#why does my family have to take family drama to the next level???

[shynerdwantscuddles]

No because why was my grandma trying to hit on my dad 😭😭😭🤮🤮🤮

[whateverisbeautiful]

Hi! So, something I’ve been thinking about since Richonne went canon is their PDA. From the RV onward, they (particularly Rick) have had no issues showing any level of affection in front of their family and friends and for some reason, I never expected that. All the years hoping for them to become canon and yet I didn’t imagine the gift giving and hand holding into battle and I have no idea why though! Maybe an idea that they are leaders and would keep that close to the vest?! I was even trying to see how Rick and Lori behaved with one another but their relationship was so different (high school sweethearts married for a decade plus, just returned “from the dead”, The Drama, etc).

I also wonder if they didn’t immediately get caught in 4k, would things be different. I mean, in front of/for the sake of Carl, sure. But after the way Rick was acting in TOWL, I’m not so sure 😂

Aw yeah. 🥰 They really are so soft with each other no matter the setting. I remember after 6.10 I was also super curious how outward they would be with their affection because Rick and Michonne seem like more private people but they also are both genuinely affectionate people. Like even how they'd hug and comfort others showed they're naturally comfortable with physical affection. That's why I always find it notable how little they touched each other before becoming a couple because it felt deliberate like they knew if they touched each other it would and did feel like something more. But I love that once they got together they ended up being super public about their love and affection. Their love is just too strong to downplay no matter who's around.

My favorite Richonne PDA moment in TWD is definitely the one from the season 8 premiere when they have that passionate kiss all while those long lines of cars filled with Alexandrians wait for them. That's also the only time I can think of where Carl was shown to see them like that.

I can see why the PDA might have not been expected beforehand because Rick's previous romantic pursuits simply did not bring out the same man that Michonne does. Plus there was so much secrecy surrounding his dynamic with Lori and Jessie, but with Michonne they really hold nothing back from each other which allows them to more freely and authentically love each other out loud.

Thinking back to Rick and Michonne's first kisses on that couch, I remember thinking it feels like I've never seen Rick kiss anyone before this because the way he was with her felt different. Like it was a higher level of passion and also trust that he's finally with a woman who loves him for him. Rick was always a lover boy but with Michonne he comes alive in this elevated way and she definitely awoke his truest romantic self. And I also love what Rick brings out of Michonne. She's often felt the need to always have it together and take on things for the good of the group, but with Rick she's able to let go and be fully immersed in enjoying their romantic moments.

That's really interesting to think about how things would go if they weren't caught in 4k the morning after they got together. I've been curious about how that morning would have played out without Jesus' interruption too. Rick definitely would still be ready to make things official between them and the kids I think. Like he'd still want to have a conversation with Carl that same day to express that what he and Michonne have is the real deal and here to stay. And I think Michonne (in maybe a less outwardly eager way than Slick Rick lol) would be on the same page that they're together from here on out now.

I honestly think their PDA probably stays the same too, even if their friends hadn't found out on the stairwell. Like you said, TOWL showed that Rick and Michonne are pretty much an any-time/any-place couple when it comes to loving on each other and so I think it still would have felt like such a natural next step to them to be publicly affectionate shortly after getting together. And it really is one of the things that most warms my heart about Richonne - they're both the toughest people in the apocalypse and the absolute tenderest with each other. 😊

[my-heart-beat-for-anime]

Idea for a Feyd x Atreides!reader:

Where a married proposal is made between Feyd and the Reader at the time the Atreides take over Arrakis for a “peace” between the two houses but all the events of the movies end up happening and on the final battle between Paul and Feyd she tries to convince him not to fight (they have a good relationship considering feyd psychotic behaviour and what happened to her family) but he does anyway and when things start getting serious she tries to separate them but Paul accidentally stabs her… how would Feyd react and maybe she was pregnant but it wasn’t noticeable yet just to had even more drama 😅

Feel free to completely ignore this and sorry for my English it isn’t my first language 😊

HE LOVED HER

The day the last of the Atreides learned of her family's murder, Giedi Prime heard a scream so painful that even her husband's heart sank. Feyd-rautha hated and despised her at first, she was Atreides after all, she was weak, but that opinion changed when she first punched him in the nose so that it bled. He didn't love her, he knew, but he no longer despised her. He wasn't made for love, so why was his chest tightening when he heard her screams, he wanted it to stop. Rushing into her chambers, he grabbed her by the slender shoulders and shook her hard enough to make her understand that he was her only family and not weak poor house Atreides. He wanted to scream at her, but before he could open his mouth, his wife slammed her head into his face and hissed, "GET LOST" in her voice, his body and movements were no longer his, but following her orders. He was enraged by her taunting, but at least she wasn't screaming out loud anymore, the only thing that happened was the sound of the room being locked.

 Although he hadn't seen his wife in days, she still managed to annoy him. The only news he had about her was from her maids. They informed him that she would never let them into her chambers, and if they insisted too much, that she would send them away by her voice. When one of the servants brought him the same news on the fourth day, he cut her throat in a fit of rage and went to his lady wife's chambers. When he reached the door, he was surprised to find it unlocked, as if she had been expecting him. Inside the room was dark and unfriendly, but what shocked him the most was the body huddled in the corner of the room. He slowly approached her, she was still dressed in the same nightgown she was in four days ago. Her hair, her beautiful hair, was greasy and tangled. And there was weariness and sadness in her normally cheerful eyes. He slowly walked over to her and knelt at her level, watching her silently. Her bloodshot eyes with black circles stared over him into the distance, as if she was staring intently at something that was not visible to other eyes. He wanted her to scream at him, he wanted her to yowl, he wanted her to hurt him, but she didn't even accept his presence yet. He held out his hand to her cheeks and only his touch called her into the presence. She looked into his dark eyes for a long time and gently tilted her head into his touch, and a solitary tear escaped her eye and slowly flowed down her pale face. At that moment, Feyd scooped her up in his arms and carried her into the next room, where a large tub was located. He gently placed her on the step that led to the tub and began to pour warm water. When the water almost reached the edge, he began to strip her of her nightgown, he found it strange that at that moment he did not feel any of the excitement that usually came with seeing a naked woman's body. He carefully carried her to the bathtub where he carefully washed her body and hair. After the bath, he dressed her in a clean nightgown and carried her to bed where he covered her with a duvet. As he was about to leave he felt her hand holding him tightly.,, Please don't leave." her husky voice begged him. And he stayed, he would always stay.

For the following years, he became her support, her protector. He was the only one she let in. She learned to love him.

 So why did everything lead to this moment. The moment he held her in his arms and this time he couldn't bring her to reality. When the final fight between him and her brother was about to come, she begged them both not to do it, to realize where this would lead. She begged him not to harm her brother, to refuse the emperor's request. If only he had listened to her then, if only he had paid more attention. One moment Atreides' knife was pointing at his torso, and the next the figure of his wife was standing before him with her stomach ripped open. She fell into his arms, clutching his hand painfully. There was so much blood everywhere, he never minded blood and he had spilled it a thousand times, but her blood was never supposed to leave her body. He would never kneel in front of people, but this time he was kneeling with her body in his arms in front of a hundreds people. But one thing he knew for sure, he would never let her go. He didn't even realize he was screaming until the pain in his throat from the overuse started to sting. He tried to return her blood to her body and with it her life, but among the blood and entrails he finds a small body, the body of his child, the child that was the product of their love. Their little baby, he lost everything today, his love and their child which didn't even have a chance to see the light of day. That's when he realized something he should have realized a long time ago and told her every day that he had her by his side. He loved her, loved her hard and wildly. The pain was replaced by rage, he knew how much she loved her family, yet her brother and mother stood meters away from her, watching her corpse without remorse. He watched them hatefully with tears in his eyes, he wanted to cause them the pain he was experiencing. But just the thought that he would let go of her body and his arms made him feel tormented. And so he knelt there with her body in his arms, ignoring the approaching Atreides. He didn't even notice when the cold knife pressed against his soft neck. He didn't even realize he had lost his life, but he wouldn't mind, he wanted to follow her and their child. In a moment of darkness and nothingness, light finally comes to him. He saw her on a vast green plain, wearing a beautiful airy white dress. She turned to him and waved at him with a big smile. He rushed towards her like a mad man and gave her the deepest kiss, he couldn't even comprehend what he felt for her. He was stroking her small bump with his other hand, smiling as broadly as she was.

 Feyd long ago read a quote from an author whose name had been forgotten. He had laughed at those words of love before, but now he understood their depth, he couldn't help but disagree.

 " If I were to kiss you then go to hell, I would. So then I can brag with the devils I saw heaven without even entering it,,

It was their new beginning and he wanted to start it with the words thought of when he lost her ,,I love you"

I am sorry if there are any grammar errors. English is not my first language. If you have any request i would be happy to hear it.

[serpentface]

How (if he does) does Brakul reconcile his want for a relationship with Hibrides and his kids with the knowledge of the child he abandoned? Does this cause any conflict in him?

It's kind of something he feels immense guilt about and is continually haunted by, but he's also not willing to take like full self-accountability (much less any Direct accountability, which in his very, very slight defense is next to impossible at this point). He kind of just uselessly wallows in it like 'Oh I feel horrible that's the worst thing I've ever done but also it's not my fault, I wasn't happy, I deserve to be happy, but I'm so guilty I wish I never had that kid so I didn't have to abandon him, but I had to do it, but I shouldn't have, but-" etc etc

His go-to self justification is that his ex wife/child are probably better off with his younger brother (who he's (correctly) assuming Sirudan would have remarried). Brakul wasn't treated Badly by his clan by any means but was definitely regarded as lazy and difficult, not particularly talented in any capacity, and with a tendency to cause drama. His little brother was better liked, well behaved, and better husband material. He can partly convince himself that this was really for the best.

The main way he kind of reconciles it is by treating his new circumstances as a second chance. It's simultaneously something that Feels like an opportunity to do it right this time, with people he loves and wants to be with, while also impossible to do so. He loves Hibrides like he thinks he should love a wife, but she isn't his wife. She's Janeys' wife. That's not going to change without a divorce or Janeys dying, neither of which are ideal circumstances (for Brakul or Janeys at least). The children are his, but they're claimed as Janeys' and being definitively outed (or suspected beyond doubt) as bastards would be disastrous for everyone involved, Brakul cannot father them. It's kind of like everything he could possibly want is Right There and yet impossible to Have (which in turn triggers more guilt wallowing cycles for him).

All this is part of why he's so desperate to make everything work out. He's still convinced on some level that there is SOME way this whole thing can coalesce into being a sort of stable family. Maybe when the kids are old enough to keep it secret he can be their father in private. Maybe he can get Janeys and Hibrides to stop hating each other, and get Hibrides to like him again, and he can be with his life partner AND his beloved quasi-wife AND be a father to his children and all this can stabilize into something strange and unconventional but like, okay.

He does think about his son a lot. The kid would be 14 now, close to coming of age. He's probably starting to learn men's tasks now that he's almost an adult, maybe he's even stolen his first cow or spent his first summer alone up at pasture, but Brakul can't know. He doesn't even know if he's alive or dead. He never even saw the kid start to talk, let alone take his first steps. He doesn't really know what to do with any of this.

(I would suggest reading the wildwoman bride story under the cut in this post with all this in mind. Brakul is projecting about as heavily as humanly possible on the story without outright changing the plot.)

[razorblade180]

Mutual Disgust

Tai: *opens door* Carmine! Come inside a grab lu- oh my gods!

The fifteen year old girl stood perched on a stoned Ursa surrounded by dying baby Nevermore in her grandpa’s front yard.

Tai:What the heck happened while I was baking!?

Carmine:Sorry grandpa. I got a little upset. Guess my anger was as tasty as the fish I smell.

Tai:You attracted this many?

Carmine:Crazy, right? Helps with my training. I’m never short a sparring partner. It’s alright though. Just blew off some steam. *hops down*

Tai:…

Carmine:Don’t make a big deal out of this. So I can attract grimm like it’s nothing; no big deal. Can you blame me for being grumpy.

Tai:No, but that doesn’t mean it’s healthy. Especially near your birthday. When’s the last time you talked to your mother, or even your father?

Carmine:….A couple weeks. Maybe one or two months.

Tai:Sweetie…

Carmine:I don’t want to talk about it!

Tai:Then you don’t get fish.

Carmine:You monster! I’ve been saving room all day for it! Now I will starve.

She dramatically twirled before falling to the dirt. Tai blinked twice before sitting down next to the drama queen.

Tai:Nice twirl.

Carmine:Thank you. I practiced all day.

Tai:What’s eating at you? Besides grimm? This what grandpas are for, talking about feelings.

Carmine:…Promise not to tell mom and dad? I don’t want to upset them.

Tai:I will promise not to say too much.

Carmine:This family, I swear. Sighs Deal. I had a very disgusting thought. One that really pisses me off ever since Oz has reduced my missions and my training feels dull. I…I might on some level…get Cinder’s frustration.

Tai:*eyes wide* You’re gonna have to explain that one kiddo. Are you saying you-

Carmine:No. I do not hate mom. I could never hate mom. It’s just…I’m almost sixteen.

Tai:And?

Carmine:And I’m still frantically training anyone I can while not making any real progress to end this annoying blight on our lives! Mom was fighting in Atlas by now, facing countless threats and then going to Vacou alone! A year from now, mom kills Salem and saves the world as everyone knows it! *hits the ground* Everyone tells me how talented I am but when I stop and think of what she was doing at my age, I’m a far cry from her. All my strides, and they aren’t half of hers. How could somebody so young be so talented; life changing!? I’m a joke.

Tai:Gonna have to disagree with you there. While it’s true your mother is…an enigma of a person in regard to talent, she didn’t do everything alone. Also, she was forced to be that strong or die on her journey.

Carmine:And I’m not!? Three of the most dangerous people to ever live have a glorified hit out on everyone I care about and I can’t even hold a candle to the weakest one!

Tai:That responsibility isn’t something for you to bear.

Carmine:.Don’t sound like dad. You know exactly why it is, unless you’re telling me you’d be able to kill your own grandson.

Tai:…

Carmine:Tsk, didn’t think so. *hugs her knees* Not that mom would let you. I am the only person around with not only the potential to beat him, but the resolve to. I’ve never spent a day with my older brother. I won’t hold back and lose my life like I know so many of you would. Do you think I can’t understand how big of an ask it must be for a parent to take down their child? Mom would never forgive herself.

Tai:She wouldn’t want you to do it either. Look, the situation is…awful. I understand that to you, it must feel as if Ruby is Dustin over you and Garnet, but we both know she’s running rampant to find away to keep you both safe so you used to.

Carmine:It’s been two years, and I still feel the pain in my back each time I think of him. I-I know that she’s busy. I know she’s Remnant’s hero and that means so much to everyone, including myself. But…I really, really wish that just for one single, selfish birthday wish, she would only be my mom and use all that strength to save me from another day of waiting for their next move. I don’t care if Dustin’s the real first born! Why does he still get her love when I was here to replace him!?

The anguish felt like a chasm in her stomach that ate her soul. Before Tai could even attempt to comfort the crying girl, more grimm arrived for the feast. Both of them stood up to fight, preparing for a lunging Beowulf that was immediately shot from behind them. Carmine felt her heart nearly stop as rose petals blew with the wind, carving up every grimm in sight before the back of a figure in red stood silently in front of her. How long has she been here? Yet again, Carmine felt small, still so distant from her goals.

Tai:Ruby?

Ruby:I… had a mission in Vale. Figured I’d stop by; even if it would be awkward.

Slowly, her mother turned around with matching tears in her eyes and a present in hand that riddled Carmine’s heart with guilt. A single step forward from Ruby made Carmine’s knees buckle. As she was about to run, petals surrounded her body and squeezed her tight as she felt her mother trembling.

Carmine:M-Mom!? I-I didn’t mean t-

Ruby:DON’T EVER THINK YOU WERE A REPLACEMENT!

Carmine:…

Ruby:It’s alright to be furious with me. I know I haven’t made things feel easy, but no matter what, you were born out of love! Your father and I had you because we were ready to move forward, to live a life with a beautiful child who we would be proud of no matter what! There’s not a day I’m not loving you with all my heart, understand!?

Carmine:But we never agree on everything anymore! You won’t even train me personally anymore! I just watch your old scythe videos and chase down Qrow! I’m not even half as good with it like you are!

Ruby:I don’t care that we disagree! You should feel differently than me! You aren’t me! Nobody wants you to be, especially me. I used to train you because it fun and bonded; not to take my burdens! I know you. You like to dance, garden, party tricks, and you’re obsessed with horses! Forgive me for being weak. I never wanted you to feel like you had be strong! I was happy seeing you dance.

Carmine:Well I don’t want to dance if you’re not there in the crowd! I’m not fighting just for my life back! I’m fighting for you!

Tai:Can both of you calm down for a second!? Honestly, it’s more like you made a clone than a daughter right now.

Ruby and Carmine: sniffling

Tai:Just like always, you’re trying to race towards the end for the sake of everyone. Completely forgetting that it’s okay to slow down. I get that you’re both scared. We are all scared. That’s why it’s important to stick together; even when it’s hard to. Neither of you have ever stopped thinking about each other regardless of distance. Ruby, you understand perfectly well that separating from a love one doesn’t mean they hate you. Carmine, if you really thought Ruby didn’t love you, then why were you so anxious to call home.

Carmine:Cause…I can hear how sad she gets when it’s time to hang up. *trembling* It’s like the day I left all over again. I hate that feeling.

The tired man picked up the present that was dropped in the chaos, opening it casually to reveal a yellow and red scarf made for the desert. Tai draped it over Carmine and she couldn’t help but remember the long days in the sun, traveling across the sand and stopping by beach vendors with her mother. Those days felt like another lifetime. Her eyes began to water again while a lump formed in her throat.

Tai:Believe me, family is hard. Staying stuck on past actions won’t help make things better, and the future is going to come no matter what. Carmine, if you could wish for one present from Ruby right now, what would you ask for?

Carmine:…Home. I-I want to go home. I miss my bed, dad’s breakfast, Garnet’s drawing, you. I miss you so much. Can I come home? I wanna wake up with you guys again.

She couldn’t breathe; every attempt chocked air out of her lungs and burned her chest as she wept like a small child. Thankfully, her mother was there to hold her close. Carmine felt every emotion pour out of body, but there wasn’t a grimm in sight.

Ruby:Of course you can. You never lost it.

[skippyangel16]

The Couple Next Door my thoughts…

Link here for a ‘real’ review from that neck of woods👇

👏👏👏

👆This just about sums it up for me, a real review from a real paper not a paid promo success piece from Hello or channel 4 blowing its own trumpet. If you google the series IBMd has it rated 5.2/10 at the moment of writing. (Saying something is brilliant does not make it so, unless you want to brainwash. Kenneth springs to mind taking a whole year+ to talk up Belfast so he would finally get that Oscar for the not so outstanding Belfast 🙄)

The Guardian Nov 2023 promo it as The couple next door a sexy fantastic time …4 stars but then by the 3rd Dec it’s no longer raving about it with an honest review.👇

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/dec/03/the-couple-next-door-channel-4-swingers-thriller-review-slow-horses-3-arena-being-kae-tempest-the-doll-fctory?CMP=share_btn_link Barbara Ellen exert from review 3 Dec 2023 still the guardian…

Exert from link above by Barbara Ellen..

Well for me TCND started off with a ‘OMG not again!’ for the opening shot. I said to hubby ‘I hate it when they do that!’. The second scene supposedly set in Leeds wtf? Why didn’t they find a more convincing housing estate…then (Sam) Danny picking up the washing machine…dear god it made me cringe and that’s just for starters!

Sam…I could not get past his ‘Yorkshire’ accent?… well he did his best, it came through well some of the time. It’s sad but production were aware they were not going to predominantly film in Yorkshire or substitute location with a suitable comparison so why the need for him to do a Yorkshire accent? They could have set this story anywhere. Why not let Sam do his normal Scottish accent ? Far more sexy! Bad decision imo.

I could go on…especially the ladies dress code for a casual UK BBQ, LMAO. For sure my neighbour and I need to up our game at our next one! Seductive dresses, tits out and heels on! Husbands can’t wait…🤣

Does it appear Sam was hired for his body?…absolutely! Is he typecast as the guy who does sex?…looks like it. If he wanted to up his stakes as a good actor imo this was not the project. Can he do chemistry with anyone but Caitriona?… barely, but this was his best effort so far. Sex scenes and build up no 🔥 for me. I found it more cringe so fast forward came into play. Seems Sam is okay with full nudity and grinding again so can’t wait for OL S8! No need for J&C sex scenes to be PG…

Continuity, script, direction, production…dear god did outlander do it?

Out of all the actors Jessica De Gouw (Becka) stood out with a consistent performance.

Gripping? Nah, wanted to give up many times but finally got past ep 3 and pace seemed to increase so eventually got to the end which was then suddenly abrupt.

I wanted to like it, but for me it was blah…should have been amazing! Fail is more down to script, direction and production, had a giggle most of the way through at the script and said wtf and why a lot? ….🤷‍♀️still they all had fun making it and got paid!

For those who thought it enjoyable and hot I am really pleased for you! Sex for sex sake came to my mind, script all over the place one minute quite good another that’s shit.

For me in the words of a true Yorkshire man…

Maybe if I had a couple of wines with the cheese and knew it was not going to be a quality drama but a cheesy soap it would have gone down better.

Strikes me his fate in life is to be an alcohol god, that’s his true path…acting gave him his wife and family and that’s all he needs from it. It appears it’s not in his destiny for it to do anything more than that…🤷‍♀️JMHO

So if you haven’t seen it and want to then I suggest lots of wine and lower your expectations to a tv movie or soap and you will probably enjoy it and think it’s better than it was…🤪

[dangermousie]

So, further pushing for New Tales of the Gisaeng...

This is a 50 ep family drama so it has a lot of narratives but I was in it for Damo, an icy upper class scion and Saran, a working class dancer with a birth secret.

Some reasons why you should watch:

He's smitten at first sight when he sees her perform...

He has a giant half-naked portrait of himself in his room. As he should. Look at those abs!

He's set up with a rich girl but he has no interest. Instead he sends flowers to Saran with this sign and the nerd in my DIES because this is a pun on his name which is Ah Damo (aka Salvadore Adamo, a French singer whose most famous song is...you guessed it...Tombe La Neige)

He invites her to a hotel and she makes him kneel in the street for treating her like a hooker. I have a whole post about it. And then later, they have wacko convos like:

Damo: Let's try a 'clean' love. I won't touch you in any way unless you initiate it. We'll see where it will all go. Saran: How do I know you won't try to get handsy again? Damo: If I try, I'll marry you. I can sign a contract if you wish.

Spoiler - she initiates a whole bunch of touching...

Poor dude has to literally recite "Our Father" not to grab her :P

She learns to play catch because he said he always wanted to do it with daddy evilest but daddy never bothered; and he fantasizes proposing to her and then freaks because he's in too deep and dumps her. Because he's a functional person from a functional family. He says it's because of status but we all know it's because he's a coward terrified of how obsessed he is.

On top of that, poor woman learns she's adopted blah blah her whole life has been a lie. So she decides to do the one sane thing: BECOME A GISAENG!!!! That woman takes "I will show you how unsuitable and tainted I am" to new levels and I love it. Meanwhile ML who doesn't know is losing his mind not having her in his life and is all "why don't you be MY SISTER!" ahahahaha omg hi Borgia! This is FL's are you insane face.

Anyway he finds out she's a gisaeng and tries to drag her away...

When he's begging her to quit and telling her he'll start a dance troupe just for her and she tells him "don't you dare" and to use this money instead to come to gisaeng house "and I'll play with you." He tells her he can't work or do anything except to think about this and she comments he's selfish to the end, just thinking how things affect him. And he asks her if she's going to guests' rooms and she says "next week". It gets better! He asks her how will she feel with drunks' holding her hands and she says she only feels things when they hug her. And he hauls off and slaps her and she slaps him back, harder. And there is a beat while he looks at her and then he grabs her into a hug and just won't let go but she struggles free and hits him again, repeatedly. And he tells her "you said you only feel when they hug you" and she snarls at him "bring money to the gisaeng house and make an appointment."

He comes to the gisaeng house with a friend because he knows she won't see him.

He proposes marriage with the world's biggest ring and gets turned down!!!

He does the sane thing and volunteers to work as the servant in the gisaeng house to show her he is serious and gets to call her my lady, flip her shoes and wipe her mouth and give her all his money. As one does.

He gets to scrub the floor on his hands and knees and watch her serve the guests...as one does.

He makes her soup in the middle of the night and begs her to come away with him. (When she asks if it's from pity and he looks at her and says "love. It's for love. What else do you have to offer?") Also, because he's Damo and therefore generally odd, he tells her working all these menial tasks as a servant made him really get into perfect physical shape so they should get married asap so as to take advantage of that.

He finally loses it after a client insults her badly and demands she leave with him. Her reaction? Have water poured on him.

His reaction? All right lady, I am bringing out the big guns and removing my shirt.

They are FUCKED UPPPPPPP

Shortly after, we get this. Mixed signals queen! I love you! (He tells her she's so awesome if they get married, she'd be marrying down.)

Yup, we have aristo wooing a quasi-hooker. Who is all "fine, I will be your mistress but I won't marry you, and if you won't mistress me, I will take another lover." And so she does - or is about to - and he crashes it all defeated and kneeling and begging and groveling and telling her he will give in and make her his mistress just not to leave himmmm.

And she's finally "OK, fine, you win, I will make an honest man out of you!"

And then we get 20 more eps of glorious insanity and his family cutting him off etc etc. Delish.

This drama ate my year back way when.

[cdroloisms]

hi your art is so gorgeous I’m obsessed with how you shade and texture hair especially. Also can you tell us more about spaghetti strap collar dream (j!dream??) starting with Why is he dressed so fruity

OMG THANK U :D hair drives me a little nuts to draw i wont even lie

j!Dream ... my j!Dreamogie...

j!Dream starts with the JMAH AU, which involves our favorite mans sam awesamdude getting to do a good old do-over of the prison. Which he takes gladly, of course, with a good heaping measure of god has sent me back to do what's right and this is the warden's duty to bear and other related such sam-isms

of course, things go awry with him, but not before a year of (title drop!) just him and dream in the prison and all of the horrid intimacy and violence that came with it. sam wallows in his failure (and his successes...he did things better this time, right? it wasn't his fault, right? he did everything he could...maybe now he can enjoy true freedom...) while dream relearns how to be free (in the belly of the prison that had swallows him whole and spit him out different. the dispensers are a row of teeth above his head.) it hardly matters at the end, though, because XD has other games to play--this brings us to Four Square, which is the prison-themed crossover meetup with canon of their dreams (heh, Dreams) !! All your best hits are here: the clock! Blood! Drama! More blood! Sam giving the Dreams over for Quackity to torture! Sam threatening Quackity for Dream's sake! Technoblade! Camraderie! Betrayals! Gossip sessions! Raw potatoes! Dream grilling Sam about his reasons! Even board games! Four Square really has it all.

(a lot more. under the cut.)

in four square, a certain point, both prisontrios (jmah edition and canon) get to play monopoly together. in the regular version, the dreams manage to win monopoly, (j!dream does, specifically) and quite a bit happens in the aftermath of this--after getting trolled by XD a bit an having to fight for their lives a lot more, they do (with. some complications) manage to win themselves the upper hand eventually. it kinda brings four square to the more "daedalus" era, with the LN confrontation next (we never finished writing that, though: it probably would've ended quite a bit messier than the LN confrontation, with nowhere to run, but i feel like it probably would've ended with the quackitys hogtied in some corner of the prison while the dreams waited for them to get tp-ed out.)

in the bad ending, though, j!sam wins. and there's a lot about four square that does demand...a level of introspection, for better or for worse, and sam has been on quite the roller coaster of emotions (here, you have him: but only for a day.) dream is in the prison, but sam is really no more its warden than anyone else here--four square is first and foremost a game, and that in and of itself is a mockery. more than anything, he's finding that he wants dream and dream alone; he misses the days of just the two of them in this prison, just the two of them and dream is safe and perfectly under his control. when he wins monopoly and XD gives him a wish...well.

enter mayfair. four square had taken a lot out of them both, dream especially--he was told for a year that sam was protecting him from Worse, that sam wasn't really torture wasn't really that bad, and 24 hours with two Quackities each with a Lays family size bag of chips on their shoulder sure has him pretty damn convinced. sam and him and a new prison only this one has brick walls instead of obsidian and wood flooring instead of blackstone...a little cottage with an impenetrable barrier surrounding them. he's more trapped than he's ever been but look, here's a house and here's sam and here's the sun. here's table set with a vase of roses and a candlelit dinner for two.

in a lot of ways, what happens after is the natural progression of jmah, and then four square, and all their combined horrors. dream isn't even sure that they're on their server (they weren't for four square, after all.) he's tired. he's genuinely, wholly, so fucking tired of it all and sam isn't that bad, when it comes down to it, not as bad as he's been having nightmares about for the last few months--not as bad as he expected, should sam ever recapture him. this is his world now, this clearing and this house and this sam. it would be foolish of him to not try and make the most of it.

for a year and a half, they had been dancing around each other. for the entirety of four square, they had been grilled on the nature of their relationship with no satisfactory answers. there is so much about this house that is just so damn unambiguous, and honestly? honestly, dream just wants to know.

(one week, one week and a half into their new living arrangment, dream sinks to his knees in front of sam in their living room.)

(you want this, a question or a statement? you want this, and it goes both ways.)

the walk-in closet attached to their master bedroom had a little selection of clothing when they were tp-ed in. the whole damn place was kind of a practical joke, a picture-perfect romantic getaway. there's like, sex toys in the drawers. stuff like that. the closet itself is also a mess of different things--some copies of sam's clothes from home, some tunics and hoodies for dream...but also suits, and ties, and dress pants, and dresses. croptops and lingerie. a prisoner's jumpsuit tucked in some corner.

their sexual relationship is ummm UMMMM. it's a little dubious. for flavor. in a weird way, both sam and dream are on the same page of wanting to move past the prison? sam in particular is in an awkward position because...dream escaped! he literally Left, he Got Away, and now that sam has him again he's obligated, as his warden, to Do Something About That. at the same time though, he's giddy from the fact that he does have dream again. that he has real, tangible proof that dream is better, that he does need him and knows that he needs him, that he. Wants Him. the house didn't come with a cell--there is no place that is sam's, and then a separate place that is dream's. they are meant to exist together...and sam is finding that he. quite likes the idea of that.

they're also pent up as hell after uh going well over a year without any sexual activity for them both, and they've spent so much damn time thinking about it and dreaming about it and fearing it and wanting it on both sides without being able to admit any of it. so once the line is crossed, things start snowballing pretty damn fast. it's not something either of them can take back, so they. don't. and there's really nothing that exists to put a real boundary on any of it, any brakes to make things slow down or stop, anything that either of them can cling to as an excuse to force them to pull back. sam is pushing limits (how far will dream go to obey him--) and dream is pushing limits (how much can he use this to change what they are--) and neither of them are in a position where they can afford to back down. So They Don't.

birdhouse, or the timeline where we just get Really Silly With It, is where other variables are added in the form of different Dream AUs that kind of interrupt jmah duo's mutual decision to swan dive to hell. the outfits kinda start from mayfair and progressively get more extreme if dream + sam go unchecked--they're a natural consequence of j!Dream going hey how far can i push this to make sam lose his mind because if he's too busy thinking with his dick then he's probably less likely to get mad at me and other such lines of logic. in the version of birdhouse that begins to involve ff AU, the addition of ff!Sam (eventually) to the sexual dynamic does put another added layer of strain on j!dream in terms of the whole. There's Two Of Them Now. that's also where you kinda see more of him embracing uhh sex as the end-all be-all solution to most of his problems, as a means of getting some power back with regards to Sam and making the best out of his situation and the best (and only) leverage he has and the tool that's both the most pleasurable for him to wield and the most effective in making sam treat him better. Etc.

so he's doing great.

[the-tmnt-ficfinder]

Ficfinder finds: The Lemonade Leak

Chapter 20: The Missing

Chapter 20 Summary: Where are the Twins?

The Missing: Appraisal and Ratings

(Don't know what fanfic "Appraisal and Ratings" means? Check out my explanation on my Main Masterpost! Looking for a different fanfic to read? Head on over to my Fanfic List Masterpost!)

Disclaimer: This fanfic is only available to those who have an Ao3 profile. This fanfic is written by @turtleinsoup, so go show them some love and support!!

The fanfic ratings are not based on quality, favoritism, or how good I think it is, but rather, how intense a subject may be. Like a movie review, or the tags on Ao3, letting the readers know what to expect.

Plot: 💛💛💛💛💛

"Plot is five out of five!! From the last few chapters, to this one, it feels almost like an entirely new fanfic. So much change happens in such a short span of time, its insane!! The plot for this chapter is intense, and filled with nail-biting suspense!!"

Suspense/Mystery: 💛💛💛💛🖤

"Suspense/Mystery is four out of five!! The suspense and mystery in this chapter really hit different than any of the past chapters. The suspense during some of the interactions, along with the obvious mystery regarding where the twins went really amps up the intensity levels of this chapter!"

Angst/Hurt: 💛💛💛💛🖤

"Angst/Hurt is four out of five!! This chapter has less physical angst, but certainly more emotional angst!! As you can imagine, Leo and Donnie going missing would certainly cause a whole slew of panicked emotions in their brothers."

Fluff/Comfort: 💛🖤🖤🖤🖤

"Fluff/Comfort is one out of five! Every moment that may have been comforting, is marred by the very present fear and sadness. We do get a few small comforting family reactions, but not much besides that."

Emotions Conveyed: 💛💛💛💛🖤

"Emotions Conveyed is four out of five!! This chapter really exudes emotions of fear, uncertainty, tension, and helplessness."

Drama/Tension Level: 💛💛💛💛🖤

"Drama/Tension Level is four out of five!! While the drama is very dramatic, some of the tension has actually left, as the bulk of the family tension was happening due to the twins. The chapter fluctuates when it comes to intensity, some parts more intense, while others allow for a breath or two."

Triggers: 💛💛💛🖤🖤

"Triggers for this chapter are three out of five. As stated in the authors notes, keep an eye out for Police Brutality, and Dehumanization. There's a few more triggers in this chapter, but nothing super major. Read the tags, and stay safe! ^^"

Legibility (Reading): 💛💛💛💛💛

"Legibility (Reading) is five out of five!! Once again, Mikey’s POV is an absolute masterpiece to read!! Poetic, smooth, lilting, so so beautiful!!”

Legibility (Audio): 💛💛💛💛🖤

"Legibility (Audio) is four out of five! This chapter has no weird texts, however, it does have a high amount of parentheses, which doesn’t really translate into audio form. If you don’t mind missing the difference between parentheses and regular sentences, then the audio form is really lovely to listen to!!”

Length: 💛💛💛💛🖤

"Length is four out of five!! Chapter 20 of The Lemonade Leak takes about 46-47 minutes to listen to!!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Next Chapter ->

<- Previous

The Lemonade Leak: Story Ratings and Chapter List

Personal thoughts on chapter below cut (Contains Spoilers)

“Probably in trouble,” Mikey beamed. “They do love being there. - We’re from topside New York!” he continued, “The human side of it, so we don’t know that much about this one. Could you give us perchancely a quick 411 on what’s going on with the, uhh-” Mikey gestured at the abandoned street, and at the silence too, “general shut-down-ness in this part of the city, please? Why is everyone looking so on edge?”

“The 411” is basically a way of asking for the most relevant or truthful information on a situation.  

“Not yet.” Mikey warped an arm around Case’s neck and leaned toward the phone, ignoring the way Case started fidgeting at the sudden proximity. (Had anyone hugged Case since he had entered this timeline? The Chrononaut, navigating his yet-to-happen psychogeography of an unfamiliar universe. Oh, Mikey would have to pull him in. Later, Later.)

I love how Mikey adds parentheses to his thoughts, like a bunch of after thoughts, always going off on a tangent. It’s fun!!

Mikey stared up at him. A chuckle burst from his chest. Raph froze. His scent spiked with the sharp sting of distress. Mikey flinched and pressed his hands over his mouth, getting the texture of his bandages damp.

I feel like this is like smiling when it’s awkward. Grinning when it’s uncomfortable. What emotion do you display when everything is wrong? When they’re no reason to frown, no reason to smile, but the emotion is strong enough to warrant a facial expression? 

“Raph,” the doctor cut him off, before Mikey wrestled back up, because it was his heart-to-mouth, he was not spending it stuck in the drain of his throat, thank you very much! “If I punch your nose in right now- If I- If I break your nose without reason, are you going to punch me back?”

I love the little stall of Mikey’s words. He’s struggling to articulate what he wants Raph to know. The expressions and feelings are so clear in his mind, and yet words fail him. 

(It hurt so much, it was a burn eating through his heating insides, uncooled in color theory. Mikey needed to drink periwinkle.)

I don’t have anything particularly insightful to say about this, other than I just love how it’s phrased! 

“Nu-huh. None of that, Case,” Raph huffed and flexed the shoulder Case was sitting on. “Could be my bad eye, but you’re little brother shaped… You’ve been helping us search for days. You’re smelling like Mike. And you picked up on what he was doing. You were close to us in the future, right? So you were already part of the family. Donnie and Leo will- they’ll think so too.”

Mikey is incredibly clever, once again playing off of his and his families animalistic behaviors. What I really enjoyed, is how quickly Case picked up on that. How many times had he watched his Mikey do that in the future? 

So the first time I read The Lemonade Leak, I had only seen Rottmnt. Now, reading it again after watching more iterations (like 2012) I’m recognizing names like Tiger Claw, Rahzar, and Alopex. Originally, these had just been characters to me, and it’s so fun to be able to put faces and voices to them now!!

[b-rainlet]

Aegon would initially encourage Helaemond affair but then silently seethe in jealousy because he cannot believe Aemond does a better job at being a better lover (ffs, not in this too). Unironically, Helaemond would improve Helaegon relationship simply because Aegon would start a competition (solely existing in his head) of who can make Helaena cum more and harden which would indirectly bring Aegon and Helaena closer. And although I love an OT3 ending, Aegon would never want to share Helaena - he would be okay with extramarital sex, but Helaena loving Aemond more or even on the same level as him would never not trigger “omg mommy pls love ME” reflex in him. So he will taunt Aemond with their sister’s pussy but always remind him that she can never be truly Aemond’s. Ofc Helaena’s pussy is too addictive so he accepts and suffers in silence :) and Helaena is just a happy little bug in the middle getting extra dick every night :) :) :) Everyone suffers but her (as it should be)

This is so spot on, it may as well be what we would get if they made Helaegon vs. Helaemond canon lmao.

(This is gonna be looong so my rambles under the cut:)

Aegon absolutely cannot stand not being the center of attention and if he won't get any relief from his sexual obsession with his mother, then his sister has to be the next best thing.

At first it's like 'Why should I spent any time with Helaena, courting her or whatever, we're gonna marry anyway.' because Helaena was supposed to be his from the start so why even bother? Aegon is so used to Helaena being his mother's gift to him, he definitely takes her for granted. And there's no jealousy anywhere because nobody wants to associate with Helaena!

She's weird and she's a bit creepy with her bugs and her prophecies and any noble who ever was bewitched by her gentle nature and entertained the thought of courting her would've had second thoughts the moment Helaena would use a walk in the garden to start climbing into the bushes or digging in the dirt.

(I think Helaena would be very aware of how she's supposed to act in company of others but since Otto only ever really came back into the picture when the kids were already 10-14 and Viserys didn't really care, the greens most likely had some freedom in regards to behaving like total weirdos.

I don't know how much sense that makes since Alicent is all about duty and sacrifice but the first time we saw Aegon getting scolded it's by Otto, so I am personally believing that Alicent let her kids get away with a lot. And that aside from Aemond, both Aegon and Helaena used that to just. Be the weirdos they are.

Until Otto came along of course and started grooming Helaena to behave like a proper lady of the court).

And that's 100% the only reason Aegon (and Aemond) haven't been in any fights over Helaena's 'virtue'. If Helaena would've been more like Alicent or Sansa or Margaery, there would've been a bigger line up of people looking for the princesses favour - potentially even after Alicent announced her children's betrothal because betrothed isn't married yet and a Targaryen princess bonded to a Dragon? Always a big plus.

(There probably have been suitors - I can't believe the Lannisters wouldn't have tried - but as opposed to GoT, HotD feels...smaller? Like, I don't see any other kids at court aside from Aemond, Aegon and Helaena and that absolutely cannot be, but I guess they wanted the show to be more of a family drama. But maybe the books mention that there was no other potential suitor for Helaena and idk that because I haven't read the books, who knows).

I mean, the moment Jace dances with Helaena (which he btw only does to spite Aegon, I don't know why people seem to think he did it to make Helaena happy? He doesn't really care about her, they didn't even seem to have any kind of relationship - positive or negative - as kids, so why would his motivation lie with her and not with the Uncle he used to obviously be fond of and who now keeps belittling him in front of his betrothed) Aegon looks stunned. Like he never thought of the possibility of another man even looking at Helaena twice.

I mean, why should he? Helaena is his by all means and her being unfaithful? Will never happen. She was raised by Alicent after all and all of them now that the things Aegon does and the freedom he has hinge solely on the fact that he's a man.

Aegon and Aemond even share a look like 'Are you seeing this? Are we collectively hallucinating? What is going on??'

And to just think about this scene a little more and view it through a shippy lense: Aemond is probably also stunned and even more angry because there he is, the second son, the younger brother, the one who is so used to wanting yet never receiving unless he takes things by force - and pays for it in blood - there he is, resigning himself to a life without Helaena at his side because she was born not for him, but for his brother, swearing to himself to protect them both as best as he can (and their children) because that's the only way he can show love to either of them without it being inappropriate and what does Jace do?

The bastard who's waiting for his turn to sit the throne once again takes something he isn't privy to, yet feels entitled to possess, dancing with a married woman in front of her husband and his own betrothed (and even if he just wanted to annoy Aegon, I think not dancing with Baela first is seen as a slight within Westerosi society) without any thought of repercussions or honour.

So yeah, it's actually surprising that neither Aemond nor Aegon started a fight sooner lmao.

But I am completely going off the rails here, my point was that Aegon isn't used to sharing Helaena and that he would absolutely hate it.

And the only way I can see Aemond being a part of the Helaegon relationship is definitely if it's clear that Aegon is the favoured one. He's the one Helaena calls Husband, he's the one who is allowed to be tender with her in public (which he would be more and more the moment Aemond would be involved with Helaena because Aegon is nothing if not mean and he likes to see the way Aemond tries so very hard not to look at them, failing spectacularly each time).

Helaena can 'indulge herself' but only if Aegon is present/informed, I would even go as far as saying that Aemond has to ask Aegon for permission before making Helaena come, because a wife's pleasure is her Husband's business.

It's also clear that all the children Helaena will carry will be Aegon's and in turn, Aegon makes sure that Aemond doesn't get married off (if it's a situation where Aegon is King anyway).

That way, Aemond can forever remain by his siblings' side, just like he wants to, and his loyalties will forever lie with his family, but it also means that he will have no children of his own and that he will view his niece and nephews as his, even if he can't be as affectionate as he may want to, so not to stir up any rumours.

(It would also be fun if Aegon kept dangling the possibility of Helaena carrying Aemond's child over Aemond's head, promising him that if he is good and if he pleases Aegon, he may be allowed to sire a bastard - and Aegon would definitely make it a point to call said potential child a bastard, only to make Aemond hate himself a little more, because he doesn't want to 'defile' Helaena like that, but he already lost any honour he may have had when he followed Aegon's invitation to join them in their chambers all those years ago and the thought of getting Helaena pregnant gets him off harder than he wants to admit to himself.

And if said possibility ends up being true - if Aegon decides he has enough male heirs which would sit the throne way before Aemond's kid would have the chance - then there's the added pain of finally having a daughter (because Aemond would definitely have a daughter and spoil her to death, I don't take criticism on that), yet having to watch her call Aegon 'Daddy' and giggle as Aegon bounces her in his lap.

Aemond would definitely be the most distant with the kid he sired because he would feel constantly watched whenever he interacts with his daughter, whereas he feels a little safer being affectionate with his niece and nephews and his child would definitely grow up thinking her uncle can't stand her while Aemond is absolutely dying to be tender with her).

Anyway all this to say that you are spot on anon, I love any and all interpretations of the greens and their incest obsession (for example Aegon offering Helaena up to Aemond as a way of apologizing for not protecting him from Luke all those years ago), but based on their canon characterization, if there was the potential of Helaegond (which I don't think would ever actually happen, Aemond is too much of a good catholic boy to even think about his sister while masturbating) then it would be similar to what you described.

Maybe Aegon would approach Aemond after the dinner - after he worked through his own feelings of jealousy and realized, hey, there's very much the possibility of somebody realizing how neglected Helaena is and just. courting her behind Aegon's back - especially if Otto somehow has his hands in it.

I don't know why I am so obsessed with this premise, but Otto actively looking for and intrducing noblemen to Helaena as a way of enticing them to pledge alliance to Aegon? Stunning. At first it's the possibility of claiming a Tagaryen princess for themselves, later on it's being in the Queen's favour - and there's definitely some underlying hope there to be the one to ease the Queen's loneliness👀👀

And Aegon would have none of that. So, maybe it's actually thanks to Jace and opening Aegon's eyes that he would approach Aemond and ask him to 'entertain our dear sister so her thoughts won't stray'.

And Aemond is definitely affronted on Helaena's behalf because their sister would never. But at the same time, he's only just a man and the flesh is weak and I mean, at first it's just things like, spending time with her and the kids and keeping Helaena busy enough, she doesn't have any time for noblemen and their sharp tongues and wandering eyes.

Which quickly morphes into him staying the night in Helaena's chambers - just to make sure she's safe and sound of course, watching over her like a good brother, making sure she's actually in her and Aegon's bed while is who knows where, doing things Aemond would never dare think about.

But of course the closer the proximity, the bigger the temptation and the more Aemond sees how dismissive Aegon is of Helaena, the more he feels like their Mother made the wrong choice not marrying Helaena to him instead. He would've been a good husband, he would've made time for his children, he wouldn't be out there siring bastards and fucking whores while slurring out their Mother's name!

So the inevitable happens.

Little does Aemond know that Aegon was counting on Aemond to succumb to his desires one way or another. Aegon isn't stupid. He knows that Aemond has wanted their sister ever since they were children and he has allowed Aemond's quiet longing because he knows that Aemond is too much like their Mother to ever act on it.

Not without a little push at least.

So now Aegon has seemingly solved his little problem, because he has somebody to keep Helaena satisfied so she won't do anything unbecoming of a lady with somebody else (because if anybody would get to touch his wife in Aegon's opinion it would be their brother. He is the only one Aegon wouldn't kill for it and that's only because Aemond came from their Mother too and Aemond came after him and Helaena and if Helaena was made for Aegon, than Aemond can only be made for Aegon and Helaena.

Just like Daeron was made for Aemond).

Plus, Aemond is so torn up about it, Aegon has complete control of him. Aemond would kiss Helaena for the first time and immediately report it to Aegon, on his knees like he's confessing the gravest sin. And Aegon would get to play the benevolent god, forgiving and Aemond and even encouraging him to keep sinning, but only the way Aegon allows him too.

And it's a perfect arrangement.

Until Aegon starts feeling left out.

[walker-extended-universe]

These are all fics that have not escaped my drafts, not even for a single chapter. I can't provide links like the last poll series but I will provide a general summar below:

3x18 Stella Got Shot AU

Summary: What is says on the tin. Stella was the one that got shot in 3x18 instead of Witt and has to go to the hospital. I also put in that Sadie was somewhat involved in the how/why Witt was there in the first place but also included reasoning as to why she helped.

3x18 Micki Insert

Summary: Micki was invited to James' wedding and she couldn't say no. She meets Sadie and has a little talk with August about potentially joining the military. She also catches up with the Walkers and talks a little about what her plans for her future are.

WIndy Hoyt csa fic

Summary: After saving a White Dove from a customer who didn't understand the word 'no', an event from Hoyt's past is dredged up. He tries to shove it back down and ignore it but trauma doesn't work like that.

The kids got kidnapped too AU

Summary: Sharon was paid by Grey Flag to lure the kids into a trap. Stella falls for it and August goes down with her. Stella is placed into the cell Julia was in originally, right above Cordell and Liam. August is placed in another cell near where Julia was moved too. All four members of the Walker family suffer various levels of torture. They are able to escape but all is not well as August has a seizure during his debriefing and is rushed to the hospital. We learn that he's suffering from mild brain damage and Cordell, who now knows how they got kidnapped, blames Stella for the whole mess.

Stella/Sam/Dean

Summary: Stella's off at college and gets attacked by a monster- and subsequently saved by two attractive older guys. She's very grateful and offers them a drink that she's totally old enough to buy. Things escalate from there.

Cordell/Jessica

Summary: Cordell is called up to New York to consult on a case involving a gang he worked with in Texas. While there, he ends up saving socialite Jessica Whitly from being hit by a car and she takes him to dinner as thanks. she's enthralled by the younger, attractive Texas Ranger and takes him home. Cordell hs to return home the next morning, hastened by an awkward interaction with her children (only a few years younger than himself). Jessica finds he left his scarf behind and plans to deliver it in person.

Geri objects at Cordell/Emily wedding but it's just a dream

Summary: In which Geri objects at Cordell/Emily's wedding because of her feelings for Cordell and things go badly- but it was all just a dream

Jealous!Geri arranges for Emily's death AU

Summary: Emily gets the loving husband, the kids, the white pickets fence, the stable life, the dream.... And what does Geri get? Revenge. (I had a phase okay sue me)

August got Sadie pregnant and now there's drama

Summary: Fic I'm collaborating with @theladywyn on. In which August and Sadie have a FBW-type relationship (because they don't talk about their feelings) and Sadie ends up getting pregnant. But also Sadie is arrested because of her involvement with Witt and his friends and she gives birth in prison. August deals with fatherhood at 17 and trying to juggle his new responsibilities as well as his old ones. A lot of pressure is put on both of them to do the Right Thing regarding their relationship and the family. There's a lot going on and there's much angst but there's a fluffy epilogue so there

Micki and Cassie being friends

Summary: Micki and Cassie meet at a bar and Cassie ends up spilling some of the bullshit Cordell and Trey and James have put her through in season 3. Micki is not happy to hear about this and insists on rounding them up to give them a tongue-lashing.

[starbuckaroo]

Probably just coz it’s the middle of the night and I didn’t sleep last night either but I un-why-lamped myself on accident and I feel I must remove my clown nose, hang up the rainbow wig, so to speak. I no longer see a viable path forward for irl canon buddie 😔 the caveat of course is that I would love to be proven wrong, and I’m not about to be shoving these opinions on other people, but I gotta get them outta my head.

tbh I was brought into this show by ppl who fully believe(d) in canon buddie so I was eventually convinced to hop into the clown car w them. Idk if they’re still in there or not but it doesn’t much matter. I can be genuinely rooting for the honk honk crew and also acknowledge when I feel like the probability is no longer on our side.

I just I think I got so sleep deprived it made me a little high/delirious to the point where I accidentally tripped and fell into a General Audiences view of buck and Eddie and suddenly everything seemed like there was a totally obvious no homo rationale behind it. Granted, up until 6.18 I think the potential was still there, truly, but the way they ended s6 was a little too firm for me to believe they would still be able to lead a GA member down the path to canon buddie. The fact is that they needed to plant some explicit (by which I mean literally said with words or implied so strongly that there is no possible way a generic viewer would be able to take it another way) evidence that either one of them has ever in the past had attraction to other men or is currently reconsidering their approach. As simplistic and reductive as it feels for me, a certified Advanced Internet Queer, I do also think it is necessary to lead GA by the hand with something like that. And I think they’ve pretty much missed their chance.

I have yet to mention at all any thoughts about why this may have happened or what intentionality may currently or previously be present at any level of production of the show. That’s a whole other bag of worms and I have plenty of speculative thoughts but I’ll touch on that at the end if I get to it.

Like I just. I just suddenly saw a vision of a GA watching it and going: ah yes Buck has wanted to be a dad since s1e1 so he made friends with Eddie who already was a dad but didn’t have a partner so he had a slot open for a bff, so he taught Buck a little more about being a dad the same way Abby taught Buck about being a partner. The will scene was just Eddie making it explicit that he recognizes how buck has evolved into a dad-worthy character so he can be a back up dad. Eddie’s panic attacks? Not leading to something interesting about comphet, no it was legit just about Shannon, who is now his high school gf he knocked up at 18. The couch thing? Not that deep, just a fun visual to remind ppl that buck needs a good couch that he picks for himself/with his next partner (not rushed into it or picked for him by a well meaning but out of touch family member). And it shows up at Eddie’s house bc he heard about it from buck and is also feeling the need for a partner in his house. Even “you two have an adorable son” was given exclusively to Buck to cue his brain to think about how he does actually enjoy being seen as a dad and would like to have a son someday maybe, like it’s just for him to actualize that as a concrete goal for the future. The poker game? It’s Eddie showing off how confident and connected he is, proving he CAN be suave and have a night out if he does it to have fun (and not be a performance).

Plus the thing w Natalia they seem to be setting up to be pretty serious, given that they tried to run her off with his most offensive exes, and then made her be present for an emergency helps her see a little more of the reality of his job, and particularly with it being for the birth of a baby, AND her recognizing the way he looked at the baby and THEN saying “hey I like you let’s smooch” like…they legit set her up to actually see his major drama and his life/partner goals BEFORE they start aiming towards anything serious. So like yeah it never seemed like Taylor was gonna want kids but if Natalia didn’t want kids she wouldn’t have led him on AFTER watching him deliver a baby. Idk I just feel like they actually set Natalia up pretty well to be a decent match for Buck if that’s where they wanted to go. And same w Marisol to a much lesser degree obvs.

Idk I’m hella sleep deprived and can’t think of anymore of my “gotcha” buddie moments but like. EYE don’t see/interpret things this way, *but* I suddenly was able to understand how someone could pay close attention and still legit fail to spot the buddie of it all without being malicious.

And that plus the changing political climate and the writers strike make me think that it’s just not worth the risk like it may once have been, idk. Idk it sucks lol I don’t enjoy this, and I do feel like there are some episodes where the queer subtext is very strong so like maybe that WAS the goal at some point or some writers/directors managed to get more subtext in, like supernatural stylez lol idfk there’s no way of ever knowing that unless they say so, so idk

[diariesof-kg]

Chapter Two.

2023 August 10.

A lot has happened and I am kind of unsure why things affect me so bad, but that is something I need to work on. I also love the person I am today and refuse to backpedal down to who I use to be. The truth is no one will ever understand a Capricorn and I have heard this from other Capricorns as well. We will always be misunderstood. This is something we are aware of and yet we still complain about it as if the world is going to stop spinning just to understand US, the GOAT. Maybe it's better we understand ourselves and love ourselves and take what we receive as is.

I don't believe we are hard to love, I just think humans refuse to take the extra time to do so, but expect it in return. How I feel right now is quite unethical, if that even makes sense. This white screen I type on can't begin to capture my full emotions within. I think I am tired to be honest. I have been tired since May and all the issues and drama it came with, which flowed into June. The unfortunate thing is I returned to the forefront to avoid 'situations' but in reality wanted to disappear forever. Capricorns, we tend to care too much about people who wouldn't even bring us the moon. I sometimes feel sorry for us, because we don't deserve being treated the way we do. I always state that I wish I was another zodiac sign, because a few are much stronger emotionally, even if the undertone of it is weak.

When I feel like this, I wish my mom was here. I mean real bad. I believe I am filled with a lot of pain and not sure where to go with it. Venting to my friends does nothing anymore and I think I have mentioned that before. Phew...I wish I could really speak on how I feel, but I don't need people to panic. I will type all of this and wake up the next day feeling amazing but that's like putting a bandaid on an unhealed wound that continues to bleed. I think I am tired of just being 'handled' incorrectly. I am kind of tired of expressing my emotions and feelings only for it to seem overdramatic. I know I have an issue with expecting people to think how I think, but not on that level. It's more of if the roles were reversed how would you feel. But even then how can I expect that. I think moving forward in my friendships, family and relationships, I just won't anymore. I won't even be upset about certain things, I just be like "well alright." I understand that's dangerous and it's actually hindering my emotions, but I've been doing this all my life.

Sometimes you have to really sit back and tell yourself, no one gives a damn about your feelings Ke'Anna, because if they did, then A wouldn't have led to C. Today I sat on the floor in silence and gave myself words of affirmation. I thought about what makes me a catch. What makes me desirable. What makes me different from everyone else. To be honest it helped a lot. I had to remind myself of how thoughtful I am when I think of others. My actions create happiness within me that it shows through the person. I am honest and loyal. I put others before me and always think before doing. I am loving and caring with a little razzle dazzle. I validate others feelings without attempting to impose with my thoughts and opinions. I make sure the person is heard and be sure after, to "check in." The list can go on. I sat and thought about all the compliments I had received over time from past folks I had interest in. Sometimes you have to take a second to conquer the subconscious negative thoughts. I mean after all I did have two women fly out here just to see if I was real. Lol,

I think the only person I could say who understood me was the one who didn't want to commit. Lol, how ironic. Maybe because she was young and less tainted by society? But then again my sister is a Libra and even though I be side-eyeing, she definitely does validate and attempts to understand your thoughts. I had to clap for my sister one time, because she was never like that. That's huge growth that I have seen. I be wishing sometimes that I wasn't me. The personality that everyone likes. Sometimes I wish I was less caring and more selfish. And I mean really selfish, whatever that looks like, because I have no idea, Lol. Maybe nonchalant? More so an inconsiderate person? A person that honestly just does whatever and apologizes over and over again, because humans love to scream accountability. But then the world lives in pain, so me being inconsiderate to others would be a fraction of what they already endured. Could anyone imagine me being this person? They would honestly be scared. Lol, my friends would unfriend me. Everyone would be like Ke'Anna isn't KeAnna. It would be real life scary. It wouldn't be considered acting out, it would be more of trying on a new pair of shoes. Maybe if I was more inconsiderate I wouldn't live in this agony pain. How can I even explain what I mean. I mean I'd be a human who is numb and feel less and it would save me from overthinking and sleepless nights.

I should consider this next venture. It would definitely help in so many ways. I feel sorry for those who took advantage of who I was, Lol. Seriously, I be scared of my own self and the abilities I have to turn into someone else. Next everyone going to call me cold, but I was just warm all those times. Who knows, but I do feel a change is coming indefinitely. Once I stop crying, it's the start of something beautiful. Something magical. The only reason I will be crying is because I miss my mother. Everyone else will receive not a drop of tears from me. I shall return to write some more later this month, if time permits. I have so much on my plate and unsure how to handle it, but will attempt to week by week.

[devilrosola]

Soulmate AU ideas

So for getting some ideas how to subtly tell a soulmate, I was looking up things and came across a masterlist here (thanks @r-evolve-art )

Tomorrow I'll post the ones I thought would make good Enja scenarios (on @enjagoodness ) that I won't be using for Enja Day this year, but here are some others that were intriguing that aren't Enja related

LIST

*Your eyes are your soulmate’s hair colour, changes when they dye it

Could this actually count for DraJa? Ja’far’s eyes were green then turned gray–Drakon had green hair then assimilated…maybe has a few dark dragon hairs?

Also read this just after starting Orient and had noticed how Musashi has red hair and blue eyes while Tsugui has blue hair and red eyes (granted hers are of lighter hues). Then the next day watched enough to meet Michiru who has dark with a purplish hue hair and gold eyes, complimenting Kojiro's blond hair, violetish eyes. Albeit, things were going MusashixMichiru but adding this soulmate idea in could add some drama XD

*Only your soulmate can kill you. 

Why does this scream SinJa?

*You can’t harm your soulmate

*You can only harm your soulmate

First of those two also screams SinJa

OTHERS

Also intriguing ideas, but only a few highlighted from the previously linked masterlist. Would love for Enja, but don't have specific hcs for these like the promptlist I'll be posting later.

*See color for the first time when you meet, fades away when they die

This one is so poetic~

*Everyone has heterochromia, one eye is your natural colour the other is your soulmate’s natural colour. Once you meet all eyes return to natural colour.

*Once you meet your soulmate, you grow wings like an angel. You gain one new feather each time something special happens between you two. When your soulmate dies, you lose all your feathers and can no longer fly.

Also poetic

*If you don’t find your soulmate by your #th birthday, you die

*Everyone wears a mask. You get to finally take it off when you meet the one with your identical mask, your soulmate.

*If anyone except for your soulmate says your name, you die

*Opposite of the above, if your soulmate says your name you die

*Bubbles gives you a blurry glimpse into your soulmate’s world (visions of possessions, friends, family, laughter, crying, etc)

That could be fun

*One soulmate owns a lock and the other owns the key to that lock.

Key to my heart

*Everyone gets a list of their soulmate’ worst qualities

Hahaha that’s cheerful XD

*Literal sparks fly when you're near your soulmate, soothing for the two of you but static shock for others.  

*Your level of talent at a hobby is determined by how close you are with your soulmate.

[starseedfxofficial]

The Hidden Factor Driving XAUUSD You Didn’t Know About: Factory Orders If you’ve been navigating the Forex markets for a while, you've probably heard people talk about XAUUSD – the gold trading pair that loves drama more than a reality TV star. But what if I told you that there’s one little-known factor that could make or break your XAUUSD trade, and it's probably something you've overlooked: factory orders. Now, I know what you're thinking—factory orders? Sounds about as thrilling as watching paint dry. But hear me out. Factory orders are like the overlooked cousin at a family gathering; they have hidden potential that can actually swing the market, and if you know how to read them, they can make your gold trades sparkle. In this article, we’ll dive into how factory orders impact XAUUSD, the secret patterns that only a handful of traders understand, and how you can leverage this data to take your trading to the next level. We’re going to have some fun, get our hands a little dirty, and by the end of this, you'll have some ninja-level insights you won't find anywhere else. Buckle up, and let’s take a ride down the golden highway—without the bumps and potholes. Gold and Factory Orders: A Match Made in Forex Heaven? Factory orders are essentially a snapshot of the manufacturing activity in an economy. In the U.S., for instance, they tell us if factories are ramping up production or slowing down. Why does this matter for XAUUSD? Because factory orders give us insight into the health of the U.S. economy. Gold, a safe haven asset, moves inversely to economic health. When factory orders are up, traders tend to shy away from gold, pushing the price down. But when those orders are lower than expected? You might as well cue the gold glitter cannons. Let me throw in an analogy here—if you’ve ever bought a pair of shoes on sale that you’ll never actually wear (we’ve all done it), factory orders are a bit like that sale. They make the market move, sometimes unexpectedly, and if you're smart enough to look at the details, you could avoid the blisters—or in this case, missed profits. Why Most Traders Get It Wrong (And How You Can Avoid It) Most traders hear the phrase “factory orders” and immediately change the channel. Let’s be honest—it's not as glamorous as Fed rates or NFP. However, it's precisely this ignorance that presents a hidden opportunity. While everyone else is busy with the loud economic indicators, the savvy trader quietly watches those factory order numbers to plan their gold trades. A common mistake? Ignoring factory orders simply because they aren't as popular. Picture this: You’re in the trading room, staring at a sea of red—all indicators say sell XAUUSD… except those pesky factory orders, which just came in below expectations. The retail crowd hits the sell button, but guess what? You, my friend, know better. You know gold loves to shine when economic optimism wanes. The Hidden Patterns That Drive the Market Now that you're with me on the value of factory orders, let’s talk about how to truly leverage this knowledge. Factory orders can reveal more than just economic activity; they expose trends, and hidden ones at that. Let’s get into the details of the ninja tactic here—and no, I’m not talking about silently creeping up behind your opponent in the Forex dojo. Consider this: When factory orders rise consistently, it’s a good indicator that businesses are optimistic about future demand, which means investors may shift out of safe-haven assets like gold. Conversely, a decline in factory orders—especially when it’s unexpected—typically spells trouble for the economy. The moment these numbers drop, institutional traders start eyeing XAUUSD like a kid eyeing the last slice of pizza. Here’s where it gets interesting: Watch the market reaction, but don’t react immediately. Often, there’s an initial overreaction, which can quickly correct. The savvy trader waits for the pullback, gets in with a tight stop, and rides the trend—it’s like waiting for the microwave popcorn to finish before diving in. Nobody likes burnt fingers, and nobody likes a trade that gets stopped out too early. Contrarian Gold Trading Tactics with Factory Orders If you’re reading this, you’re probably not interested in being part of the herd. Let’s be real: the herd mentality often ends in a sad sigh and an empty account balance. Here's where we take the red pill and go deeper. One of the key contrarian approaches is to analyze the consensus estimates on factory orders and then plan for what happens if the actual number is wildly different. Most retail traders place their bets based on consensus, which makes it predictable—and predictability is your weapon. For instance, if factory orders are predicted to rise but instead drop significantly, XAUUSD is likely to experience an uptick as uncertainty creeps in. The contrarian move is not to immediately jump in but rather to watch for the knee-jerk reactions, wait for them to settle, and then take your position as the market starts to align with the fundamentals. Remember, buying gold when everyone else is dumping it is kind of like that time you picked up that bizarre flavor of chips that no one wanted at the party—and it turned out to be pretty awesome. Contrarian tactics are often uncomfortable, but they’re incredibly rewarding when executed right. Predicting XAUUSD Moves With Factory Order Data: A Step-by-Step Guide Alright, time for some actionable steps. Enough theory—let’s talk practice. Here's how you can use factory orders to predict XAUUSD: - Mark the Release Date: Factory orders are usually released monthly by the U.S. Census Bureau. Set reminders so you don’t miss it—like setting an alarm for your favorite show, but less binge-watching and more money-making. - Check the Consensus Estimate: Look at what analysts expect. This gives you a baseline for comparison. - Compare Actual vs. Expected: This is where the magic happens. If factory orders come in below expectations, gold tends to go up. Above expectations? Gold might take a hit. - Watch the First Reaction: Don’t be the guy at the auction who raises his hand too early. Watch how the market reacts for the first 30 minutes to an hour after the data release. - Enter on Pullback: Once the market has overreacted, look for an entry on the pullback. If orders are lower, enter long on gold as traders reevaluate. - Set Tight Stops: Gold can be wild, especially during news. Use a tight stop-loss to prevent the “bad sitcom plot twist” of watching your profits evaporate. Case Studies: When Factory Orders Turned Gold into, Well, Gold Back in September 2023, factory orders in the U.S. came in much lower than expected, which caused a ripple effect across various markets. At first, XAUUSD showed a lot of volatility—almost like that moment in a thriller when you’re not sure who the villain is—but within hours, the price of gold began to surge. Most traders had initially gone short on gold, expecting better economic performance. Savvy traders who understood the link between factory orders and economic sentiment cleaned up nicely that day. Another example is from February 2024. Factory orders fell for the second consecutive month, raising alarm bells about a potential slowdown in U.S. manufacturing. Those who were quick to see the writing on the wall positioned themselves for a long XAUUSD trade and benefited from the ensuing rush to safety assets. It’s like finding out the power goes out before anyone else does, and you just happen to have all the candles. Next-Level Strategy: Combining Factory Orders with Other Indicators Factory orders are powerful, but they become ninja-level tools when used alongside other indicators. Let’s bring in another heavy hitter—the U.S. dollar index (DXY). Since gold is priced in dollars, it’s often inversely correlated to the DXY. When factory orders come in weak and DXY starts slipping, that's your cue to get into a long XAUUSD position. Combining these indicators is like pairing peanut butter with jelly—good on their own, but unbeatable together. Another tactic is to use RSI (Relative Strength Index) when factory order data comes in. Weak factory orders combined with an oversold RSI on XAUUSD? That’s like a neon sign saying “BUY ME.” Look for divergence between price action and RSI for an even stronger setup. Trade Gold Like an Insider To most traders, factory orders are just another number. To you, they’re now a secret weapon—a signal that can give you the edge in the XAUUSD market. We've covered how to interpret factory orders, how to use contrarian tactics, and even combined strategies for next-level trading. So what now? Start integrating factory orders into your trading plan. Test out these strategies. And if you need more insights or real-time updates, check out StarseedFX's exclusive offerings. We provide everything from economic indicators to insider community support—and trust me, there's no better way to sharpen your edge. Trade smart, stay golden, and remember: success in trading isn’t about following the crowd—it's about knowing what they’re ignoring and turning that into your advantage. —————– Image Credits: Cover image at the top is AI-generated   Read the full article

[billconrad]

Anger Inspires, Exercise Expands, Sleep Mulls, and Writing Vets

    My family has had 1,000 watts of drama over the last months, but I do not wish to share my chaotic details because I am a private person. Umm, truth. I really want to share this mess and would value your input. Alright, alright. You deserve a hint. Borderline Personality Disorder. If you know somebody who suffers from this malady, you know how much destruction it causes.

    The drama caused many painful emotions, angry thoughts and serious courses of action. It has caused multiple sleepless nights because my mind would not let the problems go. Anger was chief among my feelings and I was surprised how many great story ideas I developed during my angry thought process. Fortunately, I have learned to have a notepad handy and recorded many ideas, including eight article concepts, an entire chapter for an upcoming book and two short story ideas.

    My idea for this article was to share my ideas and evaluate them, but as I looked at the chaos I reordered, it occurred to me that the ideas were not that great. But way? I decided to figure out what was going on.

    I have always been a creative person and have had many great ideas over my lifetime. My highest periods of creativity occur when I exercise, go to sleep, and write. The more I thought about these specific activities, the more I realized they inspired different kinds and levels of creativity. Here is what I have learned about myself.

    I used to think I got my best inspiration during bike rides and hikes. When I exercise, I let my mind drift while I explore nature and work my muscles. I am sure that during this time, my circulation improves, sweat expels things my body does not need, and my mind works at peak effectiveness. Why? Coordinating one’s feet during a hike or moving the handlebars on terrain is mentally challenging. Yet, this activity does not require pure mental power; it uses muscle memory. I equate this in computer terms when a graphics card does most calculations while the main processor acts like a symphony conductor.

    I do not always get new ideas during my exercise, but I do think about many topics. Going along the trail is a perfect setting to identify, explore, and solve problems. Now, I save up problems for when I exercise and have found many great solutions. Yet my new article/plot ideas are unfocused (lofty), and only 30% are suitable for being written up.

    Right before I go to sleep, I always think about my stories. This includes reviewing the plot, imagining the characters in situations, and devising book marketing solutions. I have concluded that my creative output is poor during this time.

    Yet pre-sleep provides the perfect environment for getting comfortable with my plots and characters. This time allows me to develop details, connect ideas, and take pride in my creation. The result of my effort shines when I use my outline to write the story. I occasionally solve problems or develop something new, but it is rare. Also, as I am falling asleep, I often forget to record my ideas.

    When I write, my creativity is cold and direct. My core focus is to evaluate the present sentence and, once satisfied, create the next. When I get stuck, I briefly distract myself or change locations to joggle my creativity. While writing or editing, I rarely get big ideas or solve big problems. Instead, I focus on grammar, flow, motive, and logic. Still, it feels good when I fix a flaw or have a creative moment.

    To further define this time, I have an example. If a person asked me to sit down and write a story about unicorns, I would be lost. I might be able to develop a unicorn story during a bike ride, but it would not be significant. Yet, I know when I could think up a fantastic story about unicorns.

    When I get angry, my creative output is raw and never-ending. I am sure the adrenaline is pumping through my veins, and my fight-or-flight mechanism is at full power. The result is a nuclear cluster bomb of thoughts, ideas, courses of action, and feelings.

    When I calm down and evaluate my creations, I find them out of the box, illogical, uncompromising, and wacky. I estimate that 20% of this mess is helpful. Yet, the few gems certainly qualify as creative.

    Of course, there is a problem with anger-inspired ideas. Being upset is not desirable, and I certainly do not wish to get angry for the intent of writing. Yet… I value this time, and when I am not angrily thinking about my core issue, I use this time to develop story ideas.

    This article vetted many issues. I now know what to expect when I think about problems. I also know creativity is complex and inconsistent. Hey, that’s a creative conclusion.

  You’re the best -Bill

  July 03, 2024

  Hey, book lovers, I published four. Please check them out:

  Interviewing Immortality. A dramatic first-person psychological thriller that weaves a tale of intrigue, suspense, and self-confrontation.

  Pushed to the Edge of Survival. A drama, romance, and science fiction story about two unlikely people surviving a shipwreck and living with the consequences.

  Cable Ties. A slow-burn political thriller that reflects the realities of modern intelligence, law enforcement, department cooperation, and international politics.

  Saving Immortality. Continuing in the first-person psychological thriller genre, James Kimble searches for his former captor to answer his life’s questions.

  These books are available in softcover on Amazon and in eBook format everywhere.