#Brett is so expressive in all of his scenes it’s amazing

[jazzandpizazz]

Jeremy Brett and David Burke in Sherlock Holmes season 1 episode 3: “The Naval Treaty” (1984)

[milquetoast27]

Hamlet liveposting >:3

I'm relatively new to Shakespeare, but I'm very excited to get more invested in his works! I've studied Romeo and Juliet in full, and know the plot of Macbeth. I'm currently going through Hamlet and I actually know nothing of the plot- although I have suspicions (considering the play is a tragedy).

Act 1, Scene 1 already goes CRAZY. My biggest passion when studying texts is considering the context of the time it was written in- and this is something EXTREMELY pertinent for Shakespeare. Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet especially mirror the instability and tension of the 1590s. (Threats to the monarchy, invasion of the Spanish, persecution of Catholics, Irish rebellion, etc.) The very first line is "Who's there?", immediately setting the tone of distrust. There are more obvious indications of this, such as the appearance of Old Hamlet's ghost, as well as the reference to Julius Caesar by Horatio, but it's amazing seeing how many allusions there are to this strain throughout only the first scene.

and HAMLET. Listen, I've literally only gotten to the first soliloquy (no spoilers please, by the way!! 😆) but I have to express my excitement. I look forward to exploring his character in more depth, and his relation to/possible representation of Elizabethan Britons' feelings. As a Sherlock Holmes fan, I look very much to exploring a potentially complex and multifaceted character- with a mix of interpretations surrounding him. After all, his first line, "A little more than kin, and less than kind" was described by John Dover Wilson as "a riddle, just like his character", which makes me hopeful.

To be honest, my main reason for attaching myself to Hamlet was simply how much of myself I immediately saw in him. But that's what Shakespeare is good at, isn't he? Despite his plays taking place in an already distant past, their actual feeling and explorations are timeless. Upon the subject of Hamlet's first soliloquy, I have been in a painfully similar situation myself- and that frustration and lack of understanding is something I have felt exactly. I hope for him to develop and gain peace on this but, alas... This play is a tragedy, centering around themes of betrayal and mistrust. I have a strong feeling Hamlet's not making it out of this in one piece 😔 Bro just goes OFF on his first rant, though!! To me it's just... real!! So incredibly real, even if in a very outtdated manner of speaking, I totally get what that guy's getting at! That's what excites me!

And because I have Sherlock Holmes fans following me, allow me to bless you with some Jeremy Brett Hamlet pics ♥

Thanks for reading actual word garbage ❤

[thefisherqueen]

Another day of my Granada Sherlock Holmes marathron I'm on, and it's time to watch The creeping man! The weirdly out of place science fiction story reminiscent of Jekyll&Hyde with the highly creepy professor

Starting with the prelude: I don't like that they changed the daughter's reaction to the figure in front of her window from frozen terror to fainting. The realistic and sympathetic depiction of a common yet often misunderstood reaction to danger - simply freeze - stood out in the story to me. I do love, however, that she treathened to end her engagement to her fiancee if he didn't believe her and contact Sherlock Holmes. You go, girl. Insist he listens to you

Holmes alone at Baker street, obviously feeling lonely and pining for Watson was wonderfully done. He just misses his Watson to talk to! Jeremy Brett's expression as he stared out of the window tore at my heart - the pained longing in those eyes and around his mouth, oh my. Edward Hardwicke's depiction of exasperation when he turns up is also really well done! I appreciate how they show Watson standing up against Holmes and telling his opinion, but still, that tension between them, kind of hard to watch! The sad "maybe I'll see you tomorrow" as Watson angrily walks out and slams the door, oh my dear, I want to hug him

"He is, after all, three times her age" *shudders* Glad the episode doesn't brush that fact aside. And even further expands on it by adding a conversation between the two daughters. It really shows how young and vulnerable the professor's fiancee still is - quite literally his daughter's age, perhaps even younger - scared to stand up for herself or even tell him her preferences. The impication that this is an unequal relationship and that he's taking advantage of her is strong

"Hardly an adress to inspire confidence" Sure, professor in being an asshole "I have never sought to inspire confidence in others, I have quite enough of my own" What a line 💙 Great expension on the canon material here

"Forgive me mr. Holmes I should have told you myself, but-" "But you didn't" Holmes being sassy:)

Loved the scene where the two rascals pull a knife upon Watson and you can see the coffins on the other side of the streets. Great visual storytelling

Poor Lestrade, having to call out Holmes and utterly failing to impress him. The way Lestrade's (played by Colin Jaevons) eyes nearly popped out :D The characterisation in this series of Holmes - as a man who, the more he is harrassed and threathened, the more he won't let go of the case, is amazing

Holmes inside of the monkey's cage to investigate, oh I love him

The professor actually calls his fiancee "my dear child" I HATE HIM

Oh she calls off the engagement in this episode! Good for her! Now where did you get that unethical monkey poison for professor? She doesn't want you! Now I hope he leaves her alone. Somehow, I doubt it...

"Are you game?" "Delighted" That's his Watson 💙

Miss Pressbury looks gorgeous in that smart suit dress in the finale, would give a lot to have that costume

The monkey professor in the tree made me laugh so much, they really went all in on that!... actually, never mind that, turned extremely creepy once he tried to get to his former bethored in her bedroom. Good dog for tearing his throat out

Glad they left the social darwinism out of Holmes speech at the end. "Well, I'll leave the philosophy to you, Holmes" "Quite the best Lestrade, I always do" Haha, good for you Watson

The racist caricature music figurine, more so than the special effects, is what really makes this feel dated. This episode is as old as I am and the makers clearly thought it cute. Jeremy Brett dancing to the music, however, is adorable

I did not like the original story much, so I'm surprised how much I liked this episode. By adding some material, changing some things around, and using the visual medium to their advantage - not to mention fabulous acting - the makers actually really made this work. It's a little corny, but in an enjoyable way

[gins-potter]

🖊

Sevasey + dads

Finally getting back into working on these asks since they’re so overdue and I have a soft goal of getting them finish in January (along with posting a new chapter of Winx Re-written) so everyone manifest good writing vibes for me.

.

It was a quiet fall afternoon; they’d barely had any calls all shift and a crisp breeze lingered about the place that had Casey hunching further into Severide’s squad jacket as he stepped out onto the app floor.  It was so cold that even the squad table was abandoned, its usual occupants having taken refuge inside, and Casey walked over to the bay doors, wondering if he should shut them up to keep the wind out.

He really should have known by now that a quiet firehouse never stayed quiet for long.

He was leaning against the door jamb, smiling at the sight of the kids across the road playing in a big pile of brown and orange leaves when he heard it.  His smile slipped a bit as he tried to identify the sound, something of a quiet mewling, almost like a disgruntled animal.  He pushed away from the doors, looking around a bit so that he might locate the animal; it didn’t sound in distress exactly, but Casey would feel better if he could lay eyes on it and make sure.

But what he found wasn’t an animal.

“Brett!  Mikami!” he yelled over his shoulder.  “Anyone?!”

Casey quickly knelt beside the bundle of blankets, easing gentle hands beneath it so he could lift the squirming, grumbling baby to his chest.

“Hey,” he murmured.  He shifted the blankets away from the baby’s face so he could get a better look but couldn’t see any obvious injuries or ailments beyond a slightly pink nose, likely from the wind.  “Hey now,” he said when the little one’s face screwed up, looking on the verge of wailing.  “None of that.”

He stepped back under the cover of the app floor, trying to protect them both from the wind, and was pleasantly surprised when the baby blinked and gazed up at him, expression smoothing out into one of calm curiosity.

“There you go,” he said softly.

“Hey, Casey, what- oh.”

Violet stopped in her tracks at the sight of the baby in his arms but Sylvie never missed a beat, hurrying over and peering into the bundle of blankets while more of his fellow firefighters streamed out behind her.

“Who do we have here?” she cooed, lifting the baby out of Casey’s arms so she could get a better look.

Casey fought off the irrational pang of discomfort at the baby being taken out of his arms and shoved his hands into the pockets of the quilted jacket instead.  He glanced up to find Severide had joined those crowding around Sylvie and the baby, his eyebrows high on his forehead in surprise at what his husband had found.  Their eyes found one another and Severide’s mouth curved into a smile of amazement.  A million thoughts passed unspoken between them before they both turned their attention right back to the little one.

“She seems okay,” Sylvie was saying, frowning a little despite her words as the baby squirmed and mewled in her arms.  The firefighters let out a collective murmur of relief at Sylvie’s assessment and Casey felt something ease in his chest.

“But she doesn’t look happy,” Violet commented, also looking concerned.

Out of the corner of his eye Casey caught sight of Boden as his Chief stepped out of the firehouse and took quick stock of the scene.  “Kylie-” he said, turning to his assistant who’d been trailing him.

“I’ll call DCFS,” she said immediately, turning right back on her heel and heading inside.

Casey’s stomach twisted but his attention was quickly snagged by the little girl in Sylvie’s arms who was working herself up to a full cry.

“What’s all this about then?” he said to her quietly, brushing a soft hand over her head and the fair, fuzzy hair that covered it.  She couldn’t be more than a couple months old, if that, and Casey shook his head slightly at the thought of someone leaving her all alone.  “Hmmm?  What’s got you all worked up?”

The baby’s cries eased off again and her gaze swivelled around to land on him once more.  Sylvie eyed him for a moment before holding her back out to him, Casey automatically taking him in his arms and pressing her to his chest.

“She likes you,” the paramedic said with a smile.

Unbidden, Casey’s eyes lifted to Severide’s once more.  Neither of them were particularly superstitious men, nor religious, despite the medallion Severide wore around his neck, and yet it felt like some mysterious force was at play, dropping a baby into their lives just days after they’d submitted paperwork to begin the process of fostering or adopting.  Some greater force was smiling down on them.  He knew it, and Severide knew it, for the same thing shone in both their eyes as their gazes met: hope.

[valkyrieandstrangeridingaragorn]

"Another man's evil does not make you good. Men have used the atrocities of their enemies to justify their own throughout history". What Father Lantom said there was Matt was conflicted on whether or not he should kill Fisk, that's the sort of way most other MCU heroes and villains should be challenged on their actions.

I mean, I don't know if Steve Rogers was Irish-Catholic like Matt, but I think he had such a perspective of the California internment camps, Project Insight, the Sokovia Accords, etc.

It would have been amazing to have scenes like that one in the movies, can you imagine if Matt and Frank were joined by Steve in the rooftop? How would that work, because while Steve is probably more on Matt's side of things (as in, believing in the good of people, sometimes refusing to kill and arresting instead) he has killed an awful lot as well.

I just saw a couple more eps of S2 and this chat with Claire was so good:

Matt: "I thought it could work. I did. The law... But it feels useless. Everything I do just gets undone."

Claire: "You're talking to someone who patches up the same three crackheads every night."

Nurses put up with so much crap and she gave him just the perfect comeback.

If you mix that with Brett telling him the cops feel useless as they keep chasing crime instead of preventing it, with Foggy's numerous attempts at making Matt understand he needs to fix things by the law, it all points to the same path: he can't work alone because others are as interested in fixing the city as he is and they're as frustrated as him but they don't go and punch some criminals at night & if he keeps going that way that need for justification the priest was talking about is going to make him do something he will regret.

I mean, it's not a coincidence Matt is slowly losing faith (he literally said that to Gao) and he just told Frank maybe killing is the only way right about the time he's completely alone. His best work came when he had his friends, Claire and Brett, when they were all working together, just like Claire needed her team in the ER or Brett counts on the other cops or Foggy works with Karen, Matt needs them too.

It really is great how the series tackles that and I haven't seen the last two eps of the season yet but at the end of the day what the priest said still rings true.

Mind you, I'm not speaking against vigilantism at all but it's interesting to see these things from an outside perspective where other characters who don't put on suits and masks express how they feel and how the stuff the heroes do affect them personally and professionally. I love that it's street-level. I still believe what Daredevil does is necessary, but I find the dilemma quite interesting.

If other MCU characters had been taken through this path the light in which we see them would be totally different.

[holly-benji]

BRETTSEY 9X15 REVIEW

I'd like to review this episode with you starting with this scene, Casey's sweet way of saying what he thinks, to Sylvie's stunned face. Yes! Matt has finally come out and so now the ball is in the hands of our dear Brett. What will she do? But let's calmly analyze everything that happens: first of all Matt follows her, maybe moved by Severide's advice, by what Greg told him (even if he didn't believe him, maybe there is some hope), but above all for Dawson. To shake off this burden, and finally live in the light of day and not in a shadow tied to the past. Matt is keen to point out to Sylvie that he is no longer in love with Gabby. He will care her because they have shared joys and sorrows is undeniable, but he doesn't love her. HE LOVES SYLVIE, AND HE'S IN LOVE WITH HER. 

He can't let Brett believe otherwise just yet. The words he uses are sweet, and at the same time he leaves no room for doubtful interpretation, and it's the most beautiful thing in the world. When he said “you” that is the most meaningful thing!! You are my now, you are my future. I was literally crying in that scene, like Matt hahah, but with joy, because he was finally coming out.

Brett's reaction is just as beautiful. Initially all she wants is for Matt to be happy. We can only imagine the pain she was feeling (being around him has become difficult especially if you've been friendzoned), and that's why she flees Molly's. However, when she realizes that Casey's declaration of love is beginning, her expression is that of someone caught in surprise, amazement, and joy. She is motionless listening to him, her eyes eager to eat him up with kisses, and she is incredulous. It feels like a dream. One thing I also appreciated is that Matt doesn't put any pressure on her. He leaves her free to choose what is best for her.

Talking about the other scenes (otherwise I'll write a papyrus only about the final scene hahaha) I found it very interesting that Matt justified why Dawson called (as if to reassure Sylvie) and how she tries to act as a good friend but then fails (because she's convinced that what she wants she can't have). As I've said many times before, Sylvie has been convinced since the night of 9x02 that Matt never got over Gabby, in fact (and he was a fool to answer her that way), he wasn't sure of the magnitude of the feelings for Sylvie not that he didn't have them, and he couldn't recognize yet how tied to the past he was. He felt this enormous transport to her, but he didn't know it was enough for what Sylvie was asking for. He had never really compared his feelings for one or the other. He had merely said that they were real, the ones he felt for Sylvie (9x03). Here, on the other hand, even after Gabby's call, Matt is tired, tired of being tied to this person who doesn't allow him to live what he wants. So when they hear each other the second time that phone call pierces any doubt: hearing it didn't give him melancholy, or past memories, it only bothered him because it annoyed Sylvie. He noticed the reaction Brett had, and wanted to put a stop to it once and for all. Why, you may ask, didn't he purloin these doubts earlier? Because he thought he was unrequited and rejected, here on the other hand there is a slight chance that she is in love with him. Also, she had asked for space at the time, and he was trying to give it to her but found he couldn't anymore. Staying away from her has become impossible. They found their friendship again, but all it took was one phone call for Sylvie to pull away again. And that he can no longer allow. 

I can't wait for this final episode, and hopefully it will bring us some nice surprises. If you've made it this far, I thank you. A big kiss to everyone, and as always a special thanks to @hamburgerheroes​  who creates the craziest GIFs!

[biblio-bitch]

Detroit Evolution Commentary Pt. 3 [FINAL]

It’s been a while, sorry. Life sucks ass sometimes and I had to do some transferring to my new laptop. I’ll write down some more fun facts as an apology. Disclaimer: This is all stuff I noticed, inferred, or interpreted. I didn’t write the film, anything I’ve interpreted is just that, an interpretation based on things I noticed using my experiences and knowledge. 

Fun fact #1: I have attempted to write in a proper novel style at least five times. After watching DE and watching @octopunkmedia ‘s script breakdowns and such, I've started writing scripts instead. I’m much farther along in those than I ever have been in books. 10/10 amazing for my visual based concepts.

Fun fact #2: My mental health was rapidly declining and I was losing interest in quite literally everything at the time the film was released. Watching the film and fixating on it for a month straight not only inspired me but helped me regain control of my life. Watching streams by the cast and Michelle while I worked for school made my productivity skyrocket.

Fun fact #3: I recently developed a tic that I now can’t get rid of. It was out of control for about twenty minutes right before I began writing this post. However, when I began re-watching the film (partially because it’s a comfort for me and I’m quite honestly terrified of what’s happening in the US right now) it stopped. So that’s fun.

As usual, spoilers and swearing under the cut! Quick note: If there should be a trigger warning on this or anything else I post, please let me know! I’m horrible at remembering to tag triggers. I’ll also be doing some quick posts on Umbrella Academy and my severe obsession with Jason Todd soon. Have fun!

As usual, here’s a list of people I know the users of in case you’d like to check any of them out. I’m likely missing people so feel free to let me know who I’m missing so I can add them!

Maximilian Kroger - Nines (@ maximiliankroger)

Christopher (Chris) Trindade - Gavin (@ trindabago)

Michael Smallwood - Chris Miller (@ michaelsmallwoodforever)

Carla Kim - Tina Chen (@ carlahkim)

Jillian Geurts - Ada (@ jilbobaggins_nyc)

Michelle Iannantuono - (@ octopunkmedia)

JJ Goller - Lazzo (@ quasar.cos)

Brett Mullen - Cinematographer (@ brettmullendirector)

Austin Butts - Sound Design (@ austinbytts)

Tiare Solis - Valerie (@ tiareleiana)

So I decided to put all of the rest into this post. It’s a long one. Not even that sorry about it bc I love this film with my entire heart. Warning for me getting sidetracked. I use a lot of Supernatural references but it’s because I’m visiting my dad and he’s binge watching the show. I like Dean and only Dean, don’t bully me for it.

The Wrist Grip™️ in the bedroom before Nines moves back

Shoutout to Maximilian Kroger’s muscles u go dude

Lighting Symbolism™️, big theme through the movie, honestly I think it’s beautiful and they did a wonderful job with it.

The little nod from Gavin as he starts talking about his nightmare 

You can see Gavin gearing up to move, like not in a normal way, in a “oh god I don’t know if I have the energy to do this” way and that’s Relatable™️

The little smile from Nines as they sit together

The SHARK PLUSHIE I LOVE HIM (THE SHARK HAS AN INSTAGRAM @ sharktreuse)

Nines being domestic, making coffee and breakfast, being Soft.

Shirt change??? Either I’m blind or he’s wearing a different shirt in the morning (He is. He’s wearing a t shirt at night and a buttoned collar shirt in the morning. Perhaps he changed? He’s wearing normal pants so he probably changed but he’s not wearing that same shirt in the next scene)

Ada eye rolling at them being passive aggressive dumbasses. Same. Apparently Jillian kept fucking with them which is,, so valid. 

The lighting in this scene (the office pt. 2) makes Maximilian look Android-white and outlined in the CyberLife blue-ish color. Very symbolic, I have no idea if it was intentional.

Another shoutout, this time to Maximilian’s eyebrows, the expressiveness is *chef’s kiss*.

“You can thank me later, Casanova.” Nines: *confused Android noises* 

Honorable mention to Michael’s Foo Fighters t shirt in the bar, it’s vintage.

Nines is in fact wearing a different shirt now. Not the same shirt from the morning bedroom scene. I also think he’s wearing a different jacket. Less of a peacoat and more of a leather jacket. Nice.

Shoutout to Tina’s (not irl) wife, Valerie! And her weird crush on Hank! I honestly can’t wait to see her in Seven Deadly Synths!!

Ada DODGING the questions that Nines is asking because she is SHADY. 

Also, he looks to Gavin when he talks about wanting to be more human. Recurring theme of him perceiving himself as lacking because of his ace-ness/android-ness, like he can’t give Gavin what he wants. Honestly I know that the android thing is a thinly veiled metaphor for race in canon but I kinda like thinking of it as a metaphor for being LGBT+ and in Nines’ case, specifically ace. Might not make sense but it does in my brain??

Gavin Senses Are Tingling and Nines is GONE. Leaving the bar for ur not-bf to try to talk things out like adults??? King shit.

Also electric lighter, fun, I genuinely didn’t know those existed

SHIRT WITH UNBUTTONED COLLAR

“You don’t want to help me, you want to fix me.” What a loaded line. Because in a way, it’s almost true? Like, Nines has this entire simulation of Gavin in his ideal world, and obviously that version of Gavin has probably been idealized at least a bit. Nature of humanity, and Nines might not be human but he’s got the Brain Things. And at that moment, it’s nearly true that Nines wants Gavin to be like that ideal Gavin. Obviously Nines wants Gavin as Gavin, but there’s the edge of that simulation there, still. 

But Nines does want to help Gavin, and that’s where he’s wrong. Nines wants Gavin to get better, wants to help stop the nightmares, etc. But by pointing that out, I think it’s partially why Nines can accept letting go of Simulation!Gavin when Ada attacks him. Because he knows that the simulation of Gavin will never be the real Gavin, and this line sort of helps him understand that he can’t really keep Sim!Gavin anyways.

Again idk if that’s legit but that’s definitely something I felt from that while watching.

Nines is constantly very controlled, but when he walks away from Gavin you can see him straining to keep that composure and not let his anger show. 

Ada looking So Done With This Shit when Nines comes back from talking with Gavin outside of the bar

“I’m sure this will be like...every other time.” Oh honey. Oh my sweet child. I am so very sorry. It most definitely will not be.

Ada’s exasperated Eyebrow Raise before taking a drink. If that ain’t the mood sis.

I love Ada’s bat wings on her outfits. 

Gavin being a stalker and putting his hood up. 

“I’m...certain that most of the credit can go to you.” IMMEDIATE ANGER. Must Defend Boyfriend.

I SO WANTED HIM TO SAY “WISDOM” WHILE TALKING ABOUT GAVIN’S SKILLS BECAUSE IT WOULD MIRROR HIM TELLING GAVIN THAT HE ISN’T WISE BEFORE THEY LEFT FOR THE STAKEOUT. He didn’t, but instinct is a better word for Gavin anyways.

Nines has Suspicion™️...press X for doubt... 

*Only vaguely related rant warning*

I do feel that we as a fandom tend to make Connor almost childishly innocent despite him being likely one of the least kind and least innocent characters. The characterization of Nines in this--and pardon me for the off topic rant--where he’s a fully grown man and acts like it is so much more realistic. Nines is a cop, as is Connor. 

Even post deviancy, they were designed and equipped to handle murder. Nines, in a lot of fandom content, tends to come off as an exasperated older brother or a gritty and mean detective, or even worse, essentially a sociopath who feels nothing in contrast to Connor’s childish and extreme innocence. I dislike both. Seeing Nines be a normal fucking person is so relieving, I’m serious. There’s still those elements of ‘oh he’s only been properly alive for like a year, right? He probably doesn’t get Chris’ Casanova reference.’ but it’s not to such an extreme that it overtakes all of his personality traits.

Like, yeah, ok, I get why a lot of fandom content does that. In order to balance what we see Connor do (and in order to further push the Hank as a father line) we over-emphasize the not getting references and such. Honestly I see the same in content for Castiel from Supernatural. Nines, when he’s added, often HAS to be a lot darker in order to make that seem not as jarring and unrealistic.

Doesn’t mean I enjoy it. If you do? That’s great, good for you, but I don’t like seeing those characters be portrayed as such one dimensional extremes. People aren’t like that. On the off chance that someone is such an extreme, there’s still other aspects of their personality.

DE has done an amazing job at not flattening their personalities. Nines and Gavin are three-dimensional and incredibly interesting characters I find myself invested in every time I watch it.

*Onto the commentary again.*

Gavin is still being a stalker

“Particular fascination with the RK line” AHAHA funny. She’s also an RK, and she likely knows more than Nines because her programming is based on information gathering. Her fascination begins and ends with what their programming can do for her.

The little computer details in Ada’s eyes as she copies Nines’ OS, and again in Nines’ eyes when he’s in the alley alone. I believe Michelle did all of that and I am just amazed every time I watch. 

The warped voice effect.

Gavin shifting to hold Nines as soon as he passes out

The ethereal colored lighting is very good for the mood, space hospital vibes

Shoutout to the latex suit they put Maximilian in! That’s not CG! He’s wearing a full body white latex suit. I’m so sorry.

Gavin looks so tired talking to Dr. Maria. His posture is defensive, pulled into himself. Shoulders hunched, arms pulled in. Eye bags, messy hair. Boy looked messed up. Somebody hug him.

Nines’ hair being disheveled and messy in the corrupted Zen Garden, rivaling his assertion that in his ideal world (Aka the normal Zen Garden) his appearance is polished, signifying the loss of control and the loss of the Zen Garden being a safe, ideal space for him. Same concept with Sim!Gavin being corrupted.

Nines: *wakes up in his mindspace*

Also Nines, immediately: GAVIN!!1!!1

Nines believes in CONSENT!! You do not go into someone’s program without asking, ADA.

Ada’s “poor widdle baby” face as Nines is freaking out because she trapped him. Mood.

Tina wearing a low turtleneck and a flannel is Peak Gay, especially next to Gavin “I wear the same leather jacket+hoodie combo every single day and probably the same jeans for a month” Reed, aka the most disastrous and chaotic bisexual I have ever seen. Again, a mood, I honestly felt that one.

The face when Nines realizes that Ada isn’t deviant yet. 

Gavin is blaming himself somebody stop this idiot. 

“Not without Nines.” What a softie.

“The last thing I said to him was ‘I don’t need you’.” BITCH WHAT THE FUCK MY HEART.

Gavin calling Tina “T” in that soft voice is so sweet omg

Ugh the bisexual LIGHTING is KILLING ME, ESPECIALLY as Gavin sits at Nines’ bedside

Tina encouraging Gavin. WLW/MLM solidarity. 

Fun fact: Chris Trindade told Maximilian not to react at all to the big speech but Maximilian literally started crying during it and there’s footage somewhere of the Dramatic Single Tear rolling down his face while he’s still ‘in stasis’.

Yes, I double checked the streams to make sure I got this right, I love the concept though.

Look I cannot get into the speech because I will write 1.5k words on it, but I will say this: It made me cry. The acting, the writing, it’s iconic. The amount of love and devotion they got without even saying the words “I love you” was amazing. Chris is so very talented. 

THERES A TAKE WHERE GAVIN FALLS ASLEEP NEXT TO NINES’ HOSPITAL BED AKSDGAKL IM SCREAMING

Tina is the best wingman ngl

The glitches in Zen Gavin are amazing. The sequence when he’s deleting the Zen Garden is also amazing. I use amazing a lot but it’s deserved.

Nines deleting the Zen Garden and Sim!Gavin is very symbolic of letting go of all of the fake stuff, letting go of the fear he was holding that kept him from confessing to Gavin and I love that

Nines sitting silently straight up. 

Gavin is highly intelligent and I’m so glad Octopunk embraces that. 

*another vaguely related rant warning*

Ok let me tell y’all a thing because this RUINS MY LIFE. People tend to take characters like Percy Jackson or Dean Winchester, whose intelligence isn’t outwardly obvious from the get-go, and remove it entirely. Percy is reduced to an idiot who can’t tie his own shoes and Dean is often shown basically unable to research without Sam. Both of those are bullshit. 

Percy has ADHD and Dyslexia, so when often we categorize smart as only book-smart, Percy’s intelligence as a battle strategist and his actual knowledge gets erased. Dean is usually the more physical and shoot-first-never-ask-questions type, and his intelligence is severely downplayed. He made an EMP detector from scratch. Made a shotgun, remembers how to kill things, is a very good hunter, especially on his own. But that’s thrown away because he’s not book-smart.

I despise when people take characters who are talented and smart in ways that aren’t just reciting the periodic table and reduce them to muscles and angst or drooling children. 

Octopunk having a scene where Gavin is working through a case, already having done the things that Chris, someone who was only recently promoted, suggests, is just affirming Gavin’s intelligence in a way I wish I could be not surprised by. Gavin is smart, and luckily I haven’t seen much downplaying that fact. He’s a detective for a reason. Unfortunately I think it might be because the fandom tends to turn Connor and Nines into actual children, but a win is a win.

Now I’m not saying I don’t love a good himbo character but I literally had to stop interacting with Percy Jackson content because people wrote him as incapable.

*Moving on*

“I think I can help with that.” Bitch why are you so dramatic I love him so much.

Nines’ t-shirt says “Detroit City Marathon” 

“You...undead asshole.” What an iconic line. I need a t-shirt. 

“I...hate you.” “You love me.” Harkens back to the beginning where the roles are reversed. Yes I used that unironically. Words are fun.

Gavin looking scared right before The Kiss™️ 

THE PULSE POINT!! THE SCENE WAS SUPER EMOTIONAL SO MICHELLE WANTED THEM TO DO YOGA ZEN SHIT TO PREPARE AND THEN THEY JUST DID THE THING BUT THEY PUT IN THE PULSE POINT 

ANYWAYS THAT’S WHAT GAVIN IS FEELING FOR ON NINES’ WRIST RIGHT BEFORE THE KISS.

I thought that was cute when I learned it in one of the streams.

Nines’ LED spinning blue when they finally kiss asgladkaf 

“What dipshit programmed you to do that?” “I’m the most advanced android ever made, detective-“ “oh you are such a fuckin’ prick!” “Takes one to know one.” I canNOT with them, I laughed my ASS off

The little broken laugh Nines does

Nines rubbing his hands over Gavin’s while they talk about Gavin’s jacket

Shoutout to Chris’ surprised pikachu face. (Tina is also there) That was a joke take, it’s in the gag reel, too. The face wasn’t supposed to make it into the film but Michelle added it. (In the gag reel, Carla yells “Let’s go to Denny’s!” At the end.) 

And Ada’s leather pants. Honestly?? She’s so pretty. I love her. They’re all really attractive it’s actually terrifying.

Nines and Tina being a part of the Gay Turtleneck Gang

Nines’ untucked turtleneck

Tina being a Smart Girl. (Nines calling her “Officer” and her replying with “I’ll make detective someday.”

Chris being Exhausted during the whole meeting. Me too dude.

Chris and Tina doing literally nothing while Gavin and Nines have a whole heart to heart

The WHITE COAT. Tina in her blues. Chris’ Foo Fighters shirt. They’re such icons but they absolutely look like a group of gay ppl who did NOT decide on a theme.

The fight sequence is impressive, considering that they’re literally not stunt actors. I’m not a fight choreographer or stunt person so That’s really all I have to say on that.

Chris patting Gavin’s gun after he explains what he’s doing. \

As a Jason Todd lover the crowbar is unfortunate (had to, sorry)

Nines’ smirk and the TURTLENECK as he spins away from Ada with the crowbar. Iconic. The Big Dick Energy. Especially for someone who doesn’t have a dick.

Chris being a Dad when Gavin runs off to go stop the body calibration

Ada just YEETS Gavin. Iconic.

Ada: *doing the villain “you won’t shoot me, you’re too moral” thing*

Chris: Shut the fuck up *shoots her*

Deviancy sequence, iconic

“You’re awake now” bitch get your own tag line, Markus became Robot Jesus for this shit

He’s HOLDING HER HAND while DEFENDING HER!! PLATONIC HAND HOLDING

Gavin trusting Nines’ decision immediately. Amazing. THAT’S LOVE BITCH.

The SMILES after Ada leaves!! They know they made the right choice!

Ugh the COLOR SYMBOLISM!! This is one thing that Michelle has touched on herself! Gavin isn’t wearing white in this scene because he’s not ‘fixed’, he never will be! He has trauma and he’s just barely beginning to heal from it with Nines’ help. He’s wearing grey, lighter than his usual, but still grey because they aren’t pure or innocent and they’re not perfect!! And that’s the fucking point!! It’s also a contrast against Sim!Gavin wearing white! Sim!Gavin was an idealized version of Gavin in Nines’ idealized world!! Real Gavin isn’t that!! So he’s wearing grey!!

Gavin immediately understanding that Nines is Ace and that it’s ok!! Beautiful!

“You’ve been a whole person since the day you woke up” YES!! YOU DO NOT NEED SEX TO BE WHOLE!! FUCK YEAH!!! (this is ace excitement. In the months since writing this I realized I’m aro-ace and trans so fuck yeah for ace rep.) 

Gavin being a dick and making Nines tell him about the skin thing

THE KISS!! They slowly move more into the light!! Because they’re getting better TOGETHER!!

Ok before I sign off, it’s only 3 am so I think I’m awake enough to talk about this, I like that they bring up that Gavin has like, actual issues that he needs to get through. Let’s be 100% honest here, I see Gavin as having ADHD, depression, and probably a form or symptoms of PTSD. He’s kinda fucked up and I’m gonna be real here he needs some therapy. He’s got trauma and needs to work through it. 

I like that at the end they explicitly have Nines understand and accept that that’s what needs to happen. As someone who has actually had relationships ruined because of trauma (on both sides) that we were unprepared to work through together, if I had seen something like that? Game changer. As it was, most relationships I had seen were idealized and seemed to “fix” those issues by way of just being in a relationship. Thanks major media. 

Now that the Detroit Evolution post series is over, I’m gonna be a bit sentimental and say that this film quite literally changed my life. Seriously. Michelle is such a big inspiration for me and I can only hope to be the same for someone else. 

If you ever have a chance to check out any of the amazing people who worked on this film, please do. To put into context how big this was: I changed my ideal college major from Forensics to Film. 

That’s it that’s all, ending this post at 3:24 am before I literally start crying over it. Thanks for suffering through my long-winded explanations, I hope you enjoyed. Have a wonderful day.

[kyogre-blue]

I complain a lot about GAA, but there’s a lot of reason I’m still playing through it. 

For one, I really like the art style and general art direction of the game. I know there were some things lost in the transition to 3D models, but I think the models are actually very nice, and there are some really great movements. Brett’s breakdown in the very first case was amazing, and Sholmes in particular is very expressive. (His spread hands pose is just SO punchable!) In general, I think the models also allow for some really nice flexibility in positioning. Things like the way they turn from front facing to 3/4th view or even nearly profile in the prison cell scenes, or when the models get placed in the background. It looks really nice! 

There’s also just a lot of really nice detail work, like the deduction cards for Sholmes’s logic and reasoning spectacular, or the art for the bits inspired by (heavy quotation marks) actual Holmes stories at the start of cases. 

The music is also really great. Just the feeling every time Kazuma’s theme comes on, or certain specific tracks for the different phases of the trial... I love it. 

And the writing is actually very good in a lot of places. Sholmes drove me up the wall originally, but the 5th case of the first game really finally manages to click the main character dynamics into place in a nice way. Him and Iris is especially cute, given that she picked up so many quirks from him. Susato in the first case of the second game? Great! Susato actually has a lot of parts I really like, especially once they drop her excessive fangirling over Sholmes. It’s also interesting to compare and contrast between her and Ryunosuke, since they’re both similar in a lot of ways, but Susato definitely has a different tone. 

Some parts are also amazing in how they come together. The part about the overworked bobby and his wife definitely made me go “oh... oooooh....” It was a fairly obvious bit, so it was easy to see coming after a certain point, and oooh it really hit in a certain way. 

In general, I think it’s good that the game tried to have more flexibility in what kinds of “cases” occur. It’s not all murder, and there’s a mix of cases that are investigation, court trial, and both. I’m not sure the pacing always worked out, but the variety itself is good. 

And of course, there is some great humor too. Who is stronger, Romeo or Juliet, is just.... hahaha. 

It sounds like the localization also took a lot of care to create a good experience, which is not something that is visible from the end product, but that’s actually a sign of how well it was done. 

And well, I’m a fake gamer and all, so I really appreciate story mode saving me from having to click through every possible option blindly sometimes. 

[ty-talks-comics]

Best of DC: Week of January 15th, 2020

Best of this Week: Flash Forward #5 - Scott Lobdell, Brett Booth, Norm Rapmund, Luis Guerrero and Troy Peteri

Wally West was the hope of the DC Universe... until he wasn’t.

When DC rebooted after the New 52, Wally West was posited as the man who would be the hope that the dreary universe needed after five long years of depressingly dark and gritty stories. Wally’s return was also a return to a lighter, more heroic universe for a short while. Even though he and his wife, Linda Park, were no longer together and his kids were lost SOMEWHERE, potentially in the Speed Force, Wally never gave up hope of finding whoever messed with the universe and bringing them to justice. 

That is until Tom King (and maybe corporate interference) got in the way.

I’ll never waste an opportunity to rant about how bad I thought Heroes in Crisis was and how much of a great disservice it did to Wally and the other heroes he killed in the story, especially Roy Harper. The story turned Wally into an accidental killer and kind of a sociopath after he repositioned the bodies, made a speed force double of himself, murdered the double, placing its body among the dead and framed Harley Quinn and Booster Gold after releasing the private tapes of other heroes in the Sanctuary center in an attempt to say that heroes needed help too. The message, while good, was absolutely lost in bad storytelling and an utter derailment of what was supposed to be a hopeful character arc.

Flash Forward, thankfully makes the first steps in attempting to fix all of that without completely absolving him of his crimes. Over the course of the story so far Tempus Fuginaut, a cosmic character similar to Marvel’s Watcher introduced in the pages of Sideways, has been tasking Wally with fixing the spills of Dark Multiverse energy throughout the main Multiverse. Wally, not really being given much of a choice, accepts his new mission and becomes hero again and has been saving these various Earths from utter destruction. The last issue was absolutely spectacular as he met a version of Linda Park who was the Flash and finally reunited with his kids.

The book opens with Fuginaut giving a run down of Wally West’s history from being Flash’s sidekick to the Titans and finally to becoming the Flash himself. Brett Booth draws an amazing splash page of the chemicals falling onto Wally in a beautiful slurry of liquids accentuated by Luis Guerrero’s greens and blues and Norm Rapmund’s inks. The trio then burst through with an amazing double splash page with various shots of Wally’s career. Tempus stands in the middle of the fractured images of The Flash and narrates on his successes and failures.

Booth gives these pages an amazing sense of frenetic energy with the borders between each image looking like streaks of lightning. Rapmund and Guerrero color and shadow Tempus amazingly, making him look like an arbiter of justice through his dark blues and gold. Though this is contrasted when we reach the end of the character recap and Fuginaut kneels to the Mobius Chair and addresses the reader (really his unseen masters), calling us the Keepers of Knowledge in the Universe while looking pretty regretful of his actions and how they’ll test Wally.

When we finally do get back to our hero, we find him warmly embracing his kids. Lobdell, Booth and Troy Peteri sells the emotion of the scene through caring dialogue, happy facial expressions and awesome lettering as Wally’s fatherly thoughts fill the emptier space on the page. However, the happy feeling doesn’t last for long as a mass of Dark Multiverse energy threatens to consume them all. Jai and Iris reveal to their father that they’ve tried to leave many times, but the energy just keeps them there. Booth, Rapmund and Guerrero strut their stuff in this vast scene as a wave of excellently inked black goo threatens them like a tidal wave. There’s so much detail, especially as the stone statues of those killed at Sanctuary are swept away.

We then get an excellent scene of Wally, Jai and Iris running away from the energy. It very much reminds me of the later years of The Flash series started by Mark Waid and then Geoff Johns on Flash: Rebirth (2009). Lobdell absolutely captures the essence of the kids with their joking dialogue of insults to each other and that childlike care for siblings as Iris has to share her power with her brother. Booth gives us another double page spread which gives us an appreciation and hope for their family dynamic even as they fail in their escape.

Unfortunately, they do not end up escaping as Jai and Iris end up being caught by the black energy and Wally is absorbed into it as well. We then get a flashback to soon after the kids were born. Guerrero shows their skill as these pages are given calm and cool blue hues because of the night time setting. After the hectic action of the escape attempt, this flashback slows things back down and builds up the emotional tension as Booth shows Wally embracing his children as a happy father before all of that is ripped away as he comes back to reality.

Tempus attempts to tell Wally what his grand purpose on this planet is, but in his anger Wally attacks him like a gnat and then proceeds to try and ride the planet of it’s Dark Multiverse energy. Wally is the Fastest Flash Alive and the art team stresses that as they show the planet and then show streaks of blue where Wally has been, crossing the planet multiple times until he’s stopped by something unexpected: The Mobius Chair. The Mobius Chair was created by the New God Metron and allows the user to see all of the secrets to the universe. With Metron having been killed by a mysterious entity (Doctor Manhattan) in DC Rebirth, the chair lies empty.

Wally, knowing about the chair’s possibilities, touches it.

Wally West has always been a hopeful hero. In the face of insurmountable odds and utter destruction he’s always kept his head up high. He learned that from Barry Allen, he learned that from The Titans, but even the most hopeful heroes have fears and the Dark Multiverse is created from those fears. One of the things that Tom King, Joshua Williamson, Geoff Johns and Dan Abnett have focused on since Wally’s reintroduction has been his feeling of loss and displacement after losing ten years worth of history. 

That’s why the revelation of what this planet is is so heartbreaking. I’m sure my hints are enough to give away what happens and how Wally’s fears and the arc he’s been given thus far have been some of the better long term storytelling that DC has done despite some missteps. With this being the penultimate issue of Flash Forward, it delivered on the emotional impact that we’ve been waiting for and walks back some of the more dour elements of Heroes in Crisis, but paints Wally in a more sympathetic light. The art team does an amazing job in giving this book the life and excitement to a character that absolutely deserved it.

From: The Flash #49

Wally West was my first Flash and seeing the big things planned for him go off the rails absolutely killed me, but thankfully this story exists. While it can’t undo ALL of the damage done to Wally and might actually result in his death at the end, it has served as a slow return to form and definitely a story that I appreciate being told. This deserves a high recommend.

[mewtonian-physics]

I was tagged by @justanotherboredadult. I hate you for doing this to me. (Not seriously, I love tag games. It’s just that this one is going to be really hard.)

Rules: Name ten favorite characters from ten different things (books, tv, film, etc.) then tag ten people.

I can’t possibly choose my top ten favorites, so I’ll just name ten in whatever order I like and call it good.

1. Sherlock Holmes (Sherlock Holmes, et al)

The legendary detective himself! Ah, if ever there comes a day where I claim to no longer like him, you can take me to a hospital because I’m clearly gravely ill. The original stories are my preference, but there are lots of wonderful adaptations out there as well! The picture above is of Jeremy Brett, whose portrayal of Holmes is widely considered to be one of, if not the best of all time; a moniker which I imagine he would be at least a little bit pleased to have earned.

2. Data (Star Trek: The Next Generation)

God, I adore Data. His struggles with understanding how others express themselves emotionally, attempts to understand his own feelings, and his inability to connect to the world around him in the same way everyone else did, and the resulting difficulties... as an autistic person, Data’s a character who’s been really important to me for a really long time. He was one of the first characters I was able to really understand and connect with, because I so often had those struggles myself! It’s been years since I first saw him, but it doesn’t matter. Data will always hold a special place in my heart.

Also, uh...

I mean... just look...

3. Root (Person of Interest)

Let me tell you, it was almost impossible to choose just one POI character! I love all of the main team so much, but I think in the end Root is the one who’s got the top spot. Sure, she might start out on the wrong side, but I think that’s one of the reasons she’s so compelling. Her switch from antagonist to protagonist is really fun to watch and honestly, in general, she is just fun to watch. And look at that smile...

4. Lemy Abelard (Evillious Chronicles)

Yes, yes, it’s time to get my weeb on. Anyway. This is my clown son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Et cetera. The best clown in the world, in my humble opinion. There’s not much competition to be had :) He’s just a good boy who loves his mother very much... the Pierrot novel’s finally started to get translated and I’m even more ready to die for him than I was before. He’s a precious child. I adore him.

5. Asuka Langley Soryu (Neon Genesis Evangelion)

Asuka, Asuka, Asuka. What am I supposed to do with you except love and cherish you, huh? I know some people think she’s a bitch, and I guess she kind of is one, but do I give a damn? No. No, I do not. Her drive to succeed and prove herself is very compelling, and her backstory hurts like hell, and honestly I just want to give her a hug and tell her that she is the best EVA pilot in the world and no one can take that away from her.

Also, after what Shinji did to her in that goddamn kitchen scene, I just... Man, I’ve been there. How could I begrudge her anything after that?

6. Akemi Homura (Puella Magi Madoka Magica)

You want to try and tell me this girl isn’t amazing? Go ahead, I dare you. She’s incredible. The amount she’s gone through would make anybody crack, but she held herself together so long, and I think that’s really amazing and admirable. Oh, Homura... I hope you get your happy ending.

Also, uh, she’s just cool. Have you seen the stuff she’s capable of? It’s awesome. And look at that hair!

7. L Lawliet (Death Note)

I’m autistic so shut the fuck up--okay, in all seriousness, this frog detective is pretty fucking great. I’m such a sucker for the genius detective archetype, particularly the ‘odd’ ones; it’s been that way for a very, very long time, and I doubt it’s going to stop any time soon.

He’s not that great a person, but I love him anyway. Honestly, I think that’s what makes him interesting! In a series like Death Note, there’s not a lot of room for ‘good’ and ‘evil’ designations, and he falls comfortably into the gray. And he’s just fun to watch!

8. Edogawa Ranpo (Bungou Stray Dogs)

I’ve already told you I’m a sucker for his archetype, but really... Ranpo is so much like a kid, but he’s so smart! He doesn’t even have a special ability, but he’s the core of the Armed Detective Agency; he doesn’t need an ability, he’s a natural genius! He’s fun and kinda relatable and I love seeing him in action. You just can’t change my mind on this one!

Also, he’s autistic too. Fight me.

9. Flandre Scarlet (Touhou Project)

I’m not ashamed to admit it--I love Flandre! She’s actually what got me into Touhou in the first place. Just look at her wings--shiny and colorful crystals--and I love shinies so is it really that hard to see why I’d like her? Plus, her theme song is fun, and she’s got a bunch of Agatha Christie references packed into one tiny little vampire, and I love Agatha Christie so... Flandre just came for my soul.

10. Kurapika (Hunter x Hunter)

It was a hard choice between him and Killua, but in the end, Kurapika won out. What can I say? Well, honestly, nothing, since I don’t fully understand it myself. I guess he’s just an interesting character.

Also, can you say ‘trans icon’? Because I can. Kurapika = trans icon. Thanks for your time.

Let’s see, I have to tag people now, don’t I... Very well.

@shadows-in-the-light-of-day @eveillious @eyeciclez @chatoyqnt @nakaharahs @krpk @adhdleorio @chuuya-nyakahara @ryuuwunosuke @omoidori if you guys don’t mind, of course ^-^ feel free to ignore this, all i request is that you not eat me for tagging you :0

[johnnymundano]

The Medusa Touch (1978)

Directed by Jack Gold

Written by John Briley

Based on “The Medusa Touch” by Peter Van Greenaway

Music by Michael J. Lewis

Country: United Kingdom, France

Language: English

Running Time: 105 minutes CAST

Richard Burton as John Morlar

Lino Ventura as Brunel

Lee Remick as Doctor Zonfeld

Harry Andrews as Assistant Commissioner

Alan Badel as Barrister

Marie-Christine Barrault as Patricia

Jeremy Brett as Edward Parrish

Michael Hordern as Atropos - Fortune Teller

Gordon Jackson as Doctor Johnson

Michael Byrne as Duff

Derek Jacobi as Townley - Publisher

Robert Lang as Pennington

Avril Elgar as Mrs. Pennington

John Normington as Schoolmaster

Robert Flemyng as Judge McKinley

Philip Stone as Dean

Malcolm Tierney as Deacon

Norman Bird as Father

Jennifer Jayne as Mother

James Hazeldine as Lovelass

Gordon Honeycombe as Himself (Newsreader)

The first reason to watch The Medusa Touch is the presence of the acting colossus Richard Burton practically breathing fire in one of his great ‘70s roles (NB: Many of Burton’s great ‘70s roles occurred in movies which were themselves rather less than great). It’s to The Medusa Touch’s credit then that this isn’t the only reason to watch it.

The mighty Burton is enormous value in this as a misanthropic author with the titular touch; each of his scenes is a little set-piece wherein he gets to vent his considerable spleen at some aspect of “civilised” society. (Burton is so thunderingly awesome in his disdain that those implied speech marks seem to hang in the air undulating like heat off Texas tar at high noon.) Be in no doubt, the sheer venom with which Burton intermittently spits his vindictive bile is impressive enough to be worth the price of admission. As indeed is the sight of his megastar frame clad in cardigan and slacks like a surly granddad. Always remember - fashion is an uncredited character in all 1970s movies. A turn as gloweringly potent as the one Burton delivers here would threaten to overturn many a more demure movie but, luckily, The Medusa Touch is nothing if not audaciously fantastical.

Initially setting itself up as a murder mystery before launching itself into the realm of the delightfully outlandish, The Medusa Touch opens with John Morlar’s (Richard Burton’s) craggy Welsh head being beaten to a craggy Welsh pulp with a statuette of Napoleon by an unidentified intruder. Inspector Brunel (Lino Ventura) has to discover the motive and the culprit, while also convincing the audience that it is perfectly natural to have a French policeman working in London as part of some breezily suggested exchange programme. Clearly there only as a sop to the French investors Ventura nevertheless delivers a thoroughly committed performance, at first all business and rationality but swiftly forced to shade into credulousness as evidence of the supernatural mounts. 

Brunel soon discovers Morlar was consulting a psychiatrist, Dr Zonfeld (Lee Remick), as the bloviating malcontent feared a disturbing correlation between his wishing ill on people and ill suddenly thereafter being visited upon said people. Could it be possible that he, John Morlar, noted author of rancorous fiction might possess some unearthly power, a kind of…medusa touch? Or is he just losing his malicious mind over a series of mere coincidences? Perhaps this is the crux of the matter and the solution holds the key to the identity of his assailant? Only a series of flashbacks acted with two fisted panache by beloved 1970s British thespians can provide the answer.    

The Medusa Touch pulls that trick beloved of British ‘70s cinema whereby it promises a starry cast, but can only fulfil that promise and come in on budget by having each star onscreen for a minimal amount of time. Thus we have Derek Jacobi doing a camp literary agent for one scene, Gordon Jackson drily one-lining in a number of scenes (all obviously shot on the same day), and so on. Worthy of particular note is crumple faced acting treasure Michael Hordern’s turn as a fortune teller. His transformation from the breezily unctuous to the witlessly terrified, as he realises the nature of what is sat before him, is pure performing gold. Even Lee Remick is good value, occasionally sloughing off her usual perpetually dazed expression to actually inhabit the moment. Her role is also a refreshing departure from the typical ‘70s female role; she doesn’t start falling in love with Morlar and she is a far from a passive presence. It’s probably nothing to do with equality and more to do with the character being male in the source novel; but it’s an accidental step up anyway.

The Medusa Touch’s peculiarly British thrift even extends to its monolithic star, Richard Burton. In fact so terribly disfiguring are Burton’s wounds from the opening scene, that it looks like someone altogether less expensive spends most of the movie wrapped in bandages on the hospital bed in Morlar’s stead.  In retrospect its surprising to realise that Burton himself is a scarce presence in the movie, yet it feels like his acerbic presence saturates every scene, like brandy in a particularly rich Christmas pudding. This is mostly because he (obviously) dominates the few scenes he’s in, but also because he provides reliably rumbly narration for many scenes he’s not actually in; all of which were probably recorded in the snug of a pub in-between a couple of pints and a fistful of fags. It’s an incredibly economical use of such a gigantic star.  Burton gives you your money’s worth and no mistake.

As a story The Medusa Touch is tons of wittily scripted  pulptastic fun, building from a bashed in head to catastrophes of truly monumental proportions. While it does carry the stamp of a certain 1970s strain of campy naffness it is amazing how thrillingly convincing the magnificent cast make the delirious nonsense seem, right up the diabolical cliffhanger of an ending. Also, Burton’s giant face looming at you, intoning “I have a gift. A gift…for disaster!” in HD makes you glad you bought a TV you’ll be paying off for the next 12 months. But that could just be me.

[aikainkauna]

Movie meeeehm

Thanks to @nitrateglow for these!

1: A movie you enjoyed as a kid that you don't now

-Probs some comedy I'd find awfully sexist/racist/homophobic etc. now. But of course, I can't recall a specific one, probs because the experience is so deeply squicky and traumatic. Oh, wait, I know. I adored The Great Mouse Detective as a kid, but have heard so many "bleh" comments about it later that I don't want to ruin it by rewatching it as an adult. Why take a happy, cherished, pure and joyous memory away, especially as there are so few of those in my life anyway in proportion to the bad memories?

2: A movie you disliked as a kid that you like/love now

-Not a movie, but I was literally too fucking terrified to watch Doctor Who as a kid on cable, because the Tom Baker repeats they were showing terrified me with the title sequence alone. That empty stare and howling, diddly-duming music were enough to give me nightmares. So I only got into Who in my late teens!

3: Your favorite movie as a kid

-Define "kid." I went through several. I loved the Disney Robin Hood, of course, and at puberty, Wayne's World (yes) and The Princess Bride were my own cult movies, before I had anyone to fangirl them with. Ah, the pre-Internet era.

4: An actor/actress it took you time to warm up to

I remember being weirdly terrified and disturbed by Jeremy Brett as a kid, but then I felt the same about Bowie, and... well. Clearly it was my baby self not knowing WTF to do with all this stirring, restless energy that later turned out to be my skinnyandrogynousbisexualguy orientation thingy. And while I'd first seen Caligari and Casablanca as a teen in the early 90s, I wasn't ready for Connie until he pounced me in 2012. I would not have "got" him the same way and as hard until I was a grown-up, with a wide variety of experiences from many areas of life and a boatload of books/learning behind me. Just... no way.

5: A director it took you time to warm up to

-If anything, I've cooled off various directors I was impressed by when younger. So much of the auteur stuff gets wanky and self-imposing, in this Arrogant Artist Guy "look at my GENIUS big VISION and also insecurity about my penis size" kind of way. I like directors who can be warm and have fun and who show some real humanity (not wanky anvilly/kitchen sink-y sort of "humanity" either). Maybe Branagh? I found him a bit annoying as a kid, but now fap all over his stuff because now I'm old enough to Get It. He is the best kind of fanboy director; his geekiness is catching. Listening to his Thor commentary was a real eye-opener into my realising just how massive a nerd he is, and in a good, "one of us" kind of way.

6: Top five favorite soundtracks of your favorite movie composer

-There isn't just one! But Clint Mansell and Debbie Wiseman turn to gold everything they touch. Debbie especially is hugely unknown still, but she has this most amazing, swellingly Romantic music full of sweeping emotion that I just can't rec her enough. Do check her out; she'll give you goosebumps.

7: Three movies that defined your teen/childhood years

-I think I mentioned those already! But as a teenager, Bram Stoker's Dracula, La Reine Margot and Heavenly Creatures were formative. There were others I obsessed about way more than those, but they weren't as influential--it's more like they were massaging buttons I already had.

8: Sci-fi or westerns?

-Blake's 7! AKA "The Dirty Dozen in Space."

9: Are there any movies you own more than one copy of?

-Ahhahaha. AAAHHAHAHAHA! Of The Thief of Bagdad, I own: The Criterion clusterfuck with the awful clumsy cover someone had their 5-year-old draw, the Nordic DVD, the German Blu-Ray because I live on the edge (what with those Veidt Eye Closeups in HD being a hazard to any uterus) and at least three different digital copies. Because I'm me. I also own two digital copies and one DVD of Casablanca, three digital and one DVD of A Woman's Face and don't get me started on the British telefantasy I have on both DVD and VHS. I have spare copies of both the Caligari Masters of Cinema release and the ITV DVD of The Spy In Black, so I guess I should throw them at somebody.

10: Physical media or streaming?

-Neither. Video files firmly saved onto and run from my hard drive. Fuck streaming with its choppiness (ruins the viewing experience for me) and physical media are usually beyond my budget (unless I save up for a Connie DVD). Besides, I rip my favourite movie discs onto my HD anyway. I want to be able to gif that shit, dammit!

11: Are there any movies you watch on special occasions every year (Christmas, Halloween, birthdays, your mother's aunt's wedding anniversary, etc.)

-Used to do Nightmare Before Christmas on Halloween, but not any more. I still attempt ToB every Christmas. And I used to do All Through The Night with wine on my birthday, but as I can't tolerate alcohol anymore, the experience of Watching ATTN Drunk is no more. Someone start a Halloween tradition with me where we watch either The Student of Prague or Eerie Tales (or both) every year?

12: What movie do you most associate with your best friend(s)?

-Gosh, so few have stayed, so it's more like "movie that reminds you of a broken friendship," yay...?! I've learned to try and not associate movies with people that way any more, because it's more painful than it's worth. Connie is my best friend. He's like Krishna that way.

13: Name a movie adaptation you thought was better than or equal to its source material.

-LOTR put in more facial features and characterisation than Tolkien ever did, and did the tales far less fucking tediously. Imagine if you'd had to sit and watch hobbits walking through the countryside for 6 hours with barely anything happening?! Yeah...

14: What genres do your favorite movies tend to be?

-Historical, fantasy, Gothic Romantic, just Romantic stuff on the whole. More old than new movies these days. Why watch shitty modern chick flicks when I have far better characterisation and far less narrowly defined female lives in old-timey "women's pictures?" And guys who actually fucking shaved, dressed in clothes that were tailored for them instead of rented and saggy, whose bodily expressions weren't frozen for fear of "fagginess," and who weren't pumped full of 'roids.

15: Are you a fan of period dramas and if so, what era do you enjoy best?

-Yes. I love me some costume dramas, but I am seriously picky about them--most post-90s ones have been fucking awful and tend to feature shitty costumes and unkempt hair that would've sent real historical people to Bedlam, wobblycam from hell, vomit-inducingly excessive modernisation to be "edgy", and that one painfully skeletal bint they shove into every period drama ever these days, so it's... slim pickings for a history nerd, these days. There aren't many good ones set in the 17th century/Baroque era, which I love the most: the two Baroque dramas I wholeheartedly love are both series. (The Devil's Whore and By The Sword Divided.) The Angeliques and Musketeer adaptations are riddled with flaws, but there are some glowing bits within. As for The Golden Age of Islam... bloody hell, there really aren't that many good ones out there, are there?! ToB and Jodhaa Akbar and Disney's Aladdin, obviously. La Reine Margot isn't "my" period but it's great, as is Dangerous Liaisons (also not my period)--those are so fucking perfect. And the Connie period dramas, well... I think of them as primarily "silent movies" or "old movies," actually. Of those, The Student of Prague, ToB and The Wandering Jew are the best "costume" ones, IMHO. (I'd probs enjoy Lucrezia Borgia and Carlos and Elisabeth way more, were the copies we have not so smudgy.)

16: Name a movie you love that you would recommend to just about everyone.

-Ah, but we know there are always cynical cunts out there who'd give even Casablanca two stars, so what's the point? I'd still recommend it, though. And The Lion King, I guess.

17: Name a movie you love that you consider an acquired taste.

-Honestly, I'm thinking of telly rather than movies again. You will pry my cherished copy of The Time Monster from my cold, dead hands. Does The Devil of Winterborne count as a movie or TV? That's how far back my love for Mark Gatiss goes. Um... Don't Be A Menace To South Central While Drinking Your Juice In The Hood makes me fucking cry with laughter (the comedic timing is what does it. *beat* "Ain't dat some shit!"). Of Connie's oeuvre, yes, I know Bella Donna is rubbish, but Connie and Mary are SIZZLING and horny and juicy and it's Valid as a BDSM porn movie. And the novel is actually good.

18: Name a film you like directed by/starring a filmmaker/actor you normally don't care for.

-Not so much actor/director, but I did *not* expect to love Thor as much as I did, because I expected a dumb popcorn movie but got great adventure cinema with a touch of Shakespeare instead. I really am not the right audience for regular Marvel features at all, before or after. Fuck Marvel up its dumb macho Republican ass. But Thor is fucking beautiful and operatic and poetic and majestic and Pagan and shit. Branagh knows what I like.

19: Name a movie that blew your mind.

-A Woman's Face (1941). Because. Holy. Fuck. How can I keep on finding yet more details in it six years after first watching it, having watched it countless times by now?! And obvs all the other stuff, like the shockingly good female POV, amazing and complex woman protagonist, amazing writing, amazing ensemble cast, amazing direction, amazing lighting, amazing evil Torsten Slinkypussy Barring and The. Goddamn. Attic. Scene.

20: What genre mash-up would you most love to see that either hasn't been done yet or hasn't been done enough?

-Feminist-savvy historical romance with fantasy elements and hot explicit sex that's not shit. Basically, like the stuff you see in my fics, but better paced and woven into coherent adventure movies.

21: The coolest movie you've ever seen

-Too, too many. But Bogie was the coolest. And Claude Rains had the best acting skills. And Conrad Veidt was Conrad motherfucking Veidt. So what with those three mountains of coolness all converging under the Moroccan sky, I'm sure it's safe to say "Casablanca."

[influencegetem]

🔱🤴🏿🚧 Reposted from @victoralmanzar_cazike I am extremely thankful to the @labyrinththeater and @59e59 for all the love and support they showed me during the developmental production of "Through the Fire* I learned so much about myself and the company. Thanks to @lizardcanavan she is an amazing director and her understanding of both the craft and story is superb! Thanks to Brett C. Leonard for the hard, tough talk and help, which pushed me to dig deeper. Thanks to @bsnyder4508 for all the help on structure and story. Thanks to @mcgarry224 for taking the time out of his busy schedule to help us flush out things that truly matter to the heart! Thanks to @stephenadlyguirgis for his advice and giving me confidence in expressing my true self unapologetically. Thanks to @domorisseau for getting in the phone with me and giving me straight up jewels! Thanks to @aaronwbk for standing up behind this production. Thanks to @himollycollier @kelleyraeodonnell @iloveshawnrandall For your non-stop work on this production! 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽. Shawn, thank you for putting the music team together. @levdoron and @musicbotofasinasurya are the best musicians I've ever worked with! Thanks to @funkadelicstudiosnyc for everything you did for us! Thanks to @adrianwattenmaker for all his work being the scenes. Thanks to @lizacolonzayas_lcz for being our number one supporter since day one! Koo-koo! All love! Thanks to @monique.carboni for all the amazing Pictures! And @dzcs4u for documenting our journey from the beginning! Thanks to @badbwoyreeree for taking the time to give me his thoughts! And last but not least, thanks to the leadership team and the whole membership for standing behind us! The whole production team, @alexisforte5 @kialights at Christine Lemme and Rebecca Monroe and Mia and Twi. I love you all! Thanks to my wife and kids. Thanks to my immediate and extended family. Thanks to my friends. When people say it takes a village, I can honestly say now I truly understand the phrase! I'M TRULY GRATEFUL, I'M TRULY BLESSED! 🙏🏼 ✨ https://www.instagram.com/p/CZ1ckuWrdmc/?utm_medium=tumblr

[elliemarchetti]

A Private Dance part 6

This is the epilogue, a conclusion of the first story I’ve ever finished. Hope you like it. 

Words: 2113

Liam arranged the phone so that it was better set between his cheek and his shoulder while cooking.

"Wait just a moment, Mom." he said, before putting it on speakerphone. He knew she loathed it, but he needed both hands free.

"Liam, honey, I miss you, when are you coming home?" the woman asked, and the boy raised rolled his eyes. He did not live so far from Beacon Hills, and he was proud of what he had built in recent years. First, he had trained Alec. It had been the best beta he could ask for, and it turned out to be a fantastic Alpha, once Liam decided to leave; unfortunately, he had not had the chance to become a True Alpha, having killed the head of another pack, but in the eyes of Liam he had not changed at all. In addition, he had helped James control his transformations, convinced Lydia to leave that infernal place and enroll in university and even attended the graduation of Mason and Corey: it was the sweetest and most moving scene that he could remember. Even Theo had done his best, finally recruiting Jordan in the pack and reminding him that he should not deny his supernatural nature to continue to lead a normal life.

"You will not think of doing like last year and only come back for Christmas!" his mother threatened him, and Liam, relieved by his thoughts, let out a chuckle.

"I miss you too, Mom, but by now I'm twenty-one, it's normal that I do not run home every five days." he reminded her, adding the chicken slices to the pan.

"Liam, remember that if you were to be homesick ..." his mother began, but Liam stopped her before she could go on. Beacon Hills did not miss him, and he would return only if Alec needed his help.

"I'm fine mother." he answered, and then someone knocked on the door. It must have been Theo. "Now I have to go, I'll talk to you tomorrow." he cut short, and hung up even before the woman could greet him. Every night, when Theo returned from the local where he worked, Liam was amazed by his life; after a year and a half of cohabitation, he still could not get used to the idea that things had changed so much, that it was all true.

"What a nice smell." Theo commented, entering the house.

"Chicken stir-fried with vegetables." Liam revealed, as if it were needed. Theo had practically launched himself onto the pan.

At the end of dinner, they nestled on the tremendous sofa they had managed to find at the secondhand shop: they did not live in luxury, but at least they had a place all for themselves.

"My sweatshirt looks good on you." Theo commented, playing with the laces of the hood.

"Do you want it back?" Liam asked, in a playful tone. Theo had stopped working as a prostitute, according to him for the sake of the relationship, even if, in the long run, Liam was not so annoyed, but continued to work in a night; probably he had finally found something he liked to do that doesn’t involves murder and torture.

“Maybe.” he replied, starting to unzip it.

“But I don’t want to give it back.” said Liam, moving away. Theo went to join him, but the boyfriend stopped him: "You're the one who should undress for me."

A grin appeared on Theo’s face, and he took off his shirt with a single fluid movement. His expression softened, at the sight of Liam's pupils widening observing his sculpted abdomen. They had been together for so long, yet he always seemed amazed by every little thing.

He slipped on him and took his face in his hands, but did not kiss him. Once, he would not have done it. At one time, one would not even be allowed to think of such behavior with him. But now things were different, and when Liam reached out to place it in the curve of his back, he withdrew.

"You can look but do not touch." he said, with a mischievous smile. "At least for now."

 Liam woke up late in the morning, disturbed by the sunlight. He slipped away from Theo's grasp and kissed him on the forehead before getting ready for the day; he had a part-time job in a diner, and they had assigned him the lightest shift, the one in the afternoon. That place, as he understood a week after he started working here, never closed, thanks to the continuous turnover of room staff and cooks.

He had just pulled on a clean shirt when Theo grabbed the fabric and began to gently kiss his neck. Liam smiled, but continued brushing his teeth. When he had finished, Theo turned him around, and kissed him savoring his lips that smelled of mint and held him in a thigh hug. It had been a kiss so full of despair that Liam understood quickly that he must have just had one of his nightmares.

"Do I have to stay home?" he asked, but Theo shook his head and allowed him to continue preparing, despite, in his mouth, he felt a bitter taste, like someone who just said a goodbye.

For this reason, he decided to amaze Liam in mid-shift: the diner was empty, so they had a chance to chat and even exchange a few kisses, perhaps too passionate. Theo knew that Liam was good at his job, but when a family arrived to order a disproportionate amount of milkshakes, he also realized how much he liked to be in contact with people.

The family had just left when Theo grabbed Liam before he could get back behind the counter and squeezed his ass with one hand: "I cannot wait for you to come home..." he let slip, with a certain hunger in the eyes. Liam bit his lower lip but said nothing. When Theo looked at him like that, he would let him do whatever he wanted. Then that terrible sexual tension left as fast as it had arrived, and Theo jumped off the stool he had occupied for more than an hour. "I'm going grocery shopping and I'm going back to get you." he said, but he never got out.

The door of the diner opened and a black woman crossed the entrance with a gun in her hand, her arm outstretched, ready to strike. Anyone would have thought it was a quick one, and that those bullets would not have seriously hurt the two werewolves, but to a careful eye, the crazy look in the woman's eyes would have made it clear that her intentions were different. Liam was the first to recognize Monroe: he would never forget the face of the woman who had orchestrated the death of Brett and Lori, of the one who had tried to exterminate his race. Then Theo recognized her too and immediately went between the projectile’s trajectory and Liam.

"Drop the gun on the ground and I will not kill you." he threatened her, as careless as ever.

She was a small woman, but she had always had an air of great sufficiency, like the one she showed when she smiled, showing a row of teeth yellowed by carelessness: it was true, therefore, that the grudge corrupted people from within.

"Do you remember the last words you told me, Liam Dunbar?" asked the woman, with a crazy tone. Liam nodded. He could never have forgotten them. At that moment, the cook came out of the kitchen.

"Oh, fuck!" he exclaimed, before returning to hide exactly where he had come from. Perhaps he would even call the police, and neither Theo nor Liam would have to get their hands bloodied again. At least that was what Liam thought before the woman fired and Theo winced, immediately bringing a hand to the right side of his abdomen. Maybe Liam cried out his name, maybe he just imagined it, but Theo kept talking as if nothing had happened. Being a werewolf had somehow placated Liam's IED, once he had learned how to placate his animal part, but, someway, had also made it terribly more violent: once he had unleashed his anger, there was no way to stop it. And that's how he attacked, and how Theo took his gesture as an invitation to do the same. Monroe fell to her knees for the impact and fired without restraint. Most of the shots failed, confiding in the plasterboard walls. Perhaps it was adrenaline, but neither of them realized that, before the woman fell on her side, finally defeated, she had hit them both: a masterstroke, probably taught her by Argent, who had pierced the abdomen of Theo, piercing him from side to side, and had gone to stick under Liam’s ribcage.

"How bad is it?" asked the younger of the two, raising the boyfriend's shirt. The blood came out of the wound, thick and black, with every heartbeat of Theo. They were poisoned bullets, obviously.

Liam cursed as Theo grunted and used his shirt to stop the bleeding; it was not the best of ideas, as the poison would remain inside his body, but he did not even want to bleed to death.

"We have to call Melissa." Liam said, looking for his phone in the front pocket of his jeans.

"She will never arrive in time." Theo answered, his voice hoarse with pain.

"Everything will be fine." Liam reassured him, typing Scott's mother's number.

"Yes, damn it." Theo answered in a tight voice. "In the end I won you over, a bullet will not be enough to ruin my plans."

The voicemail clicked. Liam's eyes filled with tears, but he said nothing. He would take him to the hospital; maybe they could not do much, but certainly they’ll give him enough time to be able to contact Melissa or Deaton.

Theo fell on his knees, and Liam cursed again, seeing the beloved's eyes mist up, his color becoming more and ashier.

"Maybe it's right." Theo said, and if the tears did not deceive him, even his eyes would begin to get wet. "Maybe that was how it was supposed to end four years ago."

"Do not even say it as a joke!" Liam shrieked as Theo's blood spilled onto the floor. Theo murmured something, but Liam did not have time to ask him what he had tried to tell him; an intense pain in his chest shook him. He too had been wounded and probably a small part of the aconite used to wrap the bullets had penetrated his circulatory system. Liam pressed a hand to his wound, determined not to die there. The cook, shaking, peeked out of the kitchen with something in his hands and told him to move. Theo was now lying on the ground, his head resting on Liam's leg.

"What are you?" the younger of the two asked him, stunned. The cook looked up, but did not answer, freeing Theo from the bandage. Liam watched his rapid but studied, almost mechanical movements. He was a druid.

 By the end of the year, they had earned a small pack and even had a werecoyote that had fled from Beacon Hills at the first hints of sheer madness of Monroe. It was nice to have someone who shared their memories, even if it was barely of age and could not even go where Theo worked.

The scars, once healed, had come in handy: a lot of men and women appreciated his hard air and the bullet holes did nothing but feed their fantasies.

Mason and Corey had also joined the pack. They missed their Alpha too much, and they had not found any better in Los Angeles, where they moved to study.

At the end of the year, the two couples also started to share that hole of apartment and Theo and Liam could finally afford a double bed, which they shared with some satisfaction.

Of course, that was not the best life Liam could have chosen to have, but it was his and he was managing it as he liked; he had found that love which was worth risking, he had suffered but he had also gained so much from that suffering. He smiled at an old picture of Devenford Prep. Brett would also be proud of what he had become. He turned to look at Theo, who slept blissfully beside him, and leaned on the hollow of his shoulder: it was his favorite place, and the only one he had wanted to stay for the rest of his days.

[ultrakeystotheheartblog]

Rescue Me (Brett Talbot)

A/N: Hi! So, I am slowly getting back into the swing of things after a very busy and emotional year. It feels good to be back :) And like most people, I have indeed seen the latest Teen Wolf episode. 

Let me just say that I am LIVID about what happened to Brett. Neither of the siblings deserved any of THAT. So, to make myself and others feel better, I fixed the last five minutes of the episode. It’s really long cause I get carried away lol but I think it’s a proper goodbye to Brett’s character (while still setting up Gerard’s twisted lesson for further plot) and diminishes the stupidity of that death scene. I mean...A CAR JEFF DAVIS? WHAT. THE. HELL.

Anyway.....the reader is a werewolf in Scott’s pack and Brett is his sassy self. 

Enjoy :D 

(Y/N) = Your Name

Warnings: Slight swearing and violence. The usual with Teen Wolf, honestly.

*********************************************************

It was getting harder to keep the fear at bay. Each echoing step just seemed to spike your mounting anxiety, the sounds reverberating off the darkened tunnel walls made of exposed pipes and metal struts. It was like an itch that was impossible to scratch, an uneasiness dropping into the pit of your stomach as mere minutes felt as though they dragging towards hours. You whip around the next bend on the heels of your friends, your noise crinkling in distaste at the mingled scent of the musty stagnant puddles beneath your feet and the sickeningly sour smell of rot. To Liam's credit...the scent was getting stronger, but it was impossible to truly tell the direction it was coming from. Brett could be anywhere by now.

And so could the hunters.

As if on cue, Lori sighs in frustration and stops walking, seemingly on the same wavelength as you. "They all look the same, are you sure we're going the right way?" Liam nods with conviction, "I'm positive. I've gotten lost down here before, more than once." You barely manage to restrain yourself from snorting in laughter, glancing up and around at the high arch of the tunnel. You turn to Liam intending to try and lighten the mood, so that just maybe you wouldn't go crazy with worry. "Yeah, you know what? We should really start marking off paths or something down here. It would save a lot of time."

Liam rolls his eyes, choosing to ignore your comment, and instead gestures towards the end of the tunnel.

"Just follow the scent."

Lori lets out a another heated sigh, her mouth drooping into a grimace. "I hate that scent." She adds irritably.

"You and me both." You mutter more seriously. Lori huffs in impatience at the stalled progression of her brother's rescue and begins to stalk away, hands clenched tightly into fists by her sides. Yikes. You had a sinking feeling that this wasn't going to end well.

"Lori, slow down!"

When she doesn't stop or acknowledge that you'd spoken, you close your eyes to calm your rising annoyance and then jog towards her, your hand closing around her wrist to hold her back. She rounds on you with a fiery glare, your noses almost touching with how close the two of you were now standing. You stare her down unafraid, your voice low as you attempt to soothe her.

"We all have to be smart about this, okay? Move carefully. We have no clue knowing what else these hunters have set up throughout the tunnels."

"(Y/N) has a point." Liam chimes in from behind you.  

Lori narrows her eyes, wrenching her arm away from your touch. "Moving carefully takes time we don't have! Do either of you even care what happens to him?"

You step away from her in disbelief, mind reeling at the turn the conversation has suddenly taken. You don't stop yourself from reacting this time, snarling harshly at her in warning, "Of course I do!"

Her surprised expression immediately curbs your anger and you slowly exhale in defeat, watching as the look on her face dissolves away into one that was parts unsure and scared, remorseful and so...young. You had almost forgotten that she was only fifteen; with the way she carried herself around the others, the fierce attitude a smokescreen against the world, one she must of been clinging to so desperately this entire time. A kid who only wanted to find her brother. You reach out to take her hand more gently, her fingers tightening around yours like she had finally found an anchor in the open sea.

"We're going to find him, Lori." You murmur kindly. "I promise you. But let's try not to die before we do."

She nods in agreement. "Wait! I hear something." Liam cuts in excitedly, his head tilting slightly to the side as he continues to listen to something in the distance. "It sounds like-"

Lori's expression brightens, sounding hopeful. "A heartbeat." You hear it too, the thumping beat strong but sluggish. The three of you only glance at each other, before you find yourself running off in its direction against your better judgment, the rhythmic footfalls behind you signalling that Liam and Lori were right on your tail. You scurry around another bend, Lori passing you as you reach the end of another long tunnel, emerging into a small, hidden away juncture. Lori is quick to spot something to her right. "Brett!" Lori dashes towards her brother, practically throwing herself down next to him. You hang back for a moment before you begin to drift unconsciously closer to the siblings, your heart seized in a painful vice at the state of your friend. He had managed to keep himself somewhat upright against the decaying brick wall behind him, though his head is lolling slightly to one side, black blood leaking from his ears, mouth, and the inner corners of his eyes. 

The gooey liquid coats the skin down the sides of his face and neck, the sunken bags under his eyes looking bruised in the surrounding darkness, a medley of red and blue-back. He's pale and sweating, his hands covered in dry blood. A makeshift tourniquet, made from the material of his gym shorts, is wrapped tight around his shoulder, in order to constrict the blood flow to the puncture wound there. Brett looks up at Lori as she hovers over him, his face slack in exhaustion. He swallows hard, his tone a combination of incredulity and relief.

"You found the rocks?"  Lori laughs weakly, running her fingers through his hair in comfort. "Yeah, I found the rocks."  They smile at each other, Brett's expression both adoring and proud. Something unspoken passes between the siblings then. Reassurance, You think. Comfort. As you move to stand closer, Brett's eyes shift from his sister to stare at both you and Liam. He sounds confused and out of breath when finally speaks, eyebrows knitted together for a brief moment. "Liam? (Y/N)?"

You smile shyly at him, hating that you can clearly hear the tremble in your voice as you kneel next to him. "Hi, stranger. It's been a while."

Brett looks as though he's at long last seen a burning light in the darkness, a man caught content in its reach as he stares amazed into its radiance. "3 months." He responds in a daze. Your breath hitches at the awe in his voice and you blink away the coming tears, breaking the intense gaze to glance at Liam. He quickly moves in.

"Hey, we're going to get you out of here." He says firmly. He leans down to take Brett's hand, and with Lori's help, pulls him to his feet. She presses into his side to take the full weight of his body, and Brett forces out a strained reply, his voice breaking on the first word and then pitching higher in pain as he looks down at Liam. "You're a dumbass...for doing this." He wobbles, stumbling slightly against his sister as she slides an arms around his waist to help steady him. You move to Brett's other side and duck under his arm, to keep him from leaning too heavily on Lori. Liam raises on eyebrow.

"Is that your way of thanking me?" "No." Brett retorts sharply. He takes a deep breath and grinds his teeth together at a flare of pain, his tone sounding more annoyed than before. "That's my way of calling you a dumbass."

Brett tilts and sways for a second, his voice getting softer when he nods at Liam. "But thanks."

He turns to look down at you under his arm, his grip on your shoulder tightening as he leans down to rasp, "You came."

"Does that make me a dumbass too?" You ask half-jokingly, mindful of the wound in his shoulder as you shift to redistribute his weight between you and Lori. He winces but laughs softly despite the situation, his expression gentle.

"Never."

You press closer against his side without a word and look away from him, staring at the glinting pipes along the opposite wall. The guilt you felt earlier in the night returns, washing over you in a formidable swell of emotion. "I'm sorry." You utter quietly. When Brett doesn't respond you gather whatever courage is left and look back up at him, only to find that he is gazing back at you in absolute confusion. You hurry to elaborate, "I'm sorry I was late meeting you after practice, I didn't-I should've been there."

Brett shifts in your hold, grunting at Lori's protest, and faces you awkwardly. His hand lifts from your shoulder, floating up to tenderly touch the back of your neck, before he fully cups the back of your head. You stare up at him as he speaks.

"Hey, it's okay. What matters to me is that you're here."

Before his meaning can even fully sink in, Liam seems to sense something. He stiffens and turns slowly to look back up the tunnel you had just come from, an intense flash of a bright white light blinding you all. Startled, you blink fast and try to dispel the black spots jumping in your vision as the tunnel fills with smoke. You feel the siblings move back, Brett's grip on your arm forcing you to stumble back a few steps with them. "They're coming!" Lori exclaims in alarm. Liam glances at the three of you over his shoulder, the blue of his eyes sharp in the light. "Okay go, I'll hold them off."

"There is no way in hell I'm leaving you to fight alone, Liam."

There's a shrill whining sound that ruptures the silence of the tunnel as it ricochets along the piping. Brett groans, doubling over between you and Lori. Liam grits his teeth and covers an ear with one hand, waving at you and Lori frantically.

"Go, go!"

"Liam-" You try again.

"(Y/N) please! Brett might not last much longer." Lori cries desperately. You hesitate and look between her and Liam, Brett's hold on your arm still firm.

A fleeting thought clicks into place as you stare at her underneath her brother's arm, eyes wide in terror.  If there are other hunters she might not be able to fight them off by herself. Liam seems to follow your mindset, and he nods in reassurance.

"I'll be fine."

You dart back into place to help Lori shoulder Brett's tall frame, smoothly guiding him around to face a connecting tunnel you could escape through. "You better be. Or you'll never hear the end of it from me." You add over your shoulder, picking up speed until the three of you are rounding a bend into another tunnel, the reverberation of Liam's threatening roar following you. Brett is still doubled over, lagging behind you and Lori as you slide to a stop at another fork in the tunnels. 

Left or right? It takes you a moment to notice that there is a flash bolt in the wall ahead of you, twisted into the concrete and poking out from behind a pipe. The blinking blue-white light is accompanied by that piercing whine again . Brett finches at the sound of it and lifts his arm from around your shoulder to cover an ear with his hand, the black veins in his skin looking ghostly in the light. Lori winces and looks down both paths.

You firmly guide Brett's arm back around you, leaning close so he could hear you. "Brett....shhh hang on." Lori is in a panic now, veering the three of you towards the right path instead of the left. "Just a little further." She promises him quietly, her breath coming in short gasps. "We're almost out of here."

You don't like where this is going at all, feeling like an animal being herded into a trap, even as the smell of fresh crisp air wafts towards you from up ahead. You push back against Lori's momentum, Brett's body knocking callously back against her.

"Lori, I don't-"

She starts pressing forward again hastily, leaving no room for discussion. "Hurry."

The ladder to the surface appears in a few moments, and Lori's eyes excitedly follow the length of  it up. She turns to Brett, manoeuvring him forwards and helping his shaking hands find the metal rungs of the ladder. He shivers on contact and begins climbing up it first. Lori follows, barely registering Liam's echoing cry.

"Lori, wait!"

You pause with your foot on the bottom rung, fingers squeezing the rusted side rails until they creak lowly under the pressure. Liam?

Oh shit.

Brett uses what's left of his strength to nudge the sewer lid off at the top and clamber out in a flurry of flailing limbs, Lori reaching the top a second behind him. A rush of cool night air permeates the tunnels and you cough at the sudden change. Brett reaches down to take hold of Lori's arms, dragging her to her feet. 

You scramble up the ladder, launching your body onto the pavement just as Lori and Brett are darting across the road to try and reach the sidewalk, Brett's hand in Lori's. The bright light of an oncoming car blinks into existence and blinds them into a petrified state. They stiffen as if in a trance, frozen in fear as the light gets impossibly brighter. Brett closes his eyes, their hold on each other's hands tighten.

"Lori! Brett! MOVE!" You cry out, already on your feet and surging towards them before you finish your sentence.

You had always found it fun, being a werewolf. You were stronger and faster and never got sick, able to do what regular people found unimaginable. But with those abilities, time never quite moves the same as it once did. Instances that lasted only seconds to an outsider could stretch onwards to slow passing minutes. 

At the sound of your voice, Lori snaps out of her daze and throws herself back, yanking hard on Brett's hand. His tall figure goes to follow but he's still unbalanced on his feet and begins to tip the opposite way. You push yourself faster and slam into him, sending him toppling back in the right direction and on top of Lori, the both of them hitting the ground and rolling to the curb by the side of the road.

Your right hand slams onto the hood of the car as it finally makes contact, your entire arm shaking from the impact, the sound of cracking bone registering before the blinding pain flairs from your wrist and up into your shoulder. You push off the hood, using the momentum to hurl yourself over the top of the pickup truck, the grated silver front just barely tapping your hip as you twist. And then you're rolling down the back of the truck as the driver swerves, throwing you towards the road. 

You roll to a stop next to Lori and Brett, the hard blow of your limbs against the asphalt knocking the wind from your aching body. Lori had haphazardly tried to sit up, her posture slanting to one side, Brett already curled protectively against her, face pressed into her shoulder. You hiss in pain, dragging yourself onto your knees and cradling your damaged arm tight to your chest.

You can feel it healing already as the truck squeals to a stop a good few feet away, splinters of bone moving back in place under your skin until the pain begins to lessen, and you regain slight mobility. You look towards Lori and find she looks terrified and unbelievably shaken, body trembling as she reaches out for you, an angry gash open across the line of her forehead. 

You scoot towards them and encase her in a one armed hug, your other arm going around Brett's bowed figure as he groans in agony. Your hand gently slides up to the crook of his neck, your body wracked with a more intense wave of punching pain as your palm makes contact with his sweat slicked skin. Brett mummers in relief as you help to numb the anguish, his arm drifting around your body until his hand is pressed against the top of your back, sitting right between your shoulder blades. His fingers tangle in the fabric of your sweater and his grip tightens as he drags his face away from Lori's shoulder to look at you, eyes unfocused in the light of the truck's headlights.

Before he can say anything, a roar rips through the night, long, carnal, and angry. You feel the skin of your neck tingle at the sound and turn to gape at a wolfed out Liam standing in the middle of the road. His jagged teeth gleam in his parted mouth from the pickup's headlights. He sees you and the siblings huddled together and begins to head towards you, golden eyes blazing with concern. Liam doesn't get very far though, before a handful of cars pull up to surround him, the dazzling lights startling him. He shakes his head vigorously, trying to regain his composure. A man steps out of the dark pickup truck, the hood of which is obviously dented, and stares down Liam, eyes piercing as they study him. There are more people on the street now, fearfully gasping and whispering to each other. People start to drift closer or back away at the sight of Liam's appearance, a woman going as far as getting out of her car to stare. Liam looks around wildly in confusion.

You struggle to get both Lori and Brett into an upright position, calling to Liam distraughtly. "Liam! Help me, we have to move them."

He focuses on you through the panic and is by your side before you can blink. You both try and get the siblings to their feet, ignoring the voices swirling around you, the lights of the cars washing over you like prison spotlights. You stagger with them, trying to distribute their combined weight between you and Liam as equally as you could, heading towards an opening between the pickup and another car. The old lady inside the driver's seat cowers as you near her. The man with the piercing eyes follows you with his gaze, until the four of you turn the street corner and disappear from the scene.

************************************

"Yeah, we're just waiting now."

His voice draws you back from the drowsy abyss you had begun to tip into, the sudden jerk into reality making your head spin. You look up from staring at the tiled hospital floor, after images of bright white squares burned briefly into your vision as you focus on Liam. He's seated beside you, legs pulled up to his chest, and he glances at you before pressing his cell phone flush to his ear. "What about you? Are you okay?" He asks in a rush.

The voice on the other end is slightly distorted due to the crackling of Liam's phone service, a curse of staying on the bottom floor of Beacon Hills Memorial, but you can still very clearly follow the conversation. "-fine. I've already healed, good as new. Keep me updated though, alright? And tell (Y/N) to call me later. We need to talk about what happened tonight."

You smile and lean towards Liam so you can loudly proclaim, "I can hear you, Scott. I will."

"(Y/N) said-"

"I heard, Liam." Scott sounds amused, his voice warm and comforting. Liam looks embarrassed for a moment, but shakes it off, his eyes darting to you. You pat his knee in reassurance and he takes a deep breath, face drained of energy as he slumps back against the wall. You felt the exhaustion too, like a heavy blanket swaddled around your body. You had all had a long night and next to no sleep, the sun set to finally rise in a few hours. It was understandable to be a little out of it.

"Right..." Liam says, lowering the phone so it was between the two of you.

Scott chuckles, "Talk to the both of you soon."

The sound of footsteps comes from your left. You look up to see Lori strolling back towards you both, her cell phone disappearing into her back jean pocket.

"Bye, Scott." You return quickly. Liam hangs up and lays his phone in his lap, scooting to the side to let Lori squeeze in between you and him. She plops down with a groan, leaning over to rest her head against your shoulder. Her hair is wet from taking a shower on the second floor, the smell of iris and lily drifting up to reach your nose. You nudge her gently.

"Hey....what's the verdict?"

"She's on her way, said she's coming straight to the hospital."

Liam yawns, "How'd she sound? Mad?"

Lori sniffs, wiping at her eyes with the heel of her hand. "Tired," She answers with a sigh, "Just....tired."

The door across from you swings open, Melissa McCall and Chris Argent emerging from the room. You all shoot up in tandem, Lori already on her feet before they can say anything. Melissa smiles kindly, reaching behind her to keep the door from closing. She looks down both directions of the hall to make sure you were all alone.

"He's okay, he's okay." She says calmly, gesturing for Lori to come closer. "I think it's safe to say he'll make a full recovery."

Chris moves to the side, hands crossed across his chest, and inclines his head towards the room. "He's awake if you want to go see him." He adds.

Lori beams, dashing forwards to throw her arms around Melissa's middle, her exclamation muffled in her chest. "Thank you!" Melissa squeezes her back with a look of surprise and Lori is quick to pull away, slipping into the room as you watch with a grin. Liam sighs in relief, slouching back to his previous position, and nods towards Melissa and Chris in thanks.

"Thank you." You verbalize for him.

Melissa smiles again, jabbing a thumb in the direction of the elevators, which waited just down the hall to your left. "We'll be just around the corner if you needs us." She says as they turn and begin to walk away.

You shift to face Liam, "Are you going in?"

He thinks for a moment and then shakes his head, stretching his arms over his head with a satisfied groan. He glances at the partly open door. "Nah, not yet, I'll....give them a few minutes first. You?"

You lounge back, staring up at the stark ceiling.

"Yeah, in a few minutes." You agree.

************************************

It's about three hours later when you find him lounging in the hospital parking lot, his back to you as he looks out over the horizon. He's wearing Chris' jacket and you watch him for a moment, admiring his tall figure. Pinks, purples, and oranges swell across the sky until they seem to set the clouds on fire in streaks of golden light. You see Liam and Lori talking to Satomi across the lot, the dark green car behind her idling in its parking  space. You take a deep breath, heart fluttering in your chest, and continue towards him.

"Looks like you're leaving, huh?"

Brett turns at the sound of your voice, hands slipping out of the jacket's pockets to hang down at his sides. He smiles, taking a step towards you. "Yep, looks like it." He leans in to add, "I don't think Satomi is ever going to let us come back here. Maybe not for a long time at least." He nods his head ever so slightly and you follow the gesture. Satomi waves at you can across the parking lot. You lift your hand to wave back.

"I get that. It's not the safest place." You say slowly, turning your attention back to him. Brett rolls his eyes, but smirks.

"Understatment. But if you really think about it...what place is?"

You pretend to think about it, rocking on your heels and kicking at the little pebbles on the asphalt. They scatter beneath you. "That's an interesting way to look at it." You eventually say.

"I'm just interesting period."

You snicker, "Cocky. Even for you."

"When is he not?"

You both turn at the new voice and Brett slips his hands back into the jacket's pockets, shying away from how close you two had gotten. He acknowledges him with a nod.

"Liam."  

"Brett," Liam counters.

Lori comes to join the forming circle, standing beside her brother. She glances between the boys with a incredulous look when she realizes that they had gone silent. "What, that's it?"

Brett shrugs but bumps his elbow against Liam's arm. His lips quirk up into a teasing smirk. "Is that your way of telling me goodbye, Dunbar?"

Liam sputters, "No!"

He huffs in annoyance, rolling his shoulders as he composes himself. "This is."  He replies, his tone undulating with professionalism. He straightens up to his full height, which wasn't much compared to Brett, and holds out his hand. Brett raises on eyebrow but takes Liam's offered hand, shaking it stiffly, once up and down.

"So formal."

"Can you be nice to me for once in your life?"

Brett laughs, but then seems to sombre up, awkwardly clearing his throat as you all stare at him in confusion. "Thank you, Liam."

"For what?"

Liam sounds surprised at the pleasant sentiment, glancing to you in uncertainty. You simply shrug. Brett has an intense look in his eyes now, his expression oddly sincere as he drops a hand onto Liam's shoulder.

"For being my friend."

"....you too."

Lori smiles at the sweet exchange, sparing a fleeting look back at Satomi who was still leaning against the car, eyes trained on the tiny blackbirds hopping branches in the trees near the hospital. "And while we're on the topic of thank yous-" She starts, reaching out to take both your hand and Liam's. "-thank you. For bringing my brother back to me."

You pull her into a hug, hoping she doesn't hear the tiny catch in your voice as you enclose your arms around her tightly.

"Stay safe out there, Lori."

"I will." She mumbles into your shoulder.

Brett throws an arm around Lori when you let her go, squeezing her into a lazy hug. "We both will." He promises.

There's a pointed silence that descends over the group, and both Liam and Lori glance at each other. Lori shakes herself free from Brett's arm and starts to back away, sensing she should probably give you and Brett some privacy to say goodbye. She drags Liam by his jacket sleeve and he follows without a word. They wander away only a few feet and a little too causally, peeking at you both as they mill about near the entrance of the hospital.

You feel your face getting warm and drift closer to him, whispering lowly. "They're watching us and pretending not too."

Brett scoffs and shifts, so he can longer see them in his peripheral vision. "Amateurs." He mutters.

There is another awkward pause and Brett watches you carefully, his hand brushing against yours in a feather light touch. "So." He begins.

"So."

Brett winces, "I uh-I'm not the best with saying goodbye."

You nod in understanding, staring up at him as you slip your hand into his. His fingers flex around yours and you can't seem to find the will to care when you answer him in a breathless manner. "Then don't."

Brett takes a moment to think, his thumb ghosting over the back of your hand. He sounds just as wrecked when he dips his head down a fraction, eyes never leaving yours.

"I hope I see you again."

You feel your mouth beginning to tremble, and you press your free hand to your cheek, the skin wet beneath your palm. When had you started crying? "Well, damn look at me...I don't think I'm very good at saying goodbye either." You say with a weak laugh.

Brett furrows his eyebrows and slowly, he's leaning down to press a chaste kiss to the corner of your mouth. He lingers, his breath fanning over your face, the smell of spearmint making you shiver. He pulls away to gage your reaction, your eyes fluttering open to stare at him. He smiles, and you find yourself leaning forward to hug him, your arms looping around his neck. Brett's hands fall to the small of your back, his touch warm even through the fabric of your sweater. You manage to choke something out at last, as Brett touches another light kiss against the juncture of your neck and shoulder.

"Good luck, Brett"

He pulls away when the sound of a car door punctures the moment, and you see that Liam is already strolling back towards you alone. Brett sighs when he notices that Satomi is waving him over, and he squeezes your hand before turning away. Halfway to the car he slows and calls over his shoulder, the words meant to leave things on a lighter note.

"Oh Liam! Tell Mason that I'll miss having him around."

Liam laughs, "Oh, he'll love that."

You cup a hand over your mouth to unnecessarily bellow, "Keep in touch!"

Brett spins to face you, walking backwards with a grace that only something supernatural could achieve. He's smirking as he hollers back.

"Of course! I have friends here in Beacon Hills. I'll have to check in and make sure they're still functioning without me." He winks as he reaches the car, "See you guys around."

The sun is rising into its rightful place in the sky as their car backs out of the parking space, circling around in a wide U-turn and then disappearing from the lot. You and Liam watch them pull onto the main road, until the car becomes nothing but a dark smudge in the distance. Liam is sulking when you look at him, and you cock an eyebrow in question. He sounds faintly annoyed as he elaborates, but you could tell he wasn't seriously upset.

"He's unbelievable."

"Aw, you love it."

"So do you." Liam reminds you, looking quite pleased with his comeback.

Fair enough, you think. You don't answer him though, draping your arm across his shoulders instead. "Ready to go, Liam?"

He draws out a dramatic sigh into the morning air, "You mean dive head first back into the crazy? Sure, why not."

You grin.

"We'll be okay. Just wait and see."

[hailey-halstead]

To you

Hi guys so all of the fic didn't post (really just the last bit, nothing major don't get excited that you have a lot more to read lol) so here it is!

—————

Sylvie couldn't help but groan at the site of a packed Molly's. After yesterday's disaster with Nick, she wanted to have a drink at her favorite bar. But despite the crowd bringing in more money for her friends, she secretly liked when it wasn't as busy. It always felt more homey and comforting then.

When she finally nudged her way to the bar counter, she met the gaze of Gabby, as if she had been waiting for her. To Sylvie's dismay, she had a look of sympathy on her face, beginning to prepare her usual drink. Gabby knew her well though, not saying anything the whole time. Only when she placed the finished drink down, she offered words of advice. "Keep your head up." Then she was gone, rushing over to tend to another patron.

It was strange, a part of Sylvie didn't want any acknowledgement of what happened, but at the same time she wanted to talk about it. She pushed this conflict into the back of her mind for later, making a mental plan to have a girl's night with Stella and Gabby.

None of the bar stools along the counter were open, so Sylvie once again faced the crowd and gently shoved her way through, managing to avoid running into people. Until the last possible moment, right when she had an open stool in sight, she ran into someone's back.

Her empty hand went immediately to her drink to help steady it. None of the liquid splashed out thankfully. God knows she wanted to enjoy her liquor tonight. After making sure her drink was okay, she turned her attention to the person she bumped into.

"I'm so sorry. It's just so busy and I wasn't paying attention..." She apologized, hoping the person would understand. With her recent luck, he might be completely drunk and throw a fit.

"Ah!"

......Or he might be her short lived cheating beau. Wonderful.

As she planned an escape plan, which honestly just consisted of her running of into any direction, and began to take a run for it, a hand closed around her wrist.

"Wait, Sylvie." She made the mistake of turning around to face him, her first interaction with him since that dreadful encounter yesterday. "Let me explain..."

She tried to yank her hand back, disgusted that he thought there was any way he could explain this. He only tightened his hold, becoming more persistent. "There's nothing to explain," She yelled, knowing her raised voice wouldn't get attention in the very busy bar. "You have a wife!"

"But—"

Sylvie yanked harder, but he refused to let go, his fingers pressing down hard onto her skin. She bit down on her lip, determined to not let him know his power over her. "There's no buts." This was becoming more intense than she expected, but she was managing to keep her fear out of her voice. "Now, let me go."

"Sylvie, we could work around this—"

She was disgusted before, but now she was mortified. Was he suggesting that she should become his mistress? Who the hell was this guy, how could she have been so foolish....

Instead of arguing with the bastard anymore, it was like talking to a wall, she moved her drink holding arm back, then threw it forward, emptying her entire margarita onto his unsuspecting face.

He let go of her hand in surprise, jumping backwards. "What the hell!" He exclaimed, lifting up his arm and rubbing his sleeve across his face in attempt to clean himself. "I just wanted to talk!"

Now they were gaining the attention of the people around them. However, except for staring and whispering to each other, they made no sign of intervening.

"I think you should leave." Sylvie said, beginning to look around for any kind of familiar face. On most nights, she couldn't walk anywhere in Molly's without running into someone she knew. Of course tonight of all nights would be an exception.

"You're the one who threw a drink in my face." He had the audacity to say, raising an eyebrow at her. "I just wanted to talk." He repeated, taking a step forward, gaining more persistence despite Sylvie's adamant refusal.

"Well, I don't want to talk. And I swear, if you don't leave soon, you're going to regret this—"

"Is there a problem here?"

Of course of all the people to help her, it would be her ex boyfriend. She should feel grateful for his intrusion, but all she could feel was embarrassed. She went out with a guy that had a wife. Yes, she had no idea, but like Gabby said, she tends to see the good in people while ignoring the rest.

She didn't want to start a bigger scene, so she quickly spoke up. "He was just leaving." She said, hoping Nick would give up and take the hint.

Unfortunately, he didn't have the same mindset. "This is a private conversation between me and Sylvie," He folded his arms over his chest, trying to make himself seem bigger than he already is. Which was unnecessary, he was much taller than Antonio already. However, that fact was useless considering Antonio was a cop. "I think you should leave."

That was not the right thing to say, Sylvie thought. She watched Antonio for his reaction. Sure enough, his face hardened and his mouth turned into a scowl. He took a step closer to Sylvie, showing that he was not going anywhere.

"You don't know where you're at, do you?" He stepped forward, shortening the distance between him and Nick. Their height difference was more noticeable now, but Antonio seemed unfazed.

Sylvie couldn't help but grab Antonio's sleeve, not wanting a fight to break out. "It's not worth it, Antonio." She muttered, not wanting him to potentially get in trouble over her. Besides, it wasn't worth it. Throwing her drink at Nick was what she needed, and she felt like she would be able to leave Molly's with her head held high.

He gently nudged her off. "I just want to talk with him." He said, redirecting his attention back to Nick. Her nerves remained, but she didn't protest, watching the two men's interaction with caution. If she had to she would interfere.

"This is a firefighter's bar." Antonio gestured to their surroundings, beginning to point out various members of 51. She wondered how she couldn't have noticed them before when they now seemed to be everywhere she looked. Gabby, Stella, and Herrmann were behind the bar. While the rest of 51 were spread across the rest of the room in small groups.

"Not only that, a lot of cops and doctors come here frequently..." He trailed off. As for Nick, realization began to express on his face. Sylvie understood right when he brought up that Molly's was a firefighter's bar. He was intimidating Nick, letting him know that messing with Sylvie meant he was messing with a lot of Chicago's first responders.

"Fine, I'll head out." He turned towards Sylvie, but the glare from Antonio made him think better of whatever he was planning. He instead brushed past her, heading towards the bar entrance.

"You didn't need to do that." She said, an apology without the exact words. The last thing she wanted was for him to feel obliged to help her.

"You're right, I didn't need to." He agreed with her. "But I wanted to." Instead of ending their interaction there, Antonio tilted his head towards the bar, an invitation of sorts.

"I do need a new drink." She gave in, following him to the counter. She tried to not read into the big grin on his face at her agreement, finding her intuition to be lacking lately.

"I've never been fond of wasting alcohol, but I couldn't help being impressed by that display." He said from beside her, his fingers barely touching the middle of her back, making sure they wouldn't be separated by the large crowd. "It was pretty badass."

The people they passed were particularly loud, which caused Antonio to lean closer to her and raise his voice slightly. She could feel his breath hit her cheek, he was that close.

Sylvie's mouth suddenly felt dry. Did he realize what he was doing to her? "Goes to show that you can't mess with Sylvie Brett." She went for a joke, masking her flustered state.

He snorted at her reply. "Tell me something I don't know." His flippant comment sent a wave of satisfaction through her. He didn't say it to try to compliment her or "butter" her up, he said it because he believed it.

They both slid into two open bar stools, waiting for one of the bartenders to appear. Gabby, who was down on the other side of the counter tending to a patron, raised an eyebrow at Sylvie. She ignored her friend, but couldn't prevent her own cheeks from turning pink. Later she would be interrogated by her and probably Stella. Well, if Stella wasn't still mad at her...

The margarita placed in front of her brought her attention back to reality. Her moment of distraction did not go unnoticed by Antonio.

Although he assumed it was for another reason. Despite looking rather uncomfortable, he pressed forward and starting asking a question. "I know it isn't my place but...."

This was an uncommon site, him being flustered. She was tempted to let him continue stumbling over his words, but she felt bad. "I went out with him a week ago, thought he was amazing. Perfect." She scowled at the memory, how charming he was. The fake persona was so noticeable now. "....Until I found out he was married."

Afraid of his reaction, Sylvie focused her attention on her drink, swirling the small umbrella around with her fingers. If she knew this was how her day was going to end, she would have stayed far away from Molly's tonight.

But when he spoke, she couldn't help but turn her head towards him automatically at the sound of his voice.

"What a dick," He swore, turning his own head to make direct eye contact with her. The fierceness in his eyes surprised her, she honestly wasn't expecting him to have this big of a reaction. She couldn't help but think of Gabby, and how she was after they had found out, and realized this was typical Dawson behavior. "I'm sorry that it happened to you. You didn't deserve that."

He took his kindness a step further. "And if he continues to bother you, please don't hesitate to call me. I'd be happy to help."

His sincerity makes her heart beat faster, which seemed impossible considering how fast it was going when he put his hand on her back earlier. Despite his words, she couldn't help but acknowledge her mistake instead of saying a simple thank you. "Always seeing the best in people has its flaws." She said, not for sympathy, but not wanting him to think she was throwing the entirety of the blame on Nick. She should have noticed something was off about him.

For an ex boyfriend, she really still cared about how he thought of her. A concerning thought she would set aside for another night, probably when she was more tipsy with Gabby and Stella.

"It can make things more difficult, maybe," He gave in despite the face he made because of her comment. "But it's one of your best qualities. You might need to be more aware, that's all. And seriously, shame on the people who take advantage of that." He told her, taking a swing of his beer, before holding it out.

Sylvie held out her own margarita, even though she was confused about the reasoning. Luckily, Antonio didn't leave her waiting for long.

"To you, and your belief in people." He said. "For the most part, it's a real beautiful thing and I admire you for it. I sure need to have some of it." He clinked his drink against hers for a second time, before setting it down.

"To me," She echoed, not knowing what to say in reply. She decided on just a smile, knowing he would be able to distinguish her gratefulness and gratitude from the action.