#which is EXACTLY what happened to me!! and it renewed my love for the show

[thy-lovelylionheart]

#if the first cool/cool & double take is interpreted as having romantic undertones #then the second cool/cool & double take has romantic undertones as well

for @glisten-inthedark

[kaythefloppa]

I always point out Bunk’d on the list of shows with a terrible finale (since S3 was supposed to be the last but it effectively did kill the quality of the show) but having watched the final episodes of Bunk’d that aired last night, I can now actually reaffirm that its ending is shit.

Because oh my god is it shit.

[tippenfunkaport]

Today Variety (see above) had an article naming Heidi Schreck as the new writer for the live action She-Ra series at Amazon that was announced back in Sept 2021 and, after seeing dozens of terrible takes and people who are fans of the Netflix's She-Ra and the Princesses of Power (2017) freaking out, let's talk about this, shall we?

Disclaimer that I do not have any insider knowledge of this project specifically, this is just my educated perspective from my experience with IP and TV.

First and foremost, I will believe this project is actually happening when it is showing on my TV and not a moment sooner. Let's just say that.

Now assuming it IS happening, here's what you should understand...

IP is usually use it or lose it. If Dreamworks wants to keep the rights to make She-Ra content, they very likely must have something in active development or risk listing it. If Netflix isn't willing to make more of the animated series right now, then the Amazon deal is all they have or give She-Ra up entirely. 

If you're an SPOP (2017) fan, you're in favor of Dreamworks retaining the license over losing it because, so long as they have it, the door is always open for more of our SPOP in one way or another. This reboot doesn't negate the possibility of a continuation of the animated version or vice versa. (Fans of frequently rebooted properties like TMNT and MLP would be happy to tell you about how there's been content for multiple gens at the same time.) It's not like the new version erases the old. If anything, a reboot often makes it more likely you get content of a past gen because of renewed interest in the property as a whole.

"But what if it's sexist trash!" The biggest fear people had about this reboot was that it would be some male gaze disaster made to please the worst kind of people who hate all kinds of diversity. Obviously, we'll see what we get, but the fact that they specifically got a feminist playwright as the writer is a big thing should alleviate some of that fear.

"But will it be gay????" I've seen lots of freaking out that Adora's going to kill Catra and marry a man on her grave and other equally unlikely fears. And the fact is: We don't know if it will be gay! With this writer, the gay door certainly isn't closed, but that doesn't mean it's open either. But honestly the real question you should be asking is: will it be explicitly gay? Because the rainbow homo-eroticism is baked right into She-Ra OG so even if we don't get an explicit same-sex kiss on screen... it's likely still gonna be pretty gay.

Even a bad or infuriating reboot will revitalize the fandom and bring new fans to SPOP (2017) AND increase the chances of continuation. Say the new show is terrible. Say they annoy everyone by giving Catra and Adora a supercorp queerbaiting thing and then never make it canon or make Catra and Hordak in love and everyone is mad. (Which I feel obligated to point out is *extremely* unlikely as this is literally still Dreamworks' show. They are the same people that gave you the gay. They are keenly aware of what their audience wants so, even if they are reluctant to make it canon, at the least they are probably going to tease it.) But even in the worst case scenario of the straightest possible version of She-Ra, what are people going to do if the new show pisses them off? Turn back to She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, create more fanworks, interact with what's already there, keep the fandom alive for everyone. You want that!

"Well SPOP (2017) was perfect and they should never be allowed to make another version of She-Ra again unless it's just like the thing we just got!" Wow, where have I heard something like that before? Oh yeah, that's exactly what the nightmare chuds said about Netflix's She-Ra and if they had gotten their way, we wouldn't have had this show we love. So maybe take a nice deep breath, chill tf out and look at that fact that there is no reason yet to see this announcement as anything other than a good thing for both this new reboot and the animated version's future.

[atlantis-is-burning]

Dead Boy Detectives Cancelation

So in light of the heartbreaking news of Dead Boy Detectives getting canceled, I decided to write a letter to @netflix It's the first time I've ever felt compelled to reach out to a major company regarding their services but I wanted them to know how much the show means to us as fans and what they're taking away from us by canceling it.

For me, the show was a literal life-saver. Without going into too much detail, I was in a very dark place prior to its release and it was the only thing that helped me through it. That and meeting all of you =)

I don't know what impact it will have, if any, but if you would like to write a letter to Netflix as well letting them know what the show meant to you, I would definitely do so. Our community may be small compared to other fandoms but we are passionate and devoted to this show and they deserve to hear from us.

I've attached the letter below the cut for anyone who would like to read it and believe me, I'm not trying to medal in the tragedy Olympics with the intro, it's just a fact of what happened.

Maybe the show helped you in ways you couldn't imagine. Maybe it made you feel better about yourself or something that occurred in the past. Maybe it was just a fun comfort show for you that you really enjoyed. Whatever the reason, this show brought out the best in people and made the world feel just a little bit kinder for a while and I will never forgive Netflix for taking that away.

To whom it may concern,

On April 29th, I sat down and watched the first episode of the Dead Boy Detectives. 

I had heard good things about the show since its release a few days earlier, that it was fun and campy and easy to watch, but for me I was hoping it would be a distraction. A very close friend of mine passed away without warning on December 30th; she was just there one day and gone the next. The first half of the year was spent helping her family get her affairs in order while trying to process our shared grief and figure out how we could move on without her. 

I didn’t begin to feel like myself again until late March and by then it was only a fraction of who I had been before her passing. So when I sat down and pulled up the first episode of the Dead Boy Detectives, the only goal I had in mind was to pass a few hours watching a silly supernatural mystery show and think about something other than this sense of loss and imbalance that had settled over me.

It was the first time I smiled in nearly three weeks and it was the first time I laughed since December.

I watched the entire series, start to finish, in one night. Then I went back and watched it again the next day. And again a few days later. And for the first time since her passing, I felt like my friend was still there somehow, like we were watching it together. It was exactly the kind of show she would have loved when she was alive, flamboyant and silly with a touch of romance and mystery, so on my fourth rewatch of it, I sat on my couch with a picture of the two of us cradled in my lap, watching a show I know she would have enjoyed and feeling just the tiniest bit of my grief fade.

It was through the Dead Boy Detectives that I found a community online, a group of people who loved the show just as much as I did. We traded theories and ideas about the episodes, we excitedly welcomed new members who had just finished it and encouraged others to watch it in the meantime. We set up forums and threads on Reddit, we messaged each other, we embraced this silly, quirky show so much that it became a safe haven for a lot of us, it became a comfort series. We saw ourselves in this show and these characters and for many of us it gave us a sense of fellowship and belonging in a world where that feels more rare by the day.

And then it got canceled and for many of us, it felt like a slap in the face for the fans.

While I don’t claim to know the metrics on which a show’s success and renewal odds are based or what formula is used to determine ratings, I do know you didn’t see the fandom we created for ourselves because of this show. 

There are artists who make the most breathtaking art pieces you’ve ever seen, writers who bring you to tears with their works, and creators who painstakingly and lovingly created playlists and mood boards for each of the characters, matching them with songs and snippets of poetry that fit so perfectly it felt like it was made for them. There are fans who cosplay so well it looks like they borrowed the costumes directly from the production team and some who make jewelry and charms and trinkets that sell out almost before they complete them.

We engaged with the stars as well, wanting them to know how much we loved the show and these characters and how grateful we were to have watched them. We set up Q&As and asked them questions through Cameo, all the while thanking them for their work in bringing these characters to life. This show meant so much to us and we wanted them to know just what an impact they had had on more people than they ever could have imagined.

We were well aware of Netflix’s reputation of canceling shows based on poor viewership so we went in and organized weekly watch parties in an effort to increase the number of new viewers. We promoted it on Facebook and Twitter and Instagram, creators made videos for it on TikTok, and we created an entirely new tag on social media to bring more attention to this show we all loved so much.

Early on, there were several comments from people who said they were hesitant to even watch it; they had been burned before and didn’t want to get deeply involved with a new show that would turn into yet another “one season wonder.” We did our best to reassure them and convince them that this time it would be different; it wouldn’t be like all the shows that had been cut down before it could ever really develop. Since it was tied in with DC and The Sandman Universe, we promised them that maybe this time we could save it, maybe this time it would be enough.

And it was still canceled.

On Friday, August 30th, ten minutes after the news broke that Dead Boy Detectives had been canceled, I canceled my Netflix subscription. Netflix was the first streaming service I ever signed up for and today it is the only streaming service I have ever canceled. And, after watching the fallout in our little online community, watching the actual grief people were experiencing because of the cancellation, and scrolling through pages upon pages of outraged fans who swore they would never watch another program on Netflix and vowed to cancel their subscription that day, I can see that my decision was justified.

You have no idea the impact this show had on its viewers and you have no idea the impact you had when you took it away. We had people admit that the show helped them come to terms with their sexuality, helped them process deep-seated trauma, helped them love and accept themselves for who they were. We knew the Dead Boy Detectives would never be a runaway hit like Stranger Things or Bridgerton but we hoped and prayed that it would stick around just a little while longer, that we could enjoy these characters and their stories for even one more season before they were gone for good. 

For you it may have been just a silly little ghost show that was little more than a blip on the radar but for a lot of us it was so much more than that, it meant so much more than that.

I am under no illusions that this email will make a difference or that it will bring the show back from cancellation but I wanted you to know what an incredible and amazingly talented fandom you are leaving behind in its wake. These are people who put their heart and soul into the art they create and the words they put on paper and all we wanted was a chance to see that continue.

We are tired of being drawn into a program and falling in love with the characters with no guarantee that our viewership and involvement actually means anything. We are tired of begging for complex characters and the representation we crave in media only to have the rug jerked out from under us once we finally get it. We are tired of hoping and praying and campaigning to save a show that should easily be renewed for several seasons or, at the very least, a season two. 

We are tired of feeling like we’re being taken advantage of as fans, that the passion and excitement we have toward these shows and their stars, the kind of involvement you claim to want, is dismissed with little regard toward the fans of the show itself.

We are your audience and we are tired.

We will continue to love and cherish this show and these characters, without your involvement, and give them a much longer life than they ever had on your platform. This show, the cast and crew, and the fans deserve better than what you gave them and I hope you understand the tremendous amount of talent and passion you’re throwing away in your fan base.

With regards,

-M

[mushiimune]

blush first kiss or like how do they get together ….. bless u

RAHHH

Blink doesn't know he's in love until it's spelled out for him.

After spending all of the life that he chose to remember with Mush, there was room for little else except the way things had always been. They did everything together. Lived and breathed in the same space. Shared two halves of the same sandwich, sometimes the same bed. Nothing was ever wrong with it. Blink didn't see a need to change anything, until Mush started talking about girls.

Blink talked about girls all the time. Arguably, too often. Mush told him to hush up more times than Blink could count, because he mentioned Mary, or Betty, or Golda, and Mush would rather talk about Bunny, the stray cat from down the block who kept the streets clear of mice for the common newsboy.

Mush mentions one girl—one!—calls her nice, shows Blink the flower she gifted him, free of charge, for showing interest in her stand at the park.

"It's a rose," Mush informed grandly, tucking it into Blink's front pocket. Mush's cheeks dimpled with a grin. "I never had a rose before. It matches your hair, Kid."

Blink's heart swelled. It didn't match his hair at all. Mush was a beautiful liar, and really believed every word he said, even if it wasn't true. That was one of many good things about Mush. If he said the sky was purple instead of blue, his voice would be thick with such cheer and sincerity that Blink would have no choice but to believe him, and sock anybody who disagreed upside the head.

Blink watched Mush more closely. Mush didn't seem bothered by his personal space being invaded more than usual, but others did. They teased and poked Blink in the side, which did ltitle to dissuade him, or quiet the strangeness in his chest. Fluttering like a bird.

"I love you," Blink said more often. And Mush would reply: "me, too."

There. Good. No shame in the lodging house for loving your friends. Any day may be the last you see of them. The bulls didn't need a reason to scoop boys up off the streets like stray dogs, and put them away for the crime of being small.

Blink worried. More and more. A scrape was the end of the world, and if it wouldn't break every bone in his body, he'd take revenge on the concrete for scuffing Mush's knees.

Winter came. The flowers died. And almost, too, did Mush.

Blink couldn't decsribe what had come over him during those two weeks if his life depended on it. He didn't want to remember. Like every bad thing that ever happened to him, he pushed it out of his head. Half the eyes, half the problems. None of my business.

Mush's wellbeing was his business. He was so sick he saw ghosts, and didn't know who Blink was, besides safe. Blink didn't care if he got sick, too. He didn't care if that bed was the last place he'd ever be. With Mush was where he would stay.

It was a miracle, said Kloppman, that Mush recovered. Shaky and pale for a bit, quiet and feverish, but alive. Blink carried his papers for him, and kissed his forehead to make him feel better.

Blink's mouth got closer to Mush's. Even after Mush was recovered, the kisses didn't stop. The fervor of Blink's lust for live was renewed, because he'd almost lost it. Was he to blame for that? Mush made them matching friendship bracelets, and all was right in the world.

One kiss too many landed on Mush's lips. Mush kissed back. It wasn't discussed what exactly they were, because they both sort of knew. Maybe they were always headed for this, like a train barrelling down the tracks, already laid and nailed into the Earth.

What mattered was what they wanted. To survive, to be together, to sit on the same side of the booth at restaurants, and hold hands, even when it wasn't chilly. To be covered in flowers and wear each others' clothes. Life would be good—no, beautiful—as long as they lived it together.

[whoops-im-obsessed]

Kaos Prometheus thoughts - what exactly is Prometheus? And why is he imprisoned? (Spoilers)

According to Greek mythology, Prometheus is a titan. He is the son of he titans Iapetus and Clymene and cousin of Zeus. According to the canon of the show, the Olympians were once human and it was Zeus figuring out how to take people's life sources which makes them immortal. It isn't said or even implied how much power the titans had, if any.

Now it would be perfectly reasonable to assume that Prometheus started as a human as well and was given the meander water by Zeus to become immortal. But here's my problem with that - Prometheus doesn't drink the water.

Prometheus of myth is locked in eternal punishment for giving humans fire, but I don't think he did in Kaos. There's a scene where Prometheus is taking to Zeus and he reminds him of how he'd burnt all of their pet ants 'when [they both] were children'. Now either this one specific family had fire and were gatekeeping it from their literal neighbours or Prometheus did something else to anger Zeus.

Here's what I think - Prometheus was given godhood by Zeus by way of meander water but he didn't know what it was made from. Once he figured it out, he stopped drinking it. In the flashback scene with Charon he says his knee is fucked - not something that would happen if he were immortal. Prometheus not only knew the meander was wrong but he'd found someone he wanted to grow old with, so he gave up his godhood and Zeus didn't like it.

In the show, the reason the Olympians can sustain their immortality to the degree they do is that humans are lax with their lives - there are all night gun kiosks, the munis, human sacrifice, they are sold on the idea of renewal so they will freely give up their lives. If they realise they really only live once, they will (maybe) be more careful and Zeus won't be able to sustain the frankly massive family of Olympians. Not to mention they will lose faith in the gods. Prometheus loves humans and the Earth and Zeus knows he would absolutely expose him, so he locks Prometheus in chains to stop him from ever doing so, sustaining his life because he doesn't even trust him to die.

Thats just my theory, this show has given me so much to think about and oml i need more right now pleasee.

[jdorian]

Wip Wednesday ☔️

Tagged and tagging @diazsdimples @theotherbuckley @exhuastedpigeon @nmcggg @disasterbuckdiaz @ladydorian05 @daffi-990 and my lovelies @malewifediaz @spagheddiediaz @jeeyuns mwuah mwuah💛💛

Guess what, guys? The first chapter of the mudslide fic is getting posted tomorrow! Which is just so unbelievable to me?? Despite posting 10 fics prior to this one, it was the first fic I started writing for this ship and I've been working on it (on and off) since september and now here we are... absolute bonkers if you ask me.

Now, I know there are like 4 people who are actually interested in this fic – and that's fine, honestly –, but I for one am very excited. So I thought I'd give you guys a longer snippet for today. I actually shared parts of this scene in like 3 different instalments from both of their povs lmao but this one is from chapter one so you'll get the full(ish) picture tomorrow.

“Eddie, a-are you sure you’re alright?” “Yeah, sorry. I guess I’m just tired.” He rubbed the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger. “Eddie, if there’s something going on, you have to tell me.” “There’s nothing going on, I promise.” Buck raised his eyebrows challengingly and as it had so many times before, it made Eddie sigh in defeat. “It’s. It’s the weather.” He gave in with a heavy sigh and it didn’t quite stop Buck from frowning, but he had to admit, it made sense. It’s been raining for over two weeks now as a storm came to California and Buck would be lying if he said that it didn’t affect him in any way, but he was handling it. The only thing he didn’t account for was that maybe Eddie wasn’t. “Hey, it’s okay.” Buck stepped closer and for some reason Eddie was avoiding his gaze now, so he didn’t stop walking until they were standing toe to toe, the proximity forcing his eyes back onto Buck’s face. “Look. This?” He pulled the neckline of his shirt aside to show Eddie more of the scarring over his neck and chest. “This is a reminder that I pulled through.” He knew what kind of marks a lighting strike could leave on someone’s body, but he never really got to see his own. By the time he woke up from his coma, the patterns were gone — unlike the painful and itchy blisters that took over their place; they lasted for nearly two months and despite all the cold compresses and cooling gels, they still left a hefty amount of scar tissue behind, in the shape of abstract lines and ragged edges. Eddie reached out and traced some of the lines above his collarbone with his fingers and Buck couldn’t help but let his eyes flutter shut for a second with the softness of his touch. The pads of his fingers were warm as they brushed over the shiny silver lines and patches, yet Buck could still feel goosebumps build on his forearms and thighs with every microinch he covered. Suddenly, Eddie’s fingers were gone, pulled away abruptly, almost as if they got burned by the contact, leaving his hand to float in the air between them aimlessly. “Sorry.” Eddie whispered and they were just so close. All the what ifs have started to murmur in the back of Buck’s skull with renewed vigor, buzzing like radio static behind his eyes, begging to be turned up for clarity. “Eddie I—” “It’s okay, Buck.” He flattened his palm over Buck’s heart, only the thin layer of his shirt separating them now. “Thank you, for this.” Eddie patted his chest and stepped back, leaving Buck dumbfounded as to what exactly just happened.

[youdontneedhenry]

It's been a whirlwind day for fans of this show, and it's clearly been a better day for some more than others. I do want to acknowledge that I see and hear and understand the disappointment fans are experiencing.

I would like to speak to my own feelings, which are ones of excitement and cautious optimism because the parts of the show I enjoy the most are still intact for Season 5. I am really excited to see where this show goes. I'll put the rest below the fold so as to be respectful to the variety of emotions.

I enjoyed the episodes that didn't feature the Duke for a variety of reasons. He often talked down to Eliza, or tried to knock bring her down in a variety of ways, and so he seemed to be fundamentally incompatible for her. By the end of season 3, I started to wonder how they could course correct to make William/Eliza believable and work for me. I just couldn't see it because I didn't like how the core issue with Eliza's ambition. That's not something I could get behind.

My favorite parts of the show were always Eliza working with partners who respected her- partners like Nash and Moses. I really missed Moses in Season 4, and one thing I hope we see more of is the diversity of Victorian London that we got to see in earlier seasons.

Look, I am obviously a hardcore #ScarNash shipper. I have loved the character of Patrick Nash since his introduction in season 2. The romantic possibility was there in season 2, and then by episode 3 of season 3 (Hotel St Marc), the chemistry was rather distracting! I liked how he respected her talents and enjoyed having her take the lead.

By the end of Season 4, it was clear to me that Patrick Nash and Eliza Scarlet made the most sense. They were equals, and he recognized her talent from the beginning. Eliza's character seemed to have more growth through her interactions with Nash while her relationship with William had grown stale. The flashback episode really solidified that for me- they hadn't changed in personality in a decade, why would they ever? I forgot to mention the constant mirroring of WIlliam/Eliza romance with Patrick/Eliza's relationship. Talking about wanting to receive a present in a bow with a box to William and then having Nash give her exactly that in an area she wanted- a boost to her career. The way Nash always wanted her to work for him when William only reluctantly hired her. The way Nash acted in the entire Jewel of the North episode, including being there for Eliza when her office was trashed. And that's not even Season 4 where Eliza flat out says he's the only person who's ever had any faith in her!

I know what the writers have said about platonic relationships. And a Season 5 renewal with no Duke doesn't mean we automatically get ScarNash. But a girl can dream. They writers are SO lucky to have these actors with this amount of chemistry and a relationship that has developed over THREE seasons. There's been a satisfying arc with Patrick and Eliza. Rivals to friends to lovers would be satisfying. We've watched them grow individually and together. It would make sense.

My wishlist for season 5 certainly includes: a female friend for Eliza that isn't Ivy, for Moses to come back (I know this is not happening lol) and for ScarNash to be canon. I think it would be incredible, and I hope others can come around.

As a side note, it's been absolutely delightful to share this news with ScarNash fans and to find NEW people who have quietly shipped ScarNash. I sometimes felt like there were only a few of us, but truly there's so many people that love the idea of them. So while I think it's not at all guaranteed that it'll be canon, I certainly continue to hope this has opened the door to it. We'll wait and see! I'm looking forward to the new season with more excitement than I've had for any piece of media in awhile.

[beebopboom]

ok. ok. ok. i’ve sat with it, processed, went to bed, woke up at 5am fiending for water, couldn’t go back to sleep and processed some more. Starting writing this and then had to go to work and now i’m back.

(skip this section if you just want my very limited 90min predictions for rn and not my rant lol)

i’ve been disappointed, sad, angry and just so tired.

and yet i think ive hit some form of acceptance. Don’t get me wrong I will mourn what six episodes would have gave us, even 90 minutes is shorter than most movies now days, but at least it’s something. That it doesn’t end with them not talking and a single angst filled kiss goodbye.

and it sucks to even say that because with so much queer media that seems to be the conclusion, “at least we get something.” That’s the reality we live in and it sucks that it has touched good omens.

Amazon was going to cancel, no way around it, and while it would have sucked I would not have blamed them (ok I would have a bit.) What happened with Neil is serious and there should be consequences. As much as I love this world and how much it has helped me, real people come first. He was such a huge name behind the show and a large part of the production process, that I would not have been surprised if they pulled the plug completely.

But they didn’t. We had so many people working behind the scenes to convince them to continue terry’s story because of their love of the story and because they know of our love the story. And for that I am thankful.

(also i’m pretty sure they kept the set pieces around this time instead of destroying them so that probably helped in green lighting something, yknow on the money side of this)

I’ve been through a devastating end season kiss that then didn’t get renewed before with aloto, which was also produced by amazon and they do not give a fuck. They were not lying when they said it was a miracle to get this renewed.

Which let’s talk about aloto, or a league of their own, real quick. Yknow do some comparisons even if it’s in reverse. This went from a little over two hour movie into an 8 episode series. And guess what it worked even if people had their doubts.

The movie version is a classic in its own right, I feel like everyone at least knows of it maybe can even quote some of the more iconic lines. It’s amazing and has a good story line. The TV show probably never would have went through without the backing of this movie.

and yes with the TV show they were able to go more in depth with the characters storylines, that’s just TV and that’s specifically the idea they went into filming with, to show the queer side of history within this girls baseball league, less about the actual baseball that the movie more focused on. They even pulled in Maybelle Blair, a former all American girls baseball league player, who helped tell the story of the show through her own experiences. (ok sorry for the rant, moving on)

but the movie (especially for the time period) had well rounded female characters with nuisances that we had never seen before on screen.

and before it even gets pointed out that aloto needed a s2 to finish their story I just to point out that even though it was a different story with different character arcs, both ended after one baseball season with the girls. Fully fleshed out characters with backstories and futures and a satisfying plot to match. It really was just the shock factor of their kiss being discovered right at the end that pushed their story to continue.

and yknow if numbers help you visualize more,

120min=8eps and 6eps=90min

feels proportional, idk if it is exactly cause this particular section was never my strong suit in math and i’m still tired lol

My point is for the most part, besides like a catch up in time between s2 and this movie, this 90min time frame is not going to have to squeeze in time to introduce characters and their motivations like we are used to with movies, besides if they introduce new characters which I don’t imagine would have been a lot anyways.

We have 2 seasons of backstory and plot. This is doable, even if may not be quite as elaborate as we were expecting.

Just like what we went through with the Owl House who also had a shorter air time than projected. S2 of the Owl House ended on a cliffhanger and even with the shortened time the ending was still well thought out, compelling and was able to be pulled off, very successfully.

We did not lose set designers or costume designers. Those important people behind the scenes that actually bring the world to life (as far as I know) are still there. And of course we did not loose our beloved actors that actually bring the characters to life.

and as for the new writer, we are at the end of October and they are still set to start filming in January, they are not writing completely new scripts in two months. They are reconceptualizing the already written scripts into a shorter form and editing where it is needed, perhaps adding scenes that better fit this form of media to help the narrative flow. They are also, I am sure, are getting help from the people who fought so hard to kept this thing running, if they even need it tbh. If they were trusted enough to get the script in their hands by the people who fought so hard to continue, then I guess I can give them a bit of my trust too.

So while the unknown is scary the community is strong both behind the scenes and in the fandom, I have faith, even if may not tie up every single loose end that I doubt a full s3 would have accomplished anyways, that their story will get told and will have a satisfying ending. Maybe with less trolls now too (because let’s be honest that’s what the kiss was).

And! think of all the fan made projects and fanfiction that could come out of all this. Cause really it’s always been the fandom that’s been the true heart and soul.

(ok rant now over)

and prediction time!!

a cold open, preferably something with Crowley’s Fall. I don’t see them moving to far away from this idea tbh.

a title screen, not sequence. i HOPE peter anderson studio still works with this project after everything. I think they will end up giving this movie a subtitle and they will work something out here that is short and sweet.

Now for the actual plot I’ll theorize about another day because I realized I haven’t really done that yet??? and that deserves its own proper post. oops

but ☝️ i have a few ideas of the set up,

the pacing will be a lot more like s1 than s2, which I was already anticipating and might even work out better in long form media.

there will still be minisodes, probably not as many and will probably be more incorporated like s2 where it had a direct correlation with the plot.

number of storylines may be reduced, GO is normally set up with 3 stories that all meet at a single point finale point. I would not be surprised if it was cut down to 2 main storylines, us vs them kinda thing, that will still really work out well.

all our beloved wacky easter eggs will still be there, a lot of those were references to Terry so I don’t see those going anywhere anytime soon.

south downs is still a go, i also don’t see them getting rid of this at all. It was always the goal. Give them some goddamn peace and quiet.

the end credits, this is where Peter Andersen studios could pop off again but the important bit is….

end credit scene!!!! really this is just something I would like to happen and it’d be really cool if it was the actual actors, hell throw in the whole crew, just as a little send off.

ok wow I thought I had more…um obviously this could be all bullshit but I feel pretty good about it.

but really all this to say that to just breathe, experience your emotions as they are all we got right now. We got an answer, finally, so no more waiting in the unknown. 🫶

[lady-phasma]

Auntie, I had some free time last night, and I’ve looked at virtually every pic and gif of that scene, and I can confidently say with about 98% accuracy that the woman who’s holding Aemond has dark hair. You can just make it out over his head/shoulder in the more HD gifs. So not Helaena or that other Valyrian-looking woman. It will probably just turn out to be a random brothel worker after all this speculation. 🤷‍♀️

But the speculation is the best part, anon! I love that you are in on it too! This and the one about Daemon are renewing our enthusiasm and that's exactly what should happen. Before I get into this I wanted to drop some links.

My reblog of a great theory. The chaotic and wonderful replies and reblogs on my original post. And the Daemon one as well.

Because I'm having a blast with this and because photo color manipulation is something I've done for work before I went ahead and made us some illustrations. For science.

This is probably the best quality we can get. I took the screenshot from the mp4 and enhanced it far more than I normally would for personal use. You are correct, it looks like brown hair in front of a neck and collarbone. I don't really want that to be the case for my headcanon, but the theory I reblogged and linked above could still work if this woman was wearing a wig and took it off.

I'm not going to rule out that it could be Alicent's hair because we can't really see if it's curly due to the lighting.

I went ahead and made this because sometimes desaturated images show us more detail:

I can't say for sure it the hair is wavy, curly, or straight. I do think it rules out Helaena and they have never given us the official ship. It's my favorite and my most delulu ship. It's not even a crackship for me.

I'm leaning toward someone in the brothel, which I hate no matter who, but will try to keep an open mind about it. I'm also holding out hope for Alicent comforting our man. I think this is less likely because of how he speaks about her in the trailer, but we can't know context or chronological order yet.

Thank you so much for the ask. I am really enjoying this craziness and unadulterated fun!

[orionsangel86]

Welp. Okay I watched the last episode of ofmd.

To sum up my thoughts on this season I will say that whilst I enjoyed it and felt the love and passion and respect for its queer fanbase throughout, it didnt hit me the same way the first season did. It felt like maybe a little bit of that season 1 magic was missing and for that I very much blame Max's cutting off 2 episodes and slashing the budget. They had a lot of story they wanted to tell that would have worked so much better in 10 episodes.

I consider the last 3 episodes of season 1 some of the best TV I have seen in my life. From the use of The Chain in ep 8, through the dramatic highs and lows of eps 9 and 10 it was edge-of-your-seat drama and I was in awe at the creators that put it together. But one of the reasons why those 3 eps were so good is because the drama and the pivotal moments were given time to breath.

If those 3 eps were given the same lack of time and budget as season 2, no doubt they all would have been crammed into 1 episode and it would not have had the same impact.

If anything that last episode should have played out across two, with Izzy's death being the half way point and cliffhanger ending leading to a final battle and somewhat happy resolution.

I'm not mad at Izzy's death. If anyone was gonna die, it was gonna be him. His status as Blackbeards enabler and sometimes mentor is over. For Ed to truly be free, I think Izzy always had to go. From a storytelling perspective it makes perfect sense, even though I am sure a lot of fans are absolutely heartbroken about it.

Another casualty of the reduced screentime meant certain original cast members weren't given anywhere near the amount of screentime they should have had. I was expecting a lot more focus on Jim as they were basically the third lead of s1 due to them getting the same backstory as Ed and Stede. All of the crew appear to have had drastically reduced parts which does feel like a big loss to me.

Its funny actually, OFMD S2 suffered from the opposite problem to GOS2. OFMD had too much story to tell in a limited timeframe, GOS2 had very little story to tell outside of the flashbacks and probably too much time given to it. Both shows season 2s suffered from tremendously bad pacing issues.

Also, the one thing the final episode made so obvious to me, is the uncertainty of getting a s3 renewal. It is so clear in the way they tried to wrap things up in a happy bow as best they could, so that if they do get cancelled it leaves fans at least somewhat satisfied. I hate this though. I hate that studios are so fickle and ruthless that creators have to gamble with good quality writing and avoid cliffhangers because of asshole executives who dont actually care about the stories.

Because of the fast pacing, and the fear of cancellation, it felt more like a rush happy ending instead of a part way point in a bigger story, with important character development still to come. Perhaps I need more time to absorb the story in a full rewatch, but im not exactly itching for more at this point, whilst also not really being satisfied with what I got either. I wish we had left Ed and Stede in at least some minor peril, like have them captured and threatened with hanging but at least in a good place romantically, so that we can start speculating about what kind of escape plan they will come up with in season 3. Leaving them in a dilapidated old inn somewhere just felt wrong to me. Instead of ending the season with the stakes sky high (like season 1) it feels like they left season 2 with zero stakes at all, instead of at least a happy medium. At this point we should be turning to fanfiction and wondering what happens next, but instead I'm left thinking "okay then. That was good. What can I watch next?" I don't need to bury myself in fanfic and fanart to feed the hyperfixation this time around, and that is where I feel the most loss.

I'm sure others will have hugely different reactions to me though. Perhaps my expectations were too high? Perhaps my GO obsession just isn't leaving room for OFMD this time? But then again, I think if GOS2 hadn't ended the way it did, I wouldn't still be so obsessed with that either.

Sigh. I dunno. It was a good fun show and will no doubt still be hugely popular with devoted fans, but for me I just can't say it cast the same spell over me as it did last year.

[psychewritesbs]

Been reading your opinions on the boy of all time megumi and can I just say firstly, thank you for being so good w words BC man you get his character so well and you're so good at getting into all the little details abt him that I can never properly describe to ppl, Like, the whole breaks the trope while following the trope thing?? YOU GOT THAT ALL SO CORRECT THATS EXACTLY IT IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS I LOVE HIS CHARACTER SM BC EVEN JUST RIGHT OFF THE BAT HE BREAKS THE USUAL STOIC BROODING CHARACTER TROPE(THE trope) BY ACTUALLY CONSTANTLY SHOWING although subtly THAT HE DOESNT HATE EVERYONE?? im getting way off track already i actually popped in here to just ask abt how you think the whole sukuna possessing megumi thing will all turn out?? I honestly feel like slapping myself for not seeing it coming tbh like they talked about the head of the six eyes and ten shadows battling it out to the death before and sukuna kept on hyping up megumi like they were so obviously setting that up there and I just. Denied. But I'm just asking BC personally I think that it would really show the final steps of growth for megumi's character if he is actually able to surprise sukuna, even for a little, and come back from the depths of where ever tf he is rn bc yk his whole issue w/ self worth and what he believes he's capable of and I just wanted to know what you think the best outcome for his character would be? Sorry this is such a mess I just have so many thoughts zooming around my brain and I'm trying to...make them make sense...

ITS THE MEGUMI LOVE!!!! Yessssss. Thank you for sending me Megumi love! I love getting Megumi love 🫶🏼.

Man, Megumi is just such a good character. Truly one of Gege's best. Everything he's done with him from how his character is based on the trope while also subverting the trope, to his backstory and his growth arc and how it's been executed... It's poetic justice.

I love Megumi so much, and any time I see someone hate on Megumi for really shallow or toxic reasons I just lose all faith in humanity. It's one thing to not care for him as a character and quite another to dislike him for being a "disappointing deuteragonist" because he's "weak", "hasn't had character development", and "did not master 10 Shadows"..................................................

Bruh...

ANYWAYS 😂 you see... this is the thing... I am trying really hard not to speculate about what might happen regarding Sukuna WHICH IS EXACTLY WHY I'M GOING TO SPECULATE BECAUSE I LOVE SUKUNA BUT FUCK SUKUNA!

ehem. More of me not being normal about Megumi under the cut.

Ok in all seriousness... with chapter 230 and how Sukuna forced Megumi to take the brunt hit of Unlimited Void, something shifted in me.

For some time I've been reluctant to make any predictions about Megumi coming out alive because I don't want to have preconceived expectations coloring my weekly reading experience, but mostly because, like Megumi, I have a tendency to bunt instead of swinging for the fence so as to not experience disappointment. Read this to mean I don't want to get my hopes up about Megumi surviving.

That is not to mention that I took Sukuna possessing Megumi's body personal. idk, something about seeing Megumi lose his agency felt both so wrong and yet so right on a metaphorical level. Wrong because DAMN YOU SUKUNA GO BACK TO YOUR BODY! and right because... as you said, Megumi had it coming both from a narrative and psychological perspective.

From then on, we just saw him sink deeper and deeper into learned helplessness and despair, culminating on this beautiful image of him in the fetal position.

Truly a reversal of ego back into the metaphorical mother (the unconscious) as though he was in the birth canal waiting for rebirth. And come to think of it, in the Japanese fandom, one of the more popular theories revolved around "birth" or something like that.

So with ch. 230, my hope for Megumi is renewed somehow. A lot of people think he's done for, especially after UV. But I'm on camp #this is going to backfire badly on both Gojo and Sukuna... or at least I hope it does.

So....

I'm just asking BC personally I think that it would really show the final steps of growth for megumi's character if he is actually able to surprise sukuna, even for a little

EXACTLY! And see, this is the thing, I don't want to see Megumi be saved by anyone other than himself. If Megumi is saved by others, then he didn't learn his lesson.

Basically, Megumi has taken Tsumiki's place as the Sleeping Beauty that is in need of rescuing. He's become a passive agent in his own life, which is exactly what gave Sukuna an opening.

If Gojo or Yuji, or anyone for that matter, comes in and saves Megumi without Megumi putting up a fight, then this whole growth process is metaphorically and literally aborted.

Like you, I personally think that this period could be a metaphorical gestational period for Megumi and I wonder if he's going to reach a tipping point where the anger he feels is stronger than the learned helplessness or something like that.

I just wanted to know what you think the best outcome for his character would be?

ALL THAT TO SAY THAT YES. Sukuna might be my other fave, but I am looking forward to either Megumi giving him a hard time or straight up beating the crap out of him.

Megumi has earned that privilege.

Right now, I am wondering how UV has affected Megumi's brain and what that will mean for his behavior. My hc is that his negative self-image is partly due to "reason". In other words, reason = his sense of self as the story he tells himself about himself.

But Megumi levels up because of imagination. Now that he's been hit by UV (I understand it's been 5 times?), how has being flooded with infinity affected the left (reason or logic, analytical) hemisphere of his brain?

Another idea I've been keeping quiet about is that part of the rebirth process involves moving through hell and up into heaven (a la Dante's Divine Comedy as a metaphor for a process of initiation or enlightenment). Megumi right now is sinking in hell as he comes face to face with inner evil.

So can we expect him to come back up? Will Beatrice make a cameo? I'm looking forward to whatever the cursed cat is cooking.

I just have so many thoughts zooming around my brain and I'm trying to...make them make sense...

ahaha, same tho.

Hey thanks again for the Megumi love, the kind comments, and for stopping by! Here's to hoping Gege does bring our boy back 🙌.

[o-uncle-newt]

Cabin Pressure Advent Day 6: Fitton

FIIIIITTTTTOOOONNNN!!!!

As someone who said yesterday that I was a fan of when the show went warmer and cozier in the later seasons, OBVIOUSLY I love Fitton!

The interesting thing to me, speaking on the progression-to-warmer-and-cozier thing, is that we know from the Farewell Bear Facts for this episode that it was, understandably, written as a potential finale if the show hadn't been renewed- and as he also points out, it's really the first episode where we see something that really signifies the characters moving from "coworkers who can get along" to "friends" (the hat incident). It's a turning point for Martin and Douglas- and honestly I'd say for Carolyn and Arthur too, humanizing them by telling us more about their backstory, giving both characters vulnerability (as I pointed out yesterday, there really actually aren't many ways in a typical episode for Arthur to be vulnerable- he's pretty impermeable as a rule!)- and the fact that, when writing an episode that could have been a finale, JF decided that he needed to develop the characters in this way is really nice, partly because it just makes for a very sweet episode and partly because it validates the whole "see, haters, it was ALWAYS supposed to get sweet!" argument I sometimes have with the imaginary people in my head.

ANYWAY. Imagine if the show had ended just as Benny C had gotten the credits exactly right!

I think one great thing here is that, to continue the theme from Douz, Fitton is making it crystal clear that the motivating force behind the show is the existence of the airline- and that will take all of them, working together and becoming family to pull off, and each of them needs to contribute something to make that happen. Individually, over the course of this episode,

Martin has to let go of his ego/insecurity for a minute, take himself less seriously, and hand over the reins temporarily

Douglas has to reveal a vulnerability (his sobriety) in order to step forward and save the day

Carolyn has to think of others as well as herself, find reasons for running MJN that go beyond revenge, and earn the goodwill and loyalty of her pilots by acting moderately human

And, AND, and this is something I didn't quite put together until this listen and YMMV... the main motivating factor for keeping the airline going kind of ends up being Arthur? I kind of love that Arthur shows up at the famous "secret of true happiness" scene basically right on the heels of him telling Carolyn that there's nothing that could make him happier than what he's doing right now with all of them at MJN- and that, in the end, is one of the main engines that prompts Carolyn to decide to keep MJN going. And then they all open themselves up, if only a bit, to Arthur's brand of happiness.

Basically, Arthur Shappey is the emotional heart of the show, but we all knew that. (AND HE GETS TO BE THE CAPTAIN! Best cold-open-to-plot-arc ever.)

This episode is also notable for being the first attempt at a "no plot plot" episode- not to the same degree as a Limerick or a Xinzhou, but pretty near. And it's still a rough draft of that kind of episode, but it's extremely effective in terms of giving the episode emotional resonance. Possibly the best part of it is that you get the vibe that while this isn't the first time they're engaging with each other in this way, they don't necessarily usually go this deep (I mean, Martin didn't know Douglas's wife's name!). So just as we're learning more about the characters through scenes in the life, so are the characters, which is a nice way of experiencing the show's world. And, by the end of this episode, they are all far closer than they've been thus far (even Carolyn and Arthur in a way) and they'll be taking that with them.

(On the note of it not being a Limerick or Xinzhou- I think that's probably the main drawback of the episode, that it gets changed back to being the typical hijinks plot at the end, which is funny but just not super necessary. And, to get back to my point from Cremona, Mr Goddard is too normal and so the solution ends up being too weird and cartoonishly unlikely, relatively speaking. Next season, JF will have a bit more confidence to just let the "no plot" be a plot on its own.)

Some early installment weirdness, or otherwise something I don't quite get more generally- assuming that JF had already decided that Martin is unpaid, how on earth was Martin willing to do 28 days of unpaid standby? What was he living on? Did Carolyn not feel the slightest bit bad?! (...well ok, fine, that might not be the most insurmountable of plot-obstacles)

Also- and this isn't a flaw with the episode, just a subjective thought- those last two minutes of episode are SO cringe-inducing to listen to. I know there's schadenfreude for Martin finally being able to see through Douglas and rub it in his face a bit, but that brown sauce thing was really sweet, and he clearly loves his wife- especially given what we learn later about how she's having an affair, there is something kinda depressing about it. But, admittedly, also darkly funny.

Tomorrow we have one of my top-five episodes, GDAAANSK! (I'll be going in A-Z rather than broadcast order because that's the order on the compilation I'm listening from lol)

[zalrb]

Finally got to the iwtv finale and read your reaction to it. Thank you for your thoughts. Like, I genuinely like some of season 2 better than season 1 but the finale killed it.

The thing is, I'm a Loustat fan (as in, "I like the idea of them" lol more than the execution) but their reunion felt so unearned, so rushed and fell completely flat for me. Because the writers made choices that made everything more boring instead of more dramatic. It would have been more dramatic if Louis fucking burned Lestat with the theatre and regretted it and didn't know if he was alive. It would have been more fun to have a legit Loumand relationship. It would have made more sense for Armand to plan the whole trial to kill two birds with one stone: to kill Claudia and frame Lestat for it—to have Louis all to himself. Like, that would have made the eventual reveal and reunion so much more impactful. But the choices made cheapened everything.

I feel like they just didn't know if they were going to get renewed for S3 and wanted to have some conclusion for their relationship. But it was embarrassing tbh.

I feel like I'm in a crazy land where people are watching another show that is genuinely smart with its plotting. And I just happen to be watching some other show for some reason. And the critics keep praising it. Truly, why? Because what I'm seeing is amateur hour.

Because the writers made choices that made everything more boring instead of more dramatic.

And this is exactly the issue I have because it never feels like the show leans into the absurdity of the world. So, an anon the other day asked me to link them to this post I made about Ian and Mickey in Shameless where the anon asked why the two of them loved each other because it just looked destructive

and so I had said:

but they also heal each other and provide one another peace and solace and kindness just in a very Shameless way, which is not going to be healthy outside of the context of Shameless.

and I think that's why the finale irritated me as much as it did because instead of giving a reunion for Loustat that makes sense to vampires, that in the context of these murderous supernatural beings, what they share is the height of romance and/or forgiveness, they just gave a very typical, sappy, pedestrian reconciliation. And I was just like, I want my gothic gay vamprie show? When am I going to get it fully?

[matan4il]

Good morning Alice! I was gonna wait to send this till after the finale, but then said duck it I'm not predicting anything. I'm just curious about your feelings.

So I always felt like if the network was to cowardly to make Buddie Canon it would only end 2 ways, them maybe dating women or just ambiguity single as a family. Basically I never expected to see an actual fleshed out love story written for either.

And well, S1 Buck is single, S2 Shannon is dead, Ali leaves, and we get good montage hug, S3 single and great party montage. OK S4, if that was the series finale we got Buddie walking into a party, Buck not fullying entering, Eddie uncomfortable and the will reveal. As shippers, we would have never bought it. The general audience would have just shrugged. Again, they weren't left in love with women but did leave with a crazy strong bond. S5 single, and now we approach S6. I have no clue what will happen with Marisol and Natalia, but I think we can all guess it would resemble the S4 ending if anything. So again, if they were unsure about renewing and left it open-ended, the GA would shrug, and we would be like "well then here is what really happened".

So I watched that Love in the Air montage like it was approaching a series finale and felt exactly like I thought I would. I was laughing at how vapid these relationships look on Buddie vs the others. 911 love stories are built on adversity. Couples that don't get a lot of representation because maybe some don't think they are sexy enough. That's what makes me love them is how strong their foundations are. They are not built on meet cutes, you know. You can't write a love story for these 2 that approaches touching the bonds and experiences they have already experienced together. I will use the word again. it seems almost vapid!

So no clue what will happen in the finale with these girls. My gut instinct is not a lot of focus. But I'm already excited to move to ABC, where I think they will actually be invested in.

As always, I loved your meta!! Stay safe, and I hope you are feeling OK and made headway with your new treatment!!!

Hi sweetheart, thank you so much for this lovely ask! And for the kind words about my 617 meta! *HUGS*

I agree with you, if Buddie doesn't go canon, the show would never be able to develop a fully fleshed out and satisfying love story with any other Love Interest, so the show would either use really lame LIs (where it's easy to see that they'd go in the way of Ana and Taylor a short while after the cut off point of the show's finale) or Buddie would be chronically single (and each other's life partners). I admit, I prefer the latter. The former just means a break up to get to the latter, and then in both cases I'd just headcanon that Buddie finally had a feelings realization and confession, getting together at some point in the future that we don't get to see. It's inevitable with their love story.

But without a doubt, when we know that the whole (or at least majority of the) finale is the one call during which the 118 will be going down, that means there won't be much room to develop anything with either Natalia or Marisol. And I feel like that's exactly how 4a left off with Ana, and 4b did the same with Taylor. They exist, something has started there, but it's built on such shaky ground (they really did give us less than nothing for why Marisol or Natalia would work out with Eddie and Buck), we KNOW that this ground would collapse under these new LIs after a short while.

I do think the move to ABC has a lot of potential. I'm thinking ABC bought the show from Fox knowing that things are a bit rocky, so they KNOW they need to bring in more viewers, and I'm sure they understand that letting Buddie go canon has the potential to do just that, make TV history, create buzz and bring in more viewers.

On a personal note, I'm just still blown away that my HMO actually approved this treatment, but it's gonna take another week (exactly) until I get my first treatment. Which sucks, I have to cancel guiding students from Harvard in order to make this appointment, but yeah. Health before anything else, right? If I kept the Harvard tour, the next appointment is mid June.

Thank you, darling! I hope you're having a great day, too! Love you tons. As always, here's my ask tag. xoxox

[aladaylessecondblog]

How to Get Off Skooma (420 day chapter)

Author's Note: This most likely WILL be in Severed Destiny. Martin works for Vivec as a servant, he took the job to avoid getting put in prison for defacing the temple (thanks Sanguine)

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

Never did Haj-deek regret her room being so close to her father's (and Nerevar's, which had had to be added next to her mother's), as she did right now. Several nights in a row she'd wake up, and hear, well...rocking. And moaning.

A pillow over the head did nothing to muffle the noise. And they said SHE had to be supervised. How FUNNY when THEY were the ones acting like this on a nightly basis. And that wasn't even mentioning the racket from Vivec and Uncle Odros - really, they didn't HAVE to stay the night after Vivec and she finished the yearly renewal of their power from the Heart. (Even more puzzling was how her father hadn't realized yet.)

After a few moments she decided to sit up and head outside...she was beginning to feel the need for another dose of skooma anyway.

Haj-deek hastily dressed and headed on outside.

She lit a light spell and headed towards the spot she'd hidden. A little alcove of stone she'd cover up with ash and pebbles and rotted bits of scathecraw leaves. Outside. Her father and Dagoth Ulen were still doing weekly sweeps of her room, and so inside was no longer a safe place to hide it.

There was a hole there and she felt a surge of panic. Had a cliffracer gotten in, knocked it around and out while looking for something to eat? Where was it?

She turned this way and that, looking everywhere--until she heard a couple footsteps behind her.

"Oh, Martin, it's you. I..." and trying to sound more normal, lest he catch on why she was there, she took a deep breath and pasted on a smile to match her tone. "I guess you couldn't sleep either."

"Yes, as it turns out...Lord Vivec invited your uncle to his room for, uh...important discussions. And given I am one door away..."

"That happened to me too. Just...it wasn't Lord Vivec making all the noise. I'd rather not talk about it."

"And neither would I. Perhaps we could discuss something else. Like the walk we both seem to be taking. Though you do look rather upset...I hope you aren't looking for anything."

Haj-deek groaned slightly. "Well, not exactly, but I...I...YOU!"

The need was stronger, and it wasn't a trivial effort to stop herself hitting the man before her. He wasn't smirking or anything, just watching her placidly. But it was still infuriating.

"Yes, my lady, me. Don't look so surprised that I figured it out. When Lord Vivec and I walked up the path yesterday, and encountered you--do you think I didn't notice your eyes? The twitchiness? I was a champion of Sanguine. You can't be showing obvious signs of addiction and tell me you're not on the stuff."

"That stuff was expensive, Martin. And if you think I'm not going to tell--"

"Yes, I'm sure your father would just love to hear that you're taking skooma. Lord Vivec may not have noticed or cared if he did, but I'm sure any decent father would be happy his daughter's supply was cut off. Honestly - Balmora Blue? Do you know what a bad idea it is to get onto such a pure strain?"

Haj-deek gave a slight and frustrated shout. "You don't understand, you can't just--I NEED a dose of it."

"So it's gotten to that point, has it? Well, let me introduce you to what helped ME kick the habit. Healing potions for the pain, and a little thing I managed to get growing here in Morrowind."

From the pocket of his robe Martin produced a couple wads of paper--or what she'd assumed was a wad of paper. They looked like cigars or something. After a bit of smoothing out Martin handed her one.

"Light the blunt and breathe in. Hold it in for a few seconds, then breathe out. And let the plant do all the work."

Grumbling, Haj-deek obeyed. She comforted herself with the fact that even if he had taken the skooma for himself, Vivec would just toss it out.

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

*Thirty Minutes Later* ---------------------------

A hazy cloud surrounded them.

"So Lord Vivec sends me out with the spear, and...the rest is history. Ha, like I didn't know he was just doing that to keep me busy. Get Muatra polished, he says, like I wouldn't know what that means and the joke he was trying to..."

A laugh burst from Haj-deek's lips when she exhaled the next bit of smoke.

"That...ha...that sounds like him." Another giggle. "Sorry, I...I didn't mean to laugh at you like that."

Martin took another drag on his own blunt and gave an easy-toned reply, "No it's fine, this stuff makes you do that."

"Really?"

"Yes, it's...very good for relaxing...mellowing you out. Can result in a bit of laughter." There was a pause. "You know, I just realized something. I haven't seen anything growing around here...what in Oblivion do you eat?"

"Well, we've started growing SOME things, but...but I...I'll just take you to our food storage. We've got some REALLY good sweetrolls..."