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daylite-writes · 7 months ago

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HARBINGERS REACT TO READER ATTEMPTING TO KILL THEM OR TSARITSA—AND IF YOU SUCCEED? (ft. Pierro, Capitano, Pantalone)

Part 1 is here! Sorry about how late this is. Not sure if the rest of them will get done but oh well. Does this formatting make sense? It gave me hell.

cws: murder, attempted murder, fighting, death, yandere typical tropes, brief mention of muzzles (Pantalone’s part).

Pierro

Try to kill him? He sighs. Depending on the nature of your relationship, this is either mild betrayal, or an expected outcome of your dynamic. If you're his mild mannered captive, a wife not by your choice, he’ll simply pin you down, wrists caught in his large hands. If you're his wonderful reciprocating darling, it hurts a bit more. Either way, he doesn’t tolerate it, but hardly punishes you. He’s lost too much over his life to throw you away over something so mild as an assassination attempt.

Try to kill the Tsaritsa? If you get pretty close, proving yourself a real contender, he’ll kill you, seeing you as too great a threat. If you don't stand a chance, he’ll send you to the dungeons and spend a few, very pathetic, months mulling over what to do with you.

If you succeed in killing the Tsaritsa, he will kill you, or he will die by your hand. There is no chance for redemption, no heart strings you can pull. He does not exhibit the petulance or immaturity of some of his co-workers. His will is as icy as her Majesty’s. He won’t even cry as either of you die. He’s so cold about it, it almost feels more like betrayal to you, than to him.

Capitano

Try and kill him? He has you pinned down in seconds, whatever weapon you were planning to use sent flying to the other side of the room. Whether you got close, or did little more than a bug biting at his skin, he’s pissed. He keeps you there for a second, breaths labored.

“What do you think you’re doing?” He growls, hand shoving your head harder against whatever surface he has you against. It doesn’t matter what you say—you can hardly speak after all—he’s pissed.

If you two were deployed at the time, a group of his finest drag you back to whatever mansion his rank as harbinger has earned him. You thought it merciful at first, and easy to escape. Until an icy blizzard encases the large mansion, making escape impossible without death. Waiting it out doesn’t work, the storm is constant. You are forced to grit your teeth, pacing your new prison like a caged animal.

The blizzard, created at his request by the Tsaritsa, only breaks when he returns from the expedition, and encases the home once more as he steps inside. You are truly, pitifully, trapped with him. As his.

He grabs your chin harshly, “Behave, brat.” Lifting your head and tilting it to the side, he plants a kiss on your neck.

Try to kill the Tsaritsa? Unlike Scaramouche, he doesn’t accept any pitying promises or begging for mercy. His patron, goddess of love, being attacked by his own lover? He is more worried about her response than about what is to be done about you. This is a personal failure in his eyes. He picked a lover, and endangered her Majesty due to his own blindness. He leaves you to her will to be dealt with.

You will feel no warmth from him as you die, but you will crave it as the cold pricks turn to knives—crave his inhuman arms. He always ran hot, even in the northernmost tempests.

If you do kill the Tsaritsa it’s much the same. A merciless end. The only difference is he’s quicker, a bit afraid of you; of you you killed the goddess of love.

Pantalone

Try to kill him? Unlike his coworkers, he is not combatively attuned. In the “safety” of his bedchambers, where only you and him are allowed, you stand a much greater chance.

When he gets away from you, from your blade, his Fatui guards breaking through the ornate doors and restraining you, you see the flash of raw, human fear in his eyes. The mortality that he hardly shows. You aren’t alone with him for a while after that. Hardly seen without the diamond studded muzzle he commissions for you. His silent payback for your stunt.

Try to kill the Tsaritsa? Chances are he’s not there when it happens, and even if he is, he’s not the one to intervene. You get shipped back to him in chains, some other harbinger throwing you to the floor in Pantalone’s office. Their voice is sharp as they say “I hope this does not become an issue again.”

He regards them back with sharper eyes. “It will not.”

You are not allowed in the Tsaritsa’s palace again after that. You stay in his private manor, many, many miles away. The air is tense even as Pantalone never mentions the issue again.

If you succeed in killing the Tsaritsa, expect to never see him again. He’s far too busy trying to fill power vacuums and manage what to do in case the collapse of the Fatui is inescapable. He thinks of you, of course, but it is not fondly. You, who ruined everything for him.

#yandere pierro #yandere capitano #yandere pantalone #yandere x reader #genshin fanfic

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paperbackribs · 1 year ago

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fhdaslkghkdsjfa

Thank you for the tag dear!

For the WIP ask:

steve burns

oh I love the gif!

okay, the conceit of this one is that Henry/Vecna found Steve before the party did in Season 1. lonely Steve with absent parents and friends that don’t truly see him. and Vecna finds the core of Steve's sadness and anger and lures him to be by his side, to becoming his Kas.

and so the Stranger Things seasons proceed, but with Eddie and Robin joining despite Steve being out of the picture. and they’re the two that are killing him with silver and fire in the last section below.

the twist is supposed to be that Steve feels betrayed by Vecna as he dies and somehow ends up travelling back in time, and with all his knowledge and rage he destroys Vecna first. in the meantime, he finds redemption and the meaning of love and friendship with Robin, Eddie, and the rest of the kids.

SNIPPET:

Steve burns.

He burns with regret, with anger, with a deep, undeniable rage that wants to unfold into wrath. He lies pinned against his wings, low under the red skies and lightning, with a doe-eyed man standing over him, impaling him with a silver sword through his torso to stud the ashen ground.

His lover, his Henry, his beautiful and godlike master advances menacingly towards the high-schoolers in his periphery, and Steve cries out for his help. For his divine hand to reach out to Steve and save him like he did all those years ago.

The deep brown of the eyes above him flicker, almost shading over with sadness and Steve hisses at the mortal for daring to pity a supplicant of the heavenly like Steve.

Steve aches inside, more than the distraction of his wounds, but aches for Henry to look at him, to see his outstretched hand, but his master only has eyes for the small girl with the shaved head.

Steve burns.

He burns with flames thrown at him from glass and fire from the young woman next to the doe-eyed man, her blue eyes full of fear and disdain.

Shrieking, all Steve wants is for Henry to look back, to see his cold eyes once more, but he doesn’t and Steve’s body is engulfed, reducing him to red embers and black ash.

#kas!steve #steddie #platonic stobin #steve harrington #stranger things

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bongaboi · 3 months ago

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Brisbane Lions: 2024 AFL Premiers

THESE will forever be Brisbane's kings of the pride.

After last year's heartbreak, a 0-3 start to the season, five season-ending knee reconstructions, missing out on the top four, three finals on the road, a semi-final win for the ages and storylines everywhere you looked, Brisbane is the premier for 2024 after a Toyota AFL Grand Final dismantling of Sydney.

In the redemption cup – the Lions looking to go one better than their four-point loss to Collingwood and Sydney hoping to overturn its disastrous 2022 decider – it was Chris Fagan's men who saluted by 60 points in an MCG masterclass in front of 100,013 fans.

The 18.12 (120) to 9.6 (60) win delivered the Lions their first flag since 2003 and 12th through its Fitzroy history as Fagan lifted the cup in his eighth season at the helm.

This was a rough welcome to the jungle for the Swans – everywhere Sydney turned, Brisbane was there. Every way the Swans looked, the Lions had them covered.

It would have been a terrible case of deja vu for the Swans, with the club now losing its past four Grand Finals since 2012. Three of them have been thrashings.

Where to start with Brisbane's band of heroes? It was a Lions' share: Lachie Neale, carrying an ankle injury, was sensational as he saluted with a flag in his third Grand Final attempt with 34 disposals and nine clearances.

Kai Lohmann lit the fuse early and finished with four and Callum Ah Chee kept the flame alive throughout with four majors. Will Ashcroft, having missed last year's decider with his knee injury, was superb and showed again he is a champion in the making with 30 disposals and a goal. Joe Daniher is considering retirement but showed he is at the top of his game, with only inaccuracy potentially costing him a Norm Smith Medal.

But where the Lions were hot, Sydney brought the cold. It was difficult to find a winner for the Swans, who had their star-studded midfield nullified, their forward line shut down and their back half picked apart.

Katy Perry started the day with a roar, but the Lions added a mighty to it. Sydney struck first with the opening two goals, the first from Will Hayward and the second a superb snap from Tom Papley. But that mini lead didn't quite sum up the contest after the Lions' early inaccuracy.

Lohmann quickly changed that. The eye-catching Lion kicked their first, and then their second a minute later on his left foot to give Brisbane the energy it needed, his tongue-out celebration a spirit boost to match his side's ascendancy.

They continued to control the play with their uncontested marking game as Hugh McCluggage cruised into a third goal, with the gun midfielder tallying nine opening-quarter disposals.

James Rowbottom's long set shot was a steadier for the Swans, who were preferring their shorter forward targets than their key position options, but Charlie Cameron's snap from the boundary – and subsequent bow to the crowd – restored Brisbane's eight-point lead at the first change.

Brisbane's premiership was won in an exhilarating second quarter. The Lions kicked seven goals to one for the term and they came from everywhere as the Swans, for the second time in three years, were pounded.

Lohmann kicked his third from the pocket, Cameron spotted Daniher cleverly for another, Ah Chee's brilliant finals series continued with two for the term, Jarrod Berry capitalised on Nick Blakey's turnover to slot a long goal and Eric Hipwood kicked one of the great Grand Final goals from the boundary line after dodging Dane Rampe, slotting the goal and reprising three-time Lions premiership star Jason Akermanis' pseudo shocked celebration afterwards.

When Logan Morris booted their 11th, the Lions had leapt to a 46-point lead for half-time as their youth, speed and hardened run into the flag decider proved beneficial.

Where the Lions' big names and lesser lights all stood up – from first-year player Morris to champion two-time Brownlow medallist Neale – Sydney couldn't find a winner as its midfield was battered, its defence under siege and forward line ineffective.

Party time started early as Neale continued to dominate the midfield battle in the third quarter, with Daniher also showing up the Swans defence. If it is to be Daniher's last game of an enigmatic career – the 30-year-old is weighing his future – then he went out on a high, kicking 2.4 but proving pivotal to the Lions.

His forward presence, as well as important around-the-ground ruck efforts, helped a fleet of smaller Lions capitalise time after time.

Lions fans spent most of the second half rejoicing, as more highlights came their way: the Cam Rayner hanger, Ah Chee enjoying a day out, one last Lohmann flying grab and, of course, a Daniher left-foot snap to close things out. The pride of Brisbane town – and beyond.

SYDNEY 3.1 4.3 5.4 9.6 (60) BRISBANE 4.3 11.7 16.11 18.12 (120)

GOALS Sydney: Parker 3, Warner, Rowbottom, Papley, Heeney, Hayward, Fox Brisbane: Lohmann 4, Ah Chee 4, Morris 2, Daniher 2, Rayner, McCluggage, Hipwood, Cameron, Berry, Ashcroft

INJURIES Sydney: McDonald (ankle) Brisbane: Nil

SUBSTITUTES Sydney: Braeden Campbell (replaced Logan McDonald in the third quarter) Brisbane: Conor McKenna (replaced Logan Morris in the final quarter)

Crowd: 100,013 at the MCG

#2024 #afl #australian football league #brisbane lions #afl grand final

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words-after-midnight · 1 year ago

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the dotted line // adult psychological horror/comedy/crime nanowrimo project 1 of 2

goal: ~25K reoutline + zero draft projected length: 70-90K summary: [A CLOCKWORK ORANGE x SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION] A young inmate nicknamed after an Al Pacino movie navigates the chaotic, dangerous world of a medium security American prison while plotting his escape.

Excerpt below the cut:

Finally, one of them banged on our door, BANG BANG BANG. “005679, let’s go,” he loudly snapped. “Approach the door.” That’s me. Was, I suppose you could say. Just a string of numbers, but it suited me fine. Never been one to get all sentimental and overprotective about names, or identities, or my own body, my Sacred Personhood. Ah, the humanity, you doth protest too much over meaningless things. Stripped down to the bare bones, they’re all just tools. I stood from my bunk - the bottom bunk, of course, you know me - and stepped nonchalantly up to the bars, barely stifling a yawn. “What happened to ‘hello’? ‘Good morning’?” is what I wanted to say, but I learned early on that talking to them typically isn’t useful in the slightest, so I smiled, cold as the frost crystallizing on the steel of the window bars, and politely inquired, “You rang?” Of course, they didn’t humor me. I took care of my humor all on my own in this place. The crowd at Camp Hill was sometimes tougher, sometimes less tough, but we’re getting to that. The two guards picking me up were an older, stout lady and a tall, thin, younger guy who looked like he’d taken a toke or two right before his shift. If not for the cuffs, I could have taken both of them - simultaneously - for sure. The lady goes, “Turn around.” She was wearing a cheap stud on one ear. Yes, the gay one, but only if it works the same for women as it does for men. I wouldn’t know, not with certainty. Mama drilled it into my head not to talk about shit I don’t know the first thing about. They cuffed me before opening the door. My cellie at the time - boulder-shaped guy who looked perpetually high as a kite, I called him Broseph - was somehow still dead asleep through all of this, so I didn’t even get to say goodbye. Eh, he was kind of an asshole anyway.

#tdl #nanowrimo #writeblr #snippet #excerpt #horror #nanowrimo 2023

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adickaboutspoons · 1 year ago

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The Curse of "The Curse of the Seafaring Life"

So now that I've had some time to come down from the euphoria of watching two middle-aged men kissing in the moonlight, I've got to admit episode 5 is... bad. Like the kiss is divine and perfect and I love it with all my heart and soul, but the rest of it doesn't make a lick of sense, within the context of what we've seen this season, or within the themes of the show as a whole. And it's not just a matter of inserting a couple of lines of dialogue to fix it as with episode 4. To me, it requires a full tear-down to the very studs.

I understand that for future plot purposes implied by the trailers, it will become important that Stede knows how to do fighty pirate-y stuff, but the way they get there challenges credulity. Stede states that he "hasn't really felt [that he is the captain]" since they got back on the ship. But... why? He's called and led at least two all-hands meetings in the past two episodes (letting the crew know Ed was not dead after all, and mediating the non-pology sesh), collected votes for the decision to exile Ed (and stayed with the crew rather than going with Ed, even though finding Ed was, like, supposedly his entire motivation, god that still makes me so angry writers I am in your walls!), and convinced the crew to, at least temporarily, let Ed be un-banished. No one is challenging him for his position. No one is questioning his authority. No one is being insubordinate or any less respectful to him than they generally are, considering he encourages open and honest dialogue (which sometimes invites less-than-respectful expressions of ideas with this crew.) No one is even suggesting that his feelings for Ed might negatively impact his objectivity or his ability to perform his captainly duties. For heaven's sake, half of the crew (eventually) followed him in applauding Ed's feeble scrabble at an apology. And quite aside from all that - how many times, exactly, does he need to prove himself? He JUST orchestrated a successful escape plan using fucking TOWELS. He's ALREADY captain material! So why would he have that less-than-captain feeling?

And the only thing that I can think of is that they needed to get him to train with Izzy somehow (why did it have to be Izzy, though? More on that in a moment). So how to get him there? Well, Izzy's mean, right? So maybe Stede needs to think that he needs to get mean, so he'll go to be trained at the foot of the master. But why would Stede suddenly think he needs to be mean? Especially considering how delighted he was when Yi Sao clocked his energy as soft? Well, maybe Ed tells him the way to Feel More Captain-y is to be more assertive.

But as much as Ed-in-a-collar asking Stede to order him around is going to find a forever home in my fanfic plotbunny document, that just... doesn't make any sense. Ed LOVES that Stede is out here doing things completely different from anyone else. One of the main theses of the show is that Stede's people-positive management style is CORRECT, actually, and another is that living life as your authentic self is more important than duty or obligation. Stede needing to "butch up" to be a proper captain runs antithetical to both those ideas AND to the established dynamic between Ed and Stede. Honestly, it reads a lot more like validation of Stede's insecurities about not being enough for Ed, and that whole dream sequence that opened the season. Which would be fine if Stede was going through an arc where he thinks he needs to be more manly and learns in the end that he's fine just the way he is, but that doesn't seem to be the case? As such, it's frankly pure contrivance, and just sloppy writing.

So taking out that pin about training with Izzy. I'm gonna be real, this feels like pure fanservice to me, and I'm not just talking about Con O'Neil's magnificently sculpted tits. Izzy's "redemption arc" (and, yes, I'm putting it in scare quotes) feels completely unearned to me. What - he's absolved in his suffering? Even though we've seen not one hint of remorse for what he's done to others (only for how the repercussions of his actions actually impacted him)? Not even the barest scrap of a non-pology? Then Why Isn't Ed? Ed who has suffered too. Ed who was so fucked up he made MORE THAN ONE attempts at suicide by proxy in episode 2? Ed who keeps getting kicked when he's already down and NOT extended the same sympathy and understanding from the crew? It's a real bad look, y'all. In fact, it looks a lot more like Izzy is not going through a "redemption arc" so much as an "he's already redeemed, trust us" arc, and training Stede is more about him proving that he's part of the community by offering support and expertise, and resolving his personality crisis ("who am I to you?" and "what even are you?") - roles which, by all rights, would be better filled by Jim (who had JUST given up on their vengeance quest to try and see what being part of a family might be like, only to be caught up in the Kraken's shit and having to fight for survival, and could now have an opportunity to work through their trauma by using their skills to HELP someone rather than hurt, and learning how to be soft - like the flesh of someone becoming human after so recently being someone's puppet) or Ed (who needs to learn to reconcile the various aspects of his personality, and that violence doesn't have to come coupled with the baggage of being unlovable, and who needs to relearn how to trust and be trusted by Stede, and how to earn the crew's forgiveness). Because the fact of the matter is? Stede MUST be lying when he tells Izzy that Ed attributes "everything he knows" to Izzy's teaching. The whole point of the escape from the Spanish relies upon the premise that there is knowledge that Ed possesses that Izzy doesn't and can't. Look at Stede's face when he says "More specifically, he said you taught him everything he knows.":

(corporate needs you to find the difference between these 2 pictures) It's giving very "Stark Revelations" vibes. I'm thinking Stede is getting Izzy to buy in to his training by using a little of that weaponized empathy he picked up studying at the feet of the master: Yi Sao. I don’t love Stede pandering to the ego of a mediocre white dude by conferring upon him the responsibility for Ed’s achievements and brilliance in order to get what Stede wants out of him, but it’s immeasurably better than the suggestion that Ed’s achievements and brilliance actually ARE down to Izzy. Neither way of interpreting the implications of the scene are great, though, which is uncharacteristically sloppy writing from this show. All the more reason why Stede’s training should be in the hands of anyone else EXCEPT Izzy.

The training montage itself is… not a training montage. It’s a cringe compilation. Just scene after scene of Stede being bad at things and no follow-up scenes that show him improving. The line about him just letting his body take over in the field and it working out for him is just bad and wrong. First, it conveys Plot Armor on Stede, and obviates the NEED for training. Second, really, Stede? How about the time you almost stabbed Doug for the crime of *checks notes* putting his hand on your shoulder? Or the time you blacked out and walked barefoot to Bridgetown after Chauncy shot himself? Like, let's please not suggest trauma-induced fugue states are Stede's super-power. Third, that's really not how we have seen Stede earn his victories up until this point, and it really undercuts the fact that Stede is VERY smart, clever, and resourceful, great at improvisation and using his environment to overcome mightier or more skilled opponents (think of the way he bested Izzy at their first encounter, or even, more recently, how he used his habit of putting scent on his towels and how everyone inevitably wanted to breath it in deeply to knock out the prison guards and orchestrate their escape - again, using towels as a zip-line). One of the things about Stede that I think gets under-acknowledged is that he's actually kind of low-key a master of seeing a thing once and figuring out how to do it. In spite of what my Advanced Maneuvers fic would have you believe, the Unhand Me Or Bleed move actually comes from him observing the bar brawl in ep 2, and then there’s all the stuff with the duel with Izzy and the butt swat and taking it on the left that Ed had shown him only once and only a few nights previously. But what does any of that matter if he’s just going to Dead Zone it and let his body do what it will?

It also bothered me that, when his training is “complete” and he’s going on raids, he's just brute forcing things? Like, his plan was the same every time - run in shouting and waving your blade around. Where’s the clever planning? Where’s the distraction? Where’s the style and finesse? What happened to his rapture over fuckeries?

The resolution of the curse storyline/training montage is bothering me in a way that I feel is emblematic of the bigger problems with the season as a whole so far. The whole point of a training montage is either to payoff with a scene SHOWING the use of all the accumulated skills, or a subversion of that; why they CAN'T use those skills (like in Galavant where he over-trained for the joust and therefore couldn't move when it came time to actually participate). But instead, we get exposition fairies. "Wow - that sure was an epic battle we just did! With us fighting back-to-back and Archie swinging from a rope!" All the interesting and important stuff is happening off-camera, and we're just being asked to accept that it happened. Just like we’re asked to accept that the Swede’s time with Jackie is more fulfilling in some way that his time with the Revenge was not. Just like we’re asked to accept that everyone’s just cool with Izzy now - even the people who last saw him when he was marooning them, even to the point of working together to make him a peg leg and calling him their new unicorn. Just like we’re asked to accept that Black Pete or Olu missed their SOs, even to the point of “crying every night” for the former, but never seeing them actually mention it/crying about it.

And about that - although I was initially overjoyed by it, now that I’ve had some time to reflect, I'm not sure I'm so happy about the Proposal. Like, Lucius is still clearly in a v. vulnerable and traumatized state, and it's maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaybe not the BEST time to be making big life choices? Juxtapose with Ed finally learning to maybe not charge full-speed-ahead. Maybe handing the U-haul keys to another couple isn’t all that great an idea, actually?

Now on to the Curse. What the dying priest literally says when Stede and Jim enter the room is "We were voyaging to the Vatican to seek an exorcism." My auditory processing is sub-par, especially when more than one person is speaking at the same time, so I can't really make out most of what he says after that because Jim keeps babbling about curses (which? I’m sure Vico had lines they were written for them to be saying, but it to present as a translation something that is v. much NOT what the person is actually saying in the mouth of a native speaker of the language is SO weird to me), and maybe it's me splitting hairs, but exorcism is v. much a casting demons out of a PERSON thing - not a "cursed artifact" thing. But fuck it. Let’s go with the “translation” Jim gives us and stick with cursed items instead of bedeviled people. There’s a real missed opportunity here to have done something extremely clever linking the "curse" and the crew's trauma and, through the process of coming together to formulate a plan for how to free themselves from the curse, managing to take the first steps toward exorcising their own demons. I mean, this is just surface-level metaphor stuff, and it's troubling to me that instead we got Stede the Rational White Dude pandering to the superstitions of his mostly POC crew.

I LOVE that Fang reached out to Ed, and that he brought to Ed’s attention the fact that Ed often defaults to problem-solving mode, trying to FIX problems. Which is great when you need to make an impromptu lighthouse to escape the Spanish, but is not necessarily the best approach for emotional problems, where the better answer is sometimes listening rather than talking, or even just actually sitting and dealing with negative feels (though I am not loving the implication that Ed's a non-stop chatterbox. Sometimes he is, but there are plenty of examples of him being introspective - like literally any time he stims with his silk - and also, sometimes soundboarding is an effective tool for processing complicated or painful concepts, too. And also, we see MULTIPLE scenes of Ed crying alone. He’s clearly sitting with his feels. Admittedly there is a huge difference between wallowing/indulging and PROCESSING, but Ed sitting alone in silence with his feels is v. much NOT the problem). But I HATE the messaging about retributive justice in that scene.

So retributive justice - the idea that a person who has caused damage has to be punished to an appropriately equivalent degree in order for 1) justice to be meted to the wronged party, & 2) the wrong-doer to be redeemed for their wrongdoing - is all kinds of problematic to begin with, but especially when seemingly exclusively applied to a MOC. And we have two examples of that in this episode - we have Ed offering to let Lucius to knock him over the rail so that they're squaresies (v. eye-for-an-eye, that), and we have Fang explaining that he's cool with Ed because he brutalized Ed's unconscious body after Jim knocked him out with a cannonball, so that makes them square for all the shit that Ed did to him.

With Lucius, we see that it DOESN'T actually make things square. Lucius is still traumatized, and just as obsessed with Ed as ever, possibly even moreso. With Fang, we see the exact opposite. He and Ed ARE cool, and Fang doesn't seem to have any lingering issues.

So not only is the scene with Fang kind of gross and reductionist, and reinforces the "broken people do broken things" idea that's been uncritically floated earlier in the season, instead of recognizing that sometimes people have maladaptive behaviors in response to suboptimal circumstances and insufficient support systems, but also, when juxtaposed with the scene with Lucius, the show is refusing to come down one way or another on the topic, and I think that's pretty cowardly on the "toxic masculinity and racism are unequivocally wrong" show.

So how would I fix it?

1) Frame Stede’s practical pirate training urges as Stede self-enriching by re-taking up the reigns of his pirate lessons, not as him needing to learn how to captain

2) Make Ed his teacher, and thereby allow for a gradual rebuilding of trust and strengthening of their relationship (and also some flirtatious banter and UST because they're both trying to hold back and re-figure things out, but also that undeniable chemistry is still there. For me. As a treat)

3) I guess Izzy can help. But HE has to ask. As a "trying to find my place now that so much has changed for me" kind of thing, and also expressing some fucking gratitude to Stede for saving his rat ass

4) My training montage would be an ACTUAL training montage with the comedy failboating at the beginning, and showing actual progress until they're ready to do the Curse raid (which sets up the subversion of payoff for the training montage because they ARE ready, but there's nothing to fight on a ship of the dead). Nix the second raid altogether so I don't have to get cranky about expositing the action sequence. Also that line about blacking out and just letting things happen would be erased from history, too.

5) Ed's participation in the "exorcizing the demons" plot is what starts to mend bridges with the crew and starts to bring him back into the community. (Also, I want Ed to be able to see Stede feeling himself in his red suit, and it is a CRIME that we were denied that.)

6) It’s my drastic re-write, so in my version, we’re gonna nix the Fang line supporting retributive justice, but we’re KEEPING the Lucius interaction. Maybe in the 'exorcize the demons' brainstorm sesh, Ed proposes that he dress in the devil suit and Lucius be allowed to push him overboard (a 2-for-1 expurgation. Also, there would be a line where Ed goes up to Stede and is all "I really need to get you out of those clothes", and Stede breathlessly replying, "Oh, Ed!" and then Ed awkwardly having to walk it back with hasty explanations, and Stede apologizing for making assumptions, and Ed having to beat a hasty, flustered retreat, because even though he has 100% seen Stede naked before, there’s an unbearable tension to the idea of seeing him like that now). But the overboard plan doesn’t work on EITHER front. Once Ed is back on board, still wearing the devil suit, something goes wrong that convinces the crew the curse is still there (maybe it's Stede doing target practice in the background with Izzy, and THAT'S when the sail falls on everyone's head), and Lucius' can still have his "That didn't actually give me the closure I thought it would have" mini-arc. Ed can start in again, pitching more ideas and talking over people, and Fang can gently suggest that Ed doesn't have to be the one to come up with all the plans. Sometimes it's ok to just sit back and listen, and realize that sometimes your input is doing more harm than good, and it's ok to take a step back.

7) Lucius and Pete aren’t getting engaged. Sorry. Maybe Lucius can propose, but Pete would gently tell him that, while he absolutely wants to and plans to spend the rest of his life with Lucius, he’s concerned that Lucius is moving a little fast, and maybe flailing for something to make him feel better immediately rather than taking the time to work through his trauma, and as much as Pete loves him, he’s not going anywhere; Lucius can take all the time he needs to come to terms with what happened to him, and then, when he asks again, Pete will say yes.

8) After the Curse plot is resolved Ed has been sitting and stewing with the bad feelings that your input can be deletory and unwelcomed. THEN Fang can impart the "sometimes you just have to sit with your feels and let it be uncomfortable" wisdom. Maybe Ed shares what he’s been going through on his own and hiding from the crew. But knowing how to process your emotions instead of just ruminating on them is a learned skill. I don’t know if Fang is the person to teach that to Ed, but honestly I don’t know who IS since Lucius would NORMALLY be the emotional intelligence guy, so I guess Fang can be the one with emotional insight since he is quite the softy under it all.

But also I still want moonlit middle-aged men kisses, so maybe Fang also suggests that just because your input isn't needed in some places doesn't mean it would be unwelcome in all - and sometimes it's a matter of redirecting your energy, and him indicating Stede (in his shirt) brooding over the rail at the loss of his awesome (I am only saying this word for Stede’s sake, because I actually fucking hate the hideous cutaway tailcoat with its tacky, poorly applied appliques) suit. And things are better between them because of training montage, but still awkward, and Ed is now the one taking the initiative to meet Stede where HE'S at and complimenting the shirt, "wear fine things well," etc.

(And, hell, since this is essentially a fix-it fic in essay form, there may or may not be a plotbunny brewing in my head about them agreeing to "take it slow" and then sloooooowly walking together to the captain's cabin and Whoops! they forgot there's only one bed now. Should one of them maybe take the pile of furs on the floor? No! they can totally share a bed platonically. Yup. Just two platonic buds sleeping and nothing else at all in the same bed. Except Stede DESPERATELY has to masturbate about what just transpired between them. He is not as stealth as he thinks he is. And maybe when he wakes in the morning, Ed informs him that he was moaning Ed's name in his sleep all night…)

#ofmd #our flag means death #ofmd s2 spoilers #ofmd s2e5 #I've now said “exorcize their demons” so frequently that “Exercise the Demons” by LVCFT is now running on an endless loop in my head

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rafent · 2 years ago

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"There you are!" Spying the head of fine white hair, Griss calls over three other students milling around the refreshments, then pushes past them, eliciting a couple of startled grunts but little else. One glimpse of the metal that studs his rough-hewn jacket is enough to discourage them from making an issue out his etiquette, and Griss hardly notices them anyway, eyes fixed instead on the fell dragon that had accepted his loyalty in a world absent of both of his gods.

"You're harder to find than I thought in a place like this. Almost had me think you'd escaped the spell." He glances toward the table and its rows of decadent cakes, pies, and other pastries, and makes a face. He'd had enough hapless stumbling across sweets tonight to last him a lifetime. Rafal's plate tells another story though and Griss raises a brow as two pieces suddenly click together. If he'd been hovering around this table the whole time, then of course Griss wouldn't have seen him right away.

"Can't imagine the kid with enough guts to make a fell dragon serve their sweet tooth like this. Unless--" He makes eye contact with Rafal and the truth drops over him like a cold bucket of water. You have a sweet tooth.

[ // was actually going to be a prompt from the list but wound up being setup instead hahaha ]

He'd come to know the sound of that voice even with the few meetings that spanned their acquaintance in number. The Hound's approach was noted with a nod as he drew near, with a name made interchangeable with greeting, acknowledgement, and even some growing degree of welcome.

"Griss."

The other man's belated arrival meant that the passion of Rafal's foraging from moments prior was little suggested by his presently cool tone. A lightning fast scamper, knocking into elbows and fellow patrons in his timely gamble to seize the most choice desserts. Though, the two made for a humorous contrast to those aware of his. . .preferences. A porcelain plate packed with explosions of sweetness from rim to rim, center to edge, told that story quite handily, but to Rafal it was no guilty secret which words evaded.

Red meeting with red, he finished for the thought with a prideful smile. "You may state the obvious, or I shall do it plainly for you; I am fond of confections. Their comforts reign supreme for they are among the few things in this world that make life worth living."

Those who adjudged him dramatic for his claim would hold a false opinion. Rafal bespoke only his truth, and he dared to call it even a cardinal truth of this world! No flavor and no food was greater than that which was sweet, the highest call of luxury that lulled the taste-buds to heavenly bliss. Should this fell dragon abstain from sleep and drink in his journey of redemption he would never extend that lunacy to his cherished desserts. He would sooner perish.

"Now make yourself useful, Hound. If you are my faithful servant, then let this be my first order of command—" Little contested, there were at least some dramatics involved in the jab of his finger, bringing attention anew to the table behind Griss.

"Absolve me of judgment. Retrieve for me a second plate."

#◜ ₊ — 𝓡 ˚ ₊ 𝐋𝐈𝐅𝐄𝐋𝐎𝐍𝐆 𝐏𝐄𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 ╱ askbox.#twistedisciple #toaball2023 #HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA #i don't know griss i think rafal is already a better master than sombron #sombron asked for blood rafal just asks for offerings in sweet #i have some vague cute idea of how i see this going as a thread

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oddmawd · 1 year ago

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THE GRASP OF GILDED STRINGS - Chapter 12 [A Doflamingo/OC Fanfic]

SYNOPSIS: Through violence and bloodshed, Donquixote Doflamingo carved out a world of his own making. Now someone is mending the broken toys of Dressrosa with gold — and they did not ask the king of the island for permission. In a land he rules with an iron fist, this small act of rebellion cannot go unchallenged...but for all his schemes and plans, Doflamingo was unprepared to meet the woman behind the gold. Through dogged determination, Saffron engineered a quiet place for herself in the kingdom of Dressrosa. She is content in her self-imposed isolation, because solitude means safety when you have an ability like hers. Too bad she’s been noticed by the one man who could destroy her hard-won way of life. Mending broken toys seemed an act of mercy. Now Saffron can only hope the king of Dressrosa will show her the same. (Doflamingo/OC. Unhealthy relationship. Doffy corrupts. This is not a redemption story.)

TAGS & WARNINGS

PAIRINGS: Doflamingo x OC

RATING: E[xplicit]

WORD COUNT: Chapter 12 is 8.3k

GENRE: Dark Romance, Drama

FANDOM: One Piece

CHARACTERS: Donquixote Doflamingo, Original Characters, Baby 5, Monet, Diamante, Thunder Soldier

TAGS & WARNINGS: Doflamingo is his own warning, coercion, manipulation,

CHAPTER 12 - Excerpt

Saffron woke to a basket of food on her doorstep. A layer of red and white gingham covered simple fare: bread and cheese, smoked fish wrapped in wax paper, and a jar of cherry preserves. She had no doubt who’d sent her the modest basket. Some toy or another had come before Dressrosa’s curfew lifted to pay Ms. Mend-It for past services rendered. Food was expected payment from the toys. So was food of this type. It was food she’d eaten her entire life — common food. Typical food. Mundane food, as plain as it was satiating. And normally Saffron would be happy to receive it, to take it gratefully into her home to sustain her until her next job, without a second thought.

That morning, she picked up the basket and placed it on her hip. Gloved fingers flipped the gingham back, gold-on-silver eyes contemplating the food for a moment before she returned indoors. Inside, she looked around, pinched the bridge of her nose, and sighed.

“Not exactly a normal day though, is it?” Saffron muttered.

There was food everywhere: sweet breads and fruit heaped in baskets, icebox packed to the brim with meats and soft cheeses, and a crate of vegetables with skin so perfect and shiny she could see her face reflected in the side of a tomato. A cake studded with glazed strawberries under a glass dome sat on her workbench amid her tools like a misplaced crown. The berries glimmered like gems, expensive and mouthwatering, frosting as white and pure as fresh snow.

“How am I supposed to finish all of this before it goes bad?” Saffron said to herself. She held the basket out before her like like it might bite. “And what do I do with this?”

Unlike the fresh vegetables, gorgeous cake and ripe fruit, at least the cherry preserves and smoked fish from the toys would keep for a while. But with so much food from the palace, she didn’t exactly need this basket to sustain herself. Could she give it away to someone? She found herself wondering if Baby 5 might like to come over for a tea party. But at the very least, she’d have to tell the toys to focus on non-food items as payment for the time being.

Provided any of them intended to pay her for her services in the next week or two, that is. She never quite knew when one would show up to deliver payment. The toys had...complicated schedules, to put it mildly.

That morning, as the sun rose higher and the light in her converted barn began to brighten, Saffron stared at the toys’ basket while eating a slice of the soft, sweet bread the king had given her. She was due back at the palace later that morning, and many mornings thereafter. She’d need to tell the toys her schedule so they didn’t come calling while she was away. Saffron did not normally spend quite so much time away from home; the toys would be confused to find her home empty so many days of the week. She’d been forced to skip her most recent Tuesday and Friday trips to town, too, leaving the toys none the wiser to her new routine.

Yes, she decided as she finished the bread and dusted her fingers on a handkerchief. At her next opportunity, she would take the trip into town and sit in the square to make herself available for the toys, as was her custom. She also had not visited her favored craftsmen for a supply run recently. As soon as she could, Saffron resolved to do both.

Not that she knew when she would next have a chance. Her schedule at the palace was packed to the gills. Perhaps the king would let her negotiate a day’s respite? She needed time to perform her normal Ms. Mend-It work, after all. King Doflamingo couldn’t realistically expect her to simply abandon her routine to fit his schedule, could he?

Looking at the gigantic couch in the corner did not give her much hope, sadly.

But it was no matter. Her toy-mending and other odd jobs could all wait. It wasn’t as if she was in some great need of additional work. The food spread throughout her home was evidence of how well King Doflamingo paid her, and this was just the leftovers from a lunch she’d eyed a bit too obviously. The lavish cake and expensive fruits were just a token from his coffers, and little more. So was the sumptuous rope of pearls concealed in a box beneath her bed. The actual payment he’d grant her was much, much greater — great enough that her mending work no longer represented such a dire need. Before, Saffron had needed to mend as much as she could to afford to live. But now that Saffron was in bed with a king —

Her cheeks colored at the metaphor. She was in business with the king, she mentally amended. And that meant her need to repair toys had diminished. Their need for her, conversely, remained the same. The toys would suffer without her helping, golden hands to repair them, but...

She looked at the food in the basket. The food on the tables. The cake like a crown on her workbench.

...but much as they needed her, she didn’t exactly need them. Not anymore. It wasn’t like she’d need their help to make ends meet after the king gave her her payment. Even more-so once word of her abilities spread through high society. Tending to the toys now that she had connections would be more like...charity work.

Charity. She’d never been in a position to provide it. She’d taken whatever repayment the toys could scrounge up for her, compensation not limited to money, but her work was never free. Now, though, she may never need to work again. It was difficult to imagine a life luxurious enough for charity.

But isn’t that what the toys had given her when she first arrived, friendless and destitute, in Dressrosa? And didn’t that mean she was obligated to repay them in kind?

Saffron shivered. She took a loaf of hearty grain from the toys’ basket and smeared it with the cherry preserves. Closing her eyes, she ate in slow bites, letting the tart cherry and coarse bread soothe her palate with simple flavors and familiar comfort.

But she was still hungry after she finished, so she smeared a slice of the king’s soft, white bread with churned butter and whipped honey, topping it all with shavings of pear and ribbons of thinly sliced prosciutto, salty and sweet blending beautifully on the tongue.

Saffron was no longer hungry.

KEEP READING ON AO3

#donquixote doflamingo x reader #doflamingo x oc #doflamingo/oc #one piece #one piece fanfiction #one piece fanfic #doffy/oc #doffy x oc #donquixote doflamingo #doflamingo

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dc-and-arfrona · 2 years ago

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Write a book

Jason Todd x Reader

Type: Angst

Based of this quote: I used to be able to write a book on what I know about you, but now when I reread that book I don’t believe that it’s the same person I wrote about.

Word Count: 500+

Masterlist

---

"I used to be able to write a book on what I know about you," you whispered, your voice laden with melancholy, "but now when I reread that book, I don't believe that it's the same person I wrote about."

The words hung in the air, heavy with the weight of shattered memories and a love that had lost its way. You stood before Jason Todd, once a beacon of light in your life, but now a stranger wearing a familiar face.

Flashback 1: Innocence

In the early days, your love was pure and unburdened. The laughter echoed through the air as you and Jason playfully chased each other through a sunlit park. His smile, bright and genuine, warmed your heart as you found solace in the simplicity of each other's company. It was a time of innocence, when the world felt conquerable, and love seemed everlasting.

Flashback 2: Shared Secrets

As the days turned into nights, you discovered a profound connection, built on trust and vulnerability. In the soft glow of candlelight, you and Jason sat huddled together, sharing your deepest fears and wildest dreams. The world faded away, and it was just the two of you, wrapped in a cocoon of love and understanding. Each secret whispered into the night cemented your bond, creating a fortress against the chaos that surrounded you.

Flashback 3: First Kiss

A lingering tension hung in the air as you and Jason found yourselves alone, surrounded by the hushed whispers of a moonlit night. Time seemed to pause, as if the universe held its breath in anticipation. With trembling hands and racing hearts, you closed the gap between you, your lips meeting in a tender, electric kiss. In that moment, the world fell away, leaving only the sweet taste of love and the promise of an eternal connection.

Flashback 4: Promises and Forever

Underneath a star-studded sky, Jason took your hand in his, his touch gentle yet filled with determination. His eyes locked with yours, he vowed to protect you, to fight alongside you, and to cherish you until the end of time. Promises of forever spilled from his lips, planting seeds of hope and dreams in your heart. In that moment, you believed in a love that would defy all odds, a love that would withstand the test of time.

But now, standing in the present, the rain washing away the remnants of what was, Jason closed his eyes, allowing himself to imagine what could have been. He saw a rewritten story, filled with moments of understanding, forgiveness, and a love that conquered the darkness. He saw himself standing by your side, fighting the demons that threatened to tear you apart. He saw a future where their love endured, where they embraced each other's flaws and built something unbreakable.

But reality came crashing down, and he knew that it was just a figment of his imagination, a bittersweet daydream. The truth remained that their story had taken a different path—one filled with pain, loss, and shattered dreams.

With a heavy sigh, Jason opened his eyes and met your gaze. "If I could rewrite our story, I would make it a tale of redemption and healing. I would find a way to keep our love alive, to banish the demons that haunted us. But sometimes, the pages we've written cannot be rewritten. And all I can do now is carry the weight of what we had and the pain of what we've lost."

You nodded, tears mingling with raindrops on your cheeks. "Some stories aren't meant to have happy endings. But they still hold a place in our hearts, reminding us of the love we once shared."

In the silence that followed, the sound of the rain filled the void. Each drop felt like a whispered goodbye, a final farewell to the story that had once been theirs.

And as you walked away, your footsteps echoing in the lonely night, Jason remained, his heart heavy with the weight of what could have been, knowing that sometimes, the most tragic stories are the ones that never got a chance to rewrite their ending.

#dc universe #robin x reader #jason todd x reader #red hood x reader #jason todd imagine #dc imagine #jason todd x y/n #red hood x you #jason todd x you #red hood imagine

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foxshaped · 2 years ago

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I’ve been watching Leverage again, all of it, in order.

I’m not very far into Redemption yet, but according to a friend who participates in the fandom more than I do mentioned that people are mad at Redemption for retconning Eliot’s backstory in regard to where he’s from (I guess something comes up about him being from Oklahoma, but the Two-Horse Job with his ex-girlfriend [ex-fiancée?] is in Kentucky. As if people can’t move.)

No, the one I’m mad about is I just watched the French Connection Job where the entire premise is Eliot is taking the job with or without the crew because Toby (the guy who got beat up and his school threatened) taught him to cook, SPECIFICALLY, Eliot says Toby is the one that taught him to use a knife to create instead of destroy.

Then Redemption came in and changed that to the hot home ec teacher to, what, try and prove that even high school Eliot was a stud?

Edit: Stop liking this, I was wrong! I watched a couple episodes of Redemption with said friend and then went back to OG, and the sick brain fucked it all up. Actually no I can’t even blame sick brain, my normal brain is like that too.

I mean yeah it still bugs me that the backstory changed so much, but it’s not like they’re retconning it in the reboot.

#I made it unrebloggable for a reason!

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scramble-crossing · 2 years ago

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😶 hello ceo of sho minamimoto cqn u spare a sho hc. sending the 😶 as a. whichever u want bc im indecisive fhhfjg

Ceo of Sho Minamimoto...I am going to be thinking about that now

I've been Enabled so I'm gonna choose a few headcanons I remembered when I was looking at the list. Buy my silence one ¥10000 pin!!!

🦾 A disability headcanon

He has permanent damage in his right shoulder from the bullet he took during the Sho-Josh-Neku cowboy showdown hell incident. He stressed the wound repeatedly before it could heal. Even after two revivals he still feels the pain. My hc is that injuries in the UG function based on emotions/mentality rather than anything physical, his shoulder wound remains because he still hasn't let his failure to defeat Joshua go. Luckily he's ambidextrous, so he doesn't have to worry about writing or sketching. But it can be a massive pain to deal with in battle (for the love of god do NOT give him one of those tackle pins he WILL forget he WILL ram his injured shoulder straight into the singular massive bicep that is Susuzkichi's frankly horrific body).

🫂 A friendship headcanon

Post-(theoretical) redemption, Neku is his closest friend. He was the one who saw good in him and believed he could be better than he was, even knowing his history and all the things he's done. He's still close with the Wicked Twisters as a sort of weird older brother figure who shows up every now and then to get them Dairy Queen, but Neku's just...different. They understand each other in a unique way, both being people who shut themselves off from others for a very long time and had to go through the painful process of learning to let people in again. Also, Shinjuku. I know that canonically it was already in pieces when Neku arrived, but I still think it's funny if he and a freshly-revived Mina were like. Forced war buddies. Stumbling out of Shinjuku covered in blood with hallowed eyes gripping each other's hand.

😶 Hey look it's the actual random headcanon!

He used to have quite a few piercings when he was younger. I can see him with a couple in his ears and a tongue stud (it's not like he particularly cares for spicy foods anyways). Unfortunately he neglected to take care of them while they were healing and probably rubbed his grubby little garbage sculpture tetanus hands all over them and a few of them got infected badly enough that it put him off of piercings for a while. This is my silly little unnecessary explanation for why he doesn't have any in canon when is SUCH a guy who would have a ton of cool piercings.

#thanks so much for the ask! i had fun :]#i have so many thoughts in my head about this guy #ask #minamimoto

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guywrestlingaddiction · 1 year ago

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Double Team Triumph (almost): Jude Johns v Ty Garrison & Gilles Laurent (bgeast.com)

Consider this match a cuckold fight taken too far. In theory it might be fun to show off your wrestling skills in front of your guy, just be careful it doesn't all blow up in your face.

Jude Johns v Ty Garrison & Gilles Laurent (bgeast.com)

SPOILER ALERT: I highly recommend viewing this match in its entirety before reading this post.

The Backstory

We open on Ty and Gilles. Are they boyfriends? Lovers? Whatever you call it, it's clear these two have some chemistry together when suddenly there's a knock on the door...

And we begin ...

The Triumph

Jude's body is a canvas of cut and sexy defined muscle, all of which became a formidable weapon as he swiftly subdued Ty. Unaccustomed to being on the receiving end of such punishment, Ty didn't take the loss lightly. In his mind, he envisioned overpowering his opponent, showing off his muscles, and perhaps celebrating later with his partner. Alas, the reality of the match unfolded in stark contrast to that dream.

Jude flashes a cocky look while Ty struggles against him.

In a bid to salvage some honor, Gilles leaps into the fray, hoping to overcome the new stud, but it was all in vain. Jude proved to be an unstoppable force, a wrestler of such magnitude that both Gilles and Ty together couldn't match.

The Double Team

Every man has his breaking point and that last submission in French breached that point. Who the hell was this newcomer making him look bad and what kind of man is Ty if he can't protect his partner? Ty isn't going to stand for this as he leaps into action to save his man.

The match is over. Jude may have won fair and square but Ty and Gilles was going to make him worship them as punishment for making them look bad.

So what have we learned today? You can win the match but still lose yourself to your opponent(s). Jude is just a bit too cocky and arrogant, forcing Ty to summon his inner heel and knock him the fuck down. The line "Submit ... now in French" is the highlight of this match for me and the ultimate humiliation for Gilles. You see, while the wrestling itself may be average, the humiliation (and redemption) of these two men is an absolute triumph.

#gay wrestling #bgeast.com #Jude Johns #Ty Garrison #Gilles Laurent

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themovieblogonline · 6 months ago

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Gladiator II: A New Era of Epic Begins

Get ready to dust off your toga and sharpen your trident because "Gladiator II" is set to hit theaters soon, and the hype is real. The official poster and 13 new images have just dropped, giving fans a tantalizing glimpse of the epic showdown that awaits. The trailer drops tomorrow, and if these posters are anything to go by, we're in for a treat. Gladiator II Posters: A Visual Feast The new "Gladiator II" posters showcase a star-studded cast. This new cast promises to bring the same level of intensity and drama as the original. Paul Mescal leads the charge, with Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, and Fred Hechinger backing him up. Oh, and did we mention Denzel Washington? That's right, folks... Denzel is stepping into the arena. The posters are a blend of fierce expressions, dramatic lighting, and just the right amount of dirt and grime. They practically scream, "Are you not entertained?" Gladiator 2: The Plot Thickens We know that the story is crafted by Peter Craig and David Scarpa. Ridley Scott returns to the director’s chair, bringing his signature style to this much-anticipated sequel. The story promises to continue the legacy of the original film while introducing new characters and conflicts that will surely keep us on the edge of our seats. The original "Gladiator," released in 2000, was a monumental success. Directed by Ridley Scott and starring Russell Crowe as Maximus Decimus Meridius, the film became an instant classic. The movie went on to earn five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor. Its compelling story of betrayal, revenge, and redemption, set against the backdrop of ancient Rome, captivated audiences worldwide. The film's success cemented its place in cinematic history and set the stage for this highly anticipated sequel. Why We’re Excited "Gladiator II" promises to be more than just a sequel; it’s a continuation of a story that has captivated audiences for over two decades. With a stellar cast, a legendary director, and a plot that promises new twists and turns, this film is shaping up to be a must-watch. Whether you're a fan of the original or new to the saga, "Gladiator II" looks set to deliver the epic battles, emotional depth, and cinematic brilliance that made the first film a classic. (Source: Paramount Pictures) Read the full article

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whatsonmedia · 8 months ago

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Regardless, it's a sentiment worth living by, especially with Taco Taco offering double the enjoyment for half the price. Head to Shoreditch and explore flavor combinations you never knew existed, all freshly cooked on-site. Delight your taste buds with options like succulent beef with torched red pepper, Yucatan pickled onion with a pot of Birria sauce, or charred pineapple salsa with shredded cabbage slaw and ancho chili prawns. The best part? Pay just £5 for two tacos instead of £10! Highlights - Dietary Options: Vegan, Halal, and Gluten-free options available. - Free Customizable Extras: Personalize your taco experience. - Exclusive Discount: 50% off. Need to Know - Voucher Validity: Valid for any two tacos from Taco Taco. - Availability: Monday to Friday, 11:30 am - 5 pm. - Redemption: Present your voucher upon arrival. - Expiration: Voucher valid until August 31, 2024. - Menu Changes: Menu is subject to change. - Location: 141 Commercial Street, London, E1 6BJ. For £16.50, get a FREE round of bowling together with a pizza or burger and a beverage. Prepare to strike it lucky at Bloomsbury Bowling Lanes, where you can experience the charm of a quirky 50s-inspired alley in the heart of London. This offer allows you to enjoy a classic cheeseburger with fries or a delicious 12” Margherita or pepperoni pizza, all paired with a bottle of Bitburger beer. After your meal, take to the lanes for a free game of bowling, making it a perfect outing for friends, family, or a fun date. Highlights - Lunch Specials: Available from 12 pm every weekday. - Meal Options: Choose between a cheeseburger with fries or a 12” Margherita or pepperoni pizza. - Drinks: Includes a bottle of Bitburger beer or a half pint of post-mix (non-alcoholic option). - Discount: Enjoy over 40% off. - Free Game: Includes a complimentary game of bowling. Need to Know - Voucher Validity: This voucher is valid for a burger or pizza with beer and a game at Bloomsbury Bowling Lanes. - Drink Options: Choose between one bottle of Bitburger or a half pint of post-mix (non-alcoholic option). - Availability: Monday to Friday, 12 pm - 2 pm. - Booking: To redeem, please send your booking confirmation to [email protected] with your preferred date and time. Ensure the voucher, security code, and QR code are clear. - Presentation: Please present your voucher upon arrival. - Changes/Cancellations: The merchant must be informed of any changes or cancellations within 72 hours of your booking to reschedule for up to three months later. If the booking is cancelled after this time, the voucher will be deemed to have been redeemed for the current booking and cannot be used towards a new booking. - Expiration: Voucher valid until August 31, 2024. - Location: Bedford Way, Bloomsbury, WC1H 9EU At Choppaluna, get any hot Luna Melt for just £6. Experience the ultimate cheese pull with Choppaluna's hot Luna Melts, now available for just £6. These delicious melts are crafted with either cheddar cheese or vegan alternatives, combined with fresh toppings, and toasted to perfection in Choppaluna's signature tortilla bread. Perfect for a satisfying lunch snack! Highlights - Cheese Options: Available with cheddar or vegan cheese. - Four Combinations: Choose from four different Luna Melt options. - Exclusive Discount: Offer available exclusively. What’s on the Menu? - Spicy Chicken Tikka Melt: Classic Tortilla, Cheddar Cheese, Tikka Spiced Chicken, Edamame Beans, Sweetcorn, Jalapeños, Piri Piri Dressing. - Feta & Spinach Melt (V): Beetroot & Chia Tortilla, White Cheese, Spinach, Cherry Tomatoes, Crispy Onions, Chef Dressing. - Protein Chicken & Egg Melt: Classic Tortilla, Cheddar Cheese, Chicken, Free Range Egg, Red Cabbage, Carrots, Chef Dressing. - Piri Piri Chicken Melt: Classic Tortilla, Cheddar Cheese, Tikka Spiced Chicken, Jalapeños, Spicy Chef Dressing. Need to Know - Voucher Validity: This voucher is valid for any hot Luna Melt from Choppaluna. - Availability: - Bloomsbury: Monday to Sunday, 11 am - 9 pm. - Holborn: Monday to Friday, 11 am to 4 pm. - Wembley Park: Monday to Sunday, 11 am to 9 pm. - Redemption: Present your voucher upon arrival. - Expiration: Voucher valid until August 15, 2024. - Menu Subject to Change: Items on the menu may change. - Dietary Requirements: Time Out is not responsible for catering to dietary requirements. Please contact Choppaluna to ensure your dietary requirements can be accommodated before purchasing a voucher. - Locations: - Bloomsbury: 87 Marchmont St, London WC1N 1AL. - Holborn: 314 High Holborn, London WC1V 7BN. - Wembley Park: 16 Wembley Park Blvd, Wembley Park, Wembley HA9 0HP. For more offers and deals check out WhatsOn Read the full article

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