#what other daniel-themed costumes could we have?

[benoits-neckerchieves]

It’s Halloween !!!!!

Obligatory James Bond ass wiggle post

[no-144444]

chancer- o.piastri

Day 31 of fic-tober! fic-tober masterlist

summary: Can he figure out who you are at the masquerade ball before you leave forever?

a/n: thank you everyone for reading these stories over the last month! this has been so fun and i've loved getting to write everyday!

ps, these were the costumes i had in mind (plus random masquerade masks):

you: oscar:

(both from pinterest!)

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Oscar knew he wasn’t the first person anyone would choose to go to a party with. He was awkward, quiet, unknown, and uninterested in getting to know new people. He had his friend group; Logan, Lando, Alex, Charles, George, Daniel, Pierre, Arthur, Liam, and himself. He was happy just talking with his friends. He wasn’t looking for more, and he didn’t want to entertain small talk more than he already had to with his job.

“What if you meet someone there?” Alex had wondered out loud, trying to persuade him to go. He was the only girlfriend-less guy in the group. Alex knew he wasn’t looking for a girlfriend. He knew, because every single week one of their girlfriends would text him about ‘a friend that was really interested’ and every time he’d say no. He wasn’t looking for a hook-up (mostly because he didn’t believe in hook-up culture, not being into having sex with someone without knowing them), and he didn’t want to lead someone on. Objectively, yes, he knew he was an attractive man. He was a fucking racecar driver who was paid to take care of his body. He was paid to model clothes and go to nice events. He was paid to drive a fast car, on track and off it. Could he probably put more effort into his look? Absolutely. He didn’t even own a hairbrush, and he wasn’t going to start anytime soon. 

Yet there he stood, pirate costume on (complete with a masquerade mask, as to keep with the theme of the party), walking into the biggest house he’d seen in a while, with a bubbly sense of anxiety in his stomach. Logan was walking beside him, talking to Liam about something or other. 

“You’re nervous,” Arthur teased. Oscar rolled his eyes. 

“I don’t want to be here,” he sighed as he got handed a drink. 

“Why not? Have a bit of fun!”

“Fun to you, is drinking and making out with your girlfriend in the corner of a party. Fun for me, is going home and sleeping,” Oscar took a swig o f his drink, it burned as it went down his throat. 

“We should’ve invited Hattie instead,” he scoffed. Hattie and Arthur had become friends during Oscar’s overlapping time in F2 with Arthur. Hattie was always the more outgoing sibling, and Oscar wouldn’t have blamed them for inviting her instead of him. He could’ve at least gone home and slept. 

“Oscar!” Fernando cheered, resting an arm over his shoulders. “You came!” 

Ah, this was Fernando’s party. Of course. 

“Of course I did,” he smiled. Fernando had always been kind to him, especially in his time in Alpine. 

“I have someone I want you to meet,” he whispered. “It’s a girl…” Oscar rolled his eyes. “Is everyone trying to set me up with someone tonight?” 

“Maybe, I know I am,” he laughed. “Follow me.” 

Oscar dutifully followed behind Fernando, being brought further into the party. It was going to be impossible to find any of his friends again, so he sent the group chat a quick text to meet him at the front door in 1 hour, as that would be when he would be leaving. He was met with sad and angry emojis, but he didn’t care. The host had seen him, and he had a weekend's worth of sleep to get.   

“This is-” Fernando was too quiet to be heard over all the shouting and singing. But in front of both of them stood you. You were dressed as a mermaid. What a pair you two made. 

Oscar’s mouth literally fell open. You were gorgeous, the costume showing a great deal of skin and he was not complaining. What really drew him in was the bright smile on your lips as Fernando spoke (he had tuned everything else out) and the way you nodded along. 

“So, I’m sure you’ll get acquainted!” Fernando announced just in time for Oscar to close his jaw and stop drooling. Then your attention turned on him. 

“I think him telling me who you are defeats the purpose of the masks, right?” you chuckled. He chuckled. 

He was a goner. 

“You’re right,” he smiled. “I’m Oscar.”

“I know,” you bit your lip, smiling brightly. “He told me, remember?”

He internally kicked himself. “Of course, yeah. Sorry.” 

“No need to be sorry,” you shouted over the music. “It’s a little loud in here, want to go somewhere quieter?”

He nodded. “Yeah!” 

You took his hand and led him out to the garden, which was still full of drunk people. You brought him further, him following diligently. You brought him to the edge of the forest at the back of the house. “You trust me?”

He nodded, trusting you implicitly. You led him further, into the forest, until you made it to a treehouse. 

You helped him up (despite being in a skirt), and there you two sat for a moment, just enjoying the quiet. 

“What do you like to do?” you asked, out of the blue. 

“I like to drive-”

“Other than of driving,” you giggled. 

He smiled. “Well, I like to sleep, I like to play video games, I like watching movies, I like baking-”

“Baking?” you questioned. 

“Yeah, baking,” he nodded. 

You looked at him sceptically. “Explain.”

He chuckled. “Well, my mum and my grandma used to make me sit with them in the kitchen to learn how to bake, and when I was a kid, I fucking hated it. Now that I’m older, I love it. It’s so relaxing.”

“You learn something new everyday,” you smiled. 

“What about you?”

“Well, I like to read, I like to cook, I like hanging out with my friends and family, I like writing-”

“What do you write about?” he asked.   

You smiled cheekily, he could see the way your eyes crinkled, just slightly. It made him smile. 

“You chancer, I don’t know if I can tell a random stranger that…” you shook your head. “I’ll need to get to know you better.”

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So, there you two sat, talking about your lives, enjoying each other's company, and just having fun. The hour he was supposed to spend had long since passed, and he had silenced his phone the second you had started talking about your life. He didn’t see the messages from his friends about leaving, he didn’t see the missed calls from them, wondering if he was alright. He didn’t want to either. 

You ended up with your head on his shoulder as the topic of love somehow came up. 

“Have you ever been in love?” you asked, curious about his experience. 

“I don’t think so,” he answered, mildly confused. 

“So, no then.” 

He chuckled. “No, then. You?”

You shook your head. “Nope. But I do love racing.”

“You race?” he asked. 

“Yeah,” you shrugged. “MotoGP.” 

“That’s awesome,” he praised. 

You looked into his eyes, the majority of his face covered by the mask. “I want to kiss you right now,” you admitted, your voice low. 

He gulped. “I want to kiss you right now.” 

You smiled cheekily again. “What’s stopping you?” 

And that was that. He kissed you.

His hands found space on your hips and held you against him, feeling the sparks between you two like a fuckign fire. He wanted so much more than just one kiss. Your lips against his was like the perfect symphony, your hands on his body the greatest touch, his hands on your skin like the softest connection. 

“Oscar,” you moaned against his lips as he bit down on your bottom lip, his tongue fighting yours. 

The loud bang of fireworks pulled you both apart. You both gasped, pulled away abruptly, then laughed as your adrenaline calmed down. 

“That was…” he started. 

“Wow,” you finished. 

He chuckled. “Wow,” he agreed. 

You checked your phone, wondering the time. “Shit!” you cursed. “I have to go, it was awesome meeting you, my friends-”

“Can I get your number?” he asked, rushing after you. 

“I think that defeats the purpose of the night Oscar,” you chuckled. 

“I-I don’t even know your name!” he stressed. He needed to see you again. “I want to see you again.” 

You ran ahead of him, rushing through the trees. He followed behind, thankful that his trainer makes him go on endurance runs. 

As you two got back into the house, you tried to shake him off, just for fun. He wasn’t budging. When you finally made it to the front door, he grabbed your arm and kissed you. Again, those same butterflies were sent free in your stomach, and this time it didn’t make you nervous. It made you happy. 

As he kissed you, he pulled your mask off, revealing your identity to him as he pulled away. 

“Shit you’re beautiful,” he chuckled. “Sorry if that was too-”

You cut him off with a kiss of your own, pulling off his mask. “Pretty handsome yourself.” 

He smiled. “Please. I want to see you again.” 

“You already have my number, idiot,” you chuckled. 

“I know,” he chuckled. “I’m just asking you out now anyways.” 

You smiled. “Yes, I’ll obviously go out with you.” 

He pressed his lips to yours once again, and both of your friend groups cheered, happy that you’d finally gotten together.

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[flamingpudding]

Fictober23 Prompt: 31 - "It's not your fault."

Fandom: DPxDC

Rating: T

Warnings: -

A/N: Based on the setting created through Prompt 14 and its Reblogs. Not necessarily to read beforehand but it might give a little context. I tried to go with a more Halloween themed short story hope that worked out.

"Damian this mission has the highest priority any mission or case ever had before." Dick was clutching a glaring Damians shoulders who was now raising an eyebrow like his elder brother had lost his mind.

"Richard, this is ridiculous." He commented, crossing his arms.

"I am serious Dami, we can not fail with this." The elder stressed more. If it were any other situation than this then Damian might have taken Dick more seriously but as it was. His elder brother was pleading with him, dressed in a ridiculous Vampire outfit after having forced Damian into an outfit that was clearly a mockery towards his old league gear. It was a simple ninja costume Dick was making him wear.

"Please Dami! You don't want to get black listed for a month like Bruce or Tim, right? Jason is going to do this if we ruin their first Halloween in Gotham!" The younger's eyes narrowed.

"Do not place me on the same level as Drake. I will not lose any rights towards my nieces and nephews like he did." He huffed as he looked away stubbornly from his elder brother. Damian was not foolish enough to repeat the same mistakes some members of his family have made. He was not going to let his nephews even touch coffee or any caffeinated drink in the first place.

Besides the incident with Jasmine and their father was a whole different matter. It was their fathers own fault for unconsciously challenging his niece and disregarding her talent in analyzing one's mindset, Todd had mentioned once.

"I just want to make sure! Jason has become so protective of the kids and I do not want to lose favorit uncle's privileges!" Damian's eye twitched as he shoved away his elder brother with his hand placed in the other's face. "You must be delusional Richard. I seem to remember that I was the favorite uncle of the twins."

Before Dick could counter Damian the front door opened and the two saw Jason enter the manor with the crime twins on either side of him and the toddler in his arms. The second eldest raised an eyebrow at them before glancing down towards the twins.

"Hey Little Wing, right on time! Where is Jazz?" Dick greeted them cheerfully, bending down a little to wave at Ellie that was blowing a raspberry in his direction. He was probably imaging it but it looked like the little girl was glaring at him.

"Already dropped her off with her school friends, I will pick her up tomorrow afternoon. It's her sibling free day, remember?" Jason only raised an eyebrow also noting the frown the twins were sporting at seeing Dick.

Dick nodded, turning towards the twins. Did he imagine it or did one of the boy's whisper fruitloop to the other. "Ready for your first Trick or Treat in Gotham? We gotta collect all the candy for you two that we can!"

"Sure." Dick was hoping for more enthusiasm from the boy's but maybe that would come once they got their first candies bagged. "You two look interesting, what are you going as?"

"Frankenstein." The two answered simultaneously before glaring at each other and Dick sweatdropped. One of the boy's was dressed like a mad scientist with a white coat and welding goggles strapped to his head as well as some broken medical equipment clearly made visible. The other boy looked more like a monster with ripped clothing, fake bolds glued to his neck and drawn stitches all over his visible skin that was coloured slightly greenish.

"Wow you both did a good job! The monster looks just like in the movies." Dick tried in hopes

"I see. So Daniel is Doctor Frankenstein while Dante is Frankenstein's monster." The twins looked up towards Damian, the glare lost for a moment before they turned on each other again.

"See Uncle Dick said it! When someone says Frankenstein they think of the Monster, twerp!"

"Nuhu! Uncle Damian got it! He knew I was the Doctor and not the monster!"

"And Jazz just got them to stop arguing about that shit." Jason muttered with a glare towards Dick before the twins could devolve any further into their argument Jason stepped towards the side where Alfred had appeared and was heading over the now bubbling little girl that was making grabby hand towards the butler. He then turned towards the boys.

"Okay you two. Remember today's rules." He clapped his hand for more effect and to get the two to look at him. Which sort of worked as they still gave each other side eyed glares but nodded regardless. "Good and remember no crimes today, enjoy your fun and do not stuff yourself with candies."

"Okay Dad." The twins answered in sync before Jason literally pushed them towards Dick and Damian and out the Manors front door. They were the ones taking the twins out for a Trick or Treat run as their first Halloween in Gotham. Jason was going to hang back with Alfred to take care of Ellie.

Dick had volunteered doing this for his brother a couple weeks before Jason had wondered what he was going to do with the kids for Halloween. Dick had also instantly volunteered Damian for it two. Their youngest brother wasn't that much older than the twins yet and they surely would feel more comfortable with two known family members around.

An hour in and Dick was moments away from admitting that he made a grave mistake.

"Dami! Have you seen Danny?!" Jason was going to murder them if they lost one of his kids. So Dick was rightfully slightly panicked. He had taken his eyes of the boy for only a moment to check something on his phone.

"You have lost Daniel?" The youngest Wayne looked miffed at him and had a slight glare before though Dick noticed something else in his eyes too. "Damian, where is Dan?"

The younger clicked his tongue and Dick paled slightly. Okay no big deal, they temporarily lost the crime twin. He had found and followed Danny before, surely he would be able to find the boy in the crowd of disguised children too. Danny went with a mad scientist costume. How many of them were running around? It would be more difficult to find Dan, he had spotted a couple of different Frankensteins already.

"Jason is going to blacklist us, isn't he?" Dick muttered his eyes wandering over every child he could see going from door to door for candies. Damian doing the same even watching other adults and parents in case one of them had the idea to snatch his nephews from them.

"It won't be as bad as Drake and father." Damian commented as a form of consolation to his elder brother but knew it probably would. Jason blacklisted Tim from watching the kids for the caffeine incident for a month and their father was still blacklisted until Jazz felt like talking to the man again, the twins in solidarity to their sister doing the same.

"Should we split up? But what if they are looking for us? Oh good what if one of the rogues snatched them up? Or worse, some leftover guys from that damned organization?" From the corner of his eyes Damian saw how his elder brother was getting worked up and even though he wasn't showing it, he too was worried. This certainly was not how they had hoped the boy's first Halloween with them would go.

In a decorative street tree on the side of the path Dick and Damian were on sat two boy's one munching on a licorice stick while the other was nibbling on chocolate. Both were invisible just in case their uncle decided to look up.

"Fake blood next?" Danny asked as he watched Dick starting to pace.

"Not yet. Did Dad mention anything about the firecrackers?" Dan asked in return as he bite of another piece of his licorice stick.

"Not that I remember, tho Jazz said to go easy on Uncle Dick." Danny hummed tilting his head slightly with a frown. "But he lost that privilege looking like the fruitloop. You got one of Dad's fake guns right?"

"Why? Didn't you say you wanted to 'fake' stab yourself with the broken syringe?" Dan raised an eyebrow as Danny gave him a feral grin. "You recovered your shape shifting power, right?"

Dan returned the feral grin with one of his own understanding what kind of prank Danny was hinting at. "For once, I like the way you're thinking, twerp."

"Would you stop calling me that! We are the same age now!" Danny pouted as he stuffed the last of his chocolate in his mouth and prepared to jump off the tree.

"Never!" Dan quickly answered with a laugh as he took the lead and jumped off the tree and disappeared into the crowds first as he let go of his invisibility. Danny quickly followed doing the same. They had after all a lot more pranks planned to play on their uncles.

The evening ended with Dick and Damian making their way into the Manor through the bat cave entrance so that they could get to the Medbay before Jason saw the twins. Both looked rather disheveled and like they had gotten dragged through mud. What they didn't expect was Jason, being in the cave and looking at them with raised eyebrows. Dick was holding Dan who was literally growling as Dick was pressing a bundle of tissues against the boy's nose. There was a ripped strip of his vampire costume tied around Dan's arm, a line of dried 'blood' going down the arm.

Damian was holding Danny. The boy looked dizzy, holding his head with one hand while he whined about everything being to bright, the goggles of his costume were cracked and the white coat now had red 'blood' strains, the shirt he was wearing also appeared to be soaked in 'blood' and there was a tried spot of blood below Danny's nose like he also had had a nose bleed like his twin.

"What happened?" Jason's tone sounded neutral and Dick laughed nervously.

"It looks worse than it is…" He tried to salvage, maybe they could still save their nephew watching privileges.

"Really?"

"It's Richard's fault. He lost sight of Danny first." Dicks head whipped around towards Damian who just decided to throw him under the bus. A look of betrayal crossed the eldest face at the narrowed stare Damian was giving him. "The situation spiraled from there."

"No wait! Damian lost Dan! It's not just my fault!" He tried to defend himself as Jason's eyes narrowed on him. But before he could come up with any more reasons why it was not just his fault and that they should not lose any of their uncle privileges because of that…

…Jason started laughing, wheezing out a "It's not your fault."

Confused Dick blinked before Dan jumped out of his hands the same time Danny jumped out of Damians. Suddenly the kids appeared like nothing was wrong as they rushed over towards Jason. Hadn't Danny been dizzy until now? And Dan had complained and growled at him about a headache?

He glanced at Damian who was watching the twins with narrowed eyes.

"Well looks like you two had a lot of fun." They watched how Jason patted the twins' heads grinning at them as the boy's sported proud looks, like they were pleased with themselves. "Your Auntie Babs is making a highlight reveal for the entire family later. Till then go wash up and bug one of your other uncles or aunts."

"Can I go bug Uncle Tim! I got an new invention idea when Uncle Dick got chased by the dogs!"

"I want to find Aunt Harper."

"Sure both should be in the Manor by now. Just wash up first." With the boy's sent away it left the two adults and teen in the batcave. One of them gabbing like fish, the other glaring with narrowed eyes and the last of them still chuckling.

"Todd." Damian hissed and Dick knew that tone. Damian was promising revenge on Jason.

"Light up brat. The twins needed an outlet and Jazz suggested they could pull some pranks today, I just told them that with you two they could go all out."

Dick wasn't sure if he should feel relieved or be slightly mad at his brother for that but eventually he decided to go with relief. "So we are not losing uncle privileges, good."

"You two are still getting blacklisted for two weeks."

"WHAT?"

"I demand a reason."

"You tried taking them with you on patrol and you gave them blade training. They are six."

[gretavanlace]

Sugar II (part 3)

18+ plus only! Minors do not interact!

Warnings: adult themes, angst, discussions of alcohol consumption, etc

Thank you all so much for your patience while I was out of town…I love you and never intentionally keep you waiting! You’re my babies!! ❤️❤️

“Why am I always the last to know everything?” Sam slips into Josh’s dressing room, shirtless and as always, slapping along on two bare feet “Is it because I’m the youngest, or are you just an asshole?”

In contrast to his brother, Josh drips in beaded satin; glitter swept deftly across his eyes; rhinestones grabbing at the light until he winks and flashes like a star against its midnight sky.

No one would expect anything less. He is always the first to be found wandering the hallowed arena halls, made up and shining like old Hollywood royalty. It soothes him…a lullaby masquerading as expensively tailored glitz. You used to help him…zipping up jumpsuits he could have easily secured himself, fussing over his hair, lint rolling velvet, laughing and chattering away to keep his mind off that unforgiving anxiety of his. They are memories he cherishes and thinks of nearly every time he primps.

They each have their rituals - Daniel bangs around on a kit until his arms are loose and his mind is buzzing with adrenaline. Sam terrorizes the crew and his brothers with his trusty four-legged sidekick, shaking off the jitters with hijinks. And Jake scrutinizes his gear meticulously, checking the work of techs and roadies who definitely know what they’re doing. He usually finds something to pick apart anyway. It sharpens his focus and quiets his mind.

Josh steps into costume and becomes someone else. Someone he often doesn’t recognize…who is this person with such charisma and grace? He who commands the attention of crowd after crowd roaring and shaking the rafters? He who is worthy of such primal, hungry fervor?

That is how he finds the spotlight night after night. While the others do their own things, Josh quietly dresses and becomes someone, something, else.

And so, draped in his finery, he watches Sam through the mirror as he flops into a chair, all legs and attitude. “By all means, Samuel, make yourself at home.”

“Were you even going to tell me that she’s here? She always liked me best, you know? She was just too sweet to mention it to you idiots.”

Josh turns with a chorus of clattering glass beads, and leans back against the vanity, arms folded “One, I haven’t even seen you since I found out, so you’ll forgive me. Two, I knew Daniel would break his fucking neck to be the first to tell you,” He shrugs, “figured I’d let him have his moment.”

Popping open a White Claw, Sam ignores his brother's carping in favor of a question “You see her yet?”

“Yes,” Josh turns back to his reflection, patting a fingertip lightly over his eye makeup.

Never in possession of any patience to speak of - the baby of the family rarely is - Sam immediately prods him along. “And?”

He’s met with a sigh, “And what? I went to see her, we caught up for a little while, and then I left. That was that.”

“I went to see her,” there’s a mocking, obnoxious quality to Sam’s tone as he parrots Josh “we caught up for a while and then I— would you shut up? What happened? How is she?”

“She’s...I don’t know. She’s herself and not herself. She looked sad.” The revelation comes with a sadness of its own. “She’s getting married, so she shouldn’t have looked so damn miserable...but she did, and I hated it. It almost made me wish I hadn’t even knocked on her door.”

“I’m usually sad when you knock on my door, too.” Sam deadpans, attempting to lighten the mood at least a little.

“Must you lie, Samuel? You’re stricken with joy when I enter a room, just like everybody else.”

“Christ,” Sam mutters, tossing Josh a white claw to match his own, “I swear, if you could suck your own dick, you would.”

Josh cracks it open and slurps with a dramatic flourish, “Obviously.”

“Why do you think she looks so miserable?” Sam is pondering, turning something over in his mind with worry evident in his eyes.

“Probably because she knows she’ll likely have to see you. That’d be my guess, anyway.”

Josh is disguising his own knotted up stomach with humor. Sammy knows it, and chooses to ignore the dig.

They settle into their drinks until Sam speaks up once again, “She’s getting married? That’s just…” he quiets, unsure and still bristling with concern, “How are you gonna tell him? You gotta wait until after the show, that’s for sure.”

For once in his life, Josh has been rendered temporarily speechless, and that answers the question just fine.

“Are you serious?” Sam leans forward, elbows on his knobby knees, “You can’t be serious.”

“How am I going to tell him?” Now they’re just lobbing questions back and forth at one another. “You can’t be serious!”

Sam’s eyes widen, shocked and hurting for Jake in his absence. It would almost be comical if the situation could lend itself to anything other than this crushing weight, “We have to tell him, Josh. This isn’t okay. He has the right to—“

Suddenly, Josh pushes away from the vanity and the energy radiating from him shifts until he looks nearly frantic, “He has the right to what, Sam? To know? To see her? Have you lost your fucking mind? Put him in a room with her and we’re right back where we started. Three years progress,” his fingers snap harshly, “Poof! gone in a goddamn second.”

Matching his energy, Sam is on his feet in an instant, “Progress? Now whose lost his fucking mind? What progress are we talking about here, Josh? Because from where I’m standing, he’s made none. For his twin you’re remarkably ignorant.”

“I’m not ignorant,” this is bad, especially right before they’re expected to perform. They both know it, but on they march. “I know him backwards and forwards, Sammy, so just fucking listen to me for once. She stays in the past for him and that’s just the way it’s gonna be, end of discussion.”

“She stays in his past, or yours?” Sam counters, sizing his eldest brother up as though he can see right through him.

Shoulders slumped, Josh shakes the venom in Sammy’s accusation off “That isn’t fair.”

“I don’t give a shit. Answer the question.”

Sometimes, Sam readies for battle in a manner that always comes as a shock no matter how many times they’ve seen it happen. When he sheds that goofball demeanor in favor of a game face, it hardly seems real.

He is fierce in his love and loyalty to those he holds close, and tonight, Jacob has earned his favor.

“This isn’t about me, I promise you that.” The truth rings out clear in Josh’s vow. “I loved her once, I love her still, just differently now. I couldn’t do that to him. Not ever. The way he loved her canceled me out a long time ago.”

“Loves her.” Sam corrects, with a finger pointed at his brother to drive home his point.

“All the more reason to keep your mouth shut.” Josh’s timbre is threatening in a way it almost never is. It sounds and feels strange…out of place. “She’s getting fucking married, do you really think he can handle that? Use your fucking head, Sam. Leave it alone.”

Hand on the door handle, Sam watches Josh as if he’d very much like to hurt him, “Who are you to decide what he can and can’t handle?”

~

The show is their worst in their collective memory since their days as greenhorns, though it’s doubtful the fans have taken notice. Each mishap is small and easily disguised, but present all the same. They are unsteady and off-kilter, but only Jake is oblivious as to why.

He snaps a string, misses a mark, foils a riff or two. Josh falls flat and overcompensates, vibrato ringing out sharp. Sam refuses to look in his eldest’s brother’s direction, leaving them detached and removed in an unsettling way. Danny is on point from a technical standpoint, but robotic…their chemistry has vanished tonight and they can all feel it.

The moment they stalk off stage, Sam is clamoring for Jake’s attention as Josh fights to intercept.

Most nights, they’ll filter off into their respective solitude for a time to bask in the quiet before the noise of the bus. Tonight, Sam follows Jake, and Josh follows Sam.

“Jake,” Sam jogs along, easily closing the distance his brother has gained ahead of him with those lanky legs of his. “Hold up, I need to talk to you.”

“It can wait.” Jake is on a mission, clearly in a hurry to close a door and shut out the world. To find a bottle and make love to the whiskey inside it.

“No, it can’t because—“

“He said it can wait, Sam.”

Josh’s admonishment, and the viciousness it’s crackling with, is what turns Jake around. It makes no sense for his twin to be this hostile over something so innocuous; over some random conversation Sam would like to have that doesn’t even involve him.

He turns to find Josh’s glare burning murderously in Sam’s direction. The air emanating from him is in such dramatic contrast to the sunny ray of entertaining light that has just been beaming around the stage, and immediately, Jake senses the urgency of the moment.

On his part, Josh feels the switch flip inside his twin and knows that they’re about to head into dangerous territory. Fucking Sam.

“What?” Jake is furiously fumbling with his hair, shoving sweat soaked snarls away from his face, suddenly overstimulated and on edge. “What is it?”

Sammy speaks up, fighting to be heard clearly as crew members dart around and rush by in a flurry of tasks. “She’s here. Well, not here, but at the hotel.”

Defeated, Josh admits his loss with a quiet “God damn it, Sam.”

Jake somehow manages to catch it over the din and he knows. Or at least, he thinks he knows. He can feel it coming off of Josh like ghostly fingers stretching out to claw at his chest. Still, he doesn’t quite understand, the pieces are just this shy from falling into place.

“Who?” His query is tentative…filled with hopefulness and also a strange terror. A fear he’s only ever felt once before, when, helpless and shattered, he had to watch you say goodbye. A torturous longing only you can evoke.

Sam’s lips part to speak, but Josh shoves past him, grabbing Jake by the arm with black beads shaking about on his shoulders. “No one. Go shower. Have a drink.”

Somehow, Josh’s grip tells Jake everything. All that feverish panic seeps into the fabric of his jacket, somehow chilling his flesh with its burn. “She’s here?” His entire body is rattling with frenetic energy and he wonders if he might crumple to the ground and spark like a downed power line if Josh were to let go of him.

“Jake,” his name is a coddling whisper on his twin's lips, “Leave. Now. C’mon, I’ll go with you. You know what’s best, I know you do.”

As it turns out, Jake doesn’t hit the ground like a live wire, because when he shoves Josh off, his footing is sure. “How did you know she was here? You knew? And you weren’t gonna fucking tell me? Have you seen her?”

Ashamed, and afraid of what’s to come, Josh remains silently stoic under his brother’s eager and furious scrutiny.

“I said, have you fucking seen her?” Now Jake’s body is vibrating with a fury so out of control it’s threatening to boil over and scald anyone in its path.

Suddenly, Danny appears as though summoned by the gods of intervention, as he so often seems to be. He steps in, tugging Jake away from his brothers while staring daggers at Sam.

Sam never fucking thinks…or is he the only one who is actually thinking clearly this time around?

“Come on,” Jake is stumbling around on his feet to keep up with a much larger Daniel, as he drags him along to his dressing room.

It feels like a fever dream when at last he pushes Jake into a chair before shutting their brothers out with a door slammed in their faces.

“Look,” he finds a seat in front of Jake and places a hand on his bouncing knee. “You’ve got to calm down and think for a minute. Do you really want to see her? I mean…”

He isn’t given the chance to finish his sentence, because nothing any of them can say will matter anyway.

“Take me to her.” Neither of them could have any way of knowing that Jake’s plea mirrors the one you had struggled to swallow down in Danny’s arms.

“I don’t know where she is.” He speaks in honesty, and Jacob can sense that.

“Find out.” He rises to his feet and straightens his back, resolved and ready to fight for this. Ready to fight for you. “Josh knows, that fuck. Go find out.”

“Alright,” Daniel nods because what’s to be done now? What’s to pointlessly fight? “Shower in here. I’ll go talk to him.”

~

You’re mindlessly staring at the television screen, gaze blurring and focusing in and out as some chef with a lovely accent you can’t seem to place tosses ingredients round a hissing wok.

The entire room is awash in the scent of the shower you’ve just wept your way through, and the robe you’re swaddled in feels stiff and scratchy. You should change, you know, but you haven’t the energy. Better to lie here uncomfortable and twisted up in aching sadness, that old friend of yours whom you’ve denied for far too long.

Lie to yourself all you want. Shove it inside a box and lock it up tight with chains and latches until it rusts shut, but that throbbing agony will wait patiently for you. Never losing focus, ever vigilant for the moment it can blast its way back into your broken heart.

How you’ll ever rise and put on a professional face for brunch in the morning is a cipher you don’t care to decode tonight.

He’s all you can think of; memories of him. Loneliness for him. The need, so real and palpable. It’s as if you can smell him on your skin though he hasn’t swept his fingers across it in years.

Years? How is that even possible? It seems laughable that you’ve managed so long without him. It seems impossible. A nightmare that you’ve been muddling through.

When the knock sounds out, clipped and sure, at your door, you’re tempted to ignore it - and you even give it a go, but it comes again along with a cheery greeting “Room service!”

You haven’t ordered room service at all, but there stands a smart looking hotel employee, dressed to the hilt in his crisp uniform, waiting patiently beside a cart, when you peer through the peep-hole.

Tightening that terrible robe, you crack open the door, readying to let him know he’s made a mistake, when a hand darts out to push several folded up bills into the server’s hand.

Stunned and struck silent, you manage only to stare as Jake gives thanks and sends him on his way, eyes never straying from your face.

He reaches for you instinctively, but thinks better of it and drops those hands you know so well to his sides, flexing them as if to shake the need to touch you away.

Instead, he opts to offer a soft smile and a gentle joke “Hey, sugar, how’d we get to this place where I’ve got to pay off hotel employees to knock on your door for me, hmm?”

“I—“ You give your head a tiny shake, begging the thoughts rattling around inside it to make sense.

He looks so different. His hair is shorter, and he’s filled out, thickened in a way that makes your throat constrict for all you’ve missed. He’s as beautiful as ever. Alluring and changed, but still just him. Familiar and breathtaking. Perfect and right. Yours. But yours no longer.

Strangely, it’s what he’s wearing that makes you weakest and a little unsteady. He’s dressed in tattered sweats and a beaten up t-shirt. Thrashed vans that were stark white in another life, and damp hair, clearly brushed in a hurry. You love this so much more than if he’d strutted back into your life dressed to the nines. You’d hate to think he’d forgotten you enough to think that sort of thing might impress you.

“Are you gonna invite me in or should I just stand out here in the hallway all night watching you?”

A laugh, breathy and dumbfounded, huffs out of you. You remember the first time he’d said those words to you, and surely he does too. Was that a calculated effort on his part? To remind you of where you’ve been together? Of who you were together?

It’s an awful, self-destructive idea, inviting him in, and you know it is, you do. But when he steps into the room, you can smell him and the fist that has been cruelly clenched around your heart for countless days and nights, relaxes and finally, finally, you can breathe.

The door closes with a click and he’s suddenly so close you could taste his breath if you closed your eyes and allowed yourself to sink into it.

“Hi, pretty girl,” He hushes, and you wish his mouth was pressed against your ear so you could secret that quiet greeting away and live on it for the rest of your days.

All that white-hot closeness morphs into a hug. He’s hiding behind the platonic gesture, and so are you, but he can feel it, the way your body tenses and then melts against his own.

He feels as if he might disintegrate into a puddle of blackened anguish if he ever has to let you go, forever staining the horrendous hotel flooring where you once stood like an ethereal phantom sent to mend his heart. But a hideous reminder of where you once existed in this room with him for a few precious moments.

His hands have touched too many bodies to count since he last held you, but he has felt nothing until this moment.

No, he loathes the thought of letting you go, but he pulls back anyway, readying to let you lead this interaction. Alas, his palms find your cheeks all on their own, cupping the beautiful face he’s bartered with the devil for, that he’s prayed to god for, that he’s raged and begged for.

“My girl,” he wonders, like you can’t possibly be real. “My fucking girl.”

Your hands are molded over his, how did that happen? And then he’s releasing your face in order to lace your fingers together…he longs to touch you everywhere, but that isn’t okay any longer, is it? So he’s desperate for a way to latch onto you innocently.

He feels it then, and holds fast when you try to pull your hand away. Gaze - gorgeous honey swirling with caramel and horror - locked in on yours, he turns your hand to inspect the ring perched there like a weapon sent to destroy him.

Taglist: @gretasintrees @greta-van-chaos @celestialfauna @s0livagant @groggyvanfleet @kiszkathecook @brokenbellz @llightmyllovee @doodle417 @seventieswhore @jake-kiszkas-smirk @weightofdreams-gvf @imdepressedaf1996 @alisonwonderland29 @gretavanfleas @gretavangroove @profitofthedune @jakesgrapejuice @sparrowofthedawn @xserenax-13 @tbagggvf @obetrolncocktails @jakeslovehandles @poofyloofy @70sgroupielovr @heatmyfleet @age-of-nyahh @sammiboo162 @gretasmokerising @spicedandicedtea @jakekiszkasleftnutsack @saoirsemaeve @mywickeddivinity @thelvnternskeeper @paintmyhouse @tripthelightfandomtastic @tripthelight-fanfic @mckenna4 @sarakay-gvf @theweightofjake @thewritingbeforesunrise @joshsmama @sammysvanfeet @rhythm-of-space @jordie-gvf-admin @calumspretty @sad1lynn @demolitionndann @gvfpal @starcatcher-jake

[agatharkn3ss]

I'll see you at the end.

I can't believe we are here already. I'm excited and sad in equal measure.

This show has been such a delightful surprise. I went into it without expecting anything in particular - I loved Wandavision and I loved Kathryn Hahn and that was that. I didn't expect to be literally bewitched by the magic I saw on the screen.

Put simply, the power of AAA is that it is clearly a product of love - from Jac Schaeffer, the actors, the writers, the directors, the set and costume designers, the composers (and THE GODDAMN LOPEZES!), the producers... I could go on.

That level of dedication shines despite (or maybe BECAUSE) the low budget, and it has two massive effects: 1) it creates a truly compelling and stunning story; 2) it sends a very loud, clear message that representation not only matters, but is NEEDED.

Of course it's not the first show that does this, but I cannot tell you how refreshing it is to me to watch something in mainstream media that is centred around sapphic women where their sexuality is NOT the plot of a show. It is not something anyone ever needs to ask about or question. They don't pretend to be younger characters either, they are all 38+ and proud of it, as they should. Instead they focus on what actually matters - their rich, complex stories.

But the diversity is also within the creators - of the producers, half of them were women, headed by superb Mary Livanos (a queer woman herself), costume designer Daniel Selon (also queer), all of the directors were women and there is also of course a diversity of ethnicities. I am a big believer of the power of diversity as it allows you to go places you wouldn't normally consider, and really round the story. And I love this quote from Jac Schaeffer who states "My prerequisites for writers who work with me are first, they have to be kind, respectful humans."

And what stories the writers tell! In the limited time they had, they managed to create these seven multidimensional characters that were all different, yet similar in a lot of ways. My only criticism would be that we really could do with longer episodes to actually allow some more meaningful conversations and connections. All beautifully complemented by the visuals - the practical sets as well as the costumes. I love how the costume designer took his time to consult with the actors for their interpretations, before even starting to create every single design.

And on top of the great character stories and visual , we then have an engaging plot with mysteries to solve on the way. I cannot emphasise enough how fantastic it felt to follow the breadcrumbs. To spot all those little details that would foreshadow what's to come. The different ways they appeared - through dialogue, visual clues, music themes, lore symbolism and so so many art and literature references. The knowledge and confidence that they were left there on purpose too, because the creators took the show seriously - it literally felt like finding little personal messages!

This is why I've decided I need to pick them up and then try to piece them all together - just to see if I could make my sense of it, since the creators clearly put so much love and effort. No other show has ever made me do it to this extent. And it's been so much fun! I loved I wasn't alone with this and that I could discuss and read others' theories too. It's like we've formed this awesome coven.

So in my post-AAA blues, I don't think I will have it in me to just take my "murder board" down. I feel there is still so much to explore so I will probably keep looking for any more cool details to cheer me up.

I've not been actually particularly precious about whether or not my theories could be right or wrong. If some of them are - great, bonus! If not, also great, I am looking forward to being surprised!

Although we haven't seen the ending yet, I have ultimate trust in Jac. After all, she once said:

"I believe so strongly in sticking the landing and it's always up to the audience whether or not you truly stick the landing. But I believe that you have to put all your energy toward that. It's your job to try the best you absolutely can to stick the landing. You have to plot your mysteries, figure out what they are. It’s like a good murder mystery. The feeling that you want at the end of a murder mystery is you want to be surprised, but not. It still needs to feel within the realm of possibility, right? It needs to make sense and still surprise you." 

So I trust we will have a solid ending, wherever it lands. And afterwards - I will always remember the time when a show has made me feel this way. Thank you!

[lost-in-fandoms]

hello it's me with my silly thoughts again. hope you are well

opinion of lower back tattoos? like tramp stamp. Daniel probably could have one. Or a tattoo on his lower stomach that leads to his pelvis? What about Max with one. On his little soft tummy??

I love maxiel so much. You can introduce any idea to their relationship and it will stick because they are freaks about each other.

ok bye

I'm sorry this took me so long, I tried to write something about it, but my brain simply would not work with me so these are just two very messy very random ideas

ANYWAY

Of course we could go the canon way, but

AU in which Max is on vacation somewhere with a beach, maybe after a break up, just looking to relax, swim, replace all his bodily fluids with g&t and eat his body weight in appetizers. he sits at the bar a lot and daniel the bartender is nice and funny and extremely hot. he asks about why max is there and listens to max rant a little when he's slightly too drunk to hold back.

and then one evening they have a special theme night and the bartender is wearing a crop top and there is a tattoo right above the waistband of his way too short shorts.

and max can't stop staring at it, especially when daniel starts to sweat a little, and his back is tan and shiny and max would give anything to be able to wrap his hands around his waist, to trace the tattoo with his tongue.

daniel obviously notices, because max has never known subtlety and never will, and usually he doesn't mess with costumers, but max is hot and nice and sweet, so he says fuck it and tells max to hang around until he's done with his shift. and then they fuck in max's expensive hotel room and it's not the best sex of daniel's life, but it's good and max is so set on making him feel good, it's extremely flattering.

they do it again and again until max has traced all the tattoos and tasted every inch of inked skin, but then max's vacation is over and he has to leave. and they didn't exchange contacts because it was just a fling and daniel doesn't do relationships and max was just out a serious one, but now it's been weeks and they miss each other and they're both regretting that.

and then max shows up again, telling daniel that he wants something real. and they make it work.

OR

escort!max and rich guy!daniel

daniel goes out with his friends to a strip club, but a fancy one. maybe it's a birthday or some other celebration, they're a pretty big group, and the guys are a bit drunk, laughing and throwing money around. and daniel is having fun sure, but then this guy appears and daniel can't take his eyes off him. the way his body is strong but soft, the way his eyes shine, the way you can just see the edges of a tattoo low on his belly, just poking out from his underwear.

daniel asks if he can have a private dance, ignoring how all his friends holler and whistle and make fun of him, and the guy says if you can afford it sure. i'm max. turns out daniel can afford him, but when he asked for a dance he didn't realise that's all he would get. just a dance. he can't even touch.

so he goes back. asks what more he can have. he's set on finding out what the full tattoo looks like and he's not going to give up.

[agentravensong]

hello, fellow hatchetfield fans! here are my stray nerdy prudes must die thoughts, which i'm going to try to keep brief (she said, before spending an hour writing this)

the production level of the show as a whole really blew me away. the lighting; demon!max's costume and makeup; even the way it was shot and edited felt even more electric than past shows

this is the only one of the full-length hatchetfield musicals to have one consistent antagonist throughout (black friday has linda but half the leads don't know about her at all until the climax, plus there's wilbur and wiggly). and i gotta say, max's actor really killed it. hilarious, terrifying, and even with moments of nuance. he repeatedly stole the show.

some of the songs are already stuck in my head. off the top of my head i can't think of any that stood out in a bad/unmemorable way (though i could just be forgetting them, lol). ruth's song in particular i think is gonna really stick with me once i listen to it a few more times.

and i love the way the "i'm not a loser" motif gets used throughout the show. the closest any of the songs got me to having the visceral reaction i have to "did you know that i wanted to live with you" in "not your seed" and the bridge + ending of "let it out" ("i've never been happy...") was when richie sings that line right before... well.

speaking of richie: as a paul stan, what this show proved to me more than anything is that when jon matteson plays a sympathetic lead (or side character - hi daniel/stopwatch), he will always break my heart. he's just. really good.

thinking about how in the last of the originally planned 3 hatchetfield shows, initially conceptualized as the first, jon's character is the first one to sing, whereas in the first of those shows, conceptualized as the last, the whole crux of the musical is him refusing to sing, the audience essentially waiting for the moment he breaks and does it. thinking about how the opening of npmd tells us richie is going to die, already dying, already dead, while the opening number of tgwdlm tells us paul is the target, the Doomed Hero, the "star of the show" "destined to go viral" [read: get infected], whose story is going to be told, already written.

thinking about how singing dooms paul, and how richie singing "i'm not a loser", reigniting max's ire, is the final nail in his coffin.

...i'm normal.

there's a lot of meta jokes and nods of that sort throughout the show. maybe a few too many? like, at a certain point, as a fan, i do feel like i'm being pandered to a bit.

i liked the lords in black's scene, it was a lot of fun! it's always great to see jon get to let loose with crazy characters, and the others were great too. but i do wonder how it plays for people who haven't been following nightmare time stuff. like, i get that in one world this was our introduction to these characters, but even in that world, i wonder if including all five of them with their specific names and allusions to their individual deals is a bit too much for what the plot of this show needs. there's something to be said for not showing all your cards right away.

on the other hand, i feel like the paulkins coffee scene actually fully earned its inclusion: because when pete comes in asking for his hot chocolate, it reads differently when we're coming at it from having followed his perspective up to this point versus having been following paul in tgwdlm, in a way that strengthens both scenes. it's a nice reminder that emma and paul can be... rude, i guess. assholes, even (she really didn't need to spit in it). that idea of perspectives affecting how we categorize people arguably even plays into the themes of this show! how about that.

ah, yes, Themes. there are Themes to be drawn out of this show about the experience of high school, especially in an intertextual comparison to how tom and becky talk about their time in high school in black friday. something about how the two of them see it as this idealistic time they want to go back to, whereas the teens (the nerds/outcasts) in npmd sing that they'll "still despise it when [they're] gone". something about how in ruth's solo number, the fantasy future she imagines for herself (even in the context of it being a performance for an audience of no one) is of a standard, arguably dreary, middle-aged existence. there's definitely stuff there to be dissected.

and also there's arguably a theme of continuing cycles of cruelty, brought into focus by the ending, but also implied with the way the adults failed the kids (see max referencing his dad belittling him).

...but also, i feel like they could have done more with that.

that's my one big thing with this show, and it could very easily just be that the genre of this show isn't as much my jam, but i'll say it anyway: i wanted more from the characters, and more emotional weight in regards to certain things.

like, between this and tgwdlm, i think tgwdlm is still the better written show. there's just, a subtly to the characters there, a grounded human-ness, that i didn't quite get from all of the teens here.

as much as i clearly have a soft spot for richie, that's mostly on jon; as written, there really isn't much there, beyond "anime nerd" and "generally nice kid who wants to be liked". the scene right before he dies is comedic in how obvious it's setting things up, but its obvious-ness also makes it feel kind of cheap in terms of pulling on the heartstrings. similarly, ruth is initially just a gimmick (though hers at least ties into a deeper insecurity) and only gets her real moment of depth right before she dies. neither of them feel like they have much affect / haunting presence on the surviving teens once they're dead, past the initial shock of the reveals of their deaths.

and steph and pete are good, but... idk. i wanted a bit more from each of them. if they got to have a talk like paul and emma before "join us and die" - not even for the sake of the romance, but just for the sake of giving us more on each of them outside of their basic stereotypes and the romance - that would've helped, i think.

grace was great, though, no qualms. initially there was a part of me that was disappointed that the stereotype max was pushing on her about her being secretly repressed and horny was in fact true, but the way it gets used makes up for it, and in between max's death and when that specific thing comes up again in the climax, she gets to do a lot with the two conflicting sides of her personality, wanting to be good but having a capacity and arguable instinct for scheming and ruthlessness.

(also, as i mentioned earlier, max has a surprising amount going on, especially once you get into the Implications)

it could just be that i see those depths in the tgwdlm cast because i've had more time to chew on that cast, and that in time i'll see these teens in the same light. but i don't think it's just that.

i think part of it is how there are so many jokes about the teens being nerdy prudes (really, mostly just nerds). and like, that's part of the point, obviously, that they were being forced into those boxes and that they were still people with the potential to be more. but... i don't know if the show does enough to really make that point. again, richie doesn't really get to be more (and it's not for lack of time - there's a good amount of show before max comes back as the demon and kills for the first time).

in tgwdlm, the mains are all arguably based on stock characters, but they have more depth through their relationships. look at ted, the stock asshole sleazeball, who's shown to feel genuine remorse when he loses people he loves, in a way that contextualizes his bitterness. and there's a lot less highlighting of the stockness of them in their show than there is of the teens in npmd.

and the thing is, i think the cast of npmd at their foundations are more likable than the cast of tgwdlm (see the earlier point about emma and paul being assholes at times). they had a lot of potential. but i don't think enough of it is realized for the majority of them. the edges the tgwdlm cast has are part of what makes them compelling, and it's something the teens (minus grace) are largely missing.

the thing is, i know the fandom is going to see that potential and run with it. i know that they're gonna develop the teens' characterizations and relationships. i know they'll get into the trauma and the implications from everything that happened to them in the show. i know they'll get into... pete's survivor's guilt, and steph losing her dad(!!!), and what richie and ruth could have been, and all that. i know that they'll fill in the gaps. because that's what fans do. i guess i just wish there weren't so many gaps to fill. or, that the gaps wouldn't take so much effort from them to fill.

again, i acknowledge, maybe i'm expecting too much from the genre of show this is. it doesn't need to have A Point, i guess, it can just be fun, a comedic horror slasher in musical form. and it is fun, a lot of fun! ...but, tgwdlm was also a lot of fun. not as bombastic, for sure, but i'd say just as humorous. and it was also incredibly tightly written, and satisfying, with strong character arcs for multiple leads. it had commentary on musicals, on what makes a protagonist and what it means to be one, on conformity and institutions of authority, on romance even (you could do a very interesting aromantic reading of this show, trust me). and with a show that's titled nerdy prudes must die, that is About high school, there's, similarly, a lot you can do. and there's a fair amount of seeds planted there. but i don't think it all quite coheres. and it could've, if they really wanted it to.

...i did not keep that brief. ah well. i might disagree with half of this by the time i wake up tomorrow, i just needed to get it out of me. tl;dr, in my opinion, this show is stronger than black friday, but tgwdlm is still my favorite. all the cast and crew put a lot of love into this production and it really shows. i had a great time! :D but i'm always going to overanalyze things i care about as much as i care about the hatchetfield universe, and hence, here we are.

[poppetsisters]

Hot Take: Giving Spider-Man a purely orchestral score is antithetical to his character.

Be honest, would Peter Parker or Miles Morales listen to Tchaikovsky or Prokofiev? If they made music, would it sound like a professional hollywood score? Probably not. Peter also couldn't possibly make his Raimi Spider-Man costume on his salary, but that's a whole other discussion.

I'm not saying that Danny Elfman's or Michael Giacchino's music for the Spider-Man movies are bad. They're incredibly talented composers whose work on the Spider-Man movies are iconic and memorable. I'm merely pointing out that orchestra doesn't fit Spider-Man's palette the same way it would fit the Avengers or Batman. Classical music as we know it is regarded as upper-class and high culture, and Spider-Man is neither. Spider-Man WANTS to be those things, but he's constantly working with what he has in spite of money and jobs and a social life.

I think the musical character of Spider-Man lends itself much better to indie or underground music. You can see what I mean if you listen to Kevin Manthei's score for the Ultimate Spider-Man game. Especially the open world themes for the game have a wicked cool garage band vibe to it. It fits with the younger version of Peter by making him stand out from other heroes as fresh and independent. If Peter were in a band, I could absolutely see him playing the synths on these pieces.

(I'm also willing to hear arguments for Peter getting into Math Rock)

Years later, Daniel Pemberton would employ hip hop techniques, most notably sampling, to inform Mile's character. This works even better than the previous example considering how the theme of "remixing" is integral to both Miles and the Spider-Verse movies.

Orchestra is still employed throughout Spider-Verse, but notice how Peter Parker's Spider-Man theme is ALL orchestra (The Amazing Spider-Man) just like in previous Spider-Man movies. As an audience, this is what we've come to expect from Spidey. That same orchestral score is used at the end of the film as a sample in Miles's theme (Spider-Man Loves You). Miles is literally remixing Spider-Man to fit how he operates! Now we understand that Spider-Man isn't one thing but is capable of being several. Spider-Man is punk rock, Spider-Man is Jazz, Spider-Man is hip-hop, and much more!

I hope Spider-Verse gets people to rethink superhero themes in general. There will always be a place for orchestra, but sometimes all you need is a jazz group or very out-there sets of instruments. Whatever fits the character will do just great!

[s-the-seething-songbird-2]

Logs for Thomas, Part 2. Log #2

Song stuck in my head: "On & On" by Cartoon (ft. Daniel Levi)

Disclaimer: Some (a lot of) details will be omitted/skewed both in this log and any upcoming ones because, however unlikely it might be, I don't want one of my abusers to find this blog and trace it back to me (and because of how personal this blog is, I'm not sure I want ANYONE to find this except for you (and, honestly, maybe not even you either, because if you really do hate me, you might use whatever you read here to hurt me)).

I'm a fucking mess.

I've turned 26 very recently, and while things have been mostly good--I got a free pastry and drink from a restaurant I frequent, I'm going to get sushi with my family tonight, and I was even able to stop at a holiday-themed store I really like, meaning I got to collect some things for my Halloween costume!

I'm not terribly focused on my costume this year compared to previous years. Instead, I've taken to decorating our house and making that look very spooky. I suppose I've become old enough that I'm become accustomed to the giving end of Halloween instead of receiving, which does make me a little sad, but it's a thousand times more practical considering how my life is built lately. I feel doubly old because the thought of seeing all of my neighborhood's kids in their cute lil costumes and how excited they'll be when they see how much candy they can get from us (we're going to be LOADED this year) sound infinitely more appealing to me than dressing up and going door to door.

So, anyway, there I was, at the holiday-themed store mentioned earlier. Someone very close to me really wanted a giant, fuck-off sword for our local RenFair, and I found the perfect one in the weapon props section. I had already collected some parts for my costume, and I was just double-checking to make sure there wasn't anything I missed that would be useful.

I was crouched down, looking at one of the dark black cloaks for sale, and then, as I reached out for the price tag, I heard a familiar melody on the radio.

Dun, dun, dun, DUN-dun-duh-duh duhhh, duh… dah, dah, dum, DA-DUM…

Oh no. No, no no no! No, fuck this, no, stop it brain, it’s just a song, don’t pay attention, just get your shit and go, just get your shit—!

I like that you’re broken, broken like me Maybe that makes me a fool

But I was already frozen. I was frozen, and my fingers were so cold.

Before I could stop myself, I closed my eyes, pulled all of my items to my chest, and held them tight. And then I relived everything.

November. Doing laundry. You call, I answer. Talking, dreaming, promising. Connecting, laughing, smiling. I could feel you in the room, but I knew you weren’t there. Secrets, fears, mistakes. I could feel you in my dreams.

I let myself feel the joy, the warmth, the closeness, pretending the fabrics and plastic packages were your arms.

I like that you're lonely, lonely like me

I could be lonely with you

December. Excitement, hope, terror. Do we tell him? Do we come clean? But what if I lose you? I won't, you said. We'd never lose each other. We loved each other. You said you wouldn't leave and I believed you.

I met you, late night at a party

Two days before Christmas. Confusion, desperation, betrayal?

Worry. Pain. Fear. Self-hatred. Hatred for him her. Waiting. Waiting. Waiting. Gone.

Gone forever.

Gone forever, but I still know the lyrics.

Some trust-fund baby's Brooklyn loft

I couldn't let myself cry in the store. I especially couldn't let myself cry about this. Not again. So I didn't.

But I closed my eyes harder and held you tighter, fighting against reality for just a couple of extra seconds.

November, laundry, call, talk, love, dream...

Talk, love, dream, smile, warm...

Warm...

And then I let go.

Gone.

And then I was in the real world again, and I realized how silly I must have looked. No one near me said anything, though, so maybe they didn't notice.

Stupid song. Stupid pain. Stupid long line at checkout. Stupid stupid stupid.

Just buy it and leave. Buy it, act normal, thank the cashier, stay normal, smile, and leave.

Smile...

It's all so blurry now. Like all other memories from my childhood, it only exists in a series of white-hot snippets filled with emotional whiplash.

I hate that it's all that's left. I hate how strongly it still makes me feel, and how little of it I remember. I know there are things I saw, heard, and thought that are permanently lost to time.

I'm so angry. I'm so fucking angry, Thomas. I'm so angry that this still hurts, and I was getting so much better, and then Shay came back, and I thought maybe it would all be okay again, and then it wasn't okay, and the wounds reopened, and god, I wish I was never born.

It hurts, it hurts, it fucking hurts, JUST COME BACK, fuck, fuck, fuck

I'm not asking that we be together again! You guys are happy together, and I'm happy for you, I really am! But spending all of this time believing that you missed me and still cared about me and were proud of me was helping me move forward.

And then...

I can't cry about this again. I can't. This is so unbelievably embarrassing.

It seemed like Shay was developing some kind of crush on me, and I thought the most recent pictures of her were pretty attractive, too, and she wanted you and I to talk again, and... At worst, maybe things would be weird between you and I, but over time, the weirdness would dissolve, and maybe you and Jack would even start to talk again, and you'd apologize to him, and he'd forgive you, and my son could get closure, and... At best, maybe... maybe you and I and Shay could have become a thrupple, with my partners' permission? And then I'd learn about everything that happened while we were apart, and I could help you two heal, and we'd cry and hug each other, and I'm crying again god fucking damn it!

I MISS YOU. I miss you, Thomas. The things you've said and done over the years have really hurt, but I've never stopped caring, even when I thought I had. Do you realize that I still think about you every day? Wondering what you're up to, if you're okay--

Hang on, sorry, my girlfriend called.

Sushi plans for tonight have been confirmed! Yay!

I'm not asking to be with you again. That's not what any of this is. I just want you to be fucking nice to me again! That's all I want, that's all I want! Why? Why is that impossible?

Look, I have to go. This thing is long enough as it is, and I'm going to try and enjoy the rest of today.

I hope you're okay. I hope you're happy. I really do.

- S

[uozlulu]

Fic. Interview with the Vampire (AMC). The Roles We Act. R.

Character(s)/Relationship(s) Armand, Daniel, Louis; Armand/Daniel Genre Horror/Vampire Rating R Word Count 2,348 Disclaimer As this is fanfiction, I do not hold copyright to the source material(s) nor do I claim that I do. This is for free entertainment purposes only. Summary Daniel explores the Théâtre des Vampires album and learns new details. For the I Can’t Wait for Season 2 event week 3: Outfits/Character Look. Warning(s) spoilers for Interview with the Vampire, spoilers for The Queen of the Damned, spoilers for The Vampire Armand, body horror, decapitation, murder, nudity, vivisection, blood drinking, sexual situations food consumption Notes When I saw IwtV Daily’s tweet, I immediately started brainstorming. I decided to do one fic per prompt and make them a series. I’m not sure I’d say I want all the little details to happen in the show, but the bigger things I want to happen were my inspirations for each fic.

The third week’s theme was Outfits and Character Looks. I decided to explore what Armand might have worn onstage, so I wrote out a couple of brief potential plays. I know that vampires can recover from decapitation if the head is reattached quickly, but I don’t know the exact details of how that works so I got creative. I didn’t go too deeply into Devil’s Minion in this fic because I think my fic May You Get What You Desire Is a Curse upon the Dead covers my thoughts on what I want to see from the ship in season 2 nicely. However, in terms of the ending of that fic, I’d rather that happen in a later season possibly if my theory that they could rearrange some plot points and do portions of QotD in the present rather than that past might be true. More on that theory next week since that’s one of the themes.

AO3 link

or read below

The Roles We Act

Sunlight filtered throughout the penthouse. Daniel sat at the ornate desk and ran a finger along the leather exterior of the album Armand threw at his feet a few days ago. The album was so old that it was hand bound and hand decorated with the words “Théâtre des Vampires” across the cover. Hitting the ground did the spine no favors, but all its aged pages remained intact and in place.

Daniel set his pen on his notepad and opened the cover of the album. He flipped a few pages to get a feel of the content and made note to research antique cameras and alternatives to silver in mirrors. The entire album was in French. At the bottom of each page, steady, perfectly aligned lettering logged the dates as if someone typed it with a modern font, but the strokes were evident. Daniel returned to the first page. It was a newspaper article from 1851.

Daniel opened his phone and took a photo of the article. A translation app spat out an approximation of the article in English. Théâtre des Vampires was the name of a previous theater that ran throughout the eighteenth century and closed during the Napoleon era. The elderly reviewer was skeptical that this troupe could live up to the spectacle and legend of the previous troupe, but found the troupe’s resemblance to the previous troupe impressive.

As Daniel delved deeper into the album, the more the penthouse seemed to slip away as the scenes depicted and described in the articles and advertisements played through his mind. The stage remained seemingly unchanged through the decades with the occasional floor and curtain replacement. Lights upgraded with each new technological advancement and the seating changed in style and number. Vampires and mortals mixed on stage. Most mortals became food onstage while others seemed to disappear to become food backstage, and a rare few became spectacle instead of food. Daniel made a note to ask how the troupe chose each category. The vampire troupe liked to rotate parts amongst its members and updated costumes in accordance with the audience’s notions of how vampires, doctors, lawyers, judges, and previous historical periods should appear.

In one early midnight matinee, two to three mortals selected from the audience took to the stage in opulent Classical Era costuming complete with giant powdered wigs. Two of the vampire troupe dressed as Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI joined the mortals. Armand entered the stage next. He wore a modest dark wig of human hair tied with an orange bow. His jacket was the same color of orange and his vest a darker shade, adorned with a yellow trim. His knee breeches were black as well as his shoes. His stockings and shirt were white. He unrolled a long scroll that hit the floor and continued rolling across the stage. “The people of France find you guilty of the following,” Armand said while looking towards the audience. “Crimes against wigs.”

Armand stepped aside while a mortal threw their wig at him. “Crimes against corsets.”

Marie Antoinette pulled a corset out of the top of her dress and threw it at Armand who sidestepped it to laughter from the audience.

“Crimes against bread.” Armand stepped aside as another mortal threw a loaf at him, allowing the bread to land somewhere in the audience. “And crimes against all taste.”

Louis XVI wiggled his ass in Armand direction and danced lewdly as the crowd laughed even harder.

Armand did not blink. “For these crimes, there can only be one punishment.” He rolled up his scroll and crossed the stage to stand at stage left. “Our people sentence you to death by guillotine!”

The audience roared in anticipation. Vampire assistants dressed entirely in black rolled a wooden guillotine onto the stage. The audience roared even louder. Armand’s fangs almost glinted in the stage lamps. He called out for the first mortal, who easily settled into the stocks. The mortal looked down at the basket below and blinked. “Where’s the prop?” they whispered earnestly.

The vampires did not answer. The blade dropped swiftly and the mortal’s head rolled into the basket. One of the assistants positioned the head so it could look at the crowd. The mortal’s eyes widened and blinked several times. Their mouth almost moved but there was no sound.

Another mortal onstage shrieked and tried to run. Armand grasped them quickly and walked them to the guillotine. “Now, my friend, you know your fate.” He guided the mortal into the stocks. “Give the people what they desire!”

The mortal tried to beg, but the blade was too swift and soon their head joined the basket. Again, a vampire assistant positioned the head so it faced the audience. Soon tears began to fall down the mortal’s cheeks. The audience applauded the seemingly life-like effect.

Now it was Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI’s turns. They pranced and gestured wildly, calling names and spitting on the guillotine. Then they both willingly took their positions under the blade for a double execution. The blade dropped and their heads fell into a fresh basket. Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI began to chant, causing some in the audience to shriek. The vampire assistants immediately picked up their heads, reattached them to their bodies swiftly, and offered them cups of vampire blood.

The vampire assistants began to chant while the audience quieted in anticipation. Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI drained their cups and immediately began to sing, their movements lewd and their lyrics saucy. The crowd hollered and cried for more as the royal duo exited stage right while Armand exited stage left and the curtain fell.

Daniel continued looking through the album. A series of vivisection plays recurred throughout the decades. The vampires took turns playing the roles of doctor and surgical team while one mortal played the patient. The examination wall rarely changed.

Armand took the stage in inter-war era stage makeup. He wore a white long-sleeved operating gown with a pocket under his left breast and band around his waist. His pants matched the gown. His curls peeked out from the corners of his white surgical cap. His shoes had spats on them. Some visitors giggled at the impractical footwear.

Vampire assistants dressed in black surgical gowns ushered a mortal onstage. The mortal wore a white hospital gown, taunting and teasing Armand and the vampires, exposing their legs, ass, and chest in little peeks as they danced about the stage. Finally, the mortal surrendered their hospital gown and stood completely naked onstage.

Armand placed gloves on his hands and a mask over his face before pulling it down to his chin so he could speak to the audience clearly. He approached the mortal and laid a hand on their arm. The mortal shouted at how cold Armand’s hand was, which elicited a few more giggles. “Tell me what plagues you,” Armand said.

The mortal always made up a clever little disease. Virginitis, a strange pain in a naughty place, or perhaps their heart was withering from a lack of sex.

Armand nodded and then proclaimed, “I think we’ll need to use the latest technology. Bring me the examining wall!”

The vampire assistants carried out a large wooden wall stained with blood and covered in chains. They secured the mortal in place, spread like the Vitruvian man. When Armand drew close, the mortal whispered, “Where is the prop torso?”

The audience roared in anticipation much too loud to hear the whisper.

Armand did not blink. He did not answer. He turned to the crowd and said, “My patient is in agony! We must look inside!”

The mortal blinked and then their eyes widened as they whispered, “No.” Then they cried out, “No!”

Armand adjusted his gloves so his nails poked through the fabric. His nails were long and swift, easily peeling flesh away without causing the mortal to lose too much blood. The mortal’s screams echoed through the theater. The audience leaned forward in anticipation.

Armand stripped away muscle and fat. He moved with exact precision. The mortal’s screams became pleas and sobs as the experience became almost too much for them to process.

“I see the problem now,” Armand said. He exposed the intestines. “It’s very clear.” He exposed the stomach, spleen, and liver. “Your organs are visible.” He exposed the heart and lungs. “No wonder you came to see me!”

Some people in the audience fainted. Vampire ushers spirited them away. Armand removed the gallbladder, spleen, liver, and appendix, tossing them at the audience who shrieked in delight and terror. When the mortal’s heart and lungs showed signs of weakening, Armand stepped away from the mortal. “I recommend a trip to the Riviera. Remember to take a coat against the chill.”

The audience applauded and took to their feet, amazed by such life-like and unthinkable costuming and effects. The curtains closed and the vampires devoured the mortal before they died.

Daniel’s mind lingered on the thought of a vivisected torso still pumping blood through its exposed heart and still drawing air through its exposed lungs. He made notes to ask if the vampires drank from those who fainted in the audience.

The sun made its way towards the horizon. Daniel kept flipping pages in the album and adding to his notes. The most popular and most frequent plays were vampire plays. The troupe donned costumes of all colors. They selected victims whose blood were likely delicious and plentiful or vampires that they deemed worthy of punishment much like Louis recounted in his recollections.

Daniel flipped another page and drew closer to the end of the album. This article was the only magazine article in the collection and the photo accompanying it reproduced at the highest quality. Armand stood on stage during a vampire play with his hair disheveled. His dark velvet clothes seemed centuries older than his audience might have realized. He held his victim tightly to him as the corpse stared up at the rafters unblinking. Daniel could not look away from the obvious glow in Armand’s eyes. He could not ignore how the stage lighting illuminated Armand’s fangs and how blood still clung to them, likely for effect.

Memories stirred within Daniel, stripping away the penthouse in Dubai and transporting him to volcanic ruins bathed in the light of the full moon. His bare ass settled on an overturned wall, cold and weathered. Orange eyes drew closer as Armand leaned over him, running his fangs along Daniel’s neck. Daniel shivered in his memory and in reality. Fangs sank into his flesh. Daniel’s bitten nails tried to grasp whatever skin he could touch, the coolness exciting him further. Armand pulled back, the moonlight illuminating his hair and his collarbone. A sharp nail ripped the veins at Armand’s wrist and he offered his blood to Daniel.

Daniel blinked and the memory dissipated before he could drink from Armand’s wrist. He sighed heavily and removed his glasses. He rubbed his face. Thirst gripped him. He was not sure how long it was since he last ate or drank. He lowered his hands, blinked, and then almost jumped.

Armand stood before him with a tray of tea. He wore loose flowing clothing that exposed his upper chest and neck but instead of black, his outfit was red like the sunset rather than blood. Armand’s eyes glowed in the dimming light as lamps turned on by themselves to compensate for the encroaching night. Daniel’s eyes followed the curves of Armand’s long nails as Armand set the tray down with little regard for the album.

“I though the Rashid act was over,” Daniel said.

Armand poured tea from a decorative pot and placed the teacup on the coaster beside Daniel. “It is, but you will forget to drink otherwise.”

Daniel took the cup. It was the same tea blend it always was, fragrant and spicy. His mind returned to the memory of the moonlit night amongst the ruins. Over the last few days, Daniel had similar dreams and daydreams that felt like memories. They were all set during his bender years and each seemed to feature a new, oftentimes exotic location. Daniel ran his tongue along his teeth and said, “I’ve been looking at the theater’s work. It’s very Grand Guignol.”

“Théâtre du Grand-Guignol was a poor imitation,” Armand said. “You should look at the final pages in the album.”

Daniel flipped the page to the final page spread. Advertisements like those that Louis described in his recollections took up one page and a newspaper article with a large photo in its center took up the other side. Daniel put his glasses on and peered at the grainy newspaper reproduction. “Is that…?”

“Claudia and her fledgling,” Armand said.

Daniel retrieved his magnify glass and looked closer. The stage right girl had a dark face with thick black hair to her shoulders. Her dress had an indiscernible pattern on it and her arms and legs were very light. Beside her was another girl, her face light and eyes too pale to register in the reproduced photo. Her dress was a solid color with a belt and buttons. Her arms and legs were dark. They both seemed alive in the photo. “Looks like they switched bodies. How’d you achieve that look?” Daniel asked.

“A sharp blade and surgical thread for effect,” Armand said. “I gave Claudia the adult body she desired. She could only curse me.”

Daniel looked up at him. “And then you left them to burn in the courtyard.”

Armand held his gaze. Never once did he blink. “As you heard in Louis’ account, we could not have murderers among us.”

“Spoken like a group of murderers,” Daniel murmured. “Does Louis know?”

“I do,” Louis said from near the doorway as he entered the room. He still wore only black. “A lot happened between Claudia’s death and when I met you as you will learn tonight.”

Daniel’s gaze shifted between the vampires. He glanced at the windows full of the night sky. He slowly closed the album. “When do you want to start?”

The End

[moonlight0507]

Beautiful design

no one's pov

the twins for walking around until they meet up with each other, and angel has a fabric in her basket and it was a lot so think daniel decided to take the basket and carry it for her. She smiled at him as they walked but did not see a store. We looked at it and we saw some clothes that will look great for the circus who decided to go in it was beautiful my sister found clothes that were wooden and great with our themes for costumes and saying that she can add more designs. I agree with her I told her to pick one because we didn't have enough money on us to buy a lot. she said sure and said that she was able to make us costumes. I agree she was able to make beautiful clothes. Make sure they are perfect if we have to go to a ball on her head that she chose, would be perfect.

It has shorts that have clocks and I know that the skirt was shot and people will make comments but we are still children so they cannot say anything. It was beautiful I love seeing my sister and dresses that are short and showing women and cleaning grown women that she is more beautiful than them as for me and'I do like to show off I'm just like my sister. I saw some shoes that match well with that now I was looking for my own shoes I saw some shoes that matched perfect with my outfit.

We went up to the counter and we paid them the money and we began to go to our tent the next day. we got leather from the shelby's saying we have been invited to a ball. Oh my lord and we usually put circus make up on their face so people can know we're from the circus so we're going to be ourselves.

angel pov

we're going to ball great I'm already dressed, but I'm struggling to do my make up. Hey daniel, yeah what should I do if my make up should I do something natural I looked at myself in the mirror maybe I looked at myself in the mirror maybe I could put white make up on my face and make beautiful designs with it sounds like a great idea.

daniel pov

Here i am sitting on my bed waiting for rhy sister. Hey daniel,i hear my sister say i looked up and i see her face. It was beautiful the make up was beautiful. I walked up to her, and I asked if i can take her hand she's beautiful and we thought we were going to the wall to the shelby's mansion but there was a car we stared at it until someone open the door and we got in and now we're driving to the shelby's manner.

angel make up and she still has red eyes

[green-socks]

Naptime Hero

Pairing: Jack 'Whiskey' Daniels x gn!reader

Summary: Jack Daniels does performances telling cowboy stories for little kids. You happen to find him charming, and he sure finds you charming.

Words: 1.5k

Warnings: none. Well, Jack isn't a secret agent in this or anything so like AU I guess?

Notes: This is dedicated to birthday girl @writeforfandoms because even if you don't remember it, we joked around with this idea sometime in the summer, idk when and time is confusing, but yeah I made it and now you have to look at it!! Sorry!

MASTERLIST

Working as a kindergarten teacher you often saw some weird or unexpected things. The things little kids were capable of was frankly astounding, including but not limited to stuff concerning the many forms of bodily fluids. And sometimes even wilder the parents, some of whom seemed to think your responsibilities and talents were far above your pay grade - or even beyond your capabilities as a human being. Still, despite all the difficulties and hardships of the job, you loved your kids to death and truly enjoyed what you did.

One of the best parts of the job were special occasions, usually meaning the times around holidays or just random themed days that brightened up the everyday routines. Of course, they required a bit more planning from you and the other staff members, but the joy the children got from those days made it all worth it. It was a nice change of pace for you too.

Today was one of those special days. And this day actually required very little preparation form you. One of your colleagues had asked some sort of performer to come entertain the kids for a while, and you didn’t need to do anything but watch that the kids behaved themselves. You didn’t really know who the performer was or what they were going to do, but your colleague had said that they were really fun and that they did some TV appearances as well, so there was a good chance your kids new of them even if you didn’t.

Today’s special thing was the performer then.

Turned out the performer was also today’s unexpected, weird thing.

-

You had the kids sitting in a half circle in the playroom when a man came in. A man with… a stuffed horse around his middle like a lifesaver, acting as if he was riding it, with the horse’s four legs dangling around him. He had a cowboy hat and boots, a piece of hay between his teeth, the works.

“Howdy,” he greeted the kids, and as kids do, they answered in chorus. The man introduced himself as Cowboy Jack.

Your colleague leaned in to whisper in your ear, “Isn’t he gorgeous?”, and you were forced to blink a little. Gorgeous? The man had a stuffed horse around his middle! A horse named Raisin, as he was just telling the children. Apparently, Raisin was his faithful companion on many adventures.

But then you really looked at him, past the horse and the costume. He did have lovely brown eyes that twinkled warmly as he spoke. A very attractive mustache, a charming smile, broad shoulders. Yes, you decided, he was kinda gorgeous.

As he launched into an exciting story about his dangerous cowboy adventures you let yourself be pulled in by his deep, drawling voice. He certainly seemed to have the staff’s attention. A few of the older ladies especially had obvious heart eyes - not that you could blame them. A charming man who was good with kids? Kindergarten teachers generally ate that shit up. But he also clearly had the children’s attention. Round eyes watched him act out his latest heroic deeds catching bad guys and saving everyone from little kittens to old ladies and everything in between.

“…and then-- Actually, you know what, my friends? Your cowboy needs some assistance in this next part of our story. Even cowboys can’t finish all missions alone. I learned that the hard way,” he nodded sagely.

“Would there be someone willin’ to offer assistance on this cowboy’s important mission?” he asked, turning to offer his hand to you, since you stood closest to him.

The kids cheered, so of course you said yes. Working with small kids was half improv anyway, so you could totally do this.

Grinning, you took his hand, “Let’s ride, cowboy.”

He smirked back.

-

You ended up helping Cowboy Jack save the mayor of a small town (actually another coworker of yours) from two mischief makers (actually two of the kids), giving the story a happy and successful ending for all. And you had a lot of fun!

The kids weren’t ready to let Cowboy Jack go, though, and begged him to stay for their nap time to read them a story. You were secretly with the kids on that one, even when you tried to gently admonish them and explain that Mr. Cowboy surely had places to be and things to do. But you were surprised when the director of your school gave him the OK and he accepted the invitation graciously.

So, after a while the kids settled down for nap time, and Cowboy Jack was handed the book your group was reading this month. You settled in on a chair near the door, keeping an eye on the children and on the man now reading the bedtime story.

You found yourself once again being entranced by his deep, raspy voice. But unlike the kids, you were definitely not feeling sleepy. In fact, in a wild contrast to the situation and your surroundings, his voice was making you feel warm all over. All in all, you were happy no one there could hear your thoughts, as you crafted different scenarios where that voice whispered all sorts of things in your ear.

The kids were absolutely quiet, and you were very proud of them for being on their best behavior for your guest. Or maybe his voice was magic.

One of your coworkers (the mayor from earlier) took the book from Cowboy Jack’s hands and quietly whispered to him that he could go to the teachers’ breakroom to have some coffee before he left. You were going to have your break now too, since you weren’t on nap time duty this time, so you quietly slipped out of the room with the performer in tow.

“I can show you where the breakroom is since I’m headed there too,” you whispered to him, leading the way.

“Thank you,” he whispered back.

He had taken off his horse and costume thingy before he sat down to read, and you noticed now he was carrying a large bag where all his stuff was, probably the horse included.

“Can Raisin even breathe in there?” you asked, pointing at the bag.

The cowboy just laughed happily at that. “I’ll let him out when we get back to the stables, don’t you worry.”

You chuckled too and offered him a cup of coffee, motioning him to sit down with you.

“Thank you, sweetheart. And thank you for assistin’ me out there. The kids sure loved ya, and dare I say you were one of the loveliest partners I’ve ever had the pleasure to have on my adventures.”

“So you would recommend me as a partner? Cause I think I wanna add that to my CV. Or possibly my dating profile,” you mused.

“Yeah, I’d recommend you for a partner on rescue missions. Might have to test out further before I can confirm that for the dating profile though,” he drawled, smiling.

Oh my. Was he offering? Was this happening?

You tried to save yourself from getting too flustered and asked, “Is Cowboy Jack your actual name?”

He grinned, “Jack’s my name, sugar. But I haven’t heard yours yet.”

You introduced yourself formally, and he took your hand to press the slightest kiss to it.

Holy moly, this man was a real charmer. You were honestly not sure how to react other than by taking a deep breath to control your rapidly beating heart and try not to stare too hard at him.

Conversation continued easily for a while after that while he somehow managed to squeeze in even more flirty comments. It was a lot of fun to talk to him, and you found yourself laughing constantly. But the fun was interrupted when you became aware that your break was ending, and it was time to go wake up the kids.

“Shoot, I have to get back to work! It was really nice meeting you, though. Thank you for the show, and for staying to read too. Your voice is really amazing,” you blurted, hoping it didn’t sound too weird.

Jack grinned at your sudden burst of busy energy. “It was an honor to meet you too, sugar. Now you can tell me to go to hell if I’m being too forward here, but could I take you for a cup of coffee again some time? Outside of both of our workplaces, I mean.”

You looked at his hopeful eyes a little surprised, still almost convinced his flirting had been just him joking around or something.

“I- yeah, yes, of course,” you stammered, “I would like that.”

You quickly handed him the spreadsheet with all the staff’s numbers on it from the notice board, circling your own and handing it to him. You didn’t really think he’d use the other numbers for evil, and if he did, you knew how to reach his work too.

“Now I really have to run,” you said apologetically.

Jack got up and took off his cowboy hat to kiss your hand again. “I’ll hope to see you again soon, darlin’,” he murmured.

You dashed off from the breakroom with a smile and a new energy to face the rest of the day with.

-------------------------------------------

tagsies: @starlightmornings @lorecraft @niki-xie @salome-c @ickleronniekinsemotionalrange @mylovelycomandante @littlemisspascal

[byawaterfall]

🦋 How I Met Your Mother Is A Fairytale: A Cinderella Story 🦋

How I Met Your Mother really is a fairytale. Think about it. Fairytales rely heavily on symbolism: the red apple in Snow White, the glass slipper in Cinderella, the rose in Beauty and the Beast. HIMYM, like fairytales, relies heavily on symbolism. It’s one of the things I love most about How I Met Your Mother.

You’ve heard of the most common symbols in HIMYM: the yellow umbrella, the blue french horn, the red cowboy boots, and the pineapple. But there are other important symbols in HIMYM that are overlooked, namely the butterfly, the pumpkin, the locket and the lighthouse.

Remember, fairytales are about hope and transformation.

The yellow umbrella symbolizes hope. It’s like the wishing star in Disney. Ted had to believe in fate, believe that he would one day meet his soulmate.

You may laugh now but I’m going to show you how How I Met Your Mother is a Cinderella story, starting with the symbols, the butterfly and the pumpkin.

Butterflies represent transformation.

The main animals represented in Cinderella are the butterfly/bird and the fish. In the Cinderella movie Ever After, the main girl Danielle starts out as a fish. As a servant, she feels unfit to be among royalty.

Danielle: A bird may love a fish, signore, but where will they live?

Da Vinci: Then I shall have to make you wings.

Danielle looks at her dirty hands, then decides to cleanse herself and go for a swim, alluding to her being a fish at the beginning of the story.

Ever After alluding to her future transformation with wings.

Her dress has wings.

Butterfly dress in Cinderella 2015

The butterfly is also used to signify transformation in How I Met Your Mother.

After Ted broke up with Robin, he got a butterfly tattoo, which became a running joke for the rest of the series.

“I thought you needed a wingman to fly, but the truth is, you’ve got your own wings now. Since you and Robin split, you’ve been gestating. Growing in your cocoon. And last night, you burst out of that cocoon like a majestic, uh…gosh what is it that comes out of a cocoon? I was always bad at science.” — Barney to Ted

Every time a female character undergoes transformation or a major life transition, she’s wearing a butterfly necklace.

Robin wearing the butterfly necklace when she quits her job in search for a better one. “I came to Metro News 1 as a little caterpillar, and for four years, this desk has been my cocoon. But tonight I emerge an ambitious butterfly.”

When Lily returns from San Francisco after her break up with Marshall, she’s wearing the butterfly necklace.

And that, kids, is the main theme of How I Met Your Mother.

“Kids, I’ve been telling you the story of how I met your mother. And while there’s many things to learn from this story, this may be the biggest. The greatest moments of your life won’t necessarily be the things you do. They’ll also be the things that happen to you. Now I’m not saying you can’t take action to affect the outcome of your life. You have to take action, and you will. But never forget, that on any day, you could step out the front door and your whole life can change forever. You see, the universe has a plan, kids, and that plan is always in motion. A butterfly flaps its wings, and it starts to rain.”

Hmm, I wonder what happens when it starts to rain? It’s like Ted took out his yellow umbrella in that very scene! Isn’t HIMYM brilliant!?

Like Cinderella, Ted had to learn that “even miracles take a little time.”

Think about it: why is it called wingman? Barney gave Ted wings to fly.

Given how much fairytales and HIMYM have in common, it’s only fitting that HIMYM is now on Disney+!

Pumpkin

The pumpkin is an icon in Cinderella.

Likewise, the pumpkin is also a significant symbol in HIMYM, enough for it to have a repeat episode near the end of the series.

Each year, Ted returns to the same Halloween party in hopes of finding the girl in the pumpkin costume he met years earlier. We don’t who the girl is and like Prince Charming, Ted doesn’t have her identity. He never got her name or number. She’s a mystery to us.

The pumpkin is a testament to Ted’s faith. “It’s about believing. This girl represents something to me. Hope.”

Robin: How do you do this, Ted? How do you sit out here all night on the roof in the cold, and still have faith your pumpkin’s going to show up?

Cinderella had to wait for her pumpkin too.

“If you’d lost all your faith, I couldn’t be here. And here I am.”

In HIMYM, the minor characters are shorthand parallels for the major characters. For example in “The Window” episode, it’s not the Girl Next Door whom Ted’s been in love with his whole life. It doesn’t matter who she is. The Girl Next Door isn’t real. She’s just a representation of who Robin is.

Tracy = Slutty Pumpkin

Victoria = Natalie (the one Ted dumped on her birthday)

Robin = Girl Next Door (Maggie)

The Slutty Pumpkin is shorthand for the mother. She’s a mystery, the one Ted waited so long to meet, his search for “the one.”

Natalie is a shorthand for Victoria. Ted almost marries her. There’s nothing wrong with her, she’s great, but she simply isn’t “the one.”

Then there’s the Girl Next Door, a representation of Robin. He knows that she’s the love of his life, but the timing never worked out for them.

[fictitious-little-stitious]

Gonna Lay Down the Law

Flufftober Day 31 — Halloween Costumes

Flufftober prompt list by @themand0lorian 💜 adapted from @ flufftober2021’s prompt list here

Jack “Whiskey” Daniels x GN!Reader

Read on AO3

Themes: Cheeky fluff, established relationship, getting into drag for Halloween. All kinds of people do drag! ♥️ While the reader is described as having features like breasts and hair the size of Texas, whether they’re accentuating what they got or are adding more, it’s all drag.

Warnings: Nothing explicit, but any minors should get lost. Suggestive humor, swearing. Let me know if I missed something.

Word Count: ~520

A/N: Wow! A prompt posted on the day it’s intended for 😂. I may post more of these regardless of October being over. (I may be shooting myself in the foot for posting 2 fics in 1 day, but it’s okay.) If you’re not sure what movie I’m referencing, I’ll tell you at the end!

Hint: think of the movie star who initially inspired Agent Whiskey’s character and look.

“Are you ready, Jack?” You checked your lashes in the rearview mirror one last time for good measure.

“I can’t believe we’re actually doing this,” he chuckled. He picked up his hat from the seat between you and donned it. The light tan wasn’t his typical fare. He didn’t bother checking his reflection in the rear view mirror. Jack looked good, damn good, and he knew it.

“We’re gonna be a hit, I know it! Even if we don’t win the contest - although I’m sure we will!” you quickly reassured, with a squeeze to his forearm and a quick peck on his cheek. “I’m still goin’ home a winner with the other winner, if it’s all the same to you.”

Jack eyed you in the passenger seat and gave a sly grin in return. Before you could open the door, he had already hopped out to, what you assumed, open it for you. Instead he sauntered around the front of the jeep to lean nonchalantly against your door, then rapped on the window with his knuckles.

You rolled your eyes but played along, turning the crank to roll down the window.

“Good evening, ma’am, are you aware that I’m the law in this town?”

Oh he was having too much fun with this. He wouldn’t admit it, but he was really feeling his oats in the tan sheriff’s uniform, just tight enough to show off the cutest little butt this side of the Mississippi. Jack wasn’t so infatuated with his looks to ignore you, oh no no no. With blonde curls piled high to heaven, a full beat, and tits at full attention, how could you be missed?

“Law? In this little piss ant town? Please!” You waved him off with a flare and made a show of rolling the window back up. You gathered the skirt of your silky black negligee and long, flowing robe, then opened the door. He stepped back and gave you an appraising look.

“Need a hand there, ma’am?” Jack offered.

“I would prefer both hands, but depending on where you place it, one hand just might do the trick! But it’ll cost you!” you snapped back with a wink.

His eyes bugged out and he adjusted his tie. “Now, take it easy there. We gotta get in and out of this party without getting a citation.”

“Where’s the fun in that?”

“Oh don’t you worry your pretty little head. There’ll be more than enough fun to go around.” He offered his hand again and this time you took it.

Jack steadied you as you slid to the street. Once you stuck the landing, you breathed a sigh of relief.

“Thank you, Jack. If I had to jump down, I would’ve poked an eye out!” The wind chose that moment to pick up. A few unfortunate chicken feathers from your boa were lost to the chilly autumn breeze. Jack held onto his hat with one hand and swiped the flyaway curls from your face with the other. Mischief, adoration, and giddiness radiated between you.

“Crisis averted, darlin’. Now,” he extended his arm out to you as any proper gentleman, man of the law, or sweet talkin’ scoundrel should, “I reckon we have a costume contest to win. Ladies first, Dolly!”

Image description: A drawn movie poster for the 1982 movie The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas starring Burt Reynolds and Dolly Parton.

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[jq37]

The Report Card – Fantasy High: The Seven Ep 6

Bitches Be Shopping

What is up y’all. A little late but let’s jump in with episode six of The Seven where our girls have just received a LOT of information, Sam most of all who got put into a little vision coma that she’s just now waking up from.

She explains the vision to her friends (as she interprets it, the other Eidolons didn’t die, just became part of the natural forces of the world) and then the bear that Penny made on a whim last episode (who is Russian, named Koda, and somehow a trained circus bear) gets into a fight with Katja with their friends buffing the two to make things more interesting because these are still idiot teens, life or death situation or no. Yelle decides to be the adult and tells them to knock it off and get back on mission.

That means Katja needs to call her dad since he’s knows the guy who’s the best lead to getting to TK ( Talcidimir Tallbreeze who I’ll call Tal). She actually manages to get her dad this time who is inside a giant snake on his hell mission. Katja asks what he knows about TK and he says she’s a sorcerer but also has a spell book so maybe she’s multiclassed. Sam and Ant desperately want to know if they boned and Katja absolutely is not interested in that knowledge. Yelle decides to just ask which makes her dad a little annoyed since he’s kind of in the middle of something (literally) and that annoys Ant, Ost, and Sam who--respectively, accuse him of gaslighting Kat, cast Command on him, and cast Bane on him to aid the Command spell. 

Mr. Cleaver fails the save and Ost commands him to tell Katja the truth. He admits that he did hook up with TK and he regrets it (note: it wasn’t like he cheated. It was just a casual hookup that wasn’t fulfilling it seems). Ost demands he apologize for not being there for Kat and Sam berates him for being at the top of the world and not lifting up his daughter too. For his part, Kat’s dad seems genuinely apologetic and promises to do better. 

“You don’t need to be the best father, you just need to be there,” Katja says, making her dad break down crying. 

Yelle, who has no daddy issues, is a bit less aggro and says that everyone makes mistakes and he can start making it up right now by helping with the Tal situation. She also gives them the tip that a cold spell will probably get them out of the snake lickety split.  She is on the money with the snake tip and Mr. Cleaver gets them all invites to a masquerade ball Tal is hosting. It’s being held on the Rumbosa which is this city-sized leisure ship. Mr. Cleaver says he’ll be back as soon as he can and, in the meantime, she should take care of her friends, “even the first 2 that were terrifying to me.”

The girls give Katja the axe they took as a birthday present (it was apparently her birthday the day before which Rekha just decided and Ost/Izzy refuses to accept without a fight because she *knows* Kat’s bday) which is identified as the Axe of Sundering (it can shatter objects, people, and sometimes concepts like halving movement). The two unnamed potions Yelle found are also ID’d as a Potion of Fly and a Potion of Gaseous Form. She distributes the Heath Potions to people without heals. Ant’s new arrows bypass some resistances and let her treat whatever she hits with the first one like it’s her favored enemy. 

According to their invites, the ship they need is docking in the city of Gravalvia soon (a very old city in the Baronies) so they need to figure out a plan. They have some downtime, during which:

Zelda tries to hype up the team.

Zelda tries to see if Ost is OK wrt dad stuff and Ost has a Full Breakdown after badly pretending she’s fine. 

While Zelda, Ost, and Penny are being Emotional and Sam is trying to literally cool them down with her powers, Ant and Yelle keep watch and experience emotional stability as the Adults Of The Party 

Anyway, after a night of rest, they head to the golden city of Gravalvia which is this very cool, very pretty city with mosaics and fountains and I assume columns. They get there and there’s a dramatic fight happening in the square which is halted when one of the fighters realizes that the country he’s fighting for doesn’t exist anymore. And now, it’s time for what we’ve all been waiting for. Shopping Montage! Let’s go girl by girl.

Katja and Ost

Kat asks for help from Ost with getting fancy for this gala since she’s never really done anything dressy before (and she had no mom to help--Kaaaat) and Ost is happy to oblige, dressing them both like “Jersey trash”. Kat, of course, still wears her Khakis underneath.

Antiope

Ant decides to get a vibe for what people here wear and picks something that will blend in but be forgettable so she can be stealthy. Classy blue dress and mask.

Penny

Penny...OK, I absolutely cannot describe what happens here in any way that will do justice to the scene. I am going to tell you what matters to the plot. You have to watch this yourself if you want to see the entire table have a collective breakdown. 

While looking for a costume, Penny runs into a halfling who is a member of the Society of Shadows--Laertes. He wants to know why she hasn’t responded to their invitation yet. She says she’s really eager to join, she just wasn’t sure how to respond (and also, she’s kind of in the middle of something). He says she can join by just messaging back and then her loved ones just have to sign waivers to have their memories wiped of her and she’s good to go. Say what now? asks Penny. She didn’t realize this was like a full Men in Black situation. 

He says it’s ultimately her decision and leaves.

Of course, I left out the parts where he ate a handful of Candy Heart’s remains, became violently ill, almost projectile vomited into Penny’s mouth, and she tried to kiss him despite him being a full adult. It’s A Lot, ok?

Also, we don’t find out until later but Penny picks a sexy duck costume for reasons that make more sense if you watch the scene but not *much* more sense. She also burns one of the healing potions on this dude as he is bar

Danielle

Danielle tries to get some info on the guests at the party and gets the names Lawrence LaDuc, Princess Autumn, and Duston who is the playboy cousin of Tal. She also hears some dude saying some colonize and plunder the earth BS and casts Heat Metal on him, fully mercing the dude. Ice cold. 

She tries to play it off like it’s the Curse of the Forest and when that doesn’t work and people start coming for her, she wildshapes into a dragon wyrmling and starts roasting people, killing 1 and dropping 2 to zero. 

Unfortunately, one of her party members is a known dragon hater and uses her new arrows to snipe her right out of the sky. Ant is horrified once she realizes what she’s done but Yelle says it’s all good. It’s NOT all good, says Ant, I STABBED YOU. You’re allowed to be mad! Yelle says she’s just really good at compartmentalizing but what Ant’s getting here is that Yelle doesn’t really believe that her feelings matter which echo the fears of her moms. 

Sam

Sam uses a combination of Mantle of Inspiration, glamour magic, performance, and good old flirting to get herself some killer clothes and also start a spontaneous musical number Giselle style.  

Brennan says she looks resplendent and, honestly, when does she not?

They reconvene, Zelda in a classic hoop skirt. Yelle realizes she never got a costume and just whips out a Met Gala level, autumn themed, Queen Mab-esque costume with Druidcraft which she could have done this whole time so I guess that’s why she was cool spending her shopping time getting gossip and playing Poison Ivy. 

They get to the ship and the way this works, everyone has to make an entrance and the really rich people (including Tal) are on a dais up top watching everyone come in. They all have to give fake names for the night since it’s a masquerade and they have to do Performance or Persuasion checks to see how impressive they look going in. 

Before they go in, they plan a little. Penny wants to look for TK. Sam wants to find Dunston. Ost wants to talk to the bouncers. Yelle wants to see if there are plants she can manipulate (there are btw) and for any exits. 

A quick rundown of how these all go:

Katja aka Mere (which means both mom and horse): 16 

Ant aka Midnight Huntress: 18 

Penny aka Penny Duckstone: 13

Zelda aka Madame Goodparty: 2 (Poor Zelda)

Sam aka Songbird: 22 (but she takes a hit to entrance save Zelda from totally flaming out)

Ost aka Stanley Gucci: 13

And Danielle, who never hogs the spotlight and is embarrassed to admit that maybe she does want to be the center of attention for once in her life with a Natural 20, gets a 29, absolutely bringing down the house as Empress Anima. As she walks forward she feels a voice say to her, “You got this. I love the name. You wear it well.”

Tal seems very impressed by her and a lady in a rabbit mask (Coeliabranca who I’ll call Coel if she comes up more) comes down to bring her up to the top with the high rollers. As she leaves, Sam casts Fly on her, just in case and holds the Concentration. 

Ost and Kat go talk to the bouncers and Kat decides to pretend to be her mom to get access to the area Yelle is. She rolls low and is told, “Hey, aren’t you already up there?” Kat is like, fuck and Ost saves her by using her charm earrings to get an entourage of guards who will let them through and do what she says. Once up there, Kat doesn’t see her mom which I can imagine she has mixed feelings about. 

Sam finds Dunston who is talking about Fantasy Bitcoin and seems like a real “Step on me mommy” type you know? Like, I feel like he’s into findom. Anyway, Sam charms him and his hangers on and learns about a procedure called a Phlebectomy that involves something going into their nose and then they feel better. Sam is rightfully horrified because, as I said, she is Most Likely To Survive A Horror Movie and can sense BS when she sees is. It’s apparently all the rage with the rich people here which is, como de dice, concerning seeing as they’re surrounded by them but we’ll get to that. Sam takes advantage of Dunston’s proclivities and gets him alone, knocks him out, steals him clothes, and pretends to be him (a *very* good scene by Sephie). 

Penny sees a gnome gnome boy (Lysander Higgins) shining shoes and finds out from him that there is a copper earth genasi woman here. In a very Cinderella move, she asks what shoes she was wearing. Then, she makes out with him which like, sure. At least it’s not a grown adult man this time. Before she gets her kisses in, she does tell the group what she learned. 

Up with the rich people, Yelle is introduced to Tal’s friend who is into Eidolons because of the name she chose. Between the shoes and her knowledge, they confirm that it’s TK! Yelle asks what she knows about Eidolons and she says that 7 is a very powerful number.

We cut to Ant who is patrolling the room as the sun sets and she suddenly hears a little beeping. It’s coming from a small crystal that was in Preston’s shirt (which she still has on her because???). Guests start dripping goo from their noses and transforming into monsters. Ant realizes that some kind of spell is happening triggered by midnight and this beeping. Hope these costumes are battle ready cause it’s fight time baybee!

Superlatives 

Danielle: Most Likely to Be on The News for Murdering Fantasy Jeff Bezos

I cannot imagine what was running through Yelle’s head when she decided that, having just rolled into a foreign country, her next move was to start using lethal force on anti-environmentalist colonizing capitalists. Like, she’s not *wrong* per se but she is wild--in all senses of the word.  

Random Thoughts

Kat keeps saying yesterday was her birthday which Ost/Izzy (and the rest of the group to a less vocal degree) are simply not having because maybe her dad would forget her birthday but her girls absolutely would not.

“You’re great because you stayed,” is the other killshot Kat line to her dad.

At a certain point Sam says, “This is so unhealthy,” to I think Yelle and like, if SAM is telling you your coping mechanisms are unhealthy, get thee to therapy.

OK, so someone, presumably Anima’s spirit, talks to Yelle as she makes her grand entrance which seems like info they should get to Talura ASAP, right? Cause that’s evidence they’re not dead-dead, just changed in form. But also Anima, girl. Don’t talk to Yelle. Talk to your rampaging sister!

"That's my secret, I stay in initiative."

Just a process note, notes are taken for the next ep and I am working on getting that recap up ASAP. As a battle ep, it will be in the abbreviated style that I did for last battle ep. 

In this episode, Penny rolls a Nat 1 (which she rerolls) and one of Brennan’s NPCs rolls a Nat 1. Ant rolls 2 Nat 20s, Yelle rolls 1, and Brennan says that one of his NPCs gets a 20 which sweeps him entirely into Sam’s dance number. 

[lunaajade]

Everything You Need to Know about “Shadow and Bone” on Netflix (*UPDATED: POSSIBLE LANGUAGE OF THORNS ADAPTATION INFO)

 Since it’s recently been confirmed that we’d be getting S&B content in a few days (finally!), I thought I’d compile and summarize as much info as I could to refresh everyone’s memories! Please spread the word/share this post to those who aren’t up to date! (I’ve seen some people online who are worried about how it’s going to turn out, and I’d like to be able to hopefully reassure those people)

Now, there’s a LOT of stuff, so there’s always the chance I missed/forgot something. This post will be split up into categories based on type of info, so here we go! I went back and listened to/watched both of the big live streams (NYCC and the S&B Charity Competition), went on the Grishaverse Reddit, etc. to find as much (extra/bonus) stuff as I could. (If I missed anything/got something wrong, please feel free to leave a comment!)

Update: A lot of people have been asking where it was confirmed we were getting content soon. I found out from one of the update accounts I follow.

Thanks for reading, everyone!

General/Key Info About the Show

-This first season will be adapting both “Shadow and Bone” and what has been dubbed a “Book 0″ (most likely meaning prequel/backstory/set-up) for “Six of Crows” -In relation to the above point, the timelines are being brought together for the show. (Normally in the books, the two series are set two years apart)(We don’t know how exactly or what this means for the story, but I have a really interesting theory that I thought up in relation to this, message me if you’d like to hear it.) -Leigh acknowledges and understands that some of us have doubts and are worried about the show, but she has publicly assured us (numerous times) of how much she loves the show and cast, how well she thinks the crew/writers did in bringing the Grishaverse to life, etc. See a later point below in the Facts/Tidbits section -The first season will have 8, one-hour long episodes -Alina has been made half Shu (half Asian) for the show! Leigh stated that was decided on after she and Eric had a lengthy discussion on Alina’s character. -The main cast (as in confirmed to be in all episodes) is comprised of Jessie Mei Li (as Alina), Archie Renaux (as Mal), Ben Barnes (as the Darkling), Freddy Carter (as Kaz), Amita Suman (as Inej), and Kit Young (as Jesper) -Wylan and Nikolai are NOT in the first season. (Nikolai didn’t appear until the second book, and Leigh confirmed that at this point in the story, the Crows had not met Wylan yet.) -Other cast members include Danielle Galligan (as Nina), Calahan Skogman (as Matthias), Daisy Head (as Genya), Sujaya Dasgupta (as Zoya), Luke Pasqualino (as David), Julian Kostov (as Fedyor), Simon Sears (as Ivan), Zoe Wanamaker (as Baghra), and more! -The Darkling will also be called “General Kirigan” in the show. From what we know, The Darkling will be the “enemy” to Ravka (so in essence, General Kirigan is his alias/fake persona (what he’ll most likely be referred to for most of the show), and no one knows that he’s actually their enemy. (Meaning it’ll most likely a super big moment when they learn their general was actually the Darkling in disguise)). -The show was shot on location in Budapest, Hungary. (And additional filming took place this past fall in Vancouver) -In order, the 8 episodes are titled the following: “A Searing Burst of Light”, “We’re All Someone’s Monster”, “The Making at the Heart of the World”, “Otkazat’sya”, “Show Me Who You Are”, “The Heart is An Arrow”, “The Unsea”, & “No Mourners”.

Other (Fun) Facts/Tidbits About the Show

-Upon seeing Jessie’s audition, Leigh loved her audition/portrayal of Alina so much that she apparently stated that she wanted her to play Alina or she’d be out of the project. She was sent five auditions to watch, Jessie’s was the third, and she said she didn’t bother watching the rest of them. -Leigh stated that she and Eric Heisserer (the creator of the show) said they were on the same page from the first meeting. All other past meetings with producers and companies about possible adaptations had left her with a bad feeling, but she said they’d had the same ideas about inclusion, story, staff, etc. She said she’s loved the respect he’s shown towards the work (and, in a way, to us the fans) -Netflix apparently also has the rights to adapt “The Language of Thorns” , though we’ve gotten no info on that adaptation yet. (UPDATE: I just watched a Leigh Bardugo event from Feb 2019 (a few weeks after the show was first announced, I think): As of  that day, she said that she thought that they were going to use LoT more for "texture” (IMO that might mean worldbuilding?) in the show. And I don’t know if she was talking about LoT specifically because she was very vague, but she said that there were certain things in the show that she thinks readers will be really excited about. Again, this was over a year ago, back when they were still in pre-production and stuff, so don’t take my word for it. Besides this, I couldn’t find anything else relating to a possible LoT adaptation. Maybe they’ll have the stories from LoT appear as actual folk tales told in the show, and that’s the “adaptation”? IDK. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpHnw8Ygw5c&t=1906s)) -Leigh is an exec. producer on the show! I’m no expert, so I don’t know how much say/power she had in the process, but she definitely had some. -There is a RAVKAN edition of the “Shadow and Bone” book that Leigh says makes a cameo in the show! -Jesper’s guns had custom etchings done on them by a Hungarian antique gunsmith! (And they were so good that Leigh and Eric said that it looked like it belonged in a museum--they were also described to be quite heavy!) -Eric Heisserer is the creator of the show, he is an award-winning writer, well known for “Arrival”, “Bird Box”, and more. (If I remember correctly, Leigh said that he’d reached out to her about making the show!) -A DeKappel painting (maybe the one owned by Van Eck?) was confirmed to be in the pilot episode. -Pekka Rollins and Tante Heleen have been confirmed to be in the first season, but their casting has (up to this point) not yet been revealed. -Bo Yul-Bayur is confirmed to be in the show! (Though Kuwei has not) -Leigh will have  a cameo in (I think) Episode 5! She will be wearing a Materialki kefta and will be opening a door, if I remember correctly. -A lot of the crew was also extremely passionate about the project and fans of the books -The “Lives of Saints” book that was published in October is an actual book/prop that is appearing in the show! -I’m personally fine with Mal, but Leigh says that Archie is going to change everyone’s minds with his portrayal! -The costume designer for the show is Wendy Partridge, known for her work on “Thor: The Dark World”, “Pompeii”, and more!  -The composer for the show is Joe Trapanese, known for composing for “The Greatest Showman”, “Straight Outta Compton”, “Lady and the Tramp”, and more! At the NYCC Grishaverse panel, they revealed a little bit of the score (”Grisha Theme”): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFxIEbsHKJA 

Fun Cast/On Set Stories/Facts

-The cast all loves each other, and are all extremely passionate about this show, which is great! (Leigh said that on her second visit to the set, she heard them singing together) -Leigh says that Ben Barnes once snuck up behind her on her first day on set and scared her by whispering “Fine, make me your villain” -Freddy’s favorite Grishaverse book is “Six of Crows”, but most specifically the first line of chapter 2 (”Kaz Brekker didn’t need a reason.”) -Jessie would apparently come to set on some of her days off to support the cast and crew! -Sujaya has stated that her favorite Grishaverse character is Nikolai! (#Zoyalai) -Freddy has become famous/popular with the fandom, one of the reasons being because he often comments on posts/live streams asking something along the lines of “What was it like working with Freddy Carter? xoxo” -Danielle loves Nina and her journey in “King of Scars” -According to a Tweet, Freddy and Leigh said that there had been a scene with “a very pesky gate”--Freddy said that it “wouldn’t be proper to tweet the expletives [he] used that day” and that he thinks he “scarred” Amita and Eric. -Amita’s favorite thing about Inej is her silence, and her favorite Grishaverse book is “Six of Crows” (as of May, where we learned this during a live-stream, she said she’s read it three times and listened to the audiobook twice.) -There was a waffle truck on set on the last day of shooting! -Calahan says that if he could play any other Grishaverse character, he’d want to play Nikolai! -While she did work with the trainer to get more physically fit, Amita learned most of her knife techniques by herself! -Leigh said she cried a lot while on set! (She said there was one scene they were shooting that she has a very clear, vivid memory of writing many years back--based on the context of which she was talking about it, if I had to guess, I’d guess she’s describing the Winter Fete.) -Leigh also said that on one of her first days on set, it was funny/weird to see all the extras in First Army uniforms chilling on their phones, drinking coffee, etc. -One of Calahan’s favorite character dynamics in the books is the dynamic between Kaz and Matthias -There was a moment where Amita was fully in costume and doing amazing, graceful knife work, only to trip and fall when she’d finished. -Amita and Jessie and Sujaya were best friends on set. -Sujaya loved everything about playing Zoya. (Especially her confidence) -Leigh says one of her favorite props was Kaz’s cane, especially because of what it meant to her and the story. -If he could be any Grisha order, Calahan says he’d want to be a Corporalki -Calahan loves Matthias’s journey/arc. -Kit’s favorite Grishaverse book is “Crooked Kingdom”!

Links

-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X65iI1YXrbU (NYCC Grishaverse Panel) -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHou5rVs6o0 (S&B Talent Show Charity Live Stream ft. the S&B Cast!--the IG video got taken down because Archie deleted his IG account and switched to a new one) -https://www.netflix.com/title/80236319 (”Shadow and Bone” on Netflix!) -https://twitter.com/shadowandbone_ (Official “Shadow and Bone” Twitter!) -https://www.instagram.com/shadowandbone/?hl=en (Official “Shadow and Bone” Instagram!) -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRh-Pmbynww (Annoucement made by cast when filming wrapped! (can be found on the social media accounts, but here’s a link to YT)) -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bpY8uLtyB4 (A S&B Cast Crack video by HeartPhantom--it highlights a lot of the inside jokes and memes that we’ve gotten to witness among the cast, and also just generally shows off how hilariously chaotic everyone is (this cast is the definition of chaotic good, lol))