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synergysilhouette · 11 months ago

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Brainstorming my own idea for "Kingdom of the Sun"

Originally conceived as an epic musical on par with "The Lion King" before becoming the buddy comedy "The Emperor's New Groove," KOTS suffered a lot of story issues that prevented the film from being made with the original intentions--though with my own details.

Our protagonists: Emperor Manco and the peasant Capac, heteropaternal fraternal twins, which is a pretty way of saying they're twins with different fathers--plus they were born 10 days apart. Yes, it's possible, and in order for them to look alike, they both take traits from their mother, who plays a role in this. Manco was raised by the temperamental and emotional Emperor Sayri (think King Triton), and after his wife died, he found it difficult to look at Kuzco, who looked so much like her, instead leaving his care in his advisor, Amaru. As such, Manco grows up spoiled by his people, though develops Amaru's warped view of power, especially after Sayri's death, which also leaves a hole in Manco's heart that he's desperate to fill, making it easy for his mother figure to manipulate him. Capac, on the other hand, is raised by his kind and caring father and kind stepmother, and is much more humble and insecure in contrast, being shy and ventures to the capitol in order to appeal to the cold-hearted emperor about helping his people, who he's been neglecting for the most part. He can also talk to animals, supposedly because of his pure heart, as well as being physically stronger than Manco (though Manco is smarter and more acrobatic); I don't see either of them as scrawny like Kuzco. When they meet, Manco is amused by him, and they trade places, but this turns sour when Manco realizes that Capac is much happier than he is. He inadvertently makes people upset with him due to his entitled and bratty attitude, making him more insecure and believing his father never really loved him. This embitters him to decidedly ruin Capac's life so they can both be miserable, though when Capac's family embraces Manco anyway, it makes him break down. I also like the idea that Manco's aesthetics are reds/oranges while Capac's are blues/greens.

2. Our Antagonist--Amaru, the royal advisor. She's lived for a LONG time, something that Manco (despite his arrogance) has noticed, accurately deducing that she takes advantage of the fact that no one knows much about her life by "dying" every few decades and returning as her own daughter. However, he sees this as an "old woman's game" and leaves her to it, deciding he could always fire her if she became too senile. Amaru grew up with a power-hungry mother and a royal magician for a father, so her destiny was sealed as she learned the magical dark arts, as well as the human dark arts of manipulation, breaking Manco's spirit to make him her puppet. When he and Capac switch places, she quickly realizes the change in him and blackmails Capac by threatening to out him as a sorceror who killed Manco and took his form. She's able to summon shadow monsters that can take human form, and could easily make it look like he actually did kill Manco. Once again in control, she vows to plunge the world into eternal night in order to restore her youth, which she says was wrongfully taken from her due to her ambitious family, and that she will rule the empire. She also plans to do this by inciting a civil war against "Manco" and replace him as head of the empire. I'm thinking "Queen Raveena" energy here (if you've seen "Snow White and the Huntsman): scary, cold, and calculating, though she does have fleeting moments of sympathy. Part of me imagines she has a lover--maybe a silver fox like King Magnifico with a bubbly personality like Wiggums. He supports her thirst for power, though often maneuvers things so that people are imprisoned (or banished) rather than killed.

3. The love interests--I really enjoyed Malina as Kuzco's love interest/foil in TENS, so I imagine Capac has someone like that in his corner when he becomes temporary emperor. Named Cavillace, she's a studious noble in the emperor's court who became disillusioned with Manco's cruelty, but begins to fall for "him" when the kingdom begins to take a positive turn. She doesn't trust Amaru whatsoever, but Capac's innocence and Manco's disregard of Amaru makes Cavillace believe that perhaps her feelings are misguided, and Amaru manipulates her by guit-tripping her and saying that Cavillace doesn't like her because she wants her job (and to be with "Manco"). At the end of the film, Capac and Manco decide to keep their lives switched, with only those close to them knowing, and Capac and Cavillace get married. Along with Malina, I think she'd be a mix of Princess Jasmine and Belle.

Manco's love interest, on the other hand, is a bit more vibrant. Similar to how intimate John Smith and Pocahontas were, Manco is a bit more intimate with his love interest (Chasca). She's, beautiful, sassy, clever and very self-involved, which makes Manco fall head-over-heels in love with him. Chasca reciprocates his interest, though she's taken off-guard with how emotionally fragile he is. Eventually she comes to love his dual nature, and helps him overthrow Amaru without exposing his own identity. When Manco retires to life as a peasant, Chasca does not; she convinces Capac to send them money to live off of, and while Manco rejects (most of) it, he has no issue letting Chasca keep it to further her desire for luxury. They end the movie in a boyfriend-girlfriend position. I imagine her a lot like Chel from "The Road to El Dorado" since i kinda ship her and Kuzco.

4. The resolution--I imagine the twins have a sort of "Twitches" thing going on; Manco is active during the day while Capac works best at night, plus it's a neat characterization to have the schemer a day person and the nice guy a night person. When Amaru thinks she has defeated them, she uses their innate magical powers to cause a permanent solar eclipse, strengthening the shadows while preventing the sun from escaping. When the brothers break free, they team up with their loves to defeat her, using their magic to reverse the eclipse and wither the beautiful Amaru to dust (I was thinking of turning her to stone to prevent a copy of Mother Gothel, but I wasn't sure how to implement that). If she does have a lover in this, he's banished, and her family is stripped of their status (I like the idea that she comes from a big family like Yzma did).

5. The songs. What classic Disney film would be complete without them? Okay, a few, but you get my point. Anyway, I imagine that either the Anderson-Lopez team or Lin-Manuel Miranda would do the music, as I love their work with Disney. I wasn't really impressed with what I heard from the OG tracks. Let's keep "Snuff Out the Light," though. (And BTW, if Manco and Capac had different VAs, I imagine they're both strong singers, though perhaps one is better than the other.)

The Sun King--Half-creation story, half-intro to Manco's life, I imagine this cover the legacy of the empire as well as his own mixed bag of a past, with him trying to hide any pain he feels via an upbeat number.

Moonlight--Essentially an Inca version of "Go the Distance," I see Capac singing this song as he travels to the capitol in hopes of seeing the emperor and helping his family.

The Last Night--When Manco and Capac decide to trade places, they tell themselves (and each other) that this is the last night they're unsatisfied, the last night they feel powerless and/or bored, the last night when they look in the mirror and can't see their full reflection--the last night of not having a brother. It's tender and powerful, maybe with some "Prince of Egypt" vibes in there.

I'm Better--Manco is feeling rather hurt and put off by the fact that no one really likes him when he pretends to be Capac, finding that the Capac is much more selfless, albeit sometimes at his own expense. Manco deides early on not to mimic his twin's behavior, and instead decides to be himself--and ruin Capac's own happiness.

Beguiled--A longer romantic song made of two parts: Manco and Chasca's upbeat song, something in the vein of "Rhythm of the Tambourine" and Capac and Cavillache's sweeter, cuter song, akin to "Something There."

Snuff out the Light--Essentially the same as it was originally, with the main exception being that Cavillache sees her singing this song and is abruptly captured, and this song is present-tense, happening as Amaru sings it rather than her just plotting things out.

Part of Me--Again, a longer song in my mind, a Broadway-esque song on par with "For Good" and "Let It Go (Reprise)." Manco and Capac use their powers to defeat Supai and the eclipse, erasing Amaru's shadows and turning her to dust. The brothers reflect on how different their lives are, and resolve to stay swapped for a while, if not forever.

These are just my ideas for now, subject to change! Lemme know if you have any questions or concerns about my idea

#disney #disney animation #kuzco #yzma #the emperor's new groove #el dorado #chel #the road to el dorado #dreamworks #dreamworks animation #wicked #the prince of egypt

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radiantlyrey · 6 months ago

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Doctor Who Review: S1/S14E03 - Boom

This season's third episode marks writer Steven Moffat's return to Doctor Who, his first episode since 2017's "Twice Upon a Time." The Doctor and Ruby land on the war-torn planet of Kastarion 3, where the Doctor runs right into trouble: he has stepped on a landmine, and he cannot move without everything going BOOM.

SPOILERS BEYOND THE CUT

What follows is a master class in building and releasing tension, an episode so full of suspense that I couldn't tear my eyes from the screen on my first viewing. Every moment keeps you guessing, trying to figure out how the Doctor will get out of this one. Even knowing that he will--there are five more episodes this season, after all--doesn't lessen the impact of the script. Part of it is due to Moffat's writing, and the editing work that reminds you of what's at stake, but this episode largely works because of the performances.

Ncuti Gatwa carries this episode on his shoulders, and he makes it look easy. His performance is the axis around which the episode spins, and he does it all while standing in one spot, unable to do anything but talk. Gatwa sells the Doctor's terror and nervousness and sorrow throughout the story as easily as he's been selling the Doctor's whimsy and kindness in the previous three episodes. He makes you believe in the Doctor's emotions, letting us see a side of the character we've only rarely seen since the show's revival in 2005. More than once, we see the Doctor crying. More than once, we see him have to hold in his reactions because of what's at stake. Gatwa brings the drama and the joy in equal portion here, and in 45 minutes he gives one of the finest performances in all of New Who.

Gatwa isn’t the only one to put in a good performance this episode, though. Millie Gibson continues to impress me with her range as Ruby Sunday. Ruby is clearly afraid in this story as several points, but puts a brave face on as much for the Doctor as herself. We also see some more of Ruby’s spunk as well, perhaps best demonstrated when she grabs a gun and runs off to distract the Ambulance trained on the Doctor. (“Come and get some lovely combat!” is just a wonderful line.) But perhaps the most effective scene in Gibson’s performance here is the when she hands the casket off to the Doctor. Ruby’s refusal to back down from her choice in the face of the Doctor’s (subdued) anger and unhappiness is played perfectly. There’s always a moment when the companion does something against the Doctor’s wishes, and it’s beautiful here, with Ruby calmly stating her intent and just going for it. On a more character-based note, I thought the detail of Ruby needing music to do the hand-off was nice; we know already that she’s a musician, and it’s nice to see that continue to have relevance here.

The supporting performances are decent enough, but I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Varada Sethu, who plays Mundy Flynn here, and who is returning in Season 2/Series 15 as the Doctor’s companion. Sethu only gives us a glimpse of her talent as Mundy, playing her with a sort of grim determination that turns into resigned sorrow as the episode goes on and the Doctor’s countdown dwindles to zero. I’m excited to see more of her, but one detail that’s been announced about her role next season intrigues me. The character she is set to play in S2/S15 is not related to the one she plays here. This is another mystery, but I’ll spare you my theories. (They are many, let’s just say that.) Needless to say, Sethu does interesting things here, and I can’t wait to see what else she brings to Doctor Who in the future.

There’s even more to love in this episode than just the performances, though. The writing from Steven Moffat is masterful throughout. Take the cold open, for instance. In just a few minutes, we are introduced to the main supporting characters, their relationships with each other, and the driving antagonistic forces of the episode. There’s even a hint about the episode’s primary twist! All in just about four minutes!

But that’s not all Moffat brings to the table. Over his tenure as writer and showrunner, Moffat often used the 51st century as a background setting, and this episode is peppered with references to the loose canon he created. The soldiers here are part of the Anglican military forces first introduced in Series 5, for example. The most significant callback, of course, is the return of Villengard, a weapons factory/manufacturer first referenced in Moffat’s Series 1 two-parter. The Villengard Corporation is the de-facto villain of this episode, killing characters not face-to-face but through an indifferent algorithm.

That is just a small part of the political themes of this episode, where Moffat offers acidic critiques of the military industrial complex, the use of faith as justification for violence, and capitalism’s disregard for human life in favor of financial profits. And all that leaves aside his dig at the useless but oft-refrained platitude of “Thoughts and Prayers”, which here as in the real world is offered up as “help” in the face of unimaginable suffering. In a lot of ways, Moffat’s fury at the world’s injustices drives the episode in glorious fashion, demonstrating that these things happen because of human choices.

It’s fitting, then, that the climax shows a father’s love dismantling the heartless algorithm that is prolonging a thoroughly pointless war. It's this resolution that truly makes this episode soar, an ending that not even the Doctor could predict. The AI simulacrum of John Vater, the soldier and father killed in the cold open, takes down the Villengard algorithm in an act of love, resolving the conflict in heart-soaring triumph, as the Doctor steps off the landmine and celebrates with Ruby and Mundy and Splice. The use of the music cue from The Star Beast (when the Fourteenth Doctor zooms around the TARDIS interior) only improves things, making you feel the Doctor’s joy.

The proper ending, when Ruby and the Doctor bid Mundy and Splice (and John Vater) goodbye, emphasizes the actual theme of the episode: it’s love that will save us. We will all die—everything ends, as the Doctor well knows—but when we’re finally gone, what survives of us in the world is our love. It’s a beautiful conclusion to one of Moffat’s finest episodes, an episode that cements his place as one of the best writers modern Doctor Who has ever seen.

#doctor who #boom #steven moffat #ncuti gatwa #millie gibson #series 14 #fifteenth doctor #ruby sunday #skye reviews things

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miyakuli · 10 months ago

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Valiant Hearts: The Great War

Paroles de Poilus

Valiant Hearts is a game about the First World War, in the form of an animated cartoon, in which you follow the journey of four characters as they try to help each other survive and return to their families. While the game is rather varied in terms of gameplay, I found it very indecisive in its approach to this historical period.

❤ The artistic direction, supported by Paul Tumélaire's drawings, is truly superb. The animations are fluid, the scenes are full of detail and the depth of field in the battle scenes is really well done. ❤ The auditory experience is just as good. The music is powerful, and the wartime sound effects are just as loud and effective at giving you an idea of what the soldiers were going through. In terms of dubbing (French), having Marc Cassot as the narrator is already perfection. But we also have dialogue in the form of gibberish mixed with words according to the language of the characters, which adds a touch of humour but often allows each regiment to be clearly differentiated, which is a good idea. ❤ The last part of the game is, in my opinion, what the whole game should have been; the staging is macabre, the pressure is constant and the emotion is very present without going into pathos. ❤ The main characters, including our adorable doggie, are endearing and their intertwined stories work very well to develop the chemistry between them.

+/- I find that the game doesn't quite know where it stands. We can have a non-Manichean story where the war is really depicted on a human scale, with all its horrors and showing how it can change a person. But on the other hand, there's this caricatured side that comes in very abruptly from time to time, with a much more comic-book feel and situations that are no longer at all rooted in realism (particularly through the German baron who appears to be the boss to beat and who makes us lose this aspect of neutrality). +/- The gameplay is very varied, but doesn't go far enough for my liking. The puzzles aren't very hard, even if some are a little more brain-teasing than others, but above all they all work in pretty much the same way. However, interacting with the little dog to solve some puzzles was really fun. The rhythm games in the car or when healing brought a bit of change, but were a bit long-winded. And the "platforming" phases during battles are really cool, but a lot of them are "die & retry", so it gets pretty repetitive over time. +/- I really appreciated the educational aspect of the narration, as well as the history sheets that you can unlock throughout the game, particularly with the collectibles. In this way, you can learn about changes over the years, such as the choice of weapons and changes in uniforms, as you play. On the downside, I'm sorry to say that the file interface is very ugly and not well organised for finding information.

✖ Several times I had interaction glitches with objects, which forced me to restart my game because otherwise I'd get stuck. ✖ I found some of the actions very imprecise (especially digging and throwing). ✖ On PC, Ubisoft requires us to install Ubisoft Connect in order to launch the game and synchronise our saves. As a result, no achievements are available on Steam. That's a big negative point for me.

So here we have a game that takes us back to the Great War, making sure that we really feel its atrocities, but also the moments of hope, marked by mutual aid and the friendships formed. But in my opinion, the narrative is too changeable and I would have appreciated a more consistent tone. Even so, it's a good way of revisiting this part of history in an entertaining manner, which is a fine tribute to our Poilus.

youtube

➡ My Steam page

#valiant hearts #soldats inconnus #personal #Lola plays games #Youtube

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doopcafe · 2 years ago

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The Bad Batch S2E16: Plan 99

Comments: Wait a minute, is this the last episode? I seriously gotta start paying more attention... Damn.

Right, so we open on the cable car stuck on its track. Tech is sent along the rail to restore power, which he does, but in the meantime Tarkin has sent air support to destroy the cable car. In the mayhem, Tech sacrifices himself to save the others.

I have a minor and a major comment regarding this.

My minor comment on Tech's not!death is that Tech's final line is "When have we ever followed orders?" He says this in response to Wrecker saying "please don't do it"... which is not an order. It's more like a wish from a friend/comrade. So... it’s unfortunate Tech's "final" words were clunky dialogue.

My major comment is that Tech is obviously not dead, this being Disney Star Wars. So I basically have zero emotional response to this, despite him being my second favorite character.

Let's examine!

Boba Fett is eaten by the Sarlacc but later shown to survive so that the Boba Fett show can happen

Chewy is exploded but immediately (the very next scene I think) shown to be alive

Young Reva is stabbed through the gut, but just... survives

Adult Reva is stabbed through the gut, but just... walks it off

The Grand Inquisitor is stabbed through the gut, but just... doesn’t die

Maul is cut in half only to be revived with spider legs

Kylo is killed but then revived by God Empress Rey Palpatine

Literally No Flaws Rey Palpatine is revived after duel with her grandfather

Leia as Mary Poppins

Poe (somehow) survives a TIE fighter crash and just kinda shows up again later without explanation

Fennec is shot, left for dead in a desert, and dies but comes back later just patched up with some droid guts

The Marshall is shot and killed, but revived in some Bacta

And, of course, somehow Palpatine returned

The only significant death that Disney has followed through on was Kanan's in Rebels, which was generally satisfying and competently handled. It's important to mention this isn't the fault of The Dad Batch, but rather Disney Star Wars in general, so it's a shame that otherwise good, competent content (like TDB) suffers from the larger universe in which it lives.

Anyways, Cid sells out TDB in their moment of need and we end on Omega being taken captive to Mount Tantiss. Any additional comments are just praise for the music, execution, writing... I mean, this show's not Andor-levels of amazing, but it's definitely enjoyable. I look forward to the next season. Fun stuff.

My enjoyment: 5/5

#pie211-tdb #star wars #the dad batch #the bad batch

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random-blep · 2 years ago

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Anyways my modern human au for genshin

I like to switch stories around cause these characters never lived their old life, they were born in a modern world and everything that happened in the past were different people.

So let me start with characters and what I think their jobs are and what they are doing in this modern au.

Diluc: The winery is a family owned business and when his father passed away he didn't take on responsibility for the business right away. In his grief he couldn't stand being around the manor so he went abroad for a few years. He was 18 when he left and returned when he was 22. It took 2 years for him and Kaeya to make up mostly. He is currently 24 and taking on responsibility of the winery now, occasionally taking shifts at the bar to help out

Kaeya: The only thing his adopted family knows of him is he was a refugee child from a war riddled nation. His father left him in Mondstadt so that he would be safe. The Ragnvindrs took Kaeya in when he was 7 and officially adopted him when he was 10. He was 16 when Crepus passed and instead of letting himself go through the emotions, he shut down completely. As a minor he was unable to take on the business and he had highschool to finish still. So the business was left to flounder while Diluc was gone. Once Kaeya was 18 he could no longer live in the manor because it was so large and felt so empty without his father or brother. He decided to find a small apartment inside the main city and got a job in law enforcement with his and Dilucs childhood friend Jean. Kaeya is currently 22

Dainslief: Dain wasn't some royal guard that failed, in this au he works as a teacher for refugee children and works with their families. He also works as a translator for those children and families and helps them adjust to their new lives. He tends to travel a lot because of this. Dain is in his late fourties currently.

Zhongli: Zhongli works as a college professor for History at Liyue University. He is known for his long winded lectures and abundance of reading assignments. Every faculty member at the university knows of his adopted son and all are so curious of the boy. Zhongli also in his fourties.

Xiao: Zhongli found Xiao living on the street when he was 20. Xiao had been homeless since he had run away from home as a teenager. He is incredibly greatful for all Zhongli as done for him. A year after being taken in Zhongli asked if he could adopt Xiao. The adoption finalization and Xiaos birthday just happened to overlap on the same day so Zhongli found it only proper to have a celebratory dinner. Xiao is currently 21

Venti: Venti works at the same University as Zhongli. He is a professor of music and literature. Him and Zhongli have been friends since highschool. He is in his fourties as well, only a year younger than Zhongli

Kunikuzushi: he is pursuing a career in art and is currently 26. He currently lives in Inazuma but attended a college in Snezhnaya for art. His adoptive family has been pretty supportive in letting him travel and express himself however he wants. They've been trying to give him all the experiences he couldn't have as a child and they support his freedom very much. He doesn't know very much about his biological mother and isn't too interested in learning much about her.

#yes im only talking about the characters i want to #you can tell which ones ive put more thought into #genshin impact #genshin impact modern human au #modern human au #kaeya alberich #diluc ragnvindr #xiao #adeptus xiao #zhongli #morax #venti #barbatos #scaramouche #Kunikuzushi #dainslief #i wanted to talk about ei and yae but i havent thought about them much

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joeygoeshollywood · 2 years ago

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My 25 Favorite Films of 2022

Here are my 25 favorite films of 2022:

25. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Ever since Marvel announced they were moving forward with a Black Panther sequel following the passing of Chadwick Boseman, the world wondered if it can be pulled off. Ryan Coogler, the writer/director behind the first film, managed to nurture the second installment with Wakanda Forever, which is essentially an emotional epilogue of a country’s mourning of its fallen King T'Challa. In Marvel’s strongest outing since End Game, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever strikes a balance of being a grieving process for both the Marvel Cinematic Universe and its audience while also maintaining an action-packed story.

24. The Whale

The #Brenaissance is officially here to stay. Brendan Fraser gives the performance of a lifetime as Charlie, a reclusive morbidly obese English teacher who tries to rekindle a relationship with his estranged teenage daughter before his health takes a turn for the worse. Based off a play, The Whale is a tragedy directed by Darren Aronofsky (his best film since Black Swan) that rides on Fraser’s transformation as a broken man who both literally and metaphorically carries so much weight. Don’t be shocked if/when he accepts his Oscar. He’s joined by Hong Chau and Sadie Sink, both who give strong supporting performances.

23. Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio

Only a movie mastermind like Guillermo del Toro can reinvent a fairytale as well-known as Pinocchio and provide Geppetto a tragic backstory and have it take place in the height of World War I Italy. While his interpretation of the story of the wooden puppet is more mature and has more emotional weight than its predecessors, his Pinocchio also maintains its child-like innocence and has enough charm and music to entertain the whole family. A beautiful stop-motion production, del Toro’s feature debut in animation was a huge success.

22. Vengeance

BJ Novak, best known as Ryan from The Office (which he also a writer and producer), makes his feature debut as a writer/director with Vengeance, a film he stars in as a New York City writer who gets swept up in the aftermath of a Texas girl he hooked up with her family suspects was murdered, which inspires him to launch a podcast about whether it’s merely a conspiracy or there was foul play. Novak masterfully captures the cultural clash between costal and rural America in one of the most laugh-out-loud comedies of the year.

21. All Quiet on the Western Front

All Quiet on the Western Front belongs in the came caliber of war films as Saving Private Ryan, Dunkirk, and 1917. The incredible filmmaking gives the source material a new life with remarkable action sequences, stunning cinematography, and a strong cast. This German-spoken adaptation is brutal and gut-wrenching but cinematically rewarding.

20. Cha Cha Real Smooth

Cooper Raiff writes, directs and stars in his breakout film Cha Cha Real Smooth, which follows a post-college grad’s journey to find a purpose while spontaneously taking on a career in emceeing Bar Mitzvah parties. It’s rare for a comedy to establish such a fundamentally flawed yet completely charismatic and good-hearted protagonist as well written as Raiff’s. Cha Cha Real Smooth is likely to be a launching pad for what will likely be a long career for the 25-year-old filmmaker.

19. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery

Rian Johnson has proven himself to be a modern-day Agatha Christie with Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, a sexy followup to his 2019 murder mystery flick. Daniel Craig returns as famed detective Benoit Blanc and is joined by another star-studded cast including Edward Norton, Kate Hudson, Kathryn Hahn, Dave Bautista and Janelle Monáe (perhaps the film’s MVP). Beautifully shot and extremely well-written, Glass Onion solidifies the prospects of a thriving Knives Out franchise.

18. The Batman

It’s difficult for any filmmaker to reboot a superhero franchise that’s been done over, and over, and over again, but Matt Reeves lays the groundwork for a promising new Batman with The Batman. People were skeptical that Robert Pattison could pull off the Caped Crusader since most people know him as the glittery vampire from the Twilight saga, but he pulled it off. What Reeves does brilliantly, perhaps even more so than his predecessors, is how he creates the universe of Gotham City, which managed to be even more grim and visually striking than past depictions, and he already has a stockpile of villains from Batman’s rogues gallery. From the stunning cinematography of Greig Fraser to the instantly iconic music score from Michael Giacchino, The Batman satisfies fans and leaves them wanting more.

17. TÁR

Cate Blanchett is a world-class music conductor whose past creeps in to upend her life. TÁR is essentially a psychological drama from Todd Field (his first feature since 2006), who wrote an unsettlingly brilliant screenplay. But it’s a film that thrives in large part to Blanchett’s stellar performance that could give her a third Oscar trophy.

16. The Menu

If you have a healthy appetite for thrills, violence, and dark humor, then you ought to order The Menu. Ralph Fiennes gives a chilling performance as the chef of an exclusive restaurant who ambushes his diners with a night full of shock, horror, and marvelous dishes. What makes The Menu work so well is its self-awareness and a terrific ensemble cast including Anya Taylor-Joy, Nicholas Hoult, Janet McTeer, Judith Light, and rising star Hong Chau.

15. Bodies Bodies Bodies

A satirical murder mystery, Bodies Bodies Bodies is yet another winner from A24 about a group of 20-somethings whose mansion party turns upside down after one of them winds up dead. The cast of A-list and rising star millenials includes Amandla Stenberg, Maria Bakalova, Rachel Sennott and SNL alum Pete Davidson, who is at his most hilarious. Bodies Bodies Bodies is fun and unpredictable with an ending to die for.

14. Nope

Following the critical success of Get Out and Us, Jordan Peele gives us his first big-budget summer blockbuster. Nope is like a captivating and unsettling mashup of Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Jaws. Daniel Kaluuya, Keke Palmer, Brandon Perea and Steven Yeun round out the strong cast. With terror in the skies, Peele proves his funnyman days are behind him and is thriving as a master of suspense.

13. X

X is the textbook definition of a great popcorn slasher flick. Up and coming filmmaker Ti West was able to use the decades-old horror formula of a group of hotties being stranded in the middle of nowhere with psycho killers on the loose and lean into absurdity for good scares and even great laughs. X is a helluva good time that has already spawned a franchise with the release of the prequel Pearl, a strong prequel companion with Mia Goth offering amazing performances in both films.

12. Brian and Charles

Brian and Charles is a heartwarming mockumentary buddy comedy about a quirky, reclusive British inventor who builds a robot out of a washing machine that ends up coming to life. Its stars David Earl and Chris Hayward, who co-wrote the film, will make you laugh out loud and perhaps help you restore your faith in humanity just a tiny bit.

11. The Woman King

Viola Davis never kicked so much ass. The Woman King is a historic epic based on the events of the female warriors of the Dahomey kingdom in 19th century Africa. In addition to the great action and stunts are a rich plot and strong performances by the ensemble cast.

10. Good Luck to You, Leo Grande

One of the most overlooked films of the year, Good Luck to You, Leo Grande is a romantic dramedy of sorts that follows a widow who meets with a male escort to help her explore her sexuality. The film feels like a staged play as it almost entirely takes place in a hotel room and the dialogue is incredibly sharp. Emma Thompson gives one of the daring and greatest performances of her career as the witty but vulnerable Nancy as newcomer Daryl McCormack shines as the dashingly smooth yet nuanced titular character Leo Grande. This Hulu gem tackles the taboo subject of sex, tugs at the hearts, and provides plenty of laughs.

9. The Fabelmans

No director can capture movie magic quite like Steven Spielberg. The Fabelmans is loosely based on his own childhood which chronicles his early love for filmmaking. For movie fans, this is an ode to cinema and Spielberg’s career. But in the end, The Fabelmans is about a child and his pursuit of his dream, something we can all relate to.

8. RRR

Hollywood could take a page from Bollywood. RRR is a spectacle in every sense of the word where everything from the dramatic performance, slow-motion action, to the over-the-top musical numbers. It’s a sensational historic epic about two warriors who form a brotherhood while taking on the British empire. Despite its 3-hour running time, there’s never a dull moment. So heat up the popcorn and enjoy this adrenaline rush of a movie.

7. Triangle of Sadness

A satire that skewers beauty and class, Triangle of Sadness is the genius comedy from Swedish filmmaker Ruben Östlund about the disaster that unfolds on a luxury yacht and the dynamics that emerge between the elite guests and the crew (the banter alone between a Russian capitalist and an American communist played by Zlatko Buric and Woody Harrelson alone is so rich- pun intended). While the entire cast is stellar, Dolly De Leon gives an Oscar-worthy performance as a member of the cleaning staff who takes command when things go south. Triangle of Sadness is one of the best times I’ve had at the movies this year.

6. Barbarian

No horror film has filled its audience with more dread in recent years than Barbarian. Zach Cregger makes a stellar feature debut as writer/director who masterfully defies the rules of what to expect the way Alfred Hitchcock did with Psycho. Georgina Campbell and Bill Skarsgård learned they’ve accidentally booked the Airbnb from hell. This is one of those films that you benefit when going in completely blind. The thrills, disturbing sights, and even laughs are not in short supply in one of the best horror films in recent memory.

5. The Northman

Robert Eggers, the director behind The Witch and The Lighthouse, returns with his largest-scale film to date. The Northman is a blood-soaked Shakespearian-like Viking epic about revenge and destiny with a remarkable cast including Alexander Skarsgård, Anya Taylor-Joy, Nicole Kidman, Ethan Hawke, and Willem Dafoe. When you’re watching it, it feels like you’re witnessing something bigger than what you expect from most films these days. And it will keep your heart pounding and on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

4. Top Gun: Maverick

Sequel-Reboots are rarely good. It was 36 years ago that the first Top Gun came out (and upon seeing it for the first time this year, one can see why it’s culturally beloved but also very dated). Remarkably, Top Gun: Maverick is superior in almost every way. The filmmaking is better, the writing is better, and Tom Cruise has barely aged. It’s a movie that everyone can rally behind and chant “USA! USA!” as the credits roll. It was the epitome of a summer blockbuster that was both nostalgic and refreshing. For a movie that was supposed to come out in July 2019 and was postponed six times due to COVID, Top Gun Maverick was worth the wait.

3. Emergency

Ever imagine what a combination of Superbad and Crash might look like? Emergency would be it. RJ Cyler and Donald Elise Watkins star as two best friends on the cusp of graduating college who want to make history with a legendary night of partying, which quickly gets derailed by due to unforeseen circumstances. The first two acts are frickin’ hilarious but the final act takes a dramatic turn, something that rarely works but does in this case. Emergency is a coming-of-age comedy that takes tackles race and identity in a way that neither feels like lecturing nor pandering. It’s easily one of the biggest surprises of the year.

2. The Banshees of Inisherin

The plot is bizarre yet simple: One man abruptly ends his lifelong friendship with the other without warning, leaving the other man perplexed and demanding answers, which only leads to trouble for the both of them. The Banshees of Inisherin is the latest gem from writer/director Martin McDonagh that balances humor and discomfort led by outstanding lead performances from Colin Ferrell and Brendan Gleeson. The Banshees of Inisherin is a well-written dramedy that will make you laugh just as much as it will make you cringe.

1. Everything Everywhere All at Once

Multiverse films are all the rage in Hollywood these days but Everything Everywhere All at Once is the one that tops them all. Michelle Yeoh gives the performance of her career as a struggling laundromat owner who learns about the existence of other universes and how it is up to her to save them all. She’s joined by Ke Huy Quan (of Goonies/Temple of Doom fame), who will likely launch a major comeback, newcomer Stephanie Hsu, and Jamie Lee Curtis, rounding out a remarkable cast. The Daniels (Dan Kwan and Daniel Scheinert) wrote and directed a mind-blowing, genre-bending film full of laughs, action, family drama. and suspense. Not since The Matrix has a sci-fi/fantasy film been able be so confident in the universe it has created and in such an entertaining way. Everything Everywhere All at Once is everything you want in a movie, which is why it’s the best of 2022.

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daimonclub · 11 months ago

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Best Christmas Songs

Christmas songs quotes Best Christmas Songs with videos, lyrics, famous quotes and carols to enjoy the atmosphere of this magic festival and to practice the English language having great fun. Using songs with lyrics is a very useful means to improve English skills and to have fun at the same time. The advantage of using pop songs to learn English is that you will also be learning something about English speaking culture, which could come in handy. Music means a lot to people. Songwriters use their talent to communicate messages that are important to them, experiences that they’ve had in their lives and life lessons. And then there are those of us who enjoy listening to the songs and finding inspiration, motivation, support and so many other emotions from the words. But not all songs are meant to teach deep life lessons. Some are purely just meant to be enjoyed. Can you believe that famous old songs by Michael Jackson, The Beatles and Elvis Presley are perfect for learning English grammar? Well, it’s not just about making learning fun, it’s about philosophy. The ancient philosopher Plato said that “Musical training is a more potent instrument than any other, because rhythm and harmony find their way into the inward places of the soul.” Of course, Plato lived thousands of years ago, so that quote may seem a bit complicated to us today but in any case music is excellent because it has the power to move us. If you want to learn actively, you can listen to the songs while following along with the lyrics. You can also simply listen to the songs without taking any notes. You won’t exactly “absorb” the English vocabulary and grammar structures automatically, but you may be surprised how much you can learn just by passively listening to songs. And if you hear something that catches your interest, you can always return to the song later on to find more information about the words or structures. Christmas is such a joyous time of year. For many, the holidays bring back memories of family, food, fun and music. Studies show that hearing certain songs can cue specific memories in people’s brains. One very familiar type of song is the Christmas carol. From music lovers and churchgoers, to people all around the world who celebrate Christmas, carols are the beloved musical backbone of the festive season. Christmas carols are based on Christian lyrics and relate, in the main, to the Nativity. Christmas carols were introduced into church services by St. Francis of Assisi in the 12th century. Here you can find the 30 best Christmas Carols. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7nSKqfBk6k And now here are some best quotes from very popular English Christmas songs. I’m dreaming of a white Christmas, just like the ones I used to know. Where the treetops glisten and children listen, to hear sleigh bells in the snow. White Christmas (Karaoke) He sees you when you’re sleeping, he knows when you’re awake. He knows when you’ve been bad or good, so be good, for goodness sake! Santa Claus is Coming to Town (Karaoke) A very Merry Christmas and a happy new year. Let’s hope it’s a good one, without any fear. Happy Xmas (War is Over) (Karaoke) Jingle Bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way! Oh what fun it is to ride, in a one horse open sleigh. Jingle Bells (Karaoke) I won’t ask for much this Christmas. I won’t even wish for snow. And I’m just gonna keep on waiting, underneath the mistletoe. All I want for Christmas is you, yeah. (And I) Don't care about the presents. Underneath the Christmas tree. I don't need to hang my stocking. There upon the fireplace (Ah) Santa Claus won't make me happy. All I Want For Christmas Is You (Karaoke) "Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree". Rockin' around the Christmas tree. At the Christmas party hop. Mistletoe hung where you can see. Every couple tries to stop. Rockin' around the Christmas tree. Let the Christmas spirit ring. Later we'll have some pumpkin pie. Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree (Karaoke) Last Christmas, I gave you my heart, but the very next day, you gave it away. This year, to save me from tears, I’ll give it to someone special. Last Christmas (Karaoke) Good tidings we bring to you and your kin. We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We Wish You a Merry Christmas (Karaoke) Oh the fire is slowly dying. And, my dear, were still good-bye-ing. But as long as you love me so, let it snow, let it snow, let it snow. Let it Snow (Karaoke) Christmas Eve will find me, where the lovelight gleams. I’ll be home for Christmas, if only in my dreams. I’ll be Home for Christmas (Karaoke) Sing a song of gladness and cheer For the time of Christmas is here Look around about you and see What a world of wonder This world can be. A Christmas Carol lyrics (Karaoke)

Best Christmas songs and quotes There must have been some magic in that old silk hat they found, for when they placed it on his head, he began to dance around! Frosty the Snowman (Karaoke) What a bright time, it’s the right time, to rock the night away. Jingle Bell Rock (Karaoke) Santa, tell me if he really cares. 'Cause I can't give it all away if he won't be here next year. Oh, I wanna have him beside me, like oh-woo-oh. On the 25th, by that fireplace, oh-woo-oh. But I don't want a new broken heart. This year I've got to be smart. Oh, baby. Santa Tell Me (Karaoke) Doesn't it feel like Christmas (it feels lovely) Doesn't it feel like Christmas (feels so lovely) Doesn't it feel like Christmas (oh oh oh oh) Yes, it feels like Christmas Doesn't it feel like Christmas (it feels lovely) Doesn't it feel like Christmas (feels so lovely) Doesn't it feel like Christmas (the spirit of Christmas) Yes, it feels like Christmas 8 Days of Christmas Destiny's Child (Karaoke) And so, I’m offering this simple phrase to kids from one to 92. Although it’s been said many times, many ways, Merry Christmas to you. The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas to You) (Karaoke) Silent night! Holy night! All is calm! All is bright! Silent Night (Karaoke) Christmas won’t be the same without you. Christmas won’t be the same if you go. You’re all I need to see, standing by my Christmas tree. ‘Cause Christmas won’t be the same without you. Christmas Won’t be the Same Without You (Karaoke) Holidays are joyful, there’s always something new. But ev’ryday’s a holiday, when I’m near to you. Merry Christmas, Darling (Karaoke) There’ll be parties for hosting, marshmallows for toasting and caroling out in the snow. It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year (Karaoke) But I’d never steal from Santa, cause that ain’t right. So I’m going home to mail it back to him that night. But when I got home I bugged, cause under the tree, was a letter from Santa, and all the dough was for me! Christmas in Hollis (Karaoke) Hark now, hear the angels sing, a King was born today. Mary’s Boy Child (Karaoke) Have yourself a merry little Christmas. Let your heart be light. From now on your troubles will be out of sight. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (Karaoke)

Merrry Christmas songs and quotes Christmas time is here, happiness and cheer. Fun for all that children call, their favorite time of year. Christmas Time is Here (Karaoke) Sleigh bells ring, are you listening? In the lane, snow is glistening. A beautiful sight, we’re happy tonight. Walking in a winter wonderland. Winter Wonderland (Karaoke) Merry Christmas, here I am, boy Gonna love you, gonna give you all I can, boy Merry Christmas, here I am, boy I'm the present and you know it, here I am, boy Merry Christmas, here I am, boy Gonna love you, gonna give you all I can, boy Merry Christmas, here I am, boy I'm the present and you know it, boy. December Ariana Grande (Karaoke) Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock Jingle bells swing and jingle bells ring Snowin' and blowin' up bushels of fun Now the jingle hop has begun. Jingle Bell Rock Delta Goodrem (Karaoke) Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock Jingle bell chime in jingle bell time Dancin' and prancin' in Jingle Bell Square In the frosty air. Jingle Bell Rock Mean Girls (Funny video) (Karaoke) It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, toys in ev’ry store. But the prettiest sight to see, is the holly that will be on your own front door. It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas (Karaoke) Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy, do you hear what I hear? Do You Hear What I Hear? (Karaoke) Grandma got run over by a reindeer, walking home from our Christmas eve. You can say there’s no such thing as Santa, but as for me and Grandpa, we believe. Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer (Karaoke) Rocking around the Christmas tree, have a happy holiday. Everyone dancing merrily, in a new old-fashioned way. Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree (Karaoke) O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree, how faithful are thy branches? O Christmas Tree (Karaoke) The mood is right, the spirits up. We’re here tonight and that’s enough. Simply having a wonderful Christmas time. Wonderful Christmas Time (Karaoke) On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: a partridge in a pear tree. 12 Days of Christmas (Karaoke) Oh, what a laugh, it would have been, if Daddy had only seen, Mommy kissing Santa Claus last night.” I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus (Karaoke)

Best Christmas songs compilation I’ll have a blue Christmas without you. I’ll be so blue just thinking about you. Decorations of red on a green Christmas tree, won’t be the same dear, if you’re not hear with me. Blue Christmas (Karaoke) Deck the halls with boughs of holly, fa la la la la, la la la la. Tis the season to be jolly, fa la la la la, la la la la. Deck the Halls (Karaoke) Hark how the bells Sweet silver bells All seem to say Throw cares away Christmas is here Bringing good cheer To young and old Meek and the bold Ding-dong, ding-dong That is the song With joyful ring All caroling (Oh, oh, ah). Carol of the Bells (Karaoke) Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer, had a very shiny nose. And if you ever saw it, you would even say it glows. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (Karaoke) Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King. Joy to the World (Karaoke) Away in a manger, no crib for a bed. The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head. Away in a Manger (Karaoke) Come and trim my Christmas tree, with some decorations bought at Tiffany. I really do believe in you, let’s see if you believe in me. Santa Baby (Karaoke) Joy to the world, the Lord is come, let earth receive her King. Joy to the World (Karaoke) Silver bells, silver bells, it’s Christmas time in the city. Ring-a-ling, hear them ring, soon it will be Christmas day. Silver Bells (Karaoke) I really can’t stay (but baby, its’s cold outside). I’ve got to go away (but baby, it’s cold outside). Baby It’s Cold Outside (Karaoke) Do they know it’s Christmastime at all? Feed the world. Feed the world. Do They Know It’s Christmas? (Karaoke) Merry Christmas baby, sure do treat me nice. You bought me all those good ole presents, I love you baby, rest of my life. Merry Christmas Baby (Karaoke) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pK9DUvj5OiY Read also our other posts on Christmas Christmas markets in England ; Christmas markets in America ; Christmas markets in Italy and Germany ; Christmas songs ; Christmas quotes ; 60 great Christmas quotes ; Christmas tree origin and quotes ; Christmas jokes ; Christmas cracker jokes ; Traditional Christmas Carols ; Funny Christmas Stories ; Amusing Christmas stories ; Christmas food ; Christmas thoughts ; Christmas story ; Christmas in Italy ; Christmas holidays ; Christmas poems ; An Essay on Christmas by Chesterton ; See also the decorated complete carols page where you can also download the pdf file! Read the full article

#Bells #carols #Christmas #festival #festivities #Frosty #Jingle #karaoke #lyrics #parties #Red-Nosed #Reindeer #Rock #Rudolph #SantaClaus #Snowman #songs #tree #videos

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world-love-government · 1 year ago

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Solidarity with Israeli Hostages

Being in a comparable situation with the voices in my head/body that insist on being a presence in my life 24/7, I'm somewhat thankful - after all I don't live in the Middle East; this is Canada. I thought about my situation compared to what Jews are currently experiencing in the Middle East. On one hand Jews are currently being kidnapped and murdered according to the news. On the other I have to tolerate a crowd of anonymous voices shouting "Krusty the Clown!" at me on a daily basis (to hurt my feelings/harvest emotional energy). I'm personally in the view selecting a Jewish clown was no coincidence and is insensitive to Jews to create an insult out of "Krusty the Clown", who is Jewish in the Simpsons. Why is this all happening? You know just before this crisis in the Middle East I decided to pick up a Kippah for my studies in Old Testament Law to complement my return to the Roman Catholic Church. It was only a few weeks later this all happened and now I feel more like I should wear the Kippah to show support and solidarity with Israel. This is why I fight the battle I wage against these voices that represent the same oppressive hostile forces or powers that are holding Israeli's hostage in the Middle East and murdering them. Call me Krusty the Clown all you want while I wear the Kippah, anonymous voices that refuse to share with the public and me who you are. I imagine arguing with Hamas is similiar to the arguments I have with these voices. Is it really any different to some extent, however? When both the voices in my head and Hamas communicate a lethal intent to their enemy? What protection do I really have here in Canada that makes us so different from war-torn nation-states of the Middle East? I'm personally unsure of this. "KRUSTY THE CLOWN!" "KRUSTY THE CLOWN!" The altered version of my music currently plays. Like a cockroach or an infection, the voices subtly manipulate my surroundings for their goal or gain of energy. This is how the enemy acts whose identity is nothing except for what is vile, demonic, and that whom resembles a monster relative to the standards of Western and Canadian values of human rights and justice. Constantly the voices tell me of threats to my health, threats to the minds of human beings, and threats to destroy the soul. What kind of action should I take? Voices constantly tell me "He's going to kill himself" for the various attacks that have been made on me. The voices can never elaborate to me "why" I should kill myself, this is just something constantly claimed to me. This is just an example of the typical mind games I have to play with these voices. What to do? I suppose Im not held hostage by Hamas or have not been murdered yet. These voices tell me this is a concern I should have on a daily basis in one way or another. They tell me (as mentioned in other posts) they have the ability to remotely control my body and health even with their technology or method of influencing/controlling my body. It's claimed people even fight over harming and healing my body. In all of this information tends to resemble something like the fog of war. In terms of my agenda regardless, I stand in solidarity with Israel and Jewish hostages because of the experience I have with hearing voices. My mental health condition to me feels like voices in my head are keeping me hostage so they can abuse me over and over again. There are no human beings that want this experience because its like having a mob constantly bullying you 24/7, then I realized how I'm like Israel or Oppressed Jewish people in the Middle East.

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splatoon-sideblog · 11 months ago

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I am really intrigued by this theory, and it furthermore made me wonder about the other characters we've seen so far in Side Order, namely Eight, Acht, and especially Pearl. We know from the Nintendo Magazine that the drone is Pearl, and that she has transformed into one somehow. I am curious about why her, exactly. Acht says they're "just another bystander who's been sucked in", and as far as I know we have not yet gotten any confirmation on how Eight and Pearl ended up in this bleached world either. If what Acht says is true and they and Marina "go way back", I figure it is not illogical that Marina somehow put other friends besides Pearl in her pristine perfect world as well, to keep them close to her.

But I think the fact that Pearl is the only one who became a robot does link well with the above theory about Marina's sheer devotion and how strongly she does not want to lose this one specific person again.

People of flesh and blood/ink die and perish; it is a fact of life. One misstep is enough to end it all, and we know that the creatures in Splatoon can absolutely die and be harmed. In Octo Expansion, the developers stated Eight dies in the final escape when they get splatted and you as player literally go back in time instead of respawning. Octavio is apparently unable to turn back to his human form because of his injuries from the Great Turf War.

But for robots, this is different.

Robots do not have to suffer under "death" and "harm". They can be repaired when broken, they can be reprogrammed when glitching, they can be upgraded: they can theoretically live eternally when cared for well. If Marina really does feel so threatened by Pearl's sudden departure to follow her musical whims (which I do get! Pearl apparently went entirely no-contact until returning with the members of Damp Socks. That's quite an awful thing to do to a close friend like Marina is of hers, in my opinion, especially since in the Chaos vs. Order Splatfest we clearly see how distraught Marina is at the idea of Off The Hook breaking up.), how would she react to Pearl dying somehow? Having Pearl as a drone does remove some pesky negative aspects of being alive: you cannot be lost to death and demise if you can somehow live forever, after all. And if a robot's body gets destroyed, there's back-ups and such that can be implemented into a new one. It could theoretically allow one to live forever: you would never have to face "the end" and leave others with the grief of not being there anymore.

Furthermore, Marina seems to be curious but perhaps also somewhat afraid about what comes after "the end", if the above-linked interview is any indication. She said she was overwhelmed and exploding with thoughts, that the world of order is beyond our comprehension, yet she is still trying to craft a new frontier within it. Those are all incredibly strong emotions about the world of order she envisions. I'm thinking: if we want to go a bit darker, having Pearl be a robot means she's open to Marina reworking her just a bit, rewriting some parts of her personality and code to ensure that she doesn't suddenly leave again without so much as a peep. It would be orderly, it wouldn't be chaotic or unexpected, everything would be clear and cut-out and predictable. Pearl would be there forever. Pearl wouldn't want things to change. Pearl would be happy the way things are, just like Marina is. And Marina wouldn't so suddenly be left alone again if Pearl cannot leave, if forced that way by Marina's hand.

I'm not certain if this theory holds, but I do feel rather strongly that Marina will somehow be in an antagonistic role in Side Order: whether deliberate or accidentally, she seems responsible for the world of order that the protagonists have found themselves in, further supported by the fact she's not shown in person in the trailers so far. I'm really curious how it will impact her relationship with Pearl, especially since Pearl has become a drone now for whatever reason. Would she sympathise with Marina's feelings about it and how far she is willing to go to protect them, I wonder?

side order theorypost #87

Splatoon's campaigns are (mostly) quite distinct, but each is led by a villain that opposes the world that the Inklings have made. They each believe that their vision for the world is best - one based on history and a refusal to accept the change that the world has made.

Octavio rejects the Great Turf War and spent a century building up his forces and weaponry in an attempt to reverse the result of the war.

Tartar rejects Inklings as the new dominant species on planet Earth, looking to create a "new" world with his own variant of species largely inspired by humans (and the best the new world has to offer) to take over.

Mr. Grizz rejects aquatic life taking over in the place of mammals, and seeks to return the world to a state where mammals are once again the dominant species on planet Earth.

Each of these villains, consciously or not, have taken their trauma over past events and transformed them into a state where they only believe that a world based in the past in the best way to move forward, as paradoxical as that sounds. Of course, all three of them have been thwarted by their campaign's respective protagonist, a plucky young teenager with above-average skill who has saved the world.

But with Side Order, it's not about saving the world, and it's not about toppling some big bad with some grandiose desire of controlling it.

It's about showing Marina that she, too, has to wake up and face the changing world as well.

Just so we're absolutely clear, I believe that Marina is 100% without a doubt the main villain of Side Order. If I'm wrong I'll like, eat my shorts or something. However, based on the trend that former Splatoon villains have set, it just makes too much sense.

It may seem a bit strange to suggest that Marina fits in with those three - after all, she's not some conniving supervillain, she has seen firsthand that change can have a positive effect on someone's life - hell, she's not even a dude! However, I am suggesting that she has also fallen into the same trap of protecting history instead of moving forward.

And it all started with Damp Socks.

For those unaware, shortly before the events of Splatoon 3, Pearl mysteriously disappeared after a "musical clash" with Marina (<- please read this interview), going no contact until she found something fresh and different. She eventually returned with Damp Socks, offering to lend OTH's musical prowess to their band, and the rest is history.

It was good for Pearl, who always wanted to play rock music, but what about Marina?

On the surface, it seemed like she took it well enough after Pearl finally resurfaced, but by her own admission, Marina would have been fine playing anything as long as it was with Pearl. Protecting the bond and band they've shared the better part of a decade together was more important than anything else.

Pearl, knowingly or not, threatened that bond with one careless action.

And now Marina (thinks she) knows that Pearl could walk out on her whenever she feels, free to chase whatever fling catches her fancy next.

After working so hard to leave the domes, leaving behind everything she once knew, and making a whole life around her "best friend" for like, 7-8 years, it could all be left behind on a whim?

...

In that same interview I linked earlier, Marina leaves an eerie message about seeking a world of order beyond the world of chaos she had become accustomed to. Inspired by such an idea, she said that she wishes to "construct a new frontier" inspired by one such world of order.

One where every little thing can be meticulously chosen and perfected. One where all the important things can be protected, forever.

One where her and Pearl can always be together.

tl;dr as the first non-teenager protagonist in the series, u are teaming up with the loud [short one] to free her girlfriend from the mental prison she has purposefully trapped herself in and also Dedf1sh is there and i dont know why but please god save her

#splatoon 3 #side order #apologies for the long post this struck me last evening and has been occupying my mind ever since #long post #I also can't wait for when it will be released haha

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nickgerlich · 1 year ago

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Buy U A What?

I have long been a proponent of nostalgia as a marketing tool. It is one of the most powerful of human emotions, and typically intensifies as the person ages. After all, they’ve got (I mean, I’ve got) a lot of mileage on this vehicle, and the rear view stretches farther than what I’m seeing through the windshield. As we age, these nostalgic yearnings are opportunities to relive—and retell—the story of our life.

By definition, nostalgia is “a sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past, typically for a period or place with happy personal associations.” There are variations on this, such as “hireath,” which is the desire to return to a place and time we previously experienced, and “anemoia,” pertaining to a desire to go back to a time and place we never experienced. That would be like me saying I would love to time-travel to the 1950s in Southern California, to see LA before it became a traffic-snarled, crime-ridden mess.

As we discussed not long ago, the Rolling Stones licensed “Start Me Up” to Keurig for their Father’s Day new product stunt, but as it turns out that was the third time this year they have partnered with advertisers. Back in March, they lent the same song to Applebees, and “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” to promote new episodes of Ted Lasso. Not that the Stones need the money, mind you.

But sampling is one thing. There’s another trend afoot with old tunes, and that is remixing. Numerous advertisers have jumped on this bandwagon, often twisting and rewriting song lyrics to support the brand specifically. For example, Wendy’s leveraged T-Pain’s “Buy U A Drank” to become “Buy U A Frosty.”  Go ahead and cringe. I did.

Interestingly, and more proof that I am even older than I thought, is that the latest efforts are to infuse nostalgic thoughts among Millennials and Gen-Zers, using songs they likely remember from their youth. Sheesh, I was already 48 when the original was released.

Some might worry that there are so many marketers doing this now that they are at risk of trivializing their advertising efforts, and, in some cases, making people cringe like I did. And then there are the critics alleging that artists are selling out. To those buttercups, I say “Suck it up. Don’t you wish you had a hit song to milk?”

As in all advertising, though, it’s all about engagement, and the more you can make a brand relevant to your target, and also hit on some great pop culture touchstones along the way, the more likely you are to make sales. If young people can connect T-Pain with going to Wendy’s, then the Wendy’s folks just struck gold. You get the idea.

There’s risk not just to the marketer, though, because the artist stands to win or lose as well. If the connection is too much of a stretch either lyrically, musically, or even personally, then the artist’s luster could tarnish too. This explains why Rage Against The Machine will probably never have an advertising partnership, with the possible exception of the NRA riffing on “They rally 'round the family with a pocket full of shells.” Never mind that if RATM did that, it would be a sell-out of the highest order.

You get the idea there, too.

The fact that Gen-Zers and Millennials are feeling those nostalgic pangs is mere testimony that time is flying by, but nostalgia never really changes. It’s just the object of that nostalgia, and in some cases, there’s that anemoia-like wish to experience the era of their parents and grandparents, just as I wish to see the 1950s.

Of course, I could tell my kids all about the 60s and 70s, but maybe we’re all better off letting the marketers spin this story in their own way, because it is all happy talk in the end. No Viet Nam War, no Iranian hostage crisis, no drugs, no protests, no Three Mile Island, no cult suicides.

Play that funky music, yo, and let’s put smiles on faces. We have stuff to sell.

Dr “I’ve Got The Music In Me” Gerlich

Audio Blog

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eightfunctionsharrypotter · 2 years ago

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Function 1: Music masks extraneous noise.

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Title: “Death of Sirius” Composer: Nicholas Hooper Film: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007) Director: David Yates

For most of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry had been adamant about the increasing return of Voldemort, placing him on the receiving end of disbelief from his peers and denial from the Ministry of Magic, the governing body of the wizarding world. Similarly, he learns his parents were members of the Order of the Phoenix, a secret society founded during the first wizarding war by Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore. Other members of the Order of the Phoenix included Sirius Black, the godfather of Harry and the best friend to his father; and Remus Lupin, a former Hogwarts professor and another best friend to his father and Sirius. The secret society sought to adequately prepare themselves fight against the rise of Voldemort and the most intense of his followers, the Death Eaters. Reflecting the aspirations of his parents, Harry is appointed the teacher and leader of Dumbledore’s Army (D.A.), another secret society founded with the objective of preparing students for the return of Voldemort.

Utilizing their mental connection, Voldemort torments Harry with false visions of himself torturing Sirius at the Department of Mysteries, attempting to lure Harry to the Ministry of Magic and access the prophecy about Harry defeating him.

When Harry and the D.A. members arrive at the Department of Mysteries, they find the building seemingly empty. Harry discovers the prophecy about himself and picks it up, prompting several Death Eaters to reveal themselves.

Harry discovers the prophecy about himself and picks it up, prompting the Death Eaters to reveal themselves. As a fan of John Williams, the composer for the first three films of the Harry Potter series, Nicholas Hooper was mindful not to abandon his artistic integrity as he work worked on the fifth film. Hooper said, “I am not John Williams, it is not my sound world…So, there were one or two big pieces where we went for all the bells and whistles, but generally the soundworld changed to become more simple, more supporting of the drama than if I had written larger-scale music” (Mera 90).

Featuring an ensemble of vocals, strings, horns, and wind instruments, “Death of Sirius” signifies the beginning of the climatic scene of the film. The score begins to play as the Death Eaters physically restrain the other members of the D.A., forming a circle around Harry, taunting him into giving them the prophecy.

The Order of the Phoenix arrives at the Ministry of Magic, ensuing an intense battle. While the other D.A. members take cover, Harry insists on fighting alongside Sirius.

Harry casts a particularly effective spell...

Sirius mistakenly refers to him by the incorrect name... Followed by a pause in the music.

Svegaard argues, “The upbeat battle music disappear before the Killing Curse curse is cast, perhaps to let us hear it, but I think it is more likely that the idea is to showcase when Sirius calls Harry by his father’s name, James. Not only does Harry lose his godfather in that moment, but he will also forever have to wonder why Sirius cared about him” (28). In other words, the abrupt pause in the music serves to represent Harry disassociating from the battle as he makes sense of his thoughts.

After Sirius is murdered, there is a shift in the film audio...

From the emphasis on the the sounds of wind accompanying to the veil that takes Sirius away from the scene…

Webster explains, “It is the first and only musical theme in the first five films to completely usurp source sound, thus representing Harry's overwhelmed emotional state” (417-418). Hooper described Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix as an “emotional film” that “needed emotional music in it” (as cited in Webster 167). “Death of Sirius” is a poignant and sentimental musical piece, best reflecting the emphasis on emotions in the musical score, such as loss and grief. By simplifying the musical compositions for the film, Hooper allows for perhaps the most emotionally raw scene in all eight films. References:

Mera, Miguel. "An interview with Nicholas Hooper." Music, Sound, and the Moving Image, vol. 3, no. 1, June 2009, 87-97. Gale Academic OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A243358498/AONE?u=ocul_carleton&sid=bookmark-AONE&xid=f36538f9.

Svegaard, Robin K. K. “Five Films, Four Directors, and Three Composers.” Terminus: Collected Papers on Harry Potter, 7-11 August 2008. Edited by Sharon K. Goetz, United States, Narrate Conferences, Incorporated, 2010, pp.15-30, https://books.google.ca/books?id=nffbAgAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false. Webster, Jamie Lynn. “The Music of Harry Potter: Continuity and Change in the First Five Films.” University of Oregon Graduate School, University of Oregon, December 2009, pp. 1–694, https://scholarsbank.uoregon.edu/xmlui/handle/1794/10597.

Screenshots

Micah. “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007).” Movie - Screencaps.com, 7 Mar. 2013, https://movie-screencaps.com/harry-potter-and-the-order-of-the-phoenix-2007/.

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copperbadge · 2 years ago

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In the series - is it just going to be more and more kingdom royals getting married with short stories revisiting them, or will future books return to couples for events like marriage, kids, etc.?

The goal is for there to be a "new" romance in every novel, but that may not happen -- kind of depends on how the story twists and turns. I do want updates on the royals pretty regularly, but that's par for the course with most romance serieses -- you do a new romance but there's a couple of chapters scattered throughout that are like little updates on the characters.

I have a running list of stories I'd like to tell, many of which do tie the current royals (Gregory/Eddie, Michaelis/Jes, Jerry/Alanna) back into the story. Here's what's in the pipeline, with the caveat that I don't know how far I'll get.

the Eurovision story: features a Shivadh commoner, a musician named Caleb who gets roped into performing at Eurovision and falls in love with a fellow performer who has very different musical stylings from him. Caleb's Eurovision song is called "Tavat" and was based on him witnessing a paternal moment between Michaelis and Noah; Lachlan, Jes, Michaelis, and Noah will have supporting roles, Lachlan likely more so than the others.

Sidebar, I think this is possibly one of my favorite things I've actually written in this one so far:

"You still probably have like, feelings about it," Noah said.

"I'm sure you've heard Jerry say it, but members of the royal family are only allowed two emotions per year," Michaelis said. "And when you and Jes moved in, I gave you each one of mine, so."

"That is the sweetest and also the weirdest way of saying I love you that I've ever heard," Jes announced, walking into the kitchen.

the California story: concerns the royal family traveling to California to meet Eddie's family; primarily Eddie's sister Monday agreeing to do in vitro with Gregory and carry a child for Eddie and Gregory, plus an additional Surprise Child they end up with. Also features the Three Weddings Of Eddie And Gregory, but probably only in passing. I'm looking seriously at Monday/Georgie for this one, but it'll be heavy on the Eddie/Gregory as well.

"The Chicken Salad Wars": Simon LeFevre, the royal personal chef, falls in love with a fellow chef in town after entering into a combative relationship with them over chicken salad. The royals will likely be around, so there will be follow-ups, but unlikely they will have major roles.

A Galian romance of some kind, probably Ofelia/Carlo; bonus Milo and Bruno taking a much needed vacation to Askazer-Shivadlakia. I did write a short called "Count Carlo And The Pride Parade" but it needs work before I can post it. Given their association with it, Jerry and Alanna may guest star in the book.

Very distant ideas -- I'd like to do a story about Noah in a few years; I thought a lot about what his career path should be, and I think he's going to take a kind of Bo Burnham route and become a stand-up comic. He's got a whole set about what it's like to grow up in the New York City queer scene and then suddenly become prince of a small European nation. There's a Powerpoint involved.

I'd also like to do more with Jerry and Alanna, but I'm not sure where I'm going with them yet.

And, very distantly, I feel the poor Royal Librarian at some point deserves a name and at least a subplot if not a full story of his own. :D

Anyway, there's plenty of fodder if I want to keep writing, and I feel very proud of the initial trilogy if I end up not writing the rest. But I would like to at least do the Eurovision and California stories, not least because I'm very invested in inventing a fake California beach town modeled after the two beloved beach towns of my youth, Santa Cruz and Half Moon Bay.

#shivadhverse

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txemrn · 2 years ago

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Chapter 2: "Ten Feet Under and Upside-Down"

Catch up here!

Word Count: ~6835 (I apologize; it's a long one)

Series Summary: With her family facing deportation back to Auvernal, fun-spirited Reid Ambrose quits college to support her family. But as fate would have it, she accepts a temporary job as a caregiver for the royal family, an experience that will challenge her, break her, and devastate her world in the most exciting of ways.

Chapter Summary: An old face returns to Cordonia to work for the royal family. But even after almost a decade away, not much has changed, and he's more miserable than ever.

Series Warning: ⛔ Please Be Advised: 18+ Only ⛔This series will contain mature material, including foul language, NSFW 🍋, discussion/depictions of war, violence, gun violence, assassination attempts; medical situations, including major character injuries; ethical dilemmas including euthanasia & bodily autonomy; mental health, including depression, PTSD, suicide

Series Music Inspo: “Awake” by Secondhand Serenade

Chapter Music Inspo: "Storm" by Lifehouse

AN: Majority of these characters and some plots belong to our friends at Pixelberry. Special thanks to my amazing friend @kat-tia801 for prereading, and my sweet friend @ao719 for helping me dial-up a scene as well as pre-reading it. Also, you will recognize some items from canon; other items may be completely contradictory to canon. Just got with it, and enjoy the story. 😊

~🖤~

Present (as a reminder: 3 years after Leo's tragic birthday party)

Coasting into the assigned parking spot at his apartment complex, Drake Walker haphazardly downshifts his truck before ripping the keys out of the ignition. All the lights seem to be out in his place, which will work in his favor for a possibly quiet night at home. No talking, especially no arguing. Hopefully with his quick maneuvering, the rumble of his old pick-up won’t disturb his wife and son from their sleep.

Fuck. It did. A lamp in the master bedroom flickers on, a glow illuminating through the window.

Drake lays his exhausted head on the steering wheel, unsure if he should turn back around and go back to his job and stay the night there. At least then he wouldn't have to hide himself, hide his emotions from his bride, pretend to be the man he promised her he would be.

Jodi doesn't deserve this. Any of this. The silent treatment. The avoidance. The denial of connection. She's too faithful, too fucking loving for her own good. Truth be told, her gentle answers, loving support, and abundant encouragement are the reasons Drake has been so successful both in college and starting his career as a physical therapist.

Why was he shutting down on her now?

It all started about six months ago, when Drake found the crown prince of Cordonia wandering on their front porch of their newly-built Texas home.

“Leo?” Drake cocked his head, furrowing his eyebrows in disbelief. He hadn’t seen the tall blond since the aftermath of his birthday party almost three years ago.

“Walker!” he extended his hand, striding widely to greet the commoner. “Long time no see, brother!”

Brother? Drake eyes the prince’s outstretched arm before hesitantly gripping it. Taking in Leo’s appearance, he notices a thick file folder under his arm, filled with what looked like a stack of disjointed documents with tabs and post-it notes.

“Jesus Christ, Texas is fucking hot,” Leo chuckled, dabbing his forehead, but his perfect pearly white smile remained on Drake. “Beautiful place you got here.”

Always the charmer. “Yeah,” Drake shifted his gaze to the screen door, seeing a curious Jodi with their son Finn on her hip. He gave her a nod with the notion that everything was okay before turning back to his visitor. “Listen, Leo…” he clapped his hands, “um, what are you doing here?”

Leo snickered. “Straight to the point as always, Walker. Is there some place we can talk?”

“Right here is just fine,” Drake fired back quickly, not trusting the future king’s intentions. He folded his arms, leaning a shoulder against a wooden post.

“On behalf of the Cordonian royal family, we’d like to hire you.”

Leo had offered Drake a full-time job to be the prince’s personal physical therapist. This, of course, made the commoner scoff, making it clear that he would never cross onto Cordonian soil again. Not for anyone, not even him. But when he stormed inside, he was stopped by Jodi who had been listening.

“He traveled halfway around the world, Drake Walker,” she quietly scolded, “at least talk to him. We’re talking about your old stomping grounds, your family… I know they treated you like shit, but… at least hear him out. Maybe it’s time to bury the hatchet, you know? Let go of your bitterness.”

“Jo… I don’t know.”

“Think of the good example you’ll be setting for Finn,” she smiled, batting her puppy-dog eyes.

Fuck, she was good.

Luckily Leo hadn’t retreated too far away from their land. Drake waved down his driver, and then invited Leo back to the house for a drink and for the opportunity to discuss his proposal. Once the crown prince was introduced to Jodi, the three of them sat down at the kitchen table while Finn took a nap on the couch.

Looking like an episode of Criminal Minds, the documents in the folder were carefully explained and spread out before the young couple’s eyes. It was a medical file, complete with lab test results, written diagnoses and prognoses by doctors, some of which were second and third opinions. Lists of medications, photographs of scarred skin, MRIs of nerve damage, degeneration and muscle atrophy: it was clear that there was a serious need.

But why him? Why Drake?

“We’ve already been through three therapists, and all of them have left us,” Leo answered somberly. “I’m not going to lie; it’s… difficult, and not just because your job is already difficult. But… he’s difficult.” Leo folded his hands on the table, mindlessly fidgeting with his thumbs. Suddenly something came over him, something more honest, something more human. “Please, Walker,” his voice shook before clearing his throat. “We… We need you.”

Drake quietly sits in the driver's seat in the stillness of the night, fidgeting with his wedding band as Leo’s words echo in his head.

We need you…

He reminisces about his childhood in Cordonia, about games of tag in the hedge maze, fishing trips out on Lake Malus, and sleepovers on the back lawn of the palace with only his sleeping bag, a flashlight and comic books.

But, along with the fond memories of his childhood came the bittersweet remembrance of his friendship with Liam. He was always there. Always–well, for the most part, at least up until the end. The prince was Drake’s confidant, his greatest support. He gave sound advice, but also knew when to sit, whether it was to listen or because Drake needed silence.

He didn’t turn his back on Drake even after he felt abandoned by his own family.

Maybe that’s why Drake finally agreed to this arrangement; maybe he felt indebted somehow to the royal family, to the memory of Liam being patiently supportive when tragedy struck. The sacrifice probably didn’t seem great to the leaders of a country, but to Drake, it was everything.

Never in a million years would Drake have guessed this would be his life, a selfless life of servitude to the royals, a miserable life putting them first before his own family. Just like his father. When he left Cordonia almost a decade ago, his decision seemed so certain, so clear, and he swore that he would never see any of these horrid people again.

He glances towards the orange glow, pouring from his bedroom window, and he worries about his marriage. The pent-up regret and festering anger has been building since the moment he stepped back onto Cordonia soil. The job was difficult, and it was near impossible to work with his ornery client. Drake returns home late every night with battle wounds on his heart.

But, tonight he suddenly feels an overwhelming sense of guilt as he watches the shadows shift against the ambient lighting. Has he been silently taking out his frustrations on his wife? He’s trying to spare her his heartache by keeping it to himself; but in doing so, is he neglecting her needs?

Damnit, my family needs me, too.

He reaches into a secret pocket of his duffle bag, and pulls out two cigarettes. Tucking one behind his ear to chainsmoke later, he lights the other one, pulling in the deep burn. He combs his fringe out of his eyes before leaning back on his head rest, exhaling his smoky breath. But still, the haunting anxiety remains.

How the fuck did we even get here?

------

9 Years ago

A sudden loud clatter jolts nineteen-year-old Drake awake from his impromptu nap. Unsure of the time or how long he has been asleep, he intently rubs his eyes with his fists before succumbing to a large, vocal yawn, stretching his sculpted arms over his head. Quickly noticing the darkness outside, he reaches for his phone and notices the time.

1:24 AM

The fuck, Liam?

Last year, the young prince started his rigorous royal training in preparation for his older brother Leo’s ascension to the Cordonian throne. Being separated from his best friend, Drake quickly made himself busy around the palace, mainly serving as a stablehand, until Liam would retire from the evening. But, with constant travels, the wearisome studies and the long diplomatic meetings, the two men discovered less and less free time to spend together. Liam was forming new bonds and new relationships with fellow dignitaries and politicians while his friendship with Drake was starving for a connection. After a few short months, they were barely texting one another.

Today is Liam’s birthday, and the two men had agreed to finally catch up with drinks at the beer garden to celebrate. Drake came home early to make himself presentable before heading over to Liam’s quarters early. He was nervous, not because he was finally going to come face-to-face with Liam, but he was anxious about talking with him. Drake had come to an important conclusion, and having Liam’s support meant the world.

When he arrived to the room, no one answered the door. The commoner let himself in with his spare key only to discover a dark room with the young prince nowhere to be found.

After leaving multiple voice messages and sending off several unopened texts, Drake contacted Lars, Liam’s personal guard.

“Walker, you know it’s against protocol for me to tell you where he is at–”

“Lars, just… c’mon,” Drake sighed, “we had plans. Tonight. I mean, maybe he forgot? Or–or maybe he thought I stood him up?” The silence on the phone spoke loud and clear, giving Drake the answer he didn’t want. “When you find a heart, tell him I was looking for him.” Ending the call, Drake slumped into a leather loveseat in Liam’s bedroom.

Sitting alone in the dimly lit room, Drake was left to his own thoughts. He remembers his mom lecturing Savannah all the time about the importance of the quality of friendships rather than the quantity of friends she claimed she had. She would say kitschy phrases, like, “Some people come into your life for a lifetime while others come into your life for a season.”

But the latter was for other people and their failed relationships; this didn’t apply to Drake and his childhood friend Liam. Right? They grew up together; they became men together. They’ve seen each other at their best and at their absolute worst. They’ve rejoiced together; they've grieved together. Liam was his ride or die.

Then why was it all of a sudden so goddamn hard to even be around each other, let alone talk to each other?

Drake rakes his fingers through his hair, finally resting his forehead in his hands as the racket continues. First, he hears keys pawing at the door, like a cat to a scratch post, followed by poorly stifled giggles and even more obnoxious hushes. Finally busts open with an unkempt, very drunk Liam with lips glued to a shapely brunette, her dress already unzipped.

Drake clears his throat, causing the couple to jump apart.

“Drake!” Liam slurs, “Just the man I was looking for!” He glides towards his best friend, patting him on the shoulder before turning his attention to the woman in the room. “I want you to meet Lady… Lady… Latvia–”

“Actually, it’s Leilani,” she kindly interrupts, “Lady Leilani of Latvia.” She offers a crooked smile to Drake while Liam plays cool, snapping his fingers and pointing to her in acknowledgement that she was correct. She stumbles forward towards the commoner with an extended hand to shake while her other arm keeps her bodice covering her chest.

Raising an eyebrow at the trainwreck in front of him before glaring at the inebriated prince, Drake raises his voice. “We need to talk, Li.”

With Leilani giving Liam a concerned look, he walks up behind her, wrapping an arm around her waist as he nuzzles his nose into her neck. “Can this wait until tomorrow?” Liam calls out, his words nasally and muffled against her skin.

Drake stands quickly with a heavy foot. “No.”

With his friend’s words shooting through him like an arrow, Liam quickly gives a sober nod. He whispers something into the young coed’s ear, causing her to giggle as he helps her back into her dress. She makes her exit, swaying her hips through the door, but not before she blows a kiss to Liam.

Liam catches the airborne kiss, touching his palm to his face as she finally exits the room. “Isn’t she something?”As he turns to face Drake, the prince is met with a cold stare, a lump suddenly forming in his throat. “Well,” Liam clears his throat as he makes himself comfortable on the side of his bed. “So, what’s up–hey! We missed you tonight, bruh” he jokes, finger-gunning towards Drake.

“‘Bruh’?” Drake scoffs. “I was here, Li… waiting for you… like we had planned.”

Liam gives him a funny look. “We did?” He shrugs off his sports coat, letting it crumple on the ground as he untucks his pale pink oxford. “Well,” the blond lays back on his bed, letting out a hefty exhale. “You should’ve joined us–”

“Are you fucking for real right now?”

“Drake, relax,” he waves his hand flippantly in the air, closing his eyes. But, when he hears a loud sigh, he sits up on his elbows with one eye open. "Wait… are you seriously mad at me? For not drinking with you? Last I checked–” Liam extends his arms above his head, allowing his head to hit the plush comforter. “It’s my birthday!”

“Fuck it,” Drake mutters, standing up to head for the door. “I’m leaving–”

“Whoa, whoa,” Liam jumps up to stop his best friend from leaving, tripping over his jacket on the way. “Seriously, dude,” Liam puts his hand to his chest as he begins to sing, “talk to me. Tell me your name–”

Drake pushes Liam out of the way, causing him to stumble to the ground.

“Whoa there, old friend,” Liam pulls himself back up. “That was kinda hard.”

“It wasn’t that hard.” Drake opens the door.

“I thought you wanted to talk,” Liam shouts, a twinge of humor in his voice.

“You’re drunk–”

“And for once,” Liam draws closer to the shaggy brunette, jabbing his finger into his chest, “you’re not!”

Drake sees red as he glares at the shell of the man that he used to consider his brother. When did he become so rude? So flippant? So careless? So… Leo? “You know what, Li?” He raises his hands in surrender, slowly stepping backwards through the door. “We’re done.” He turns on his heel and storms towards his private quarters.

“Drake? Drake, c’mon,” Liam calls out, jogging towards the commoner. He grabs him by the shoulder, turning him around. “Listen, I’m sorry. I–I'm dunk–drunk. Let’s just talk about this tomorrow–”

“No, Li. There is no more time to talk.” Drake shrugs off Liam’s hand as he returns to his pursuit. “Besides, I have a plane to catch in the morning.”

“A plane?” Liam catches up to Drake again, this time cutting in front of him. “Where–where are you going?”

"Away," he grumbles, finally reaching his room.

"Okay," Liam curiously stops, raising an eyebrow, his voice becoming softer. "When are you coming back?"

On cue, Drake unlocks his door to reveal a few packed boxes and luggage. Liam flips on an overhead light, his eyes registering the scene. He furrows his brows, as he tracks his pacing friend. Drake finally turns around, shoving his hands in his pocket before daring to look up at the prince.

"You're moving," Liam states matter-of-factly.

"To Texas," Drake finishes, eyes trained to the floor.

"But… but what about your life here–"

"What life, Liam?" Drake angrily interrupts. "I see the same three guys every day down in the stables. I eat breakfast and dinner by myself," he suddenly chokes on his words, his breath hitching as he turns away to collect himself. He looks back to Liam, his eyes reddening with the threat of tears. "I spend my free-time wondering if my fucking best friend will actually talk to me today."

"So this is my fault?" Liam shifts his weight, putting his hands on his hips. "Drake," he scoffs, "we knew this day was coming, my noble training, my duties. And this is harder, harder than I ever imagined. I’m sorry that we don’t hang out as much. But, cut me some slack."

"I have… For a long time now."

Liam looks away, his lips twisting. Every emotion flashes across his youthful, chiseled face. Confusion. Anger. Worry. Betrayal. Running a hand over his stubbled chin, he looks back at his friend.

"How do I fix this?"

Hearing the genuine desperation in Liam's voice, Drake drops his head. He rubs the back of his neck, his eyes still trained on the floor. "Li, I–"

"Just tell me. And I'll make it happen. Anything."

Drake sardonically snickers, shaking his head. "Don't you want better for me? For me to make something of myself?"

"Is it a job? Because I can get you a better job. Or we can get you into Cordonia U in the Fall–"

"Wow," Drake blows a raspberry with his lips. "Do you seriously think I need your help? That I'm incapable of creating my own life? My own future?" Fuming, Drake catches his breath. “Jesus fucking Christ, you nobles are all the same. You think you can just throw your wealth, your fucking title and get your way–”

“It never stopped you from accepting my help before.”

A dark stillness engulfs the room as the two friends stare daggers into each other. Liam crosses his arms, his physique growing rigid as he towers his extra three inches of height over denim-clad commoner. Breathing madly, Drake’s broad chest rises and falls as his hands grip into fists. They stood there for a few minutes, hurling silent insults at each other, tearing each other apart with their quiet thoughts.

Finally, Drake shakes his head in disgust, throwing up his hands before heading for the door. “I’ll send for my stuff,” he mutters under his breath as he intentionally bumps his shoulder into the prince’s arm, pushing him off balance.

Liam scoffs. He brushes off his arm as if Drake had left something dirty on him from impact. He follows him out the door to watch him walk down the main corridor.

“Like mother, like son.”

Drake spins around, his jaw tightening. He closes the space between him and Liam before launching a wrathful swing of his arm, his fist abruptly meeting a hearty crack against the prince’s chiseled face.

Liam stumbles backwards, falling to a knee as he holds his cheek. But before he can retaliate, Liam’s guard Lars quickly apprehends Drake, knocking him to the ground as he calls for reinforcements over his earpiece. With six more guards swarming the floor, Drake is picked up by his pinned arms.

“Stop!” Liam bellows, struggling to stand up. With the help of another guard, Liam steadies his gate before drawing closer to Drake, He wipes at his lip, noting the dark red crimson trickling from his mouth. He locks his eyes on his childhood friend before slowly shaking his head.

“You ungrateful bastard,” Liam growls before turning to Lars. “Show Mr. Walker out.” Liam turns on his heel, walking back to his quarters before slamming the door.

------

Present

An abrupt knocking on the glass breaks Drake’s reverie. He anxiously sits up, but his troubled heart instantly takes comfort at the sight of her, his bride, his person. It was his Jodi. Even in a ratty old SFA t-shirt and an old pair of his boxers, she was still stunning. Her hair reflects the moonlight, turning her usual golden strands into ethereal white. Her warm caramel-chocolate eyes hold the universe, Drake’s whole universe, as they sparkle and dance just for him. She delicately presses her fingertips against the pane, her heart-shaped lips offering a pleading smile. Baby, please. I’m here.

Drake furrows his brow at the sight of her. His lips can’t help but frown as the pricking of tears sting his eyes. He finally drops his head into hands, shielding his face from her view. He knew the dam that was holding back his emotions would eventually break, and his heart would bleed out as the unbearable weight on his shoulders came crashing down around him. But, he didn’t want to do this in front of Jodi, not in front of the woman that trusts him to be her rock and strength.

“Drake?” She softly calls to him. “Drake baby?” She gently taps her fingertips against the window again to get his attention, but he doesn’t answer her.

Jodi quickly rounds the truck, climbing in on the other side while shoving his duffle bag into the back of the cab. “Baby? Baby?” She slides her arms around Drake’s broad shoulders, pulling him snuggly into her embrace, resting her chin in his tousled hair. Her face etches with worry, but she’s not a fool; she knows her husband, and she knows that this–whatever this is– has been building like a cancer inside of him for a while now.

At least since they moved to Cordonia.

“I’m sorry,” Drake whispers, but Jodi quickly hushes him endearingly, combing her fingers through his hair and behind his ear. “I promised you a better life than this. I promised you a better husband than–”

“Don’t you dare talk about my husband that way, Drake Walker.” She playfully scorns, planting kisses on the crown of his head.

Drake sits up, giving his wife a half-crooked smile as he quickly dries his eyes with the heel of his hand. He then wraps a strong arm around her, pulling her to his side, their lips tenderly meeting.

Jodi reaches over, lacing her petite hand with his large fingers. Her eyes find his glassy stare, but he quickly looks away from her, clearing his throat.

She squeezes his grip before casually looking out the window. “Your mom used to say, 'He's just like Jack.'

Drake's eyes widen, turning back to his wife. "What?"

The corners of Jodi's mouth turn up as she continues. "Apparently your dad was incredibly strong. Tough. Hard-headed–"

Drake guiltily chuckles under his breath. "Sounds slightly familiar."

"And yet… very emotional. Haunted even." She looks up at her husband, their eyes locking on one another. As silence fills the truck, Jodi's attention falls to their laced fingers. Gently letting go of his hand, she begins twirling his platinum wedding ring.

"Listen, Jo–"

She holds a finger to his mouth and sweetly grins. "I love you, Drake Walker," her eyes twinkle, "just the way you are, even when you feel like being quiet and I know,” she chuckles, “I know. You have to mull things over before you can talk about them." She cups his face, gently stroking the coarse hairs of his bearded jaw. “But you married me. You don't have to shoulder the pain alone anymore. You don't have to worry about tomorrow or about decisions or about life alone anymore." Watching a tear swell and threaten to drop from his long lashes, Jodi gently rubs her thumb across his lower eyelid. "You can be quiet, that's fine. But you eventually need to talk to me, Drake. Please–" she sniffles, "don't shut me out. Don't–don't shut us out–"

"Oh, baby," Drake exhales, his arms enveloping his wife. He leans in, resting his forehead against hers as he closes his eyes. "I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry… I–" he sighs, "I never meant to do this to you. All I want to do… is protect you, be a man that you are proud of–”

“Drake–”

“Jodi Walker… you are the most precious thing this life has ever given me… damnit–” his breath hitches as he presses his face intimately into her hair, "I need you. God, everyday. I need you every fucking day. More and more."

"I need you, too, baby," Jodi sweetly whispers in his ear, her voice hoarse from tears. She presses a firm kiss into his hairline, her fingers tangled tightly in his hair. “And I am proud of you.”

For the first time in almost six months, Drake suddenly understands what it means to be supported, to be heard and to be loved. It's not that his wife failed to do these things for him. But he realizes it's easy to feel comforted when he feels positive about himself and rewarded by life. He promised Jodi happiness, and he is bound and determined to ensure she always has that.

Even if that means hiding himself and his own demons.

But he had forgotten one very important detail: Jodi made the exact same promise of a happy life, to love him, and to comfort him through every curve ball thrown at them. He’s not that little boy anymore, suffering through his father’s death and mother’s abandonment alone. He has someone now, his person, his better half, his forever.

After spending some much needed time in each other's arms, whispering sentiments of love and sharing sweet kisses, the couple is interrupted by a tiny voice on the baby monitor. They both stare at the device intently, finally raising an eyebrow to one another, holding their breath as they try to decipher the message.

"Damnit! Okay! Fine. I have no idea,” Jodi confesses, throwing up her hands as a guilty expression paints across her face. “I have no fucking idea what the hell he is saying half the time."

"Shit, I thought it was just me," Drake snickers, rubbing his forehead.

Jodi slowly furrows her eyebrows. “You think he’s normal?”

“Meh,” Drake shrugs his shoulders, “I don’t think we’ve fucked him up too badly just yet–”

“Drake!” Jodi swats at her husband’s arm as he pretends to shield himself. They tumble into a fit of snickers as Drake puts his arm around her shoulders, hugging her tightly.

"Well, I better go check on him," she gives a sorrowful smile before pressing her lips to Drake one last time. "Take your time… but don't dare keep me waiting alone for too long, Mr. Walker," she winks as she begins to slide out of the truck.

Drake grabs her elbow, pulling her back to his side as their mouths meet again. A soft moan tumbles from her chest as he strokes her hair back.

"We're in this together… right, Mrs. Walker?" he kisses her nose, making her scrunch it up.

"Always."

------

By the time Drake makes it upstairs, a lone kitchen light illuminates his path in the open-concept layout of his apartment. He quietly sets his bag down next to the front door before kicking off his tennis shoes. He strips down into his white undershirt and boxer briefs, gathering his dirty scrubs to throw into the wash.

Softly padding to the kitchen to warm up some dinner, he notices a certain little 3-year-old’s upside-down handprint on a piece of construction paper. As he draws close to the craft, Drake’s smile begins to grow as the gray blob of paint begins to take the shape of an elephant, complete with a googly-eye glued near the base of the tiny thumb and his ear, toes and tail drawn on with a permanent marker, no doubt drawn on by Jodi.

To: Daddy

Drake traces the hand print, a sense of pride billowing in his chest. My boy. Feeling the tight ache in his cheeks from smiling, he glances towards Finn’s room and notices the door is ajar, his night light pouring through the crack out into the hallway. He quietly moseys to his son’s room, peering in to see his son, sleeping soundly with his chestnut strands sprawled out carelessly on his pillow. With a secure grip on a toy firetruck, the young child’s arm is relaxed over his head while the thumb of his other hand is tucked barely into the waistband of his dinosaur underwear.

Drake chuckles to himself, admiring the adorable vision when he suddenly looks down, noticing that he had his own thumb tucked into the waistband of his boxers.

And it hits him: what else am I unknowingly teaching him?

Drake has fond memories of his father: camping, fishing, learning how to tie a tie, grilling the perfect steak, tuning up a car. But one thing he doesn’t like to think about are the times his father wasn’t there–especially since those times outnumber the moments he was present.

And it was all for the sake of the job. Drake remembers phone calls in the middle of the night, impromptu international trips, interrupted holidays. And then when his dad was home, he wasn’t always present with them. Often times, his mother would shoo Drake and his younger sister away to allow for Jackson to rest by the fire with a bottle of scotch in his hands.

But Drake has nothing, but admiration and gratefulness for his dad, for all of the good times, the life lessons and pep talks. Because of the early, pleasant experiences, Drake always imagined raising his children the exact same way.

Only now that he’s in Cordonia, he’s not.

But that stops tonight.

Drake tenderly picks up his son, Finn’s head instantly nuzzling back to sleep on his dad’s shoulder, gripping tightly to his shirt. He knew that Jodi was probably going to kill him for getting the little one out of his bed, but at this moment, holding their boy, reminding him that Daddy is always there seems more important.

Drake strolls into his bedroom with a snoozing Finn in his arms, wrapped up with his patch-work blankie. With her eyes growing heavy, Jodi is mindlessly scrolling through TikTok in the dark when she hears her husband’s heavy steps. She sits up on her elbow, and then notices her son.

“Drake?” She turns on a lamp, slowly sitting up in bed. “What are you doing? Is he okay—?”

“Yeah,” Drake looks down at his son, nestled in his arms, “everything is perfect now.”

------

The next morning, Drake feels renewed, like shackles have been broken off of his hands and feet, setting him free. There’s no sense of dread or anxiety. He doesn't feel agonizing guilt or slithering voices of self-loathing. Rather, he's at peace; he's comforted. He has a swelling of confidence in his chest and a new lease of determination in his soul. And when he wakes up next to his wife and son, his heart almost aches from the overflow of love for them.

He contacts his work, notifying them that he would be present for his client at the regular scheduled start time in accordance with his contract. He took a very excited Finn to the kitchen for breakfast, knowing that his early-bird of a wife would be in shortly.

Only she wasn’t.

After bribing his son to take five ‘big boy bites’, Drake cleans Finn up before securing him inside a baby gate with his blankie and a new episode of Dino Ranch. Returning to the kitchen, he pours a mug of piping hot coffee for Jodi while preparing a short stack of pancakes with spiced apple butter, his wife’s new favorite topping since moving to Cordonia. Arranging the meal on a rustic, wooden tray, he carries it, tiptoeing carefully into the bedroom. He finds her already up, rinsing out her mouth before returning to bed.

“Morning, Mrs. Walker,” he smiles, presenting her breakfast like a trophy..

“Mmmm, morning, Mr. Walker,” her voice is raspy. “I see you’ve been cooking–”

“Jo–” he interrupts, putting the tray down and cradling her face. “You okay?” He gently strokes his thumbs across the dark, purple circles under her swollen eyes.

“Yeah,” she reassures, putting her hands on his wrists. “I–I’m just tired. Someone invited a certain little boy into our bed that I swear is going to be the kicker for the Cowboys someday."

“A kicker instead of a… walker?” he mischievously raises his eyebrows, ensuring his wife got the punchline.

Oh, she did. Jodi playfully glares at her husband. "You know? Just because you're a dad now doesn't mean you have to tell dad jokes."

"You love my jokes," he badgers, his voice growing heated as his mouth grazes gently across her lips.

"Mmmm… I love you," she croons.

Their mouths meet again, but the intimate touch is gone too quickly. Jodi playfully pouts, the adorable sight coaxing Drake to kiss her again. And then again. And then once more. “Greedy girl this morning,” he growls, handing her the coffee before pinching her ass.

“Baby," she yelps. "Hey, wait… shouldn’t you be at work?” Jodi furrows her eyebrows before sniffing her mug and stealthily setting it down.

“Technically my contract says I have to be in by 8:30 AM. The only one that wants me there at 6 is my fucking client–”

“Drake,” she warns.

“What?” He shrugs his shoulders, feigning ignorance.

“Are you going to always refer to him as your ‘fucking client’?”

“That’s all he is, Jo,” he spits back. He watches his wife calmly push her loose tendrils behind her ear before she dips her finger into the apple butter. Drake sighs, “I’m sorry, okay? It’s just… it’s different. He’s different.”

“I guess I don’t understand. What about all the phone calls and facetimes?” She licks her finger. “I mean I know that all stopped when… uh, well… after everything happened, and–and–and you and I had Finn, then the wedding. But I thought surely you two would go back to–”

“It’s not like that anymore, Jo,” he sighs. “I know you were hoping that somehow moving back here would be like some magical family reunion. It’s not. We’re not family anymore.”

“Have… you… talked to–?”

“No. And we don’t talk about her either.” He bites back, a silence falling between them as he stares at his twiddling thumbs. He finally sighs. “Look, Jo, I’m sorry. I know I’m being short with you, but this? This is my nightmare. Every-fucking-day. I spend my entire day trying to save him, and he’s a stranger, as if we have absolutely no history. He’s… just a fucking asshole.”

Jodi places an endearing hand on his upper back. “I know, baby. But, you’re doing the right thing–”

“Right thing?” Drake blows a raspberry with his mouth. “The only reason why I’m even here in Cordonia is I was a last ditch effort. He wants to move on, and they thought I’d be the cure,” he sarcastically snickers, “he doesn’t want a fucking cure.” He looks away from his wife, taking a moment to think. “You know? They are actually considering hiring another ‘caretaker’,” he air-quotes, “but she has to be a young female–”

“Seriously?”

“Seriously. Who knows? Maybe that will interest him in wanting to stay.”

“Will she have big tits and dollar bills hanging out of her g-string?” Jodi jokes.

“They can’t hire you,” Drake winks, earning him a swat from his wife. He gets up and retrieves her plate and mug. “Which… how is the training going at your new job?”

“It’s good,” she brightens, as she follows Drake into the kitchen where they can see Finn playing with his toy cars in the living area. “I start at the embassy on Monday, and then I’ll go to the satellite campuses for interviews after that—”

“Jodi?” He interjects, his voice becoming worrisome as he observes her untouched plate. “Aren’t you hungry? That’s fresh apple butter.”

“I can tell it is,” she grins. “I’m just not hungry yet.”

Drake nods in understanding, but suddenly notices her untouched coffee, an early morning staple for a fully functioning Jodi Walker.

“So,” she continues, “I found out some good news.”

Drake sits down to put on his shoes, turning his ear to her. “Oh yeah? What’s that?”

“A spot opened up at the employee daycare, so I don’t think we need Sav afterall.”

“Jo,” Drake runs his hands down his face, “we talked about this. Sav is family–”

“And this is the start of our son's education. Did you know that they use the same programs that the nobles use for private lessons–”

Drake grumbles. “Weren’t you just asking me if I thought he was normal?”

“Drake.”

“--about how if we’ve fucked him up yet?”

“Drake Walker.” Jodi crosses her arms, raising an eyebrow. “Please don’t start with that noble shit right now. I’m only wanting the best for him. I love Sav, but I want him doing more than just playing with cars and watching television. Not to mention that drive? Everyday? Especially in Valtoria traffic?”

“You also don’t have to go back to work,” Drake mutters. When he notices the room is silent, he turns around to see a glaring Jodi with her hands on her hips. He nervously clears his throat. “Sorry. Continue, sweetheart.”

“He needs structure–”

“Have you met Bertrand?”

“Drake,” she rubs her head as if she is developing a headache. She quietly saunters towards her husband, slowly snaking her hands around his abdomen. “Please. This will be really good for Finn. I promise.” She tightens her embrace, pressing her forehead into his broad chest. “They have an open house in a few weeks that we can go to. Would that make you feel better?”

Drake gently runs his hands up and down his wife’s back, milling around the information he just learned. He takes a deep breath, finally looking down and meeting her pleading gaze. “Fine. Open house, but Savannah until then.”

“Deal.” Their lips meet briefly, eliciting a soft moan from Jodi.

“Any other benefits I should know about?” Drake sasses.

“Actually…” Jodi bites her bottom lip, “remember how I only got eight weeks off after I had Finn, and only six of them were paid for?”

Drake huffs under his breath as he pulls out his lunchbox to pack. “Don’t remind me… fucking school district is a bunch of crooks.”

Jodi widens her eyes, placing her pointer finger on her mouth as she shifts her eyes to Finn. Drake retracts his head like a turtle before mouthing the word sorry.

“Anyway,” Jodi jovially rolls her eyes, “so get this: even as a part-time employee, I still get six months of paid maternity leave. Guaranteed.”

“O…kay.” Drake titters, opening up the refrigerator, “is this your subtle-not-so-subtle way of bringing up the baby conversation again?”

“No–I mean… sortof?” She cocks her head, her tongue pressed to the back of her teeth.

The moment Drake hears the inflection in her voice, he freezes. Then whirls around to face his wife, noticing how extremely tired she looks. Then he turns to face the sink, glancing at her untouched plate and mug of coffee.

“Jo?” His eyes shift suspiciously towards his wife.

“Drake?” She smiles sheepishly.

“You’re… not…” he tries hard to stifle his smile, but the joy in his gaze betrays him.

Jodi shrugs her shoulders before nodding her head enthusiastically, biting her bottom lip. Within seconds, her husband scoops her up in his arms, lifting her off the ground as their lips melt in a tender kiss.

“Are you serious? Wait… are you sure?” He whispers. “You’re not fucking with me? We–we’re really having another baby?” Watching her husband fumble with his words, Jodi is consumed with giggles, her cheeks pinking with joy. Before she can even answer a single question, Drake pushes his mouth back into hers, tracing a trail of heated kisses to the back of her neck before finally embracing her tightly, burying his face into her gold locks. Wrapped in each other's arms, they fall into a pleasurable silence as they gently rock each other back and forth, basking in the blessing of turning into a family of four. “I love you, Jo.”

“Love you, Walker," she echoes hoarsely, sharing one last peck on his lips. Suddenly, she bounds to the baby gate where Finn is watching intently, reaching for his parents. Jodi picks him up, saddling him on her hip as she spins him around. “And… I love you!” She squeals, grabbing his belly, tickling him lightly as he throws his head back with giggles.

“Oh, damnit.”

Jodi abruptly stops, growing concerned as her husband’s face drops. “What’s wrong?”

“I just realized… I’m not gonna have any extra dollar bills for that new stripper–”

Jodi scrunches up her face. “Let’s get Daddy,” she whispers to Finn. They begin to tickle Drake as he shields himself, all the while laughing hysterically. “No strippers, ya hear me? Y’all are going to hire a sweet girl with manners… that can keep her clothes on during working hours.”

“That’s what strippers do during working hours,” he snorts, enveloping his small family, planting a kiss on Finn's chubby cheek. As Drake tries to smooth down his son's inherited cowlick, he grows quiet, his expression pensive. “You’re right, you know.” Drake exhales, becoming more serious. “I do still care… And if I can’t make him feel better, then I hope this crazy plan of hiring a nice girl works.”

“I hope so too, baby.”

“I just hope she can break through to him,” he sighs, “and that it’s not too late.”

~🖤~

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