#unbridled badassery

[the-cimmerians]

Last month, Nebraska state Senator Machaela Cavanaugh declared that she'd filibuster every damn bill the Republican-controlled legislature put forward unless it pulled proposed legislation banning gender-affirming health care for transgender youth. Specifically, this anti-trans garbage would ban puberty blockers, gender-affirming surgeries, and hormone therapy.

Cavanaugh wasn't shy about her intentions. She said, "If people are like, 'Is she threatening us?' let me be clear: Yes, I am. I am threatening you." She added, "If this Legislature collectively decides that legislating hate against children is our priority, then I am going to make it painful; painful for everyone. Because if you want to inflict pain upon our children, I am going to inflict pain upon this body.”

[theeclecticwitchblog240]

Hecate: How To Work With The Goddess Of Magic & Necromancy

BY TEAANDROSEMARY2

JANUARY 4, 2022 APRIL 8, 2022

DEITIES/WITCHCRAFT

Hecate is the Greek goddess of witchcraft, magic, necromancy, and spells, so it’s no surprise that the worship of this archetype has boomed in popularity with the dawn of a new era of witchcraft.

In the Underworld, she guides those who have passed on, lighting the way in the darkness with her torch as she once did to find Persephone.

Whether or not you believe in or worship this goddess, it’s hard not to adore her more and more with each fascinating story of feminine badassery, unbridled kindness, and acceptance that she brings forth.

The Goddess Hecate In History & Myth:

Hecate is a chthonic goddess born of titans and has existed since long before the creation of Mount Olympus.

She’s such an ancient deity that there’s quite a bit of confusion surrounding who her parents were – although much credit is given to the titans Perses and Asteria. Some texts say that she was a daughter of Zeus, but others speak of her as the very midwife who aided in his birth.

Nevertheless, Zeus adored and honored Hecate enough to allow her to maintain power over heaven, earth, and sea once he staked his reign over the gods.

Hecate & Persephone

Regardless of how you interpret the story of Persephone and Hades, when Demeter discovered her daughter was missing, goddess Hecate showed up with torches blazing to light the way back into the Underworld and find her. When they did, Hecate hugged her, held her close, and swore companionship to Persephone in her return to the Underworld.

To this day, Hecate roams Hades with the Lampades, her loyal torch-bearing nymphs, who act as handmaidens to Persephone during the cold months below. She also guides spirits crossing over so that they too may find their way in Hades.

Hecate As The Triple Goddess

In many ancient artworks and statues, we see Hecate depicted in triplicate. In some texts, she possesses three heads or faces, or even three separate forms entirely.

Hecate also shares distinct commonalities with the goddesses Artemis and Selene, and their epithets are used almost interchangeably in late Roman texts.

But it’s not only Greek and Roman mythologies with tales of triadic deities. We also see Brigid and the Morrigan of Irish culture, the Libyan serpent goddess Anatha, Zorya of Slavic lore, and the Hindu Tridevi represented as triple goddesses at times.

More famously, we see the ever-present holy trinity in the Christian faith, and some modern Wiccans have adopted Hecate as their maiden-mother-crone archetype.

Why is the number three so significant?

Using numbers as symbols has been practiced all over the world since before recorded history. In Greek numerology, the number three represents harmony and unity. We see the trinity echoed in many other cultures, often representing the omnipresent and all-knowing.

In some cultures, the trinity represents birth, love, and death; waxing, waning, and full moons; the maiden-mother-crone archetype; past-present-future, or even the mind, body, and soul.

Hecate’s Appearance:

The goddess Hecate sometimes wears a short dress and hunting boots, much like the Goddess Artemis. In other depictions, she dons a floor-length gown and bears a torch in one hand and a serpent in the other.

Godess Hecate’s statues often appear in triplicate, posed back-to-back as if standing watch over a three-way crossroads.

Other records describe her as a terrifying monster with three necks or heads – a horse, a dog, and a lion head, respectively.

Hecate is almost always portrayed with black dogs by her side. It is even said that she has taken the form of a dog herself.

Hecate’s Powers:

Hecate has power over all realms of existence – the earth, heavens, and sea – and walks the liminal spaces in between. As such, she holds dominion over thresholds, gates, hedges, and boundaries of all kinds. She then helps us to build personal boundaries and challenges us to invest in and take care of ourselves.

As the Witch Mother, goddess Hecate is powerful in all realms of magic and sorcery and has a deep sense of intuition. If she chooses to lend her favor to your craft, then your manifestation abilities can become more powerful than you have ever imagined.

With a mighty reign over the Underworld and the domain of necromancy, Hecate is the deity you want to have by your side if you have an interest in reaching out to those who have crossed beyond the veil. Through working with her, we can unlock the secrets of life, death, and the liminal space, and learn to safely and respectfully commune with spirits.

Not only a guardian to souls who have recently passed on, Hecate also attends to women and children and oversees childbirths. Travelers and sailors may also find themselves in her favor if they’re lucky.

Along with Artemis, Hecate is a goddess of the wilderness, which holds a trove of magic and wonder in its own right. In her ties to Selene, she harnesses the moon’s powers of regeneration and deep intuition.

Hecate is also an herbalist who honors the use of medicines, poisons, and even psychoactive plants in practicing one’s craft.

How Do You Know If The Goddess Hecate is Calling To You?

Although you can theoretically call upon a deity with extensive amounts of worship, deities often reach out to us when they want to work with us.

The Goddess Hecate tends to reach out in very subtle ways. It can be difficult to determine if she is the goddess reaching out to you, but there are a few specific tells.

Some of the indicators that the Goddess Hecate is reaching out to you include:

1. She comes to you in your dreams. This may be in the physical/personified form or as a symbol.

2. You’ve found yourself doing more shadow work. Hecate challenges us to acknowledge the darker parts of our being in order to become the best forms of ourselves. In learning to embrace these difficult parts of ourselves, she teaches us how to be truly whole.

3. She called out to you in times of darkness or great distress. As the torchbearer, it’s not uncommon for Lady Hecate to reach out a helping hand in times of dire need. If you’re facing the Dark Night of the Soul, this chthonic deity will help you to get back up and see the light.

4. You are undergoing a difficult transformation. If you feel like you’re going through a tough transitional phase in your life, then the goddess of the crossroads may be reaching her hand out to you.

5. You’re seeing her symbols everywhere. If you’ve been encountering more animals and symbols associated with goddess Hecate then it’s very possible that she may be reaching out. It might also mean that the animal is just more active this time of year, so be sure to do your research of the local flora and fauna before assigning any sort of spiritual significance to something.

Symbols Of Hecate:

Dogs, particularly black dogs.

Deer

Polecats

Snakes and the Ouroboros

Spiders – although this is more of shared personal gnosis rather than something taken from historical texts.

Torches

Keys

Rope

Hecate’s Wheel

Sickles

Crossroads

Triple Moon imagery

Daggers or athames

The number three

How To Work With The Goddess Hecate:

The goddess Hecate is known to be very particular about those with whom she chooses to work. If she doesn’t see that you’re willing to put in the time and effort, Hecate won’t waste her time on you either.

It’s also imperative to cleanse yourself before approaching Hecate. I do this out of respect for her, but I also think she encourages her worshipers to practice self-love through acts of cleanliness and mindfulness by asking this simple task of them.

Dating back to the Chaldean Oracles, it’s clear that Hecate favors the virtuous, and expects her followers to show kindness and integrity to others through acts of charity.

Hecate is not only the goddess of physical crossroads and boundaries but spiritual ones as well. In working with her, she will push you to set personal boundaries for yourself and provide guidance on the many crossroads your life path may have in store.

While this may all sound very cheerful, many know Hecate for having a darker side. Those who work with her may do so with the intent of working on their traumas through shadow work. Others choose to consort with this liminal goddess for her guidance in communing with the dead.

As the goddess of witchcraft, magic, and spells, I often evoke Hecate to ask for guidance on intent, stronger manifestation, and more effective spellwork.

One thing I’ve learned about working with Hecate is that you have to put in the physical work to see results – she won’t sugarcoat things for you or give you an easy ride. A great way to earn her favor is by performing mindful acts of devotion to show your commitment to her and her core principles.

Devotional Acts To Hecate:

Dedicate altar space to Hecate – this can be as simple as a single candle if you’re just getting started or if you need to keep it low-key.

Clean your home as part of a new moon ritual.

Plan, create and cast spells.

Perform other dark moon spells and rituals.

Light a devotional candle in Hecate’s honor.

Finish projects you started earlier in the month.

Volunteer at your local animal shelter.

Serve a local soup kitchen or food pantry.

Practice green witchery by taking care of houseplants and being mindful of your local ecosystem.

Clean up a cemetery.

Perform Hecate’s Deipnon.

What is Hecate’s Deipnon?

Deipnon is the Ancient Greek word for supper and is practiced by leaving a meal or offering for Hecate and the spirits of the dead.

Hecate’s Deipnon is typically observed on the night of the dark moon, but for me is a process that begins much earlier in the day.

Start with a New Moon cleansing ritual to purify the home, beginning by sweeping the halls and entryways. If you have dogs or other pets, collect some of their hair or claws from your dustpan to include in your offering.

I also like to take care of any other messes that I don’t want to bring with me into the next lunar month. This may mean different things depending on what needs to be done around the house.

Then, cleanse your home with incense, smoke, or bells, and ask for Hecate’s blessing and protection during the next blossoming of the moon.

Next, I gather my offering in a bowl or tray to prepare for nightfall. During this time, I like to make sure I’ve showered before I present my offering.

Offerings For Hecate:

These can be left as part of Hecate’s Deipnon, but offerings can be made at any time that works for you!

Garlic

Onion or leeks

Wine

Honey

Almonds

Grapes

Apples

Mushrooms

Bread or cakes

Fruit

Flowers

Bay leaves

Incense

Used up spell components

Crystals like moonstone or labradorite

A piece of paper with aspects you’d like to leave behind written on it

Plant debris, if you’re a green witch. (Avoid cuttings of invasive plant species!)

Strands of dog hair collected from your new moon sweepings

Other biodegradable materials gathered from your monthly cleaning

Anything that calls out to you! If you have a strong feeling that she’ll enjoy something, then it’s likely a sign that she wants it as an offering. Just make sure leaving it outside is safe for the environment and local ecosystem.

Once gathered, the offering is left at a three-way crossroads just before nightfall, and Lady Hecate would have you know that the poor, starving, and strays have just as much claim to it as she does.

When you arrive at the crossroads, create a circle of protection in which to leave your offering. Remember that this circle should protect the needy that may take from your bowl, not keep them from it.

All hail Hekate!

I am not the author, just sharing the knowledge.

Blessed be!

[xxtc-96xx]

Kinda funny that fanon Papyrus is a sweet cinnamon roll that is physically incapable of hurting even a flower petal while canon Papyrus is a trained warrior who only doesn't unleash his unbridled badassery upon you because he's also a kind person who finds joy in helping others, even if he can be a bit annoying sometimes.

Canon pap can beat you within an inch of your life with a smile on his face and not kill you XD he just has more control than everyone else 

[the-blind-assassin-12]

I See You : Intro

A/N: What if things went differently after that fated carousel incident? Could Frank move on? Could Billy? Under what circumstances? What if Madani and Dumont weren’t around to complicate things? If you’re looking for canon...I blew it up...sorry. Also, an IMMENSE THANK YOU to @something-tofightfor​ and @my-little-dumpster-fire​ for their feedback, input, coercion and general badassery. 

Word Count: 1,863 

Frank sniffed and cleared his throat, looking out over the Hudson River, his gnarled, overly broken, deeply scarred hands gripping the cold metal railing. He watched as a ferry passed by, chopping through the dark water. An unremarkable sight to most; the river was full of ferries shuttling tourists and commuters to and from the bustling island of Manhattan, streaks of white capped waves cross hatching the cold black depths. But Frank saw something else when he saw those boats, heard something other than the crashing wake or the sounds of engines and propellers. When Frank looked out at what most people walked right past, too busy or rushed to stop and see, he saw ghosts. Memories. He saw himself with his family in another life, in another time. It was winter now, the harsh eastern winds whipping at his face from off the water. But it was always summer in his mind, the sun dancing in Maria's hair, warming her skin as he slid his hand up to cup her cheek. It was summer, the unbridled happiness of freedom from school and longer days and no bed time echoing in his kids' laughter as they chattered next to him, pointing at the Statue of Liberty. It was summer, but it couldn't be summer forever. Seasons change, and it was time he learned to change with them.

A hand came to rest on his shoulder. Normally, instinct would kick in and muscle memory would take over and the person who belonged to that hand would be on the pavement before he ever saw their face. But even through the heavy woolen coat he wore, he felt the distinct weight of this particular hand and knew exactly whom it belonged to; the only person who could come close to undoing all of his violent conditioning. The only person who could see completely through it. Her thin fingers spread out against the rough fabric and he let his posture relax, if only slightly.

“Hey, Frank... you ready to do this?” Her voice was clear and confident, like always. She was never afraid, never backed down.

He turned to face her, stuffing his hands in his pockets as he met her eyes. A wisp of strawberry blonde hair blew across her forehead and she tucked it behind her ear with her free hand, the other still resting on Frank's shoulder.   Frank glanced once more out over the water, at the towering forms of New York’s skyline, and thought about what she was asking; about what he was walking away from. Was he ready? Was he ready to end his war against his past with anything less than absolute victory? Am I ready to walk away from you, Bill? 

She’d convinced him that he was; that he’d already handed Billy Russo as much punishment as he could. “You’re…what? You’re just going to keep all of this up until one of you is dead?” She’d asked him, that electric buzz in her eyes that she always got when she knew she was right about something. “What good would killing him do, huh Frank?” He’d grunted a quasi-response and looked away, but she’d taken his face between her hands and forced him to look at her as she continued. “He took everything from you, Frank, I get that. I get that, I do. But this isn’t an even playing field. He took your family, everything that mattered. He doesn’t have a family to take, Frank. But you still took everything that mattered. You took everything he built away- all that he was.” She shook her head and dropped one hand from his face as the other lingered on his cheek. He brought his own hand up, fingers circling her slender wrist. “Killing him takes the punishment away from him and puts it back on you.” She caught the flash in his eye that said he was conflicted about killing the man who had at one time been his brother, despite the unspeakable things he’d done since those ties had been severed. She knew how deep those old connections went; deep into every trench and bunker they’d sat dirty and bleeding in together, unsure of they’d make it through the night but damn sure that if one of them didn’t, neither of them would.

He recalled that conversation, one they’d had over dinner two weeks prior. They hadn’t talked much about Billy- or what Frank’s plan regarding him was- after the incident at the carousel, but she’d been thinking nearly non-stop about what she wanted and needed to say to the man she’d finally allowed herself to admit that she loved. She’d brought it up casually, through a mouthful of lo mien, gesturing with a set of chopsticks. “ You know, Frank, I’ve been thinking…” She’d gone on, bringing up the idea of the two of them starting over fresh somewhere far from New York- far from all the things that haunted him. Of course he was hesitant to agree. She knew he would be. But she was ready for every argument that he could possibly make; Karen Page always did her research.

“Karen, I can’t ask you to-“ he leaned forward, elbows on his knees, a white cardboard container in one hand and a stubborn set to his eyebrows.

“You’re not asking me to do anything, Frank.” She leaned in, too, setting her container on the coffee table between them, eyes laser focused on his. “You telling me that I can’t make decisions for myself?” She arched one eyebrow, questioning him with a sharp tone.

Frank swallowed the friend rice he’d been chewing and wiped his mouth with the crumpled napkin in his hand. “That’s not what I’m saying, of course not.”

“Okay, then, next argument.” She kept her gaze steady as his flicked to the floor and back.

“You’ll never be safe with me. You’ve seen how shit follows me around, Karen, I can’t-“

“And you’ve seen that I can handle it when it does, Frank.”

She had a point and he knew it. Running out of things to throw at her, he brought up the one thing that he knew mattered most to her. “What about your career, huh? You’re just gonna scrap everything you’ve been working for? For me?”

Karen leaned back against the couch cushions and couldn’t help the laugh that escaped her lips as her eyes rolled of their own accord. “My line of work and the way I pursue it? Come on, Frank, you really think this is the first time I’ve had to relocate under a new name?” She leaned back in, the remnants of that laugh still pulling at the corners of her mouth. “You think a journalist got lucky enough to be born with the name Karen Page?” She cocked her head to the side, shaking it slowly. “And as for your other question…” he tone softened and she reached forward to wrap her fingers around his hand. “I think you know where I stand on that one.”

Out of ammo, Frank conceded to thinking about it, but even he knew that her points were bullet proof. He’d agreed a few days later, and they’d begun working on their next steps. Unsurprisingly, Karen had “a guy” that she got in touch with for their new identities, and Frank talked himself into contacting an old friend that he swore he’d never drag back into his world- David Lieberman. He’d need his particular skills if the plan he had in mind was going to work. Again, unsurprisingly, Lieberman promised to pull through. The last step included meeting with the back –alley “surgeon” Frank had left Billy with after their run in in Central Park- “See, Frank,” Karen had added to her argument, “If you were going to kill him, you would have done it then. You wanted him alive. You wanted him to remember.” – to drop off a pre-paid cellphone.

“You make sure that piece of shit lives a long life, and you give him this,” Frank said, thrusting the phone at the man before him.

“You wanna see him?” he asked, taking the phone and pocketing it in his apron.

Frank wrinkled his nose and clicked his tongue turning away. “Give ‘em the phone. I’ll know if you don’t,” was all he said as he walked away.

.  . .  .  .  .

Now, standing at the railing, watching the ferries pass and the towers scrape the clouds and people go about their lives; now, with Karen’s hand on his shoulder and her eyes searching his and her question in his ear; now, with his past on his mind and his future in his heart, he was ready to answer her question.

“Yeah…yeah, Karen…I’m ready.” His gruff voice cut through the cold air, and she flattened her forearm against his shoulder out of equal parts relief and support. She nodded and kissed him on the cheek before taking a few steps back to give him privacy, indicating that she’d be “right over here” when he’s done.

As soon as he felt her hand leave his shoulder, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a phone that looked identical to the one he’d left for Billy. He dialed a number and waited as it rang once, twice, three times…before a familiar voice picked up.

“Frank.” It wasn’t a question. It was a toneless, flat statement.

“You listen to me and you listen good, Russo. I let you live so you could have a good long time to think about what you did. I kept you alive so you could remember what you did to my family. Woulda been easier for us both if I killed you, Bill, but I didn’t. You’re gonna live a long life now. I know you. You survive. So that’s what you’re gonna do. Only you’re gonna do it right where you are. You’re gonna stay in New York. You’re gonna stay put. With all the things you lost, and all the things you took, and all the people who know your fucking face. And if you leave the city, Bill? I’ll know. You got it.”

A sardonic, painful, snarl of a laugh came through the speaker. “Yeah, Frankie. I got it.”

“Good. The phone in your hand? That’s your new best friend, Bill. You keep that phone on you and you answer it when I call. You don’t, and I’m coming for you. You leave New York, I’m coming for you. You think I don’t have eyes on you, Bill? I see you.” He snapped the phone shut before opening it again, twisting the keypad away from the earpiece to break the phone in two. He tossed one piece into the Hudson, and threw the other in a garbage can next to the rail. A happy, young family walked by just after he disposed of the phone, a little boy trailing a blue balloon on a string, bubbling with giddy laughter. He waited for them to pass by before joining Karen. She slipped her hand in his wordlessly, and the two of them turned their backs on the city, silently hoping they’d never need to return.  

.  .  .  .  .  .  .

@something-tofightfor @my-little-dumpster-fire @zaffrenotes

[luckycheesefoodie321]

I’m about to unleash a LONG review of HTTYD3: The Hidden World RIDDLED with spoilers sooooo... (this is probably trash, it’s been several days since i started this so idk the flow and my thought process was a mess but i better post this now before i forget)

Spoiler free review: 9/10, I did cry, personally felt it was on par with HTTYD2 butttt I like it in a different way to HTTYD2... the animation? ferguckin’ gorgeous, there are fracking LEVELS to the beauty of the Hidden World (the actual place and the movie)...and Astrid’s hair??? mmmm yeah goals

OK SPOILERS UNDER THE CUT (and it looooong yall)

Ok so time to explain the 1/10:

the flow wasn’t as smooth?? as it could have been... it all made sense why things happened and where the motivations came from but...the transitions from sequence to sequence seemed...a little disjointed??? there were parts (maybe it was because i had a kid with me so I got distracted in like two parts) where I was like “oh wait something is happening?? oh wait no yeah I get it sure...so it took me second to realise how one scene got to the other (but again that might’ve been because i was distracted.)...and as a result of the slightly jarred flow, the pace seemed a little disrupted??? maybe it’s just me wanting more, but it felt like things could’ve been a bit...meatier??

also, this was a very Hiccup and Toothless film (I mean obviously, and this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, and I intend to discuss how great it is later), and so it sorta left little fulfilment or finality for the side characters...they all had their moments sure, and somewhat of an end, but i feel like just a minute here and there more to give them a more satisfying character ending would’ve been nice...

NOW ONTO THE 9/10, and since we’re here already, let’s talk side characters

OUR DRAGON SQUAD

Tuffnut finally got a chance to shine for more than a second of screentime, and while he remained the comedic relief he’s always been (in the films, haven’t seen the shows or short films), it was fun to see him branch out and engage with Hiccup directly...the continuous through-line of him and his beard and trying to impart wisdom on Hiccup was great... Ruffnut also got some solid screentime and she finally made her choice of man (when really she didn’t have any for reasons I will explain later) and “accepted” Fishlegs...but idk didn’t care about that, her scene when she was “captured” by Grimmel was fantastic...Kristen Wiig delivered perfectly from intonation to comedic timing, loved her work! 

Snotlout...I literally had to pause a few seconds just now after typing his name bc *sigh*...we all know Snotlout’s has mild braggadocio...he spitting words with no follow through...annnd that doesn’t much change??? He’s still trying to front and compete with Hiccup and then Eret, and that was originally his charm point...but I would’ve liked to see him find validation in himself rather than an intentional compliment from Valka...and speaking of Valka??? Snotlout just latching onto the closest woman likkkkeeee Snotlout calm down you’re like 40 years younger than her??? maybe not 40 but point is Valka is a badass dragon momma who really isn’t going your way...I just wanted Snotlout to have his moment... 

Fishlegs...yeah he was all dragon daddy carrying his baby Gronkle around and also enjoying his baby Gronkle and that big dragon’s friendship...also Ruffnut has claimed him...bc Snotlout is chasing Valka...so there’s no real option for her (she moved on from Eret and her self-confidence is kinda dope)

HOMIE ADULTS

Eret, son of Eret...I wanted more of him...he just hanging around making passing comments and being the knowledgeable other about Grimmel...and then he had a little something something implied with Gobber??? they had some scenes that had me side-eyeing hardcore... Gobber basically has the same relationship he had with Stoick, but with Hiccup...general calling him out, questioning his lack of planning...just sorta done with everything...true sassy queen...and also yeah him and Eret??? suss

Valka, my queen, my dragon wizard lord who floats through the clouds... maintains her badassery and voice of wisdom role but again steps back to make way for Hiccup and Toothless...and she encouraged Snotlout, for which I am not down...like sure support him but ugh you know he’s into you so just...just...no

MAIN CHARACTERS

Grimmel...definitely a more fleshed out villain than the Red Death and Drago...not necessarily a complex villain, but he was a lot smarter and impacted Hiccup in a way the other two didn’t...rather than using blood and fire to cut to Hiccup’s core, he lured Toothless away and forced Hiccup into a sobering reality that he and Toothless can’t always be together...that said, his “death” was kinda lame...could’ve had more of a bang than probably drowning

The Light Fury was used in an interesting way...she’d already been captured and was used as bait, not just stumbled upon in the wilderness as I had assumed from the trailers...I enjoyed how she was so clearly a wild dragon...from the way she responded to Toothless and his attempts at flirting, spurred him to tap into his true potential and abilities that Valka had alluded to in HTTYD2, to how she always trying to get him to come away into the sky and away from the humans...that said I love how she gradually warmed up to Hiccup...not in the way Toothless did, but in a way where you knew she acknowledged that Hiccup was someone who was important to Toothless, and had no desire to harm her or other dragons and the fact she was the one who saved both Toothless and Hiccup at the end was great...

Astrid, once again, is the only one (aside from Valka, and apparently Eret) with any real sense, both common and fighting...she’s kept to her roots as a skilled fighter in her own right, as opposed to the others relying heavily on their dragons...her chemistry with Hiccup continued to be adorable and flirtatious and pure and wholesome and with all the mad banter...her being so firm against being married so quickly bouncing off Hiccup’s clearly apparent willingness to tie the knot was an adorable under-plot...her character was probably the most consistent of all the characters imo...and she got a fulfilling ending...plus once again, her hair, ESPECIALLY IN THE WEDDING SCENE WAS SO FRIGGEN GORGEOUS AND BEATS ALL ANIMATED HAIR EVER

And now the boys of the hour, Hiccup and Toothless

This was a Hiccup and Toothless film. No side story about his mom and dad, no arbitrary villain just there to cause conflict. This was a film about two best friends in an increasingly complicated world realising that in order to tackle that world? They’d have to separate. It’s the same feeling as realising that the people you grew up with or the friends you made in school won’t be able to stay by your side anymore. You each have a path to take and it’s not one that can be shared...maybe run parallel at times but not the whole way. This is what our boys had to face. 

I love love LOVED that there were sooo many parallels to the first movie...ugh to have that footage so I can count and display all the moments that just brought you back to all the charm and things you fell in love with in the first movie, but with more meaning, more stories to tell...it’s like when I saw Miley Cyrus sing The Climb again many many years after the Hannah Montana movie...there was suddenly more depth to her performance...this was the vibe I got..and it was obviously intentional in bringing so many parallels to the first movie...bringing the story full circle and all that, and of course it culminated in the most perfect moment, the moment that started us all on this journey...

BUT IN THE MOTHERFRACKING REVERSE!!! this was the moment that let those tears slip...I had gone in expecting to cry, but had far and away found myself having more fun and slowly accepting that maybe...maybe I wouldn’t cry in this movie...we got to the big goodbye, and I embodied my inner Jake Peralta and was like cool cool cool no tears yet, I can make it through and then BAM! they did the reverse hand touch and tears were spilled, and my friends were just watching me with unbridled glee in the dark as I got emotional...I’d been watching with increasing suspicion as moment after moment echoed the first movie, but somehow I didn’t realise they would do the reverse hand thing...maybe it’s because the hand thing had been embedded in every moment that Hiccup and the dragon riders encountered new dragons that I did not expect he would ever have to do it to Toothless again?? but in reverse???? because he was letting GO?!?!?!?!?! god it hit me hard...

But then a downside: they started to overuse it in the prologue-y sorta bit with the kids and meeting Toothless again...liiikkkeeee we already had that major impactful, emotional moment...why overuse it??? i would’ve much rathered they just gazed at each other for a bit before Toothless suddenly gives his signature toothless grin...or he swoops in and grabs Hiccup by the pegleg into the air, freaks everyone out, only to do the upside down grin thing- that would’ve been great...I mean they had that moment with the Light Fury but I wouldn’t have minded if they used that one again...

my mind is wandering and this probs doesn’t make any sense at this point sooo: the separation thing! good they established the over-reliance on the dragons and Hiccup’s thinking he can’t do well without Toothless, and Astrid, my QUEEN, coming in and telling him what’s what...and also not marrying him until he was more certain of himself because she knew if he wasn’t ready to face the world alone, he wasn’t ready to face the world with her (at least that’s my interpretation and again idk where I’m going with this thought process)...also love that Hiccup was lowkey jealous of the Light Fury...also also glad she never got a name...keeps her wild, as she should be...

I think this was definitely an incredible ending to an incredible trilogy of films...maybe not Toy Story perfect, but it was full of heart and emotion and continuously brought you back to all the wonder of the first film. Literally, there were so many parallels to the first film it was insane...while I talked about disjointed flow earlier, this incorporation of these callbacks was so well embedded, becoming just a natural proceeding of events... 

I’m coming back to this review after several days so idk where I was going with this soooo just gonna wrap this up:

ASTRID’S WEDDING HAIR WAS GOALS. THE END.

[emma-wolfheart]

Emma Wolfheart: The Bartender Turned Defender

hell yeah! i finally made a thing for the wwau. full info is under cut. if you wanna know more about the wwau, go to @ssowildwest

Name: Emma Wolfheart (Called “Wolf” by patrons)

Age: 19

Occupation/Role: Bartender

Team Good or Team Evil?: As neutral as neutral can be. As someone who listens to everybody’s problems, she doesn’t really have a choice.

APPEARANCE

Hair/eye/skin: Emma has messy black hair that goes a little ways past her shoulders with a swooping bang that goes over her right eye. She has dark brown eyes and pale skin.

Build: Short (she’s 5’2) and “average” weight.

Defining Characteristics: Emma is a great listener. If you have any issues with the world, just go to her bar and vent. She’ll be there to hear your sorrows and possibly give you some sage advice. However, she never has said much about herself.

Clothing Style: On the job, Emma wears her “uniform” consisting of a white apron with a black vest over top, black work pants, and brown boots. She also wears blue armbands and a bowtie along with a black bowler hat. Around her waist, she wears a holster for both beer bottles and a pistol in case of rowdy patrons.

Signature Look: She’s often seen with a glass in her hand behind a wooden bar.

Demeanor: Emma is very calm and collected. It’s very hard to truly upset her. However, she becomes quite reserved when you ask her about her own personal life...

STORY

Origins:

Emma’s origins have been lost to time, it seems… but it’s only because she chooses to keep it a secret, locked away in the vault that is her mind. If you really got to know her and she trusted you enough, she would tell you only a sliver of her backstory.

Emma was born into crime along with her older brother, Ydris. Due to the absence of their parents, he basically had to raise her himself. But when Emma became old enough to fully realize that she was living a life of crime, she cut herself off from her “family” and fled in the middle of the night. She changed her name, changed her hair, and almost everything about her appearance to avoid detection. Almost immediately, she also became a heavy alcoholic to forget everything that had happened. It worked… a little too well. Most of her childhood was now a blur, but she remembered one person: her brother. A few years had passed since she had seen him and she wondered where he was now. Months later, she finally spotted him as part of a group of outlaws from his distinct eyes. But Emma was fearful of just going up to him and saying, “Hey, guess what? You’re my brother! Remember me?” knowing that he might not recognize her and just murder her on the spot. So, she decided to follow his tracks, picking up bartending jobs in the towns he resided in to keep a watchful eye on him, just to make sure he didn’t get into too much trouble. That day hasn’t come yet, but when it does…

Economic Status: Upper middle-class. She earns quite a bit of money in tips from bartending.

Motivations: Emma’s motive is to become the most hospitable speakeasy in the West. She also has to keep an eye out for her brother in case of any… hijinks.

ALLIANCES

Horse Name/Breed/Color/Sex: Emma’s horse is named Champagne (Brightheart in the non-AU). He’s a completely white stock horse with a long, flowing white mane as well. Often times he can be spotted tied to a post outside of a window right behind where Emma usually bartends.

Pets: None other than her horse.

Partner/Love Interest: None (yet).

Other Alliances: She knows everyone in town pretty well and they see her as a great bartender. So technically she’s allied with basically all bar-goers (but not really). If they choose to do something she finds unfavorable, she’s got a whole lot of dirt on them saved up from their chats at the bar.

SKILLS

Level of Education: She basically had to learn everything herself, however, Emma has a traditional education level of up to 10th grade.

Fighting Skills/Style: Her fighting style can only be described as one of two things:

Unbridled badassery and calmness in the face of danger

Old 1920s “fisticuffs” that you see in silent movies

Trades and Talents: She’s very good at guessing your alcohol order before you can even lift a finger. In addition to this, Emma can mix numerous drinks from memory. Although not known or seen often, she’s also skilled with weaponry and horsemanship.

[headfax]

Moment to Moment

The 7th season finale of Game of Thrones was magnificent. It told a good story, it reunited a lot of characters that had been absent from one another for a long time, and it provided a very worthy ending for what I consider to be an excellent season.

But on top of the rampant badassery that we witnessed last night, I believe the episode was elevated by a series of small moments contained within larger scenes. The production team discussed this concept at some length during the associated "Inside the Episode" short; these moments might have been plainly obvious or subtle, could have been vocal or visual, etc. They're necessary to progress the current scene's narrative, and to maintain continuity in the innumerable threads of plotlines and relationships that twist and tangle through every scene. Sometimes they're hardly noticeable, but without them, episodes would feel flat and uninteresting.

Here is my list for best "moments" in last night's finale:

Honorable mention: Tyrion chugs a glass of wine

The scene inside the Red Keep between Cersei Lannister and Tyrion Lannister was utterly marvelous. Cersei's unbridled hatred and loathing for her brother was on full display, and The Mountain's looming presence in the background definitely underscored the fact that Tyrion was on very shaky footing. You might even say that the atmosphere in the room was...ahem...pregnant with tension. For most of the conversation, Tyrion is speaking passionately in his own defense. But after that falls on deaf ears, there's a brilliant moment when he just snaps and decides to call Cersei's bluff about killing him. The audience is then on the edge of its collective seat, because everyone knows how unpredictable this show can be about slaughtering beloved characters. Eventually Cersei flinches and the tension breaks. Tyrion breathes an enormous sigh of relief...and then heads straight over to the side table where he shakily pours himself a generous helping of wine and downs it in one gulp. I'd like to think that would be my reaction as well if I had come within inches of being murdered by a zombie roughly the same size and shape as a vending machine.

5. The Hound's "proud papa" moment

While walking to the Dragon Pit, Brienne of Tarth gives Sandor "The Hound" Clegane a somewhat unnecessary apology for nearly killing him a few seasons back. Clegane shrugs this off; after all, both he and Brienne are sworn swords (to varying degrees) and they were both doing their duty. Their conflict was never personal. However, Brienne caps this off by telling The Hound something that IS personal: Arya Stark is alive and well. She then goes on to label Arya a badass (not in so many words), and the significance of such a compliment coming from a highly skilled warrior clearly resonates with The Hound. You can almost see the surly man smile!

4. The Hand grabs an arm

The biggest, most significant scene in this episode was the gathering at the Dragon Pit, featuring the world's most grotesque jack-in-the-box. During the course of this scene, The Hound and Jon Snow demonstrate that the Army of the Dead cannot be killed through conventional means (like dismemberment), but only via fire and dragonglass (why Jon didn't disclose the effect of Valyrian steel is beyond me, but that's for another discussion). After The Hound, ah, disarms the wight, the zombified appendage still continues to writhe and crawl toward the nearest potential living victim. While most of the attendees bristle nervously, the Queen's Hand, Qyburn, is all over that. He's fascinated, and you can see the wheels turning in his head as he realizes everything he could possibly do with that kind of technology. If Jon Snow hadn't taken the arm from him, I think the next words out of Qyburn's mouth would have been "Can I borrow this? For science?”

3. Lord Baelish is caught off-guard

This season has involved a lot of people falling flat on their faces, figuratively speaking. Some of the most competent and promiment characters came up utterly short in their respective fields of expertise: Tyrion was outmaneuvered by his brother during the sacking of Casterly Rock, Theon and Yara were out-Greyjoyed by their uncle, Euron, and a pre-teen girl fought Brienne of Tarth to a standstill. Most notable, however, was the scene that led to Littlefinger's demise. Petyr Baelish has been a tremendously influential character. Entire books could be written about the significance of his actions (side note: they have been written, you can buy them here). He has consistently been portrayed as a scheming opportunist with an unparalleled ability to control events and influence other characters' actions, and this portrayal was on full display in the episodes leading up to the finale. He systematically drove a wedge between Sansa and Arya for the purpose of preventing a potential sisterly allegiance, and Sansa's words and actions under his influence were consistent with what he expected from her. To all appearances, he was in complete control of the situation. When Sansa summons Arya to the Great Hall to discuss treachery, Littlefinger stands on the sidelines with a well-deserved air of smugness about him. After all, he had just orchestrated the preemptive removal of a threat from his chess game and was about to witness it firsthand. But that smugness is shattered when Sansa calls out charges against him instead. For someone who prided himself on always anticipating every possibility, he definitely DID NOT see this coming. And then his incredulity gives way to panic when he realizes exactly what is about to happen. For me, though, the "I'm sorry, what?" expression on his face spoke volumes about just how completely unaware he was that events had moved well beyond his control.

2."Fuck loyalty!"

After the negotiations at the Dragon Pit go sideways, Brienne of Tarth pulls Jaime Lannister aside for a moment to try to put things back on track. Brienne and Jaime have always had a positive relationship, and it was partly Brienne's influence that has helped shape Jaime into a principled, stand-up guy. Brienne's idea here is to speak to someone whose heart isn't as blackened as Cersei's, and who she feels must understand the gravity of the impending war. But when Jaime rebuffs her out of loyalty to Cersei, what does Brienne say? "Fuck loyalty!" This is a defining moment not only for Brienne, but for the show at large. Loyalty is a dominant theme in Game of Thrones, and it practically defines Brienne's character. For her of all people to discard something so fundamental to her character is a major departure, and its significance cannot be overstated. This reaction in Brienne is designed to represent the catalyzing effect that seeing the army of the dead firsthand should have had on all of the attendees present in that scene, which was the original intent behind bringing the wight to King's Landing. It was supposed to cut through all of the intrigue, all of the emotions, all of the allegiances, and to unify the continent against the Night King. Brienne reacts precisely in the way that Jon and company had intended, and I believe her personal reaction was included to demonstrate what should have happened on a larger scale.

1. Bran draws a blank

The scene between Samwell Tarly and Brandon Stark was of astounding importance, but the revelation of Jon Snow's true parentage isn't why I want to write about it. Nor is Sam's genuinely perfect reaction to Bran's "I am the three-eyed raven" schtick ("Oh! ...I don't know what that means."). No, what I want to mention here is the moment when Sam tells Bran something that catches him completely unawares. Bran knows who Jon's parents really are; he's probably watched his dad climb the steps to the Tower of Joy a hundred times now, and he knows very well what's waiting at the top. But what he apparently doesn’t know is the history behind why Lyanna Stark was in that tower, and it is this gap in knowledge that reveals a bit about Bran's mysterious abilities. We know that Bran has complete, unfettered access to historical information. He can insert himself as a witness to any event that had ever happened, but he evidently needs to know where to look, or at least what questions to ask, in order to find something. Bran doesn't have perfect knowledge of the past; he is limited by his own inherent capacity to identify patterns and investigate the links between events. In other words, he needs guidance in order to be truly effective in his role. Samwell is the perfect foil for him. Sam's character is defined by his innate curiosity, and he possesses a keen investigatory capacity. If the two of them continue this partnership, and if they can be kept out of harm's way, they may well be the most powerful people in the entire kingdom.

What do you think? Did you see any other brief moments in the episode that warrant further discussion?

[uselessgaywhovian]

Now that I've expressed some of my shipping with LoK, can we move on to the sheer unbridled badassery that is is pro-bending?

Seriously, this is the best thing in the history of ever. Why have I never thought of bending as a sport. I am endlessly sad that the pro-bending arena was destroyed, because it makes me fear that there will be little pro-bending action in our futures.

[demetriandelibinaryboyfriends]

God you’re so right

Now I’m imagining Demetri begrudgingly helping him with the HTML and webcoding of the Cobra Kai website like “I still think you’re putting too much stock in this karate business, but if you have to do this, you could at least make your animations look smooth”

Miggy just eagerly dives into things with so much unbridled delight and this is why we love him dearly ;_______;

#adding tags because #now I'm imagining a binary bfs spideypool AU #where Hawk is a mercenary who went through a dark period but who is trying to be good now he promises #and Demetri is a wise cracking hero who initially wanted to use his powers for Neutral but responsibility snuck up on him #and Miguel is their mutual best friend who knows both of their secret identities and is really getting annoyed that they aren't cluing in

Excuse me this is the best thing I’ve ever read

Demetri’s greatest desire being to use his powers for Neutral is the truest thing I’ve ever read in my life, like he’d have a mug that said “World’s Okayest Superhero” and proudly keep it on his little superhero desk at all times

Bonus points if the OG loser trio is constantly hanging and getting drinks on the weekends and playing video games together and Miguel is just. Tearing his hair out that they’ve both told him their secret identities but still haven’t gotten the balls to tell each other. And they’ve known each other for like 20 years, god damn it

When they all hang out, Demetri is constantly complaining about that broody edgelord Redhawk, who’s always scowling and grumbling about how dark and dire the world is and yelling about how the only thing that can save it is badassery

And Eli never stops bitching about Neutral Guy, who’s way too wishy-washy and can never pick a damn side on anything--the man uses super speed to get to Domino’s before it closes, for christ’s sake!

And Miguel is just. So tired.

every day i wake up in a world where ppl don't think miguel diaz is a fucking nerd. i hate it here. hes such a nerd hE WANTED TO BE DEADPOOL FOR HALLOWEEN??? i just know he's a spideypool truther

[weservethemountain]

Do you have any idea how much the badassery of that lamp is overcoming my unbridled disgust at the presence of the mismatched throw pillows on the couch? Should you take this post seriously? Probably not.

[rowdyholtzy]

Are you saying that for ace people the equivalent of porn is pure unbridled badassery?

Legit.

Wonder Woman was a great movie for equal opportunity eye candy.

Straight guys and gay girls can enjoy gal gadot in armor.

Gay guys and straight girls can enjoy a mostly naked Chris pine

Bi/pan people get to enjoy both

And if you’re ace like me, well. She threw a tank with her bare hands, and that’s as good as it gets