bigger than your usual size, but that only made it comfier. You smiled, and almost wiped your nose on the sleeve, but you stopped yourself and instead used a napkin. "It's both the ugliest pretty sweater and the prettiest ugly sweater I have ever seen. I love it,” you admitted, your voice wobbly. Your fellow Autobots all said ‘Awww!’ at your emotional display. You opened your arms wide and waiting, and the bots got the idea. They all closed in for a group hug, lifting you off of your feet. You were surrounded by those you loved dearly, and you didn’t regret leaving Earth for a second. "Merry Christmas!" You all cheered, echoing each other.

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fatesdeepdive · 3 years ago

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Entry 52: Moron the Idiot Does Something Stupid

So, it’s time for Conquest. I started up a new playthrough, this time as a boy Corrin named Moron, a fitting name for the sheer stupidity we’re about to view. I replayed up to Chapter 6, this time using Rinkah and Sakura as disposable meat shields and stealing their weapons. In case you’ve forgotten what happened at the start of the game, because it’s been a few months:

Unexplained future vision! Corrin is the prince of Nohr! His siblings and servants love him! King Garon is very very evil! Garon’s minion Hans tries to kill Corrin! Corrin is actually from Hoshido, which is awesome and perfect! Garon turns Corrin into a suicide bomber and murders his mother! Garon invades Hoshido and Corrin is forced to choose between basic morality and standing by his family!

Five months ago, when this blog first reached Chapter 6, I mocked the very idea of choosing Conquest. And I stand by that mockery. Garon is an evil, abusive prick who attempted to kill Corrin twice! He murdered a crowd full of civilians and Corrin’s mother a single chapter earlier! Setting aside the moral problems with fighting for a brutal group of imperialist invaders, joining Garon is suicidally stupid.

And yes, not joining Nohr forces Corrin to fight their loved ones. But that’s messed up by having the Hoshidan family. If this choice was between protecting your family and doing the right thing, then it would be interesting. Instead, it’s a choice between your family and your family except they’re evil and keep trying to kill you. The core conceit of this game simply does not work. Choosing Nohr is an idiotic, suicidal, amoral, and quite frankly cowardly decision.

So anyway let’s side with Nohr.

Conquest Chapter 6: Embrace the Dark

Moron arrives at the battlefield where Xander is leading an invasion because his daddy told him to. Moron, in the first of many idiotic decisions in this route, chooses to join Xander. Ryoma points out that the Nohrians are evil invaders who murdered Moron’s mother like an hour ago, but Moron still decides to side with Nohr because he won’t abandon his family. Xander says that he’s happy Moron has returned. Ryoma tells Xander that Garon tried to murder Moron a fucking hour ago and Moron says he wants to hear Garon’s side of the story.

Ryoma attacks Moron and says its good Mikoto is dead so she doesn’t have to see Moron betray her. Damn. Xander protects Moron and begins fighting Ryoma. Moron begs Xander to just go home and Leo says that Moron has to fight and kill innocent people to prove he’s loyal. Camilla says that they’ve done nothing wrong, because Camilla is a terrible person.

The battle begins. Felicia shows up to assist us. To win, we need to take out four of the following: Yukimura, Sakura, Ryoma, Takumi, and Hinoka. Cool.

Each of them has unique dialogue with Moron. Ryoma begs Moronto to come back. Hinoka begs him to say he's being tricked. Sakura begs Moron not to fight her and Moron tells her to take a nap before stabbing her. Takumi says that he knew Moron would betray them. Yukimura says that Mikoto would have respected Moron's choice before shooting him.

I personally chose to spare Sakura, because beating up a defenseless medic is a war crime and we’re going to be committing too many to count in this run and I’d rather avoid that one. After the battle, Azura approaches Moron and tells him they will meet again. Fucking ominous weirdo. The Conquest intro plays; its similar to the Birthright intro, but Azura wears a purple dress and it’s more focussed on the Nohrians.

Now time for Supports. Normally, I’d do Supports for characters we have, but right now that’s just Corrin and Felicia. So let’s do some Birthright Supports.

Support: Jakob/Sakura

C: Sakura is worn out after healing a bunch of people. Jakob tells her to take care of herself, but Sakura argues that it's our army's fault that people are hurt and she needs to do something because no one else will.

B: Jakob tries to convince Sakura that she cannot save everyone, but Sakura says she feels guilty and must keep working herself to death.

A: Same thing, again.

S: Jakob says he loves Sakura. Sakura says she doesn't want to drag him into her depressing life and Jakob, who is also a healer, promises to walk her path with her.

Review: This is the same Support three different times. And it’s a fantastic Support that gives great depth to Sakura, but it’s also repetitive.

Support: Kiragi/Shiro

C: Kiragi, with his ridiculous eyesight, spots a lost pegasus from far away.

B: Kiragi and Shiro go hunting. Kiragi spots a deer from far away and Shiro carries him through a river so he can shoot it.

A: The cousins talk about how they're a good team.

Review: A very lackluster Support.

Support: Saizo/Subaki

C: Subaki is nice to Saizo, but Saizo assumes it’s some sort of facade. Saizo challenges Subaki to a duel with real weapons.

B: Saizo and Subaki duel.

A: Corrin stops them from killing each other. They reflect on how they're both strong and loyal retainers.

Review: This one is fine, but not great. It suffers a lot from the fight being told through dialogue and the lack of a strong ending.

Support: Dwyer/Rhajat

C: Rhajat rips out some of Dwyer's hair to use in a dark ritual. Rhajat explains that she's hapiest when doing evil dark magic.

B: Rhajat, who is apparently a 17th level Wizard, offers to cast a Wish spell fo Dwyer. Only problem is it required her to cut out his eyes.

A: Rhajat asks if she creeps Dwyer out. Dwyer says she's fascinating and quirky. Rhajat orders him to get a bunch of rare ingredients for her.

S: Dwyer asks Rhajat to cast a matchmaking spell for him so he can get together with the woman he loves: her.

Review: To be honest? This one was genuinely really fun. Rhajat asking for Dwyer’s eyes, then realizing that she’s being ridiculous, then saying she only needs one eye is hilarious.

#fire emblem conquest #fire emblem fates

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felipeandletizia · 4 years ago

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Pandemic days in La Zarzuela

Jesus Rodriguez - May 23, 2020 (Source)

This is the chronicle of how the crisis of covid-19 has been lived in the Headquarters of the State, of the challenge of being King in exceptional times. And also two and a half months of home confinement for a married couple with two daughters.

This April has been one of the rainiest in Madrid. Nature is in all its splendor. The path that leads from the first security control of La Zarzuela to the palace appears bordered by splendid vegetation and by deer that pass slowly. Here apparently nothing ever changes. But at the entrance of the Headquarters of the State it is already detected that it is not the same. The circumspect civil guards are covered with masks and black latex gloves. The identification is given to the agent with the arm to the maximum of its extension to maintain social distance. The gray hybrid car that transports you from that surveillance point to the heart of the royal complex, hidden in the immense mount of El Pardo, owned by National Heritage, incorporates methacrylate partition walls. The quiet, uniformed driver who doesn't open his mouth at the slightest attempt at a chat, wears his mask tight, almost to the point of cutting his breath.

We circulate slowly and alone in an environment that produces drowsiness. Four kilometers later, almost at the end of the route, you can see the tiles of the King and Queen's house hanging on a promontory one kilometer from the palace between the tops of the trees. It is the most invisible property within the invisibility that prevails in this place. The most hermetic place in La Zarzuela. It is never used for official acts. Just for some timid recording of their daily life. It is intended to be a home in which a family of four lives. Even more so in times of pandemic. They assure in this place that its inhabitants "are very respectful of the recommendations of the authorities, and in this case that means that grandparents, cousins and other family members stay each in their own homes."

A family that has been confined since March 13 with minimal and well-considered official departures (only ten, of which five have been carried out by the King alone until May 20 and one by the Queen alone, to the Red Cross). That gets up at 7.30 and eats after two in the afternoon. And where each of its members faces in this strange time the mission entrusted to them, whether by the Constitution, by life or by their age: meeting with the Prime Minister (today is Tuesday, meeting day, and they will meet through videoconference, as usual during the entire crisis); support, by the Queen through videoconference with a brain damage foundation or, in the case of their teenage daughters, carry out their education with the school closed since March 11, but connecting with it from the first hours of the morning. Without any extra school help, but with their parents trying to help them out on English homework, a text commentary, or a story presentation. And a mother who ensures that they are not hooked to the tablet all day and read books and even immerse themselves in the kitchen. Something that the youngest daughter, Sofía, loves.

It is a family that talks a lot, goes to bed early and, if there are no setbacks, ends the day with a movie. Every night one of its members chooses the title. It is a battle between movie fans: a daughter bets on the sagas of Marvel and Star Wars; another, for dramas and science fiction; the father, for the action and the thrillers. And the mother plays the role of intellectual trying to suggest more cultural titles. It is not always imposed.

Someone who knows them recounts their state of mind during this time of pandemic and isolation: “Like all families in this country, in these two long months they have been (and are) closer together than ever. Father, mother and daughters. Alone. With the same feeling that is being experienced in all the houses of this country: of greater union, of being a team, of moving forward. And the same uneasiness as the rest, given the circumstances that were lived during these 10 weeks."

Especially sad moments have passed, such as when the dramatic situation of the elderly in some residences came to light: “It left them with deep despondency and sadness. That bitter sensation and that lump in their throats lasted a long time.” Those were the days, at the beginning of April, when more than 900 deaths were counted each day. And many hospital directors from all over Spain explained to them day and night by videoconference, on the field, in real time, that they were having a hard time, that they had a thousand daily incomes; they were overwhelmed. And yet, they say in La Zarzuela, these people talked to them with integrity and the best of their spirits. And they asked them to fight for "primary care" in the future.

During this time, the King and Queen have spoken with more than 50 hospitals in all the autonomous communities. Long talks that have provided them with a very precise map of the evolution of the pandemic by time and territory. And without filters. The King, the Queen, their interlocutors and a notebook. None of those calls have been recorded.

Before reaching our destination, we cross a stone bridge over the almost overflowed by the Trofa stream. Here is another checkpoint. This time, in charge of the Royal Guard. There are far fewer guards than at other times. Much of its 1,500 troops no longer honor each ceremonial step of the King; they are on the street, disinfecting residences and fighting coronavirus in Operation Balmis as decided by Felipe VI on March 23 during an interview with Defense Minister Margarita Robles. And a few days later he did the same with the members of the Security Service of the Headquarters of the State, composed according to various sources (because the King's House does not provide data) of more than 300 escorts, police and civil guards.

When the King sent his guard and bodyguards to work against the virus, he tried to send a message of solidarity within the framework of the policy of gestures with which the Spanish Monarchy communicates, an institution that rarely issues statements and hardly ever claims or denies. The Jemad, General of the Air Miguel Ángel Villarroya, declared in a martial tone on March 23 that with that act "the King proved to be the first soldier in Spain." He was wrong. What Felipe VI was trying to demonstrate with that decision, as with all of these months of crisis (people he has seen, words he has uttered, world political and economic leaders with whom he has interviewed, hospitals he has called, consultations that he has made to scientists, requests that he has communicated to businessmen), is that he is next to the people. His great concern is the "day after"; the problems that this pandemic is going to cause among the most disadvantaged citizens when it all ends.

A source from his environment explains: "He has analyzed a thousand and one times how it could be valued what so many entities are doing in the face of the impoverishment of thousands of people who were already very vulnerable and will see their ability to get ahead even more hindered. And see what he could do as Head of State in the face of the tragedy of those self-employed who did not receive their full salary in March, nor have they received in April and are waiting for May. And all those who await their ERTE.” As someone who knows the King well says: “From the moment he opens his eyes until he closes them, he doesn't stop thinking and scheming how, with the tools he has, he can make things go better for the Spanish. And it does not do so for personal or political interest. But out of a sense of duty. It is his job. It is his life ”.

The final destination of the tour of this immense farm where La Zarzuela is located ends in the Magnolias building, a 2,600-square-meter brick construction that was designed in 1987. Here is the structure of direct support for the head of state, connected to the palace by a tunnel and a staircase. The King's office is three minutes away. Magnolias is like the Semillas at La Moncloa, which houses the President's Cabinet, its nervous system. In La Zarzuela there are a hundred people, many career officials, and with an abundance of military and civil guards, who manage their agenda, write their speeches, prepare their visits, answer their mail, attend to the media, inform, advise and help make the most serious decisions. And, above all, they work on the relationship between La Zarzuela and La Moncloa. Two constitutional legitimacies forced to understand each other. They are the most hermetic officials of the Spanish Administration. They measure their words to the millimeter. At the head of this team is the harsh 64-year-old State lawyer Jaime Alfonsín, who has been working with Don Felipe since the now King was in his twenties. The average age of that team is 61 years old. Most have done their entire careers here.

The Magnolias building is quieter than ever. At the entrance, two gatekeepers in white jackets and military shoes as mirrors solicitously open the doors. Beyond, a cold semi-darkness of empty rooms, a pretentious decoration of Madrid's upper class and a sepulchral silence. No voices or footsteps are heard. Less than a third of the King's team is in place. The rest have been teleworking since March 13. La Zarzuela is in the box.

However, the head of the House, the secretary general and the six most involved directors (among them, Protocol, Coordination and Communication) are here. They arrive at eight in the morning. At nine they have the first meeting. And with the digital press summary prepared by the House already read. This daily meeting is a novelty, before it was only done on Fridays.

Their boardroom is quirky: a huge room with chandeliers and marble flooring with enough space to stay within the statutory social distance. They sit in a circle on uncomfortable Empire-style chairs. The agenda of the previous day is analyzed, the current one is reviewed and the following one is prepared. They eat from the machine. Not everyone sees the King daily. Alfonsín is the only one who dispatches with him every morning. He's the link with the director of the President's Cabinet and the secretary general of the Presidency. It is in La Moncloa where all the words of the King and Queen are given the go-ahead or "edited", however harmless they may seem, because "it cannot be forgotten that this is the Head of State." In the case of Felipe's message during the referendum crisis in Catalonia on October 3, 2017 nobody touched a comma in the La Moncloa from the Rajoy era.

On March 13, at 15:15, President Pedro Sánchez addressed an audience of 18 million spectators with these words: “Today, I have just communicated to the Head of State the celebration, tomorrow, of a Council of Extraordinary ministers to decree the state of alarm throughout our country”. There were 120 dead.

That afternoon the alarms went off in La Zarzuela. The situation was complex. There had been no national crisis of this magnitude since the Civil War. There was no road map. How should a Head of State who reigns but does not govern face a health, economic and social crisis of such magnitude? What should be his agenda? Should he go out? Should he address the Spaniards? Should he preside over the Councils of Ministers? Should he be involved in any activity? Does he have to intrude? Who does he have to talk to and who does he not? Does he need to appear with his family? Does his consort have to show up making cookies with their daughters? How would each action he takes be politically and socially interpreted? How does he get no one to complain? How to achieve a territorial, sectoral, political, cultural and opportunity balance in all of his actions, initiatives and audiences?

On March 13, the King's House (and the King himself) lacked an instruction manual. And it was not the best time for the Spanish Monarchy either. For years it had been hanging over Felipe VI and the institution the finances of his father, the King Emeritus, Juan Carlos de Borbón, 82 years old. For a long time, the relationship between father and son has not been the best possible. The last time they saw each other in public was during the funeral of the Infanta Pilar, on January 28, in El Escorial. They were in mourning. His greeting was protocol. And the old King looked out of the corner of his eye, his head down, lost, as his son, the Head of the State, walked away from him coldly.

The week before the declaration of the state of alarm, just when the dripping of infected people and deaths began and the situation began to be out of control for the Government, the King and Queen did not stop. Especially, the Queen. Reviewing the images of those days knowing what we know today about the COVID-19 causes amazement. Not an act was removed from their schedule. Not even a trip to Paris on March 11 that the French president, Emmanuel Macron (the couple's personal friend), did not want to suspend: at the gates of the Elysée, they greeted each other without handshakes or kisses. All the King and Queen's appearances that week were massive. An act with the ambassadors of the Marca España in the old palace of El Pardo; a women's soccer final riddled with screams and sweat in a packed sports hall in Salamanca (the same day as the questioned feminist 8-M demonstration); a meeting overflowing with attendees with the Spanish Federation of Rare Diseases ... And all trying to photograph, touch and hug them. The usual landscape.

But it was March 6 that gave the most. And lit the wick of the following events in La Zarzuela. Doña Letizia met that morning in the Uned classrooms, in the heart of the Lavapiés neighborhood, in Madrid, with the professionals of the Association for the Prevention, Reintegration and Attention to Prostituted Women (Apramp), an NGO which she had already called to La Zarzuela in June 2018 and with whom she maintains close contact.

That morning riddled with photographers had an added morbid: its "minister of the day" was Irene Montero, holder since January of the Ministry of Equality and leader of Podemos, a party very critical of the Monarchy. Would there be blood? Would there be a photo? The working meeting was held behind closed doors with Montero side by side with the Queen. It was long. Everything flowed. When they left, according to someone who was there, “they said goodbye with the usual kiss that the Queen gives in cases similar to the ministers, secretaries of state or general directors who attend. It had begun to be suggested in official media that perhaps it would be good to avoid kisses and handshakes (that day there were already five deceased), but neither of them dared to stop doing it, because it was going to be interpreted as an unpleasant gesture by one to the other and vice versa. Something that did not happen and has never happened between the King and Queen and the ministers, no matter the sector or the party they are. Everything always happens within the constitutional correction. It is their job. And then behind the cameras there may be more or less cordiality, but always absolute correction, starting with Podemos,” they assure.

Six days later, on Thursday, March 12, the bomb exploded. La Moncloa announced early in the morning that Minister Irene Montero had tested positive for the coronavirus. And the most difficult days of Felipe VI's reign began. In just six years, he has had to deal with four general elections (two of them repeated), eight rounds of consultations with political leaders, the motion of censure against Mariano Rajoy, a weak coalition government with one of its partners resistant to the Monarchy and the endless secessionist process in Catalonia. Without forgetting the trial and prison of his brother-in-law Iñaki Urdangarinand the continuous information on his father's activities, with private accounts in tax havens and income of dubious origin. These two more personal matters, Felipe de Borbón would be forced to face them as Head of State and not as a member of a family.

In January 2015, six months after his proclamation, he had already drafted a rigid regulation on the gifts that members of the royal family could receive, which stated in its article 6: “They will not accept loans without interest or with interest lower than the normal market, or gifts of money. In the latter case, it will be returned or donated to a non-profit entity that pursues purposes of general interest." From that moment the estrangement would come with his sister Cristina (to whom he revoked the title of Duchess of Palma in June 2015) and from his own father.

It has not been an easy reign for Felipe de Borbón. And nobody anticipates that things will improve. Journalists investigating the finances of the King Emeritus in Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom confirm that things will continue to come to light. They also have it very clear in that home in La Zarzuela. And that any action by Felipe VI as Head of State will be overshadowed by that judicial situation.

On the same morning that Montero was positive, the military doctor from La Zarzuela performed the test for the new coronavirus on the King and Queen. They did not have the results until early on March 13. Neither of them tested positive. However, it was decided that the Queen would keep two weeks of quarantine at her home, not isolated, but without leaving home or interacting with anyone from outside for two weeks, until the 26th, in case it was a false negative. She fulfilled it to the letter. During that time, she did not even go down to her official office in La Zarzuela, where she arrives every morning at nine. It is in an adjoining room, bright, white and minimalist, where she holds the videoconferences. By mid-May, she had already completed more than 60 within what she calls her specialization: culture, society, dependency, sexist violence, cancer, rare diseases, food and childhood. They last around an hour. "There is no protocol required in them other than politeness."

But between March 12 and 16 there was not a single event on the King and Queen's schedule. The King also did not leave the limits of the El Pardo mountain until his surprise visit, with no press called, to the field hospital of Ifema on May 26th. However, on the 13th he had already put himself in “virus mode”, started to make calls and was totally immersed in the crisis, a state of mind from which he has not escaped. “He keeps in constant contact with all kinds of people linked to the management of the pandemic, wherever they are. Today, at home, the virus is talked about at all hours. They are the only conversations their daughters listen to.”

On March 14 Spain closed. And also appeared published in the British press, in The Telegraph, the exclusive that Felipe VI was beneficiary of one of the foundations created in tax havens by his father with a patrimony of 65 million euros, apparently from Saudi Arabia. His team at La Zarzuela knew that information was about to come out. This was confirmed by journalists from The Telegraph and EL PAÍS (who had been months behind the subject) by email; they wanted to know the King's answer. But La Zarzuela did not answer. Why? "Because it was a judicial matter that we could not enter. And because there was no documentary evidence; not a bank paper, income or account to confirm it. They preferred to wait”. At La Zarzuela they always take their time. They say that its rhythm is more like that of the Vatican than that of the White House. Even if it is in theoretically banal matters. For example, the decision that the Princess of Asturias and her sister, the Infanta Sofia, briefly read passages from Don Quixote on camera on April 23 to commemorate Book Day took five weeks.

That Saturday of breaking news, March 14, La Zarzuela's team had to change plans on the fly and write an extensive and harsh statement that same afternoon of four pages that would be released to the public on the afternoon of Sunday 15 (the second day of confinement and when 288 deceased were already counted), in which Felipe VI disassociated himself from the activities of his father (who he claimed to be unaware of), resigned to his economic inheritance (also in the name of his daughter), placed the King Emeritus outside the administrative and legal umbrella of the Royal House and withdrew the official allocation of 194,232 euros per year. The statement concluded with this statement by don Juan Carlos: "That of the two foundations previously mentioned at no time did he provide information to HM the King." The elaborate formal and legal drafting of the text indicated that it had been prepared in sufficient time. For about a year, La Zarzuela had been aware of what was coming through the mouth of the British lawyers of Corinna Larsen, the old friend of Don Juan Carlos.

Why was this statement issued coinciding with the start of the confinement and on a Sunday? "As soon as we had documentary evidence of the accusations of the British newspaper, we could not leave for a second the slightest doubt that Felipe VI was the beneficiary of these accounts; it was necessary to act without delay; there could be no shadow on his conduct; that news could not be for a second on the internet without a response from the King”, explain his collaborators. "Why did we get it out that day and not a year earlier? Because until that weekend we did not have the documentary certainty of those accusations, a year before we lacked that documentary confirmation”.

That Saturday the King made the decision to publicly disassociate himself from any matter that related him to his father and that could be questioned, as he had already done privately a year earlier, on March 12, 2019, before a Madrid notary, exposing his intention to renounce the inheritance of Juan Carlos de Borbón at the time he passed away (now legally he cannot). Those dubious financial actions do not enter the head of Felipe VI. They go against his vision of the world and the “Monarchy renewed for a new time” that he has tried to build since his proclamation on June 2014.

On Wednesday, March 18, there were 598 deaths. At five in the afternoon a meeting of the King with the President began in the audience room of La Zarzuela; the ministers of Health, Defense, Interior and Transport and their deputies, the Coronavirus Technical Management Committee. It was intense. It lasted until after 7:30 p.m. The King concluded it with just enough time to run down to the Magnolias room and, without changing his tie, record a message to the nation, with no time to repeat, that would be broadcast at nine at night. The Queen and her daughters did not accompany him on this occasion. They were confined.

It was not the King's best speech. Not even gestually. It was witnessed by 14.6 million people. He and his team thought about referring in the text to the affairs of his father, Don Juan Carlos. They decided not to. There was not the slightest mention, to the perplexity of many citizens. "There was no attempt to hide anything," responds a member of the Casa del Rey, "but there was no point in talking about the King Emeritus in the context of a terrible health emergency, especially when he had done so immediately, extensively and firmly in the statement three days before. There was not anymore to say. And even more so when it is a judicial matter. On March 18, the Head of State talked to the country to give his encouragement against the pandemic and to tell the Spaniards that he was by their side. Not to talk about his father's problems."

The total activation of La Zarzuela in times of crisis did not arrive until March 26. That day the King went to Ifema, the Queen began her video conferences and a complex agenda of contacts and initiatives was launched. Dozens of calls and videoconferences with all sectors. Absolutely everyone. And meetings with 16 ministers (although it took more than a month to receive the first of Podemos, Manuel Castells, in La Zarzuela). Always with the idea of having their own and direct information about what was happening in Spain and sharpen the shot. The utility of those actions of the King is difficult to specify. You never know if they are of any use. Because it is, as a person in his environment explains, “a job that involves being a link, generating trust, mediating, cooperating and weaving complicities to solve the problems of 48 million people. And to do it with a rectitude and exemplary that for this King is not negotiable”.

According to another person in his environment, "this work has a lot of soft power”. A parallel diplomacy that consists of having quick and direct access to the most powerful on the planet, Amancio Ortega, Jack Ma (the Chinese millionaire owner of Alibaba Group), the president of Huawei or Microsoft. And also to all the monarchs in the world (they have spoken with the majority, from the Queen of England to the Emperor of Japan or the sovereign of Morocco). Or to chat with Donald and Melania Trump in a long and intense conversation on April 1 in which the President of the United States did not stop questioning the King and Queen about the confinement and closure of economic activity; between maintaining business and the need to avoid spreading the virus. It was his concern. And, by the way, it unlocked the sale to Spain of a hundred respirators, at a time when there were already 4,500 deaths from covid-19 in the United States and they could be needed there.

Not everything is based on planetary relationships with ministers and statesmen. One of the great concerns of the King and Queen is, at this time with the curve of contagions and deaths in free fall, "the sustainability of the groups that work with the most disadvantaged and help them to have something of quality in their lives, for example, in matters of gender violence. If the subsidies and aid and the talks with the autonomous communities of the organizations of the third sector are interrupted, what will become of them? ”They ask themselves in the surroundings of the Queen. That is their job. Be helpful. Although they may not always have it easy.

#King Felipe #Queen Letizia #Princess Leonor #Infanta Sofia #King Felipe of Spain #Queen Letizia of Spain #Princess Leonor of Asturias #Infanta Sofia of Spain #King Felipe VI #Princess of Asturias #King Felipe VI of Spain #COVID-19 #News #May 2020

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theliterarywolf · 5 years ago

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So... How About The Midnight Gospel, huh?

Now, right off the bat, I’m just going to say it:

Did you enjoy the film The Yellow Submarine? Did you enjoy WTNV before the road block known as Old Oak Doors? Are you someone who, despite having your own spirituality and belief system, can appreciate discussions of other people’s religions and belief systems? Are you good at listening to a conversation while your eyes are being skull-fucked by bizarre imagery?

If you answered ‘no’ to ANY of these questions, then this show is NOT for you. Which is more than fine: not every piece of media matches everyone’s tastes. I would just rather people realize that sentiment rather than posting cold takes about this production being ‘Reddit: The TV Show’ or saying stuff like ‘You can just spray lemon juice into your eyes and get the same effect; you don’t have to pretend this show is good~’

Let’s go further down this rabbit hole under a ‘Read More’, shall we?

I’m a listener much more than I am a speaker. It’s one of the traits that people will actively point to when describing me in a personal light. So I do enjoy both narrative podcasts my fair share of podcasts: LORE, Fuck Humans, No Sleep, Uncanny County, Limetown (did Season 2 of this one ever come out?), the various audio productions by Katy Towell, and others that I’m probably forgetting. I also enjoy listening to people from different walks of life than my own: one of my customers at work is a Freemason who will gladly discuss the meanings of sky-patterns, another one is an older, soft-spoken gentleman with tons of stories due to being stationed all over the world in his youth, things like that.

So, when the trailer for The Midnight Gospel first dropped, I was... intrigued. Of course, I’m a fan of ‘bizarre animation with a purpose’: less your Problem Solverz and more your La Planete Sauvage, Superjail!, and, of course, The Yellow Submarine. So the visuals caught my attention and the audio did as well because, even from those brief few pieces, I knew that it was more conversation-heavy than most animations.

So, on 4/20/20 (because weed! Although someone mentioned that it also may have been because Duncan Trussell’s, the voice of our main character, birthday is on 4/20 -- But I think it’s more because of the prior) The Midnight Gospel premiered on Netflix...

And I completely forgot about it. I don’t know what was going on in my life during that day but I completely blanked on the fact that a show that I was interested in premiered. It wasn’t until a few days later that I remembered and loaded it up.

So, what’s the show about? Aside from trippy visuals and long discussions?

The story of the show (though you’ll be forgiven for missing it because it does fall to the side a bit with certain discussions) follows Clancy, a young man who has run away from home after stealing some of his sister’s money to buy a universe-simulating computer (that just so happens to be shaped like a giant vagina) so he can hop around various universes, interviewing various beings, and uploading remixes of those interviews online for his spacecast. You know, it’s a Podcast but it goes to space. It’s fine.

The course of the show has us following Clancy through what is initially quirky chaos but turns into Clancy having to come face to face with his own destructive, negligent behavior. Does he? Well, you’ll have to watch the show to find out.

However, of course, the portion of the show that stand out upon first watch is all the talking. Which makes sense when you realize that the interviews Clancy is having in the show are all taken from Duncan Trussell’s real-life podcast The Duncan Trussell Family Hour.

Now, I never knew who this guy was or about his podcast before watching this show, but if it’s anything like what we got in TMG then GOD DAMN, what the FU--

So, though an episode will have a narrative, the audio is front and center and the narrative is presented through the visuals as well as a few added dialogue lines to try and mesh things together.

To describe it better, it’s like hearing a discussion about the futility of the human condition and the brain-melting aspect of the cosmic index... but visually you’re being presented this discussion via an octopus trying to buy ice cream from a decomposing moose-head while an orgy is going on behind them.

This is where you will either like the show or hate the show. One, of course, going back to the visuals. They’re trippy, they’re from Pendleton Ward so if you don’t like the effect that shows like Adventure Time and Regular Show and SU had on Western Animation, you’re going to be unhappy on that front.

Then the discussions themselves. I will say, front and center, that episode 1 and episode 3 don’t necessarily work. Episode 1 has Clancy interviewing a diminutive, but still pretty bad-ass, alternative-universe president during the final, losing days of a zombie outbreak...

And the discussion is about drugs. Particularly the notion of, and I paraphrase, ‘there’s no such thing as a bad drug; just bad trips’. Which! I appreciate the sentiment! ... But heroin and meth would like to have a word with you!

With the first episode it’s very easy to come away from the show thinking ‘ugh, this is just a bunch of privileged hippies talking about how no one should be mean about their drugs’.

But then you have episode 2 where Clancy interviews a... dog/cow/deer creature who is being put through a slaughterhouse and the discussion used in that episode was about having a more balanced approach to death and the notion of what love means: are you willing to put yourself through the most gut-wrenching, agonizing pain possible for the sake of another person? Like a mother giving birth? Or like Christ on the cross? So you’re left thinking ‘okay... I can jive with what this show has to say. Yeah.’

AND THEN EPISODE 3′S VISUAL STORY IS CLANCY TAGGING ALONG SOME GUY WITH A FISH BOWL + GOLDFISH FOR A HEAD ON HIS PIRATE SHIP THAT’S DRIVEN BY HOUSECATS! AND THE DISCUSSION IS SOME GUY WHO WENT TO JAIL FOR KILLING SOMEONE AND WHO PRACTICES MAGIC AND FOLLOWS THE TEACHINGS OF FUCKING ALEISTOR CROWLEY, AKA: ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS WHY PEOPLE CAN’T HAVE CIVIL DISCUSSIONS ABOUT MAGIC AND MYSTICISM BECAUSE THEY ALWAYS GO BACK TO THAT ONE FAT OCCULTIST FUCK!!

Ahem.

The rest of the series stands up pretty well, though: with discussions on forgiveness, a discussion on what meditation means to different people, and even a pretty in-depth conversation about the Death Industrial Complex where the interviewee is voiced by none other than Caitlin Doughty, the woman behind ‘Ask a Mortician’ and one of the most vocal voices for people reclaiming how their loved ones’ bodies are treated after death, and more.

But then... You get to episode 8. The final episode.

I will not discuss episode 8 here. It is the season finale (GOD, I hope this show does well enough by Netflix to get a S2) and the combination of the visual story and the discussion come together so well...

I cried. I shit you not, I broke down into tears for a good few minutes. It is definitely something that should be watched.

And that’s the best recommendation I can give to something like The Midnight Gospel: while episodes 1 and 3 are clumsy and ‘why’-inducing, the rest of the episodes make the premise of combining this eclectic podcast with visual/narrative stimulation. If you aren’t bothered by any of the things I prefaced this write-up with, I would definitely give it a shot and see how you end up feeling.

#The Midnight Gospel #not really a full review #but just some thoughts

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ignisosculo · 5 years ago

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hello, beautiful humans ! i’m frankie and i’m very excited to be here. of course, i’m super duper late because let’s be honest, i was a bit unprepared and then i had a very hectic day, so it’s safe to assume that i’m literally rushing to post this. please note that since i’m starting out with two muses ( pray 4 me ), i’m gonna introduce them both here, under the read more, & hopefully with enough context if anyone is interested in plotting things out and whatnot ... so this might be a tad bit longer ! also, i think it’s very important to see detective pikachu in a car seat. thank you & goodnight.

𝐉𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐍 𝐆𝐎𝐋𝐃𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐈𝐍.

☾ ▹ ° ⋅ paul rudd / forty-nine / cis male ; have you had the chance to meet jonathan goldstein ? he has lived in old sprigg for most of his life, gaining a reputation for being quite charismatic, reliable, quirky & tense. this heterosexual leo can be found around dubois bakery and he works as an architect. most people tend to associate them with an artist’s desk and piles of sketches.〈 loved by frankie, 23, cst, she/her. 〉

this vampire guy right here was born and bred in old sprigg, missouri, so old sprigg isn’t just a small town for him. his family had money so he had an a-okay upbringing. parents were pretty strict, having a set of rules for john and his siblings. he’s the oldest of four; one brother & two sisters, so as you can assume, the goldsteins were a crazy, jewish ménage.

growing up, he always had a keen interest in architecture. he’d point out the many buildings whenever they traveled. little johnny’s goal was to become an architect. before that, john wanted to be an astronaut, but that’s besides the point. he went to usc and graduated with a bachelor of architecture degree.

deciding to stay in california for a few years after graduating, he found a job at a design firm. starting out as an intern wasn’t too shabby, though. he’s a talented guy and the owners of the studio noticed his talent ... after 3 years, almost a little too late. however, he couldn’t find it in his heart to say ‘no’ to becoming a part of the team.

worked as an architect for 15 years before moving back home. however, he’d left behind the opportunity to start his own design firm. prior to coming back, his long-term relationship ended and was absolutely devastated. he’s STILL as single as a missing pair of socks. tragic. [ 37 years old ] : returned despite how heartbroken he was.

he’s one of those fun uncles. he’s got a couple of nieces and nephews. the family keeps growing and growing, then there’s jonathan: single but he doesn’t mind one bit. or does he ? doesn’t believe in marriage, so give him someone to love who might believe the same thing about a piece of paper ?

living in california, he traveled twice a year to old sprigg to visit his old pals and family, so you might’ve seen him around. goodbyes kind of suck, so he isn’t one to say goodbye. whenever he had/has to leave for a while, he will say: ‘see you later’ or ‘i’ll be back’ with a peace sign, trying to avoid making a reference to the terminator movies.

not an important note/quick summary: was away from missouri for 19 years. graduated from university of southern california. intern to full-time employee. pleased as fuck. met someone and dated them for a long ass time. she ended it. came back to old sprigg. heartbroken. moved on. been home for 12 years. single af. perhaps too old to become a parent / low-key gives up. works at home. active. constantly travels due to work. a busy bee, workaholic.

personality wise: confident in communication skills, helps others feel confident if permitted, positively confident without being boastful and egotistical, lowkey lives a carpe diem personality, able to be trusted, honest & often times too straightforward but means well, creative af, quirky and witty sense of humor ( if it isn’t written out that way sometimes, i apologize beforehand because i think of witty things to say a day too late ), regardless of being charming and whatnot, he’s tense; will become anxious and nervous at random times of the day. easy-going. / more to be added.

aesthetics: an artist’s desk in a design studio ( aka home ), a shit ton of sketches in piles basically overflowing his home, planners filled to the brim with important dates regarding personal life and work, etc. / more to be added.

wanted connections: give me everything and anything. im’s are OPEN !

𝐀𝐘𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐓 𝐀𝐋-𝐀𝐙𝐖𝐀́𝐑

☾ ▹ ° ⋅ inbar lavi / thirty-four / cis female ; have you had the chance to meet ayelet al-azwár ? she has lived in old sprigg for seven years, gaining a reputation for being quite ambitious, good-natured, sensitive & worrisome. this bisexual pisces can be found around the clover and she works as a veterinarian. most people tend to associate them with white coats and messy hair buns.〈 loved by frankie, 23, cst, she/her. 〉

this girl has a love and hate relationship with her name. not only is it hebrew for ‘deer, gazelle’ but her mom’s constant reminder that it ‘fits’ her makes her give up. letty is, in fact, her nickname. she’ll introduce herself as dr. al-azwár if you’re stopping by the old sprigg veterinary clinic for your furry lil friend’s check-up and whatnot.

she grew up in a jewish household in brooklyn, new york. the al-azwárs are of moroccan and polish descent, so she grew up learning hebrew and arabic, plus a few other languages. probably a linguist. honestly, she never stops learning in general. if there’s a library, then knowledge is power. was in ap classes through the school years... including college. but she wouldn’t consider herself a genius. always pressured herself to be the best. she’s a damn perfectionist.

with her parents permission, she had a job when she was 16 years of age, so had been earning money ever since — dreaming of attending college. thankfully, mom and dad were more than okay with her wanting to become a veterinarian. they supported letty in every step of the way. which came to a surprise for her but she didn’t question them at all.

earned her doctor of veterinarian medicine degree ( dvm ) when she was 23. took a gap year before attending [ name of college ]. pretty fucking proud of herself, even though there were pretty hard obstacles along the way, and she was up for any challenges. but let’s face it, life after college can be tough af with landing your dream job. especially in new york.

managing on getting her degree, she worked two part-time jobs to be able to afford rent, since she decided to move to manhattan afterwards. just 2 words: big mistake. letty isn’t the type of person to ask for help, considering she is still paying off school. it’d been 2 years until she realized that the best choice for her was to move states. well after paying her taxes and bills, and making a budget. at that point, she was on the verge of having a mental breakdown.

giving her landlord the heads up, the first thing she did was notify her parents that she was selling her studio apartment and moving back to brooklyn, and into her childhood home. asking if it was all right because she’d refuse to accept their money and advise them of their retirement plan, hoping to care for them when the time came. a little superstitious, letty knocks on wood every time.

choosing to move to old sprigg, missouri was completely random. however, she had the desires of moving to a small town. the first thing she did was buy a ticket to missouri and visited the charming town. she fell in love with old sprigg; it had / has its charm. how long did she stay ? A WEEK, and it was enough for her to make the decision.

for the past seven years, she has lived in missouri and worked as the vet at its clinic ( totally forgot to mention she lived with her parents for 2 years beforehand ) and couldn’t be happier. letty can be found hanging out at the clover with a glass of wine in hand with a book in her hand.

personality wise: has the strongest desire and determination to succeed. kind, friendly, patient. the mom friend to people she’s closet to. concerned more with the needs and wishes of others than her own. has a quick & delicate appreciation of others’ feelings, especially with animals. inclined to worry, a clinical worrier. introverted but ambivert. / more to be added.

aesthetics: white lab coats, messy hair buns, curly hair, pencil skirts, etc. / more to be added.

wanted connections: give me everything and anything. im’s are OPEN !

discord: i constantly change my username lol so please ask for it, if you prefer to plot through there; i’d happily give it to you. c:

#sprigg.intro #this took me a lil over 3 hrs #i am impressed af #according to tumblr‚ i have zero ( 0 ) posts .....#and i’m late !#it’s almost 2 am and i need sleep #but i must interact first lol

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kouhadyne · 6 years ago

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me infodumping abt marvel!wren and her infinite wren-ness cranked up to 12

(SO jsyk wren lives in Midtown’s basement in an old computer lab. she’s about a year below Peter but in some advanced classes (namely science and history but thats it.) so she like...vaguely knows him but loves michelle (u cant convince me otherwise wren wouldnt be head over heels for her + probs started calling her mj) so that’s a thing.)

anyway, the kossor bullshittery happens like...either after dark world but before civil war. alt hot take, after iw (as in, everyone is fine, nobody is dead. iw was just a fight over the last hot pocket, avengers are back together.) the fog rolls in every night across NYC and it gets bad enough that there’s a curfew in effect (but people are dumb and go in anyway) so wren (being a dumb person) goes into the fog. she thinks shes gonna die but instead turns into a funky little alien. she thinks she’s a mutant (she isn’t.) and has the power to transform based off chemical responses (half right.) what does she do? she becomes a fucking superhero that’s what.

so she’s running around, trying to fight in like, the worlds shittiest costume but a cool mask (she made everything herself. her mask looks like this and her costume looks like this just without the mecha arms) and wren’s like ‘oh i wish i could control my magic instead of only using it when im scared.’ and woosh, loki comes along like ‘i can help but i need a favor’ and she’s like ‘ya what u need strange green deer’ so loki’s like ‘i’ll teach u how to hide me on earth bcs i got some stank dudes on me’ and shes like ‘aight cool lets make that happen, im THE DARK MAGE; HEROINE EXTRAORDINAIRE whats ur name’ and hes like ‘yeah im loki and we gotta work on that name.’

so they’re doing their thing, wren destroying anything and everything while he teaches her to control her magic so it doesn’t hurt her anymore. all the while she’s explaining her life to him like ‘i met u two weeks ago do u wanna hear my life story’ ‘no’ ‘too bad im an amnesiac orphan and i live in a basement its cool but im also a very cool mutant whos a hero. very neat and cool but people keep trying to kill me’. also i should mention people are trying to kill her left and right bcs word of a perfect-amalgamated hybrid is being spread and an organization of anti-hybrid assholes known as CICADA are like ‘hey kill her and we’ll give u money’. all the bad guys are like “ooh money” or “that nasty halfbreed is going down murder time.” (she does not know shes a hybrid. oblivious baby.)

so loki knows because he isn’t wren: local dumbass. and hes like “is it true ur a descendant of banished asgardians” and wren’s like “im asgardian? neat.” but eventually kossor shows up like “im here to kill the runaway experiment real quick, thanks.” and they fight! but he eventually paralyzes her with a spell only to spill the beans on what she is. turns out, she’s a project called “Warbreaker” whose essentially a natural hybrid with the fused soul of a general and a child soldier smushed into her body. wren, understandably is pissed to shit but can’t really do anything bcs she’s being strangled as her creepy..uncle? father? whispers to her. anyways she’s left to die for 12 hours (he thinks the paralyzer will kill her. it didnt it just kinda...paralyzed her body.) and she has a meltdown because shes alone and faced with the truth about who she is. she believed she had a family somewhere waiting for her to come home, even if she didn’t have parents but now she’s just a disgusting half-breed with a price tag on her head and a target on her back who cant do anything except die.

loki finds her once the fog lifts with the dawn and hes patching her up and she just starts...crying. she explains what she is and hes like ‘oh welcome to the club i got lied to too’ and they have a Moment of Bonding-ness over their shitty families and heritage. but she kinda takes a step back and asks ‘what am i fighting for’ and at this point, she just wants kossor to stop. shes now furious and on a path of vengance and loki’s like “u go baby”. so wren makes a call-out post in the form of a literal war call and theyre gonna duke it out babey!!!

and now they fight bcs wren’s like ‘idfc what i am, what ur doin is wrong asshat’ and kossors like ‘u again, lol perish thot’ and then they fight (its cooler than i make it sound, im sorry.) but it takes 6 hours and both are like, at the fucking brink and wren jsut sucker punches the shit outta him with some magic (namely the illusions loki briefly taught her). so now kossor’s dying on the floor and wren’s dying standing up and he’s like “im sorry i didnt mean to start a war i just wanted my sister back.” and wren’s like “maybe don’t take bribes from extremists then” (i imagine their final conversation to be either deeply moving and influential to wren’s character or just. this vine) but now with his death comes more problems but now wren is stronger than before (using her soul of literal chaos as a fuel for her magic was a good idea) and ready to fight to defend people bcs why not (justice. thats why.)

but two months later shes back up from her hyperthermia induced coma and she’s like “Shit my homework fuck and also loki” (loki has Vanished in loki fashion, aka thor is on earth). cps finds her again and puts her back in a home bcs they thought she was just caught in the fog. but she’s being dark mage, running round the city fighting criminals/alien bad guys trying to kill her but sooner or later she gets a call from the avengers/nick fury and hes like “hey u wanna do an interview” and shes like “yeah its not like ive dreamed of this moment since my childhood as a small 15-year-old i mean I Am An Adult, I Pay Taxes, I Drink The Al Col Hall.” so, like any good person, she lies about her age to join the avengers after an interview with fury and hill (where she just tells how she beat up kossor but lies about her age and who loki is bcs she doesnt go back on her promise of hiding him) so theyre like ‘cool ur in welcome to the avengers dude’

so she’s living in the tower/compound and for Dramatic Purposes (learned from someone) she never takes off her mask and never really...talks. Only on missions when her Serious Wren shows up. but the kinda break her little shell and shes just so quirky u cant help but get charmed. it isn’t really until a mission where they fight CICADA that they find out who she is (they single her out and go after her until she’s near-death and her mask is broken to fuck). she eventually explains everything in the medbay and its like “great, here’s a child with big PTSD and anxiety who lied about her age to join the avengers so she can live somewhere better than a basement, now what” so they argue about it and wren quietly sneaks/runs away. but big worm, here comes a terrifying winter soldier who stalked her to her little hideout. so shes like “i know when im not wanted and ill just go back to being a vigilante’ and hes like ‘hey ur good, kid they arent gonna kick u out.” so they have a Talk of Mutual Bonding and he gets her to come back so they can talk it out. stuff gets argued about and wren’s like “why not just...don’t say anything to fury. im doing this outta my own free will so none of u will get in trouble. plus im also not a kid bcs technically im 4 years old.” ‘that is not helping, Kujisela’ ‘call me wren its my name’. long story short, they agree to let her stay as long as Dark Mage still fights. (im a big slut for family dynamics so Hey + i feel like the supersoldiers start calling her plum bcs of her Purple-ness and it catches on)

so ye thanks for reading my TED Talk; i love Wren Ataxia Kujisela with all of my heart (pls just...talk to me abt her)

#wren tag #quill.txt #its a LOT but im.....big wren mood #love u bb #oc tag

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killervibe · 7 years ago

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If It Were True

Pairing: Killervibe (Caitlin Snow/Cisco Ramon)

Summary:

“You two make such a cute couple,” The elderly woman cooed.

Caitlin’s eyes widened. “Oh—No, no we’re not a couple,” she stammered. “He’s just my best friend.”

Read on ao3 here

~.~

It was a ridiculously humid day in August.

Star Labs had fans and air conditioning but it didn’t stop Caitlin’s or Cisco’s hair from frizzing. Caitlin recently got bangs again, and she wholeheartedly regrets the decision as they kept sticking to her forehead.

“Why don’t you just Killer Frost and spare yourself the misery?” Cisco complained. “Like, I know it had bad consequences for Arendelle but you should seriously consider pulling an Elsa and freezing Summer.”

It was just the two of them today. The West-Allens took the day off to spend with Joe and Cecile and Harry went to check up on the Star Labs of Earth 2.

Caitlin glanced at him from over her desk. He was still plastering his face against the biggest fan which was making his voice vibrate funny.

“First of all, let’s not turn Killer Frost into a verb. Two, I have too much work to get done by tonight, I don’t want to switch right now.”

Cisco groaned. “Fiiiiiine. But please, please can we go for an ice cream break?”

Caitlin quickly calculated the pros and cons of missing out on a half hour of work—to have some refreshing, cold, delicious ice cream, yeah, who was she kidding?—and smiled, giving in.

They walked to the closest ice cream parlor, gossiping about the latest drama between Ralph and his new girlfriend, Sue.

When they got there, Cisco told her to save a small table next to an elderly woman on the patio while he ordered a two scoop cone: rocky road and chocolate chip cookie dough, and a strawberry for Caitlin.

“Here you go,” Cisco said, returning with the cones. “Waffle cone for you, and chocolate dipped for me.”

Caitlin pushed her sunglasses up and made an approving sound. “You know me so well,” she sighed, taking the cone and eating it immediately.

“Hey,” Cisco says casually, half of the Rocky Road already devoured, “So you never told me what it was you’re working on.”

Caitlin reached for a napkin. “Oh,” she said, “Just going over results from the genetic molecular reorganization project Mercury Labs conducted. They wanted my consultation.”

“That’s cool. Have you thought of doing that regularly? Like, becoming the Dr. Phil of biochemistry? That would be awesome.”

Caitlin laughed. “No, we have our hands full at Star Labs. Maybe when I’m older though,” she mused. Her ice cream was beginning to melt over the cone, so she quickly lifted it up for her to chase with her tongue.

She glanced up to find Cisco looking at her. She blushed, fumbling for her napkin to wipe the rest away, embarrassed.

At this point Cisco was finishing the last of his cone and slipping his shades back on.

“I’ll get those paper cone thingies for water.”

When he left, the elderly woman tapped on Caitlin’s shoulder. She turned around politely, thinking she may have dropped her wallet or wanted water for herself or something. “You two make such a cute couple,” She cooed.

Caitlin’s eyes widened. “Oh—No, no we’re not a couple,” she stammered. “He’s just my best friend.”

The lady stood up, bracing her weight on a wooden cane. “Well you could’ve fooled me, dear.”

Caitlin smiled awkwardly, watching her hobble down the stairs.

“What’s wrong?” Cisco asked as soon as he came back. Thankfully, Caitlin stalled by grabbing the cup in his hand and swallowing it down in one go.

“Nothing,” She said, “We should head back—”

A sudden thunderous boom went clapping through the air.

“Uh—” Cisco said, but before he could finish his sentence the whole city was hit by a massive storm of rain.

Caitlin shrieked as it poured, dropping her paper cone. “Ohmigod!” She cried, jumping up.

Cisco laughed. He took a swing of his water then picked up Caitlin’s from the ground, tossing them into the trash. He grabbed her arm as they ran as fast as they could to a side road off the main street and people rushing into stores for refuge. Cisco brushed his wet slicked hair from his eyes so he could see better to open a breach.

“Go!” He said, pushing her into the blue and hopping in pursuit.

They reappeared in Cisco’s apartment foyer, soaked.

“Oops, force of habit. I meant to bring us to Star Labs.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Caitlin said, teeth chattering.

Cisco made quick work going into his bathroom to fetch towels. He gave her a green one, placing it around her shoulders and rubbing to try and dry her off.

They were both giggling at the situation, funny now that they weren’t at risk of suffering the same fate as Barry’s of being struck by lightning. Team Flash seemed to always have the worst timing.

“Go find something to wear, I’ll put on some coffee and then I’ll breach us back.”

Caitlin nodded, kicking off her pink pumps. Her blouse was white so she knew without having to look that it was currently see-through. She went into Cisco’s room. She’s been here so many times, she knew exactly where he kept his quirky t-shirts and Star Labs shorts that she was allowed to borrow for circumstances like these.

She placed her damp fingers delicately atop the cabinet drawer, admiring the familiar framed photographs propped up in frames. She shook her head fondly, and returned at task. Cisco’s t-shirts were the second drawer down, below his underwear and socks drawer that was not quite completely closed and she made way to it when it caught her eye.

Caitlin stopped short.

There was a box.

A small box.

A small velvet box.

A small velvet black box half hidden in Cisco’s drawer.

It knocked the wind out of her.

It couldn’t. It couldn’t be, she thought. It definitely couldn’t be what it looked like. But she knew she couldn’t ignore the rising suspicion that screamed: Oh, yes it could.

Caitlin knew that she shouldn’t, but her fingers twitched as a desperate urge to open it unfurled in her chest. She quickly looked behind her back, but Cisco was still puttering away in the kitchen, undoubtedly giving her privacy to change.

She snatched it, long forgetting that she was dripping barefoot on Cisco’s unpolished floor.

Her fingers trembled as she opened it, and she wanted to know why was she acting like this, what was she doing, as her heart got lodged up in her throat.

It was what it looked like.

It was an engagement ring.

A beautiful, expensive diamond engagement ring.

Why would he…?

Caitlin gasped, almost dropping the ring.

Gypsy.

“I’m going to marry that woman,” Cisco said after Gypsy kissed him the first time.

He...He wasn’t kidding.

She snapped it closed and stuffed it back into his drawer, slamming it shut. She picked a t-shirt at random to change into, throwing it over her head, and Cisco’s Star Labs basketball shorts that she had to pull the drawstrings of and roll up at the waist several times. Her hair was still clinging to the back of her neck as she dropped the towel to clean up the puddles she left on his floor.

Cisco bought a ring.

He went out and actually bought a ring. He was going to propose. To Cynthia. He was going to propose and then get married and then—

Her mind was spinning.

Cisco was going to propose?

“Cait…?”

Footsteps came around the corner but she was too lost in her racing thoughts. He knocked on the door before peeking in.

Caitlin shot up straight, deer in the headlights as if she were caught holding the ring box and not the wet green towel clutched in her hands.

“Oh come on, you don’t have to do that,” he tsked, taking the towel from her and then laughed.

“What?” Caitlin snapped defensively, still on edge.

“Snow,” he said with a grin.

“What?” Caitlin said again, lost.

“The shirt you picked... Doctor Who? You’re Doctor Snow. That’s who.” He snorted at his own joke as Caitlin stared down at her shirt blankly.

The silence was getting weird and they were both aware of it.

Cisco clapped his hands, clearing his throat. “...Okay!! So, the coffee’s ready, it’s in a traveler’s mug. Just leave your wet clothes here, I’ll wash them and bring them back for you. Shall we get back to work?”

Caitlin feigned a smile. “Thanks,” she said. She hooked her fingers through the straps of her heels and hopped into the breach.

Cisco bought a ring.

~.~

She couldn’t meet his eyes.

She watched him from her peripheral as he drummed contentedly along to the song playing in his workstation as he worked on updating Barry’s suit, focused now that it wasn’t scorching.

Caitlin, on the other hand, couldn’t focus.

She couldn’t focus at all.

She drafted an email to Dr. McGee, asking for an extension. Her mouse hovered over the send button.

She thought of the ring just sitting there. Waiting. Buried under his washed socks.

How long has it been there? Did Cisco buy it yesterday? Last week? Three months ago?

She sent the email.

Dr. McGee replied swiftly for her to take her time.

She shut her laptop closed immediately and told Cisco she felt she’d work better from home.

~.~

If Cisco married Gypsy, a lot of things would change.

For one, Caitlin wouldn’t be Cisco’s number one anymore. She wouldn’t be the one he called first, the one he breached to first.

But then, Cisco went out and bought a ring for Gypsy that would symbolize a commitment to her until death.

Caitlin wasn’t Cisco’s number one. She hasn’t been for a while.

She’s not quite sure how she feels about that.

If Cisco married Gypsy, he would have to move to Earth 19. Multiverse marriages were not legal—And probably wouldn’t be for a very long time. She would lose him.

Caitlin didn’t know what she felt about that, either.

~.~

By Wednesday, Caitlin concluded that the ring was a secret from everyone.

She thought definitely he would’ve told Barry if not her, but when she dropped cryptic hints after the West-Allens returned, when Cisco went to the bathroom, Barry scratched his head obliviously.

“Cisco’s been busy lately,” she mused nonchalantly.

Barry stopped eating his ridiculous Big Belly order to swallow his mouthful and take a long sip of soda.

“Uh yeah,” he said, “he’s been updating all of our suits, including Team Arrow.”

“I meant...socially,” Caitlin hedged.

Barry nodded earnestly, “it’s his cousin’s quinceanera on Saturday! They’ve been planning all year, he told me it would be huge. Hey, are you going?”

Caitlin frowned, “To Cisco’s cousin’s quinceanera? No…”

“Huh,” he replied. “That’s weird, I thought...”

“He’s probably bringing Cynthia,” Caitlin supplied. “I heard something big was going to happen.”

Barry’s face lit up. “Yes! I heard that too!”

Caitlin swallowed harshly, waiting to hear Barry spill it all.

“A four foot chocolate fountain!” He exclaimed, "Man, I wish I could come just for that!"

Caitlin stared at him. “...Right.”

So Barry knew nothing.

They all knew nothing.

Caitlin knew too much.

~.~

Caitlin wanted Cisco to be happy.

Cisco deserved to be happy, he deserved everything good life had to offer.

If Gypsy makes Cisco happy, then Caitlin should be happy for them.

Once upon a time, Caitlin thought that Jay and Julian would make her happy. Sure, she never thought of marrying them, but Cisco went out of his way to support her relationship with them.

He cheered her on when she went on a first date, and then cheered her on again six months ago when she said she didn’t need a boyfriend.

Even longer ago, he was the one who picked her up from her haunted dreams and empty broken apartment after the accelerator blew up. He was the one, not Fake Wells or Hartly, or any of the dozen other coworkers she used to have considered her friends who then vanished after that night. It was Cisco who ushered her into his home. He was the one who got her dressed and brushed her hair, and kissed her forehead and told her how strong she was, and how much Ronnie loved her, and would’ve wanted her to live to her fullest.

Caitlin cheered him on when he was dating Kendra Saunders—Not Lisa Snart, but Gypsy too, once they were sure she wasn’t another Lisa.

And now Cisco wanted to marry her. Caitlin should be more than happy that her best friend found his special someone, the way he was with her. She should be thrilled.

But Caitlin is not happy.

She’s scared.

~.~

CC Jitters ran out of coffee.

Yep, you heard right. Central City’s major coffee house ran out of coffee.

Which meant that Cisco showed up empty handed after promising all of Team Flash their sacred orders to a lot of pissed of metas. Including himself.

Caitlin watched the drama unfold from her desk, trying not to smirk as she sipped on her herbal tea that she brought from home.

It took another ten minutes of squabbling for them to decide to make Barry run to Starling City for Oliver’s gourmet catered coffee to make up for their troubles. Barry brought Iris and Harry with him, the two most desperately in need of caffeine, to carry all of the cups over.

Ralph stared bleary eyed at the ground for five minutes after they left, then decided that he would much rather go back to sleep than be awake at eight AM without coffee and promptly left to go find his abandoned futon he left six months ago in the Star Labs basement.

Which left Cisco and Caitlin alone together. Again.

Things haven’t been bad between them since Caitlin found the box six days ago.

But they weren’t amazing either.

Caitlin distanced herself, and Killer Frost emerged a lot, even sometimes when she wasn’t needed, just to avoid her feelings and to avoid Cisco maybe, and everything involving the two.

She knew Cisco was confused. He didn’t know what changed, how could he have? So he threw himself into fixing up their suits, upgrading them and creating duplicates.

Caitlin was sort of thankful he was giving her space. She wouldn’t have known how to explain her weird mood anyways.

“I still don’t understand how Jitters could’ve ran out of coffee,” Cisco bemoaned, tinkering with his Vibe jacket. He saved his suit for last. “Hey, do you think I should make vibing gloves for the winter?”

“You better learn to get used to it. This will be your reality everyday after you leave,” she said cooly, without thinking.

But then she did think. She almost choked on her tea.

She froze. Oh no.

Cisco froze too. “What do you mean... after I leave? ”

Oh no. Oh no. Oh no.

She deposited her cup down, slowly.

“To Earth 19,” she said, knowing she couldn’t go back now. “When were you going to tell us? In a postcard after you eloped?”

“What are you talking about?”

“I found the ring,” she said, feigning disinterest as she organized the scattered office supplies on the computer desk.

Cisco blanched, dropping his Vibe gear. “What ring?”

“Your engagement ring,” She swallowed, “For Gypsy. I found it accidentally when it was raining on that hot day and I borrowed your clothes.”

Cisco looked like he was about to vomit.

He put a hand to his head, and sat down heavily in his office chair. “I’m not planning... on proposing to Cindy,” He said slowly.

“You don’t have to lie.” Caitlin said, affronted. “I can take the truth. I just don’t understand why you kept this a secret from me.”

“I’m not lying.”

“Oh, so there just happened to be an engagement ring hidden in your room?” She sniped, making a stubborn face as she stabbed a mechanical pencil into the little pen holder.

“Yes!” Cisco cried, kicking back the seat as he got up abruptly. It went rolling with speed across the room until it crashed into the wall. Caitlin jumped in her seat. She met his gaze, begrudgingly, finally paying him attention. “Yes, okay? Yes. That’s exactly what happened!”

Caitlin scoffed, incredulously. Her lip trembled and she swiped at her eyes, feeling betrayed both by him and her emotions.

Cisco held his arms to his chest, his face vulnerable. He looked up at her, pleadingly.

It wan’t fair. He shouldn’t be looking like that when he was making her feel like this.

“...It was an alternate timeline. Barry didn’t tell anyone. He didn��t mean to do it, didn’t even realize he created one until it was too late. I don’t blame him,” Cisco laughed weakly. “He saved the city, defeating DeVoe.”

“What?” Caitlin said, stunned.

“We weren’t supposed to know. But then I got these dreams, freaky ones like with Reverse Flash, remember? When I remembered him killing me except...I knew I was alive.”

“Cisco, you’re scaring me.”

His gaze dropped to the floor.

“It wasn’t like Flashpoint, I kept telling myself. It wasn’t nearly so bad. Nothing really changed,” Cisco admitted, “Except…” He looked at her, and his face gave it all away.

“...Except us,” Caitlin breathed, covering her mouth with her hand. “Cisco... we were?”

He nodded, miserably.

“...Caitlin, it’s not Cindy’s ring,” He whispered. “It’s yours.”

He smiled wryly. “I remember picking it out and putting it there. I remember…” He trailed off.

“But if the timeline was restored, then how could that ring exist?”

“I don’t know. Since when did anything around here make sense?”

Caitlin felt inexplicably angry.

“It doesn’t belong here. You should’ve gotten rid of it.”

He shouldn’t have kept it in the first place. He shouldn’t have a ring he’s not planning on using. It’s not right, she thought. It’s not right if it wasn’t real. For the last seven days Caitlin was afraid. She was terrified she was losing Cisco because he was going to form a family of his own. One that didn’t include her. And now it turns out it was for her, but it wasn’t real. It was for a version of herself who was deeply loved and who loved in return.

It was for a Caitlin she always secretly yearned to be, but never was.

Though it did happen. It did. It was.

It was just erased from the time-space continuum for Caitlin never to remember.

Caitlin couldn’t help think the universe was cruel, dedicated to consistently screw her over.

She was crying now, silent tears streaming her cheeks.

“Why didn’t you get rid of it?” She repeated, a desperate plea.

She knew it was breaking his heart to see her fall apart this way. It always did. He could never stand to see her upset.

“I couldn’t! I could never throw that away. That was a ring that I bought for you Cait. Me. From this Earth. Not some other Cisco for some other Caitlin. It was us.”

Caitlin let out a long shaky breath.

“Can I tell you a secret?” Cisco asked, putting his hand over hers. She glanced at their joined hands, then at him, nodding.

“What confuses me the most...Is that I remember how I felt. The love I had for you. Cait, I realize more and more everyday that it’s not very different from how I feel about you now. For the last month I’ve been looking at things a different way, trying to figure it out. When my heart speeds up when you laugh, how I always check for your safety first after missions. When you lick melted ice cream from a damn ice cream cone, and how proud I am of you, to be with you on Team Flash. Is it just friendship? Because that seems inadequate. Is it love? I don’t know what to think anymore. But what I do know...That little box in there? It’s not for Cynthia. I think me and Cynthia are done.”

Caitlin squeezed her eyes shut, disgusted at the wave of relief those words gave her. “You’re going to be so mad,” She said quietly, biting the nail of her thumb, when Cisco’s hand moved up to her shoulder, asking what was the matter.

“Just say it, Cait."

“When I saw that box, I was so upset. I didn’t have a problem with Cynthia, but I never once thought that she could be permanent. That you two could be forever. I hated that. I didn’t want it. I want us to be forever.”

“I was able to feel, what you were feeling too, y’know? Is it possible that…”

That Caitlin felt the same way in both timelines.

That Caitlin was in love with him.

Before she could answer, Barry, Iris and Harry skidded to a stop with all the coffee orders.

“We’re back!” Barry announced, then looked at Caitlin and Cisco’s joint hands, and then their faces.

He grabbed Iris and Harry and zoomed back out of there.

They blinked.

“What now?” Cisco asked.

“I don’t know,” she said truthfully. She really didn’t.

Cisco let go of her and walked back to the middle of the room to retrieve his Vibe goggles.

“I think we both need to think some things through,” he said after a moment, fiddling with the gear. “But I want you to have it,” He said.

Caitlin’s eyebrows flew up. “Are you asking—“

“No,” he said. “No, I’m not. You should still have it anyway. It was for you. It is for you.”

Caitlin was glad. She was afraid of what might come out of her mouth if he was asking her that.

He glanced at her with a silent, hopeful expression. “I’d never leave you,” He said. “I love Team Flash. I love this Earth. And I don’t know if you noticed, but I can’t even go six months without you, Cait.”

Caitlin’s mouth tugged upwards into a soft, guilty smile. “I can’t live without you, either.”

Cisco walked across the room to scoop her up in his arms, squeezing her as tight as he’d allow.

“Whatever happens...We are forever.”

~.~

They came clean about what happened to Team Flash, and Barry apologized for the grief it caused.

Caitlin told Barry not to worry about it.

Cisco broke up with Cindy.

Caitlin began wearing the diamond on her right hand. She called it a promise ring.

~.~

Eventually, it switched to her left.

#thatkillervibe fanfic #thatkillervibe #killervibe #killervibe fic #killervibe fanfiction #Cisco Ramon #Caitlin Snow #The Flash #The Flash fanfic #flash fic #cisco ramon fic #Caitlin snow fic #cisco x caitlin #snowvibe #ciscait #misunderstandings #fluff #and maybe a sprinkle of angst

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verifiedaccount · 7 years ago

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movies i liked this year

baby driver: i didn’t find any of baby’s relationships with people believably written despite some charming chemistry so the emotional beats didn’t really land and kevin spacey has now soured the experience but it was a very good time in theaters and a dazzling gimmick

br2049: when you stop to consider it there’s a lot of problems but while watching it i was completely absorbed and awed. it’s the movie that most justified the cost of a ticket to experience it on a big screen.

faces places: seeing as she’s 88 and her eyesight has deteriorated badly, it’ll probably be agnes varda’s last movie, in which case it’s a wonderful way to go out. it’s a typically delightful, moving, digressive documentary from varda, this time with the artist jr in tow, as they drive around france meeting people and taking their pictures, which jr blows up to massive size and pastes on the side of buildings. it’s a celebration of ordinary people and their stories, a meditation on aging and mortality, an occasionally comical odd-couple road trip, and will probably make you feel the best out of any movies this year, although in a way too bittersweet to qualify as “feel good movie of the year”

the florida project: one of the best movies about children that isn’t actually for children, a testament to kids’ ability to exist and live and find wonder and excitement in the bleakest of circumstances. and you get willem dafoe at his most lovable and moving

get out: the year’s cleverest movie, not just in the writing but in how clear it is that jordan peele knows inside and out how every aspect of a how a horror movie works (sound design, lighting, camera setups, etc.) and how to employ those techniques

good time: i found it uneven but pattinson’s performance is incredible and the opening and closing (especially all the stuff with benny safdie) along with everything at the amusement park was some of the best stuff on screens this year and those parts have really stuck with me

lady bird: i’ve already gone on about it a bunch. i laughed, i cried, i loved it.

logan: i was disappointed by every superhero movie since the first iron man, especially ones like deadpool and guardians of the galaxy and civil war that promised something different (more extreme, more quirky, more serious) and then provided the same mildly enjoyable (or, in the case of deadpool, grating and boring) but instantly forgettable experience, so i went into logan not expecting much despite the promise that this one was really different, and was immediately worried by the relentless “fucks” and unnecessary breast flash that they were going to go the absolute worst way with the r rating, but once they finished making sure that any parents who bought their kids tickets to a superhero movie without actually considering the rating had stormed out the movie settled down and it turned out to be a very good modern western lent a bunch of weight by the fact that i’ve been watching hugh jackman and patrick stewart play wolverine and charles xavier for the majority of my life at this point since seeing the first x-men in theaters at age 8. and there was no extended universe, no stingers, there was a definitive ending that was genuinely moving for that reason (yes, i teared up at the Shane quote at the end).

lucky: harry dean stanton accepts his mortality and says goodbye. it’s also basically a character actors’ showcase, although it’s david lynch who ends up stealing scenes as he composes his will and considers tortoises. simply watching harry dean stanton sing at a party backed by a mariachi band is practically transcendent. lines and moments here and there are a bit too cliche and corny “crotchety old man who really has a heart of gold” shtick but harry’s presence and delivery make them work anyway and there are only a few clunkers.

mother!: i can’t say i actually enjoyed watching it because it made me feel like i was going to have a panic attack the whole time but it’s the film that’s given me the most enjoyment to discuss and consider and read about and it’s a genuine one-of-a-kind whatsit that’s trying to be about everything (somewhat literally since it involves all of creation). Is it about the bible, the environment and global warming’s impact, the burdens and abuses creative men (and bad husbands in general) inflict on the women in their lives and the public’s tendency to attack and vilify the woman who tries to call attention to their heroes’ flaws? yes. is it a bunuel style slice of surrealism (the potentially blasphemous restagings of parts of the bible, jennifer lawrence’s seeming inability to step outside the house, an attempt to have a nice dinner that is continuously and violently disrupted) or a cassavetes style emotional reckoning (the scene in a woman under the influence where peter falk brings all his construction buddies home unannounced and expects gena to get a meal ready for them comes to mind repeatedly)? yes. does it condemn the theings that religion, society, and individual men put women through while also putting a woman through the the year’s ugliest and most brutal wringer? yes. is it a mess? yes. is it incredible? yes. in short, it is.

the shape of water: a fairy tale for adults in the best sense.

the square: it’s kind of a bunch of riffs on the same ideas loosely shaped into a movie, as people (primarily the curator) in and around a contemporary art museum find their character tested and invariably fail, but as with force majeure, ruben ostlund again proves great at wringing squirm inducing dark comedy from the gulf between men’s ideas of themselves and their actual behavior and the inevitable crumbling to pieces that occurs when they’re forced to confront it. not every riff works but most do and special recognition must be given to elizabeth moss for absolutely killing it in her two major scenes, which are the movie’s funniest

phantom thread, i tonya, and loveless won’t open here until january

have not yet seen but plan to: a fantastic woman, dunkirk, columbus, jane, the myerowitz stories, mudbound, joan didion: the center will not hold, wormwood, okja (i don’t have netflix), the big sick, personal shopper, the ornithologist, bpm, the other side of hope, raw, logan lucky, the lure, the killing of a sacred deer, beach rats, rat movie, the lost city of z, the blackcoat’s daughter, marjorie prime, thelma, lady macbeth, novitiate, free fire, nocturama, brawl in cell block 99, john wick 2, hounds of love, colossal, the bad batch

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momma-times-writings · 5 years ago

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Okay so I changed bits of the prompt and took a crap ton of liberties with the folklore buuut...I tried???? No beta and minimal editing, but dammit did I enjoy Wikipedia...

Note: púca tend to retain at least one animl-ish trait when they take human shape. The reader compares Puck's eyes to a goat bc that's the animal feature I went with that could be explained away if one were to hide what they were.

You stare, stunned for a moment. Your friend Ian just looks between his boyfriend and you in confusion, and then makes a gesture to him. "Puck, what are you doing?"

Because he's not, you think. You try to remember which "quirky" talismans you have around the house. Some held a special interest of yours, some looked interesting, some reminded you of something else, and some were just too funny looking not to collect. Ian teased you about it, but he understood that it was just part of you, one of your "quirks" that you never really grew out of when you reached adulthood.

And for all that you didn't quite believe in them, they did give you a sense of comfort, a feeling of safety. One friend of yours called you a hoarder for it, but your father had always supported it, and Ian occasionally brought one back from wherever he traveled for his photography work. He'd sent photos of "Puck" when he first met the man, his guide when Ian traveled to Europe for a historical shoot. Your friend had the time of his life, but he always did, no matter where the magazine sent him.

But his smile in these photographs seemed so much more genuine, so unbelievably happy. Initially, you were happy for him, but the photos you saw of "Puck" just—it was like your brain itched, that something wasn't right, and that it felt like the equivalent of a tiny rock between your socked foot and the bottom lining of your shoe. His eyes made you uncomfortable; Ian said his pupils were oddly shaped because of a deformity of some kind. The deformity reminded you of a goat's eyes, an eery sideways oval shape that you knew, medically, he couldn't help, but that didn't make you any more comfortable.

It left an unsettlingly guilty feeling in your gut, one that you tried to get over so you wouldn't judge him for it, or anyone, for that matter. You'd admit only to yourself that it was hard.

But seeing him now, in person, there was something about it that is unnatural. Not in the medical sense, not in the way that humans had things happen to them that they couldn't help. It was part of life. Still...

With how he couldn't enter your house without being kicked out by an unseen force, it racks up the "not natural" instinct in your mind, makes your heart race with a fear you can't place. Not really. It was almost this primal, survival instinct that screamed for you to run or to fight...instead, you are frozen like a deer in the headlights.

Which talisman would kick him out?

Some were for demons, others for vampires or other malicious spirits and creatures. There was even one for a water beast that resided along the coast, and you lived as far inland as you could be. In the middle of nowhere, almost.

But which one? Never had you put much stock in them. Maybe you should have.

"I can't," Puck snaps. "Get rid of them!"

More calmly than you felt, you try to keep your tone even when you ask, "You need to be more specific. What am I to get rid of?" It was a futile effort to sound innocent, to appear ignorant to the creature's meaning and offense.

"You know damn well what I mean."

"Which ones?" Perhaps you can remember their meanings, and that would tell you what it was that had followed your friend home from across the ocean. How desperate was this thing that it would come here?

After a tense moment of silence, Puck points to two that you have hanging on the ceiling in the living room. "The two above your couch."

What were those for again?

You narrow your eyes in thought. Remember. Remember. Remember.

"One moment," you mumble. You retrieve a little notebook you kept in your desk in another room and flip through the scribbled notes on each talisman. Carrying it back to the front door, you hear Ian trying to convince Puck just to come in. What game was he playing and could he please stop?

You take a quick look at the two talismans Puck pointed out and then back to the notebook. Okay.

Region: Europe; North Sea

Beings Affected: Fae

Fae: Púca, Moss Folk

Sooo one or the other.

Meeting his eyes, you try to remember which was friendly and which wasn't, or if those two even applied to the two types of fae.

"What are you?"

His eyes narrowed, and you can't tell if he is trying to threaten you with standing taller, or if he meant to show off. "Pucel."

"A púca."

"That is not one of our terms in the region, but that is one name our people go by."

"What the hell are you both talking about?" Ian ask, confused as to the turn of the conversation and why his boyfriend and friend are acting so strangely. "What's a púca?"

"Nature fae that have a penchant for mischief," you answer automatically. "Do you have good intentions for Ian or bad? Swear that you won't hurt him, and I will consider taking those wards down."

Puck doesn't even stop to consider it when he says, "I swear to you, on all that I am or will be, that I hold no ill will for Ian. I truly want him happy and safe."

He seems sincere, you think. He could be lying, but he could also be telling the truth. After a few moments, you turn and fetch the step ladder out of the kitchen to reach them, and carry them to rest on the back porch. For now. If it seems like he intends to hurt them, then perhaps you can reach them in time to save you and Ian.

He remains outside until you return and gesture for him to enter. "And I swear that if you hurt him, I will do everything I can to avenge him. Got it?"

Puck inclines his head and smiles sadly. "If I do, I would welcome such a punishment."

That softens you a touch, but part of you still refused to trust him. "Forgive me for being rude about my suspicion."

"You do not need to ask for it. It was deserved, but I would not cross an ocean for one human if I only wanted to hurt them." He frowns and looks at all of the talismans and charms you have scattered through the house. "Why do you have so many?"

"I just think they're neat." You shrug. "Glad to know they serve a purpose though."

"I still have no idea what the hell is going on."

Puck rubs at his face and sighs quietly. "We have a lot to talk about, darling."

You had only hidden the talisman’s around the house as a joke, having made quite a few out of boredom, after learning about them from an old book. But you just witnessed your best friends new boyfriend, the one who gives you the creeps, get forcibly and somewhat violently, blocked from entering the house, by an unseen force.

Though you hadn’t told anyone about what you had done, he doesn’t miss a beat, turning to you with rage burning in his eyes, snarling.

“Remove them. NOW.”

#supernatural #folklore #puca #my stuff #writings #mine #i hope this is okay?#prompt fill

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milena-imagines · 7 years ago

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Sheepishly Hippogriff | Newt Scamander X Reader

So here we go again , I loved Fantastic Beast , an as Am on vacations from school I have the time to write , I hope you like this , as always my ask box is Open for request , shippings and anything your heart desire , love Milena

You were running in the forest , picking flowers , dancing alone , that’s what you loved to do , you felt free there , singing out load , out of tune , maybe a little mad but there you were happy.

You loved walking bare foot and playing with the little creatures that let you see them , you felt like a modern snow white singing and dancing and playing with the little fish in the ponds , you didn’t mind getting your robes all dirty as you spin around , you were free and that drew a smile on your face always.

But not all there was fun and games , while other students found the library or their dorms the best place to do their homework you loved practicing spells and charms there , you kind of feel at home , between the big tall trees and all nature’s chants it was there when you sit and used a big old tree trunk as your desk and started to write your history of the magic essay , where you had learned to cast all kind of spells and even to heal others.

But as you were finishing your essay and saying goodbye to all the little things you heard a yell , deep down in the forest , so you run , wand in hand and prepared to face anything and everything , the screams went louder and louder but as you got closer they started to sound as chirps ? And you see him there yellow robes ,messy hair , cute smile and the most interesting surrounded by hippogriffs you walked slowly and whisper -It’s everything all right mate?

-How could it be? Patricia got an arrow deep down in her wings - he cried - Easy baby , papa is here and we are going to help you , right Steve? Greg? -it was mesmerizing to see him interact with them.

-Can I help you?- you said with a worry face trying to get closer to Patricia but the other hippogriffs reacted and tried to attack you-Protego , am sorry guys I don’t want to hurt you -you said backing down.

-Do you really wanna help? -you saw how heart broken his heart was.

-I do - you claim as you put your hand to your heart - I can heal her , but ..

-They are scared, and very territorial , come on buddies let her help.

Both beasts back off a little , but they were pretty aware of you , you felt a little scared , but as Patricia was laying there so helpless you couldn’t have back way just by fear , you put your hands in her with fluffy wing and a blue glow irradiated from you both and the wing was healed.

-Thank you so much - he said with with a timid smile as he hugged her .

-You’re welcome , my name..

-Y/N we are in defense of the dark arts class together - he said as he looked at you.

-I though you didn’t know me - you blush as Newt looked at you shyly.

-You are the one that found that one kitten , and you are always caring or wearing flowers, it’s would be difficult to forget somebody like you - he smiled as he looked away -doesn’t she?-he talked to the hippogriff whom chirped in answer - Well you are kind of special too , don’t be jealous -he laugh as he kissed Patricia’d head-come on boys -he said getting up.

-What?-you said as he gave you his hand to hold , emulating a deer getting hit by some car’s lights.

-This is our form to said thank you - and as he jumped in Greg’s back he reached to hold your hand so you were up with him - hold tight - he said with a nervous voice as you nodded and hugged him from behind.

You already loved the forest and all its living things , but you gotta admit the sky was pretty dope , you could smell the cold breeze of the salty water , touch the clouds and you saw the prettiest sunset you have ever saw -this is so beautiful -you smiled ad you let loose your arms to feel the air hit you.

-Yes you are - he whispered with a quirky smiled , you weren’t sure you were supposed to hear that so you just blush like crazy as you hugged him again.

-You too - you whispered to his ear and you hugged him again as you witness the last moments of the sunset and flew down to earth again - that was truly lovely.

He just smiled awkwardly as you too walked in silence through the woods again back to the castle ,he would just point little creatures and add some fun facts about them and you would tell him some plants facts which he seemed to loved , but when he let you in your common room neither both of you know what to say.

-Well ,Thank you for the adventure Newt - you said as you kissed his cheek- see you around?-you asked wishing he said yes.

-Yeah - he said as his eyes glisten a little - take care.

-You too - and as you were opening the door you heard him shout from across the hall.

-Y/N! wanna do this another time? -he said sheepishly.

-I’d love to -you shout back and you see him running to you .

-with me?

-who else ?- he give you one of those akward smiles and left just to come back again and kiss your forehead.

-Goodnight Y/N.

You both smiled sheppishly at one an other and had the sweetest dreams that night.

#newt scamander imagine #x reader #newt scamander #newt x reader #fluff #hippogriff #hufflepuff #fantastic beasts and where to find them #milena-imagines #mine

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vanon66-blog · 7 years ago

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What Have I Done? (Part One)

1998 was, unquestionably, one of the most dramatic, life changing years of my life. From the very beginning of the year I knew that I was in for a lot. It may come as a surprise to most of you, but, as adventuresome as I am, I am quite the creature of habit, comfort, and consistency. I wouldn't say that I don't like change; I would say that I just don't deal well with it at all! And, little did I know then, but my whole world was about to get turned upside down, but in the process, I would learn some very important lessons that would lay the foundation for the years that lay ahead.

Route 66 had for me, up to that point, remained a recreational obsession, if you will, even though, I knew down deep inside that it was something way more. In 1997 I had even gone as far as to map out the entire journey, mile by mile, to cover a seven year period and even printed it all out (I still have that printout). I had actually decided that it was a journey that was just not meant to be, and dismissed it that spring, but as David Wilkerson, the founder/pastor of Times Square Church in New York City and author of the Cross and the Switchblade once said. "You can tell if something is of God because if you let go of it, it won't let go of you." By the time summer rolled around that year, I was back to walking Route 66 every chance that I got and on a collision course with destiny.

I began 1998, just as I do every day of my life with an open Bible, pretty much the same way I have done now for many years. As I have done for all this time, I merely opened my Bible to where I had left off the day before (my habit being to read through the Bible and then start again at the beginning and so on). On that particular morning, I began reading the book of Deuteronomy and as I did, a verse I read struck me with a force that few Bible verses ever have.

"You have stayed long enough at this mountain." ~ Deuteronomy 1:6

There was a sense of excitement because I knew immediately that these words were speaking to me telling me that my life was moving forward in a big way, but then my insecurity kicked in and my stomach turned into a knot. Within a very short period of time I resigned the job I had been working for some time and took the leap into the world of self employment. By spring I also made the change from sharing a house to having my own roof over my head. After all, I had the promise of contracts and money that would be enough to afford it so why not? Or so I thought.

So, anxious to "move on" I moved in with a friend in Fayetteville, Arkansas while I searched for a place to live. I thought that was going to be quick, easy, and reasonable, but I soon discovered that it was anything but. I also found out what most people already knew which was that in a college town, places to live are in demand and landlords very often charge high rental fees because they know that they can get it. I won't get into all the experiences that left me feeling like a deer caught in the headlights, but I think I do have to share this one "apartment" interview experience.

When I arrived at the address I was given on the phone all I saw was a house so I was confused as to where the apartment was that had been advertised. Well, that was because it was conveniently hidden from view in the backyard. When the landlord ushered me behind his house I couldn't believe my eyes because what was back there was a small truck camper shell propped up on blocks. The vision of that still haunts me to this day and I still think that I need therapy to help me get over that, but hold on, it gets worse. During the "tour" I was led to a little porta potty and informed that there was no running water for it, but he pointed to some small plastic bags and told me that all I had to do was to take one of the "Doo doo bags" and simply place them in the trash when I was through. I didn't utter the words out loud, but in my mind I was screaming them. "What am I doing here and what have I done?"

If you guessed that I passed on that rental you would be correct. I will tell you though that I was beginning to get concerned that I might not be able to find a place, mostly because the places that I could afford were requiring long leases and, deep inside, I knew that I wouldn't be in that area long term. Finally though, one place did come open via a newspaper ad. How many people remember those? It was a little quirky, but, somehow, it just seemed to fit and it was available on a month to month basis. So, for the next few months, seven to be exact, 920c Holly Street in Fayetteville, Arkansas became my home. And though I didn't know it at the time, it would turn out to be my very first road home for the seven year period I would spend while traveling Route 66.

It was a small, one room cottage built over a carport adjacent to a duplex and it had everything that I needed along with a whole lot of amenities, such as being within walking distance of shopping centers and places to eat, plus it was only a short drive to the University Baptist Church that I had long attended. Thankfully, the rent was cheap as well, but it did have its downsides, mainly really two. The first was that the duplex had a long term resident who apparently considered himself and his duplex to be the social center of the neighborhood. So when his friends gathered many of the evenings while I was there they would congregate in the carport underneath my floor and play loud music while chugging beers and discussing the worlds problems. That might have been bad enough except that my cottage had no insulation and the floors were only 2x6s butted together with small cracks between them.

The other issue I had with the cottage was that the propane heater had a leak. Thankfully, the weather was warm enough that I didn't need to use it so I simply turned off the gas going to it. I was assured by the owner that it was "probably" okay. It would turn out that it wasn't, but I will share that story with you in part two of, "What have I done?" Aka, "Does anyone smell smoke?"

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