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01always14fanfic · 3 months ago

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What are your thoughts on early season marvey (s1 - s4)? Their dynamic changes quite a bit in later seasons and I'm assuming that's the basis of most of your writings

It is really. Those first few seasons. My Introducing Lovely series has completely fucked with the timelines of Suits. But I started writing it when I was in season 4 or 5. Jessica wasn't looking like she was going anywhere. Since I know more, I started writing my fics earlier in the Suits timelines. 2-4.

Season 1 the puppy analogy for Mike is dead on. He is lost as fuck in the big boy world. He doesn't know how to file anything, do anything. He's so cocky, which is more funny that it was anything else.

Harvey absolutely needed to check that pride. Because no, puppy. You don't have the walk to talk the talk. Sit down.

Season 1 Harvey, he didn't want an associate because he knew the type. He's been the law world for almost 20 years, he was an associate himself. He works with associates all the time. The thought of being forced to work with someone everyday that annoyed him was not going to work. He literally pays Donna's extra salary to keep his people. Harvey doesn't work well with others (because he doesn't want to work with others).

So when he found Mike, someone was fun to be around.. I could have working with you every day.

When Mike dropped a case of pot on his feet and was willing to pretend to be a lawyer, he became easy to keep under his thumb.

When he was smart on top of all that..

Honestly too, I think the fuck you to Jessica for making him to do this is funny. ..I guess understood why she doesn't appreciate the humor. Lol.

All of this with Harvey could be wrapped up under one theme. Chasing intensities.

Season two, Mike isn't a pro but he's practiced. He helps Harvey with Hardman. He figures out Folsom Foods. He's getting better, but hes not great. He's basically just out of diapers, so he's still easily flustered. He panics when he messes up and messes up more.

He wants a relationship with Rachel, but he doesn't want to lie. He's more worried about Harvey's concerns than he is about telling the truth. He breaks that off with Rachel.

Then his grandmother dies and he loses it on Harvey. After getting sent home after blowing up in the bullpen, he spirals more. Edith meant the world to him and his overactive brain is replaying these memories vividly.

Harvey finds out late what is going on with Mike.

And what does he do? He turns Mike's brain off. He sees Mike just stuck in his head and trying to fill a space that can't be filled. Not with Tess, not with getting mad at clients, those aren't the distractions he needs.

Harvey finds out late what is going on with Mike, but reasonably so. The issues with Hardman, Darby, Louis, and Jessica have him completely distracted. Plus Scottie's drama. He was rightfully distracted, he was being pulled in all directions.

In the final episode we see a pretty good wrap up of what happens when these two don't communicate.

Mike is out of the loop what is going on with everything with Harvey's deals. His grandmother had just died. He didn't know about the deal with Darby about Harvey's name no longer being an option. He didn't know that he ruined Harvey's chance at getting his name on the door.

While Mike is stuck in his head and Harvey is fighting, they both loose themselves. Harvey likes to walk the gray, but he doesn't abide by ethical violations. He's very strict about code, it's how he got noticed by Jessica in the first place. Harvey made several big violations that as Mike quoted "would have made his stomach turn."

Harvey wants him fired and gone.

Mike is more alone then ever and tells Rachel his secret, because he needs someone. Anyone.

I don't know how this season could have started with anymore angst.

When Jessica gives Mike an office, trying to play nice again. Tells him all the things she noticed. "You didn't just come through on the merger. You bluffed Hardman, turned Monica Eton, and put us over the top on Folsom Foods." She tells him the story about her parents break up.

Mike isn't excited. He isn't flattered. He's sitting there all brokenhearted because he messed up. He asks Jessicsa if her parents ever got back together, because his brain is on Harvey.

Later, he tries to get Harvey to get let that anger out. "You haven't said whatever you have to say to rip me to shreds enough so that you can start to forgive me. So go ahead. Whatever it takes, I can take it." And he can, Mike has been on the end of Harvey’s harsh words more than enough times to know.

Mike gives Jessica the office back. "I wanna give this office back. I didn't earn it, I don't want it, and if there's a chance it'll help Harvey forgive me, I'm gonna take it. Oh, and, uh, if you ever do send that letter, you're in the same boat as me."

This ^ Scene reminded me of the scene in S1 where Harvey threatened Jessica to get keep his promotion. Harvey backed down to her threat, fired Mike, but then came back with the gun turned back on her.

I was like "Damn boy! You learning! There you go! But you still broke Harvey's heart asshole, so fix that."

Harvey pushes him away harder. Colder. Gives him to Louis. Tells them again they are done.

Mike has Rachel whispering in his ear confirming all the things Harvey's saying. They're done. Move on. So Mike tries, he dives into working Louis. He likes most of it, so it's not torture but it's not where he's supposed to be. This isn't the best version of himself, it's just what he can have now.

Then Harvey has it out with Jessica on the roof. She unfolds the parallels for him. Mike did to Harvey, what Harvey did to Jessica, what Jessica did to her mentors. Breaks down the concept of 'We learn and we amend or fight to the death. I don't went to fight to the death with you anymore Harvey.'

Harvey mulled that over and does finally accept that Mike probably did learn. He sees him with Louis, he doesn't like that. He has too much pride to back down from everything that was said. Donna offers Harvey some support if he wants to forgive Mike and he takes the out.

This is where I feel we see the dynamic start changing a little bit. It's early S3.

Season three, Harvey is more helpful as a mentor to guide him. The best way I can describe it is that Harvey is a master teacher, and Mike was still in grade school. Mike has all the basic skills now, so now Harvey can actually show him how to be hone and find new skills. But he's could only do so much until Mike is ready to take that step on his own.

He stood his ground with Jessica. He's been winning cases. He's helped with Hardman. And if Harvey's a little honest with himself, if he had told Mike all the information - Mike would have made a different choice with Jessica.

The first thing that threw me off was the Forrest Gump reference game between them for a hot second. Harvey has zero issue turning the tables to remind Mike of his place in their relationship. But not here.

"Okay, if I'm Forrest, then you're Bubba."

"Shrimpin' bidness."

It actually gave me whiplash the first time I heard it. Mike moves on, he doesn't even bask in it. He goes into the concern about Harvey becoming managing partner.

EP 3 - 6. No more puppy jokes. No more trying to dominant the situation, conversation, or debate. It's all more leveled.

EP 7

Harvey talks about kicking Stephans ass. Mike just nods and drinks his coffee, no witty comment until Harvey gets a little offended.

"You think I wouldn't do it?"

"No, I'm not sure you could do it."

"What's he going to hit me with, his ascot?"

"Harvey, the man plays rugby. That's no joke."

Harvey doesn't dispute. Doesn't quip back. He's caught off guard, because Mike is going by the facts. He's not going to change his mind just because Harvey gets more witty.

(We find out later, Harvey could indeed kick Stephen's ass. But Mike wasn't swooned by the words lol)

Then Jessica comes in all huffy about Stephen giving Cameron a witness. When she revealed the deal between Harvey and Darby that Mike didn't know about, you see them share a look. You can see Mike pissed and surprised, but keeping it together. You see Harvey looking guilty and caught.

Jessica catches this and tries to drive a wedge again. "Are you telling me he doesn't know?"

Mike takes over, squashing the issue of the secret keeping for the time being while Jessica is there. He's not going to allow her to get between them again. Harvey relaxes and falls right back into being his lawyer self.

- gif post

When Harvey and Jessica face off again in Jessicas office, Harvey says something that triggers Jessica. The second it came out, you see Mike's head drop as if saying goddammit Harvey. Because the second Jessica hits back, you see it actually hurts Harvey.

Mike sits there after Harvey walks away like he wants to say something, but he doesn't. Later on, he catches up with Jessica at her car and stands up for Harvey there. Even though she's super condescending (that lawyer pride man), she tells Mike how they can both get what they want.

Mike is watching and listens to everyone around him. Harvey. Donna. Jessica. He figures out Stephen is the culprit.

- gif post

EP9

Harvey and Jessica are battling again in her office. Mike comes in and verbally steps between them, it gives me the vibes of 'nope, Jessica this my territory now'

"Yeah, about an hour ago. Don't tell me I beat you to it." - Mike

"Maybe. But you didn't have Harvey slowing you down." - Jessica notices again the dynamic switch.

"That's a fair point." - Mike

"Okay, I'm right here." - Harvey complains, he doesn't correct or make a joke.

And also

"I mean the plan that I thought of and that you didn't and that I'm the perfect person to implement." - Mike to Harvey

- gif post

And he succeeds. Robert Zane gets Folsom Foods to pay in full.

Rachel gets mad about she was used in the negotiations. Donna confronts Mike about it.

Donna: "Anyone who understands women in any way would know that was a bad idea from the start."

Mike: "Harvey liked it." - This the only justication Mike needed

"Proving my point."

- gif post

E10

Mike wants one of the major cases, his desperation for it is obvious to Harvey. Where any associate obviously wants to work on the big cases for experience, status, ect., Harvey knew better. He saw it, Mike's brain was spiraling again. Only this time, Mike recognized the signs.

Harvey: "You got girlfriend troubles, don't you?" - Takes a swing with his best guess with a joke.

Mike: "Okay, I'm just asking for an assignment, that's all." - Puts his emotions to the side and refocuses.

Harvey: "Don't tell me, quarterback asked her to the prom?" - Pushes again because he wants to make sure he's right.

Mike: "Captain Pinstripe's the one who brought up the girlfriend, and second of all, people actually had girlfriends after high school, which you wouldn't know, because emotionally, you never graduated." - We can play this game if you want to, but I don't think you do.

Harvey's tone gets more defensive. He knows he's right and he's not a fan of Rachel. He's half opening the floor to an emotional conversation right now. Que the sass.

"Well, I guess you're the expert, because the only thing you graduated from is high school."

If Harvey was a girl, he'd make sure his hair flipped as he walked off.

The next morning, Mike shows up at Harveys all distraught over Rachel. Not only does Harvey not like Rachel, he told Mike not to get involved with her. He tried to warn him this was a bad idea.

Mike accused Harvey of not letting people in, and you can see Harvey start to busy himself at that point. Like this conversation is the last thing he wants to focus on now, because he let Mike in. He's been letting him a lot more lately. Harvey gives him the morning off.

Okay, I know the question was for 1-4 but it'll take another few days to answer the rest. I feel bad that you've waiting for a response. I can do the rest if you're still curious. But it's this with some growth on both sides.

I like to entertain what would could have happened if we just moved on from Rachel as a romantic interest. If we just put these two together, the things they could accomplish if they were a complete duo.

#mike x harvey #harvey specter #harveymike #mike ross #ao3 #ao3 fanfic #ao3 writer #marvey #sub harvey specter #dom mike ross #archive of our own #MySuitsPOV

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pikahlua · 6 months ago

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Fourteen Days of MHA: Day 7

First Impressions

I've had something of a day, so I couldn't come up with much for this one. But since the topic is first impressions, I kinda felt like this would be the best one to use some unfinished stuff of mine? Stuff that's likely never gonna BE finished. Basically this is an excerpt from one of my write-ups that is a reenactment of my first impressions of Katsuki Bakugou the first time I watched MHA.

[excerpt begins below the cut]

Season 1: Episodes 1-2

I hate shounen rival characters. No really.

I find them repetitive, reductive, and tropey as all hell. They don’t read like real people to me. They don’t make any sense to me. As far as I can tell, they just exist to be difficult, to represent some boiled-down theme of competition that must contradict the protagonist’s perspective for the sake of being a foil. It’s just a mechanism to provide challenges to the protagonist when the storyteller can’t find a way to come up with creative new challenges. They’re all basically the same character with the same personality with the same hangups with the same insecurities with the same “character development,” and if you’ve seen one you’ve seen ‘em all.

Enter Katsuki Bakugou.

This basic bitch.

On principle I hate him. I hate his stupid little smug face. I hate his voice. I hate his goals. I hate what he does and how he thinks.

Actually, hate is too strong a word. Because what I really hate is being subjected to the monotony of another predictable rival/lancer character. So here I am, praying for a sign that there will be some sort of break in this monotony. Please, MHA, prove me wrong.

Okay, not gonna lie, this shot did something to my heart.

Oh? Oh, is he actually insightful? Are we gonna resolve his arrogant shit this soon?

I’m in shock too, Izuku.

...oh.

Oh great. Total slow burn. [heavy sigh]

Heh. Points for the lampshade.

Wait, is this show self-aware?

Season 1: Episodes 3-4

Okay Katsuki clearly took something away from that experience because he is doing the whole anime-boy-staring-out-the-window-in-contemplation thing.

Whatever. Aloof rival alert. Except it’s not an alert because they’re all like that.

Whoa, that escalated quickly!

Oh. He’s just like that. Gotcha.

That’s...actually notable, since “that day” was sometime in April and now it’s February. Okay, something’s definitely up, but I’m just not sure which version of The Rival we’re dealing with here. And maybe if I cared, I’d try to figure it out. But I don’t care enough to stop watching and think about it, so, meh, I’ll let the show tell me when we get there. [/the most naive]

God, I relate too much to both sides of the interaction.

Um. “Friends?” Is that-? Are you implying-?

Are you just a grump?

Oh, okay, I see what’s been up. He’s totally aware of how awesome Izuku is, and he’s jealous or in denial. Understandable, since he wants to be the top hero. Sucks to be the rival, my dude.

Actually, wait, if he’s been aware of Izuku’s greatness since episode 1 or 2, he’s like one of the few characters in this world who seems to get it? Which is...kind of surprising for this early on?

Season 1: Episodes 5-7

Wait, what?

Are you telling me he’s actually hot shit? Fucking great. Ugh.

Oh, oh my god, the show IS self-aware! Oh okay I’m totally here for this shit!

Oh, it’s a CATCHPHRASE.

[end of excerpt]

You already know how it all ends lol.

#14DaysofMHA #Day 7 #katsuki bakugou #silly pika

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mikoriin · 27 days ago

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what was the most recent anime you watched and what's one you're most likely to suggest to people

the 4 most recent animes i watched in the past like uhhh 2 months??? which is a lot for me these days tbh LOL but they are Revolutionary Girl Utena, Wistoria: Wand and Sword, Solo Leveling, and i just started MHA because my boyfriend loves it and my best friend has been trying to get me to watch it for like a year now sooo i finally committed to it hahaha

ngl the anime id recommend the most out of that list tho is definitely RGU

big big big anime fav of mine, like definitely top 5 of all time that ive seen. i grew up with this anime, i think i actually found it when i was around 13 or 14?? so in the prime of my abuse, and that is something this anime heavily touches on. domestic, sexual, child, romantic....it hits all the points. its a very beautifully and carefully crafted anime however with super deep themes that not a lot of anime these days touch up on, let alone in 1997. and the two main characters are in lesbians with one another! (tbh tho i think utena is bi, ive always thought that and i still continue to think that. i do see comphet utena headcanons tho, like no beef with it. i just think rewatching the movie solidified her bisexuality for me personally)

anthy is by far one of the anime women of all time. i wont tell you how it ends because watching it brings so much more catharsis than any other anime ending ive seen. it may not be a "happy" ending necessarily, but it is SO gratifying after seeing all the batshit insane stuff happen the whole series.

WISTORIA IS GOOD TOO THO NO LIE

it gives me major harry potter vibes at first (theres literally a character that is basically snape. i guess idk shit about harry potter's deep lore) but then episode like 9 hits and there is a complete tonal shift in a sense where its like "oh this is cool magic anime, good fight scenes........oh shit are we about to lose all our characters we've met up until now????"

and it is greenlit for a season 2 i believe! animation was STUNNING and its actually pretty good :)

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thecoolerliauditore · 6 months ago

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hello this is liauditore welcome to my

TOP 10 WORST SCOTT SMAHOR SKINS

rated with no bias whatsoever I am objective all the time. SUPER serious take this 100% seriously I am sooo serious

10. Tiger Scott (Fantasy SMP)

this is not scott. 👎

9. Shirtless Scott (ESMP 2)

He does not deserve to have pixel nipples. Also this came right after limlife ended so what? Were you too self conscious to go swimming with the other boys? Get a grip.

Positive points to this for not giving him abs though I don't think I could take another one.

8. Secret Life Yellow Skin (Secret Life SMP)

Honestly a toss-up between this and the red skin but I think this is the worse offender. This poor beautiful green skin tainted by the world's ugliest shade of clashing yellow. Someone pissed in his hair. Someone pissed on his shoes.

7. Pirate Scott (Pirates SMP)

Shout out to Scott for seeing the perfect role for himself to play in this world (nepo baby in a setting, pirates, built around themes of classism) and not thinking about the implications of that whatsoever. God this shit was so ass.

Anyway this thing is barely Scott. It doesn't offend me as much as whatever they mutated Martyn into for the sake of this instagram filter esque Aesthetique they were going for but they plucked out his eyelashes and I don't like thinking about that. He looks so angry now and I would be too.

6. Chromia Scott (ESMP2)

I like how Scott's ESMP1 character was like eight pages of fantasy tropes, prince of a kingdom, evil brother, champion of a deity, tragic destiny and forbidden love or whatever and Scott's ESMP2 character was "he likes colours and he likes to play with llamas"

5. Witchcraft Backstory Scott (Witchcraft SMP)

I don't think this guy actually exists I think he's a lie WC Scott tells himself at night oh back when I was young and innocent and blah blah blah

This thing is soulless I think he kills small animals to feel something

Also this is in no ways meant as a serious art critique or anything critique list but I must mention for this skin specifically the shading on his hair and skin does not match the simple (and rlly beautiful imo) texturing on his clothes which ends up making it look like he has some sort of skin disease.

4. Sailor Jupiter Scott (MCC)

Magically becomes a three pixel wide arm instead of a four pixel wide. No one in the world cares except me but it bothers me. He starved himself for this cosplay and I don't agree with encouraging that behaviour.

Anyway Neptune is right there why the fuck are you Jupiter. Even Mercury I could understand or Uranus. Why the fuck are you Jupiter.

3. This New Life Skin that never showed up in his videos (New Life SMP)

Oh New Life what a sad sad end to an SMP. Your run was like the SMP equivalent of the life of one of those abused hamsters. Even sadder was Scott's last three or four episodes where he desperately clung onto the series like trying to put the hamster on life support only for the hospital to say "that's a fucking hamster we're not doing that"

The last few episodes of Scott's NLSMP episodes were just "wow! I am [insert origin here] now!" and he makes a decent looking build that never shows up on camera again themed to whatever he is and then assassin sausage shows up and goes "it's sausaging time" and sausages all over the place and repeat. I really wonder who he commissioned for these skins because it seemed like he got them made on pretty short notice -- and some of these skins are bangers too (cursed doll scott ily)

and then there's whatever the fuck this one is. Girl you look like a genshin impact. I included a back view of this one because genuinely what the fuck is he. What the fuck am I looking at. When he showed up in Owen's videos with this skin he was inchling sized too so it was even harder to tell if what you were looking at was Scott Smajor or a visual glitch.

The elements of this skin are well made, the colours work well and it's consistently textured there's just too much going on it hurts me. Do you really need a boob and a belly window. Do your fucking. Ankles need cutouts. Why are you pink.

2. Tea Party Scott (ESMP2)

I have nothing to say he's just really ugly.

Scott

I hate this thing so much. Look at his cute little cartoony stylized shading. His blue jeans. You look like an early 2000s disney channel reject. You look like the gay rival in a 2010s childrens anime made to sell toys. You look like you're cosplaying as your own 'sona. You look like you use buzzwords like lolita fashion and _____ kei with no knowledge of what those words actually mean. You look like a self insert OC. You look like you have blue hair and pronouns.

This skin actually represents so much of him so well. He's so put together, his outfit is harmonious, he obviously thought about how to style himself. Everything is purposeful, even the shoes. He has a coherent colour palette. This is someone who dresses to communicate a message about himself. Look at me aren't I so cute and approachable and handsome and unintimidating and a little quirky. Look at me I'm so fun and I know what I'm doing. teehee. tiktok,.

0. Liauditore Scott

worst animal on earth.

#random thoughts

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kiss-my-freckle · 10 months ago

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Full Episode Commentary

1x3: Friday Night Bites

Most of what you see with Elena in 4x16 can be found in this episode. It opens up on Damon's side of the story because Stefan is keeping half their truth from Elena. He's lying to her by omission. "But then the sun came up and reality set in."

Damon and Caroline are written similar to Katherine and Stefan in their opening scene. While some fans believe he bit her, then they had sex… I believe they had sex, then he bit her. I don't know any woman that would sleep in their bra, and it would likely have blood on it after he bit her, so they put her in a nightie. Fans should expect Caroline to pass out or even fall asleep after Damon fed on her as they show with most of their biting victims. Like Vicki, who was fed on first. She slept the entire time he fed on her friends to the point of their death, then took her to his house. She's still sleeping on his couch before he heals her in 1x6. When Klaus is draining Elena in 3x21, Tyler would've had to carry her because she would've been too weak to stand. That's why I believe Caroline changed into her nightie, but Damon would've needed to help her. While the bite was clearly uncomfortable for her, she looks quite comfortable in her bed at the open. The star tattoo on her foot is adorable af. I have a tattoo of a sun on the top of my foot that my son drew when he was 5. I call it my "Walking on sunshine" tattoo because he's the reason I'm still standing.

Damon has to bury his face into Caroline's pillow to make himself vamp out. Obvious that he has more control over his bloodlust than Stefan. "You were the one who said to go for it." Bonnie's in a bit of a pickle. She was urging Elena to go for Stefan because she wanted to see her friend happy. But then she felt his death when she gave him Elena's phone number. She doesn't know what that means, but she knows something happened to him as she describes it as death. Now she's scared for her friend. She's so much as suggesting Elena play the field while Elena isn't the type. Best to keep this in mind as the writers throw in their football/game theme. Elena pushes the issue because she's desperate. That's what I consider a sad girl needing to be happy... Desperate. While she does listen to Bonnie, she doesn't take her advice. She's basically gonna force Bonnie to accept her new relationship.

Again, Stefan hates being a vampire, but has no problem using his vampirism to impress Elena. He catches the football when Tyler throws it at his head. I consider this a lie by omission.

Matt: Hey, what am I supposed to do, Ty? She made her choice. Tyler: Let her know she made the wrong one.

This bit of conversation plays well in the 4th season. Damon doesn't need to do anything to make Elena know she made the wrong choice. She already knows. You can find several "right" and "wrong" dialogues in seasons 3 and 4 because of it. Like Damon's, "It's right. Just not right now." Or Matt's, "So, you're just gonna let her call the shots? Even if they're wrong?" That's why The Right Kind of Wrong by LeAnn Rimes is a song I'd choose for Delena. Season 4 Stefan parallels season 1 Matt. And as I say this, I've already stated that lying is nothing short of compulsion because the end result is the same. Stefan is taking away Elena's fear by lying. So Damon gets the sire bond in season 4 while Stefan essentially compels his way into her heart in season 1. Damon's dialogue in season 6 supports this fact. "You've compelled enough people to know it's just a way of covering the truth. And no matter how badly you want it done, it doesn't make it any less of a lie, you know." It's up to the fans to decide which is worse, Damon compelling Caroline or Stefan gaslighting Elena. "Gloomy graveyard girl" is quite a reference, considering the very definition of gloomy. As I tell my followers, Elena was always dark. She has been since her parents died because death brings a certain darkness. If not for her parents dying, Stefan wouldn't stand a chance with her. He'd be an Augustine vampire, which I feel was the reason they introduced Damon's Augustine storyline early.

As I said before, most of Bonnie's visions are Damon-related. She had to get closer to Stefan to feel him. I believe this is due to Stefan's direct connection. He's the one that stalked Elena and forced himself into her life, so it makes sense for Bonnie to have visions of the other brother. Again, Stefan hates being a vampire, but uses it to impress Elena. He has a date war with Mr. Tanner. Note the years because Stefan was alive for all of them. Their debate over 1952 or 1953 is their first note to Damon's Augustine storyline. He was abducted in 1953. "Years and years of crossword puzzles. It's a loner thing." This is another lie, and jumps off his opening journal voiceover. Like I said in my pilot post, Stefan's journal fit more to Damon than to him. That's why Elena herself refers to Damon as the lone wolf. He's the loner because he's the one truly alone. He lives as a vampire, doesn't trust anyone, and his family wants nothing to do with him.

It's insane to me how they show Stefan struggle signing up for football because he's a vampire when this is the brother they wrote living one human life after another. Who, if not for Elena, would already be signed up for football. Much like the contradiction that he can't be a doctor because he can't be around the blood, but he can somehow be a paramedic. As I said of Elena, she outwardly admits she's not the type to play the field. Combine this with Damon's comment in 1x4, then throw the football/game theme between them. "It might even the playing field. Football reference. Too soon." Matt is a football player, Elena is a cheerleader. Stefan signs up for football as Elena quits cheerleading. Damon was the one who taught Stefan how to play football to begin with. This is all shown in Katherine flashbacks, so it's doubled for Elena in current timeline.

"I got the other brother. Hope you don't mind." This comment is reversed for Elena in 4x16 and specific to this scene right here. "By all means, Care, just take him out for a spin. He could use it." The two brothers have their "mystery/mysterious" parallels. The perfect color choice for mystery is purple. It's also a good color for Bonnie because she's a witch.

Damon and Elena don't have to say anything to each other. Their body language is insane. It doesn't surprise me that fans shipped them from the very beginning. I didn't start shipping them until 1x20, and I'll note the scene when I get to it. I have no problem with Caroline asking Elena to observe because she's behind in their routines. It's their scene later in the episode that makes me dislike her. Elena shows that she has no interest in cheerleading. She'd rather watch Stefan play football. Stefan tells two lies on the field. His initial lie as he intrudes on Tyler's conversation with Matt, which is the reason he allows them to tackle him. This is done for the sake of fitting in with Elena's friends. The second being his broken pinky finger, which he fixes before they see it. "Maybe I can do it, too. That I can learn to be a non-living living person. Maybe there's hope for both of us." Damon continues to joke about living a human life because he has yet to feel it for himself. He hasn't felt human in a very long time. You can see how his references change once he falls in love with Elena. That's when he actually refers to himself as a non-living living person, and they do this before they have Isobel out him for his feelings. "You know, it doesn't have to be this way, Damon." Damon is being honest in his reply to Stefan as it jumps off his comment to Caroline. "This could have gone a completely different way." Damon is choosing to use Caroline because he's in love with Katherine while Stefan still believes Katherine is dead. That's why Stefan doesn't understand it. "I saw Elena today, BTW. That means "by the way." She was at cheerleading practice. She looked so perky in her little short shorts." Damon goats Stefan a lot. He'll do anything to piss him off or make him fear what he's gonna do next.

This scene of Elena and Bonnie is insane because I consider it a double. "Today I'm obsessed with numbers. 3 numbers. I keep seeing 8, 14, and 22. How weird is that?" From Damon killing Coach Tanner to Elena falling in love with Damon. "Birthday candles." Just as Stefan does with Tyler and Matt, he uses his vampirism to fit in with Bonnie. If he weren't a vampire, he'd know nothing of witches. He speaks to her heritage without telling her how he knows. "Salem witches are heroic examples of individualism and nonconformity." So he's basically using his vampirism to impress her and lying by omission. That's when Damon and Caroline show up. "We're just finishing up." Again, lying by omission in his desire to stop Damon from getting an invite into Elena's house. At the same time, this whole belief he has that he's better than Damon. The same belief he has in the pilot episode. It's okay for him to be back home, but not Damon. It's okay for him to get invited into Elena's house, but not Damon. He belongs, but Damon doesn't. As much as fans talk about how Stefan treats Elena like a broken toy in season 4, fans should know that Stefan has been treating Damon this way since they became vampires. In his eyes, Damon is a broken toy solider. While Damon has no problem accepting the fact that Stefan is the "good" brother, he doesn't like being treated as less than just because he's the "bad" brother. They're both vampires, and because they're both vampires, they both pose an equal threat to Elena. It is their basic nature to feed on humans. For fans choosing to ignore the truth of this matter, Cade blames Stefan because he IS the one to blame. Stefan invited Damon into Elena's life the moment he forced himself into her life. Living as a human doesn't negate his relationship with Damon. They're still brothers, so Damon would've ended up in Elena's life at some point because of Stefan. So while Damon pushed Elena to own the darkest parts of herself, Cade blames Stefan for Damon being in her life to begin with. Because they're both vampires.

More of Damon's alternate meanings. "You can't just sit there and wait for life to come to you. You have to go get it." While watching Damon, even in the first season, it's important to understand that he's carrying on two separate relationships. "I'm sorry, Elena. I know what it's like to lose both your parents." His relationship with Elena should be viewed separately from his relationship with Stefan. "In fact, Stefan and I have watched almost every single person we've ever cared about die." He's being honest with Elena as he apologizes for her loss. "She used to be way more fun." This is Elena's partying scene in 4x16, that's why it comes from Caroline's mouth. She's the one who references Elena having fun without Stefan. Damon knows that Elena isn't a cheerleader anymore. He knows that girl died with her parents four months ago. He can see just by the way it makes her feel. "You know, you don't seem like the cheerleader type, Elena." This doesn't just hit in 4x16, it hits in 3x22 when Dr. Fell heals her with Damon's blood. While Stefan helps Elena move on from the death of her parents, Damon helps Elena move on from the death of herself. That's why she drowns and becomes a vampire with Damon. "God, I don't know how you're ever going to learn the routines. I guess we can put her in the back." This is why I dislike Caroline. It's one thing to put her in the back to have her observe, and another to treat her like she can't learn the routines. Caroline likes being the center of attention. She's treating Elena like crap, and using Elena's need to learn the routines as an excuse to treat her like crap. While Damon's relationship with Elena should be viewed separately from his relationship with Stefan, he makes comments to both when he's speaking to both. That's why he references Katherine. "The last thing I wanted to do was bring her up." While Damon could've easily referenced the death of their mother, it's better that he reference Katherine. Their mother died when Stefan was still human, when he was just 10 years old. Katherine... it would be hard for Stefan to explain his girlfriend dying when he was 17 while he's stuck inside his 17 year old body lol... that's why Damon name-drops Katherine every chance he gets.

And it's not just the fact that Katherine is the vampire that turned them into vampires. It's the fact that they're literal doppelgangers. How insane it would be for Damon to simply rescue Katherine from the tomb just to spring this truth on Elena at the last second. "I find it pretty easy." Jeremy refers to Vicki as a slut. His comment coincides with Caroline's in 1x2. "Ok, it's easy. Boy likes girl, girl likes boy, sex!" He's going through the same pain as Damon in season 2, watching Vicki be happy with Tyler. This love triangle exists with Tyler and Jeremy because of Katherine. Tyler and Jeremy parallel both brothers just as Klaus and Elijah do, it's up to the fans to see their parallels. Matt's response is every bit Jeremy in 3x19 and 3x21, only it's his sister. "What are you doing, Vick?" Damon continues with his alternate meanings while being real with Elena. "I like you. You know how to laugh." He talks to her about Katherine, and at the same time, he's describing himself. "She was also very complicated and selfish and at times not very kind, but very sexy and seductive." It's not until she sees the picture of Katherine in 1x10 that she understands his alternate meanings. "She was beautiful. A lot like you in that department." Elena picks up on some things, but remains blind to other things. Here, she picks up on the fact that both brothers dated Katherine, but is blind to the fact that both brothers are vampires. Damon needs to be there, not only for Elena to learn the whole truth, but for the sake of continuing to get the whole truth because Stefan doesn't stop lying to her. "Ask Stefan. I'm sure his answer differs from mine." This level of honesty is so damn refreshing. Damon opens up to Elena about her cheerleading. Even though he's a vampire, he's speaking to her as a human... as Oscar spoke to him when he considered deserting. "Quit, move on. Problem solved. Ta-da." Yet another theme that continues into seasons 3 and 4 as Damon is quite literally the problem. That's why Elena dies with Damon's blood in her system. It's her way of quitting and moving on. Living true to herself is the only way to truly live. Otherwise she's just existing. Like Damon, merely existing for 145 years while waiting to rescue Katherine from the tomb, Elena is merely existing while denying she fell in love with Damon. She has to drown to solve that problem. 4x1 has their largest number of "problem" dialogues because Elena fell in love with Damon.

This is Damon's parallel to Anna in 1x14. He knows she's being honest, and he responds as he does because she's being honest. She actually cares about his feelings, his loss. This is something he's not used to. In this moment, she makes him feel human. Even though he views Elena as friendship material, he's not ready for a friendship with her. Not yet anyway. He's still busy playing with Stefan. While Damon speaks with Elena, Stefan speaks with Caroline. This is all based on how 1x2 ended. "That's a really nice scarf." Stefan knows exactly why she can't take it off, but he's acting dumb about it, so I consider this a lie by omission. I view compulsions a certain way due to wording and loopholes. Klaus' compulsion on Stefan in 3x5 is all-inclusive. No matter what Klaus tells him to do, Stefan has to do it. Katherine's compulsion on Stefan is strictly relationship-based. They're to continue as they have been, but that doesn't mean they won't break up eventually. Katherine would have to compel Stefan again to get him to feed on her for the sake of making him a vampire. It's made clear that Damon compelled Caroline to keep wearing the scarf, to not take it off. That's why she has no idea why she can't take it off. However, he needs to continue compelling her to do other things, like helping Elena in the kitchen. His compulsion isn't all-inclusive like Klaus'. If fans don't see the lie-compulsion parallel yet, I'll just make it clear right here and now. Caroline's scarf is a parallel to Stefan's vervain necklace. "I'd very much like it if you'd wear it for me, for good luck." This scene pushes into 4x16 as Elena feeds on a cheerleader just like Damon, then hands the cheerleader a scarf just like Damon. "Because that is what is normal to me." Damon speaks true to his existence. He's a vampire. He's simply acting as if his switch is off, as if he doesn't feel. It's because Stefan lives as a human that people aren't there for his amusement, but this exchange is yet another that works as a double for both brothers. Humans are there for Stefan's amusement, for him to feed on when he acts ripper... and Damon will try to stop him when he acts human.

This is the first time Damon speaks true of himself. "Come on. Your brother isn't as bad as you make him out to be..." A truth he wants her to know despite his attempt to kiss her and put himself in her bed. It's also his ability to compel a dream that he knows Elena is wearing vervain rather than consuming it. The reason they show her grabbing the empty water glass when she wakes. Elena lets go of her cheerleader uniform, but understand there's a difference in letting go of the uniform and letting go of the girl. That's why she dies in season 3. Stefan writes in his journal. "There must be a shred of humanity left inside my brother. Somewhere. I keep hoping. But how do I make him see it? And how do I protect her?" This is where Stelena fans have it wrong when it comes to the necklace. The necklace itself is for Damon, the vervain in the necklace is for Elena. Stefan is killing two birds with one stone. The "vervain necklace" is a Delena thing, period. The contents of the necklace is for Elena. "And how do I protect her?" The necklace itself is for Damon. "But how do I make him see it?" If Stefan cared about anyone other than Elena, he would've fed the vervain to Caroline and threw Damon in the cellar in this episode. The necklace itself is a long-game concept. That's why Caroline questions Elena after Stefan gives it to her. He's opting to protect one girl with the vervain, and protecting all girls with the necklace as it's meant to show Damon his humanity.

"No, it's, uh… it's an herb. It's nice, huh?" This is a lie by omission. Stefan has been living on and off as a human since he became a vampire. He's had the necklace since the 20s. "It's something that I've had forever, and uh, I've never wanted to give it to anyone until now." Another lie by omission, but not the point I'm driving here. He's been on the market so to speak since 1935, that's according to his own journals. He's had every chance for relationships with other women, both human and vampire, yet this is the first time he felt the desire to be with someone and she happens to be a human Petrova doppelganger. Apparently, no other human will do for him. She has to look like Katherine. Certainly not a coincidence that Katherine was there when he found the necklace, now he's giving it to Elena while stating he's had it forever. I view this as I view the photo of Katherine in his journal.

Elena: We're a pair. I quit, you start. Stefan: Right. We're a work in progress.

I not only take offense to this while respecting the hell out of Damon's parallel dialogue in 2x4. "I'm a work in progress." I love it at the same time. I take offense because Stelena is as much a "work in progress" as any other human life Stefan has lived. This is something he's actually quite used to because he's lived one human life after another. I love it because true to the reality of life, they make it clear that they're a work in progress, but they're on separate paths. One is quitting while the other is starting. A sure fire sign that she'll end up with Damon as he talked her into quitting. Not the only thing Stefan isn't clued in on. He still has no idea that Damon and Elena met first, nor does he know that Katherine is still alive. To be honest, I consider Stefan draping Elena's neck with vervain a way of marking his territory. He might as well be a dog marking a tree. "Is that pee that I smell?" Caroline has no idea, she's just as blind as Stefan. "And you're not in uniform because..." That's why it's Stefan and Caroline in 4x16. Why Elena tells Caroline to take Stefan for a spin. Damon sees Elena as he sees himself. She's not that girl anymore. Just as he died when he died, she died when her parents did. Again, Stefan hating his vampirism, but reaping the benefits. "We've got some great new talent tonight starting on the offense, and I'm gonna tell you right now, it has been a long time since I have seen a kid like this with hands like these. Let's give it up for Stefan Salvatore!" imo, Elena wouldn't have looked at Stefan twice if not for his vampirism because he'd have nothing to impress her with but his looks. He'd be an average high school human like Matt. I'm certain that's why Tyler is so bothered by it. "This blows. He can't start, the guy just got here." He's so bothered by it that he starts a fight with Jeremy, which in turn, reveals more of the very reason Stefan is starting. He's a vampire.

"Yeah, you smell fine." Elena with Jeremy is hilarious because she can smell booze and she can smell vervain, but she has no idea what vervain is. "Is that rose that I smell?" Another lie by omission for Stefan. "No, no, no, it's fine. He missed. It's not my blood. See? I'm fine." Again, fan's choice. Is it worse to compel someone or to make them question their own sanity? To make them not believe what they're actually seeing? Every reason why Damon closed the door behind Elena in 1x2. "The door was... open." Elena turns to Bonnie and questions her, and this scene between them is written opposite their shared scene at the open. "When I touched Stefan, it was a feeling. And it vibrated through me, and it was cold, and it… It was death. It's what I imagine death to be like." Elena doesn't know how to take this. Damon catches up to Elena and talks to her about Caroline. "I'm hiding from Caroline. I needed a break. She talks more than I can listen. Well, she's awfully young. I don't see it going anywhere in the bigger picture. I think she'd drive me crazy." I view these four comments as one because it's my opinion that he's not referring to her age, but her maturity. She acts too young for him.

"I'm sorry if I make you uncomfortable. That's not my intention." Damon is being honest, actually. It's his intention to make Stefan uncomfortable while trying to give Elena their truth. Still, I think he enjoys her intelligence as much as I do. She's not completely incapable of picking up on certain things, like his alternate meanings. I've analyzed this scene for someone before. Damon truly believes he's compelling Elena. Not only because he was able to compel her a dream the night before, but because her shock is selling it. Her shock that he's actually trying to kiss her is coming off like she's being compelled. That's the only way I can explain it. The closer his lips get to hers, the more it's gonna hurt when she slaps him. Trust me, he feels the sting lol. I know some of my followers may not know this, but I love it when Bonnie and Elena use violence to ground Damon. While "good" Stefan marks Elena like a dog pissing on a tree with his vervain, Elena smacks Damon because he's being a "bad" dog when they're supposed to be man's best friend lol. I view it the same way I view Rebekah smacking Caroline when she's cutting herself because of Silas. Damon has to be reminded that he still has his humanity even though he's a vampire. What I'd expect for the brother that's been living as a vampire for 145 years. Violence isn't good, but it works for someone like Damon, and it's not like he can't take it. I consider the sting he feels punishment enough for trying to compel her. Yet another instance where Elena doesn't tell Stefan. It's Damon who tells him. "I bet you even dreamed about me." Every bit what I meant about Damon's compulsion coming in two parts. He was using her compelled dream as a prelude to his kiss. "And I don't know what happened in the past, but let's get one thing straight... I am not Katherine." Poor girl has no idea that she very much should know what happened in the past. The point of Damon name-dropping Katherine. They became vampires.

Damon: Where'd you get it? Stefan: Does it matter?

Stefan knows damn well that it matters and why because he knows Damon is the reason vervain hasn't grown in Mystic Falls since 1864. He's simply referring to things in the opposite. Meaning, Zach is gonna pay rather than Elena because it was used to catch Katherine, not protect her. This is why I fault Stefan for Zach's death. He clearly didn't care even though he knew. "Guess I could just seduce her the old-fashioned way." Any fan knowing the truth about vervain would know the truth Damon spits while making this comment. He doesn't need to seduce her the old- fashioned way. He could've kissed her if he wanted to simply by ripping the vervain off her neck. It only burns them when they touch it directly, and the vervain is inside the necklace. That's why Elijah rips it off her neck, tosses it on the floor, then compels her for information in season 2. Coach Tanner is what an impulsive "crime of passion" looks like because it's fueled by emotion. You can see the emotional shift in Damon as Stefan talks to him.

This is the reason Damon kills Coach Tanner. "Katherine is dead. And you hate me because you loved her, and you torture me because you still do." Stefan has no idea that Damon tortures him because Katherine is still alive. If she were dead, Damon would've moved past it by now. He wouldn't still be torturing Stefan. "You're still haunting me. After 145 years." It's an eye for an eye as he believes Katherine has been desiccating in a tomb for 145 years. He can't let Stefan be happy when he's not happy, when at the same time, he blames Stefan for Katherine being caught in the first place. Stefan has no idea that he doomed Damon to more than two lifetimes of misery when he forced him to become a vampire because not only did his love for Katherine become magnified as a vampire, but he was forced to live in a world where he believed she was to desiccate in a tomb until the next comet. Just in believing that she's actually dead, Stefan should've known better than to pull her into their convo. "If that's my humanity... then what's this?" Damon's reply is intentional. It's his vampirism, and Stefan is the reason he's a vampire. "No! I want you to remember who you are!" He shifted from Stefan's vampirism in 1x2 to his own vampirism in this episode. Matt is still so blinded by Stefan that he's defending him against Tyler. "What's beating up the new guy going to prove?" It's gonna prove he's a vampire since vampires heal quickly lol. Matt then finds Coach Tanner's body. Damon left him there to be found because he's not the one pretending to be human, Stefan is. Stefan left him there to be found, and likely because he didn't wanna get caught moving his body.

"It wasn't just for the drugs." I love this scene between Jeremy and Vicki based on their love triangle parallels. I'm referring to their track, Chemical by Kerli. Damon and Elena are themed in the unbreakable. They're what "Til death do us part" truly means. That's why the necklace becomes Damon's before they prove it unbreakable. Why they have multiple tracks speaking to how they're unbreakable. Because Elena doesn't know how to take Bonnie's comment and Damon just killed Coach Tanner, she starts to combine clues while Stefan continues to lie to her.

Elena: What kind of animal could be doing all this? Why would it come out of the woods and attack someone in the middle of town? Stefan: I don't know. I don't know. Elena: I was so sure that you cut your hand. I saw it.

I laugh at Elena's question because I live in a town smaller than Mystic Falls, so I get it. Our wild animals don't leave the woods and head for the school lol. "I thought there was hope that somewhere deep inside, something in Damon was still human, normal. But I was wrong. There's nothing human left in Damon. No good. No kindness. No love. Only a monster Who must be stopped." It's because Stefan has his journal entries backwards... because he has a relationship with Damon separate from Elena's relationship with him that he makes a huge mistake by locking up Damon in an attempt to desiccate him. He has no idea that he already affected his brother.

This was the moment I saw their direction for Damon's character. He's connecting to his humanity, and Stefan has no idea. Fans must understand that this is a necklace scene for Damon, and he very well knows the purpose for the necklace. "No. You're not gonna hurt her, Damon. Because deep down inside, there is a part of you that feels for her." It's about his humanity, period. That's why he's gone when Elena wakes up to turn her light off. "You found it during your darkest time." And the voice of Damon's humanity is created.

#Bite Me

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sunnydaleherald · 1 year ago

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The Sunnydale Herald Newsletter, Saturday, December 9th

Angel signs his name on a contract with a fancy pen when he notices the deep red color of the ink. ANGEL: Is that blood? GUNN: Yeah, but it's OK. It's yours. ANGEL: Huh. (continues signing) And how is that OK? GUNN: (takes signed contracts from Angel) Demon law requires blood signatures on all legal documents. Your Herbie Hancock here locks and loads these docs. Then I take 'em into court and fire away. ANGEL: Locks and loads. Got it.

~~The Cautionary Tale of Numero Cinco~~

[Drabbles & Short Fiction]

Bedtime Stories by veronyxk84 (Spike & Dawn, PG-13)

On Little Cat Feet by a2zmom (Buffy/Angel, E)

Freaky Things by OveliaGirlHaditRight (Buffy/Angel, G)

Counterfeit Innocence by calenlily (Buffy/Angel, T)

Reverence by Scribes1015 (Buffy/Angel, M)

Schism by KairosImprimatur (Buffy/Angel, G)

some part of me came alive (the first time that you called me baby) by Starling76 (Faith/OC, T)

Doctor Dawn by LiraelClayr007 (Buffy & Dawn, G)

Touch by Anonymous (Gunn/Gwenn, E)

Merry TARDIS Christmas by spikesgirl58 (Buffy, Spike, Doctor Who crossover, G)

Cherry Picking by ClowniestLivEver (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

The Merry Month of Magnus Presents: Two Truths and a Lie by Chelle (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

The Christmas Mug by honeygirl51885 (Buffy/Spike, PG)

[Chaptered Fiction]

Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: Shadowed Suspicion, Chapter 404 by madimpossibledreamer (Ensemble, Jojo's Bizarre Adventure crossover, T)

Revolving Doors, Chapter 14 by OhAlisa (Buffy/Angel, M)

Days of Future Past, Chapter 33 by a2zmom (Buffy/Angel, M)

Fuel’s Aflame, Chapter 16 by wickedrum (Buffy/Spike, not rated)

"The Sky's Gonna Open", Chapter 9 by lindseymcdonaldseyelashes (Lindsey/OC, E)

Buffyverse Flashfic, Chapter 11 by NotASlayer (Buffy/Anya, T)

Always, Chapters 1-2 by Lalaith_Quetzalli (Buffy/Angel, M)

Caged, Chapter 4 by Susan19 (Buffy/Faith, T)

New York, Chapter 30 by drsquidlove (Giles/Xander, M)

Breathe Again, Chapter 16 by Califi62 (Angel/Cordelia, M)

Advent Calendiles, Chapter 9 by HAL1500 (Giles/Jenny, G)

On the road, Chapter 2 by DancingAngel0013 (Buffy/Giles, E)

Across the Stars, Chapter 1 by musing_and_writing (Buffy/Spike, Star Wars crossover, not rated)

Swimming Against the Current, Chapters 1-2 by dwinchester (Buffy/Gage, T)

For Canon's Sake, Chapters 1-5 by Euna_bae_nue (Ensemble, T)

Easy Street, Chapter 1 by Storm_Arke (Faith, The Walking Dead crossover, T)

Cherry On Top, Chapter 12 by Maxineeden (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Agency Has It's Price, Chapter 4 by Desicat (Buffy/Spike, R)

As You Wish, Chapter 1 by Melme1325 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Dusk Rising, Chapter 27 by HappyWhenItRains (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

What the Drabble? Chapter 51 by VeroNyxK84 (Buffy/Spike, R)

A Very Summers Winter, Chapter 9 by VeroNyxK84 (Buffy/Spike, PG-13)

Spuffy's Little Helper, Chapter 9 by Alyot (Buffy/Spike, PG-13)

Slay Bells Ringing, Chapter 9 by all_choseny (Buffy/Spike, PG)

High Tide, Chapter 6 by ClowniestLivEver (Buffy/Spike, PG-13)

GTFO, Chapters 1-10 by by Girlytek (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

[Images, Audio & Video]

Artwork: Buffy/Faith by ph0enixart (worksafe)

Artwork: Buffy and vampire!Willow by fox-toothed (worksafe)

Cartoon: The Hero of Three Faces by Paul Gadzikowski (Spike in Doctor Who crossover, worksafe)

Fanvid: Buffy Memorial by Angelus_Clips (0)

Fanvid: Buffy & Faith | more than friends (For @Ravenspect. & @xmysticfalls) by BobbyMcGriffin (0)

Video: Buffy the Vampire Slayer Revival Season 10 Episode 6: The Butterfly Effect by Buffy the Vampire Slayer Chosen (0)

Resource: Willow (buffy) scenepack +1080p by aerapphire (0)

[Recs]

Fic rec: Something to Keep by Chrislee (Dawn & Angel, M) recced by Priceless

Fic rec: Hourglass by smellslikecorruption (Buffy/Spike, PG) by spuffyarchive

[Community Announcements]

Announcement: February Fangfest

[Fandom Discussions]

It's cool how Buffy and Angel both have Asian themed items in their rooms by oveliagirlhaditright

why the hell wouldnt Giles hire Buffy as security for the Magic Shop by abadbadbrujah

Angel TS really made an episode about an actress in her late twenties being too old to be successful and relevant anymore by blackrosecoven

leaning towards believing dru’s human name was actually drusilla by voices-not-echoes

Question - The Mission by NoShip

Worst final for a character by justice4cordelia

True or False? continued by multiple posters

S3 E2 That Vision Thing by AcanthocephalaFew846

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Warren by Inevitable_Force320

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Buffy lines I always say by DynWeb29

You know what I really want? Buffy Cordelia friendship by rredundant22

How did Buffy not die when Angel drained her blood? by AcanthocephalaFew846

What phase of the show did you enjoy? The band of outcasts, or the too cool for school scoobies? by V48runner

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#buffy the vampire slayer #btvs #angel the series #ats

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llycaons · 1 year ago

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ep43 (1/3): literally nothing more romantic than defying the authority figure you've followed your entire life for your beloved to the point of physical punishment im dead serious this may be the most romantic scene in the series

this episode is so fucking good. easily in the top 5

that's a polite way to put it

oh yeah, I guess jgy is really good at music. didn't his mother play? I think so

wwx about to demolish this man:

seeing jgy from lxc's perspective is kind of 🥺 because you see exactly why he respects jgy, why he cherishes and cares for him and wants to protect him. he HAS been maligned by classism and he has borne humiliation and disrespect. and this is genuinely unfair. but it's also not the whole story

I don't even know if this is true at all. like obviously to some extent it's a lie but has every impulse of aid and compassion towards others been false? it's hard to say

oh, I like this scene. lwj ready to argue and wwx holding him back

the crickets are so pretty...goddamn this is a beautiful place

oh he fully thought they were together didn't he

YEAH I THINK HE STILL REMEMBERS

CLASSIC LAN WANGJI LINE. LOVE IT. for all the arguments about lwj not actually being a snob I do think he holds a lot of people in comtempt. it's just not for the same reasons other people do. so he is highly judgemental and cold to people but he's not a snob in the sense that he thinks being rich makes him better than other people

oh this section made my skin crawl. jgy forcing a smile, acting out civility. pretending to retreat in the face of lwj's resolve. and then tossing out as he leaves 'oh by the way, your clan is here to take your away' ugh that smug little bastard

three HUNDRED? was it not 33?

on god this scene is fucking unreal. absolutely one of the heights of the show - character-wise, romance wise, in visuals, in themes. wuji playing softly adds another dimension to an already excellent scene

oof there he goes. the raw physicality of this is part of what makes it so compelling - we've seen lwj hurt before, and bleeding and sweating and distressed, but nothing we've seen before was as unflinchingly violent, and painful for the sake of pain, as this was. physicality is something I find myself missing in wx when watching cql, and somehow even though wwx is dead during this scene it satisfies some of that craving for me. he's real, he bleeds, he grips his fist, he gasps - and he's doing this all for wwx

not much more commentary I just find this so masterfully done. rather than come off as cliche, the simplistic setup just hits all the harder. this is such a classic romantic act - sacrifice for your loved one. and for wx, it's at the core of what makes their relationship so profound - their moral philosophy.

his confidante!!! his zhiji!!! wwx knows now that lwj has trusted in him for over a DECADE. in one flashback we've gained so much insight, and we're about to gain more. do you know how well I was eating as an lwj fan when I saw this the first time

I don't think other translations have called it that? im glad they recognize it as such here

the saga of lan wangji - to be continued!

#cql re-rewatch

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sgt-cookie-2 · 2 months ago

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At the risk of sounding like a fukkin weeb, I do genuinely dislike the trend in Western media that "being fun to watch" is synonymous with "being for kids", which frankly is far les prevalant in Anime/Manga.

Like, if you look at the top 10 TV Shows according to IMDB's top 250, what do we see (As of 10/12/24)? 1. Breaking Bad 2. Planet Earth 2 3. Planet Earth 4. Band of Brothers 5. Chernobyl 6. The Wire 7. Avatar The Last Airbender 8. Blue Planet 2 9. The Sopranos 10. Cosmos Four of those are documentaries and don't really fall under the criticism I'm giving here, so if we discount those and only include fiction, the list looks more like this:

1. Breaking Bad 2. Band of Brothers 3. Chernobyl 4. The Wire 5. Avatar The Last Airbender 6. The Sopranos 7. Game of Thrones 8. Bluey 9. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood 10. Rick and Morty Breaking Bad, Band of Brothers, Chernobyl, The Wire, The Sporanos, Game of Thrones don't get me wrong, they're excellent pieces of media and are legendary TV shows for all the right reasons. But as entertaining as they are, they're not fun. They're very powerful and moving and all that, and for very good reasons, but there's nothing in them that gives you a feeling of hype, of excitement. Avatar: The Last Airbender deals with themes of authoritarianism, genocide, propaganda, racism, sexism, war, peace, abuse, trauma, hate, all sorts of things that the other shows deal with just as much, but it's also allowed to be fun. To be exciting. To have those moments of people coming up against each other. Yet because its animated and the characters don't swear at each other, it's apparently "just a kid's show"?

Bluey is genuinely a young children's show, from the ground up, so it falls outside this general critique. Rick and Morty is an animated sitcom. Sure, that's absolutely not something you can say is "for kids", but that's less to do with the subject matter itself and entirely down to its presentation. Is it "fun"? Yeah, absolutely. It's a fuckin' blast to watch. But it's not something that takes itself seriously.

And then we finally get to the one actual anime on this list*. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is an absolutely legendary show that's simultaniously very explicit in how grotesque war is while at the same time keeping that spark of fun and excitement. At its darkest, it's just as dark as some of the other shows on this list, perhaps even darker, but individual episodes have lighter moments than entire series. *(Well, at least this "modified top 10" list I'm working with. The actual IMDB list has way more: Attack On Titan is rank 23, Hunter x Hunter is 33, Death Note is 36, Cowboy Bebop is 42, Frieren is 57, One Piece is 59, DBZ is 67/73 (Somehow), Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War is 76, Vinland Saga is 78, Steins;Gate is 90, Berserk is 94, One Punch Man is 110, Naruto: Shippuden is 113, Monster is 115, Code Geass is 132, Haikyuu!! is 152, Ippo is 162, Demon Slayer is 171, OG Dragonball is 185/188 (Again, somehow), Samurai Champloo is 196, Jujutsu Kaisen is 203, Mob Psycho 100 is 212, Neon Genesis Evangelion is 222, Rurôni Kenshin is 234, FMA: 2003 is 235, Your Lie In April is 245, Gintama is 246.) The only western media that really captures that same spirit of being fun are comic books. But how many people think of comic books as something for kids? How prevalant is the stereotype that the only adults who read comic books are virgin nerd losers? I've been trying to get back into novel reading recently and almost every book I try to read is either some super gritty "Everything is awful, everyone is a piece of shit and only bastards survive in this world" or some basically zero-stakes "cozy" novel. I want stakes, I want danger, but I don't want the characters to be awful people doing awful things just to survive. I want them to be exciting, I want them to be having the time of their god damn lives. But that's just not "realistic" so of course, we can't have that. No, they have to be bastards living in a bastard world. Because having hope that things might get better is childish.

(That's not to say I haven't tried those types of novel of course! I managed to get through the entire Malazan Book of The Fallen series. And I have Opinions tm. My two biggest criticisms are: About half the events that happen don't matter and the ending was less satisfying than Game Of Thrones. It didn't feel like an ending, it felt like an excuse to stop.) Now, of course, I'm not saying that Anime/Manga is inherently better than Western media, it's just a format at the end of the day. Monster, Death Note, Vinland Saga, these are all excellent pieces of media that can't really be described as "fun" in the same way. But how many anime/manga can you think of that are fun, yet take themselves seriously? That play those dark themes completely straight? Western media has a habit of equating "fun" with either "children" or "comedy". It doesn't always, of course. The John Wick films play their themes totally straight and they're hype as fuck for it. The Dark Knight is literally a Batman film. Tarantino's entire filmography is simultaniously great fun and completely straight. The entire MCU or Star Wars are also examples. (But even the fuckin' MCU is literally based on comic books). But the point I'm making is that when it comes to non-kids shows, western media being "fun" is the exception, while for anime/manga, it being deathly serious is. Even fucking Berserk, the darkest fucking fantasy around, has those moments of absolute hype and excitement that you just don't really see much in western-made media. In conclusion, Western media just isn't as comfortable with the idea that things can both be "serious" and "hype as fuck" as Anime/Manga is and that's a real detritment to western media as a whole. I would absolutely love to see a TV show that's allowed to be fun, yet at the same time, actually considered "serious" entertainment and you just don't really see that much. It's either trying to be "in on the joke" with a wink and a nod as if to say "Yeah, we know this isn't meant to be taken seriously, so we're not even gonna try", or it treats the fact jokes exist with disgust.

#cinema #movies #tv shows #films #anime #manga #anime and manga

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thisselflovecamebacktome · 3 months ago

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So I’m stealing this from @tayloralisonswift and you should definitely check out their version, but I’m going to listen to and rank all of Taylor’s songs album by album (and then maybe her non album songs at the end). You can also see my debut rankings and what I’ve changed here + my Fearless, Speak Now, RED + 1989 rankings here, here, here and here.

So with that in mind, it’s Reputation’s turn. Only things to note here are that there are some references to mental illness (ptsd, suicidality and depressive episodes), death, sexual violence and addiction. Nothing past mentions, but read at your own discretion. Also, Reputation haters, this is not the ranking for you lmao.

Ready For It: What an intro. This is one of those songs I feel like I like more than most people but it just goes so hard. I love the switch up of production between throughout the song and it's lyrically so good. 9/10.

End Game: I call this my skip of the album, but in reality it's just "I like it less than the rest" territory. Though I do still prefer the Reputation Tour version, this version is still good too (this is going to be a theme on this album because for as much as I love the album versions, the tour versions are arguably her best of all time lmao). 7/10.

I Did Something Bad: So the tour version is superior and arguably her most glowed up song in that way for me personally. But the album version has also grown on me since its release. Deceptively sad ("For every lie I tell them, they tell me three" is devastating to me) and very much a sister song to IKYWT, WAOLOM and ICDIWABH to me. 7.5/10.

Don't Blame Me: This song has probably been the biggest grower for me from this album. It's gone from the "Oh this would work on a Joker movie" song to something I feel is more... relatable isn't the word but I guess realistic/understandable. 8/10.

Delicate: Listen, I understand why Americans are sick of this song because it was a far bigger hit there than here, but I could never hate this song. Like idk I said this when Reputation dropped, but for as much as I had wanted Taylor to make an angry album since before RED, the love in this album really shines and is my favourite part. I will say that I'm still resentful that so many fans did not understand the OG music video (and did not want to) that 1. She felt the need to film that vertical video and 2. I got months of hate for stating that it the original video was about her and her mental health more than a love interest. Anyway, it's still a top 3 song from this album for me so 9.5/10.

Look What You Made Me Do: Reputation tour version my beloved. Again this song has somewhat grown on me but still is not a favourite so the album version gets a solid 7/10.

So It Goes: I am never forgiving this fandom for dogging on this song so much when this album first came out that it was the only song to not be played when tour first came out (and may never get played with its album production where it shines best). Top 5 track from this album for me and arguably the most relatable when the album first came out (girlies who panic that they don't exist if the person can't see them/that person doesn't care unless they're in your company rise your hands and take comfort in knowing that you will move past that - a girl who did move past it lmao). 9/10.

Gorgeous: A sad bop. I always love to listen to this in between Better Man and Getaway Car to tell a story. Also a song that I will always laugh at though because I associate it with one of the worst week's of my life (the week it was released) and the irony that it was the only thing that happened in that period that did not make me want to sink and drown and die. I will spare you all the details, but it was very overdramatic but very real and I have a lot of gratitude but also am awe stricken at how much has changed since then. Anyway, always a good time when listening to it lmao. 8/10.

Getaway Car: This is one of those songs that I don't love as much as everyone else but also do love it and get why it's so hyped. In all fairness, I have very complicated feelings towards the song and how I relate to it, so that definitely plays a role. In saying that, I've started playing electric guitar again recently to try to reclaim it and it's one of my favourites to play and one of many examples where I would love to hear a more rock/country rock version of Reputation. I will also say though that hearing people complain it wasn't a single is always very funny to me because it literally was in a lot of Southern Hemisphere countries. Like I guess that was our bonus for Delicate not doing as well/the timing of tour lmao. Anyway it's a solid 8.5/10.

King Of My Heart: I like this song, but admittedly the bridge really carries it for me. It's still great though. 8/10.

Dancing With Our Hands Tied: I am not a fan of the production for this one, but lyrically I love it. And there comes the tragedy. Because you see, I went to Reputation Tour's Sydney date where the weather was that bad that she had to cut a song, and rather than it being the surprise song (we got 22 which was very nice, but something I had already heard on RED tour) it was this lmao. It is also a song that has gotten me through a lot, especially re: being a carer to my mother during her suicidality so it gets a 8/10.

Dress: This is another song that I feel everyone loves more than I do. Like it's good and I like it, but it definitely was a fan fave at one point and not one of mine lmao. 7.5/10.

This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things: I have such a 'it's so over'/'we're so back' relationship with this song ngl. Like either it's fine, or it's THE mood. Right now it's good not great, but earlier this year it would've been higher. 7.5/10.

Call It What You Want: My stan song from the album. When this song first came out, all I could think about is my 17 year old self; a scared little girl who had faced sexual violence + related court case and the loss of two friends to death (at age 15) which sent her into a spiral where she went from the golden + perfectly academic child to an absolute mess of an addict who was about to repeat year 11, but how my partner wanted me anyway, even with the backlash he got, and never left my life (even if we weren't always romantically involved). Today is actually the first day I'm listening to this song since finishing up therapy a few months back, and it's so striking to me and I'm in awe over how far I've come in regards to that. Nowadays, I actually see this more as a parenting song and think about how proud I am of my stepdaughter, and as an extension, of myself. She truly is the one thing I did right which ultimately led to everything else clicking into place and I am so thankful for that. 10/10.

New Year's Day: This was always my second favourite song from the album, but my love for it has just grown with time; and especially this year with personal things happening in my loved ones' lives. I will say though that I still laugh at members of this fandom for sending me hate over me saying that it felt like a song much bigger than just Joe + noted that it feels just as much about Andrea and us, just for Taylor to mash it up with Long Live on Reputation Tour. 9.5/10.

Final score: 124/150 - 82.7%.

#taylor swift

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attheexactlyrighttimeandplace · 1 year ago

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Go for it! It's a blast!

It's only 8 episodes, so it's not that hard to catch up!

It's fun, aesthetically sublime, will intensely awaken your love for Middle-Earth, make you want to reread the books and/or read the books from Tolkien's universe that you haven't read yet, will also remind you of the emotions you felt while watching the films…

It's clearly not the books because it can't be the books (any more than the films were): it's an adaptation that has the constraints and limitations of television in general as a medium, but succeeds nevertheless to present a very well executed interpretation of the Second Age, as told in The LoTR Appendices (mostly the timeline), and which is very well documented thanks to the contribution of The Tolkien Estate, who were 100% involved in the compression of the timeline.

So the show begins after Morgoth's final defeat, Sauron has disappeared from the face of Middle-Earth for centuries, and the continent lives in peace under the watchful eye of the Elves of Lindon, led by Gil Galad. Using this base and context, the show expands to offer 4 sub-plots, each centered around a race. Some of them include very popular characters (Galadriel, Elrond), others completely rely on new characters as likable and charismatic as the famous ones.

The cast is mostly amazing: I'm not going to lie, there are people who seem miscast to me, but I have not given up hope of seeing them improve and finally appropriate their character (the actress playing Galadriel and the poc actors are killing it, the actor playing Elrond is not on the same level).

Season 1 is a season of experimentation: even the most popular characters take a path that doesn't necessarily conform to the canon at the start, but this choice makes sense - the writers wanted all the characters to start at a specific place, in order to shed light on how their arcs and personalities progress over the next seasons before they become the people we get to know in the books. So the lanscapes of Middle-Earth and Arda feel familiar (it's still New Zealand), but the characters feel new and different.

Since i mentioned the races:

The dwarves are the biggest stars of this season: actors, personalities and relationships, costumes, Kazhad Dûm, their musical theme, everything about them is a success story. They stole the show and ran away with it.

But Men have still the best arcs, the most iconic locations and my favourite characters so i'm loyal to them, probably until the end of the show.

A new race of Hobbits is presented and it takes time to accept them, but their arc really pays off during the last three episodes...

The Elves live up entirely to their reputation when it comes to the characters (Galadriel, Gil -Galad, Arondir) but their arc as community was weak in term of consistency and action. I'm convinced it's only because they'll do better next season.

It's not an adaptation of The Silmarillion because the producers don't own the rights to the book, but given that the writers centered the action on one of the Silmarillion's most popular locations, it's fair to assume that they will tell its story entirely as told in the Silm. I'm not giving names because it would be a big spoiler for the 1st season (the way this location is presented is an unexpected twist, even for book fans because the beginning of this arc is not canon), but it will earn your patience: it's spectacular to behold visually and one of the show's greatest achievements.

The production values are top:

Season 1 was shot largely in New Zealand so the scenery is to die for and very reminiscent of the films.

The CGIs are breathtaking: there's a small summary of the wars of the 1st Age at the start, which alone is enough to reward the series with 5 stars. There's so much more visual delight in the early episodes: it's a feast for the eyes and ears.

If you're a big fan of the books, there are plenty of Easter eggs carefully planted by the production and the writers that are great fun to spot and directly reference The Silmarillion.

The soundtrack is exceptional: Howard Shore did the main theme and the genius Bear McCreary took on his mantle brilliantly. McCreary's score received numerous nominations and awards. He deserved every one of them for bringing Arda to life through his musical themes and songs (some of the actors sing songs integrated to the show) in a vibrant and epic way, and for illuminating the importance of music in Tolkien's work.

The directors and writers aren't equally experienced, but they've managed to maintain an overall consistency in the quality of the episodes. Some episodes are definitely at the top of the TV production of last year (like episode 6 which is exceptional in every way).

Don't waste your time with unnecessary polemics about the Elves short hairs (as if Elves wouldn't feel the need to experiment and change their look a bit over the Ages) or sexist arguments about Galadriel as a fighter (she shows a wide range of emotions and the actress nailed it): they were invented by haters to sink the series at a time when the competition with House of the Dragon was raging.

It's a fantasy tv series: the idea of strict canon accuracy when Tolkien spent his life changing his mind about every detail, is just plain stupid and a dishonest argument.

Y’all I’m not gonna lie… I’m kinda curious about the Rings of Power now and I kinda wanna watch it.

Ik the short haired elves and girlboss Galadriel are things ppl have opinions on but like besides that is it worth it ? I don’t really want to waste my time especially since I won’t be watching it through Amazon so is it any good?

#i love this show and i want to scream it #the rings of power #general review #trop season 1

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be-ready-when-i-say-go · 3 years ago

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A Moment's Surprise--Chapter 7

Whether it’s called an accident or the fates of the universe, you and Calum find yourselves taking on the next level of your relationship: parenthood.

Reader (Gender Neutral) X Calum. Multi-chapter Series.

Series Note: Across this series, pregnancy is discussed thoroughly. While I have made this series specifically a reader insert and have done my best to avoid coding for cis women, I am taking this moment to acknowledge that this content may not be suitable for every reader. I want to acknowledge even if I’ve been careful some things (like uteri) are still mentioned and if that causes you discomfort please DO NOT read this. You may keep scrolling (as there is a read more) / skip this as necessary.

Series Masterlist

Chapter 7

Calum brings your hand to his lips, pressing kisses along your knuckles. Distracted by your own magazine, you look over and then gently pinch at his cheeks. He grins and pauses with his thumb hovering over the two Google documents that you shared with them yesterday. You two wound up getting on the road late—even though the bags were packed after lunch, Calum still wanted just a bit longer with you. While never one to consistently delve into every desire that plagued him, Calum knew the second you mentioned that you’d be changing quickly before the drive that he wasn’t going to pass up the opportunity. You didn’t object to his advances and it delayed your departure by an additional hour and a half. But it was worth it. Now, in the doctor’s office, Calum figures he can use the time that they have to wait to catch up.

“That is my cheek,” he teases.

You only shrug in response and go back to flipping through the magazine. He plants one last kiss on your hand and then turns his attention first to the invitations. He spots a card with swans at the top and laughs mostly to himself. You’re dead set on a swan or duck theme for the baby’s room. Calum only playfully resists you.

As he continues down, he pauses at one that has a cute drawing of a dumpling. “Okay, but the fact that it says, ‘Their little dumpling is on the way.’ We can’t not have these as the invites,” Calum says holding his phone in your direction.

“If it said Pumpkin I would’ve just ordered them without hesitation,” you say.

“Don’t do that as we don’t have a venue quite yet. But this is my top choice.”

“Consider it done. Or as close to done as it can be.”

“So you’re not going to fight for your little swans?”

“Dumplings are cuter,” you counter.

“Oh my god, you’re sick. What have you done with my partner?” Calum untangles his hands to press the back of his hand to your forehead.

“Oh goodness, behave,” you chide. Your attempts to swat at his hands are mostly done in jest.

But Calum presses on and you grab onto his wrist. The action does not thwart him. “Hmm, no, no fever. Is this a Scooby-Doo kind of situation?”

“Part of me currently wishes it was.”

“If you turn out to be some ghoul hiding in a flesh suit, I will be disappointed but not mad.”

A soft tuft of laughter catches his attention and he looks up to see the nurse. Their scrubs are decorated in soft pink flowers. They lean up against the door that divides the patient rooms and wing from the waiting area. “I mean this is the most entertainment I’ve gotten all day, so please, let’s see how this episode plays out,” they grin.

“Well, this is a little awkward. Tell me you heard everything but that last line.” It’s not so bad that the two of you got caught. But that’s not the confession he’d want anyone else to hear.

“Hmm, I could say that, but it would be a lie.”

“Damn,” he sighs and then stands to help you up.

“I think we should start a swear jar now and you should just cash in a couple thousand right now,” you joke.

“I’m-I’m not that bad!” Calum follows behind you and the nurse. To his right, he catches the small glimpse of a seashell painting. Though Calum’s only been around for a handful of appointments, there is something comforting about the painting. The more comforting thing is to see you taking things in stride. Some of your energy is back, but the movement now wakes you in the night, or catches you off guard and it’s clear that it’s not always pleasant. Nothing stops you from having your small moments of joy. As much as you and Calum did worry about all that is to come--for all the right reasons--he hopes that your small getaway is a reminder enough to take in the small moments as they come.

In the lull between the nurse leaving and the technician coming in, Calum traces the lengths of your lingers. He wants to commit to memory every centimeter, but he knows it’s a faulty desire. His memory will never do you justice. “I could go for french toast right now,” you whisper to yourself.

“Do you want to go after this?”

“For dinner tonight?” you ask. “I do have a meeting for work.”

“Dinner sounds good. I can text Mum and see if she wants to tag along.”

You nod. “That sounds good.”

It doesn’t take long to send off the text and by the time it shows that it was delivered there’s a faint knock on the door. Calum’s quick to get his phone put away. Before this moment, Calum was excited to know the sex of his baby. Now it makes his stomach flip just a little. Maybe it was the name debate still lingering in the back of his mind. He still hadn’t looked over the list. He still hadn’t quite gotten comfortable with the idea that everything he was being told now could be wrong. His little one still had every right to say that boy or girl wasn’t correct.

What would he say? Would it be the wrong thing? Would he mean well and still land flat on his face? Would they still look at him the same?

It’s all theoretical.

It’s all practical.

It’s all in the future.

It’s all right now as the monitor fills with his tiny baby still growing in the womb. “Oh, they’re in a good position for us to reveal the gender. I’m going to snap these pictures and then have the doctor assess and give you the exciting news.”

It’s all right now.

The technician leaves. In the time Calum takes to blink, to look at you, eyes catching the mid morning light, there’s a knock at the door. The doctor peeks in, all smiles.

It’s all right now.

“I’m happy to give you two the good news. Baby is doing well, hitting all the percentiles for weight. And the even better news,” the doctor says, slotting herself onto the chair, “is that you two are having a baby boy.”

It is all…right now.

_______________________________

“A boy?” Joy asks, setting her glass of water down onto the table. Her smile is bright even if her tone and cadence are even.

The sound--the utterance of the syllable ‘boy’-- still causes Calum’s breath to catch. “Yeah,” he exhales.

You squeeze his hand underneath the table for a brief moment. “I think he’s still in shock.”

“I-Well, I’m processing,” Calum defends.

“Oh, I’m so excited,” Joy laughs. “I’m sure, Calum, you’ll be tieing up cleats in no time.”

Would his boy like soccer? Would it be a different sport? Calum’s not sure he really cares what it is, he just knows he wants to be on the sidelines, at the games, or performances cheering his heart out. He wants to be there in every essence of the phrase.

“A boy,” Joy sighs. “Ah, makes my heart full. How was everything else though? I know the last time you went to the doctor, they were a little concerned about your blood pressure.”

“It’s all good this time. We think it was just stress. Keeping an eye on it and hoping that now we have a lot more planned before then things stay where they’re at.”

Calum knows the two of you are talking, but he’s still thinking about the basketball games, or maybe the art shows, or maybe dance. Maybe even American football. He doesn’t know much, but your uncles are deep into it. He should ask them. Maybe it’ll be ceramics. Or maybe it’ll be music.

“A boy,” he whispers mostly to himself, staring down at the menu. The pictures don’t register in his eyes. All he keeps picturing are all the possibilities with his child--stages, fields, practices, proms and school dances.

When the three of you return home that night, Calum excuses himself to the music room for just a moment. He stares down at the text he’s had drafted since he dropped you off at work. The group chat’s been mostly silent since they’ve all returned home. Most of them no doubt are absorbing as much as they can of their worlds before they go back on tour. But Calum did promise he would update them once he got any news about the baby.

We’re having a boy!

It’s a fact. It’s complete. But it does not feel whole. So Calum deletes the text and then taps on the ‘i’ in the top right corner. He starts a group FaceTime call, plopping down in his office chair and waits as the lines ring. A boy, Calum tries to process the news and somehow it still feels like he’s dreaming. Calum really didn’t have a preference either way--he just wanted a happy baby. But the pride swells now at the thought that he could tote his little man along with him. Calum could teach him about rugby. They could match in outfits, granted you might have some thoughts about what was appropriate to match and what was not. But still, the possibilities, which were already new, feel newer. They feel limitless.

“Brother, what’s up?” Ashton grins as he answers.

“Hey, Ash.”

“Oh, you’re grinning hard, mate. Good news? How’s everyone doing?”

“We’re all good,” Calum exhales. “Good news on our front.”

“Looks like a party in here,” Luke says as his screen loads.

“Hey, Luke,” Calum greets.

“Where are you, Luke?” Ashton asks. Around Luke is a lot of blue but there’s no structures that make it clear where Luke is exactly. Ashton, Calum guesses, is at home in the office space that’s never really been an office.

“Backyard,” Luke returns, showing off Petunia laying on the deck next to him.

“Howdy, howdy,” Michael chimes in. “What’s happening?”

“Cal’s got good news, or so he says,” Ashton chuckles.

“Like baby news?” Michael questions, a smile crossing his lips. “I swear, Crystal and I are ready to go shopping. And maybe I jumped the gun and bought socks. But they’re cute socks too!” Michael disappears for a second, the sound of rustling in a plastic bag cuts through the speakers. He unveils a trio of red, navy, and white socks. Two of them have bear faces designed into them.

“Michael, you’re buying clothes and they haven’t even told us the gender!” Ashton reprimands. “Well, sex, I mean. Sorry, Cal. Little Hood can be whatever they are, you know.”

Calum shakes his head, trying to take a decent screenshot for you of the socks. “No worries. Where did you get those socks, Michael?”

“Target. Went to get another mouse pad for just normal use, not a gaming one. Passed by the baby section on the way there and got suckered in. You said the registry is complete, right?”

“It’s done, yeah,” Calum answers with a nod.

“I’m going to need it. For scientific purposes only. You know, educate myself on what one needs for a baby and subsequent baby showers that we are going to have.”

It’s clear as Michael prattles on, the clear indication that he’s excited for the baby, that Calum couldn’t have been blessed with better people in his life. They cared--deeply and unabashedly about Calum and his family that was growing.

“While Michael preaches the good word of education, I’d like to actually hear this good news Calum supposedly has,” Ashton interjects.

“Oh, good news. We love good news!” Luke grins.

“I was going to text the group but it felt too lame, my text. But, today, we found out the sex. We-I’m still processing this by the way. It’s absolutely blown my mind. I don’t think I’ve been the same since I found out if I’m honest. We’re having a boy,” Calum concludes.

His friends cheer from the phone screen. Ashton falls back in his chair, his phone camera only capturing the ceiling and the failing limbs that managed to cross over into the front facing camera’s view. Luke pops out of his chair. The shake of his screen indicates the movement of what Calum only assumes is a dance. Michael flies out of his gaming chair and starts running through his house. His cheers and cries for Crystal echo just slightly over the other’s laughter.

“Our boy is having a baby boy!” Ashton shouts through a string of laughter. “Congrats, man! That’s so exciting.”

“They’re having a boy!” Michael hollers. “Shit, oh my god. At Target, there’s this onesie. It’s really cute! He needs it. I don’t care if you hate it Calum or if they hate it, baby Hood needs that damn onesie.”

Luke’s all smiles before part of his screen fills with Sierra. She passes along her congratulations, most of her attention stays on Luke as she laughs at Luke’s dance moves to celebrate the news. It’s utter chaos Calum is sure to anyone not in the room, watching as the rest of the boys holler in their excitement. But Calum wouldn’t want it any other way.

Tagging: @carma-fanficaddict @one-sweet-gubler @sunflowercalum @wonderlandiswhereitsatyo @icelily13 @busstop @fandomfoodiedancer @markaylafruitcup @wiiildflowerrr

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battlekidx2 · 3 years ago

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She-ra Season 1 Re-watch Thoughts

Going back and watching season 1 after watching season 5 is actually really strange. The show has changed so much. Not just the themes and the stakes, but even the animation. Watching it all at once makes it very clear the jump in animation quality season to season. That’s not to say season 1 had bad animation, far from it, but the use of color, lighting, and framing is much better utilized in later seasons and the action scenes get better as time moves forward. I will say I was always a fan of the art style. I never really understood why shows get attacked for their art style before the show even airs. I think every art style can bring something new to the table and how they use that art style to their advantage is what matters and I think she-ra capitalizes on it.

The character designs are my favorite. You can tell a lot about each character by their design alone which is an impressive feat to pull off. Like for Catra she has heterochromia which is used to outwardly display her dual nature and warring inner conflict between her love and hatred of Adora and in the 5th season it’s used to portray her struggle between self betterment and sliding into old habits and self destruction. The blue eye is the one covered by the corruption in season 3 symbolizing Catra’s decision to open the portal making Adora realize that she can’t save her anymore and so on.

The use of music gets much better within the season around episode 11. This is where the most emotional scores come into play that become recurring leitmotifs for the characters and relationships. The most notable being the one that plays in “Promise” when Catra is cutting the webbing and leaves Adora to fall. This score becomes the leitmotif for their relationship and continuously pops up when they are having a breakthrough or major shift in their relationship like in the aforementioned scene, when Catra tells Adora she would rather see the whole world destroyed than let Adora win, during Catra’s apology in Corridors, during the confession in the finale, and many more. The music is breathtaking. I really hope they release the full score at some point.

I also just realized that, other than the 5th season finale, this season has easily the happiest finale. All the other ones get increasingly dark. The second season ends with Shadow weaver standing over Adora’s bed and Catra getting caught in a lie and choked by hordak, the third ends with the portal being closed but Angella sacrificing herself and Adora having given up trying to save Catra, and the fourth season ends with Glimmer and Catra captured, She-ra seemingly destroyed, and imminent invasion by Horde Prime’s overwhelming forces. While I enjoy the finale of this season I think it’s weaker than the episodes leading up to it. Princess Prom, Promise, No Princess Left Behind, and In the shadows of mystacor are stronger episodes as a whole in my opinion.

I'm split on the finale of this season on the one hand I did really like the whole “the night is darkest just before the dawn '' feel the finale had to it but on the other I think it was wrapped up a bit quickly. To go off the first point the reason I liked it has more to do with how it works within the context of the whole story. The rebellion has lost almost all of its members, the world is a mess, and the horde is marching on a mostly defenseless Brightmoon. Catra has clawed her way to the top, torn down shadow weaver, and managed to be a driving force in the princess alliance falling apart. The villains are for the first time a very believable threat to the rebellion. The battle seemed hopeless and the fight between Catra and Adora that brought them face to face for the first time since promise was everything I could have asked for. So I was a little put off by the sudden reversal of situations. I still find it to be jarring but I also like how the reversal makes it so that when seasons 3, 4, and 5 come around and we see the actual lowest points of these characters and their situations it feels like a natural progression, that the characters were lucky this time.

The finale also emphasizes the idea that there is strength in bonds which I think is a big part of the end message of the show. The series finale isn’t a big battle, at least not on Adora’s front, but Catra cradling Adora in her arms asking her to stay which gives Adora the strength to pull through. If the rebellion hadn’t won this battle I don’t think the coming struggles and hardships would have hit as hard as they did. I actually think the finale did a good job with what it was trying to do and set up. It gives off the “A New Hope” vibe so that when season 4 rolls around and hits us with a “The Empire Strikes Back” it hits really hard. (I still think the tonal shift is jarring and the themes explored in this episode are done much better in Remember and the portal though)

This season suffers from what a lot of shows first seasons do. It was a solid season with some great episodes, but I don’t think it’s the best example of what the show will become outside of 3 or 4 of the episodes which are all in the latter half of the season. Promise is probably the best example of what the show will become inside of the first season. The show tackles themes of abuse in such depth that the string of 4 episodes after the premiere are very misleading in how lighthearted they are. And even the season finale episode doesn’t do the best job at conveying what the show will become with later seasons because of how neatly the conflict is resolved. It seems like a much simpler tale than the serialized story about the struggles to overcome trauma and programming that it is. I will say that it does strongly establish that the relationship between Catra and Adora is the heart and driving force of the series. This is the strongest point of the season and where it most clearly shows what the series is about.

#she-ra #catradora #catra #adora #spop #she-ra and the princesses of power #review #thoughts #glimmer #promise #battle of brightmoon

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