#what no riz for five days does to a man

[the-greatest-magic-of-all]

You keep writing me things so I will write you a thing :3

For your Brave and Loyal Knight Au

It was dark, unnaturally dark in the middle of the day as the storm clouds lay thick and heavy blotting out the sun. Fabians boots clicking against the stone floor the only noise other than the rain and thunder audible in his secluded corner of the palace. The king swiftly making his way from his more public study and back towards his chambers now that his work was mostly done. He should have learned by now that he shouldn’t be relaxing until he knew he was completely safe but he had let his guard down. Too busy perusing the last report of the day that he needed to memorise before he could finally stop and rest for a while in the privacy of his own rooms.

It had happened so fast Fabian wasn’t sure exactly what had happened. A sudden flash of lightening dazzling him for a second before the accompanying rumble of thunder obscured the sound of the assassin’s approach. He hadn’t noticed but Riz certainly had, his knight slamming into his back and knocking him forwards so that the dagger aimed for his neck sailed over the top of his head. The goblin using his momentum to engage with the attacker.

There was a muffled ‘thump’ from somewhere between the tussling pair, Riz hissing loudly as the assassin managed to grapple him to the ground. They’d managed to get hands around his neck for only a brief second before there was the loud crack of an arcubus firing, the sound echoing off the stone floors as the larger of the pair (human, Fabian noted absently, Riz having managed to partially yank their mask off in their scuffle) slumped dead to the floor. The goblin using his legs to push them to one side as they fell so they wouldn’t land on top of him before stumbling to his feet. Hand clutching at the armour where Fabians seal was emblazoned on his chest as he panted and darted his head around searching for more attackers.

Fabian didn’t even have chance to call for more guards before the fight was over but the noise of the scuffle had been enough to alert them of the danger. Fabain swiftly pushing himself to his feet so none would be witness to him in such an undignified position and dusting off his robes. The King frowning and glancing down the corridor, noting that it really shouldn’t be taking this long for backup to arrive.

“There should have been more guards stationed here.” He frowned, kicking the assassin onto their back so he could get a better look at their face. There wasn’t much to see, Riz had managed to get a decent swipe with his claws in and they’d been disfigured beyond recognition by this point. “Good work, nice to know you haven’t lost your touch.”

“The guards are probably dead… I smelled blood as we came around the corner.” Riz was still breathing heavily, claws digging into his armour and punching holes around the kings seal emblazoned there. His ears relaxed out of their high and alert position as reinforcements rounded the corner, large eyes flicking between faces as he took note of who each of them were and compared them to the database in his mind. These guards were trustworthy, he’d handpicked them himself. Fabian would be safe.

“Not so sure about the loosing my touch part though.” The goblins knees went weak once the adrenaline finally left, Riz only managing to half-collapse to the ground before Fabian caught him. The half elfs eyes going wide when he noticed the front of his dark armour was slick and wet with blood that was hard to see in the dim light.

Fabian had thought it strange that the assassin had tried to choke his knight to death but now that he was in this close he could see why. The sigil embroidered on his chest had been split cleanly in two, the snapped off blade of the dagger still embedded in the goblins chest probably the only thing keeping him from bleeding out faster but there was still a lot of blood.

“Get a healer. Now.” Fabian barked at the first guard who came close, the elf snapping into a salute before peeling away and heading for the healers quarters. Riz chuckling weakly and lowering his voice so that only Fabian could hear him when he talked.

“Composure, my King. Don’t let them see you so upset over something like this. It’s my job to throw myself on the enemy’s sword for you.”

Fabian clicked his tongue, carefully lifting Riz and handing him off to another of the guards when they stepped in close. Riz was right, letting anyone know how much he cared was a liability they could exploit.

“Take him. Get this mess cleaned up and fetch someone to revivify this one so we can find out where they came from. I will be in my quarters and I expect a report in two hours.” Fabian spun on his heels, waving two of the guards to follow him as he stalked away and down the corridor. Somehow managing to resist the urge to glance over his shoulder to watch the guard carrying Riz disappear in the opposite direction.

AHH! Thank you so much!! 💖💖

I, in turn, shall write even more!! Here's a bit of angst for you! But also some fluff at the end!

-- part 1 -> part 3 | part 4 --

Three things of note occurred in the days following the attack on the new King of Fallinel’s life.

One, Sir Riz Gukgak, was forced into a brief (and highly unwanted) sabbatical from his duties to the throne to recover from the dagger that had only just missed his heart.

Two, the recently revivified Human assassin had been locked up and under twenty-four-hour supervision in the palace’s dungeons as they tried to pry information on his employer from him.

And three, the King, now without his nohecharei, had a wake-up call about what his Grandfather had warned him of before his coronation.

Fabian had been eager to hear whatever wisdom Telemaine had thought it most urgent to depart on him, seeing as he had come all the way from Kei Lomenuera to the Capital to give it to him. What he got instead was far grimmer than Fabian had thought possible.

As tall and willowy as a tree in a forest primeval, Telemaine had never felt so immense and ancient as when he’d warned that if he were to become King, his life would never be his own. At the moment, Fabian hadn’t the slightest clue as to the full weight and depth of his Grandfather’s words. Having let them flow off of and away from him with a nod and a smile.

But now?

He got it.

He got it because…

Because…

Fabian could hear Sir Durden's footsteps.

Steady, not-so-soft clanks, only a few steps behind him as he went about his day. Truthfully, they weren't all that obtrusive and yet…

It’s not like Sir Maxis Durden was a horrible guard. Oh, no, perish the thought. Sure, he had a devil-may-care attitude and, on occasion, was a tad bit familiar with His Majesty, but, all things considered, Sir Durden did his job and did it well. Never late. Always on the lookout for danger. The Captain had assured him of the Guards that Durden was an adept Blade Pact Warlock of Eilistraee and, despite his reedy figure, could take down his fair share of enemies. Hell, Fabian even knew that it was Sir Durden who took over Riz’s duties for four hours during the night! It shouldn’t be as big of an issue!

Except…

He could hear Sir Durden’s footsteps. He could feel Durden’s eyes on him at what felt like every waking moment. Whenever Fabian turned around, Durden was always there. Even in his private study. Even in his bedroom. The Court of Stars demanded that the King never be alone for his safety, but only now, in the absence of Sir Riz, did Fabian realize how maddening of a rule it indeed was. Telemaine was right. His life was not his own because as long as he knew Sir Durden was guarding him, he’d never be anything but the King of Fallinel. He had to be dignified and competent. Well-mannered and never whiny. Never a fuck-up or a failure. He couldn’t be a person.

Lest he slip up and have one of his most charming guards’ opinion of him sour. Loose lips sink ships. The last thing he needed was Maxis blabbing about how ungrateful or idiotic the new King was to his mates. Next thing Fabian knows, there's a military coup. No doubt led or co-opted by House Everpetal. Ugh, it doesn’t bear thinking about.

By the end of the week, Fabian felt more exhausted than he ever had in his twenty years of life. Finding it harder and harder to keep his chin up and feet from dragging. He’d gotten lightly chastised by one of his advisors for repeating himself several times during a briefing on possibly receiving some of the Drow Royalty. Lady Everpetal had even felt bold enough to “jokingly” question his sanity after the attempt on his life. Calling him a Mad King in waiting.

Worse yet, Fabian had to swallow down the things he wanted to say about her, knowing he wouldn’t even get to say them in private to the sound of Riz’s delightful laughter…

He hadn’t even gotten a chance to go see him in the infirmary.

Umberlee below, he missed his best friend.

Missed him so much it physically hurt.

A pain in his chest.

Twists of his stomach.

More headaches than he’s ever had.

Honestly, they were so bad that, when Sir Durden’s clanking footsteps stopped abruptly on their way to a court function, Fabian hadn’t cared in the slightest. Not even when his addled brain had noted that his own footfalls had been the only ones he’d heard for minutes now. In perhaps idiotic defiance, he relished the thought of accidentally leaving Sir Durden behind and truly being alone for a handful of moments.

Though, he was to hasty to think that he was alone.

For only after the length of another corridor, Fabian found himself stopping as the faint sound of a nail—no, a *claw—*tapping on the metal pommel of a blade. Listening closer; the swish of lithe tail idly swaying back and forth. Fabian’s heart picked up speed, though he didn’t dare turn around. In fear that he was wrong and reluctance to possibly lose the little game of trust he and Riz played.

Instead, Fabian, a smile slowly begin to play on his lips, said to the hallway, “Good to have you back on your feet, Sir Gukgak.”

There’d never been a sweeter sound than Sir Riz’s voice ringing out behind him, “Good to be back, my King.”

A week’s worth of tension instantly fled from Fabian’s body as a sudden lightness overtook him. Fabian wanted to hug him. To turn, drop to his knees, and scoop Riz up in a tight, tight hug and never let him go. But, as a maid rounded the corridor’s corner and bowed to him before scurrying past, Fabian pushed it down. Steeling himself to hold out until later. When they could be alone together in his study or his bedchambers.

Until then, Fabian continued on his way to one of his ballrooms, a pep in his step and a smile on his face. If any of his servants or courtiers noticed how the King practically glowed with joy after the reappearance of his Knight, all of them had good sense not to comment.

[halevren]

FHJY Spoilers || my live thoughts as I watch episode 9

i got a new job and I felt sick last night so. I'm watching this very late. it has been tough avoiding spoilers but I Have Done So

TTTAKING OVER TEENAGE REBELLION

hiiii one and all!!! hii intrepid heroes!!!!

i have been told stuff happens this episode. I'm so excited

"You're mad we're not doing drugs."

"I think this might be gorgug's worst day of his life."

so much happened last episode

totally healthy adult activity.

VULTURE

THE SPELL-LESS KRISTEN APPLEBEES 😭😭

THE VULTURE DIMENSION

I love the projections

DOMINATE MONSTER NO LONGER EFFECTING RIZ

THE VULTURE KING

I think Brennan is loving being the vulture king

NAT 20 FOR FABIAN

"IT'S THE VULTURE KING YOU HAVE TO KISS HIM!"

"One answer and it's Riz."

"I'm so glad I died on that battlefield."

A crisp 500 dollar bill

I love this so much

This is so silly

THEY'RE HOLDING HANDS

"Hey, I'll kill you, you fucker." "kiss him!"

VULTURES YAY OR NAY?

"Can you bring his parents up here—" "NO."

"Feels like five"

"You wanna be in our crew?"

Kristen is really trying to get her friends to romance the vultures.

"Are you a God of some kind?" "I don't mind man."

This season is just Brennan breaking the PCs

oh good god

MAGIC ITEMS!

"Summons 1d4 vultures, they are not under your command."

no bring us back to the vulture dimension im obsessed with it

fireball

18 damage 😭😭😭

"I'm going to think about that for days."

FIRST STRIKE HITS REAL ONE

"get out of my yard."

(Brennan rolling too many dice.)

the little fireball that could!

THE ROMAN CANDLE YOU SHOT AT THE BIG BAD

THE BALL GAVE FABIAN ADVANTAGE

Concentration lost 🔥🔥🔥

is Ruben only able to give bardic

BRENNAN NAT 20

what are we making dex saves for.

ZERO DEX SAVE. KRISTEN.

"I'm dead from shame."

ADAINE DOWN? NOOOO

29!!

So many dice for Fabian

"Don't worry I got the ones out guys" Emily 😭😭😭

"I'm actually a huge fan."

so now that grix is destroyed does that mean there's no principal?

Ruben's frantically calling for Wanda

"I'm real right?"

"What happened? I was taking a shit."

"Do you have a warrant? Do you have a fucking warrant?"

Adaine is still dead on the ground

THE IDENTIFY SPELL

grix is untampered with

I miss ayda

29 investigation 🔥

GLOWING STINGERS? GROWING RED? LIKE THE SYNOD?

24 points glowing red

Rage connection!!

"Can we get some hot sauce before we leave?"

HE ATE THE VULTURE FOR NOTHING

"Found another glass of water"

Fabian finally getting his kisses in.

Nat 20 history rat check

SEXY RAT

"You know thats triggering for me!"

Rat stores

"There's not a rat world under the school."

Rat World!!!

BabyBojörn

oh god fig gave Fabian a bardic

sexuality inclusivity for cassandra!

aww..... fabian took bardic from fig earlier...

"You are. Cursed."

RIZ NAT 20!!!!

NOOO YOLANDA

Force damage...

Three hours????

ah yes another use of the identity spell!

"You could multi class into wizard!" "Yeah, add it to the fuckin' pile."

AN UNHOLY LAST RITES

NOOO YOLANDA

There's something under the tree?? glyth???

LUCY FROSTBLADE DEAD BODY

I think Fig's bad luck is genuinely effecting Emily too with all these bad rolls 😭😭😭😭

Did.... Did the rat grinders kill Lucy???????

let adaine use the diamonds. finders keepers

divine intervention........

Kristen will have to work so hard to get cassandra back

spies tongue curse???

"Call an adult?"

"You were such a good teacher, I'm sorry I just got a C..." 😭😭

THIS IS SO HEARTBREAKING!!!

LUCY AND YOLANDA'S SOULS HELD HANDS BEFORE GOING TO HEAVEN. ACTUALLY CRYING

BUD CUBBY THE REALEST EVER

FIG NAT 20

level of exhaustion :(

elmville police departments always on fire

"David..."

AGENT CLARK?!?!?!?

did he just take the dirt like a line of drugs?

one becomes a 10 which becomes a 19

*head in hands* "is it okay if I ask you about your case, mom?"

"So I'm unbelievably wealthy. And me and my friends just discovered the site of a double homicide. So....."

Group IV time, or group shock therapy.

Gorgug putting barbarian first

HE'S DOING ARTIFICER SPELLS WHILE RAGING!!!

"We need a word."

Gorgug talking to Porter is so funny

ok. wait this is actually kinda sweet between Porter and Gorgug

"I feel lucky to have you in my class." 😭😭😭😭

MCAT SIGNED!!!

The Last Stand exam?

KRISTEN MIGHT PASS FAIL?

oh god. 4 stress tokens

I wonder if the intrepid heroes are aware of the 5 stress token

"I'm in a lot of school."

Gorgug looking into building a time machine real as hell

Oh my god gorgug is still on the owlbears

"Okay I think I have to lie down."

I'm going to fight the wizard teacher

"I love my life. Everything is perfect."

"... YOU'RE WORKING?"

AELWYN LONELY ARK

10 CATS??

aelwyn and adaine bonding 😭😭

AELWYN IS WORKING FOR KIPPERLILLY COPPERHEAD???

I'M SO EXCITED FOR THE NEXT EPISODE

[bullet-prooflove]

City Boy: Che 'Taza' Romero

Tagging: @drabbles-mc @ficnation @crazy4chickennuggets @kmc1989 @withakindheartx

The first thing Taza notices about Ben is his ability to connect with other people.  The other man has an easy smile, and a laugh that resonates through his entire body, the kids flock to him and he makes the time for each and every one of them. It’s important in a community like theirs, parents are fighting tooth and nail to put food on the table, they send their kids to the community centre, to a place they know they’ll be supported and listened to.

He doesn’t realise he’s an LGBTQ counsellor at first, not until Riz explains it to him.

“Latinx LGBT youth are 45% more likely to attempt suicide compared to non- Latinx youth, it’s an epidemic.” The younger man tells him.

A lot of these kids don’t have a safe space to explore who they are, the community centre is trying to change that by becoming an affirming space, picking up the mantle where home and school can not.

Carmen’s brought Ben in to address that issue. He’s run successful programmes up in Boston, Detroit and Cincinnati and now he’s here in their little border town. Taza sees the disparity and it makes him wonder why Ben’s really here. Santo Padre shouldn’t even be a blip on his radar, not when he’s running programmes with big city money.

When he asks Carmen, she gives him a look, one that he’s become well acquainted with throughout their friendship.

“Ask him yourself.”

Taza decides to bite the bullet and do just that.

Ben’s in the midst of his lunch break Taza sits down across from him. He’s eating empanadas from the food truck outside and writing something down into a A5 notepad. His handwriting is neat and concise.

“You have questions.” He says in that gruff voice of his, closing the note pad and setting his pen down on top of it.

“Yea, a ton of them.” Taza responds, his arms crossed over this chest.

“You can ask me over a beer tonight.” Ben says as he finishes up his lunch. “I’ve got back-to-back sessions, starting in the next five minutes.”

This is how it starts, the thing between the two of them.

After the community centre has closed Taza finds himself standing in the garden that Lila helped create. There’s fairy lights entwined in the wooden struts that jut out of the ground, casting a warm glow across the space. In his hand, he holds a beer from the local brewery. It’s the one with the citrus tang, his favourite.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Ben says as he stands next to him. “You don’t get to see stars like this in the city.”

“I heard you were a city boy.” Taza returns, tilting his head so he can study the profile of Ben’s face.

He’s a handsome man. A full head of salt and pepper hair that Taza wants to run his fingers through, it matches the beard that lines his jaw. His shoulders are board, muscular like a boxer’s. Taza wonders if that’s what Ben does in his spare time.

It’s been twenty-five years since he’s felt this way about another man. He’s had fleeting attractions in the past, but this is different. It transcends physicality, he wants to know this man intimately. His thoughts, his feelings, his hopes, his dreams. He wants everything.

“I was.” Ben responds to Taza’s question before he gestures to the memorial bench underneath the fairy lights. One of the kids had taken his own life last year, Carmen had wanted to make sure he was remembered, and the bench was how she honoured him. Taza sits down alongside Ben, their knees bumping against each other lightly. “Small town living sits me better these days.”

“Why here?” Taza asks, gesturing at the landscape. “Santo Padres a big step down from the kinda cash you must have been pulling in the big city.”

“Not everything is about money.” Ben says quietly, his thumb scratching away the label of his beer bottle.

“You didn’t answer my question.” Taza points out as he watches the paper peel.

“No I didn’t.” Ben says as he reviews the skyline.

Silence falls between the two men. It’s a mild night, it’s light and balmy. The scent of Ben’s aftershave floats along the breeze, something earthy with a mandarin overtone. It’s intoxicating, rich and deep, Taza wants to spend the rest of the night breathing it in. He’s tired of being alone, of hiding the truth about who he really is.

“My partner died.” Ben says finally into the space between them. “I couldn’t stand living there without him, so I left.”

“I’m sorry.” Taza says softly.

He means it. He knows what it’s like to lose a piece of yourself. He thought he would spend the rest of his life with David and then El Palo murdered him.

“You didn’t kill him.” Ben says taking a sip of his beer.

“Someone else did?” Taza questions.

Ben runs a hand through his hair, a loose wave falls across his forehead and it takes everything in Taza not to reach out and brush it away.

“Yea.” Ben says as he stares straight ahead. “Someone did.”

“I lost a friend the same way back in 95.” Taza finds himself telling Ben. “It destroyed me.”

There must be something in the tone of his voice, he doesn’t realise he’s betrayed himself until Ben asks.

“Just a friend?”

It’s the first time he’s talked about David, he hasn’t breathed the other man’s name in over twenty years. It still hurts to think about him even after all this time, but there’s a catharsis in it because sitting here with Ben…

He knows the other man gets it. He might be the only other person in the world who does.

“I loved him.” Taza confesses into the darkness. “And he loved me.”

“Your club doesn’t know do they?” Ben says, taking a swig of his beer.

 Taza shakes his head.

“I’d appreciate it if it stays that way.”

“I’m not in the business of outing people.” Ben tells him as he leans back against the wood, his arm coming to rest along frame. “That’s not what I’m about.”

“This is probably the most honest I’ve been with anyone in twenty-five years.” Taza says quietly, rolling the beer bottle between his palms.

“That’s a long time to hold a secret.” Ben says as he tips his head towards Taza. “Let me ask you something, does it still need to be a secret?”

“I don’t know anymore.” Taza says as he studies the label of his beer bottle. “Five years ago, I would have said yes but now… Things are changing, we’re more involved in the community, in programmes like yours, I don’t know if it matters anymore.”

“Give it some thought.” Ben says as he raises to his feet, his hand lightly clasping Taza’s shoulder. “You might find it’s time to step into the light.”

Love Taza? Don’t miss any of his stories by joining the taglist here.

Interested in supporting me? Join my Patreon for Bonus Content!

Like My Work? - Why Not Buy Me A Coffee

[atopvisenyashill]

What other projects have you watched with got and hotd actors and how do you like their performance outside of got/hotd?

I’ve watched probably….most of Matt Smith’s filmography on account of watching Doctor Who in high school and falling in love with him. I think he’s incredibly talented and charismatic and genuinely perfect casting as Daemon. I had also seen Paddy Considine in that movie Pride altho I didn’t recognize him as Viserys lmao but i adore that movie, you should watch if you haven’t seen it, it’s about the Lesbians And Gays Support The Miners movement and I definitely cried watching it aksjdjd. I also watched all of bates motel as it was airing which olivia is in (and also the sound of metal, which she and riz ahmed are amazing in, and also riz steven and chadwick were robbed that year smh). olivia and matt are actually The Reason i started hotd lol i didn’t intend to watch it but then i was like oh…..but……….i love them aksjsjs.

I have technically seen Rhys in several things but he’s Fine. I am still mad about him having zero chemistry with Lucy Liu in Elementary and ruining an entire season by having negative rizz. why am i supposed to believe that man is like some great love of watson’s life when they don’t even look like they like each other. rhys count your fuckijg days. i’ve also seen graham mactavish in a number of things, the first being Outlander and he was like, one of the best antagonist characters in the show, was both excited and devastated when his character died hah he has one of my favorite lines in the show which is “the idea of grinding your corn does tickle me” 💀💀😂😂

For the main show, I had seen Charles Dance in Phantom (he’s really good even tho it’s a more romantic take on the story but that’s fine i still love it!!!), Lena, Peter, & Mark in like Most Of Their Filmographies bc i was already a fan of them, who hasn’t seen at least five Sean Bean deaths, and I’d seen a few Alexander Siddig, Ciaran Hinds, Iain Glenn, & Indira Varma in a bunch of stuff too and loved them - Kingdom of Heaven & Syriana & DS9, Persuasion & The Terror, Resident Evil, Kama Sutra.

I’ve seen Gwendoline, Elyes (he was Rakharo, rip to an icon), Thomas Brodie, Sophie, Maisie, Kit, Richard, Jason (Momoa), Michelle, and Tobias in a bunch of other stuff since I started the show. I think Gwendoline is incredibly talented, as are Sophie and Maisie. Richard imo usually needs a good script to shine - like Rocketman? amazing. Eternals? Meh - and Kit is uh. Sometimes he has good chemistry with other actors. I paid real money to see him in Pompeii and my sibling holds a grudge against me to this day for that one aksjd. Jason Momoa has a tendency to just play different versions of himself but the movie Red Road Redemption is real good, it’s about MMIW & his acting abilities really shine, I’d love to see him in more serious or more romantic roles and less action roles. I cannot praise Tobias Menzies more highly, hes in Outlander, The Terror, and the Crown and he’s just sublime in all of them and you’d never know it by the way they wrote Edmure. OH SHIT also obviously Jacob Artist in IWTV is amazinnnnnnng EGOT INCOMING and Nathalie Emmanuel was REALLY FUN in The Invitation!!!

Probably my favorite of everyone is Peter Dinklage tho, he’s very serious & choosy with his roles bc he doesn’t want to play a stereotype and it’s made his filmography just *muah* like it’s so interesting and varied and he puts his whole heart into every role however goofy or serious it is. i love him, i want him to be the romantic lead in more stuff bc i’m a romantic and also like, a pervert and he’s so handsome aksksk.

Also Ciaran Hinds & Amanda Root Persuasion >>>>>>>>>>> Those Other Two

[denimbex1986]

'The Talented Mr. Ripley, the 1955 psychological thriller novel by Patricia Highsmith, is gearing up for another adaptation, challenging one already popular movie with a moodier, black-and-white rendition.

In 1999, writer and director Anthony Minghella delivered the sexy film The Talented Mr. Ripley, starring Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Jude Law. The adaptation went on to receive five Academy Award nominations, including Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor for Law. Now nearly, 25 years later, the tantalizing tale is getting another wind with Andrew Scott as the titular Ripley, and it’s just in time to start daydreaming about our ideal summers away in European blissful ignorance.

Read more to learn everything we know about the series so far, including the plot, release date, cast, and more.

What is Ripley about?

Like the novel the series will follow a troubled con man as he climbs the social ladder with socialites Dickie Greenleaf and Marge Sherwood during their summer in Italy. Set in the 1950s, Ripley’s story begins in New York, where he struggles to make a living but gets by through a series of frauds and scams, befriending the elites of the city. One day, when he’s approached by a man who requests he travel to Italy to persuade his happy-go-lucky son to return to the U.S. to join the family business. What follows is Ripley’s finest work. Earning the trust of the couple, Ripley is invited to stay with them for the summer, sparking tensions and questions as the ambiguity of Ripley’s real identity and intentions is slowly revealed.

Who’s in the cast of Ripley?

The series will star Scott (Fleabag, All of Us Strangers) as the talented Mr. Ripley, alongside Dakota Fanning as Marge and Johnnie Flynn as Dickie. Other appearances in the series include Pasquale Esposito and Franco Silvestri, among others.

Where and when did they film Ripley?

True to the source material as the ’99 film, the miniseries was filmed in Italy, specifically Venice and Rome, likely during the summer of 2021, when it was reported on Twitter that Scott was sighted on set.

One other Twitter sighting later, it was confirmed that filming moved to New York City during May 2022.

Who are the creators of Ripley?

Steven Zaillian – best known for the acclaimed Emmy-nominated crime drama miniseries The Night Of which premiered in 2016 starring Riz Ahmed and John Turturro – wrote, directed, and executive produced the entire series. Some of his other writing credits include The Irishman, Moneyball, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, and Schindler’s List, among others. Scott also served as a producer on the series, alongside executive producers Ben Rosenblatt and Clayton Townsend with Enzo Sisti and Peter Thorell as producers. Robert Elswit served as the cinematographer.

Is there a trailer?

Yes. Netflix released both a first-look teaser trailer and an official full-length trailer, showing off the show’s star-studded cast as well as an intense ticking clock sound design, alluding to the darker tensions that will exist in this adaptation. The teaser trailer closes with an eerie shot of Scott as Ripley staring down the camera from a small train window...

Does Ripley have a release date?

The miniseries is set to premiere on April 4, releasing all eight episodes.

Where can you watch Ripley?

Though originally slated for a Showtime release, the adaptation will be released on Netflix.

Will there be a second season?

While the show itself has been declared as a miniseries, it has been reported that a limited series based on the whole quintet of Highsmith’s Tom Ripley novels has been pitched to the global streamer.

Ripley, Series Premiere, Thursday, April 4, Netflix'

[angry-geese]

Breezeblocks

RIsotto Nero x Reader

warnings: nsfw. Virginity loss (Risotto), oral (fem and male receiving), tender sex. Some fluff. Fem!reader.

notes: Risotto has sex with La Squadra!Reader. I don't really hc him as someone who is very sexually active just because of his place in the mafia, nor does he strike me as the type of guy to go to a prostitute.

I'm re-watching part five and its making me thirst for this man so much oh my god

Even before you nearly died, you weren't having a very good day.

It couldn't have been a closer call. The two of you only had the one target. A high profile one nonetheless. Risotto brought you along as backup, although he was capable of completing such a job alone. You were only there to stay out of the way, and step in if things went wrong. You were not supposed to fuck this one up.

But you did.

Technically, it wasn't your fault. Risotto's stand only caught two of the guards, leaving a third one completely unnoticed. The last guard managed to alert the target, who was now armed and well aware of Risotto's presence. You took care of the witnesses while he hunted down the target.

Now you're parked outside of a seedy motel- your hideout for the night. Risotto deemed it too dangerous to head straight home. While the two of you are mostly unharmed, you're still on edge. Though you were certain nobody followed you, you couldn't be too careful.

His hand creeps up your thigh.

Then you're in his lap, straddling his thighs. There's hardly enough room in the drivers seat for the both of you, not that you'll let that stop you. He kisses you hungrily, though he seems a bit hesitant- and not wanting to push things- you pull away.

"Do you want me to stop?"

He doesn't.

"It's just," he face turns bright red, "you're the first person I've ever done this with."

When you take a moment to respond, his heart drops. He's already gearing up for an apology, or to never mention this ever again, slowly dying inside. He's been waiting for this, ever since you were assigned to his team. He's just liked you for so long and he-

"Oh." You shift to sit back on your heels. "We're doing this in a proper bed then."

The two of you are already at a hotel. Why not?

Maybe you're a bit too eager to get to your room. Maybe you undress a bit too quickly. You've wanted this- him- for too long. He sits back on the edge of the bed, coat tossed aside, lips bitten red. Once again you climb into his lap. Immediately his arms wrap around you. He makes little attempt to hide how he stares at your bare breasts.

"Are you okay with this?" you cup his face in your hands, "tell me if you ever want me to stop, alright?"

"I just don't want to scare you away."

"You won't scare me away, Riz."

He's... huge. Around nine inches. Maybe more- he's still getting hard. It's built like the rest of him; long, dark, and thick. You suppose its fitting. The rest of the man is massive, why wouldn't that apply here? The silver hairs towards the base of his cock are neatly trimmed. He's intimidating, to say the least, but you won't let that deter you.

"It's too big..." He covers himself with his hands.

"It's not too big," you lace your fingers with his, "you'll just have to prep me for it, that's all."

"How?"

You guide his hands up your sides, over your breasts. By then he's gotten the message and begins kneading at the plush flesh. He works your nipples into stiff peaks, taking one into his mouth.

"They're so soft." He mumbles into your neck. "You're so beautiful."

There's little you can do to hide the way you blush. Heat pools in your stomach. His hands slowly move lower and lower, dipping between your thighs. It doesn't take him long to find your clit, and begin toying with the bundle of nerves. You're this wet for him? Each little gasp and moan you make only spurs him on more. He shifts so you can lay on your back, sprawled out across the bed. He can only imagine how you'd look on his own. Maybe he wouldn't have to.

Risotto trails kisses down your chest, down your stomach, planting one on each thigh before you even realize what he's doing. Gently he presses apart your legs, settling between them. You shudder when he licks a stripe up your slit. Your hands tangle in his hair, guiding him to where you need him most. He quickly latches on the bundle of nerves with an inexperienced but eager pace. Being in his line of work for as long as he has, he's learned to pick up on body language. He figures out what you like almost immediately. He eats pussy like a man starved, grunting when you clamp your thighs around his head and cum hard.

When he pulls away, the lower half of his face is wet with your slick. You tug on his hair, pulling him up into a kiss. You can taste yourself on him, not that it bothers you. Then you feel him- painfully hard, grinding into your leg.

You get on your knees. He swallows hard, pupils blown, cheeks flushed. His cock is heavy in your hands. You place little kitten licks on the head before licking a long stripe up the vein on the bottom. His hands find your hair. You can barely fit half of him in your mouth. Your hands come up to stroke at the neglected parts of his cock. He immediately turns to putty in your hands, babbling incoherently. Part of you finds it endearing how you've managed to get your big scary capo like this.

"I'm gonna-" to stifle a moan he bites into his hand.

Risotto pulls you up to sit in his lap. You're wet enough already that there's no resistance. The stretch stings, but isn't necessarily painful. For a moment you sit there, giving yourself time to adjust to his size. All he can focus on is how warm you are around him. Since he can't figure out what to do with his hands, he settles on grabbing at your hips. When you move- only adjusting yourself- his fingers dig into your skin. He sucks bruises into your skin, face buried in the crook of your neck.

"I love you." He's the first to say it, muttering it into your neck while you ride him. He could die happy, although it's a bit cliche to say that.

"I love you too." You say quietly.

It's cut off with a moan. You're already close. So is he. His grunts get louder as his own movements get sloppier. His hand dips between your thighs to rub circles at your clit. You grind against him while he starts rocking into you, moaning shamelessly as he hits all of your sweet spots.

"Cum inside-"

He's far too eager to deny you. You dig your nails into his shoulder as you get off a second time, sending him over the edge. His cock twitches inside of you, flooding your cunt with his hot cum. He pulls out, his cum dripping out of you.

Risotto commits the image of how good you look full of his seed to memory. The way your body flops onto his, quivering and sweaty, isn't a sight he'd forget soon. He leaves a chaste kiss on your shoulder to pull you into his arms. Sooner or later you'd have to get up to take care of the mess you two made. For now, both of you are content in each others arms.

"Thank you." He mumbles into your hair.

"You don't have to thank me for sex, Riz." You say.

"I know," he traces lines up your thigh, "I love you."

In your line of work, that sort of thing is far from a good idea. It's one thing to blurt it out, it's another to mean it. But you could die tomorrow or the next day anyway. So why not?

"I love you too."

[undercoverangell]

pspspspsps.... **hands u my five page double sided booklet on how i think pok and sklonda met**

ill make a fanfiction later. for now take the bullet points from the notes app. /hj

they knew each other in college, but never really spoke? Pok was always very confident and cocky and outgoing and Sklonda was just there to get her degree so she could be a detective y'know? She also kinda hated him. He was just like her total opposite. Also she fucking kills it in debates, though thats not that important.

I feel like the most interaction they had was like getting paired for a discussion of some sort and Pok makes a comment of "Wow i like your long hair!" and Sklonda goes "Thanks im gonna cut it all off tonight bc you said that" and she does and Pok doesnt know how to tell her he likes it both ways.

Oh yes, Pok is pansexual! That's a headcanon! Gender is so unimportant to him, he just likes pretty people and pretty personalities! (def not projecting as a pan pok kinnie.... ppk...)

They both meet again later on at a college reunion or smthn around five years later, Sklonda is a confident young woman and Pok is a cocky young man who thinks he can just about get anything "bro im a spy im so cool who wouldn't wanna date me?". Pok approaches her at the party and she just goes "Oh absolutely not! You are not doing this today!" and gives him a lecture on how much she doesn't like him and how he is her complete opposite and honestly kind of a shitty person. They encounter the next day at a park and Pok is like "dude im sorry idk what i was thinking i was kinda drunk not in the right headspace yknow?" and shes like "okay. sure we will go with that." and thus begins the banter!

next time he tries to talk to her theres a teasing remark about if hes in the right headspace now to talk to her and a sort of "oh har har yeah im not drunk in a public park at 2 pm sklonda theres kids here, and this is bottled water not vodka." there's just sort of constant meetings in the Bastion City park and they sit there and just talk about life all while bantering. Sklonda teases him for his fashion sense bc i think he would only wear polo shirts and khakis at this point and soon he has shifted outfits to like turtlenecks and button ups and like plaid pants. Theres sort of an unspoken crush, theyre both just not wanting to end the playful banter and get serious yknow? then how can they make "i hate you so much im sitting here talking to you to waste your time and def not bc im interested in what you're saying and like listening to you talk about work!"

at one point pok just goes "yknow i hate you so much i am going to take you on a date to the diner this friday just to waste even more of your time!" and sklonda just goes "....smooth...what time?" and thats literally how they start dating.

they move in together and pok brings her flowers at work. the receptionist knows him by name. she sees him enter and just goes "Sklonda your boyfriend is here!" and Sklonda tries to be like "wow omg this is so embarrassing babe wtf why do you do this" but she loves it.

I honestly think theyd just get married in a courthouse. sklonda and pok just dont know too many people theyd actually wanna invite to a wedding, so they choose the easier route. they get a week off work so it works out, and also still have engagement rings. Pok proposed and all that, they just didnt want a big fancy wedding. they went on a picnic after getting legally married in the park.

they move to elmville pretty soon after getting married and also have Riz pretty quick after that. Pok brings her flowers at her new office and if Riz is with him he comes along too. Pok keeps photos of both of them in his wallet on missions, in the pok lives au he shows all rhe bad kids riz's baby photos and riz is humiliated and hates it.

Pok also brags about how pretty his wife is. You are never going to hear the end of how much he loves Sklonda and how beautiful she is and while shes more quiet about it, Sklonda if close enough to you will also spare no detail of how handsome and kind her husband is. They both brag about Riz doing the tiniest things.

Pok is a great dad, and if he gets home from a mission while riz is at school he will go pick him up for lunch. Can be found napping with his son at 4 pm on a Saturday after they both exerted all their energy playing at the park. Sklonda teases them about being idiots but she loves them both and would not trade her husband and son for the world. "One gukgak has to be sane and I guess thats me." is what she often says after they get injured doing dumb things. Riz thinks that jumping off the swing at full speed and velocity is the greatest joy known to man and Pok often grabs him before he faceplants straight into the ground.

Sklonda also spends time with her son and takes him to the library a lot. Riz loves checking out books at the self checkout thing and bounces up and down at every beep. She reads him bedtime stories one chapter of the warrior cats books at a time.

Thats it i just love these stupid goblins more than words

[heavencollins]

The Oscars Actually DO Matter, and Here's Why

In recent years, an underground opinion has come to the surface, voiced by many in the film industry. You see it all over social media: awards season doesn’t matter, the academy awards are a sham, etc.

But, quite frankly, the film awards shows do matter. And they matter to a very specific group of people. This year, there are more diversity in the nominations than I’ve seen before. Women of color, men of color, women writers, women directors, directors of color—just a few years ago we were saying #OscarsSoWhite.

And this year, that doesn’t stand true anymore.

In the best actor category alone, three of the five nominees are people of color, all consisting of different ethnicities. The front runner for this category, Chadwick Boseman (rest in peace), is a Black man. Riz Ahmed (The Sound of Metal) and Steven Yeun (Minari) have also gained critical acclaim for their roles. There has been almost no buzz for the two white men nominated for this category, Gary Oldman and Anthony Hopkins. Just a few years back, Oldman won for his role in The Darkest Hour, which was immediately met with criticism due to his past of domestic abuse and unsavory comments about women.

Best supporting actor has the same exact case as best actor: Lakeith Stanfield, Leslie Odom Jr., and Daniel Kaluuya are all POC that are nominated for this category, with Paul Raci and Sacha Baron Cohen also nominated. Both Stanfield and Kaluuya star in Judas and the Black Messiah, and their roles have led to many clamoring to decide which of them is leading and which is supporting. Instead, the Academy nominated them both in the same category. Unfortunately, this can lead to a split vote, causing the award to go to another actor nominated.

The unfortunate truth is that when it comes to the actress awards, the majority of the nominees being non-white does not continue. It’s a common thread through history that Black male actors are more well-loved than Black women, due to both racism and misogyny.

For best actress, Viola Davis and Andra Day are both nominated for their respective roles in biopics as women with big, beautiful voices. Vanessa Kirby scored the only nomination that Netflix’s Pieces of a Woman has seen, which could be an effect of the news that came out against Shia LaBeouf. Frances McDormand is the front runner in this category, as Nomadland is in almost every category it scored a nomination in. Carey Mulligan has placed with many people as a close second for her role in Promising Young Woman, but there have been whispers that Davis can also score the award for her role in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, which would mean that both best actor and best actress belong to the same film if those predictions pan out.

Supporting actress brings the same fate, but with only one woman of color nominated; Yuh-Jong Youn shines in her role as the grandmother in Minari. Other nominees for this category include Maria Bakalova (Borat Subsequent Movie Film), Glenn Close (Hillbilly Elegy), Olivia Colman (The Father), and Amanda Seyfried (Mank). Glenn Close is the rumored front runner for this role, but the same situation as what happened with The Wife could happen, where Close loses to another fellow nominee. Many say that she is “owed” an Oscar by this point in her career, which nobody is truly “owed” anything. If this was based on pure skill and ability, Youn or Bakalova will be going home with the statue.

Directing broke multiple barriers this year: Emerald Fennell (Promising Young Woman) and Chloe Zhao (Nomadland) have made history as the first two women nominated in the same year for the category. Chloe Zhao is the first Asian woman nominated. Lee Issac Chung is nominated for Minari as well, meaning that three of the nominees this year are not white men. The two remaining nominees are David Fincher for Mank and Thomas Vinterberg for his international film, Another Round.

Take a step back and look at the statistics. Last year, almost no people of color were nominated for acting, and certainly no women were nominated for best director. The nominations do matter because when you win something as notable as an Academy Award, it opens you up to more opportunities, money, and connections in the film industry. It allows smaller actors or directors to become household names. Many directors and writers go on to make their passion project after they finally win that golden statue.

And maybe it’s just certain groups of people saying the Oscars don’t matter, maybe it’s just white men, maybe it’s just film bros, maybe it’s just random people. But the point stands: the Oscars are still important because there are barriers that haven’t been broken for so many groups of non-white male-identifying folks. When you say the Oscars don’t matter, you’re saying that the fact that so many diverse nominees who are FINALLY getting a shot at winning and are excited about their noms don’t matter.

So why don’t we just be quiet if we have nothing productive to say.

This year we were given six wonderful men of color for best actor, as well as three stellar women for best actress. For directing, if Fennell or Zhao win, it would only be the second time a woman has won, and the first time an Asian woman has won if Zhao, the category front runner, breaks through.

I’m keeping my fingers crossed. And you should too.

[drabbles-mc]

Reckless

Michael ‘Riz’ Ariza x OC (Mariella Reyes)

Request from @rizoldlady​: I would love to see story about him dancing with an oc female character. Baby sister to Ez and Angel. Possibly they are dating in secret and Riz blows the secret while dancing with her at a Mayan party. Tango or cha cha. I can see angel getting pissed at riz for kissing his baby sister. Please please pretty please.

Warnings: language, protective and nosey brothers

Word Count: 2.4k

A/N: This was my first time writing for Riz, so please be gentle with me haha. I really loved this prompt though, and had a lot of fun with it! Hope you all enjoy it xo

(I’m a visual person so with OC’s I always have to have photos to help with the pictures in my head so here’s a little something to help if that’s how your brain works too)

There was a knock at the front door. She smiled into the mirror as she put her earrings in and shouted, “It’s open!”

She heard the sound of boots on the floor and moments later she caught Riz’s reflection in her mirror as he poked his head around the doorframe into her bedroom. She smiled at him through the reflection, shaking her head slowly.

“We’re gonna see each other in less than an hour,” she turned to face him, grin still plastered on her face.

He walked up, wrapping his arms around her waist and pressing his forehead against hers. He placed a kiss on her nose, “I couldn’t wait. Besides,” his hands slid lower, dipping into her back pockets, “I don’t get to do this once we’re there.”

She laughed, shaking her head slightly, “I know, I know. Lo siento, mi amor,” she cupped his face and kissed him on the lips, “I’ll tell them soon, I promise.”

“Better be soon,” he said with a smirk, “Don’t know how long I’ll be able to keep my hands off of you.”

“Michael,” she laughed, her head falling back slightly as she did.

“Mariella,” he chuckled, taking the opportunity to kiss her exposed skin of her neck.

She ran her fingers through his hair, letting them come to rest on the back of his neck. He slid his hands up underneath the fabric of her top, fingertips pressing slightly into her back to keep her pressed flush against him. She let out a small, content sigh as she let him melt into her.

They’d started seeing each other a few months ago, and truthfully, she didn’t see it coming. Riz had always been a flirt, just like every other guy in the club. But eventually the playful flirting turned into real conversations, and then those real conversations turned into late nights at her place after parties. And now here they were. The secrecy wasn’t too much of an issue at first when everything was still new and they were figuring it all out, but now it was getting harder to keep it under wraps. The two of them had had more than one close call with her brothers popping in to visit and check on her.

She didn’t know how they were actually going to respond when they found out that she and Riz were dating, but her mind was instantly jumping to the worst possible scenarios and outcomes. Angel and EZ really never asked her for much, but they had asked her, very nicely, not to date anyone in the club. She partially understood it—they knew things about all the guys that she never would and that made them wary. But they were all adults now, and they could only pull the, “You’re our baby sister,” card so many times before it started to lose its effectiveness.

Riz pulled back and cupped her face gently in his hands. He traces his thumbs along her cheekbones as he looked at her eyes, and the freckles that were scattered along the bridge of her nose. He leaned in and kissed her on the lips, his heart warming as he felt her smile.

“I have to finish getting ready, cariño,” she placed her hands over his.

He smiled, “Uno más,” and before she could say anything else, he pressed his lips against hers again.

She laughed, leaning into the kiss. The urge to show up late to the party so they could have a little extra time together was tempting, but she knew that she’d blow their cover and she would never hear the end of it from her brothers. She finally managed to pull herself away from him, keeping her fingers interlocked with his as she stepped back.

“I’ll see you soon, okay?” she knew that if it was up to him, they’d never leave.

“Kicking me out, hermosa?” he pressed one hand over his heart with a pained look on his face.

She laughed, nodding, “Just for now. You can come over later.”

“Promise?”

“Yes, I promise,” she gave him another quick peck on the lips before nudging him back towards the door to her room, “Now go and let me finish getting ready.”

He walked towards the door, pausing for a moment and taking one last look at her before exiting her bedroom. She heard the front door open and shut, followed shortly by the sound of his bike roaring to life. She chuckled to herself and shook her head—he certainly kept her on her toes.

By the time she showed up to the party, there were already a good amount of people there. She managed to weave her way through the crowd to find her brothers. Angel’s height made him one of the easiest to find in a crowd, and she was forever thankful for it because it seemed as though their parents ran out of good height genes by the time they had her.

He wrapped her in a hug, “Mari,” he kissed the top of her head, “I was starting to think that you weren’t going to make it.”

“And miss the chance to embarrass my brothers at a club function? No way,” she laughed, “Where’s EZ at, anyway?”

He scanned the room, “Over at the bar,” he nudged her in that direction, “Go tell him he owes us both a beer.”

She chuckled as she weaved through the small clusters of people and found EZ, clapping him on the back as she settled in next to him at the bar. He smiled and draped his arm around her shoulders, “Glad you made it.”

“Angel says you owe us each a beer.”

He rolled his eyes, “Of course he does,” he asked the bartender for two more bottles before turning back to his sister, “Your man was looking for you earlier.”

She froze for a moment, “Wh-what? Who?”

He laughed, “Tranq. I swear he asks about you more than Pops does.”

“That’s because Pops knows he doesn’t have to worry about me,” she grabbed her beer bottle and took a sip, “I’ll find him eventually. Thanks for the beers, mano,” she smirked as she grabbed the bottle for Angel and took off into the crowd again.

As the night wore on, she found herself sitting by the fire pit outside with her brothers, Bishop, and Tranq. The five of them sat around chatting and watching the chaos unfold around them. Mariella was usually able to stay on the outskirts of it all, content to watch everyone else get themselves into trouble. It was extra rewarding if the people getting into trouble were her brothers.

She felt a hand come to rest on her shoulder and she looked up to see Riz smiling down at her. “Sorry to interrupt,” he crouched down so he was eye-level with her, “can I steal you for a couple minutes?”

She smiled, trying to keep her composure so no one would think that anything was going on, “Sure, everything alright?”

He stood up, pulling her from the chair, “Yea. Got time for a dance, querida?”

She smiled but she couldn’t pretend that it didn’t send a jolt of fear down her spine, “Michael, don’t get reckless.”

“It’s one dance,” he tugged her towards where everyone was dancing, “What’s the worst that could happen?”

At first, the guys didn’t pay much mind to the fact that she had gotten swept away by Riz. She was friends with all of them and had long since progressed past the need to have one of her brothers with her all the time. They were wrapped up in their own conversations, bouncing back and forth between talking business and talking shit.

Bishop was the first one to notice the two of them getting a little cozier than usual on the dancefloor. He smirked to himself and decided not to comment on it as he took a swig of his beer and returned to the conversation at hand. If Riz and Mari wanted to dig themselves into that hole, it wasn’t really his place to say anything about it. That wasn’t a club matter.

Tranq, on the other hand, was not as subtle. Once he clocked it, he instantly nudged Angel and nodded in their direction, “You know anything about that?”

Angel and EZ both turned their heads to see what he was talking about. They saw the way Riz was holding their sister close, hands set on her waist. They saw the way that she leaned in so he could whisper into her ear, whatever he said causing her to laugh. Her hands toyed with his hair for a moment before they came to rest gently on the back of his neck. They were dancing a little too close, a little too lost in their own world despite the noise and crowds around them, for anyone to think that it was just platonic. Riz stepped back and spun her around, and the look of pure joy on her face as she twirled right back into his arms and against his chest was enough to make anyone believe in love again.

Except for Angel, who was halfway out of his chair before EZ threw his arm out to stop him, “Leave it, Angel. Don’t make a scene.”

“You fuckin’ serious?” he looked down at his brother in disbelief, “You gonna let him be all up on our baby sister like that?”

EZ chuckled, “She doesn’t seem too upset about it. They’re both adults, you know.”

Angel collapsed back down into his seat, “Fuckin’ unbelievable. He didn’t say shit to us.”

“Neither did she,” EZ chimed in, “and why do you think that is?” he gave his brother a pointed look.

“Don’t look at me like that, little brother. You told Mari the same as me not to date anybody in the club.”

EZ chuckled, “Yea, when she was seventeen and stupid. You gotta stop treating her like she’s still a teenager, man. She’s gonna deck you one of these days.”

Riz and Mariella were wrapped up in the music, and each other, for a while before they finally left the dance floor and headed for the bar. She was giggling the whole way, Riz keeping his hand lightly pressed against the small of her back as they walked.

She sat down on a stool at the bar, “You and I have very different definitions of ‘one dance’, Michael,” she laughed.

His heart sped up a little every time she called him by his actual name, “Can’t help it,” he rested his hand on her leg, “And I’m not sorry about it, either.”

She laughed and shook her head as she grabbed the beer the bartender handed her, “Didn’t think that you would be.”

Riz reached forward to grab his beer off the surface of the bar, stealing a quick kiss from the young woman in front of him as he did. Mari’s face got hot and she tried her best to bite back the smile that wanted to spread across her face. He was always a little reckless but she adored that about him.

The smile dropped from her face when Angel’s hands came clapping down on Riz’s shoulders. He cleared his throat and Riz’s entire body tensed up for a moment. He shut his eyes for a moment, accepting defeat before he even turned around to face the man behind him. EZ was standing behind his brother, there solely to play referee if needed. He personally wasn’t that upset about the situation, but he knew that trying to talk Angel down was futile.

“What the fuck, Riz?”

“Angel,” Mariella stood up and wedged herself between the two men, placing one hand on Angel’s chest, “don’t be an asshole about this.”

“You ever gonna get around to sayin’ something about this?” he looked back and forth between his sister and Riz.

“Michael wanted to,” Mariella spoke up before Riz could, “but I told him not to. Because for some reason I thought it might not go over well and I didn’t wanna ruin a good thing before it even got started.” EZ tried and failed to stifle a laugh, reveling in the fact that he was right. Mariella gave him a knowing smile before continuing, “I’m not a kid anymore, Angel, and you don’t get to tell me what I can and can’t do.”

Despite the fact that he had just over a foot of height on his sister, she still stood and tried to get face-to-face with him as best she could. Her size had never been an issue when she carried herself with all the confidence in the world. She and Angel locked eyes for a few moments before his body finally untensed.

He pulled her into a hug with a sigh, “Don’t fuckin’ lie to me anymore, alright?”

She nodded with a smile, “Don’t be a fuckin’ drama queen anymore, alright?”

He laughed and gave her a quick squeeze before letting her go. He turned his attention to Riz, who was still processing what he had just witnessed between his girlfriend and her brother. Angel stepped in close to him, “One wrong step and you’re dead fuckin’ meat, got it?”

Riz nodded, holding his hands up in mock surrender, “Got it, mano.”

Angel walked away, shaking his head as he strode off. EZ just offered up a laugh as he clapped Riz on the back before following Angel’s trail back outside. Riz and Mariella were left the way they started—just the two of them sitting at the bar.

He looked at her with a smirk, “Could’ve gone worse, hermosa.”

She shook her head and gave him a playful shove, “Told you not to get reckless.”

He leaned in and kissed her on the lips, letting it linger this time knowing they didn’t have to hide it anymore. She smiled, placing one hand on the back of his neck and pulling him closer to her. He chuckled as he pulled away, resting his forehead against hers.

“Do I still get to come over later?”

She nodded, a giggle escaping past her lips, “Yea, I guess so. How can I say no to this face?” she rested one hand on his cheek.

He pressed a kiss into her palm, “Remember that you said that.”

She leaned back, taking a sip of her beer with a smile on her face, “I’m regretting it already.”

[aliveandfullofjoy]

okay! for some ungodly reason i've finally seen all 8 of this year's best picture nominees, all 20 of this year's nominated performances, and all five directing nominees. because i'm nothing if i don't rank things, here we go!

Best Picture:

Nomadland

Minari

Sound of Metal

The Father

Judas and the Black Messiah

Promising Young Woman

The Trial of the Chicago 7

Mank

i am NOT HERE for #7 or 8, but i either love or like the top six, which is a pretty great average for me. the top two are pretty far out ahead comparatively, but again, really solid group overall.

Best Director:

Chloé Zhao, Nomadland

Lee Isaac Chung, Minari

Emerald Fennell, Promising Young Woman

Thomas Vinterberg, Another Round

David Fincher, Mank

Zhao's win will be richly deserved. Fincher has no business being nominated. Vinterberg's work is solid, but the film is pretty hollow and will be a wholly unmemorable winner for International Feature (especially with Quo Vadis, Aida? in contention as well -- Jasmila Zbanic would've been a far more deserving international nominee for Director too).

Best Actress:

Frances McDormand, Nomadland

Carey Mulligan, Promising Young Woman

Viola Davis, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

Andra Day, The United States vs. Billie Holiday

Vanessa Kirby, Pieces of a Woman

I've settled on predicting Viola Davis for the win on Sunday, and I'll be thrilled to see her win a leading Oscar even if her work in Ma Rainey is far from my favorite performance of hers. McDormand is miraculous in Nomadland, and she's remained my personal choice in this category all year. Mulligan is great, walking a real tightrope in her film. Day and Kirby are in very, very bad movies, and while neither of them are bad, neither of them are very good either.

Best Actor:

Anthony Hopkins, The Father

Steven Yeun, Minari

Chadwick Boseman, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

Riz Ahmed, Sound of Metal

Gary Oldman, Mank

man, replace fuckin' Gary Oldman with Delroy Lindo and you'd have what might be the best oscar lineup ever?? Oldman is excruciatingly hammy, but the other four are unreal. Ahmed would probably win in any other year, and he's amazing. Yeun does beautifully subtle work; even with the Oscar nomination, I feel like his performance is underrated. Hopkins gives a career-best performance in The Father. he's astonishing, and he seems to be picking up steam to win the whole damn thing at the eleventh hour. however, i won't lie to you: if he wins on Sunday, i'll be just a little disappointed. Chadwick Boseman's stunning final performance in Ma Rainey would be a great performance regardless of his death, but a posthumous Oscar win is a more than fitting tribute to one of the great movie stars of our lifetime, gone far too soon.

Best Supporting Actress:

Youn Yuh-jung, Minari

Olivia Colman, The Father

Maria Bakalova, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm

Amanda Seyfried, Mank

Glenn Close, Hillbilly Elegy

if Youn doesn't win on Sunday, i'll be devastated, lmao. she's so far and away the most deserving choice here. Colman gives a beautiful, complex performance in The Father. Bakalova also gives a complex performance, albeit a very funny one. Seyfried revitalizes her drab film whenever she appears, but it's not much more than that. Close is... the less said about her performance the better.

Best Supporting Actor:

Paul Raci, Sound of Metal

Daniel Kaluuya, Judas and the Black Messiah

Lakeith Stanfield, Judas and the Black Messiah

Leslie Odom, Jr., One Night in Miami

Sacha Baron Cohen, The Trial of the Chicago 7

Sacha Baron Cohen's nomination is completely useless, as is his entire film, but otherwise, these are four great performances. are they four great supporting performances? ehhhh. maybe not! Odom is terrific, easily the highlight of Miami. Stanfield is so, so good in Judas, but he's clearly the film's lead. Kaluuya, who will win the Oscar in a walk, is tremendously powerful, a real volcanic performance. Raci is my favorite, though, a wholly honest and lived-in supporting turn from a character actor who's never even flirted with this level of exposure before. his nomination was one of the unlikeliest, but it's one of the very best of the year.

i'll probably post predictions this weekend. excited for this season to finally end tbh, lol.

[imaginingyourfandom]

Christmas writing prompts

Full credit to the beautiful smackingtalk for creating these prompts!

1. “Merry Christmas bitch” - Dean Winchester (Supernatural)

2. “How many Christmas lights does one person need?” - Kevin Atwater (Chicago PD)

3. “Shut up! Santa is real” - Chris Halliwell (Charmed)

4. “Why does the house smell like Santa threw up?” - Stiles Stilinski (Teen Wolf)

5. “Roses are red, violets are blue, merry Christmas bitch, I love you” - Jay Halstead (Chicago PD)

6. “Oh my god I haven’t got you a present!” - Kenny Crosby (FBI Most Wanted)

7. “It’s Christmas today?!” - Reggie (Julie and The Phantoms)

8. “No seriously I swear I saw Santa” - OA Zidan (FBI)

9. “Omg it’s a fucking reindeer” - Prince Caspian (Narnia)

10. “This tree’s bigger than my future” - Oliver Wood (Harry Potter)

11. “Why do you have playlist with just ‘all I want for Christmas is you’ and ‘last Christmas I gave you my heart’?” - Miguel Galindo (Mayans MC)

12. “No you don’t understand I need a picture with Santa!” - Michael ‘Riz’ Ariza (Mayans MC) 

13. “I can’t reach the top of the tree to put the star on.” - Sam Winchester (Supernatural)

14. “Oh how convenient, some mistletoe” - Isaac Lahey (Teen Wolf)

15. “Let’s binge watch Christmas movies!” - Connor Rhodes (Chicago Med)

16. “I can’t believe we’re going to A&E on Christmas Eve” - Charles Xavier (X-men)

17. “Do you wanna build a sno-“ “no don’t you dare finish that” - Angel Reyes (Mayans MC)

18. “SNOW BALL FIGHT!” - Dean Winchester (Supernatural)

19. “You murdered my snowman” - Five (The Umbrella Academy)

20. “I don’t like hot chocolate” - Minho (The Maze Runner)

21. “Christmas isn’t just about the presents” - Angus Macgyver (Macgyver)

22. “You look like this ginger bread man” - Wendall Bray (Bones)

23. “Go to sleep, Santa isn’t real” - Evan ‘Buck’ Buckley (9-1-1)

24. “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas” - Matt Simmons (Criminal Minds)

25. “Did you just put fake antlers on the dog?” - Matt Simmons (Criminal Minds)

26. “I love Christmas more then anything” “what even more then me?” - Steve Mcgarrett (Hawaii Five 0)

27. “It’s official I hate Christmas shopping” - Derek Hale (Teen Wolf)

28. “I can’t ice skate I’ll break all my bones” - Conrad Hawkins (The Resident)

29. “Don’t you dare buy me that” - Adam Ruzek (Chicago PD)

30. “Stop smashing my ornaments” - Charlie Baker (Cheaper By The Dozen)

31. “That is the ugliest decoration I’ve ever seen” - Jace Wayland (Shadowhunters)

32. “You’ve burnt the turkey?!” - Kelly Severide ( Chicago Fire)

33. “Thoughts on Brussels sprouts?” - Ezekiel Jones (The Librarians)

34. “Fuck it let’s just get drunk” - Kelly Severide ( Chicago Fire)

35. “I don’t know how to wrap presents” - Malia Tate (Teen Wolf)

36. “This is the worse and best Christmas ever” - Prince Caspian (Narnia)

37. “Honey, where is my Santa suite?” - Bruce Banner (Avengers)

38. “I don’t think we can fight Santa” - Brooke Davis (One Tree Hill)

39. “What no that’s not daddy, that’s Santa” - Stiles Stilinski (Teen Wolf)

40. “Oh so we’re putting beer out for Santa now?” - Steve Mcgarrett ( Hawaii Five 0)

41. “I can not believe our car broke down in the middle of nowhere 3 hours before it’s officially Christmas.” Jennifer Jareau & Her Kids (Criminals Minds)

42. “I hate work Christmas parties” - Adam Ruzek (Chicago PD)

43. “What do you mean you’re working on Christmas?!” - Matt Simmons (Criminal Minds)

44. “Babies can’t eat mince pies” - Geralt (The Witcher)

45. “You look like an elf” - Jim Street (S.W.A.T)

46. “The babies crying, the foods burning, the dogs are fighting and your calling me to see what time my family’s coming at?” - Eddie Diaz (9-1-1)

47. “I don’t like spending time with your family at Christmas” - Josh Matthews (Girl Meets World)

48. “I refuse to have a baby on Christmas” - Matt Casey (Chicago Fire)

49. “How many advent calendars does one person need?” - Bill Weasley (Harry Potter)

50. “I’m freezing, you’re warm. Hug me” - Thomas Magnum (Magnum PI)

SEND IN A CHARACTER AND A NUMBER. I WILL BE PUBLISHING THEM ALL IN THE MONTH OF DECEMBER IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS.

send in for the following fandoms:

Mayans MC

Narnia

Teen Wolf

Twilight

Avengers

Jurassic World

Harry Potter

Supernatural

Lord Of The Rings

Charmed

The Librarians

The Originals

Criminal Minds

The Maze Runner

X-Men

BBC Merlin

Vampire Diaries

Hawaii Five 0

NCIS LA

Chicago PD / Fire / Med

Shadowhunters

Stranger Things

Legacies

Magyver

Law and Order SVU

Bones

S.W.A.T

The Resident

9-1-1

One Tree Hill

One Day At A Time

Magnum P.I

Cheaper By The Dozen

FBI

FBI: Most Wanted

On My Block

The Witcher

The Kissing Booth

The Umbrella Academy

Girl Meets World

Julie and the Phantoms

[weclassybouquetfun]

I know it doesn’t really seem like awards season without the pomp and circumstance of awards shows and the press push for films in contention, but it is awards season! It is! 

Reminding us that this muted awards season is still on is Variety which announced their semi-annual Actors on Actors. Which actors will be on other actors (but not in the sexy way)?

Kicking off the event is SILENCE OF THE LAMBS costars Jodie Foster and Sir Anthony Hopkins with Foster promoting THE MAURITANIAN and Hopkins promoting THE FATHER.

Ben Affleck (THE WAY BACK) and Sacha Baron Cohen (THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7)

ONE FINE DAY costars Michelle Pfeiffer (FRENCH EXIT) and George Clooney (MIDNIGHT SKY)

BAFTA EE RIsing Star winners Tom Holland (CHERRY, THE DEVIL ALL THE TIME) and Daniel Kaluuya (JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH).

Actor-singers ANDRA DAY (THE UNITED STATES VS. BILLIE HOLIDAY) and Leslie Odom Jr. (ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI).

Eddie Redmayne (TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7) and Jamie Dornan (WILD MOUNTAIN THYME).

Glenn Close (HILLBILLY ELEGY) and Pete Davidson (THE KING OF STATEN ISLAND).

John David Washington (MALCOLM & MARIE) and Jared Leto (THE LITTLE THINGS).

Zendaya (MALCOLM & MARIE) and Carey Mulligan (PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN).

Riz Ahmed (SOUND OF METAL) and Steven Yeun (MINARI).

Vanessa Kirby (PIECES OF A WOMAN) and Amanda Seyfried (MANK).

My thoughts on some of the films below.

The Father: Great film featuring very fine performances from Olivia Colman, Imogen Poots, Rufus Sewell and Sir Anthony.  Very cleverly filmed by leaving audiences to try to determine what is real or what is a part of The Father (Hopkins) dementia. Heartrending film.  The only strike against Hopkins is that he’s ACTING. You can see that performance from space.  There is nothing subtle about his performance, as opposed to Lance Hernricksen in FALLING which deals with a similar theme. 

The Way Back: I know it’s sport to knock Ben Affleck, but I think he’s a decent actor and a fantastic director. I know why WB or Affleck’s team is pushing his performance in this film as it deals with a man struggling with his sobriety. It’s a good enough film but nothing rises to exemplary.  I’d rather he and “The Way Back”s director Gavin O’Connor hurry up and reteam for the sequel of THE ACCOUNATANT. 

THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7: Certainly a rousing film  - I definitely cheered, and there was not one false note in the performances or weak link in this large cast. The issue is expectation. It is not the best of Sorkin’s work. Everything felt mediocre down to Daniel Pemberton’s treacly score. But mediocre Sorkin is better than a lot of other work.

MIDNIGHT SKY: I’m sure the novel is much better than the film. It’s a series of sci-fi tropes rolled up into one. For an easy comparison I would say it’s very similar in tone to Alfonso Cuarón’s far superior GRAVITY starring Clooney and Sandra Bullock. It wasn’t a wasted watch, but I found it lacking.

ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI: Before seeing this I was fine with THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7 cast possibly winning every Best Ensemble award, but not anymore. Superb film, amazing casting. It’s definitely in my top 5 so far.  Odom Jr. was fantastic as Sam Cooke and the interplay between the characters was fantastic. Director Regina King was wise to take this play, but not film it as a play. This was my single issue with MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM. We know it’s a play, don’t film it like one (that’s another great film, mind you).

HILLBILLY ELEGY: There are just films where critics decide to dogpile on for little reason, and HILLBILLY ELEGY was the victim this time. Based on a book that deals with Conservatism and finger wagging, the film itself isn’t like that. It’s a very human look at a family dealing with addiction and poverty. It’s a kitchen sink drama with a lot of heart and humanity.  Close and Adams could have played their roles as caricatures, but didn’t. 

On a shallow note, Gabriel Basso got hit with the thiccness and is looking good. 

Promising Young Woman: A divisive film, but I loved it. Incredibly smart, dark comedic revenge tale. Carey Mulligan showed glimpses of what she can delve into with the Paul Dano film WILDLIFE, but this film shines a light on how versatile she is. 

SOUND OF  METAL: Story of a drummer, Ruben, who has lost the majority of his hearing. His girlfriend/bandmate, worried about how this news could affect his sobriety, gets him into a rehab center for people who are hearing impaired. The sound mixing in the film does a lot of heavy lifting as it replicates for the audience how hearing loss sounds. Excellent film, great performances but Ahmed’s costar Paul Raci is the heart of the film as the director of the community.  

Ahmed’s other film MOGUL MOWGLI garners a better performance from him as it gives him more room to be versatile. 

MINARI: Another film in my top five. “Minari” follows a Korean-American family as they move from California to Arkansas to build an even better life for themselves.  The Hollywood Foreign Press has rightfully been called out for deeming the film a Foreign film because the majority of it is in Korean. But what is more American than a varying of languages? Hopefully, they will let this film compete in Best Picture where it belongs.

And like with SOUND OF METAL, it’s the supporting actor who steals the show. Youn Yuh-jung is incredible

PIECES OF A WOMAN: Staggering film. It’s the spiritual cousin of “Manchester by the Sea” to me.  Kirby is a powerhouse, as is Ellen Burstyn as her mother. Searing film that looks at the different facets of a woman’s life.

MANK: Truly loved “Mank” and I think Gary Oldman’s performance deserves more recognition. It has the snappiness that Aaron Sorkin’s writing in “The Trial of the Chicago 7″ lacks.  Amanda Seyfried is so good in a role that could easily be one-dimensional.  I don’t get why the film is being largely ignored. I thought it was very smart and engaging. 

[redbeanboi]

Hello!! I'm a really big fan of BBP and your characterization of Giorno. It's great to see more sides of a usually stoic, composed person. Is there by any chance that you could do some hcs of Risotto being a softie or romantic towards his s/o (could you throw in some of him interacting with a baby?)

˚‧º·(˚ ˃̣̣̥᷄⌓˂̣̣̥᷅ )‧º·˚ thank you anon !! this is really sweet. and yes!! I am of the opinion that all stoic composed peoples are secretly big softies !!! and I’m here to expose all of them !!!!

without further ado— 

Rice man with an s/o who has a baby (because single parent is erm... a trope i really like.....)

Risotto isn’t into PDA, but when he’s alone with his s/o he likes to hold them close. He’s a big big cuddly bear. And if you want to get up to do something else that’s too bad :< accept your fate and get swallowed in big man’s frame.

He can’t always afford to take a day off (not to mention the fact that he’s in a dangerous line of work), but he loves his partner very much and will do anything he can to make sure he spends time with them when time allows. Risotto’s very very aware of how dangerous it is for you to be associated with him, and being seen in public is the last thing he wants. So out of protection and concern for you, he usually suggests staying in.

He’s surprisingly good at cooking? Eating out is, again, expensive (also, not to mention the danger of being out in the open), so he’s learned to cook. If you want to help, he’ll gladly let you lend a hand, but otherwise, he’ll ask you to leave the cooking to him (since it’s his way of showing you how much he appreciates you). Nothing too fancy, mostly stuff that can be whipped together on the cheap (but still tastes delicious) so aglio e olio or something along that vein.

and enter baby !! his partner is a single parent, but Riz didn’t know that until later on... And his s/o tries to apologize for not bringing it up earlier, but they’re surprised when he takes it extremely well. the first thing he asks is all kinds of things about the baby: what’s their name, how old are they, when were they born, do they like playing with toys, etc.

The first meeting goes well. Baby is confused at first because Risotto’s essentially a stranger. A very very big stranger. But once the newness has worn off (and it happens in five minutes), you find that they’re both pretty okay with each other. Risotto loves to poke at baby’s cheeks because!! they’re so squishy !! and small?? and also sOft

Baby loves Risotto. They love to shriek and wave their arms until he picks them up. And Risotto’s a big softie so he while he tries to assert himself (”You have two legs, don’t you?”) the second baby goes 🥺 it’s OVER for him !! You can catch them falling asleep and taking naps with each other (because big man needs sleep as much as baby). Usually he’s on his back on the couch and baby’s on his belly or something. It’s cute and definitely worthy of a few discreet snaps. so take those pictures before they wake up !!

Now being around a baby makes him want to go out more, and while the danger is still present, he learns to trust himself to protect all of you. The last thing he wants is to shelter his s/o’s kid (especially because the damn thing is his kid too, now that they’ve bonded!!) so he will be open to going outside. Of course, when he does go out with the two of you, he will make sure to keep a closer eye out for any danger. Of course, not that anyone could really get close or manage to land a finger on either you or the baby because Risotto’s a terrifying opponent.

More importantly !!! Baby calls him Papà eventually and yes. He smiles. :-)

BONUS !!!!

one time he got stuck babysitting while there was a whole meeting with his team, and there’s a teeny tiny interruption. And while Formaggio’s trying his best to tell Illuso off for calling his stand useless, baby crawls over to Risotto and sits their lil bum on the carpet and goes “BAH.” And everyones sorta staring... and baby decides to shove their fist into their mouth and drool onto the floor. And Papà Ris just scoops baby up and acts like nothing’s wrong and just says “Let’s take a break for five minutes” and everyone knows NOT to say anything or point out how great he is with the baby so they just quietly ˢˡᶦᵖ ᵃʷᵃʸ ...

[losolvidad0s]

Dangerous Liaisons, Ch.1

Summary: Catalina Romero has finally built the courage to return to Santo Padre, California after nearly 5 years. What is left in the rubble of her past?

pairing: Angel Reyes x Catalina “Lina” Romero x Ezekiel “EZ” Reyes

a/n: It’s finally happening, chapter 1! I’m excited to share this with you all, let me know if you’ll be #teamAngel or #teamEZ? Please enjoy, don’t forget to follow, turn on the notifs, heart, commmet, and reblog! Follow the tag #dangerous liaisons* for updates!

(gif credit belongs to @angels-reyes ✨)

“One, two, three, four, five, si... one, two, three...”

 It doesn’t take much for someone like Catalina Romero to get distracted. She is convinced that her attention span is of a dog with a bone in a squirrel infested area. The bone is long forgotten, just as counting the amount of boxes while listening to a random podcast.The moving truck will arrive anytime soon and it must be precise in how much she is moving.

Despite it being 3 weeks since she quit her job and informed her landlord that she will not be renewing her upcoming lease, it still sounds funny to her that she is moving. After 4 1/2 years living in the Northern California, Catalina is heading back down to Southern California to the small town of Santo Padre.

The distant sound of motorcycles catch her attention as tries to recount the boxes once more. She stops in her movements to listen if they are just passing by, however when the engine sounds get louder and much closer, eventually idling, she knows they’ve stopped right under her apartment unit.

She sticks her head out of the open window, the shine of two beautifully crafted harleys beaming back at her thanks to the scorching sun. The two men remove their helmets and swing their legs behind them and on the ground below. 

“You couldn’t wait one more day, I know the drive just fine!” Catalina calls out and the two men look up. The taller of the two removing his dark shades. “Not I, mija, Tu padrino.” That’s when the other man looks up, smiling ear to ear.

Taza Romero and Obispo Losa look to each other as they see the young girl disappear from above them, smiling in excitement knowing that they won’t need to commute to see her anymore.

Once the screen door opens, it’s an ambush. Catalina jumps into her father’s arms and quickly encasing him a tight hug. His hearty laugh rumbles and he squeezes, leaning back to get a good look at his little girl. It’s been a few months since he’s seen her. Business with the motorcycle club has had him more busy in the past few months than it ever has in the last decade. But with her now deciding to move to Santo Padre, he is thrilled.

“And me?”

She releases her hold on her dad and jumps right into her godfather’s embrace. Bishop feels a large weight lift off his chest as he holds one of the most important people in his arms again. 

When Catalina was younger. Bishop acted as a father figure for her as well. He didn’t have a family himself so when Taza had asked him to be her godfather, he vowed to love her as if she were his own. It broke his heart when she decided to move up north with her mother’s family those few years back. And as the club business grew bigger and more dangerous, he and her father also carried a small worry that they didn’t have her in arms reach to keep her safe.

“You two didn’t need to come all the way out here to escort me like I’m Princess Diana.” After a few more seconds of hugging, the two release. “Bad example as she died in a car accident, but I would have been just fine.” 

She rolls her eyes as they give her a look reminding her that it’ll ease their mind to be there. They all share a laugh and head into her nearly packed up apartment to get ready to load her life she’s built onto a moving truck.

             〈〈〈〈〈〈〈〈〈〈〈〉〉〉〉〉〉〉〉〉〉〉

Like always, her dad and godfather are all knowing. The drive was long but the occasional looking in the mirrors and seeing the bikes follow gave her a sense of security. After a pit stop for some early dinner, they arrive at the Romero family house that is a few streets away from the Mayans MC clubhouse. The crickets were the only sound after the engines of the bikes cutoff. 

“Finally. No more moan and groan from these two.” A new voice fills the air as Hank Loza stands on the porch, smiling at how grown she has gotten. In Catalina’s defense, she hasn’t grown much since the last time everyone has seen her but it is obvious that she surely isn’t the same young lady from all those years ago.

“I apologize for that, hey Hank!” They embrace in a hug. He takes a good look at her and everyone starts to pile out of the house. Bishop had let the club know of her arrival tonight and to make themselves available to help out.

Gilly, Coco and Riz has ambushed her the second they exit the house. The smell of leather and tobacco smother as she is bear hugged. “Oh god, too much love. Too much!” A harmony of laughter as they mess her hair up.

Despite being an attractive girl from the get go, none of the guys saw her as anything but a young sister to protect. It was mostly from the threats from the president and his vp, but also because they all knew better than to do so especially because during the last few years of her stay in Santo Padre, she was Angel’s girl. Angel Ignacio Reyes, she couldn’t help but look around for him. 

Catalina didn’t grow up much around her dad’s lifestyle. The occasional stops by the clubhouse but she never lived around them. She lived with her dad’s sister right outside of town. But the older she got, the less she saw her dad, the more she longed to be around him. When she turned 18, she made a promise with Taza that should she go to college for at least 4 years, she could be around the MC as much as she desired.

And when she did so, she moved where she stands now at 22 years old. When she met the one of the three prospects at the time, Angel Reyes. 

“I hope you are hungry, we got meat cooking on the grill!” Gilly calls out as she is pulled out from the memories that flood her mind. Catalina pat her stomach and rubs her hands as they head around the house to the backyard. 

She is shocked to see how much things have changed, how well kept the backyard is. Not that she ever doubted that he father could keep it up on his own. Which is probably also thanks to muscle of the club.

A cold bottle of beer is handed to her as everyone settles in the back and the music is resumed. GIlly and Coco at the grill, Bishop and Hank chatting. It’s almost like she hadn’t left. 

The gate of the fence opens and a pile a girls come through. Ah, Vicki’s girls. She says to herself as they each head to a Mayan. Catalina almost gag when a young girl, who must not even be much older than herself, leans into her dad’s side. 

“5 fuckin’ years and you still haven’t changed your hair?” The voice makes her jump as she turns on her heel to see him towering over her. A bottle pressed against his lips and tipped up, though he still has his eyes on her.

It takes her a moment to say something, he watches her with a confused face.  ‘I could never figure out what I want so, I stuck with what I know. Hey, Angel.” When his name sounds from her, he feels the same thing he use to feel. He scratches the back of his head, “Pres says your back for good. How long is that for?”

She smiles and looks away from him, meeting his eyes just as quick again. “I’m here for good. Promise.” 

“I’ll believe it when I see it.” Though his voice sounds cold, his face shows the opposite. The smile and his relaxed body stance. Angel feels at peace. To see her again. This makes her relinquish any worries that things between the two would be rocky with her return after how things had ended.

“Welcome back, mi dulce.” He leans down and presses a kiss to her cheek. His hand lingers on the side of her neck where he held onto. He lets it fall off as he steps behind her and towards the others. She turns and watches him hug his club brothers.

Catalina feels hopeful of being back home in Santo Padre. 

              〈〈〈〈〈〈〈〈〈〈〈〉〉〉〉〉〉〉〉〉〉〉

After a night of good food and company, Catalina wakes the next day later than she normally would considering she drank quite a bit after not doing so in a couple weeks. The house empty and quiet, she finds a plate of breakfast wrapped up for her. Just like old times, despite her being able to do so herself, her father takes care of her. 

She remembers her way to the clubhouse like nothing. The large gate being pushed back by Angel as she drives her car through. It’s a lot to take in. She takes a deep breath in and reminds herself that she really is here. Angel jogs over to the driver’s side after closing the gate to open the door for her.

“Mornin’.” He leans on the door as she gets out and stands in front of him. Their eyes never leaving each other as Angel shuts the door.

“You get as much sleep as me?” 

He says to her. His voice but a whisper as she licks her lips looking at his. This use to be a habit of hers; staring at his lips. It wasn’t just the fact that she liked them against her own, no. It became a defense tactic for her. A way to stop staring into his deep dark eyes since she tends to get lost into them too quickly.

“A few good hours but not much considering I’m back....here.” She looks around them, taking in the sight of the closed into clubhouse and nearby scrap yard. It is Angel’s turn to look at her lips. His heart hammering as he looks at the small space between them.

He opens his mouth to say something to her, anything. That he missed her? He is both excited but hesitant the she is back and back for good? That she still looks like the same one who up and left with a piece of his heart all those years ago? Angel didn’t want their reunion to start of with questions of the past. But he didn’t have a chance to talk with her.

“Templo!”

Bishops voices pulls their attention to the porch of the clubhouse. Angel groans and nods towards his president. Catalina lifts her arm to wave at him as he does so stepping back through the door.

Angel turns back to her and brushes his hand against her arm before backing up and heading in with the rest of the guys.Catalina remembers that is their sacred time as a club, no one else allowed. She decides to admire everyone’s bikes up close. She can recognize her father’s, Bishop’s and Angel’s instantly. Her hand rests on the handles as she looks over the green harley. It looks like a few more designs were added onto it.

Catalina swings her leg over as she sits on the bike. She reaches up and places her hands on the high rising handles. A few memories begin to play in her mind as she closes her eyes. She can remember the first time Angel took her on a ride. It wasn’t her first one but her first one on his bike. The way she held onto him as he sped up every chance he got.

The sound of the screen door slamming pulls her from the thought, her eyes following the sound.

EZ Reyes exits the clubhouse as the rest of the club sits in for the meeting. With him being a fresh Prospect, he didn’t have a seat yet. Catalina’s eyes meets his as he descends down the few steps and towards the bikes. She hadn’t recognized him and confirmed the suspicion that he must a be new prospect.

“One of the nicest but not the best of the group if you ask me.” EZ says as he gets closer, pointing to his brothers bike. She snickers as she looks down at the bike and shakes her head in disagreement.

“Bishop’s has the be the nicest. I mean, that color? Angel went safe with green.” She looks between the two bikes then back at the unfamiliar face. “Lina.”

“Ezekiel, EZ.” He shakes her hand as she smiles at him. To him, he knew she was Taza’s daughter. Then the longer he stared did he realize this is her. This is the her that his brother has mentioned a few times. Angel never went into the detail about the mysterious Lina.

“Angel’s kid bother, yeah he’s mentioned you before.” She says as they release the grip from the handshake. Catalina looks over the younger Reyes. In her years being in Santo Padre. she never put a face to the name. Angel only briefly mention he had younger brother who got himself locked up and that was that. 

He isn’t a tall as his older brother but not too far off either. Truthfully the two had little resemblance. But as her mind tried to remember their mother from pictures she was shown, she could see a little of the beautiful lady in EZ. She gives him a tight-lipped smile as he hangs his hand on the front of kutte.

She notices his big arms, ones that could have any girl with weak knees. She won’t lie to herself that she didn’t feel the slight weakness hit hers as he approached her a few moments ago.

“How’s that going?” She nods to the prospect patch.

EZ follows her line of sight and looks down at it as well. His chest fills with air as he ponders what to say. He thought to himself to answer carefully. She can easily report back to her dad, to the president, to his sponsor which is his brother. With an exhale he smirks looking back at her, “It’s new still so I can’t form a honest opinion just yet.”

“Good answer.” They both laugh. The moment between them interrupted by the commotion of the club piling out. They turn their attention to the guys, Angel noticing the close proximity of Catalina and EZ. 

She walks up to the group of guys who greet her. Angel smiling at her as he passes by to head to his bike, “Com’n prospect, we got business.” 

Catalina watches the two brothers stride next to each other. Her focus solely on Angel as he straps on his helmet. He looks over at her as he puts on his shades and starts up his bike. 

“Feels like yesterday, huh?” Taza says now standing beside her. She hums in response as she watches the gate open for them, the Reyes brothers riding out. 

Things do have a nostalgic feel to them. She prepared herself for a warm as well as a possible cold welcome. Not just from the obvious,Angel, but the entire club as well. Though it was nothing but a sweet ease in. Capable of taking things into her own hands, she is a liability to club should she get herself into trouble.And her reunion with Angel had gone a lot smoother than she anticipated with their departure being of a messy nature. But things seem like it will be possible to go as they were. 

So she thinks. 

chapter 2

taglist: @cind-in-real-life @nakusaych9 @dearsamcrobae @kchavez666 @claytoncardenasbabymama @courtrae89 @goodvibs-world @briannab1234​ @jasmine10128 

[denimbex1986]

'The Talented Mr. Ripley, the 1955 psychological thriller novel by Patricia Highsmith, is gearing up for another adaptation, challenging one already popular movie with a moodier, black-and-white rendition.

In 1999, writer and director Anthony Minghella delivered the sexy film The Talented Mr. Ripley, starring Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Jude Law. The adaptation went on to receive five Academy Award nominations, including Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor for Law. Now nearly, 25 years later, the tantalizing tale is getting another wind, just in time to start daydreaming about our ideal summers away in European blissful ignorance.

Read more to learn everything we know about the series so far, including the plot, release date, cast, and more.

What is Ripley about?

Like the novel the series will follow a troubled con man as he climbs the social ladder with socialites Dickie Greenleaf and Marge Sherwood during their summer in Italy. Set in the 1950s, Ripley’s story begins in New York, where he struggles to make a living but gets by through a series of frauds and scams, befriending the elites of the city. One day, when he’s approached by a man who requests he travel to Italy to persuade his happy-go-lucky son to return to the U.S. to join the family business. What follows is Ripley’s finest work. Earning the trust of the couple, Ripley is invited to stay with them for the summer, sparking tensions and questions as the ambiguity of Ripley’s real identity and intentions is slowly revealed.

Who’s in the cast of Ripley?

The series will star Andrew Scott (Fleabag, All of Us Strangers) as the talented Mr. Ripley, alongside Dakota Fanning as Marge and Johnnie Flynn as Dickie. Other appearances in the series include Pasquale Esposito and Franco Silvestri, among others.

Where and when did they film Ripley?

True to the source material as the ’99 film, the miniseries was filmed in Italy, specifically Venice and Rome, likely during the summer of 2021, when it was reported on Twitter that Scott was sighted on set.

One other Twitter sighting later, it was confirmed that filming moved to New York City during May 2022.

Who are the creators of Ripley?

Steven Zaillian – best known for the acclaimed Emmy-nominated crime drama miniseries The Night Of which premiered in 2016 starring Riz Ahmed and John Turturro – wrote, directed, and executive produced the entire series. Some of his other writing credits include The Irishman, Moneyball, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, and Schindler’s List, among others. Scott also served as a producer on the series, alongside executive producers Ben Rosenblatt and Clayton Townsend with Enzo Sisti and Peter Thorell as producers. Robert Elswit served as the cinematographer.

Is there a trailer?

Yes. Netflix released a first-look teaser trailer, showing off the show’s star-studded cast as well as an intense ticking clock sound design, alluding to the darker tensions that will exist in this adaptation. The trailer closes with an eerie shot of Scott as Ripley staring down the camera from a small train window.

Does Ripley have a release date?

The miniseries is set to premiere on April 4, releasing all eight episodes.

Where can you watch Ripley?

Though originally slated for a Showtime release, the adaptation will be released on Netflix.

Will there be a second season?

While the show itself has been declared as a miniseries, it has been reported that a limited series based on the whole quintet of Highsmith’s Tom Ripley novels has been pitched to the global streamer.'

[wonderfulworldofmichaelford]

Psycho Analysis: Spider-Man Movie Villains

(WARNING! This analysis contains SPOILERS!)

Spider-Man, Spider-Man, he does whatever a spider can. And what do spiders seem really good at? Amassing huge quantities of hatred and animosity! True to the wily arachnids that inspired him, Spider-Man has quite the impressive gallery of foes, one that I might say rivals Batman as the greatest in comic book history with how colorful, crazy, and creative they are. Even villains derivative of one another, like Hobgoblin and Green Goblin or Carnage and Venom, manage to carve out unique niches that help make them fun and memorable.

And thankfully, these qualities usually translated pretty well to film! I’ve talked about how good Mysterio, Vulture, Kingpin, and Prowler are before, so now it’s time to cover the others all in one fell swoop! From the Raimi trilogy, we have Green Goblin, Doctor Octopus, Harry Osborn, Sandman, and Eddie Brock/Venom; from the Andrew Garfield duology, we have Lizard, Electro, Rhino, and Harry Osborn again; and leftover from Into the Spider-Verse we have Olivia Octavius, Tombstone, Scorpion, and that film’s brief take on Green Goblin! Oh, and why not throw in Riot from Venom while we’re at it, because he sucks way too much to get his own Psycho Analysis.

Motivation/Goals: A lot of villains are motivated by the classic motivation: revenge. All of the Green Goblins manage to have this as a main part of their actions, making them remarkably consistent and very easy to discuss. The Norman of the Raimi films wants to take out his anger at being frozen out of his own company, and his son wants revenge for his death, while the Harry of the Garfield films wants his vengeance because Spider-Man wouldn’t help cure him of his otherwise incurable disaease that would kill him (a fact made worse because Spider-Man is his actual best friend, Peter Parker, who is coldly condemning his pal to death). The only one who doesn’t really fit is the Spider-Verse take on Green Goblin, and that’s more because he has extremely limited screentime and spends all of it fighting Peter and being scary as hell.

Eddie Brock/Venom is a very interesting case as both halves of the character are motivated by different reasons. The symbiote half is, of course, motivated by the fact that Peter has tried to rid himself of it via using a church bell to kill it. Eddie, on the other hand, has the most absolutely hilarious motivation ever: He wants Peter Parker to die because Peter exposed him for submitting fraudulent pictures to J. Jonah Jameson. Eddie literally breached journalistic ethics but apparently Peter’s to blame for exposing his literal, actual crime! And he prays to God for Peter to die! This version of Eddie is cartoonishly hilarious.Finally, we have Max Dillon, AKA Electro, who is lashing out at a world that did nothing but belittle and demean him, giving him a far more sympathetic motive for revenge.

Kurt Connors is an interesting halfway point between the Doc Ocks and the villains above, because he is not really evil and his whole transformation came about for altruistic scientific reasons, as he tested his serum on himself because they were going to test it out on the public without consent. While the serum drives him mad, he initially only goes after those who were going to use his formula with people as guinea pigs.

Interestingly, the two Doc Ocks contrast each other. While both of them are doing evil deeds for scientific reasons, Otto Octavius is being forced by his tentacles and genuinely wishes to make the world a better place otherwise. Olivia, on the other hand, is a gleeful sadist who doesn’t care who she hurts as long as she can get some sort of scientific knowledge from it.

Sandman is interesting case because his motivations are entirely sympathetic and despite being the man who killed Uncle Ben, it was entirely accidental and he always regretted it. He only ever wanted to get money to save his daughter. It’s really hard not to sympathize with a guy who turned to desperate measures because the American health care system sucks even in a universe where a dude dressed in a bright red suit swings around New York.

Then there are all the rest. Aleksei Systevich, AKA Rhino, is just a criminal, and has barely any screentime to establish a motivation beyond that. This is especially hilarious because the ads really hyped this guy up, only for him to get maybe five minutes of screentime, with most of it at the very end of the movie before the credits (we don’t even get to see his final battle). Tombstone and Scorpion are basically just lackeys for Kingpin, with little established beyond that. Scorpion almost shows up entirely out of nowhere, just popping in for the fight at Aunt May’s house and then the final battle. And then there’s Riot, who just wants to start a symbiote apocalypse on Earth.

Performance: Willem Dafoe, Alfred Molina, and Thomas Haden Church as Green Goblin, Doctor Octopus, and Sandman in the Raimi trilogy are, in a word, iconic. Dafoe brings a gleeful, cackling hamminess to the Goblin that perfectly suits him and manages to steal every single with how delightfully, cartoonishly evil he is combined with some hilariously chummy moments with Spider-Man. Molina as Ock goes in the opposite direction of hamminess, where instead of making Octavius cartoonishly evil, he gives him this air of gravitas to the point where he somehow manages to make this villain with giant metal tentacles that are controlling his mind come off as sophisticated and serious as Hannibal Lecter. Church meanwhile just looks eerily perfect as Sandman, as if he were ripped straight from the comics and put onscreen, and then of course there’s how well he manages to sell the emotional moments of the character.

The Harrys are a rather mixed bag, sad to say. James Franco and Dennis DeHaan aren’t really bad actors, but they unfortunately have the problem of living in the shadow of the actor who played their dad (Franco) or being in a really awful movie with a terrible script (DeHaan). Franco at least makes up for this by being hilariously, cartoonishly evil to the extent of his dad in the third Raimi film, but DeHaan unfortunately falls rather flat. Topher Grace as Venom is a choice that seems baffling until you realize Raimi cast an actor like this on purpose because he hates Venom so much he didn’t want to give him any dignity.

Jamie Foxx as Electro seems odd at first, but I feel it’s actually a great casting choice, and despite how unbelievably stupid the script is, he’s actually able to do a fairly good job. If his character was in a better movie, he’d probably get a lot less flak (and he’ll be getting his chance soon enough, apparently). Overall, he’s the best part of the Garfield films. Rhys Ifans and Paul Giamatti as Lizard and Rhino are serviceable, but neither film they’re in really gives them much to work with. Giamatti at least gets to steal the show with his brief scenes by being an absolute ham, but Ifans is sadly a bit forgettable in his role (though not for lack of trying on his part).

Now onto the Spider-Verse ensemble! Considering how I gushed over her delightful performance as the Wicked Witch of Westview in WandaVision as well as the fact she is solely responsible for me resurrecting this series from its long hiatus, it should come as no shock at all that Kathryn Hahn as Olivia Octavius is just perfect. Controversial opinion, I know, might get some flak for this hot take. Jorma Taccone as Green Goblin, Joaquin Cosio as Scorpion, and Marvin Jones III as Tombstone all do well for what they’re given, but it’s clear most of the love among Kingpin’s henchmen was given to her (and Prowler, but he got his own review where I talked about how great he is).

Oh, right, Riot. I forgot about him. Riz Ahmed, who plays the human villain Carlton Drake I forgot to mention because he’s incredibly boring, is a really good (and sexy) actor. Unfortunately, he doesn’t get to be quite as good and sexy as an actor like him should be in his dual role. In an interesting subversion of how things usually go, he ends up being rather bland compared to the hammy, bonkers hero. This was Tom Hardy’s show, and no one was stealing it from him.

Final Fate: The Raimi films were all made during a time when, if your name wasn’t Magneto and you were a superhero movie villain, you were dying, a trend I’m certainly glad is finally starting to die off. Thankfully, Green Goblin manages to stick around and posthumously influence Harry, so in his case it’s not so bad. Harry and Doc Ock both manage to overcome the darkness in their hearts at the end and sacrifice their lives to help save the day, while Eddie dies after becoming such a simp for the symbiote he leaps into it while Peter is blowing it up. With Sandman, Peter actually has a touching reconciliation with Sandman at the end, forgiving him for the death of Uncle Ben before Sandman dissolves into dust and floats away on the breeze. And no, this is his power, not Thanos’ snap reaching across time, space, and dimensions; Sandman actually gets out of these films alive.

The other villains actually get off easier, as most of them go to jail. From the Amazing Spider-Man films, DeHaan’s Goblin and Rhys Ifan’s Lizard both end up in prison, and it’s safe to assume that the villains of Spider-Verse are going to jail alongside Kingpin. Octavius was hit by a bus, sure, but considering how popular she ended up being it would be really dumb to have that actually kill her. With Electro and Rhino though, it’s really ambiguous, the former because he’s made of electricity and the way he was defeated means it is possible he survived, and the latter because we never actually see the outcome of his battle with Spider-Man. If the film they were in was actually good and warranted sequels, we may have found out what their true fates were, but at the very least Electro is moving over to the MCU alongside Molina’s Doc Ock.

Oh, right, forgot Riot again. He dies.

Best Scene/Best Quote: I’m combining these this time just to make it easier on me, because in at least in a couple cases the two are the same.

Green Goblin has a lot to choose from, to the point where it’s easy to cop out and just say every scene he’s in is amazing. I’ve always been fond of his chummy chat with Spider-Man on the rooftop, or the scene where he terrifies Aunt May, or the scene where he attacks the parade and vaporizes the board of directors with pumpkin bombs.

Dock Ock is easy: the train battle. This might be one of the best action scenes in any superhero movie ever, and since he’s the villain in it, it almost goes without saying..There’s a reason this scene is singled out so often.

Eddie Brock and DeHaan Goblin actually have their best scenes also be their best lines. Eddie praying for God to kill Peter Parker and DeHaan!Harry screaming “YOU’RE A FRAUD, SPIDER-MAN!” after Spidey refuses to give him a life-saving blood transfusion are just so absolutely hilarious and memorable that you can’t hate them.

Aside from the powerful forgiveness moment at the film’s end, I think it’s really indisputable that the best scene from Sandman, and perhaps the Raimi trilogy as a whole, is the scene of Sandman’s creation. Words really can’t do it justice, so just watch:

Electro’s best moment isn’t even actually part of the movie, unless you want to count his rendition of “The Itsy-Bitsy Spider.” No, his is from a Tumblr post, proving definitively that Electro’s power can not be contained.

For Olivia, I’d say either of the reveals for her are great. You can go with the twist that she’s the Doc Ock of Miles’ universe, or the twist that she might have fucked Aunt May. Either way, you can’t really go wrong.

The rest of the villains… yeah, I’ve got nothing. At least with Rhino you can say his entire time on screen was fun, but the rest? Nope. They’re kind of just there.

Final Thoughts & Score:

Green Goblin

Where to begin with this guy? He is everything I look for in a great villain: he’s hammy and cartoonish, he can be terrifying and threatening when he wants to be, he has a ridiculous yet memorable costume, every word out of his mouth is hilarious and memorable, and he’s played by an amazing actor. It’s hard to dispute that Doc Ock is the best villain in Raimi’s trilogy, but Goblin is definitely the most fun. If you thought he’d get less than a 10/10, you thought wrong.

Doctor Octopus

Aside from Green Goblin, Doc Ock is Spidey’s most iconic and memorable foe, nd this adaptation of him does not disappoint. By making him a more tragic and somewhat anti-villainous figure and putting him in the hands of someone as awesome and talented as Alfred Molina, they managed to make such a cartoonish villain retain that comic book silliness while still being a legitimately imposing antagonist. I suppose it helps that a director who knows how to balance silly and serous like Raimi helps. It’s absolutely not a shock that the MCU wants to bring Molina back, because really, I can’t see anyone making the dubious doctor nearly as cool as the 10/10 performance Molina gave.

Harry Osborn

Franco’s Harry has an interesting arc, but one that doesn’t make a whole lot of sense under scrutiny. Frankly, his descent into villain is handled well but when he actually gets to be a villain in the third film, things fall apart.. But at any rate, he gets to be cartoonishly hilarious while he pettily ruins Peter’s life, so I think a 3/10 is warranted just for how goofy he is.

Eddie Brock/Venom

For the longest time, I hated Eddie Brock, but loved the Venom symbiote for its fantastic design… A design hampered by the fact Topher Grace keeps sticking his face through the symbiote and talking in his normal voice. But then one day I remembered Eddie literally prays to God for Peter Parker to die, and I realize that as crappy as this version of Venom is, he’s undoubtedly hilarious. A 3/10 mainly because of how hilariously bad he is, though the design of the symbiote is unironically great. Shame Grace kept sticking his face through and that Raimi hates the character.

Sandman

Sandman is a villain who deserved a better movie. Sure, Spider-Man 3 is fun and funny, but a character with this much depth and emotional weight deserved a film of the caliber of Spider-Man 2. At any rate, he adds a bit of class and dignity to the proceedings, and Thomas Haden Church really nails it. He’s a 9/10 for sure.

Lizard

Lizard is just a very boring villain, which is a shame because Lizard is not a boring villain in the comics and other media like the cartoons. I don’t really know if he was the best choice for Spider-Man’s first outing; I’ll at least give him that he’s a more inspired choice than doing the Green Goblin again, but that doesn’t score him higher than a 4/10. As boring as he ends up being, that library fight was pretty cool and had a great Stan Lee cameo, so I can’t say he’s the bottom of the barrel.

Electro

Electro is a villain who desperately deserved a better movie. While his backstory as a nerdy fanboy who got kicked around by the world is nothing new, or fresh, or original, Jamie Foxx manages to make the character work fairly well even though almost everything around him is unbelievably stupid. The fact he managed to make “Don’t you know? I’m Electro” sound cool and badass is a testament to his skill, and thankfully he’s coming back in the MCU in some way, so I guess Electro’s power can not be contained to a single movie. Still, this iteration only manages to get to a 6/10, because while all the elements of greatness are there, he’s hampered by the abysmal writing.

Rhino

Paul Giamatti certainly looks like he’s having a blast here. His attitude is almost infectious, but alas, his time is too brief to bring any great joy, and his jarring appearance out of nowhere at the end of the film certainly do him no favors. Still, Giamatti keeps Rhino from sinking any lower than a 5/10.

Harry Osborn

This Harry is just a joke. His arc makes no sense, his actions are unbelievable, and he ends up looking like a really poor Warwick Davis Leprechaun cosplayer. The only thing of note about him is that he’s a Harry who becomes the Green Goblin before his father, something that doesn’t happen very often, and that’s not enough to score this loser higher than a 2/10. Not even killing Gwen Stacy makes him any more impressive, and that’s a real shame.

Olivia Octavius

Olivia Octavius is widely beloved by just about everyone who sees the film.. myself included. This is just a really fun, clever twist on Doctor Octopus, and it’s the sort of character you really hope gets a Harley Quinn-level break into becoming an iconic character across multiple forms of media. Kathryn Hahn’s fun performance and the wonderful design and fight sequences really make Olivia a 9/10.

Tombstone

Tombstone is a villain you might actually forget is in the movie, which is a damn shame. He’s an albino black man, a badass bodyguard, and has a striking design, but he gets a single line of dialogue and is tasked with bodyguarding a man who not only has cyborgs under his employ, but who murdered Spider-Man with his bare hands. Tombstone ultimately feels really superfluous, which is a shame because around the same time Into the Spider-Verse came out he had a very memorable and well-liked appearance in the Spider-Man video game. It’s a real shame but I gotta give this version of Tombstone a 2/10.

Scorpion

Scorpion has a lot of problems of Tombstone above, but he makes up for a lot of his flaws by having a really cool and striking design. Does it really make him a great villain? No. He’s not particularly well-characterized and he’s really just there to look cool and give Olivia backup. He’s a 4/10 at best, saved from being lower only by his awesome look. Looking cool really can get you far in some cases.

Green Goblin

Out of all the really minor villains in Spider-Verse, this version of Norman might be the best. His role is tiny, only appearing during the scene where the Peter Parker of Miles’ universe gets killed, but his battle with Spider-Man is what sets the entire plot in motion. His cool and terrifying design definitely help make him stand out enough to earn at least a 6/10.

Riot & Carlton Drake

Look, there’s a reason I kept forgetting these guys. They’re not memorable in the slightest. Venom may be a fantastic work of art, but that’s because Tom Hardy kills it in his dual role as Eddie Brock and the Venom symbiote. Drake is just a boring corporate villain, the kind I hate talking about and the kind I’d only ever even bother mentioning in a review like this. And Riot is just a generic Big Gray CGI Monster for the hero to have a final battle with. Neither of these two are particularly interesting, and neither deserves more than a 2/10.

That’s it, right? There can’t be any more villains, I must have covered them all. Well, not quite. There’s one more character who is most certainly an antagonist and who I really, really want to talk about. And you’re absolutely not going to believe who it is.

You ready?

Psycho Analysis: Emo Peter

“Now wait,” you may be asking, “Emo Peter? Really? How does he count as a villain?” Well, as Schafrillas pointed out in his video on Spider-Man 3, Emo Peter is actually the antagonist for much of the second act. Peter, influenced by the symbiote, becomes a raging jackass and hurts and alienates everyone around him by being a colossal douchebag, not to mention how violent he gets as Spider-Man. This is very much an extreme case of the hero’s greatest enemy being themselves, because literally, Peter’s enemy in the chunk of the movie with Emo Peter is his own overinflated ego

Motivation/Goals: I mean, at the end of the day, it’s still Peter. He still wants to do the typical Peter Parker stuff, he’s just a jackass while he does it.

Performance: It’s Tobey Maguire busting loose and getting to act like an absolute doofus. There is literally nothing about this that isn’t amazing and I��m sorry if you can’t see it.

Final Fate: Peter eventually comes to realize that maybe the symbiote making him act like an egomaniacal tool is not a good thing, and so rebels against it, ultimately leading him to the roof of a church where Eddie Brock is praying for him to die and, well, the rest is history.

Best Scene:

Best Dance Move:

Final Thoughts & Score: Emo Peter has gotten a bad reputation over the years, but Schafrillas’ video really made me rethink why. As he puts it, Emo Peter comes off not as someone cool, but as what a loser thinks a cool person would be (which makes him still a loser). It seems fairly likely that the audience isn’t supposed to be rooting for Emo Peter or finding him cool, but instead finding him insufferable, ridiculous, and funny. We’re supposed to be laughing at Peter’s egomania, at his absurd and hammy showboating, not cheering him on and desiring to emulate him.

And that ultimately makes it more satisfying when Peter overcomes his ego and decides to rid himself of the symbiote. It might seem like I’m giving Spider-Man 3 a lot of credit here, but even Sam Raimi half-assing a movie wouldn’t leave things completely devoid of underlying brilliance. Emo Peter isn’t a villain in the sense that he’s some superpowered antagonist, he’s a physical representation of the negative impacts of fame and ego on Peter. This is Peter letting go of what makes him a hero and just reveling in being an absolute jerkwad to everyone around him.

I love the memes as much as everyone else of course, but Emo Peter is also a pretty clever symbolic foe. But even though I’m giving him an 8/10, we all know the real reason why he’s scoring so high:

Ok, but that’s it now, right? No more Spider-Man villains? Well, maybe for now. But don’t forget:

There’s gonna be Carnage.