#this movie was made for me and specifically me

[goomyloid]

i dont know how i'm supposed to live without you

thing

[dreamauri]

♪ — 𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗛𝗢𝗥𝗘𝗗 𝗧𝗢 𝗬𝗢𝗨 max verstappen x fem! girlfriend! reader ( fluff ) fic summary . . . Max Verstappen has a habit of never letting go—literally. Whether it’s galas, lazy days on yachts, or even a quick grocery run, his hand is always in yours ( 1k words )

( main master list | more of max verstappen ) ( requests )

Max Verstappen had always been confident, composed, and annoyingly good at everything he did. But when it came to you? Oh, Max had one tiny quirk that you couldn’t help but notice. He never—ever—let go of your hand.

At first, it was sweet. Cute even. A little handhold in the paddock, fingers brushing together as you walked to the grid. But now? It was everywhere. Grocery shopping? Hand in hand. Movie nights? His fingers laced with yours under the blanket. Brushing your teeth? He'd stand there, holding your hand, toothpaste dribbling down your chin because you were laughing too hard.

Even now, as you sat on the couch, trying to scroll through your phone, Max sat beside you, one hand holding yours tightly while his other absentmindedly flicked through TV channels.

“Max,” you teased, wiggling your fingers in his grip, “you know I’m not going to disappear, right?”

He didn’t even glance up. “I know. But why risk it?”

You rolled your eyes but smiled despite yourself. It wasn’t that you minded—it was just amusing how attached he’d become.

“Do you want me to get you anything from the kitchen?” you asked, attempting to pull your hand free.

“Nope.” His grip tightened, his thumb brushing over your knuckles as if to say nice try.

“Okay, but I can’t exactly carry snacks and drinks with one hand.”

“I’ll come with you.”

“Max—”

He was already up, your hand still in his as he followed you into the kitchen. You made a point of bumping him with the fridge door as you opened it, but his grin was nothing short of smug.

★ ☆ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Bedtime was another ordeal entirely. Max seemed to think the best way to sleep was to intertwine himself with you like a human pretzel. Tonight was no different.

As you shifted to get comfortable, Max’s hand found yours under the covers. His arm draped lazily over your waist, pulling you closer.

“Max, I’m overheating,” you groaned, trying to wiggle away.

He only hummed in response, his lips brushing your temple. “You’re fine.”

“No, really, I might combust—”

“Shh, I’m comfy.”

You couldn’t help but laugh softly, giving up the fight. “You’re impossible.”

“You love it.”

You rolled your eyes but squeezed his hand in return. “Maybe.”

The next morning, you woke to find Max already up, scrolling through his phone with your hand still in his.

“How do you do that?” you muttered groggily.

“Do what?”

“Never let go, even in your sleep.”

He chuckled, leaning down to press a kiss to your knuckles. “Practice.”

You couldn’t even be annoyed—it was too cute. “You’re lucky you’re adorable.”

“Adorable?” he echoed with mock offense. “I’m the reigning world champion, liefje. I’m not adorable.”

“Sure, sure,” you teased, tugging on his hand. “But I know the truth.”

And as he grinned down at you, still holding your hand like it was the most natural thing in the world, you decided you wouldn’t have it any other way.

★ ☆ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

The gala was every bit as glamorous as you’d imagined—long, flowing dresses, sharp tuxedos, and enough champagne to fill a swimming pool. Max, as usual, looked effortlessly handsome in his tailored suit, but his accessory of choice wasn’t the Rolex on his wrist. No, it was you. Specifically, your hand.

He had barely let go of you since you stepped onto the red carpet. Even when you stopped to take photos, Max’s fingers stayed firmly entwined with yours, his thumb brushing against your knuckles as if reassuring himself that you were still there.

“Max,” you whispered as you reached your table, smiling politely at the other guests. “You can let go now.”

He raised an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth lifting into a smirk. “Why? You planning to run away?”

“No, but I might need both hands to eat,” you teased, holding up your clutch in your free hand for emphasis.

He sighed dramatically but let go—only to place his hand on your thigh the second you both sat down. You shot him a look, and he grinned unapologetically.

Throughout the night, Max found creative ways to keep touching you. Whether it was holding your hand during conversations, tucking your arm into his while you walked around, or resting his palm on the small of your back when you stepped away for a drink—he was relentless.

By the time dessert was served, you leaned over to him, your voice low. “You know, you’re setting a high bar for clingy boyfriends everywhere.”

“Good,” he replied, kissing your temple. “They should all know how it’s done.”

★ ☆ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

You weren’t sure who had come up with the brilliant idea to spend the day on a yacht, but it turned out to be the perfect way to beat the heat. The Mediterranean sun was shining, the water was crystal clear, and your group of friends was already laughing and diving into the waves.

Max, of course, had other priorities.

“Come on,” you called over your shoulder as you made your way to the edge of the boat, a grin on your face. “The water’s amazing!”

“Wait,” Max said, reaching for your hand.

“Max,” you laughed, spinning around to face him. “I’m not going to drown. You don’t have to hold my hand for this.”

He looked at you, completely serious. “What if you slip? Or hit your head? Or—”

“Max,” you interrupted, stepping closer. “I’ll be fine. Besides, you’re coming in right after me, right?”

“Obviously.”

“Then let go so I can jump!”

Reluctantly, he released your hand, but not without muttering, “Two seconds. I’ll be right behind you.”

True to his word, Max was in the water less than five seconds after you hit it, his strong arms wrapping around you the moment he surfaced.

“See?” you teased, water dripping down your face as you pushed his wet hair back. “I’m fine.”

“Better safe than sorry,” he said, holding you close.

When you both climbed back onto the yacht, Max dried off quickly before grabbing your hand again, guiding you to a sun lounger. You didn’t even bother fighting him anymore.

“You know,” your friend quipped, grinning at the sight of Max’s fingers intertwined with yours, “it’s like he thinks you’re going to float away if he doesn’t hold on.”

Max looked up, completely unbothered. “You’re not wrong.”

You laughed, leaning into him as he kissed your temple again. “Well, at least I’ll never get lost.”

[emcaco]

We can get through to him, we need the Simpsons to do a sarcastic yet heartfelt parody of the Last Unicorn

/jk

But seriously. Everyone brings their own experience and hangups to watching a movie. Even something beautiful, sincere and heartfelt will not land with everyone. That's part of the beauty of an artwork made with real vision and feeling.

This honestly makes me feel more strongly about the Last Unicorn's strength as a film. Because even with the usual animation-for-kids executive meddling, it committed to choices no other story would have made. Instead of broad appeal, it's so specific that it lodges deep into the people who need that story most.

Ok my husband just pointed out that movie would absolutely have been Real-Life-Mabel's shit. So child Alex Hirsch likely had to sit through his sister watching it least a dozen times. If something is not your thing that will absolutely grind any positive inklings of it into dust lollllll

Following the author of The Last Unicorn on Facebook is the only thing that makes being on that site worthwhile.

(source)

[muppetmagic]

there's a collection of rare books around here somewhere. and some medium-rare as well.

WICKED: PART 1 (2024)

[giddyfatherchris]

A movie i've seen before III

pairing. bang chan x f!reader

type. not requested, a little fluff and a whole lot of angst

warnings. f!reader, crying, relationships issues, trust issues, angst angst ANGST

wc. 4k

a/n. here we go part 3!! this one will be rough LMAO it took me so long to write it and it made me so angsty when i did buuuuuut i kinda love it and ive been having a whole lot of fun writing sm angst even though im so nervous to post this since its not in my "usual" style… anyway i hope you’ll enjoy mwah xx oh and! i love to listen to music when im writing and reading so here’s a few song i had on repeat while writing this: guilty as sin - taylor swift, ceilings - lizzy mcalpine, i wish i hated you - ariana grande (in this order specifically!)

dont forget to tell me if you want to be added to the tag list for the next part x

part I part II

(pics are not mine! credit to the owners!)

The streets were softly illuminated. Restaurants and little bars were stuffed with people laughing and enjoying the gorgeous night. You looked around and felt a wave of glee wash over you. You loved people-watching, the freedom of the soft wind dancing through your hair, and most of all, you loved being here with him.

Rehearsals had been a flying success. The boys had been so excited to see some of their friends and the day flew by in a second. When you returned to the hotel, you should have been exhausted from such an intense and packed day. Still, all you felt was excitement and energy course through your blood at the prospect of the coming evening. Once you made sure the other boys were settled, they all encouraged you to go out, have some fun, and take advantage of being in the famous French city. Even Felix gave you an encouraging smile as you headed out, Chan by your side.

At first, he had been reluctant about your night out with his leader. He was scared for your heart. At the same time, he knew how hard you always worked and as he helped you decide on an outfit, he realized it had been a long time since he saw you this excited. So despite his reserves, he helped you figure out a cute outfit with a genuine smile. You deserved to enjoy the city and have fun after all your hard work. No matter what would come out of this night, he would be there for you and that's what mattered the most.

Even though you had spent the last few weeks making sure you kept a certain distance between you and the man at your side, you decided not to care about it tonight. You were tired, extenuated from trying to guard your heart. Chan's attitude in the past few weeks seemed different. Maybe Felix was wrong, perhaps he was ready for something more. So tonight you would be yourself, and enjoy whatever happened. You decided you deserved it. So you didn't refrain from doing anything you might have done before or wanted to do now. You let Chan hold your hand as you walked through the city. You let him hand-feed you a bite of his plate as you chatted in the restaurant. You let him take pictures of you as you walked near the Seine, an honest smile on your lips. You didn't hold back from replacing his curls once the wind had disheveled them. You didn't hold back from laying your head on his shoulder as you looked at the magical view.

You hadn't noticed, but every little touch or attention planted seeds of hope in your heart.

As for him, Chan seemed to beam at the returned normalcy of your relationship. He was more touchy than ever, a sparkle illuminating his eyes as he made jokes with the sole purpose of gorging himself on the sight of the adorable crinkles around your eyes. He shivered at the feather-light touch of your fingers on him when you made sure he looked perfect for some pictures he intended to post on Instagram for his dear STAYs. You gave a toothy grin as you pinched his cheeks before stepping away for more pictures. He didn't hesitate before asking a stranger with a broken French if they could snap one of you two. An amused light danced in your eyes, and you took a sharp breath when you felt his hand slide on your hips, bringing you closer to him for the picture. You lifted your eyes for a millisecond, a foreign but gentle expression on your face. He looked at you with the softest, most tender smile, before you gave him one in return, and rested your head and hand on his chest. You could swear you felt the thundering beat of his heart beneath his shirt. Or maybe you were mistaking it for your own, reverberating in your whole body.

"Vous êtes très mignons," complimented the stranger with a kind smile and a subtle wink.

You thanked him with rosy cheeks, not daring to comment. Chan came up behind you, asking what the stranger had said exactly, but you barely registered the words as you looked at the pictures on your phone. They were stunning. The lights, the view, but most strikingly, the way you looked together. Your heart skipped a beat as you swiped to see the picture the man had taken when you weren't posed yet. When you were still looking at Chan with that surprised and delighted expression and he was looking at you like you were the most precious thing on earth. He saw the picture and put his hand on your shoulders.

"They're beautiful," he said in a hushed voice as if the emotion currently gripping you had its claws dug deep in him too.

You looked back at him with a smile, trying to slow the fast pace of your beating heart. Ancient fears tried grabbing at your heart, but you pushed them away, holding on to your promise. He nodded towards the street, encouraging you to keep walking. His hand grabbed yours effortlessly and squeezed once before he started to walk. Soon, the Eiffel Tower appeared, and you couldn't hold a gasp from escaping your lips.

It was beautiful, stark on the starry night sky, illuminated like a beacon in the dark. Chan chuckled at your marvel and looked fondly at you as you ushered him to walk faster.

You settled on a park bench, his arm going around your shoulders as you cuddled into his side.

"This is perfect," you whispered after a moment of silent contemplation.

"It is," he answered, his lips so close that if he moved a little they would connect with your forehead.

"I'm really happy to be here with you. Thank you for everything."

The man's heart tightened at your words. "No, thank you," his words felt choked and you backed away enough to face him. "You are so amazing. You're the best at handling us and you’re you're so organized. I don't know how we would deal without you and I don't mean just at work. You're truly such a special person to us... to me." Stars danced in your eyes as you looked at him, so open, so inviting. "Thank you for being in my life. I don't know what I would do without you." Softly his lips touched your forehead in a tender kiss. You closed your eyes relishing in the warmth they spread on your skin. Never before had he been so honest about his feelings in your regard. The little declaration made your heart beat even faster. Seeds of hope were slowly blossoming into small, delicate flowers. Maybe, just maybe your proximity tonight meant more for him than you imagined.

Your eyes stayed closed even as he pulled away, even as he softly stroked the side of your face with his thumb. You were so scared to open them, terrified to know what would happen, what you would read on his angelic face. He brought you closer, so close you could feel his breath mingling with yours. You waited, incapable of opening your eyes.

"Y/n," he uttered softly. "Please, look at me."

You obeyed, softly batting your eyelashes, and felt electrified as the intensity contained in his eyes struck you. His gaze slowly tumbled to your soft lips, slightly opened, puffing each breath. His eyes came back up a second with a silent question. You knew he would not do anything before you said yes and it made your heart bloom as you nodded imperceptibly. And just like that, he linked his plush lips with yours. It was earth-shattering in a soft and shaking to the core way.

You backed away for a second to catch your breath and this time was the one to lift your hand, softly pulling at his shirt as you kissed him once more. This second kiss was still soft, but so deep, so full of emotions. It made your hands tremble. You moved in tandem, both the only people in the world who knew the rhythm of this foreign dance. The kiss made you feel tingly like nothing else maintained you to the earth except for his hands on your cheek and his lips on yours. It grew, both of you wanting, needing more. Your hands went up to his jaw, softly caressing the soft skin there, the skin you had wished to touch so many times. A low grumble echoed in his chest, the vibration almost making you purr back. You separated softly, slowly, stealing little kisses before resting your foreheads together, catching your breaths. His thumb fell on your bottom lip, softly plucking it apart from the top one. He was enthralled by the shallow breath you exhaled. Slowly, but surely you remembered where you were. You remembered you were sitting on a bench in France, and you realized you had just kissed. Panic slowly spread through your gaze, threatening to overpower the feeling of daze you had been previously bathed in. He noticed and a shadow seemed to pass in his eyes but before you could analyze it or say something he kissed your lips again. You had no idea what that little peck meant, and he didn't seem to know either but still, he smiled.

"You want to go back?" he whispered, his head still pressed to yours. You nodded quickly and took his hand as you walked back, your mind racing even as it clawed to stay in the daze it had been in for the whole night.

He held your hand on the way back until you felt its warmth leave yours to replace a few errant strands of his hair and didn't find it again. You tried not overthinking. He was allowed not to touch you at all times even after you had shared a kiss. And the fact that he had been all over you all night and suddenly wouldn't hold your hand didn't mean anything, right? You tried reasoning with yourself but couldn't deny that the sudden loss of his touch made an insidious cold creep into your bones.

As you approached the hotel and entered the lobby, Chan was so very polite and cordial. He kept his gaze straight forward and gave a polite smile to the few staff you encountered but didn't say a word to you. Long gone was the laid-back and giggly man you had spent the evening with. The ride in the elevator was silent, and not the kind of comfortable one you had experienced so many times. This one was heavy, full of meaning. You could feel regret emanating from his every gesture. Tears threatened to spill from your eyes but you held on, not wanting him to know how much this affected you.

Felix had warned you that Chan did not have the space in his life for a partner. You knew it, but still, you allowed yourself to let down your guard, and enjoy your time with him. What happened tonight could never happen again. The way this sole kiss had made you feel was to be used as a warning. If one night with him, carefree, had made you feel such a way... you had to keep your distance and be careful. If you let this go on, it would destroy you. You knew it now. Doing this tonight was a mistake because you didn't just like him. You were incontestably in love with Christopher Chan Bahng. And he wasn't and couldn't be because of everything he was.

He walked you to your room and stopped in front of the door. With your hand on the handle, you looked back at him, trying and failing to hide the pain in your eyes.

"Y/n, about tonight I-..." he started.

"Don't," you breathed out. "I know Chan. It won't happen again. I know it didn't mean anything." He shuffled in place, not even denying your claim. Your heart crumpled in pieces, nausea seizing you. "Don't worry about it," you finally whispered as you closed the door on him, on the possibility of him and everything he meant to you.

The little light of hope you felt earlier had been brutally put out. Delicate flowers ripped from their soil with an all-encompassing pain.

You got up the next day feeling like you had been ran over by a truck. Usually, you were a fast and heavy sleeper, but insomnia had seized you until the late hours of the night. But concert day would show you no pity. You had a job to do, and so you plastered a smile on your face and focused on the tasks at hand. You concentrated on compartmentalizing and acting like nothing happened, telling the boys about your amazing night, while omitting the kiss. The show went splendidly well, the boys gained many new supporters with this performance it was nothing short of a flying success. You struggled to feel anything as they smiled at you and spoke excitedly on the drive back to the airport. Once on the plane, you watched Chan sit down with a sour feeling in your chest. In the next row, Felix signaled for you to sit next to him but you couldn't. You hadn't told him the truth about your night, you weren't ready to face the possible 'I told you so' or worse, his tender compassion. Spotting an empty seat beside Minho, you stopped in front of him. "Can I sit here?" At his questioning look you allowed him to see an ounce of the sadness you carried. "Please, I just... don't want to be disturbed," you shared in a small voice.

Immediately his eyes took on a protective expression, he nodded and patted the window seat next to him. Relieved to know no one would get past your protector, you allowed sleep to swallow you and your pain, only waking up once you landed in Korea.

Cars sporadically zoomed by, their lights blinding you and making your eyes squeeze in pain, which actually wasn't that bad a thing considering how tired you were. The zaps of light were at least keeping you awake. The intense few days had taken a great toll on everyone, and the 12-hour flight on top did not help. Still, being the best one in shape you volunteered to drive. Chan in the passenger seat silently stared out the window while the boys were piled up in the back, sleeping peacefully.

You rubbed your eyes for the tenth time, hoping to finally get rid of the fatigue weighing on your bones that made your eyelids feel so damn heavy.

"If you're tired, I can drive."

You turned your head to find Chan staring at you. "I'm fine."

"I don't think you are. You have been rubbing your eyes and puffing for 20 minutes now. I got plenty of rest, I can drive the rest of the way."

You tightened your grip on the wheel, "I told you I didn't need you to."

"It's dangerous to drive when you're tired."

"Are you done?!" you lashed out. Turning your head to look at him you swerved on the road. Luckily there hadn't been any other cars, but your heart was beating out of your chest and you suddenly felt wide awake.

Chan stared at you with wide eyes for a second. "Okay, that's it. Pull over."

"No-"

"Y/n. Right now you're putting yourself and my members in danger. I can't allow that."

The sternness of his tone and a look in the mirror at the boys made you pull begrudgingly. You slammed the door and avoided his eyes while you switched sides. He tried to get ahold of you to apologize, but you pulled back as if the contact of his hands on your skin burned you.

"Y/n what's going on?"

"What's going on is that I'm tired. I'm exhausted," you sarcastically chuckled.

He wiped his eyes and sighed. "Listen, I get that but we all are."

You tried to bite your tongue to stop the words from coming out of your mouth but in the end, you couldn't. Maybe it was the extreme fatigue or emotional turmoil you had been going through for the past few weeks but you simply couldn't. You heard yourself speak words you never thought you would. "No. I mean that being in love with you is exhausting."

His arms slackened at his sides as his eyes grew big as saucers.

"You heard me right. I am in love with you. I should have known before, but our night in Paris confirmed that."

"Y/n... I can't give you or anyone anything more, specifically because of that. Being with me is exhausting. I already know that."

Irritation lit a fire in your blood. You were so done with this stupid man and his stupid beliefs that made him act like some fucking martyr, like the center of his soul was the problem while it had never been.

"Can you please stop? I'm tired of hearing you whine about how exhausting you are. No. It's not the actual loving you that's exhausting. You are lovable Chris as much as anyone else and to me even more than others. What's been exhausting is those past few weeks, this night we spent together. It's officially knowing you will never be able to return my feelings but knowing you still acted like you could. Holding my hand, looking at me with that smile. Telling me those nice things. Kissing me like I'm the best thing in your life. It's you playing with me that's killing me."

Tears of rage started rolling down your cheeks and for once you didn't want to keep them in. You wanted him to see how much pain he caused you.

"I never played with you I promise. I really do like you and enjoy being with you. That was never fake."

You let out an icy, short laugh. "And you think that makes it better? That is the definition of playing with someone Chan. A minute ago you told me you couldn't give me anything more. Now you're saying you meant everything. You're admitting to doing all those things even though you knew you never wanted more. And don't try to lie and tell me you were doing this for me or to try and see if you could actually be with me. You only did it for yourself, with your interests in mind. You wanted what I can give you without actually committing."

He dropped his gaze to the floor, unable to keep eye contact with you. He seemed defeated and his silence was nothing short of a confirmation of everything you accused him of. For the first time a word you would have never used in a thousand years to describe him came to mind. You took a step closer, forcing him to look into your eyes.

"I'm pretty sure you enjoy being with me. Everyone wants to be loved, and feel they matter but you act like you don't because you're afraid of what it entails. You're a coward," you seethed. "You build this wall around you, pretending you don't want anyone to love you the way you love them because you want to protect them, because you are just so noble and kind." You paused and scoffed, allowing time for your words to sink in. "But the truth is you're just scared. You're scared shitless Christopher. Scared not to be enough. Scared to be rejected. Scared to experience pain and loss. Everyone, and I do mean EVERYONE is scared of those things. The difference is we still try."

You took another step, your hands floating up to his face. "I know it means more to love you than it would mean to experience pain and fear." His face contorted as he tried to keep in tears. Your rage softened for a second and you rested your hand on his broad chest. Immediately his hand covered up yours. He took a breath, on the edge of saying something but you wouldn't allow it.

"At least that's what I used to believe." You slipped your hands from his and backed away. "I don't think I can anymore. Not when I have been shown so clearly that my feelings are not respected and understood for what they truly are. I love you, Chris. All I want to do is support and be there for you. I thought you just needed me to prove the depth of my love and I did so for the past year. I thought it would reassure you and kill that fear in your heart. I always thought you were such a kind and loving soul, that you just needed to see I really did love you for all you are. Now I'm starting to think maybe you are as emotionless as you try to make it seem to everyone." His brows furrowed at the accusation. "And you know what? I could even forgive that. I could forgive you if this was how you felt and you were honest with me about it. But no. You keep acting like you can one day return my feelings. You keep stringing me along." Your voice broke on the last words. It was hard to admit the truth. He had broken you in ways you could never explain. You were vulnerable, pathetically screaming at him from the side of the road. But you wouldn't stop. Now that you allowed yourself to be honest, words kept tumbling out of your mouth uncontrollably. You felt a rush to your head, you felt dizzy, feverish. "And you know what's the worst about it? I know about all of this and still, I can't even get rid of those stupid feelings. I wish I could trust myself not to fall further in love with you but I can't. Every time I see you it all comes back. I can't forget your stupid smile and your stupid dimples and your stupid hugs and that stupid kiss we shared."

A deep breath escaped your tired body. "I wish I hated you."

Those tiny, hushed-out words felt like a direct punch to the gut. Physically incapable of speaking, your words echoed in his head eclipsing any other thoughts.

You drew a painful breath. It was over. You said what needed to be said. And even if it did feel good in the moment, you were left an empty shell. Silently, you both got back in the car. Chan took your place in the driver seat while you sat with your hood pulled up facing the window. In the back, seven boys acted as if they were still asleep even when they had heard everything.

🏷️ list: @httpdwaekki @omgsecretsecret @lovesunshinefelix @luvstaymin @jupire @nebugalaxy @drewsandsebastianswife @whyyougottadothatbro @parisanmorovati @greyyeti @chanssmiles @wildtokay @my-neurodivergent-world @xotinytinaxo @ramadiiiisme @potentialgay

[becausegoodheroesdeservekidneys]

Hey, sorry if you already answered this question before, but I would like to enjoy some Welsh media, like songs, tv-shows/movies or books. Do you have any recommendations? Also, happy holidays and a happy new year!

Hello! I hope your holidays were happy.

I'm assuming you're asking for Welsh-language media specifically, so that's what I'll offer; if you want anything from the rest of Wales, give me a shout.

Music - so, my personal Welsh-language playlist on Spotify is here, which may contain things to interest you as a sort of jumping-off point to explore an artist more. I'll also put my Welsh music tag on this post, though, so you can check that and see what recommendations others have made on my posts in the past. You'll find people recommending Adwaith and Gwenno and people like that, see, neither of whom I particularly like and so don't have on my list, but are pretty popular. The true cultural tour-de-force for young Welsh speakers is Sebona Fi, by Yws Gwynedd - if you listen to no other, listen to that one.

TV and Film - tricky because availability is difficult. I gave some recent recs here; others to consider are Ar y Ffin (the big current drama on S4C), 35 Diwrnod (sort of a thriller - each series focuses on a murder, which you see in the opening minutes, and then rewinds to 35 days before it happened. You then watch the events play out. Kind of murder mystery, but no detectives), and...

Actually, maybe check out Hansh across its various platforms? It specialises in little short pieces (a few minutes each) that could be comedy skits, documentary shorts about a social issue, cultural round ups of the various gigs happening this week in Wales, etc. Very diverse. Their target audience is, basically, Millennials And A Bit Under. They also do longer form variety things on S4C, but the shorter stuff is on FB, YouTube, etc.

Oh, and my husband has a kids variety show coming out in the next few months! I don't know what I'm allowed to say yet, but I'll definitely blog about it closer to the time.

Books - Obviously I don't know your tastes in books, but my recs:

Absolutely anything by Mihangel Morgan. He's the gold standard if you're learning, because his language is lovely and accessible; but also if you're a fluent speaker, because he writes mundane sci-fi and slightly absurd horror and things like that, all with an undercurrent of social commentary, and his stuff is absolutely fantastic. Dan Gadarn Goncrit is my husband's favourite book of all time in any language; meanwhile, I was given Saith Pechod Marwol at A Level and fucking loved it. I believe he's had one book translated into English, too - Melog. I've not read it in either, but I've heard great things.

Y Llyfrgell, by Fflur Dafydd (the author is also on my music playlist). Here's the blurb:

On a cold February morning, in the year 2020, Dan, a porter at the National Library of Wales, is committing his daily offence against the regime. Greeting him at the door is Eben, a biographer, itching to be admitted. But, they are both unaware that Ana and Nan, two librarians intent on revenge, are on the brink of changing the history of the National Library of Wales forever. This novel transforms the peaceful atmosphere of the National Library into a theatrical set full of possibilities - where bullets cut through the silence, the Reading Room is a cell, and the Library itself is an anti-hero of our literature...

Spectacular book, won the Gwobr Goffa Daniel Owen at the Eisteddfod in 2009.

I hope anything in there is useful!

[tricktster]

When I was in 8th (or possibly 9th?) grade physical sciences class we had a movie day where we watched videos about the elements.

Except that one of my classmates (who I will refer to here as Mike M) decided to write “SHCOOL GO BOOM” (sic) in a library book the day prior…

And, you know, the scarred-by-the-very-recent-9/11 administration decided late in the day that it constituted a bomb threat so credible that we all had to evacuate to the gym, so as a result we only got through a video about exactly one element:

74

W

(That’s Tungsten for you lame-os who don’t know the most likely periodic table symbols to come up during pub trivia.)

Also, it was one of my first bomb threats and clearly mildly traumatic given that I cannot remember a single other thing about that class, including the name of the teacher, but boy oh boy do I remember that we only made it through Tungsten.

Anyway, this video was specifically about how we are running out of Tungsten, which will cause absolute bedlam because Tungsten is essential for the filament used in incandescent light bulbs. I believe it posited that if we kept consuming Tungsten at our current rate, by 2060 we wouldn’t be able to light our homes.

At the time, this was not particularly concerning for me, a child who did not purchase lightbulbs.

Anyway, what’s up, it’s 2025, I now use like 100% LED RGBICWW smart bulbs that I have set up in a variety of elaborate routines to confound and annoy my loved ones, but I gotta hand it to you Mike M…

This may have not been the desired effect you were going for when you wrote SHCOOL GO BOOM in that library book circa roughly 2002, but now whenever something goes remotely wrong with my dumb dumb smart lights, even though I intellectually know there is no filament involved, my first thought is always

OH FUCK NOW I GOTTA DEPLETE OUR LIMITED TUNGSTEN RESERVE YET AGAIN AND AT THIS RATE WHEN I’M SEVENTY I’LL HAVE TO USE A FUCKING CANDLE

[c-schroed]

Why Not Watch Some Movies Set in 2025?

Another new year has just begun, and I love to start it with a look back to how some people years ago envisioned this specific year to be (just like last year). So, I'll share with you my list of movies set in the year of 2025, based on this gorgeous Wikipedia list.

Of course, some of the movies listed there don't provide much of a vision, because they're set just a few years in the future. So, I'll focus on movies that are at least ten years old, reducing my Get Ready For '25 watchlist to 11 entries. Future me will edit this post, adding a quick review to each film after I've watched it. So, let's have a look at the movies, after the cut.

Endgame (Original title: Bronx Lotta Finale). The oldest entry in the list comes from 1983, and it shows us a run-of-the-mill post-apocalyptic New York. Seemingly, some nuclear war has happened (around 1990, as a clever Wikipedia writer deduces based on the technology shown in the film), leaving a wasteland filled with scavengers and telepathic mutants. Oh, and hunters and gladiators who fight to death for a TV show called Endgame. A Boy And His Dog meets The Running Man, as it seems. One could start worse, I guess, though the writer/director worked under a pseudonym for this, which I admit is not the best of omens. PS: I usually look at places like Youtube and Dailymotion if someone uploaded some of the older flicks, and on this lil quest I among others found a German dubbed version with Hungarian voice-over of this originally Italian flick. So if you happen to understand Hungarian (I don't), have fun with this truly pan-european edition! Wow. I admit that this flick was a better start than I anticipated. It's still not great, but the first third is very entertaining, with some nicely choreographed fights. Very wrestling-esque, very sweet. However, then all of a sudden the whole gladiator fight TV show stuff ends, and instead we get some "Bring these guys to this place" plot instead. Entertaining The Running Man ripoff becomes less entertaining Mad Max 2 ripoff. 5 out of 10 points. Oh, and I solved the riddle of the director's pseudonym: He usually made smut films, so I guess he did not want to confuse his smut film fans by putting his smut film persona into the credits of this relatively non-smut production.

Future Hunters. A movie from 1986, and yet another post-apocalyptic world. Some rebel group search for the Spear of Destiny, which allows them to travel back in time. So, I'm afraid most of the film will not happen in 2025, but 39 years earlier, where the Spear has to be reunited with its shaft (the Shaft of Destiny, I guess?) to break its curse. Or so. Raiders of the Lost Ark seems to meet Terminator, here. And we even have Robert Patrick in one of his first leading roles, five years before becoming a real Terminator.

Futuresport. This one is from 1998, and it was made directly for TV. The eponymous sport of the year 2025 is a mix of basketball, baseball and hockey that uses hoverboards and rollerblades, and it is used as a less lethal alternative for gang warfare. Specifically, this sport shall be used to decide who will rule over the Hawaiian Islands. When looking at this synopsis, I can't stop thinking about one of my favourite movies, the 1975 sci-fi classic Rollerball. This one is set in the year of 2018, so maybe I can spin me some head canon that has Futuresport developing from Rollerball. We'll see.

Timecop 2: The Berlin Decision. A 2003 direct-to-video sequel to the Jean-Claude Van Damme flick of 1994. Timecop part one was set in 2004, and 21 years later, in the sequel, some guy is sent to Berlin of the past. To kill Hitler. Oh my. This could be quite the ride. I think I watched part one when I was young, but I can't remember much. So maybe this year is a good opportunity for a rewatch of this Van Damme flick - though I don't think it will be needed to understand part 2. The double feature DVD box is cheap to get, so we'll see.

Negadon, the Monster from Mars. A 2005 animated kaiju short film from Japan, wherein a mars mission brings some monster back to earth. Which of course has to be fought with some huge robot. Sounds okay, and we're talking about 25 minutes to spend. So why not.

Repo Men. A 2010 film that shows us a 2025 where bio-mechanical organs are rented to people in need. If they can't afford the organs any more, well, the repossession is quite bloody. So basically it's 2008's Repo! The Genetical Opera, but without the cool singing. I watched this movie when it was in cinemas, and it was okayish. So, time for a rewatch.

Zebraman 2: Attack on Zebra City. Some Japanese superhero flick from 2010, of course it's a sequel to a film called Zebraman, from 2004, wherein a teacher starts to fight crime in the costume of his childhood TV hero. The sequel is set 15 years after part one (so yes, Zebraman 2 is produced in the year that Zebraman 1 is set in), and Tokyo is renamed to Zebra City and now has a "Zebra Time", a daily period of five minutes where all crime is legal, but presumed criminals will be attacked by the "Zebra Police". This could be hilarious, The Purge on speed (before the first part of The Purge even existed!), but I'll keep my expectations low. And I'll try to watch part one first, because Zebraman 2 seems to use a lot of its characters.

Pacific Rim. A 2013 instant classic. In 2025, giant kaijus must be fought with giant mechas (just as in Negadon; see above). Gosh, I love this one, but spouse hasn't seen it yet. And is highly sceptical. But when if not this year should one give this a try, right?

Hot Tub Time Machine 2. Four guys are sent ten years into the future by the eponymous bathing device, to find someone who tried to kill one of them. I absolutely did not like the first part, so I really feel tempted to skip this.

Mountains May Depart. A 2015 Chinese drama spanning a time from 1999 to 2025. The synopsis is full of love-triangles and family drama, so I don't suspect much of a vision of the future. Plus, it seems to be rather hard to get, so maybe I'll skip this one, too.

Ten Years. Also from 2015, this movie from Hong Kong speculates about what the semi-autonomous Hong Kong will be in ten years from then, with human rights and freedoms gradually diminishing as the influence of the Chinese government increases. I'm very curious about this one!

[alittleplaytime]

🎒 — what are the items in your ideal agere / caregiver bag or backpack ? how often would you have it with you ?

lots of sea themed snacks/lunchbox and ocean based stim toys and a shark plushie!! ooh and my headphones, communication cards and pastille lollies!! i'd always have them, i like being prepared!

🪼 — favorites aquatic / semi—aquatic creature ?

i love love love jellyfish an sharkies!! the aquariums near me don't have these but i also love water scorpions and lesser water boatmen!!

🦑 — is there anything your especially scared of when regressed ? ( alt : is there anything you especially dislike when regressed ? )

not particularly! i'm more scared of the crowds,than any of the animals :3

🐡 — what’s your most “exotic” hobby or interest ?

bugs >:3 and also roller derby!!

🐟 — do you identity with a particular aesthetic when regressed that’s different than your big self ?

my regression tends to be a lot softer aesthetics wise, even when still alternative then my big self!

🐋 — favorite animal when big vs. regressed ?

big it's meerkats and regressed it's koalas & quokkas!!

🦈 — thoughts on sharkies ?? friend or foe ? cute or scary ?

friend definitely!! they're actually quite friendly and just curious!! they're like... puppies of the sea!!

🦭 — how often do you regress ? do you notice any patterns of when you regress like times or days of the week ?

i tend to regress at least once a week but it all depends on my mental state and health! i regress more often later in the day because i'm tired- it's also why i regress more often in the later days of the week!

🦦 — do you have or want to have plushies ? ( if you do , what are their names ? )

i have looooots of plushies!! the main ones i take around with me + sleep with are: briar(tatty teddy), oliver(giant sea otter), sunshine(hand made sheep), trick(pumpkin kitty) and falkor(snow dragon)!

🌿 — what’s your favorite color ? ( be as specific as possible ! )

i love black, pale baby blue and dark purple!! i've also grown fond of pale yellow (thanks to this blog!!)

🐚 — do you like to collect things ? if so , what’s something you love to collect ?

yes!! i collect ghost (band) merchandise, such as: figurines, replicas and stage money! i also collect (original) beanie babies!!

🪷 — do you have a specific area you like to regress in , or that makes you feel safest ?

my room, i have all my gear in there and it means none of my family interrupt me or notice my regression!

🌊 — favorite thing to drink when big vs. regressed ?

when i'm big it's coke zero, black tea w/ honey and white monster! i'm not against drinking them when i'm regressed, i just don't find myself craving them: i want apple juice, hot chcolate and chocolate milk!

🫧 — what’s your favorite activity to do when regressed ?

colouring and watching movies!! i love relaxing and just letting my mind wander when regressed, i tend to be sleepy when regressed so easy tasks are best for me!

aquarium—themed regression ask game !!

not all of the questions are regression—oriented , but they’re still good get-to-know-me questions ^_^

[ ⭐️ ] it is appreciated that when you reblog this post , you send some questions from this post to whoever you reblogged it from ! /gen/nf

🎒 — what are the items in your ideal agere / caregiver bag or backpack ? how often would you have it with you ?

🪼 — favorites aquatic / semi—aquatic creature ?

🦑 — is there anything your especially scared of when regressed ? ( alt : is there anything you especially dislike when regressed ? )

🐡 — what’s your most “exotic” hobby or interest ?

🐟 — do you identity with a particular aesthetic when regressed that’s different than your big self ?

🐋 — favorite animal when big vs. regressed ?

🦈 — thoughts on sharkies ?? friend or foe ? cute or scary ?

🦭 — how often do you regress ? do you notice any patterns of when you regress like times or days of the week ?

🦦 — do you have or want to have plushies ? ( if you do , what are their names ? )

🌿 — what’s your favorite color ? ( be as specific as possible ! )

🐚 — do you like to collect things ? if so , what’s something you love to collect ?

🪷 — do you have a specific area you like to regress in , or that makes you feel safest ?

🌊 — favorite thing to drink when big vs. regressed ?

🫧 — what’s your favorite activity to do when regressed ?

[hollowed-theory-hall]

About Hogwarts Castle's Architecture

I think the history is wrong... Like, stone castles only became a thing in Britain when the Normans brought the practice over with them from France (Norman rule was officially established in 1066). And the first stone castles in Scotland were only built around the 1100s. Hogwarts was built around the 990s... so what's up with that?

(Like, there were some fortified stone structures in Scotland pre-normans (brochs), but no one would really call them a typical castle. Also, they were built in the Iron Age (Brochs were specifically built between 400 BC and 200 AD), so not the founders' times)

Also, many of the architectural details of Hogwarts in the movies/Hogwarts Legacy/any other video games/illustrations have much later influences, what with the Gothic architecture (which only came around in the 1200s) and elements from Victorian restored castles (I'll go more about what this means later).

And I have a Watsonian theory/headcanon to make it make sense.

What I think, is that the Hogwarts castle we (and the characters) experience, has been heavily reconstructed over the past thousand years. So Hogwarts likely started as a simpler, wooden structure (as was common in Scotland around the 10th century) and it changed and grew and evolved throughout the centuries.

So we'll walk through the history of castle architecture in Scotland and explain how Hogwats evolved over the years. (Becouse I'm an architecture and history nerd, sue me).

Pre Founders

Hogwarts is legend to have been built where the founders found a pensive:

The Hogwarts Pensieve is made of ornately carved stone and is engraved with modified Saxon runes, which mark it as an artefact of immense antiquity that pre-dates the creation of the school. One (unsubstantiated) legend says that the founders discovered the Pensieve half-buried in the ground on the very spot where they decided to erect their school.

(Pottermore)

So, the location probably wasn't empty, but had some evidence of past wizarding residence there. How much is unclear, but it was a place magic was practiced in before the founders.

990s

Hogwarts is founded as a school and sanctuary. Muggles at the time didn't really believe in witchcraft (the church considers believing in witchcraft heresy). So, it's not really to protect themselves together, but more to allow wizards to build a united community.

There is an element of hiding magic from muggles:

Why didn’t we choose to produce flying barrels, flying armchairs, flying bathtubs – why brooms? Shrewd enough to see that their Muggle neighbours would seek to exploit their powers if they knew their full extent, witches and wizards kept themselves to themselves long before the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy came into effect.

(Quidditch Through the Ages)

But it's not for the same reason as the later witch hunts. At this time, people who confessed to witchcraft would need to repent (not via execution, mind) because they'd be seen as delusional. After all, magic doesn't exist according to church doctrine at the time. and as mentioned in the book, the concern was to be bothered to help muggles with everything, not because they were hunted at the time.

Around this time there is the magical government in England at least, is the Wizard Council, also known as the Wizengamot. Due to the similar name, the muggle Wittengamot (the council of lords that chose the king of England) might be aware of their wizard equivalent, but they might also be completely unaware (explained in the next section).

Castles, in this time period in the UK, looked something like this:

Hogwarts, when founded, probably looked like this combination of buildings and not what we imagine as a castle.

with the Chamber of Secrets as a basement. It's canon that a Gaunt later added the pipe entrance from the bathroom, so it's original entrance lay elsewhere.

Note that this means it wasn't the founders who but the Common Rooms, Room of Requirement, or the moving staircases and that the in-universe history books are wrong.

Since Hogsmeade was founded by Hengist of Woodcroft who was a student of Helga Hufflepuff when she was alive, the village was probably founded in the century following the school's founding.

1000s-1100s

Here we get the Norman Conquest of England, and while Scotland wasn't Norman, the culture in Scotland was influenced by the changes down south. Specifically, castle architecture is something they copied from the Normans.

The reason I mentioned earlier the muggle Witengamot might've not been aware of the wizarding community is because we know William brought with him wizards in his army, like the Malfoys:

Like many other progenitors of noble English families, the wizard Armand Malfoy arrived in Britain with William the Conqueror as part of the invading Norman army. Having rendered unknown, shady (and almost certainly magical) services to King William I, Malfoy was given a prime piece of land in Wiltshire, seized from local landowners, upon which his descendants have lived for ten consecutive centuries.

(Pottermore)

But many other pureblood wizard family names we can date back to the Norman invasion. Such as: Lestrange, Peverell, Wealey, Gaunt, etc. So, it's somewhat implied William won England with the help of wizards that the local Anglo-Saxon English didn't have fighting with them.

Due to these Norman wizards clearly getting positions of influence in the wizarding community (talked a bit more about this here[]), it's likely they or even William himself wanted to improve Hogwarts to keep the wizardibg population onside.

So, around the later 1000s or early 1100 Hogwarts would've looked something like this:

So, basically, the same structure as before, but the keep (where the Great Hall is, is built from stone. The Great Hall (AKA the most defensible place in the castle everyone fell back to in the Battle of Hogwarts) was the first built.

As for the inside:

We have geometric details on the columns and archways (which are round, it's not yet the pointed gothic arches we all know and love). The walls would all be painted white and then colorful and vibrant colors over it (somewhat visible in the picture on the left).

1200s-1300s

Throughout the next two centuries, more and more wings would be added to the castle. Many of the classrooms and dorms that were outside the keep in the outer buildings moved to these new wings inside the main stone castle. The outer walls & fortifications would also be improved and extended from the former ones and a proper gatehouse would likely be built:

And a few churches, since they tended to be more decorated on the outside and I want to explain this is when gothic architecture was a thing and that most of the styles we recognize for castles are from this period:

This is when the Room of Requirement, the moving staircases, the towers (the Astronomy Tower, the Headmaster's Tower, and perhaps the Owlery), and the various common rooms would be built.

(Note the castle on the left would've likely had a whitewash on all of the exterior back in the day)

At this point, the Great Hall, and the quad if we think of the typical Hogwarts castle would be built:

(Image from Hogwarts Legacy)

There would be no transfiguration courtyard area yet and no clocktower yet as they are likely later additions.

I'd also note the inside of the castle, would look something like this at this point:

The walls would be painted and colorful and vibrant. You might also see wall hangings like we see in the Gryffindor Common room in the movies, that's actually accurate (the wall tapestry/curtain things, not the furniture, the furniture is 17th and 18th century) except the stone would likely not be bear stone and instead have a whitewash over it and tapestries over the whitewashed stone. Bear stone wasn't an all that common look in this era unless they used pretty stones that were meant to be shown off (which was expensive, hence rare).

1500s-1600s

This period is still building in a style called Gothic (12th to 16th century), but we're adding more intricate detail, and the style for furniture changes quite drastically (because we've entered the Tudor area). I believe that around the 1500s and the 1600s, more wings were added, like the clocktower, the transfiguration courtyard, and the viaduct (a bridge was probably there before, but I think it was rebuilt with the new building):

The style of buildings we're looking at now would have this sort of exterior:

(Note the house on the left and castle on the white would've likely had a whitewash on all of the exterior back in the day)

And this is the interior we're talking about:

Also, up until this point, greenhouses weren't really a thing (at least not the glasshouse variety). I assume there was an Herbology Garden or that perhaps a Vegetable Patch Harry mentions exists next to the greenhouses and served as the place where they grew plants because glasshouses like we think of when we read the word "greenhouse" were only started being built in England late in the 16th century. So the Greenhouses are likely a 17th-century addition since the wizards probably adopted them a little later than the muggles.

1700s

This is when indoor plumbing was introduced to Hogwarts and the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets was changed:

When first created, the Chamber was accessed through a concealed trapdoor and a series of magical tunnels. However, when Hogwarts’ plumbing became more elaborate in the eighteenth century (this was a rare instance of wizards copying Muggles, because hitherto they simply relieved themselves wherever they stood, and vanished the evidence), the entrance to the Chamber was threatened, being located on the site of a proposed bathroom. The presence in school at the time of a student called Corvinus Gaunt – direct descendant of Slytherin, and antecedent of Tom Riddle – explains how the simple trapdoor was secretly protected, so that those who knew how could still access the entrance to the Chamber even after newfangled plumbing had been placed on top of it.

(Pottermore)

1800s

Now, back to what I mentioned in the opening paragraph about Victorian castle reconstruction. So, during the Victorian era, many rich people bought castles to restore and preserve them. Victorians in England were kinda obsessed with the Medieval period (and Ancient Egypt, but we're not talking about that right now) so they wanted to be able to walk around castles, and they had a lot of castles in the UK that fell into disrepair and just stood there empty. The thing is, the Victorian people who restored castles had no idea what Medieval castles actually looked like in the Medieval period. So all the castles you see with this sort of interior (which are most reconstructed castles, btw):

That's a Victorian reconstruction. They built how they imagined medieval castles looked like according to their own tastes and aesthetics and what they saw from more recent Todur castles, not how medieval castles actually looked like.

That being said, Hogwarts was continuously used throughout all these years, so I imagine some of these Victorian elements would make their way in, but not to the same level as these reconstructions.

Basically, different locations in the castle would look different depending on when they were built. Most furniture is likely to have been replaced more recently and would at most date back to the 1500s. So, we'll see a lot of dark wood furniture that isn't painted the way they would've painted furniture in the medieval period.

I'd also expect that some of the older walls/ceilings are still painted very vibrantly (which fits with the wizard's sense of style overall).

Basically, I think the Hogwarts we experienced in the books wasn't built in one year as a monolith by the founders. It was added to over time. Rooms that look older Medieval, and ones that look like a Tudor addition would all exist within the same castle. Areas in the older sections would have 18th-century wooden paneling because reconstruction was needed. I personally think that's the right way to go about designing Hogwarts since most castles in Britain are like that (and in the rest of Europe).

Castles changed and grew according to the needs of whoever lived there at the time and the technology available. And since, well, at some point castles weren't needed as fortified structures anymore, they lost fortifications for aesthetics. We have no surviving castles that actually look the way they did back when they were built. All the preserved ones had wings added, walls paneled with wood, and the windows replaced. And in many of them, you can actually see the patchwork in the bricks, the window style changing from one window to the next across a single wall. I think that's part of what makes castles gorgeous and it always made sense to me Hogwarts was like that too.

[what-gs-watching]

"You can be beautiful or you can be ugly, but you can’t be plain."

Soooo I’m pretty sure I died over Christmas; my entire family got a stomach bug that was the worst thing I’ve ever experienced, and now I have a head cold and I’ve lost my voice and I’m convinced this is some weird limbo and I’ll never be healthy again.

BUT! Before all of that, my dad and I got to indulge in our favorite holiday tradition: going to the movies. He and I have been sneaking off in the afternoon once everyone falls into a Christmas coma to see something for like, fifteen years. That man hates holidays because my mom goes insane trying to make them perfect and he just wants to escape and I appreciate that he allows me to go with him. 

This year, I was especially excited - the first time I saw the trailer for A Complete Unknown in September, I called him immediately screaming about it. Bob Dylan’s music was a huge part of my childhood, another thing that my stoic father shared with me, and could not wait to see it with him. Honestly, I’d been vibrating out of my skin about it, shrieking at the tv every time the commercial would come on.

Gang. It was so worth it. What a beautiful fucking movie.

Wherein, 19 year old Bob Dylan (Timothee Chalamet) heads to New York City in 1961, befriends Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger (Ed Norton), breaks into the folk scene, falls in love, has insane on and off stage chemistry with Joan Baez, writes songs that define a generation, puts the Newport Folk Festival on the damn map, learns he doesn’t really love fame, and then eventually goes electric. 

I do realize this movie isn’t going to be for everyone - it’s specific. Like, were you alive then and you’re wanting to relive that time and the way Dylan’s music made you feel? Perfect, you’ll dig it. Or, are you a super weirdo like me that WISHES you were alive during that time and just deeply loves the 60’s aesthetic and longs for what you think was a simpler era but it really was not, and you just want to romanticize the whole thing and feel wistful about it? Amazing, get your ass to the theater. 

One thing I appreciated about this movie was that it wasn’t really shoving anything down your throat, what was happening wasn’t overly explained, there were no ridiculous voice-overs or forced understanding, and honestly, Dylan was fairly mysterious. It didn’t feel like it was from his point of view, you’re not going to come out of this feeling like you finally GET him. He’s still this weird mythical genius, just doing what he’s driven to do. He never explains himself and he never wants to. So is this really a biopic? Or are we just seeing a snapshot in time, take it or leave it? I don’t think it matters; it’s wonderful, either way.

Also, like, DAMN, Chalamet. He was fucking incredible. Dylan is a hard guy to portray, he’s always been kind of aloof, withdrawn, he’s never seemed like this larger than life personality and to pull off that demeanor in a way that’s still endearing to the audience is NOT easy. He really encapsulated Dylan’s confusing charm, it was pitch perfect. And I had to laugh to myself a bit - last year’s Christmas movie was Wonka, also starring Chalamet. What a hilarious dichotomy from one year to the next. 

I’m going to be watching all of the award shows just for this. Give this dude all the flowers. 

As much of a fan of his music as I am, I never did a deep google dive on him and so I really enjoyed seeing his relationship with Joan Baez unfold. The scenes of them performing together were honestly beautiful, their voices blending and complimenting each other. Her song “Diamonds and Rust” unsurprisingly was also a large part of my musical upbringing and to learn she’d written it about their relationship - fuck. I listened to it again after we left the theater and it was devastating in an entirely new way.

Here’s the thing. I absolutely cried big fat tears a few times sitting there. It’s not a sad movie in any way, shape or form. But when he performs “The Times They Are A-Changin’” at the festival, just him and his guitar and his harmonica, and the crowd starts singing along with him, having never heard it before, I sobbed, smiling. 

When I was a senior in high school, my dad - who notoriously never put effort into gifts for us kids, relying on my mom to know what to buy - sat down and  made me a bunch of mix CDs of the songs he’d always been sharing with me. One of them was his 12 essential Bob Dylan tracks. The rest of that year, I lived in those tracks. The agenda pad I used for that school year was littered with Dylan lyrics, it’s my basement even now, “don’t criticize what you can’t understand” scrawled all over it.

So I was 17 again, sitting there, or 8 or 21 or any of the ages I’ve been where Dylan has kept me company. “It Ain’t Me Babe” is deeply ingrained in my mind as part of the dumpster fire that was the relationship I had with the first boy I ever fell truly in love with, and watching his long-time girlfriend Sylvie (Elle Fanning) witness him singing that with Joan Baez was like a punch to the gut. 

I’m not 100% sure what I’m driving at with all of this, but what I can tell you is: A Complete Unknown is beautiful. If you have any connection to Dylan’s music, it’ll light your soul on fire. If you don’t, it’ll still immerse you in a time or place you really should visit. It’s fascinating and visceral and glimmering, and it just might change you, a little bit.

HOW does it FEEL?

[sailorscout93]

I’m watching Ariana and Cynthia’s commentary version of Wicked for the first time (I have to split it up because I have to go to work and don’t have enough time to watch the whole movie before I leave) and here’s a few little random commentary notes I’ve made so far just after ‘The Wizard and I’. none of this is in order, just as I’m thinking I’m writing things down lol

1. I LOVE how much they are both fangirling over each other and the musical and their co-stars and the teams and the sets and just…. EVERYTHING.

2. Ari literally telling Cynthia “shut up, you’re singing” when The Wizard and I starts and Cynthia is talking, but Ariana wanted to listen was adorable

3. Pointing out Easter eggs but also being sneaky about not spoiling things (Re: The hooded figure on the horse at Kiamo Ko at the very beginning that they specifically *DIDN’T* point out but mentioned that if you pay attention, you’d see something important)

4. I CACKLED at their discussions about the baby actor who played “baby baby Elphaba” and “baby agents”

5. Ariana talking about how hard it was to film the part about burning Elphaba’s effigy in No One Mourns the Wicked and how grief can manifest in different ways

6. Both of them already seeing shots of themselves and saying “I don’t remember doing that!” And a testament to Jon’s magic behind the camera and catching little things on camera that they didn’t even realize he’d gotten

7. Ari arguing (respectfully) to have certain lines of Galinda’s from the musical that were almost cut out back into the script (She really is a Wicked fan girl and I love it)

8. Ari “crying” over Elphaba’s line “I’d be so happy I could…. MELT!” In The Wizard and I…. Again her fan girling knows no bounds!

9. Last one for now…. I DIDN’T KNOW THAT ELPHABA HAVING VISIONS WASN’T A PART OF THE MUSICAL AND WAS AN ADDED DIMENSION TO HER MAGIC FOR THE MOVIE!!!(Sorry guys, I haven’t seen it yet, I’m hoping to go to an actual production of it this summer when the tour comes near me)

I’ll probably give another update on my thoughts in the next hour before I go to work, then the rest of the movie tonight after I get off hopefully.

[sircarebearalot]

hehe my take on gelphie, specifically for the wicked movie /(2024) hehe is that Elphaba had a healthy little crush on Galinda in the beginning of their friendship— which was why she was so shocked when Galinda shared that she planned on marrying Fiyero one day— but then as they got more involved in each others lives, Elphaba let her crush go and decided to focus her energy on appreciating Galinda’s friendship. so that will also add a layer of distress when she sort of falls head over heels for Fiyero, bc she literally overcame feelings already to preserve her friendship with Galinda,. The things is, Fiyero is so out of nowhere, where they have mutual interest but not that solid groundwork of friendship, that Elphaba doesn’t really have anything to translate it to, so she’s sort of drowned by these feelings. (So like, giving strong lacy by Olivia Rodrigo, when she sings I’m not that girl bc she does find those aspects of Galinda appealing, but it’s no longer her resisting that and it’s fully her regretting that she has no actual shot again— her interpretation— and wishing she were the sort of person who could be loved and chosen back.)

also, other thoughts I had, was that when Elphaba zapped everyone to sleep except for Fiyero to save the cub, I think it was more like a subconscious, magic-driven thing. She chose the person who would break societal expectations to help her, and she did it without even knowing ot. bc remember she was a bit caught off guard by what her magic did and she was even more so when Fiyero dashed to save the creature. at the end of the day she knows Galinda, knows that she likes being popular and beloved, knows that she sort of needs it to go on being happy and fulfilled. She knows this in some deep level and that’s why she doesn’t turn to her in crisis, despite her undoubtedly being much closer to her than anyone else in the room (except was nessarose there? even then, nessa was always troubled and was outwardly burdened by her sister’s peculiarities) . and I think the reason she chose Fiyero, or her magic did, or he subconscious did, was bc at some level she knew he matched her freak (hehe excuse me) and that he did have a bleeding heart. She sensed that he had more to offer and trusted that possibility rather than the more real chance that Galinda would panic and hinder the cubs rescue, something she wanted to do and hadn’t even planned or thought of yet. but, see, Fiyero did. The second he caught on to what happened, he dashed.

The point is, Elphaba loved Galinda bc Galinda chose her and tried to give her what she always wanted. Popularity, credibility, a community where she was supported and loved and respected. Even more, accepted. And ofc she fell for the other Galinda quirks.

But when Elphaba came to the conclusion that she shouldn’t dream too far, she found true comfort and joy in Galinda friendship.

And when Elphaba made to run away from all of Oz, to live as an outlaw, obviously Galinda wasn’t going to go with her. It’s entirely in her character to want to be on the ‘good side’ of the people, even if it’s the wicked one. She didnt have Fiyeros conviction, athat not the poiny of her character, even if she had run off with Elphaba,, there’s a very real chance she would have resented Elphaba almost immediately or tried to return back to Oz. And that’s understandable bc forsaking an entire hirtosy and land for someone is an insane thing to do.

Something only Fiyero would do.

Anyways, this is a gelphie post so I’m gonna talk about Galinda in all of this. Even tho in my fic I wrote her to be self aware, I genuinely see Galinda as sort of not absorbing all her feelings for Elphaba. They are there and she knows they are importancy and valuable but she doesn’t pick at ot and try and make sense of it. Bc, in her head, if everything stays the same, she could have it all, the prince she always dreamed of, and the person she cherished above all else right within reach. In her mind, everything was going to work itself out so nothing was a problem. So, when Fiyero starts to pull away, when Elphaba seems drawn to him, and when Elphaba eventually tries to run away and take Galinda with her— Galinda freezes. She sort of tries to work with what’s left, her status, her relationship with Fiyero, and she’s trying to reassemble the perfect life she should have had, and she’s absolutely miserable, and every time she gets an opportunity to near Elphaba she takes it. She’d take it in any capacity likely.

Bc she might blame Elphaba for being difficult and not staying or choosing her, but ultimately Galinda has pushed her boundaries and challenged her own worldview for Elphaba without Elphaba asking. Like at the dance scene, where her guilt and sudden understanding of her rival/roommate moved her to risk it all— tho maybe she consoled herself later and dismissed it, claiming her popularity was never at risk— to try and comfort Elphaba and bridge the gap properly, finally. And later, when she changed her name to Glinda, it’s was bc she felt left out, like she needed to prove herself, like the people she had chosen for herself were moving on without her, amd so she made a flashy bid to catch up. And, also, think, briefly, about how absolutely devastating it must be to be so goddamn ambitious and be constantly besides the most powerful witch around. Galinda may have assured herself that her popularity would carry her through, but truly, you don’t see her ego or pride flare up much if at all around Elphaba, fully embracing that they had different strengths, and well Glinda did say that the greatest ppl weren’t necessarily competent but rather popular (wicked foreshadowing and cruelest of ironies) so that likely helped her a bunch. Ok, so, also, think about how instead of retreating or hiding or running off, when everything went to whit with the guards and flying monkeys chasing Elphaba, she followed Elphaba. Like there never really was a choice.

That just sort of shows, there was so many missed calls, so many almosts.

Glinda was tempted to go with Elphaba. She almost did— hence their duet.

Galinda could have won Elphaba’s heart, she had it, but she fell in love too late and recognized was too late. They could have been in love, it almost overlapped.

Galinda is the type of person who Elphaba could love, but not in those circumstances. It was almost perfect. Like actually, roommates, rivals, best friends, crazy codependent, opposites, they literally could have had it all. And they almost did.

But at the end of the day, Glinda wasn’t ready and Fiyero was fucking ready to go, and Elphaba had already dismissed the possibility of romance between the two of them (gelphie I mean) bc it had seemed impossible. And as much as it almost was, they never could be. Not in those circumstances, not the way it unraveled.

anywhas, this was a very long little rant to tell you I have two fics in the work for them, one that is Elphaba centric (w/ her being oblivious and trying to hold onto Galinda’s friendship) and one where they have doomed hanahaki, but Elphaba has it first and is encouraged by Madam Morrible to kill it (bc she can’t risk the star student, ofc, no nefarious reasons…lol) wnd after she removes that and all her romantic feelings, Galinda gets it shortly after when Elphaba leaves Oz and she’s just choking on all the love, waiting for the opportunity to get Elphaba alone so she can confess, make her stay and such, but then she finds out that Fiyeor and Elphaba are in love and she is forced to rid herself of the love, and so when she tells aelphabas story’, there is a cavity where all the romantic love was and she’s mourning that AND Elphaba and it’s so sad

anyways, they’re Lana Del Rey coded. look at:

‘If you dance, I’ll dance’

‘No remedy for memory’

‘Say yes to heaven, say yes to me’

‘And as all the years go by, the other woman will always spend her life alone’

‘But if you hold me without hurting me

You'll be the first who ever did’

(Hehe anyways I only used this website for one lyric but it’s so funny how they read my mind— shh don’t correct me)

[arcanechariot]

lucien and anselm

or why i dont think theyre the same person

specifically for @faretheeoscar and i figured @wilder-fangirl might be interested (also @iolaussharpe-24 id love to hear your take)

disclaimer

i dont think that people who have this theory are wrong or stupid or anything like that. im just saying this bc i know people are v protective of their blorbos and i get that but me putting my theory forward doesnt have to go against you having your own theory

you do you. this is just my interpretation 💛💛

also im not an expert on any of the stuff im about to talk about. im just a guy with access to the internet and a qualification in media studies and psychology (and overanalysing things)

also also i havent seen the entirety of bbg so im mainly going off anselms scene (and my quick scrub of the movie)

1: time periods & ages

so at the veeeeeery start of ticky tacky we see lucien being a silly horny boy

after checking, i can confirm that this is the playboy issue from april 1970

he uses a record player and seems to prefer more vintage-style interior design though this isnt entirely telling of the time period as, on his desk, he has what looks to be a voip phone so we might be able to place ticky tacky around 2008

as a rule, i tend to age characters (unless explicitly stated or if they seem de-aged/aged up) at the same age the actor was at the time of playing the role. oscar was about 35 playing lucien and i think he looks about that old. so 2008-35=1973. id have lucien being born around 1973

whereas (to me, at least) anselm seems a lot older than the 43 oscar was at the time. as stated in my nsfw a-z for anselm, i have him pegged at around 60

we see sams hospital room at the very start of bgb and this looks pretty modern to me so i wanna place the main plot around late 2010s to early 2020s? say 2018?

sam does use a tape recorder and a typewriter but i think these are a more stylistic choice and the time period of those two things dont match the apparent time period of the above hospital room

2018-60=1958. i see anselm being born around 1958

so anselm born in '58 and lucien born in '73

2: differences in character

anselm does this slutty pouty thing with his lips and i dont think i clocked lucien doing it

anselm is also like naturally flirtatious and sexual but i see lucien as more of a silly easily-excited emotional boy

ofc theres the issue of the accent which lucien doesnt have

lucien admits that hes never killed anyone before but anselm seems to have no qualms shooting his cousin for just being annoying

anselm has that horny old man energy™️

lucien takes care with his crime (lining the floor with plastic, using leather gloves as to not leave fingerprints on the pistol, etc) but anselm literally gives no fucks and goes in raw

ofc the injuries would still make sense if anselm was lucien but thats assuming that lucien literally has no sense of selfpreservation and just chooses to burn inside his study and then suddenly decides to crawl out which doesnt make sense to me

i made a hc for anselms injuries in my nsfw hcs; correct me if im wrong but we dont find out why anselm has his injuries. as thats the case, im just going to make a little hc for that too. i feel like he was probably involved in gas explosion (possibly when he was a kid). that would account for the burn scars, the one blind eye (from heat or flying glass), his crippled leg (from a structural collapse pinning the leg) and occasional breathing difficulties (from lung scarring due to prolonged smoke inhalation)

3: the cousins

this is the same man (tim rock) as the cousins of lucien and anselm respectively. i find it very odd that, if anselm was lucien, he would just so happen to have two cousins that look exactly the same. i mean ig they could be identical twins but like in that case why would you then go and gleefully work for the man who killed your brother?

4: conclusion

i have literally no beef with people who think anselm is just an older lucien but, to me, theyre two different people

besides why have one rich dilf when you could have two?

anyway thanks for coming to my ted talk

[couldawouldashoulda50]

From Completely Different Worlds - A Follow-up

Happy New Year everyone - wishing you all the very best in 2025.

I thought I would write a little follow-up to the final chapter of the series, mostly to tie up any loose ends. This next part picks up from the following day, which is Thanksgiving at Loren's.

I had a thought - I would like to continue writing little blurbs for these two...I have about 3 or 4 outlines just for some little situational moments that I thought might be fun to dive into. I hope there will be a few readers out there that might like to continue on their journey together ❤️

Warnings - profanity, general smut (p in v)

Word count - approx 5k

18+ only please.

“Fuck, I’m full,” William groaned as he closed the sliding door to the backyard, Pablo and Banksy trotting back inside without a care. He shuffled over to Loren, who was fast-tracking the steeping process of the ginger tea she’d made to help settle his stomach. Leaning over to sniff the mug, he wrinkled his nose slightly. “What is this?”

“It’s ginger tea—it should help with your stomach,” Loren said, smiling as his hand found the small of her back in a casual, comforting gesture. “It’s worth a shot, anyway.”

Sliding in behind her, William moved her hair aside, brushing his lips against the base of her neck. The soft, ticklish giggle she let out made him grin, even as the weight in his stomach reminded him of just how much he’d eaten.

He couldn’t bring himself to say it out loud—not yet—but what he felt in that moment was undeniable. Happiness. Gratitude. Optimism. After everything they’d been through—the ups, the downs, the doubts—there was no question of how they felt about one another now. They were here. Together. Alone.

And if only he hadn’t gone for those two extra pieces of lemon meringue pie, he’d have been expressing himself in a much more interesting and physical way.

They moved to the couch where the dogs were already sleeping, Pablo curled up on the cushion and Banksy on the arm of the couch. William shifted Loren’s legs after she sat and positioned himself between them, his back resting on her torso. He sipped his tea and allowed the warmth of the ginger to calm his stomach.

There were candles still lit throughout the room, providing a lovely ambiance earlier as Simon (Benoit) and William had talked team dynamics while Alice fed Adelaide. Loren had sat beside her, petting the Benoits’ dogs that had come for some turkey as well.

As the flames flickered with an occasional invisible draft, the mood between them was nothing short of tranquil and serene.

Loren kissed William’s head, and he leaned into her affectionately, prompting her to give more.

William and Alex had arrived at Loren’s together earlier in the day, but Alex had taken off with William’s car after dessert for a get-together that, for once, didn’t include his brother. William hadn’t asked for specifics—he figured it might be a new fling on the horizon. Alex’s vague responses had all but confirmed William’s assumptions.

He softly broke the silence. “So…can I stay here tonight?”

As William leaned back against Loren on the couch, he found himself silently hoping the plans he’d formed in his mind with her would actually come to life, despite his uncomfortably full stomach.

Loren paused, her gaze drifting over the length of William’s body sprawled across the couch. A soft chuckle escaped her. “Theoretically, you’re kind of stuck here,” she teased. “But… I’d really like that. If it works for you.”

“I have practice at noon tomorrow—can you drive me home in the morning?”

Loren planted soft kisses against William’s head, her lips brushing against his hairline. “I want to make a joke about me being Kathy Bates in the movie Misery, but I doubt you’ll know what I’m talking about.”

William shook his head, a small smile forming. “You’re right, I don’t. The title doesn’t sound very… optimistic.”

She laughed softly, the sound warm and melodic. “It’s not. Let’s just say it involves a guy being stuck somewhere he really doesn’t want to be. Kathy Bates plays a nurse—a caregiver for him—but, uh, she’s a little… unhinged.”

William tilted his head back to look at her, his brows furrowed in mock confusion. “And this is your way of inviting me to stay the night?”

Loren grinned, her hand stroking his shoulder lazily. “It’s more about poking fun at you for being trapped here without a car. But now that you mention it…”

William chuckled and set his empty mug down on the coffee table, shifting onto his side to face her. “So… wait. Does she kill him?”

Loren smirked, her fingers threading gently through his hair. “Mmm, no. She incapacitates him by taking a sledgehammer to his ankles. I never read the book, but apparently, in that version, she takes an axe to his foot.”

William hung his head, rubbing his face with his hands. “I’m going to have nightmares after this,” he groaned, half-laughing.

Loren bit her lip and shot him an apologetic glance. “I’m sorry, I forgot… it might be too soon to joke about a girl blowing up your world again. So yes, I can drive you to practice… at whatever time you need.”

William shifted again, this time laying flat on his back, the couch just wide enough to accommodate his long frame. Loren instinctively curled into him, her head resting against his chest as his arm wrapped securely around her. He guided one of her legs to drape over his, pulling her closer until there was no space left between them.

His fingers traced patterns along her back, while she soothingly ran her hands across William’s clothed chest. The room was quiet save for the occasional rustling of the dogs shifting in their sleep.

William spoke first, his eyes fixating on the dark freckles that adorned her cheekbones - just another element of her beauty that he found so unique. He shifted slightly beneath her as if to prompt her to look up at him.” “We should talk though, about all of that stuff that happened - try and prevent it from happening again.”

Loren tilted her head up, her gaze settling on his face. It always struck her, the perfection of his features—it was unsettling in a way. She contemplated his words, her own brows furrowing. “I’m not sure it’s anything that either of us will be able to prevent from happening,” she admitted, tinged with uncertainty.

Loren continued, her tone thoughtful but laced with a hint of teasing. “I mean, you’re wildly popular—for all the good and not-so-good reasons. And you’ve been in this game—this league, this team—for a long time now. I can’t come into your life and start saying you can’t do this or that.”

She grinned knowingly, her eyes catching his. “You might seem really laid-back and chill, but I get the feeling you’re also really fucking stubborn.” Her smile widened at his soft chuckle before her expression changed slightly. “What I’m saying is… those pictures. You were hugging someone, or they were posing with you, and it looked like something it wasn’t. I can’t start throwing ultimatums at you—‘No more posing with women or hugging them’ or any of that shit.”

William stayed quiet, letting her words sink in. With other women he’d dated, conversations like this - if they even got that far in their relationship - eventually led to immature arguments or ultimatums—laying down rules that William couldn’t (or wouldn’t) adhere to.

It had been the underlying theme since he first met her - it shouldn’t have but the way she approached things still threw him off from time to time. She wasn’t blaming him or trying to control him. Instead, she was being honest about how she felt and what worried her, and she was leaving space for him to be himself. It was refreshing in a way he hadn’t expected.

His fingers moved lightly over her sleeve as he listened, unsure of what to say just yet.

William’s expression silently signaled for her to keep talking.

Loren leaned over and pressed a soft kiss to his chest before lifting her gaze back to his face. “I guess I’d say—hmm, how do I put this?” She paused, her brow furrowing slightly as she searched for the right words. “I don’t know what to expect with any of this. I think all I can really ask for is… some help getting through those uncomfortable moments….especially at this point - at the beginning. I hope that makes sense?”

William brought his lips close to hers, his voice low and steady. “Makes perfect sense.” William kissed her lightly before asking his next question. “Can you give me an example - of maybe what I can do to help. I mean - whatever you need and all that but you gotta maybe - help me, help you, sorta thing?”

Loren bit her lip, a sheepish smile forming at the corners of her mouth. “Letting me vent—and I’ll do my best to make it clear that’s all it is. So it doesn’t sound like I’m, you know, ripping you a new asshole.”

William feigned being shocked. “Wait - you have a temper? I don’t believe it.”

Loren rolled her eyes, laughing softly as she gave his shoulder a playful shove. “I do not have a temper. I just… get animated about certain things.”

William’s grin widened as he raised his hands, mimicking the exaggerated one-fingered salutes she had been know to give on the occasion. “Uh-huh. Animated. Got it.”

Loren nudged him again, narrowing her eyes playfully. “Passionate’s maybe a better word.”

A wry smile played on his lips as his gaze flicked to hers. “I’ll say—you are definitely… passionate.”

The conversation paused for another moment. William hadn’t said it yet, but part of him was still worried. Not just about the misinformation and the issues they just got through—though that had been bad enough. It was about all the other things Loren might see, hear, or read. Stuff that would seem harmless to him but could easily look like something else to her.

He’d been in this game long enough to know how it worked. People loved to talk, speculate, exaggerate. He was used to it—had learned to tune it out years ago. But Loren? She wasn’t just stepping into his world; she was stepping into the chaos that came with it.

And he couldn’t help but wonder… would it wear her down? Would she start to question every hug, every photo, every headline? He hated the idea of her doubting him—of them being pulled apart by things that didn’t matter.

William sighed, running his thumb absently over the back of her hand. He didn’t want to scare her off, but she needed to know. “Loren,” he began, his voice low, steady. “There’s something I want to say, and I need you to really listen to me.”

She looked up at him, her brows knitting slightly in concern. “Okay,” she said softly.

He hesitated, choosing his words carefully. “I know you know this but there’s… a lot out there. About me. Stuff people say, stuff they think they know - they’ll just go ahead and post it and not think of it again. But then it winds up all over the place - and it’s not even accurate or true. I’ve learned to ignore it, but… it might not be easy for you. All of the articles, pictures, fans saying things online - it’s everywhere whether you’re looking for it or not. Some of it might get under your skin - and I get it - it plants doubts and insecurities.”

Her hand tightened slightly in his, her eyes steady on his. “You’re worried that I’m going to get messed up over everything that’s out there and start turning on you?”

“No,” he said quickly, shaking his head. “It’s not that. I just… I want you to know it’s okay if it gets to you sometimes. But I need you to tell me when it does. Don’t let it build up, don’t keep it to yourself. Just… talk to me. We’ll figure it out - but you just gotta let me know.”

He paused, his gaze holding hers. “Look, Loren - I know your instinct is to step back—to take time to sort things out on your own. I get that. But…” He swallowed, his thumb brushing her knuckles. “I need you to promise me you won’t shut me out. Not this time. We can’t afford a month of silence to let things settle….it’s really important to me that you just… talk to me, even if you feel embarrassed or are just trying to get past something you’ve seen or heard. Okay?”

Loren nodded, her throat tightening with the thought of the time they lost in the previous month.

William exhaled slowly, the words coming a little harder now. “And I’ll be honest—I’m not the greatest at asking what’s wrong. I’ll try, but if I start to think there’s something bothering you all the time…” He hesitated, a light chuckle led to a wry smile. “It might actually drive me fucking nuts. So I’ll need your help there too—just… tell me where you’re coming from. I’ll do my best to understand…even if it doesn’t make sense right away.”

He paused, his fingers intertwining with hers. “You don’t have to handle everything on your own, Loren. That’s all I’m trying to say.”

Loren nodded, her face giving a look of appreciation mixed with understanding. “I hear you,” was her reply, her fingers lightly toying with the buttons on his shirt.

It wasn’t long before Loren heard the faint sound of snoring. She smiled against the fabric of his shirt, her heart swelling with the calm and contentment that surrounded them. For the first time in weeks, everything felt right again.

As the snores grew louder and more prolonged, she bit back a laugh. She didn’t want to disturb him, but she knew she had to get him to bed. A crick in his neck or a sore back—despite the couch being ultra-comfortable—was not ideal at the start of the season.

“William? William Nylander,” she whispered softly, shifting against him. “Better get you up to bed.”

His eyes stayed closed, but a lazy smile crept across his face. Loren giggled, leaning in to leave a trail of kisses along his jawline and down to his neck, the warmth of her lips lingering against his skin.

It was at that moment where William really regretted over indulging after everyone had left. The food was amazing but he was sure her mouth on any part of his body would overshadow his second mini-feast. He kept his thoughts to himself but suddenly the elicit thoughts of what might greet him the following morning danced in his mind.

Loren gently scooped up Pablo, cradling him against her chest as she planted soft kisses into his fur. He let out a long, contented groan, his eyes slipping closed again. “Turkey-itis, eh, Pablo?” she murmured with a smile. “You’re just like your dad.”

She didn’t look back for a response, already halfway up the stairs, but William’s unmistakable chortle followed her. A moment later, while supporting Banksy’s rear in one hand, his other hand playfully squeezed her ass—a clear acknowledgment of her mild ribbing.

Once upstairs, the dogs were placed on Loren’s bed, sniffing the comforter before circling and settling into their chosen spots. Between stolen kisses and a few teasing gropes while getting ready for bed, William was the first to slip under the sheets, letting out a satisfied groan as he melted into the mattress.

Loren wasn’t far behind, stepping out in a camisole and shorts before maneuvering herself between the sleeping dogs to nestle beside him.

William feigned disappointment as his eyes swept over her, the thin fabric clinging to her curves. “You usually sleep naked—what happened?”

Loren brushed her lips against his bare chest, her voice low and teasing. “I’m not saying I have that much of an effect on you, but me cuddling into you, naked, with the way you’re feeling… blue balls is the last thing you’d want.”

He decided not to tell her the truth—that naked or not, she absolutely had that effect on him. The pressure in his cock made that perfectly clear.

Morning could not come soon enough.

—

When Loren awoke early the next day, her eyes, still heavy with sleep, drifted to the empty space beside her. She barely had time to wonder where William had gone before spotting him nearby, bent over with his ass in the air as he rummaged through the bag he’d brought with him.

A smile spread across her face as she watched him move. For someone who was so often the picture of effortless perfection, even now, in this very human moment, he was still gorgeous. His hair was mussed, his shorts askew just enough to expose the crack of his ass. And yet, even his imperfection felt flawless to her.

William turned toward the bed, catching Loren’s gaze just as her smile widened. Her dark eyes shone, filled with admiration for the view and optimism for what lay ahead of them.

Adjusting the pillow, she greeted him with a soft, “Good morning.”

William’s grin grew wider as he took in her tousled hair and sleepy, sexy expression. Standing at the edge of the mattress, he clasped his hands behind his back. “Morning.” After a beat, he added, “I have something for you.”

Loren’s eyes instinctively drifted downward, lingering on the natural bulge in his shorts. She bit her bottom lip, raising her eyebrows as if to say, I bet you do.

William followed her gaze, then looked back up at her as she let out a subdued giggle. Shaking his head, he smirked. “Not quite yet,” he said, though he had every intention of fulfilling her insinuation soon enough.

With a slight flourish, he brought his hands out from behind his back, revealing the crumpled jersey he’d been holding.

Loren’s eyes immediately lit up, and he could tell she was holding back an audible squeal of excitement. She shifted into a kneeling position as William slid back onto the bed, handing her the jersey.

She unfolded it carefully, catching its distinct scent—his soap, his cologne, and a trace of sweat from last night’s game. The mix was already intoxicating, hitting her senses like a powerful aphrodisiac. Turning it around in her hands, her fingers traced over the bright white “Nylander” and the bold number “88.”

William chuckled at her reaction. “It’s from last night’s game,” he said. “Swiped it before it ended up in the laundry bin.”

Loren beamed, her joy unmistakable, though her expression quickly turned mischievous. “You know,” she said, deadpan, “I could probably rake in a few grand if I sold this on eBay.”

William narrowed his eyes, letting out a laugh. “Punk.”

Before he could say more, her lips were on his, silencing him as she guided him onto his back. The jersey stayed clutched tightly in her hands, pressed between them like the treasure it was.

Her lower half was soon straddling William’s pelvis, the top part of her body hovered atop of his. Her dark brown eyes scanned his features as the full intensity of her affection for him over came her. She lowered herself down, brushed her lips across his jawline and neck and whispered “Thank you” near his ear. Her slow kisses continued over his throat,

The pressure was building with every shift of their bodies and every movement between them. William’s hands began to knead her hips but then travelled to her round ass cheeks. He pressed his ever-growing hardness against her, eliciting a soft whimper from her mouth.

William’s voice sounded rough with desire. “Can I see it on you?”

Loren smiled against his warm skin, nodding her head before pulling back. She sat straddling him, yearning for him to be inside of her. She lightly grinded against him before sliding off of him, an almost painful feat considering how desperately she wanted him. “Be right back.”

William propped himself up on his elbow, his gaze following her as she padded toward the washroom. Once inside the bathroom, the door clicked close behind her, and with flipping on the light, she efficiently brushed her teeth, flipped her hair over and back again and dabbed a bit of perfume between her breasts.

She quickly shed her sleep set and pulled the jersey over her head and shimmied as it enveloped her. Her cheeks flushed red as she looked at the back of the jersey. How in the world did this ever happen she mused while chuckling and shaking her head. She exhaled deeply, the anticipation of William anticipating incited a warmth that radiated throughout her body.

When she emerged, William caught his first glimpse of her in his jersey, and for a moment, he was completely still. A smirk teased at the corners of his lips before it faded, replaced by something deeper. He bit his lip, his turquoise eyes roaming over her with an intensity that made Loren’s cheeks flush under his obvious admiration.

As she approached the edge of the bed, Loren timidly fidgeted with the hem of the jersey, which hung just halfway down her thighs. William’s gaze never strayed, his focus entirely on her.

He extended a hand toward her. Loren placed her hand in his and climbed back onto the mattress, letting him guide her, laying on his back until she was straddling him again.

William’s eyes soaked in every detail of her, his expression a perfect mix of adoration and mischief. “It looks really, really good,” he murmured, his voice thick with affection. “Way better than Auston’s.”

Loren paused, tilting her head as if to consider. “Who?” she replied with a smirk before leaning in and pressing her lips slowly against his, letting her mouth linger as one of her hands cupped his jaw.

Their kisses deepened, each one a release of the pent-up longing they’d carried since Loren’s departure from Stockholm, their embrace tightening as though even the smallest space between them was unbearable. Loren’s voice broke through the moment, her lips still brushing against William’s. “The boys… their walk,” she reminded softly.

He pressed his mouth against hers before kissing a trail down her neck. “I took them out back. They, uh, sort of watered your grass,” he said between kisses, his tone both teasing and breathless. “I told them I needed about ten minutes, but I’m pretty sure it’s going to be less than that,” he admitted coyly. “It’s been almost two months since I’ve…we’ve….y’know.”

Loren paused, her thoughts briefly catching on his words. For her, two months without sex was a cakewalk, but she hadn’t considered it from William’s side.

“It’s been two months?” she asked with an air of surprise.

William pulled back slightly, his turquoise eyes locking with hers. “I mean, yeah… between you leaving and me getting back here….not quite two months of….well - just my hand.”

Loren’s eyebrows lifted, and she grimaced slightly, her mind catching on the idea of William’s admitted celibacy. She could only assume it wasn’t typical for him—but now wasn’t the time to ask.

He smirked, catching onto her expression. “Let’s just say that little ‘test’ video we made before you left my place in Stockholm helped out… a lot.”

Loren’s cheeks flushed as vivid memories surfaced, her body reacting to the mere thought of them. But her mind drifted to the time she’d spent alone since William returned to Toronto. Her needs had remained quiet—virtually dormant—as the hurt and uncertainty of their situation took over.

On the rare occasions when a faint spark of desire arose, it faded almost as quickly. As much as she wanted to deny it, William had unlocked something in her—new levels of intimacy, new ways of craving. No one else could satisfy her now. Only him.

Loren dragged her fingernails lightly through the soft hair on his chest, loving the feel of his broad frame beneath her hands. Her legs spread a little wider as she leaned down to kiss him again, the pressure of her arousal building with every movement.

As their kisses deepened, Loren shifted her hips, raising herself off his clothed erection just enough to free her hands. She started to push the waistband of his shorts down, slow but sure, until William took over. He shimmied them off completely, tossing them to the foot of the bed without a second thought.

Reaching for the hem of the jersey, William’s fingers lightly gripped the fabric as he began to pull it up. “You look amazing in this,” he murmured, his voice low and rough. “But I’ve missed touching you.”

The jersey slipped off easily, leaving her bare. His hands smoothed over her hips and waist, rediscovering every curve as though memorizing her all over again.

Loren’s breath hitched at the dizzying sensation between her legs. She stealthily reached over to the nightstand, pumping a small amount of lube into her palm. Warming it between her hands, she slid one hand behind her, wrapping her fingers around him with deliberate slowness. Her teasing strokes drew a low groan from William, the sound alone enough to send her into a spiral of desperate need.

William’s hips rose and fell in rhythm with her touch, his breaths growing heavier. When she shifted to gingerly massage the tip, slick with his own juices, his head pressed back into the pillow. Groaning a string of expletives mixed with murmured affirmations, his grip on her hips tightened, his fingers digging into her soft skin.

Loren couldn’t wait any longer, and judging by the tension in his muscles, neither could he. She positioned herself, pressing her entrance near the base of his cock as she leaned forward, capturing his mouth in a kiss that expressed her deep desire for him. Her tongue grazed his with a light, sensual flick which nearly sent him over the edge.

She positioned his tip at her entrance and slowly slid onto him, savoring the way his girth stretched her. Her breath hitched, and she bit her lip, her body adjusting to the overwhelming sensation of fullness.

“FuckLoren…,” William groaned, the two words melting into one as his hands gripped her hips, guiding her movements. She began to slide him in and out, her rhythm slow and deliberate, her body responding to his in the most natural, primal way.

Her pace quickened slightly, her hands gripping his forearms as his fingers found her breasts, stroking and teasing her nipples. The bed creaked softly beneath them, a rhythmic echo of Loren’s intensifying thrusts. Gasps and moans filled the room, her voice trembling as she murmured his name, each sound pushing him closer to the edge.

The early morning sun filtered through her blinds, illuminating the sheen of her still-golden skin. The light accentuated every beautiful contour of her neck as her head fell back, her long mane of hair almost touching William’s thighs. The sight of her—equal parts elegant sensuality and untamed vixen—was almost too much for William. He was right; he wasn’t going to last long.

But he wasn’t done yet. He knew exactly how to bring Loren to the edge with him. As her hips moved with increasing urgency, grinding against him, his hand slipped lower, his thumb finding the perfect spot on her clit.

His strokes were precise and gentle, and the reaction was immediate. Loren jolted, her body clenching tightly around him as she clasped his wrist, a silent plea for him to keep going. Her other hand braced firmly against his thigh as she leaned back, her body moving with a more fervent, desperate rhythm.

The overwhelming sensation between her legs built rapidly, a flood of heat and pressure that stole her breath. “Don’t stop,” she gasped, her voice trembling with quiet urgency. Loren’s body began to quiver, her movements stuttering as the release overtook her. She collapsed onto William’s chest, her breaths uneven as she cried out softly, her orgasm pulsing through her.

William held her tightly, his arms wrapping protectively around her as his hips bucked fast and firm into her trembling body. The tightness of her release pushed him over the edge, his moans breaking into shorter, rougher sounds. With a deep, guttural shout, he spilled inside her, his grip on her waist tightening as they both stayed connected, riding out the bliss together.

After a few moments, Loren slid fluidly from his body and sank into the mattress beside him, her breathing soft and steady. William shifted to his side, easing her close against him, her face naturally finding its place against his chest—one of her favorite places to be.

It felt like calmer waters lay ahead for them. With a better understanding of each other, despite the SNAFUs and bad timing of their past, they were unknowingly building a foundation for something lasting. Where they differed, they balanced each other; where they were alike, it felt like perfect harmony.

William lay quietly, his hand stroking small circles on Loren’s back as he stared at the ceiling. His thoughts wandered to the next few hours, wondering if she’d stick around after practice. He laughed softly to himself, realizing how far gone he was for her. And he knew she felt the same about him.

He could manage life without Loren, he supposed, but it would never feel the same. Over the past month, during their separation, he came to terms with how she made every part of his life better. Whether it was a long drive, nap time, practice, or game time—everything was brighter, fuller, with her beside him.

Never mind one woman, a thousand ways. One woman, in every way. That’s how he wanted Loren.

[starlightandfairies]

Sleepy

Description: Reader returns from work at the farm and curls up with Joel in bed

Warnings: she/her pronouns, swearing,

(View whichever Joel you want, show or game. I don't have any in mind. Regardless of what the gif is)

Key: Y/N = Your Name, L/N = Last name, POV = Point of view

Word Count: 1,007

The Last of Us masterlist

First person's POV

Out of all possible responsibilities in the Jackson community, farm duty was possibly one of the better ones, I hated going beyond the gates. I have no fucking idea how I survived for the first twenty years this shit-show has been going on for. So, now that I have a safe place, I don't want to ever leave it. Working on the farm, while yucky at times, was super nice, I got to play with the lambs, collect eggs from the chickens and milk the cows. Honestly, got no clue how we even got these animals but you know, food is food and survive, survive, survive. 

I made my way to the house Joel and I shared. It was around 8pm, I had gotten all the animals into the barn and locked it up to prevent any incidents like last spring. Joel spent the day around the community, today, normally he goes out for runs out of the community to deal with the infected but he wasn't called in for anything like that today, he got to chill at home or try and do something productive because the poor man doesn't know how to not do anything. 

Joel always has to be doing something, can't just lie around or chill. Always working about, especially during the days. Nights were normally easier, he would play his guitar and he would read too. It was how I found him in bed tonight, after kicking off my boots by the front door and tossed my jacket on the couch and began making my way to the bedroom. 

Joel placed his book down across his chest, welcoming me with a warm smile, I groaned as I crawled onto the bed, moving under the blankets and nuzzled into Joel's side. I kissed his cheek, smiling as he snaked one arm around me to pull me closer into his side. 

"How was your day?" Joel murmured, resting a kiss on my forehead, his thumb stroking up and down my arm. 

"I helped one of the sheep give birth. It was gross but you know, kinda cool." He let out a warm chuckle, it was comforting and music to my ears. It always was. 

"You've killed so many infected and that grosses you out?" I shoved him lightly, grinning at the deep chuckle that left his lips. It rumbled in his chest and gave me tingles due to having my cheek pressed against his chest. 

"They creep me out too! How could they not? Besides, I ain't ever watched farm animals give birth before, not even before the outbreak in any kind of movie. Besides, those stalkers, always giving me a fucking heart-attack. I have every reason to be grossed out by both." Joel smirked at my remark, rubbing my arm again and rested another kiss on my forehead. 

"Yeah, I don't like them either. Don't know they're there until I'm caught in a damn grapple." Joel murmured, moving his arm as I rolled away, I pushed myself out of bed and grabbed what's close enough to a pair of pyjamas and crept into the bathroom, I did what I had to do and then made my way back out to bed to find Joel reading again. I hopped back into bed, placing my head on his shoulder to read the pages with him, once again he wrapped an arm back around me, trapping me within his hold, stuck between him and the book. Joel adjusted his hold on the book so I could read the words better. 

"What's this one about?" I whispered, quickly skimming over the pages he had opened, trying to see if I could guess what it was. Sometimes, before I decided to settle into the community and never leave the walls again, whenever, I went on a run, I'd always try and find intact books. It always made me happy whenever Joel, picked one up that I specifically chose for him. 

"The Shining by-" 

"Oh, by Stephen King? Hmm, I remember that Simpsons episode where they take off it. When the... I think it was Willie and he goes 'The Shinning!' Gosh, I miss tv." That was one of my favourite Halloween episodes that show did. Joel returned his attention to the book, at first I could read the pages fine, but with the silence and Joel's gentle touch along my arm, the words started becoming like hieroglyphics and my head started hurting from trying to understand what the fuck was going on. Nothing was translating and I knew I should close my eyes at this point but I wanted to stay in Joel's company awake. 

Joel's POV

I had been reading for a good twenty minutes, lingering on each page for a little while so y/n could catch up if she fell behind. However, she became very still, her breathing slow and steady. I finished the page, using the bookmark y/n made for me after one too many times of being berated (teasingly) for doggy-earing the pages and demanding that I use a bookmark for the foreseeable future. 

I placed the book on the bedside table, slowly removing my arm from underneath her, before rolling out of bed and ensuring she was lying comfortably, I froze as she nuzzled into her pillow the action and her quiet murmurs startling me into thinking she was waking up. Y/n really deserved to be sleeping more than she was, lately it had been nothing but work, sleep and getting up early. I just wanted her to rest up and not be pushing herself as badly as I normally did to myself. 

"Night, darlin' sleep well." I whispered and rested a kiss on her forehead. I wasn't tired myself just yet, so I turned out the light and made my way downstairs to sit on the porch with my guitar and enjoy the brisk air and the silence of the community.